initial commit of ebook 33835HEADmain

21 files changed, 19458 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6833f05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+* text=auto
+*.txt text
+*.md text
diff --git a/33835-8.txt b/33835-8.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e169ced
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835-8.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,6384 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Journal of Voyages, by Jacob Dunham
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Journal of Voyages
+       Containing an Account of the Author's being Twice Captured
+       by the English and Once by Gibbs the Pirate...
+
+Author: Jacob Dunham
+
+Release Date: October 3, 2010 [EBook #33835]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOURNAL OF VOYAGES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Stephen H. Sentoff and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+(This file was produced from images generously made
+available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: CAPT. JACOB DUNHAM.]
+
+
+
+
+JOURNAL OF VOYAGES:
+
+CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF
+THE AUTHOR'S BEING TWICE CAPTURED BY THE ENGLISH
+AND ONCE BY
+GIBBS THE PIRATE;
+
+HIS NARROW ESCAPE WHEN
+CHASED BY AN ENGLISH WAR SCHOONER;
+
+AS WELL AS HIS BEING
+CAST AWAY AND RESIDING WITH INDIANS.
+
+TO WHICH IS ADDED
+
+Some account of the Soil, Products, Laws and Customs of Chagres,
+the Musquitto Shore, and St. Blas, at the Isthmus of Darien.
+
+With Illustrations.
+
+BY CAPTAIN JACOB DUNHAM.
+
+NEW-YORK:
+
+PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR,
+And Sold by Huestis & Cozans, 104 and 106 Nassau-street.
+
+1850.
+
+
+
+
+Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year of our Lord one
+thousand eight hundred and fifty, by JACOB DUNHAM, in the Clerk's Office
+of the District Court of the Southern District of New-York.
+
+
+  D. Fanshaw, Printer and Stereotyper,
+  35 Ann, corner of Nassau-street.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+                                                                  page.
+
+  AUTHOR'S APOLOGY,                                                   9
+
+  EARLY LIFE OF THE AUTHOR,                                          11
+
+  CHAPTER I.--Sloop Rover
+      Capture by the English--Sale and sinking of the Sloop Rover,   13
+
+  CHAP. II.--Sloop New-York
+      Second capture by the English--Exchange of Prisoners,          30
+
+  CHAP. III.--Sloop Biddle
+      Captain's Mitchell and Lafitte, the Pirates,                   37
+
+  CHAP. IV.
+      Casting away of the Sloop Biddle near Waa-waa River--with
+      some account of the Indians,                                   52
+
+  CHAP. V.
+      Pearl Key Lagoon, and more of the Indians,                     70
+
+  CHAP. VI.
+      Runaway Negroes among the Indians--The Sookerman,              77
+
+  CHAP. VII.--Visit to Corn Island,                                  89
+
+  CHAP. VIII.--Visit to Bluefields
+      Permit of George Frederick, King of the Musquitto Nation,      92
+
+  CHAP. IX.--Mode of Taking Turtle
+      Musquitto Laws--Produce--Customs, &c.                          98
+
+  CHAP. X.
+      Some description of the country and inhabitants of the
+      Musquitto Nation,                                             105
+
+  CHAP. XI.--Sloop Governor Tompkins,                               111
+
+  CHAP. XII.--Schooner Price, First Voyage
+      Leading the dance in Old Providence--A ball at St. Andreas,   115
+
+  CHAP. XIII.--Schooner Price, Second Voyage
+      Landing at St. Blas,                                          120
+
+  CHAP. XIV.
+      The harbor of Little Cordee--Trading with the Indians,        125
+
+  CHAP. XV.--Schooner Price, Third Voyage
+      A fleet of Patriots (or pirates) at Old Providence,           140
+
+  CHAP. XVI.--Schooner Price, Fourth Voyage
+      Our Boats fired into at Corn Island,                          151
+
+  CHAP. XVII.--Schooner Enterprise,                                 160
+
+  CHAP. XVIII.--Schooner Felicity
+      Republicans and Royalists of Port-au-Prince,                  162
+
+  CHAP. XIX.--Schooner Felicity, Second Voyage
+      The smartest Padre (or priest) in the West Indies,            167
+
+  CHAP. XX.--Schooner Combine
+      Captured by the Pirates--Placed in the ring to be
+      shot--Capture of the Aristides by Pirates,                    170
+
+  CHAP. XXI.--Schooner Combine, Second Voyage
+      Our trade in Horses--The Yellow Fever at
+      Port-au-Prince--Counterfeit Coin--Arbitrary Laws,             187
+
+  CHAP. XXII.--Schooner Combine, Third Voyage,                      194
+
+  CHAP. XXIII.
+      Capture of the Piratical Vessels by
+      Lieutenant Commandant Allen,                                  199
+
+  CHAP. XXIV.--Schooner Allen
+      Chased by an English Schooner--Horrible attrocities
+      committed by Pirates on the Spanish Main,                     205
+
+  CHAP. XXV.--Schooner Frances
+      Trading Voyage to Musquitto Shore, Chagres,
+      Porto Bello, &c.--The Author officiates at a christening,     216
+
+  CHAP. XXVI.--Voyage to New Orleans
+      The Hospital--Direful visitation of the
+      Yellow Fever--Disposal of the Dead,                           226
+
+  CHAP. XXVII.--Schooner Horizon
+      Peak of Teneriffe--Queer Carpenter,                           236
+
+  CHAP. XXVIII.--The Sloop First Consul
+      Sinking of the Sloop--and return home penniless,              240
+
+
+
+
+AUTHOR'S APOLOGY.
+
+
+_In presenting the following Voyages to the public, I must inform my
+readers that I have had but a common school education, and am
+unaccustomed to composition. I can only tell my story in a plain
+straight forward way, not being able to ornament it with flowery
+language._
+
+_My Voyages were all written by myself. I employed competent persons to
+copy the work from my manuscript, and they corrected the small
+inaccuracies that had escaped my observation._
+
+_I thought, that although my book might contain many defects, if
+composed by myself, that it would still gain more than it lost, by being
+the production of the very person who had seen and taken part in the
+scenes he related, and could vouch for the truth of all he had
+witnessed. It is not given to the public as a specimen of the beautiful
+in style, but as the story of an old sea captain who had lived in one of
+the most eventful periods of our country's history; and one who had
+nearly arrived at his last anchorage._
+
+_With this brief outline of my life, and this short explanation, I
+commit my little book, with confidence, to an indulgent public._
+
+                                        _Jacob Dunham._
+
+
+
+
+RECOMMENDATIONS.
+
+
+Captain Jacob Dunham, having applied to the Congress of the United
+States, for relief, on account of losses sustained by him by piratical
+robbery, We, the undersigned, do hereby certify that we are well
+acquainted with the said Jacob Dunham, have known him for many years
+past, that he is a man of truth and veracity, and that his statements
+are entitled to full faith and credit:
+
+  Thomas O'Hara Croswell,
+      Post-Master, Catskill.
+  Abel Bruce, M. D.
+  Robert Dorlon, Esq.
+  Orrin Day,
+      President of Tanner's Bank, Catskill.
+  Hon. Malebone Watson,
+      Judge of Supreme Court, New-York.
+  Hon. John Adams.
+  Caleb Day, Esq.
+  J. D. Beers,
+      President of Bank of North America, New-York.
+  Jacob Haight,
+      Treasurer of State of New-York.
+  Hon. Zadock Pratt.
+  T. K. Cooke,
+      Member of New-York Assembly.
+  James Powers,
+      State Senator.
+  Calvin Balis,
+      Alderman of New-York City.
+  W. P. Hallett,
+      Clerk of the Supreme Court of State of New-York.
+  Edwin Croswell,
+      State Printer, Albany, New-York.
+
+_Catskill, New-York, December 30, 1839_
+
+
+
+
+EARLY LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.
+
+
+On the twenty-seventh day of April, 1779, in the town of Colchester, in
+the State of Connecticut, I was launched into the world, and entered on
+the tempestuous voyage of life.
+
+While yet an infant at the breast, FATE snatched me from my mother's
+arms, viewed me with a scornful eye, and exclaimed, "I doom this babe _a
+slave to hardships, dangers, and disappointments_."
+
+The following pages will show how far the prophecy has been fulfilled.
+My father, Samuel Dunham, was a Warrant Officer in the American Navy
+during the Revolutionary War, and followed the sea during almost his
+whole life-time. Whether the occupation of my father before me has had
+anything to do in shaping my course in life, the author is not wise
+enough to say, but leaves it to those who make greater pretensions than
+himself.
+
+In the year 1785, the Author emigrated, along with his father, to where
+the village of Catskill now stands. The whole village contained but
+seven houses, and was cut up into cultivated fields and gardens. My
+father having bought half an acre of ground situated about where the
+Greene County Hotel now stands, built himself a small house. After
+living in Catskill about one year, my uncle sent for me to come to
+Connecticut and live with him, which I did. I returned to Catskill in
+the Spring of 1793, and then went as an apprentice to the Messrs. Thomas
+O'H. & Mackay Croswell, Printers, who then published a small newspaper
+called _The Catskill Packet_. I lived with the Croswell's about six
+years and a half, where I was well treated. Having a great desire to see
+some of the world, I went to Charleston, South Carolina, where I found
+employment in a Printing Office for a few months. During that winter I
+witnessed a large funeral procession in that city in commemoration of
+the death of General Washington. In the Spring of 1800, I returned to
+Catskill, and found some employment in the coasting trade, on the Hudson
+River. During the summer and the winter following, I made three voyages
+to Charleston and Savannah, and then returned to Catskill and worked at
+the Printing business about two years. I then made one voyage to the
+Island of St. Croix as a seaman. During this time I was married, in
+Catskill, in August, 1801, to a young woman named Fanny Morgan. I then
+found employment in the coasting trade in different vessels for one or
+two years, when I entered the employment of Messrs. T. B. & A. Cooke, as
+one-fourth owner of a packet sloop which sailed between Catskill and
+New-York, where we did a good business for many years. Not being content
+in doing well and making money in a moderate way, and a war breaking out
+between England and America, I determined to try my luck again on the
+Ocean; picturing to myself a rapid increase of the little property I had
+gained by hard and slow earnings.
+
+From the time I left this safe business to embark on the Ocean, my
+adventures predicted by dame Fate, commenced. Since that time I have
+been rudely driven by winds and storms, captured by enemies, robbed by
+pirates, and have made many hair-breadth escapes both by sea and land,
+until the present time. I have now brought my poor old sheer hulk to
+anchor in the harbor of Catskill.
+
+Not having much to occupy my mind, I frequently take a survey of my past
+life, which has been checkered with many frightful scenes.
+
+Being strongly urged by many old friends, for several years past, to
+publish some account of my unfortunate adventures, I have reluctantly
+yielded to their request. In so doing, I must crave the indulgence of my
+readers.
+
+
+
+
+CAPTAIN DUNHAM'S
+NINETEEN VOYAGES.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+  "The sailor ploughs the raging main,
+  "In hopes a competence to gain,
+  "And when his toil and danger's o'er,
+  "Safe anchors on his native shore."
+
+Sloop Rover.
+
+
+About the middle of May, in the year 1813, having a great desire to
+engage in some adventure; and hoping that fortune would smile upon my
+undertakings, I purchased of Messrs. Coddington & Thorp, of New-York,
+one quarter of an old Sloop called the Rover; for which I paid one
+hundred and twenty-five dollars. Messrs. Coddington & Thorp, and Captain
+Silus S. Vail, were owners of the other three-quarters.
+
+The Rover was an old condemned sea vessel, having old thin sails, two
+deck beams broken, without top-mast, and a large piece of leather two
+feet square nailed over a rotten plank in her bottom.
+
+As this was during the last war between the United States and England,
+the port of New-York and our whole north-eastern coast was closely
+blockaded by English shipping. It therefore became necessary for our
+citizens to transport large quantities of flour and other commodities
+from Baltimore and adjoining towns, to New-York by land; and from thence
+to be conveyed to the Eastern markets. The expense of transporting flour
+and other heavy articles by land, caused speculators and traders to seek
+shipments by water to Eastern ports. Freights of course were high, and
+but little attention paid by merchants to the crafts they chartered. A
+number of old vessels were offered for freight, the Rover rating No. 1
+among them. The carrying business being well up, and much in that line
+offering, I embraced a proposal of one dollar per barrel for
+transporting 500 barrels of flour and 70 barrels of bread from New-York
+to Providence, Rhode Island.
+
+I sailed from New-York about the 20th of May, intending to run through
+the most exposed places in the night, watching the movements of the
+blockading vessels closely, and when I got into a good harbor I intended
+to remain there until another dark night.
+
+In heavy gales of wind the blockading ships generally put to sea for
+their own safety; which gave me an opportunity to make my passage
+unmolested.
+
+I arrived, after a passage of forty-eight hours, at Stonington,
+Connecticut, without discovering any of the vessels of the enemy. I
+found a number of vessels had taken shelter in that harbor to avoid an
+English frigate which was cruising between Block Island and Newport. I
+remained at Stonington a few days, when a dark night appearing, I again
+made sail, and arrived at Providence, my port of destination, in safety.
+We landed our cargo, and Mr. Thorp, one of the owners, who had
+accompanied me for that purpose, was left to dispose of it.
+
+Two or three days after unloading my vessel, I again sailed for
+New-York. We anchored at the mouth of Newport harbor for the purpose of
+awaiting an opportunity of returning when the blockading frigate should
+stand out to sea. I had to wait but a few days; as soon as I saw she was
+far enough from the port I made sail, and by keeping near the shore,
+arrived at Stonington without molestation from the enemy. Here I learned
+that New London, a port between me and my destination, was closely
+blockaded by a British fleet consisting of two 74 gun ships and two
+frigates. There were ten or twelve sail of coasting vessels then lying
+in the harbor at Stonington, most of which had been East with cargoes,
+and were waiting for dark nights or other favorable opportunities to
+pass the blockading squadron. I remained here eight or ten days. During
+this time the inhabitants of the town were much alarmed, fearing the
+enemy would send in armed boats to cut out our vessels, and by that
+means annoy the inhabitants and fire the town.
+
+To show our patriotism and courage, a meeting was called of the officers
+and crews of all the vessels in the harbor. We volunteered our services
+to stand night watches, and do all in our power in case an attack should
+be made. Our means of defence were scanty; a few fowling guns being the
+only weapons we had on board our vessels.
+
+Some of the inhabitants finally procured for us an old ship gun, which
+we loaded with powder, but could not procure balls to fit it. We at
+length found one which we imagined we could force into the gun. After a
+long time, with a sledge and crowbar, we succeeded in driving it within
+six or eight inches of the cartridge.
+
+The captains drew lots for the first watch, which fell upon me. I took
+charge of the watch until 12 o'clock that night, and was much pleased
+that we were not annoyed by the enemy, as I concluded that the firing of
+our own gun would make more havoc among us than all the enemy could
+bring against us. At the close of my watch I learned that two Sag-harbor
+vessels were getting under weigh, intending to pass through Plum Gut,
+which would conduct them some distance from where the enemy lay at
+anchor. As it was a dark night, and not being myself a good pilot
+through that passage, I concluded to follow them. The wind being light,
+they outsailed my vessel until I lost sight of them. About break of day
+it was so calm that I could not pass the fleet or get back to
+Stonington. I soon discovered a barge in pursuit of me, but there was no
+way of escape. The boat had on board a lieutenant, a midshipman, and
+twelve armed men. They left a prize master and two men to take charge of
+my sloop, and then proceeded to capture another small vessel at that
+time in sight. They soon overhauled her; but as she had nothing of value
+on board, having only some household furniture, and women and children,
+they let her pass. Three of the British vessels after firing a number of
+guns toward the shore proceeded to sea, while my vessel was taken within
+a small distance of the commodore's ship, which remained at anchor.
+
+And here, as I deem it will not be altogether uninteresting to my
+readers, I will make a slight digression, in giving a brief description
+of the personal history of Commodore Hardy; for such was the name of the
+officer who had command of the fleet which had captured us. Although
+some Americans are under the impression that nothing good can come from
+British officers, which idea in many instances has been justified; yet,
+with regard to Sir Thomas Hardy, it might truly be said, that he was
+"One of Nature's noblemen;" for such his conduct to myself and crew
+fully showed him to be. He appeared to be a man about forty-five years
+of age, about six feet in height, elegantly formed, and possessing a
+benign expression of countenance, scarcely to be expected from one who
+had been following, from his youth, a sea-faring life, and had been
+engaged in some of the most bloody naval battles on record. When a poor
+boy he was taken on board the English fleet by Lord Nelson, continued
+with him during his various engagements, and became Nelson's principal
+fighting commander. At the battle of Trafalgar the admiral died in his
+arms.
+
+On a signal being made we were ordered on board the commodore's ship. My
+vessel being old and shabby, I thought it best to keep on my working
+clothes to show my apparent poverty, which would excite some sympathy,
+but I had a good suit of clothes in my chest. When I got on board I
+found I was in his majesty's ship Ramillies, Sir T. W. Hardy, commander.
+I cast my eyes about in as awkward a manner as I could; the officers
+gathered round to have a little sport with a poor Yankee. They commenced
+their conversation by asking me if I were ever on board of a
+seventy-four before; I answered in the negative. The captain of marines
+then, taking hold of my striped cotton pantaloons, asked me if we made
+such fine cloth as that in our country. I told him a little, just to
+cover our nakedness during the war. Soon after a message came for me to
+go aft to see the commodore. I thought I would show myself very
+submissive by taking off my hat and putting it under my arm. The first
+salutation I had from him was, "Put on your hat, sir. Did you know that
+we were lying here." "Yes, sir," was my reply. He said, "How dare you
+venture out." I answered that I had been lying at Stonington a number of
+days, waiting for a dark night to get past him. He then told me he must
+burn my vessel and send me to Halifax. I told him if the sentence was
+irrevocable, I had nothing to offer. I then left him and went forward
+and sat down on a gun in a pensive manner. He soon accosted me by asking
+me to go and get some breakfast, saying, "If I keep you I will not
+starve you to death." I thanked him, but told him I had taken breakfast
+before I left his prize. I kept my seat on the gun for a long time,
+until I excited the attention of the sailors, one of whom accosted me by
+saying, "Captain, don't look so sorrowful, our captain is a damned
+clever fellow; I guess he will give up your old serving mallet," as he
+called my sloop. "Yes," said another, "I would willingly give up my
+share, for it will not be enough to make more than a glass of grog
+apiece." The officers made themselves merry by passing many jokes with
+me, supposing they had a green Yankee to sport with. In the afternoon
+the commodore said, pointing towards my vessel, "That is a fine large
+sloop of yours; can't you give me fifteen hundred dollars for her; I am
+going to send two officers on board to prize her." I told him that was
+three times more than she was worth, and five times more than I was
+worth; that she was an old condemned vessel; that he could not send her
+to Halifax or Bermuda. I told him I thought if I could get on shore I
+could raise one hundred dollars, and perhaps that would be a
+compensation for the trouble he had in capturing her; that I presumed he
+would make a target of her to fire at if he retained her. He then left
+me: about half-an-hour after he called me into his cabin and said that
+he wanted to raise a little money to distribute among his crew; that he
+had not enough to allow one dollar apiece to them. Said he, "I want to
+use your old sloop for about three days. If you think you can raise one
+hundred dollars by going on shore, you can take your boat and go; and if
+you return in three days with the money, you shall have your sloop
+restored to you."
+
+My two men immediately hauled the boat alongside ready for embarking. I
+bid the commodore good-by, and was going over the ship's side, when he
+called me back, saying, "I must parole you before you go!" "Just as you
+please," said I. "He said he was only doing me a favor, for then my own
+countrymen could neither draft nor impress me after I landed." I then
+took my boat and proceeded to Stonington, and arrived there that
+evening. I found most of the vessels that I left there before my
+departure. The captains assembled around me, eager to learn the news. I
+related my story and the bargain I had made with the commodore. Some
+thought I had made a good bargain, while others thought me foolish;
+saying, that if I returned on board he would keep my hundred dollars and
+send me to Halifax as a prisoner. The next day I negotiated with a
+merchant of that place for a loan of eighty dollars, by giving a draft
+on my friend in New-York for eighty-six dollars, and pledging my watch,
+quadrant, charts, &c. and a note I held against a merchant in New-York
+of one hundred dollars, as a security for the payment of the draft.
+This, with thirty dollars in bills, which I had in my pocket, was more
+than sufficient to ransom my vessel.
+
+I returned to the Ramillies that afternoon. The boatswain, a grave
+looking old gentleman, very hospitably took me by the hand and asked me
+to go and live with him. He conducted me down two or three pair of
+stairs into his own room, which I found well furnished, but had no other
+light than a lamp, as his room was below the water. He told one of his
+boys to make a clean cot for me to sleep in, and to wait on me if I
+wanted anything. He treated me with some old rum he said he had kept on
+board for three or four years. He lamented much that England and America
+were at war with each other; that he never could realize us as
+prisoners, because we both spoke the same language and sprung from one
+nation.
+
+The next morning I rose early, put on my best suit of clothes and went
+on deck. I saw the first lieutenant on the starboard side of the deck
+with his hands in his breeches pockets, walking very gracefully to and
+fro. To amuse myself I put my hands in my pockets, and commenced walking
+the opposite side of the deck in the same manner. He immediately stopped
+and looked at me with some surprise, exclaiming, "Is that you? Damn it,
+you have better clothes than I have. When we captured and brought you on
+board you had on an old short jacket and cotton trowsers, and looked so
+pitiful that most of the crew offered to give up their share of your old
+shallop if the commodore would let you go. But I give you credit for it.
+You have Yankeed us better than any one we have taken yet." I looked
+about to see my old vessel which I left at anchor about half a mile from
+the ship, but she was missing. He asked me if I was looking for my old
+sloop. I told him I was. He said that I would never see her again. I
+told him I was not alarmed about it, for I had the commodores word for
+it. He said he would be damned if I ever got her again. I told him the
+commodore had promised me to give her up in three days, and if he did
+not keep his word I would take my boat, land at New London, and get a
+warrant for him. He was pleased with the joke and soon after called his
+brother officers around him, who took me into a room and treated me with
+wine, segars, &c. They were very polite to me during my stay on board.
+
+New London appeared from the deck of the ship to be four or five miles
+distant. Fishing boats came every day from the town and fished within a
+mile, without interruption. On their return they were often hailed from
+the ship to come on board, and the officers and crew purchased what fish
+they wanted, and paid a liberal price. I could see from the deck, with
+the spy glass, colors flying, and troops marching and re-marching in the
+city of New London. Above the city were the frigates United States and
+Macedonia, and the sloop-of-war Wasp, at anchor. During my stay of four
+or five days on board, the commodore would every afternoon send for me
+to come into his cabin, for the purpose of having some humorous
+conversation, which caused the time to pass very agreeably. The
+remainder of my time was passed among the officers, some of whom had
+relatives living in the city of New-York, with whom I had formerly
+traded. We became familiar, and they insisted on taking my name and
+number of my boarding house, saying, that when they took the city of
+New-York they would come and take a bottle of wine with me. I told them
+if ever they saw me in the city of New-York after they had captured it,
+it would be without a head.
+
+The day before my departure from the ship, finding the commodore in good
+humor, I told him that I was a poor man and had a large family to
+support with my old sloop, that flour was worth only seven dollars per
+barrel in New-York, and was worth fourteen dollars in Boston, and that
+it would do him no harm to give me a passport to carry a cargo to Boston
+or neighboring ports. He paused for awhile, and then with a smile said,
+"You look like a pretty clever fellow, and if you go to New-York and
+take in a cargo, and come back here before I leave this station, which
+will be in about three weeks, I will then give you a passport. But if
+you attempt to run by me in the night, I shall make a prize of you."
+The next day my old sloop returned to the Ramillies with a quantity of
+beef on board. I made some complaint to the first lieutenant that the
+sailors had eaten up all my provisions and lost my lead-line, and
+hand-saw, &c. He remunerated me by giving me five times the value of
+what I had lost. I paid the commodore the ransom money, received their
+best wishes for a prosperous voyage, and departed.
+
+On my arrival in New-York I was much interrogated to know why I had not
+obtained a license from Commodore Hardy; to which I gave evasive
+answers. Congress having about this time passed some stringent laws
+requiring our vessels of war to overhaul and search all vessels bound
+to, or coming from an enemy's ship, I thought best to keep my own
+secrets. An acquaintance of mine called on me and asked me if I thought
+it safe to take a cargo to Boston or some of the Eastern ports. I told
+him if I were able to purchase one, I would try it. He told me to call
+on him in a short time, as he thought he could procure a freight for me.
+He soon obtained five hundred barrels of flour, and seventy barrels of
+bread, at one dollar per barrel for freightage, and three per cent
+commission for selling. I was to remit the proceeds by mail, or pay it
+to their correspondents in Boston.
+
+About the 20th of June I sailed from New-York and arrived within about
+five miles of the Ramillies, where I anchored. At daylight I found a
+barge coming towards us. My seamen were frightened, and attempted to
+make their escape to the shore, a distance of two miles; by threats and
+persuasion I prevented them. Soon after the barge came alongside. The
+commanding officer asked me what cargo I had on board, and sundry other
+questions. He then said, "You must be crazy. It was only last week we
+had you prisoner, when we pitied you so much that we volunteered to give
+up our shares in your old sloop if the commodore would let you go." I
+told him I thought the commodore would let me pass. He replied, "You
+need not expect any favor from him, as he has sworn vengeance against
+all Americans. Yesterday morning we discovered a schooner lying at
+anchor near where you now are. I was ordered to go and capture her. I
+proceeded towards her, and saw the crew take her boat and pull for the
+shore; when I boarded her I found no person on board. In the cabin I
+found a manifest of her cargo, and in the list, some naval stores which
+we wanted for the ship's use. We got the schooner under weigh, beat her
+up within half a mile of the ship and came to anchor. Mr. Collingwood,
+our second lieutenant, whom you well know, was sent to relieve me, and I
+went to report to the commodore. The hatches were taken off and the
+tackle hooked on to a barrel of naval stores, when the schooner blew up.
+There were fourteen men on board, and all were killed except three
+seamen who were furling the fore-topsail. Those three were thrown some
+twenty rods, when the fore-mast was blown out of her. You cannot expect
+any favors of the commodore." Before leaving New-York I learned that
+some persons who had been captured by the commodore, ascertained, while
+on board, that he was in want of naval stores; as soon as the news got
+abroad, some merchants purchased by subscription an old schooner, and
+placed thirty casks of powder in her hold. Some machinery was attached
+to the powder by a string, which was also fastened to a barrel of naval
+stores, and when it was raised had caused the explosion, as related by
+the lieutenant.
+
+[Illustration: Blowing up of the old Schooner near the Ramillies.]
+
+My sloop was soon brought and anchored within half a mile of the ship. I
+was taken on board the ship and conducted to the commodore, who spoke to
+me in a pleasant manner. "Well, sir," said he, "I see you have arrived
+here again. What does your cargo consist of? Where are you bound?" I
+told him my cargo was flour, and that I was bound to Boston and some of
+the neighboring ports. He gave me a passport to protect me from capture
+by the English ships, and told me I could proceed on my voyage. I then
+steered for Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where I sold some of my flour at
+sixteen dollars per barrel. Finding the market dull, I proceeded to
+Newburyport, where I found an abundant supply. From thence I proceeded
+to Boston, where I sold the remainder of my flour at auction, at
+fourteen dollars per barrel.
+
+After my flour was disposed of I purchased a cargo of boards to carry
+to Providence, Rhode Island. I loaded the sloop, intending to be ready
+to sail in the morning, but the tide receding during the night, the
+Rover was left aground at the Long Wharf. When I awoke in the morning I
+found my vessel had fallen over on her side, and had five feet of water
+in her hold. I procured a caulker, who, with myself and crew, went into
+the mud and water and commenced stopping the leaks, while the water was
+running out from her bottom from almost every seam. We caulked the
+largest with table knives, wooden wedges, &c. We then took four pounds
+of candles and a quantity of wood ashes and made a kind of putty, with
+which we stopped the remainder. In the mean time my two seamen were
+arrested for stealing and sent to jail. I hired a number of men and
+bailed and pumped out the water. I then shipped a new crew and proceeded
+to Providence. On my arrival there I was cordially greeted by the
+inhabitants, and disposed of my cargo very advantageously. In
+consequence of my good fortune a number of Quaker, and other persons,
+who were strangers to me, urged me to take charge of a good brig;
+supposing that I could protect their property. I declined taking another
+vessel, as my passport would not protect me with any other than the one
+I had. I, however, did not state to them the reason.
+
+The rage for shipping in the Rover was so great that I could get about
+five times more for freightage than I could in time of peace. I took on
+board 31 pipes of brandy, 20 hogsheads of sugar, and 100 ceroons of
+tallow, and sailed for New-York. When I arrived at Hell Gate and was
+attempting to pass it, the wind being light, the sloop drifted upon the
+rock called the Hog's-back, and the tide falling, her bottom was left
+half out of water. At about 11 o'clock at night I made out to remove her
+off from the rocks, having four feet of water in her hold. She drifted
+back out of the Gate, when I succeeded in hauling her on shore and made
+her fast to the rocks. As it was dark and rainy, we could not tell at
+the time where we were. On groping my way into the cabin I found the
+water six inches deep on the cabin floor. I then lay down with clothes
+wet through to my skin. At daylight I found the Rover, the tide having
+left her, some rods high and dry upon the rocks, and the water running
+from most of her seams. I called all hands and went to caulking with
+table knives, &c. We then applied a few pounds of putty and ashes to the
+seams. At high water she again floated. After hiring four negroes to go
+with us to New-York to assist in pumping and bailing, we proceeded on
+our course.
+
+When we got to the city we hauled her into Coenties Slip, where the
+bottom is soft and muddy. The mud having filled up her seams in a few
+hours, she ceased leaking, and passed for a tight craft. I notified my
+consignees of our arrival and then landed the cargo. Five hogsheads of
+sugar were damaged in consequence of the leaking of my vessel. The
+consignees paid me for all the freight, and threw the loss of the
+damaged sugar upon the underwriters in Providence, who insured a
+considerable amount in the cargo.
+
+As I had now been some time absent from my family, who resided in
+Catskill, I concluded to make them a visit. I agreed with my partners in
+the sloop to sell her at auction during my absence. The Rover was
+visited by multitudes of people, who pronounced her the most lucky
+vessel in the harbor. Many of them, I suppose, thought her to be a
+phantom ship. For myself, I felt well satisfied, as I had over two
+hundred dollars per month during the three months I sailed her, on a
+capital of one hundred and twenty-five dollars.
+
+The fame of the Rover was so great that she sold for $480. The purchaser
+took her up the Sound to Long Island, and laid her on shore at high
+water. He then loaded her with wood by driving alongside at low water.
+But when the tide rose he found her sides broken in and her hold filled
+with water. My hand trembles while I write of the untimely end of the
+charming sloop Rover.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+Sloop New-York.
+
+
+About the first of November, 1813, having added a little to my small
+capital by my late adventure in the Rover, and feeling eager to add
+more, again trusting to the smiles of fickle fortune, I purchased a
+small sloop called the New-York, of 28 tons burden. Soon after I sold
+one-fourth of her to Messrs. T. B. & A. Cook, merchants in Catskill, and
+one-half of her to two merchants in the city of New-York. They
+considered it a kind of lottery adventure. One of the new owners in
+New-York had correspondents in Norfolk, Virginia, who informed us of the
+high prices of Northern produce in that city, and the situation of the
+English squadron in Lynhaven Bay, and advised us to procure a small
+vessel of light draught of water, and that by sailing in over a shoal
+called the Horse-shoe, in a dark night, we might avoid coming in contact
+with the enemy's fleet.
+
+The American coast was closely blockaded by the English vessels, but
+heavy gales of wind frequently drove them off the coast for a short
+time, which offered some chance of making passages by keeping near the
+land.
+
+The high prices of Northern produce in Southern markets held out great
+inducements to shippers to engage in exporting it. Our correspondents
+at Norfolk, stated potatoes to be worth one dollar and fifty cents per
+bushel; onions, sixteen dollars per hundred ropes; salt, two dollars and
+fifty cents per bushel, and cheese twenty-five dollars per cwt.
+
+We loaded the sloop with four hundred bushels potatoes, two hundred
+bushels salt, three thousand four hundred and fifty ropes onions, and
+eight thousand six hundred pounds of cheese; all shipped on the joint
+account of the owners.
+
+I was to purchase and sell the cargo, and when I arrived at Norfolk was
+to buy three or four old brigs or schooners, load them with coal, and
+when a favorable opportunity occurred by the enemy being driven to sea
+by the wind, send them to New-York. Vessels could be purchased in
+Norfolk at that time for one-third of their real value in time of peace;
+and the price of coal in New-York was three or four times as much as in
+Norfolk.
+
+My wages, as master, was one hundred dollars per month, and I drew
+one-fourth of the profits of the whole concern.
+
+On the 14th of November I sailed from New-York and proceeded to Sandy
+Hook, where I discovered an English frigate close in with the land, in
+chase of an American schooner, which she compelled to run ashore near
+Shrewsbury. I sailed into Mosquitto Cove, and took shelter among some
+thirty American gun-boats, the crews of which went as volunteers to
+protect the wreck of the schooner from being plundered by the English
+frigate, which they accomplished.
+
+After tarrying two days at Mosquitto Cove, we weighed anchor and
+proceeded to sea, keeping as near the land as we could without being in
+danger of running aground, until we were some distance south of Cape
+Henlopen, when a violent gale of south-east wind commenced, and with our
+utmost exertions we succeeded in running into the bay.
+
+Here I ascertained that my pilot, whom I had taken much pains to obtain,
+and who at the time I employed him had informed me he was well
+acquainted with that coast, had deceived me; he now for the first time
+informed me that he knew nothing of the different shoals and inlets on
+the Southern coast. I had now no alternative but to run by chance and
+keep a sharp look out for breakers. My little sloop was literally buried
+under water. The gale kept increasing until near night, when she struck
+upon a shoal. She thumped terribly, and almost every sea was breaking
+entirely over us when a seaman exclaimed, "She is bilged, a plank has
+come up from her bottom." On examination we found it was the shoe of her
+keel. We tried the pump and found we could keep her free of water by
+pretty hard labor. Soon after, she thumped over the shoal into nine feet
+water, where she did not strike so often, and remained there until dawn.
+At daylight we cast out the anchors and succeeded in getting her into
+three or four fathoms water.
+
+We then commenced repairing damages in the best manner we could. Her
+false keel had been broken and had swung across her main keel, which we
+could not repair. We then made sail for Chesapeake Bay and arrived that
+day about sun-set, without any material mishap.
+
+Soon after, a light easterly wind sprung up, and we made sail for
+Norfolk. After entering the bay the wind slackened. About 11 o'clock in
+the evening it became a dead calm, with a thick fog: a strong tide set
+in, which prevented my going out to sea again. Soon after midnight we
+heard the cry, "Past 2 o'clock, and all's well," which I afterwards
+ascertained proceeded from His Britanic Majesty's ship Dragon, 74 guns,
+commanded by Commodore Barry, lying at anchor in the bay.
+
+We continued drifting into the bay until about sunrise, when a light
+breeze sprung up and dispersed the fog, and we found ourselves drifting
+directly towards an English 20 gun brig called the Sophia, and the Acton
+of 16 guns, both lying at anchor within a mile of us. We were soon
+boarded from the Sophia, and we and our baggage taken on board of her.
+The brigs then got under weigh and proceeded up the bay, taking my sloop
+in tow, and anchored at the mouth of the river Severn.
+
+During the next night they fitted out an expedition of four or five
+boats, and sent them up the river to cut out two or three of our vessels
+which were lying in the harbor, but they soon returned without
+accomplishing their design, having only obtained a quantity of plunder.
+They told me the inhabitants gave them a warm reception, by firing from
+behind trees and fences, and caused them to abandon the vessels. They
+weighed anchor the next morning, and after cruising about the bay, again
+took their station near Watt's Island. Here they made their rendezvous
+for some time; the officers occasionally going on shore, some days
+cruising about, and returning to the usual anchorage at night. They
+procured an abundance of cattle, sheep and poultry from the Island, and
+in about nine or ten days captured eight old schooners loaded with
+flour, from the Rappahannock, and bound to the Eastern markets. They
+sailed from there and anchored in Lynn Haven Bay, where we were sent on
+board the commodore's ship Dragon. I found twelve American captains
+prisoners on board the commodore's ship, who had been captured by the
+Squadron. The prizes which they had taken were small old vessels, some
+of which they stripped of their rigging and sails and set on fire; some
+parted their cables in a gale of wind and drifted to sea, my vessel
+among them. But my sloop, the New-York, and one or two others were
+afterwards towed back by the frigate and sent to Bermuda.
+
+The American captains were quartered with the petty officers, such as
+midshipmen, captain's clerks, &c. and were treated with gin, segars, &c.
+and passed their time very jovially in telling stories, bragging of our
+naval engagements, &c. I must here tell a story related to me by one of
+the officers of the Dragon.
+
+He said the Americans ought to be damned if they did not make an admiral
+of one Captain Turner, who commanded a Baltimore schooner. He said that
+while they were blockading the coast of France they captured him and his
+schooner; they put a prize-master and crew on board, and the crew of the
+schooner were put on board the Squadron, except Captain Turner and the
+cook, who remained on the schooner, which was ordered to sail for
+England. The next day Turner succeeded in getting the prize-master and
+crew drunk, killed the prize-master and part of the crew, and confined
+the remainder. He then returned to France with his vessel, shipped a new
+crew, and put to sea again. One morning they discovered from the
+Squadron, a schooner in company with two frigates, being between the
+schooner and the land. The Dragon steered directly for the schooner,
+while the frigates steered in different directions, to prevent the
+schooner from going back again into port. The Dragon by setting all her
+light sails was fast coming up with her, and commenced firing her bow
+guns, to which the schooner paid no attention. They soon came within
+musket-shot and fired a number of volleys which riddled the schooner's
+sails. The captain of the Dragon then gave orders to cease firing, as he
+considered it cold-blooded murder. On coming within a few rods of the
+schooner they saw but one man on board, and standing at the wheel. When
+within a short distance he suddenly put down her helm, which brought her
+broad side across the ship's bow, intending that the ship should run
+over her. But the ship's helm was immediately put up, which caused her
+to strike the schooner near the bow and brought her alongside of the
+ship. They then hailed, "What schooner is that?" To which the man at the
+helm replied, "The Prize, Captain Turner, the very man you are looking
+for." On boarding the schooner, they found the crew all below, except
+the captain, who said he did not wish to expose his crew to their fire.
+He said the excitement was great on board the ship: that all the
+officers signed a petition to mitigate Turner's punishment.
+
+While we were lying in Lynn Haven Bay, the Dragon had captured a small
+vessel, put on board of her a cannonade or short nine-pounder, a
+quantity of small arms, and called her the "Snap Dragon." They sent her
+out in pursuit of plunder and slaves, about one hundred and fifty of
+whom were captured as runaways from their masters. But on one of the
+expeditions of the Snap Dragon, she was captured by the Americans,
+having thirty men on board, and the prisoners sent to Baltimore. Soon
+after an exchange was agreed upon by which the prisoners of the Snap
+Dragon were exchanged for the Americans on board the ship. When the crew
+of the Snap Dragon were brought on board the ship we were all
+discharged, which caused no little rejoicing among us. We then returned
+to Baltimore, took leave of each other and made our way to our
+respective homes.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+Sloop Biddle.
+
+
+Soon after my unfortunate adventure in the New-York, I took command of a
+schooner called the Caty Ann, and made a voyage to Savannah and back to
+New-York, without capture. Although Sir James Yeo, in the South Hampton
+frigate, was closely blockading Savannah at the time, I made a second
+attempt to proceed to the same port. After sailing a few miles south of
+Sandy Hook light-house we were chased back by an English frigate, and
+the schooner narrowly escaped being captured. The whole coast was so
+closely blockaded that I abandoned going to sea again until after peace
+was proclaimed.
+
+About the first of May, 1813, I took charge of the brig Cyrus, of
+New-York, and made one voyage to Georgetown, South Carolina, and back,
+and then made another to Bermuda and Turk's Island.
+
+Ever ready to sacrifice my personal comfort for the prospect of
+increasing the means of gaining an honest living--being in the prime of
+life and enjoying good health, and that huge monster, Fear, seldom
+throwing his dark shadow across my path--I engaged again to open a
+trade with the Indians on the Musquito Shore, on the borders of South
+America, now called New Greneda, or Central America. This country
+formerly belonged to the government of Spain, which still tried to
+exercise authority over it, although rebellions had broken out both in
+the North and South of it; and, the then called government of Columbia,
+under General Bolivar, aided by a number of Americans and others, with
+vessels commissioned as privateers, and land forces, made a strong
+resistance to the Spanish government. They fought many desperate battles
+with the royalists, under what was then called the Patriot, or Columbian
+flag. Carthagena, their largest sea-port, was taken and re-taken three
+several times, and every man in it put to death.
+
+The king of the Musquito Indians claims the sea-coast of that country
+from the False Cape, lat. 15° 14' N. to Port Boro Toro, lat. 9° 29' N.
+The government of Old Spain likewise claimed it, but never had been able
+to dispossess the Indians. The sea-board of this country is very level,
+interspersed with lakes, rivers and creeks. From May until November the
+country is visited with heavy showers of rain. In many places I have
+from time to time walked in water some inches deep to go from one house
+to another. The Indian towns are mostly built some distance up the
+rivers or creeks, to secure them from any attacks from the sea-board.
+They have no roads inland, their whole travel being in canoes, by which
+means they can visit the different tribes, hauling them across narrow
+necks of land that separate one lake or river from another.
+
+The Spanish government, under an old blockading decree had declared that
+any person found trading with these Indians, if captured, should lose
+his cargo by confiscation, and be sent to the mines for life. The
+government of Spain likewise claimed three small islands near the
+Musquito Shore, viz: Old Providence, lying in lat. 13° 27' N. long. 80°
+39' W. This island I found inhabited by about thirty families of free
+people of different nations and colors, and from five to thirty slaves
+to every free person in the island. St. Andreas, lying in lat. 12° 33'
+N. long. 81° W. It contains about seventy-five families of free people,
+and about eight hundred slaves; it was lately the residence of a Spanish
+Governor named Gonzales. This place had a small fort, garrisoned with
+about thirty soldiers. I shall hereafter give the reader a further
+description of the island, related to me by Captain Mitchell, commonly
+called Mitchell the Pirate.[A] Great Corn Island lays in lat. 12° 19'
+N. long. 82° 11' W. about forty miles from the main land. Little Corn
+Island, lying about ten miles from the great one, is inhabited, and
+produces large quantities of cocoa nuts and wild fruits.
+
+     [A] The only account I have ever read of Mitchell is, that he
+     was a partner with Lafitte, the Pirate, when they took
+     possession of Baratara, where they carried their prizes. They
+     kept possession of the place for some considerable time,
+     bidding defiance to the authorities on that coast. Governor
+     Claibourne, of Louisiana, afterwards issued a proclamation,
+     offering these pirates a free pardon on condition that they
+     would join the army then under command of General Jackson, for
+     the defence of New Orleans. They accepted of the Governor's
+     terms, repaired to that place with all their men, and put
+     themselves under the command of the General, who placed them in
+     the hottest part of the battle, where they fought in the most
+     gallant manner. Lafitte and Mitchell both held commissions
+     under the government of the Republic of Columbia at this time.
+
+The staple produce of the above named island is cotton. The soil is
+fertile and produces plantains, yams, sweet potatoes, and Tropical
+fruits in abundance. The inhabitants raise plenty of hogs and poultry,
+which they fatten on cocoa nuts, the oil from which, while fresh, is
+equal to lard for cooking fish, &c. and after it becomes rancid burns
+well in lamps.
+
+About the first of January, 1816, I made a contract with the Messrs.
+Cotheal & Hoff and Mr. A. S. Hallett, merchants of New-York, to take
+charge of a small sloop called the Biddle, of thirty-two tons burthen. I
+was to proceed to Musquito Shore, land at the island of Old Providence,
+(if I saw no suspicious looking vessels in the harbor;) and open a trade
+with the Indians for the purchase of tortoise shell, which was very
+valuable at this time; these Indians furnish large quantities of that
+article. I likewise had orders to exchange my goods for hides,
+deer-skins, cochineal, gum elastic or India rubber, gum copal, cotton,
+fustic, sarsaparilla, &c.
+
+I took on board an assorted cargo, calculated for a barter trade. As I
+was totally unacquainted with the trade, this voyage was considered an
+experimental trip. On my arrival the inhabitants informed me that they
+had not seen the American flag flying there for the last fourteen years.
+
+I could not procure any correct charts of that coast. I found many
+shoals that never had made their appearance on any chart, so little had
+these seas been surveyed. I suppose young mariners have less difficulty
+in that respect now, as Queen Victoria has become god-mother to the
+young king of Musquito Shore, and taken him under her parental care, to
+assist him in robbing his neighbors' territories.
+
+I will here give the reader a short description of the country, the
+undertaking, and some account of the disasters which befell me in the
+prosecution of the voyage. Having loaded my little sloop, (about the
+size of a clam boat,) I soon shipped a crew, which consisted of a North
+River captain, who had never been out of the sight of land, to act as my
+mate; and two old broken-down sailors, one acting as seaman and the
+other as cook. We sailed about the first of February, with a fair wind,
+and made our passage in twenty-two days to the Island of Old Providence,
+where we hoisted our flag for a pilot. I soon discovered a fishing
+canoe, having one white man and three or four negroes on board, who
+volunteered to pilot us into the harbor. I inquired of the white man,
+whose name was John Taylor, one of the largest planters in the island,
+for a Mr. Hoy, to whom I had a letter of introduction. Mr. Taylor
+replied that Mr. Hoy was dead, that he was his father-in-law. He took
+the letter, promised me friendly assistance, and piloted my vessel into
+the harbor. The inhabitants soon came on board and commenced a brisk
+trade with me. Previous to leaving New-York, I was advised not to enter
+the harbor of Old Providence if I saw any vessel looking like a
+privateer or man-of-war in sight of the place. In the afternoon I kept a
+good look out with my spy-glass, until near sun-set, when I discovered a
+schooner beating up under the lee of the island. I immediately applied
+to my new friend, Taylor, to pilot me out of the harbor, promising him
+to return again in a few days, which he utterly refused. He told me that
+the vessel in sight was a privateer belonging to Captain Mitchell, who
+commanded her--that Captain M. kept his (Taylor's) daughter as a wife,
+and that Mitchell was a clever fellow and would not molest me. As the
+channel of the harbor was narrow and difficult to pass through, I
+decided to remain at anchor rather than run the risk of getting the
+vessel on shore, considering it was best to keep quiet and trust to
+fortune. I felt somewhat agitated as the privateer approached the land,
+it being a dark night.
+
+About 12 o'clock she anchored a short distance from us, when I was
+hailed from her, asking, "What sloop is that, and from whence come you?"
+I answered, "Sloop Biddle, from New-York." In a few moments a boat came
+alongside with the captain and eight men, all armed. I showed the
+captain my papers, and assured him my cargo was _bona fide_ American
+property. He answered me, saying, "We shall see more about that
+to-morrow morning." He then left me and returned to his own vessel. Soon
+after I heard the report of a large cannon from the privateer, which was
+mounted on a circle, filled with chain and grape-shot, and pointed
+towards the shore, where it cut a decent road through the small trees.
+The next morning Captain Mitchell told me the gun was loaded full to the
+muzzle, and that when he loaded it he intended to fire into my vessel
+without hailing her, supposing she was Spanish, to whom he showed no
+quarter. On a second reflection he thought it best to hail the sloop
+before he fired. He said, "Had I fired into you, I should have cut your
+vessel all in pieces." He discharged the gun toward the shore as a
+signal to send a horse to convey him to Mr. John Taylor's, whom he
+called his father-in-law, as he kept his daughter Sarah as a wife.
+
+Mitchell appeared to have full control over the island, and no one dare
+question his authority. He had made this place his rendezvous for some
+time past, bought all the provisions they could spare, both from masters
+and slaves, and paid them liberally, having plenty of money on board,
+and, like most seamen, was lavish in its expenditure. He had lately
+escaped from Carthagena, and brought a few half-starved passengers from
+that city. In running past one of their forts, a cannon ball had struck
+the schooner's fore-mast and cut it half off.
+
+One of the passengers informed me that Carthagena was so closely
+besieged by the royalists at that time, that cowhides were sold at
+twelve dollars apiece, for food, and that he was obliged to pay three
+dollars for a pilot-biscuit, to prevent starvation. Some time after, I
+learned that the city was taken and all the inhabitants put to death.
+
+The next morning after my arrival I was visited by Captain Mitchell,
+John Taylor, and most of the inhabitants of the island, who were much
+pleased to see an American vessel in the harbor, saying it was the only
+one that they had seen there in many years past. I was invited on shore
+to dine at Mr. Taylor's, in company with Captain Mitchell, where a good
+dinner was provided for us, consisting of roast pig, poultry, &c. My
+plate was plentifully supplied by Captain Mitchell. On looking over the
+table I did not discover any bread. Soon after a plate of roasted
+plantains was set before me. I took one, not knowing how to use it, this
+being the first I had ever seen of this kind of food. I soon found it to
+be the common bread of the country. We were politely waited upon, having
+a negro boy, from ten to fourteen years old, without one rag of clothing
+about him, standing behind the chair of each person at table, with a
+bush in his hand to keep the flies from annoying the company. The
+following day I was invited to dine on board Captain Mitchell's vessel.
+His boat was sent for me at the proper hour, and I was politely
+received on board and soon after conducted to the table, which was
+elegantly furnished with silver platters, plates, knives, forks, spoons,
+pitchers, tumblers, &c. and with the exception of knife-blades, every
+other article on the table was pure silver. He showed me many valuable
+diamonds, and large quantities of old gold and silver; and the least
+valuable article I saw on board his vessel was the schooner's ballast,
+which consisted of brass cannon.
+
+I opened a good trade with the inhabitants, selling goods at retail,
+from one to three hundred per cent profit. In ten days I sold over
+eighteen hundred dollars' worth; about one-half was received in money,
+and the remainder in cotton. I took part of the cotton on board, and the
+balance was to be paid on my return to that port.
+
+Captain Mitchell visited me daily, and told me some of his adventures.
+He said that a few months previous he had captured a small trading
+schooner, armed her for a privateer, and appointed one Captain Rose to
+the command of her, who was then on a cruise. A short time before, Rose
+had been with him in Old Providence. "While laying here," said he, "I
+made up my mind to sail for New-York, and there sell my vessel and cargo
+and retire to private life, thinking my means would support me. One
+morning, while contemplating my future enjoyments when I got well
+settled in New-York, I thought it would much disturb my mind to think
+that old Gonzales should boast that he had frightened Mitchell, who
+dared not attack him. He had sent me many saucy messages, by trading
+vessels, saying, I dare not come to St. Andreas, to annoy him, as I had
+the inhabitants of Providence, who were afraid to resist me. These
+reflections so affected my mind that I immediately ordered my boat
+manned and went on board of Rose's vessel. I told Rose that we would
+never leave these seas until we had made an attack on St. Andreas, and
+that he must prepare himself to join me on the morrow. The next day we
+made the necessary preparation and sailed for that island, a distance of
+about sixty miles, where we arrived early in the evening, ran into the
+harbor and came to anchor. All hands on board, being only forty-six,
+including officers and seamen, had volunteered to make an attack on the
+island. We all landed, about 11 o'clock at night, except one man in each
+vessel. Being well acquainted with the local situation of the island, I
+proceeded to the plantation of Mrs. Lever, and captured her
+negro-driver, whose name was Frank, and told him to conduct me secretly
+to his young master William, if he did not I would kill him instantly.
+Frank soon led me to William's house, where we found him in bed. We
+seized him without making any alarm, and told him that death was his
+portion if he did not go with us without making any noise and strictly
+obey my orders. I had often heard of the boastings this young Lever had
+made of what he would do if he could catch Mitchell, and thought the
+present a good opportunity to retaliate upon him. I then told him he
+must conduct me to the house of Governor Gonzales without making any
+alarm, call the governor from his bed and tell him that Captain Mitchell
+was near the island with two privateers; that you imagine the island in
+great danger, and think it necessary to prepare for immediate defence.
+
+"We marched directly to the house, where we found the governor in bed. I
+kept my men still, not allowing a loud word to be spoken. Lever obeyed
+my orders punctually, calling the old man out of bed by telling him his
+alarming tale. As soon as the old man opened the door I took hold of him
+and conveyed him on board of my vessel. We landed a six-pound brass
+cannon during the night, unroofed the governor's house, and mounted the
+gun on the second floor of the building. I sent a party to the fort, who
+put to death a few soldiers they found sleeping there. A number having
+taken lodgings with their families prevented their sharing the same
+fate.
+
+"I took possession of the governor's house for my head quarters, where I
+issued a proclamation, addressed to the inhabitants, inviting them to
+surrender their arms, and by complying with the request, all private
+property should be respected. About ten o'clock the next morning I
+discovered a collection of about sixty men with two nine-pound carriage
+guns, on their way to my head quarters. Immediately beating up for
+volunteers, sixteen men agreed to follow me. On marching towards the
+enemy they abandoned their field-pieces and dispersed in great haste. We
+dismounted the guns and spiked them, burnt the carriages, and returned
+to our head quarters unmolested. Three days after, the inhabitants
+accepted of the proposed terms, and all opposition to my command ceased.
+I took the governor's negroes, money, plate, &c. and repaired on board,
+where I remained some days, treating the old fellow politely at my
+table, feeding him on the best the island produced, furnishing him with
+wine at his dinner, and plenty of Spanish segars. In a few days he
+appeared cheerful, composed, and conversed with me in a familiar manner.
+On the tenth day after his capture I gave him a good dinner, took a
+glass of wine with him, and told him I was going to hang him that
+afternoon. He laughed, supposing it a joke, and that I had no intention
+of harming him. He was sitting in an armed-chair near the cabin door, on
+deck, smoking a segar, when I ordered one of the seamen to reave a
+yard-rope from the fore-yard, bring the end aft and put it round his
+neck. He was soon dragged from the chair to the fore-yard-arm."
+
+[Illustration: Captain Mitchell hanging Governor Gonzales.]
+
+After Captain Mitchell had related his story, I asked him what he did
+with his body; he replied, "I let him hang about an hour, and then cut
+the rope and let the old devil go adrift." I said he should have spared
+his life, he being an old man who could never do him much harm. He
+replied, "I have served him the same as they will serve me when they
+catch me."
+
+Captain Mitchell told me he was now bound to New-York, which he intended
+to make his permanent residence, but he must go by the way of New
+Orleans, as he had fourteen negro slaves he wanted to sell there. I told
+him the laws of the United States strictly forbid the carrying of slaves
+into that country; if he was caught in the act his vessel and cargo
+would be forfeited. He said he was well acquainted with one Sisson, a
+New Orleans pilot, who would smuggle them on shore for him. I cautioned
+him against the attempt, by saying, "Captain Mitchell, be careful that
+those negroes do not sell you before you do them." He has often, since
+the loss of his vessel and cargo, repeated to me the caution I then gave
+him. He made a contract with me to return to Providence, after I had
+been to Musquito Shore and disposed of my cargo, and take Miss Sarah
+Taylor (whom he called his wife) and her servant to New-York, agreeing
+to pay me three hundred and thirty dollars for their passages; saying he
+intended to proceed along the coast of Cuba in search of Spanish
+vessels, and in all probability would have some hard engagements, and
+did not want a woman sniffling about him; and that he would eventually
+meet her in New-York.
+
+Miss Sarah Taylor was educated in Jamaica, and had the appearance of a
+lady of some accomplishments, although she was living as a concubine.
+
+Captain Mitchell was a man of some education, about five feet six inches
+high, dark hair and eyes, and had the appearance of a gentleman; was
+very liberal to unfortunate seamen, and one of the greatest tyrants to
+exercise authority over them that I have ever heard of. He had at that
+time two sailors lying in the stocks near Taylor's house, with their
+ancles two feet above the ground, they lying out of doors on their
+backs, their bodies exposed to the sun for two or three days. He
+informed me that he had captured a prize some time previous, and the
+prize-master and crew had run away with the vessel; that he then took an
+oath to shoot any of the crew if he ever saw them again. A few months
+after, he visited Corn Island, where one of the crew happened to arrive.
+Some of the inhabitants cautioned the man to keep out of his sight. He
+boastingly replied that Mitchell dared not shoot him. Mitchell said he
+hoped the man would not appear in his presence, as he did not want to
+kill him. "But," said he, "one day when I was taking a walk on the
+island he (knowing I had made the threat) presented himself a short
+distance before me, when I took a musket and shot him dead."
+
+Some of the inhabitants informed me that the negro cook belonging on
+board his vessel asked him one day what he should cook for his dinner.
+Mitchell told him to kill a pig which they had on board. The cook did
+not understand his answer, and knowing his ungovernable temper, dared
+not ask him a second time, but built his fire and had his water
+boiling. At twelve o'clock Mitchell asked him what he was cooking for
+dinner, to which the cook replied, "I did not understand what you wanted
+for dinner." Mitchell seized him by the hair of his head with one hand,
+and with a ladle in the other poured the boiling water on him until he
+scalded him to death. One of the sailors told him he thought that was
+hard usage. Mitchell immediately drew a pistol from his belt and shot
+the sailor dead and then threw him overboard.
+
+Captain Mitchell informed me that some years since he was cast away on
+the shore of the Pacific Ocean, and found it necessary to cross over the
+country by land to the Atlantic coast to get home, that he was arrested
+for not having a passport to travel. He was thrown into prison and for
+some misdemeanor was put into the stocks, where he had to lie on his
+back for some months, and while thus confined he had taken an oath that
+he would never die in peace until he had killed one hundred Spaniards
+with his own hands. Some three years after this time I accosted him in a
+humorous manner, by saying, "Mitchell how many have you due now?" He
+replied, "Seventeen, by G--d, Dunham, I have killed eighty-three with my
+own hands."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+After ten days successful trade at Old Providence, I got under weigh and
+proceeded towards Musquito Shore, and in the day-time ran in near the
+land, but could not discover any settlements. I kept beating to the
+northward, keeping as near the shore as safety would admit, with a good
+look-out for houses or canoes. By my observations I found a strong
+current setting to the southward. After beating up three days, we
+discovered a number of Indian houses near the entrance of a bay which
+appeared like a good harbor. From my reckoning I supposed this place to
+be Cape Gracios a Dios, (mercy of God.) I carefully sounded my way into
+the harbor and anchored.
+
+Soon after we anchored, a canoe containing six or eight Indians, having
+a stripe of hair about three inches broad, extending from one ear to the
+other across the top of their heads, which were shaved close to the
+skin, came out to our vessel. They spoke to us in broken English. I
+asked them if this place was called the Cape. They answered "Yes." We
+discovered an English Island flag flying on shore near the largest
+house, and asking them who owned the house where the flag was flying;
+they answered "Admiral Dalby;" looking at me with some surprise, they
+exclaimed, "Don't you know Admiral Dalby?"
+
+Supposing I had to appear before some great chief, whose name sounded
+so loud in my ears, I put on my best go-a-shore suit, to use an old
+sailor phrase, and treating the Indians with rum, &c. went on shore with
+them, and was conducted to the house of Admiral Dalby, whom I found
+dressed in a clean shirt and white pantaloons, a cotton handkerchief
+tied on his head, and an old English Admiral's red vest, with some old
+lace trimmings, having long skirts extending nearly to his knees, and
+without shoes. Seeing his _majestic_ appearance, I approached him with
+all the politeness of a French dancing-master. After the ceremonies were
+ended, he asked me what country I came from, and what articles I wanted
+to purchase. I replied that I came from New-York, in North America, and
+that I belonged to the same continent that he did; that I wanted to
+purchase tortoise-shell, cow-hides, deer-skins, gum elastic, gum copal,
+cochineal, &c. We spent some time in ascertaining the Indian names of
+the gums, &c. before he understood what articles I wanted to purchase.
+He said, "Indian man and American man all one country belongs to, all
+the same as brothers, me right king's officer, all white men must help
+um; me good man, have good head, savy good? this place all me belong to.
+To-morrow I send plenty men to fetch you skins, gums, and every thing
+you want."
+
+After all our arrangements were completed, it being the first time I
+ever had the honor of negotiating with an _admiral_, I invited him to go
+on board my vessel and drink tea with me; which invitation he readily
+accepted. On our arrival on board, my little table was soon placed on
+deck under an awning. The cook supplied us with the best our little
+sloop afforded; the _admiral_ was seated at the head of the table, and
+waited on in the politest manner. After he had finished his tea, he
+drank a few glasses of rum and returned to his home.
+
+When the cook set his table the next morning, he missed his tea spoons.
+Diligent search was made for them, but they could not be found. We
+charged the poor old cook with throwing them overboard in shaking out
+his crumbs of the table-cloth, which he strongly denied. The spoons cost
+about two or three cents apiece. The next day I called at the admiral's
+house, where I saw his children playing with my spoons. On inquiring I
+found the admiral had carried them on shore in his breeches pocket.
+
+I remained at the Cape about one week, where I purchased a small
+quantity of tortoise-shell, some hides, deer-skins, tiger-skins, gums,
+&c. My owners had given me orders on my arrival in that country to
+procure an Indian pilot who was well acquainted with the coast.
+
+My old friend, Admiral Dalby, procured me a pilot to conduct me to Pearl
+Key Lagoon, where most of the inhabitants spoke good English. I had a
+letter of introduction to an inhabitant of that place, whose name was
+Edward Patterson, a native of Curracoa, who had lived with the
+Musquitoes many years, and intermarried with them. The pilot and his
+son-in-law came on board. I was compelled to hire the latter that he
+might assist his father-in-law in returning with his canoe. The price
+agreed on was ten yards of Osnabergs to each; no difference in the
+price, whether the voyage was performed in one week, or I detained him
+three months: it was all the same.
+
+We weighed anchor and proceeded to the southward, intending to stop at
+every settlement between the Cape and Pearl Key Lagoon. The next day we
+anchored at Sandy Bay. Soon after, we were visited by Governor Clemente,
+Admiral Hammer, General McLean, and many petty officers and citizens.
+After treating with a few gallons of rum, by way of introduction, I
+opened a brisk trade with them, bartering my goods for the same kind of
+articles I had bought at the Cape. The governor brought on board with
+him one of his nine living wives. After remaining here three days, we
+got under weigh and steered southward, keeping near the land, under the
+direction of the pilot. In the evening I began to doubt his skill, and
+often hove the lead to satisfy myself, the pilot being stationed forward
+to keep a good look-out. About ten o'clock I heard the sound of out,
+out, out. I looked under the lee of the boom and discovered we were near
+the breakers. We attempted to tack ship, but found it impossible. In a
+few moments we were driven upon the reef, unshipping our rudder and
+thumping so hard that I expected she would break in pieces. About an
+hour after, she beat over the shoal into nine feet water, where we came
+to anchor. The next day I sounded a passage out between the shoals. In
+heaving the vessel through the passage we broke our largest anchor, and
+finding it impossible to save her, hoisted the jib and ran her on shore.
+When the wind abated we landed our sails, dry goods and hardware. We
+built a comfortable tent, which protected our goods from the rains which
+visit that country almost every day from May until November. We found
+ourselves near the mouth of a river called Waa-waa, some fifteen miles
+from the residence of Governor Clemente. After remaining here a few days
+I sent the pilot to the governor's residence, claiming his protection
+and requesting him to furnish me with men and canoes to transport my
+goods to Pearl Key Lagoon, and I would pay them a liberal compensation
+for their services. The messenger returned with an answer, that the
+governor had gone on an excursion through his dominions, and was not
+expected to return in less than two or three weeks. We passed our time
+in shooting deer, conies, parrots, boobies, gulls, &c. and catching
+fish, which we found in abundance.
+
+After we had remained here four weeks, the governor arrived, accompanied
+by forty or fifty Indians. I provided a good dinner for the governor,
+his lady and officers, who were invited to my table. Rum, gin, and
+Catalonia wine, were served out in abundance. The governor promised me
+protection and assistance; but his business required his return home
+immediately, but added that he would send me relief the next day. Before
+we had finished dinner the mob of Indians commenced stealing our
+tumblers from the table, likewise knives, forks, some empty kegs, and a
+fine pig, which we had fattened, as well as most of the loose articles
+about our premises. I had made the governor many presents for his
+promised protection, and I remonstrated with him against this wanton
+outrage, without obtaining any redress.
+
+About sunset the Indians all left my camp, except four canoes of country
+Indians, who lived four days paddle up some of the rivers: and according
+to the pilot's interpretation, they did not associate with the
+governor's gang, who treated them with contempt. After the governor and
+his tribe had left us, these Indians came to my tent, whom I treated
+with hospitality, and they encamped near us that night. The next morning
+my mate advised me to hire these Indians to take me to Pearl Key Lagoon
+in their canoes, taking my money, dry goods, and all my valuable
+articles with me, and he and the two sailors would remain by the wreck
+and take care of the heavy goods until I could procure some vessel or
+large craft to transport them to that place. Fearing an attack from the
+governor's party, I employed the pilot to negotiate a bargain with these
+Indians, as they could not speak English. He soon made an agreement by
+which I was to give two officers, captains of towns, ten yards of check
+shirting cloth each, and the soldiers, as he called them, five yards
+each, and five yards for the hire of a large canoe.
+
+The bargain being closed we loaded the four canoes, together with the
+pilot's, with dry goods, cutlery, &c. In the large canoe I put my chest,
+charts, quadrant, clothing, nine hundred dollars in specie, and a ten
+gallon keg of rum, knowing it would stimulate them to perform the voyage
+with despatch, by giving them a drink on arriving at certain places we
+could see ahead. The cook had boiled me a piece of salt beef to carry
+with me, and put up two or three pounds of sea-bread. I took a jug of
+rum in addition to the ten gallon keg, on board of the canoe in which I
+embarked, and put a tea-cup in my pocket to serve as a tumbler. As soon
+as the canoes were loaded I measured ten yards to each of the officers,
+according to our contract, and then measured off five yards and gave it
+to one of the soldiers, who threw it on the ground, when the Indians
+commenced unloading the canoes. I called on the pilot for an
+explanation, and was informed that the soldiers said they had to work as
+hard as the officers, and would not proceed with me unless I gave them
+ten yards each. I was unable to avoid the extortion, and gave them the
+same quantity I had given the officers. In complaining to the pilot of
+the treatment I had received from the Indians, and the crime they had
+committed in stealing from me, he replied, "Tief man can't go and live
+wit God, Devil must catch um." After I had given the check to each of
+the twelve Indians who were to convey me to Pearl Key Lagoon, one of
+them seized his and escaped to the woods, which was the last I saw of
+him.
+
+All things being ready, we made sail, myself taking charge of the large
+canoe, with orders for them all to keep close company, by shortening
+sail when necessary, so that they could assist one another should any
+accident happen. I now began to reflect on my forlorn situation, having
+five canoes under my control, twelve Indians, and only one that could
+speak English, the naked ocean on one side, the wilderness on the other,
+and a passage of one hundred and twenty miles to make before I could
+find a civilized habitation. We proceeded about ten miles on our way,
+when we ran our canoes on shore and drew them up on the beach, which was
+performed in great haste to prevent their filling with water and wetting
+the goods, to avoid which, I covered all the cargoes with cowhides.
+
+Having secured our canoes, the Indians took cutlasses and dug a spring
+of fresh water, which after bailing out two or three times appeared
+clear, and we drank it with a real good will after we had mixed it with
+rum. I had made an agreement with them, by interpretation of the pilot,
+that I would treat them every time I drank myself, and at no other time,
+which was considered a fair bargain. They then took my meat and bread,
+and ate it all at one meal; after which they made a large fire on the
+ground to keep away tigers, panthers, &c.
