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
Upon the whole, he found he should have no great Occasion to provide for
his Back, which occasioned his being less diligent in his Work; however,
he purchased a _Mohaz_ Covering to keep him warm in the Night, with the
_Bankoo_'s Permission, and happening to talk sometimes with his Comrades
about Nets, and describing how they were made in _Europe_, the _Bankoo_
asked him if he could make one in the same Manner? But finding he was
not to lay out his Earnings to please himself, he answered, he could
not; however, an Accident fell out soon after which brought him into
great Favour.
As it was Part of his Duty to go to the _Bankoo_'s generally in the
Morning, for the Allowance of Provision for the Day for himself and
Comrade, he observed, that tho' their Allowance was sufficient in all
other Respects, it was very short as to Salt. One Day, when they had
Plantanes, Rice and Oil, he begg'd hard for a little more Salt, but the
_Bankoo_ told him it could not be done without defrauding some of the
rest, for Salt is exceeding scarce amongst them, having no Way of making
it, nor any Way of providing it but by searching among the Rocks, near
the Sea Side, where they pick it up in Bits about the Bigness of a Nut,
and sometimes larger; here Nature makes it by the continual beating of
the Sea in one Place; but the Quantities they are able to procure this
Way are very small; wherefore, finding himself disappointed, he happened
to say, that if he was at Liberty he could make Salt as plenty in
_Magadoxa_ as it was in _Europe_. The _Bankoo_ the same Day acquainted
the _Accabo_ with what he had said, so that the next Day he was sent
for: He was no sooner arrived in the Presence of the _Accabo_ but he
immediately asked him if he could make Salt? He answered, he believed he
could, (and the Truth on't was he had often seen it made.) At the same
Time he described the Manner of making it. The _Accabo_ immediately
order'd him to go to Work, and to have what Assistance he requir'd; he
did so, and was so industrious and successful in it, that in six Months
Salt was as plenty amongst them as any where else.
The _Accabo_ sent for him again, and inquired of him concerning
Fishing-Nets, as they were used in _Europe_: He described them to him;
upon which he asked him if he could make one of them? He had been asked
the same Question before by the _Bankoo_, and denied that he had any
Skill that Way; but considering with himself now that since he was
likely to pass his whole Life amongst these People, it was his Business
to gain their Favour all the Ways he could, he answered, he never had
made any; however, if he (the _Accabo_) thought fit, he would try and do
the best he could.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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