in their sloop with their richest things at the same time Monsieur de Pouriere man'd out his sloop after our Commandant had return'd back again unwilling that any should share the first advantage with him which was very Considerable else the enemy had not had time to go ashoar and save what they did and we had certainly taken 2 Women who cary'd off eight hundred Caupants of gold to the vallue of above 10000 crowns in Pearls and Jevvels While these fled ashoar we made a detatchment of six Gard Marins and several Musketeers to arm the sloop and the boat in which Monsieur Dauberville our Lieutenant was commanded to board the Dutch man I was chosen with one of my commarades to accompany him and the other four going in the boat we went directly to the Pink while the men aboard her Smoaking their pipes veiw'd us with little or no Concern but seven or eight more affirighted than the rest cry'd out to the Negros who were not far off to fetch them a shoar in their Perogues vvhich they did notwithstanding all our threats the Dutch lept into it confusedly but our men in the boat Coming up with them at the first fire so scar'd them that they chose to Row back again to their ship and there abide the utmost We were within pistol shot of the ship when we saw one of the Seamen busy at one of the Guns upon which we in a manner gave our selves for lost and Monsieur Duquesne had the same opinion of us and had they been men of any resolution nothing had been easier than to have destroy'd us by levelling one gun at the boat and another at the sloop 'T was now some time since our Squadron had hung out French colours and the enemy-thinking all resistance vain took down theirs when we presently boarded them without the least resistance crying Vive le Roy. One would scarce believe with what earnestness and violence the Seamen pillage when they enter a ship breaking open trunks and boxes and rifling every thing nay they were so violent in plundring these Dutchmen that some of them fell on the Captain who was smoaking quietly with his Lieutenant tearing the gold buttons out of the neck and sleeves of his shirt and taking six Caupants of gold from him which is a sort of long money of Japan of the value of ten crowns a piece Monsieur D' Auberville having embarqued all the Spoil he received from the Seamen that boarded her sent back the Boat to our Commandant who landed some men in it soon enough to recover eight of those Eleven Chests of Silver which the Enemy had carried off in their sloop Our men soon discover'd them by a track of Rix Dollars that were scatter'd on the Sand which lead them directly to the place where the Dutchmen had hid them but our persuit being vigorous they they had not time enongh to convey them to a Counter about 2 Leagues distant Some of the Seamen got no less than 3 or 400 Crowns in the plunder for their share and afterwards their thoughts run on nothing else but more prize and pillage This was a new Pink of about 70 Tun and came from Batavia ballasted with Rice to load Nutmegs and Cinnamon at Ceylon We fetcht her out of the road of Mevelle and brought her to an anchor hard by our Squadron the prisoners we desperst amongst us Monsieur Duquesne took six of the chief of them with the Captain and Lieutenant whom he treated at his own Table and omitted no part of Civillity that might lessen the sense of their present loss and imprisonment CHAP. XVII Another small Dutch Vessel taken HAving chosen a Pilot and some Seamen to conduct the Prize we sail'd the last of July in the evening and came to an anchor nearer Land but sail'd again early next morning still on the watch for more Prize We were very much delay'd here by a calm that lasted four days and the slow sailing of the Prize which could not keep us company we took in some of our sails to stay for her this made the Commandant resolve to send the Lyon with her to Pontecherry where the Squadron was to call while we cruis'd about the Island Being thus separated on the 6th of August we perceiv'd a ship a head of us when we presently made all the sail we could to come up with her before she could gain the land which she endeavour'd with all the speed she could at a distance we believ'd her as big as the Rock but after giving he chase for 2 hours we found she was a small Vessel of thirty five Tuns carrying Dutch colours we fir'd one gun at her without ball to make her strike which she presently did and lay by till we came up seeing us hang out English Colours but the Captain of this little Vessel was not a little surpriz'd when he saw us take in the English Colours and hang out French and took down his own when we presently commanded him aboard who answering he had neer a boat we sent our sloop who brought him and 20 more Dutch prisoners aboard whom we distributed amongst the several ships This poor man lookt upon himself as lost with his whole Family and the first favour he desired of the Commandant was to take pitty on his wife and six Children which he had which was promiss'd him when Monsieur Duquesne gave orders to bring his Chest aboard which when 't was searcht there was found neither money nor merchandize of value in it any more than in the Vessel so he had leave given him to return with his wife who was a Negress but the command of his ship was given to another and a Pilot and other Seamen put aboard CHAP. XVIII Six Dutch ships under the Fort of Negapatam avoid being attackt by the advantage of a Sand bank AFter we had cruis'd for some time upon the Isle of Ceylon we left it and made towards the main Land the 9th of August we anchor'd within five leagues of the Negapatan which is a Town on the coast of Coramandel where the Dutch have a Fort and a considerable Factory Next day having weigh'd anchor early in the morning we arriv'd there betimes and every one being greedy of Action we were overjoy'd to see six ships there that seem'd to us of a considerable burthen The Fort discovering us set up Dutch colours and three of these ships of which the greatest as Admiral hung them out on the Main mast top we answer'd them presently with English colours which did not puzzle them a little to discover what we were in the mean time we made in with full sail ready and forward to engage But just as we thought to seize our prey two accidents happen'd that baukt us extreamly the wind blowing from the land and a Sand bank which vve discover'd hinderd us from coming within shot of them we past on still sounding and were once in four fathom and an half the
