three Canows and one Indian Prisoner who conducted them to his own and his Fathers Plantations on condition they would afterwards set him free where they stored themselves with Provisions and other Necessaries but it cost them dear for their Quarter-Master and one more of the Company was poâ—soned by their unwary eating of Casader Roots the rest of them went with those Canows and Indian which they had taken to the place appointed expecting to meet their Man of War but could not find him and therefore being necessitated to shift for themselves as well as they could they came to this Island hoping to meet here with some Vessel loading of Salt in which they might get passage for some English Port but was disappointed here also for the Ships were all gone before they came After we had sufficiently refresht our selves with Rest and Sleep and returned to the Lord the Praises due unto his Name for this wonderful miraculous deliverance we thought it time to consider how to stop the Leaks of our Boat and to raise a Deck over her with Rinds of Trees c. that we might proceed in our intended Voyage for Quirasoe our Intentions were no sooner perceived by the Privateers but they endeavoured to perswade us from it alledging the insufficient of our Boat and the Dangers we were so lately exposed unto advising us rather to go with them in their Pereagoes a Privateering than to hazard our lives by a second attempt with the like Argument they would have easily prevailed with my Companions to consent to go with them had I not perswaded them to the contrary But when the Privateers saw it was in vain to perswade they thought to compel us by burniâ—g our Boat supposing thâ—n that we would chuse rather to go with them then to slay upon the Island till Sâ—â—ping came for Salt which would be eight or nine Moneths and in the mean time to be in danger of being taken by the Spamards for Privateers or otherwise to be starved with Hunger for we had no more then four or five pound of Bread for each man left But this contrivance answered not their Expectations for notwithstanding they burnt our Boat and took our Sails and other Utensils from us I continued my resolution and chose rather to trust divine Providence on that desolate and uninhabitable Island than to partake or be any ways concerned with them in their Piracy having confidence in my self that God who had so wonderfully and miraculously preserved us on the Sea and brought us to this Island would in like manner deliver us hence if we continued faithful to him And in order to our better Accomodation and Preservation on this Island I gave the Privateers 30 pieces of Eight for the Indian they took on the Main but was not so true to their Promise as to set him at liberty which I expected would be serviceable unto us in cat hing Fish c. About the 25th of May twenty two of the Privateers having first raised the sides of their Pereagoes with Boards fastened with the Nails they saved in the burning our Boat and fitted them for the Sea they set sail leaving four of their Company behind that refused to go with them as also a Spanish Boat that was of no service to them neither could be of any use to us unless we had Sails to sail her and a Rudder to guide her both of which we wanted In this condition they left us deprived of all ways and means of getting off until the season aforesaid unless God by a perticular Providence should direct some Vessel or other to touch here But before I proceed to give account of our manner of Life in this place I think it necessary to give a short description of the Island it self which is scituated in the Latitude of 11 Degrees and 11 Minutes North Latitude its extent is about twelve Miles in length and two or three in breadth and is about one hundred and twenty Leagues from Barbadoes called by the Spainards Tortuga from the great plenty of Turtle that resorts thither but our English gives it the Name of Saltitudos because there is such great quantity of Salt yearly brought from thence the Spaniard claims the Propriety of this Island lying so near the Main where they inhabit and therefore will sometimes take our English Vessels as they are loading of Salt of which they took two the Season before we came there The East and West end of this Island is for the most part Sand the middle consists of hard and carggy Rocks that are very poreous resembling honey Combs and therefore we called them Honey-Comb Rocks There is plenty of small Bushes growing out of the Sand and Shrubs from between the Rocks but no Timber Trees on the whole Island One the South side near the East end is the Salenaes or salt Ponds from whence the Salt is brought which is thus made the Sea or salt Water penetrates through the beachy Banks of the Sea and over-flows a large Plain of two or three Miles circumference near a Foot deep where by the scorching heat of the Sun the thin Aqueous part is exhaled and the Saline part is Coagulated into pure white Christaline Salt and because there is a continual supply of Salt Water from the Sea the Sun continues exhaling and coagulating until the whole Salenaes is deeply covered over with Salt so that all they have to do is only to rake it together and carry it aboard There is great plenty of Birds and Fowl as Pellicans Flammans Parakets Mocking Birds and a innumerable company of Sea-Fowl and some Vegiâ—able Productions of which I shall have occasion to treat hereafter But to return from this Digression the Privateers had no sooner left us but we found our selves of necessity obliged to seek