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
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
the Lion whose Poop as well as ours was carried away the second was the Dragon who for eight days had been seperated from the rest If we were glad at the sight of them they were not less surpriz'd at our return they believing us lost ever since they had seen a Top-mast floating on the Sea they told us that the Squadron had suffered extreamly and that the Bird had been forced to heave her Boat and four Guns over board to save herself and that the Flourishing and the Rock were nigh being lost all the Goods in the first being spoiled and the last having been obliged to pump continually to save themselves CHAP. XLIV We gave thanks to God for finding our selves on the Bank of Needles which we happily passed and the gentle Trading Winds succeeding we sailed prosperously AS bad as this news was we were glad to hear it for we never expected to see or hear of one another more and great wou'd have been our satisfaction in pursuing our Voyage together if the South West Winds which lasted eight days had not obliged us to lie by at last they chang'd and having seen a little Bird of the size of a Sparrow we judg'd we were not far from Land Having sounded several times without finding ground though according to the variation and the Point of the Pilots we shou'd have been on the Bank of Needles The 7th of April we saw a Whale and several Birds as Cormorants and Velvet Channels were sitting on the Water which gave us to understand we were very near Land so that next day being the eighth the Dragon having found ground hoisted a Flag to give us notice of it we presently huddled over a few prayers according to custom and sounding all along we found ground in a 100 fathom Water It was wonderful strange that in this place where the Sea is always so boisterous and violent it prov'd a dead Calm followed by so gentle a Breeze that we past this Bank of 24 Leagues in length with our Top-gallant Sails only Thus having doubled the Cape of Good Hope we took heart and hoped for a prosperous Voyage hence forward the Winds being now so favourable And indeed we made great way for after having sailed 200 Leagues beyond it we began to breath in a temperate Air and to have fair and clear Weather constantly accompanied with the gentle Trading Winds it seem'd as if God was now pleased to give us a little comfort after so much misery and Sufferings and to say truth we extreamly stood in need of it for the Vessel was not able to bear any more weather our Men were very sickly and grew so more and more with what they had suffered in doubling the Cape so that every day some of 'em died either of the Flux or of the Scurvey Yet still we had reason to believe our selves happy the Cold abating by degrees and warm weather succeeding which was no small relief to those who were ill of the latter Distemper the Sea was now no longer dangerous but on the contrary all was calm and pleasant as if we had made an In-land Voyage CHAP. XLV Our pleasant Navigation invites us to fish A Description of an extraordinary Fish call'd a Requiem THis happiness and the Diversions we gave our selves of Gaming Dancing and Reading charm'd the fateigues of so long a Voyage besides these we often delighted our selves with Fishing and in one calm day we caught numbers of Tons Goldfishes and Bounites and a large Fish call'd a Requiem by fastening a great piece of Bacon to the hook This monstrous Creature is between 15 and 16 foot long and almost as big as a Man it has no shell but a skin thick and rough like Shagrin with a Muzzle half round distinct from the rest of the head four fingers below towards the Belly is plac'd the larger mouth whose two Jaw bones have each three rows of Teeth which are large and flat yet very sharp so that whenever he eats he is forc'd to throw himself on his back It seems as if Nature wonderful in her productions wou'd by that means suppress the devouring Appetite of this greedy Creature which I have seen return three times to the same Bait tho' the hook had torn his Gills before This Monstrous creature does not shun Men as other fish do for he no sooner sees him in the water but he follows him and when he designs to quit the prey he throws himself upon it carrying away that part on which he fastens first he is never seen but in a calm following ships to catch whatever meat or rubbish the Seamen throw out Certain little Fishes of the size of a Sardine which Swims before free from the insults of this creature as devouring as it is and serve him as a Pilot for from thence it is they are called by that name they are such faithful companions to him that when he is taken with the hook and drawing in they lie on his back and suffer themselves to be drawn in also I had forgot to mention how we found in the belly of one we took a Knife and six pound of Bacon which in all probability it got at the hook I believe there is no creature in the World so hard