again it shall be to live in the Great Canary But I can scarce prefer any thing to France it self for happiness but before I leave this Island I must not forget to tell you That it 's 30 Leagues in compass and almost round Saturday the 2d towards Evening the Wind blowing hard at North-North-East we Sailed and slacking again about Three a Clock in the Morning we Steer'd our Course in sight of the Pic a high Mountain of the Island of Teneriffe with a design to Anchor in the Road of Holy-Cross our Pilots observ'd in this Latitude that the Needle varied to the North-East three Degrees thirty Minutes Sunday the 3d being to the farthest North of the Great Canary with a scanty Wind at North-North-East we had the Cape to the West all Night Monday the 4th in the Morning we arriv'd at Teneriffe the richest of all the Canary Islands in sight of Holy-Cross a little Town on the East Point of the Island One may Anchor there in 25 or 30 Fathom Water however we did not Anchor at all and remain'd ready to Sail again all day waiting the Sloop that was sent ashore Thô the Governor of Holy-Cross permitted those who went in the Sloop to Land yet he acquainted the Governor-General whose Residence is at Laguna three Leagues from the Sea that there was some French who desir'd to come ashore to be supply'd with Provisions The Answer was To make them Prisoners if they did Perhaps the reason was That they were afraid we might have some Aboard that had the Plague thinking we came from the Levant The Pic is one of the highest Mountains in the World they say one may see it 40 Leagues off at Sea As for us we saw it but 12 or 15 by reason of the Fog which made it appear to us like a Cloud in the Point of a Diamond it 's always cover'd with Snow thô it never Snows below nor ever Freezes As for Teneriffe it 's reckon'd to be the highest Island in the Ocean and the best Peopled for its bigness containing 15000 Inhabitants it 's this which produces that excellent Wine of Malvesia which passes for the best in the World This Wine is not known in these Islands but since the Spaniards became Masters of it for they first brought the Plant from Candia and now they prefer this Wine to that of the Place from whence it derives its Original and there comes a greater quantity from thence than from Candia The Seven Canary Islands lye in a Line one by another almost exactly from East to West they are very Mountainous but well Peopled and very Fertile the least is 60 Miles in compass As I had formerly heard speak of a wonderful Tree in the Isle of Fer whose long and narrow Leaves are always green and supply'd all its Inhabitants with Water I was willing to inform my self about it and I ask'd if it was so as I was inform'd that there falls so great a Dew on this Tree that dropping afterwards as a clear Water into Stone Basons which they set a purpose to receive it it supplies both all the Men and Beasts of the Island Providence thus wonderfully supplying the want of fresh Water They told me 't was a meer Fiction yet some there were too who said there might be such a Tree in the Island but that it did not yield such a quantity Tuesday the 5th we continued our Course to the Southward in 27 Degrees 40 Minutes of Southern Latitude and in 360 Degrees of Eastern Longitude about Six in the Evening the South Point of the Great Canary lay East-North-East from us about 7 Leagues off Wednesday the 6th it blew so hard at East that we were extreamly shatter'd in our Masts and Rigging and the Main-Mast bow'd so that we expected it would come by the Board this Tempest ceas'd a quarter of an hour after and we enjoy'd a Calm again Thursday the 7th at Noon being in 23 Degrees of Southern Latitude and 28 Minutes of East Longitude we pass'd the Tropick of Cancer Wednesday the 8th we approach'd the Coast of Barbary being at Noon in 20 Degrees 47 Minutes of South Latitude the Wind blowing hard at East-North-East and observing 't was impossible to gain Cape Blanc before Night and that we were four Leagues from Land being in 28 Fathom Water we presently tack'd about Steering East-South-East And Saturday the 9th about Eight a Clock in the Morning we found our selves within a League of Land We rang'd the Coast as far as Cape Blanc where we Anchor'd in 14 fathom Water to the North-West about a League from the Point of the Cape which is according to our Elevation in 20 Degrees 30 Minutes of South Latitude and 359 Degrees 10 Minutes of West Latitude When the Portuguese first discover'd this Cape about the Year 1454. they call'd it Cape Blanc for that being Sandy and Barren they saw not the least Verdure it 's level like the Sea whence they call'd it the Sea of Sand. From Cape Cantin to this Cape which comprehends 300 Leagues one sees nothing but a Sandy Plain call'd by the Ancients the Desart of Lybia and by the Arabians Zaara it's Inhabited only by Wild Beasts as Lyons Tygers Onces Leopards and such like Creatures These Desarts reach to Mount Aâ—las on the North and to the Country of the Negroes on the South they are of so vast an extent from East to West that they can't be pass'd on Horseback in fifty days By this way the Caravans of Fex pass to Tombut Melly Borneo and the other Kingdoms of the Negroes When a Storm rises in these Desarts the Sand Buries Men and Camels and often the Stuffs and filling up the Pits by the way the Passengers Dye with Thirst as there is no beaten Path there they make use of the Compass as at Sea There 's a sort of a Gulf in the very Point of Cape Blanc which takes its Name from the Island which it forms which is call'd Arguin this Gulf advances above 15 Leagues into the Land for which reason we lose the sight of it in passing the Point The Portuguese had a Fort formerly in this Island from whence they Traffick'd with the Azoaghes Arabs or Moors who exchange with them Gold Gum-Arabick Ivory and Ostridges Feathers which are in great Plenty there by reason of the great number of these Birds 'T is said of this Creature that its Memory is so bad that it forgets where 'thas laid its Eggs and often treads on them I can't easily believe what I am told that one of them will feed eight Men. They bring these Merchandizes to Hoden which is four days Journey up Land and where arrive the Carravans of Tombut Gualata and other places of Inward Lybia and of the Negroes Country These People observe the Law of Mahomet don't stay long in a place wandring from one place to another along the Desarts according as they find
Pasture for their Horses Camels Oxen Sheep and Goats on the Milk of which they live They are divided by Tribes and Families they acknowledge no other King but him who surpasses the rest in Riches and him they willingly Obey as their Captain Their Traffick with the Negroes consists in Horses and Camels they receive two six eight ten Slaves for one Horse but for a Camel only two The Fort of Arguin was taken by the Dutch from the Portuguese and again taken from them in the War of 1672. by Monsieur Ducas Captain of the Royal Company of Africa he had but 120 Men to this Expedition and lost but three of them The Cowardise of the Dutch eas'd this Conquest very much for nothing was more easie than to prevent it we had but six Guns of which the biggest was but an Eight Pounder nothing defended us and with all this we wanted Water it being impossible to Drink of that of one single Well in the Island which stinks This Fort remain'd to us by the Treaty of Nimeguen as did all the other Places which the Company Occupies notwithstanding this Treaty the Dutch send several Ships thither every Year which is a manifest infraction The Captain of our Ship Landed there with 30 Men thinking to have met the Ship call'd the Town of Hambourgh but it was Sail'd away we found only one Bark in the Dock which was not finish'd and which we burnt and another little Vessel in which were some Moors and Dutch who abandoning it Swam for 't 'T was found Loaded with Tortoises which were very welcom to our Men in the Sloop whose Provisions were all spent they are very large on this Coast and very plentiful one alone will feed 30 Men they eat like Veal and are