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
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
person of great experience and whom he had a great value for he often visited him and order'd the Surgeons of the Squadron to consult of his Distemper who seem'd to have good hopes of him but his age made him yield to the violence of it which took him off the 22d of April all were very sensible of his death which was presently known by the signal from the Rock which all day had her two Flags half down and her Fane quite down the common Ceremonies with which the funeral of a Captain is honor'd with eleven Guns when he is thrown into the Sea Our Commandant was not much put to it to chuse one in his place who was fit to succeed him for he presently chose Monsieur Pouriere who accepted the employment to the great regret of his own Crew who were not a little troubled to part with him who they lov'd so entirely for his many excellent Accomplishments CHAP. IX Passage of the Tropick of Capricorn and the Cape of Good-hope happily doubled WE had calms for some days and the winds were changeable but this did not last long for blowing fresher and fresher we past the Tropick of Capricorn the 15th at ten at night In this traverse you 're expos'd to a great many different Climates as we approach'd the Cape we had delicate cool winds which were not a little pleasant to us after coming out of the scortching heats of the Line These two contrary qualities acting on the same bodies produced violent effects and thence our sickness at land had its original Hitherto we sail'd as happily as we could wish nothing was more beautiful than the sea which seem'd to join with the winds to Expedite our Voyage the very water in the hold was not corrupted and being as happy as could be expected in a voyage of this kind in a little time we met with the western winds which were necessary to gain the Cape of Good-hope The third of May we had them but they lasted but a little while coming about to the North which serving our purpose as well we sailed sixty Leagues in 24 hours with them which made us hope we should soon be at the place where we were to anchor which every one earnestly desir'd so that our joy was excessive when we reach'd the heighth of the Cape The judgment of our Pilots was confirm'd by the sight of the Velvet Channels call'd so from a large Bird which is only seen there because half their plumage resembles Velvet spotted with Pearl We saw two whales with a great number of birds of different kinds and all sorts of colours the Calms delaid us there very much and hindered our passing it as did likewise the contrary winds But with the blessing of God overcoming these difficulties Sunday the 28th of May we doubled the Cape of Good-hope with a northerly wind as good as we could wish It 's here our ships refit going to the Indies and meet with plenty of provisions but being in War with the Dutch who are Masters of the Cape we were depriv'd of this happiness and so without so much as passing within sight of it we continued our Voyage resolving not to stop till we reacht Amiouam vvhich is 800 Leagues farther CHAP. X. The Bank of Needles a most dangerous passage And sight of the Isle of Madugascar Which made us rejoice IT still blew so fair that next day by seven a clock in the morning we arriv'd at the Bank of Needles tho' it be fourty Leagues from the Cape the Rock sounding found ground at the first of which she gave us notice by a gun and hanging out a flag our Commandant order'd Te Deum to be sung at the end of Mass to thank GOD for it after which we made it our business to get over it as soon as possible the winds rising making that place more dangerous which at last grew to a storm We could scarce bear as much sail as was sufficient to keep the ships head to the Waves which while they roll'd often enter'd into them the Dragon lost the round top of her Main-Mast which Monsieur Duquesne observing he furl'd a sail that she might not be left too far behind which delay'd us a little for else we had been clear of the Bank that very day At four in the evening we saw the Needles Cape on our left at about five or six Leagues distance two sea wolfs and a power of strange birds After having happily past this Bank and the Cape of Good Hope we were past the worst and had little more to fear we had no more to wish but to discover the Isle of Madagascar which was absolutely necessary in our passage to Amiouam fifteen days we impatiently waited for it at which time Thursday the 15th of Jure we made it which greatly rejoic'd us all and for which we sung Te Deum for had we mist it we should scarce have been able to have found a place to refit or so much as know where we were We were not long before we saw the Lyon who was sent upon the discovery Monsieur Duquesne finding he was just on the Island struck sail and with the signal of a Gun gave notice to the other ships to follow him so steering North North East the wind in our stern we left Madagascar on the right to the East of us This is perhaps the greatest Island in the world it s scituated betwixt 12 and 22 Degrees of south Lat. it s allow'd to be about 800 Leagues in compass and 300 over it has several Kings each having a good