+
+I landed two chests, one containing my money and clothing, the other my
+most valuable goods; and wrapping myself in an old bed quilt, which
+protected me from the mosquitoes, took lodging on my chests, the Indians
+taking their station near the fire. The next morning we had nothing to
+eat. About nine o'clock the Indians went into the woods, _progging_, as
+they termed it, and after being gone some time returned with a few small
+oysters and some wild honey, which was all the food we got that day. The
+next morning we got under weigh and proceeded a few miles, when the wind
+rising created a heavy sea, and we were obliged to run our fleet on
+shore and remain until the following day.
+
+In the afternoon the Indians unloaded two of the small canoes, (the wind
+having ceased blowing,) paddled out some distance and caught a large
+quantity of fish. At night they boiled three or four pots full, setting
+up until twelve o'clock and devouring all the fish they had caught. I
+thought they consumed five or six pounds each. The next morning we got
+under weigh and proceeded on our voyage until the afternoon, when the
+wind increasing, it was found necessary to lighten my canoe. I made a
+signal for the pilot to come alongside, he immediately obeyed, calling
+one of the captains of a town to join: when, after a short consultation,
+it was agreed to take some boxes of check shirting and the ten gallon
+keg of rum out of my canoe and put them on board of theirs. Strict
+orders were again given to keep close together, that assistance might
+be rendered to each other if necessary, the sea running high at the
+time. The captain's and pilot's canoes soon out-sailed the rest of the
+fleet. I made signals for them to shorten sail, which they paid no
+attention to, and at sun-set they were so far ahead that we could not
+discern them.
+
+We then landed with the three canoes, made our fire and brought my two
+chests ashore, as on the night previous. Not having had any food that
+day I went a short distance into the woods, where I found some old
+cocoa-nuts, of which I made a poor supper. Not having any one to
+converse with, I laid down on my chests near the fire, my eight Indians
+near me. They soon commenced a long conversation, and being somewhat
+anxious to learn the subject of it, I lay listening very attentively.
+Having a fire-light I could see all their movements. I heard one of them
+repeat the word "_Buckra_" at the same time drawing his hand across his
+throat. I then imagined they were concocting some plan to kill me. In
+the morning they went into the woods, caught a land-tortoise, and laying
+him on a large fire with his back down, kept him there until he was
+dead, and then cutting a hole in his side, took out his inwards and
+roasted him in the shell, from which we made our breakfast.
+
+[Illustration: Indians making motions to kill Captain Dunham.]
+
+I had discovered that these Indians had but little strength of body, in
+loading and unloading canoes; in handling heavy chests and boxes, it
+always took three Indians to carry one end when I could carry the
+other. Wishing to try their strength, by signs I introduced wrestling,
+jumping, &c. I found I could throw three of them on the ground at one
+time without much trouble. I then took my pistols from my chest, fired
+at targets, and performed many other exercises in order to show them my
+strength was much greater than theirs, that they might be cautious how
+they attacked me.
+
+[Illustration: Indians Cooking an Alligator for breakfast.]
+
+In the afternoon we got under weigh and proceeded a few miles, when we
+encamped for the night. The next morning the Indians went into the swamp
+after some food, and returned in a short time with a young alligator
+three or four feet in length, which they had caught: having tied up his
+mouth with a bark rope, they dragged him along on the ground by it. They
+also brought some alligator's eggs, which we boiled. They placed the
+middle of the alligator on the top of the fire, one holding the rope
+which secured his mouth, another his tail, (he being yet alive,) and
+burned him to death; after which they cut him to pieces and boiled his
+flesh in the pot, from which we made our breakfast. I ate some of the
+eggs, which I found very tough. Our jug of rum had been exhausted two or
+three days, and the Indians had lost all their ambition. I tried to make
+them understand, by signs, that when we arrived at Great River we should
+find our comrades who had left us in the two canoes, and get rum and
+provisions for the remainder of our voyage. Soon after, they showed me a
+point of land some distance ahead, and repeated the words, "Great
+River." I took a paddle in my hand and assisted them, at the same time
+making signs, by lifting the jug to my mouth, giving them to understand
+that they should have plenty of rum when we arrived there. When we were
+within two miles of the mouth of the river the Indians suddenly ran the
+canoes on shore, hauled them up on the land, unloaded all my goods and
+ran toward the woods, leaving me alone on the beach. I felt much
+surprised at being left in this sudden manner, half starved with hunger,
+and my strength exhausted for want of sleep. After piling up all my
+goods in the best manner I could, I re-loaded my pistols and prepared to
+defend myself. Hunger now prompted me to look for something to eat. I
+saw a large green turtle, some four feet in length, laying upon his back
+a few rods from my goods. I then walked in a different direction from
+the turtle, in pursuit of something to allay my hunger. Suddenly I
+discovered a large, strange Indian approaching toward me, having two
+small ropes in his hand, with eyes spliced in the ends, which he was
+slipping backward and forward as he approached near me. I slowly
+retreated some distance, casting my eyes over my shoulder, looking for
+some weapon to defend myself, when I discovered a stick of wood about
+the size of a man's wrist, which I quickly secured. He, advancing, asked
+if I was captain of the American vessel that was cast away on the coast
+a few weeks since, and if I was hungry. I told him yes: he still
+approached me during this conversation; upon which I raised my club and
+told him if he came any nearer to me I would kill him. He said if I
+would go with him to Admiral Drummer's house, which was but a short
+distance, I could get plenty to eat. I informed him that the Indians I
+had hired to carry my goods to Pearl Key Lagoon, had thrown them on
+shore here, left me, and that I dare not leave my goods unprotected on
+the beach. He said he would tell the Admiral of my situation, and
+informed me that two days ago two canoes, having some of my goods on
+board, arrived at the mouth of the river, that one of them had upset in
+passing the bar and lost one keg of rum and one box of dry goods, which
+had sunk, and that they had been fishing for them but could not find
+them. He then took his leave, and going to the turtle put the ends of
+his rope on his flippers, placed the middle across his breast and
+dragged him off.
+
+Admiral Drummer hearing of my arrival here, sent an Indian slave with a
+gold headed cane, which he considered as a badge of his office, inviting
+me to his house to take some breakfast. I returned my reasons for not
+accepting his invitation, by saying "I dare not leave my goods
+unprotected." Soon after the admiral brought me some warm cocoa, smoked
+meat and roasted plantains to eat. My appetite being good I made a
+hearty dinner. After some time my Indians returned from the woods with
+some coarse food they had gathered in the swamps. I told the admiral I
+had paid these Indians in advance to transport my goods to Pearl Key
+Lagoon, that they had broken their contract, and that they appeared
+determined to leave me here. After conversing with them some time, he
+told me they said they were half starved, had not any provisions to
+proceed with, and would not go any farther. He also said they were
+mountain Indians, living in the interior of the country, and were not
+under his control, but ordered them to put the goods into their canoes
+and carry me into the mouth of the river, where I would find the two
+boats which had left me some days before.
+
+In the afternoon I was visited by the admiral, his two wives, and a
+number of his tribe. I made him and his wives many presents, and he
+promised to meet me the next day at the mouth of the river, when he
+would furnish me with men and canoes to carry me to the Lagoon. He left
+me soon after to return to his home. We proceeded with our three canoes
+into the mouth of the river, where I found the other two, one of them
+belonging to the pilot, who told me that, in crossing the bar at the
+mouth of the river, the captain's canoe had turned over and lost one box
+of check cloth, the ten gallon keg of rum, and they had both sunk, that
+they had fished for them a long time, but could not find them; also,
+that the captain had lost his dinner-pot by upsetting his canoe, and I
+must pay him for it, because he was at work for me. Another Indian had
+wrapped himself in his canoe-sail, and had laid so near the fire he had
+burnt a hole in it, and I must pay for it because he was in my employ.
+
+Soon after my arrival in the mouth of the river the pilot told me he
+would go to the admiral's house and procure me some provisions; he left,
+followed by the whole gang, except one sick Indian who remained with me,
+with whom I could not converse except by signs. Knowing that a keg of
+rum would not sink in the water, I thought it best to search the shore
+and see what discoveries I could make. After walking about one-fourth of
+a mile I discovered a cow-hide secreted in the edge of the woods, which
+drew my attention to it. By removing the hide I discovered the box of
+dry goods and the dinner-pot for which he had demanded payment. I walked
+back to our landing place, took one of the canoes and carried the box,
+pot, &c. to my camp, where I opened the box and found some of the check
+a little wet, but not from the upsetting of the canoe. I searched the
+beach for some time, but could not find any traces of the rum-keg.
+Having no companion left with me except my sick Indian, and no food to
+eat, I was obliged to pick up old cocoa-nuts or any other articles I
+could swallow to satisfy my craving appetite.
+
+On the evening of the third day after my arrival here my Indians
+returned much intoxicated, without the pilot. They picked up their
+baggage and prepared for their departure; then laid themselves down
+near the fire, and soon fell asleep. I piled up my goods as compactly
+as I could, loaded my pistols and laid myself down on the top of them,
+supposing they would attempt to rob me, and escape with their plunder. I
+did not shut my eyes until about four o'clock and then fell asleep,
+which continued about half-an-hour, when I awoke and found they were
+taking their departure. I took a hasty look at my goods and found they
+had only taken from me one empty jug and a few small articles of little
+value.
+
+A few hours after, the pilot, accompanied by Admiral Drummer, his two
+wives, and thirty or forty Indians arrived, bringing me some provisions,
+which I ate greedily. After making the admiral and his wives many
+presents, I asked his price to carry me and my goods to Pearl Key
+Lagoon. He told me I must pay him the same price I had paid the Indians
+who had left me here--ten yards of check cloth to each man, and ten
+additional yards for the hire of a large canoe belonging to himself. The
+bargain being closed, the admiral and his party all left me, except
+those I had employed to carry me to the Lagoon.
+
+After the pilot had returned from the admiral's I asked him the cause of
+their tarrying so long, knowing my destitute situation. He said they had
+been to a drink-about of pine-liquor--a custom I did not then
+understand. During my residence at the Lagoon I have been an invited
+guest to drink-abouts. Pine-apples are raised in abundance in this
+country, which the inhabitants of a number of settlements from time to
+time collect in large quantities, and assemble at some central place,
+where they convert them into a kind of pulp and then press out the
+juice, put it into some old cask and let it remain a few days, when it
+becomes the most palatable liquor I ever drank, and produces
+intoxication when taken in large quantities.
+
+Some months after, I learned the deception these Indians had practised
+upon me. The pilot and his comrades, who had run away from me with the
+keg of rum and box of dry goods, arrived at Great River two days before
+me. They poured some water on the box of dry goods, and then carried the
+keg of rum to the admiral's house. After our arrival at Great River they
+left me on the beach, half starved, as stated above, and returned to the
+admiral's, where they remained drunk about three days.
+
+The contract being finished, we loaded the canoes and I paid the men in
+advance, according to the custom of the country. I urged them to launch
+the canoes and proceed on our voyage immediately, which they refused to
+do, saying that night would overtake us before we could arrive at the
+Lagoon. They said they would sail the next morning at daylight, and then
+laid themselves down near the fire for the night. I wrapped myself up in
+the old bed-quilt and took lodging on my chests as usual, the mosquitoes
+so thick about us that we could not see any thing at a distance; they
+annoyed the Indians so much that they lost all patience. At eleven
+o'clock they launched their canoes and we proceeded on our voyage.
+Before we took our departure I had given them orders to keep the canoes
+near together for mutual safety. After we had gone a short distance, I
+discovered by the stars that the captain of my canoe had lost his
+course, and was running from the land into the ocean. I remonstrated
+with him by making signs. About two o'clock I made out to convince him
+of his error, when he steered towards the land, which brought us into
+the trough of the sea, and I was compelled to bail water without
+intermission until daylight, when I found we were within three miles of
+the land, but could not discover any canoes in sight of us. We steered
+our boat in near the land where the water was not so rough, and kept in
+close to the shore. When we came to the mouth of Pearl Key Lagoon we saw
+smoke a short distance from the mouth of the harbor, and going to the
+place from which it proceeded found our comrades cooking some fish, they
+had caught, for breakfast. We joined with them and took a scanty meal.
+Soon after, we all got under weigh and proceeded about three miles, when
+we arrived at the village of Pearl Key Lagoon, to my great joy, after a
+passage of ten days. I was so thoroughly exhausted that I could not walk
+from the canoe to the house without assistance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+Pearl Key Lagoon lies in latitude 12° 10' N., longitude 82° 54' W. The
+village is situated about four miles from the entrance of the Lagoon, or
+_Lake_, into the sea. The village contains thirteen houses; the
+inhabitants generally speak English, and are more civilized and
+hospitable than the neighboring tribes. This place is the centre of
+trade for the whole coast, and is often visited by English traders.
+
+I was hospitably received by Edward Patterson, a native of Curracoa, who
+had resided here many years. He had three wives living with him, all
+enjoying peace and good will towards each other. Patterson gave me a
+hearty welcome to his house, and provided me a room in it to retail my
+goods. He furnished his table with the best food the country produced,
+cleanly cooked in English style. Two days after my arrival here my mate
+and the two seamen arrived from the wreck of the sloop. They informed me
+that a large number of Indians had encamped near the wreck and commenced
+plundering the vessel, and they considered it unsafe to remain there any
+longer. They repaired the sloop's boat, put their clothing and some
+light goods on board, and after a few days' hard rowing reached this
+place, with health and strength much exhausted. Two or three days after
+a small English schooner arrived here, and I gave the captain two
+hundred dollars to carry me to the wreck and bring back all the goods we
+could save from it. We sailed the next day, and arrived there two days
+after. We found the shore white with cotton, the Indians having cut open
+the bales and carried away the sacks, leaving the cotton loose on the
+beach, which the winds had scattered all along the shore for a great
+distance. They had emptied two pipes of Catalonia wine on the ground and
+carried away the casks; also emptied some cases of Holland gin and
+filled the bottles with rum, cut many holes in the vessel to get out the
+iron, and committed many other depredations. On inquiry I found that
+most of the goods had been carried to Governor Clemente's house, about
+thirty miles up the Waa-waa river. We employed some Indians to carry us
+in their canoes to the governor's residence, there being no roads for
+travelling by land in the country. When we arrived at his excellency's
+dwelling we found a collection of forty or fifty Indians assembled
+there, raving with intoxication; a hogshead of rum placed in the middle
+of the house, with the bung taken out and the Indians filling their
+calabashes by pouring it out of the bung-hole, wasting one-half in
+pouring it out. The governor's invitation to spend the night with him
+was readily accepted. He promised me he would restore all my goods that
+could be found about his premises. The next day I found one pipe of gin
+and one hogshead of rum unopened, which he consented to restore to me.
+Here a difficulty arose: the distance from his house to the landing
+place at the river was about one and a half miles, and no way of
+conveyance except rolling the casks. I requested the governor to furnish
+me men, and I would pay them liberally for their services in conveying
+the goods to the landing place. He said he could not compel them to
+assist me. My mate and two men I had brought with me succeeded in
+rolling the casks to the shore after a tedious job of one and a half
+days. I found sixteen barrels of salt belonging to me about the
+premises, which we undertook to roll to the landing, but the governor
+pursued us with his axe and broke the staves of the casks, when we
+abandoned them. I then picked up all the remaining goods I could find
+belonging to me, sent them on board the canoes, and putting my mate and
+seamen on board as sentries for the night, took lodgings at the
+governor's house. In the morning my attention was drawn towards the
+governor's nine wives, who were seated round a fire outside of the
+house, eating their breakfast in perfect harmony. From appearance their
+ages were from sixteen to sixty years. I afterwards learned that eight
+of the Indians had died from the effects of the liquor which they had
+stolen from the wreck.
+
+The governor and his gang had destroyed and robbed me of about eighteen
+hundred dollars' worth of property, for which I could not obtain any
+redress. We embarked in our canoes and proceeded to the schooner, where
+we took the goods on board, and the next day landed them at the Lagoon.
+My property being all collected together, I fitted up my store and
+received calls from all parts of the country, having that load-stone
+_Rum_ to attract them.
+
+Among the visiters who came to console me in my unfortunate situation,
+was a Sookerman, named Hewlett, who brought me a present of two
+pine-apples, for which I offered him twelve and a half cents in payment,
+he refused it, saying, "I was a poor cast-away thing, and all Indians
+must help me." I placed a bottle of gin upon the table and invited him
+and his comrade to drink, which they readily accepted, remaining with me
+until near night, when they had emptied the bottle; then taking an empty
+bottle from his pocket, he had the modesty to ask me to fill it for him
+to carry home. I was selling gin at this time for fifty cents per
+bottle. Pine-apples are considered of little value in this country,
+being worth from one to two cents apiece.
+
+A Sookerman practices as a physician in sickness, but always abandons
+his patient before the approach of death; he tells fortunes, can
+discover thieves, and when the hurricane months are near approaching, he
+resorts to some hill with his cutlass in his hand, which he waves in the
+air to prevent the gales from destroying their crops of vegetables. He
+collects an annual tax from all the inhabitants of his district, for his
+services in cutting the breeze as they call it. If they refuse to pay
+his tax the laws of the country allow him to seize upon any property he
+can find, not excepting a man's dinner-pot. If a gale of wind happens to
+sweep over the country and destroy their crops, he screens himself by
+saying, "Some rascals have neglected the payment of their tithes." He
+cannot see a woman in child-bed, or the woman or child under nine months
+after the birth of it. He is prohibited from seeing any dead corpse, as
+he imagines the sight of either of these would cause his immediate
+death. The Sookerman makes all his journies in canoes, accompanied by
+some of his friends. When they approach any village, he lays down in the
+bottom of his canoe, and a sail is covered over him to protect his eyes,
+while some of his comrades visit the houses of the villagers to
+ascertain whether there are any of those dread sights in their houses.
+When his wife shows signs of pregnancy she retires to a house built in
+the woods, where she must remain nine months after her accouchment,
+before she can return to her husband.
+
+My landlord, Patterson, informed me that he knew a Sookerman who landed
+at a village in a canoe, without sending a messenger before him to
+discover the object of his danger; it being stormy weather he landed in
+great haste and ran to the nearest house for a shelter, and opening the
+door quickly, the first object he saw was a woman holding a child in her
+arms. The shock was so great that he fell down on the threshhold of the
+door and died the third day after.
+
+Two miles from the village where I had located myself was another
+settlement called Bigman Bank, a village of some renown, being the
+residence of General Bigman and Admiral Walkin. Soon after I had my
+store arranged to receive company I was visited by a number of young
+ladies from Bigman's Bank who were considered the belles of the village.
+The Indians residing in villages on the sea-coast imagine themselves far
+superior to the inland tribes. They form the same opinion that a fopish
+city dandy does of a country farmer, supposing him to be destitute of
+common sense because he does not put all his earnings on his back and
+cheat the tailor and shoemaker out of more.
+
+After the young ladies were all seated in the house, my friend Patterson
+introduced me to them, and requested me to fill some glasses with gin
+and pass them round, saying, "They had never drank any gin before, and
+did not know the strength of it, that we should soon see sport." After
+remaining some time and drinking freely, they attempted to depart, when
+one of them, named Betsey Young, a girl possessing a pleasant and
+beautiful countenance found herself unable to walk, and her comrades
+took her on their backs and departed apparently much mortified as I was
+myself. After they returned to their homes Betsey's mother gave her a
+severe reprimand for her intoxication. The next morning she bent the top
+of a small tree to the ground, tied a handkerchief to it and putting one
+end round her neck let the tree straighten up, which hung her in the
+air. Soon after her mother discovering her unfortunate situation cut
+her down and restored her to life. A few months after she became one of
+the king's wives.
+
+I was visited by a respectable Frenchman, named Ellis, residing thirty
+miles up a river called Waa-waa-han, which empties into the Lagoon a few
+miles from this place. The Musquito king had given him a tract of land
+seven miles in length, bounded on the river, a well cultivated
+plantation, producing coffee, sugar-cane, corn, yams, sweet potatoes,
+all kinds of tropical fruits, and bread-stuffs in abundance. He owned
+twenty or thirty slaves, and cultivated a good garden. He informed me
+that he had fought for my country in the Revolution, under Count de
+Grass. His nearest neighbor, named Gough, resided twelve miles from him,
+who had a grant of land extending twelve miles along the river, and
+owned a few slaves, but paid little attention to cultivation. I found
+Mr. Ellis a very honest man, and a true friend to me. He kept a mulatto
+woman as his wife, whose name was Fanny. He sent many orders to me to
+bring out such articles as he wanted. He told me that one evening he was
+making out an order for goods and asked his wife if she wanted any thing
+added to the order. She answered by saying, "Tell Captain Dunham to
+fetch me out one man-goose and one woman-goose." Mr. Ellis often sent me
+garden vegetables, cucumbers, water-mellons, tropical fruits, &c.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+Among my new neighbors I found eight runaway negro slaves who had
+deserted from the Island of St. Andreas, in canoes, a distance of about
+two degrees, and took refuge here. To make the reader understand the
+tragic scenes that follow, I shall describe them by giving the names of
+the tribes they belonged to in their native country. Two of them being
+called Jim, I shall be obliged to attach to the name of each that of the
+tribe to which he belonged, to distinguish the parties.
+
+The English traders from Jamaica, who have monopolized the trade of this
+country, frequently visit this place, stopping at St. Andreas and Corn
+Island on their passage. They are often commissioned to apprehend
+runaway slaves, return them to their masters, and receive their rewards.
+These negroes were well apprised of this custom, and took great
+precaution to arm and defend themselves if they were attacked. On the
+arrival of any English vessel in the harbor, they retreated to the woods
+and remained until the vessel left the port before they made their
+appearance among us again, when they returned to the house which they
+occupied when I first landed in the place, situated about fifty rods
+from my store. When they went upon any excursion they were each armed
+with a loaded musket and plenty of ammunition, determined never to be
+taken prisoners alive. In addition to their armament, they purchased
+from me five cutlasses, which they ground very sharp and carried with
+them daily. Scotland and Jim belonged to the Ebo tribe in Africa, their
+native country. Moody and the other Jim to the Mandingo tribe in the
+same country; another negro, named Prince, was a native of Jamaica.
+Scotland had a daughter with him, Moody and Mandingo Jim, both had their
+wives with them. There always appeared a national antipathy existing
+between the Ebo and Mandingo negroes, which caused many disputes between
+them. Prince always tried to remain neutral between the parties, often
+acting as umpire in the settlement of their difficulties. On the arrival
+of any vessel, or any dangerous report, they compromised all their
+private quarrels and united for the common defence.
+
+The negroes soon discovered that I had no means to annoy them, and that
+the English traders were very jealous of me as a trespasser on their
+exclusive right to trade here, I being the first American who had
+attempted to open a trade with the Indians within the last fourteen
+years. These negroes soon commenced trading with me, having fifty or
+sixty dollars in money, and earnestly solicited my friendly aid, by
+informing them of any plot I should discover from the English traders,
+or the Mosquito king's officers to apprehend them, promising on their
+part to sell me all the tortoise-shell they could catch, and purchase
+all their goods from me. I readily ratified the treaty for my own
+safety. To use an old adage, "Those who live in glass houses must never
+throw stones."
+
+My goods were poorly protected against robbers, my store being covered
+on the outside with thin slips of wood, resembling lath wove together
+like a basket and admitting light through the spaces sufficient to read
+or write without windows. A man could kick a hole through it in two
+minutes.
+
+Soon after I purchased a mahogany canoe, made a sail to fit her, and
+took a number of excursions to the neighboring villages, purchasing
+shell, gum, &c. It frequently happened that I did not see a white man in
+two or three weeks. The negroes often got alarmed by hearing false
+reports about their apprehension, and finding that I sometimes did not
+reach home until after dark, they came to my store and requested me to
+wear a white chip hat when I went on any excursion, or appeared out
+after dark, that they might know me, as they had agreed to shoot any
+strange white man who should approach them in the night. I complied with
+their request for my own safety. I have frequently called at their house
+in the night to procure a light, always calling them by name before I
+approached their door, and always found them laying on their arms, ready
+to repel any attack.
+
+Some weeks after, my landlord purchased from me a quantity of goods,
+and I advanced him about six hundred dollars in cash, which he agreed to
+pay me in tortoise-shell, at two dollars per pound, it being worth at
+that time seven dollars in New-York. He embarked in a large canoe on a
+trading voyage, along the southern coast of that country, a distance of
+about two degrees. Most of the able-bodied men of this and the
+neighboring villages fitted themselves out for a three months' voyage to
+the southward, to catch turtle. After they had all embarked I found
+there was no male inhabitant left except myself, my five negroes, two or
+three old infirm Indians, and a whole village of women and children. The
+negroes gave me the title of governor, and agreed to submit to such laws
+as I should prescribe for them. One of the laws I passed was to sell
+them only one bottle of rum per day, which they agreed to, and behaved
+themselves well for two or three weeks, caught some shell, and sold it
+to me. Ebo Jim I found to be a good marksman with a gun, and I furnished
+him often with powder and shot, with which he killed a great many wild
+parrots for me to eat, from which I had a number of good meals.
+
+After a few weeks the negroes imagining there was a plot laid to entrap
+them, agreed to retire to a house they had found in the woods, where
+they thought themselves secure, and live in peace together. Scotland,
+Moody and the two Jims, took their leave of me and departed. Prince, the
+neutral negro, remained in the village. He was a coarse carpenter, and
+made some tables and sundry little articles for the Indians, and had
+many friends among them. Scotland and his party visited me two or three
+times after they had gone to their new habitation, and were supplied
+with their one bottle of rum per day, according to agreement, when they
+would depart peaceably to their new home. The fourth time they visited
+me they asked me for their bottle of rum, as usual, which was furnished
+them. They then left for a short time and returned with a request that I
+would fill the bottle again for them, which I refused to do, by telling
+them it was a breach of our agreement; but on their promising me
+faithfully if I would let them have another bottle they would not broach
+it until they got home, I filled it; they left, and as I supposed, had
+gone home. About one hour after, a number of women and children appeared
+at my door, where I had laid myself down in my hammock, reading, and
+making a most hideous noise, called on me to come out, as Scotland was
+killing Moody. I ran as fast as I could until I came near to the
+combatants, when I saw Scotland thrust his cutlass into the thick part
+of Moody's thigh, near the bone, the point running at least one foot
+through. Moody being vanquished, Mandingo Jim, his comrade, then rushed
+forward with cutlass in hand and struck at Scotland's head, who dodged
+the blow, at the same time returning a blow with his cutlass which
+struck Jim near the wrist, severing his hand from his arm, leaving it
+hanging by a small string of skin and flesh. Ebo Jim then ran into the
+battle with his gun cocked to shoot down his conquered adversaries, when
+I interfered, and by threats and persuasion prevented any further
+effusion of blood. The battle being ended, I proposed to cut off the
+wounded hand, but my opinion was overruled by the company, who decided,
+to use their own language, that "The hand could be mended up again." My
+landlord's oldest wife, whose name was Sally, and who was considered a
+great doctress among the inhabitants of this region of country, procured
+some splinters of wood, dressed the wound with wild honey and bound it
+up, Sally acting as head surgeon among the company. I furnished them
+with candles, which they made great use of as salve to dress the wounds.
+On the third morning after, Sally came to my store and told me that
+Jim's hand was all spoiled, that she had ground up her butcher knife to
+cut it off. She repaired to the room and requested Jim's wife to open
+the wound that she might dress it, which she complied with. Sally
+instantly drew her knife, which was concealed behind her, and cut the
+hand off, to the great surprise of all the spectators. She continued the
+application of honey and tallow for three or four weeks, when Jim so far
+recovered as to be able to shoot parrots for me again. After the battle,
+Scotland and Ebo Jim retired to their habitation in the woods, and in
+the course of three or four weeks Moody and Mandingo Jim removed to
+Bigman's Bank, about two miles from this place.
+
+[Illustration: Triangular fight between three Colored Men.]
+
+A few weeks after, Moody and his partner Jim came to my store on some
+errant. My provisions getting short, I agreed to accompany them home to
+Bigman's Bank and procure a fresh supply of such articles as I stood in
+need of. I got on board of their canoe, which had but two seats, and
+placed myself by the side of Moody, who commenced a long negro story
+which absorbed our attention. On the way I discovered a pelican sitting
+in a tree near by, and called on Jim to shoot it; he drew up his gun and
+cocked it: at that instant the pelican flew from the tree before he had
+time to fire: the old negro laid his gun down on the seat along side of
+us, and proceeded on with his long story, carelessly holding his hand
+over the muzzle. By some accidental movement, unobserved by me, the gun
+was discharged, and having a lead slug in it, cut a large piece of flesh
+from the thick part of his hand, and took off three of his fingers,
+leaving them hanging by small pieces of skin. We made the best way we
+could to the village, where I procured a pair of scissors and severed
+the fingers from the hand.
+
+Some time after, another report was circulated that some of the king's
+officers had received orders to arrest these negroes, which gave them
+great alarm. Ebo Jim implored me to write to Mr. Ellis, my old friend,
+begging his protection until he could procure a passage back to his
+former owner, which Mr. Ellis readily granted, and making me a visit
+soon after, he took Jim home with him and afterwards sent him back to
+his former mistress. I was much pleased to see Mr. Ellis, he being the
+first white man I had seen within the last three weeks.
+
+Moody, Mandingo Jim and Scotland, had a meeting soon after, and agreed
+to forgive and forget all their former difficulties and return to their
+old retreat for safety, and there unite for the defence of each other.
+All their former contests being settled, I advised them to retire and
+live peaceably together, and not annoy me or the Indians any more with
+their private quarrels, which they faithfully promised to adhere to.
+
+I now employed myself cheerfully in reading and other amusements for a
+few days, when suddenly an Indian called at my door and told me that
+Scotland wanted me to come down to the landing place, that he was lying
+in his canoe badly wounded. I repaired to the place, where I found his
+sail spread over his canoe, and he lying on the bottom. I perceived that
+the blood had covered the whole bottom of the canoe, apparently one inch
+or more deep. On examination of his body I found he had received a large
+charge of shot in his right breast, which had cut out about one pound of
+flesh; and another in his thigh, which had severed the bones, and cut
+the flesh to pieces in the most shocking manner. I asked him how this
+misfortune happened to him. He answered me by saying, "Captain, Jim and
+Moody do me too bad. This morning Jim and me go a hunting together, we
+come home about eleven o'clock, I feel tired and lay down on my crawl
+and go to sleep; first I know, I hear a gun go pow, I look at the door
+and see Jim stand there, I say, 'Jim, see what these Indians do me;' Jim
+say, Moody give it to him, Moody fire his gun and break my thigh, and
+then both run away and left me. By and by one Indian come, and I give my
+gun to paddle me here to see you. Now I want you to get Sally and the
+other woman to mend me up again."
+
+I called on my hospitable Sally, who hastily declared she would not try
+to mend Scotland up, or have him left in the village, and I must send
+him back to his house in the bush: if she should mend him up again he
+would kill Moody and Jim, and that she would have no farther trouble
+with these negroes. There being no white person to advise with, I called
+Prince, the neutral negro, and told him he must take Scotland back to
+his house, help him on his crawl or bed, set a calabash of water within
+reach, and leave him. Prince hesitated some about obeying my orders, but
+by persuasion and some reward, he embarked in the canoe and paddled him
+back to his house, helped him into it, placed him on his crawl, and at
+his request built a fire, set water within his reach, loaded his gun,
+and placed ammunition near him, for he was determined to defend himself
+as long as he had breath.
+
+After they had departed, I sat down on the beach and reflected on the
+forlorn situation of this unfortunate desperado. He well knew he must
+die from his wounds, or be murdered by Moody and Jim, or destroyed by
+tigers, his hut having no doors to protect him from wild beasts. When
+Prince returned I asked him if he had any conversation with Scotland on
+the passage. He replied, "Yes, I told Scotland that Moody and Jim would
+kill him this night. He replied, then they will say, there is a _man_
+dead."
+
+At night I retreated to my lodgings in my store, where I slept for the
+protection of my property. At this time I had learned that the English
+traders on the coast had held a meeting and entered into an agreement,
+pledging themselves never to carry me, nor take any letters to Jamaica
+or elsewhere, to help me to get away from this coast. Having no white
+friends to console me, and being more than two thousand miles from my
+family and friends, I retired to bed with solitary feelings. Not having
+much inclination for sleep, I remained awake until about twelve o'clock,
+when I heard the report of a gun, which I imagined had ended the
+tragedy.
+
+At daylight I arose and called on an old negro who had resided here with
+his family many years, the Indians called him _darmer_, equivalent to
+grandfather in the English language, who conducted me to Scotland's hut.
+I found the old negro laying dead on his crawl, or bed, a musket ball
+having passed through his body. Having met Moody and Jim, before our
+arrival at Scotland's house, I compelled them to go back with me. I
+accused them with having committed the murder, and endeavored to impress
+upon their minds the enormity of the crime. They denied the firing of
+the last fatal shot, by saying, Scotland had tied the trigger of his gun
+to the side of his house, placed the muzzle against his side, and by
+pulling the gun discharged the contents, becoming his own executioner. I
+selected a place to bury the remains of the old negro, but having no
+shovels to dig with, we were obliged to use wooden paddles, my only help
+being Moody and Jim, and they both cripples, we made but slow progress.
+Soon after Prince arrived, when I sent him to an Indian house some
+distance from the place, to borrow a hoe, to assist in digging the
+grave. The woman of the house refused to lend it, saying, "Her daughter
+was sick, and if she lent the hoe to dig a grave the doctor or
+_sookerman_, who attended her, would forsake the house if he knew the
+hoe had been used for that purpose." We finally succeeded in digging two
+or three feet deep, when I sent home and got a saw and cut Scotland's
+canoe in two pieces, then placing the corpse between them, put him,
+together with all his clothes in the grave, according to the custom of
+the country. Previous to interring the corpse, I offered to give away
+his clothes, but no person would accept of them, because the owner was
+dead. The funeral ceremonies being ended, I returned home, hoping to
+enjoy some repose after the long annoyance from these negroes.
+
+Fresh reports were soon circulated that the king had commissioned one of
+his officers, called Sambo Tom to arrest Moody and Jim. They hearing of
+this report, determined to leave this part of the country, and pass
+through a border settlement inhabited by a tribe of Indians called the
+Woolwas, adjoining the Spanish settlements, and seek protection from the
+Spaniards. Sambo Tom pursued, but not daring to arrest them himself, he
+employed the Woolwas to do so. The negroes having arrived among the
+Woolwas, hired some of them to transport them in their canoes to the
+Spanish settlements; but being well armed, and having plenty of
+ammunition, the Indians were afraid to attack them, and therefore
+professed great friendship, agreeing to convey them where they wished to
+go. Two canoes joined in this expedition, and while passing a fall in
+the river the Indians upset the one containing the negroes, which wet
+their guns and ammunition, when the Indians in the other canoe threw
+their lances and killed them in the water. Their wives were given up to
+their former owners at St. Andreas.
+
+Little did I think when I landed in this country among a mixed race of
+Indians, that I should find some _blood_ relations, so called by the
+natives, among them. An Indian woman, calling her name Sally Bryant, the
+wife of Scipio, one of the king's quarter-masters, called on me and told
+me she was a blood-relation of mine, and claimed some present as an
+acknowledgment of it on my part. I asked her what evidence she had of
+our relationship. She replied, "That her father was an American." The
+argument was so conclusive that I did not think it necessary to
+contradict it, but gave her some small presents, which were well repaid.
+Sally often volunteered to assist me in selling my goods, and brought me
+many customers by saying to the Indians, "My countryman's goods are
+better and cheaper than them Englishman's, and he no rogue, like them
+English traders."
+
+Soon after, a Curracoa man arrived from Bluefields, one of the
+wealthiest men of that place, who brought a message from his wife, known
+by the name of Mrs. Peggy, requesting me to furnish her with some goods
+to sell on commission, and she would deal honestly by me, having heard
+of my misfortune in losing my vessel, &c. that she wanted to see me very
+much, and pitied me more because I was a relative of hers, her father
+being an American. I forwarded Mrs. Peggy two or three hundred dollars'
+worth of goods to sell on commission, the greatest part of which she
+sold, made good returns, and I found her more honest than white
+relations generally are in their trade with each other.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+Visit to Corn Island.
+
+
+I sold the Biddle's sails, which I had saved from the wreck, for eighty
+pounds of tortoise-shell, payable at Corn Island, which lies in the
+wide ocean, forty miles from the main land. I soon received a message,
+saying the shell was ready for delivery, but I must come and receive it.
+Having been advised of the danger of leaving it there, and that delays
+were dangerous in dealing with those I had bargained with, and fearing I
+should lose my debt if I neglected it, I determined upon making the trip
+in my canoe, the only conveyance I had for getting there. The easterly
+trade-winds constantly prevail here, except the westerly land breezes,
+which blow during the night, and extend out a few miles from the shore.
+My canoe was fitted in Indian style, having a number of small holes
+bored in her sides near the top, and small cords attached to them, to
+which we tied our dinner-pot, gun, or any other articles we wished to
+carry with us, which I found a safe plan for preserving the necessaries
+we carry on board. If the canoe happens to turn over, such accidents
+having frequently happened to me, the whole crew swim along side, turn
+her up, and by rolling her quickly soon discharge most of the water.
+This being done, one man gets into the canoe and bails out the remainder
+with his hat or paddle, while the goods remain hanging by the ropes.
+After this is accomplished all hands get on board and go on.
+
+I hired three Indians, took some provisions, a jug of rum and a
+dinner-pot on board, and proceeded on the voyage. After losing the land
+winds we had to paddle our canoe directly against the wind and a rough
+sea. We paddled about fifteen miles, when we landed on a small desolate
+island or sand bank, having no vegetation on it except half-a-dozen
+small trees about the size of a man's leg. It being nearly dark, we
+hauled our canoe up the beach, cooked and ate some fish, and then laid
+ourselves down on the ground to sleep. Soon after, it commenced raining,
+when the Indians got up and stripped themselves naked, turned the canoe
+bottom upwards and put their clothes under it. I followed their example,
+and we all sat down naked on the ground, leaning against some small
+trees, and remained in that situation until about daylight, the rain
+pouring down in torrents during the night. As the sun arose the weather
+became pleasant, and we proceeded on our voyage, arriving at Corn Island
+that evening, after a hard days' paddle.
+
+Great Corn Island lies in latitude 12° 10' N., longitude 82° 11' W. and
+is about six miles in circumference. The soil is fertile, producing good
+cotton, abundance of provisions, and all kinds of tropical fruits;
+breeds good horses, cattle, hogs, poultry, &c. and has abundance of
+fish. The Island contains about twenty-five dwelling houses, and from
+one to two hundred slaves. Little Corn Island lays about ten miles north
+of the Great one, is uninhabited, but produces an abundance of
+cocoa-nuts.
+
+I remained at Corn Island two days, where I was treated with the
+greatest hospitality, being furnished with plenty of provisions, fruits,
+&c. and having collected my shell, I embarked early in the morning,
+with a fair wind, for Pearl Key Lagoon. The wind soon died away and left
+us with a dead calm, and we were obliged to paddle under a burning sun
+during the day, which blistered my cheeks and ancles, not having any
+stockings on my feet. We arrived at our home about eleven o'clock that
+night.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+Visit to Bluefields.
+
+
+Bluefields lies about twenty-five miles south of Pearl Key Lagoon on the
+main land, and has a good harbor for small vessels, the water on the bar
+at the mouth being about nine feet deep.
+
+The English government took possession of it many years ago, but
+afterwards exchanged their possessions here with the Spanish government
+for the Bay of Honduras. Colonel Hudson, an English planter from the
+Island of Jamaica, settled here with a number of negro slaves. By the
+exchange of the country, he found it difficult to remove his slaves, who
+had intermarried with the Indians, and he was obliged to sell them their
+freedom and take their security for the payment of the debt, which was
+to be paid in yearly instalments. From what I could learn from these
+negroes, he never realized much from them. The inhabitants of
+Bluefields are mostly called Samboes, being a mixture of negro, Indian,
+and white blood.
+
+After remaining a few months at the Lagoon, and receiving many
+invitations, I concluded to make a visit to Bluefields, form some new
+acquaintance, and call on my _countrywoman_, Mrs. Peggy, who claimed to
+be a relation of mine because her father was said to be an American, and
+ascertain what progress she made in disposing of the goods I had sent to
+her to sell on commission.
+
+I fitted up my canoe, hired three Indians, put our dinner-pot, gun,
+fishing spears and some provisions on board, and launched out into the
+broad ocean again. After we had proceeded about fifteen miles the wind
+increased, which caused the sea to run so high that we were obliged to
+run our canoe on shore, and hauling her up we built a fire, a precaution
+necessary in travelling in this country to avoid being attacked by wild
+beasts, and after cooking a scanty meal took lodging on the ground. We
+were much annoyed during the night by musquittoes and small gnats, or
+sand-flies, which allowed us but little sleep. The next morning, the
+wind having moderated, we got under weigh and proceeded to Bluefields,
+where we arrived about sunset.
+
+Here we learned that a negro man had lately been employed in cutting up
+a large green turtle on the shore near that place, and while stooping
+down to accomplish his undertaking, a tiger sallied out of a thicket of
+bushes, sprang upon his back and struck one of his claws into the back
+of his neck, inflicting a mortal wound which caused his death the third
+day after.
+
+I was joyfully received by Mrs. Peggy, my countrywoman, and all her
+family: also received invitations to visit most of the families of the
+town. A good supper was provided for me, and I was treated with the best
+food and fruits that the country afforded. The usual lodgings in this
+country is hammocks, suspended across the house, in which a person
+accustomed to them can sleep very comfortably. Mrs. Peggy wishing to
+treat me with extraordinary kindness, I being a kinsman of hers,
+furnished me with what she called a crawl, fitted up in a spare bedroom,
+for my lodging.
+
+A crawl is made by cutting four small crotched sticks of wood, three or
+four feet in length, which are driven into the ground, (the house having
+no floor,) and two sticks some three feet in length, placed across the
+ends, then a number of round sticks, much resembling hoop-poles roughly
+trimmed with the bark on them, are laid closely together, resting on the
+cross-poles and covered over with a piece of Indian cloth, which forms
+the sacking of the bedstead. I retired to my lodging at an early hour,
+as I had not enjoyed much sleep the preceding night, and laying myself
+down on the crawl thought to take some repose, but I soon found the
+knots in the poles were harder than my flesh. "So coy a dame was sleep
+to me, with all the weary courtship of my care-tried thoughts, I could
+not win her to my bed," and I was glad to _crawl_ off the crawl and take
+up my lodgings on the ground under it.
+
+The next day Mrs. Peggy wishing to treat me with the best food the
+country afforded, procured a large fat monkey, had it neatly dressed,
+and roasted in good style for dinner. As it was roasting before the fire
+it looked so much like a human being that I felt my appetite crawl off,
+and told my good countrywoman that I had made an engagement to meet an
+Indian at a village about two miles from that place, at 12 o'clock, to
+purchase a quantity of shell, and wished to be punctual in my promise.
+This excuse for absence obtained her reluctant consent to let me go, and
+I lost my dinner. I left Bluefields the next day and returned to Pearl
+Key Lagoon.
+
+I must here relate a humorous conversation I heard at Bluefields between
+two of the most respectable young ladies of that place, named Mary and
+Mauger. A vessel having arrived there from Curracoa, the captain and two
+others came on shore, and setting down along side of these young ladies,
+commenced a vulgar conversation with Mauger. Mary having more modesty
+than her companion, immediately called Mauger away from them, and said,
+"Mauger, you fool gal, why you talk them Curracoa Buckras, mind by and
+by, mouth fly off."
+
+The father of the present Musquitto king must have been fond of women,
+as he had no less than fourteen wives. He was a great tyrant, and was
+murdered by his subjects for his tyranny over them. The English
+government ordered his two eldest sons to be carried to Jamaica and put
+under the care of the Duke of Manchester, then governor of that island,
+where they remained about six years and obtained a fair English
+education. The present king, who calls his name George Frederick, was
+furnished with a large outfit from the duke, consisting of a suit of
+clothes worth eighteen hundred dollars, repairs of his father's crown
+fifteen hundred dollars, and four thousand dollars' worth of goods and
+presents to distribute among his subjects. A sloop of war was fitted out
+to carry him to the Bay of Honduras, where he was crowned, and from
+thence conveyed to his own dominions.
+
+Soon after my return from Bluefields I was visited by the new king, it
+being his first visit to the Lagoon. After my introduction I told him
+the English traders on the coast were determined to prevent my opening a
+trade with his subjects, and solicited his protection. He readily agreed
+to give me a permit, which he himself signed, and is as follows:
+
+                                 "Pearl Key Lagoon, _July 20th, 1815_.
+
+     "Permission is hereby given to Captain Jacob Dunham, a citizen
+     of the United States of America, to touch and trade in all
+     parts of my dominions in any vessel from North America.
+
+                                 "GEORGE FREDERICK,
+                                 King of the Musquitto Nation."
+
+I made the king a few presents, and the inhabitants gave us a ball,
+where we amused ourselves by dancing on a ground floor. The king left us
+a few days after.
+
+I soon became familiar with the Indians, by joining in their amusements
+and obtaining a knowledge of their laws, customs, &c. I received an
+invitation to go to what they call "a drink-about of pine-liquor." I
+quickly dressed myself in Indian fashion, having my face ornamented with
+red paint, forming curls and other figures, and my hat ornamented with
+beautiful plumage plucked from the birds of the forest. I proceeded
+about two miles in company with most of the inhabitants of our place to
+the village of Bigman's Bank, where we were joined by the principal
+inhabitants of the neighboring villages within five or six miles of that
+place, who had previously brought their pine-apples, pealed them, grated
+them up fine and squeezed out the juice into a sixty gallon cask, which
+was full, and had been in a state of fermentation for some days past,
+but had now become pure, and contained spirit sufficient to intoxicate
+all those who drank much of it. Before the drinking commenced the men
+gave up their knives and other weapons to the squaws. The men remained
+there two or three days, but I returned home the first evening, fully
+satisfied. I continued my trade with the Indians, bartering my goods for
+tortoise-shell, cow-hides, deer-skins, tiger-skins, gum copal, India
+rubber, &c.
+
+Having much leisure time, I devoted a great part of it to learning
+their language, customs, laws, manner of taking turtle, fish, birds and
+different animals; mode of agriculture; births, marriages and burials,
+of which I shall endeavor to give the reader some information.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+Mode of Taking Turtle.
+
+
+There are three kinds of turtle inhabiting these seas: the first and
+most valuable are the hawk-bill, they are caught for the beauty of their
+shell, which contains thirteen pieces, covering the thick callipach of
+the turtle, which is from two to four feet long. The outer shell is
+taken from the carcase by setting it up before a warm fire, when it
+peels off. The second is called loggerhead turtle, having a shell much
+resembling the hawk-bill, but not worth anything for manufacturing. The
+third is the green turtle, whose flesh is very delicious, and so well
+known that I consider any description unnecessary. The Indians take them
+by what they call striking, having a pole about the size of a fishing
+rod, with a small spear, two or three inches long, well barbed at the
+point, to which one end of a small cord, about sixty feet long, is made
+fast and wound round a piece of cork-wood, resembling a weavers spool.
+He then stands up in his canoe, and by taking aim hits his mark and
+secures his prey.
+
+Another mode of taking turtle is by making set nets, about thirty feet
+square, from large twine, they then carve imitation turtle out of soft,
+light wood, which are smoked over the fire to give them a turtle color,
+and then attached to the upper side of the net, where they float on the
+surface of the water as buoys, while the bottom is anchored with stones.
+The turtle resort to the nets to play with the wooden decoys, and during
+their sport generally get one of their flippers entangled, and by
+struggling to extricate themselves get into the net and are easily
+taken.
+
+The next operation of catching them is performed by three or four
+Indians going to the resort of the turtles, where they build a temporary
+hut to live in, each takes possession of his ground, say one quarter or
+half a mile; on which he walks backwards and forwards like a sentry on
+guard during the night, watching the movements of his game; and when the
+turtles crawl up the beach to deposit their eggs, during the laying
+season, he turns them over on their backs, where they remain until he
+wants to take possession. When ready, he removes them at pleasure.
+
+The turtle generally crawls up about ten rods from the sea-shore on the
+soft beach-sand, making a large track with its flippers, and digging a
+hole in the sand about two feet deep, lays forty eggs, and returns to
+the sea again the same night. About fifteen nights after, the identical
+turtle returns to the same nest and lays forty more eggs, then retreats
+into the sea again and returns there no more during that season.
+
+The manatee, or sea-cow, is from ten to fourteen feet long, and has a
+head much resembling our common cow without horns. They often get asleep
+on the surface of the water, when the Indians very carefully paddle
+their canoes to them, and by throwing their small spears into them,
+capture them in the same manner they do the turtle. The beef when cut up
+is twelve or fourteen inches thick, having a strip of fat and lean
+intermixed about every inch, being the handsomest beef I ever beheld or
+tasted, and having no kind of fish taste or smell.
+
+The coast here abounds with a variety of good fish; the larger ones are
+mostly taken by spearing.
+
+The Indians have often brought me beef of the mountain-cow, which I
+found of a very good flavor. I never saw but one young one of that
+species, and cannot give a very good description of them. The young one
+I saw, much resembled a young fawn. They are killed by shooting.
+
+Parrots, when cooked, taste much like our wild pigeons, and are taken in
+abundance by shooting. A few tame ones are kept about the houses, which
+fly into the shade-trees near the premises, and serve as stool-pigeons
+to call down the wild flocks that are daily passing over the villages.
+
+The armadilla also inhabits this country, and is considered very
+palatable food. The guana, resembles the common lizard in shape and
+color, and is from two to four feet in length, in this country its flesh
+is considered delicious meat.
+
+The cattle are much larger than those of the United States. They seldom
+milk the cows, which run in herds, and are not domesticated. Each
+inhabitant marks his calves when young; and when he wants to kill a beef
+he shoots one of his own mark. They domesticate but few horses, having
+scarcely any roads, the country being cut up with lakes, rivers, and
+creeks, without bridges. The principal travel is performed in canoes.
+The horses are well formed, but a kind of tick eats the gristle out of
+their ears, which causes them to fall down on their head, giving them
+the appearance of lopped eared hogs.
+
+They have abundance of hogs and poultry, which are cheaply fed on
+cocoa-nuts that grow wild along the sea-coast, and are gathered in large
+quantities. The first work of the morning, performed by the Indian
+women, is breaking cocoa-nuts for the hogs, and cracking some for the
+dogs, then cutting up fine for the poultry. They grate up a large
+quantity with tin graters, put it in pots and extract the oil, which
+makes good lard for frying fish; and when it turns rancid becomes very
+fair lamp oil. Forty cocoa-nuts will produce one gallon of it.
+
+The forests abound with wild hogs of two different species, called Warry
+and Pecara, having a small tit or navel on their backs. When they are
+shot the Indians immediately cut out the tit to prevent its scenting the
+meat. I have ate the flesh of it often, and found it equal to other meat
+of the pork kind.
+
+Plantain is the principal bread food of the country, and easily
+cultivated. It also produces yams, cassauder, sweet potatoes or eddies,
+and many other vegetables; but the natives are too indolent to cultivate
+them. I lived seven months among them without tasting a mouthful of
+bread, or even craving it.
+
+I will now give a small extract of Musquitto laws, viz: If a man commits
+adultery with his neighbor's wife, and it comes to the knowledge of her
+husband, he takes his gun and goes to the forest where he finds a herd
+of cattle belonging to the neighborhood; he shoots a good fat bullock
+and calls on the neighbors to assist him to dress it and convey it home,
+where he makes a great feast, inviting the man who committed the
+offence, and all the neighbors to partake with him, when the offender,
+who is bound by law, pays for the bullock and all is amicably settled.
+
+If a man prevails on another man's wife to leave her husband and live
+with him, the law compels him to pay a fine of four backs of
+tortoise-shell, worth six dollars each, amounting to twenty-four
+dollars, and a receipt in full is verbally acknowledged, without any
+hard feelings between the parties.
+
+I once witnessed a settlement between two men in a cause of this kind,
+both parties appeared well satisfied, and parted on the most friendly
+terms.
+
+They have a singular law for the collection of debts. If I trust an
+Indian goods, he belonging to another town or settlement, and he
+neglects to pay me, and I find another Indian belonging to the same
+town, having tortoise-shell or other produce in his canoe, I can take it
+away from him for the debt, and he must look to the man who was indebted
+to me, for remuneration.
+
+Marriage contracts are made by parents while the children are infants.
+Two families living in one neighborhood, one of them having a son and
+the other a daughter, enter into a contract that they shall be
+considered man and wife. When they are of a proper age to be joined
+together, all the inhabitants of the place assemble together, build them
+a house, help them to a hammock to sleep in, and a dinner-pot for
+cooking, and they commence as house keepers. After living together for
+some years as man and wife, the husband receives a present of a female
+child from _its_ parents, which he carries home, and calls it his _young
+wife_, the first wife taking the same care of it she would of her own
+children until it becomes of proper age, when the husband builds a new
+house for the first wife to live in, and takes the young wife for a
+house-keeper. I have often been invited into Indian houses and
+introduced to the family in this manner: "This is my old wife," pointing
+to an elderly woman, and "This is my young wife," pointing to a girl
+from six to ten years old. The old wife would smooth her hair and
+appear to feel a great deal of pride in being presented to me.
+
+On the day a woman is delivered of a child she goes to the sea-side,
+wades into the water knee depth, washes herself and infant, and the next
+day slings the child on her back, gets into a canoe and paddles two or
+three miles to visit her friends.
+
+I here take my leave of Musquitto laws and customs for the present.
+
+As the plan of cutting a canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean,
+by the way of the River St. Johns, which leads from the Atlantic into
+the Lakes Nicaragua and Leon, has so much engaged the attention of the
+public latterly, my thoughts have been carried back to a conversation I
+had with an old Musquitto Indian about thirty-five years since.
+
+He said, "The Indians frequently paddled their canoes up the St. John's
+River, through Nicaragua Lake into Lake Leon, where they found a small
+river, and proceeded to the head of it, which brought them so near the
+head of another river which led into the Pacific, that they hauled their
+canoes over by land from the head of one river to the other, and then
+passed through into the Pacific Ocean."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+The bite of many of the snakes of this country is so poisonous as to
+cause death in a few hours. During my residence at the Lagoon I was
+visited by an Indian admiral, named Drummer, who resided at Sandy Bay,
+some forty miles north of the Lagoon; he related the following story,
+which happened a few weeks before. "He sent an Indian slave to his
+plantain walk, distant two or three miles, to cut some bread-stuffs; not
+returning that night, he the next morning sent his son-in-law to look
+after the slave. He not returning, the following morning a number of the
+inhabitants proceeded to the plantain walk, where they found the dead
+bodies of the two men, and the snake which had caused their death lying
+near them."
+
+Some hurricanes occasionally visit this coast, which destroy their crops
+of bread-stuffs, and cause temporary famine in certain districts.
+
+While cruising along the coast some months after the occurrence of one
+of these tornadoes, I landed within a few miles of the residence of
+Admiral Hammer, in company with a man named Benjamin Downs, who was well
+acquainted with the admiral. We proceeded to his house and asked for
+something to eat, when he told us his bread-stuffs had all been
+destroyed by a gale of wind, and addressed Downs as follows: "Ben Downs,
+don't you think the Almighty little bit too bad this time?" "Why, and
+what do you mean?" asked Downs. The admiral replied, "He send too much
+strong breeze and broke all the plantain walk."
+
+The country is infested with numerous insects, &c. such as mosquittoes,
+sand-flies, fire-ants, chigoes, centipedes, scorpions, cock-roaches, and
+an immense number of alligators. The ground in many places is overrun
+with large ants, called the travelling army, which destroy whole fields
+of vegetation. It is also infested by insects called dog-fleas, which
+are a great annoyance at night; and the sea-coast abounds with sharks of
+a very large size.
+
+To give the reader a short description of the country and inhabitants I
+shall quote from a late writer. "The Musquittoes are a small nation of
+Indians, never conquered by the Spaniards, the country being so situated
+as to render any attempts against them impracticable; for they are
+surrounded on all sides by land, by morasses or impassable mountains,
+and by sea with shoals and rocks; besides, they have such an implacable
+hatred to the Spaniards, for inhumanity and cruelty in destroying many
+millions of their neighbors, that they would never have any
+correspondence with them; for whenever they sent any missionaries or
+other agents amongst them, they _hid them_, that is, put them to death.
+The king has little more than the title, unless the nation is at war;
+having no revenues, and few prerogatives; being obliged in time of peace
+to fish and fowl for the support of himself and family. He hath indeed
+some distinction shown him, and now and then presents made him by the
+governor of Jamaica, and the English traders, who frequently touch and
+trade there."
+
+I occupied my time in selling goods and purchasing shell, skins, gums,
+&c. and during my leisure hours partook of the sports of the Indians,
+that I might pass away the time as agreeably as my situation would admit
+of, not knowing how I could get away from the country, as the English
+traders [the only people who visited the Musquittoes] had agreed never
+to carry me to Jamaica, or take any letters that would assist me to get
+to my family, fearing I should become a rival in the trade, and be the
+means of introducing others into it.
+
+About the first of November a Captain Humphreys, one of the Jamaica
+traders, arrived in the harbor, and came on shore and took supper with
+me. The Indian ladies got up a ball on the occasion. After dancing was
+over, Captain H. and myself took a walk together. During which he said
+to me, "Dunham, your case is a hard one, the old English traders on this
+coast, myself among them, have agreed never to carry you to Jamaica, or
+to assist you to get away from here, or take any letters from you to
+Jamaica or elsewhere, notwithstanding we consider you a very clever
+fellow; but if we assist you to get home, you will lead down twenty
+Yankee traders and destroy our business with the Indians." Captain H.
+appeared to possess the feelings that one seaman should have for
+another, and continued, "Dunham, if you can get ready to go with me in
+two days I will carry you to Jamaica; but I will not carry your shell,
+or any other articles you have bought of the Indians." I expressed my
+sincere thanks for his kind offer, but told him I did not wish to be
+taken there for nothing; that I had money, and was willing to give him
+one hundred dollars for my passage. I informed him that I had kept one
+half barrel of pork and a case of gin hid away for some months,
+intending to purchase a large canoe with them to carry me to the Bay of
+Honduras, if no other conveyance offered. He refused to accept any
+compensation whatever for my passage.
+
+The next day I packed up my shell, amounting to five hundred and
+seventy-two pounds, and the remnants of my goods, and sent them thirty
+miles up the river Waa-waa-han to be left with my worthy old French
+friend, Mr. Ellis. I then called on my landlord for his bill for the
+rent of my store, and board for two or three months. He laughed at my
+being so simple as to suppose he would charge anything for it, and
+peremptorily refused; but as he was indebted to me for goods, I deducted
+forty dollars from his account, which he reluctantly accepted. The
+vessel being now ready for sea, the inhabitants of the village all
+escorted me to the beach, bringing me many presents of fruits, and
+shaking me by the hand, with downcast eyes bade me a hearty farewell.
+
+Captain H. had to proceed to the coast of St. Blas to settle with his
+traders, having left goods with three or four Indians, at different
+settlements, to sell for him. This circuitous route made the distance to
+Jamaica five or six hundred miles further, stopping at a number of
+places on the Musquitto Shore, viz: St. John's River, Boco Toro and
+Crekimala, where we took on board a quantity of sarsaparilla and sundry
+other articles, and then proceeded to St. Blas. On our arrival there we
+were visited by a large number of Indians in canoes, who commenced
+trading with us. One of them acting as clerk took charge of the goods
+and dealt them out to the others by fathoming them off with his arms,
+this being their custom of measuring cloth. The goods being mostly
+staple articles, the prices there seldom varied. Shell had a fixed price
+of one dollar per pound. The captain paid little attention to the trade.
+A small pump was left in a hogshead of rum, from which the clerk filled
+the bottle and passed it round as often as it was called for, and every
+few hours he would call the captain and give him a handful of money,
+saying, "Here is so much," which he would put in his pocket, neither of
+them counting it, nor would the captain ask anything about the trade.
+Often the captain and myself took a canoe and went off fishing, leaving
+fifty or sixty Indians on board dealing with the clerk, who had the sole
+control of the trade. When we had finished trading at one place the
+Indians piloted us to another harbor on the coast, where we proceeded in
+the same manner. We sailed along the coast more than one hundred miles,
+touching and trading at the different towns. Two of the natives took
+passage with us for Jamaica, where we arrived about the first of
+December. Here I tasted bread for the first time in eight months, having
+lived on Indian bread-stuffs during that time, and seldom thinking of
+any other, being well satisfied with that food. On our arrival at
+Montego Bay the captain took me home to his house, and treated me very
+politely.
+
+Soon after my arrival in Jamaica I found a brig bound to Baltimore, and
+took passage in her; I arrived there after a voyage of twenty-five days,
+and sailed for New-York, where I had an interview with my owners, and
+obtained a furlough from them for a few days, that I might visit my
+family; after which I returned to New-York and proceeded back to the
+Musquitto Shore.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+Sloop Governor Tompkins.
+
+
+In February, 1817, I took charge of the Sloop Governor Tompkins, of
+thirty-four tons, belonging to the same owners that the Biddle did;
+being promoted two tons in the size of the vessel. I took on board an
+assorted cargo, bound for Old Providence, Corn Island, and Musquitto
+Shore. I took with me a young man named Samuel B. Warner, to serve as
+clerk of our store at Pearl Key Lagoon, where I intended to resume the
+trade I had left. My crew consisted of a mate, two seamen, and a cook.
+In the Gulf-stream we encountered a violent gale of wind, shipped a
+heavy sea, which swept our deck and washed the cook overboard, and I
+never saw him again. I made a passage of seventeen days to Old
+Providence, where I met with a heavy sale of goods; from thence I went
+to Corn Island, and to Pearl Key Lagoon. There I hired part of an Indian
+house, landed some goods, and Mr. Warner opened a store. From thence I
+sailed for Cape Gracios a Dios, and visited the king, who entertained me
+with a ball and other amusements. I then proceeded back to the Lagoon,
+touching and trading at Sandy Bay, where I was visited by a large number
+of Indians, who brought on board tortoise-shell, tiger-skins,
+deer-skins, India rubber, gum copal, &c. which I bought in exchange for
+goods. The chiefs and their subjects got very drunk on the occasion, and
+as it was difficult to suppress the quarrels that arose among them, I
+was obliged to get my vessel under weigh to rid myself of them. I
+returned to the Lagoon, where Mr. Warner had opened a very good trade
+with the Indians, and appeared well pleased with the country.
+
+I hired three Indians to man my canoe, and took a trip up the river
+Waa-waa-han, to visit my old friend Mr. Ellis, with whom I had left the
+tortoise-shell and other articles previous to my embarking with Captain
+Humphreys for Jamaica. On my passage up the river I called on Mr. Gough,
+an Englishman, whom I have spoken of in a former chapter; I remained but
+a few hours with him, having but little leisure to view his plantation,
+which had the appearance of a good soil, but lacked cultivation. When I
+arrived at the house of Mr. Ellis I was received with a hearty welcome,
+and treated with the best the country afforded. After taking some
+refreshments we took a walk over his grounds, which were well
+cultivated, having a beautiful orange walk, with two rows of trees set
+out in straight lines for nearly half a mile, forming a most
+delightfully shaded road. I purchased two or three tons of coffee from
+him, which he had raised on his place, and kept on hand for want of
+purchasers, the Jamaica traders always refusing to buy it. He told me
+he had plenty of cattle on his premises, which could be made very useful
+in clearing the ground, by breaking them in to work with ploughs. I told
+him to make out a memorandum, and I would bring him out ploughs, chains,
+ox-yokes and such other articles as he wanted. He gave me a list of what
+he needed, which I furnished him on the next voyage, when he broke in
+his cattle, cleared up new lands, and used his ploughs with very good
+success for many years afterwards. Mr. Ellis agreed to send my shell,
+goods, and coffee, down to the Lagoon in canoes, which promise he
+punctually performed. I remained with him during that night. In the
+morning, soon after I arose, I heard the bellowing of a cow near the
+house, and running out of the door a laughable scene attracted my
+attention. Mr. Ellis had domesticated a large ring-tailed monkey, and
+raised a long pole near the house, on the top of which was put a box for
+the monkey to sleep in; having fixed a small chain around his neck, with
+the end fast to the pole, jocko was furnished sufficient length of chain
+to go up and down at his pleasure. Mr. Ellis kept two or three docile
+milch cows about his premises, and one of them having ventured near the
+monkey's pole, he ran down and seized the end of her tail, taking a
+couple of turns round the pole and holding fast to the end of her
+switcher; the poor cow struggled and bellowed to get her liberty, but
+jocko held on until his master appeared with a cane, when he reluctantly
+gave up his sport.
+
+[Illustration: Jocko amusing himself with a Cow.]
+
+I took leave of my old friend and proceeded down the river. The weather
+being clear and warm, the woods and banks swarmed with macaws, parrots,
+bill-birds, and others of variegated plumage. An immense number of
+monkeys, chattering and jumping from one tree to another with great
+rapidity, formed a most pleasing and lively scene; added to which was
+the fragrance of countless flowers.
+
+I arrived at the Lagoon that evening. The next day I took my coffee,
+shell, &c. on board, arranged my business with Warner, took leave of my
+Indian friends, and sailed for home.
+
+Nothing very material happened on the way except contrary winds, which
+prolonged our passage. We arrived in New-York after an absence of one
+hundred and one days from the time we left that city, having made a
+profitable little voyage, which always procures a captain a good
+reception from all concerned in it. I then returned to Catskill, where I
+found my family and friends all well. Finding the Tompkins too small and
+uncomfortable, I requested the owners to purchase a larger craft. After
+remaining six days with my family, I received a letter from them, saying
+they had exchanged the Tompkins for a more commodious vessel, and
+requesting me to come to New-York as soon as circumstances would permit.
+Two days after the receipt of the letter I arrived there.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+Schooner Price.--First Voyage.
+
+
+About the last of May, 1817, my former owners of the Biddle and Tompkins
+purchased the Schooner Price, built at Baltimore, sixty-eight tons
+burden. On my last two voyages I found all the harbors along the Spanish
+Main so destructive to a wood-bottomed vessel, that in a few months it
+would be entirely destroyed. The fresh water emptying into the sea at
+these places make the water brackish, which increases the quantity of
+worms. The Price being iron fastened, obliged us to cover her bottom
+with zinc instead of copper, which was accomplished in a few days. We
+then put an assorted cargo on board suited to that market.
+
+On the second day of June I sailed from New-York, bound to Old
+Providence, St. Andrews, Corn Island, and Musquitto Shore. Nothing
+worthy of notice took place on the passage. We arrived at Old Providence
+in seventeen days, where I commenced a brisk trade. The inhabitants
+urgently requested me to give them a ball. I had on board a drummer and
+a cook who played the flute; they had a fiddler and triangle player on
+shore. I complied with their request, they agreeing to make all the
+necessary arrangements, as my time was occupied in selling goods, (such
+as calicoes, jackonets, muslins, shoes, ribbons, jewelry, cologne water,
+pomatum, beads, liquors, &c.) having an invoice of one hundred and sixty
+different articles to be sold at retail. During the day the managers of
+the ball came on board, and I furnished them with coffee, sugar,
+crackers, cheese, &c. Soon after sunset I went on shore, where I found a
+motley group of English, Spanish, and Curracoa natives of all colors. I
+was introduced to a young white lady as a partner, who had been educated
+in Jamaica, and understood the rules of country dances. According to the
+custom of the place, the person giving a ball is expected to lead the
+figure during the whole night. I conformed to the fashion of course. On
+examining the room, I soon found it had no floor, but being an old
+sailor, thought I could beat my way, which I accomplished in as gallant
+a manner as did Lord Nelson when he fought through the combined fleet.