Meat good enough its Shell may be about 15 Foot round Cape Blanc abounds in Fish besides the common Fish as Parguese Vielles Gold-Fish Junny and Sea-Dogs and others of whose Names I am ignorant our Men catch'd some of them and fed very happily on them for eight days which we carried on this Coast As far as the Mouth of the River of Senegal there are some shatter'd Habitations of Moors thô the Country be very Barren and scarce any thing lives there but Fish Saturday the 16th we continued our Course to Goree and past in sight of the River Senegal of which I shall speak hereafter Tuesday the 19th we discover'd Cape-Verde being in 14 Degrees 45 Minutes of Southern Latitude North. This Cape was thus Nam'd by the Portuguese who discover'd it the same Year as Cape-Blanc They Nam'd it Cape-Verde because the great number of Trees they saw there of which several are always green It 's high and yields a pleasant Prospect on the top are two round Mountains which from their resemblance were call'd Breasts It advances very far out into the Sea and passes for the greatest in the Ocean after Cape De-Bon-Esperance there is a great concourse of Tides there which bear to the Southward It s Situation is ill mark'd in the Card which places it in 14 Degrees exact whereas it 's in 14 and a half After doubling the first Point for there are two we see a little Island which is uninhabited it 's Nam'd the Isle of Birds by reason of the great numbers seen there at its first Discovery When we had pass'd this Island we doubled the other Point to discover Goree which lies behind the Cape almost opposite to the Breasts The Coast runs inward to the North-West in a Creek where is found the best Water of all this Latitude which is a great relief to the Ships Being arriv'd at Goree Wednesday the 20th of May 1682. and Anchoring in the Road we Saluted the Port with seven Guns which return'd the Salute Gun for Gun the first was with Ball in Honour to Monsieur Dancourt when he went into the Sloop our Ship saluted him with five Guns all the Ships in the Road did the same and when he was Landed the Fort saluted him with seven more After shewing the Letters of the Company who had made him Director he took possession of his Employment he found Affairs in a very ill posture by the conduct of two Persons each of them pretending to the chief Command The one was a Frenchman and Commandant of Goree for the Company and the other their Agent-General along the Coast But as this is none of my business I shall meddle no farther The Island of Goree was called so by the Hollanders because it resembled an Island of Zealand of the same Name It 's about a quarter of a League in compass and runs long ways North and South about a League from the Land it has to the South a Rock slopeing of one side and of the other is wash'd by the Sea The whole Island indeed is surrounded almost by Rocks which hinders the entrance into it except a little Creek by which Vessels may enter As the Portugueses were the first who have made long Voyages on this Coast 't was first discover'd by them as well as all the rest of Africa to the Sea Ocean and Atlantick side having fallen into the possession of the Dutch they built a Fort on the weakest side of the Mountain for the Defence of the Island and of another wretched Fort which was below not able to defend it self Monsieur the Count d'Estrees Vice-Admiral of France in 1678. in the Month of November seiz'd on this Fort which the Governor render'd to him without making any Defence as they could not spare Men to Garison them they were both raz'd Messieurs of the Company who Govern the Island at present have a little re-establish'd that below by Buildings which serve them for Magazines and by the raising an ordinary Wall on the Ruins of the Old Fort only to avoid being insulted by the Negroes Monsieur Dancourt presently employ'd himself in promoting the Trade visiting the Counters establish'd along the Coasts and in giving Orders to the Commissaries and afterwards in seeking the Amity of the Negro Kings and Chiefs To this end he began to visit the Country up and down for a matter of fourscore Leagues that is from the Mouth of the Senegal to that of the River Gambia which are the two Mouths of the River Niger I accompany'd him in all his Journeys along the Coasts when I inform'd my self of all that concerns the Country of their Religion Manners and Customs of the Africans of Cape-Verde We began the 6th of December with Senegal whither we could not go by Sea because of a North Wind that was just contrary to us notwithstanding the Affairs of that place requiring the presence of Monsieur Dancourt because of the Death of the Governor which happen'd a little before he resolv'd to go thither by Land and to send the Fame a Ship commanded by Captain D'Oyere as well to carry Merchandise as to bring back
the happiness to descry it and the Sentinel whom we had plac'd on the Top-gallant no sooner cry'd Land but we hoist our Flag to give the welcom news to the other ships who were behind which caus'd a vast and universal joy especially amongst the Sick who would needs come above-board to behold the Land where they hop't for recovery Being now late we durst not come too nigh so having lain By half the night Wednesday the 21st of June we came to an anchor before the Isle of Moelly between nine and ten in the morning CHAP. XII Monsieur Duquesne treats with the King of the Isle of Moelly for refreshments who furnishes him in abundance Its Situation Fertility Religion and Manners of its Inhabitants THe Commandant gave the Gun of Assurance the common practice amongst strange Nations when War is not intended and sent in a sloop with Monsieur Voutron and the Scrivain to know if upon presenting the King we might be furnish'd with Refreshments and other necessaries they were receiv'd as well as could be immagin'd by these Savages who seem'd very well pleas'd to exchange their Fruits and Cattel with us This great present consisted of two pieces of Indian cloath and an old Musket which the latter carried who had been in the Country before and spoke some Portuguese he presented them to the King who was then in a sweet and pleasant Valley call'd the Queen's Creek lying by the sea side about 7 Leagues from where we anchord If one may judge of his Condition by his Brother and Sons whom I have seen selling Hens for paper it can be none of the greatest this little Prince was charm'd with our Present and signify'd to the Scrivain by an Indian Portuguese who had liv'd some time in the Country and was his Interpreter and Intendant of his Affairs that he thanked the Commandant and that he would give Orders to his subjects to furnish us with whatever we had occasion for our Money Upon which Monsieur Duquesne went a shoar that very day to regulate every thing that there might be no disorder or difference on the landing and orderd the Captains of the several ships to command the seamen on pain of death to offer no violence to the Negro's Next morning we debarkt our sick to the number of about fifty most ill of the Scurvy for whom we made Tents by the Sea side the Negro's came from all parts with provisions vix Oxen Cows Kids and almost all other kinds of provisions which we had plenty every day and at very easy rates Our Commandant finding he could at an