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-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-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
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
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
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
posture of defence which prevented their making any attempt upon us believing there was little to be got by us but Ball. Sunday the 26th in the Morning being in 32 Degrees as many Minutes of Northern Latitude and in 4 Degrees 13 Minutes of Eastern Longitude we saw Cape-Cantin the Coast of Barbary and the Kingdom of Morocco from whence we were only six Leagues distant if the Night had lasted we had lost our way for we Sail'd to the West of the Maderas which is above 140 Leagues thence Wednesday the 29th we perceiv'd the Isle of Anecerotte one of the seven Canary Islands which we left about ten Leagues to the South-East where we met with a Calm and excessive Heat Thursday the 30th of April we found our selves in 28 Degrees 30 Minutes of Southern Latitude and 4 Minutes of Longitude taking the first Meridian at the Isle de Fer according to the Custom of our Nation so that not being above ten Leagues distant to the north-North-East from the Great Canary we tack'd on this Isle till Night about a League off Land We could not Anchor by reason of the little Wind that was stirring and the darkness of the following Night this oblig'd us to tack about to the East and to keep out at Sea till Three a Clock in the Morning of the opposite side to the Land Friday the 1st of May having tack'd to the West in the Road of the Great Canary about Nine and a half we Anchor'd in 24 Fathom and found a Sand that was partly grey and partly red mix'd with Coral the Town with its situation stands on the South-West side is a League and a half from the Road and defended by a very ordinary Castle When they had given us notice from the top of this Castle they set up the Pavillion of Spain which we Saluted with five Guns to which they return'd not a Gun I suppose 't was for want of Powder There is very good Anchoring in this place if one don 't come too near the Town to which the Rocks that lye under Water render the approach very dangerous it 's defended by a Castle situated on a Mountain from being attack'd by Sea it 's Peopled by twelve thousand Islanders brave enough and able to oppose any Invasion our Ship Anchor'd in 18 Fathom Water before the Town It 's about a League in compass the Houses for the most part are well enough built but low not above two Story they are all Terras'd a top so that the Roofs not appearing one would think they had been burnt In the day time you scarce see a Man in the Streets Thô the Bishop the Governor and the best sort have their Residence at Teneriffe yet in this Capitol is the Episcopal Seat the Tribunal of the Inquisition and the Supream Council which is the Parliament of the Seven Islands There are four Monasteries in 't one of Dominicans and one of Franciscans the two other are Bernardines and Recolets These Islands which were formerly call'd Fortunate deserv'd the Name if the goodness of the Air and the richness of the Soil be consider'd they abound in Wheat Barley Honey Cows Sheep Deer and all the Necessaries of Life The Wine of Malvesia is in such great plenty there that the English the French the Spaniard and Dutch c. furnish themselves thence every Year The Happiness of this Place to be able to subsist independent of all other Countries for the Necessaries of Life made the Heathens formerly believe that 't was the Elizium Fields design'd for the abode of Happy Souls after Death They are not so happy in their Water as in other things but this they remedy by pouring it into Vessels of the figure of a Mortar made of a very Porous sort of Stone through which it filters it self and afterwards becomes very good Their Harvest is commonly in March or April in several places they have two in one Year The Soil is so exceeding Rich that I saw a Cherry-Tree that had not been Grafted above six Weeks bear Fruit Flowers grow of themselves without any Care and it abounds in Oranges and Cittrons to admiration The Great Canary as well as Teneriffe and the Palme continued Idolaters some time after the Conquest made of them by the Spaniards in 1460. The Ancerotte Fort-Avanture the Gomer and the Fer first receiv'd Christianity and the three others at last follow'd their Example The Spaniards resolving at last to reduce these Islands to their Obedience sent a great number of the Inhabitants Slaves into Spain they who remained were Civiliz'd and live after the manner of their Conquerors and these above all the other Inhabitants of the Canaries are Civil to Strangers Monsieur Dancourt was very well receiv'd there by the Governor of the Island with whom he Din'd conducted by the Consul of our Nation Nam'd Remond originally of Liege and a very honest Man