+
+I had a trunk full of sheep skin morocco ladies' shoes on board, which
+cost at auction thirty-one cents per pair, I sold most of them here at
+two dollars per pair; many of them were danced out in one night. I sold
+many other articles at about the same per centage.
+
+By the custom of the Island, every person invited to a ball must give
+one in return. One of the ladies who attended my ball gave one two
+nights after. Her outlay for goods bought from me was over sixty
+dollars.
+
+Two or three days after the second ball I sailed for St. Andrews, where
+we arrived the same evening. Immediately on our anchoring a large number
+of the inhabitants of the Island came on board, ours being the first
+American vessel they had seen there in fourteen years. I commenced a
+heavy trade with them. This Island contains three times the population
+of Old Providence. As these Islanders had heard that I gave a ball at
+Providence, it would not do to refuse them one. It being agreed upon, I
+told them to appoint their own managers, and then send on board and get
+such articles as they required to treat their company with, not wishing
+to be annoyed until they were ready; and as I was a stranger, I did not
+want to have anything to do with giving the invitations. At the
+appointed hour I went on shore, a horse and servant were waiting to
+convey me to the ball-room, where I found a polished English lady, who
+was to act as my partner, and lead the figure during the night, which I
+was compelled to submit to until the ball ended. There was a floor in
+the ball-room here, which made our dancing less laborious. We kept it up
+briskly until 12 o'clock, and then partook of some refreshments. We then
+recommenced dancing, and kept perseveringly at it until sunrise next
+morning. But my trouble had just commenced. More than one half of the
+free inhabitants were colored, whom I afterward found to be my best
+customers, none of whom had been invited to the ball except an old man,
+by the name of Bent, the wealthiest man on the Island, owning about
+ninety slaves, whom the whites dare not overlook. I satisfied the
+colored people that it was no fault of mine that they had not received
+an invitation to my ball, at the same time treating them with the
+greatest politeness, inviting them on board to partake of refreshments.
+They, in order to be revenged on their white neighbors, gave a ball two
+or three nights afterward, passing a resolution that no white man except
+Captain Dunham should be invited.
+
+At the appointed time a horse and waiter were sent to convey me to the
+dance, which I knew it was my interest to attend. On arriving at the
+place I found everything in good order, and was received with the most
+facinating flourishes of high life, and introduced to a partner
+three-fourths white, dressed in silk. I was called upon again to lead
+the figure for the night. At 12 o'clock partook of refreshments, and
+retired at four next morning, highly delighted with my prowess in
+dancing.
+
+By this introduction I secured all the trade of the colored population,
+and retained it until I left, which was several years after the dance.
+
+We next sailed for Corn Island, having parted with all the inhabitants,
+both white and black, on the most friendly terms. We arrived in two
+days, and commenced trade, as usual; we procured hogs, poultry, and
+fruits in abundance. Our trade was unexpectedly interrupted by a gale of
+wind which parted my largest cable. I lost the anchor, was driven over
+a reef of rocks, broke the rudder, and found myself at sea in a gale,
+which lasted about three days; after which we rigged a spar to act as a
+substitute for a rudder, by which means we regained the harbor. There we
+repaired the damage, and sailed for Pearl Key Lagoon, where I found Mr.
+Warner in good health and spirits, and my Indian friends overjoyed to
+see me. I landed many goods here, that I might get at my assortment and
+recruit our store, and sold some articles to the inhabitants.
+
+We then sailed for Cape Gracios a Dios. On our arrival, the king, who
+had built himself a new house, came on board, with some of his admirals
+and other great men, whom I treated with liquor until they were all
+badly intoxicated. I bartered some goods in exchange for shell, skins,
+gums, &c. and proceeded down along the coast to Bluefields, touching and
+trading at the different harbors, and then returned to the Lagoon, where
+I landed the remainder of my goods at our store, and then sailed for
+New-York. Nothing material happening on the passage, I shall omit a
+description of it. On arriving in the city I was well received by my
+owners and friends, having made a prosperous voyage. After discharging
+my cargo, I visited my family in Catskill, where I spent ten days, and
+then returned to New-York to prepare for another voyage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+Schooner Price.--Second Voyage.
+
+
+Finding our trade increasing, my owners and myself thought it would be
+much advanced by sending out a small vessel to be stationed on the
+coast, and employed in running along the shore selling goods, and
+collecting return cargoes for the Price, viz: tortoise-shell, hides,
+skins, gums, sarsaparilla, &c. The owners of the Price then purchased a
+small sloop, called the Traverse, of near nineteen tons burden, having a
+mast fifty feet long. We sheathed her bottom with zinc, and rigged her
+for sea. My old mate, Captain N. Soper, volunteered to take command of
+her; a man from Troy, named Thomas Teft, shipped as mate, and a man from
+Staten Island as seaman. I had an Indian boy who was bound to me as an
+apprentice, who volunteered as cook. The Price was armed with a
+six-pound cannon, well mounted, and the Traverse with a swivel. We soon
+got our cargoes on board, and insured both vessels. The intention was to
+keep company as long as the weather would permit. Both were placed under
+my control. The weather being very cold, and our little vessels deeply
+loaded, a heavy sea in the harbor had coated them with ice.
+
+On the nineteenth day of February, 1818, we got under weigh, the
+wharves being lined with spectators to see a vessel of eighteen tons
+commencing a voyage of over two thousand miles. They gave us three
+hearty cheers, which we answered by discharging our cannon. A fair wind
+carried us to sea, where we kept company for three days, when a violent
+gale separated us. I cruised the whole of next day in search of the
+Traverse, without finding her. Thinking it useless, I resumed my course
+and proceeded to the Island of Old Providence, where we arrived after a
+passage of seventeen days, and opened my trade as usual. The Traverse
+arrived four days after, having sprung her mast near the deck.
+
+The next day we hauled the Traverse along side of the Price, raised her
+masts with the schooner's purchases, sawed off the broken part, about
+five feet, took her sails on shore and shortened them to fit the mast,
+put them in good order for sea, exchanged part of her goods and gave her
+a suitable cargo to retail along the coast. Two or three days after I
+gave the captain orders to proceed to the Main and stop to trade at
+sundry ports, named in his instructions, and from thence proceed to St.
+Blas, where he would meet me in the Price. I took Henry T. Smith with me
+to Lagoon, to act as clerk in our store, in place of Mr. Warner, who
+wished to return to New-York. I remained here two or three days, and
+then sailed for the Lagoon. On my arrival Mr. Warner was in good health,
+and much pleased to find himself released by Mr. Smith's taking his
+place as clerk in the store. We landed the most of our heavy goods,
+made every necessary arrangement for business, and giving the proper
+directions, I proceeded to Bluefields, sold a few goods, cancelled some
+old debts, and procured a pilot for the coast of St. Blas, for which we
+soon after sailed.
+
+I obtained information at Corn Island, at the Lagoon, and at Bluefields,
+of the English traders having heard that I intended to extend my trade
+to that coast. They had employed an agent whom they had supplied with
+the necessary articles of trade, and told the inhabitants that if they
+traded with that Yankee captain they would withdraw from them; and also
+told them that the Yankee captain might sell them some articles a little
+cheaper at first, but that he was a worthless fellow, and could not
+continue the trade long, when they would be left destitute, as no
+Englishman would supply them. The English traders urged the Indians to
+put myself and crew to death, and burn our vessel. My friends who gave
+me the information, strongly remonstrated against my going to St. Blas,
+saying that my life would be sacrificed in so doing. In a conversation
+afterwards with one of the English traders, I spoke of the cold-blooded
+murder they wished the St. Blas Indians to be guilty off, which he
+denied, but admitted that they told the Indians to destroy our goods.
+
+However the minds of the Indians might have been operated upon at the
+time of hearing their murderous proposals, they made no attempt to harm
+me.
+
+[Illustration: Captain Dunham landing at St. Blas.]
+
+On our arrival on the coast of St. Blas, not knowing the channel, we
+came to anchor near an island, where we discovered a number of canoes,
+and thirty or forty Indians on the shore. Being short of water, I
+concluded to take a small water-keg into my canoe and land among the
+Indians for the purpose of procuring some, and also to get a pilot, if
+possible, to take the vessel into the harbor. Before leaving the vessel
+I told the mate that the Indians had such an inveterate hatred against
+the Spaniards, that if any of their vessels were cast away on this coast
+they would massacre every person on board; that I thought they had never
+seen the American flag, and bade him keep a good look-out with the
+spy-glass, and not hoist our colors until he saw me safe among the
+Indians, fearing they might suppose it to be Spanish, or some enemy's
+flag. My mulatto pilot and sailor, and myself, then proceeded toward the
+island where we had seen the Indians. When within about one hundred rods
+of the shore there were about thirty bows and arrows pointed towards us.
+On looking back to the vessel I saw the colors hoisted and streaming
+with the wind. It being too late to retreat, and perceiving that the
+water was only about two feet deep, I jumped overboard, and told my men
+to follow; having no other clothes on save our shirts and pantaloons,
+the water was not particularly annoying. I took my hat in my hand and
+extended my arms full length, showing thereby that there were no weapons
+about me. As I approached the shore they all laid down their bows and
+arrows and met us with a hearty welcome. The Indian arrows are made of
+strong reed, four or five feet long, pointed with nails or spikes about
+fourteen or fifteen inches in length, which they sharpen with files or
+cold chissels. With these they kill wild beasts, fowls and fish. When
+shot into the water the reed is so buoyant that the light end swims
+about one foot above the surface.
+
+Previous to my departure from the Price, my Mate took a scissors, a
+knife, and some other articles out of the goods belonging to the cargo,
+and left them lying carelessly about the vessel. I requested him to put
+them back into the packages, together with any articles he might use;
+but he told me very abruptly that _he_ purchased them in New-York. Some
+angry words passed between us. As he was an intemperate, bad
+dispositioned man, I had reason to suppose that he hoisted the colors
+for the purpose of revenging himself on me; thinking, doubtless, that
+the Indians would murder me, though he excused himself by saying he
+thought I had landed before he hoisted them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+St. Blas has no king, but is a kind of Patriarchal government, being
+ruled by the old men and the sookerman of the Island, whose laws are
+obeyed in the strictest manner. The sookerman acts as physician, and
+also foretells future events. Theft or adultery is seldom known in that
+country. The civilized world talk of liberty, but these savages alone
+truly enjoy it. They pay no tithes or taxes, require no locks to protect
+themselves from thieves, have neither taverns nor boarding houses, every
+traveller being made welcome at whatever house he may happen to stop.
+There he will receive such entertainment and fare as is provided for the
+family. Their hospitality is the same, whether he remains a day, a
+month, or longer. I never heard of but one woman of that tribe who had
+issue by a white man. The father of the child was a captain of a Jamaica
+trading vessel. When the Indians discovered her situation, she was
+separated from the tribe, placed in a house built for her in the woods,
+entirely deprived of all kind of intercourse with them; being considered
+as an outcast. When the child was three or four years of age it was put
+on board of a Jamaica vessel and banished from the country.
+
+In describing my next voyage I shall narrate many of the customs and
+manners of this region. The Indians brought their canoes alongside of
+our vessel and piloted us safely into the harbor, called Little Cordee,
+where we found good anchorage; we were immediately visited by some
+thirty or forty canoes. One of the Indians asked the privilege of
+trading for me. I told him he might if he got permission from the old
+men and sookermen, as we had not yet their leave so to do. He paddled to
+the shore, and returned in a short time with three old men and a
+sookerman, from whom we received the license which we desired.
+
+I gave them plenty to eat and drink; they in return invited me on shore,
+where I was well entertained. My Indian trader then commenced the
+business for me by fathoming off cloth, many articles of staple goods,
+such as shirting, check, powder and shot, &c. all of which had been sold
+at one uniform price for many years. The Indians also had always
+received one dollar per pound for tortoise-shell. When any goods
+differed from such as the English traders had sold them, my Indian agent
+would ascertain the price from me and proceed in his usual way in
+bartering and selling. It was entirely unnecessary for me to trouble
+myself about his bargains. He would come to me with his hands full of
+silver change, saying, here captain, is so much money, and without
+further remark would again turn to his business of salesman.
+
+After remaining three or four days, my clerk asked me if he might be my
+trader during the season of taking turtle, which lasted four or five
+months. His price was ten pounds Jamaica currency, about thirty dollars.
+This being pretty reasonable, I answered him in the affirmative, telling
+him to select such goods as he wished for his trade, I at the same time
+taking an account of them, although I dared not let him know that I had
+done so. I furnished him with the means of preserving his goods from the
+rain, supplied him with steelyards, and every article necessary for the
+trade on that coast. The goods amounted to about six hundred dollars. He
+then volunteered to pilot us along the coast free of expense, except his
+board and liquor.
+
+We at length got under weigh, having about twenty canoes in tow,
+proceeded a few miles and came too at night under the lee of an island.
+In the morning we started again, and arrived at the River Caledonia;
+here we obtained permission to trade, the inhabitants giving us a hearty
+welcome. After remaining here two or three days we sailed for the River
+Mona, opening our trade immediately on our arrival, having obtained such
+license from the proper authorities, remained but a few days, and sailed
+for the River De Ablo, or River Devil. Here I engaged an Indian named
+Billy, who had sailed with Captain Humphrey, an English trader, some two
+years before. Billy was much pleased to see me, and immediately
+commenced trading in my service, upon the same terms as those on which I
+had engaged the former Indian, Campbell; he selected his goods and took
+about the same quantity as Campbell had, and was fitted out much in the
+same manner, having everything necessary to carry on the trade during
+the season. After remaining here three or four days, we sailed back to
+the River Cordee, where I had ordered Captain Soper to meet me with his
+sloop.
+
+I remained at Cordee about two weeks, waiting for the appearance of the
+vessel. On her arrival we took out all the cargo she had collected along
+the coast, and put it on board the Price, and took what was left on
+board the Price and put it on board the Traverse, and, according to my
+letter of instruction, gave Captain Soper command of the Price, with
+directions to proceed to New-York; he took Mr. Warner with him. On
+taking charge of the Traverse myself, I retained Mr. Tefts, my Indian
+apprentice boy, also an Indian lad who was one of the Musquitto king's
+brothers with me, and one of the St. Blas Indians, who acted as seaman.
+The schooner soon sailed for New-York, and we for Corn Island, where we
+arrived in four days. After touching at Corn Island, we sailed from
+thence to Cape Gracios a Dios, where we were visited by the king, who
+invited us to his house, which I accepted of. Remaining here some days,
+my little sloop was overloaded with Indians, eating and drinking, the
+king being constantly intoxicated. He gave me directions not to trust
+any Indian on his account without a written order from him. He came on
+board one day and asked me for the amount of his account, which was
+near one hundred dollars. He examined it silently, then ordered his men
+into his canoe and abruptly left the vessel. I felt somewhat surprised
+at his leaving in this manner without an explanation.
+
+In the afternoon some Indians came on board who had been in the habit of
+bringing the king's verbal orders for goods, and said the king had sent
+them to get a ten gallon keg of rum for him; not wishing to offend him,
+I asked the Indians where he, the king, was, they replied, "We must
+paddle up the river a little bit, and then ride horse a little bit."
+Determined to know if there was any fraud in the verbal order, I started
+with the Indians to see the king.
+
+We paddled up the river about four or five miles, when we landed. A
+horse was brought for each man; our leader mounted, taking his ten
+gallon keg up before him; each was supplied with a bunch of plantain
+leaves for a saddle. The night being dark, and the rain falling in
+torrents, we groped our way through thick woods, my horse acting as my
+guide. I kept my hand extended before my face to protect my eyes from
+the limbs of the trees for some distance, when we arrived at a small
+creek; we dismounted and crossed over in a canoe, the Indians swimming
+their horses across. Being mounted again we rode about three miles
+further through a level prairie land. The foot-path being covered with
+water about four inches deep, and the rain falling incessantly. At
+length we arrived at the king's house, his majesty not having a dry
+thread of clothes about him. On entering I found an Indian by the name
+of Thompson, an old acquaintance, acting as door-keeper, who conducted
+me into the house and presented me with a hammock; and being very much
+fatigued, begged him not to tell the king that I had arrived. He
+promised he would not. Soon after I got in my hammock, the king, who lay
+in an adjoining room, called for a drink of water, which was brought.
+The servant at the same time telling him that the American captain had
+arrived (that being the name by which I was known on the Indian coast.)
+He immediately arose, told his servants, called quarter-masters, to
+bring the women for a dance. To please him I had to put on an Indian
+dress, have my face painted, and my head ornamented with feathers. The
+king took the lead in the performances, which lasted until morning; he
+ordered a bullock to be killed for breakfast, which made a very good
+repast, after which I retired, much fatigued, to a hammock, where a
+sound sleep soon refreshed me. The king retired to rest, slept until
+dark, when, springing up suddenly, he ordered his quarter-masters to
+bring the horses. I remonstrated with him, saying, "For pity sake, king,
+do not take me through that wilderness this night." Rubbing his eyes, he
+declared, "It is not night, but morning." After some time, being
+convinced of his mistake, he ordered the quarter-masters to collect the
+women again for another dance, which was kept up until 11 o'clock that
+night, when I begged permission to retire.
+
+Next morning the king apologized to me by saying, since he had detained
+me so long, I should be remunerated with some tortoise-shell, for "I
+know," said he, "you would willingly stop any where, two or three days,
+if you could get a few pounds of tortoise-shell." Our horses were soon
+brought, rigged as usual, with a bunch of plantain leaves for a saddle,
+and a bridle made of bark. The king mounted, one of his queens being
+placed behind him on the same horse; the gristle of his horse's ears
+being removed, caused them to lap down on his head much like a
+long-eared hog. I mounted the other. The mud and water was at least four
+inches deep on the road, being the rainy season. We proceeded about a
+quarter of a mile, when the king dismounted, and getting up behind me,
+called to his waiters to get him a large stick, which he applied to my
+poor old horse's flank without mercy; off we went in a smart gallop, the
+mud and water flying in every direction. Having proceeded about a mile
+we came to a small lane leading from the main road, which we were
+travelling, along which were three small houses to be seen. The king
+halted, saying to me, "Go up here and I will get you some shell." I rode
+with the king to the front of the house, where a young Indian girl,
+apparently eighteen years of age, stood near the door. The king
+addressing me, asked if I did not think her handsome. My answer, of
+course, was in the affirmative. The king then commanded his
+quarter-masters to catch her and throw her on behind me. The girl having
+an old dress on, ran into the house and returned with a clean one, the
+quarter-masters then lifted her on behind me astride the horse. The king
+kept in the rear to drive my horse into a canter, the mud and water
+flying into our eyes at such a rate that I could hardly keep the road.
+When we came to the creek the horses swam across, while the king, the
+two women, and myself crossed in a canoe; the king trying to upset us,
+which I prevented almost by main force, as the creek swarmed with
+alligators. Having passed it, we travelled through woods for two or
+three miles, when we embarked in a canoe for the Cape. Gladly did I
+return to my vessel. The king, not unmindful of his promise to make me
+some remuneration for my detention, sold me some thirty or forty pounds
+of shell, which he owed to an English trader.
+
+[Illustration: Mosquito King and Captain Dunham taking an airing.]
+
+There was at the time two English trading vessels lying in the harbor. I
+had one passenger on board, belonging to Corn Island. One day the
+English captains, my passengers, and myself, being overtaken by a rain
+storm on shore, took shelter under an old woman's roof, where she was
+engaged in frying fish for her dinner. Her house was built like many
+houses in that country, simply of a thatched roof, supported by
+crotches, having no sides. As we were assembled here, the notion got
+into our heads to try the old lady's temper and placing ourselves at
+the four corners of her domicile, clapped our shoulders under the
+roof and bore it off, leaving the poor old woman frying her fish in the
+rain, which soon put out her fire, while we received a volley of curses
+for our sport. We, however, returned it to its proper place, breaking
+the poor old creature's crockery in so doing, which was all she
+possessed. We invited her on board our vessels the next day, telling her
+we would make good her loss; nor were we unmindful of our promise when
+she made her appearance. We supplied her with plates, cups, saucers,
+knives, forks, &c. so that her house was better furnished with these
+articles than any in the town. We also threw in a bottle of rum to make
+the affair perfectly satisfactory to her.
+
+After remaining at the Cape a few days, where I purchased some shell, a
+considerable quantity of India rubber, gum copal, deer and tiger-skins,
+and deer-horns, paying for them in goods, we proceeded to Sandy Bay,
+where, after bartering four or five days for such articles as we got at
+the Cape, we next sailed for Great River, continuing our bartering for
+the same articles, and then started for Corn Island, intending to take
+in provision there, it being decidedly the best place for that purpose
+in the country. From thence we sailed for the Lagoon, where having
+landed such goods as were needed to keep a good assortment in our store,
+we proceeded along the coast, touching at Bluefields, Martina,
+Buckatora, and some other small ports, and then returned to Corn
+Island. Here I met the schooner Price, which had arrived two days
+previous, direct from New-York, with a new supply of goods. Captain
+Soper informed me that he had lost one man overboard on his passage
+home. I found on board the Price a man named Mores, who had some
+interest in the cargo. I gave the command of the sloop to Mr. Tefts, and
+took charge of the schooner again. I supplied Captain Tefts with a new
+assortment of goods, and ordered him to proceed along the Musquitto
+coast and procure all the return cargo he could, and from thence to St.
+Blas, where he could meet me in the Price. I proceeded with the Price
+direct to St. Blas, where I repainted her. Here Mr. Morse was taken sick
+and died, and we buried him on an uninhabited island, and then sailed
+for the harbor of Cordee, where I found my Indian trader, Campbell, who
+came on board and brought the returns for the goods I had left with him
+to sell. He brought on board a quantity of shell, a few bags of cocoa, a
+purse of money, and the remnants of the goods, and told me he had three
+or four canoe loads of fustic, laying on the beach, which he had
+purchased for me. He laid the shell, cocoa, return goods, and the purse
+of money down on the deck, telling me that was all he had. I asked him
+if he had taken out his wages. He said he had, and we considered all
+accounts between us settled, without making any figures. We remained
+here two or three days, and purchased a few thousand cocoa-nuts, and
+then sailed for the River De Ablo, where I met my other trader, Billy,
+who came on board with his returns, which being the same as Campbell's,
+I settled his account in the same manner, with one exception. I asked
+him if he had taken out his wages, he answered, "Not all," when I handed
+back the purse of money to him, and he took out fourteen dollars, and
+then returned it, saying, "Now we are even," which was as good as a
+receipt.
+
+Campbell was on board acting as pilot, and he and Billy told me they
+must go and see my country, which request I readily granted. I purchased
+more cocoa-nuts, and took them on board when the Traverse arrived. I put
+all the goods I had left of her cargo on board the schooner Price, and
+prepared to sail the next morning. That evening we were visited by all
+the old men and sookermen in that vicinity, together with forty or fifty
+young men; the bottle of rum was passed round among them often during
+the night by Campbell or Billy, the old men relating stories and giving
+their charge to my traders, who were going to New-York with me. The St.
+Blas Indians have a peculiar custom about talking: when an old man is
+speaking, all the company are silent, not one lisp is heard from any
+other person, except at the end of every sentence, when each listener
+says, "Ah!" When one old man has ended his story another commences
+without any interruption. I laid down to sleep at eleven o'clock and
+slept till five in the morning, when I awoke and found them talking.
+Some time after, I called one of the Indians aft who spoke English, and
+asked him why this talk had continued all night: he answered me by
+saying, "The old men had told Campbell and Billy that they would be the
+first of their tribe whoever visited my country; that they must keep
+sober and honest, and conduct themselves like gentlemen."
+
+Having all things ready for sea, I took leave of the old patriarchs by a
+hearty shake of the hand, and proceeded on my voyage.
+
+Nothing material occurred until we got into the latitude of 24°, when
+our main-mast was carried away and we rigged a temporary jury-mast:
+having a long fore-sail, we were enabled to keep the schooner on her
+way; and being a sharp Baltimore clipper, she made pretty good headway
+under her fore-sail. Three days after, while laying too in a gale of
+wind, we lost one of our seamen, named William Latch, overboard. After a
+passage of thirty-five days we arrived in New-York. My Indians knew not
+what cold meant, and having some flannel on board, I made them some
+shirts on the passage, and gave them some old cast-off woollen clothing
+to protect them from the wintry weather of our coast. When we approached
+the cold latitudes we had a warm south-east wind, which brought us into
+the harbor of New-York without experiencing much of the severity of the
+weather. The first night after our arrival I went to my boarding house,
+where I tarried until early next morning, when I went to visit the
+schooner. As I approached the wharf where she lay, I saw Campbell
+looking at his fingers, turning his hands over and viewing them very
+closely. I accosted him in his accustomed manner of speaking, saying,
+"Campbell, what de matter?" he replied, "My God! captain, somet'ing bite
+me and I can't see 'im." His own country being infested with
+musquittoes, sand-flies, fire-ants, and sundry insects, which he could
+see, this invisible sting of cold he could not account for. I took them
+to a clothing store and rigged them with winter dunage. I then took them
+to a boarding house, and in the evening the mate escorted them to the
+play-house, thinking he could astonish them. The next morning I asked
+Campbell how he liked the play, he replied, "Too much fight; one old man
+go dead." In spite of all my efforts to the contrary, they would follow
+me at a distance. One day being near the City Hall, my two Indians
+following, as usual, I thought I would stop and let them overtake me,
+and have a view of the building, knowing that Campbell had never seen
+even a frame house, previous to his arrival in New-York. As they came up
+with me the keeper came out, and invited us up into the picture gallery,
+where we saw full-length portraits of all the governors of the State,
+and many other distinguished men, which the Indians viewed without any
+manifestation of surprise. We soon after went down Broadway, and as we
+approached St. Paul's Church, Campbell observing the covered figure of
+the Saint, set in the wall of the building, stopped, and looking at it
+some time, said, "Captain what dat old man tand dare for?" We passed on
+a little further, when I met my old acquaintance, Doctor Samuel L.
+Mitchell, who had visited me on my return from every voyage since I had
+been in this trade, in consequence of my furnishing him with roots,
+plants, and Indian curiosities. He was pleased at seeing the Indians,
+and asked what country they came from, their customs, manners, &c. I
+gave him a brief explanation, and he then insisted upon my going home
+with him, saying, "Mrs. Mitchell must see them," to which I consented.
+We repaired to his house, where I made a short visit, and he agreed to
+let me retire, provided I would come to the college at two o'clock that
+day, as he was to lecture there at that hour. On my return from the
+doctor's I passed through Maiden Lane, where many of the windows were
+decorated with toys. My Indians stopped to view them, and I could not
+get them any further until I entered the stores and purchased some
+whistling birds, swimming geese, &c. which they looked upon as the
+greatest curiosities in the whole city. At two o'clock I repaired to the
+college with my Indians. The doctor felt of their heads, looked down
+their throats, &c. and said they belonged to the same species as those
+who inhabit the Sandwich Islands and a part of Asia. The students gave
+them a donation of eight dollars, and we returned to our respective
+boarding houses.
+
+A few days after, General Jackson visited New-York, which caused
+considerable noise and bustle. My Indians called on me to conduct them
+to the place of his landing, which was Whitehall, saying, "Me want to
+see dat big big American gineral." I conducted them to the place of
+landing, and the first object which attracted their attention was the
+military officers forming the procession, with long feathers on their
+hats, and they begged me very hard to go purchase some of those feathers
+for them. These Indians had every temptation to get intoxicated, having
+plenty of money given them by the owners of the Price and myself, and a
+donation of eight dollars from the students of the college: in addition
+to which the cartmen daily put up six-penny pieces for them to shoot at
+with their bows and arrows, which they generally got. We made them
+acquainted with a number of pleasant liquors which they had never before
+tasted, such as wine, cordial, beer, &c. but nothing could induce them
+to get drunk, having received a strict charge from the old men of their
+own country before they left home to keep sober until they returned.
+
+After going through the necessary forms at the Custom House, the vessel
+was unloaded, and I obtained a furlough of two weeks to visit my family
+at Catskill, whom I found in good health. At the appointed time I
+returned to New-York and made the necessary preparations for another
+voyage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+Schooner Price.--Third Voyage.
+
+
+Having purchased a suitable cargo for the trade, and got it on board, we
+were prevailed upon to take as passengers, a man and his wife, with two
+small children and a black servant, whom we tried hard to get rid of, by
+charging them an exorbitant price; but the man insisted on going, having
+been formerly a resident of Old Providence, and one of my old customers
+in that island. My cabin was not larger than a farmer's hen-roost,
+having only four berths, and those so narrow that one could hardly turn
+over in them. At night we covered the floor of the little cabin
+completely; the man and his wife, two children, the black servant, my
+two Indians, cabin boy, the mate and myself, all lodged in one nest. We
+sailed from New-York about the third of March, 1819, bound to Old
+Providence, St. Andreas, Corn Island, Musquitto Shore, and St. Blas.
+When we arrived in latitude 32° we were overtaken by a violent gale of
+wind, which obliged us to heave the vessel too. As the gale abated (the
+sea running very high) we shipped a sea which swept our deck, taking the
+cook and caboose, which was well served down to ring-bolts, drove into
+the deck, but they were drawn out by the violence of the waves. Our
+boat, oars, and other articles on deck were all swept overboard. By
+means of some spare running gear the cook was hauled on board. The next
+day the sea moderated, when we opened the hatches and got out a new
+caboose. On my departure from Corn Island I had taken an order from an
+English trader to bring out two patent American cabooses for him, which
+I then had on board. We rigged our new caboose and proceeded on our
+voyage, meeting with no further disasters worthy of notice. On our
+arrival at Old Providence I found a small fleet of vessels there, called
+patriots, (another name for pirates,) who had taken possession of the
+island, and had hoisted the Columbian flag. On my entering the harbor
+they laid an embargo on my vessel for a few days. The expedition was
+commanded by a man who called himself Aurey, assisted by another, styled
+Admiral Bogar, and the third went by the title of Commodore Parker.
+Their squadron consisted of two small gun brigs, and two or three
+privateer schooners. Their land force amounted to two or three hundred
+men: they had what they called an English camp, a French camp, and an
+American camp. They had hanged one American, and severely flogged
+another for some crime, giving him one hundred lashes under the gallows.
+They pretended to hold some commission under General Bolivar. I demanded
+a return of my vessel, which they reluctantly granted me, and I sailed
+for the Island of St. Andreas, where I found another squadron of vessels
+from England, consisting of a twenty-gun brig, commanded by Captain
+Hudson, with three transport ships, having about five hundred officers
+and soldiers on board, bound to Porto Bello, all under the command of
+Sir Gregor McGregor. On my arrival I was visited by an old English
+officer, named Rafter, who was apparently a gentleman, he acted as
+commander in the absence of Sir Gregor McGregor, who had not arrived at
+that time; he wanted to purchase a pipe of gin from me for the use of
+the troops, and give me a bill on London in payment. The next day Sir
+Gregor arrived from St. Domingo, in company with an old Spanish
+gentleman, named Lopes, from whom he had borrowed about twelve thousand
+dollars, and promised to make him governor of the first city he should
+capture.
+
+The next day Commodore Hudson came on board the Price, and offered me
+one hundred dollars per day and a handsome present for myself, to join
+the fleet and go on an expedition with them for a few days. I told him
+that my vessel was insured, and that it would be a total breach of my
+orders to comply with his request. In the afternoon they laid an embargo
+on the Price. The following day was appointed for a great celebration,
+which was to take place at the house of Mrs. Lever, a respectable widow
+lady. I visited the place where they landed the troops from the vessels,
+raised a flag staff and hoisted the New Grenadian flag. Silk cushions
+were brought into the house and placed on the table where General
+McGregor, Governor Lopes, and other officers, took the oath of
+allegiance to the government of New Grenada; most of the officers being
+under half pay from the English, looked sad when they renounced their
+allegiance to their own country. Three days after, they sailed for Porto
+Bello, taking Colonel Woodbine as pilot, and proceeding within a few
+miles of that place, they landed in a thicket of woods; then taking a
+foot-path, they entered the city undiscovered by the inhabitants, and
+took possession of the place without the loss of a man. Most of the
+inhabitants fled from their houses and left them to the conquerors. Old
+Lopes was appointed governor, and the officers taking possession of the
+vacant dwelling houses which the Spaniards had left, sat themselves down
+like private gentlemen. Soon after the soldiers revolted and refused to
+do duty, alledging that the general had promised them twenty dollars
+bounty for the first city they should capture. Before the insurrection
+could be put down, the general raised eight dollars per man and
+distributed it among them, and then issued a proclamation to the
+inhabitants, inviting them to return to their habitations and take the
+oath of allegiance to the new government, when private property would be
+respected. Most of the people complied with his request, by taking the
+oath required of them. In the meantime information was secretly sent
+over to the Pacific by these Spaniards, where they raised an army of
+eight hundred men, who marched across the Isthmus, and lay encamped in
+the woods three or four miles back of the city; while those who had
+taken the oath of allegiance were keeping up a regular communication
+with them. The soldiers who had possession of the city having procured
+an abundance of liquor, all got intoxicated, and the officers retired to
+their beds without placing any sentries on duty. The Spaniards in the
+city sent spies to the royalists, informing them that the patriot
+soldiers were all drunk, and totally off their guard. During the night
+the royalists marched into the city and took possession of the forts,
+which were very strong, (one in particular is said to mount three
+hundred and sixty-five guns,) without meeting with any resistance, or
+the loss of a single man. They killed about thirty of the patriots and
+made the remainder prisoners, only twelve escaping. I here give you a
+sketch of the complete success of the Spaniards, as recited by the
+General's right hand man. Lieutenant Cookley, aid-de-camp to General
+McGregor, about three weeks after the loss of the army, said, "That on
+the night of the re-capture of the city by the royalists, he was
+quartered in the second story of the government house in Porto Bello,
+General McGregor occupying one room, and Governor Lopes another, and
+being himself very unwell, he was obliged to get out of his bed and walk
+the room. Between three and four o'clock he heard some persons coming up
+stairs. Feeling alarmed, he seized his sword and pistols and ran to the
+door of the room, where he met three men well armed; he shot one, and
+killed another with his sword, the third one retreated with a slight
+wound; in the meantime he cried out, 'General McGregor, you are
+betrayed.' The general sprang from his bed, and taking his mattrass,
+dropped it from the window on the ground; then letting himself down to
+it, ran for the shore, and jumping into the sea attempted to swim to the
+commodore's vessel; but being unskilled in swimming, he was picked up by
+a boat and carried on board, having no clothing on except his shirt.
+Another division of Spaniards ascended the stairs of the government
+house, and proceeding to the room of Governor Lopes, killed him in his
+bed."
+
+Those taken prisoners were marched across the Isthmus to the South Sea,
+where they were compelled to work in chains on the fortifications. Some
+months after I learned that these prisoners, in trying to effect their
+escape, were most of them butchered by the Spaniards.
+
+After my release from the embargo at St. Andreas I sailed for the coast
+of St. Blas, where I arrived without any further molestation, at the
+harbor of De Ablo. My vessel was soon surrounded with canoes, filled
+with old men and young ones. No ambassador returning from a foreign
+mission to his own country was ever received with a more hearty welcome
+than my Indians were by their own countrymen. Liquor was soon passed
+around, and a long conversation commenced, which lasted, with little
+intermission, until the next morning; and my traders seemed to be
+absolved from the injunction laid upon them by the old men, not to get
+drunk during their voyage, as I discovered that Campbell was so drunk
+before twelve o'clock, that he could not rise from his seat without
+help. While relating his adventures he gave his hearers a long
+description of the white rain he had seen in New-York, (meaning snow,)
+and sundry other wonderful events and curiosities.
+
+The Andes mountains on this coast extend near the sea-shore, and are
+inhabited by baboons and other large monkeys, who keep up a hideous
+noise during the night, which was a great annoyance to our slumbers, as
+the echo passes from mountain to mountain. The next day after our
+arrival here we experienced a violent thunder storm, the noise of the
+thunder echoed in a most tremendous manner from different hills, which
+appeared like a cannonading along the whole coast. I sat amazed at the
+sound, when an old Indian who was intoxicated, broke silence, by saying,
+"That thunder is great rascal, he make too much quarrel here."
+
+My traders now applied for another outfit of goods for the coming
+season, which I readily supplied them with, they taking about the same
+quantity as on the previous voyage.
+
+The men of St. Blas are of small stature, generally about five feet two
+or three inches high; wearing their hair long on the back of the head,
+cued down on their backs with a cotton ribbon of their own manufacture,
+the hair cut straight across the forehead, high cheek bones, and of a
+light copper complexion. They dress in check or flannel shirts, with
+linen trowsers. The young men are not allowed to wear their shirt flaps
+inside of the waist-bands of their trowsers until they are about forty
+years old, when they assume the character of old men. The women are
+small and delicately formed, having very small feet and hands, and are
+remarkably modest in their behaviour. Their dress consists of a piece of
+blue cloth, about four feet long, wrapped around their bodies under the
+arms, and extending to their knees, a string or two of coral beads tied
+around their legs, below the knee, and another around above the ankle.
+The women all wear a piece of pure gold wire of large size, in the form
+of a triangle, stuck through the inside of the nose. The old men wear a
+number of strands of coral beads around their necks, and hanging down on
+their bosoms. The sookerman wears two or three pounds of large coral
+beads hanging closely about the neck, and the old men wear their shirt
+flaps inside of their waist-bands as a mark of their dignity. From the
+best information I can obtain, St. Blas is the oldest Republic on the
+Continent of America, and should be a model government for Mexico and
+the South American Republics, which are constantly driving their rulers
+out of the country and changing Republics into Empires.
+
+The soil of St. Blas produces an abundance of bread-stuffs, such as
+yams, sweet potatoes, cassader, eddies, plantains, &c. Also cocoa-nuts,
+lemons, oranges, sugar cane and cocoa. They here breed a great number
+of hogs, poultry, &c. The country abounds with large quantities of wild
+hogs, mountain cows, armadillas, deer, conies, and innumerable wild
+fowl. The whole coast swarms with turtle, craw-fish, manatee's, and a
+great variety of shell-fish. There are some four hundred islands, lying
+from two to four miles from the main land-shore, which forms an inland
+sea, making the whole coast a good harbor. Every one of these islands
+produces limes, or lemons, bird, cayenne, gourd and squash peppers. When
+a table is set in this country a green pepper and lemon are placed by
+the side of your plate, which serves for pepper and vinegar to season
+your meat or vegetables. After clearing up half an acre of ground, ten
+days labor of one man in each year would produce bread-stuffs sufficient
+for a family of fifteen persons. Plantains set out on good soil will
+yield a crop, every nine months, for twenty years. Yams and sweet
+potatoes require planting and digging yearly.
+
+Having given the reader a short description of St. Blas, which may
+appear somewhat imperfect, I hope it will be recollected, should there
+be any imperfections, that I have no history of that country to refer
+to; most of my information having been obtained from the natives, who
+speak broken English. On taking leave of St. Blas I proceeded to St.
+Andreas, at which place I arrived after a passage of two days. Here I
+met General McGregor, who appeared much dejected, having among other
+losses left all his clothing behind, which fell into the hands of the
+enemy. Lieutenant Coakley came on board my vessel and related to me all
+the particulars of the expedition which I have narrated. Of the land
+forces, only twelve returned out of five hundred who left here some
+three weeks before. After remaining here three or four days, we sailed
+for Cape Gracios a Dios. On my arrival there I commenced trading, as
+usual. The next morning, it being the Fourth of July, and being in a
+strange port, I thought I would not make any preparations for
+celebrating the day. I told the mate, however, that he might release the
+crew from work and give them some extra rations of grog, &c. Before I
+had finished giving my orders to the mate, the king came on board with a
+large canoe, loaded with Indians, and saluting me with a loud voice,
+said, "Blast your eyes, why don't you fire a salute, hoist your colors
+and celebrate your country's holyday." I answered him, by saying, "I
+have nothing good to eat." He replied, "You shall soon have something;"
+when getting into the canoe with the Indians, they paddled him on shore,
+and killing a beef, soon returned with two quarters. We then hoisted our
+colors and fired a salute; and a number of the king's officers coming on
+board, we partook of a good dinner; and not forgetting plenty of liquor,
+we made ourselves delightfully merry. At night the king and company
+retired very peaceably.
+
+The king had frequently solicited me to take him home with me, but never
+got himself ready to embark, and he now renewed the conversation on the
+subject. I told him that my family did not reside in the city of
+New-York, but lived two degrees north of it, at a small village called
+Catskill, near a mountain of that name. He replied, that would suit much
+better, as he wanted to see the country and my home. He then said,
+"There is one condition in the bargain; if I go home with you, you may
+call me major, or colonel, or some other officer; but if you call me
+king I will be the death of you, for I am not going home with you to be
+made a damned puppet-show of."
+
+Having finished my trade here, I sailed down along the coast, touching
+and trading at the different harbors, as usual, until I arrived at the
+Lagoon, where I landed the goods from the vessel at the store, and
+taking in all the exchange goods collected there, sailed for Corn
+Island, where we took in some more return cargo. While at Corn Island
+Captain Mitchell gave me an order to bring him a new boat, thirty feet
+long, to row with six oars, &c.
+
+We now sailed for New-York, where we arrived without meeting with any
+occurrence worth recording. After discharging our cargo I again visited
+my family at Catskill, whom I found in good health. I remained with them
+about eight days, and then returned to New-York. In the course of a few
+days we had procured another cargo, which taking on board, together with
+the new boat for Captain Mitchell, we were again ready for sea.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+Schooner Price.--Fourth Voyage.
+
+
+The Price being now ready for sea, about the first of August we got
+under weigh and proceeded on our voyage towards Old Providence, St.
+Andreas, Corn Island and the Main. We made our passage to Old Providence
+in seventeen days, where we remained about three days bartering off
+goods in our usual manner. We then sailed for St. Andreas. On the
+passage we, in a squall, carried away the head of the schooner's
+main-mast, above the eyes of the shrouds. On our arrival at that port I
+repaired the mast-head by cutting off five or six feet, and forming a
+new one. This altered the appearance of the vessel very much, when
+viewed from a distance. We remained some time at St. Andreas, selling
+goods, collecting debts, taking in all the cotton and other freight we
+could procure. Here I took on board a captain and crew belonging to
+Jamaica, whose schooner had been upset in a squall and lost near this
+island. I agreed to carry them to the Main, where they expected to get
+on board of some of their own country vessels. We got under weigh and
+sailed for Corn Island with a light breeze. When we arrived within seven
+or eight miles of Great Corn Island the wind died away to a dead calm,
+and we lay drifting at the mercy of the sea. I was in great haste to
+get on shore at the island, as I had ordered Captain Teft, who commanded
+the sloop Traverse, to meet me there in the Price on the tenth of
+September, which time had expired some days before. Fearing he would be
+discouraged by waiting, and sail for some other port, which would cause
+a great delay in our meeting, and there being no signs of a wind that
+would carry the Price into the harbor that night, I was advised to hoist
+out the new boat which we carried out for Captain Mitchell; having a
+double boat's crew with the Englishmen, we could man her with six oars
+and soon row in. The boat was accordingly hoisted out and manned, and we
+proceeded toward the shore. It being a star-light evening, and the
+harbor having some rocks and stones on the bottom, I seated myself on
+the taffrail of the boat, which raised my head some two feet above the
+heads of the crew, and enabled me to see any dangerous rocks, and steer
+clear of them, it being what seamen call a bright bottom. I had on my
+head a large brimmed white Panama hat, of course a good mark to shoot
+at. A few days previous to my leaving Corn Island, on my last voyage, it
+was currently reported there that the United States man-of-war Schooner
+Fire Brand was cruising in these seas. We approached the harbor about
+nine o'clock in the evening. As we came near the shore we were hailed by
+one of the gang who were there, saying, "What boat is that?" My schooner
+always carried canoes instead of boats, which we found much better to
+land in the surf, and for that reason I had abandoned the use of the
+latter in this trade, for the last three years, and all the inhabitants
+of that island knew it. My boat being long, and much resembling what is
+called on board of a man-of-war the captain's gig, I answered, "United
+States Schooner Fire Brand." They said, "pull in then." At that instant
+fourteen men fired into us, the shot whistling past my head so close
+that it appeared to deafen me for a moment. As soon as they hailed us, I
+told the men in the boat to stop rowing, so that the questions and
+answers could be distinctly heard. As soon as they had fired, a favorite
+old sailor in the boat, who pulled the after oar, with his back toward
+the shore, being between me and those who fired at us, spoke to me in a
+very mild tone, saying, "Captain, I am wounded." I then told the crew to
+pull away, they all gave way upon their oars except this man, who laid
+still in the bottom of the boat; this irritated me so much, thinking
+that my favorite old tar should be the first to skulk from danger, not
+supposing from the mildness of his expression that he was much wounded,
+I jumped from the tiller of the boat in great haste, caught him by the
+collar and gave him a shake, saying, "Pull away, you skulking fellow."
+You may imagine my astonishment when I found that he was a lifeless
+corpse. In the meantime I heard the company on shore ramming down their
+cartridges into their guns, preparing for another fire. All the time
+keeping a bright look-out alongside of the boat, for fear of running
+her on the rocks, I discovered that we had got into two or three feet
+water, and were not more than one hundred and fifty feet from those who
+were preparing to fire a second time. I ordered my men to stop rowing
+and follow me, which they immediately did. I jumped overboard into the
+water, my crew following me. We then made our way to our assailants,
+when I found my own clerk, and Captain Tefts, of the little sloop
+Traverse, who were here waiting for my arrival, Captain Mitchell, for
+whom I brought the boat, and Benjamin Downs, father of a colored
+apprentice boy I had then on board. In short, they were all old
+acquaintances of mine. I was highly excited on the occasion. They made a
+long apology by saying, that the royalists in Porto Bello had fitted out
+two armed schooners to scour the coast, and that they had captured two
+English vessels found trading with the Indians: that they mistook the
+Price for one of them, her appearance being so much altered by the loss
+of the head of her main-mast, that they supposed I had been captured by
+one of these vessels and was a prisoner in the boat, and compelled to
+answer their questions, as they all knew my voice, and that if they
+suffered a crew to land they would all be butchered, as they had given
+aid and shelter to the patriots for a long time. I landed the body of my
+unfortunate man and placed it under the care of some of my friends,
+procured a pilot, went on board the Price, and brought her into the
+harbor the next morning. I then buried the poor sailor in as decent a
+manner as the country would admit of, collecting most of the inhabitants
+of the island to join the funeral procession. There being no clergymen
+in the island, I read the burial service at the grave, this being my
+usual custom at sea on committing dead bodies to the ocean.
+
+[Illustration: Captain Dunham landing at Corn Island.]
+
+I fitted out the Traverse for another cruise by giving Captain Teft a
+new supply of goods, when he proceeded on a trading voyage to the Main.
+I took Mr. Smith, the clerk of the store on board, and sailed for the
+Lagoon, when we took on board all the goods we had there, and proceeded
+to a small harbor, called Salt Creek, supposed to be a better place for
+our trade. I also took a few Indians to assist in building the store,
+which I landed there, with myself and crew, and erected a comfortable
+building in less than four days, modeled after the houses of that
+country, landed a supply of goods, and left Mr. Smith to dispose of
+them, sold the Sloop Traverse, and took Captain Teft and his crew on
+board. Having learned that the royal governor of Porto Bello had fitted
+out one or two man-of-war schooners, which had captured two English
+traders on the coast of St. Blas, where it was necessary for me to
+proceed, I hired three men in addition to Captain Tefts and his little
+crew, to proceed with me to that place. My schooner being armed with a
+six-pound cannon, with about thirty fowling guns, plenty of cutlasses,
+and some boarding pikes, we proceeded to the coast of St. Blas, where
+we were advised by the Indians to put the schooner into a small river,
+about two hundred feet wide, and wait a few days before we proceeded to
+the River De Ablo, our port of destination. We warped the schooner into
+the mouth of the river, in shoal water, where we supposed the enemy's
+vessels could not come near enough to injure us, and prepared ourselves
+for an encounter with their boats if they sent them to attack us, by
+making cartridges of musket-balls and buck-shot, put up in bags of six
+pounds each, in addition to round balls and cannister-shot. I likewise
+supplied about thirty Indians with ammunition, who promised to come to
+my assistance if the enemy disturbed me. I divided my men into two
+watches, and kept a good look-out four days and nights. About the fifth
+night we heard the sound of a horn a number of times; about 12 o'clock
+all hands were called to quarters. We soon discovered, however, that the
+sound proceeded from a canoe, which when we had let it approach within
+hail, we found to contain the crew of an English trader, who had been
+captured by a royal privateer and carried into Porto Bello, where they
+had escaped from their prison, stolen a canoe, and then paddled to this
+place, a distance of about sixty miles, without food. Soon after, we
+learned from the Indians that the cruisers had left the coast. We then
+proceeded to the River De Ablo, where I found my traders waiting my
+arrival. They brought their returns, goods, &c. on board, and a
+settlement was made in a satisfactory manner on both sides in less than
+one hour. I purchased a few thousand cocoa-nuts and some fustic, which I
+took on board, and sailed for Cape Gracios a Dios, touching at Corn
+Island.
+
+On my arrival at the Cape I took on board all the return cargo I could
+procure, and proceeded to the Lagoon, stopping at the different harbors,
+as usual. When at the Lagoon I made known my intention of leaving the
+trade, when a number of sookermen assembled to bestow their farewell
+benediction upon me, saying that I had traded a long time with them, and
+that they were much pleased with me, and did not blame me for leaving
+them, as they supposed I wanted to stop at home and mind my wife and
+pickaninies (meaning children) for a time, but should never die until I
+returned to that country, and would never die there, but return to my
+own country, after I had visited them, and die at my own home. After
+taking an affectionate leave of them all, we took our departure toward
+home.
+
+After buffeting the storms and tempests of the ocean for nearly four
+years, carrying on an average, a crew of six persons, including the mate
+and myself, and having lost six, viz: one by desertion, one by death on
+board, one shot, and three by drowning, I thought it best to seek some
+more comfortable trade in which to gain a support for myself and family,
+and one less exposed to hardships, and such constant risk of health and
+life. I was always compelled, while on this trading business, to sleep
+on deck, my cabin being small and dark, having no windows. If I laid
+down in the cabin I was soon covered with cock-roaches, musquittoes, and
+fire-ants, besides being exposed to centipedes, scorpions, &c. which
+terrified me so much that I dare not take lodging there while we were in
+the tropical climes, although I needed shelter from the excessive rains
+which visit that country from May until November. Having a good awning,
+which was always spread when the vessel was anchored, we generally ate,
+drank and slept on deck until we arrived in the cold latitudes, when
+those insects became torpid, and cold weather compelled me to seek
+shelter in the cabin. On parting with the Indians I felt distressed, and
+could not avoid showing my gratitude toward them for their native
+kindness, and the many evidences of friendly intent which they had shown
+for me. I had often called at their hovels when out on excursions, being
+fatigued and hungry, needing food and rest, when the poor Indian, having
+but one plate and one old knife and fork in his house, would place them
+on his little table, or some substitute for one, and cook the best meal
+he could procure, making me take a seat by the table, and with a hearty
+good will urging me to eat, while he, sharpening the end of a stick that
+he might take the meat out of the pot with it, would sit down on the
+ground-floor and eat his dinner, refusing to come to the table with me,
+because he had but one set of dishes. Having but one hammock to sleep in
+himself, he invariably left that for me, while he would take his
+lodging on a cow-skin placed on the ground-floor.
+
+The whole furniture of each Indian family would not cost ten dollars.
+
+We stopped at Corn Island, collected all the return we could obtain, and
+sailed for New-York, where we arrived about the first of January, 1820,
+without any particular incident worth notice, discharged the cargo,
+settled with my owners, and returned to Catskill, where I found my
+family in the enjoyment of their usual health. I now determined to
+remain at home during the winter, and enjoy some repose from the toils
+of the sea, having spent but five or six weeks with my family during the
+last five years.
+
+I now entered into an agreement, in company with Mr. Apollos Cooke,
+merchant, of Catskill, to open a trade from that place to the West
+Indies. During the winter we purchased a cargo of lumber for that
+market, intending to charter or purchase a vessel to carry it there as
+soon as the navigation of the Hudson River opened.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+Schooner Enterprise.
+
+
+Early in the month of March, 1820, I proceeded to New-York, for the
+purpose of chartering or purchasing a vessel to carry our timber to the
+West India market, and spent a few days in the city on that business.
+While sitting at the breakfast table one morning, I was asked by a
+ship-master, an old acquaintance, if I did not want to take a voyage to
+Bermuda. I replied no; that I came to New-York to charter a vessel to go
+to Catskill, and take in a cargo of lumber there. He said he thought I
+might make some sale or contract for it in that place. Here our
+conversation ended, and I thought no more about it. After breakfast he
+asked me to take a walk with him. When we had journeyed some little
+distance, we met a man with whom he passed the usual compliment of good
+morning, and said, "This is Captain Dunham, of whom I spoke to you." He
+asked me what wages I would require to take charge of a schooner to go
+to Bermuda. I told him fifty dollars per month. He said he had agreed
+with a captain to go the voyage for forty dollars per month, but he was
+unfortunately taken sick and could not go. I bid him good morning, and
+had proceeded a few rods when he called on me to stop, saying he would
+split the difference with me. I told him I would go. He then took me
+into a store, saying, "There is your mate and crew, and I wish you to
+take them to a Notary Public's office in Pine-street, and have the
+shipping papers made out, and I will come there with the money and pay
+the expenses;" which he soon performed. After this was accomplished we
+went to the Custom House and obtained a clearance, and then parted and
+went to dinner. He requested me to call immediately after dinner at a
+lumber-yard he mentioned, where I would find him on board the schooner,
+as he had engaged a passage for New-Haven at four o'clock that
+afternoon, where he resided. He handed me a letter addressed to the
+captain of the Schooner Enterprise, containing direction for the voyage;
+and telling me he hoped I would do for him as I would for myself, took
+leave of me. I found the schooner to be one of the large full-built
+Eastern vessels, having the deck loaded to the height of eight feet. I
+hurried and got some clothing and a small out-fit, and having left some
+old clothes and bedding, charts, quadrants, &c. in New-York, on my last
+voyage; I had them put on board that afternoon, procured a pilot and
+went to sea at eight o'clock the next morning. We made our passage to
+Bermuda in seven days, where we discharged our cargo, and taking on
+board a ballast of fustic, returned from Bermuda to New-York in seven
+and a half days; making the whole time gone only twenty-nine days, being
+one of the most pleasant voyages I ever made. My acquaintance with the
+owner was so short, that, after my return, when he came on board and
+gave me his hand, I looked for some time before I could recollect him.
+When I left Catskill I took with me only two or three changes of shirts,
+&c. promising my family to return in a few days. In the journey I so
+unexpectedly took there was nothing interesting, and I merely insert it
+to keep up the chain of my voyages.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+Schooner Felicity.
+
+
+About the first of June, 1820, I chartered the Schooner Felicity in
+New-York, and proceeded to Catskill, and took in a cargo for St.
+Domingo; returned to New-York, and after shipping a crew, sailed on the
+twenty-second of June for Port au Prince, in the Island of St. Domingo,
+where we arrived after a passage of eighteen days, without the
+occurrence of anything which would interest the reader. I found Port au
+Prince to be a large but dirty city, no care being taken to clean the
+streets, the yellow fever often raging here, particularly among the
+shipping. The government is called a Republic, with a president elected
+for life, receiving a salary of forty thousand dollars for his services,
+and thirty thousand for his table expenses. The president being a
+military chieftain, exercises great power over his subjects, who have
+only the shadow of a Senate and Assembly, as they are subservient to his
+will. The soil of the Island is very fertile, producing sugar-cane,
+coffee, cocoa, and three crops of corn in one year; also, beans,
+cabbages, water-mellons, and most kinds of garden vegetables: plantains,
+yams, and every variety of tropical fruits in abundance. The Island at
+this time was divided into three departments; the northern part was held
+by a black royal Emperor, who styled himself Christoff, and exercised as
+much power over his subjects as does the Emperor of Russia over his. The
+southern part was owned by the Spaniards, as a Republic; the western by
+the Republicans called Haytians, who were then at war with the Royalists
+under the command of the black emperor. The war between those two
+parties had been carried on for many years, and ended in the total
+overthrow of the Royalists; the emperor blowing his brains out with his
+pistol.
+
+The president of this Republic lays heavy export duties on the produce
+of the Island. The stamp duties on paper are said to amount to over two
+millions per annum. All merchants and mechanics pay a heavy tax for
+licenses to carry on their business. Whites are excluded from carrying
+on their trades in their own names, or from purchasing real estate in
+this Republic. A white can take a black partner, male or female, and do
+business in his or her name. Most of the white men settled here prefer
+the latter. This government has a mint, and coin their own money, which
+contains ten per cent of silver mixed with other metal. They coin no
+pieces larger than twenty-five cents, none smaller than six and a
+quarter. This coin is considered a lawful tender, and the laws strictly
+prohibit the carrying of any foreign gold or silver out of the country,
+on penalty of forfeiting it. This compels any person selling a cargo
+there to lay the returns out in some of the produce of the Island, which
+is consequently the cause of heavy losses to the shippers. The
+inhabitants are a mixed race of black and white, varying in color from
+the blackness of charcoal to almost the whiteness of a snow-ball, and
+hundreds of them have to take hard oaths to satisfy the authorities that
+they have some black blood running through their veins, which entitles
+them to the rights of citizenship in the Island. I have seen many
+red-whiskered fair complexioned men pass themselves off for men of
+color. Their national religion is Roman Catholic, no other being
+tolerated, but strictly prohibited. The president keeps up a standing
+army of forty thousand men, well uniformed, disciplined and equiped. As
+I shall have to refer to their laws, customs and manners in my next
+voyage, I shall leave the subject for the present.
+
+Not being able to sell my timber at Port au Prince without a sacrifice,
+my consignee applied to the government agent to purchase it, of which he
+acquainted the president, who gave me a letter addressed to the public
+administrator of Jerimie, and requesting me to proceed with my vessel
+and cargo to that port, which I immediately complied with, after getting
+a letter of address from an Italian Jew I found in Port au Prince, but
+who resided in Jerimie, addressed to Messrs. Laforet & Brier, to whom I
+consigned my vessel and cargo. On my arrival at that place my consignees
+sold to the administrator all the timber he wanted, and the remainder at
+an under price to individuals. My provisions sold at a saving. Jerimie
+contains about two hundred houses, most of them being in a dilapidated
+condition, in consequence of the constant alarm in which the inhabitants
+have been kept by a troop of banditti, headed by an insurgent colonel,
+who had deserted from the army, and had so terrified the people that the
+women and children took shelter in the forts during the night, while the
+men were kept under arms, being obliged to suspend all agricultural
+pursuits, and leave their villages to decay. A few months since, the
+chief of the banditti had been killed, his troops surrendered their arms
+and received a pardon from the president. The inhabitants were now
+making great preparations to repair their buildings and call back their
+former trade.
+
+While in this port, the padre, or priest died; he was carried to the
+church in a chair, being tied fast to it, in a sitting posture, a book
+placed in his hands. The corpse remained in this situation until about
+four o'clock in the afternoon, when a marble slab was taken out of the
+floor, an excavation made in the ground, the body deposited in the hole
+with the clothes on, and then covered with a thick coat of lime.
+
+A friend of mine, named Ghio, arrived here from Port au Prince in
+company with one Captain Mills, from New-York, and while he and the
+captain were walking the streets of Jerimie, Ghio for the first heard of
+the death of the padre, when bursting into a flood of tears, he
+exclaimed, "Captain Mills the poor padre is dead, and I suppose I shall
+have to fill his place again," weeping at the same time. After a moments
+pause, he said, "Captain Mills, it is a damned good berth, I can make
+ten dollars a day by it." Ghio acted as a substitute in the place of the
+deceased padre until his place was supplied by another.
+
+I remained at Jerimie three or four weeks, employed in selling out my
+cargo and obtaining a return freight of coffee, &c. I procured many
+orders for house frames and other articles, and was strongly urged to
+bring out some carpenters and a blacksmith, whom the inhabitants
+promised to aid and assist in their business. Having disposed of all my
+cargo and taken on board my return freight, I proceeded to sea, bound to
+New-York, where I arrived in safety after a passage of eighteen days,
+sold my return cargo, and sailed for Catskill, where I arrived about the
+first of November. I then repaired the schooner and prepared for another
+voyage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+Schooner Felicity.--Second Voyage.
+
+
+At Catskill I procured another cargo, filled up all my orders, and
+taking on board four carpenters as passengers, bound to Jerimie, sailed
+for New-York, where we remained three or four days employed in shipping
+a crew, purchasing stores, &c. We sailed from New-York about the eighth
+of December, and arrived at Jerimie about the first of January, 1821. On
+my arrival I called on my old friends, Leforet & Brier, where I was
+politely received, particularly by Mr. Brier, who escorted me to his
+house to take breakfast. After inquiring about the passage of my vessel,
+news in New-York, &c. he said he had news to tell me. I told him I
+should be pleased to hear it. He said, "Captain Dunham, we have got a
+new padre here since you left for home; he is the smartest padre we ever
+had; he can beat any man in Jerimie playing at billiards, boxing,
+fencing, or jumping; he has killed two men in duels, and I assure you,
+sir, he is the smartest padre in all the West Indies."
+
+Among the orders given me, was one for thirty thousand loose cedar
+shingles, which, when landed on the beach, I learned were intended to
+re-cover the church. All the ladies in the town soon assembled at the
+place where the shingles were landed; rich and poor, some dressed in
+silk, and others with fine muslin gowns, having hoops in their hands,
+which they stuck full of shingles, and laying them on their backs
+carried them to the church, when they were taken by the carpenters, who
+put them on the roof, not allowing one of them to be carted; thus
+showing great zeal to protect from contamination every thing connected
+with their church.
+
+The negroes on this Island are far more numerous than the mulattoes,
+mustees, and other colors. The old mulattoes being the heirs of their
+former masters, were many of them sent to France and educated; and the
+president being a mulatto, gives them as many offices as he dare; but is
+obliged to confer some on the blacks to prevent an insurrection; still I
+found there was considerable hatred between them. One day while walking
+the streets I heard a quarrel between a mulatto and a negro. The mulatto
+commenced, "What are you doing, nigger?" the negro replied, "Who are
+you, mulatto? you no got any country; white man got country and negro
+got country, mulatto no got any country, he's a damned _mule_."
+
+My carpenters landed and were seeking some employment, when they were
+informed that they could not make any contracts in their own names,
+being white men, and not having any license, and the laws of the country
+not allowing a white man to obtain one. To obviate this a petition was
+drawn up and signed by most of the inhabitants, and sent to the
+president, for a special permit for the eldest carpenter to carry on
+his trade. Some weeks after the president sent him a license, the rest
+of the carpenters working under him. I was very fortunate in the
+disposal of my cargo, most of it selling at a good profit, and by paying
+a large premium I procured about twenty hundred Spanish dollars, which
+were smuggled on board and brought to New-York.
+
+Coffee being high in that port, I was obliged, in purchasing it, to
+dispose of the St. Domingo coin I received in payment for my cargo.
+Being ready for sea, I took leave of my friends and sailed for New-York,
+where we arrived about the first of May, 1821. The schooner having
+proved leaky on the passage, I refused to make another voyage in her.
+Soon after my arrival in New-York I received a letter from my old
+friend, Mr. Apollos Cooke, of Catskill, advising me to purchase, on our
+joint account, a schooner called the Combine, which was now laying in
+New-York, and could be procured very cheap. On viewing the Combine I
+found her timbers sound, but her decks and upper works badly worn, so I
+called on the agent, and after some time spent in chaffering, purchased
+her and left for Catskill, where I arrived about the 26th of May.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+Schooner Combine.
+
+  "A wolf will not a wolf ensnare,
+  "And tigers their own species spare,
+  "Man more ferocious, bends his bow,
+  "And at his fellow aims the blow."
+
+
+After the arrival of the Combine at Catskill, we had her well examined
+by a carpenter, who found her timbers sound. We then agreed to repair
+her by laying a new deck, putting in new ceiling, and giving her a
+thorough overhauling, so as to fit her for a sea voyage, which was done
+at an expense of nine hundred dollars. Large quantities of freight was
+offered for shipment, which I advised to take some part of, informing my
+partner in the vessel, Mr. A. Cooke, that I had but little over two
+thousand dollars, which would fall short of paying for one-half of the
+vessel and cargo; but he preferred our owning the whole cargo jointly,
+saying, "I will advance you any money you may want until you make the
+voyage." We then purchased a suitable cargo and filled up many orders I
+had brought from Jerimie. After we had gathered all our bills together,
+I found my money exhausted and myself indebted five hundred and
+seventy-two dollars to my partner. The vessel being repaired and
+loaded, we took on board four passengers, bound to Jerimie, and sailed
+for New-York. On my arrival at New-York I made it my first business to
+apply to the Marine Insurance Office for insurance, expecting I should
+have to pay an extra premium, my vessel being seventeen years old. After
+applying at all the offices in the city, and producing a certificate
+from old respectable carpenters, and some of our best citizens, that
+they considered her timbers as good as any North River vessel of two
+years old, my application was rejected, and I had no alternative but to
+proceed to sea as my own insurer, having my little all at stake, except
+a small homestead. I shipped a crew and made the necessary preparation,
+put to sea about the 10th of August, and shaped my course for Jerimie,
+where we arrived the sixth of September.
+
+On my arrival at that port I sold my cargo, as usual, with the
+assistance of my former consignees, Messrs. Laforet & Brier. Jerimie
+being a dangerous port in heavy gales of wind, I was advised to send my
+vessel to Corail, a distance of twenty miles, to remain a few weeks, it
+being a safe harbor, while I remained in Jerimie to collect debts and
+procure a return cargo. After remaining here some fourteen or fifteen
+days, I was attacked with a violent fever, which confined me to the bed
+until the vessel was ready for sea, when I was taken on board, hoping
+the air would restore me to health. After being at sea some thirty-six
+hours, my mate found the fever increasing on me so fast that he gave up
+all hopes of my recovery, and asked my permission to return to Jerimie,
+to which I consented. The vessel was put about and steered for that
+port, we neared the entrance of the harbor early the next morning, when
+I thought the fever began to abate, and requested the mate to put to sea
+again and proceed toward home. My health improving slowly, I was helped
+on deck every morning, where I remained during the day, lying under a
+small awning to screen me from the scorching sun, and helped into the
+cabin at night to protect me from the heavy dews. My health continued to
+improve daily. On the eleventh day of October we discovered land ahead,
+which proved to be the south side of the Island of Cuba. Finding it
+impossible to beat up against the current, we concluded to run round the
+west end of the island. Nothing material occurred until the thirteenth
+of October, in the morning, when I discovered land, which I identified
+as Cape Antonio; my health by this time was so much improved that I was
+able to get on deck without assistance. I told the mate to go below and
+get some repose, he having had but little rest during my sickness, and
+that I was well acquainted with the passage round the Cape.