liv'd and difficult to kill I took notice of one thing among several others on board our Ship that was peculiarly amazing in this fish which was this that it being cut in peices and each peice seperated from the heart yet they all mov'd alike which surprized us very much This fish has a sort of marrow in the head that hardens against the Sun and being powder'd and taken in White-wine is very good for the Chollick CHAP. XLVI Monsieur Duquesne meets with two more Ships of his Squadron and sail together in Order to anchor at the Isle of the Ascention WHile we enjoyed the innocent diversion of fishing a more sollid entertainment diverted us for some time the wind which we had directly in our Stern made us dispatch no less than 40 Leagues a day sailing now as expeditiously since our departure from Pontichery as we did unsuccesfully before The 25th of April the Dragon having given a signal about 3 in the afternoon that she saw two ships the Admiral ordered her to give chase to them they seem'd to be Dutch bound for St. Helens from whence we were not fat but when we came up with them we discovered they were the Bird and the Flourishing which we had not seen in two Months before Our Squadron had now been all re-united if the Rock which they told us was a head of us had been in company We made use of the Wind which was very favourable to joyn her at the Isle of Ascentions near which we should pass to take some Tortoise aboard We never had more need of going a shoar for our Company was harrast and quite spent with our poor diet and continual pumping night and day for our refuge was nothing
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
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
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
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
Pavillions which they call Combettes and sometimes of forty or fifty An ordinary Persons shan't have above two or three the King 's has above a hundred tho' cover'd with Straw like tâ—e rest Those of Persons of Quality are enclos'd with Palasades of Straw or Thorns supported from space to space with States the Combettes communicate all one within another by ways dispos'd in the form of a Labyrinth Round the House according to the capacity of the Owner are seen beautiful Trees but in another Order than Nature has plac'd them The Palace of King Damel exceeds all the rest before you come to the Gate of the Palasades which makes the first Inclosure you see a spacious Field where his Horses are manag'd of which he has no great Number Without by the side of this Palasade are the Appartments of the great Lords From this Place you go into the Palace by a large Avery it is adorn'd with a great number of Trees which we call'd Calbassiers because their Fruit resembles a Calbasse Persons who are employ'd nearest the King have their Appartments by the side of this Avenue and their nearness to or distance from the Combette Royal shews their Degree Each of their Appartments being also inclos'd with Palasades you must pass a great many Courts before you come to the King 's few Persons daring go into his Appartment All his Wives have their distinct Lodgings and each five or six Slaves to wait on them The King may lie with which he pleases without creating a Jealousie in any of them there is one commonly whom he loves above all the the rest and when ever he is weary of her he sends her to some Village with her Slaves and gives her sufficient Lands for her maintenance to her succeeds another Of thirty which he keeps one half are in the Country The Negroes from this Coast to Gambia observe the Law of Mahomet but in the Parts towards Siera Liona and the Golden Coast they have for the most part no Religion at all or at least worship the first Thing they meet in a Morning Formerly they were Idolaters worshipping the Devil to whom they sacrificed Bullocks and tho' they eat Flesh yet they believe a transmigration of Souls And there are some of them who would not have certain Lizards kill'd that run about their Houses saying It 's the Soul of their Fathers or their Mothers that come to make merry with them which they call Folgar They derive their Religion from the Arabian Azoughes of whom I have already told you the ordinary People have very little as having but small knowledge of it the great ones are more Religious having commonly a Moorish Maraboux to live with them who have a great Ascendant over them they say their Sala or Prayers three times a Day Morning at Sun-rise about Noon and in the Evening some in the Afternoon the ordinary People pray little nor do not trouble themselves with the building of Mosques The King and the Grandees have Mosques they are cover'd with Straw like their other Houses They first stand a long while in them looking towards the Sun-rising then they advance two steps forwards muttering some words to themselves then prostrate themselves all along on the Ground with their Faces to the Earth to raise themselves on