he too Regal'd us very much both with Wines and Fruits and continued two days with him in which he made exceeding much of me I was four times at the Convent of the Bernardines the Provisor having given me leave at the request of the Abbess there were some French Women there of whom one was of Paris who was my Interpreter there being some Sick in the Convent they were very much concern'd least I should take the Infection The presence of a Physician made them make use of the opportunity and several of them pretended to be Sick who ail'd nothing that they might have more liberty They express'd a great deal of Civility to me and loaded me with Bisket and wet and dry Comfits with Lemonade Malvesia and all manner of Fruit which they sent me on Plates and China Dishes garnish'd with Roses Violets Orange-Flowers Jessamin-Flowers and Tuberoses without reckoning Nosegays and I presented them too which they civilly receiv'd How their women are habited and how they carry their children on their backs How the Negros dance in a round As they have no great confidence in their own Physicians they are very glad when they can meet with one of France The Lawyer did all he could to perswade me to stay at the Great Canary offering me his House his Table and many other Advantages but I was resolv'd not to break my Word with Monsieur Dancourt so I thank'd the Spaniard for all his kindness and order'd what I thought was most proper for his Wife and such things as might be found in the Island where they are very scarce He would have given me Money which for the Honour of my Nation I refus'd I thought to have return'd thither again next Morning he having desir'd the Consul I might saying he would gratify me in another way seeing I would not take Money but I had not time the Sloop coming to take me Aboard on Saturday Night I was almost Enchanted with this Island and with much ado I parted from it if ever I leave France
to fetch all their Water and Wood from the main Land These are they who have the best share of all the Trade that is driven on this River which chiefly consists in Negroe Slaves Ivory and Wax It is Navigable above two hundred Leagues A DESCRIPTION OF THE River ZAMENEE THE River Zamenee is inhabited by several sorts of Negroes those at its Mouth towards the North call themselves Floupes a People extreamly Savage with whom no Nation has any Commerce They are all Pagans having every one his God according to his particular Inclinations one worships a Bullocks Horn another a Beast or a Tree to whom they offer Sacrifice according to their own manner Their Dress is like those of Cape Verd and the Inhabitants of the River Gambia which consists in a Piece of Cotton Cloth striped after the manner of the Country which barely covers their nakedness They have no succession of Kings the most Absolute and most Powerful amongst them Commands They understand Cultivation very well and make very good Improvements of their Lands which they sow with Mill and Rice Their Riches consists in Bullocks Cows Goats of which some of them have great quantities They possess the Coast all along as far as the River Gambia and about six Leagues into the Land Their Towns are well Peopled and about a quarter of a League distant one from another The Negroes or Filouppes that inhabit the South Entrance of this River are exceeding barbarous and cruel for when they can catch any white Men they give 'em no quarter and some say they eat them These are in possession of the Country all along the Coast to a Town called Boulol which stands at the Mouth of the River of St. Domingo This Coast is much better Peopled than that of Gambia The Villages are about two Leagues distant one from another and about half a League from the Sea About seven or eight Leagues farther the ebbing and flowing of the Sea makes a little River which leads to the Town of Jam where the Portuguese make great Quantities of Wax which they traffick with by Land to Gambia and Cacheaux The adjacent Countries are inhabited by Negroes who are call'd Bagnons and these have a King that lives twelve or thirteen Leagues from the Sea A DESCRIPTION OF THE River St. Domingo THE River of St. Domingo runs from East to West winding a matter of two hundred Leagues 'T is also inhabited by different sorts of Negroes and by the Portuguese who have several Towns there At the North Entrance of it there is small Fort belonging to the Portuguese mounted with four Guns and commanded by Serjeant and four Soldiers Four Leagues higher on the same Shoar near the Village of Boulet is the little River of Linguim which runs a matter of nine or ten Leagues under Ground and then loses it self It is possest and cultivated by the Bagnon Negroes who are all Idolaters and very much dreaded by their Neighbours The Village of Quongain is directly at its Entrance where abundance of Portuguese and Gourmets inhabit who make great store of Wax there The River Boguinda is on the same Coast