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
The Example they set, and the Care they took to accommodate Differences
among their Neighbours, had calmed all the Country round them. After
they had staid here near three Years, Captain _North_, and some of his
Companions, had a Mind to visit the Country Southward, and trade for
more Slaves and Cattle; to which End taking a considerable Quantity of
Powder and Arms, beside what they might use, with 50 Whites and 300
Natives, he set forward on his Journey. When they had travelled about
fourscore Miles Southward, they came to a Nation rich in Slaves and
Cattle, who inhabited the Banks of the largest River on the East-Side
the Island, called _Mangora_. With these People he trafficked for a
great Number of Slaves and Cattle, which he purchased for Guns and
Powder: They being at War when Captain _North_ came among them, with a
neighbouring Prince, he was intreated to give his Assistance, for which
they, the _Mangorians_, promised him a hundred Slaves with 500 Head of
Cattle, and all the Prisoners they should take. On these Conditions he
joined them, and marched to a very large Town of the Enemy's, which was
naturally very strong, and esteemed by the Natives impregnable, being
situated on a high and craggy Rock, which could be ascended by the Way
only leading to the Gate, where was kept a strong Guard. The Blacks in
_North_'s Army were for leaving this Town unattempted, and marching
farther into the Country, in search of Booty; but _North_ told 'em it
was not safe to leave a Garrison of Enemies at their Backs, which would
continually infest them, by falling on their Rear, and which would be an
Obstacle to their carrying off what Plunder they might get together;
beside, it would be an Azyle for all the Country, which would fly
thither till they had gather'd a Body considerable enough to come down
and face them in the Field, which the Enemy might do with reasonable
Hopes of Success, as their Men would be all fresh, while those of his
Party would be fatigued with Marches, may be encumbered by Plunder, and
worn down with the Inconveniencies of lying exposed in the Fields.
The chief of his Allies allowed his Reasons good, were an Attempt on the
Town practicable, which Experience told him was not; for, tho' several
times besieged, it never could be taken, it would be the Loss of a great
deal of Time, and many Mens Lives to offer at it.
_North_ desired he would leave the Management of this Siege to him.
The Chief answered, he should do as he pleased, but it was against his
Judgment to attack a Town which Nature her self had fortified, which God
Almighty would never suffer to be taken, and which had, to no Purpose,
cost the Lives of a Number scarce to be told, of his Countrymen, in the
several Attempts they had made to be Masters of it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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