their Knees make a Circle round them on the Ground and twice or thrice about their Heads they afterwards kiss the Earth at several bowings putting Sand on their Foreheads with both their Hands and repeat the same Ceremony again for the space of half an Hour One prays that he may have no Enemies but such as he may be able to defeat that their Deity would do them no harm another that he would give them handsome Wives and plenty of Mill and so forth Nothing being able to divert them while they are at Prayers nay tho' they saw their very Houses a fire They believe Predestination and when any Misery befals them they say it comes from their God so that if one Negro is kill'd by another he says that their God has kill'd him Yet for all that they seize the Homicide if they can and cause him to be sold for a Slave They are so Superstitious that they imagine the having a certain Spells about them they cannot be touch'd by any wild Beasts that approach them and while they are thus defended by Inchantment they believe nothing can cause their Death nor draw them into Misfortunes They have a certain Character which they call Gris-Gris they are Billets the Characters of which are Arabick intermix'd with Necromantick Figures which the Maraboux sell them Some as they imagine preserve them from being wounded enable them to swim well and procure them good success in Fishing others to have a good many Wives and Children to prevent their being made Captives and for whatever they love or fear They have so strong a Confidence in them that there are some of them that would stand the shot of an Arrow without fear they are â—â—irâ—ss'd with them having them on all parts of their Bodies that often a Zagaye will scarce enter them The great Lords above all others have their Vests and Bonnets cover'd with them and are so loaded with them that they are often forc'd to take Horse as not being able to go a foot they likewise put some of them on their Horses to make them the more lively and hinder them from being wounded These Gris-Gris's are lapt up in Linnem handsomly folded and cover'd above with red Leather neatly drest there are some no above an Inch thick work'd with the point of a Diamond of which they make Necklaces into which the Maraboux often put nothing at all as I have found upon opening of some our Slaves had they have of them before and behind over-against their Stomachs large ones and about two Inches thick they make some of them of a Horses Tail or the Horns of a Deer or a wild Bull cover'd with red Cloth they set two of these last on the forepart of their Caps thus equipp'd they have a horrible Air and exceeding fierce and engage one another with the utmost Confidence in their Combats but not in those with us and against our Muskets so that 't is a saying amongst them That there is no Gris-Gris against the Pouse for they call the Musket so The Maraboux ruine them with these Gris-Gris's for there are some of them that cost them three Slaves others four or five Oxen according to the Vertue they ascribe to them The Opinion the Negroes have of these Gris-Gris has made some of our ignorant French believe there are a great many Conjurers amongst them there are certain times when these pretended Sorcerers make a thousand Grimaces singing and roaring as they say when the Devil beats them When they think any Person is insulted by the Devil if it be a Woman they put
ships at anchor between the great and the little Island of Negraille which we made no doubt were our own Who had stood in to that place So the Commandant having given them the signal of knowledge in seting his Topgallant in the form as a banner they answer'd him with the same signal and sent their sloop to us which could not get aboard us so night coming on together with the danger of the banks that are very shallow in divers places oblieg'd us to anchor again over against the Diamond a little Island 3 Leagues from Negraille which we left to the right when we came to an anchor This next day being the 26th we continued still at anchor waiting for the tide when about eleven we saw a ship which after having doubl'd the most northerly point of the great Isle came and anchor'd within half a League of us we commanded the Capt. aboard who was a Portugues bound from Madras where he was an eye witness of the action we were engag'd in He told us the news of the English Admirals having lost his nose by the bursting of a gun and that the Dutch had no less then two hundred men kill'd which are not stories like those the enemy publisht after our departure from Madras and spread over all the Indies of the falsness of which I shall hereafter give you an account This evening three sloops having observ'd our ship we enter'd by the favour of the tide amongst the rest where we anchor'd within musket shot of two lands we debarkt five or six sick men on the little Island and built two Tents for them on a lovely and spacious plain that presents it self to our sight at landing We lay 8 days