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A night or two after we resolved to go on shore, to try if we could find out the man that was missing. An hour before midnight landed at the place where the action begun; but it was so dark, we could discover nothing till the boatswain tumbled over one of the dead bodies. We concluded to stay there till morning, when we discovered two and thirty bodies lying on the ground, whereof two of them were not dead. Having made this discovery I thought I had seen enough, & was preparing to go on board; but the boatswain and the rest which were about twenty, resolved to go to the Indian town, to try if they could find what was become of Tom Jeffreys, their companion.

I opposed this resolution, as too dangerous to be undertaken; but all I could say signified nothing, they resolved to go, let the consequence be what it would. It was not without difficulty they found the town, which confided of about 200 houses, where the people being all in a profound sleep, the failors concluded to divide themselves in three bodies, and to let the town on fire in three places at once, to kill all that should attempt to escape, and to plunder the rest.

Having made this resolution, to work they went. They had not gone far, before the first company found their companion Tom Jeffreys stripped stark naked and his throat cut from ear to ear, hung by one arm on a tree. In a house adjoining to this tree, they found fifteen or sixteen Indians.

They immediately set fire to the house, and at the same time to many others in the town, so that presently the whole place began to be in flames, and no sooner did the affrighted creatures run out to save themselves therefrom, but the failors either drove them back again into the fire, or killed them without mercy. All this while they never fired a gun, left the noise should awake the people too fast for them to destroy.

By this time the town was all in flames, and the light of

( 94 )

of the conflagration made me very uneaſy, and likewise
surprifed the capt. in and men that were with him on
board, who knew nothing of the matter.

But when he saw the smoke, and heard the guns go
off, he concluded his men muſt be in great danger,
on which he took the other boat, and with 13 men
refolved to go to their affiſtance let the conſequence
be what it would, and indeed, tho' I was ſenſible of
the danger we ran, yet I had no power to stay behind.

We went directly as the flames guided us, but I muſt
own when I came on the place, I never beheld greater
horror, nor heard more dreadful out cries: in ſhort the
whole ſpectacle was too dreadful to be deferib'd & the
miseries and aſtoniſhment of the people not to be faſd.

I got in the center, in order to put a ſtop to farther
barbarity, and ordered ſome of the men to follow me
but I had hardly ſpoke the word, before the boatſwain,
with four of the men after him, came up to us, all co-
ver'd with blood and duſt. When they ſaw us and knew
who we were, they gave a great halloo, in token that
more help was come. Noble captain ſays he, these ſell
hounds have barbarously murdered Tom Jeffreys, and
in revenge we will kill them all.

When

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When my nephew saw his man hanging by his arm,
with his throat cut from ear to ear, he grew much
enraged, and declared not a man in the illand ought to
be spared; on which away run the boatswain with 8
more, to finish the tragedy; which being out of my
power to prevent, I got to the boat with only my
supercargo, and so went on board, sending back the
pinnace to assist the men, if any thing should happen
When I got to the boat the fire was almost extinguish'd;
and the out-cries abated; but I had been but a little
time on board, before I heard another volley given by
the sailors, as a signal of victory, which was occasioned
by their falling on and destroying the houses and per-
sons that lay between them and the sea, and so they
came strolling down to the pinnace, which lay ready to
receive them. Not a man met with any particular hurt,
the poor Indians being unprepared, amazed and con-
founded.

I was extremely angry with them for their cruelty,
but particularly with the captain, who, instead of per-
fuading them to reason, rather prompted them to far-
ther mischief; nor could he say any thing to excuse
himself, but he was man subject to passions, and that
he could not bear the light of one his men so barba-
rouslly murdered. As for the rest, they only boasted of
their revenge, and according to all their accounts they
destroyed 150 men, women, and children, & burnt the
whole town to ashes in the bargain: and however our
men might value themselves on this bold exploit, yet
I always looked upon it with detestation, and gave it
the title of *The Massacre of Madagascar*.