+
+About nine o'clock, while doubling the Cape, we discovered three small
+schooners, one small sloop, and a large open boat lying at anchor about
+two miles from the land. In about the space of fifteen minutes the whole
+fleet got under weigh and bore down for us. One of the largest
+schooners ran down within musket-shot of us, fired a gun, and we hove
+too, while the rest of the fleet surrounded us. The largest schooner
+immediately sent a boat alongside of us, containing eight or nine men,
+who boarded us with muskets and drawn cutlasses in their hands, each of
+them having a long knife and a dagger slung by his side. Immediately
+after getting on deck, one of them cried out, "Foward," two or three
+times in broken English, pointing at the same time toward the
+fore-castle. The mate, sailors, and two passengers who were on board,
+ran forward and jumped into the fore-castle. I being very weak, dragged
+along slowly, when the man who gave the order commenced beating me
+severely with the broad side of his cutlass. I remonstrated with him,
+saying I was sick and could not walk any faster; he answered me, "_No
+intende_." I then discovered he was a Portuguese, and not understanding
+that language, I excused myself as well as I could in the French
+language, hoping he understood me; but I found it did not relieve my
+back, as he continued to beat me all the way to the fore-scuttle, and
+there giving me a heavy blow on the head as I descended, closed it,
+where we remained about half an hour; they in the meantime appeared to
+be searching the vessel. After letting us up from the fore-castle they
+ordered the sailors to work the vessel in near the land and anchor her,
+which was soon accomplished. While beating the vessel toward the shore,
+they told me if I would give up my money they would let me go with my
+vessel. This I readily complied with, hoping to save the vessel and
+cargo. I then gave them all the money I had, consisting of four hundred
+and eighty dollars in gold and silver. After they had received it they
+broke open our trunks, seized all our clothes, taking the finest shirts
+and vests, and putting them on one over another.
+
+As soon as they had anchored my vessel they hauled their largest
+schooner alongside, while the rest of the fleet were laying within a few
+rods of us, and then all hoisted the bloody flag, a signal for death. I
+was ordered into the cabin, where one of the pirates, having found a
+bottle of cordial, took it up in one hand, and drawing his cutlass with
+the other, struck off the neck and handed it to me, flourishing his
+cutlass over my head, and making signs for me to taste it, which I found
+it difficult to do on account of the broken particles of glass. After I
+had tasted it he went to a case of liquor standing in the cabin, took
+out the bottles and compelled me to taste of them. After this ceremony
+was over one of the pirates drew a long knife from its sheath, and
+taking hold of the hair on the top of my head, drew the knife two or
+three times across my throat near the skin, saying, "Me want to kill
+you." Another pirate soon approached me with a dagger, with which he
+pricked me lightly in the body, two or three times, saying, "Me kill you
+by and by." I was then dismissed from the cabin and driven into the
+fore-castle with the sailors and passengers. My cook was put on board
+the schooner lying alongside of us. Some of the pirates went aloft on
+board my vessel and cut loose her square-sail, top-sail, and
+top-gallant-sail, and afterwards took our fore-sail, boat, oars, loose
+rigging, one compass, one quadrant, all our beds and bedding,
+tea-kettle, all our crockery, knives and forks, buckets, &c. leaving us
+destitute of every kind of cooking utensil except the caboose. We
+remained some time in the fore-castle, when suddenly the fore-scuttle
+was opened and the mate called on deck, and the scuttle again closed,
+leaving us in the dark in a state of uncertainty. We soon heard them
+beating the mate; after that noise had ceased, we heard the word,
+"Fire," given with a loud voice, then after a moment's pause another
+voice was heard, saying, "Heave him overboard." I had a desperate
+sailor, called Bill, who flew to his chest for his razor to cut his own
+throat, saying he would be damned before he would be murdered by them
+rascals. The pirates had previously robbed the sailors' chests of all
+the articles they contained, and among them Bill's razor. After a little
+while the scuttle was again opened, when they called for a sailor. There
+were four in the fore-castle, who looked earnestly at each other, when
+Brown, a favourite old sailor, arose and addressed me, saying, "Captain,
+I suppose I might as well die first as last," then taking me by the hand
+gave it a hearty shake, saying, "Good bye." I told Brown to plead with
+them in the French language, as I thought I had seen some Frenchmen
+among them, and knew that he spoke French fluently. When he had got upon
+deck I heard him speak a few words in that language, but soon after we
+heard them beating him severely. As soon as they had finished beating
+him we again heard the word fire, and soon after, heave him overboard.
+Shortly after, the scuttle was again opened and the captain was loudly
+called. I crawled up the scuttle, being very feeble; they then told me
+if I did not tell them where the money was they would serve me as they
+had the mate and sailor, shoot and then throw me overboard. I still
+persisted that there was no money on board, and entreated them to search
+the vessel. An old Spaniard was pointed out to me who they said was the
+commodore. I asked him what he wanted of me, looking him earnestly in
+the face. He replied, he wanted my money. I told him I had no money, but
+if I had I would give it to him; that the property belonged to him, but
+he had no right to take my life, as I had a family depending on me for
+support. Previous to this, the man who had flogged me before had made a
+chalk ring on the deck, saying, "Stand there," beating me with the flat
+side of a heavy cutlass until the blood ran through my shirt. During my
+conversation with the commodore, finding all my entreaties unsuccessful,
+and my strength much exhausted, I took a firm stand in the ring marked
+out for me, hoping to receive a ball through the heart, fearing if I was
+wounded I should be tortured to death to make sport for the demons.
+Two of the pirates with loaded muskets took their stand and fired them
+toward me, when I cast my eyes down toward my feet looking for blood,
+thinking that I might have been wounded without feeling the pain. During
+this time the man who had beat me before commenced beating me again,
+pointing aft toward the cabin door, where I proceeded, followed by him,
+beating me all the time: he forced me into the cabin, at the same time
+giving me a severe blow over the head with his cutlass. When I entered I
+found both the mate and sailor there whom I supposed had been murdered
+and thrown overboard. The next person called out of the fore-castle was
+Mr. Peck, a passenger, who was immediately asked where the money was; he
+told them he knew of no more money on board. One man stood before him
+with a musket and another with a cutlass, they knocked him down and beat
+him for some time, took him by the hair and said they would kill him. He
+was then ordered to set upon the bit of the windlass to be shot and
+thrown overboard, as the captain and others had been. He took his
+station by the windlass, when a musket was fired at him; he was then
+driven into the cabin. They then called up the remainder of the men from
+the fore-castle, one after the other, and beat and drove them into the
+cabin also, except a Mr. Chollet, a young man, passenger, who escaped
+beating. We were kept in the cabin some time, and after repeated threats
+that they would kill us, were all driven into the fore-castle again.
+They took out all our cargo, consisting of coffee, cocoa,
+tortoise-shell, eight kedge anchors, all our provisions, except part of
+a barrel of beef and about thirty pounds of bread. After they had taken
+all the cargo, spare rigging, &c. of any value, they shifted all the
+ballast in the hold of the vessel in search of money, and calling us on
+deck, we were told to be off. After getting under weigh we proceeded but
+slowly, having no other sails left but the two jibs and the main-sail.
+We looked back with a great deal of anxiety, and saw the pirates seated
+on the deck of the largest schooner, drinking liquor and making
+themselves merry, while we feared that they might change their minds,
+pursue us and take our lives. Night beginning to approach, I thought
+best to go down into the cabin and see what we had left to eat or drink.
+As soon as I had reached the cabin, it being dark, I stumbled against
+something on the floor, which I found to be our cook, whom we supposed
+we had left behind, having seen the pirates put him on board the
+schooner which was lying alongside of us, but knew nothing of his
+return. I spoke to him, but received no answer, I hustled him about the
+cabin, but could not make him speak. I at last got a light and looked
+about for some provisions, cooking utensils, &c. and found about thirty
+pounds of bread, a little broken coffee, and most of a barrel of beef,
+but no cooking utensils except the caboose, with one or two pots set in
+it. The next morning I called all hands into the cabin, showed all the
+bread we had left, and told them it was necessary to go on allowance of
+one biscuit a day per man, which was agreed to, until we could get
+further supplies. I then questioned the cook, (knowing that he was
+driven into the hold of the pirate schooner,) as to what kind of a cargo
+she had. He said there were calicoes and all kinds of dry goods
+scattered about, and more than a hundred demijohns; and "O captain, it
+was the best old Jamaica rum that you ever tasted." I told him if the
+pirates had caught him drinking their rum they would have killed him. He
+said it looked so tempting he thought he would try it. I suppose that
+after having drank a large quantity he made his escape on board of the
+Combine before he felt the effects of it, as he was not aware of our
+release.
+
+[Illustration: The Pirates' plan of exercising the nerves of Captives.]
+
+The next day we were boarded by a boat from a Spanish man-of-war brig. I
+plead hard with the officer who boarded us to go in pursuit of the
+pirates, which he refused to do, saying it was out of their limits to
+cruise. I asked him for a supply of bread, which he denied me. In our
+crippled state we reached Havanna in nine days, where we put in for
+supplies.
+
+On my arrival at Havanna I was met by Captain Dimond, master of the brig
+Harriet, of Baltimore, who had been robbed by these pirates at the same
+place, on the 12th of October. Captain Dimond informed me that the
+pirates put a rope around his neck and hoisted him up to the fore-yard
+of the brig three times, and then let the rope loose, which caused him
+to fall on the deck, where he lay insensible for some time. I asked him
+why he did not give up his money as I had done. He said that twenty-five
+hundred dollars of the money belonged to himself, which was all he was
+worth, and having a family to support, he thought he had almost as well
+part with his life as his money. After he had recovered his senses they
+made another attempt to put the rope round his neck the fourth time,
+when one of the pirates told his comrade to let him alone, because he
+had children. They hauled their vessels alongside of his brig and took
+out all his cargo, also the greatest part of the brig's sails, rigging,
+&c. together with twelve thousand dollars, which they found while
+removing a quantity of fire-wood, and then let him depart.
+
+I proceeded to the American Consul's office, having on an old straw hat,
+which the pirates had put on my head in place of my own, an old ragged
+jacket, one pump, one shoe, and an empty pocket. I entered a protest,
+and asked him to render me some assistance, for which I would give him a
+draft on New-York at sight. This he refused unless I would bottom the
+vessel, but referred me to the house of Grey, Fenandes, & Co. who
+attended to my wants in the most friendly manner. Three days after, the
+ship Lucies, of Charleston, arrived in the harbor, having a prize-master
+on board, who informed me that the United States Brig Enterprise,
+Captain Kearney, had re-captured the Lucies from these pirates, and had
+taken three of the piratical vessels, (the crews having escaped to the
+shore,) and sailed for some port of the United States. I called again on
+Mr. Grey, and told him that Captain Kearney would probably steer for
+Charleston or New Orleans with his prizes, and I felt anxious to
+communicate with him as soon as possible, to reclaim my property. He
+said they had a very respectable correspondent in Charleston, named John
+Stoney, to whom he would write to claim my property for me if he should
+arrive in that port; that I could write to Captain Kearney and enclose
+his letter to Mr. Stoney. Fearing he might sail for New Orleans, I
+addressed a letter to a friend of mine living there, to claim the
+property for me, should the Enterprise arrive at that port.
+
+I learned here that these pirates had been fitted out in this port,
+where most of their cargoes were to be disposed of, and was advised not
+to make much noise about my robbery, as they had many friends here who
+would assassinate me. I found a number of American vessels here, but got
+little assistance from any of them except the captain of a small sloop
+from Bristol, Rhode Island, who tendered me a loan of thirty dollars,
+for which he got my draft on New-York. He gave me many articles which I
+stood in need of, for which I shall ever feel grateful. After my vessel
+was under weigh the captain of a Baltimore ship, who had arrived an hour
+before, learning my misfortune, sent his boat alongside with a barrel of
+beef, some flour, wine, &c. with a message to me, saying, if I wanted
+any other articles he would send them on board. We put to sea with next
+to no conveniences, having no beds or bedding, and but three or four
+knives and forks, some trifling cooking utensils, and all my wardrobe on
+my back. Without any additional sails for our vessel we shaped our
+course for New-York. The winds proving favorable we performed the
+passage in sixteen days.
+
+For a particular account of the capture of the piratical vessels I refer
+the reader to the following letter, published in the papers of the day:
+
+     "_Capture of the Aristides by Pirates._
+
+     "Copy of a letter from Captain Couthony, late master of Brig
+     Aristides, to Mr. Edward Cruft, the owner, in this town, giving
+     the particulars of the capture of that vessel by pirates.
+
+     "_At Sea, United States Brig Enterprise, October 24, 1821._
+
+     "_Dear Sir_:--The melancholy news which I am about to relate
+     will be extremely afflicting to you. We sailed from Liverpool
+     the 28th of August, and had a very pleasant passage till off
+     the west end of Cuba, which we made on the 15th of October at 6
+     P. M. When off Cape Antonio were assailed by five piratical
+     vessels, three schooners, one sloop, and an open boat; the
+     latter after firing several shots at us came alongside with
+     nine men in her; the men mounted the deck, armed with
+     cutlasses, pistols and dirks; on coming on board one took the
+     helm, another knocked me down, seized my watch, &c. and the
+     others ran into the cabin. By this time the other pirates got
+     close around us, and I discovered they were about to run my
+     vessel on shore. On begging them to desist from this design, I
+     was again knocked down; on rising, a musket was pointed at me
+     and one of the villains made several passes at me with a
+     dagger, which I avoided by running forward.
+
+     "We were soon in shoal water, when I again begged of them for
+     God's sake not to run the vessel ashore. They ordered us to let
+     go the anchor.
+
+     "I then went into the cabin, where I found all my trunks,
+     chest, &c. on the floor, and the pirates filling bags,
+     handkerchiefs, &c. with my clothes. They took my chronometer
+     and everything I had, even robbing me of the jacket I had on,
+     and leaving me almost naked. They then ordered us to open the
+     hatches, beating every one of the crew they came across,
+     declaring they would kill every man on board, beginning with
+     me, saying they were pirates, and should not be discovered.
+     During the night our vessel began to strike very hard, when
+     they compelled us to weigh anchor and the vessel was run on
+     shore.
+
+     "They then commenced loading their craft with the most valuable
+     part of our goods, remarking that we should be put to death in
+     the morning to prevent discovery. They struck me down several
+     times, beating the mate and threatening him with instant death
+     if he did not discover where the most valuable goods were. They
+     nearly strangled the boy, bidding him tell where my money was
+     stowed. In the morning they had one of their cruisers loaded
+     with dry goods, and a number of packages in the others; when on
+     the 16th, at 7 A. M. a sail was discovered coming round the
+     Cape. They then consulted on the expediency of murdering me;
+     but one, more humane than the others, dissuaded them from
+     committing the crime. Perceiving the sail to be a vessel of
+     war, they took to their boats, pulled for their vessels and
+     immediately proceeded along shore.
+
+     "They had stove our yawl to prevent our using her, but we
+     patched her so that she floated, and went on board the vessel
+     that was approaching. She proved to be the United States Brig
+     Enterprise, L. Kearney, Esq. commander. I stated to him my
+     dreadful situation, and pointed out to him the five piratical
+     vessels in shore; he immediately made all sail in pursuit, but
+     a reef prevented his getting within gun-shot. He armed all the
+     boats, and with the crews of the ship Lucies, and an English
+     brig, which were likewise in the hands of the pirates, gave
+     them chase, and overhauling them fast, they rowed their vessels
+     on shore inside the Cape, set the loaded one on fire, and took
+     to the woods. Lieutenant M'Intosh, who went on the expedition,
+     took four of the vessels, the boat having escaped. The vessel
+     sat on fire was entirely destroyed, but few remnants of goods
+     were saved, and those partly burnt. The pirates had a train of
+     powder to blow up the vessel on the approach of the boats.
+
+     "On the 17th, at noon, Capt. Kearney brought all the vessels at
+     anchor near our wreck, and sent his crew to our assistance, the
+     Combine being in a bilged condition, with seven feet of water
+     in her hold, and her rudder unshipped. He then loaded three of
+     the late piratical vessels out of the cargo of the Aristides,
+     also the American Schooner Bold Commander, of Staten Island,
+     with goods, one cable, and some of her sails. The brig has on
+     board some goods, a chain cable and a hawser, the latter taken
+     from the pirates.
+
+     "Captain Kearney, after having done his utmost, and saved all
+     he could, in loading the four vessels and his brig, set the
+     wreck on fire on the 20th, at 7 P. M. and remained by her until
+     she was burnt to the water's edge. She was in ten feet of water
+     when I abandoned her, 8 A. M. all in flames. This whole
+     dreadful calamity has nearly overpowered me. A Columbian
+     schooner of one long gun and eighty men likewise anchored near
+     the wreck before she was destroyed, and took a few casks porter
+     and a few bales goods, which would otherwise have been burnt
+     with the vessel. This was done with the consent of Captain
+     Kearney after he had loaded all the other vessels.
+
+     "I shall ever be grateful to Captain Kearney for his kind
+     assistance, friendship and hospitality. He offered me his own
+     clothes, as I was destitute of everything. He will call at
+     Havanna, and from thence proceed to Charleston, where he will
+     deliver the vessels and goods to the proper authorities."
+
+Captain Kearney proceeded with his prizes to Charleston, where the
+vessels and goods were condemned, and sold within eleven days after his
+arrival to accommodate him and his crew, when he sailed on another
+cruise. This gave me no opportunity to reclaim my property, Mr. Stoney
+having neglected to claim it for me. Some weeks after, having learned
+that the property had been carried into Charleston and sold, I proceeded
+to that place and applied to the District Judge of the United States,
+who, after a detention of thirty days, awarded me about seven hundred
+dollars. A large portion of the coffee, and other articles, which were
+taken on board my vessel at Jerimie during my sickness, not being
+marked, caused much difficulty in identifying them. I saw in the
+possession of purchasers at that sale, eight anchors, two saddles, four
+bridles, a number of coffee bags, and other articles of mine; also a
+quantity of tortoise shell, which cost me eight dollars per pound. The
+expenses on what I recovered consumed the greatest part of the goods;
+deducting one-fourth for salvage, duties, cartage, storage, commissions,
+court fees, &c. the remainder went into the Treasury of the United
+States, or should have gone there. I have petitioned Congress for some
+remuneration, which claim has been denied.
+
+On my arrival in New-York (being literally clothed with rags) I was met
+on the way to my boarding house by some of my kind friends, who took me
+to their houses and fitted me with a temporary suit of clothes, and some
+of them advanced me money to purchase more. Mr. Luman Reed loaned me two
+or three hundred dollars to pay the wages due my crew, and defray other
+expenses. Soon after, I proceeded to Catskill with the schooner, sold
+one half of my interest in her; and after paying my old friend, Mr. A.
+Cooke, all the money he had advanced on the out bound cargo for me, I
+proceeded to Charleston to claim my property, as I have before related.
+
+On my return from that port we refitted the Combine with new sails,
+rigging, &c. and agreed to take out an assorted cargo in her hold, and a
+deck load of horses, to the Island of St. Domingo.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+Schooner Combine.--Second Voyage.
+
+
+About the middle of May, 1822, we commenced loading at Catskill, and
+finished in about ten days, when we sailed for New-York, where I shipped
+a crew and left for Cape Francios, in the Island of St. Domingo. We met
+with light winds and strong currents on the passage, which carried us
+some distance to the leeward of our course, and obliged me to put into
+the harbor of Port-au-Prince, where we arrived without any material
+incident. I landed my horses, and having procured a stable for them, was
+advised to select ten or twelve of the handsomest and proceed with them
+to the president's country seat, about six miles from the city, where
+he was confined by ill health. This I consented to as a matter of
+courtesy, and a black colonel, named Burblong, volunteered to accompany
+me. I took my hostler and an interpreter and proceeded to his house. At
+his residence there was an extensive park enclosed by a high brick wall,
+which we entered after passing two armed sentries, when we drew near to
+a large wooden building fitted up in good style, having a piazza all
+round it, and six or eight sentries walking on it, well armed and
+uniformed. As we approached the outside door of the house we found a
+sentry stationed there, who conducted us into the hall, where we found
+another who conducted us into the president's room, which was splendidly
+furnished, where I was introduced to his excellency by Colonel Burblong.
+After the introduction was over, he invited us to take a glass of wine
+with him. The horses were then brought near the door, which, having
+examined, he said were worth two hundred dollars apiece; but since I had
+been so polite as to call on him, he would give me two hundred and fifty
+for as many as his groom should select. The president is about six feet
+in height, of a mulatto color, rather thin in flesh, and makes a good
+appearance on horseback, particularly in reviewing his army, who perform
+their evolutions in the most graceful and soldier-like manner. I sold
+the president one pair of horses, and disposed of a few to individuals
+at a fair profit; the remainder sold at a loss, after deducting
+expenses. The slow sale of horses detained me nearly two months, during
+which time the yellow fever made its appearance, and raged with unabated
+violence until our departure, particularly among the shipping. By the
+laws of the country a ship-master is obliged to land all persons seized
+with sickness on board of his vessel, and place them under the care of
+the nurses of the city, who receive them into their houses at a charge
+of two dollars and fifty cents per day for seamen, and three dollars per
+day for masters and mates. If a seaman dies on board, the master is
+fined five hundred dollars.
+
+About three weeks after our arrival here my cook and one sailor were
+attacked by the yellow fever, I took them ashore and placed them under
+the care of nurses; the hostler was next landed with the same complaint,
+and the third day after I put on shore another seaman in like condition.
+During this day, after a long walk in the hot sun, I retired to the
+house of one of the nurses, where I was taken down with the same fever;
+my cook dying about the time I became fairly sick. The next day one of
+the seamen died. The seamen, hostler, and myself were put under the care
+of different nurses, and in a few days such of us as were spared
+returned to duty.
+
+After the death of my cook I hired an English negro, (who had deserted
+from Turks Island and taken refuge here,) on condition that he should
+serve a few days on trial, and if both parties were suited he was to act
+as cook until the voyage was ended, and to receive the same wages I had
+given his predecessor. After remaining on board a few days, the mate
+sent a message to me on shore, informing me that the cook had threatened
+the lives of some of the sailors by attacking them with an axe. I sent a
+note to the mate requesting him to send the cook on shore. He soon made
+his appearance, when I took him to the store of my consignees and made
+out an account of his time, allowing him wages at the rate of fourteen
+dollars per month, according to agreement. I read the statement to him
+and he appeared well satisfied. I then asked one of the firm to pay the
+bill. He said his partner had stepped out with the key of the money
+drawer in his pocket, but as soon as he returned it would be paid, and
+asked the cook to take a seat; he walked out of the door and was missing
+for some time, when he entered the store in company with a black man,
+dressed in a sergeant's uniform, with a sword and bayonet hanging by his
+side, who introduced himself by saying he had a warrant for me. I was a
+little surprised, and asked him if he wanted me to go with him, or
+required any security for my appearance. He said he did not, and told me
+I must appear in the third ward, No. ----, to-morrow, at 11 o'clock. The
+next day I called at the store of my consignees and got the clerk to
+accompany me to the court. On our way we met a genteel looking, well
+dressed mulatto man, who asked the clerk where we were going. The clerk
+related the story to him, and he volunteered his service to defend my
+cause, and accompanied us to the court room. After we got inside of the
+door I discovered a sentry dressed in full uniform, with side arms,
+walking in front of the door. As I entered the court room I took off my
+hat to show some respect to the honorable black justice. Soon after, my
+antagonist, the cook, entered the door with his hat on his head, when
+the sentry approached him without uttering a word and struck him a heavy
+blow with his flat hand on the side of his head, which knocked his hat
+across the room; this caused the poor fellow to look amazed for a few
+moments, when he picked up his hat very carefully. The trial was soon
+called on. I related the whole story by my interpreter, and the judge,
+without calling a witness on either side, decided that I should pay him
+the same amount of money I had offered him, and that he should pay the
+costs, which was one dollar and fifty cents, being one-half the sum he
+recovered from me.
+
+When I returned to the wharf to go on board my vessel I found the poor
+fellow had been impressed, and sentenced to go on board of a man-of-war,
+and was then lodged in the guard house. He sent a message to me
+imploring my pardon, and begging my assistance to obtain his release.
+
+About this time there was a very great excitement raised in the city in
+consequence of the circulation of counterfeit coin, in imitation of the
+government silver, and a story had been circulated that a considerable
+quantity of this spurious silver was expected from Baltimore. As
+several vessels arrived from that place soon after, they were strictly
+searched, by boring barrels of flour, breaking open boxes and packages
+of goods, by custom house officers, and otherwise searching them. After
+some days it was discovered that the counterfeit coin was brought from
+Jamaica by a Jew, who had been lurking about the city. He was arrested
+and brought before the president for trial, and a report circulated that
+he would certainly be hanged. The president sent for a silver-smith to
+examine the coin, who pronounced it to be one-half pure silver, while
+the government coin was only one-tenth part silver: upon which the
+president said, "Damn him, let him go, for his money is better than
+ours."
+
+The laws of this country are very arbitrary, although they help to
+encourage industry and suppress idleness and dissipation. The president
+makes donations from the public lands to all poor individuals who will
+cultivate them. After they take possession of a lot he obliges them to
+cultivate it. To accomplish this, he sends a small military guard
+through the new settlements, accompanied by an officer, who stops at
+every house, where he makes the following inquiries: "Is this your house
+and plantation?" which being answered in the affirmative, he proceeds,
+"How large is your family?" The man answers, a wife and ---- children.
+The officer then compels him to go and show him the plantation, and to
+point out the number of coffee trees he has planted, &c. If, on
+examining the premises the officer finds only a few trees, and is
+convinced of the indolence of the occupant, he says, "You cannot
+maintain your family by this, and must be a cheat, or steal, you must
+therefore go with me," and he is obliged to join the army or navy.
+
+The farmers being out of the cities and villages, are not allowed to
+come to market except two days in each week, say Sundays and Wednesdays,
+without a special permit. All persons found drinking or rioting about
+public places or grog shops are immediately taken up under the vagrant
+act, sent to prison, and then transported to the army or navy as a
+punishment. The authorities of cities and villages license a limited
+number of butchers in each town, and compel them to keep the market
+supplied with meat every day, and limit the price to twelve and a half
+cents per pound.
+
+Since my last voyage to this Island the president, at the head of his
+army, had many engagements with the royalists under the emperor
+Christophe, whom he conquered, and had obtained possession of all his
+dominions. The emperor, fearing he should be taken prisoner, committed
+suicide by blowing his own brains out with his pistol. The president
+took possession of his castle, where they found about seven millions of
+dollars. By their wars with the French, and their internal wars among
+themselves, they have reduced the male inhabitants so much that they now
+estimate there is eleven females to one male, throughout all their
+dominions.
+
+Having disposed of my cargo and got a return freight on board, I sailed
+for the port of Jerimie, where we arrived the twenty-fourth of July.
+Here I collected about eight hundred dollars in coffee, which was due
+from my last voyage. I sailed for New-York on the twenty-eighth, and
+arrived at Staten Island after a passage of twenty-two days, where we
+were compelled to perform a quarantine of thirty days, at the expiration
+of which time we proceeded to the city, where I disposed of my cargo and
+then returned with the schooner to Catskill, when we refitted her
+previous to the next voyage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+Schooner Combine.--Third Voyage.
+
+
+We loaded the schooner's hold with an assorted cargo, and her deck with
+twenty-eight horses, about fifty hogs, a number of coops of poultry; and
+taking on board three passengers bound for the Island of Trinidad,
+sailed from Catskill the tenth of November, 1822, and arrived in
+New-York after a passage of two days, where I shipped a crew and
+prepared for the voyage. About the seventeenth of November we sailed
+from New-York, bound to the Island of Trinidad. After we got under
+weigh I found the greater part of my crew so badly intoxicated that they
+could not stand upon deck, but having fair wind and good weather I
+proceeded to sea; the mate, cooper, and cook, being sober, I thought we
+could manage the vessel until the crew could attend to their duty. We
+passed the night without getting any assistance from them. The next
+morning I ordered the mate to go into the fore-castle, where they slept,
+and search for liquor, and if necessary, break open all the seamen's
+chests, and if he found any he was to break the bottles or heave them
+overboard. He returned to the cabin with one bottle containing about a
+pint, being all he could find. We learned afterwards that they had some
+more secreted, which he was not able to discover. Towards evening the
+second day we were able to get them all at work but one. About eight
+o'clock in the evening that one came on deck and appeared somewhat
+bewildered with delirium tremens.
+
+I was then called to my supper, being much fatigued, having stood at the
+helm over twenty-four hours, while the mate, cooper, and cook took care
+of the stock on deck. Within two minutes after I entered the cabin I
+heard the cry, "He is overboard," when I jumped on deck and threw over
+many articles of lumber, long lines, &c. but the night being dark, and a
+heavy sea running, we soon lost sight of him. This seaman's name was
+James Currie, who said he was born in Rhode Island, and I found by the
+papers he left, that he had lately been discharged from the Frigate
+Constellation. One of his shipmates informed me that he had just arrived
+from a three years' cruise, and had received three hundred dollars when
+he was paid off, but had spent the whole of it in three weeks, and was
+indebted to his landlord about seventeen dollars more. My seamen were
+all sober and at their duty in a couple of days, and we proceeded on the
+voyage without any other occurrence worth recording, and arrived, after
+a passage of thirty-five days, at Port Spain, in the Island of Trinidad,
+where we landed our horses, which had stood on their feet the whole
+passage. Many of them had the heaves badly when they were taken on
+board, but were perfectly cured when they landed. This being the third
+time of successful experiment with diseased horses as a veterinarian, I
+pronounced a sea voyage a perfect cure for the heaves, whether in horses
+or other animals.
+
+The Island of Trinidad was ceded to the English by the Spanish
+government, and by the law of Nations the Spanish laws were to remain in
+force for twenty years after the transfer, which time had not expired. A
+Spanish governor is clothed with almost as much power as an emperor. Sir
+Ralph Woodford had been selected as governor, and was a tyrannical man,
+and very unpopular among the inhabitants. The city of Port Spain is one
+of the pleasantest places I have ever seen in the West Indies. The
+streets are kept very clean and in good order. No man can leave the
+Island without a permit from the governor. A merchant of Port Spain
+visited the Island of Tobago, a distance of about sixty miles, where he
+remained two or three days and then returned, when the governor had him
+arrested and committed to jail, where he remained six days: his only
+crime was leaving the Island without a passport signed by the governor.
+
+A Mr. J. Robbins, an American, informed me that he owned a house in one
+of the principal streets in the city, which street the governor ordered
+to be paved, and a tax laid on the property in that street to defray the
+expenses of flagging. The tax on his house and lot amounting to over six
+hundred dollars, and not being able to pay it, the property was sold at
+a great loss.
+
+The license to retail liquors in the city is sold annually at auction,
+to the highest bidder; one person purchasing the license for the whole
+town, gives security, and then divides it as he pleases. The soil of
+this Island is rich, producing sugar-cane and cocoa in abundance.
+Coffee, and all kinds of tropical provisions and fruits are raised here
+in large quantities. The Island abounds with snakes of an enormous size.
+I visited an American gentleman, residing in the country about twelve
+miles from Port Spain, who had a snake-skin stuffed which was
+twenty-three feet long; it was shot by one of his negroes, and on
+opening it they found a whole deer. A few hours before we left the port
+news was received from the interior of the Island that a snake had been
+shot containing the bodies of a black woman and child. The principal
+currency of the country is Spanish dollars punched through the centre,
+making a hole about the size of a five cent piece; the dollar still
+passing for the same value in the way of trade, and the plug which is
+taken out passes for one-eighth of a dollar. After passing through a few
+hands they find their way to some Jew, who reams the hole so large that
+you can pass a twenty-five cent piece through them, but they still pass
+for a dollar by way of trade. To prevent deception and loss, most
+bargains are stipulated to be paid in whole dollars.
+
+The English government has made a strong effort to introduce the
+cultivation of tea into this Island, by importing a number of Chinese
+laborers; it has proved to be a thorough failure. After their arrival in
+the country they became so indolent that it was found impossible to make
+them cultivate the land. They intermarried with the negroes, and became
+useless to society, laboring only to supply their daily wants.
+
+Having sold all my cargo, and taken on board over a hundred hogsheads of
+molasses, I sailed for New-York, where we arrived about the first of
+April, 1823. On the passage home we experienced a heavy gale of wind,
+which caused the loss of one thousand gallons of molasses.
+
+On selling the cargo we found the West India trade unprofitable, in
+consequence of the low prices of the produce of the Islands, which
+caused heavy losses on return cargoes. I held a consultation with my
+partners in the vessel, when it was agreed to sell the Combine at
+auction and abandon the trade.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+
+The following, copied from the _Northern Whig_ of December 3d, 1822, is
+a correct account of the capture of the piratical vessels by Lieutenant
+Commandant Allen, who lost his life during the engagement:
+
+     "It becomes our painful duty to record the death of Lieutenant
+     William Howard Allen, of the United States Navy. He commanded
+     the United States Schooner Alligator, and on the 11th of
+     November last, while leading his brave tars in the Alligator's
+     boats to attack a nest of pirates near Matanzas, was shot by
+     them in the head and breast, and survived but four hours.
+     Undaunted, even in death, he cheered his men, and had the
+     consolation of witnessing the surrender of one of the piratical
+     vessels, and the re-capture of five merchantmen before he
+     expired. He was buried on the succeeding day at Matanzas, with
+     military honors.
+
+     "Lieutenant Allen was a native of this city, (Hudson,) was born
+     on the 8th of July, 1790, entered the navy in the 20th year of
+     his age. He was Second Lieutenant on board the Argus, in the
+     summer of 1813, and during the bloody conflict between the
+     Argus and the Pelican, the command of the former devolved for a
+     time upon him. W. H. Watson, the First Lieutenant of the Argus,
+     a brave and worthy officer, speaks of his conduct in high and
+     merited terms. He was also in the Congress Frigate during her
+     cruise in the Chinese Seas.
+
+     "He was attached to his profession, courted glory, and feared
+     no danger. In the last war he saw much service; and whether in
+     war or peace, never failed to do his duty.
+
+     "We shall conclude our brief observations with the following
+     remarks, which have been kindly furnished us at the particular
+     request of a number of the friends of Lieutenant Allen, and
+     which were the conclusion of a discourse delivered from the
+     pulpit, by the Reverend B. F. Stanton, on the Sunday succeeding
+     the day on which the afflictive news of the death alluded to
+     arrived here.
+
+     "After a reference had been made to the frequent instances in
+     which, for a few years past, the inhabitants of Hudson have
+     been suddenly and unexpectedly deprived of some of their most
+     respected and valued fellow citizens, it was observed, that, in
+     addition to all the previous calamities of the nature which we
+     had experienced, we have recently been called upon by the
+     righteous Providence of Him whose 'path is in the great deep,
+     and whose footsteps are not known,' to contemplate another,
+     which, in some of its features, perhaps, is the heaviest of
+     all. I shall undoubtedly be readily understood, by most of my
+     hearers, to refer to the tidings which have lately reached us
+     of the lamented death of Lieutenant William H. Allen, a native
+     of this town, and an officer in the United States Navy.
+
+     "It is not any design on this occasion to attempt to do justice
+     to his memory by pronouncing his eulogy. This will probably be
+     done by abler pens and more eloquent tongues. My aim at present
+     is merely to advert to a few of the leading traits in his
+     character, and to call on those who hear me to listen to the
+     monitory voice of Heaven which addresses us in this afflictive
+     dispensation. As a son he was filial, as a brother he was kind
+     and affectionate, as a gentleman he was amiable and
+     accomplished in his manners, as a friend he was trusty and
+     sincere, as a man he was humane and generous: he had a soul
+     that was indignant at meanness and vice! In his morals, I
+     believe, he was free from those defilements which are too often
+     known to tarnish the reputation of those in his profession, and
+     to which they are so peculiarly liable: In his religious
+     sentiments, if I am not mistaken, he was a candid believer in
+     divine revelation: As a lover of his country, he was ardent and
+     ever eager, when summoned by her call, to be foremost in her
+     defence; and as an officer he was active, faithful, skilful,
+     and courageous. In the engagement that terminated his naval
+     career, he occupied a post most pregnant with danger, and
+     though mortally wounded in the early part of it, he still
+     animated his valiant tars, while the life-blood was fast ebbing
+     from its seat, to persevere till the victory was gained. By
+     these encomiums, however, it is not intended that he was
+     exempted from a participation in that polution of our nature
+     which is common to every individual of the human family. Though
+     he was possessed of excellencies which _we_ may be allowed to
+     admire and applaud; in the sight of infinite purity, like every
+     other human being, he was a ruined sinner,
+
+          "Sprung from the man whose guilty fall,
+          "Corrupts our arce and taints us all."
+
+     But neither the personal excellencies which so strongly
+     endeared him to those who knew him, the affections of his
+     numerous friends, nor the wants of his country, could render
+     him impervious to the shaft of death. No, his generous spirit
+     is fled. Though brave, he has fallen a victim to the king of
+     terrors, who conquers all. A band of piratical marauders, whose
+     iniquitous occupation is the plunder of the seas, and whose
+     perfidies and cruelties, which are audaciously committed on the
+     broad highway of nations, are continually augmenting, and in
+     our opinion, loudly call for the interfering arm of national
+     government, to extirpate, if possible, these freebooters, from
+     the face of the earth; a horde of these unprincipled
+     miscreants, who are the stigma of the human kind, have deprived
+     his country of his valuable services. He has lain down and will
+     rise not. 'Till the heavens be no more he shall not awake, nor
+     be raised out of sleep. His mangled remains are deposited in a
+     land of strangers, and far from his family and his home. He
+     will no more return to alleviate, by his presence, the severe
+     and long continued afflictions of 'the mother that bare him,'
+     to meet the embraces of the fond sisters that loved him, and to
+     receive the gratulations of the inhabitants of this place, who
+     were proud to claim him as their fellow-citizen. Yes, his
+     generous spirit has gone! The war song has died away upon his
+     ear. By the thrilling notes of the clarion, which once prompted
+     him to deeds of valor, he is now unmoved! His body is silent
+     and still in 'the narrow house of all living.' He reposes, with
+     others of his valiant compeers, to await 'the sound of the
+     archangel and the trump of God.' But it is the consolation of
+     surviving friends to reflect, that, though he sleeps, and they
+     shall behold him no more, he has fallen in the arms of victory,
+     and in the common cause of his country and of mankind. His
+     memory will be for ever embalmed in the tenderest recollections
+     of his acquaintances. His loss will be deplored as a national
+     calamity; and we would reverently trust, that, before his
+     spirit took its returnless flight, as he had been educated in
+     the principles of the Christian faith, and knew to whom a
+     sinner has to go, if his soul is ever saved, from his bloody
+     bed of glory he raised his dying eyes and his supplicating
+     voice to that God who is no respecter of persons, but who is
+     rich in mercy unto all that call upon him, in whose presence
+     the rich and the poor alike meet together; with whom the high
+     and the low, the noble and the ignoble, stand upon the same
+     level, in the effulgence of whose holiness the lustre of the
+     hero is dimmed, who permits none to glory before Him, save in
+     the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with whom alone can
+     avail the sacrifice of a broken and a contrite heart."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+     From the New-York Evening Post.
+
+     "With emotions of indignation and unavailing grief, we find
+     from the following article, that one of our bravest American
+     officers and most valuable citizens, Lieutenant Commandant
+     Allen, has fallen by the merciless hands of the sea-robbers who
+     for several years have roamed the seas unchecked, fearlessly
+     plundered our vessels, and remorselessly assassinated their
+     crews with every species of barbarity that hellish ingenuity
+     could invent."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+     From Relf's Philadelphia Gazette.
+
+     "MELANCHOLY TIDINGS.--We have to-day to record an event which
+     must excite in the breast of every American, and we may venture
+     to add, in that of every civilized man, emotions of profound
+     regret and indignation--Lieutenant Commandant Allen, one of the
+     rising stars in our national galaxy, has fallen by the hands of
+     unprincipled pirates. In the earnest and honorable execution of
+     his duty to his country and to mankind, this gallant and
+     accomplished young officer has become the victim of a gang of
+     desperate buccaneers; but in this, as in most of the
+     occurrences of our naval warfare, he died in the lap of
+     victory. This melancholy intelligence was received this morning
+     from an intelligent gentleman, passenger in the Mary Ann,
+     Captain Cory, from Havanna, (now below,) and is furnished to us
+     in these words:
+
+     "About the 9th, two masters of American vessels came to
+     Havanna for the express purpose of raising money for the ransom
+     of their vessels, bound to Havanna, which with two other
+     Americans (bound to New Orleans) had been recently captured by
+     two piratical schooners near Key Romain, and left at anchor in
+     that neighborhood waiting their return. Captain Allen, of the
+     Alligator, on coming into port next day, being informed
+     thereof, started, without coming to anchor, in search of the
+     pirates, whom on that or the next day he discovered in the
+     channel of Matanzas. The Alligator drawing too much water, two
+     boats were manned and stood for them; an action ensued, in the
+     early part of which Captain Allen received two musket balls,
+     one in the head, the other in his breast, and soon died,
+     encouraging his men to do their duty; which they nobly
+     performed, for after a short contest the pirates abandoned
+     their vessel and swam to the shore. The vessels were taken
+     possession of by the victors and carried into Matanzas.
+
+     "They mounted one gun each, amid-ship, with forty men each,
+     well armed, and considerable plunder on board. Our informant
+     does not know what became of their prizes.
+
+     "The Mary Ann has despatches on board from the American Agent
+     at Havanna, furnishing official information in relation to this
+     disastrous occurrence.
+
+     "Since the above was in type, (says _The Evening Post_,) the
+     following letter was handed us, confirmatory of the melancholy
+     truth of the account, with further particulars. We cannot but
+     express our unqualified admiration of the gallantry of spirit
+     that impelled the undaunted Allen, undismayed by the bloody
+     signal of _no quarter_, which waved aloft, to attack an armed
+     vessel, with a desperate crew in an open boat, and with only a
+     few men. His virtuous indignation bore away all prudent
+     reflections, and he rushed into the jaws of death itself to
+     rescue or avenge his fellow citizens. Captain Allen is a native
+     of Hudson, in this State, where his mother and sisters now
+     reside. May we not hope that the vessels in our harbor will
+     unite in giving at least one outward testimony of their
+     mourning for his loss, by raising their flags half-mast high
+     to-morrow.
+
+                                   "Matanzas, November 11, 1822.
+
+     "To Messrs. G. G. & S. Howland,
+
+     "My dear Sirs:--The gallant Allen is no more! You witnessed the
+     promptitude with which he hastened to relieve the vessel which
+     I informed him had been captured off this port. He arrived
+     just in time to save five sail of vessels, which he found in
+     possession of a gang of pirates, three hundred strong,
+     established in the Bay of Lejuapo, about fifteen leagues east
+     of this. He fell, pierced by two musket balls, in the van of a
+     division of boats, attacking their principal vessel, a fine
+     schooner of about eighty tons, with a long eighteen-pounder on
+     a pivot, and four guns, _with the bloody flag nailed to the
+     mast_. Himself, Captain Freeman, of marines, and twelve men,
+     were in the boat much in advance of his other boats, and even
+     took possession of the schooner after a desperate resistance
+     which nothing but a bravery almost too daring could have
+     overcome. The pirates, all but one, escaped by taking to their
+     boats and jumping overboard, before the Alligator's boats
+     reached them. Two other schooners escaped by the use of their
+     oars, the wind being light.
+
+     "Captain Allen survived about four hours, during which his
+     conversation evinced a composure and firmness of mind, and
+     correctness of feeling, as honorable to his character and more
+     consoling to his friends than even the dauntless bravery he
+     before evinced.
+
+     "The Alligator arrived here to-day, in company with the prize,
+     and five re-captured vessels. Arrangements are making with the
+     governor, with the concurrence of the commander of the Spanish
+     Brig of war Marte, [of whose conduct the officers of the
+     Alligator speak in the highest terms,] to inter him with the
+     honors of war to-morrow morning. It is certain that the pirates
+     are but little weakened by this contest, and there is reason to
+     fear that our commerce with this Island and New Orleans will be
+     almost annihilated, unless an effectual force is stationed here
+     to prevent it. But the best comment I can make is to add a list
+     of vessels re-taken, and to state that many of the men are
+     missing, and probably have been murdered. Should any of our
+     vessels of war arrive, please state these facts, and leave no
+     efforts untried to procure some additional force to come
+     immediately here.
+
+                                   "In great haste, your's very truly,
+                                   "Francis Adams.
+
+     "Loss in Alligator's two boats--Captain Allen and two oarsmen
+     killed; two men mortally wounded; three severely.
+
+     "[By an arrival at Philadelphia we learn that the United States
+     Schooner Alligator had arrived at Matanzas with the pirate
+     schooner and the vessels re-taken from the pirates, (the Ship
+     William & Henry, of New-York, Brig Iris, of Boston, and Brig
+     Sarah Marael, of New-York, bound to New Orleans; Schooner
+     Sarah, of Boston, for Mobile, Schooner Mary Ann, of Salem, for
+     Matanzas,) are all ordered for Charleston. The pirate schooner
+     has arrived, it is said, at Norfolk.]"
+
+After the arrival of the piratical schooner at Norfolk she was condemned
+and sold to a citizen of that place, who gave her the name of Allen, in
+remembrance of the brave but unfortunate commander who lost his life in
+capturing her. Some time after she was purchased by Messrs. H. & D.
+Cotheal and A. D. Hallett, the former owners of the Price, and I was
+employed to take the command of her, and proceed to the Island of St.
+Andreas, and from thence to Chagres.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+Schooner Allen.
+
+
+About the twenty-seventh of December, 1823, I took charge of the Allen.
+She was a small sharp-built schooner, armed with a long six-pound
+cannon, mounted on a circle, with a patent slide, and was well fitted
+for sea. My crew were three seamen, a mate and cook. We sailed from
+New-York the twenty-ninth of December, and made our passage to the
+Island of Old Providence in seventeen days, where we stopped and traded
+two or three days, and then proceeded to the Island of St. Andreas,
+where I met Mr. Henry T. Smith, who had been my former clerk in the
+Indian trade. I supplied him with what goods he wanted and then sailed
+for Chagres. On my arrival there I wrote a letter to the American Consul
+at Panama, informing him that I had a consignment of goods on board for
+him. After a few days I received a letter from a Mr. Montaudevert,
+informing me that Mr. Craig, the consul had left Panama and departed for
+New-York on a visit, leaving him in charge of his business during his
+absence. In three or four days after I received his letter he arrived at
+Chagres and took lodgings on board with me. The next day he hired a
+large canoe to take the goods up the river to a place called Cruses, a
+distance of forty-two miles, which is said to be the head of canoe
+navigation on that river. The provisions I had on board was all put up
+in half barrels for the customary mule transportation over the Isthmus,
+by slinging two across each mule's back, two half barrels being a load
+for a mule. After all our arrangements were made the canoe was hauled
+alongside of the Allen. When she made her appearance there I was struck
+with surprise at her length and breadth, she being some feet longer than
+my little schooner. I took up a rule and measured her breadth, which I
+found was eight feet from one side to the other, and her length over
+sixty feet, being dug out of one solid tree, free from shakes or cracks.
+
+In the morning we loaded the canoe with one hundred and forty-one half
+barrels of flour, and twenty half barrels of pork and mackerel, and two
+hogsheads filled with firkins of butter. The canoe had a large quantity
+of other freight on board before she come alongside of the Allen. After
+delivering all the goods consigned to Mr. Craig, I sold Mr. Montaudevert
+thirteen hundred and forty dollars' worth of goods consigned to myself,
+on a credit of ninety days, and took his note, payable in gold dust, at
+two hundred and fifty dollars per pound, or Spanish dollars, at my
+option. Mr. Montaudevert told me if I returned there in the Allen next
+voyage he would ship on board of her on freight, thirty thousand
+dollars' worth of dust. This may show the reader that gold dust has been
+gathered in that region for many years; and if that country was as well
+searched as California is at this day, no doubt many beds of that
+valuable ore might be found. I remained in Chagres eight or ten days,
+selling goods from the vessel at retail at good prices. Having four
+hogsheads of rum and brandy on board, which I found was a contraband
+article in that government, I entered them at the custom house for
+exportation, and afterwards sold them to an American captain, who agreed
+to meet me a few miles at sea, out of the jurisdiction of that
+government, where I delivered them and received my pay.
+
+The river Chagres is navigable for small vessels about half a mile
+inside of the bar, which has about eleven feet of water on it at full
+tide. The town contains about fifty huts, called houses, built after the
+model of the Indians. The inhabitants are called Samboes, being a
+mixture of native Indian, Negro, and white blood. They are a very
+indolent, harmless, and inoffensive race; and their customs and manners
+are much like the native Indians.
+
+I got under weigh and proceeded a few miles to sea, when I found the
+vessel lacked ballast, so we ran into Porto Bello and purchased a few
+tons of fustic, which put her in good sailing trim, when we shaped our
+course back towards the Island of St. Andreas, where I took Mr. Henry T.
+Smith, and his return cargo on board, consisting of four hundred pounds
+of tortoise shell, and five or six thousand dollars in gold and silver,
+which he had collected for the owners of the Allen. We soon got under
+weigh and shaped our course for New-York.
+
+As my little schooner was a fast sailor, pilot-boat model, I beat to the
+windward, hoping to get sight of the Island of St. Domingo and sail
+through the windward passage. After a few days we succeeded in obtaining
+sight of that Island and sailed along under the lee of it; keeping a
+bright look-out for suspicious looking vessels. Knowing that my vessel
+had been taken from the pirates, I was fearful that some of the former
+gang who once had possession of her might capture me, when I could not
+expect anything but immediate death.
+
+[Illustration: Schooner Renegade firing into the Schooner Allen.]
+
+The morning after we got sight of the Island we discovered a suspicious
+looking schooner laying at anchor near the land, about five miles to the
+windward of us, who got under weigh in great haste. I soon perceived
+with my spy glass that her deck was full of men. She bore down towards
+us, we hauled close upon the wind, which brought her into our wake about
+four miles astern of us. Both vessels had their colors flying. Neither
+of us dared to trust the other. Our new neighbor soon after rounded too,
+hauled up his fore-sail, and fired a large shot, which we could plainly
+discover skipping on the surface of the water some distance from us. I
+took the helm myself and kept the vessel close to the wind, fearing my
+seamen would be careless about steering her. The strange schooner
+continued firing at us about every half hour, while we were going fast
+to the windward of him, until about twelve o'clock. In the afternoon the
+wind became light, when we discovered that the strange vessel was
+gaining upon us. The captain afterwards informed me that he had thirty
+sweeps, and most of his men employed in rowing for some hours, being
+determined to overhaul us. We kept on our course until about 3 o'clock,
+when we found ourselves near the land on the Island of Cuba, and the
+suspicious craft gaining fast upon us. We had no alternative but to tack
+ship; soon after, he fired a shot which struck under our bowsprit, and
+wet our fore-sail up to the gaff, this was followed by another that
+grazed our mast-head, and another fell a few feet under the stern. The
+fourth shot struck the after leach of the main-sail and cut off the bolt
+rope and the after-cloth of the sail, and glancing downwards, struck the
+trunk-deck and entered the cabin, passed through my bed, and then
+followed the ceiling into the hold, cutting away the plank and three
+timbers and landed in a bag of cotton. Although the ball, weighing
+thirty-two pounds, passed through the deck within six feet from where I
+stood at the helm, being much engaged in giving orders to set the
+square-sail, I did not discover that it had passed through the deck
+until some minutes after, when the cook came out of the cabin and told
+me that Mr. Smith was wounded by a splinter striking him on the head. I
+then raised my spy-glass and took a good survey of my antagonist,
+supposing him to be a pirate. On looking at him some time, (all hands on
+board the Allen being greatly agitated,) I discovered a number of red
+coats on her deck, when our grief was turned to joy, being satisfied
+that they were English marines. Soon after she approached within hailing
+distance of us, when I was ordered to hoist out my boat and come on
+board of her. When I got on board I was accosted by the captain with,
+"Did you not see the colors flying on board of my vessel." I answered,
+"Yes, sir, but I do not trust to colors in these piratical days." He
+then said, "You have cost me a great deal of powder and shot this day."
+I answered, by saying, "Never mind, King George is able to pay for it."
+He then asked me if my vessel leaked badly. I told him that I had but
+little time to ascertain how bad she did leak, but knew that she had
+some holes in her. He sent a lieutenant, carpenter, and four men on
+board of the Allen to examine and pump her out, and invited me into the
+cabin to drink with him. I told him I did not drink any ardent spirits;
+he then said, "Damn it, you're a Yankee, and can take a bottle of cider
+with me." After we entered the cabin and were seated, he looked at me
+with a smile, saying, "Curse me if you ain't game, you stand fire well."
+In the mean time he called the gunner to the cabin door, saying,
+"Gunner, how many shot have you fired at this man this day." The gunner
+answered him, "Sixteen thirty-two pound shot, and four long
+twelve-pounders."
+
+He then told me, if I thought it necessary to put into some port for
+repairs, he would recommend Kingston, Jamaica, as the best to sail for;
+and if I had any valuable articles in her, he would take them on board
+of his vessel for safety, and convoy me to that port. I informed him
+that I had over eight thousand dollars in specie, and four hundred
+pounds of tortoise-shell, worth ten dollars per pound. In the mean time,
+the lieutenant arrived from the Allen and reported that he thought she
+could be kept perfectly free from water by having the pump well manned.
+After some consultation together, he agreed to let his carpenter,
+sailing master, and four seamen remain on board the Allen, and he would
+hoist lights and signals, and convoy her to Kingston for repairs. He
+then gave his name, and a history of himself and the schooner he now
+commanded. He said, "About one year since I obtained a furlough from my
+government, and took charge of a merchant ship bound from Liverpool to
+Jamaica and back to that port. On my passage from Jamaica towards home I
+was captured by the pirates, robbed of eight thousand dollars, and many
+articles, and most cruelly beaten and horribly tortured. The vessel he
+was now in was taken from the pirates by one of his Majesty's ships, and
+carried into Jamaica, condemned, and then fitted out under the name of
+the Renegade, for the purpose of capturing pirates; and that he was
+appointed to the command of her, and was determined to cruise after them
+until he had obtained some satisfaction from them." After this
+conversation ended I went on board my vessel and followed the Renegade,
+who shaped her course for Kingston. Night soon approached, when she
+showed her signal light, which we followed. During the night the light
+winds and smoky weather caused us to lose sight of her until the next
+morning, when we found ourselves near a place called the White Horse,
+about twelve miles from Port Royal, which lies at the entrance of
+Kingston harbor. Our vessels were now laying becalmed a short distance
+from each other. Soon after the sea-breeze arose, both vessels being
+under weigh, near together, we set all our sails and steered for the
+mouth of the harbor, and the Allen arrived there three miles ahead of
+the Renegade. This satisfied me that the use of the sweeps on board of
+the Renegade caused the long chase between us, and the loss of his
+Majesty's powder and shot.
+
+On my arrival at Kingston I called on Messrs. O'Hara & Onfloy for
+advice, when we applied to the admiral on that station to allow the
+Allen to be taken into the king's dock-yard for repairs, which he
+refused. We then applied to the collector of the port for leave to take
+out her cargo, in order to heave her bottom out of water and repair it.
+The collector informed us that he could not grant us that leave without
+permission from the governor, who resided at Spanish Town, twelve miles
+from Kingston. We had to employ a competent person to draw the petition,
+who let us know that we must advance him thirty dollars to purchase a
+sheet of stamped paper to write the petition upon. After the article was
+drawn I was obliged to hire a man and furnish him with a horse and
+carriage to convey it to the governor, who granted my request. The only
+favor I had to acknowledge was, the governor's sending me the thirty
+dollars which I paid for the sheet of stamped paper, in consequence of
+the assault being committed by an English-government vessel.
+
+The carpenter hove the schooner's bottom out and repaired her in three
+or four days; but I was detained eight days in obtaining a permit to
+land the cargo for that purpose. The whole of the expenses were about
+two hundred and sixty dollars. During this time I often met Captain
+Fiatt, the commander of the Renegade, at public houses and elsewhere,
+who was a gentleman in all respects. He was profuse in expressing his
+regret that the unfortunate occurrence had happened to my vessel; and
+was still full of his determination to pursue the pirates until he got
+some revenge for the injuries he had received from them. After the
+vessel was repaired I took on board four thousand six hundred dollars
+belonging to my owners, and returned with the Allen to New-York. About
+one year after, I visited Kingston on my way home from the Spanish Main.
+When I inquired after Captain Fiatt, whom I left in the Renegade, an
+English naval officer informed me that while cruising he landed with his
+boat and crew on the Isle of Pines, and was missing for some time, when
+another man-of-war's boat was sent in search of him. When the officer
+and boat's crew landed on the Island they found the bodies of Captain
+Fiatt and his boat's crew strewed on the ground, riddled with balls, and
+the captain so horribly and vulgarly mangled as showed that none but
+fiends could have been guilty of murdering them.
+
+To give the reader some idea of the horrible atrocities committed by the
+pirates at that time, I have thought proper to insert the following
+account, copied from _The Evening Post_ of April 15th, 1822:
+
+     "_Commodore Porter's Squadron._
+
+     "_Piracies._--The last news that has been received from this
+     squadron is contained in the New-York papers extracted from the
+     _St. Thomas' Times_ of March 5. On the 4th the squadron got
+     under weigh and put to sea from St. Thomas'. Piracies of an
+     enormity that the bare recital of them make the blood run cold,
+     are continually taking place. A Dutch Brig was taken in sight
+     of Moro Castle, at Havanna. The French Brig La Jeune Henrietta
+     was taken on the 17th of March, the captain, passengers, and
+     all the crew were most cruelly beaten, and they and the vessel
+     robbed. The Schooner Success, from Matanzas, bound to New
+     Providence, was captured and converted into an assistant
+     pirate, two ladies, passengers, made prisoners, one of whom was
+     hanged up till life was almost extinct, in order to make her
+     confess where the money on board was secreted. The Dutch Brig
+     Minerva was captured and burned. The Brig Columbia, from
+     Washington, North Carolina, was captured, robbed of parts of
+     her cargo and sails. The Brig Alert, from New Orleans, was
+     boarded off the Moro by three boats, the captain and cook
+     killed, and one man mortally wounded. A brig has lately arrived
+     from the Balize, belonging to Kennebunk, formerly commanded by
+     Captain Perkins, she was from Port-au-Prince, via Campeachy,
+     where he was boarded by a pirate schooner of about forty tons,
+     manned by forty ruffians. 'They stabbed Captain Perkins in a
+     cruel manner and cut off one of his arms; he then told them
+     where the money was, which amounted to two hundred doubloons;
+     after which they cut off his other arm and thigh, placed oakum
+     dipped in oil under his body and in his mouth, and set fire to
+     it, which soon put an end to his life. The mate had a sword
+     thrust through his thigh, and the vessel was robbed of
+     everything moveable, such as cables, anchors, charts, books,
+     rigging, sails, &c.' It would seem by these accounts, which
+     have all come to hand the past week, that our squadron was of
+     little or no use in those seas. The true way we think would be
+     to put armed crews on board of merchantmen, at sea, after they
+     had left the port they sailed from, and in this way the pirates
+     could get no intelligence of vessels destined to go against
+     them.
+
+     "Captain Harding, of the Schooner Aspray, who arrived at Boston
+     last Monday, from Havanna, in twelve days, informs that he was
+     chased out of the Bay of Matanzas by two piratical boats, and
+     running down for Havanna threw off her deck load to get clear
+     of a piratical schooner. Brig Alert, of Portsmouth, from New
+     Orleans, had just arrived off the Moro with a deck load of
+     hogs. She was boarded in the night by two piratical boats, with
+     six men each, and Captain Charles Blunt was murdered and thrown
+     overboard; the cook was stabbed, thrown among the hogs and
+     partly devoured by them. The crew were maltreated, and the
+     vessel plundered. Captain Harding states, that when she sailed
+     from Havanna it was hourly expected that orders would be issued
+     for the detention of French vessels in port."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+Schooner Frances.
+
+
+On the sixteenth day of July, 1824, I made a contract with one Captain
+Oliver C. Murray, master of the Schooner Frances, of New-York, to
+proceed with him on a trading voyage to the Musquitto Shore, Chagres,
+Porto Bello, St. Blas, &c. as a pilot and assistant trader.
+
+We took on board an assorted cargo, and sailed from New-York about the
+last of July. After being at sea some three days Captain Murray was
+taken sick, when he called the mate and crew into the cabin and told
+them that he had given up the charge of the schooner to me, that they
+must obey me accordingly. This was unsolicited by me. We then proceeded
+direct to Porto Bello, where we opened a trade with the inhabitants,
+remaining there about three weeks, experiencing heavy showers of rain
+every day we tarried there, it then being the rainy season on that
+coast. We proceeded from that port to Carthagena, a distance of about
+two hundred and sixty miles, where we were informed by the inhabitants
+that there had not fallen a drop of rain in that place during the last
+ten months.
+
+Carthagena is the strongest fortified city I ever visited, being
+enclosed with a wall some fifteen feet high, which is approached by a
+slope of easy assent. The wall appears to be from fifteen to twenty feet
+thick, having embrasures with heavy cannon mounted on it, about one
+hundred feet from one to another, all around the city, with a good road
+on the top of the wall. On the outside of the wall there is a deep
+trench, where water can be let in five or six feet deep if the city
+should be invaded by an enemy. Vessels bound into the harbor are obliged
+to keep close to the main land, which brings them near a long tier of
+forts. The greatest part of the channel is filled in with large stones,
+which appears to have been the work of ages.
+
+We remained here about two weeks, and were visited by numbers of
+captains of Columbian privateers, most of them Americans, who had
+obtained commissions signed by General Bolivar; they purchased many
+articles from us. Before we got the schooner under weigh we took on
+board three members of the Columbian Congress and their servants. A son
+of one of the congressmen had been educated in Europe, and spoke good
+English. We agreed to convey them to Chagres. They came direct from
+Bogata, the seat of government of this Republic, their congress having
+just adjourned; they were on their way home, across the Isthmus. The
+Columbian Congress had passed a law to raise the duties on imports about
+twelve per cent. We had a large assortment of goods on board, which we
+sold at retail at every port where we landed. On our passage these
+members of congress, who had come direct from the seat of government,
+and assisted to pass laws to raise the revenue and prevent smuggling,
+purchased over three hundred dollars' worth of goods of us on the
+passage, and had them put up in proper packages to pass through the
+custom house as their baggage, so as to defraud the government of the
+duties.
+
+A short time before we arrived at Chagres one of them, who had an
+English negro servant, ordered him to tell Captain Murray that he could
+put some of his goods amongst their baggage if he wanted to smuggle them
+on shore through the custom house, as their baggage was considered
+sacred, and that no custom house officer dare to examine it. Being well
+acquainted with the tricks of these Spanish officers, I prevailed on
+Murray not to trust them, telling him this was only a trick to cheat him
+out of his goods, as I had heard, from good authority, of a number of
+tricks of this kind which had been practised by the collector of Porto
+Bello and other ports on the Main.
+
+We landed our passengers and remained some days at Chagres, where we
+sold some goods and then returned to Porto Bello. We purchased some
+fustic and other articles, and proceeded to the coast of St. Blas,
+touching at a number of small harbors, where we bought fustic in small
+quantities. While laying in the mouth of one of these narrow rivers,
+called Nombre Dios, (name of God,) I found by inquiry that I was only
+about thirty miles from the residence of one of my old traders, named
+Campbell, who had visited New-York with me in the Schooner Price, and
+was there when General Jackson made his first visit to that city. I told
+Captain Murray that I should feel much pleased to visit Campbell, and I
+would willingly assist to paddle a canoe thirty miles to see any honest
+friend. This pleased him much, as he wanted an introduction to the trade
+on that coast. The next morning we fitted out our canoe, by putting a
+dinner-pot, fire-works, and some provisions, and a large jug, containing
+two or three gallons of gin, on board, to treat my Indian friends on my
+arrival among them. We were now well prepared for the trip, having
+plenty to eat and drink. If the winds or weather detained us on the
+passage we could go on shore, haul up our canoe, build a fire, cook our
+provision and then lay down on the ground and get a comfortable sleep,
+by keeping a kind of watch amongst ourselves to prevent the fire from
+going out, that being our only protection from tigers, panthers, and
+other wild beasts, who will never approach a fire. They are very
+numerous on this coast. I tried this experiment many years successfully.
+
+We left the schooner early in the morning and proceeded more than one
+half of our journey, when a strong breeze of head wind compelled us to
+go on shore and take up our lodging for the night. The next morning, the
+wind having abated, we got under weigh, and reached Campbell's house
+that afternoon. I was received by my old friend in the most affectionate
+manner. He, knowing that I was very fond of craw-fish, wilkes, &c.
+despatched a number of young men to fish for them, and others to go and
+gather some of their best fruits for us to eat. At the same time the
+most of his neighbors visited his house, many of them bringing fruits,
+sugar-cane, &c. We were treated to the best supper the country afforded,
+and he furnished us with clean hammocks to sleep in. The morning after,
+we made a good breakfast; a large assemblage of Indians met at
+Campbell's house, when he asked me to christen his children, which I
+declined, by saying I had no book with me. I soon discovered that he
+felt dissatisfied with my denial, for he had invited all his neighbors
+there to witness the performance. He earnestly entreated me a second
+time to perform the ceremony. After some further entreaty I yielded to
+his request, which seemed to throw a gleam of joy on all the assembly of
+Indians, whose eyes were steadily fixed upon me. When I got prepared to
+perform the ceremony, I asked Campbell in his usual way of speaking
+English, "What him name." He answered me, saying, "Dat General Jackson."
+I then sprinkled water on his head, laid my hand upon it, and pronounced
+his name with an audible voice; this was the oldest boy. I called for
+the next, when he brought forward a younger lad; when I asked his name,
+the answer was, "Dat must be your name," so I christened him Jacob
+Dunham; then calling for another, he brought me a small girl, when I
+asked concerning the name, he answered me, "Dat must be your wife name,"
+and I christened her Fanny Dunham. The fourth one being called for,
+Captain Murray requested Campbell to have it christened after his wife;
+he agreed to it, as it was a small girl, and I named her Lucretia
+Murray. After the ceremony was ended Captain Murray presented the
+children with fifty cents each. A good dinner was prepared on the
+occasion, which we partook of in the most jovial and friendly manner,
+after which we visited a number of the neighboring houses in company
+with my friend Campbell, where we were received with a hearty welcome,
+and presented with such fruits as the country afforded.
+
+In the morning, while we were preparing to return to the schooner,
+Campbell called me out to a small store house, where he took up the hind
+quarter of a baboon or large monkey, well smoked, and presented it to me
+to eat on our passage back to the schooner. I did not like to wound his
+feelings by refusing his present. On looking into his store room I
+observed a number of large smoked birds about the size of a common
+turkey, which I told him suited my taste much better than monkey, which
+he readily exchanged, as the natives consider a fat monkey the best
+meat that the country produces. He supplied us with bread-stuff and
+fruits. We took our departure for the vessel, and arrived on board that
+night.
+
+We continued trading along the coast a few days, when we fell in with an
+old schooner under Columbian colors, but American built, said to belong
+to a man named Varney, who was on board of her, but could not hold her
+papers while sailing under that flag, not being a naturalized citizen of
+that government. It appeared he had employed a black citizen of that
+country to hold her papers, in the capacity of captain, who was then
+laying sick in a canoe on the schooner's deck.
+
+Captain Murray told me he had heard from Carthagena that a government
+schooner was cruising in pursuit of the Frances to capture her for
+trading on this coast without license, that we must take the goods out
+of her and put them on board of Varney's old schooner as speedily as
+possible, and then proceed to sea with her immediately; that I must go
+on board of her and take charge of the goods as supercargo. The goods
+were transferred that afternoon in great haste, without my having time
+to examine the old vessel as I ought to have done. She had a motley crew
+of different nations on board. When I took a view of them, I told Murray
+that I would not trust my life on board of her without he gave me two or
+three of the Frances' crew to go with me, which request he complied
+with, when we hurried to sea, bound to the Island of St. Andreas. After
+we got out a little from the land we tried the pump, and found she
+leaked very badly, but dared not put back, fearing we might be captured.
