They found this Ship exceeding rich, being laden chiefly with Sugar, Skins, and Tobacco, and in Gold 40000 Moidors, beſides Chains and Trinckets, of conſiderable Value; particularly a Croſs ſet with Diamonds, deſigned for the King of Portugal; which they afterwards preſented to the Governor of Caiana, by whom they were obliged.
Elated with this Booty, they had nothing now to think of but ſome ſafe Retreat, where they might give themſelves up to all the Pleaſures that Luxury and Wantonneſs could beſtow, and for the preſent pitch’d upon a Place called the Devil’s Iſlands, in the River of Surinam, on the Coaſt of Caiana, where they arrived, and found the civileſt Reception imaginable, not only from the Governor and Factory, but their Wives, who exchanged Wares and drove a conſiderable Trade with them.
They ſeiz’d in this River a Sloop, and by her gained Intelligence, that a Brigantine had alſo ſailed in Company with her, from Rhode-Iſland, laden with Proviſions for the Coaſt. A Welcome Cargo! They growing ſhort in the Sea Store, and as Sancho ſays, No Adventures to be made without Belly-Timber.
One Evening as they were rumaging (their Mine of Treaſure) the Portugueſe Prize, this expected Veſſel was deſcry’d at Maſt-Head, and Roberts, imagining no Body could do the Buſineſs ſo well as himſelf, takes 40 Men in the Sloop, and goes in purſuit of her; but a fatal Accident followed this raſh, tho’ inconſiderable Adventure, for Roberts thinking of nothing leſs than bringing in the Brigantine that Afternoon, never troubled his Head about the Sloop’s Proviſion, nor inquired what there was on Board to ſubſiſt ſuch a Number of Men; but out he ſails after his expected Prize, which he not only loſt further Sight of, but after eight Days contending with contrary Winds and Currents,