When we were under sail the boatswain would often magnify and defend the bloody action, which I as often dispraised and condemned, bidding them depend on it, God would never blefs their voyage after such unparelled barbarity. And, as I foretold, so it happened: for when we came on the Persian coast,

we

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we lost 5 of our men, who venturing too far on shore, was either killed, or taken and made slaves by the Africans. Upon this misfortune I again reprehended them, advising them to repent; whereon the boatswain said, you are always disturbing us; and as you are but a passenger, we are not obliged to bear it; and therefore if you do not forbear for the future I shall leave the ship, & not fail with such dangerous & ungrateful company.

All this I heard very patiently, being senfible, as cafes then stood, I had no remedy: and indeed I thought all had been over and forgot: but so it happened, we were now in the road of Bengal, where going one day on shore with the supercargo, one of the men came and told me I need not trouble myself to come on board any more, for that he had orders from the boatswain, and the rest of the officers not to bring me on board.

This insolent message much surprifed me; however, I made the fellow no answer, but went to the supercargo and desired him to go on board directly, to acquaint the captain, that he might prevent the mutiny which I had reason to apprehend; but before this could be done the matter was effected, for I was hardly out of the boat, but the boatswain, gunner, carpenter, with the inferior officers, ran to the quarter-deck, desiring to talk with the captain: and then the boatswain began to rail against me exceedingly, telling him, that if I had not gone on shore myself, they had resolved to have compelled me to it. And farther he had the insolence to add, that if I had not quitted the ship, tho' they had all the respect imaginable for their captain, and would serve him with their lives, yet they would have left the ship immediately. On which the rest cried out, One and all, one and all.

Though my nephew was a man that wanted neither courage nor resolution yet this unexpected behaviour shocked him exceedingly: he expostulated with them, telling them the danger and injustice of such a proceeding

( 97 )

ceeding; but all would not do, they had fully resolved if I came on board, they would leave the ship; on which said he, "if this be your resolution, I will go and acquaint him with it." So he came up to me and told me all that had passed. I am very glad to see you, nephew said I, and rejoice it is no worse; for in truth I expected they would have rebelled against you, I only desire you to send my necessary things on shore, and I will find my way to England as well as I can. That this vexed my nephew to the heart, yet finding there was no remedy, took his leave of me and went on board, & sent me my necessaries; & so this matter was over in a few hours. And now I think I was at least 1000 leagues farther from England, than I was at my little kingdom. My nephew left me two servants to attend me, who engaged to be with me till my return. I took lodgings in the house of an English woman, where was several merchants; and indeed I liked the company and entertainment so well, that I stayed several months, considering what course I had felt take. I had some valuable English goods, 1000 pieces of eight, and a letter of credit for more if I should have occasion. The goods I soon disposed of to advantage, & bought here some good diamonds, which I could easily carry about me.

One morning a merchant with whom I was very intimate came to me, and said, countryman, I have a proposal to make to you, which, I do not doubt, will be to both our advantages. To be short, Sir, we are in a remote part of the world, and far removed from our own country, & yet we are in a place where men, that understand business may get money. Now, if you will put a thousand pounds to my thousand pounds, we will buy a ship; you shall act as captain, and I will be the merchant; and we will go on a trading voyage.

This proposal soon gained on me, fuiting exactly with my rambling inclination; but it required some time before we could get a vessel to our mind, or failors

fir

( 98 )

fit to man her out. In a little time we procured both,
and so we failed away for China, and had a very prof-
perous voyage, having gained not only a large sum of
money, but withal a good insight into the traffic of
those countries.

Our next voyage was to the spice islands, which prov-
ed likewise very successful; & not long after, the mer-
chant & I made up our accounts to our mutual satisfac-
tion. We found ourselves very rich, and now our only
concern was how to dispense of our money. Whilft we
was considering what was best to be done, it happened
that a Dutch ship of about 200 tons came into port.

The men pretending they were so ill, that there were
not hands enough to manage the vessel, and the cap-
tain being desirous to go to Europe, public notice was
given, that the ship was to be sold; which no sooner
came to our ears but we bought her, and would have
entered some of her men but they were not to be found
for as soon as they had received their dividend, they all
went privately to the Mogul's country, as in truth they
had reason enough; for this pretended captain was
only the gunner, (the real captain and three of his men
being killed by the Malayans) who run away with the
ship to the bay of Bengal, leaving the mate and five
men more on shore, of which you will hear more in
the sequel of the story.