part of it they often make War on one another and command a great many men of whom some are so savage that they care not for having any commerce with strangers and often eat one another and their neighbours when they can light on them CHAP. XI The Squadron anchors at the Isle of Moelly WE had all along resolv'd to anchor at Amiouam but the report of some who assur'd us that 't was easier to be supply'd with water and wood at Moelly which is but eight Leagues distant from it made Monsieur Duquesne go thither first that after having well refresht his Company and supply'd his wants he might be in a condition when he came to Amiovam to fight and chase the ships he hop'd to meet there being the place where the English use to take in Supplies This conduct proceeded from his great prudence and experience and knowledgein those parts for you must know that if you misse anchoring at Amiouam 't is impossible almost to regain it and if we had gone thither at first what a mortification it would have been to us meeting shiping there to see 'em weigh anchor immediately and begone without our being able to follow them So that we could not take our measures better and earnestly desiring to arrive there and the wind serving the Pilots every day encourag'd us to hope for 't On the 20th of June we had
do otherwise These Negro's appear'd more Savage than they of Saintiague ruder in their manner of living but more plain in their dealing they are large and strong bodied but very fearful a Pistol shot will scare them so that they 'll run into the woods to hide so much they fear fire Arms. They were long beards and their hair covering their shoulders for 't is to be observ'd that to the south of the Line they all have them thus and to the North have short friz'd hair they all go naked having only a rag of Linen to cover their nakedness and some wear beads about their necks without crosses and holes in their Ears that your finger will go through I could never imagine that these Savages could be so jealous of their Wives for they hid them in their Cottages as we past by that we might not see them judging our inclinations I suppose by their own we saw some of their women who are not easily to be distinguished from their Men but by their habit which consists of a piece of Linen that crosses their Stomacks and so falls down their breasts with another which binds their Thghes behind and before like drawers They are very wild for when I but touch'd one of their ears to observe three little pieces of wood she had in them she skriekt out and ran as if I intended to eat her Tho' Idolaters yet they are very temperate and sober and for the most part feed only on fish fruits and Rice and rarely eat any flesh tho' they have plenty Their best drink is Tarry which is very refreshing and much resembles the Cider made of pears in Britany it costs them no more pains than the rest of their provisions which the unmanur'd soil freely furnishes 'em with of its own accord It is no more than cutting the bottom of the Palm trees and placing Vessels beneath to receive it CHAP. XIII The Squadron parts from the road of Moelly on the news we receiv'd that there were some ships of the Enemy at Amiouam WE had lain at anchor about Seven or Eight days when we understood by a Negro who spoke Portuguese that there lay some ships at Amiouam Tho' the information was uncertain yet it gave us a great deal of joy and the Commandant gave notice that we should make ready to sail in two days so we made hast to take in all necessaries and to supply our selves with water wood and fresh provisions to take down our Tents and embark the sick of whom we lost one at land and three the day we landed whom we cast into the sea which with eleven we lost in crossing the Line made in all fifteen since we left France This evening Monsieur Duquesne gave orders for sailing and accordingly next day being Saturday the first of July we left the road of Moelly at 5 in the morning but were becalm'd almost all that day except a faint wind that blew sometimes which serv'd us a little till six in the evening when we came to an anchor again for that night next day we sail'd and it blowing a fresh gale about ten we doubled the Isle of Moelly and by reason of the Tides we were fore'd to coast it near the Shoar We presently made all the sail we could that we might reach Amiouam as soon as possible which was now in sight the Rock still kept close to us and in a little time the rest came up within 3 or 4 Leagues of us and now we took down our hamocks and made every thing ready for a fight tho' we had no plain sight of any shiping till we came near the road when we perceived one lying at anchor near to land and the smoak of two guns which were fir'd to warn the men aboard 'T was now Sun-set and we had yet two Leagues before we could come up with her all had orders to prepare and we as usual were posted on the quarter Deck we had already hung out Dutch colours and put a square Flag on the top of the Main-mast making in with full sails to set upon her by day light CHAP. XIV An Engagement at Amiouam with an English ship richly laden which was burnt with above three hunderd persons in her THis ship took a pleasure to see us coming in believing