about three Leagues higher than the Tide comes It spreads it self twelve or fifteen Leagues into the Land inhabited by the same sort of People who as I have told you before traffick altogether with Wax 'T is the ordinary Passage from Cacheau to Jam. On the Entrance of the River of St. Domingo to the South is a large Wood called Matteformose and a Village inhabited by the Flouppes much more civiliz'd than those I have mention'd before With whom a Trade is maintain'd for Slaves and Provisions but chiefly for great Quantities of Rice Going up the River about two Leagues you meet with a small Rivolet which is not Navigable but separates the Flouppes from the Papels The Papels are Pagan Negroes all Idolaters as the former They have a King who dwels five or six Leagues from them When any considerable Person dies they sacrifice Bullocks Cows Kids and Capon to their Gods which are for the most part one or more Trees the Horn of an Ox c. In the same Road about four Leagues higher you find the Town of Cacheau now in the Hands of the Portuguese who have three Forts there the chief of which may have about ten or twelve Guns and the other two three or four each A Captain-Major has the Government of it who has a dependance on the Governor of Cape Verd they are every Year recruited with thirty or forty Portnguese Soldiers who are generally banish'd Criminals they supplying the Places of those who die for want of wholsome Diet by necessity or by an over addicting themselves to Women 'T is design'd them a Place of Exile tho' they often find it happy enough There may be about three hundred Inhabitants in the Town who are for the most part Mullato's the other may have Wives or Concubines There is in the Town a Receiver of the King's Customs for the Ships that come to traffick there pay ten per Cent. for coming in and going out There is a Grefferi or Writer who holds the Place both of Publick Notary and Sheriff 't is the Governor who administers Justice There is a Parochial Church a Curate and a Visitator who is in the Nature of the great Vicar of France for he always makes Visitations on behalf the Bishop of St. James There is also a Convent of Capuchins where there are seldom more than three or four Religious The Inhabitants of the Town have little Boats and Barks in which they trade on the Rivers of Nonne Pougues Serlione and to the Islands of the Bezagots where they have a great Commerce with Wax Slaves and some small pieces of Ivory The Portuguese have yet another Town a great way higher up the River about one hundred and fifty Leagues from Cacheau call'd Farim pallasodo'd round but the Inhabitants are not so numerous as at Cacheau tho' the greatest part of them have Somer-Houses here where their Gourmet's make Calico's and some small quantities of Wax There is also a Curate and a Captain-Major who is dependant on the Town of Cacheau The Negroes that inhabit the adjacent Countries are call'd Maudingues All the Villages from Cacheau to Farim are Peopled by the Gourmets of the Portuguese who gather Cotton c. Going Southward out of the River of St. Domingo you meet several Islands the first is call'd the Three Islands which effectively has that Figure Possessed by the Gourmots or Negroes who have freed themselves from the Slavery of the Portuguese and most of them tho' they are baptis'd have renounc'd the Catholick Faith They cultivate this Island which produces great store of Cotton of which they make their Cloth They have Cannoo's to serve them in their Traffick with the Negroes of the Continent The Place which they pass is call'd the Bott They are very
considers there is but a Plank between him and Eternity CHAP. III. The first discovery of Land since we lost sight of it Remarks on the Pike of Teneriffe WE Steer'd our Course for the Madera Islands where with pleasure we waited to take in some refreshments tho' 't was not above Nine Days that we had lost sight of Land But the Currents which we met having carried us too far to the East or rather to the great Foggs at Land having hinder'd us from the sight of it we left it to the Right without perceiving it till we had doubled it The 9th we discovered the Isle of Savages which was the first Land we made since we parted from Port-Lewis 't is scituated in 30 Degrees of the Northern Latitude and Twenty Minutes Longitude This is an uninhabited Island very dangerous for the Steep Craggy Rocks that inviron it for above a League that scarce a Boat can go a Shoar by this sight of Land we judged we were not far from the Canary Islands which doubtless we should have come to sight of the next Morning if we had not been delay'd by a Calm which happily lasted but a little while for in the Evening it began to blow a brisk Gale so that by the Eleventh at 7 a Clock in the Morning we were within Thirteen Lagues of the Pike of Teneriffe By Noon we were near it being in Twenty Eight Degrees Thirty Six Minutes North Latitude and Three Hundred and