there feasting on Venison and Wild-boar and very large Tortoyses which we took on the Isle of Diamonds with which the whole Company feasted themselves twice a day for all had free leave to go a shoar not excepting the very prisoners CHAP. XXXVI The Squadron lying at anchor Monsieur Duquesne orders five arm'd sloops to chase an English ship who carry'd out to sea by the winds were like to have been lost The Death of Monsieur de la Villauclers Lieutenant of the Bird. THat we might the better forget our past Misfortunes Monsieur Duquesne according to his usual goodness furnisht us with Fusees powder and ball to go and shoot some Fallow-Deer of which there were large numbers in this Island our ship was already on the bar when news was brought that an English ship was arriv'd at the point of the great Isle none of the Squadron being in a condition to go out after her he sent out five arm'd sloops under the command of Monsieur Neufeville as soon as the English saw them they made full sail however they came within Musket shot of them and fir'd at one another but the wind rising and the enemy making off Monsieur Neufeville was oblieg'd to tack about the wind and Tide which still encreast drove our sloops a matter of 7 or 8 Leagues out to sea and in vain they endeavour'd by rowing to recover the land four of which with much a doe return'd back after they had been the sport of the winds and suffer'd extreamly through hunger and thirst having had no provisions with them They could give us no account of the fifth which was Monsieur Neufeville I heard this sad news a shoar which troubled me the more because there was a Lieutenant my very good friend aboard we gave them for lost but it pleas'd God almost by a miracle to restore 'em safe about two days after in which there were 25 men so spent with toil and hunger that they excited our compassion About this time died Monsieur de la Villeau Clerk Lieutenant of the Bird dyed of a Fever the greatest part of the Officers assisted at his Funeral and we buried him in the plain with a discharge of seven great guns CHAP. XXXVII A Desceiption of the Islands of Negraille and an account of what past while the Squadron lay at anchor there NEgraille consists of two Islands about a Cannon shot distant from each other and about 4 Leagues off from the Terra Firma of Pegu one of which is three Leagues in compass the other twelve they are situated in 116. D. of Lon. and 15 D. N. Lat. 'T is strange that so convenient and happy a place should only be inhabited by an innumerable number of wild beasts as Tigers Elephants Wild Oxen Staggs and Wild-Boars which live there undisturb'd in the midst of the greatest plenty no other Island is so stor'd with game or has better hunting besides the beasts I have nam'd which are seen in vast droves there 's plenty of Ring-doves Wood-cocks Teal Parrots and an endless number of strange birds of divers kinds The are Swans Lizards and Serpents of a great length and a great number of Crocodils call'd Caymans who in the day time hide themselves in rivers the better to surprize the beasts when they come to drink this subtile creature fastning on the nose of the Wild Oxen draws them in and after drownding them eats them At the little Island where we took in Water and Wood are seen two spacious and beautiful plains cover'd with good feeding in which the sight loses it self Through the midst of it a pleasant river takes its Course whose Water is exceeding good and easiy to be come at there we bath'd our selves almost every hour in the day under the thick shady trees and in large and greedy draughts quencht the violence of our raging thirst All this place is marshy and in many places with salt water yet in the woods there are places where they don't reach and where there is sweet water always to be found which the beasts drink of who come thither in troops of a hunderd at a time and feed quietly together without fear of being disturb'd by the Huntsman One of my companions and I going a hunting we follow'd some Harts and Hinds very warmly which carried us further into the wood than we were aware of so that after two hours pursuit being quite tir'd and intending to return back again 't was more than we could do to find our way tho' we still flattered our selves with hopes but after long trying in vain we at last began to despair and almost to give our selves for lost being already over-power'd with hunger thirst and weariness We past through a great many Thickets the paths being only beaten by the wild beasts the sight of whom diverted our melancholy wanderings in a desart Island destitute of all Subsistance expos'd to Tygers Wild-Oxen and Serpents in this sad condition knowing not what to do we adrest our selves to God and took observations of the Sun Steering our course by it So after much labour and fatigue and beating about from four in the morning to 4 in the evening we at length discover'd the plain in which our Companions were encamp'd from whence we went to