us to be Dutch and the rather because Seven ships were to be sent this year from Holland to the East-Indies but to rid them of their mistake the Rock who had gain'd the wind of us approacht according to orders with a design to anchor on her Buoy we then took in our Flag which very much surpriz'd them who presently hall'd the Rock and askt him whence he was bound and the Captain answering in Dutch from Amsterdam they seem'd mightily pleas'd then he asking them again whence their ship was answer'd from London The Captain was just ready to go aboard him when the sloop which he had sent to get intelligence of us and which he had order'd to go aboard the Admiral if they were Dutch keeping close to the land side for fear of being taken came to give him notice that we were French this unexpected news surpriz'd him very much and immediately gave orders to charge the guns which the Rock observing presently came and anchord on his buoy and straight powerd in his small shot with a broad side into her crying Vive le Royâ— Vive France The English much surpriz'd return'd us five guns and going to tack about the Rock at the second discharge splitting the Capstain and wounded two and twenty of his men upon which she cut away and hoist sail with all the speed she could which Monsieur Pouriere who was resolv'd to follow her close no sooner observ'd but he cut his Cables too and call'd to us to board her for that she was just sailing away Our Commandant knowing what he had to do presently tackt and got under the wind with her who fir'd on us with both her broad sides seeing herself oblig'd to pass between us and the Rock who still kept the wind of her and power'd his Musket shot into her but we had no sooner suffer'd her to go a little a head of us but we ply'd her with our great and small shot from both our ships the English ship scarce firing at all and thinking of nothing but of making her escape by the favour of the night But his endeavours were to no purpose for we were resolv'd to ply him close all night after the third discharge the Commandant order'd us to cease firing while a message was sent to him that if he would not surrender he should be hang'd up on the Main-yard this threatening message which might have frightend another gave him so little concern that he answer'd it with as many great Guns as he could at which we admir'd at the undaunted courage and resolution of the man to stand it out at such a desperate rate when there was no hopes of escapeng
a letter from one of their Fathers who is at present in China which contains a full account of the Revolution that happen'd at Siam and this has very much enlarg'd his Relation Since our departure from Pontichery they had planted on the shoar a new battery of eight Guns 18 pounder each being those we had brought from France and we found above twenty thousand Negros there who had fled thither for refuge under the French Pavillion to avoid the Troops of the Great Mogul who had besieg'd Gingy the Caputal of the Prince of that Name This is a very great Town about fifteen Leagues up the land the strongest and the only one able to resist the power of the Mogul with whom this Prince has continual war And whose Troops tho' to the number of fourscore thousand where as they told us shamefully oblieg'd to quit the Siege through the vigorus resistance of the Garison and the Town where the Prince of Gingy commanded in person Two great Lords of the Country who where at Pontichery when we lay at anchor had the curiosity to come and see our ship accompanied with five and twenty servants which they took out of above three hundred that each of them had we put all things in as good order as we could and brought all our Company above Deck the number of which they admir'd at but the Sea incommoding them very much and not being able to stand on the deck they returned immediately with a salute of 7 Guns and 7 vive le Roy's CHAP. XLI The Squadron leaves the Indies to return to France passes the Line the third time without any inconveniencies in the 170 D. of Long. The beginning of our Navigation is happy AFter we had taken some hogsheads of water aboard and some other provisions we wanted the Commandant took leave of Monsieur Martin who saluted him from the Fort with three discharges of eleven Guns That day we gave the parting Gun so on Wednesday the â—4th of January we sail'd by four in the morning to quit the Indies for this time and return to France the wind was very favourable to us and soon carried us a considerable distance from a land which we wisht six thousand Leagues off us It seem'd to me as if this long Voyage we now entered on would never be ended and tho' we sailed ne're so swiftly and I had made the Voyage already yet I fancy'd we should never come to the end of it however we made such way that February the 24th 3 in the afternoon we past the Line the third time in 107 D. of Long. without any inconveniency of Calms or Heats Such a happy beginning of a Voyage was no little comfort to us and the hopes 't would continue so sweeten'd our toil and made the time more pleasant than before The 16th We had the sun in our Zeinth that is darting his Beams perpendicularly on us casting no shadow but on the contrary an excessive