After we had bought the ship and fitted her with all
necessary for her voyage, with some difficulty and ex-
pence we picked up some sailors of different countries,
and manned her tolerably well, resolving upon another
voyage to the spice islands. In this manner we traded
backward and forward for five or six years, with very
good succeds, and was now in the seventh year going
to China: but this voyage we met with contrary winds,
which beat us up & down; & no sooner were we got
clear of these rugged seas, but we found our ship had
sprung a leak, which obliged us to put into the river
Cambodia, which goes to Siam.

One

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One day as I was an shore, refreshing myself, there came to me an Englishman, that was mate to an East-Indiaman, that rode in the same river; Sir, said he, you may well wonder at my businefs, who am a perfect stranger to you; but notwithstanding that, I have something to tell you, that concerns you very nearly, & it is the imminent danger that has brought me to you, Danger! said I, I know of no danger, unless that our ship is a little leaky, and that I intend shall be rectified as soon as possible. I believe, said he you will find some other employment. The town of *Cambodia* is about 10 leagues higher, and 3 leagues on this side lie 3 *Dutch* and two *English* ships, and will you venture up farther into the river, without confidering whether you have enough to fight them all ?

I knew not what he meant by this discourse, & turning short on him, " Sir said I," I know no reason I have to be afraid either of the Dutch or English, I am no interloper, and what businefs can they have with me ? Well, said the man, if my advice is of no weight with you, you may take your own way, however, I am very sorry you are so much an enemy to yourself, I will be plain with you, unless you put to sea immediately, you will be attacked by 5 long boats full of armed men, and yourself hanged for a pirate, if you are taken, and, sir, I thought such a piece of intelligence deferved better treatment. Sir, said I, you shall not find me ungrateful, let me beg of you theretore to explain yourself, and I will put to sea immediately. " Why then in short the matter is this, you know very well that your captain with three of his men, were killed by the *Malayans*, and that you, or some other that was on board, run away with the ship, & is turn'd pirates. Now sir, this is the substance of what I have to say, and I can only farther assure you that if they can lay their hands on you, they will execute you without ceremony.

Sir,

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"Sir, said I, "tho' no man came more honestly by the ship than I did, yet as you represent the matter I think I ought to be on my guard, and I heartily thank you for your information." Come said he, it is no matter for ceremonies; if you value your own life, and the lives of your men, get out to sea as fast as you can." "I am very well satisfied," said I, "in your sincerity, & the service you have done me; pray therefore what recompence shall I make you?" "Only take me with you," said he, "and if you find what I have told you to be true, I refer myself for a recompence to your generosity."

So reasonable did this appear in every particular, that we went directly on board together, where we were no sooner entered, but my partner welcomed me with joyful news that they had stopped the leak. "I am glad of that," said I, "but come, let us make all the haste we can to weigh anchor; but whilst we were busy in that, a sailor called to the captain, and told him there were floops coming after us, on which the captain taking his perspective glafs, and looking out, saw five floops full of armed men, in full chace after us, and hereon he immediately sent one of the failors to give us notice. "Very well," said I, "I am fully convinced there is something in it;" and so I went on deck, and told the men we were in danger of having the ship seized, and being executed as pirates; and asked them if they would faithfully stand by us, and by one another? To which they unanimously replied, they would stand by us, and fight for us to the last drop of their blood. Then I asked the captain which way he thought best for us to defend ourselves, who replied, he believed it would be safest to keep them off with our great guns; and accordingly the gunner was ordered to load the guns with small shot, and bring them to bear before and aft; and thus, the deck being cleared, we were in all points prepared for an engagement.