+So we all agreed to pursue the voyage. We were now compelled to try the
+pump every fifteen minutes during the passage to St. Andreas, which was
+twenty-three days.
+
+Immediately after our arrival in that harbor I took all the goods on
+shore. Two days after, Varney undertook to heave the old schooner out,
+to repair her bottom, when the deck slid off, and she sunk, never to
+rise again. The negro captain died the second day after we went to sea,
+when we committed his body to a watery grave.
+
+Some time after Captain Murray arrived with the Frances in the harbor
+and learned the fate of Varney's old vessel, when he chartered a small
+schooner belonging to St. Andreas to take the remainder of his goods on
+board, and carry them to St. John's, on the Spanish Main. The next day
+they were all put on board of the new schooner. Murray now made up his
+mind to send the Frances back to New-York, and wanted me to take charge
+of her as master, which I refused to do, knowing it to be a broken
+voyage, and if I acted as master of her I could not libel the vessel for
+my wages. I told him he could give the mate charge of the Frances, and
+that I would assist to navigate her back to New-York, which he agreed
+to. He and Varney went on board of the new chartered schooner, and
+proceeding to St. John's, took out the goods and transported them up
+that river into Nunanger Lake, on a trading voyage. All our arrangements
+being finished, both vessels proceeded to sea, when we shaped our course
+for New-York.
+
+Soon after we got to sea I examined the list of return cargo which
+Murray had left on board the Frances; it consisted mostly of fustic,
+which was selling in New-York at that time at reduced prices, and I
+found that the whole cargo would not pay the charter of the schooner,
+which was two hundred dollars per month, besides victualing, manning and
+port charges.
+
+The Frances proved to be such a dull sailer that we could seldom force
+her more than seven knots per hour, in addition to which her sails and
+rigging had been badly injured by the continued rains on that coast,
+which rendered her unfit for any voyage. We were beating to the
+northward about fourteen days before we made the land, which proved to
+be Cape Antonio, we then steered into the Gulf-stream, which assisted us
+to work our way to the northward and eastward, and were a number of days
+sailing in the Gulf before we reached the latitude of Charleston, where
+we encountered a succession of heavy gales of wind which split our sails
+and carried away the greatest part of our running rigging. Finding our
+water and provisions growing short, we concluded to put into Charleston
+for relief, and the next day the wind proving favorable we steered
+direct for that port, where we anchored in a crippled condition. After
+our arrival there, we wrote to the men whom we supposed were Captain
+Murray's sureties for the charter of the Frances, informing them of our
+misfortune, when they applied to the underwriters for relief. When we
+had waited two or three weeks in Charleston, an agent of the
+underwriters arrived there from New-York, bringing with him rigging and
+sails, when we made some tempory repairs, and then sailed for New-York,
+where we arrived after a passage of two weeks.
+
+After we arrived in port it was discovered that Murray had not over
+twenty dollars when he first undertook the voyage. He was a good looking
+man, and belonged to the Masonic order, could sing a good song, and tell
+a humorous story, and had a peculiar way of gaining the confidence of
+his associates. He had but few personal acquaintances in the city; but
+had obtained security from two or three responsible merchants for the
+charter of the schooner Frances for a voyage of some months, at two
+hundred dollars per month, and they had loaned him money to pay the
+advance wages of the mate and seamen, and supplied him with ship stores,
+besides making large shipments of goods on their own account. He took
+many goods from different people in invoices of from fifty to one
+thousand dollars, agreeing to carry them free from freight, and return
+them one-half of the net profits. Among the shippers was his landlady, a
+poor widow woman, whom he persuaded to make a shipment of crockery
+amounting to fifty or sixty dollars, who, no doubt expected it would be
+sold at California prices. I have since conversed with many of the
+shippers by the Frances on this voyage, who say that they never received
+any returns for the goods which they shipped on board the schooner, or
+any account of the sales of them. The sureties were compelled to pay the
+seamen's wages and all other expenses. Some years after I learned that
+Murray died in some part of Central America.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+Voyage to New Orleans.
+
+
+About the first of December, 1831, I entered into an agreement in
+Philadelphia with a large contractor, who had engaged to open a canal
+from the city of New Orleans to Lake Ponekertrain. He had hired about
+one hundred and fifty men, and chartered a brig to carry them to New
+Orleans. We sailed about the sixth of December, and made our passage out
+in twenty days. The captain of the brig was a young man who was but
+little acquainted with that coast. As he found that I was more
+experienced than himself, he was very civil to me. I gave him
+information about this dangerous coast. On our arrival at New Orleans
+we were conveyed to some large shantees, built for the accommodation of
+the workmen. I was stationed in the store-room, with orders to weigh out
+the provisions, keep a daily account of the expenditures, and make
+weekly returns to the treasurer. This I found a very disagreeable
+situation, as the men were constantly finding fault with their
+provisions, although they were furnished with good tea, coffee, sugar,
+smoked shoulders, potatoes, salt fish, wheat bread and butter every
+Friday, fresh beef twice in the week, and eight glasses of whiskey per
+day. Notwithstanding this good treatment, we had riots among the men
+every few days, and all deficiency in stores or cooking was laid to my
+charge, and they often threatened my life. There were two other
+encampments on the same canal, one on the lake side, and one in the
+middle station, where they murdered one cook, mortally wounded one
+overseer, and severely injured many others.
+
+A few months after they grew so riotous that the City Guards had to be
+called out to suppress them, when they were discharged by the company,
+and I was released from my contract. After they had spent all their
+wages they returned to their work and were very orderly. This canal is
+only six and a half miles long, and eight feet deep, but has added
+greatly to the wealth of the city. There was an old canal, formed mostly
+by nature, running nearly parallel with this new one, having about five
+feet depth of water in it, but it was often so much out of repair as to
+make it difficult to navigate, and as it did not answer the desired
+purpose, the new one was made. I obtained employment in a little
+schooner, which ran between New Orleans and Covington, through the old
+canal, crossing the lake and ascending a small river called Chepunkee,
+navigable some twenty-two miles. We sailed into the mouth of it about
+three miles, and then took in our sails and towed her the remaining
+distance to the little village called Covington. The river is so narrow
+in many places that vessels have scant room to pass by each other; a
+slight current sets down the river the whole time.
+
+At Covington I found a number of steam sawmills, and abundance of sawed
+timber and boards, a few hotels, boarding houses, stores, and a printing
+office and several dwelling houses. This place is considered a healthy
+resort in the sickly season. Many small vessels find employment here in
+transporting lumber, brick, and cotton. We soon took in a cargo of
+lumber and returned to New Orleans, where we discharged it; when I
+entered on board of another schooner and made a trip to Mobile, which I
+found a very handsome city. The houses are built in modern style, the
+place has in it a number of large elegant hotels and stores, and many
+handsome streets. I was much annoyed with musquittoes while we remained
+in port, but soon left for New Orleans, where we landed after a passage
+of two days. In a short time I started for another trip across the
+lake. On my return I was taken sick. Finding that my small means would
+not support me long at a boarding house, and also pay the doctor's
+bills, I applied to the collector of the port, who gave me an order to
+go to the Marine Hospital, supposing I had a just claim to go there
+after paying hospital money to support such institutions over thirty
+years. During my stay in the hospital I found it was a private
+institution; that the collector and the keeper of it were kinsmen, and
+that the collector paid the keeper seventy-five cents per day for the
+board of every seaman he sent there. The daily rations allowed each man
+were about eight or ten ounces of bread, and five or six ounces of fresh
+meat, with the accompaniment of a small bowl of tea. The whole would not
+cost per day over twelve cents per man.
+
+A number of seamen remain here a long time after they are restored to
+health, without receiving a discharge from the doctor, who is making
+fifty cents per day, or more, for their board. These men leave the
+hospital in the morning in pursuit of work, which they generally find,
+purchase their dinners at eating houses, and return to the hospital at
+night, where they receive their small rations and lodgings, the keeper
+pocketing his seventy-five cents per day from government during their
+stay here. They are left to decide for themselves when it is best to be
+well. In consequence of this, many of the sick in the hospital are
+crowded out of comfortable lodgings.
+
+It will easily be seen that the greatest part of the tax collected from
+the hard earnings of seamen is used to enrich political favorites. I
+remained in this establishment about sixty days, during that time the
+yellow fever raged there violently, causing a number of deaths in the
+house. Many patients were brought there who were unable to walk or stand
+on their feet, and were most of them soon cured.
+
+After I left the hospital I found some light employment for a few days,
+when I agreed to take another trip across the lake. Previous to my going
+on board of the vessel I returned to the hospital, where I had left some
+of my clothing, took with me such as I wanted, and left some of my heavy
+articles in charge of a sailor named Daniel Dunn, with whom I had formed
+a short acquaintance in the hospital, and proceeded over the lake, where
+we remained a few days, and then returned to the city. On my return I
+found the cholera had broken out and was raging to such an alarming
+degree that the inhabitants were terror-struck. The returns of deaths
+were over two hundred per day. Laborers wages for digging in the church
+burying ground was seven dollars per day. Not being able to procure
+laborers sufficient to dig single graves, they dug canals about one
+hundred rods in length, of sufficient depth to place three coffins one
+above the other, the water in the bottom of it being about eighteen
+inches deep. All graves dug in New Orleans are half filled with water
+before the coffins are deposited in them.
+
+The morning after my return I proceeded to the hospital to see after my
+clothing. On visiting the building I was much surprised on walking
+through many of the rooms without seeing a living soul. In the back yard
+I found eight or ten dead bodies laying on the ground in a putrid state.
+I then searched the upper stories, and in a room called the small-pox
+ward, I found one dead body laying on a bed covered with a woollen
+blanket, in a very putrid state, the offensive gas rising through the
+blanket like a dense fog. Some few were still alive, but suffering for
+want of attendance. On descending the stairs I met the assistant
+physician of the hospital, and asked him the cause of this great neglect
+of the few who were still living. He told me that Doctor M'Farlane, the
+proprietor, was very sick, and that the cook, steward, washer woman, and
+the black man who conveyed the corpses to the grave, were all dead, and
+that they could not procure any assistance. He asked me if I would try
+to hire some help for him. I told him that I would use my best exertions
+to procure him some, but if I could not obtain any I would assist him
+myself. I then left him and returned to my lodgings. Just before I left
+my boarding house to visit the hospital I heard one of the boarders, a
+journeyman hatter, who had been on a drunken frolic for some days, say
+that he had spent all his money and had not enough left to get his
+bitters that morning. Knowing that the want of money in such
+circumstances stimulate men to undertake unpleasant jobs sooner than go
+without their bitters, I proposed his going to work with me at the
+hospital, and rendering the doctor all the assistance in our power,
+which he readily agreed to. When we arrived at the place I introduced
+the doctor to the hatter. After the introduction was over my partner
+showed a great anxiety to fix on the price of our day's work, which was
+soon settled at five dollars each. The bargain being closed we were
+presented with some antidote, which we were ordered to snuff up our
+noses.
+
+About this time three or four carts arrived at the door, when we were
+requested to assist in carrying out the few sick persons that remained
+in the building, which we found to be only sixteen, being all that were
+left alive out of about sixty inmates that I left there some ten days
+before.
+
+The doctor showed us a number of rough boxes, called coffins, which were
+placed in the back yard. Many of them were made very wide, that they
+might hold two dead bodies. He requested us to harness up a poor old
+half-starved horse, which we found on the premises. After a long search
+we found the old harness scattered about the yard, which we gathered up,
+both of us being ignorant of the way of putting it together. After a
+long consultation we placed it on the horse's back, which was so sore
+that he trembled badly during the operation. After we had rigged him and
+the cart, we agreed to take on one of the double coffins for the first
+load. We opened one of them and placed a large body in it, and then
+hunted for a small one to crowd into the same box; when we had
+accomplished this we attempted to lift the double coffin on to the cart;
+finding that we were not able to accomplish it we were obliged to roll
+it on. I asked the hatter if he would drive the horse to the grave-yard,
+telling him I was unacquainted with that employment. He told me he was a
+stranger to that business, and insisted upon it that I must be the
+driver. I mounted the cart and proceeded towards the burying ground, on
+the road we found the mud so deep that the cart wheels buried themselves
+nearly up to the hubs. After driving nearly a mile we arrived at the
+Catholic burying ground, where we found a long canal and twenty or
+thirty men employed in digging and receiving dead bodies. Before our
+arrival there, a board burst off from the coffin, which caused one arm
+to hang out. The Irish laborers employed there commenced a quarrel with
+us, swearing that they would be the death of us if we brought any more
+coffins there in that situation, and we found some difficulty in
+prevailing upon them to receive the present one. They at last agreed to
+help lift it off the cart. It was then placed in the canal, where the
+water was about two feet deep, two men stood upon it until they put
+another coffin on the top of it, when they placed the third one on the
+top of the second one, making the tier three deep, laying the coffins
+crossways in the canal. When one tier was finished they hove large
+quantities of lime upon it and commenced another.
+
+We now returned to the hospital and took in two more bodies, enclosing
+them in single coffins. This time we found a number of chickens busily
+employed in the hospital yard picking maggots out of the eyes and ears
+of the putrid bodies laying on the ground in the yard. The hatter and
+myself had a long consultation about handling the putrid carcases, and
+agreed between ourselves to pick out the soundest of them first. We
+noticed some cartmen drawing a number of loads of wood and depositing
+them on a vacant lot of ground near the hospital. A report was
+circulated that the Mayor of the city had ordered the building to be
+burned down that night. We proceeded back to the grave-yard, where we
+met with a more peaceable reception. On our return we found the fowls
+still busily engaged on the dead bodies, which had become more putrid
+during our short absence. This was one of the most unpleasant scenes I
+ever witnessed. We stopped on our way and took some refreshments, and
+then conveyed two more loads to the burying ground, carrying two at each
+load.
+
+About sunset we unharnessed our old horse and put him in his place.
+Having satisfied our employer we took our discharge. We agreed between
+ourselves to stop at the hospital a short time and see what disposal was
+to be made of the remaining dead bodies. Soon after sunset some eight or
+ten men made their appearance and took up an old door and bored one or
+two holes through it, and putting a rope through the holes, rolled two
+of the putrid bodies upon it, and then took hold of the rope and dragged
+it to a vacant lot near the hospital, which process they continued until
+they had gathered them all into one heap, when they went to the various
+rooms and took all the beds and bedsteads containing the dead bodies,
+and carried them into the same yard and deposited them on the putrid
+heap; they next broke down the fence to more readily kindle the fire on
+this offensive mass, when they piled on the three cords of wood which
+the Mayor had sent there for that purpose, set it on fire, and consumed
+the whole of it.
+
+On viewing the place, while passing it the next morning, I could not
+discover a particle of bone larger than a man's finger-nail left.
+
+The Cholera raged in New Orleans to a frightful degree for some months
+after; the average number of deaths in the city was two hundred per day
+for several weeks.
+
+Soon after this I made a trip in a little schooner to St. Marks, and a
+small port called Magnolia, in West Florida, and then returned to the
+city, where I remained about two months, when I found employment as a
+mate on board of a brig called the Commodore Barry, bound to New-York,
+where I was to receive my wages and be discharged. We performed our
+passage home without meeting with any occurrence worth recording.
+
+New Orleans is one of the most immoral cities I ever visited. All kinds
+of amusement are indulged in on Sundays: most of the military
+companies, both foot and horse, are assembled on that day in a public
+square in front of the Mayor's office and drilled. The Sabbath is the
+day elected for sham fights. The piazzas of the largest hotels are
+filled with bands of musicians, playing enchanting tunes to attract
+customers. The doors of billiard rooms are thrown open to public view,
+and large sums of money are often bet on the games. Strolling negro
+musicians are found playing on their banjoes and tamborines at the
+corners of the streets. On Sunday evenings, circuses, play-houses and
+gambling rooms, attract a large collection of people.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+Schooner Horizon.
+
+
+Having lost all my property except a small homestead, by the many
+captures I had experienced, the perils of the sea, and the fluctuations
+of prices in the West India produce, and being now out of employment,
+and looking upon every man as slothful who remained idle when he could
+earn a competence by working for less wages then he formerly received, I
+agreed with a young inexperienced captain to perform a voyage with him
+in a small schooner of seventy tons, called the Horizon, from New-York
+to the Island of Teneriffe. My name was entered on the shipping articles
+as mate, although it was verbally understood that I was to be considered
+as the navigator and sailing master.
+
+We commenced loading about the first of January, 1835, with staves and a
+few other articles, and went to sea about the eighth, the vessel being
+deeply loaded, which made her wet and uncomfortable for a winter's
+voyage. We proceeded on the passage without any material accident until
+we arrived in the latitude of Teneriffe, when we were overtaken by a
+violent gale of wind, which lasted nearly two days; we shipped a number
+of seas, which cleared our decks of staves, carried away our bulwarks,
+broke our bowsprit, and sprung the head of our fore-mast; rendering the
+schooner totally unmanageable. The next day the wind abated, and the sea
+became more moderate, when we made all the repairs that our scant
+materials would admit of, and in the afternoon discovered the high Peak
+of Teneriffe. Finding our water running low, having had our last cask
+stove during the gale, we agreed to come upon an allowance of one bottle
+of water for each man per day. The weather became mild, with light
+variable winds, which rendered the vessel quite unmanageable, as we had
+no head sail to keep her before the wind in light breezes. With longing
+eyes we viewed the majestic pyramid for fourteen days, the wind
+remaining the same during all that time, when we approached so near the
+harbor of Oratava that we were boarded by a pilot who conducted us into
+that port. Our schooner's cables being only about forty fathoms long,
+would not reach the bottom in that harbor, and we were obliged to hire a
+cable and anchor to ride by during our stay in port.
+
+While lying here it is necessary to keep a pilot constantly on board,
+that we may be ready to proceed to sea the moment the wind changes so as
+to blow towards the land. After we had remained in the harbor some four
+or five days, and procured carpenters to repair our vessel, a gale of
+wind commenced, and we were compelled to slip our cable and go to sea
+again, where we remained about two days, when we put into the Island of
+Palmos, at which place we continued three or four days. After the gale
+abated we returned to our former anchorage in Oratava harbor.
+
+The harbor of Oratava is surrounded by high rocks, almost perpendicular,
+faced with sharp points, which makes it impossible to ascend them. When
+vessels are wrecked in this place they are very soon dashed to pieces,
+and their crews meet a watery grave. The anchorage is situated about
+twelve miles from the foot of the Peak, where the weather is so mild
+that sailors are working on board vessels with no clothing except shirts
+and trowsers, while the Peak is covered with snow. Our pilot informed me
+that snow fell on the Peak every month in the year except March. The
+snow, from the appearance, forms a body of ice, and the brilliant rays
+of the sun at its rising are reflected on this ice-capped mountain with
+such dazzling light that the beholder is struck with awe as he surveys
+this mighty wonder of the world. I had but one opportunity to visit the
+shore, where I remained but a few moments while signing a protest. My
+short stay prevents my giving the reader any description of the place.
+
+We employed two native carpenters to repair the damages the schooner had
+received on the passage, they came on board early every morning,
+bringing their dinners with them, which consisted of a six cent loaf of
+wheat bread, one head of lettuce, and a bottle of wine; this being the
+only food they had. At twelve o'clock they sat down on deck, made their
+meal and drank the wine. They brought on board a few very coarse
+carpenter's tools, among which was a hand-saw that attracted my
+particular attention, as it had a small hole in the point of it, through
+which they put a nail gimblet; when they wanted to split a board they
+lined in the usual manner, then placed one end on the deck and raised
+the other end up to an angle of about forty-five degrees, being
+supported by a saw-bench, when one of them took the saw by the handle in
+the common way, while the other put the gimblet through the hole in the
+point, which he took hold of by placing his fingers on both sides of the
+blade, and assisted in drawing the saw through the board, his comrade
+shoving on the other end; this was the first time I ever knew that it
+took two men to work one hand-saw.
+
+The expenses of repairs here are very great. I think one American
+carpenter will perform more labor in one day than six of those natives.
+
+We were detained here a long time in discharging our cargo for want of
+lighters, being obliged to land it in small boats, which made but a few
+trips on shore each day, the same boats bringing back our return cargo.
+Our supply of fire wood getting very short we inquired the price of that
+article on shore, and found that they asked twenty dollars per cord for
+it. We purchased a few sacks of coal for the return passage. After
+remaining here some weeks we sailed for New-York, where we shortly
+arrived, all in good health. The cargo was soon discharged, all hands
+paid, and I returned to my home.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+Sinking of the Sloop First Consul.
+
+
+About the first of September, 1842, two of my friends in New-York
+purchased a Sloop called the First Consul, about twenty-five tons
+burden, and gave me the charge of her with orders to employ her in any
+trade I thought proper to earn a living in. I remained in the city some
+weeks seeking employment for my vessel, but after many applications for
+freights, without success, I found myself disappointed in my
+calculations in obtaining business for her in the city. As a last
+resort, I determined to proceed up the Hudson River as far as Rondout,
+where I expected to procure some small freights of coal to deliver at
+the neighboring villages on the river.
+
+On the fifteenth of October I left New-York for Rondout, where I
+obtained a freight of about thirty tons of coal to be delivered at
+Poughkeepsie. We loaded and left for our port of destination, where we
+discharged our cargo and agreed to return and take in another for the
+same company. Finding the sloop proved leaky I proceeded home to
+Catskill, where I procured a caulker and gave her some repairs, when we
+returned to Rondout and took on board another cargo of coal. Supposing
+the vessel to be perfectly tight in her upper works after the
+overhauling she had received, we loaded her deep, in order to take a
+full canal boat's cargo on board. After we had proceeded some distance
+on our passage we discovered that the vessel leaked badly. We had light
+baffling winds during the night, and tried the pump hourly. Finding we
+could keep her free without very heavy fatigue, we apprehended no
+serious danger, and soon arrived at the same wharf in Poughkeepsie where
+we had landed our last cargo, and hauled into a small slip which I
+considered a very safe harbor. I had one man on board with me, whom I
+told we would get some breakfast, when we would go below and take a
+short nap, as we had been on deck all night; after which would find the
+owner of the coal and obtain leave to discharge the deck load that day,
+although it was Sunday. We then retired into the cabin and laid down to
+sleep, it being about eight o'clock in the morning. After laying about
+two hours I was aroused by a loud cry, "Come out, come out, you are
+sinking." I sprang upon my feet, determined to save my trunk and
+clothing, which I was prevented from doing by a column of water rushing
+in at the cabin door. I forced myself upon deck, which at this time was
+some feet under water, when I found my legs entangled with old rigging
+and lumber. While trying to extricate them, the shore being steep the
+vessel settled down, which parted the hawser that held her fast to the
+wharf, when she slid off into the channel and sunk in thirty feet water,
+with all my clothing, &c. and I was compelled to swim on shore, which I
+reached in a shivering condition, but was soon furnished with dry
+clothing, and treated in the kindest manner by a gentleman living near
+by.
+
+Two or three days after I hired two vessels, procured spars, chains, and
+necessary apparatus, together with a number of men, and made an attempt
+to raise the First Consul. After several days' hard labor and fatigue we
+succeeded in raising her, so as to float her on the flats, when we
+bailed the water out and discharged the coal from her hold, the bulk of
+the deck load having been washed overboard. I found most of my clothing,
+books, papers, &c. in the cabin in a very dirty condition. My troubles
+did not end here: before I could receive any assistance from my friends,
+the sloop was attached for the expenses of getting her up, and sold for
+less than the amount of the bills, when I returned home penniless, my
+mind fixed on the distich--
+
+  Since all things to destruction tend,
+  My voyage of life will shortly end.
+
+
+
+
+FINIS.
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes.
+
+There are many spelling irregularities and inconsistencies in this book.
+The ones most obviously printing errors have been corrected as noted
+below. Others were left as printed in the text. These include: "ancles"
+and "ankles;" "alledging;" "armadilla;" "attrocities" and "atrocities;"
+"Baratara" is probably "Barataria;" "bed quilt" and bed-quilt;" "Bigman
+Bank" and "Bigman's Bank;" possibly "Boro Toro" and "Boco Toro" are the
+same place; "Bogata" for "Bogota;" "Britanic;" "callipach" for
+"carapace;" "cassader" and "cassauder" for "cassava;" "chissels;"
+(Emperor) "Christoff" and "Christophe," presumably the same person;
+"Lieutenant Coakley" and "Lieutenant Cookley;" "cocoa nuts" and
+"cocoa-nuts;" "cowhides" and "cow-hides;" "errant" for "errand;"
+"equiped;" "facinating;" "favourite" and "favorite;" "fopish;"
+"gratulations;" "Grenada" and "Greneda;" "guana" is possibly "iguana;"
+(Captain) "Humphreys" and "Humphrey", probably the same person;
+"journies;" "Leforet" and "Laforet;" "Lynn Haven" and "Lynhaven;"
+"mattrass" for "mattress;" "Mr. Mores" and "Mr. Morse", on page 134;
+"Musquitto," "Musquito," "Mosquitto" and "Mosquito" (the tribe and
+coast); "musquitto," "mosquito" and "mosquitto" (the insect); "out-fit"
+and "outfit;" "out-sailed" and "outsailed;" "polution;" "Ponekertrain"
+for "Ponchartrain;" "Port au Prince" and "Port-au-Prince;" "practice(s)"
+and "practise(d);" "sailer" and "sailor" for a ship (not a seaman, which
+is always "sailor"); "shantees;" "St. Andrews" and "St. Andreas;"
+"sun-set" and "sunset;" "Captain Teft" and "Captain Tefts;" "temporary"
+and "tempory;" "threshhold;" "too," as in "laying too," "hove too,"
+etc.; "visiters;" "water-mellons;" "wilkes" for "whelks."
+
+Left "Captain's Mitchell and Lafitte" on page 4, although "Captains"
+would have been more grammatical.
+
+Changed period to comma on page 7: "Corn Island,"; and on page 8:
+"Royalists of Port-au-Prince,".
+
+Changed "Schoouer to "Schooner" on page 8: "English Schooner."
+
+Changed "Croswel" to "Croswell" on page 10: "Thomas O'Hara Croswell."
+
+Added comma after "Stonington" on page 14: "Stonington, Connecticut."
+
+Left "the commodores word" on page 22, although "commodore's" would have
+been more grammatical.
+
+Changed "Ramalies" to "Ramillies" in the caption to the figure for page
+26.
+
+Changed "patatoes" to "potatoes" on page 31: "potatoes to be worth."
+
+Changed period to comma on page 37, after "blockading Savannah at the
+time."
+
+Changed "sailidg ing" to "sailing" on page 37: "After sailing."
+
+Changed "blocakding" to "blockading" on page 39: "an old blockading
+decree."
+
+Changed "fustick" to "fustic" on page 40: "fustic, sarsaparilla, &c."
+
+Changed "he" to "the" on page 50: "made the threat."
+
+Added closing double quote on page 53 after: "and every thing you want."
+
+Changed "ran" to "run" on page 68: "who had run away."
+
+Changed "day-light" to "daylight" on page 69: "until daylight."
+
+Changed "Coloured" to "Colored" in the caption to the figure on page 88.
+
+Left "a weavers spool" as is on page 98, even though "weaver's" would
+have been more grammatical.
+
+Changed "licence" to "license" on page 126: "received the license."
+
+Changed "lea" to "lee" on page 127: "lee of an island."
+
+Changed "feathes" to "feathers" on page 130: "ornamented with feathers."
+
+Changed "traveling" to "travelling" on page 131: "we were travelling."
+
+Left "manatee's" on page 148, even though "manatees" would have been
+more grammatical.
+
+Changed "birth" to "berth" on page 166: "a damned good berth."
+
+Page 187 refers to "Cape Francios" in the Dominican Republic. Although
+this is probably "Cape Francois", it was left as is.
+
+Removed extra single quote before "in addition" on page 200.
+
+Left "your's very truly" on page 204, even though "yours" would have
+been more grammatical.
+
+Changed "anothor" to "another" on page 209: "followed by another."
+
+Changed "throwu" to "thrown" on page 215: "thrown overboard."
+
+Changed "earnesly" to "earnestly" on page 220: "He earnestly entreated."
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Journal of Voyages, by Jacob Dunham
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOURNAL OF VOYAGES ***
+
+***** This file should be named 33835-8.txt or 33835-8.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/8/3/33835/
+
+Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Stephen H. Sentoff and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+(This file was produced from images generously made
+available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+http://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at http://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit http://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/33835-8.zip b/33835-8.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..707e080
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835-8.zip
diff --git a/33835-h.zip b/33835-h.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c020b22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835-h.zip
diff --git a/33835-h/33835-h.htm b/33835-h/33835-h.htm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ac6bd2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835-h/33835-h.htm
@@ -0,0 +1,6674 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+    "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
+<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ -->
+
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">
+  <head>
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" />
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />
+    <title>
+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Journal of Voyages, by Captain Jacob Dunham.
+    </title>
+    <style type="text/css">
+
+body {
+    margin-left: 10%;
+    margin-right: 10%;
+}
+
+    h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {
+    text-align: center; /* all headings centered */
+    clear: both;
+}
+
+p {
+    margin-top: .75em;
+    text-align: justify;
+    margin-bottom: .75em;
+}
+
+hr {
+    width: 33%;
+    margin-top: 2em;
+    margin-bottom: 2em;
+    margin-left: auto;
+    margin-right: auto;
+    clear: both;
+}
+hr.tb {
+    width:45%;
+}
+hr.chap {
+    width:65%;
+}
+hr.full {
+    width:95%;
+}
+
+table {
+    margin-left: auto;
+    margin-right: auto;
+}
+
+.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */
+    /*  visibility: hidden;  */
+    position: absolute;
+    left: 92%;
+    font-size: smaller;
+    text-align: right;
+} /* page numbers */
+
+.linenum {
+    position: absolute;
+    top: auto;
+    left: 4%;
+} /* poetry number */
+
+.blockquot {
+    margin-left: 5%;
+    margin-right: 10%;
+}
+
+.sidenote {
+    width: 20%;
+    padding-bottom: .5em;
+    padding-top: .5em;
+    padding-left: .5em;
+    padding-right: .5em;
+    margin-left: 1em;
+    float: right;
+    clear: right;
+    margin-top: 1em;
+    font-size: smaller;
+    color: black;
+    background: #eeeeee;
+    border: dashed 1px;
+}
+
+.bb       {border-bottom: solid 2px;}
+
+.bl       {border-left: solid 2px;}
+
+.bt       {border-top: solid 2px;}
+
+.br       {border-right: solid 2px;}
+
+.bbox     {border: solid 2px;}
+
+.center   {text-align: center;}
+
+.smcap    {font-variant: small-caps;}
+
+.u        {text-decoration: underline;}
+
+.caption  {font-weight: bold;}
+
+/* Images */
+.figcenter   {
+    margin: auto;
+    text-align: center;
+}
+
+.figleft {
+    float: left;
+    clear: left;
+    margin-left: 0;
+    margin-bottom: 1em;
+    margin-top: 1em;
+    margin-right: 1em;
+    padding: 0;
+    text-align: center;
+}
+
+.figright {
+    float: right;
+    clear: right;
+    margin-left: 1em;
+    margin-bottom:
+    1em;
+    margin-top: 1em;
+    margin-right: 0;
+    padding: 0;
+    text-align: center;
+}
+
+/* Footnotes */
+.footnotes        {border: dashed 1px;}
+
+.footnote         {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;}
+
+.footnote .label  {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;}
+
+.fnanchor {
+    vertical-align: super;
+    font-size: .8em;
+    text-decoration:
+    none;
+}
+
+/* Poetry */
+.poem {
+    margin-left:10%;
+    margin-right:10%;
+    text-align: left;
+}
+
+.poem br {display: none;}
+
+.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;}
+
+.poem span.i0 {
+    display: block;
+    margin-left: 0em;
+    padding-left: 3em;
+    text-indent: -3em;
+}
+
+.poem span.i2 {
+    display: block;
+    margin-left: 2em;
+    padding-left: 3em;
+    text-indent: -3em;
+}
+
+.poem span.i4 {
+    display: block;
+    margin-left: 4em;
+    padding-left: 3em;
+    text-indent: -3em;
+}
+
+.tocnum {
+    position: absolute;
+    right: 20%;
+    top: auto;
+    text-align: right;
+}
+
+/* Non-headings that display like them */
+div.likeheading1 {
+    text-align:center;
+    margin-bottom: 2em;
+    font-weight: bold;
+    font-size:200%;
+}
+div.likeheading2 {
+    text-align:center;
+    margin-bottom: 2em;
+    font-weight: bold;
+    font-size:150%;
+}
+div.likeheading3 {
+    text-align:center;
+    margin-bottom: 2em;
+    font-weight: bold;
+    font-size:120%;
+}
+
+.lsoff {
+    list-style-type:none;
+}
+    </style>
+  </head>
+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Journal of Voyages, by Jacob Dunham
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Journal of Voyages
+       Containing an Account of the Author's being Twice Captured
+              by the English and Once by Gibbs the Pirate...
+
+Author: Jacob Dunham
+
+Release Date: October 3, 2010 [EBook #33835]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOURNAL OF VOYAGES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Stephen H. Sentoff and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+(This file was produced from images generously made
+available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/fig001.jpg" alt="" /><br />CAPT. JACOB DUNHAM.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+
+<h1>
+JOURNAL OF VOYAGES:</h1>
+
+<div class="likeheading3">CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF</div>
+<div class="likeheading2">THE AUTHOR'S BEING TWICE CAPTURED BY THE ENGLISH</div>
+<div class="likeheading3">AND ONCE BY</div>
+<div class="likeheading2">GIBBS THE PIRATE;</div>
+
+<div class="likeheading3">HIS NARROW ESCAPE WHEN</div>
+<div class="likeheading2">CHASED BY AN ENGLISH WAR SCHOONER;</div>
+
+<div class="likeheading3">AS WELL AS HIS BEING</div>
+<div class="likeheading3">CAST AWAY AND RESIDING WITH INDIANS.</div>
+
+<div class="likeheading3">TO WHICH IS ADDED</div>
+
+<p class="center">Some account of the Soil, Products, Laws and Customs of Chagres,
+the Musquitto Shore, and St. Blas, at the Isthmus of Darien.</p>
+
+<div class="likeheading2" style="margin-top:2em;">With Illustrations.</div>
+
+<div class="likeheading2">BY CAPTAIN JACOB DUNHAM.</div>
+
+<p class="center">NEW-YORK:</p>
+
+<p class="center">PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR,<br />
+And Sold by Huestis &amp; Cozans, 104 and 106 Nassau-street.</p>
+
+<p class="center">1850.
+</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p class="center">Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year of our Lord one
+thousand eight hundred and fifty, by JACOB DUNHAM, in the Clerk's Office
+of the District Court of the Southern District of New-York.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="tb" />
+<p class="center">
+D. Fanshaw, Printer and Stereotyper,<br />
+35 Ann, corner of Nassau-street.<br />
+</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2>
+
+
+
+<div style="margin-right:15em;">
+<ul class="lsoff">
+<li>&nbsp; <span class="tocnum">page.</span></li>
+
+<li><a href="#AUTHORS_APOLOGY"><span class="smcap">Author's Apology</span></a>, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></span></li>
+
+<li><a href="#EARLY_LIFE"><span class="smcap">Early Life of the Author</span></a>, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_11">11</a></span></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><span class="smcap">Chapter I.</span></a>&mdash;Sloop Rover
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Capture by the English&mdash;Sale and sinking of the Sloop Rover, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><span class="smcap">Chap. II.</span></a>&mdash;Sloop New-York
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Second capture by the English&mdash;Exchange of Prisoners, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_30">30</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><span class="smcap">Chap. III.</span></a>&mdash;Sloop Biddle
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Captain's Mitchell and Lafitte, the Pirates, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><span class="smcap">Chap. IV.</span></a>
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Casting away of the Sloop Biddle near Waa-waa River&mdash;with
+some account of the Indians, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_52">52</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><span class="smcap">Chap. V.</span></a>
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Pearl Key Lagoon, and more of the Indians, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_70">70</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><span class="smcap">Chap. VI.</span></a>
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Runaway Negroes among the Indians&mdash;The Sookerman, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_77">77</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><span class="smcap">Chap. VII.</span></a>&mdash;Visit to Corn Island, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_89">89</a></span></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. VIII.</span></a>&mdash;Visit to Bluefields
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Permit of George Frederick, King of the Musquitto Nation, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_92">92</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><span class="smcap">Chap. IX.</span></a>&mdash;Mode of Taking Turtle
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Musquitto Laws&mdash;Produce&mdash;Customs, &amp;c. <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_98">98</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_X"><span class="smcap">Chap. X.</span></a>
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Some description of the country and inhabitants of the
+Musquitto Nation, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_105">105</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XI.</span></a>&mdash;Sloop Governor Tompkins, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_111">111</a></span></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XII.</span></a>&mdash;Schooner Price, First Voyage
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Leading the dance in Old Providence&mdash;A ball at St. Andreas, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_115">115</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XIII.</span></a>&mdash;Schooner Price, Second Voyage
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Landing at St. Blas, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_120">120</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XIV.</span></a>
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>The harbor of Little Cordee&mdash;Trading with the Indians, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_125">125</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XV.</span></a>&mdash;Schooner Price, Third Voyage
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>A fleet of Patriots (or pirates) at Old Providence, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_140">140</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XVI.</span></a>&mdash;Schooner Price, Fourth Voyage
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Our Boats fired into at Corn Island, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_151">151</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XVII.</span></a>&mdash;Schooner Enterprise, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_160">160</a></span></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XVIII.</span></a>&mdash;Schooner Felicity
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Republicans and Royalists of Port-au-Prince, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_162">162</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"><span class="smcap">Chap. XIX.</span></a>&mdash;Schooner Felicity, Second Voyage
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>The smartest Padre (or priest) in the West Indies, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_167">167</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XX"><span class="smcap">Chap. XX.</span></a>&mdash;Schooner Combine
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Captured by the Pirates&mdash;Placed in the ring to be
+shot&mdash;Capture of the Aristides by Pirates, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_170">170</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXI.</span></a>&mdash;Schooner Combine, Second Voyage
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Our trade in Horses&mdash;The Yellow Fever at
+Port-au-Prince&mdash;Counterfeit Coin&mdash;Arbitrary Laws, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_187">187</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXII.</span></a>&mdash;Schooner Combine, Third Voyage, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_194">194</a></span></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXIII.</span></a>
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Capture of the Piratical Vessels by
+Lieutenant Commandant Allen, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_199">199</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXIV.</span></a>&mdash;Schooner Allen
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Chased by an English Schooner&mdash;Horrible attrocities
+committed by Pirates on the Spanish Main, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXV.</span></a>&mdash;Schooner Frances
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Trading Voyage to Musquitto Shore, Chagres,
+Porto Bello, &amp;c.&mdash;The Author officiates at a christening, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_216">216</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXVI.</span></a>&mdash;Voyage to New Orleans
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>The Hospital&mdash;Direful visitation of the
+Yellow Fever&mdash;Disposal of the Dead, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_226">226</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXVII.</span></a>&mdash;Schooner Horizon
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Peak of Teneriffe&mdash;Queer Carpenter, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_236">236</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+
+<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXVIII.</span></a>&mdash;The Sloop First Consul
+<ul class="lsoff"><li>Sinking of the Sloop&mdash;and return home penniless, <span class="tocnum"><a href="#Page_240">240</a></span></li>
+</ul></li>
+</ul></div>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="AUTHORS_APOLOGY" id="AUTHORS_APOLOGY"></a>AUTHOR'S APOLOGY.</h2>
+
+
+<p><i>In presenting the following Voyages to the public, I must inform my
+readers that I have had but a common school education, and am
+unaccustomed to composition. I can only tell my story in a plain
+straight forward way, not being able to ornament it with flowery
+language.</i></p>
+
+<p><i>My Voyages were all written by myself. I employed competent persons to
+copy the work from my manuscript, and they corrected the small
+inaccuracies that had escaped my observation.</i></p>
+
+<p><i>I thought, that although my book might contain many defects, if
+composed by myself, that it would still gain more than it lost, by being
+the production of the very person who had seen and taken part in the
+scenes he related, and could vouch for the truth of all he had
+witnessed. It is not given to the public as a specimen of the beautiful
+in style, but as the story of an old sea captain who had lived in one of
+the most eventful periods of our country's history; and one who had
+nearly arrived at his last anchorage.</i></p>
+
+<p><i>With this brief outline of my life, and this short explanation, I
+commit my little book, with confidence, to an indulgent public.</i></p>
+
+<p style="margin-left:50%;"><i>Jacob Dunham.</i></p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="RECOMMENDATIONS" id="RECOMMENDATIONS"></a>RECOMMENDATIONS.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Captain Jacob Dunham, having applied to the Congress of the United
+States, for relief, on account of losses sustained by him by piratical
+robbery, We, the undersigned, do hereby certify that we are well
+acquainted with the said Jacob Dunham, have known him for many years
+past, that he is a man of truth and veracity, and that his statements
+are entitled to full faith and credit:</p>
+
+<ul class="lsoff">
+<li><span class="smcap">Thomas O'Hara Croswell</span>,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Post-Master, Catskill.</span></li>
+<li><span class="smcap">Abel Bruce, M. D.</span></li>
+<li><span class="smcap">Robert Dorlon, Esq.</span></li>
+<li><span class="smcap">Orrin Day</span>,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">President of Tanner's Bank, Catskill.</span></li>
+<li><span class="smcap">Hon. Malebone Watson</span>,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Judge of Supreme Court, New-York.</span></li>
+<li><span class="smcap">Hon. John Adams</span>.</li>
+<li><span class="smcap">Caleb Day, Esq.</span></li>
+<li><span class="smcap">J. D. Beers</span>,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">President of Bank of North America, New-York.</span></li>
+<li><span class="smcap">Jacob Haight</span>,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Treasurer of State of New-York.</span></li>
+<li><span class="smcap">Hon. Zadock Pratt</span>.</li>
+<li><span class="smcap">T. K. Cooke</span>,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Member of New-York Assembly.</span></li>
+<li><span class="smcap">James Powers</span>,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">State Senator.</span></li>
+<li><span class="smcap">Calvin Balis</span>,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Alderman of New-York City.</span></li>
+<li><span class="smcap">W. P. Hallett</span>,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Clerk of the Supreme Court of State of New-York.</span></li>
+<li><span class="smcap">Edwin Croswell</span>,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">State Printer, Albany, New-York.</span></li>
+</ul>
+
+<p><i>Catskill, New-York, December 30, 1839</i></p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="EARLY_LIFE" id="EARLY_LIFE"></a>EARLY LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.</h2>
+
+
+<p>On the twenty-seventh day of April, 1779, in the town of Colchester, in
+the State of Connecticut, I was launched into the world, and entered on
+the tempestuous voyage of life.</p>
+
+<p>While yet an infant at the breast, <span class="smcap">fate</span> snatched me from my mother's
+arms, viewed me with a scornful eye, and exclaimed, "I doom this babe <i>a
+slave to hardships, dangers, and disappointments</i>."</p>
+
+<p>The following pages will show how far the prophecy has been fulfilled.
+My father, Samuel Dunham, was a Warrant Officer in the American Navy
+during the Revolutionary War, and followed the sea during almost his
+whole life-time. Whether the occupation of my father before me has had
+anything to do in shaping my course in life, the author is not wise
+enough to say, but leaves it to those who make greater pretensions than
+himself.</p>
+
+<p>In the year 1785, the Author emigrated, along with his father, to where
+the village of Catskill now stands. The whole village contained but
+seven houses, and was cut up into cultivated fields and gardens. My
+father having bought half an acre of ground situated about where the
+Greene County Hotel now stands, built himself a small house. After
+living in Catskill about one year, my uncle sent for me to come to
+Connecticut and live with him, which I did. I returned to Catskill in
+the Spring of 1793, and then went as an apprentice to the Messrs. Thomas
+O'H. &amp; Mackay Croswell, Printers, who then published a small newspaper
+called <i>The Catskill Packet</i>. I lived with the Croswell's about six
+years and a half, where I was well treated. Having a great desire to see
+some of the world, I went to Charleston, South Carolina, where I found
+employment <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>in a Printing Office for a few months. During that winter I
+witnessed a large funeral procession in that city in commemoration of
+the death of General Washington. In the Spring of 1800, I returned to
+Catskill, and found some employment in the coasting trade, on the Hudson
+River. During the summer and the winter following, I made three voyages
+to Charleston and Savannah, and then returned to Catskill and worked at
+the Printing business about two years. I then made one voyage to the
+Island of St. Croix as a seaman. During this time I was married, in
+Catskill, in August, 1801, to a young woman named Fanny Morgan. I then
+found employment in the coasting trade in different vessels for one or
+two years, when I entered the employment of Messrs. T. B. &amp; A. Cooke, as
+one-fourth owner of a packet sloop which sailed between Catskill and
+New-York, where we did a good business for many years. Not being content
+in doing well and making money in a moderate way, and a war breaking out
+between England and America, I determined to try my luck again on the
+Ocean; picturing to myself a rapid increase of the little property I had
+gained by hard and slow earnings.</p>
+
+<p>From the time I left this safe business to embark on the Ocean, my
+adventures predicted by dame Fate, commenced. Since that time I have
+been rudely driven by winds and storms, captured by enemies, robbed by
+pirates, and have made many hair-breadth escapes both by sea and land,
+until the present time. I have now brought my poor old sheer hulk to
+anchor in the harbor of Catskill.</p>
+
+<p>Not having much to occupy my mind, I frequently take a survey of my past
+life, which has been checkered with many frightful scenes.</p>
+
+<p>Being strongly urged by many old friends, for several years past, to
+publish some account of my unfortunate adventures, I have reluctantly
+yielded to their request. In so doing, I must crave the indulgence of my
+readers.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p>
+<div class="likeheading1">CAPTAIN DUNHAM'S<br />
+NINETEEN VOYAGES.</div>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2>
+
+<div class="center" style="margin-bottom:1.5em;">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr><td align="left">"The sailor ploughs the raging main,<br />
+"In hopes a competence to gain,<br />
+"And when his toil and danger's o'er,<br />
+"Safe anchors on his native shore."</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<div class="likeheading2">Sloop Rover.</div>
+
+
+<p>About the middle of May, in the year 1813, having a great desire to
+engage in some adventure; and hoping that fortune would smile upon my
+undertakings, I purchased of Messrs. Coddington &amp; Thorp, of New-York,
+one quarter of an old Sloop called the Rover; for which I paid one
+hundred and twenty-five dollars. Messrs. Coddington &amp; Thorp, and Captain
+Silus S. Vail, were owners of the other three-quarters.</p>
+
+<p>The Rover was an old condemned sea vessel, having old thin sails, two
+deck beams broken, without top-mast, and a large piece of leather two
+feet square nailed over a rotten plank in her bottom.</p>
+
+<p>As this was during the last war between the United States and England,
+the port of New-York <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>and our whole north-eastern coast was closely
+blockaded by English shipping. It therefore became necessary for our
+citizens to transport large quantities of flour and other commodities
+from Baltimore and adjoining towns, to New-York by land; and from thence
+to be conveyed to the Eastern markets. The expense of transporting flour
+and other heavy articles by land, caused speculators and traders to seek
+shipments by water to Eastern ports. Freights of course were high, and
+but little attention paid by merchants to the crafts they chartered. A
+number of old vessels were offered for freight, the Rover rating No. 1
+among them. The carrying business being well up, and much in that line
+offering, I embraced a proposal of one dollar per barrel for
+transporting 500 barrels of flour and 70 barrels of bread from New-York
+to Providence, Rhode Island.</p>
+
+<p>I sailed from New-York about the 20th of May, intending to run through
+the most exposed places in the night, watching the movements of the
+blockading vessels closely, and when I got into a good harbor I intended
+to remain there until another dark night.</p>
+
+<p>In heavy gales of wind the blockading ships generally put to sea for
+their own safety; which gave me an opportunity to make my passage
+unmolested.</p>
+
+<p>I arrived, after a passage of forty-eight hours, at Stonington,
+Connecticut, without discovering any of the vessels of the enemy. I
+found a number of vessels had taken shelter in that harbor to avoid an
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>English frigate which was cruising between Block Island and Newport. I
+remained at Stonington a few days, when a dark night appearing, I again
+made sail, and arrived at Providence, my port of destination, in safety.
+We landed our cargo, and Mr. Thorp, one of the owners, who had
+accompanied me for that purpose, was left to dispose of it.</p>
+
+<p>Two or three days after unloading my vessel, I again sailed for
+New-York. We anchored at the mouth of Newport harbor for the purpose of
+awaiting an opportunity of returning when the blockading frigate should
+stand out to sea. I had to wait but a few days; as soon as I saw she was
+far enough from the port I made sail, and by keeping near the shore,
+arrived at Stonington without molestation from the enemy. Here I learned
+that New London, a port between me and my destination, was closely
+blockaded by a British fleet consisting of two 74 gun ships and two
+frigates. There were ten or twelve sail of coasting vessels then lying
+in the harbor at Stonington, most of which had been East with cargoes,
+and were waiting for dark nights or other favorable opportunities to
+pass the blockading squadron. I remained here eight or ten days. During
+this time the inhabitants of the town were much alarmed, fearing the
+enemy would send in armed boats to cut out our vessels, and by that
+means annoy the inhabitants and fire the town.</p>
+
+<p>To show our patriotism and courage, a meeting was called of the officers
+and crews of all the vessels <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>in the harbor. We volunteered our services
+to stand night watches, and do all in our power in case an attack should
+be made. Our means of defence were scanty; a few fowling guns being the
+only weapons we had on board our vessels.</p>
+
+<p>Some of the inhabitants finally procured for us an old ship gun, which
+we loaded with powder, but could not procure balls to fit it. We at
+length found one which we imagined we could force into the gun. After a
+long time, with a sledge and crowbar, we succeeded in driving it within
+six or eight inches of the cartridge.</p>
+
+<p>The captains drew lots for the first watch, which fell upon me. I took
+charge of the watch until 12 o'clock that night, and was much pleased
+that we were not annoyed by the enemy, as I concluded that the firing of
+our own gun would make more havoc among us than all the enemy could
+bring against us. At the close of my watch I learned that two Sag-harbor
+vessels were getting under weigh, intending to pass through Plum Gut,
+which would conduct them some distance from where the enemy lay at
+anchor. As it was a dark night, and not being myself a good pilot
+through that passage, I concluded to follow them. The wind being light,
+they outsailed my vessel until I lost sight of them. About break of day
+it was so calm that I could not pass the fleet or get back to
+Stonington. I soon discovered a barge in pursuit of me, but there was no
+way of escape. The boat had on board a lieutenant, a midshipman, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>and
+twelve armed men. They left a prize master and two men to take charge of
+my sloop, and then proceeded to capture another small vessel at that
+time in sight. They soon overhauled her; but as she had nothing of value
+on board, having only some household furniture, and women and children,
+they let her pass. Three of the British vessels after firing a number of
+guns toward the shore proceeded to sea, while my vessel was taken within
+a small distance of the commodore's ship, which remained at anchor.</p>
+
+<p>And here, as I deem it will not be altogether uninteresting to my
+readers, I will make a slight digression, in giving a brief description
+of the personal history of Commodore Hardy; for such was the name of the
+officer who had command of the fleet which had captured us. Although
+some Americans are under the impression that nothing good can come from
+British officers, which idea in many instances has been justified; yet,
+with regard to Sir Thomas Hardy, it might truly be said, that he was
+"One of Nature's noblemen;" for such his conduct to myself and crew
+fully showed him to be. He appeared to be a man about forty-five years
+of age, about six feet in height, elegantly formed, and possessing a
+benign expression of countenance, scarcely to be expected from one who
+had been following, from his youth, a sea-faring life, and had been
+engaged in some of the most bloody naval battles on record. When a poor
+boy he was taken on board the English <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>fleet by Lord Nelson, continued
+with him during his various engagements, and became Nelson's principal
+fighting commander. At the battle of Trafalgar the admiral died in his
+arms.</p>
+
+<p>On a signal being made we were ordered on board the commodore's ship. My
+vessel being old and shabby, I thought it best to keep on my working
+clothes to show my apparent poverty, which would excite some sympathy,
+but I had a good suit of clothes in my chest. When I got on board I
+found I was in his majesty's ship Ramillies, Sir T. W. Hardy, commander.
+I cast my eyes about in as awkward a manner as I could; the officers
+gathered round to have a little sport with a poor Yankee. They commenced
+their conversation by asking me if I were ever on board of a
+seventy-four before; I answered in the negative. The captain of marines
+then, taking hold of my striped cotton pantaloons, asked me if we made
+such fine cloth as that in our country. I told him a little, just to
+cover our nakedness during the war. Soon after a message came for me to
+go aft to see the commodore. I thought I would show myself very
+submissive by taking off my hat and putting it under my arm. The first
+salutation I had from him was, "Put on your hat, sir. Did you know that
+we were lying here." "Yes, sir," was my reply. He said, "How dare you
+venture out." I answered that I had been lying at Stonington a number of
+days, waiting for a dark night to get past him. He then told me he must
+burn my vessel and send me <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>to Halifax. I told him if the sentence was
+irrevocable, I had nothing to offer. I then left him and went forward
+and sat down on a gun in a pensive manner. He soon accosted me by asking
+me to go and get some breakfast, saying, "If I keep you I will not
+starve you to death." I thanked him, but told him I had taken breakfast
+before I left his prize. I kept my seat on the gun for a long time,
+until I excited the attention of the sailors, one of whom accosted me by
+saying, "Captain, don't look so sorrowful, our captain is a damned
+clever fellow; I guess he will give up your old serving mallet," as he
+called my sloop. "Yes," said another, "I would willingly give up my
+share, for it will not be enough to make more than a glass of grog
+apiece." The officers made themselves merry by passing many jokes with
+me, supposing they had a green Yankee to sport with. In the afternoon
+the commodore said, pointing towards my vessel, "That is a fine large
+sloop of yours; can't you give me fifteen hundred dollars for her; I am
+going to send two officers on board to prize her." I told him that was
+three times more than she was worth, and five times more than I was
+worth; that she was an old condemned vessel; that he could not send her
+to Halifax or Bermuda. I told him I thought if I could get on shore I
+could raise one hundred dollars, and perhaps that would be a
+compensation for the trouble he had in capturing her; that I presumed he
+would make a target of her to fire at if he retained her. He then left
+me: about half-an-hour <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>after he called me into his cabin and said that
+he wanted to raise a little money to distribute among his crew; that he
+had not enough to allow one dollar apiece to them. Said he, "I want to
+use your old sloop for about three days. If you think you can raise one
+hundred dollars by going on shore, you can take your boat and go; and if
+you return in three days with the money, you shall have your sloop
+restored to you."</p>
+
+<p>My two men immediately hauled the boat alongside ready for embarking. I
+bid the commodore good-by, and was going over the ship's side, when he
+called me back, saying, "I must parole you before you go!" "Just as you
+please," said I. "He said he was only doing me a favor, for then my own
+countrymen could neither draft nor impress me after I landed." I then
+took my boat and proceeded to Stonington, and arrived there that
+evening. I found most of the vessels that I left there before my
+departure. The captains assembled around me, eager to learn the news. I
+related my story and the bargain I had made with the commodore. Some
+thought I had made a good bargain, while others thought me foolish;
+saying, that if I returned on board he would keep my hundred dollars and
+send me to Halifax as a prisoner. The next day I negotiated with a
+merchant of that place for a loan of eighty dollars, by giving a draft
+on my friend in New-York for eighty-six dollars, and pledging my watch,
+quadrant, charts, &amp;c. and a note I held against a merchant in New-York
+of one hundred <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>dollars, as a security for the payment of the draft.
+This, with thirty dollars in bills, which I had in my pocket, was more
+than sufficient to ransom my vessel.</p>
+
+<p>I returned to the Ramillies that afternoon. The boatswain, a grave
+looking old gentleman, very hospitably took me by the hand and asked me
+to go and live with him. He conducted me down two or three pair of
+stairs into his own room, which I found well furnished, but had no other
+light than a lamp, as his room was below the water. He told one of his
+boys to make a clean cot for me to sleep in, and to wait on me if I
+wanted anything. He treated me with some old rum he said he had kept on
+board for three or four years. He lamented much that England and America
+were at war with each other; that he never could realize us as
+prisoners, because we both spoke the same language and sprung from one
+nation.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning I rose early, put on my best suit of clothes and went
+on deck. I saw the first lieutenant on the starboard side of the deck
+with his hands in his breeches pockets, walking very gracefully to and
+fro. To amuse myself I put my hands in my pockets, and commenced walking
+the opposite side of the deck in the same manner. He immediately stopped
+and looked at me with some surprise, exclaiming, "Is that you? Damn it,
+you have better clothes than I have. When we captured and brought you on
+board you had on an old short jacket <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>and cotton trowsers, and looked so
+pitiful that most of the crew offered to give up their share of your old
+shallop if the commodore would let you go. But I give you credit for it.
+You have Yankeed us better than any one we have taken yet." I looked
+about to see my old vessel which I left at anchor about half a mile from
+the ship, but she was missing. He asked me if I was looking for my old
+sloop. I told him I was. He said that I would never see her again. I
+told him I was not alarmed about it, for I had the commodores word for
+it. He said he would be damned if I ever got her again. I told him the
+commodore had promised me to give her up in three days, and if he did
+not keep his word I would take my boat, land at New London, and get a
+warrant for him. He was pleased with the joke and soon after called his
+brother officers around him, who took me into a room and treated me with
+wine, segars, &amp;c. They were very polite to me during my stay on board.</p>
+
+<p>New London appeared from the deck of the ship to be four or five miles
+distant. Fishing boats came every day from the town and fished within a
+mile, without interruption. On their return they were often hailed from
+the ship to come on board, and the officers and crew purchased what fish
+they wanted, and paid a liberal price. I could see from the deck, with
+the spy glass, colors flying, and troops marching and re-marching in the
+city of New London. Above the city were the frigates United States and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>Macedonia, and the sloop-of-war Wasp, at anchor. During my stay of four
+or five days on board, the commodore would every afternoon send for me
+to come into his cabin, for the purpose of having some humorous
+conversation, which caused the time to pass very agreeably. The
+remainder of my time was passed among the officers, some of whom had
+relatives living in the city of New-York, with whom I had formerly
+traded. We became familiar, and they insisted on taking my name and
+number of my boarding house, saying, that when they took the city of
+New-York they would come and take a bottle of wine with me. I told them
+if ever they saw me in the city of New-York after they had captured it,
+it would be without a head.</p>
+
+<p>The day before my departure from the ship, finding the commodore in good
+humor, I told him that I was a poor man and had a large family to
+support with my old sloop, that flour was worth only seven dollars per
+barrel in New-York, and was worth fourteen dollars in Boston, and that
+it would do him no harm to give me a passport to carry a cargo to Boston
+or neighboring ports. He paused for awhile, and then with a smile said,
+"You look like a pretty clever fellow, and if you go to New-York and
+take in a cargo, and come back here before I leave this station, which
+will be in about three weeks, I will then give you a passport. But if
+you attempt to run by me in the night, I shall make a <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>prize of you."
+The next day my old sloop returned to the Ramillies with a quantity of
+beef on board. I made some complaint to the first lieutenant that the
+sailors had eaten up all my provisions and lost my lead-line, and
+hand-saw, &amp;c. He remunerated me by giving me five times the value of
+what I had lost. I paid the commodore the ransom money, received their
+best wishes for a prosperous voyage, and departed.</p>
+
+<p>On my arrival in New-York I was much interrogated to know why I had not
+obtained a license from Commodore Hardy; to which I gave evasive
+answers. Congress having about this time passed some stringent laws
+requiring our vessels of war to overhaul and search all vessels bound
+to, or coming from an enemy's ship, I thought best to keep my own
+secrets. An acquaintance of mine called on me and asked me if I thought
+it safe to take a cargo to Boston or some of the Eastern ports. I told
+him if I were able to purchase one, I would try it. He told me to call
+on him in a short time, as he thought he could procure a freight for me.
+He soon obtained five hundred barrels of flour, and seventy barrels of
+bread, at one dollar per barrel for freightage, and three per cent
+commission for selling. I was to remit the proceeds by mail, or pay it
+to their correspondents in Boston.</p>
+
+<p>About the 20th of June I sailed from New-York and arrived within about
+five miles of the Ramillies, where I anchored. At daylight I found a
+barge <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>coming towards us. My seamen were frightened, and attempted to
+make their escape to the shore, a distance of two miles; by threats and
+persuasion I prevented them. Soon after the barge came alongside. The
+commanding officer asked me what cargo I had on board, and sundry other
+questions. He then said, "You must be crazy. It was only last week we
+had you prisoner, when we pitied you so much that we volunteered to give
+up our shares in your old sloop if the commodore would let you go." I
+told him I thought the commodore would let me pass. He replied, "You
+need not expect any favor from him, as he has sworn vengeance against
+all Americans. Yesterday morning we discovered a schooner lying at
+anchor near where you now are. I was ordered to go and capture her. I
+proceeded towards her, and saw the crew take her boat and pull for the
+shore; when I boarded her I found no person on board. In the cabin I
+found a manifest of her cargo, and in the list, some naval stores which
+we wanted for the ship's use. We got the schooner under weigh, beat her
+up within half a mile of the ship and came to anchor. Mr. Collingwood,
+our second lieutenant, whom you well know, was sent to relieve me, and I
+went to report to the commodore. The hatches were taken off and the
+tackle hooked on to a barrel of naval stores, when the schooner blew up.
+There were fourteen men on board, and all were killed except three
+seamen who were furling the fore-topsail. Those three were thrown some
+twenty rods, when <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>the fore-mast was blown out of her. You cannot expect
+any favors of the commodore." Before leaving New-York I learned that
+some persons who had been captured by the commodore, ascertained, while
+on board, that he was in want of naval stores; as soon as the news got
+abroad, some merchants purchased by subscription an old schooner, and
+placed thirty casks of powder in her hold. Some machinery was attached
+to the powder by a string, which was also fastened to a barrel of naval
+stores, and when it was raised had caused the explosion, as related by
+the lieutenant.</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/fig026.jpg" alt="" /><br />Blowing up of the old Schooner near the Ramillies.</p>
+
+<p>My sloop was soon brought and anchored within half a mile of the ship. I
+was taken on board the ship and conducted to the commodore, who spoke to
+me in a pleasant manner. "Well, sir," said he, "I see you have arrived
+here again. What does your cargo consist of? Where are you bound?" I
+told him my cargo was flour, and that I was bound to Boston and some of
+the neighboring ports. He gave me a passport to protect me from capture
+by the English ships, and told me I could proceed on my voyage. I then
+steered for Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where I sold some of my flour at
+sixteen dollars per barrel. Finding the market dull, I proceeded to
+Newburyport, where I found an abundant supply. From thence I proceeded
+to Boston, where I sold the remainder of my flour at auction, at
+fourteen dollars per barrel.</p>
+
+<p>After my flour was disposed of I purchased a <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>cargo of boards to carry
+to Providence, Rhode Island. I loaded the sloop, intending to be ready
+to sail in the morning, but the tide receding during the night, the
+Rover was left aground at the Long Wharf. When I awoke in the morning I
+found my vessel had fallen over on her side, and had five feet of water
+in her hold. I procured a caulker, who, with myself and crew, went into
+the mud and water and commenced stopping the leaks, while the water was
+running out from her bottom from almost every seam. We caulked the
+largest with table knives, wooden wedges, &amp;c. We then took four pounds
+of candles and a quantity of wood ashes and made a kind of putty, with
+which we stopped the remainder. In the mean time my two seamen were
+arrested for stealing and sent to jail. I hired a number of men and
+bailed and pumped out the water. I then shipped a new crew and proceeded
+to Providence. On my arrival there I was cordially greeted by the
+inhabitants, and disposed of my cargo very advantageously. In
+consequence of my good fortune a number of Quaker, and other persons,
+who were strangers to me, urged me to take charge of a good brig;
+supposing that I could protect their property. I declined taking another
+vessel, as my passport would not protect me with any other than the one
+I had. I, however, did not state to them the reason.</p>
+
+<p>The rage for shipping in the Rover was so great that I could get about
+five times more for freightage than I could in time of peace. I took on
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>board 31 pipes of brandy, 20 hogsheads of sugar, and 100 ceroons of
+tallow, and sailed for New-York. When I arrived at Hell Gate and was
+attempting to pass it, the wind being light, the sloop drifted upon the
+rock called the Hog's-back, and the tide falling, her bottom was left
+half out of water. At about 11 o'clock at night I made out to remove her
+off from the rocks, having four feet of water in her hold. She drifted
+back out of the Gate, when I succeeded in hauling her on shore and made
+her fast to the rocks. As it was dark and rainy, we could not tell at
+the time where we were. On groping my way into the cabin I found the
+water six inches deep on the cabin floor. I then lay down with clothes
+wet through to my skin. At daylight I found the Rover, the tide having
+left her, some rods high and dry upon the rocks, and the water running
+from most of her seams. I called all hands and went to caulking with
+table knives, &amp;c. We then applied a few pounds of putty and ashes to the
+seams. At high water she again floated. After hiring four negroes to go
+with us to New-York to assist in pumping and bailing, we proceeded on
+our course.</p>
+
+<p>When we got to the city we hauled her into Coenties Slip, where the
+bottom is soft and muddy. The mud having filled up her seams in a few
+hours, she ceased leaking, and passed for a tight craft. I notified my
+consignees of our arrival and then landed the cargo. Five hogsheads of
+sugar were damaged in consequence of the leaking of my vessel. The
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>consignees paid me for all the freight, and threw the loss of the
+damaged sugar upon the underwriters in Providence, who insured a
+considerable amount in the cargo.</p>
+
+<p>As I had now been some time absent from my family, who resided in
+Catskill, I concluded to make them a visit. I agreed with my partners in
+the sloop to sell her at auction during my absence. The Rover was
+visited by multitudes of people, who pronounced her the most lucky
+vessel in the harbor. Many of them, I suppose, thought her to be a
+phantom ship. For myself, I felt well satisfied, as I had over two
+hundred dollars per month during the three months I sailed her, on a
+capital of one hundred and twenty-five dollars.</p>
+
+<p>The fame of the Rover was so great that she sold for $480. The purchaser
+took her up the Sound to Long Island, and laid her on shore at high
+water. He then loaded her with wood by driving alongside at low water.
