African Company, that were illegally detained by the Dutch at Des Minas; and while they were regretting ſo long a Separation, an Expreſs came to General Phips, from Axim, the 9th, and followed by another from Dixcove, (an Engliſh Factory,) with Information that three Ships had chaſed and taken a Galley nigh Axim Caſtle, and a trading Boat belonging to the Company: No doubt was made, concerning what they were, it being taken for granted they were Pyrates, and ſuppoſed to be the ſame that had the Auguſt before infeſted the Coaſt. The natural Reſult therefore, from theſe two Advices, was, to haſten for Whydah; for it was conclued the Prizes they had taken, had informed them how nigh the Swallow was, and withal, how much better in Health than ſhe had been for ſome Months paſt; ſo that unleſs they were very mad indeed, they would (after being diſcovered) make the beſt of their Way for Whydah, and ſecure the Booty there, without which, their Time and Induſtry had been entirely loſt; moſt of the Gold lying in that Corner.
The Swallow weighed from Cape-Corſo, January the 10th, but was retarded by waiting ſome Hours on the Margaret, a Company’s Ship, at Accra, again on the Portugal, and a whole Day at Apong, on a Perſon they uſed to ſtile Miſs Betty: A Conduct that Mr. Phips blamed, when he heard the Pyrates were miſs’d at Whydah, altho’ he had given it as his Opinion, they could not be paſſed by, and intimated, that to ſtay a few Hours would prove no Prejudice.
This, however, hinder’d the Swallow’s catching them at Whydah, for the Pyrates came into that Road, with a freſh Gale of Wind, the ſame Day the Swallow was at Apong, and ſail’d the 13th of January from thence, that ſhe arrived the 17th. She gained Notice of them by a French Shallop