easy rate refresh his men here after their vast fatiegues allow'd them while they stai'd every day as much fresh provisions morning and evening as they could eat which were so plentiful and cheap that a fat Ox cost but four Livers and a half a Cow but a Crown and Pullets Kids Eggs Milk and Fruits we had in exchange for Knives Paper and bits of Linen Of all other they were fondest of Knives and Linen Being generally Magicians they made use of the first to make characters and with the last they cover'd their nakedness and some of our men have bought an Ox for an old tatter'd Shirt They were no less careful to supply us aboard than a shoar coming every day in their Pirogues which are little Banows made of the hollow'd trunk of a Tree bringing us Ananas Bananes Cocos Lemons Oranges and divers other excellent sorts of fruits which we had in plenty as well as of the other provisions while we lay at anchor Every meal seem'd a feast and indeed we had no less than four or five several sorts of meat at each as much water as we would drink besides our ration of wine at dinner and supper instead of Aqua-vita which we were forc'd to drink for two months we had great plenty of Oranges and scarce eat or drank any thing without them so that our present happiness mads us forget all our past miseries which lasted three whole months without so much as sight of land and having no more than was just necessary to keep us alive Moelly is an Island of Arabia which may be about 30 Leagues in compass scituated in 12 degrees of south Lat. and 63 Degrees 40 Minutes of Long. it s very fertil through the frequent rains that fall and hedg'd in with steep rocks both its vallies and high mountains are cover'd with woods in which fat Oxen are found differing from those of France by a bunch of fat on their backs like a wenn as likewise Kidds Poule Pindades Ring-doves and a great deal of other game and there would be excellent fowling if it were not for the inaccssible Mountains The Orange and Lemon Trees are not its least glory they stand so thick in some places that one may smell them at a great distance and distinguish them amongst crowds of other odorifirocous Trees not inferiour even to them there 's scarce a sweet Orange to be found but all of a delicat tartness except some of a smaller growth that have neither the form nor size of a true natural Orange The Island produces besides excellent Rice and Mill thrice as large as that of France and were it more even and compact would be very fit to live in It seems to be but thinly peopl'd for I saw but one Village of about threescore or fourscore cottages made and cover'd with branches of Palm under which the Negro's lie the entrance into them is so low that one must creep to get into them they sleep on Mats of rice straw which they lay on the ground one sees nothing here which does not argue the miserable life these Savages lead Taking a view of this Village I had the curiosity to enter into a wretched Hutt built of stone and sand which they told me was a Pagod or Temple in which these wretches worship an Oxe's head the forehead being inscrib'd with Arabick characters they made him a grot in the wall adorn'd with shell work where they plac'd this reverend Divinity and which they remov'd a little after we went in whither 't was they believ'd us unworthy to look on 't or that they observ'd we slighted it as much as it deserv'd The middle of the Pagod was matted and on the right side as you enter there was a pole stuck in the ground forkt at one end supporting some mother of pearl burnt on the inside which I suppose serv'd for a lamp and a little lower of the same side was a stair-case of 5 steps leading to the place where the King sits To so many superstitions they joyn a great many of the Mahometan so true it is that the Author of that infamous Religion has sprea'd his follies at so great a distance When we arriv'd it was the time of their Ramadam or Lent during which they mayn't eat drink or smoak 'till the sun's set and they are so exact in 't that no perswasions or threats can make 'em
Islands which lay to the East of us The Commandant sent the sloop arm'd a shoar in case they should hinder their landing but none opposing it they ransak't the whole Island with all the eagerness and nicey as such violent thirst could inspire them with without being able to discover spring or river and consequently any Inhabitants they past the night easy enough by reason of the abundance of Cocos they met with which supplied the defect of water of which they brought us the boat full next day and two Lizards of a prodigious length with three Tortoises's one of which was big enough two make two meals for the whole Crew but as it was not that we wanted most Monsieur Duquesne sent the sloop presently to the other Island ordering the Officer if he met with water to give notice of it by a signal of two fires The Bird which could not get so near the wind as we lay at a Loofe and therefore could not come at an anchor with us till four in the afternoon in the morning Chavilier Dair came aboard us as well to know our necessities as to inform us of his own for he told us we wanted not only Water but meat for his Table Monsieur Duquesne reflecting on the miserable condition the last Tempest had brought them too the Dangers they had run and those they shou'd be expos'd too in case they attempted to gain Merguy while the wind was contrary He resolved therefore in case there was no Water in that great Island to Steer his course directly to Negraille it being a place design'd for our Rendezvouze and winter Quarters if we were not able to reach Merguy or force the Siamoi's to entertain us About Two in the afternoon we saw the sloop returning and presently we hoist sail and met her in order to take our measures according to the news she brought us which indeed was such as could not be more Welcom than in our present distress Our Company was all on the Deck to see the sloop returning loaden tho' yet uncertain with what shouted for joy they askt what she brought and being answer'd Water at that word immediately all our trouble were dispers'd by this pleasing draught of which we drunk unmeasurably and then anchor'd with satisfaction near the great Isle about a League from Land CHAP. XXXIV WE would not loose a moment of time in going a shour where we loaded fifty tun of water and wood tho' not without great toil by reason of the landing which is very troublesom at low water The sloops being obliged to anchor at large we were forc'd to go up to the Neck in the Water to get a shoar by reason of the vast number of small Rocks that inviron this Isle They who admire shell-work may glut their fancy here for the strand is cover'd or'e with the most beautiful shells that can be seen The Island produces no pallatable fruit but Cocos the vast plenty of which was very benificial to me and some others whose curiosity had oblig'd us to lie in a part of the Island where there is no sweet Water to be had we kindled a great fire and past the whole night by it eating and drinking Cocos not being able to sleep by reason of the Maraingevins that continually stung us they are little flies like those they call Cousins in France But much more troublesom and pernicious they appearing only in the night Every one will justly