heat which we were forc'd to bear without so much as one drop of Water to refresh us between meals this heat diminisht insensibly as we departed from the Sun and enter'd into cooler climates which however did not hinder our experiencing great miseries and fatigues and had we not been unaccustom'd to 'em should scarce have been able to have undergone ' em The 25th in the morning we past the Tropick of Capricorn and met with Blustring winds in these Latitudes which forwarded us very much on way but afterwards became so outrageous that we cou'd more willingly have embrac'd the most tiresome calm CHAP. XLII A dreadfull tempest happens in the Heigth of Mascarin which disperses the Squadron and is in great danger of being lost BEing now the time of Carnevall Monsieur Duquesne was obliged to give us Wine instead of Rack which we had drunk for four Months before at this time every one is desirous to fare a little better than ordinary but in vain did we attempt it at sea where good chear is generally scarce but especially in such long Voyages as these the Seamen danc'd Morning and Evening and were very merry which joyn'd with the fair wind we had serv'd to lessen the time which was more irksom to us than any thing else The Wind already blew so strong that we sail'd no less than 3 Leagues an hour and encreasing on Tuesday the 1st of March obleig'd us to furl all our Sails except the fore-mast and the air was so thick and Cloudy that we cou'd scarce descern from Ship to Ship which prov'd but too Fatal an Omen of that dreadful Tempest that ensu'd Sure nothing cou'd be more Frightful and amazing than to see the air condens'd and our beloved Element representing a dismal scene of Death The Winds spent their utmost rage and seem'd to groan beneath their Burthen while the yawning seas torn with their fury eagerly desir'd to make a prey of us Yet still kept us in suspense even in the Arms of Death about Four in the afternoon the foremast sheet was blown to rags and the vast noise and Universal rouling of the ship fill'd us all with confusion and horror And now being about 3000 Leagues from Land we saw ourselves exposed to the outragious Element without sails and distitute of all means that might tend to our safty The vast prodigious waves no sooner rowl'd over our Decks and fill'd our ship with water but greater still return'd and seem'd to sink us to the Bottom so that sometimes we had scarce time to take breath and hardly knew whether we were in the ship or the sea In this miserable condition and approaching danger every one plied the pump and the short remainder of the day we spent in fastening a sprit sail to the yard of the fore-mast sail which we had no sooner done but as an addition to our misery a dismal shout was heard at the sight of one of our ships which driven by the violence of the Storm was just ready to run fowl of us and split us both All that 's horrible and amazing in death presented it self to our view himself at the last moment of life knew not what course to take or what he should do to avoid it we unfurl'd our two sprit-sails which were no sooner loose but the winds blew them into a thousand Shatters however they serv'd to Clear us of the ship to which we so happily shew'd our lights that hoisting her foremast sail she past by without damage on either side In the midst of so many alarums and continual dangers we past the rest of night in pumping and rummaging the inside of the ship which was so wet that there was not a dry place to be found in 't to lie down Rivers of Water ran continually over the deck the Boxes chests and all the hamocks were thrown down and nothing was to be seen throughout the whole Vessel but the perfect picture of a shipwrack to which the winds and Seas seem'd to conspire this night we
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
ships mudding the water as they past These delays and these turnings gave them time to discover what we were so that the Admiral who anchor'd at large suspecting our tacking about so long made close into the land intending to run herself aground if pursued others follow'd her example and two rang'd themselves under the Cannon of the Fort. Monsieur Duquesne meeting with such difficulties would undertake nothing of his own head but call'd a a Councel of War in which it was resolv'd to run no riske for besides that there was nothing to be done we were in great danger of running a ground on the Bank so we tackt and stood to fea An hour after we discover'd three more which we reckon'd would make us amends for our former loss but as soon as we came nigher we discover'd them to be Danes by their colours and so had nothing to say to them They lay at anchor before Trinqubart five Leagues from Negapatan where they have a Fort and Factory CHAP. XIX The Indian Princes take the Factories in their Dominions into their protection and defend them from the Insults of a stronger Enemy WE anchor'd two Leagues farther over against a Factory that belongs to us where there are only two French who have but four or five port-holes with as many guns to defend them which rather make a shew than a real strength when they discover'd our Squadron they hung out a white flag notwithstanding that they had reason