+But when the tide rose he found her sides broken in and her hold filled
+with water. My hand trembles while I write of the untimely end of the
+charming sloop Rover.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.<br />
+
+Sloop New-York.</h2>
+
+
+<p>About the first of November, 1813, having added a little to my small
+capital by my late adventure in the Rover, and feeling eager to add
+more, again trusting to the smiles of fickle fortune, I purchased a
+small sloop called the New-York, of 28 tons burden. Soon after I sold
+one-fourth of her to Messrs. T. B. &amp; A. Cook, merchants in Catskill, and
+one-half of her to two merchants in the city of New-York. They
+considered it a kind of lottery adventure. One of the new owners in
+New-York had correspondents in Norfolk, Virginia, who informed us of the
+high prices of Northern produce in that city, and the situation of the
+English squadron in Lynhaven Bay, and advised us to procure a small
+vessel of light draught of water, and that by sailing in over a shoal
+called the Horse-shoe, in a dark night, we might avoid coming in contact
+with the enemy's fleet.</p>
+
+<p>The American coast was closely blockaded by the English vessels, but
+heavy gales of wind frequently drove them off the coast for a short
+time, which offered some chance of making passages by keeping near the
+land.</p>
+
+<p>The high prices of Northern produce in Southern markets held out great
+inducements to shippers to <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>engage in exporting it. Our correspondents
+at Norfolk, stated potatoes to be worth one dollar and fifty cents per
+bushel; onions, sixteen dollars per hundred ropes; salt, two dollars and
+fifty cents per bushel, and cheese twenty-five dollars per cwt.</p>
+
+<p>We loaded the sloop with four hundred bushels potatoes, two hundred
+bushels salt, three thousand four hundred and fifty ropes onions, and
+eight thousand six hundred pounds of cheese; all shipped on the joint
+account of the owners.</p>
+
+<p>I was to purchase and sell the cargo, and when I arrived at Norfolk was
+to buy three or four old brigs or schooners, load them with coal, and
+when a favorable opportunity occurred by the enemy being driven to sea
+by the wind, send them to New-York. Vessels could be purchased in
+Norfolk at that time for one-third of their real value in time of peace;
+and the price of coal in New-York was three or four times as much as in
+Norfolk.</p>
+
+<p>My wages, as master, was one hundred dollars per month, and I drew
+one-fourth of the profits of the whole concern.</p>
+
+<p>On the 14th of November I sailed from New-York and proceeded to Sandy
+Hook, where I discovered an English frigate close in with the land, in
+chase of an American schooner, which she compelled to run ashore near
+Shrewsbury. I sailed into Mosquitto Cove, and took shelter among some
+thirty American gun-boats, the crews of which went as volunteers to
+protect the wreck of the schooner from being <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>plundered by the English
+frigate, which they accomplished.</p>
+
+<p>After tarrying two days at Mosquitto Cove, we weighed anchor and
+proceeded to sea, keeping as near the land as we could without being in
+danger of running aground, until we were some distance south of Cape
+Henlopen, when a violent gale of south-east wind commenced, and with our
+utmost exertions we succeeded in running into the bay.</p>
+
+<p>Here I ascertained that my pilot, whom I had taken much pains to obtain,
+and who at the time I employed him had informed me he was well
+acquainted with that coast, had deceived me; he now for the first time
+informed me that he knew nothing of the different shoals and inlets on
+the Southern coast. I had now no alternative but to run by chance and
+keep a sharp look out for breakers. My little sloop was literally buried
+under water. The gale kept increasing until near night, when she struck
+upon a shoal. She thumped terribly, and almost every sea was breaking
+entirely over us when a seaman exclaimed, "She is bilged, a plank has
+come up from her bottom." On examination we found it was the shoe of her
+keel. We tried the pump and found we could keep her free of water by
+pretty hard labor. Soon after, she thumped over the shoal into nine feet
+water, where she did not strike so often, and remained there until dawn.
+At daylight we cast out the anchors and succeeded in getting her into
+three or four fathoms water.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p><p>We then commenced repairing damages in the best manner we could. Her
+false keel had been broken and had swung across her main keel, which we
+could not repair. We then made sail for Chesapeake Bay and arrived that
+day about sun-set, without any material mishap.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after, a light easterly wind sprung up, and we made sail for
+Norfolk. After entering the bay the wind slackened. About 11 o'clock in
+the evening it became a dead calm, with a thick fog: a strong tide set
+in, which prevented my going out to sea again. Soon after midnight we
+heard the cry, "Past 2 o'clock, and all's well," which I afterwards
+ascertained proceeded from His Britanic Majesty's ship Dragon, 74 guns,
+commanded by Commodore Barry, lying at anchor in the bay.</p>
+
+<p>We continued drifting into the bay until about sunrise, when a light
+breeze sprung up and dispersed the fog, and we found ourselves drifting
+directly towards an English 20 gun brig called the Sophia, and the Acton
+of 16 guns, both lying at anchor within a mile of us. We were soon
+boarded from the Sophia, and we and our baggage taken on board of her.
+The brigs then got under weigh and proceeded up the bay, taking my sloop
+in tow, and anchored at the mouth of the river Severn.</p>
+
+<p>During the next night they fitted out an expedition of four or five
+boats, and sent them up the river to cut out two or three of our vessels
+which were lying in the harbor, but they soon returned without
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>accomplishing their design, having only obtained a quantity of plunder.
+They told me the inhabitants gave them a warm reception, by firing from
+behind trees and fences, and caused them to abandon the vessels. They
+weighed anchor the next morning, and after cruising about the bay, again
+took their station near Watt's Island. Here they made their rendezvous
+for some time; the officers occasionally going on shore, some days
+cruising about, and returning to the usual anchorage at night. They
+procured an abundance of cattle, sheep and poultry from the Island, and
+in about nine or ten days captured eight old schooners loaded with
+flour, from the Rappahannock, and bound to the Eastern markets. They
+sailed from there and anchored in Lynn Haven Bay, where we were sent on
+board the commodore's ship Dragon. I found twelve American captains
+prisoners on board the commodore's ship, who had been captured by the
+Squadron. The prizes which they had taken were small old vessels, some
+of which they stripped of their rigging and sails and set on fire; some
+parted their cables in a gale of wind and drifted to sea, my vessel
+among them. But my sloop, the New-York, and one or two others were
+afterwards towed back by the frigate and sent to Bermuda.</p>
+
+<p>The American captains were quartered with the petty officers, such as
+midshipmen, captain's clerks, &amp;c. and were treated with gin, segars, &amp;c.
+and passed their time very jovially in telling stories, bragging <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>of our
+naval engagements, &amp;c. I must here tell a story related to me by one of
+the officers of the Dragon.</p>
+
+<p>He said the Americans ought to be damned if they did not make an admiral
+of one Captain Turner, who commanded a Baltimore schooner. He said that
+while they were blockading the coast of France they captured him and his
+schooner; they put a prize-master and crew on board, and the crew of the
+schooner were put on board the Squadron, except Captain Turner and the
+cook, who remained on the schooner, which was ordered to sail for
+England. The next day Turner succeeded in getting the prize-master and
+crew drunk, killed the prize-master and part of the crew, and confined
+the remainder. He then returned to France with his vessel, shipped a new
+crew, and put to sea again. One morning they discovered from the
+Squadron, a schooner in company with two frigates, being between the
+schooner and the land. The Dragon steered directly for the schooner,
+while the frigates steered in different directions, to prevent the
+schooner from going back again into port. The Dragon by setting all her
+light sails was fast coming up with her, and commenced firing her bow
+guns, to which the schooner paid no attention. They soon came within
+musket-shot and fired a number of volleys which riddled the schooner's
+sails. The captain of the Dragon then gave orders to cease firing, as he
+considered it cold-blooded murder. On coming within a few rods of the
+schooner <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>they saw but one man on board, and standing at the wheel. When
+within a short distance he suddenly put down her helm, which brought her
+broad side across the ship's bow, intending that the ship should run
+over her. But the ship's helm was immediately put up, which caused her
+to strike the schooner near the bow and brought her alongside of the
+ship. They then hailed, "What schooner is that?" To which the man at the
+helm replied, "The Prize, Captain Turner, the very man you are looking
+for." On boarding the schooner, they found the crew all below, except
+the captain, who said he did not wish to expose his crew to their fire.
+He said the excitement was great on board the ship: that all the
+officers signed a petition to mitigate Turner's punishment.</p>
+
+<p>While we were lying in Lynn Haven Bay, the Dragon had captured a small
+vessel, put on board of her a cannonade or short nine-pounder, a
+quantity of small arms, and called her the "Snap Dragon." They sent her
+out in pursuit of plunder and slaves, about one hundred and fifty of
+whom were captured as runaways from their masters. But on one of the
+expeditions of the Snap Dragon, she was captured by the Americans,
+having thirty men on board, and the prisoners sent to Baltimore. Soon
+after an exchange was agreed upon by which the prisoners of the Snap
+Dragon were exchanged for the Americans on board the ship. When the crew
+of the Snap Dragon were brought on board the ship we were all
+discharged, which caused no little rejoicing among us. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>We then returned
+to Baltimore, took leave of each other and made our way to our
+respective homes.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.<br />
+
+Sloop Biddle.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Soon after my unfortunate adventure in the New-York, I took command of a
+schooner called the Caty Ann, and made a voyage to Savannah and back to
+New-York, without capture. Although Sir James Yeo, in the South Hampton
+frigate, was closely blockading Savannah at the time, I made a second
+attempt to proceed to the same port. After sailing a few miles south of
+Sandy Hook light-house we were chased back by an English frigate, and
+the schooner narrowly escaped being captured. The whole coast was so
+closely blockaded that I abandoned going to sea again until after peace
+was proclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>About the first of May, 1813, I took charge of the brig Cyrus, of
+New-York, and made one voyage to Georgetown, South Carolina, and back,
+and then made another to Bermuda and Turk's Island.</p>
+
+<p>Ever ready to sacrifice my personal comfort for the prospect of
+increasing the means of gaining an honest living&mdash;being in the prime of
+life and enjoying good health, and that huge monster, Fear, seldom
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>throwing his dark shadow across my path&mdash;I engaged again to open a
+trade with the Indians on the Musquito Shore, on the borders of South
+America, now called New Greneda, or Central America. This country
+formerly belonged to the government of Spain, which still tried to
+exercise authority over it, although rebellions had broken out both in
+the North and South of it; and, the then called government of Columbia,
+under General Bolivar, aided by a number of Americans and others, with
+vessels commissioned as privateers, and land forces, made a strong
+resistance to the Spanish government. They fought many desperate battles
+with the royalists, under what was then called the Patriot, or Columbian
+flag. Carthagena, their largest sea-port, was taken and re-taken three
+several times, and every man in it put to death.</p>
+
+<p>The king of the Musquito Indians claims the sea-coast of that country
+from the False Cape, lat. 15° 14' N. to Port Boro Toro, lat. 9° 29' N.
+The government of Old Spain likewise claimed it, but never had been able
+to dispossess the Indians. The sea-board of this country is very level,
+interspersed with lakes, rivers and creeks. From May until November the
+country is visited with heavy showers of rain. In many places I have
+from time to time walked in water some inches deep to go from one house
+to another. The Indian towns are mostly built some distance up the
+rivers or creeks, to secure them from any attacks from the sea-board.
+They have no <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>roads inland, their whole travel being in canoes, by which
+means they can visit the different tribes, hauling them across narrow
+necks of land that separate one lake or river from another.</p>
+
+<p>The Spanish government, under an old blockading decree had declared that
+any person found trading with these Indians, if captured, should lose
+his cargo by confiscation, and be sent to the mines for life. The
+government of Spain likewise claimed three small islands near the
+Musquito Shore, viz: Old Providence, lying in lat. 13° 27' N. long. 80°
+39' W. This island I found inhabited by about thirty families of free
+people of different nations and colors, and from five to thirty slaves
+to every free person in the island. St. Andreas, lying in lat. 12° 33'
+N. long. 81° W. It contains about seventy-five families of free people,
+and about eight hundred slaves; it was lately the residence of a Spanish
+Governor named Gonzales. This place had a small fort, garrisoned with
+about thirty soldiers. I shall hereafter give the reader a further
+description of the island, related to me by Captain Mitchell, commonly
+called Mitchell the Pirate.<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> Great Corn Island lays in lat. 12° 19'
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>N. long. 82° 11' W. about forty miles from the main land. Little Corn
+Island, lying about ten miles from the great one, is inhabited, and
+produces large quantities of cocoa nuts and wild fruits.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> The only account I have ever read of Mitchell is, that he
+was a partner with Lafitte, the Pirate, when they took possession of
+Baratara, where they carried their prizes. They kept possession of the
+place for some considerable time, bidding defiance to the authorities on
+that coast. Governor Claibourne, of Louisiana, afterwards issued a
+proclamation, offering these pirates a free pardon on condition that
+they would join the army then under command of General Jackson, for the
+defence of New Orleans. They accepted of the Governor's terms, repaired
+to that place with all their men, and put themselves under the command
+of the General, who placed them in the hottest part of the battle, where
+they fought in the most gallant manner. Lafitte and Mitchell both held
+commissions under the government of the Republic of Columbia at this
+time.</p></div>
+
+<p>The staple produce of the above named island is cotton. The soil is
+fertile and produces plantains, yams, sweet potatoes, and Tropical
+fruits in abundance. The inhabitants raise plenty of hogs and poultry,
+which they fatten on cocoa nuts, the oil from which, while fresh, is
+equal to lard for cooking fish, &amp;c. and after it becomes rancid burns
+well in lamps.</p>
+
+<p>About the first of January, 1816, I made a contract with the Messrs.
+Cotheal &amp; Hoff and Mr. A. S. Hallett, merchants of New-York, to take
+charge of a small sloop called the Biddle, of thirty-two tons burthen. I
+was to proceed to Musquito Shore, land at the island of Old Providence,
+(if I saw no suspicious looking vessels in the harbor;) and open a trade
+with the Indians for the purchase of tortoise shell, which was very
+valuable at this time; these Indians furnish large quantities of that
+article. I likewise had orders to exchange my goods for hides,
+deer-skins, cochineal, gum elastic or India rubber, gum copal, cotton,
+fustic, sarsaparilla, &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p><p>I took on board an assorted cargo, calculated for a barter trade. As I
+was totally unacquainted with the trade, this voyage was considered an
+experimental trip. On my arrival the inhabitants informed me that they
+had not seen the American flag flying there for the last fourteen years.</p>
+
+<p>I could not procure any correct charts of that coast. I found many
+shoals that never had made their appearance on any chart, so little had
+these seas been surveyed. I suppose young mariners have less difficulty
+in that respect now, as Queen Victoria has become god-mother to the
+young king of Musquito Shore, and taken him under her parental care, to
+assist him in robbing his neighbors' territories.</p>
+
+<p>I will here give the reader a short description of the country, the
+undertaking, and some account of the disasters which befell me in the
+prosecution of the voyage. Having loaded my little sloop, (about the
+size of a clam boat,) I soon shipped a crew, which consisted of a North
+River captain, who had never been out of the sight of land, to act as my
+mate; and two old broken-down sailors, one acting as seaman and the
+other as cook. We sailed about the first of February, with a fair wind,
+and made our passage in twenty-two days to the Island of Old Providence,
+where we hoisted our flag for a pilot. I soon discovered a fishing
+canoe, having one white man and three or four negroes on board, who
+volunteered to pilot us into the harbor. I inquired of the white man,
+whose name was John Taylor, one of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>the largest planters in the island,
+for a Mr. Hoy, to whom I had a letter of introduction. Mr. Taylor
+replied that Mr. Hoy was dead, that he was his father-in-law. He took
+the letter, promised me friendly assistance, and piloted my vessel into
+the harbor. The inhabitants soon came on board and commenced a brisk
+trade with me. Previous to leaving New-York, I was advised not to enter
+the harbor of Old Providence if I saw any vessel looking like a
+privateer or man-of-war in sight of the place. In the afternoon I kept a
+good look out with my spy-glass, until near sun-set, when I discovered a
+schooner beating up under the lee of the island. I immediately applied
+to my new friend, Taylor, to pilot me out of the harbor, promising him
+to return again in a few days, which he utterly refused. He told me that
+the vessel in sight was a privateer belonging to Captain Mitchell, who
+commanded her&mdash;that Captain M. kept his (Taylor's) daughter as a wife,
+and that Mitchell was a clever fellow and would not molest me. As the
+channel of the harbor was narrow and difficult to pass through, I
+decided to remain at anchor rather than run the risk of getting the
+vessel on shore, considering it was best to keep quiet and trust to
+fortune. I felt somewhat agitated as the privateer approached the land,
+it being a dark night.</p>
+
+<p>About 12 o'clock she anchored a short distance from us, when I was
+hailed from her, asking, "What sloop is that, and from whence come you?"
+I answered, "Sloop Biddle, from New-York." In a <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>few moments a boat came
+alongside with the captain and eight men, all armed. I showed the
+captain my papers, and assured him my cargo was <i>bona fide</i> American
+property. He answered me, saying, "We shall see more about that
+to-morrow morning." He then left me and returned to his own vessel. Soon
+after I heard the report of a large cannon from the privateer, which was
+mounted on a circle, filled with chain and grape-shot, and pointed
+towards the shore, where it cut a decent road through the small trees.
+The next morning Captain Mitchell told me the gun was loaded full to the
+muzzle, and that when he loaded it he intended to fire into my vessel
+without hailing her, supposing she was Spanish, to whom he showed no
+quarter. On a second reflection he thought it best to hail the sloop
+before he fired. He said, "Had I fired into you, I should have cut your
+vessel all in pieces." He discharged the gun toward the shore as a
+signal to send a horse to convey him to Mr. John Taylor's, whom he
+called his father-in-law, as he kept his daughter Sarah as a wife.</p>
+
+<p>Mitchell appeared to have full control over the island, and no one dare
+question his authority. He had made this place his rendezvous for some
+time past, bought all the provisions they could spare, both from masters
+and slaves, and paid them liberally, having plenty of money on board,
+and, like most seamen, was lavish in its expenditure. He had lately
+escaped from Carthagena, and brought a few half-starved passengers from
+that city. In running past <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>one of their forts, a cannon ball had struck
+the schooner's fore-mast and cut it half off.</p>
+
+<p>One of the passengers informed me that Carthagena was so closely
+besieged by the royalists at that time, that cowhides were sold at
+twelve dollars apiece, for food, and that he was obliged to pay three
+dollars for a pilot-biscuit, to prevent starvation. Some time after, I
+learned that the city was taken and all the inhabitants put to death.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning after my arrival I was visited by Captain Mitchell,
+John Taylor, and most of the inhabitants of the island, who were much
+pleased to see an American vessel in the harbor, saying it was the only
+one that they had seen there in many years past. I was invited on shore
+to dine at Mr. Taylor's, in company with Captain Mitchell, where a good
+dinner was provided for us, consisting of roast pig, poultry, &amp;c. My
+plate was plentifully supplied by Captain Mitchell. On looking over the
+table I did not discover any bread. Soon after a plate of roasted
+plantains was set before me. I took one, not knowing how to use it, this
+being the first I had ever seen of this kind of food. I soon found it to
+be the common bread of the country. We were politely waited upon, having
+a negro boy, from ten to fourteen years old, without one rag of clothing
+about him, standing behind the chair of each person at table, with a
+bush in his hand to keep the flies from annoying the company. The
+following day I was invited to dine on board Captain Mitchell's vessel.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>His boat was sent for me at the proper hour, and I was politely
+received on board and soon after conducted to the table, which was
+elegantly furnished with silver platters, plates, knives, forks, spoons,
+pitchers, tumblers, &amp;c. and with the exception of knife-blades, every
+other article on the table was pure silver. He showed me many valuable
+diamonds, and large quantities of old gold and silver; and the least
+valuable article I saw on board his vessel was the schooner's ballast,
+which consisted of brass cannon.</p>
+
+<p>I opened a good trade with the inhabitants, selling goods at retail,
+from one to three hundred per cent profit. In ten days I sold over
+eighteen hundred dollars' worth; about one-half was received in money,
+and the remainder in cotton. I took part of the cotton on board, and the
+balance was to be paid on my return to that port.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Mitchell visited me daily, and told me some of his adventures.
+He said that a few months previous he had captured a small trading
+schooner, armed her for a privateer, and appointed one Captain Rose to
+the command of her, who was then on a cruise. A short time before, Rose
+had been with him in Old Providence. "While laying here," said he, "I
+made up my mind to sail for New-York, and there sell my vessel and cargo
+and retire to private life, thinking my means would support me. One
+morning, while contemplating my future enjoyments when I got well
+settled in New-York, I thought it would <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>much disturb my mind to think
+that old Gonzales should boast that he had frightened Mitchell, who
+dared not attack him. He had sent me many saucy messages, by trading
+vessels, saying, I dare not come to St. Andreas, to annoy him, as I had
+the inhabitants of Providence, who were afraid to resist me. These
+reflections so affected my mind that I immediately ordered my boat
+manned and went on board of Rose's vessel. I told Rose that we would
+never leave these seas until we had made an attack on St. Andreas, and
+that he must prepare himself to join me on the morrow. The next day we
+made the necessary preparation and sailed for that island, a distance of
+about sixty miles, where we arrived early in the evening, ran into the
+harbor and came to anchor. All hands on board, being only forty-six,
+including officers and seamen, had volunteered to make an attack on the
+island. We all landed, about 11 o'clock at night, except one man in each
+vessel. Being well acquainted with the local situation of the island, I
+proceeded to the plantation of Mrs. Lever, and captured her
+negro-driver, whose name was Frank, and told him to conduct me secretly
+to his young master William, if he did not I would kill him instantly.
+Frank soon led me to William's house, where we found him in bed. We
+seized him without making any alarm, and told him that death was his
+portion if he did not go with us without making any noise and strictly
+obey my orders. I had often heard of the boastings this young Lever had
+made of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>what he would do if he could catch Mitchell, and thought the
+present a good opportunity to retaliate upon him. I then told him he
+must conduct me to the house of Governor Gonzales without making any
+alarm, call the governor from his bed and tell him that Captain Mitchell
+was near the island with two privateers; that you imagine the island in
+great danger, and think it necessary to prepare for immediate defence.</p>
+
+<p>"We marched directly to the house, where we found the governor in bed. I
+kept my men still, not allowing a loud word to be spoken. Lever obeyed
+my orders punctually, calling the old man out of bed by telling him his
+alarming tale. As soon as the old man opened the door I took hold of him
+and conveyed him on board of my vessel. We landed a six-pound brass
+cannon during the night, unroofed the governor's house, and mounted the
+gun on the second floor of the building. I sent a party to the fort, who
+put to death a few soldiers they found sleeping there. A number having
+taken lodgings with their families prevented their sharing the same
+fate.</p>
+
+<p>"I took possession of the governor's house for my head quarters, where I
+issued a proclamation, addressed to the inhabitants, inviting them to
+surrender their arms, and by complying with the request, all private
+property should be respected. About ten o'clock the next morning I
+discovered a collection of about sixty men with two nine-pound carriage
+guns, on their way to my head quarters. Immediately <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>beating up for
+volunteers, sixteen men agreed to follow me. On marching towards the
+enemy they abandoned their field-pieces and dispersed in great haste. We
+dismounted the guns and spiked them, burnt the carriages, and returned
+to our head quarters unmolested. Three days after, the inhabitants
+accepted of the proposed terms, and all opposition to my command ceased.
+I took the governor's negroes, money, plate, &amp;c. and repaired on board,
+where I remained some days, treating the old fellow politely at my
+table, feeding him on the best the island produced, furnishing him with
+wine at his dinner, and plenty of Spanish segars. In a few days he
+appeared cheerful, composed, and conversed with me in a familiar manner.
+On the tenth day after his capture I gave him a good dinner, took a
+glass of wine with him, and told him I was going to hang him that
+afternoon. He laughed, supposing it a joke, and that I had no intention
+of harming him. He was sitting in an armed-chair near the cabin door, on
+deck, smoking a segar, when I ordered one of the seamen to reave a
+yard-rope from the fore-yard, bring the end aft and put it round his
+neck. He was soon dragged from the chair to the fore-yard-arm."</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/fig048.jpg" alt="" /><br />Captain Mitchell hanging Governor Gonzales.</p>
+
+<p>After Captain Mitchell had related his story, I asked him what he did
+with his body; he replied, "I let him hang about an hour, and then cut
+the rope and let the old devil go adrift." I said he should have spared
+his life, he being an old man who could <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>never do him much harm. He
+replied, "I have served him the same as they will serve me when they
+catch me."</p>
+
+<p>Captain Mitchell told me he was now bound to New-York, which he intended
+to make his permanent residence, but he must go by the way of New
+Orleans, as he had fourteen negro slaves he wanted to sell there. I told
+him the laws of the United States strictly forbid the carrying of slaves
+into that country; if he was caught in the act his vessel and cargo
+would be forfeited. He said he was well acquainted with one Sisson, a
+New Orleans pilot, who would smuggle them on shore for him. I cautioned
+him against the attempt, by saying, "Captain Mitchell, be careful that
+those negroes do not sell you before you do them." He has often, since
+the loss of his vessel and cargo, repeated to me the caution I then gave
+him. He made a contract with me to return to Providence, after I had
+been to Musquito Shore and disposed of my cargo, and take Miss Sarah
+Taylor (whom he called his wife) and her servant to New-York, agreeing
+to pay me three hundred and thirty dollars for their passages; saying he
+intended to proceed along the coast of Cuba in search of Spanish
+vessels, and in all probability would have some hard engagements, and
+did not want a woman sniffling about him; and that he would eventually
+meet her in New-York.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Sarah Taylor was educated in Jamaica, and had the appearance of a
+lady of some accomplishments, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>although she was living as a concubine.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Mitchell was a man of some education, about five feet six inches
+high, dark hair and eyes, and had the appearance of a gentleman; was
+very liberal to unfortunate seamen, and one of the greatest tyrants to
+exercise authority over them that I have ever heard of. He had at that
+time two sailors lying in the stocks near Taylor's house, with their
+ancles two feet above the ground, they lying out of doors on their
+backs, their bodies exposed to the sun for two or three days. He
+informed me that he had captured a prize some time previous, and the
+prize-master and crew had run away with the vessel; that he then took an
+oath to shoot any of the crew if he ever saw them again. A few months
+after, he visited Corn Island, where one of the crew happened to arrive.
+Some of the inhabitants cautioned the man to keep out of his sight. He
+boastingly replied that Mitchell dared not shoot him. Mitchell said he
+hoped the man would not appear in his presence, as he did not want to
+kill him. "But," said he, "one day when I was taking a walk on the
+island he (knowing I had made the threat) presented himself a short
+distance before me, when I took a musket and shot him dead."</p>
+
+<p>Some of the inhabitants informed me that the negro cook belonging on
+board his vessel asked him one day what he should cook for his dinner.
+Mitchell told him to kill a pig which they had on board. The cook did
+not understand his answer, and knowing his ungovernable temper, dared
+not ask him <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>a second time, but built his fire and had his water
+boiling. At twelve o'clock Mitchell asked him what he was cooking for
+dinner, to which the cook replied, "I did not understand what you wanted
+for dinner." Mitchell seized him by the hair of his head with one hand,
+and with a ladle in the other poured the boiling water on him until he
+scalded him to death. One of the sailors told him he thought that was
+hard usage. Mitchell immediately drew a pistol from his belt and shot
+the sailor dead and then threw him overboard.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Mitchell informed me that some years since he was cast away on
+the shore of the Pacific Ocean, and found it necessary to cross over the
+country by land to the Atlantic coast to get home, that he was arrested
+for not having a passport to travel. He was thrown into prison and for
+some misdemeanor was put into the stocks, where he had to lie on his
+back for some months, and while thus confined he had taken an oath that
+he would never die in peace until he had killed one hundred Spaniards
+with his own hands. Some three years after this time I accosted him in a
+humorous manner, by saying, "Mitchell how many have you due now?" He
+replied, "Seventeen, by G&mdash;d, Dunham, I have killed eighty-three with my
+own hands."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2>
+
+
+<p>After ten days successful trade at Old Providence, I got under weigh and
+proceeded towards Musquito Shore, and in the day-time ran in near the
+land, but could not discover any settlements. I kept beating to the
+northward, keeping as near the shore as safety would admit, with a good
+look-out for houses or canoes. By my observations I found a strong
+current setting to the southward. After beating up three days, we
+discovered a number of Indian houses near the entrance of a bay which
+appeared like a good harbor. From my reckoning I supposed this place to
+be Cape Gracios a Dios, (mercy of God.) I carefully sounded my way into
+the harbor and anchored.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after we anchored, a canoe containing six or eight Indians, having
+a stripe of hair about three inches broad, extending from one ear to the
+other across the top of their heads, which were shaved close to the
+skin, came out to our vessel. They spoke to us in broken English. I
+asked them if this place was called the Cape. They answered "Yes." We
+discovered an English Island flag flying on shore near the largest
+house, and asking them who owned the house where the flag was flying;
+they answered "Admiral Dalby;" looking at me with some surprise, they
+exclaimed, "Don't you know Admiral Dalby?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p><p>Supposing I had to appear before some great chief, whose name sounded
+so loud in my ears, I put on my best go-a-shore suit, to use an old
+sailor phrase, and treating the Indians with rum, &amp;c. went on shore with
+them, and was conducted to the house of Admiral Dalby, whom I found
+dressed in a clean shirt and white pantaloons, a cotton handkerchief
+tied on his head, and an old English Admiral's red vest, with some old
+lace trimmings, having long skirts extending nearly to his knees, and
+without shoes. Seeing his <i>majestic</i> appearance, I approached him with
+all the politeness of a French dancing-master. After the ceremonies were
+ended, he asked me what country I came from, and what articles I wanted
+to purchase. I replied that I came from New-York, in North America, and
+that I belonged to the same continent that he did; that I wanted to
+purchase tortoise-shell, cow-hides, deer-skins, gum elastic, gum copal,
+cochineal, &amp;c. We spent some time in ascertaining the Indian names of
+the gums, &amp;c. before he understood what articles I wanted to purchase.
+He said, "Indian man and American man all one country belongs to, all
+the same as brothers, me right king's officer, all white men must help
+um; me good man, have good head, savy good? this place all me belong to.
+To-morrow I send plenty men to fetch you skins, gums, and every thing
+you want."</p>
+
+<p>After all our arrangements were completed, it being the first time I
+ever had the honor of negotiating with an <i>admiral</i>, I invited him to go
+on board my <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>vessel and drink tea with me; which invitation he readily
+accepted. On our arrival on board, my little table was soon placed on
+deck under an awning. The cook supplied us with the best our little
+sloop afforded; the <i>admiral</i> was seated at the head of the table, and
+waited on in the politest manner. After he had finished his tea, he
+drank a few glasses of rum and returned to his home.</p>
+
+<p>When the cook set his table the next morning, he missed his tea spoons.
+Diligent search was made for them, but they could not be found. We
+charged the poor old cook with throwing them overboard in shaking out
+his crumbs of the table-cloth, which he strongly denied. The spoons cost
+about two or three cents apiece. The next day I called at the admiral's
+house, where I saw his children playing with my spoons. On inquiring I
+found the admiral had carried them on shore in his breeches pocket.</p>
+
+<p>I remained at the Cape about one week, where I purchased a small
+quantity of tortoise-shell, some hides, deer-skins, tiger-skins, gums,
+&amp;c. My owners had given me orders on my arrival in that country to
+procure an Indian pilot who was well acquainted with the coast.</p>
+
+<p>My old friend, Admiral Dalby, procured me a pilot to conduct me to Pearl
+Key Lagoon, where most of the inhabitants spoke good English. I had a
+letter of introduction to an inhabitant of that place, whose name was
+Edward Patterson, a native of Curracoa, who had lived with the
+Musquitoes many years, and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>intermarried with them. The pilot and his
+son-in-law came on board. I was compelled to hire the latter that he
+might assist his father-in-law in returning with his canoe. The price
+agreed on was ten yards of Osnabergs to each; no difference in the
+price, whether the voyage was performed in one week, or I detained him
+three months: it was all the same.</p>
+
+<p>We weighed anchor and proceeded to the southward, intending to stop at
+every settlement between the Cape and Pearl Key Lagoon. The next day we
+anchored at Sandy Bay. Soon after, we were visited by Governor Clemente,
+Admiral Hammer, General McLean, and many petty officers and citizens.
+After treating with a few gallons of rum, by way of introduction, I
+opened a brisk trade with them, bartering my goods for the same kind of
+articles I had bought at the Cape. The governor brought on board with
+him one of his nine living wives. After remaining here three days, we
+got under weigh and steered southward, keeping near the land, under the
+direction of the pilot. In the evening I began to doubt his skill, and
+often hove the lead to satisfy myself, the pilot being stationed forward
+to keep a good look-out. About ten o'clock I heard the sound of out,
+out, out. I looked under the lee of the boom and discovered we were near
+the breakers. We attempted to tack ship, but found it impossible. In a
+few moments we were driven upon the reef, unshipping our rudder and
+thumping so hard that I expected she would break in pieces. About an
+hour after, she beat over <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>the shoal into nine feet water, where we came
+to anchor. The next day I sounded a passage out between the shoals. In
+heaving the vessel through the passage we broke our largest anchor, and
+finding it impossible to save her, hoisted the jib and ran her on shore.
+When the wind abated we landed our sails, dry goods and hardware. We
+built a comfortable tent, which protected our goods from the rains which
+visit that country almost every day from May until November. We found
+ourselves near the mouth of a river called Waa-waa, some fifteen miles
+from the residence of Governor Clemente. After remaining here a few days
+I sent the pilot to the governor's residence, claiming his protection
+and requesting him to furnish me with men and canoes to transport my
+goods to Pearl Key Lagoon, and I would pay them a liberal compensation
+for their services. The messenger returned with an answer, that the
+governor had gone on an excursion through his dominions, and was not
+expected to return in less than two or three weeks. We passed our time
+in shooting deer, conies, parrots, boobies, gulls, &amp;c. and catching
+fish, which we found in abundance.</p>
+
+<p>After we had remained here four weeks, the governor arrived, accompanied
+by forty or fifty Indians. I provided a good dinner for the governor,
+his lady and officers, who were invited to my table. Rum, gin, and
+Catalonia wine, were served out in abundance. The governor promised me
+protection and assistance; but his business required his return <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>home
+immediately, but added that he would send me relief the next day. Before
+we had finished dinner the mob of Indians commenced stealing our
+tumblers from the table, likewise knives, forks, some empty kegs, and a
+fine pig, which we had fattened, as well as most of the loose articles
+about our premises. I had made the governor many presents for his
+promised protection, and I remonstrated with him against this wanton
+outrage, without obtaining any redress.</p>
+
+<p>About sunset the Indians all left my camp, except four canoes of country
+Indians, who lived four days paddle up some of the rivers: and according
+to the pilot's interpretation, they did not associate with the
+governor's gang, who treated them with contempt. After the governor and
+his tribe had left us, these Indians came to my tent, whom I treated
+with hospitality, and they encamped near us that night. The next morning
+my mate advised me to hire these Indians to take me to Pearl Key Lagoon
+in their canoes, taking my money, dry goods, and all my valuable
+articles with me, and he and the two sailors would remain by the wreck
+and take care of the heavy goods until I could procure some vessel or
+large craft to transport them to that place. Fearing an attack from the
+governor's party, I employed the pilot to negotiate a bargain with these
+Indians, as they could not speak English. He soon made an agreement by
+which I was to give two officers, captains of towns, ten yards of check
+shirting cloth <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>each, and the soldiers, as he called them, five yards
+each, and five yards for the hire of a large canoe.</p>
+
+<p>The bargain being closed we loaded the four canoes, together with the
+pilot's, with dry goods, cutlery, &amp;c. In the large canoe I put my chest,
+charts, quadrant, clothing, nine hundred dollars in specie, and a ten
+gallon keg of rum, knowing it would stimulate them to perform the voyage
+with despatch, by giving them a drink on arriving at certain places we
+could see ahead. The cook had boiled me a piece of salt beef to carry
+with me, and put up two or three pounds of sea-bread. I took a jug of
+rum in addition to the ten gallon keg, on board of the canoe in which I
+embarked, and put a tea-cup in my pocket to serve as a tumbler. As soon
+as the canoes were loaded I measured ten yards to each of the officers,
+according to our contract, and then measured off five yards and gave it
+to one of the soldiers, who threw it on the ground, when the Indians
+commenced unloading the canoes. I called on the pilot for an
+explanation, and was informed that the soldiers said they had to work as
+hard as the officers, and would not proceed with me unless I gave them
+ten yards each. I was unable to avoid the extortion, and gave them the
+same quantity I had given the officers. In complaining to the pilot of
+the treatment I had received from the Indians, and the crime they had
+committed in stealing from me, he replied, "Tief man can't go and live
+wit God, Devil must catch um." After I had given the check to each of
+the twelve Indians <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>who were to convey me to Pearl Key Lagoon, one of
+them seized his and escaped to the woods, which was the last I saw of
+him.</p>
+
+<p>All things being ready, we made sail, myself taking charge of the large
+canoe, with orders for them all to keep close company, by shortening
+sail when necessary, so that they could assist one another should any
+accident happen. I now began to reflect on my forlorn situation, having
+five canoes under my control, twelve Indians, and only one that could
+speak English, the naked ocean on one side, the wilderness on the other,
+and a passage of one hundred and twenty miles to make before I could
+find a civilized habitation. We proceeded about ten miles on our way,
+when we ran our canoes on shore and drew them up on the beach, which was
+performed in great haste to prevent their filling with water and wetting
+the goods, to avoid which, I covered all the cargoes with cowhides.</p>
+
+<p>Having secured our canoes, the Indians took cutlasses and dug a spring
+of fresh water, which after bailing out two or three times appeared
+clear, and we drank it with a real good will after we had mixed it with
+rum. I had made an agreement with them, by interpretation of the pilot,
+that I would treat them every time I drank myself, and at no other time,
+which was considered a fair bargain. They then took my meat and bread,
+and ate it all at one meal; after which they made a large fire on the
+ground to keep away tigers, panthers, &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p><p>I landed two chests, one containing my money and clothing, the other my
+most valuable goods; and wrapping myself in an old bed quilt, which
+protected me from the mosquitoes, took lodging on my chests, the Indians
+taking their station near the fire. The next morning we had nothing to
+eat. About nine o'clock the Indians went into the woods, <i>progging</i>, as
+they termed it, and after being gone some time returned with a few small
+oysters and some wild honey, which was all the food we got that day. The
+next morning we got under weigh and proceeded a few miles, when the wind
+rising created a heavy sea, and we were obliged to run our fleet on
+shore and remain until the following day.</p>
+
+<p>In the afternoon the Indians unloaded two of the small canoes, (the wind
+having ceased blowing,) paddled out some distance and caught a large
+quantity of fish. At night they boiled three or four pots full, setting
+up until twelve o'clock and devouring all the fish they had caught. I
+thought they consumed five or six pounds each. The next morning we got
+under weigh and proceeded on our voyage until the afternoon, when the
+wind increasing, it was found necessary to lighten my canoe. I made a
+signal for the pilot to come alongside, he immediately obeyed, calling
+one of the captains of a town to join: when, after a short consultation,
+it was agreed to take some boxes of check shirting and the ten gallon
+keg of rum out of my canoe and put them on board of theirs. Strict
+orders were again given <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>to keep close together, that assistance might
+be rendered to each other if necessary, the sea running high at the
+time. The captain's and pilot's canoes soon out-sailed the rest of the
+fleet. I made signals for them to shorten sail, which they paid no
+attention to, and at sun-set they were so far ahead that we could not
+discern them.</p>
+
+<p>We then landed with the three canoes, made our fire and brought my two
+chests ashore, as on the night previous. Not having had any food that
+day I went a short distance into the woods, where I found some old
+cocoa-nuts, of which I made a poor supper. Not having any one to
+converse with, I laid down on my chests near the fire, my eight Indians
+near me. They soon commenced a long conversation, and being somewhat
+anxious to learn the subject of it, I lay listening very attentively.
+Having a fire-light I could see all their movements. I heard one of them
+repeat the word "<i>Buckra</i>" at the same time drawing his hand across his
+throat. I then imagined they were concocting some plan to kill me. In
+the morning they went into the woods, caught a land-tortoise, and laying
+him on a large fire with his back down, kept him there until he was
+dead, and then cutting a hole in his side, took out his inwards and
+roasted him in the shell, from which we made our breakfast.</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/fig061.jpg" alt="" /><br />Indians making motions to kill Captain Dunham.</p>
+
+<p>I had discovered that these Indians had but little strength of body, in
+loading and unloading canoes; in handling heavy chests and boxes, it
+always took three Indians to carry one end when I could carry <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>the
+other. Wishing to try their strength, by signs I introduced wrestling,
+jumping, &amp;c. I found I could throw three of them on the ground at one
+time without much trouble. I then took my pistols from my chest, fired
+at targets, and performed many other exercises in order to show them my
+strength was much greater than theirs, that they might be cautious how
+they attacked me.</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/fig062.jpg" alt="" /><br />Indians Cooking an Alligator for breakfast.</p>
+
+<p>In the afternoon we got under weigh and proceeded a few miles, when we
+encamped for the night. The next morning the Indians went into the swamp
+after some food, and returned in a short time with a young alligator
+three or four feet in length, which they had caught: having tied up his
+mouth with a bark rope, they dragged him along on the ground by it. They
+also brought some alligator's eggs, which we boiled. They placed the
+middle of the alligator on the top of the fire, one holding the rope
+which secured his mouth, another his tail, (he being yet alive,) and
+burned him to death; after which they cut him to pieces and boiled his
+flesh in the pot, from which we made our breakfast. I ate some of the
+eggs, which I found very tough. Our jug of rum had been exhausted two or
+three days, and the Indians had lost all their ambition. I tried to make
+them understand, by signs, that when we arrived at Great River we should
+find our comrades who had left us in the two canoes, and get rum and
+provisions for the remainder of our voyage. Soon after, they showed me a
+point of land some distance <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>ahead, and repeated the words, "Great
+River." I took a paddle in my hand and assisted them, at the same time
+making signs, by lifting the jug to my mouth, giving them to understand
+that they should have plenty of rum when we arrived there. When we were
+within two miles of the mouth of the river the Indians suddenly ran the
+canoes on shore, hauled them up on the land, unloaded all my goods and
+ran toward the woods, leaving me alone on the beach. I felt much
+surprised at being left in this sudden manner, half starved with hunger,
+and my strength exhausted for want of sleep. After piling up all my
+goods in the best manner I could, I re-loaded my pistols and prepared to
+defend myself. Hunger now prompted me to look for something to eat. I
+saw a large green turtle, some four feet in length, laying upon his back
+a few rods from my goods. I then walked in a different direction from
+the turtle, in pursuit of something to allay my hunger. Suddenly I
+discovered a large, strange Indian approaching toward me, having two
+small ropes in his hand, with eyes spliced in the ends, which he was
+slipping backward and forward as he approached near me. I slowly
+retreated some distance, casting my eyes over my shoulder, looking for
+some weapon to defend myself, when I discovered a stick of wood about
+the size of a man's wrist, which I quickly secured. He, advancing, asked
+if I was captain of the American vessel that was cast away on the coast
+a few weeks since, and if I was hungry. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>I told him yes: he still
+approached me during this conversation; upon which I raised my club and
+told him if he came any nearer to me I would kill him. He said if I
+would go with him to Admiral Drummer's house, which was but a short
+distance, I could get plenty to eat. I informed him that the Indians I
+had hired to carry my goods to Pearl Key Lagoon, had thrown them on
+shore here, left me, and that I dare not leave my goods unprotected on
+the beach. He said he would tell the Admiral of my situation, and
+informed me that two days ago two canoes, having some of my goods on
+board, arrived at the mouth of the river, that one of them had upset in
+passing the bar and lost one keg of rum and one box of dry goods, which
+had sunk, and that they had been fishing for them but could not find
+them. He then took his leave, and going to the turtle put the ends of
+his rope on his flippers, placed the middle across his breast and
+dragged him off.</p>
+
+<p>Admiral Drummer hearing of my arrival here, sent an Indian slave with a
+gold headed cane, which he considered as a badge of his office, inviting
+me to his house to take some breakfast. I returned my reasons for not
+accepting his invitation, by saying "I dare not leave my goods
+unprotected." Soon after the admiral brought me some warm cocoa, smoked
+meat and roasted plantains to eat. My appetite being good I made a
+hearty dinner. After some time my Indians returned from the woods with
+some coarse food they had gathered in the swamps. I told <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>the admiral I
+had paid these Indians in advance to transport my goods to Pearl Key
+Lagoon, that they had broken their contract, and that they appeared
+determined to leave me here. After conversing with them some time, he
+told me they said they were half starved, had not any provisions to
+proceed with, and would not go any farther. He also said they were
+mountain Indians, living in the interior of the country, and were not
+under his control, but ordered them to put the goods into their canoes
+and carry me into the mouth of the river, where I would find the two
+boats which had left me some days before.</p>
+
+<p>In the afternoon I was visited by the admiral, his two wives, and a
+number of his tribe. I made him and his wives many presents, and he
+promised to meet me the next day at the mouth of the river, when he
+would furnish me with men and canoes to carry me to the Lagoon. He left
+me soon after to return to his home. We proceeded with our three canoes
+into the mouth of the river, where I found the other two, one of them
+belonging to the pilot, who told me that, in crossing the bar at the
+mouth of the river, the captain's canoe had turned over and lost one box
+of check cloth, the ten gallon keg of rum, and they had both sunk, that
+they had fished for them a long time, but could not find them; also,
+that the captain had lost his dinner-pot by upsetting his canoe, and I
+must pay him for it, because he was at work for me. Another Indian had
+wrapped himself <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>in his canoe-sail, and had laid so near the fire he had
+burnt a hole in it, and I must pay for it because he was in my employ.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after my arrival in the mouth of the river the pilot told me he
+would go to the admiral's house and procure me some provisions; he left,
+followed by the whole gang, except one sick Indian who remained with me,
+with whom I could not converse except by signs. Knowing that a keg of
+rum would not sink in the water, I thought it best to search the shore
+and see what discoveries I could make. After walking about one-fourth of
+a mile I discovered a cow-hide secreted in the edge of the woods, which
+drew my attention to it. By removing the hide I discovered the box of
+dry goods and the dinner-pot for which he had demanded payment. I walked
+back to our landing place, took one of the canoes and carried the box,
+pot, &amp;c. to my camp, where I opened the box and found some of the check
+a little wet, but not from the upsetting of the canoe. I searched the
+beach for some time, but could not find any traces of the rum-keg.
+Having no companion left with me except my sick Indian, and no food to
+eat, I was obliged to pick up old cocoa-nuts or any other articles I
+could swallow to satisfy my craving appetite.</p>
+
+<p>On the evening of the third day after my arrival here my Indians
+returned much intoxicated, without the pilot. They picked up their
+baggage and prepared for their departure; then laid themselves down
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>near the fire, and soon fell asleep. I piled up my goods as compactly
+as I could, loaded my pistols and laid myself down on the top of them,
+supposing they would attempt to rob me, and escape with their plunder. I
+did not shut my eyes until about four o'clock and then fell asleep,
+which continued about half-an-hour, when I awoke and found they were
+taking their departure. I took a hasty look at my goods and found they
+had only taken from me one empty jug and a few small articles of little
+value.</p>
+
+<p>A few hours after, the pilot, accompanied by Admiral Drummer, his two
+wives, and thirty or forty Indians arrived, bringing me some provisions,
+which I ate greedily. After making the admiral and his wives many
+presents, I asked his price to carry me and my goods to Pearl Key
+Lagoon. He told me I must pay him the same price I had paid the Indians
+who had left me here&mdash;ten yards of check cloth to each man, and ten
+additional yards for the hire of a large canoe belonging to himself. The
+bargain being closed, the admiral and his party all left me, except
+those I had employed to carry me to the Lagoon.</p>
+
+<p>After the pilot had returned from the admiral's I asked him the cause of
+their tarrying so long, knowing my destitute situation. He said they had
+been to a drink-about of pine-liquor&mdash;a custom I did not then
+understand. During my residence at the Lagoon I have been an invited
+guest to drink-abouts. Pine-apples are raised in abundance in this
+country, which the inhabitants of a number of settlements <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>from time to
+time collect in large quantities, and assemble at some central place,
+where they convert them into a kind of pulp and then press out the
+juice, put it into some old cask and let it remain a few days, when it
+becomes the most palatable liquor I ever drank, and produces
+intoxication when taken in large quantities.</p>
+
+<p>Some months after, I learned the deception these Indians had practised
+upon me. The pilot and his comrades, who had run away from me with the
+keg of rum and box of dry goods, arrived at Great River two days before
+me. They poured some water on the box of dry goods, and then carried the
+keg of rum to the admiral's house. After our arrival at Great River they
+left me on the beach, half starved, as stated above, and returned to the
+admiral's, where they remained drunk about three days.</p>
+
+<p>The contract being finished, we loaded the canoes and I paid the men in
+advance, according to the custom of the country. I urged them to launch
+the canoes and proceed on our voyage immediately, which they refused to
+do, saying that night would overtake us before we could arrive at the
+Lagoon. They said they would sail the next morning at daylight, and then
+laid themselves down near the fire for the night. I wrapped myself up in
+the old bed-quilt and took lodging on my chests as usual, the mosquitoes
+so thick about us that we could not see any thing at a distance; they
+annoyed the Indians so much that they lost all patience. At eleven
+o'clock <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>they launched their canoes and we proceeded on our voyage.
+Before we took our departure I had given them orders to keep the canoes
+near together for mutual safety. After we had gone a short distance, I
+discovered by the stars that the captain of my canoe had lost his
+course, and was running from the land into the ocean. I remonstrated
+with him by making signs. About two o'clock I made out to convince him
+of his error, when he steered towards the land, which brought us into
+the trough of the sea, and I was compelled to bail water without
+intermission until daylight, when I found we were within three miles of
+the land, but could not discover any canoes in sight of us. We steered
+our boat in near the land where the water was not so rough, and kept in
+close to the shore. When we came to the mouth of Pearl Key Lagoon we saw
+smoke a short distance from the mouth of the harbor, and going to the
+place from which it proceeded found our comrades cooking some fish, they
+had caught, for breakfast. We joined with them and took a scanty meal.
+Soon after, we all got under weigh and proceeded about three miles, when
+we arrived at the village of Pearl Key Lagoon, to my great joy, after a
+passage of ten days. I was so thoroughly exhausted that I could not walk
+from the canoe to the house without assistance.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Pearl Key Lagoon lies in latitude 12° 10' N., longitude 82° 54' W. The
+village is situated about four miles from the entrance of the Lagoon, or
+<i>Lake</i>, into the sea. The village contains thirteen houses; the
+inhabitants generally speak English, and are more civilized and
+hospitable than the neighboring tribes. This place is the centre of
+trade for the whole coast, and is often visited by English traders.</p>
+
+<p>I was hospitably received by Edward Patterson, a native of Curracoa, who
+had resided here many years. He had three wives living with him, all
+enjoying peace and good will towards each other. Patterson gave me a
+hearty welcome to his house, and provided me a room in it to retail my
+goods. He furnished his table with the best food the country produced,
+cleanly cooked in English style. Two days after my arrival here my mate
+and the two seamen arrived from the wreck of the sloop. They informed me
+that a large number of Indians had encamped near the wreck and commenced
+plundering the vessel, and they considered it unsafe to remain there any
+longer. They repaired the sloop's boat, put their clothing and some
+light goods on board, and after a few days' hard rowing reached this
+place, with health and strength much exhausted. Two or three days after
+a small English schooner arrived <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>here, and I gave the captain two
+hundred dollars to carry me to the wreck and bring back all the goods we
+could save from it. We sailed the next day, and arrived there two days
+after. We found the shore white with cotton, the Indians having cut open
+the bales and carried away the sacks, leaving the cotton loose on the
+beach, which the winds had scattered all along the shore for a great
+distance. They had emptied two pipes of Catalonia wine on the ground and
+carried away the casks; also emptied some cases of Holland gin and
+filled the bottles with rum, cut many holes in the vessel to get out the
+iron, and committed many other depredations. On inquiry I found that
+most of the goods had been carried to Governor Clemente's house, about
+thirty miles up the Waa-waa river. We employed some Indians to carry us
+in their canoes to the governor's residence, there being no roads for
+travelling by land in the country. When we arrived at his excellency's
+dwelling we found a collection of forty or fifty Indians assembled
+there, raving with intoxication; a hogshead of rum placed in the middle
+of the house, with the bung taken out and the Indians filling their
+calabashes by pouring it out of the bung-hole, wasting one-half in
+pouring it out. The governor's invitation to spend the night with him
+was readily accepted. He promised me he would restore all my goods that
+could be found about his premises. The next day I found one pipe of gin
+and one hogshead of rum unopened, which he consented to restore to me.
+Here <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span>a difficulty arose: the distance from his house to the landing
+place at the river was about one and a half miles, and no way of
+conveyance except rolling the casks. I requested the governor to furnish
+me men, and I would pay them liberally for their services in conveying
+the goods to the landing place. He said he could not compel them to
+assist me. My mate and two men I had brought with me succeeded in
+rolling the casks to the shore after a tedious job of one and a half
+days. I found sixteen barrels of salt belonging to me about the
+premises, which we undertook to roll to the landing, but the governor
+pursued us with his axe and broke the staves of the casks, when we
+abandoned them. I then picked up all the remaining goods I could find
+belonging to me, sent them on board the canoes, and putting my mate and
+seamen on board as sentries for the night, took lodgings at the
+governor's house. In the morning my attention was drawn towards the
+governor's nine wives, who were seated round a fire outside of the
+house, eating their breakfast in perfect harmony. From appearance their
+ages were from sixteen to sixty years. I afterwards learned that eight
+of the Indians had died from the effects of the liquor which they had
+stolen from the wreck.</p>
+
+<p>The governor and his gang had destroyed and robbed me of about eighteen
+hundred dollars' worth of property, for which I could not obtain any
+redress. We embarked in our canoes and proceeded to the schooner, where
+we took the goods on board, and the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>next day landed them at the Lagoon.
+My property being all collected together, I fitted up my store and
+received calls from all parts of the country, having that load-stone
+<i>Rum</i> to attract them.</p>
+
+<p>Among the visiters who came to console me in my unfortunate situation,
+was a Sookerman, named Hewlett, who brought me a present of two
+pine-apples, for which I offered him twelve and a half cents in payment,
+he refused it, saying, "I was a poor cast-away thing, and all Indians
+must help me." I placed a bottle of gin upon the table and invited him
+and his comrade to drink, which they readily accepted, remaining with me
+until near night, when they had emptied the bottle; then taking an empty
+bottle from his pocket, he had the modesty to ask me to fill it for him
+to carry home. I was selling gin at this time for fifty cents per
+bottle. Pine-apples are considered of little value in this country,
+being worth from one to two cents apiece.</p>
+
+<p>A Sookerman practices as a physician in sickness, but always abandons
+his patient before the approach of death; he tells fortunes, can
+discover thieves, and when the hurricane months are near approaching, he
+resorts to some hill with his cutlass in his hand, which he waves in the
+air to prevent the gales from destroying their crops of vegetables. He
+collects an annual tax from all the inhabitants of his district, for his
+services in cutting the breeze as they call it. If they refuse to pay
+his tax the laws of the country allow him to seize upon any property <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>he
+can find, not excepting a man's dinner-pot. If a gale of wind happens to
+sweep over the country and destroy their crops, he screens himself by
+saying, "Some rascals have neglected the payment of their tithes." He
+cannot see a woman in child-bed, or the woman or child under nine months
+after the birth of it. He is prohibited from seeing any dead corpse, as
+he imagines the sight of either of these would cause his immediate
+death. The Sookerman makes all his journies in canoes, accompanied by
+some of his friends. When they approach any village, he lays down in the
+bottom of his canoe, and a sail is covered over him to protect his eyes,
+while some of his comrades visit the houses of the villagers to
+ascertain whether there are any of those dread sights in their houses.
+When his wife shows signs of pregnancy she retires to a house built in
+the woods, where she must remain nine months after her accouchment,
+before she can return to her husband.</p>
+
+<p>My landlord, Patterson, informed me that he knew a Sookerman who landed
+at a village in a canoe, without sending a messenger before him to
+discover the object of his danger; it being stormy weather he landed in
+great haste and ran to the nearest house for a shelter, and opening the
+door quickly, the first object he saw was a woman holding a child in her
+arms. The shock was so great that he fell down on the threshhold of the
+door and died the third day after.</p>
+
+<p>Two miles from the village where I had located <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>myself was another
+settlement called Bigman Bank, a village of some renown, being the
+residence of General Bigman and Admiral Walkin. Soon after I had my
+store arranged to receive company I was visited by a number of young
+ladies from Bigman's Bank who were considered the belles of the village.
+The Indians residing in villages on the sea-coast imagine themselves far
+superior to the inland tribes. They form the same opinion that a fopish
+city dandy does of a country farmer, supposing him to be destitute of
+common sense because he does not put all his earnings on his back and
+cheat the tailor and shoemaker out of more.</p>
+
+<p>After the young ladies were all seated in the house, my friend Patterson
+introduced me to them, and requested me to fill some glasses with gin
+and pass them round, saying, "They had never drank any gin before, and
+did not know the strength of it, that we should soon see sport." After
+remaining some time and drinking freely, they attempted to depart, when
+one of them, named Betsey Young, a girl possessing a pleasant and
+beautiful countenance found herself unable to walk, and her comrades
+took her on their backs and departed apparently much mortified as I was
+myself. After they returned to their homes Betsey's mother gave her a
+severe reprimand for her intoxication. The next morning she bent the top
+of a small tree to the ground, tied a handkerchief to it and putting one
+end round her neck let the tree straighten up, which hung her in the
+air. Soon after <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>her mother discovering her unfortunate situation cut
+her down and restored her to life. A few months after she became one of
+the king's wives.</p>
+
+<p>I was visited by a respectable Frenchman, named Ellis, residing thirty
+miles up a river called Waa-waa-han, which empties into the Lagoon a few
+miles from this place. The Musquito king had given him a tract of land
+seven miles in length, bounded on the river, a well cultivated
+plantation, producing coffee, sugar-cane, corn, yams, sweet potatoes,
+all kinds of tropical fruits, and bread-stuffs in abundance. He owned
+twenty or thirty slaves, and cultivated a good garden. He informed me
+that he had fought for my country in the Revolution, under Count de
+Grass. His nearest neighbor, named Gough, resided twelve miles from him,
+who had a grant of land extending twelve miles along the river, and
+owned a few slaves, but paid little attention to cultivation. I found
+Mr. Ellis a very honest man, and a true friend to me. He kept a mulatto
+woman as his wife, whose name was Fanny. He sent many orders to me to
+bring out such articles as he wanted. He told me that one evening he was
+making out an order for goods and asked his wife if she wanted any thing
+added to the order. She answered by saying, "Tell Captain Dunham to
+fetch me out one man-goose and one woman-goose." Mr. Ellis often sent me
+garden vegetables, cucumbers, water-mellons, tropical fruits, &amp;c.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Among my new neighbors I found eight runaway negro slaves who had
+deserted from the Island of St. Andreas, in canoes, a distance of about
+two degrees, and took refuge here. To make the reader understand the
+tragic scenes that follow, I shall describe them by giving the names of
+the tribes they belonged to in their native country. Two of them being
+called Jim, I shall be obliged to attach to the name of each that of the
+tribe to which he belonged, to distinguish the parties.</p>
+
+<p>The English traders from Jamaica, who have monopolized the trade of this
+country, frequently visit this place, stopping at St. Andreas and Corn
+Island on their passage. They are often commissioned to apprehend
+runaway slaves, return them to their masters, and receive their rewards.
+These negroes were well apprised of this custom, and took great
+precaution to arm and defend themselves if they were attacked. On the
+arrival of any English vessel in the harbor, they retreated to the woods
+and remained until the vessel left the port before they made their
+appearance among us again, when they returned to the house which they
+occupied when I first landed in the place, situated about fifty rods
+from my store. When they went upon any excursion <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>they were each armed
+with a loaded musket and plenty of ammunition, determined never to be
+taken prisoners alive. In addition to their armament, they purchased
+from me five cutlasses, which they ground very sharp and carried with
+them daily. Scotland and Jim belonged to the Ebo tribe in Africa, their
+native country. Moody and the other Jim to the Mandingo tribe in the
+same country; another negro, named Prince, was a native of Jamaica.
+Scotland had a daughter with him, Moody and Mandingo Jim, both had their
+wives with them. There always appeared a national antipathy existing
+between the Ebo and Mandingo negroes, which caused many disputes between
+them. Prince always tried to remain neutral between the parties, often
+acting as umpire in the settlement of their difficulties. On the arrival
+of any vessel, or any dangerous report, they compromised all their
+private quarrels and united for the common defence.</p>
+
+<p>The negroes soon discovered that I had no means to annoy them, and that
+the English traders were very jealous of me as a trespasser on their
+exclusive right to trade here, I being the first American who had
+attempted to open a trade with the Indians within the last fourteen
+years. These negroes soon commenced trading with me, having fifty or
+sixty dollars in money, and earnestly solicited my friendly aid, by
+informing them of any plot I should discover from the English traders,
+or the Mosquito king's officers to apprehend them, promising on their
+part <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>to sell me all the tortoise-shell they could catch, and purchase
+all their goods from me. I readily ratified the treaty for my own
+safety. To use an old adage, "Those who live in glass houses must never
+throw stones."</p>
+
+<p>My goods were poorly protected against robbers, my store being covered
+on the outside with thin slips of wood, resembling lath wove together
+like a basket and admitting light through the spaces sufficient to read
+or write without windows. A man could kick a hole through it in two
+minutes.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after I purchased a mahogany canoe, made a sail to fit her, and
+took a number of excursions to the neighboring villages, purchasing
+shell, gum, &amp;c. It frequently happened that I did not see a white man in
+two or three weeks. The negroes often got alarmed by hearing false
+reports about their apprehension, and finding that I sometimes did not
+reach home until after dark, they came to my store and requested me to
+wear a white chip hat when I went on any excursion, or appeared out
+after dark, that they might know me, as they had agreed to shoot any
+strange white man who should approach them in the night. I complied with
+their request for my own safety. I have frequently called at their house
+in the night to procure a light, always calling them by name before I
+approached their door, and always found them laying on their arms, ready
+to repel any attack.</p>
+
+<p>Some weeks after, my landlord purchased from <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>me a quantity of goods,
+and I advanced him about six hundred dollars in cash, which he agreed to
+pay me in tortoise-shell, at two dollars per pound, it being worth at
+that time seven dollars in New-York. He embarked in a large canoe on a
+trading voyage, along the southern coast of that country, a distance of
+about two degrees. Most of the able-bodied men of this and the
+neighboring villages fitted themselves out for a three months' voyage to
+the southward, to catch turtle. After they had all embarked I found
+there was no male inhabitant left except myself, my five negroes, two or
+three old infirm Indians, and a whole village of women and children. The
+negroes gave me the title of governor, and agreed to submit to such laws
+as I should prescribe for them. One of the laws I passed was to sell
+them only one bottle of rum per day, which they agreed to, and behaved
+themselves well for two or three weeks, caught some shell, and sold it
+to me. Ebo Jim I found to be a good marksman with a gun, and I furnished
+him often with powder and shot, with which he killed a great many wild
+parrots for me to eat, from which I had a number of good meals.</p>
+
+<p>After a few weeks the negroes imagining there was a plot laid to entrap
+them, agreed to retire to a house they had found in the woods, where
+they thought themselves secure, and live in peace together. Scotland,
+Moody and the two Jims, took their leave of me and departed. Prince, the
+neutral negro, remained in the village. He was a coarse carpenter, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>and
+made some tables and sundry little articles for the Indians, and had
+many friends among them. Scotland and his party visited me two or three
+times after they had gone to their new habitation, and were supplied
+with their one bottle of rum per day, according to agreement, when they
+would depart peaceably to their new home. The fourth time they visited
+me they asked me for their bottle of rum, as usual, which was furnished
+them. They then left for a short time and returned with a request that I
+would fill the bottle again for them, which I refused to do, by telling
+them it was a breach of our agreement; but on their promising me
+faithfully if I would let them have another bottle they would not broach
+it until they got home, I filled it; they left, and as I supposed, had
+gone home. About one hour after, a number of women and children appeared
+at my door, where I had laid myself down in my hammock, reading, and
+making a most hideous noise, called on me to come out, as Scotland was
+killing Moody. I ran as fast as I could until I came near to the
+combatants, when I saw Scotland thrust his cutlass into the thick part
+of Moody's thigh, near the bone, the point running at least one foot
+through. Moody being vanquished, Mandingo Jim, his comrade, then rushed
+forward with cutlass in hand and struck at Scotland's head, who dodged
+the blow, at the same time returning a blow with his cutlass which
+struck Jim near the wrist, severing his hand from his arm, leaving it
+hanging by a small string of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>skin and flesh. Ebo Jim then ran into the
+battle with his gun cocked to shoot down his conquered adversaries, when
+I interfered, and by threats and persuasion prevented any further
+effusion of blood. The battle being ended, I proposed to cut off the
+wounded hand, but my opinion was overruled by the company, who decided,
+to use their own language, that "The hand could be mended up again." My
+landlord's oldest wife, whose name was Sally, and who was considered a
+great doctress among the inhabitants of this region of country, procured
+some splinters of wood, dressed the wound with wild honey and bound it
+up, Sally acting as head surgeon among the company. I furnished them
+with candles, which they made great use of as salve to dress the wounds.
+On the third morning after, Sally came to my store and told me that
+Jim's hand was all spoiled, that she had ground up her butcher knife to
+cut it off. She repaired to the room and requested Jim's wife to open
+the wound that she might dress it, which she complied with. Sally
+instantly drew her knife, which was concealed behind her, and cut the
+hand off, to the great surprise of all the spectators. She continued the
+application of honey and tallow for three or four weeks, when Jim so far
+recovered as to be able to shoot parrots for me again. After the battle,
+Scotland and Ebo Jim retired to their habitation in the woods, and in
+the course of three or four weeks Moody and Mandingo Jim removed to
+Bigman's Bank, about two miles from this place.</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/fig083.jpg" alt="" /><br />Triangular fight between three Colored Men.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p><p>A few weeks after, Moody and his partner Jim came to my store on some
+errant. My provisions getting short, I agreed to accompany them home to
+Bigman's Bank and procure a fresh supply of such articles as I stood in
+need of. I got on board of their canoe, which had but two seats, and
+placed myself by the side of Moody, who commenced a long negro story
+which absorbed our attention. On the way I discovered a pelican sitting
+in a tree near by, and called on Jim to shoot it; he drew up his gun and
+cocked it: at that instant the pelican flew from the tree before he had
+time to fire: the old negro laid his gun down on the seat along side of
+us, and proceeded on with his long story, carelessly holding his hand
+over the muzzle. By some accidental movement, unobserved by me, the gun
+was discharged, and having a lead slug in it, cut a large piece of flesh
+from the thick part of his hand, and took off three of his fingers,
+leaving them hanging by small pieces of skin. We made the best way we
+could to the village, where I procured a pair of scissors and severed
+the fingers from the hand.</p>
+
+<p>Some time after, another report was circulated that some of the king's
+officers had received orders to arrest these negroes, which gave them
+great alarm. Ebo Jim implored me to write to Mr. Ellis, my old friend,
+begging his protection until he could procure a passage back to his
+former owner, which Mr. Ellis readily granted, and making me a visit
+soon after, he took Jim home with him and afterwards <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>sent him back to
+his former mistress. I was much pleased to see Mr. Ellis, he being the
+first white man I had seen within the last three weeks.</p>
+
+<p>Moody, Mandingo Jim and Scotland, had a meeting soon after, and agreed
+to forgive and forget all their former difficulties and return to their
+old retreat for safety, and there unite for the defence of each other.