wonder that the same fruit should yeild both heat and drink yet such is the Coco the tree is lofty Crooked at the Foot like the Pinetree its branches are gather'd at top the fruit is commonly as big as ones head the bark being so exceeding thick you cannot find the Coco till you have stript it at the end there 's a hole which you no sooner touch with your knife but there spurts out a clear water very sweet and refreshing they are of a small size in this Island but I remember at Moelly they were so large that three of us could scarse deal with one of them You must split the Coco to get at the Kernell which is white and about the thickness of your finger and tastes almost like a hasel-nut of all fruits this is perhaps the most useful the Indians besides meat and drink draw a certain oyl from it into which the Water turns after it has stood sometime they make bowls and cups of the shells and ropes and Tow of the bark to bind and caulk their boats with This Island is nothing near so steep as others I have seen but then 'ts so wooded with high trees that it is one impenetrable forest all over besides a great many curious and unknown birds we saw Lizards of 5 or 6 foot long and as thick as a Mans leg whose deep mouths were set with teeth as dangerous as their claws are with talons however they fled at the sight of us and do no harm if not attackt their flesh is wonderful white and some of our men eat of it and found it good It is stock'd with different sorts of Insects amongst the rest there 's one very little Annimal which seems to be all legs very remarkable by their various colours and a pretty shell on their backs There 's another creature of the shape of a serpent which I have often heard cry distinctly in the trees Tocquets so being ignorant of its other Qualities we call'd it by that name as none of us saw any Fallow Deer while we were here I believe the place is scarce fit for them and much less for the habitations of men for I believe it never was inhabited 'T is true that in the Eastern part of the Isle I observ'd two little hills whose seeming fertility together with the beautiful verdure of a Meadow at the bottom inclin'd me to believe there might be some cattel feeding thereabouts tho' I saw none We arriv'd here Tuesday the 17th and departed Saturday the 21st of Octtober at 8 in the morning for Negraile or rather for Mergui if the wind permitted which blew very faint so that 't was the day following before we reach'd a certain Island that lies ten Leagues distant from the Cocos and in 14 D. N. 50 Min. Lat. it has a chain of rocks that runs a matter of three Leagues out into the sea Sailing pretty near it we left it to the Southward of us CHAP. XXXV Monsieur Duquesne quits his design of going to Merguy by reason of the contrary winds and anchors at the Negraille Islands where he meets the rest of his Squadron HEre Monsieur Duquesne lost hopes of gaining Merguy and without striving any longer to come near the wind resolv'd to go to Negraille whether we presently steer'd our course the 24th we discover'd the land of Pegu and we anchor'd in ten fathom water tho we were above 8 Leagues from it sailing again next morning About 4 in the afternoon we understood that there lay four
on the third of December we came to an anchor within three Leagues and a half of the Land where after firing three guns of notice as the first time the Commandant sent Monsieur Fauche to give notice of his arrival We presently prepar'd to set a shoar at the mouth of the River those who had the disease of the Country and to get fresh provisions aboard for the rest of the sick the number of whom was too great to let the English know of it who had a Factory too at Balazor and might make their advantages of it Monsieur Deslandes Director general arriv'd from Ougly 2 days after almost at the same time as the Mergui an English built ship of 18 guns with two others that the French took from the Siamois which were partly laden with Salt-peter and some bales of goods that were to be put aboard the Squadron we unloaded 'em out of hand and several other great Barks who every day brought us the rest of the goods while we were loading Monsieur Deslandes continued a board us whom the Commandant entertain'd very nobly and honour'd him several times with the discharge of guns as well from his own ship as the rest who complimented him thus in their Turns We were very ill furnisht with fresh provisions here the beef and mutton was meer carrion so that two of the Captains who were careful of the health of their men threw what fell to their share over-board I never saw any flesh so red or so likely to procure a flux however our Captain who did not much concern himself with such things and the violence of hunger made us digest them with rice which was now our bread for four months This fare was none of the best and I long'd to go to Balazor to mend my diet but could not get leave by reason that at our first landing there were some of the Seamen who got drunk with Aquavitae and quarrell'd with the English one of vvhom they kill'd with a knife which was the occasion of hindring the others going a shoar without so much as excepting some of us who were not given to such kind of quarrels The two Mandarins being gone to Balazor to Inquire out a convenient passage to their Country understood that them was a Moorish ship bound suddainly for Mergui they agreed presently for their passage with the Captain and afterwards came to take their leave of Monsieur Duquesne and Father Tachard who was glad to be rid of the burthen The Father who had them under his protection and who was in honor oblieg'd to see them us'd respectfully having receiv'd them from the hand of the late King of Siam procur'd from Monsieur Duquesne a Compliment to dismiss them with five guns We recommended to them the mierable state of the French who languisht in their prisons and Monsieur Chamoreau Captain of the Lyon besought them in particular in the behalf of a Brother of his who was actually a prisoner there tho' to be plain with them I believe their interest was very inconsiderable And if I may believe the account a Jesuite gave me of them 't would be as much as they could do to keep their own feet out of the fetters when they came home Father Duchast whom a long Residence in Siam had render'd him knowing in the Maxims and policies of this Nation arriv'd at Ougli and came to salute Father Tachard and to put into his hands a great quantity of provisions which the Jesuits of this Town sent to those of Ponticheri after he had put them aboard us he he return'd very well pleas'd with his Voyage and us too for he was so civil as to let us have all the curious stuffs he had brought from Ougly at reasonable rates Monsieur Vasseur second Lieutenant of the Rock dying next morning we threw him into the sea with 7 guns discharg'd for his Funeral CHAP. XL. The Squadron parts from Balazor to return to Ponticheri we found a great number of Moors there who fled for refuge to the French THe near approach of an ill Season but cheifly the earnest desire of Monsieur Duquesne to return to France made us hasten our departure after having taken in fresh Water and all other supplies necessary for our Voyage we commanded our sick aboard whom the land Air had perfectly recover'd And on