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
From hence they steered for _Madagascar_, and in their Passage stopped
at _Don Mascarenas_, where they took in a Quantity of Hogs, Goat, Sheep,
Fowls of all Sorts, and Green Turtle. Captain _Bowen_ here went ashoar
with 40 of his Men, having obtained the Governor's Protection by the
Force of Presents. These Men design'd to give over their Pyracy, and
return home the first Opportunities offer'd them. In six Months after
they had staid here, Captain _Bowen_ was taken ill of the dry Belly Ach,
a Distemper as rife here as in the _West-India_ Islands, and was buried
in the Highway, for the Priests would not allow him holy Ground, as he
was a Heretick.
But to return; when _Bowen_ went ashoar _North_ was chosen Captain. The
Ceremony of this Installation is, the Crew having made choice of him to
Command, either by an unanimous Consent, or by a Majority of Suffrages,
they carry him a Sword in a very solemn Manner, make him some
Complements, and desire he will take upon him the Command, as he is the
most capable among them. That he will take Possession of the great
Cabin; and, on his accepting the Office, he is led into the Cabin in
State, and placed at a Table, where only one Chair is set at the upper
End, and one at the lower End of the Table for the Company's
Quarter-Master. The Captain and he being placed, the latter succinctly
tells him, that the Company having Experience of his Conduct and
Courage, do him the Honour to elect him for their Head, not doubting his
behaving himself with his usual Bravery, and doing every Thing which may
conduce to the publick Good; in Confidence of which, he, in the Name of
the Company, promised to obey all his lawful Commands, and declared him
Captain. Then the Quarter-Master takes up the Sword, which he had before
presented him, and he had returned, puts it into his Hand, and says,
_This is the Commission under which you are to act, may you prove
fortunate to your self and us_. The Guns are then fired round, Shot and
all; he is saluted with three Chears; the Ceremony is ended with an
Invitation from the Captain to such as he thinks fit to have dine with
him, and a large Bowl of Punch is ordered to every Mess.
Captain _North_ leaving this Island steered for _Madagascar_, and came
to Cape _Dolphin_ at the South End, as is said in _White_'s Life, where
he came to an Anchor, and took on board some Refreshments, but it
blowing hard, he was obliged to put to Sea, and leave his Boat with 30
Men behind him. He ran along the East-Side of the Island, and came to a
Place called _Ambonavoula_, in the Latitude of 17, 38. where they put on
Shore some of their Goods, and settled themselves among the Negroes,
several living in a House; here they lived as Sovereign Princes among
the Inhabitants.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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