We

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We stood out to sea, but still the boats followed us very close. We could perceive the two foremost were English, which were a head of the Dutch by 2 leagues hereon we fired a gun, and hung out a flag of truce, in order for a parley, but finding they bore down upon us with all the sail they could, we fired on them with ball, and then bade them keep off at their peril. But all this signified nothing, for depending on their numbers, they were absolutely bent on mischief. We made several shots at them as they came forward, killed several of their men, and funk one of their boats, and manning our pinnace we faved three of their men from drowning, who were brought on board. After a very hot action we got out so far to sea, that they could not purfue us without danger, and so changing our course to the eastward, we got quite out of the course of European ships.

When we were got out to sea, enquiring more particularly into the meaning of all this, a Dutchman let us into the whole secret, telling us, that the fellow we bought the ship of was an arrant thief, and that he ran away with her, that the captain was treacherously murdered, and that he and four more was forc'd to the woods for safety, and that, at length, by means of a Dutch vessel, in its way to China, that came in accidentally to take in fresh water, they were preferred : he farther told us, that they were informed that the fellow fold the ship at Bengal, and she was turned pirate, and had taken many prizes.

After mature consideration, we concluded it best for us to return to Bengal, where, being known, we might easily prove how we came by the ship, and where we were sure to meet with some justice and not be hanged first and judged afterwards, but upon second and more deliberate thoughts, we all agreed that, by passing by Batavia, we ran too great a hazard, and therefore determind to change our course, and fail towards the coast

( 102 )

coast of China, and there dispose of the ship, and then
get another, and make the best of our way to Europe.
This being generally agreed to, we steer'd away N.N.E.
but meeting with contrary winds, which blew hard a-
gainst us, our voyage grew very troublesome and tedi-
ous, and our provision was almost exhausted, and what
was still worse, we were apprehensive that the ships,
whose boats we had handled so roughly, might be in
the road before us, which in consequence, must be fatal
to us. On these melancholy considerations, we again
refolved to alter our course, and try if possible we could
not make some harbour belonging to the Portuguese.
With this resolution we let forward for the bay of Ton-
quin, in order to fail from thence to Macon, a town
oncepossessioned by the Portuguese, and where there are
still many European families.

We came in sight of this place early next morning,
but considering our former circumstances, we put into
a small river till we had enquired what ships were in
the road, and how matters stood, &c. indeed this prudent
step was the occasion of our happy deliverance, for next
morning there came in 2 Dutch ships, & a third with
out any colours, and in the evening two English ones.
The river where we lay was small, and the country
wild and barbarous, and the inhabitants all robbers
having no correspondence with any other nation, and
among other barbarous customs they have this particular
ly when any ship is driven on their coast, they im-
mediately seize her, and make her men slaves, so that
here we found ourselves surrounded with enemies
both by sea and land.

As we found our ship was very foul and leaky, we
thought to clean her in this place, but while this was
doing, the inhabitants, who I believe, had never seen
a ship on the coast before, and not perceiving our
men who was at work, prefently imagined that the ship
had been cast away, and lay on the ground, and ac-
cordingly

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cordingly they surrounded us with 5 or fix large boats
full of armed men, with a revolution to plunder the ship
and carry the men away slaves to their king; but when
they saw our men at work on the outside of the ship,
they looked on us with the greatest confusion imagi-
nable, neither could we imagine what their design was,
however, to prevent the worst we handed down some
arms, & indeed it is well we did, for in less than a
quarter of an hour, they came couring on us with all
their force.

Indeed we lay but in an ill posture to receive them
& before the men could come on board, they had feiz-
ed one of the sailors, but the fellow soon disengaged
himself, & killed the Pagan that first laid hold of him,
however this was little to the purpose, considering their
numbers, and I really believe if it had not been for a
lucky accident, we had all been lost. The thing was this,
the carpenter, who was stopping the hole in the ship,
had two kettles the one full of boiling pitch, and the
other of rosin and tallow, &c. and as two or three infi-
dels was entering the boat, the carpenter's mate saluted
them with a ladle full of boiling liquor, which had such
an effect, that being half naked, it made them roar &
leap in the sea, which the carpenter perceiving he took
his mop and dipping it into the pitch kettle, to sprink-
led it among them, that they all ran frightened away
crying and howling in a most terrible manner.