Saturday the 30th of December we parted with Monsieur Deslandes for Pontichery being follow'd by the Company 's boat loaden with powder and ball for the Fort. We took our course South East and by South with a fresh gale which soon turn'd into a calm and lasted from the first to the fifth of January 1691. When it began to blow a fresh again and on the tenth in the evening we discover'd the land of Madras at which the Commandant lay by for fear of passing beyond it in the night resolving to stop there the next day if he discover'd any shiping tho' the fright and consternation the enemy was in gave us little ground to expect it yet nevertheless we met one whom the fort had no sooner warn'd of our arrival by six guns but she fled not believing it a sufficient protection We follow'd her with all the sail we could make and at last came up with her notwithstanding she had been so far a head of us about four in the afternoon seeing the Lyon and the Dragon within shot of her she run herself within a little bank at Sadraspatam where her men presently went a shoar But in vain had she sought for safety there if the sea which was very ruff had not hinder'd us from boarding her yet we earnestly desier'd it being ready to run any riskque in the pillageing and burning of her but Monsieur Duquesne judging otherwise of it pursued his Voyage and this evening came to an anchor some Leagues beyond Madras from whence we departed next morning being the twelfth and arriv'd at Pontichery at one in the afternoon the Fort saluted us with nine Guns and we answer'd them with as many Father Tachand went a shoar presently taking with him what he had aboard intending to make his residence there I could not immagine that the loss of his Reverence could produce such different effects as it did there were some who were very much afflicted at it and a great many others who of the contrary were very little concern'd and most of the Seamen who are little verst in the merits and worth of Men were as incensible of the loss of him as if they had never enjoy'd the advantages of his company however he wanted not the civility of seven Guns at his departure The Publick is like to be oblieg'd to him for an account of his Voyage which at parting he put into the hands of Monsieur Duquesne to deliver it to the RR. FF Jesuites who were to see it printed but it contains no return I read nothing in it which I had not seen and which I have not inserted in this except
Inundations of the Niger it will be proper to observe when and how this happens yet without insisting on Physical Causes if happily they may be discover'd by particular Circumstances Behold such as have appear'd to me The Heats are excessive in the Torrid Zone for it does not Rain there at all or at most but very little unless in the Months of July August and September To the South of the Equinoctial Line the Rains fall earlier and in greater abundance during that time and are accompanied with raging Storms and follow'd with so great a Calm and such excessive Heats that it 's as much as one can do to fetch ones breath Two or three hours after the Tempest rallies and so alternately during the three Months This causes violent Distempers Fevers Cholorae-Morbus Ulcers in the Legs Worms of four or five Foot long in the extremities and frequent Convulsions follow'd by Paralyses and Death All that 's said of the Causes of the Inundation of the River Nile is well known of all and therefore I shall not repeat it here That of the Niger must have the same Cause which I believe is That the Sun in repassing the Line of Cancer which in France makes the Summer Solstice and here the Winter amasses the Vapours which dissolve afterwards in heavy and continual Rains and probably cause these overflowings These Rains commence in Aethiopia in April continue May and June Here 't is about the 15th of July they encrease for forty days and decrease for as many This Inundation which enriches the Country is not general nor extends beyond the Neighbourhood of the River At this time the Bed of the River is not known its Channel neither being deep enough to contain its Waters nor having Current enough to sweep them into the Sea they drown'd the Valleys and the lower Grounds and cover all 'T is dangerous at these times to Sail on these Rivers and chiefly on the River of Senegal unless you understand the Channel very well for when the Waters come to retire a Vessel may be left on an Eminence or in a deep place from whence it can't be drawn out It 's about 15 Years since a thing happen'd that confirms the truth of what I say Messieurs of the Company willing to take the advantage of the Inundation sent Barks to discover the Country about the place of the separation of these Arms of the Niger they were willing to try if it was practicable to pass from the River of Senegal to that of Gambia the Trade of which the English who are Masters of the Mouth of it hinder others from by the means of a Fort which they have there And as there it no attempting this Discovery but at this time when by the advantage of the Inundation you pass over Rocks that are dry at other times they Mann'd their Barks with 30 Men who pass'd almost 400 Leagues from our Habitation but they encounter'd so many difficulties that but five return'd having once lost the Bed of the River their Bark amongst others sat dry on some Trees but happily 't was not far from the Chanel so they made a shift to hale it into it again After Monsieur Dancourt had dispatch'd in these Quarters what he judg'd was most for the advantage of the Company finding the Barhure or Entrance was free to pass by reason of a gentle Easterly gale that blew then he pass'd it in a Bark design'd for that use which put us Aboard the Ship call'd the Fame which waited for us in the Road being willing to avoid the fatigue of a Land Journey The 10th of June 1683. we weigh'd Anchor and Sall'd for Goree we Coasted it all along and the prospect was very Charming of long extended Groves of Trees ever green After he had run along all the Coast and given his Orders in all the Coutoirs we return'd to our Course which we had held and spent eight days in coming back Mark what I have observ'd of these places in the little time I was there The People who Inhabit the Coast from the Mouth of the Senegal to the River of Gambia are divided into three namely the Geloffes the Sereres and the Barbesins they are Govern'd by several little Kinglings but very Absolute in their several Governments The most considerable of them all is the King of Amel Sovereign of the Geloffes the Name of Amel is not appropriated to him 't is a Name of Dignity As all their Governments are much alike as are the People and the Country I shall by an Account of this one give you an Account of all the rest The Geloffes Inhabit from the Mouth of Senegal going South within six or seven Leagues of Cape-Verde this makes from North to South 40 Leagues of Coast and from East to West 100 up the Land The Country of the Sereres has for its King him whom we Name Portugady from a Town of that Name which belongs to him Jain is the Name of his Dignity it includes ten or twelve Leagues of Coast and almost 100 up the Country The Kingdom of the Barbecins otherwise of Jovialle for the same reason I alledg'd concerning that of Sereres is