to believe us Dutch or English But in the Iudies each Factory sets out their own National Colours be it in time of War or Peace be they ne're so weak or the approaching enemy ne're so strong For if the English for example insult a French Factory the Great Mogul or another Prince in whose Country the Factory is resents it as done to himself and oblieges himself to make amends for any damage receiv'd A little after we hung out white colours which very much surpriz'd our French who did not know what to make of such a novelty but when we added the Admiral flame on the main mast top and considering the building of our ships when they came to an anchor they no longer doubted as they told us afterwards but that it was Monsieur Duquesne's Squadron which they had every day expected upon which they presently came to Complement him our Sloop which was sent to them met them half way and brought them aboard where we long'd for their Company as well to learn News of them as to meet with our Country-men in so distant a part of the world with whom we might happily entertain our selves and be inform'd of what was necessary we did them some honor for going to the Councel Chamber where Monsieur Duquesne expected them they past through two double Lanes lin'd with Soldiers and Seamen who prest hard to see them that they could scarce go along they told us little news and next day we parted for Pontecherry where we with reason expected to hear more and with more certainty CHAP. XX. The French Squadron arrives before Ponticheri the chief Factory of our East-India Company situated on the Coast of Coromandel THe Coast of Coromandel is very beautiful all along the pleasant mixture of Meadows and Trees ever green making a Charming prospect you meet with mountains here and there which intercept it but are themselves a prospect no less pleasant and some rising grounds which you overlook and loose your sight in delicious fair and wide extended plains besides a number of beautiful habitations by the sea side where you meet with another entertainment which to me seem'd very diverting which is a great number of Catimarons in which the Negros of the Country go a fishing they are made of two or three pieces of a Tree bound togeather with Coco cords with a Mat sail of a Triangular form as they sit in them their breech touches the water and yet they are not afraid to launch out ten or twelve Leagues in them the sea is some times cover'd with these Catimarons which sail so swiftly tho' with nere so small a wind that at a distance you would take them for birds skiming up and down on the surface of the waters We past by a Dutch factory before which there lay only one bark that was not worth the taking coasting a long we at length arriv'd at Porta-Nova at eleaven in the morning near which we saw four Pagods hard by one another in which the Negros worship the Devil we saw there three ships of which the biggest carry'd a flag on the top of the Main-mast these were worth the attacking but whither they were willing to spare us the paines or rather prevent their own danger they hung out Danish colours And nothing could impose upon us more tho' we can't Vindicate our weakness in this matter considering they lay at anchor before a Dutch factory and knowing too that the Danes had but three ships in the East-Indies which we had just left at Frinquebart after having made a faint to discover them we left them to continue our course We had so little wind that vve scarse expected to arrive the same day at Ponticherri and being afterwards down-right becalm'd we were oblig'd to anchor 2 Leagues short of the Courtoir which is a Fort belonging to Prince Gingi a friend to the French Nation being now within 2 Leagues we took our own time and next day being Saturday the 12 of August the wind blowing a little fresh we sail'd and at eight in the morning arriv'd at Pontecherri where we found the Lyon and the Dutch Pink who came thither but the day before We had scarce anchor'd within half a league of the land when the greatest part of the Officers of the Fort came to wait upon the Commandant the Fort saluted us with eleven guns and we could return but nine because the Deck was so incumber'd Next day Monsieur Martin Director general for the French East-India Company came aboard where he was receiv'd with a salute of five guns and nobly regal'd by Monsieur Duquesne who deliver'd him his Majesty's Letter by which he enabled him and a few days after perform'd the Ceremony of girting him with a Sword by his side Our arrival here sprea'd a great and general joy which appear'd even amongst the Negro's of the Country who in their way exprest their satisfaction and no doubt our own French had reason to rejoice to see us come with a force sufficient to make the Indies tremble and their joy was equal to the consternation of the enemy who secretly dispatcht notice to all the Factories on the Coast to be on their guard against six French Privateers the stoutest and the best that had yet been sent from Europe into those parts This allarum which the English and Dutch gave one another did not a little encrease the glory and reputation of France they were no more to be seen strutting in these parts and hectoring the Fort of