Fifty Nine Degrees of Longitude The Pike of Teneriffe is seen Forty Leagues off and undoubtedly may pass for one of the highest Mountains in the World Some make it seven Leagues high others Twelve This proud Mountain wraps its head in the Clouds which appears white by reason of the Snow that covers it Winter and Summer rising through the middle Region of the Air which makes it so cold that none was ever able to mount it Behind this Mountain stands the Town of Canary of which the Island bears the Name which is very Fruitful and abounds in Corn and is famous for the rich Wines it produces which are carried to all Parts of the World Three are besides Three other Islands the first that of Gomer of the same side with the Pike and not above Six or Seven Leagues distant The second is Palm Island memorable for the Death of Forty Jesuits who going to Brazill to Preach the Faith of Jesus Christ were there Martyr'd by the Calvinists about a Hundred Years ago This latter is opposite to the Pike of Teneriffe and is about Twelve or Thirteen Leagues distant We past between these two having Palme Island on the Right and the Pike of Teneriffe on the Left And the last is the Isle of Fer where Geographers commonly place the first Meridian These four Islands belong to Spain so that we could not take a view of them but at a distance by reason of the War between us and it CHAP. IV. The different Opinions concerning the Trading Winds THe Wind which had hardly stir'd all day began to blow fresh in the Evening so that we cou'd easily perceive the Trading Winds which are so useful for Sailing they are call'd so by reason of their continuing three or four months without changing These sort of Winds Blow always from the North East in the Southern parts and from the South East in the Northern parts which very much perplexes curious people to find out the true reason of it Some maintain that the Trading Winds are no other then those which blow from the West and the North with great violence which passing over Europe to the East and South rarify and grow weaker as they approach the warmer Climates on the contrary in the Southern parts the Western and Southern Winds blowing with the same violence towards Africa are thence driven towards the East and North and abate by degrees as they approach the warmths of the Line and quite cease when they reach it Others explain this matter after a different manner they will have it that the excessive heats of the Line draw these Winds from the Poles where the Exhalations and Vapors which are the matter of the Winds being stronger and in greater abundance cause more violent and lasting ones and that afterwards these Winds or Exhalations are drawn towards the Zone and there abated by the excessive heat Behold the best Account I could meet with to satisfy those who are curious in this matter but whatever the Natural Cause of them may be it may be truly said they are the sweetest Winds that blow CHAP. V. The Squadron Anchors at the Island of Saintiague HEther we had reason to admire our happiness and to hope we should soon arrive at Saintiague where we were to stay some days our only misery was a violent Fever which feiz'd our men and of which fifty lay dangerously ill tho' we had been but three weeks at sea 'T was then the R. R. F. F. the Jesuites found an opportunity to exercise their Zeal and Charity they Confest the sick gave them Instructions for dying well and assisted them with their own provisions It must be said that from the first day they came aboard us they had such care by their Holy Example to promote a good life amongst the Officers and seamen that far from following the loose way of others they thought themselves obliegd to behave themselves according to the utmost severity of the Christian Religion they were willingly present at their Catechisms and Sermons on Sundays and at Mass every morning with prayers at the end for the King in the evening we said our beads and the Litany of the Blessed Virgin making an Examen of Conscience on our knees with an Act of Contriction Great was the happiness and advantages we had from the company of these Religious persons but chiefly the sick one of the Mandarins nam'd Pipit dy'd the 7th day of his distemper the R. P. Fachard took particular care of him never leaving him till he had administerd extream Unction and the Holy Eucharist to him Of these three Envoys of the King of Siam he converted two to the Catholick Religion Baptizing them at Brest and 't is to be presum'd that the third would soon have yeilded too to the Authority of his holy Life as well as that of his Arguments All the funeral Honours due to a person of Quality were paid to this deceas'd Mandarin Four Gard Marines held the corners of the Pall and after the usual prayers on the occasion threw him into the Sea with five Guns fir'd at a distance one from another which made it more sad and Sollemn 't was believ'd in the rest of the ships that 't was an Ensign dy'd so to honour him and to testify to their Admiral their concern for him they struck their sails and lay by rolling in his way sadly as if there were none to govern them as soon as the ship past by they hoist their Sails again The next night which