Govern'd by a King whose Name I have forgot he has no more Country than the precedent with whom he is often at War Besides these three Nations there is another who are a sort of Portuguese a Nation who name themselves so because they were formerly subject to them and are descended from those who first inhabited this Coast after the discovery of it From the Negresses whom they married were born the Mulato's from whom are descended a more swarthy Race They may also be Fugitives too of Cape-Verd or Cacheau another Colony of this Nation on one of the Branches of the River of Gambia distant thence three days journey As they have followed the Religion of their old Masters they are partly Jews and partly Catholicks they wear a Cope like our Chaunters No one is greater than another but at the same time they are false and malicious having all the Vices of the Portugueses without any of their Vertues Almost all these Places are sandy and barren the Heats are more violent there in January than in July and August in France It Rains there in the manner as I have said already speaking of Senegal The Country is Peopled and abounds with Trees They begin to Cultivate their Grounds at the end of June and sow a little after the Rains they gather in their Harvest in September so that in three Months time they manure sow and reap This shews the good nature of the Soil and if better improv'd by the Inhabitants who are very lazy that it would produce Grain in abundance I mean their Mill. Their manner of Cultivating is pleasant they go four or five together into the Field which they call Cougan or Courgar and with a sort of a round Shovel of Iron with
which the Sea-men call Spronton that has a great Bone in the same place that the precedent has with this difference from the other that it 's strait and sharp pointed I believe it 's the same with that which we call Naruval This Bone of which I speak resembles the pretended Horn of the fansied Vnicorn He can pierce a Ship with it so as it shall take in Water if it does not happen that in drawing the Bone out again he breaks it in which case he stops the Hole he has made The Succer so call'd from his fastening himself as he is of the bigness of a Soal when he fastens himself to the Helm he retards the Ship but does not stop it as is falsly reported of the Remora The Amphibies are not common on these Coasts nor are the Crocadile the Sea-Horse the Sea-Calf the Lemantine or the Tortoise often seen here unless at the Mouth of the River of Senegal and Gambia In the Marshes and Ponds are found little Crocodiles of about five Foot of which some are Venomous and some not There are some that are perfect Serpents they retire thither where there are most Ants because these little Creatures make them a sort of Forts in raising from space to space little Hillocks of Earth of ten fifteen and twenty Foot high hollow below like an Oven and so dispos'd that at a distance one would fansie them to be a Village In Gambia there are Crocodiles of thirty Foot long and thick in proportion so as that they 'll swallow a Buck whole they are very dangerous their Tail is as long as all the rest of their Body their Skin is so hard that a Zagage will scarse pierce it There are some of them that live on Fish and others that devour Men and in order to surprize them they 'll keep themselves at some distance in the places frequented and when they get near those who swim or are in Cannoos or come near large Oxen swimming they clasp them with their Tails and eat them they move only the upper Jaw the lower not stirring they do little mischief out of the Water when the Negroes kill them they eat them they leave their Eggs on the Land and cover them with Sand as soon as they are hatch'd they return into the Waters or the Woods The Sea-Horse such as is seen in the Niger is as big as an Ass and is shap'd like a Horse his Skin is as hard and without Hair he lives on the Land as well as in the Water out of which he does not go but to feed He ruins the Mill and Rice for he destroys ten times more than he eats he is dangerous to the Negroes Canoos which he is apt to overturn yet without hurting the Men he has two great Teeth that serve the same use that Ivory does The Sea-Ox that lives on the Land as well as in the Water resembles a Calf of six Months old There are more Lamantin's in the River of Senegal than in that of Gambia he is like the Marsovin for Bigness for Flesh and Fat When he is out of the Water he makes use of his Fins instead of Feet This is all the knowledge I could get of this kind I now proceed to speak of the Manners and Genius of the Negroes The Negroes are all well made and proportinably tall You see none lame nor crooked amongst them unless by accident they are stupid and without address even in the least things great Lyars but greater Thieves thievery is the only thing they are dextrous in and are such Masters at it that they 'll steal from us before our Faces without our perceiving them drawing with one Foot to them what they would be at and taking it up behind When any Mountaineers for so they call those who live up Land come to traffick with us there is no sort of Cheat which the Negroes of the Coast don't put upon 'em for under the pretence of helping them to carry their Goods and serving them as Interpreters they retain half from them of what we pay them as though they had a real Interest in the Goods The severity with which their Kings punish those who steal in the Night and such as are taken in the Fact can't cure them of this Distemper notwithstanding the greatness of it which is no less than to be Slaves to those whom they have robb'd Whoever's oblig'd to make use of the Negroes for Interpreters are very unhappy and expos'd to all their Knavery they scarce interpret a word honestly and in the sence 't is spoke and always contrive it to our disadvantage which often makes our Markets litigious They are every way insupportable but chiefly when they think themselves necessary in any Affair their Intemperance is excessive still swallowing Aqua Vitae for Palm-Wine is not plentiful enough amongst them to be always at hand Their Drunkenness is accompanied with a total depravation of Reason and a furious Brutality They don't know what belongs to Restitution and have no shadow of Civility their Ignorance is so great as not to know that twice two makes four or their Age or the Day of the Week for which they have no Names Their Maraboux who have some little tincture of Arabick write their Griz-Griz in that Tongue I shall explain this Word hereafter These People have but one good Quality which is Hospitality for they wont let a Stranger of their Nation pass without making him eat and drink and that sometimes for several Days Having a mighty value sor their Aqua-Vitae when they would drink of it they do it privately and out of the sight of their Guest that they mayn't be oblig'd to give them share they make the Mountaneers pay for their Hospitality towards them by cheating them of the Aqua-Vitae they receive in exchange for their Goods and generally send them away with half what they brought They are all extreamly poor having no other Riches but a few Oxen the richest may have forty or fifty or three or four Horses with as many Slaves but they are extraordinary when they have any Bracelets of Gold to the value perhaps of eleven or twelve Pistols each Tho' they have neither Wit nor Sense they love Praise to that degree that they have a sort of People call'd Guiriotz who have nothing else to do but to perform this Piece of Service the Guiriotz carry a sort of a Drum of four or five Foot long made of the trunk of a hollow'd Tree which they beat with their Hands or with small Sticks they have Timbrels too of the Morisco Fashion which resemble our Ball Baskets crost with little Strings which they touch with one Hand while they strike with the other I observ'd they made use of another Instrument that is sufficiently harmonious if they knew how to play on 't it sounds like a Harp and consists of a Range of