out for Provision and being led by the Example of those four Privateers that staid behind we wâ—lked along the Sea-shore to watch for Tortoise or Turtle which when they came up out of the Sea to lay their Eggs in the Sand we turned them on their Backs and they being uncapable of turning themselves again we let them remain so till the day following or until we had conveniency of killing them for if they were sufficiently defended from the heat of the Sun by a shade which we usually built over them they would live several days out of the Water And thus we walked to and fro in the Night time to turn Turtle and in the Day time we were imployed in killing them whose Flesh was the chiefest of our Diet being roasted by the Fire on wooden Spits and sometimes when we designed a Feastival we left some part of the Flesh on the Calepatch and Calapee that is the Back and Breast Shells which we roasted by setting them upright in two forked Sticks thrust into the Sand before a large Fire what we did not eat we cut into long and slender pieces and after we had salted it very well we
and now was that common saying verified Confess and be hanged for notwithstanding his large Promises of Grace and Favour we were all condemned to be drawn hanged quartered by his order there was 230 executed besides a great Number hanged immediately aster thē Fight the rest of us was ordered to be Transported to the Caribe Islands and in order thereunto my Brother and I with near 100 more was given to Jeremiah Nepho and by him sold to George Penne a needy Papist that wanted Money to pay for our Transportation and therefore was very importunate with my Relations to purchase mine and my Brothers freedom which my Relations at first were unwilling to do having no assurance of performing Articles at such a distance and therefore thought it best to defer it until we came to Barbadoes or otherwise to agree to pay him as soon as they should receive an account of our being set free But this not satisfying him having present occasion of Money he threatned that if they would not pay him now he would give orders to his Brother-in-law in Barbadoes that our freedom should not be sold us after we came there but that he should treat us with more rigour and severity then others with these Threats on the one hand and Promises of particular Favour on the other he at length prevailed with our Relations to give him threescore Pounds upon condition that we should be free when we came to Barbadoes only owning some Person whom we should think fit to nominate as a titular Master and in case that these with other Conditions was not performed the said George Penne was bound with his Brother John Penne in a Bond of 120 l. to pay the threescore Pounds back again And thus we may see the buying and selling of Free-men into slavery was beginning again to be renewed among Christians as if that Heathenish Custom had been a necessary dependance on arbitrary Power And in order to our Transportation we were removed to Weymouth and Shipt aboard a Vessel that belonged to London which in a few days set Sail for Barbadoes where we arrived in about five Weeks time but had a very sickly passage insomuch that nine of my Companions were buried in the Sea. We had not been many days in Barbadoes before the Governour of the said Island summoned the General Assembly who welcomed us with the following Unchristian and Inhumane Acts. An Act for the governing and retaining within this Island all such Rebels convict as by his most sacred Majesties Order or Permit have been or shall be Transported from his Europian Dominion to this Place WHereas a most horrid wicked and execrable Rebellion was lately raised and prosecuted within his Majesties Dominions by James Scot late Duke of Monmouth and Archibald Campbell late Earl of Argile and their trayterous Complices with intent to destroy his Majesties most sacred Person and royal Family to overthrow his Crown and Government and to render his Dominions the Theatres of Blood and Misery In prevention whereof it hath pleased the divine Providence which is ever peculiarly watchful to guard the Thrones of Princes to accompany his Majesties Counsel and Arms with such Success and Victory that the said Rebels and Traytors were utterly deseated for which impious Fact many of them have since deservedly suffered the pains of Death according to Law which the rest were liable unto being equally guilty of those barbarous Crimes and must have undergone but that his Majesty in his Princely and unparralled Grace and Clemency hath been pleased to extend his mercy in sparing the Lives of several Thousands of them by comuting the Execution of their Sentance unto atemporary Service in his American Colonies and forasmuch as his sacred Majesty hath signified it as his royal Pleasure that the said Rebels or so many of them as should be transported to his said American Collonies should be there held and obliged to serve the Buyers of them for and during the full space of and term of ten Years at least and that they be not permitted in any manner whatsoever to redeem themselves by Money or otherwise until that time be fully expired Therefore we his Majesties most dutiful and loyal Subjests his Lieutenant Governonr Council and general Assembly of this his Majesties said Island taking the Premises into our serious Consideration and being zealous to render all due and ready Obedience to his Majesties Command as also to make apparent with how great abhorrence and detestation we resent the said late wicked inhumane and