The History of the Pyrates. Vol. II.: Containing the lives of Captain Misson, Captain Bowen, Captain Kidd, Captain Tew, Captain Halsey, Captain White, Captain Condent, Captain Bellamy, Captain Fly, Captain Howard, Captain Lewis, Captain Cornelius, Captain Williams, Captain Burgess, Captain North, and their several crewsDefoe, Daniel
History
The History of the Pyrates. Vol. II.: Containing the lives of Captain Misson, Captain Bowen, Captain Kidd, Captain Tew, Captain Halsey, Captain White, Captain Condent, Captain Bellamy, Captain Fly, Captain Howard, Captain Lewis, Captain Cornelius, Captain Williams, Captain Burgess, Captain North, and their several crews
Defoe, Daniel
Pirates -- Early works to 1800
A _Coway_ is a fine beautiful Bird larger than a Swan, and not much
unlike it in Shape, the Body is as white as Milk, but the Tuft it wears
on its Head, as also its Tail, are adorned with Variety of Colours, the
Bill is a little crooked, and uneven, its Legs of a fine Yellow, but its
Form is best expressed by the Figure. They are in great Plenty always
living near the Water, hatching fourteen or fifteen young Ones at a
Time, and set four Times a Year; they are excellent to eat, nor do they
taste at all fishy.
After this, he was ordered back to his Prison, as he went along he ask'd
the Jaylor (with whom he was now grown more familiar) what he thought
the King intended to do with him. The _Kasboo_ or Jaylor told him, he
believed he intended to keep him there till the Ship (which they call a
_Schabew_) and the white Men were gone, and that then he would order him
to be releas'd from his Confinement, and employ him in some Service. The
Jaylor seem'd to talk to him, and use him in a much kinder Manner than
before; and when he arrived at the Prison, he brought him a _Patue_ (in
their Language a Dish) of boiled Rice with Oyl, which is look'd upon to
be very good Food; he left him two large _Alaboes_ or Pitchers of Water,
sufficient to drink and to clean his Kennel, after which, he took a
comfortable Nights Rest.
The poor Fellow now began to wish that the Ship was gone, since he had
no Prospect of making his Escape, and that their Departure would procure
him greater Liberty. Next Morning seeing the old Man who had furnish'd
him with the Palmatu Leaves, looking thro' one of the Holes at him, he
enquired of him, whether the Ship was still in Sight? He told him it
was, that there were still great Numbers of People lying behind the
Bank, having with them those Things which were taken in the Boats,
describing the Musquets, and great Numbers of Arrows, ready to shoot if
they should either Land, or come near enough with their Ship; he begg'd
of him to let him know what should happen, and particularly to inform
him when the Ship should go off: The old Man whose Name was _Morasab_,
seem'd obliging and kind, and promised him to do so, and that he would
return towards Night (which in their Language they call _Raham_.)
A little after the _Kasboo_ or Jaylor came in, bringing some Plantanes
and Bonana's to him for his Breakfast, and opened a Door which went into
a little back Yard, where there was a Spring of fine fresh Water,
bidding him draw what Water he pleased in his _Alaboes_, and clean his
Prison, leaving the Place open to him for that Purpose, there being no
Way for him to get out; towards Evening he came to him again, bringing
him some boyl'd Rice and Oyl, and then he shut up the Door before
described, and leaving him Water enough, left him for that Night.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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