I must own I was extremely pleased with the oddness
of this adventure, however we lost no time to put the
ship in a proper posture of defence, and as soon as we
could, we put to sea again, having resolved to put in
the first trading port we drew near. After some days
fail, we came within fight of shore, and standing in, a
boat came off to us, with a Portuguese pilot on board
who offered us his service, we very gladly accepted it
& sent the boat back again, in short, the old man went
with us, & as we failed along, I asked him if there was

no

( 104 )

no pirates in those seas. He told me he had only heard
of one that was seen in the bay of Siam; about a month
ago; nor was she built for a runner neither, but only a
ship that the men had run away with, the captain hav-
ing been murdered by the Malayans; and I can tell you
this, if some Dutchmen. that came pretty near to them
the other day, in the river Cambodia, had laid their
hands on them, they would have hanged every one of
the rogues on the yard arm, without any farther ce-
remony.

Being sensible that this old pilot could do us no harm
I told him how the cafe food with us, and desired him
to carry us to Nanquin, where neither English or Dutch
ships came. Said the old man you have taken the right
course to steer to the north; and if I might advise, I
would have you sell the ship at China. But, said I, in
doing that, I may betray innocent people. No, replied
he, I know the Dutch commanders, and will take care
they shall be rightiy informed of the whole matter.
Whilst these things was under debate, we failed directly
for Nanquin, and in about 13 days time. we came
to anchor in the entrance of the gulph, where we was
informed, that 2 large Dutch ships were gone before
us, and that we should certainly fall into their hands

What to do we knew not; but the old man told us
there was an harbour about 20 leagues to the south-
ward, and if we could get thither, no Dutch or English
ships ever went there, and we might probably be safe.
This advice was generally approved, and thither, by the
honest pilot's direction, we arrived in safety, after five
days failing: we went directly, in the port, and landed
to our unspeakable joy and satisfaction.

Being now safe on shore, our pilot soon got us a lodg-
ing and a warehouse for our goods, & then brought us
acquainted with three missionary priests that were there
converting the people to chriftianity, After we had set-
tled a sort of correspondence with them, our next con-

cero

( 105 )

cern was to dispose of our goods, which we did some
time after, to our full satisfaction, to an eminent
merchant at Japan. We were 1000 leagues farther from
home than we were at Bergal, and having disposed of
our ship, all the hopes we had were, that at the next fair
we might perhaps purchase another vessel that would
carry us and our goods where we pleaded. Upon these
hopes we resolved to continue here; and to divert our-
felves we took several little journeys into the country
& spent ten days to see the city of Nanquin, which was
regularly built, and tolerably well fortified: at our re-
turn, we found one of the priests going to Pequin, who
felicited us with great earnestness to bear him company
thither, which we both agreed to do. We were 25 days
in our journey thro' that miserable country, and had
an opportunity in our passage, to see several of the Chi-
nese esquires, with their manner of travelling there,
which was the most ridiculous fight I ever saw, & ra-
ther merited our scorn and contempt than admiration.

At length we arriv'd at the great city of Pequin, where
we had scarcely been a week, before the old Portugese
brought us word, that there was a great caravan, and
f'veral Polish merchants, in a short time preparing to
go by land to Muscovy, & that if we pleaded we might
take the opportunity. This was good news for us;
and so we went to work as fast as we could to dispose
of what goods we had at the port, and to buy such
others as we thought would turn to the most advantage
We set out from Pequin in company with about five
hundred more of different nations, the beginning of fe-
bruary; & in 2 days we passed through a gate in the
great wall, said to be one thousand English miles in
length. We then entered a country under the power of
the people believing Tartars, of whom we saw several
small parties at a distance from us. One day our leader
gave us leave to go a hunting, when it was our chance
to meet about forty of these starving wretches in a
body.