damnable Rebellion and all those that were Promotors and Actors therein have thought it becoming our duty to Bnact and it is hereby Enacted by the Right Honourable Edward Steed Esq Lt. Governour and Commander in chief of this and other the Caribbe Islands the Honourable the Council and general Assembly of this Island and Authority of the same That what Person or Persons soever were guilty of the aforesaid Rebellion and have been therefore Convict which either already have been or hereafter shall be brought to this Island either by his Majesties order or permit for the purpose aforesaid shall be held compelled and obliged to serve and obey the Owner or Purchaser of him or them in their Plantations within this Island in all such Labour or Service as they shall be commanded to perform and do by their Owners Masters or Mistresses or their Overseers for the full time and term of Ten Years from the day of their Landing and disposed of fully to be compleated and ended any Bargain Law Vsage or Custom in this Island to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding and to the intent that no Disobedience may be suffered or done upon his Majesties said Orders and Expectations concerning the said Rebels convict but that they may become fully liable unto and bare the aforesaid mark of their monstrous Villany It is farther enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any Master of a Ship Importer Owner Master or Purchaser of any of the Rebels aforesaid shall acquit release or discharge them or any of them or do permit them or any of them to redeem themselves by Money or other Reward or Recompence or Consideration whatsoever respecting either themselves or the said Rebels convict before the term of ten Years Service in this Island as aforesaid be fully compleated and ended or shall conive at or assist unto their or any of their Removes With-drawings or Escapings from off this Island the Party or Parties so offending herein shall therefore forfeit and pay unto his Majesty his Heirs and Successors the sum of two Hundred Pound Sterling for each or every one of the said Rebels which by him or them shall be either aquitted released discharged or permitted to be redeemed or conived at or assisted unto a remove withdrawing or escaping off this Island before the full end of the Term aforesaid over and above the value or recompence for which it was permitted or done and farther shall suffer
Imprisonment in the Common Goal of this Island for the space and term of one whole Year without Bail or Mainprize and be for ever thereafter uncapable of hearing any publick Office within this Island And it is hereby further enacted and ordaired by the Authority aforesaid that if one or more of the aforesaid Servants or Rebels convict shall attempt endeavour or contrive to make his or their escape from off this Island before the said term of ten Years be fully compleat and ended such Servant or Servants for his or their so attempting or indeavouring to make escape shall upon proof thereof made to the Governour receive by his Warrant 39 Lashes on his bare Body on some publick day in the next Market-Town to his Masters place of abode and on another Market day in the same Town be set in the Pillory by the space of one Hour and be burnt in the Fore-head with the Letters F. T. signifying Fugitive Traytor so as the Letters may plainly appear in his Fore-head but for all other Misdimeanours and Miscarriages they shall be prosecuted and punished according to the Laws of this Island provided for the governing of other Servants And to the end the said convict Rebels may be the better known distinguisht it is hereby further enacted and ordained that within eight days after the arrivat of any Ship or Vessel to this Island in which any of the said convist Rebels are brought the Master of the said Ship shall deliver to the Governour and in to the Secrataries Office of this Island a true List or Catalogue of those Names upon Oath and the Merchant or Merchants to whom they come consined or who have the disposal of them shall also within eight dayes after finishing the Sale give unto the said Office a just account of the Persons Names to whom they were sold and disposed of and in case of failure herein the same shall forfeit to the King his Heirs and Successors the sum of Two Hundred Pounds Sterlings and the Merchant or Merchants shall forfeit in like manner the sum of two Hundred Pounds Sterling And for such of the said convict Rebels as have been already Imported before the making and publishing of this Act the Master and Merchant of such Vessels are hereby required forth-with to deliver to the Secratary such List or Catalogue as aforesaid upon Penalty of the like forfeiture which said List or Catalogue the said Secretary is required to receive and write out fairly and cause to be hung up in his Office that all Persons concernced may have free recourse thereto And in case the first Buyer shall sell or assign over any such Rebel or Rebels convict to any other Inhabitant or Inhabitants of this Island the Vender is hereby required to give notice thereof to the Secretary to the end the Name or Names of such Servant or Servants may be changed in the Secretarys Office from the first to the second or other Purchaser or Assigns may stand charged as the first And in case of the death of any of the Servants aforesaid it is hereby further enacted That the present Owner shall within fourteen days make or cause Oath to be made before the next or some Justice of the Peace of the Name