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the ſlaving of the Veſſel, he had, by a Misfortune uſual at that Part of the Coaſt, his Mate, Surgeon, and two more of his Men, [1]Panyarr’d by the Negroes. The Remainder of his Company, which was not above 5 or 6 in Number, took this Opportunity, and ſeiz’d the Veſſel in the Road, making the Maſter Priſoner.
You will think it prodigious impudent that ſo ſmall a Number ſhould undertake to proceed a pyrating, eſpecially when neither of them had ſufficient Skill in Navigation: Yet this they did, leaving thoſe People, their Ship-Mates abovemention’d, to the Mercy of the barbarous Natives, and ſail’d away down the Coaſt, making them a black Flag, which they merrily ſaid, would be as good as 50 Men more, i. e. would carry as much Terror; and that they did not doubt of ſoon increaſing their Crew, to put them in an enterprizing Capacity; but their vain Projection was ſoon happily fruſtrated, and after this Manner.
The Maſter whoſe Life they had preſerved, (perhaps only for ſupplying their own Unskillfulneſs in Navigation,) adviſed them, that ſince contrary to their Expectations, they had met with no Ship between Cape Mount, and the Bite of Calabar, to proceed to the Iſland of St. Thomas’s, where they might recruit with Proviſions and Water, and ſell off the Slaves (about 70 of them) which they perceived would be a uſeleſs Lumber, and incommodious to their Deſign. They arrived there in Auguſt 1721, and one Evening, while Part of them were on Shore, applying for this Purpoſe to the Governor, and the other Part careleſly from the Deck, Mr. Rowry ſtepp’d into the Boat belonging to the Veſſel, and puſhed off, very ſuddenly: They heard the Noiſe it made, and ſoon were upon Deck again, but ha-
- ↑ Term for ſtealing of Men uſed all over the Coaſt.