+All their former contests being settled, I advised them to retire and
+live peaceably together, and not annoy me or the Indians any more with
+their private quarrels, which they faithfully promised to adhere to.</p>
+
+<p>I now employed myself cheerfully in reading and other amusements for a
+few days, when suddenly an Indian called at my door and told me that
+Scotland wanted me to come down to the landing place, that he was lying
+in his canoe badly wounded. I repaired to the place, where I found his
+sail spread over his canoe, and he lying on the bottom. I perceived that
+the blood had covered the whole bottom of the canoe, apparently one inch
+or more deep. On examination of his body I found he had received a large
+charge of shot in his right breast, which had cut out about one pound of
+flesh; and another in his thigh, which had severed the bones, and cut
+the flesh to pieces in the most shocking manner. I asked him how this
+misfortune happened to him. He answered me by saying, "Captain, Jim and
+Moody do me too bad. This morning Jim and me go a hunting together, we
+come home about eleven o'clock, I feel tired and lay <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>down on my crawl
+and go to sleep; first I know, I hear a gun go pow, I look at the door
+and see Jim stand there, I say, 'Jim, see what these Indians do me;' Jim
+say, Moody give it to him, Moody fire his gun and break my thigh, and
+then both run away and left me. By and by one Indian come, and I give my
+gun to paddle me here to see you. Now I want you to get Sally and the
+other woman to mend me up again."</p>
+
+<p>I called on my hospitable Sally, who hastily declared she would not try
+to mend Scotland up, or have him left in the village, and I must send
+him back to his house in the bush: if she should mend him up again he
+would kill Moody and Jim, and that she would have no farther trouble
+with these negroes. There being no white person to advise with, I called
+Prince, the neutral negro, and told him he must take Scotland back to
+his house, help him on his crawl or bed, set a calabash of water within
+reach, and leave him. Prince hesitated some about obeying my orders, but
+by persuasion and some reward, he embarked in the canoe and paddled him
+back to his house, helped him into it, placed him on his crawl, and at
+his request built a fire, set water within his reach, loaded his gun,
+and placed ammunition near him, for he was determined to defend himself
+as long as he had breath.</p>
+
+<p>After they had departed, I sat down on the beach and reflected on the
+forlorn situation of this unfortunate desperado. He well knew he must
+die from his <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>wounds, or be murdered by Moody and Jim, or destroyed by
+tigers, his hut having no doors to protect him from wild beasts. When
+Prince returned I asked him if he had any conversation with Scotland on
+the passage. He replied, "Yes, I told Scotland that Moody and Jim would
+kill him this night. He replied, then they will say, there is a <i>man</i>
+dead."</p>
+
+<p>At night I retreated to my lodgings in my store, where I slept for the
+protection of my property. At this time I had learned that the English
+traders on the coast had held a meeting and entered into an agreement,
+pledging themselves never to carry me, nor take any letters to Jamaica
+or elsewhere, to help me to get away from this coast. Having no white
+friends to console me, and being more than two thousand miles from my
+family and friends, I retired to bed with solitary feelings. Not having
+much inclination for sleep, I remained awake until about twelve o'clock,
+when I heard the report of a gun, which I imagined had ended the
+tragedy.</p>
+
+<p>At daylight I arose and called on an old negro who had resided here with
+his family many years, the Indians called him <i>darmer</i>, equivalent to
+grandfather in the English language, who conducted me to Scotland's hut.
+I found the old negro laying dead on his crawl, or bed, a musket ball
+having passed through his body. Having met Moody and Jim, before our
+arrival at Scotland's house, I compelled them to go back with me. I
+accused them with having committed the murder, and endeavored to impress
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>upon their minds the enormity of the crime. They denied the firing of
+the last fatal shot, by saying, Scotland had tied the trigger of his gun
+to the side of his house, placed the muzzle against his side, and by
+pulling the gun discharged the contents, becoming his own executioner. I
+selected a place to bury the remains of the old negro, but having no
+shovels to dig with, we were obliged to use wooden paddles, my only help
+being Moody and Jim, and they both cripples, we made but slow progress.
+Soon after Prince arrived, when I sent him to an Indian house some
+distance from the place, to borrow a hoe, to assist in digging the
+grave. The woman of the house refused to lend it, saying, "Her daughter
+was sick, and if she lent the hoe to dig a grave the doctor or
+<i>sookerman</i>, who attended her, would forsake the house if he knew the
+hoe had been used for that purpose." We finally succeeded in digging two
+or three feet deep, when I sent home and got a saw and cut Scotland's
+canoe in two pieces, then placing the corpse between them, put him,
+together with all his clothes in the grave, according to the custom of
+the country. Previous to interring the corpse, I offered to give away
+his clothes, but no person would accept of them, because the owner was
+dead. The funeral ceremonies being ended, I returned home, hoping to
+enjoy some repose after the long annoyance from these negroes.</p>
+
+<p>Fresh reports were soon circulated that the king had commissioned one of
+his officers, called Sambo <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>Tom to arrest Moody and Jim. They hearing of
+this report, determined to leave this part of the country, and pass
+through a border settlement inhabited by a tribe of Indians called the
+Woolwas, adjoining the Spanish settlements, and seek protection from the
+Spaniards. Sambo Tom pursued, but not daring to arrest them himself, he
+employed the Woolwas to do so. The negroes having arrived among the
+Woolwas, hired some of them to transport them in their canoes to the
+Spanish settlements; but being well armed, and having plenty of
+ammunition, the Indians were afraid to attack them, and therefore
+professed great friendship, agreeing to convey them where they wished to
+go. Two canoes joined in this expedition, and while passing a fall in
+the river the Indians upset the one containing the negroes, which wet
+their guns and ammunition, when the Indians in the other canoe threw
+their lances and killed them in the water. Their wives were given up to
+their former owners at St. Andreas.</p>
+
+<p>Little did I think when I landed in this country among a mixed race of
+Indians, that I should find some <i>blood</i> relations, so called by the
+natives, among them. An Indian woman, calling her name Sally Bryant, the
+wife of Scipio, one of the king's quarter-masters, called on me and told
+me she was a blood-relation of mine, and claimed some present as an
+acknowledgment of it on my part. I asked her what evidence she had of
+our relationship. She replied, "That her father was an American." The
+argument <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>was so conclusive that I did not think it necessary to
+contradict it, but gave her some small presents, which were well repaid.
+Sally often volunteered to assist me in selling my goods, and brought me
+many customers by saying to the Indians, "My countryman's goods are
+better and cheaper than them Englishman's, and he no rogue, like them
+English traders."</p>
+
+<p>Soon after, a Curracoa man arrived from Bluefields, one of the
+wealthiest men of that place, who brought a message from his wife, known
+by the name of Mrs. Peggy, requesting me to furnish her with some goods
+to sell on commission, and she would deal honestly by me, having heard
+of my misfortune in losing my vessel, &amp;c. that she wanted to see me very
+much, and pitied me more because I was a relative of hers, her father
+being an American. I forwarded Mrs. Peggy two or three hundred dollars'
+worth of goods to sell on commission, the greatest part of which she
+sold, made good returns, and I found her more honest than white
+relations generally are in their trade with each other.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.<br />
+
+Visit to Corn Island.</h2>
+
+
+<p>I sold the Biddle's sails, which I had saved from the wreck, for eighty
+pounds of tortoise-shell, payable <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>at Corn Island, which lies in the
+wide ocean, forty miles from the main land. I soon received a message,
+saying the shell was ready for delivery, but I must come and receive it.
+Having been advised of the danger of leaving it there, and that delays
+were dangerous in dealing with those I had bargained with, and fearing I
+should lose my debt if I neglected it, I determined upon making the trip
+in my canoe, the only conveyance I had for getting there. The easterly
+trade-winds constantly prevail here, except the westerly land breezes,
+which blow during the night, and extend out a few miles from the shore.
+My canoe was fitted in Indian style, having a number of small holes
+bored in her sides near the top, and small cords attached to them, to
+which we tied our dinner-pot, gun, or any other articles we wished to
+carry with us, which I found a safe plan for preserving the necessaries
+we carry on board. If the canoe happens to turn over, such accidents
+having frequently happened to me, the whole crew swim along side, turn
+her up, and by rolling her quickly soon discharge most of the water.
+This being done, one man gets into the canoe and bails out the remainder
+with his hat or paddle, while the goods remain hanging by the ropes.
+After this is accomplished all hands get on board and go on.</p>
+
+<p>I hired three Indians, took some provisions, a jug of rum and a
+dinner-pot on board, and proceeded on the voyage. After losing the land
+winds we had to paddle our canoe directly against the wind and a <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>rough
+sea. We paddled about fifteen miles, when we landed on a small desolate
+island or sand bank, having no vegetation on it except half-a-dozen
+small trees about the size of a man's leg. It being nearly dark, we
+hauled our canoe up the beach, cooked and ate some fish, and then laid
+ourselves down on the ground to sleep. Soon after, it commenced raining,
+when the Indians got up and stripped themselves naked, turned the canoe
+bottom upwards and put their clothes under it. I followed their example,
+and we all sat down naked on the ground, leaning against some small
+trees, and remained in that situation until about daylight, the rain
+pouring down in torrents during the night. As the sun arose the weather
+became pleasant, and we proceeded on our voyage, arriving at Corn Island
+that evening, after a hard days' paddle.</p>
+
+<p>Great Corn Island lies in latitude 12° 10' N., longitude 82° 11' W. and
+is about six miles in circumference. The soil is fertile, producing good
+cotton, abundance of provisions, and all kinds of tropical fruits;
+breeds good horses, cattle, hogs, poultry, &amp;c. and has abundance of
+fish. The Island contains about twenty-five dwelling houses, and from
+one to two hundred slaves. Little Corn Island lays about ten miles north
+of the Great one, is uninhabited, but produces an abundance of
+cocoa-nuts.</p>
+
+<p>I remained at Corn Island two days, where I was treated with the
+greatest hospitality, being furnished with plenty of provisions, fruits,
+&amp;c. and having collected <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>my shell, I embarked early in the morning,
+with a fair wind, for Pearl Key Lagoon. The wind soon died away and left
+us with a dead calm, and we were obliged to paddle under a burning sun
+during the day, which blistered my cheeks and ancles, not having any
+stockings on my feet. We arrived at our home about eleven o'clock that
+night.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br />
+
+Visit to Bluefields.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Bluefields lies about twenty-five miles south of Pearl Key Lagoon on the
+main land, and has a good harbor for small vessels, the water on the bar
+at the mouth being about nine feet deep.</p>
+
+<p>The English government took possession of it many years ago, but
+afterwards exchanged their possessions here with the Spanish government
+for the Bay of Honduras. Colonel Hudson, an English planter from the
+Island of Jamaica, settled here with a number of negro slaves. By the
+exchange of the country, he found it difficult to remove his slaves, who
+had intermarried with the Indians, and he was obliged to sell them their
+freedom and take their security for the payment of the debt, which was
+to be paid in yearly instalments. From what I could learn from these
+negroes, he never realized much <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>from them. The inhabitants of
+Bluefields are mostly called Samboes, being a mixture of negro, Indian,
+and white blood.</p>
+
+<p>After remaining a few months at the Lagoon, and receiving many
+invitations, I concluded to make a visit to Bluefields, form some new
+acquaintance, and call on my <i>countrywoman</i>, Mrs. Peggy, who claimed to
+be a relation of mine because her father was said to be an American, and
+ascertain what progress she made in disposing of the goods I had sent to
+her to sell on commission.</p>
+
+<p>I fitted up my canoe, hired three Indians, put our dinner-pot, gun,
+fishing spears and some provisions on board, and launched out into the
+broad ocean again. After we had proceeded about fifteen miles the wind
+increased, which caused the sea to run so high that we were obliged to
+run our canoe on shore, and hauling her up we built a fire, a precaution
+necessary in travelling in this country to avoid being attacked by wild
+beasts, and after cooking a scanty meal took lodging on the ground. We
+were much annoyed during the night by musquittoes and small gnats, or
+sand-flies, which allowed us but little sleep. The next morning, the
+wind having moderated, we got under weigh and proceeded to Bluefields,
+where we arrived about sunset.</p>
+
+<p>Here we learned that a negro man had lately been employed in cutting up
+a large green turtle on the shore near that place, and while stooping
+down to accomplish his undertaking, a tiger sallied out <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>of a thicket of
+bushes, sprang upon his back and struck one of his claws into the back
+of his neck, inflicting a mortal wound which caused his death the third
+day after.</p>
+
+<p>I was joyfully received by Mrs. Peggy, my countrywoman, and all her
+family: also received invitations to visit most of the families of the
+town. A good supper was provided for me, and I was treated with the best
+food and fruits that the country afforded. The usual lodgings in this
+country is hammocks, suspended across the house, in which a person
+accustomed to them can sleep very comfortably. Mrs. Peggy wishing to
+treat me with extraordinary kindness, I being a kinsman of hers,
+furnished me with what she called a crawl, fitted up in a spare bedroom,
+for my lodging.</p>
+
+<p>A crawl is made by cutting four small crotched sticks of wood, three or
+four feet in length, which are driven into the ground, (the house having
+no floor,) and two sticks some three feet in length, placed across the
+ends, then a number of round sticks, much resembling hoop-poles roughly
+trimmed with the bark on them, are laid closely together, resting on the
+cross-poles and covered over with a piece of Indian cloth, which forms
+the sacking of the bedstead. I retired to my lodging at an early hour,
+as I had not enjoyed much sleep the preceding night, and laying myself
+down on the crawl thought to take some repose, but I soon found the
+knots in the poles were harder than my flesh. "So coy a <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>dame was sleep
+to me, with all the weary courtship of my care-tried thoughts, I could
+not win her to my bed," and I was glad to <i>crawl</i> off the crawl and take
+up my lodgings on the ground under it.</p>
+
+<p>The next day Mrs. Peggy wishing to treat me with the best food the
+country afforded, procured a large fat monkey, had it neatly dressed,
+and roasted in good style for dinner. As it was roasting before the fire
+it looked so much like a human being that I felt my appetite crawl off,
+and told my good countrywoman that I had made an engagement to meet an
+Indian at a village about two miles from that place, at 12 o'clock, to
+purchase a quantity of shell, and wished to be punctual in my promise.
+This excuse for absence obtained her reluctant consent to let me go, and
+I lost my dinner. I left Bluefields the next day and returned to Pearl
+Key Lagoon.</p>
+
+<p>I must here relate a humorous conversation I heard at Bluefields between
+two of the most respectable young ladies of that place, named Mary and
+Mauger. A vessel having arrived there from Curracoa, the captain and two
+others came on shore, and setting down along side of these young ladies,
+commenced a vulgar conversation with Mauger. Mary having more modesty
+than her companion, immediately called Mauger away from them, and said,
+"Mauger, you fool gal, why you talk them Curracoa Buckras, mind by and
+by, mouth fly off."</p>
+
+<p>The father of the present Musquitto king must have been fond of women,
+as he had no less than <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>fourteen wives. He was a great tyrant, and was
+murdered by his subjects for his tyranny over them. The English
+government ordered his two eldest sons to be carried to Jamaica and put
+under the care of the Duke of Manchester, then governor of that island,
+where they remained about six years and obtained a fair English
+education. The present king, who calls his name George Frederick, was
+furnished with a large outfit from the duke, consisting of a suit of
+clothes worth eighteen hundred dollars, repairs of his father's crown
+fifteen hundred dollars, and four thousand dollars' worth of goods and
+presents to distribute among his subjects. A sloop of war was fitted out
+to carry him to the Bay of Honduras, where he was crowned, and from
+thence conveyed to his own dominions.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after my return from Bluefields I was visited by the new king, it
+being his first visit to the Lagoon. After my introduction I told him
+the English traders on the coast were determined to prevent my opening a
+trade with his subjects, and solicited his protection. He readily agreed
+to give me a permit, which he himself signed, and is as follows:</p>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left:50%;">"<span class="smcap">Pearl Key Lagoon</span>, <i>July 20th, 1815</i>.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<blockquote><p>"Permission is hereby given to Captain Jacob Dunham, a citizen
+of the United States of America, to touch and trade in all
+parts of my dominions in any vessel from North America. </p></blockquote>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left:50%;">"<span class="smcap">George Frederick</span>,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left:50%;">King of the Musquitto Nation."</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p><p>I made the king a few presents, and the inhabitants gave us a ball,
+where we amused ourselves by dancing on a ground floor. The king left us
+a few days after.</p>
+
+<p>I soon became familiar with the Indians, by joining in their amusements
+and obtaining a knowledge of their laws, customs, &amp;c. I received an
+invitation to go to what they call "a drink-about of pine-liquor." I
+quickly dressed myself in Indian fashion, having my face ornamented with
+red paint, forming curls and other figures, and my hat ornamented with
+beautiful plumage plucked from the birds of the forest. I proceeded
+about two miles in company with most of the inhabitants of our place to
+the village of Bigman's Bank, where we were joined by the principal
+inhabitants of the neighboring villages within five or six miles of that
+place, who had previously brought their pine-apples, pealed them, grated
+them up fine and squeezed out the juice into a sixty gallon cask, which
+was full, and had been in a state of fermentation for some days past,
+but had now become pure, and contained spirit sufficient to intoxicate
+all those who drank much of it. Before the drinking commenced the men
+gave up their knives and other weapons to the squaws. The men remained
+there two or three days, but I returned home the first evening, fully
+satisfied. I continued my trade with the Indians, bartering my goods for
+tortoise-shell, cow-hides, deer-skins, tiger-skins, gum copal, India
+rubber, &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p><p>Having much leisure time, I devoted a great part of it to learning
+their language, customs, laws, manner of taking turtle, fish, birds and
+different animals; mode of agriculture; births, marriages and burials,
+of which I shall endeavor to give the reader some information.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.<br />
+
+Mode of Taking Turtle.</h2>
+
+
+<p>There are three kinds of turtle inhabiting these seas: the first and
+most valuable are the hawk-bill, they are caught for the beauty of their
+shell, which contains thirteen pieces, covering the thick callipach of
+the turtle, which is from two to four feet long. The outer shell is
+taken from the carcase by setting it up before a warm fire, when it
+peels off. The second is called loggerhead turtle, having a shell much
+resembling the hawk-bill, but not worth anything for manufacturing. The
+third is the green turtle, whose flesh is very delicious, and so well
+known that I consider any description unnecessary. The Indians take them
+by what they call striking, having a pole about the size of a fishing
+rod, with a small spear, two or three inches long, well barbed at the
+point, to which one end of a small cord, about sixty feet long, is made
+fast and wound round a piece of cork-wood, resembling a weavers spool.
+He <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>then stands up in his canoe, and by taking aim hits his mark and
+secures his prey.</p>
+
+<p>Another mode of taking turtle is by making set nets, about thirty feet
+square, from large twine, they then carve imitation turtle out of soft,
+light wood, which are smoked over the fire to give them a turtle color,
+and then attached to the upper side of the net, where they float on the
+surface of the water as buoys, while the bottom is anchored with stones.
+The turtle resort to the nets to play with the wooden decoys, and during
+their sport generally get one of their flippers entangled, and by
+struggling to extricate themselves get into the net and are easily
+taken.</p>
+
+<p>The next operation of catching them is performed by three or four
+Indians going to the resort of the turtles, where they build a temporary
+hut to live in, each takes possession of his ground, say one quarter or
+half a mile; on which he walks backwards and forwards like a sentry on
+guard during the night, watching the movements of his game; and when the
+turtles crawl up the beach to deposit their eggs, during the laying
+season, he turns them over on their backs, where they remain until he
+wants to take possession. When ready, he removes them at pleasure.</p>
+
+<p>The turtle generally crawls up about ten rods from the sea-shore on the
+soft beach-sand, making a large track with its flippers, and digging a
+hole in the sand about two feet deep, lays forty eggs, and returns to
+the sea again the same night. About fifteen <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>nights after, the identical
+turtle returns to the same nest and lays forty more eggs, then retreats
+into the sea again and returns there no more during that season.</p>
+
+<p>The manatee, or sea-cow, is from ten to fourteen feet long, and has a
+head much resembling our common cow without horns. They often get asleep
+on the surface of the water, when the Indians very carefully paddle
+their canoes to them, and by throwing their small spears into them,
+capture them in the same manner they do the turtle. The beef when cut up
+is twelve or fourteen inches thick, having a strip of fat and lean
+intermixed about every inch, being the handsomest beef I ever beheld or
+tasted, and having no kind of fish taste or smell.</p>
+
+<p>The coast here abounds with a variety of good fish; the larger ones are
+mostly taken by spearing.</p>
+
+<p>The Indians have often brought me beef of the mountain-cow, which I
+found of a very good flavor. I never saw but one young one of that
+species, and cannot give a very good description of them. The young one
+I saw, much resembled a young fawn. They are killed by shooting.</p>
+
+<p>Parrots, when cooked, taste much like our wild pigeons, and are taken in
+abundance by shooting. A few tame ones are kept about the houses, which
+fly into the shade-trees near the premises, and serve as stool-pigeons
+to call down the wild flocks that are daily passing over the villages.</p>
+
+<p>The armadilla also inhabits this country, and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>is considered very
+palatable food. The guana, resembles the common lizard in shape and
+color, and is from two to four feet in length, in this country its flesh
+is considered delicious meat.</p>
+
+<p>The cattle are much larger than those of the United States. They seldom
+milk the cows, which run in herds, and are not domesticated. Each
+inhabitant marks his calves when young; and when he wants to kill a beef
+he shoots one of his own mark. They domesticate but few horses, having
+scarcely any roads, the country being cut up with lakes, rivers, and
+creeks, without bridges. The principal travel is performed in canoes.
+The horses are well formed, but a kind of tick eats the gristle out of
+their ears, which causes them to fall down on their head, giving them
+the appearance of lopped eared hogs.</p>
+
+<p>They have abundance of hogs and poultry, which are cheaply fed on
+cocoa-nuts that grow wild along the sea-coast, and are gathered in large
+quantities. The first work of the morning, performed by the Indian
+women, is breaking cocoa-nuts for the hogs, and cracking some for the
+dogs, then cutting up fine for the poultry. They grate up a large
+quantity with tin graters, put it in pots and extract the oil, which
+makes good lard for frying fish; and when it turns rancid becomes very
+fair lamp oil. Forty cocoa-nuts will produce one gallon of it.</p>
+
+<p>The forests abound with wild hogs of two different species, called Warry
+and Pecara, having a small <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>tit or navel on their backs. When they are
+shot the Indians immediately cut out the tit to prevent its scenting the
+meat. I have ate the flesh of it often, and found it equal to other meat
+of the pork kind.</p>
+
+<p>Plantain is the principal bread food of the country, and easily
+cultivated. It also produces yams, cassauder, sweet potatoes or eddies,
+and many other vegetables; but the natives are too indolent to cultivate
+them. I lived seven months among them without tasting a mouthful of
+bread, or even craving it.</p>
+
+<p>I will now give a small extract of Musquitto laws, viz: If a man commits
+adultery with his neighbor's wife, and it comes to the knowledge of her
+husband, he takes his gun and goes to the forest where he finds a herd
+of cattle belonging to the neighborhood; he shoots a good fat bullock
+and calls on the neighbors to assist him to dress it and convey it home,
+where he makes a great feast, inviting the man who committed the
+offence, and all the neighbors to partake with him, when the offender,
+who is bound by law, pays for the bullock and all is amicably settled.</p>
+
+<p>If a man prevails on another man's wife to leave her husband and live
+with him, the law compels him to pay a fine of four backs of
+tortoise-shell, worth six dollars each, amounting to twenty-four
+dollars, and a receipt in full is verbally acknowledged, without any
+hard feelings between the parties.</p>
+
+<p>I once witnessed a settlement between two men in a cause of this kind,
+both parties appeared well <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>satisfied, and parted on the most friendly
+terms.</p>
+
+<p>They have a singular law for the collection of debts. If I trust an
+Indian goods, he belonging to another town or settlement, and he
+neglects to pay me, and I find another Indian belonging to the same
+town, having tortoise-shell or other produce in his canoe, I can take it
+away from him for the debt, and he must look to the man who was indebted
+to me, for remuneration.</p>
+
+<p>Marriage contracts are made by parents while the children are infants.
+Two families living in one neighborhood, one of them having a son and
+the other a daughter, enter into a contract that they shall be
+considered man and wife. When they are of a proper age to be joined
+together, all the inhabitants of the place assemble together, build them
+a house, help them to a hammock to sleep in, and a dinner-pot for
+cooking, and they commence as house keepers. After living together for
+some years as man and wife, the husband receives a present of a female
+child from <i>its</i> parents, which he carries home, and calls it his <i>young
+wife</i>, the first wife taking the same care of it she would of her own
+children until it becomes of proper age, when the husband builds a new
+house for the first wife to live in, and takes the young wife for a
+house-keeper. I have often been invited into Indian houses and
+introduced to the family in this manner: "This is my old wife," pointing
+to an elderly woman, and "This is my young wife," pointing to a girl
+from six to ten years old. The old wife <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>would smooth her hair and
+appear to feel a great deal of pride in being presented to me.</p>
+
+<p>On the day a woman is delivered of a child she goes to the sea-side,
+wades into the water knee depth, washes herself and infant, and the next
+day slings the child on her back, gets into a canoe and paddles two or
+three miles to visit her friends.</p>
+
+<p>I here take my leave of Musquitto laws and customs for the present.</p>
+
+<p>As the plan of cutting a canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean,
+by the way of the River St. Johns, which leads from the Atlantic into
+the Lakes Nicaragua and Leon, has so much engaged the attention of the
+public latterly, my thoughts have been carried back to a conversation I
+had with an old Musquitto Indian about thirty-five years since.</p>
+
+<p>He said, "The Indians frequently paddled their canoes up the St. John's
+River, through Nicaragua Lake into Lake Leon, where they found a small
+river, and proceeded to the head of it, which brought them so near the
+head of another river which led into the Pacific, that they hauled their
+canoes over by land from the head of one river to the other, and then
+passed through into the Pacific Ocean."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2>
+
+
+<p>The bite of many of the snakes of this country is so poisonous as to
+cause death in a few hours. During my residence at the Lagoon I was
+visited by an Indian admiral, named Drummer, who resided at Sandy Bay,
+some forty miles north of the Lagoon; he related the following story,
+which happened a few weeks before. "He sent an Indian slave to his
+plantain walk, distant two or three miles, to cut some bread-stuffs; not
+returning that night, he the next morning sent his son-in-law to look
+after the slave. He not returning, the following morning a number of the
+inhabitants proceeded to the plantain walk, where they found the dead
+bodies of the two men, and the snake which had caused their death lying
+near them."</p>
+
+<p>Some hurricanes occasionally visit this coast, which destroy their crops
+of bread-stuffs, and cause temporary famine in certain districts.</p>
+
+<p>While cruising along the coast some months after the occurrence of one
+of these tornadoes, I landed within a few miles of the residence of
+Admiral Hammer, in company with a man named Benjamin Downs, who was well
+acquainted with the admiral. We proceeded to his house and asked for
+something to eat, when he told us his bread-stuffs <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>had all been
+destroyed by a gale of wind, and addressed Downs as follows: "Ben Downs,
+don't you think the Almighty little bit too bad this time?" "Why, and
+what do you mean?" asked Downs. The admiral replied, "He send too much
+strong breeze and broke all the plantain walk."</p>
+
+<p>The country is infested with numerous insects, &amp;c. such as mosquittoes,
+sand-flies, fire-ants, chigoes, centipedes, scorpions, cock-roaches, and
+an immense number of alligators. The ground in many places is overrun
+with large ants, called the travelling army, which destroy whole fields
+of vegetation. It is also infested by insects called dog-fleas, which
+are a great annoyance at night; and the sea-coast abounds with sharks of
+a very large size.</p>
+
+<p>To give the reader a short description of the country and inhabitants I
+shall quote from a late writer. "The Musquittoes are a small nation of
+Indians, never conquered by the Spaniards, the country being so situated
+as to render any attempts against them impracticable; for they are
+surrounded on all sides by land, by morasses or impassable mountains,
+and by sea with shoals and rocks; besides, they have such an implacable
+hatred to the Spaniards, for inhumanity and cruelty in destroying many
+millions of their neighbors, that they would never have any
+correspondence with them; for whenever they sent any missionaries or
+other agents amongst them, they <i>hid them</i>, that is, put them to death.
+The king has little more than the title, unless <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>the nation is at war;
+having no revenues, and few prerogatives; being obliged in time of peace
+to fish and fowl for the support of himself and family. He hath indeed
+some distinction shown him, and now and then presents made him by the
+governor of Jamaica, and the English traders, who frequently touch and
+trade there."</p>
+
+<p>I occupied my time in selling goods and purchasing shell, skins, gums,
+&amp;c. and during my leisure hours partook of the sports of the Indians,
+that I might pass away the time as agreeably as my situation would admit
+of, not knowing how I could get away from the country, as the English
+traders [the only people who visited the Musquittoes] had agreed never
+to carry me to Jamaica, or take any letters that would assist me to get
+to my family, fearing I should become a rival in the trade, and be the
+means of introducing others into it.</p>
+
+<p>About the first of November a Captain Humphreys, one of the Jamaica
+traders, arrived in the harbor, and came on shore and took supper with
+me. The Indian ladies got up a ball on the occasion. After dancing was
+over, Captain H. and myself took a walk together. During which he said
+to me, "Dunham, your case is a hard one, the old English traders on this
+coast, myself among them, have agreed never to carry you to Jamaica, or
+to assist you to get away from here, or take any letters from you to
+Jamaica or elsewhere, notwithstanding we consider you a very clever
+fellow; but if we assist <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>you to get home, you will lead down twenty
+Yankee traders and destroy our business with the Indians." Captain H.
+appeared to possess the feelings that one seaman should have for
+another, and continued, "Dunham, if you can get ready to go with me in
+two days I will carry you to Jamaica; but I will not carry your shell,
+or any other articles you have bought of the Indians." I expressed my
+sincere thanks for his kind offer, but told him I did not wish to be
+taken there for nothing; that I had money, and was willing to give him
+one hundred dollars for my passage. I informed him that I had kept one
+half barrel of pork and a case of gin hid away for some months,
+intending to purchase a large canoe with them to carry me to the Bay of
+Honduras, if no other conveyance offered. He refused to accept any
+compensation whatever for my passage.</p>
+
+<p>The next day I packed up my shell, amounting to five hundred and
+seventy-two pounds, and the remnants of my goods, and sent them thirty
+miles up the river Waa-waa-han to be left with my worthy old French
+friend, Mr. Ellis. I then called on my landlord for his bill for the
+rent of my store, and board for two or three months. He laughed at my
+being so simple as to suppose he would charge anything for it, and
+peremptorily refused; but as he was indebted to me for goods, I deducted
+forty dollars from his account, which he reluctantly accepted. The
+vessel being now ready for sea, the inhabitants of the village all
+escorted me to the beach, bringing <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>me many presents of fruits, and
+shaking me by the hand, with downcast eyes bade me a hearty farewell.</p>
+
+<p>Captain H. had to proceed to the coast of St. Blas to settle with his
+traders, having left goods with three or four Indians, at different
+settlements, to sell for him. This circuitous route made the distance to
+Jamaica five or six hundred miles further, stopping at a number of
+places on the Musquitto Shore, viz: St. John's River, Boco Toro and
+Crekimala, where we took on board a quantity of sarsaparilla and sundry
+other articles, and then proceeded to St. Blas. On our arrival there we
+were visited by a large number of Indians in canoes, who commenced
+trading with us. One of them acting as clerk took charge of the goods
+and dealt them out to the others by fathoming them off with his arms,
+this being their custom of measuring cloth. The goods being mostly
+staple articles, the prices there seldom varied. Shell had a fixed price
+of one dollar per pound. The captain paid little attention to the trade.
+A small pump was left in a hogshead of rum, from which the clerk filled
+the bottle and passed it round as often as it was called for, and every
+few hours he would call the captain and give him a handful of money,
+saying, "Here is so much," which he would put in his pocket, neither of
+them counting it, nor would the captain ask anything about the trade.
+Often the captain and myself took a canoe and went off fishing, leaving
+fifty or sixty Indians on board dealing with the clerk, who had the sole
+control of the trade. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>When we had finished trading at one place the
+Indians piloted us to another harbor on the coast, where we proceeded in
+the same manner. We sailed along the coast more than one hundred miles,
+touching and trading at the different towns. Two of the natives took
+passage with us for Jamaica, where we arrived about the first of
+December. Here I tasted bread for the first time in eight months, having
+lived on Indian bread-stuffs during that time, and seldom thinking of
+any other, being well satisfied with that food. On our arrival at
+Montego Bay the captain took me home to his house, and treated me very
+politely.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after my arrival in Jamaica I found a brig bound to Baltimore, and
+took passage in her; I arrived there after a voyage of twenty-five days,
+and sailed for New-York, where I had an interview with my owners, and
+obtained a furlough from them for a few days, that I might visit my
+family; after which I returned to New-York and proceeded back to the
+Musquitto Shore.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.<br />
+
+Sloop Governor Tompkins.</h2>
+
+
+<p>In February, 1817, I took charge of the Sloop Governor Tompkins, of
+thirty-four tons, belonging to the same owners that the Biddle did;
+being promoted two tons in the size of the vessel. I took on board an
+assorted cargo, bound for Old Providence, Corn Island, and Musquitto
+Shore. I took with me a young man named Samuel B. Warner, to serve as
+clerk of our store at Pearl Key Lagoon, where I intended to resume the
+trade I had left. My crew consisted of a mate, two seamen, and a cook.
+In the Gulf-stream we encountered a violent gale of wind, shipped a
+heavy sea, which swept our deck and washed the cook overboard, and I
+never saw him again. I made a passage of seventeen days to Old
+Providence, where I met with a heavy sale of goods; from thence I went
+to Corn Island, and to Pearl Key Lagoon. There I hired part of an Indian
+house, landed some goods, and Mr. Warner opened a store. From thence I
+sailed for Cape Gracios a Dios, and visited the king, who entertained me
+with a ball and other amusements. I then proceeded back to the Lagoon,
+touching and trading at Sandy Bay, where I was visited by a large number
+of Indians, who brought on board tortoise-shell, tiger-skins,
+deer-skins, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>India rubber, gum copal, &amp;c. which I bought in exchange for
+goods. The chiefs and their subjects got very drunk on the occasion, and
+as it was difficult to suppress the quarrels that arose among them, I
+was obliged to get my vessel under weigh to rid myself of them. I
+returned to the Lagoon, where Mr. Warner had opened a very good trade
+with the Indians, and appeared well pleased with the country.</p>
+
+<p>I hired three Indians to man my canoe, and took a trip up the river
+Waa-waa-han, to visit my old friend Mr. Ellis, with whom I had left the
+tortoise-shell and other articles previous to my embarking with Captain
+Humphreys for Jamaica. On my passage up the river I called on Mr. Gough,
+an Englishman, whom I have spoken of in a former chapter; I remained but
+a few hours with him, having but little leisure to view his plantation,
+which had the appearance of a good soil, but lacked cultivation. When I
+arrived at the house of Mr. Ellis I was received with a hearty welcome,
+and treated with the best the country afforded. After taking some
+refreshments we took a walk over his grounds, which were well
+cultivated, having a beautiful orange walk, with two rows of trees set
+out in straight lines for nearly half a mile, forming a most
+delightfully shaded road. I purchased two or three tons of coffee from
+him, which he had raised on his place, and kept on hand for want of
+purchasers, the Jamaica traders always refusing to buy it. He told <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>me
+he had plenty of cattle on his premises, which could be made very useful
+in clearing the ground, by breaking them in to work with ploughs. I told
+him to make out a memorandum, and I would bring him out ploughs, chains,
+ox-yokes and such other articles as he wanted. He gave me a list of what
+he needed, which I furnished him on the next voyage, when he broke in
+his cattle, cleared up new lands, and used his ploughs with very good
+success for many years afterwards. Mr. Ellis agreed to send my shell,
+goods, and coffee, down to the Lagoon in canoes, which promise he
+punctually performed. I remained with him during that night. In the
+morning, soon after I arose, I heard the bellowing of a cow near the
+house, and running out of the door a laughable scene attracted my
+attention. Mr. Ellis had domesticated a large ring-tailed monkey, and
+raised a long pole near the house, on the top of which was put a box for
+the monkey to sleep in; having fixed a small chain around his neck, with
+the end fast to the pole, jocko was furnished sufficient length of chain
+to go up and down at his pleasure. Mr. Ellis kept two or three docile
+milch cows about his premises, and one of them having ventured near the
+monkey's pole, he ran down and seized the end of her tail, taking a
+couple of turns round the pole and holding fast to the end of her
+switcher; the poor cow struggled and bellowed to get her liberty, but
+jocko held on until his master appeared with a cane, when he reluctantly
+gave up his sport.</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/fig113.jpg" alt="" /><br />Jocko amusing himself with a Cow.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p><p>I took leave of my old friend and proceeded down the river. The weather
+being clear and warm, the woods and banks swarmed with macaws, parrots,
+bill-birds, and others of variegated plumage. An immense number of
+monkeys, chattering and jumping from one tree to another with great
+rapidity, formed a most pleasing and lively scene; added to which was
+the fragrance of countless flowers.</p>
+
+<p>I arrived at the Lagoon that evening. The next day I took my coffee,
+shell, &amp;c. on board, arranged my business with Warner, took leave of my
+Indian friends, and sailed for home.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing very material happened on the way except contrary winds, which
+prolonged our passage. We arrived in New-York after an absence of one
+hundred and one days from the time we left that city, having made a
+profitable little voyage, which always procures a captain a good
+reception from all concerned in it. I then returned to Catskill, where I
+found my family and friends all well. Finding the Tompkins too small and
+uncomfortable, I requested the owners to purchase a larger craft. After
+remaining six days with my family, I received a letter from them, saying
+they had exchanged the Tompkins for a more commodious vessel, and
+requesting me to come to New-York as soon as circumstances would permit.
+Two days after the receipt of the letter I arrived there.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.<br />
+
+Schooner Price.&mdash;First Voyage.</h2>
+
+
+<p>About the last of May, 1817, my former owners of the Biddle and Tompkins
+purchased the Schooner Price, built at Baltimore, sixty-eight tons
+burden. On my last two voyages I found all the harbors along the Spanish
+Main so destructive to a wood-bottomed vessel, that in a few months it
+would be entirely destroyed. The fresh water emptying into the sea at
+these places make the water brackish, which increases the quantity of
+worms. The Price being iron fastened, obliged us to cover her bottom
+with zinc instead of copper, which was accomplished in a few days. We
+then put an assorted cargo on board suited to that market.</p>
+
+<p>On the second day of June I sailed from New-York, bound to Old
+Providence, St. Andrews, Corn Island, and Musquitto Shore. Nothing
+worthy of notice took place on the passage. We arrived at Old Providence
+in seventeen days, where I commenced a brisk trade. The inhabitants
+urgently requested me to give them a ball. I had on board a drummer and
+a cook who played the flute; they had a fiddler and triangle player on
+shore. I complied with their request, they agreeing to make all the
+necessary arrangements, as my time was occupied <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>in selling goods, (such
+as calicoes, jackonets, muslins, shoes, ribbons, jewelry, cologne water,
+pomatum, beads, liquors, &amp;c.) having an invoice of one hundred and sixty
+different articles to be sold at retail. During the day the managers of
+the ball came on board, and I furnished them with coffee, sugar,
+crackers, cheese, &amp;c. Soon after sunset I went on shore, where I found a
+motley group of English, Spanish, and Curracoa natives of all colors. I
+was introduced to a young white lady as a partner, who had been educated
+in Jamaica, and understood the rules of country dances. According to the
+custom of the place, the person giving a ball is expected to lead the
+figure during the whole night. I conformed to the fashion of course. On
+examining the room, I soon found it had no floor, but being an old
+sailor, thought I could beat my way, which I accomplished in as gallant
+a manner as did Lord Nelson when he fought through the combined fleet.</p>
+
+<p>I had a trunk full of sheep skin morocco ladies' shoes on board, which
+cost at auction thirty-one cents per pair, I sold most of them here at
+two dollars per pair; many of them were danced out in one night. I sold
+many other articles at about the same per centage.</p>
+
+<p>By the custom of the Island, every person invited to a ball must give
+one in return. One of the ladies who attended my ball gave one two
+nights after. Her outlay for goods bought from me was over sixty
+dollars.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p><p>Two or three days after the second ball I sailed for St. Andrews, where
+we arrived the same evening. Immediately on our anchoring a large number
+of the inhabitants of the Island came on board, ours being the first
+American vessel they had seen there in fourteen years. I commenced a
+heavy trade with them. This Island contains three times the population
+of Old Providence. As these Islanders had heard that I gave a ball at
+Providence, it would not do to refuse them one. It being agreed upon, I
+told them to appoint their own managers, and then send on board and get
+such articles as they required to treat their company with, not wishing
+to be annoyed until they were ready; and as I was a stranger, I did not
+want to have anything to do with giving the invitations. At the
+appointed hour I went on shore, a horse and servant were waiting to
+convey me to the ball-room, where I found a polished English lady, who
+was to act as my partner, and lead the figure during the night, which I
+was compelled to submit to until the ball ended. There was a floor in
+the ball-room here, which made our dancing less laborious. We kept it up
+briskly until 12 o'clock, and then partook of some refreshments. We then
+recommenced dancing, and kept perseveringly at it until sunrise next
+morning. But my trouble had just commenced. More than one half of the
+free inhabitants were colored, whom I afterward found to be my best
+customers, none of whom had been invited to the ball except an old man,
+by the name of Bent, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>the wealthiest man on the Island, owning about
+ninety slaves, whom the whites dare not overlook. I satisfied the
+colored people that it was no fault of mine that they had not received
+an invitation to my ball, at the same time treating them with the
+greatest politeness, inviting them on board to partake of refreshments.
+They, in order to be revenged on their white neighbors, gave a ball two
+or three nights afterward, passing a resolution that no white man except
+Captain Dunham should be invited.</p>
+
+<p>At the appointed time a horse and waiter were sent to convey me to the
+dance, which I knew it was my interest to attend. On arriving at the
+place I found everything in good order, and was received with the most
+facinating flourishes of high life, and introduced to a partner
+three-fourths white, dressed in silk. I was called upon again to lead
+the figure for the night. At 12 o'clock partook of refreshments, and
+retired at four next morning, highly delighted with my prowess in
+dancing.</p>
+
+<p>By this introduction I secured all the trade of the colored population,
+and retained it until I left, which was several years after the dance.</p>
+
+<p>We next sailed for Corn Island, having parted with all the inhabitants,
+both white and black, on the most friendly terms. We arrived in two
+days, and commenced trade, as usual; we procured hogs, poultry, and
+fruits in abundance. Our trade was unexpectedly interrupted by a gale of
+wind which parted my largest cable. I lost the anchor, was driven <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>over
+a reef of rocks, broke the rudder, and found myself at sea in a gale,
+which lasted about three days; after which we rigged a spar to act as a
+substitute for a rudder, by which means we regained the harbor. There we
+repaired the damage, and sailed for Pearl Key Lagoon, where I found Mr.
+Warner in good health and spirits, and my Indian friends overjoyed to
+see me. I landed many goods here, that I might get at my assortment and
+recruit our store, and sold some articles to the inhabitants.</p>
+
+<p>We then sailed for Cape Gracios a Dios. On our arrival, the king, who
+had built himself a new house, came on board, with some of his admirals
+and other great men, whom I treated with liquor until they were all
+badly intoxicated. I bartered some goods in exchange for shell, skins,
+gums, &amp;c. and proceeded down along the coast to Bluefields, touching and
+trading at the different harbors, and then returned to the Lagoon, where
+I landed the remainder of my goods at our store, and then sailed for
+New-York. Nothing material happening on the passage, I shall omit a
+description of it. On arriving in the city I was well received by my
+owners and friends, having made a prosperous voyage. After discharging
+my cargo, I visited my family in Catskill, where I spent ten days, and
+then returned to New-York to prepare for another voyage.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.<br />
+
+Schooner Price.&mdash;Second Voyage.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Finding our trade increasing, my owners and myself thought it would be
+much advanced by sending out a small vessel to be stationed on the
+coast, and employed in running along the shore selling goods, and
+collecting return cargoes for the Price, viz: tortoise-shell, hides,
+skins, gums, sarsaparilla, &amp;c. The owners of the Price then purchased a
+small sloop, called the Traverse, of near nineteen tons burden, having a
+mast fifty feet long. We sheathed her bottom with zinc, and rigged her
+for sea. My old mate, Captain N. Soper, volunteered to take command of
+her; a man from Troy, named Thomas Teft, shipped as mate, and a man from
+Staten Island as seaman. I had an Indian boy who was bound to me as an
+apprentice, who volunteered as cook. The Price was armed with a
+six-pound cannon, well mounted, and the Traverse with a swivel. We soon
+got our cargoes on board, and insured both vessels. The intention was to
+keep company as long as the weather would permit. Both were placed under
+my control. The weather being very cold, and our little vessels deeply
+loaded, a heavy sea in the harbor had coated them with ice.</p>
+
+<p>On the nineteenth day of February, 1818, we got <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>under weigh, the
+wharves being lined with spectators to see a vessel of eighteen tons
+commencing a voyage of over two thousand miles. They gave us three
+hearty cheers, which we answered by discharging our cannon. A fair wind
+carried us to sea, where we kept company for three days, when a violent
+gale separated us. I cruised the whole of next day in search of the
+Traverse, without finding her. Thinking it useless, I resumed my course
+and proceeded to the Island of Old Providence, where we arrived after a
+passage of seventeen days, and opened my trade as usual. The Traverse
+arrived four days after, having sprung her mast near the deck.</p>
+
+<p>The next day we hauled the Traverse along side of the Price, raised her
+masts with the schooner's purchases, sawed off the broken part, about
+five feet, took her sails on shore and shortened them to fit the mast,
+put them in good order for sea, exchanged part of her goods and gave her
+a suitable cargo to retail along the coast. Two or three days after I
+gave the captain orders to proceed to the Main and stop to trade at
+sundry ports, named in his instructions, and from thence proceed to St.
+Blas, where he would meet me in the Price. I took Henry T. Smith with me
+to Lagoon, to act as clerk in our store, in place of Mr. Warner, who
+wished to return to New-York. I remained here two or three days, and
+then sailed for the Lagoon. On my arrival Mr. Warner was in good health,
+and much pleased to find himself released by Mr. Smith's taking his
+place as clerk in <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>the store. We landed the most of our heavy goods,
+made every necessary arrangement for business, and giving the proper
+directions, I proceeded to Bluefields, sold a few goods, cancelled some
+old debts, and procured a pilot for the coast of St. Blas, for which we
+soon after sailed.</p>
+
+<p>I obtained information at Corn Island, at the Lagoon, and at Bluefields,
+of the English traders having heard that I intended to extend my trade
+to that coast. They had employed an agent whom they had supplied with
+the necessary articles of trade, and told the inhabitants that if they
+traded with that Yankee captain they would withdraw from them; and also
+told them that the Yankee captain might sell them some articles a little
+cheaper at first, but that he was a worthless fellow, and could not
+continue the trade long, when they would be left destitute, as no
+Englishman would supply them. The English traders urged the Indians to
+put myself and crew to death, and burn our vessel. My friends who gave
+me the information, strongly remonstrated against my going to St. Blas,
+saying that my life would be sacrificed in so doing. In a conversation
+afterwards with one of the English traders, I spoke of the cold-blooded
+murder they wished the St. Blas Indians to be guilty off, which he
+denied, but admitted that they told the Indians to destroy our goods.</p>
+
+<p>However the minds of the Indians might have been operated upon at the
+time of hearing their murderous proposals, they made no attempt to harm
+me.</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/fig123.jpg" alt="" /><br />Captain Dunham landing at St. Blas.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p><p>On our arrival on the coast of St. Blas, not knowing the channel, we
+came to anchor near an island, where we discovered a number of canoes,
+and thirty or forty Indians on the shore. Being short of water, I
+concluded to take a small water-keg into my canoe and land among the
+Indians for the purpose of procuring some, and also to get a pilot, if
+possible, to take the vessel into the harbor. Before leaving the vessel
+I told the mate that the Indians had such an inveterate hatred against
+the Spaniards, that if any of their vessels were cast away on this coast
+they would massacre every person on board; that I thought they had never
+seen the American flag, and bade him keep a good look-out with the
+spy-glass, and not hoist our colors until he saw me safe among the
+Indians, fearing they might suppose it to be Spanish, or some enemy's
+flag. My mulatto pilot and sailor, and myself, then proceeded toward the
+island where we had seen the Indians. When within about one hundred rods
+of the shore there were about thirty bows and arrows pointed towards us.
+On looking back to the vessel I saw the colors hoisted and streaming
+with the wind. It being too late to retreat, and perceiving that the
+water was only about two feet deep, I jumped overboard, and told my men
+to follow; having no other clothes on save our shirts and pantaloons,
+the water was not particularly annoying. I took my hat in my hand and
+extended my arms full length, showing thereby that there were no weapons
+about me. As I approached the shore they all laid <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>down their bows and
+arrows and met us with a hearty welcome. The Indian arrows are made of
+strong reed, four or five feet long, pointed with nails or spikes about
+fourteen or fifteen inches in length, which they sharpen with files or
+cold chissels. With these they kill wild beasts, fowls and fish. When
+shot into the water the reed is so buoyant that the light end swims
+about one foot above the surface.</p>
+
+<p>Previous to my departure from the Price, my Mate took a scissors, a
+knife, and some other articles out of the goods belonging to the cargo,
+and left them lying carelessly about the vessel. I requested him to put
+them back into the packages, together with any articles he might use;
+but he told me very abruptly that <i>he</i> purchased them in New-York. Some
+angry words passed between us. As he was an intemperate, bad
+dispositioned man, I had reason to suppose that he hoisted the colors
+for the purpose of revenging himself on me; thinking, doubtless, that
+the Indians would murder me, though he excused himself by saying he
+thought I had landed before he hoisted them.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2>
+
+
+<p>St. Blas has no king, but is a kind of Patriarchal government, being
+ruled by the old men and the sookerman of the Island, whose laws are
+obeyed in the strictest manner. The sookerman acts as physician, and
+also foretells future events. Theft or adultery is seldom known in that
+country. The civilized world talk of liberty, but these savages alone
+truly enjoy it. They pay no tithes or taxes, require no locks to protect
+themselves from thieves, have neither taverns nor boarding houses, every
+traveller being made welcome at whatever house he may happen to stop.
+There he will receive such entertainment and fare as is provided for the
+family. Their hospitality is the same, whether he remains a day, a
+month, or longer. I never heard of but one woman of that tribe who had
+issue by a white man. The father of the child was a captain of a Jamaica
+trading vessel. When the Indians discovered her situation, she was
+separated from the tribe, placed in a house built for her in the woods,
+entirely deprived of all kind of intercourse with them; being considered
+as an outcast. When the child was three or four years of age it was put
+on board of a Jamaica vessel and banished from the country.</p>
+
+<p>In describing my next voyage I shall narrate many <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span>of the customs and
+manners of this region. The Indians brought their canoes alongside of
+our vessel and piloted us safely into the harbor, called Little Cordee,
+where we found good anchorage; we were immediately visited by some
+thirty or forty canoes. One of the Indians asked the privilege of
+trading for me. I told him he might if he got permission from the old
+men and sookermen, as we had not yet their leave so to do. He paddled to
+the shore, and returned in a short time with three old men and a
+sookerman, from whom we received the license which we desired.</p>
+
+<p>I gave them plenty to eat and drink; they in return invited me on shore,
+where I was well entertained. My Indian trader then commenced the
+business for me by fathoming off cloth, many articles of staple goods,
+such as shirting, check, powder and shot, &amp;c. all of which had been sold
+at one uniform price for many years. The Indians also had always
+received one dollar per pound for tortoise-shell. When any goods
+differed from such as the English traders had sold them, my Indian agent
+would ascertain the price from me and proceed in his usual way in
+bartering and selling. It was entirely unnecessary for me to trouble
+myself about his bargains. He would come to me with his hands full of
+silver change, saying, here captain, is so much money, and without
+further remark would again turn to his business of salesman.</p>
+
+<p>After remaining three or four days, my clerk asked <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>me if he might be my
+trader during the season of taking turtle, which lasted four or five
+months. His price was ten pounds Jamaica currency, about thirty dollars.
+This being pretty reasonable, I answered him in the affirmative, telling
+him to select such goods as he wished for his trade, I at the same time
+taking an account of them, although I dared not let him know that I had
+done so. I furnished him with the means of preserving his goods from the
+rain, supplied him with steelyards, and every article necessary for the
+trade on that coast. The goods amounted to about six hundred dollars. He
+then volunteered to pilot us along the coast free of expense, except his
+board and liquor.</p>
+
+<p>We at length got under weigh, having about twenty canoes in tow,
+proceeded a few miles and came too at night under the lee of an island.
+In the morning we started again, and arrived at the River Caledonia;
+here we obtained permission to trade, the inhabitants giving us a hearty
+welcome. After remaining here two or three days we sailed for the River
+Mona, opening our trade immediately on our arrival, having obtained such
+license from the proper authorities, remained but a few days, and sailed
+for the River De Ablo, or River Devil. Here I engaged an Indian named
+Billy, who had sailed with Captain Humphrey, an English trader, some two
+years before. Billy was much pleased to see me, and immediately
+commenced trading in my service, upon the same terms as those on which I
+had engaged the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>former Indian, Campbell; he selected his goods and took
+about the same quantity as Campbell had, and was fitted out much in the
+same manner, having everything necessary to carry on the trade during
+the season. After remaining here three or four days, we sailed back to
+the River Cordee, where I had ordered Captain Soper to meet me with his
+sloop.</p>
+
+<p>I remained at Cordee about two weeks, waiting for the appearance of the
+vessel. On her arrival we took out all the cargo she had collected along
+the coast, and put it on board the Price, and took what was left on
+board the Price and put it on board the Traverse, and, according to my
+letter of instruction, gave Captain Soper command of the Price, with
+directions to proceed to New-York; he took Mr. Warner with him. On
+taking charge of the Traverse myself, I retained Mr. Tefts, my Indian
+apprentice boy, also an Indian lad who was one of the Musquitto king's
+brothers with me, and one of the St. Blas Indians, who acted as seaman.
+The schooner soon sailed for New-York, and we for Corn Island, where we
+arrived in four days. After touching at Corn Island, we sailed from
+thence to Cape Gracios a Dios, where we were visited by the king, who
+invited us to his house, which I accepted of. Remaining here some days,
+my little sloop was overloaded with Indians, eating and drinking, the
+king being constantly intoxicated. He gave me directions not to trust
+any Indian on his account without a written order from him. He came on
+board one day and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>asked me for the amount of his account, which was
+near one hundred dollars. He examined it silently, then ordered his men
+into his canoe and abruptly left the vessel. I felt somewhat surprised
+at his leaving in this manner without an explanation.</p>
+
+<p>In the afternoon some Indians came on board who had been in the habit of
+bringing the king's verbal orders for goods, and said the king had sent
+them to get a ten gallon keg of rum for him; not wishing to offend him,
+I asked the Indians where he, the king, was, they replied, "We must
+paddle up the river a little bit, and then ride horse a little bit."
+Determined to know if there was any fraud in the verbal order, I started
+with the Indians to see the king.</p>
+
+<p>We paddled up the river about four or five miles, when we landed. A
+horse was brought for each man; our leader mounted, taking his ten
+gallon keg up before him; each was supplied with a bunch of plantain
+leaves for a saddle. The night being dark, and the rain falling in
+torrents, we groped our way through thick woods, my horse acting as my
+guide. I kept my hand extended before my face to protect my eyes from
+the limbs of the trees for some distance, when we arrived at a small
+creek; we dismounted and crossed over in a canoe, the Indians swimming
+their horses across. Being mounted again we rode about three miles
+further through a level prairie land. The foot-path being covered with
+water about four inches deep, and the rain falling incessantly. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>At
+length we arrived at the king's house, his majesty not having a dry
+thread of clothes about him. On entering I found an Indian by the name
+of Thompson, an old acquaintance, acting as door-keeper, who conducted
+me into the house and presented me with a hammock; and being very much
+fatigued, begged him not to tell the king that I had arrived. He
+promised he would not. Soon after I got in my hammock, the king, who lay
+in an adjoining room, called for a drink of water, which was brought.
+The servant at the same time telling him that the American captain had
+arrived (that being the name by which I was known on the Indian coast.)
+He immediately arose, told his servants, called quarter-masters, to
+bring the women for a dance. To please him I had to put on an Indian
+dress, have my face painted, and my head ornamented with feathers. The
+king took the lead in the performances, which lasted until morning; he
+ordered a bullock to be killed for breakfast, which made a very good
+repast, after which I retired, much fatigued, to a hammock, where a
+sound sleep soon refreshed me. The king retired to rest, slept until
+dark, when, springing up suddenly, he ordered his quarter-masters to
+bring the horses. I remonstrated with him, saying, "For pity sake, king,
+do not take me through that wilderness this night." Rubbing his eyes, he
+declared, "It is not night, but morning." After some time, being
+convinced of his mistake, he ordered the quarter-masters to collect the
+women again for <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>another dance, which was kept up until 11 o'clock that
+night, when I begged permission to retire.</p>
+
+<p>Next morning the king apologized to me by saying, since he had detained
+me so long, I should be remunerated with some tortoise-shell, for "I
+know," said he, "you would willingly stop any where, two or three days,
+if you could get a few pounds of tortoise-shell." Our horses were soon
+brought, rigged as usual, with a bunch of plantain leaves for a saddle,
+and a bridle made of bark. The king mounted, one of his queens being
+placed behind him on the same horse; the gristle of his horse's ears
+being removed, caused them to lap down on his head much like a
+long-eared hog. I mounted the other. The mud and water was at least four
+inches deep on the road, being the rainy season. We proceeded about a
+quarter of a mile, when the king dismounted, and getting up behind me,
+called to his waiters to get him a large stick, which he applied to my
+poor old horse's flank without mercy; off we went in a smart gallop, the
+mud and water flying in every direction. Having proceeded about a mile
+we came to a small lane leading from the main road, which we were
+travelling, along which were three small houses to be seen. The king
+halted, saying to me, "Go up here and I will get you some shell." I rode
+with the king to the front of the house, where a young Indian girl,
+apparently eighteen years of age, stood near the door. The king
+addressing me, asked if I did not think her handsome. My answer, of
+course, was in the affirmative. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>The king then commanded his
+quarter-masters to catch her and throw her on behind me. The girl having
+an old dress on, ran into the house and returned with a clean one, the
+quarter-masters then lifted her on behind me astride the horse. The king
+kept in the rear to drive my horse into a canter, the mud and water
+flying into our eyes at such a rate that I could hardly keep the road.
+When we came to the creek the horses swam across, while the king, the
+two women, and myself crossed in a canoe; the king trying to upset us,
+which I prevented almost by main force, as the creek swarmed with
+alligators. Having passed it, we travelled through woods for two or
+three miles, when we embarked in a canoe for the Cape. Gladly did I
+return to my vessel. The king, not unmindful of his promise to make me
+some remuneration for my detention, sold me some thirty or forty pounds
+of shell, which he owed to an English trader.</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/fig132.jpg" alt="" /><br />Mosquito King and Captain Dunham taking an airing.</p>
+
+<p>There was at the time two English trading vessels lying in the harbor. I
+had one passenger on board, belonging to Corn Island. One day the
+English captains, my passengers, and myself, being overtaken by a rain
+storm on shore, took shelter under an old woman's roof, where she was
+engaged in frying fish for her dinner. Her house was built like many
+houses in that country, simply of a thatched roof, supported by
+crotches, having no sides. As we were assembled here, the notion got
+into our heads to try the old lady's temper and placing ourselves at
+the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>four corners of her domicile, clapped our shoulders under the
+roof and bore it off, leaving the poor old woman frying her fish in the
+rain, which soon put out her fire, while we received a volley of curses
+for our sport. We, however, returned it to its proper place, breaking
+the poor old creature's crockery in so doing, which was all she
+possessed. We invited her on board our vessels the next day, telling her
+we would make good her loss; nor were we unmindful of our promise when
+she made her appearance. We supplied her with plates, cups, saucers,
+knives, forks, &amp;c. so that her house was better furnished with these
+articles than any in the town. We also threw in a bottle of rum to make
+the affair perfectly satisfactory to her.</p>
+
+<p>After remaining at the Cape a few days, where I purchased some shell, a
+considerable quantity of India rubber, gum copal, deer and tiger-skins,
+and deer-horns, paying for them in goods, we proceeded to Sandy Bay,
+where, after bartering four or five days for such articles as we got at
+the Cape, we next sailed for Great River, continuing our bartering for
+the same articles, and then started for Corn Island, intending to take
+in provision there, it being decidedly the best place for that purpose
+in the country. From thence we sailed for the Lagoon, where having
+landed such goods as were needed to keep a good assortment in our store,
+we proceeded along the coast, touching at Bluefields, Martina,
+Buckatora, and some other small ports, and then returned to <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>Corn
+Island. Here I met the schooner Price, which had arrived two days
+previous, direct from New-York, with a new supply of goods. Captain
+Soper informed me that he had lost one man overboard on his passage
+home. I found on board the Price a man named Mores, who had some
+interest in the cargo. I gave the command of the sloop to Mr. Tefts, and
+took charge of the schooner again. I supplied Captain Tefts with a new
+assortment of goods, and ordered him to proceed along the Musquitto
+coast and procure all the return cargo he could, and from thence to St.
+Blas, where he could meet me in the Price. I proceeded with the Price
+direct to St. Blas, where I repainted her. Here Mr. Morse was taken sick
+and died, and we buried him on an uninhabited island, and then sailed
+for the harbor of Cordee, where I found my Indian trader, Campbell, who
+came on board and brought the returns for the goods I had left with him
+to sell. He brought on board a quantity of shell, a few bags of cocoa, a
+purse of money, and the remnants of the goods, and told me he had three
+or four canoe loads of fustic, laying on the beach, which he had
+purchased for me. He laid the shell, cocoa, return goods, and the purse
+of money down on the deck, telling me that was all he had. I asked him
+if he had taken out his wages. He said he had, and we considered all
+accounts between us settled, without making any figures. We remained
+here two or three days, and purchased a few thousand cocoa-nuts, and
+then sailed for the River <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>De Ablo, where I met my other trader, Billy,
+who came on board with his returns, which being the same as Campbell's,
+I settled his account in the same manner, with one exception. I asked
+him if he had taken out his wages, he answered, "Not all," when I handed
+back the purse of money to him, and he took out fourteen dollars, and
+then returned it, saying, "Now we are even," which was as good as a
+receipt.</p>
+
+<p>Campbell was on board acting as pilot, and he and Billy told me they
+must go and see my country, which request I readily granted. I purchased
+more cocoa-nuts, and took them on board when the Traverse arrived. I put
+all the goods I had left of her cargo on board the schooner Price, and
+prepared to sail the next morning. That evening we were visited by all
+the old men and sookermen in that vicinity, together with forty or fifty
+young men; the bottle of rum was passed round among them often during
+the night by Campbell or Billy, the old men relating stories and giving
+their charge to my traders, who were going to New-York with me. The St.
+Blas Indians have a peculiar custom about talking: when an old man is
+speaking, all the company are silent, not one lisp is heard from any
+other person, except at the end of every sentence, when each listener
+says, "Ah!" When one old man has ended his story another commences
+without any interruption. I laid down to sleep at eleven o'clock and
+slept till five in the morning, when I awoke and found them talking.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>Some time after, I called one of the Indians aft who spoke English, and
+asked him why this talk had continued all night: he answered me by
+saying, "The old men had told Campbell and Billy that they would be the
+first of their tribe whoever visited my country; that they must keep
+sober and honest, and conduct themselves like gentlemen."</p>
+
+<p>Having all things ready for sea, I took leave of the old patriarchs by a
+hearty shake of the hand, and proceeded on my voyage.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing material occurred until we got into the latitude of 24°, when
+our main-mast was carried away and we rigged a temporary jury-mast:
+having a long fore-sail, we were enabled to keep the schooner on her
+way; and being a sharp Baltimore clipper, she made pretty good headway
+under her fore-sail. Three days after, while laying too in a gale of
+wind, we lost one of our seamen, named William Latch, overboard. After a
+passage of thirty-five days we arrived in New-York. My Indians knew not
+what cold meant, and having some flannel on board, I made them some
+shirts on the passage, and gave them some old cast-off woollen clothing
+to protect them from the wintry weather of our coast. When we approached
+the cold latitudes we had a warm south-east wind, which brought us into
+the harbor of New-York without experiencing much of the severity of the
+weather. The first night after our arrival I went to my boarding house,
+where I tarried until early next morning, when I went to visit the
+schooner. As I approached the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>wharf where she lay, I saw Campbell
+looking at his fingers, turning his hands over and viewing them very
+closely. I accosted him in his accustomed manner of speaking, saying,
+"Campbell, what de matter?" he replied, "My God! captain, somet'ing bite
+me and I can't see 'im." His own country being infested with
+musquittoes, sand-flies, fire-ants, and sundry insects, which he could
+see, this invisible sting of cold he could not account for. I took them
+to a clothing store and rigged them with winter dunage. I then took them
+to a boarding house, and in the evening the mate escorted them to the
+play-house, thinking he could astonish them. The next morning I asked
+Campbell how he liked the play, he replied, "Too much fight; one old man
+go dead." In spite of all my efforts to the contrary, they would follow
+me at a distance. One day being near the City Hall, my two Indians
+following, as usual, I thought I would stop and let them overtake me,
+and have a view of the building, knowing that Campbell had never seen
+even a frame house, previous to his arrival in New-York. As they came up
+with me the keeper came out, and invited us up into the picture gallery,
+where we saw full-length portraits of all the governors of the State,
+and many other distinguished men, which the Indians viewed without any
+manifestation of surprise. We soon after went down Broadway, and as we
+approached St. Paul's Church, Campbell observing the covered figure of
+the Saint, set in the wall of the building, stopped, and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>looking at it
+some time, said, "Captain what dat old man tand dare for?" We passed on
+a little further, when I met my old acquaintance, Doctor Samuel L.
+Mitchell, who had visited me on my return from every voyage since I had
+been in this trade, in consequence of my furnishing him with roots,
+plants, and Indian curiosities. He was pleased at seeing the Indians,
+and asked what country they came from, their customs, manners, &amp;c. I
+gave him a brief explanation, and he then insisted upon my going home
+with him, saying, "Mrs. Mitchell must see them," to which I consented.
+We repaired to his house, where I made a short visit, and he agreed to
+let me retire, provided I would come to the college at two o'clock that
+day, as he was to lecture there at that hour. On my return from the
+doctor's I passed through Maiden Lane, where many of the windows were
+decorated with toys. My Indians stopped to view them, and I could not
+get them any further until I entered the stores and purchased some
+whistling birds, swimming geese, &amp;c. which they looked upon as the
+greatest curiosities in the whole city. At two o'clock I repaired to the
+college with my Indians. The doctor felt of their heads, looked down
+their throats, &amp;c. and said they belonged to the same species as those
+who inhabit the Sandwich Islands and a part of Asia. The students gave
+them a donation of eight dollars, and we returned to our respective
+boarding houses.</p>
+
+<p>A few days after, General Jackson visited New-York, which caused
+considerable noise and bustle. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>My Indians called on me to conduct them
+to the place of his landing, which was Whitehall, saying, "Me want to
+see dat big big American gineral." I conducted them to the place of
+landing, and the first object which attracted their attention was the
+military officers forming the procession, with long feathers on their
+hats, and they begged me very hard to go purchase some of those feathers
+for them. These Indians had every temptation to get intoxicated, having
+plenty of money given them by the owners of the Price and myself, and a
+donation of eight dollars from the students of the college: in addition
+to which the cartmen daily put up six-penny pieces for them to shoot at
+with their bows and arrows, which they generally got. We made them
+acquainted with a number of pleasant liquors which they had never before
+tasted, such as wine, cordial, beer, &amp;c. but nothing could induce them
+to get drunk, having received a strict charge from the old men of their
+own country before they left home to keep sober until they returned.</p>
+
+<p>After going through the necessary forms at the Custom House, the vessel
+was unloaded, and I obtained a furlough of two weeks to visit my family
+at Catskill, whom I found in good health. At the appointed time I
+returned to New-York and made the necessary preparations for another
+voyage.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.<br />
+
+Schooner Price.&mdash;Third Voyage.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Having purchased a suitable cargo for the trade, and got it on board, we
+were prevailed upon to take as passengers, a man and his wife, with two
+small children and a black servant, whom we tried hard to get rid of, by
+charging them an exorbitant price; but the man insisted on going, having
+been formerly a resident of Old Providence, and one of my old customers
+in that island. My cabin was not larger than a farmer's hen-roost,
+having only four berths, and those so narrow that one could hardly turn
+over in them. At night we covered the floor of the little cabin
+completely; the man and his wife, two children, the black servant, my
+two Indians, cabin boy, the mate and myself, all lodged in one nest. We
+sailed from New-York about the third of March, 1819, bound to Old
+Providence, St. Andreas, Corn Island, Musquitto Shore, and St. Blas.