and Death of such a Servant and that he really was in the Record and not another of the same Name that by means of the Certificate sent to the Secretary's Office that the Secretary may charge him dead And if any Owners or Vendors shall fail in either of the Cases aforesaid he or they shall forfeit to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors the sum of twenty five Pound Sterling and for the Secratary's pains therein and also in case of changing Masters or Mistresses the Secratary may receive for such Person dead or assigned over six Pence and no more And to the end none of the Servants or convict Rebels may remove or escape from this Island by obtaining Tickets under wrong Names or other fraudulent or illegal Methods of this kind it is hereby further enacted and ordained by the Authority aforesaid that all Justices of the Peace that shall hereafter take Assidavits to be sent to the Secratary's Office for Persons that design to go off this Island shall always express and insert in those Assidavits that the Person so going off and desiring a Ticket is not one of those Servants and convict Rebels without which the Secratary is hereby forbidden to grant or produce a Ticket and the Secratary is also required to use the same method in such Assidavits as shall be taken before himself under the Penalty of forfeiting to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors the sum of two hundred Pound Sterling for his neglect in either of these cases and whosoever obtaining a Ticket lawfully out of the Secratary's Office being of the Name of any of those Rebels or otherwise and shall permit any of the said Rebels of that Name or others to have such Tickets by which he may be in a probable way of making his escape off this Island shall forfeit to the use of our Soveraign Lord the King his Heirs and Successors the sum of one hundred Pound Sterling if he be able to pay the same and also suffer Imprisonment in the Common Goal by the space of six Moneths without Bail or Mainprize the said Commitment to be made and Execution to be levied by Warrant from the Governnour upon proof made before him by two Witnesses or one Witness with pregnant Circumstances but in case such Persons be uncapable to make Payment of such Forfeiture he is hereby ordered to lie in Prison during the space of six Moneths and be set once in the Pillory by the space of two Hours at a time in each of the four Market-Towns of this Island on four several dayes And for the encouragement of all such as shall inform or discover any false fraudulant or wicked Practice of this kind it is hereby enacted that one fifth part of all forfeits in the Act mentioned shall be to the use and benefit of such Informers And to the end the Restraint continuing and holding the said Rebels convict within this Island during the term aforesaid may be the effectually and fully secured and provided for and also for preventing the Servants Slaves and Debtors of this Island from running of by which some have perished in the Sea It is is hereby further enacted and ordained by the Authority aforesaid that every Owner or Keeper of any small Vessel Sloop Shallop Wherry Fishing Boat or any other sort of Boat belonging to this Island shall within twenty dayes after publication hereof give into the Secratary's Office of this Island in the sum of two hundred Pound Sterling excepting the small Boats and Wherries who are to enter in the sum of ten Pound Sterling that he will not convey or carry off from this Island any of the asoresaid Rebels convict or any other Person that hath not a lawful Ticket
knowing him by his Voice to be one of my Companions I gladly received the account he gave me which was that the Watch came only to call up one of their Number that was to watch with them that Night and then went away without taking the least notice of the Boat. However I was so disheartened by this unlucky Accident that I was altogether unwilling to make a second attempt till at length over-ruled by the Importunity of my Friend more especially when he told me that they all waited for me and could not go without me for neither of them had any skill in Navigation and considering the baseness of disappointing so many Persons whom I had ingaged in so much danger I resolved once more to hazard a burnt Forehead and fore Back and going with him to the Water side I found my Companions by the Boat waiting for me and not a little glad to see me come again then we put the Negroes into the Store-house charging them not to stir forth or make any noise till the Morning and to incourage them to be faithful to us I gave them three half pieces of Eight for their good Service This done and thus delivered from our Fears we embarked in our small Vessel being in number eight namely John Whicker Peter Bagwell William Woodcock John Cooke Jeremiah Atkins and my self which were Sufferers on the account of the Duke of Monmouth the other two was John Nuthall who bought the Boat for me and Thomas Waker Thomas Austin of whom I formerly spake was so possessed with fear of being cast away that he would not go with us About Midnight we put off to Sea designing for Quirasao a Dutch Island that lies about 200 Leagues thence for we durst not go to any English Island for fear we should be taken and sent back again We rowed softly forward within a Pistols shot of the fort for there lay at that time a Man of War in the Road which made us not a little afraid of being discovered by those watchful Enemies but Providence so ordered it that we passed both