Leagues an hour and the winds as good and constant as we could desire Sailing so succesfully we could not miss arriving quickly in the heigth of the Maldives which we left of the right without so much as seeing them tho' we had sent the Lyon on the 20th to discover them they are seldon past unseen but our Pilots according to their Card and their calculation told us they must be there so we reckon'd we should soon be at the Isle of Ceylon whither we were order'd to go to see if there were any of the Enemy's ships there for besides that the Dutch had several Collonies there the English came thither every year for Nutmegs Cinnamon and Cloves with which this Island greatly abounds The same day one of our Seamen was drown'd about six at night when the rest of our men were at supper all things seem'd to conspire to his loss a slack wind in our stern made the ship rowl very much and instead of eating with his Comarades according to custom he went on the Deck to kill a Kidd were treading on the blood of the Kidd he slipt and fell into the sea to which the rowling of the ship very much contributed he was a pretty vvay off us before vve perceiv'd it and so could give him no help by casting out ropes the Marriners did all that they could and Monsieur Duquesne order'd them to take dovvn the sails and hoise the boat out but ' t vvas too late and we saw him perish without our being able to give him the least assistance Next day being the 22d there happen'd a pleasant but an unlucky mistake presently after noon the Seamen cry'd Land before us and we immediately believ'd that 't was the Coast of Coromandal or the Isle of Ceylon we made the ordinary signal and presently after discover'd eight Islands near one another which joyn'd to the view we had of land to the South made Monsieur Duquesne say that 't was certainly the Maldives the Pilots could not be of his opinion and the reputation of their skill and judgment was concern'd to differ from him In the mean time after perusing the Cards and their Journals they own'd their mistake and agreed that the biggest sight of land was the point of the Maldives which is the most Northerly Island of all the rest which we found too true and we attributed the cause of this mistake to the strong Currents which they found had thrown us too much to the west we presently tack't about and lay by all night for fear of being run aground by the tides CHAP. XVI Vicu of the Isle of Ceylon famous for its Beauty Riches and the mountain of the Peke of Adam a Dutch Pink with eight chests of Silver made Prize FRom break of day 'till Friday the 28th we made all the sail we could when Loyseau who kept the head of the Squadron made a signal of his discovering land and after we had descry'd it our selves too on the edge of the Horrison we hoisted our flag to give notice to the rest 'T was not long before we plainly perceiv'd the Isle of Ceylon at which we very much rejoyc'd having all along expected to meet some of the Enemys ships there I think I never saw a more pleasant Country being very even and of a vast extent and one of the most rich and fertill in the world you see here a great number of tall Trees ever green some forming lovely Arbours others beautiful alleys in the vast plaines which stretcht themselves towards the sea side besides a rich smell of Nutmegs and Cinnamon charming and delicious beyond Expression Of the three Mountains in this Island there is one remarkable for its heigth and name being the Peke of Adam and by some believ'd that Adam and Eve were bury'd here which is as great a certainty as that other opinion they have here that God in this Island establisht the terrestrical Paradice which I leave to the more knowing to judge of This Isle is plac'd between 6 and 10 Deg. of North Lat. and 103 Deg. of Long. its form is round and may be about 250 Leagues in compass or better The Dutch who are Masters of it draw an immence revennue thence for the Nutmegs and Cinnamon as well as the Pearl which is fisht up here Coasting the Island we discoverd two sail a head of us who seem'd to keep at a distance from the Island but presently made to land when they saw us Our Commandant impatient to know whence they were thought to snap them by hoisting up English colours and making all the sail he could the Dragon as the swiftest sailer went to cut off their way and when we were vvithin shot of them vve fir'd a gun as did the Dragon too and the ball so scar'd em that instead of coming aboard as vve hop'd they presently fled for refuge to a house by the sea side a fevv hours after the Sentinel vvho vvas on the top cry'd a Sail I can't easily describe the different motions of joy it caus'd