ships at anchor between the great and the little Island of Negraille which we made no doubt were our own Who had stood in to that place So the Commandant having given them the signal of knowledge in seting his Topgallant in the form as a banner they answer'd him with the same signal and sent their sloop to us which could not get aboard us so night coming on together with the danger of the banks that are very shallow in divers places oblieg'd us to anchor again over against the Diamond a little Island 3 Leagues from Negraille which we left to the right when we came to an anchor This next day being the 26th we continued still at anchor waiting for the tide when about eleven we saw a ship which after having doubl'd the most northerly point of the great Isle came and anchor'd within half a League of us we commanded the Capt. aboard who was a Portugues bound from Madras where he was an eye witness of the action we were engag'd in He told us the news of the English Admirals having lost his nose by the bursting of a gun and that the Dutch had no less then two hundred men kill'd which are not stories like those the enemy publisht after our departure from Madras and spread over all the Indies of the falsness of which I shall hereafter give you an account This evening three sloops having observ'd our ship we enter'd by the favour of the tide amongst the rest where we anchor'd within musket shot of two lands we debarkt five or six sick men on the little Island and built two Tents for them on a lovely and spacious plain that presents it self to our sight at landing We lay 8 days there feasting on Venison and Wild-boar and very large Tortoyses which we took on the Isle of Diamonds with which the whole Company feasted themselves twice a day for all had free leave to go a shoar not excepting the very prisoners CHAP. XXXVI The Squadron lying at anchor Monsieur Duquesne orders five arm'd sloops to chase an English ship who carry'd out to sea by the winds were like to have been lost The Death of Monsieur de la Villauclers Lieutenant of the Bird. THat we might the better forget our past Misfortunes Monsieur Duquesne according to his usual goodness furnisht us with Fusees powder and ball to go and shoot some Fallow-Deer of which there were large numbers in this Island our ship was already on the bar when news was brought that an English ship was arriv'd at the point of the great Isle none of the Squadron being in a condition to go out after her he sent out five arm'd sloops under the command of Monsieur Neufeville as soon as the English saw them they made full sail however they came within Musket shot of them and fir'd at one another but the wind rising and the enemy making off Monsieur Neufeville was oblieg'd to tack about the wind and Tide which still encreast drove our sloops a matter of 7 or 8 Leagues out to sea and in vain they endeavour'd by rowing to recover the land four of which with much a doe return'd back after they had been the sport of the winds and suffer'd extreamly through hunger and thirst having had no provisions with them They could give us no account of the fifth which was Monsieur Neufeville I heard this sad news a shoar which troubled me the more because there was a Lieutenant my very good friend aboard we gave them for lost but it pleas'd God almost by a miracle to restore 'em safe about two days after in which there were 25 men so spent with toil and hunger that they excited our compassion About this time died Monsieur de la Villeau Clerk Lieutenant of the Bird dyed of a Fever the greatest part of the Officers assisted at his Funeral and we buried him in the plain with a discharge of seven great guns CHAP. XXXVII A Desceiption of the Islands of Negraille and an account of what past while the Squadron lay at anchor there NEgraille consists of two Islands about a Cannon shot distant from each other and about 4 Leagues off from the Terra Firma of Pegu one of which is three Leagues in compass the other twelve they are situated in 116. D. of Lon. and 15 D. N. Lat. 'T is strange that so convenient and happy a place should only be inhabited by an innumerable number of wild beasts as Tigers Elephants Wild Oxen Staggs and Wild-Boars which live there undisturb'd in the midst of the greatest plenty no other Island is so stor'd with game or has better hunting besides the beasts I have nam'd which are seen in vast droves there 's plenty of Ring-doves Wood-cocks Teal Parrots and an endless number of strange birds of divers kinds The are Swans Lizards and Serpents of a great length and a great number of Crocodils call'd Caymans who in the day time hide themselves in rivers the better to surprize the beasts when they come to drink this subtile creature fastning on the nose of the Wild Oxen draws them in and after drownding them eats them At the little Island where we took in Water and Wood are seen two spacious and beautiful plains cover'd with good feeding in which the sight loses it self Through the midst of it a pleasant river takes its Course whose Water is exceeding good and easiy to be come at there we bath'd our selves almost every hour in the day under the thick shady trees and in large and greedy draughts quencht the violence of our raging thirst All this place is marshy and in many places with salt water yet in the woods there are places where they don't reach and where there is sweet water always to be found which the beasts drink of who come thither in troops of a hunderd at a time and feed quietly together without fear of being disturb'd by the Huntsman One of my companions and I going a hunting we follow'd some Harts and Hinds very warmly which carried us further into the wood than we were aware of so that after two hours pursuit being quite tir'd and intending to return back again 't was more than we could do to find our way tho' we still flattered our selves with hopes but after long trying in vain we at last began to despair and almost to give our selves for lost being already over-power'd with hunger thirst and weariness We past through a great many Thickets the paths being only beaten by the wild beasts the sight of whom diverted our melancholy wanderings in a desart Island destitute of all Subsistance expos'd to Tygers Wild-Oxen and Serpents in this sad condition knowing not what to do we adrest our selves to God and took observations of the Sun Steering our course by it So after much labour and fatigue and beating about from four in the morning to 4 in the evening we at length discover'd the plain in which our Companions were encamp'd from whence we went to