without discovery However by that time we were got clear of the Fort and Shiping our Boat being so extream leaky had taken in so much Water that we were almost ready to sink not daring to heave it out before for fear of making a noise to alarm our Enemies But having the conveniency of a Tub and large wooden Bowle we fell to work and in a little time we pretty well emptied our Boat and then we set our Mast and hoisted our Sail and steered our Course South-West as near as I could judge intending to make the great Granada for our Candles being bruised into one mass of Tallow and our Tinder and Matches wet we could not strike a light to steere by our Compass neither indeed had we any Candles lighted for the same Reason during our whole Voyage so that in the Night we were forced to steere by the Stars and when it was cloudy by the Wind. That which troubled us most was the leakiness of our little Vessel for although we endeavoured all we could to stop her gaping Seams with our Linnen and all the Rags we had which we tallowed with our bruised Candles yet she was so thin so feeble so heavy loaden and wrought so exceedingly by reason of the great motion of the Sea that we could not possibly make her tight but was forced to keep one Person almost continually Night and Day to throw out the water during our whole Voyage the same Night most of my Companions were so Sea sick that notwithstanding we were all ready to sink I could hardly perswade them to throw out the Water and my place being at the Helm to guide and govern the Boat I could not safely go thence however at length through great Importunity and earnest Perswasions I prevailed with them to take a little pains to preserve us from drowning My Companions now began to wish themselves at Barbadoes again and would willingly have returned but I told them there was no possibility of it being so far to leward of the Island One of them through Carelesness in heaving out the Water threw over our wooden Bowle and we running away with a large Wind could not go back to take it up so that we had nothing left to throw out the Water but our Tub which obliged them to be more careful of it for our Lives were concerned therein May the 10th in the Morning we were got almost out of sight of the Island at least far enough from being descried from thence And perceiving no sort of Vessel in persuit of us we began to be cheered up with the thoughts of our Liberty and the hopes of our safe arrival at our desired Port But then alas the Night no sooner approacht but we were assailed with a brisk Gale of Wind under which misfortune another worse befell us that we split our Rudder so that we were forced to lower our Sail and with an Oar to keep our Boat before the Sea whilst one of my Company a Joyner mended our Helm by nailing to it two pieces of Boards that done we went cheerily on again May the 11th we had indifferent good Weather and my Companions pretty well recovered of their Sea sickness and now we had time to put things in a better posture in our Boat and to raise her which we did by nalling on Tarpolings from her sides to our Oars that were lasht fast about nine Inches above which did us good service in keeping out the Sea We likewise made a Tilt with a Hamock over the hinder part of our Boat to defend us from the scorching heat of the Sun. May the 12th this Morning notwithstanding we steered South-West to weather the Great Granada the Currant had set us so much to the Northward that we made the Granadilloes to bear West of us which obliged us to steere more Southerly to weather the Great Granada May the 13th the last Night we weathered the Great Granada and steered down the South side of the same and then shaped our Course for the Testegoes for I could not take any true Observation by my Quadrant because of the uneven motion of the Sea and the nearness of the Sun to the Zenith and therefore was constrained to steere a Course from Island to Island though the farther way about May the 14th We had fair Weather and a fresh Gale of Wind and about Noon as I remember we made the Testegoes bearing South South-West and before Night made the North-East end of the Magaretaes But by this time being so extreamly spent for want of sleep having been obliged for the most part Night and Day to steere the Boat I was desirous to take a little Rest but first I directed one of my Companions how to steere down by the said Island and then composed my self to Sleep in which interval of time my Companions eagerly longing for fresh Water regard ours stunk so
extreamly as it did stood in for the Land and loar'd the Sail designing to go ashore at which time I happily awoke and apprehending the great danger of falling into the Hands of the Indians who had already kindled a Fire on the Shore not far from us I caused the Sail again to be hoistup hasted away with all Expedition being favoured with a brisk Gale of Wind got soon out of fear or danger of those savage Canibals May the 15th we had fair Weather and very pleasant Sailing down the North side of this Island But when we had got about the middle of the Island my Companions were no less importunate than before to go ashore for fresh Water to which I at length consented partly because I saw that part of the Island free from Inhabitants and partly enticed by the fair appearance of a sandy Bay and the Water seemed so smooth that I thought we could not injure our Boat by running her ashore in regard we had neither Anchor nor Grapling to ride her off But contrary to our expectations and to our great