amongst us some vvent up to the round-top others to the fane others vvho could not so easily do it stood in the shrouds and the rest made use of their Perspectives to discover a vessel which could not yet be seen but by her top yet after an hours sailing she was plainly disern'd to be three Leagues off The Sun was already set and we fear'd but one thing which was that she would sail off in the night and so escape us by taking a contrary course so that we scarce knew what to do tho' we were sure she lay at anchor our Commandant considerd of it being loath to do as he had done before at Amiouam where he shot a matter of eight hunderd shot at random in the night when fifty would serve by day light so he resolv'd to ly by her all night without attempting any thing by which means we shou'd confirm her the more in her mistake of us So we anchord in 25 fathom water at seven a-clock and next morning being the 25th weighed anchor again at 5 in the morning the wind blowing fresh quickly brought us to the sight of her for which we were so much concern'd all night least she should make her escape We first heard Mass after that we breakfasted and then Monsieur Duqusne orderd to hoise up English colours the Enemy mistaking their friends answer'd us by hanging out Dutch colours whithour stiring from where they lay giving us all the time and opportunity we could wish for to attack them and now indeed it was in vain to attempt an escape if they had known we were French This Vessel lay at Anchor in the road of Mevelle under the shelter of a high ground which hinder'd her having a sight of us the night before The Rock whom we follow'd enter'd into the same road and anchor'd by her side which she had scarce done but the Dutch underdanding what we were endeavour'd to get ashoar
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
off in 4 or 5 days at most in spight of any remedies that could be used This mortality which might have very much lessened the Company and rendred them so weak as to be scarce able to bring the Ship back again to France made the Commandant resolve to hasten away we took in Wine and new Biscuit and after imbarking the sick we sail'd the 2d of July at nine in the morning followed by Monsieur leâ—ehvaler de Arbouville who was to Convoy two and twenty Merchants to Rochfort We were presently becalm'd which hindred our coming within sight of the English Islands till the 8th when making all the sail we could we left the convoy behind us the Merchants sailing very heavily By leaving Martinico we thought to have left the distemper that reign'd there but it follw'd us and did not take it's leave till it had swept away sixteen of our Men in the first fifteen days after our departure Monsieur de Questilly Captain of the Dragon struck to it as well as others to whom we gave the accustom'd honours and the Commandant put Monsieur de Aubervill our Lieutenant in his place In the mean time the Wind continuing good we past the Tropick of Cancer on the 21st and except a few days sailed very succesfully the rest of the month and during those few we met with very rough Seas fomented by violent Storms but the very thought of approaching France made us easy though we had reason enough to be otherwise so nothing disturb'd us afterwards seeing our selves near the end of so many fatiegues and so long and hazardous a Voyage The 9th of August the Rock hung out English Colours to give us notice that she discover'd a sail which we saw behind us making all the sail she could to us we were willing to gratify her curiosity furl'd our sails and gave her time enough to come up with us and after she was near enough to discover our strength she stood away presently without daring to come any nearer Monsieur Duquesne having hung out French colours which she did too without taking them down tho' we hung out English Colours again Next day the Lyon was dispatcht to discover Cape Finister who believing she had sight of it gave us the Signal but her mistake was very great and our joy short for we did not discover it till next day the Bird who kept the head of the Squdron having got a clear view of it we gave God thanks by singing Te Deum the Wind being at North East and therefore contrary we came within Cannon shot of the Land tacking till it chang'd which it did that very evening and carried us so happily for seven days together that at last we arrived at the heighth of our Wishes that is within sight of France and came all six to an Anchor under the Island of Groye Saturday the eighteenth of August 1691 at Nine in the morning Whence sailing again the 19th we entered For Lewis full of joy for our happy return thanking the Divine Providence who had preserved us through a thousand dangers in this long and painful Voyage from which we parted from the Island Groye the 27 of Feb. 1690. FINIS THE CANARIE or FORTUNATE Islands THE VOYAGES OF THE Sieur Le MAIRE TO THE CANARY -- ISLANDS Cape-Verde Senegal