( 106 )

body who no sooner perceived us, but one of them
blew a horn, at the found of which forty or fifty more
came up immediately. Hereupon one of the Scotch
merchants ordered us to advance and attack them with
out delay: they let fly a few random arrows at us, that
fell short and did us no manner of harm; and, when
we came near enough to fire on them with our pistols,
they ran away in the greatest confusion; so our battle
with these thievish Tartars ended without blood-shed
on our side. We still travell'd at least a month more thro'
the Emperor of China's country, till at length we came
to the city of Naum, which is a strong frontier of the
Chinese empire, being often disturbed in our passage by
straggling Tartars. We stayed at Naum but one day,
and then continued our journey, passing several defarts
and great rivers; and on the 13th of April, we came to
the frontier of Muscovy; and as we passed, we found
the garrison was filled with Christian soldiers, for the
benefit of travellers and commerce; but the common
people were all Pagans the most miserable wretches I
ever beheld. While we stopped to refresh at one of these
towns I had an opportunity to observe them at the wor-
ship of one of their idols, which was the most ugly re-
presentation that ever I beheld in my life. I cannot de-
scribe it without horror: however we found means to de-
fect it before we left the place, for which we had like
to have paid very dear; for next day they came to
the governor to demand satisfaction for the lots of their
idol, and if we had not deceived them, and got off by
a stratagem, we had all been destroyed.

The next place we came to was the city of Jaravena;
where we stopped for five days, and then we entered in-
to a dismal desert, which lasted twenty-five days match
before we could pass over it, and we were all the way
intended with robbers, but they never had the courage to
attack us. After we had passed this place we had several
garrisons to defend the caravans from the Tartars.

Thio'

( 107 )

Thro' all this country happened nothing worth in-
forming the reader: the inhabitants were generally Pa-
gans; & as I observed, the Czar, chose rather to con-
vert by his soldiers than by his priests.

From this city to the river Obi, we travelled over a
very pleasant country, but uncultivated, till we came to
the capital of Siberia. And now having been seven
months on our journey and winter coming on, my
partner and I began to think what course we had best
take to secure and dispose of our goods and ourselves,
for my own part my intention was for England, so I
concluded that my best method would be to make the
most of my way to Archangel, where it was impossible
to want a ship for England, Holland, or Hamburgh.

One night I happened to fall in the company of an
exiled Prince, but a very fine gentleman, whose virtue
fruck me in such a deep respect, that I proposed a
method for his enlargement; he refused the offer, &
gave me several reasons for so doing. But said he, I
have a son, and if you will be affront to him, I shall
take it kinder than if done to me. This I very readily
complied with; and so the young Prince was sent for
who brought with him a noble equipage, & a confide-
able quantity of furs and other valuable merchandize.

When we had settled all our other affairs, the next
thing to be considered was, the method of travelling
which we concluded would be best and safest to avoid
the great towns and take the bye roads. After we had
passed the river Cama, as we were obliged to do, we
came to a little city on the European side, but the peo-
ple were most of them Pagans, as in the mere remote
part of the country. From this place we was to pass
a desert of 200 miles in breadth, and was set on in our
passage by a troop of Calmuck Tartars, from whom
we made shift to escape, but not without the great-
est difficulty and danger. In short we were forced to

make

( 108 )

make ourselves a fort of fortification of the boughs of
trees, which stood us in such stead, that tho' we were fe-
veral times attacked with all the fury imaginable, yet
they could never break in on our little compact body
and so by the stratagem of a fire we got off in the night
and fav'd the camels and all the merchandize.

After we had passed the river Kitza, we came to
large town named Osmefs, where we heard that several
troops of Tartars had been abroad, but we were now
past danger. We came next to Lawrenſko, where we hir'
boats to carry our luggage, so we arrived at Archange
on the 13th day of July after a year and five months
and three days journey. We failed from Archange
on the 20th of April, and came into the Elbe on the
12th of September following. Here my partner and
fold our goods, and divided the money and my ſhat
after all our loffles, came to 3475l. 17s. 3d. At Han
burgh, my young lord took his leave in order to go to
the court of Vienna, not only for protection, but for
the fake of corresponding with his father and the re-
of his friends. And, after four months stay at Han
burgh, I came back to Hague, and embarked in a pack
ket boat for England, and arrived in London on the
14th of January, 1705, after ten years and nine
months absence.

F. I. N. I. S.