surprisal we found the Ground near the Shore exrream foul and the Sea heaved us so fast in that we could not possibly avoid being split on the Rocks had not I leapt into the Sea to fend her off which whilst I laboured to do with my Feet against the Rock till I was almost spent my Companions with their two Oars rowed her off at which our Hearts were filled with Joy and our Mouthes with Praises to the Lord who had so wonderfully preserved us from being cast away on this Island where probably we must either have been starved our selves or have become Food for those inhumane Man-eaters From the West end of this Island we directed our Course for Saltatudos but that After-noon the Wind increased and a white Ring encircled the Moon which I thought presaged ill Weather and to our great sorrow proved too true for about nine at Night a dreadful Storm arose which made us despair of ever seeing the Morning-Sun and now the Sea began to foam and to turn its smooth Surface into Mountains and Vales our Boat was tossed and tumbled from one side to the other and so violently driven and hurried away by the fury of the Wind and Sea that I was affraid we should be driven by the Island in the Night time and therefore we brought our Boat too with her Head against the Sea but the Wind and Sea still increasing we was forced to bear up before it with only Sail sufficient to give her steeridge way And now in vain we began to wish our selves at the Barbadoes again or which was worse on that Island on which we were so lately like to have been wrackt believing that a Misery then which now we should have thought a happiness and that which confirmed us the more in the certainty of our approaching Ruin was an unexpected Voice which to our thinking seemed to hallow to us at a great distance But the Omnipotent who is never unmindful of the Cries of his People in Distress heard our Prayers so that when all our Hopes were given over and we had resigned our selves into his Hands expecting every moment when the wide gaping Sea would devour and swallow us up God of his infinite Mercy and unspeakable Goodness commanded the violence of the Winds to cease and allayed the fury of the raging Waves eternal Praises to his Name for evermore May the 16th this Morning at break of Day saw the Island of Saltatudos just before us and when it was sufficiently light that we could discern how the Land lay we steered down the North side intending to go ashore at some convenient place to refresh our selves after that dreadful Storm and to take on board some fresh Water and if possible to stop the leaks of our Boat in order to proceed in our Voyage for Quirasoe and accordingly when we came to leward of a small Island hard by the other we stood in directly for the shore thinking it a convenient place to Land which we had no sooner done but we saw a Canow coming thence directing her Course towards us at which sight being a little surprised my Companions provided their Arms and charged their Musquets and Blunderbuss with pieces of Glass-Bottles for we coming from Barbadoes in so great a hurry and fear through forgetfulness they left their Bag of Bullets on the Wharf When they were come somewhat nearer that we could perceive them to paddle like Indians we bore up and were running from them which as soon as they perceived they waved their Hats and hailed us by which we knew they were not Indians as we supposed and therefore permitted them to come nearer and perceiving them to be white men we enquired what they were they told us They were English men in distress c. and waited for an opportunity to go off the Island The account we gave them of our selves was very short That we came from one of the Windward Islands by which they supposed we had fled for Debt and should have continued in that belief had not Thomas Waker one of my Companions privately informed them that there was only he and John Nuthall that were Debtors the rest of us being Rebels for he thought thereby to ingratiate himself and Friend into their favour But these Privateers for so they were as we afterwards understood hated them the more for their Treachery and loved us the better confessing that they were Rebels too adding That if the Duke of Monmouth had bad One Thousand of them they would soon have put to flight the King's Army But to proceed when we came to the shore the Privateers assisted us to hall up our Boat that she might not be injured by the Sea having no conveniency to ride her off which done they shewed us the Well of fresh Water which was hard by their Huts where we refreshed our selves a little and with our Sail we made a shade to keep the Sun from us and when we had so done we lay down under it to refresh our selves with Rest and Sleep having had but little of either all our Voyage being so extreamly thronged together in our little Boat. These Privateers at first were very kind to us and gave us some of their Provision and related to us the Story of their Adventures which to the best of my memory was thus that they formerly belonged to one Captain Yanche Commander of a Privateer of 48 Guns that designed to plunder a Spanish Town by the Gulf of Florida called St Augusteen and in order thereunto sent thirty of them out into the Gulf of Floâ—ida to take Canows from the Indians for the more convenient and speedy Landing their men but they going ashore on the Main to turn Turtle was set upon by the Indians and two of them killed on the place however at length they put the Indians to flight and some time afterwards took two or