and Gambia I Had been almost three Years employ'd about the Hotell de Dieu of Paris that is the Hospital of God when I heard that Monsieur D'ancourt was ready to part for Cape-Verde in Quality of Director-General of the Royal African Company when I immediately resolv'd to accompany him and he consented to it and having agreed on Terms the 14. of Jan. 1682. he presented me to the Gentlemen of the Company who confirm'd what we had settled After imploying a few days in settling my Affairs and in taking leave of my Friends we parted for Orleans where we took boat for Nantes on the Loire and tho' this Passage is commonly made in two or three days yet we were seven or eight about it and that not without Danger too The Wind was still contrary and so violent that the River was almost as boisterous as the Sea the Rivers too overflow'd so that we lost the Channel so that only discerning the tops of little Trees all the rest being under Water we found our selves sometimes fast on the Trunks like Birds perching on Trees At last however we arriv'd at Nantes and after ten days stay we took Horse for Brest what we saw of Britany as we past was not very entertaining tho' it 's known this Province is good and fruitful in many places but all along as we past we had a very unpleasant Prospect Being arriv'd at Brest the 4th of February we expected to Sail in a few Days but the Ship was not ready but ill careen'd and had not half her Furniture and we were to wait till she was new masted and till she was fit to meet with stormy Weather and the Enemy which we expected Two Months were spent in this Work the Ship was call'd the St. Catherine of four hundred Tun carrying forty Guns 't was built at Flessingue and design'd for a Cruiser Captain Monsegue commanded it by orders of the Company The Port of Brest where the Frigat lay is the best we have in the Ocean the greatst Ships ride there in Safety and shelter'd from all Weather as in a Chamber whence 't is call'd by that Name Ships may sail out of it at low Water as well as at high for they always ride a-float It 's as straight at the Month as a River and has two Half-Moons of each side and on the right a strong Castle old built which defends the entrance This Port goes in a Spiral Line it 's a large half League long and about two hundred Paces wide it 's situated between two Mountains which cover it All these Advantages it receives from Nature In this Port I saw the greatest and the beautifulest Ships in the World amongst others the Admiral nam'd the Royal Sun it has not so much gilding as the Royal Lewis of Toulon but 't is better built longer and a better Sailer It carries 120 Guns and the great Cabine is magnificent richly gilt and the Cieling is of the Design Monsieur le Poune there are about fifteen more but of a lesser size yet very proper and beautifully built Besides these there were about fifty more of 90 80 70 60 and 50 Guns without reckoning smaller Frigats of a lower Rate next to the Royal Sun are the Queen the Crown the Glorious the Beautiful the Good the Thunderer the the Lightning the Diamond c. These vast Machines give just Wonder and appear like floating Palaces Our Ship being compleatly equip'd it sail'd out of the Chamber into the Road the 20th of March five of the Kings Ships were fitted out at the same time of which four were to joyn those of Toulon and the fifth to Convoy
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
we should have had but little time to have sav'd our selves in the sloop CHAP. XXXI The Squadron leaves Balazor for Mergui which we could not gain is disperst by a storm and suffers extreamly THE 13th of September we parted from Balazor for Mergui we had little wind that day and a calm at night so that after having several times weigh'd and cast anchor in vain we were forc'd to make use of the Currents and to drive with the tide when it serv'd us On the 18th at night there happen'd an Eclipse of the Moon which lasted from seven till thirty Minutes past nine a third part was darkned I believe neither this nor that I mentioned before were seen in France for 't was about two in the afternoon when we saw it there 'Till this day we were still troubled with weighing and casting anchor continually The 29th in the evening this long calm chang'd into a violent storm that after loosing two anchors we were oblieg'd to hoist sail tho' the wind was against us the storm encreast so that about midnight we thought we should a lost all our Masts In the morning we saw none of our ships but the Bird the tempest having separated the rest The Rendevouzse was to be at Negraille in case we could not make Mergui our port for which the wind was quite contrary and so violently accompanied with hail that we `struck our top sails three or four times a day being fearful we should want water if this weather lasted and tho' we had supplied our selves for six months at Ponticheri we had so wasted it that we had not enough for one month Monsieur Duquesne began to manage it with care retrenching the Rice which consum'd a great deal of it and order'd Biscuit in its place and stinted the whole Company to a pint a day I never was more sensible of the violence of thirst the salt Victuals and the Extream heats had almost parcht me up once in the extremity of this suffering I offer'd five Crowns for a pot of water but cou'd find none that would accept of it each labouring under the same evil so that there was no remedy but patience which is but a small relief to him that is stinted by nature At length the wind chang'd and continued good for five or six days in which we recover'd what we had lost of our way But it becoming changeable again we sail'd sometimes losing sometimes gaining without hopes of seeing Mergui so soon as we expected which very much afflicted us The last of September in the morning we discover'd a sail a head of us steering the same course we made what hast we could to know what she was and after three hours chase we came within shot of her who hung out a flag all red we hung out ours which they saluted by hoisting their topmast three times for want of guns Monsieur Duquesne sent his sloop to bring the Captain aboard who shew'd him a Pass-port sign'd by Monsieur Martin he was accompanied by three old men like himself clad in Muslin Shirts and Turbants on their heads and each a long beard they were rich Moorish Merchants bound from Massilipatam for Mergui they had a flag all red by way of distinction and to shew they were more than ordinany for the common flag of the Moors is no more than a cimiter crost with its scabard on a red ground We regail'd them with wine Tea and sweetmeats and after viewing exactly and admiring our ship they departed without selling any of their goods which they held at too dear a rate Next day we lost sight of them The fifth of October discovering another ship we steer'd towards her for some time believing she was one of our Squadron of whom as yet we had heard no news since we were separated at Balazor but as she made off with all the sail she could and that 't would have carried us too far out of our way to have persu'd the Chase we quitted her to make our best advantage of the little wind we had it never was so changeable for if it favour'd us for a day 't was a calm again at night or perhaps contrary for four or five days after in the mean time the water in the hold was very much diminisht and our thirst encreast more and more with that little we drank of it at meals and the violent heats CHAP. XXXII A wonderful shower of rain falls We discover the Isle of the Andamants a barbarous people GOD who never abandons his own in such extremities as there shew'd us in some measure the same favour he formerly did the Isralites in the wilderness and by a large and unexpected shower of rain which supplied us all with the means of quenching our violent thirst that tormented us so much How eagerly did all endeavour to tast of this celestial Manna every one sought vessels and all other shifts to save as much as they could and then with what greediness did they drink it I am sure no Champaign wine ever drunk like it to me we fill'd 27 barrels with this water which refresht us very much in the midst of our distress not so much as knowing where we were We continu'd a long time in this uncertainty but having at last a good wind we judg'd by the Latitude that we were not far from the Andamants nor by consequence from the Coco Islands which are but ten Leagues thence which was the reason we lay by every night or five or six hours together for fear of running upon them The 12th of October before sun rise we discover'd the Isles of the Andamants which we left on the right lying in 13 Deg. 40 Minutes North Lat. and a hundred and 16 Deg. forty nine Minutes Long. the Inhabitants are the most cruel and savage in the world they neither trade nor correspond with any other whatsoever not so much as suffer any to land upon their coast and if by Chance they are so unhappy as to be driven upon 't these Barbarous savages immediately kill them and dress them for food CHAP. XXXIII The great straights that Monsieur Duquesne was in for want of water makes him anchor at the great Isle of COCOS AN hour after discovering the Isles of the Andamants we saw those of the Coco's which we endeavour'd to gain that we might take in water at any rate We had the wind almost quite against us but in such extreamities as these the utmost was to be try'd for fear of missing them and tho' they were in sight of us yet we several times lost hopes of gaining them in the mean time we tack'd so often that on Sunday the 15th at 3 in the afternoon we anchor'd on a little Island which lay South-East and by South of us bord'ring to the South East of all the rest but plac'd wrong in the Carde We observ'd it to lie in 14 Deg. N. L. of one side at about two Leagues distance from it there is larger