+When we arrived in latitude 32° we were overtaken by a violent gale of
+wind, which obliged us to heave the vessel too. As the gale abated (the
+sea running very high) we shipped a sea which swept our deck, taking the
+cook and caboose, which was well served down to ring-bolts, drove into
+the deck, but they were drawn out by the violence of the waves. Our
+boat, oars, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>and other articles on deck were all swept overboard. By
+means of some spare running gear the cook was hauled on board. The next
+day the sea moderated, when we opened the hatches and got out a new
+caboose. On my departure from Corn Island I had taken an order from an
+English trader to bring out two patent American cabooses for him, which
+I then had on board. We rigged our new caboose and proceeded on our
+voyage, meeting with no further disasters worthy of notice. On our
+arrival at Old Providence I found a small fleet of vessels there, called
+patriots, (another name for pirates,) who had taken possession of the
+island, and had hoisted the Columbian flag. On my entering the harbor
+they laid an embargo on my vessel for a few days. The expedition was
+commanded by a man who called himself Aurey, assisted by another, styled
+Admiral Bogar, and the third went by the title of Commodore Parker.
+Their squadron consisted of two small gun brigs, and two or three
+privateer schooners. Their land force amounted to two or three hundred
+men: they had what they called an English camp, a French camp, and an
+American camp. They had hanged one American, and severely flogged
+another for some crime, giving him one hundred lashes under the gallows.
+They pretended to hold some commission under General Bolivar. I demanded
+a return of my vessel, which they reluctantly granted me, and I sailed
+for the Island of St. Andreas, where I found another squadron of vessels
+from England, consisting of a twenty-gun brig, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>commanded by Captain
+Hudson, with three transport ships, having about five hundred officers
+and soldiers on board, bound to Porto Bello, all under the command of
+Sir Gregor McGregor. On my arrival I was visited by an old English
+officer, named Rafter, who was apparently a gentleman, he acted as
+commander in the absence of Sir Gregor McGregor, who had not arrived at
+that time; he wanted to purchase a pipe of gin from me for the use of
+the troops, and give me a bill on London in payment. The next day Sir
+Gregor arrived from St. Domingo, in company with an old Spanish
+gentleman, named Lopes, from whom he had borrowed about twelve thousand
+dollars, and promised to make him governor of the first city he should
+capture.</p>
+
+<p>The next day Commodore Hudson came on board the Price, and offered me
+one hundred dollars per day and a handsome present for myself, to join
+the fleet and go on an expedition with them for a few days. I told him
+that my vessel was insured, and that it would be a total breach of my
+orders to comply with his request. In the afternoon they laid an embargo
+on the Price. The following day was appointed for a great celebration,
+which was to take place at the house of Mrs. Lever, a respectable widow
+lady. I visited the place where they landed the troops from the vessels,
+raised a flag staff and hoisted the New Grenadian flag. Silk cushions
+were brought into the house and placed on the table where General
+McGregor, Governor Lopes, and other officers, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>took the oath of
+allegiance to the government of New Grenada; most of the officers being
+under half pay from the English, looked sad when they renounced their
+allegiance to their own country. Three days after, they sailed for Porto
+Bello, taking Colonel Woodbine as pilot, and proceeding within a few
+miles of that place, they landed in a thicket of woods; then taking a
+foot-path, they entered the city undiscovered by the inhabitants, and
+took possession of the place without the loss of a man. Most of the
+inhabitants fled from their houses and left them to the conquerors. Old
+Lopes was appointed governor, and the officers taking possession of the
+vacant dwelling houses which the Spaniards had left, sat themselves down
+like private gentlemen. Soon after the soldiers revolted and refused to
+do duty, alledging that the general had promised them twenty dollars
+bounty for the first city they should capture. Before the insurrection
+could be put down, the general raised eight dollars per man and
+distributed it among them, and then issued a proclamation to the
+inhabitants, inviting them to return to their habitations and take the
+oath of allegiance to the new government, when private property would be
+respected. Most of the people complied with his request, by taking the
+oath required of them. In the meantime information was secretly sent
+over to the Pacific by these Spaniards, where they raised an army of
+eight hundred men, who marched across the Isthmus, and lay encamped in
+the woods three <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>or four miles back of the city; while those who had
+taken the oath of allegiance were keeping up a regular communication
+with them. The soldiers who had possession of the city having procured
+an abundance of liquor, all got intoxicated, and the officers retired to
+their beds without placing any sentries on duty. The Spaniards in the
+city sent spies to the royalists, informing them that the patriot
+soldiers were all drunk, and totally off their guard. During the night
+the royalists marched into the city and took possession of the forts,
+which were very strong, (one in particular is said to mount three
+hundred and sixty-five guns,) without meeting with any resistance, or
+the loss of a single man. They killed about thirty of the patriots and
+made the remainder prisoners, only twelve escaping. I here give you a
+sketch of the complete success of the Spaniards, as recited by the
+General's right hand man. Lieutenant Cookley, aid-de-camp to General
+McGregor, about three weeks after the loss of the army, said, "That on
+the night of the re-capture of the city by the royalists, he was
+quartered in the second story of the government house in Porto Bello,
+General McGregor occupying one room, and Governor Lopes another, and
+being himself very unwell, he was obliged to get out of his bed and walk
+the room. Between three and four o'clock he heard some persons coming up
+stairs. Feeling alarmed, he seized his sword and pistols and ran to the
+door of the room, where he met three men well armed; he shot one, and
+killed another with his <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>sword, the third one retreated with a slight
+wound; in the meantime he cried out, 'General McGregor, you are
+betrayed.' The general sprang from his bed, and taking his mattrass,
+dropped it from the window on the ground; then letting himself down to
+it, ran for the shore, and jumping into the sea attempted to swim to the
+commodore's vessel; but being unskilled in swimming, he was picked up by
+a boat and carried on board, having no clothing on except his shirt.
+Another division of Spaniards ascended the stairs of the government
+house, and proceeding to the room of Governor Lopes, killed him in his
+bed."</p>
+
+<p>Those taken prisoners were marched across the Isthmus to the South Sea,
+where they were compelled to work in chains on the fortifications. Some
+months after I learned that these prisoners, in trying to effect their
+escape, were most of them butchered by the Spaniards.</p>
+
+<p>After my release from the embargo at St. Andreas I sailed for the coast
+of St. Blas, where I arrived without any further molestation, at the
+harbor of De Ablo. My vessel was soon surrounded with canoes, filled
+with old men and young ones. No ambassador returning from a foreign
+mission to his own country was ever received with a more hearty welcome
+than my Indians were by their own countrymen. Liquor was soon passed
+around, and a long conversation commenced, which lasted, with little
+intermission, until the next morning; and my traders seemed to be
+absolved from the injunction laid upon them by <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>the old men, not to get
+drunk during their voyage, as I discovered that Campbell was so drunk
+before twelve o'clock, that he could not rise from his seat without
+help. While relating his adventures he gave his hearers a long
+description of the white rain he had seen in New-York, (meaning snow,)
+and sundry other wonderful events and curiosities.</p>
+
+<p>The Andes mountains on this coast extend near the sea-shore, and are
+inhabited by baboons and other large monkeys, who keep up a hideous
+noise during the night, which was a great annoyance to our slumbers, as
+the echo passes from mountain to mountain. The next day after our
+arrival here we experienced a violent thunder storm, the noise of the
+thunder echoed in a most tremendous manner from different hills, which
+appeared like a cannonading along the whole coast. I sat amazed at the
+sound, when an old Indian who was intoxicated, broke silence, by saying,
+"That thunder is great rascal, he make too much quarrel here."</p>
+
+<p>My traders now applied for another outfit of goods for the coming
+season, which I readily supplied them with, they taking about the same
+quantity as on the previous voyage.</p>
+
+<p>The men of St. Blas are of small stature, generally about five feet two
+or three inches high; wearing their hair long on the back of the head,
+cued down on their backs with a cotton ribbon of their own manufacture,
+the hair cut straight across the forehead, high cheek bones, and of a
+light copper complexion. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>They dress in check or flannel shirts, with
+linen trowsers. The young men are not allowed to wear their shirt flaps
+inside of the waist-bands of their trowsers until they are about forty
+years old, when they assume the character of old men. The women are
+small and delicately formed, having very small feet and hands, and are
+remarkably modest in their behaviour. Their dress consists of a piece of
+blue cloth, about four feet long, wrapped around their bodies under the
+arms, and extending to their knees, a string or two of coral beads tied
+around their legs, below the knee, and another around above the ankle.
+The women all wear a piece of pure gold wire of large size, in the form
+of a triangle, stuck through the inside of the nose. The old men wear a
+number of strands of coral beads around their necks, and hanging down on
+their bosoms. The sookerman wears two or three pounds of large coral
+beads hanging closely about the neck, and the old men wear their shirt
+flaps inside of their waist-bands as a mark of their dignity. From the
+best information I can obtain, St. Blas is the oldest Republic on the
+Continent of America, and should be a model government for Mexico and
+the South American Republics, which are constantly driving their rulers
+out of the country and changing Republics into Empires.</p>
+
+<p>The soil of St. Blas produces an abundance of bread-stuffs, such as
+yams, sweet potatoes, cassader, eddies, plantains, &amp;c. Also cocoa-nuts,
+lemons, oranges, sugar cane and cocoa. They here breed a <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>great number
+of hogs, poultry, &amp;c. The country abounds with large quantities of wild
+hogs, mountain cows, armadillas, deer, conies, and innumerable wild
+fowl. The whole coast swarms with turtle, craw-fish, manatee's, and a
+great variety of shell-fish. There are some four hundred islands, lying
+from two to four miles from the main land-shore, which forms an inland
+sea, making the whole coast a good harbor. Every one of these islands
+produces limes, or lemons, bird, cayenne, gourd and squash peppers. When
+a table is set in this country a green pepper and lemon are placed by
+the side of your plate, which serves for pepper and vinegar to season
+your meat or vegetables. After clearing up half an acre of ground, ten
+days labor of one man in each year would produce bread-stuffs sufficient
+for a family of fifteen persons. Plantains set out on good soil will
+yield a crop, every nine months, for twenty years. Yams and sweet
+potatoes require planting and digging yearly.</p>
+
+<p>Having given the reader a short description of St. Blas, which may
+appear somewhat imperfect, I hope it will be recollected, should there
+be any imperfections, that I have no history of that country to refer
+to; most of my information having been obtained from the natives, who
+speak broken English. On taking leave of St. Blas I proceeded to St.
+Andreas, at which place I arrived after a passage of two days. Here I
+met General McGregor, who appeared much dejected, having among other
+losses left all his clothing behind, which fell into the hands <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>of the
+enemy. Lieutenant Coakley came on board my vessel and related to me all
+the particulars of the expedition which I have narrated. Of the land
+forces, only twelve returned out of five hundred who left here some
+three weeks before. After remaining here three or four days, we sailed
+for Cape Gracios a Dios. On my arrival there I commenced trading, as
+usual. The next morning, it being the Fourth of July, and being in a
+strange port, I thought I would not make any preparations for
+celebrating the day. I told the mate, however, that he might release the
+crew from work and give them some extra rations of grog, &amp;c. Before I
+had finished giving my orders to the mate, the king came on board with a
+large canoe, loaded with Indians, and saluting me with a loud voice,
+said, "Blast your eyes, why don't you fire a salute, hoist your colors
+and celebrate your country's holyday." I answered him, by saying, "I
+have nothing good to eat." He replied, "You shall soon have something;"
+when getting into the canoe with the Indians, they paddled him on shore,
+and killing a beef, soon returned with two quarters. We then hoisted our
+colors and fired a salute; and a number of the king's officers coming on
+board, we partook of a good dinner; and not forgetting plenty of liquor,
+we made ourselves delightfully merry. At night the king and company
+retired very peaceably.</p>
+
+<p>The king had frequently solicited me to take him home with me, but never
+got himself ready to embark, and he now renewed the conversation on the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>subject. I told him that my family did not reside in the city of
+New-York, but lived two degrees north of it, at a small village called
+Catskill, near a mountain of that name. He replied, that would suit much
+better, as he wanted to see the country and my home. He then said,
+"There is one condition in the bargain; if I go home with you, you may
+call me major, or colonel, or some other officer; but if you call me
+king I will be the death of you, for I am not going home with you to be
+made a damned puppet-show of."</p>
+
+<p>Having finished my trade here, I sailed down along the coast, touching
+and trading at the different harbors, as usual, until I arrived at the
+Lagoon, where I landed the goods from the vessel at the store, and
+taking in all the exchange goods collected there, sailed for Corn
+Island, where we took in some more return cargo. While at Corn Island
+Captain Mitchell gave me an order to bring him a new boat, thirty feet
+long, to row with six oars, &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p>We now sailed for New-York, where we arrived without meeting with any
+occurrence worth recording. After discharging our cargo I again visited
+my family at Catskill, whom I found in good health. I remained with them
+about eight days, and then returned to New-York. In the course of a few
+days we had procured another cargo, which taking on board, together with
+the new boat for Captain Mitchell, we were again ready for sea.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.<br />
+
+Schooner Price.&mdash;Fourth Voyage.</h2>
+
+
+<p>The Price being now ready for sea, about the first of August we got
+under weigh and proceeded on our voyage towards Old Providence, St.
+Andreas, Corn Island and the Main. We made our passage to Old Providence
+in seventeen days, where we remained about three days bartering off
+goods in our usual manner. We then sailed for St. Andreas. On the
+passage we, in a squall, carried away the head of the schooner's
+main-mast, above the eyes of the shrouds. On our arrival at that port I
+repaired the mast-head by cutting off five or six feet, and forming a
+new one. This altered the appearance of the vessel very much, when
+viewed from a distance. We remained some time at St. Andreas, selling
+goods, collecting debts, taking in all the cotton and other freight we
+could procure. Here I took on board a captain and crew belonging to
+Jamaica, whose schooner had been upset in a squall and lost near this
+island. I agreed to carry them to the Main, where they expected to get
+on board of some of their own country vessels. We got under weigh and
+sailed for Corn Island with a light breeze. When we arrived within seven
+or eight miles of Great Corn Island the wind died away to a dead calm,
+and we <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span>lay drifting at the mercy of the sea. I was in great haste to
+get on shore at the island, as I had ordered Captain Teft, who commanded
+the sloop Traverse, to meet me there in the Price on the tenth of
+September, which time had expired some days before. Fearing he would be
+discouraged by waiting, and sail for some other port, which would cause
+a great delay in our meeting, and there being no signs of a wind that
+would carry the Price into the harbor that night, I was advised to hoist
+out the new boat which we carried out for Captain Mitchell; having a
+double boat's crew with the Englishmen, we could man her with six oars
+and soon row in. The boat was accordingly hoisted out and manned, and we
+proceeded toward the shore. It being a star-light evening, and the
+harbor having some rocks and stones on the bottom, I seated myself on
+the taffrail of the boat, which raised my head some two feet above the
+heads of the crew, and enabled me to see any dangerous rocks, and steer
+clear of them, it being what seamen call a bright bottom. I had on my
+head a large brimmed white Panama hat, of course a good mark to shoot
+at. A few days previous to my leaving Corn Island, on my last voyage, it
+was currently reported there that the United States man-of-war Schooner
+Fire Brand was cruising in these seas. We approached the harbor about
+nine o'clock in the evening. As we came near the shore we were hailed by
+one of the gang who were there, saying, "What boat is that?" My schooner
+always carried canoes instead of boats, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>which we found much better to
+land in the surf, and for that reason I had abandoned the use of the
+latter in this trade, for the last three years, and all the inhabitants
+of that island knew it. My boat being long, and much resembling what is
+called on board of a man-of-war the captain's gig, I answered, "United
+States Schooner Fire Brand." They said, "pull in then." At that instant
+fourteen men fired into us, the shot whistling past my head so close
+that it appeared to deafen me for a moment. As soon as they hailed us, I
+told the men in the boat to stop rowing, so that the questions and
+answers could be distinctly heard. As soon as they had fired, a favorite
+old sailor in the boat, who pulled the after oar, with his back toward
+the shore, being between me and those who fired at us, spoke to me in a
+very mild tone, saying, "Captain, I am wounded." I then told the crew to
+pull away, they all gave way upon their oars except this man, who laid
+still in the bottom of the boat; this irritated me so much, thinking
+that my favorite old tar should be the first to skulk from danger, not
+supposing from the mildness of his expression that he was much wounded,
+I jumped from the tiller of the boat in great haste, caught him by the
+collar and gave him a shake, saying, "Pull away, you skulking fellow."
+You may imagine my astonishment when I found that he was a lifeless
+corpse. In the meantime I heard the company on shore ramming down their
+cartridges into their guns, preparing for another fire. All the time
+keeping a bright <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>look-out alongside of the boat, for fear of running
+her on the rocks, I discovered that we had got into two or three feet
+water, and were not more than one hundred and fifty feet from those who
+were preparing to fire a second time. I ordered my men to stop rowing
+and follow me, which they immediately did. I jumped overboard into the
+water, my crew following me. We then made our way to our assailants,
+when I found my own clerk, and Captain Tefts, of the little sloop
+Traverse, who were here waiting for my arrival, Captain Mitchell, for
+whom I brought the boat, and Benjamin Downs, father of a colored
+apprentice boy I had then on board. In short, they were all old
+acquaintances of mine. I was highly excited on the occasion. They made a
+long apology by saying, that the royalists in Porto Bello had fitted out
+two armed schooners to scour the coast, and that they had captured two
+English vessels found trading with the Indians: that they mistook the
+Price for one of them, her appearance being so much altered by the loss
+of the head of her main-mast, that they supposed I had been captured by
+one of these vessels and was a prisoner in the boat, and compelled to
+answer their questions, as they all knew my voice, and that if they
+suffered a crew to land they would all be butchered, as they had given
+aid and shelter to the patriots for a long time. I landed the body of my
+unfortunate man and placed it under the care of some of my friends,
+procured a pilot, went on board the Price, and brought her into the
+harbor the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>next morning. I then buried the poor sailor in as decent a
+manner as the country would admit of, collecting most of the inhabitants
+of the island to join the funeral procession. There being no clergymen
+in the island, I read the burial service at the grave, this being my
+usual custom at sea on committing dead bodies to the ocean.</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/fig153.jpg" alt="" /><br />Captain Dunham landing at Corn Island.</p>
+
+<p>I fitted out the Traverse for another cruise by giving Captain Teft a
+new supply of goods, when he proceeded on a trading voyage to the Main.
+I took Mr. Smith, the clerk of the store on board, and sailed for the
+Lagoon, when we took on board all the goods we had there, and proceeded
+to a small harbor, called Salt Creek, supposed to be a better place for
+our trade. I also took a few Indians to assist in building the store,
+which I landed there, with myself and crew, and erected a comfortable
+building in less than four days, modeled after the houses of that
+country, landed a supply of goods, and left Mr. Smith to dispose of
+them, sold the Sloop Traverse, and took Captain Teft and his crew on
+board. Having learned that the royal governor of Porto Bello had fitted
+out one or two man-of-war schooners, which had captured two English
+traders on the coast of St. Blas, where it was necessary for me to
+proceed, I hired three men in addition to Captain Tefts and his little
+crew, to proceed with me to that place. My schooner being armed with a
+six-pound cannon, with about thirty fowling guns, plenty of cutlasses,
+and some boarding pikes, we proceeded to the coast of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>St. Blas, where
+we were advised by the Indians to put the schooner into a small river,
+about two hundred feet wide, and wait a few days before we proceeded to
+the River De Ablo, our port of destination. We warped the schooner into
+the mouth of the river, in shoal water, where we supposed the enemy's
+vessels could not come near enough to injure us, and prepared ourselves
+for an encounter with their boats if they sent them to attack us, by
+making cartridges of musket-balls and buck-shot, put up in bags of six
+pounds each, in addition to round balls and cannister-shot. I likewise
+supplied about thirty Indians with ammunition, who promised to come to
+my assistance if the enemy disturbed me. I divided my men into two
+watches, and kept a good look-out four days and nights. About the fifth
+night we heard the sound of a horn a number of times; about 12 o'clock
+all hands were called to quarters. We soon discovered, however, that the
+sound proceeded from a canoe, which when we had let it approach within
+hail, we found to contain the crew of an English trader, who had been
+captured by a royal privateer and carried into Porto Bello, where they
+had escaped from their prison, stolen a canoe, and then paddled to this
+place, a distance of about sixty miles, without food. Soon after, we
+learned from the Indians that the cruisers had left the coast. We then
+proceeded to the River De Ablo, where I found my traders waiting my
+arrival. They brought their returns, goods, &amp;c. on board, and a
+settlement was made in <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>a satisfactory manner on both sides in less than
+one hour. I purchased a few thousand cocoa-nuts and some fustic, which I
+took on board, and sailed for Cape Gracios a Dios, touching at Corn
+Island.</p>
+
+<p>On my arrival at the Cape I took on board all the return cargo I could
+procure, and proceeded to the Lagoon, stopping at the different harbors,
+as usual. When at the Lagoon I made known my intention of leaving the
+trade, when a number of sookermen assembled to bestow their farewell
+benediction upon me, saying that I had traded a long time with them, and
+that they were much pleased with me, and did not blame me for leaving
+them, as they supposed I wanted to stop at home and mind my wife and
+pickaninies (meaning children) for a time, but should never die until I
+returned to that country, and would never die there, but return to my
+own country, after I had visited them, and die at my own home. After
+taking an affectionate leave of them all, we took our departure toward
+home.</p>
+
+<p>After buffeting the storms and tempests of the ocean for nearly four
+years, carrying on an average, a crew of six persons, including the mate
+and myself, and having lost six, viz: one by desertion, one by death on
+board, one shot, and three by drowning, I thought it best to seek some
+more comfortable trade in which to gain a support for myself and family,
+and one less exposed to hardships, and such constant risk of health and
+life. I was always compelled, while on this trading business, to sleep
+on deck, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>my cabin being small and dark, having no windows. If I laid
+down in the cabin I was soon covered with cock-roaches, musquittoes, and
+fire-ants, besides being exposed to centipedes, scorpions, &amp;c. which
+terrified me so much that I dare not take lodging there while we were in
+the tropical climes, although I needed shelter from the excessive rains
+which visit that country from May until November. Having a good awning,
+which was always spread when the vessel was anchored, we generally ate,
+drank and slept on deck until we arrived in the cold latitudes, when
+those insects became torpid, and cold weather compelled me to seek
+shelter in the cabin. On parting with the Indians I felt distressed, and
+could not avoid showing my gratitude toward them for their native
+kindness, and the many evidences of friendly intent which they had shown
+for me. I had often called at their hovels when out on excursions, being
+fatigued and hungry, needing food and rest, when the poor Indian, having
+but one plate and one old knife and fork in his house, would place them
+on his little table, or some substitute for one, and cook the best meal
+he could procure, making me take a seat by the table, and with a hearty
+good will urging me to eat, while he, sharpening the end of a stick that
+he might take the meat out of the pot with it, would sit down on the
+ground-floor and eat his dinner, refusing to come to the table with me,
+because he had but one set of dishes. Having but one hammock to sleep in
+himself, he invariably left that for <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>me, while he would take his
+lodging on a cow-skin placed on the ground-floor.</p>
+
+<p>The whole furniture of each Indian family would not cost ten dollars.</p>
+
+<p>We stopped at Corn Island, collected all the return we could obtain, and
+sailed for New-York, where we arrived about the first of January, 1820,
+without any particular incident worth notice, discharged the cargo,
+settled with my owners, and returned to Catskill, where I found my
+family in the enjoyment of their usual health. I now determined to
+remain at home during the winter, and enjoy some repose from the toils
+of the sea, having spent but five or six weeks with my family during the
+last five years.</p>
+
+<p>I now entered into an agreement, in company with Mr. Apollos Cooke,
+merchant, of Catskill, to open a trade from that place to the West
+Indies. During the winter we purchased a cargo of lumber for that
+market, intending to charter or purchase a vessel to carry it there as
+soon as the navigation of the Hudson River opened.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.<br />
+
+Schooner Enterprise.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Early in the month of March, 1820, I proceeded to New-York, for the
+purpose of chartering or purchasing a vessel to carry our timber to the
+West India market, and spent a few days in the city on that business.
+While sitting at the breakfast table one morning, I was asked by a
+ship-master, an old acquaintance, if I did not want to take a voyage to
+Bermuda. I replied no; that I came to New-York to charter a vessel to go
+to Catskill, and take in a cargo of lumber there. He said he thought I
+might make some sale or contract for it in that place. Here our
+conversation ended, and I thought no more about it. After breakfast he
+asked me to take a walk with him. When we had journeyed some little
+distance, we met a man with whom he passed the usual compliment of good
+morning, and said, "This is Captain Dunham, of whom I spoke to you." He
+asked me what wages I would require to take charge of a schooner to go
+to Bermuda. I told him fifty dollars per month. He said he had agreed
+with a captain to go the voyage for forty dollars per month, but he was
+unfortunately taken sick and could not go. I bid him good morning, and
+had proceeded a few rods when he called on me to stop, saying he would
+split <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>the difference with me. I told him I would go. He then took me
+into a store, saying, "There is your mate and crew, and I wish you to
+take them to a Notary Public's office in Pine-street, and have the
+shipping papers made out, and I will come there with the money and pay
+the expenses;" which he soon performed. After this was accomplished we
+went to the Custom House and obtained a clearance, and then parted and
+went to dinner. He requested me to call immediately after dinner at a
+lumber-yard he mentioned, where I would find him on board the schooner,
+as he had engaged a passage for New-Haven at four o'clock that
+afternoon, where he resided. He handed me a letter addressed to the
+captain of the Schooner Enterprise, containing direction for the voyage;
+and telling me he hoped I would do for him as I would for myself, took
+leave of me. I found the schooner to be one of the large full-built
+Eastern vessels, having the deck loaded to the height of eight feet. I
+hurried and got some clothing and a small out-fit, and having left some
+old clothes and bedding, charts, quadrants, &amp;c. in New-York, on my last
+voyage; I had them put on board that afternoon, procured a pilot and
+went to sea at eight o'clock the next morning. We made our passage to
+Bermuda in seven days, where we discharged our cargo, and taking on
+board a ballast of fustic, returned from Bermuda to New-York in seven
+and a half days; making the whole time gone only twenty-nine days, being
+one of the most pleasant voyages I ever made. My acquaintance <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>with the
+owner was so short, that, after my return, when he came on board and
+gave me his hand, I looked for some time before I could recollect him.
+When I left Catskill I took with me only two or three changes of shirts,
+&amp;c. promising my family to return in a few days. In the journey I so
+unexpectedly took there was nothing interesting, and I merely insert it
+to keep up the chain of my voyages.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.<br />
+
+Schooner Felicity.</h2>
+
+
+<p>About the first of June, 1820, I chartered the Schooner Felicity in
+New-York, and proceeded to Catskill, and took in a cargo for St.
+Domingo; returned to New-York, and after shipping a crew, sailed on the
+twenty-second of June for Port au Prince, in the Island of St. Domingo,
+where we arrived after a passage of eighteen days, without the
+occurrence of anything which would interest the reader. I found Port au
+Prince to be a large but dirty city, no care being taken to clean the
+streets, the yellow fever often raging here, particularly among the
+shipping. The government is called a Republic, with a president elected
+for life, receiving a salary of forty thousand dollars for his services,
+and thirty thousand for <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>his table expenses. The president being a
+military chieftain, exercises great power over his subjects, who have
+only the shadow of a Senate and Assembly, as they are subservient to his
+will. The soil of the Island is very fertile, producing sugar-cane,
+coffee, cocoa, and three crops of corn in one year; also, beans,
+cabbages, water-mellons, and most kinds of garden vegetables: plantains,
+yams, and every variety of tropical fruits in abundance. The Island at
+this time was divided into three departments; the northern part was held
+by a black royal Emperor, who styled himself Christoff, and exercised as
+much power over his subjects as does the Emperor of Russia over his. The
+southern part was owned by the Spaniards, as a Republic; the western by
+the Republicans called Haytians, who were then at war with the Royalists
+under the command of the black emperor. The war between those two
+parties had been carried on for many years, and ended in the total
+overthrow of the Royalists; the emperor blowing his brains out with his
+pistol.</p>
+
+<p>The president of this Republic lays heavy export duties on the produce
+of the Island. The stamp duties on paper are said to amount to over two
+millions per annum. All merchants and mechanics pay a heavy tax for
+licenses to carry on their business. Whites are excluded from carrying
+on their trades in their own names, or from purchasing real estate in
+this Republic. A white can take a black partner, male or female, and do
+business in his or her name. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>Most of the white men settled here prefer
+the latter. This government has a mint, and coin their own money, which
+contains ten per cent of silver mixed with other metal. They coin no
+pieces larger than twenty-five cents, none smaller than six and a
+quarter. This coin is considered a lawful tender, and the laws strictly
+prohibit the carrying of any foreign gold or silver out of the country,
+on penalty of forfeiting it. This compels any person selling a cargo
+there to lay the returns out in some of the produce of the Island, which
+is consequently the cause of heavy losses to the shippers. The
+inhabitants are a mixed race of black and white, varying in color from
+the blackness of charcoal to almost the whiteness of a snow-ball, and
+hundreds of them have to take hard oaths to satisfy the authorities that
+they have some black blood running through their veins, which entitles
+them to the rights of citizenship in the Island. I have seen many
+red-whiskered fair complexioned men pass themselves off for men of
+color. Their national religion is Roman Catholic, no other being
+tolerated, but strictly prohibited. The president keeps up a standing
+army of forty thousand men, well uniformed, disciplined and equiped. As
+I shall have to refer to their laws, customs and manners in my next
+voyage, I shall leave the subject for the present.</p>
+
+<p>Not being able to sell my timber at Port au Prince without a sacrifice,
+my consignee applied to the government agent to purchase it, of which he
+acquainted the president, who gave me a letter addressed to <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>the public
+administrator of Jerimie, and requesting me to proceed with my vessel
+and cargo to that port, which I immediately complied with, after getting
+a letter of address from an Italian Jew I found in Port au Prince, but
+who resided in Jerimie, addressed to Messrs. Laforet &amp; Brier, to whom I
+consigned my vessel and cargo. On my arrival at that place my consignees
+sold to the administrator all the timber he wanted, and the remainder at
+an under price to individuals. My provisions sold at a saving. Jerimie
+contains about two hundred houses, most of them being in a dilapidated
+condition, in consequence of the constant alarm in which the inhabitants
+have been kept by a troop of banditti, headed by an insurgent colonel,
+who had deserted from the army, and had so terrified the people that the
+women and children took shelter in the forts during the night, while the
+men were kept under arms, being obliged to suspend all agricultural
+pursuits, and leave their villages to decay. A few months since, the
+chief of the banditti had been killed, his troops surrendered their arms
+and received a pardon from the president. The inhabitants were now
+making great preparations to repair their buildings and call back their
+former trade.</p>
+
+<p>While in this port, the padre, or priest died; he was carried to the
+church in a chair, being tied fast to it, in a sitting posture, a book
+placed in his hands. The corpse remained in this situation until about
+four o'clock in the afternoon, when a marble slab <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>was taken out of the
+floor, an excavation made in the ground, the body deposited in the hole
+with the clothes on, and then covered with a thick coat of lime.</p>
+
+<p>A friend of mine, named Ghio, arrived here from Port au Prince in
+company with one Captain Mills, from New-York, and while he and the
+captain were walking the streets of Jerimie, Ghio for the first heard of
+the death of the padre, when bursting into a flood of tears, he
+exclaimed, "Captain Mills the poor padre is dead, and I suppose I shall
+have to fill his place again," weeping at the same time. After a moments
+pause, he said, "Captain Mills, it is a damned good berth, I can make
+ten dollars a day by it." Ghio acted as a substitute in the place of the
+deceased padre until his place was supplied by another.</p>
+
+<p>I remained at Jerimie three or four weeks, employed in selling out my
+cargo and obtaining a return freight of coffee, &amp;c. I procured many
+orders for house frames and other articles, and was strongly urged to
+bring out some carpenters and a blacksmith, whom the inhabitants
+promised to aid and assist in their business. Having disposed of all my
+cargo and taken on board my return freight, I proceeded to sea, bound to
+New-York, where I arrived in safety after a passage of eighteen days,
+sold my return cargo, and sailed for Catskill, where I arrived about the
+first of November. I then repaired the schooner and prepared for another
+voyage.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.<br />
+
+Schooner Felicity.&mdash;Second Voyage.</h2>
+
+
+<p>At Catskill I procured another cargo, filled up all my orders, and
+taking on board four carpenters as passengers, bound to Jerimie, sailed
+for New-York, where we remained three or four days employed in shipping
+a crew, purchasing stores, &amp;c. We sailed from New-York about the eighth
+of December, and arrived at Jerimie about the first of January, 1821. On
+my arrival I called on my old friends, Leforet &amp; Brier, where I was
+politely received, particularly by Mr. Brier, who escorted me to his
+house to take breakfast. After inquiring about the passage of my vessel,
+news in New-York, &amp;c. he said he had news to tell me. I told him I
+should be pleased to hear it. He said, "Captain Dunham, we have got a
+new padre here since you left for home; he is the smartest padre we ever
+had; he can beat any man in Jerimie playing at billiards, boxing,
+fencing, or jumping; he has killed two men in duels, and I assure you,
+sir, he is the smartest padre in all the West Indies."</p>
+
+<p>Among the orders given me, was one for thirty thousand loose cedar
+shingles, which, when landed on the beach, I learned were intended to
+re-cover the church. All the ladies in the town soon assembled at the
+place where the shingles were landed; <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>rich and poor, some dressed in
+silk, and others with fine muslin gowns, having hoops in their hands,
+which they stuck full of shingles, and laying them on their backs
+carried them to the church, when they were taken by the carpenters, who
+put them on the roof, not allowing one of them to be carted; thus
+showing great zeal to protect from contamination every thing connected
+with their church.</p>
+
+<p>The negroes on this Island are far more numerous than the mulattoes,
+mustees, and other colors. The old mulattoes being the heirs of their
+former masters, were many of them sent to France and educated; and the
+president being a mulatto, gives them as many offices as he dare; but is
+obliged to confer some on the blacks to prevent an insurrection; still I
+found there was considerable hatred between them. One day while walking
+the streets I heard a quarrel between a mulatto and a negro. The mulatto
+commenced, "What are you doing, nigger?" the negro replied, "Who are
+you, mulatto? you no got any country; white man got country and negro
+got country, mulatto no got any country, he's a damned <i>mule</i>."</p>
+
+<p>My carpenters landed and were seeking some employment, when they were
+informed that they could not make any contracts in their own names,
+being white men, and not having any license, and the laws of the country
+not allowing a white man to obtain one. To obviate this a petition was
+drawn up and signed by most of the inhabitants, and sent to the
+president, for a special permit for the eldest <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>carpenter to carry on
+his trade. Some weeks after the president sent him a license, the rest
+of the carpenters working under him. I was very fortunate in the
+disposal of my cargo, most of it selling at a good profit, and by paying
+a large premium I procured about twenty hundred Spanish dollars, which
+were smuggled on board and brought to New-York.</p>
+
+<p>Coffee being high in that port, I was obliged, in purchasing it, to
+dispose of the St. Domingo coin I received in payment for my cargo.
+Being ready for sea, I took leave of my friends and sailed for New-York,
+where we arrived about the first of May, 1821. The schooner having
+proved leaky on the passage, I refused to make another voyage in her.
+Soon after my arrival in New-York I received a letter from my old
+friend, Mr. Apollos Cooke, of Catskill, advising me to purchase, on our
+joint account, a schooner called the Combine, which was now laying in
+New-York, and could be procured very cheap. On viewing the Combine I
+found her timbers sound, but her decks and upper works badly worn, so I
+called on the agent, and after some time spent in chaffering, purchased
+her and left for Catskill, where I arrived about the 26th of May.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.<br />
+
+Schooner Combine.</h2>
+
+
+<div class="center" style="margin-bottom:1.5em;">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr><td align="left">"A wolf will not a wolf ensnare,<br />
+"And tigers their own species spare,<br />
+"Man more ferocious, bends his bow,<br />
+"And at his fellow aims the blow."</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+
+<p>After the arrival of the Combine at Catskill, we had her well examined
+by a carpenter, who found her timbers sound. We then agreed to repair
+her by laying a new deck, putting in new ceiling, and giving her a
+thorough overhauling, so as to fit her for a sea voyage, which was done
+at an expense of nine hundred dollars. Large quantities of freight was
+offered for shipment, which I advised to take some part of, informing my
+partner in the vessel, Mr. A. Cooke, that I had but little over two
+thousand dollars, which would fall short of paying for one-half of the
+vessel and cargo; but he preferred our owning the whole cargo jointly,
+saying, "I will advance you any money you may want until you make the
+voyage." We then purchased a suitable cargo and filled up many orders I
+had brought from Jerimie. After we had gathered all our bills together,
+I found my money exhausted and myself indebted five hundred and
+seventy-two dollars to my partner. The vessel <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>being repaired and
+loaded, we took on board four passengers, bound to Jerimie, and sailed
+for New-York. On my arrival at New-York I made it my first business to
+apply to the Marine Insurance Office for insurance, expecting I should
+have to pay an extra premium, my vessel being seventeen years old. After
+applying at all the offices in the city, and producing a certificate
+from old respectable carpenters, and some of our best citizens, that
+they considered her timbers as good as any North River vessel of two
+years old, my application was rejected, and I had no alternative but to
+proceed to sea as my own insurer, having my little all at stake, except
+a small homestead. I shipped a crew and made the necessary preparation,
+put to sea about the 10th of August, and shaped my course for Jerimie,
+where we arrived the sixth of September.</p>
+
+<p>On my arrival at that port I sold my cargo, as usual, with the
+assistance of my former consignees, Messrs. Laforet &amp; Brier. Jerimie
+being a dangerous port in heavy gales of wind, I was advised to send my
+vessel to Corail, a distance of twenty miles, to remain a few weeks, it
+being a safe harbor, while I remained in Jerimie to collect debts and
+procure a return cargo. After remaining here some fourteen or fifteen
+days, I was attacked with a violent fever, which confined me to the bed
+until the vessel was ready for sea, when I was taken on board, hoping
+the air would restore me to health. After being at sea some thirty-six
+hours, my mate found the fever <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>increasing on me so fast that he gave up
+all hopes of my recovery, and asked my permission to return to Jerimie,
+to which I consented. The vessel was put about and steered for that
+port, we neared the entrance of the harbor early the next morning, when
+I thought the fever began to abate, and requested the mate to put to sea
+again and proceed toward home. My health improving slowly, I was helped
+on deck every morning, where I remained during the day, lying under a
+small awning to screen me from the scorching sun, and helped into the
+cabin at night to protect me from the heavy dews. My health continued to
+improve daily. On the eleventh day of October we discovered land ahead,
+which proved to be the south side of the Island of Cuba. Finding it
+impossible to beat up against the current, we concluded to run round the
+west end of the island. Nothing material occurred until the thirteenth
+of October, in the morning, when I discovered land, which I identified
+as Cape Antonio; my health by this time was so much improved that I was
+able to get on deck without assistance. I told the mate to go below and
+get some repose, he having had but little rest during my sickness, and
+that I was well acquainted with the passage round the Cape.</p>
+
+<p>About nine o'clock, while doubling the Cape, we discovered three small
+schooners, one small sloop, and a large open boat lying at anchor about
+two miles from the land. In about the space of fifteen minutes the whole
+fleet got under weigh and bore <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>down for us. One of the largest
+schooners ran down within musket-shot of us, fired a gun, and we hove
+too, while the rest of the fleet surrounded us. The largest schooner
+immediately sent a boat alongside of us, containing eight or nine men,
+who boarded us with muskets and drawn cutlasses in their hands, each of
+them having a long knife and a dagger slung by his side. Immediately
+after getting on deck, one of them cried out, "Foward," two or three
+times in broken English, pointing at the same time toward the
+fore-castle. The mate, sailors, and two passengers who were on board,
+ran forward and jumped into the fore-castle. I being very weak, dragged
+along slowly, when the man who gave the order commenced beating me
+severely with the broad side of his cutlass. I remonstrated with him,
+saying I was sick and could not walk any faster; he answered me, "<i>No
+intende</i>." I then discovered he was a Portuguese, and not understanding
+that language, I excused myself as well as I could in the French
+language, hoping he understood me; but I found it did not relieve my
+back, as he continued to beat me all the way to the fore-scuttle, and
+there giving me a heavy blow on the head as I descended, closed it,
+where we remained about half an hour; they in the meantime appeared to
+be searching the vessel. After letting us up from the fore-castle they
+ordered the sailors to work the vessel in near the land and anchor her,
+which was soon accomplished. While beating the vessel toward the shore,
+they told me if I would <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>give up my money they would let me go with my
+vessel. This I readily complied with, hoping to save the vessel and
+cargo. I then gave them all the money I had, consisting of four hundred
+and eighty dollars in gold and silver. After they had received it they
+broke open our trunks, seized all our clothes, taking the finest shirts
+and vests, and putting them on one over another.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as they had anchored my vessel they hauled their largest
+schooner alongside, while the rest of the fleet were laying within a few
+rods of us, and then all hoisted the bloody flag, a signal for death. I
+was ordered into the cabin, where one of the pirates, having found a
+bottle of cordial, took it up in one hand, and drawing his cutlass with
+the other, struck off the neck and handed it to me, flourishing his
+cutlass over my head, and making signs for me to taste it, which I found
+it difficult to do on account of the broken particles of glass. After I
+had tasted it he went to a case of liquor standing in the cabin, took
+out the bottles and compelled me to taste of them. After this ceremony
+was over one of the pirates drew a long knife from its sheath, and
+taking hold of the hair on the top of my head, drew the knife two or
+three times across my throat near the skin, saying, "Me want to kill
+you." Another pirate soon approached me with a dagger, with which he
+pricked me lightly in the body, two or three times, saying, "Me kill you
+by and by." I was then dismissed from the cabin and driven into the
+fore-castle <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>with the sailors and passengers. My cook was put on board
+the schooner lying alongside of us. Some of the pirates went aloft on
+board my vessel and cut loose her square-sail, top-sail, and
+top-gallant-sail, and afterwards took our fore-sail, boat, oars, loose
+rigging, one compass, one quadrant, all our beds and bedding,
+tea-kettle, all our crockery, knives and forks, buckets, &amp;c. leaving us
+destitute of every kind of cooking utensil except the caboose. We
+remained some time in the fore-castle, when suddenly the fore-scuttle
+was opened and the mate called on deck, and the scuttle again closed,
+leaving us in the dark in a state of uncertainty. We soon heard them
+beating the mate; after that noise had ceased, we heard the word,
+"Fire," given with a loud voice, then after a moment's pause another
+voice was heard, saying, "Heave him overboard." I had a desperate
+sailor, called Bill, who flew to his chest for his razor to cut his own
+throat, saying he would be damned before he would be murdered by them
+rascals. The pirates had previously robbed the sailors' chests of all
+the articles they contained, and among them Bill's razor. After a little
+while the scuttle was again opened, when they called for a sailor. There
+were four in the fore-castle, who looked earnestly at each other, when
+Brown, a favourite old sailor, arose and addressed me, saying, "Captain,
+I suppose I might as well die first as last," then taking me by the hand
+gave it a hearty shake, saying, "Good bye." I told Brown to plead with
+them in the French language, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span>as I thought I had seen some Frenchmen
+among them, and knew that he spoke French fluently. When he had got upon
+deck I heard him speak a few words in that language, but soon after we
+heard them beating him severely. As soon as they had finished beating
+him we again heard the word fire, and soon after, heave him overboard.
+Shortly after, the scuttle was again opened and the captain was loudly
+called. I crawled up the scuttle, being very feeble; they then told me
+if I did not tell them where the money was they would serve me as they
+had the mate and sailor, shoot and then throw me overboard. I still
+persisted that there was no money on board, and entreated them to search
+the vessel. An old Spaniard was pointed out to me who they said was the
+commodore. I asked him what he wanted of me, looking him earnestly in
+the face. He replied, he wanted my money. I told him I had no money, but
+if I had I would give it to him; that the property belonged to him, but
+he had no right to take my life, as I had a family depending on me for
+support. Previous to this, the man who had flogged me before had made a
+chalk ring on the deck, saying, "Stand there," beating me with the flat
+side of a heavy cutlass until the blood ran through my shirt. During my
+conversation with the commodore, finding all my entreaties unsuccessful,
+and my strength much exhausted, I took a firm stand in the ring marked
+out for me, hoping to receive a ball through the heart, fearing if I was
+wounded I should be tortured to death <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span>to make sport for the demons.
+Two of the pirates with loaded muskets took their stand and fired them
+toward me, when I cast my eyes down toward my feet looking for blood,
+thinking that I might have been wounded without feeling the pain. During
+this time the man who had beat me before commenced beating me again,
+pointing aft toward the cabin door, where I proceeded, followed by him,
+beating me all the time: he forced me into the cabin, at the same time
+giving me a severe blow over the head with his cutlass. When I entered I
+found both the mate and sailor there whom I supposed had been murdered
+and thrown overboard. The next person called out of the fore-castle was
+Mr. Peck, a passenger, who was immediately asked where the money was; he
+told them he knew of no more money on board. One man stood before him
+with a musket and another with a cutlass, they knocked him down and beat
+him for some time, took him by the hair and said they would kill him. He
+was then ordered to set upon the bit of the windlass to be shot and
+thrown overboard, as the captain and others had been. He took his
+station by the windlass, when a musket was fired at him; he was then
+driven into the cabin. They then called up the remainder of the men from
+the fore-castle, one after the other, and beat and drove them into the
+cabin also, except a Mr. Chollet, a young man, passenger, who escaped
+beating. We were kept in the cabin some time, and after repeated threats
+that they would kill us, were all driven into the fore-castle <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>again.
+They took out all our cargo, consisting of coffee, cocoa,
+tortoise-shell, eight kedge anchors, all our provisions, except part of
+a barrel of beef and about thirty pounds of bread. After they had taken
+all the cargo, spare rigging, &amp;c. of any value, they shifted all the
+ballast in the hold of the vessel in search of money, and calling us on
+deck, we were told to be off. After getting under weigh we proceeded but
+slowly, having no other sails left but the two jibs and the main-sail.
+We looked back with a great deal of anxiety, and saw the pirates seated
+on the deck of the largest schooner, drinking liquor and making
+themselves merry, while we feared that they might change their minds,
+pursue us and take our lives. Night beginning to approach, I thought
+best to go down into the cabin and see what we had left to eat or drink.
+As soon as I had reached the cabin, it being dark, I stumbled against
+something on the floor, which I found to be our cook, whom we supposed
+we had left behind, having seen the pirates put him on board the
+schooner which was lying alongside of us, but knew nothing of his
+return. I spoke to him, but received no answer, I hustled him about the
+cabin, but could not make him speak. I at last got a light and looked
+about for some provisions, cooking utensils, &amp;c. and found about thirty
+pounds of bread, a little broken coffee, and most of a barrel of beef,
+but no cooking utensils except the caboose, with one or two pots set in
+it. The next morning I called all hands into the cabin, showed all the
+bread we had left, and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>told them it was necessary to go on allowance of
+one biscuit a day per man, which was agreed to, until we could get
+further supplies. I then questioned the cook, (knowing that he was
+driven into the hold of the pirate schooner,) as to what kind of a cargo
+she had. He said there were calicoes and all kinds of dry goods
+scattered about, and more than a hundred demijohns; and "O captain, it
+was the best old Jamaica rum that you ever tasted." I told him if the
+pirates had caught him drinking their rum they would have killed him. He
+said it looked so tempting he thought he would try it. I suppose that
+after having drank a large quantity he made his escape on board of the
+Combine before he felt the effects of it, as he was not aware of our
+release.</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/fig177.jpg" alt="" /><br />The Pirates' plan of exercising the nerves of Captives.</p>
+
+<p>The next day we were boarded by a boat from a Spanish man-of-war brig. I
+plead hard with the officer who boarded us to go in pursuit of the
+pirates, which he refused to do, saying it was out of their limits to
+cruise. I asked him for a supply of bread, which he denied me. In our
+crippled state we reached Havanna in nine days, where we put in for
+supplies.</p>
+
+<p>On my arrival at Havanna I was met by Captain Dimond, master of the brig
+Harriet, of Baltimore, who had been robbed by these pirates at the same
+place, on the 12th of October. Captain Dimond informed me that the
+pirates put a rope around his neck and hoisted him up to the fore-yard
+of the brig three times, and then let the rope loose, which caused <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>him
+to fall on the deck, where he lay insensible for some time. I asked him
+why he did not give up his money as I had done. He said that twenty-five
+hundred dollars of the money belonged to himself, which was all he was
+worth, and having a family to support, he thought he had almost as well
+part with his life as his money. After he had recovered his senses they
+made another attempt to put the rope round his neck the fourth time,
+when one of the pirates told his comrade to let him alone, because he
+had children. They hauled their vessels alongside of his brig and took
+out all his cargo, also the greatest part of the brig's sails, rigging,
+&amp;c. together with twelve thousand dollars, which they found while
+removing a quantity of fire-wood, and then let him depart.</p>
+
+<p>I proceeded to the American Consul's office, having on an old straw hat,
+which the pirates had put on my head in place of my own, an old ragged
+jacket, one pump, one shoe, and an empty pocket. I entered a protest,
+and asked him to render me some assistance, for which I would give him a
+draft on New-York at sight. This he refused unless I would bottom the
+vessel, but referred me to the house of Grey, Fenandes, &amp; Co. who
+attended to my wants in the most friendly manner. Three days after, the
+ship Lucies, of Charleston, arrived in the harbor, having a prize-master
+on board, who informed me that the United States Brig Enterprise,
+Captain Kearney, had re-captured the Lucies from these pirates, and had
+taken three of the piratical vessels, (the crews <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>having escaped to the
+shore,) and sailed for some port of the United States. I called again on
+Mr. Grey, and told him that Captain Kearney would probably steer for
+Charleston or New Orleans with his prizes, and I felt anxious to
+communicate with him as soon as possible, to reclaim my property. He
+said they had a very respectable correspondent in Charleston, named John
+Stoney, to whom he would write to claim my property for me if he should
+arrive in that port; that I could write to Captain Kearney and enclose
+his letter to Mr. Stoney. Fearing he might sail for New Orleans, I
+addressed a letter to a friend of mine living there, to claim the
+property for me, should the Enterprise arrive at that port.</p>
+
+<p>I learned here that these pirates had been fitted out in this port,
+where most of their cargoes were to be disposed of, and was advised not
+to make much noise about my robbery, as they had many friends here who
+would assassinate me. I found a number of American vessels here, but got
+little assistance from any of them except the captain of a small sloop
+from Bristol, Rhode Island, who tendered me a loan of thirty dollars,
+for which he got my draft on New-York. He gave me many articles which I
+stood in need of, for which I shall ever feel grateful. After my vessel
+was under weigh the captain of a Baltimore ship, who had arrived an hour
+before, learning my misfortune, sent his boat alongside with a barrel of
+beef, some flour, wine, &amp;c. with a message to me, saying, if I wanted
+any other articles he would send <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>them on board. We put to sea with next
+to no conveniences, having no beds or bedding, and but three or four
+knives and forks, some trifling cooking utensils, and all my wardrobe on
+my back. Without any additional sails for our vessel we shaped our
+course for New-York. The winds proving favorable we performed the
+passage in sixteen days.</p>
+
+<p>For a particular account of the capture of the piratical vessels I refer
+the reader to the following letter, published in the papers of the day:</p>
+
+<blockquote><p>"<i>Capture of the Aristides by Pirates.</i></p>
+
+<p>"Copy of a letter from Captain Couthony, late master of Brig
+Aristides, to Mr. Edward Cruft, the owner, in this town, giving
+the particulars of the capture of that vessel by pirates.</p>
+
+<p>"<i>At Sea, United States Brig Enterprise, October 24, 1821.</i></p>
+
+<p>"<i>Dear Sir</i>:&mdash;The melancholy news which I am about to relate
+will be extremely afflicting to you. We sailed from Liverpool
+the 28th of August, and had a very pleasant passage till off
+the west end of Cuba, which we made on the 15th of October at 6
+P. M. When off Cape Antonio were assailed by five piratical
+vessels, three schooners, one sloop, and an open boat; the
+latter after firing several shots at us came alongside with
+nine men in her; the men mounted the deck, armed with
+cutlasses, pistols and dirks; on coming on board one took the
+helm, another knocked me down, seized my watch, &amp;c. and the
+others ran into the cabin. By this time the other pirates got
+close around us, and I discovered they <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>were about to run my
+vessel on shore. On begging them to desist from this design, I
+was again knocked down; on rising, a musket was pointed at me
+and one of the villains made several passes at me with a
+dagger, which I avoided by running forward.</p>
+
+<p>"We were soon in shoal water, when I again begged of them for
+God's sake not to run the vessel ashore. They ordered us to let
+go the anchor.</p>
+
+<p>"I then went into the cabin, where I found all my trunks,
+chest, &amp;c. on the floor, and the pirates filling bags,
+handkerchiefs, &amp;c. with my clothes. They took my chronometer
+and everything I had, even robbing me of the jacket I had on,
+and leaving me almost naked. They then ordered us to open the
+hatches, beating every one of the crew they came across,
+declaring they would kill every man on board, beginning with
+me, saying they were pirates, and should not be discovered.
+During the night our vessel began to strike very hard, when
+they compelled us to weigh anchor and the vessel was run on
+shore.</p>
+
+<p>"They then commenced loading their craft with the most valuable
+part of our goods, remarking that we should be put to death in
+the morning to prevent discovery. They struck me down several
+times, beating the mate and threatening him with instant death
+if he did not discover where the most valuable goods were. They
+nearly strangled the boy, bidding him tell where my money was
+stowed. In the morning they had one of their cruisers loaded
+with dry goods, and a number of packages in the others; when on
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>the 16th, at 7 <span class="smcap">a. m.</span> a sail was discovered coming round the
+Cape. They then consulted on the expediency of murdering me;
+but one, more humane than the others, dissuaded them from
+committing the crime. Perceiving the sail to be a vessel of
+war, they took to their boats, pulled for their vessels and
+immediately proceeded along shore.</p>
+
+<p>"They had stove our yawl to prevent our using her, but we
+patched her so that she floated, and went on board the vessel
+that was approaching. She proved to be the United States Brig
+Enterprise, L. Kearney, Esq. commander. I stated to him my
+dreadful situation, and pointed out to him the five piratical
+vessels in shore; he immediately made all sail in pursuit, but
+a reef prevented his getting within gun-shot. He armed all the
+boats, and with the crews of the ship Lucies, and an English
+brig, which were likewise in the hands of the pirates, gave
+them chase, and overhauling them fast, they rowed their vessels
+on shore inside the Cape, set the loaded one on fire, and took
+to the woods. Lieutenant M'Intosh, who went on the expedition,
+took four of the vessels, the boat having escaped. The vessel
+sat on fire was entirely destroyed, but few remnants of goods
+were saved, and those partly burnt. The pirates had a train of
+powder to blow up the vessel on the approach of the boats.</p>
+
+<p>"On the 17th, at noon, Capt. Kearney brought all the vessels at
+anchor near our wreck, and sent his crew to our assistance, the
+Combine being in a bilged <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>condition, with seven feet of water
+in her hold, and her rudder unshipped. He then loaded three of
+the late piratical vessels out of the cargo of the Aristides,
+also the American Schooner Bold Commander, of Staten Island,
+with goods, one cable, and some of her sails. The brig has on
+board some goods, a chain cable and a hawser, the latter taken
+from the pirates.</p>
+
+<p>"Captain Kearney, after having done his utmost, and saved all
+he could, in loading the four vessels and his brig, set the
+wreck on fire on the 20th, at 7 <span class="smcap">p. m.</span> and remained by her until
+she was burnt to the water's edge. She was in ten feet of water
+when I abandoned her, 8 <span class="smcap">a. m.</span> all in flames. This whole
+dreadful calamity has nearly overpowered me. A Columbian
+schooner of one long gun and eighty men likewise anchored near
+the wreck before she was destroyed, and took a few casks porter
+and a few bales goods, which would otherwise have been burnt
+with the vessel. This was done with the consent of Captain
+Kearney after he had loaded all the other vessels.</p>
+
+<p>"I shall ever be grateful to Captain Kearney for his kind
+assistance, friendship and hospitality. He offered me his own
+clothes, as I was destitute of everything. He will call at
+Havanna, and from thence proceed to Charleston, where he will
+deliver the vessels and goods to the proper authorities." </p></blockquote>
+
+<p>Captain Kearney proceeded with his prizes to Charleston, where the
+vessels and goods were condemned, and sold within eleven days after his
+arrival <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>to accommodate him and his crew, when he sailed on another
+cruise. This gave me no opportunity to reclaim my property, Mr. Stoney
+having neglected to claim it for me. Some weeks after, having learned
+that the property had been carried into Charleston and sold, I proceeded
+to that place and applied to the District Judge of the United States,
+who, after a detention of thirty days, awarded me about seven hundred
+dollars. A large portion of the coffee, and other articles, which were
+taken on board my vessel at Jerimie during my sickness, not being
+marked, caused much difficulty in identifying them. I saw in the
+possession of purchasers at that sale, eight anchors, two saddles, four
+bridles, a number of coffee bags, and other articles of mine; also a
+quantity of tortoise shell, which cost me eight dollars per pound. The
+expenses on what I recovered consumed the greatest part of the goods;
+deducting one-fourth for salvage, duties, cartage, storage, commissions,
+court fees, &amp;c. the remainder went into the Treasury of the United
+States, or should have gone there. I have petitioned Congress for some
+remuneration, which claim has been denied.</p>
+
+<p>On my arrival in New-York (being literally clothed with rags) I was met
+on the way to my boarding house by some of my kind friends, who took me
+to their houses and fitted me with a temporary suit of clothes, and some
+of them advanced me money to purchase more. Mr. Luman Reed loaned me two
+or three hundred dollars to pay the wages due my crew, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span>and defray other
+expenses. Soon after, I proceeded to Catskill with the schooner, sold
+one half of my interest in her; and after paying my old friend, Mr. A.
+Cooke, all the money he had advanced on the out bound cargo for me, I
+proceeded to Charleston to claim my property, as I have before related.</p>
+
+<p>On my return from that port we refitted the Combine with new sails,
+rigging, &amp;c. and agreed to take out an assorted cargo in her hold, and a
+deck load of horses, to the Island of St. Domingo.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.<br />
+
+Schooner Combine.&mdash;Second Voyage.</h2>
+
+
+<p>About the middle of May, 1822, we commenced loading at Catskill, and
+finished in about ten days, when we sailed for New-York, where I shipped
+a crew and left for Cape Francios, in the Island of St. Domingo. We met
+with light winds and strong currents on the passage, which carried us
+some distance to the leeward of our course, and obliged me to put into
+the harbor of Port-au-Prince, where we arrived without any material
+incident. I landed my horses, and having procured a stable for them, was
+advised to select ten or twelve of the handsomest and proceed with them
+to the president's country seat, about <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>six miles from the city, where
+he was confined by ill health. This I consented to as a matter of
+courtesy, and a black colonel, named Burblong, volunteered to accompany
+me. I took my hostler and an interpreter and proceeded to his house. At
+his residence there was an extensive park enclosed by a high brick wall,
+which we entered after passing two armed sentries, when we drew near to
+a large wooden building fitted up in good style, having a piazza all
+round it, and six or eight sentries walking on it, well armed and
+uniformed. As we approached the outside door of the house we found a
+sentry stationed there, who conducted us into the hall, where we found
+another who conducted us into the president's room, which was splendidly
+furnished, where I was introduced to his excellency by Colonel Burblong.
+After the introduction was over, he invited us to take a glass of wine
+with him. The horses were then brought near the door, which, having
+examined, he said were worth two hundred dollars apiece; but since I had
+been so polite as to call on him, he would give me two hundred and fifty
+for as many as his groom should select. The president is about six feet
+in height, of a mulatto color, rather thin in flesh, and makes a good
+appearance on horseback, particularly in reviewing his army, who perform
+their evolutions in the most graceful and soldier-like manner. I sold
+the president one pair of horses, and disposed of a few to individuals
+at a fair profit; the remainder sold at a loss, after deducting
+expenses. The slow <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>sale of horses detained me nearly two months, during
+which time the yellow fever made its appearance, and raged with unabated
+violence until our departure, particularly among the shipping. By the
+laws of the country a ship-master is obliged to land all persons seized
+with sickness on board of his vessel, and place them under the care of
+the nurses of the city, who receive them into their houses at a charge
+of two dollars and fifty cents per day for seamen, and three dollars per
+day for masters and mates. If a seaman dies on board, the master is
+fined five hundred dollars.</p>
+
+<p>About three weeks after our arrival here my cook and one sailor were
+attacked by the yellow fever, I took them ashore and placed them under
+the care of nurses; the hostler was next landed with the same complaint,
+and the third day after I put on shore another seaman in like condition.
+During this day, after a long walk in the hot sun, I retired to the
+house of one of the nurses, where I was taken down with the same fever;
+my cook dying about the time I became fairly sick. The next day one of
+the seamen died. The seamen, hostler, and myself were put under the care
+of different nurses, and in a few days such of us as were spared
+returned to duty.</p>
+
+<p>After the death of my cook I hired an English negro, (who had deserted
+from Turks Island and taken refuge here,) on condition that he should
+serve a few days on trial, and if both parties were suited he was to act
+as cook until the voyage was ended, and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>to receive the same wages I had
+given his predecessor. After remaining on board a few days, the mate
+sent a message to me on shore, informing me that the cook had threatened
+the lives of some of the sailors by attacking them with an axe. I sent a
+note to the mate requesting him to send the cook on shore. He soon made
+his appearance, when I took him to the store of my consignees and made
+out an account of his time, allowing him wages at the rate of fourteen
+dollars per month, according to agreement. I read the statement to him
+and he appeared well satisfied. I then asked one of the firm to pay the
+bill. He said his partner had stepped out with the key of the money
+drawer in his pocket, but as soon as he returned it would be paid, and
+asked the cook to take a seat; he walked out of the door and was missing
+for some time, when he entered the store in company with a black man,
+dressed in a sergeant's uniform, with a sword and bayonet hanging by his
+side, who introduced himself by saying he had a warrant for me. I was a
+little surprised, and asked him if he wanted me to go with him, or
+required any security for my appearance. He said he did not, and told me
+I must appear in the third ward, No. &mdash;&mdash;, to-morrow, at 11 o'clock. The
+next day I called at the store of my consignees and got the clerk to
+accompany me to the court. On our way we met a genteel looking, well
+dressed mulatto man, who asked the clerk where we were going. The clerk
+related the story to him, and he volunteered his <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>service to defend my
+cause, and accompanied us to the court room. After we got inside of the
+door I discovered a sentry dressed in full uniform, with side arms,
+walking in front of the door. As I entered the court room I took off my
+hat to show some respect to the honorable black justice. Soon after, my
+antagonist, the cook, entered the door with his hat on his head, when
+the sentry approached him without uttering a word and struck him a heavy
+blow with his flat hand on the side of his head, which knocked his hat
+across the room; this caused the poor fellow to look amazed for a few
+moments, when he picked up his hat very carefully. The trial was soon
+called on. I related the whole story by my interpreter, and the judge,
+without calling a witness on either side, decided that I should pay him
+the same amount of money I had offered him, and that he should pay the
+costs, which was one dollar and fifty cents, being one-half the sum he
+recovered from me.</p>
+
+<p>When I returned to the wharf to go on board my vessel I found the poor
+fellow had been impressed, and sentenced to go on board of a man-of-war,
+and was then lodged in the guard house. He sent a message to me
+imploring my pardon, and begging my assistance to obtain his release.</p>
+
+<p>About this time there was a very great excitement raised in the city in
+consequence of the circulation of counterfeit coin, in imitation of the
+government silver, and a story had been circulated that a considerable
+quantity of this spurious silver was <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>expected from Baltimore. As
+several vessels arrived from that place soon after, they were strictly
+searched, by boring barrels of flour, breaking open boxes and packages
+of goods, by custom house officers, and otherwise searching them. After
+some days it was discovered that the counterfeit coin was brought from
+Jamaica by a Jew, who had been lurking about the city. He was arrested
+and brought before the president for trial, and a report circulated that
+he would certainly be hanged. The president sent for a silver-smith to
+examine the coin, who pronounced it to be one-half pure silver, while
+the government coin was only one-tenth part silver: upon which the
+president said, "Damn him, let him go, for his money is better than
+ours."</p>
+
+<p>The laws of this country are very arbitrary, although they help to
+encourage industry and suppress idleness and dissipation. The president
+makes donations from the public lands to all poor individuals who will
+cultivate them. After they take possession of a lot he obliges them to
+cultivate it. To accomplish this, he sends a small military guard
+through the new settlements, accompanied by an officer, who stops at
+every house, where he makes the following inquiries: "Is this your house
+and plantation?" which being answered in the affirmative, he proceeds,
+"How large is your family?" The man answers, a wife and &mdash;&mdash; children.
+The officer then compels him to go and show him the plantation, and to
+point out the number of coffee trees he has planted, &amp;c. If, on
+examining <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>the premises the officer finds only a few trees, and is
+convinced of the indolence of the occupant, he says, "You cannot
+maintain your family by this, and must be a cheat, or steal, you must
+therefore go with me," and he is obliged to join the army or navy.</p>
+
+<p>The farmers being out of the cities and villages, are not allowed to
+come to market except two days in each week, say Sundays and Wednesdays,
+without a special permit. All persons found drinking or rioting about
+public places or grog shops are immediately taken up under the vagrant
+act, sent to prison, and then transported to the army or navy as a
+punishment. The authorities of cities and villages license a limited
+number of butchers in each town, and compel them to keep the market
+supplied with meat every day, and limit the price to twelve and a half
+cents per pound.</p>
+
+<p>Since my last voyage to this Island the president, at the head of his
+army, had many engagements with the royalists under the emperor
+Christophe, whom he conquered, and had obtained possession of all his
+dominions. The emperor, fearing he should be taken prisoner, committed
+suicide by blowing his own brains out with his pistol. The president
+took possession of his castle, where they found about seven millions of
+dollars. By their wars with the French, and their internal wars among
+themselves, they have reduced the male inhabitants so much that they now
+estimate there is eleven females to one male, throughout all their
+dominions.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p><p>Having disposed of my cargo and got a return freight on board, I sailed
+for the port of Jerimie, where we arrived the twenty-fourth of July.
+Here I collected about eight hundred dollars in coffee, which was due
+from my last voyage. I sailed for New-York on the twenty-eighth, and
+arrived at Staten Island after a passage of twenty-two days, where we
+were compelled to perform a quarantine of thirty days, at the expiration
+of which time we proceeded to the city, where I disposed of my cargo and
+then returned with the schooner to Catskill, when we refitted her
+previous to the next voyage.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.<br />
+
+Schooner Combine.&mdash;Third Voyage.</h2>
+
+
+<p>We loaded the schooner's hold with an assorted cargo, and her deck with
+twenty-eight horses, about fifty hogs, a number of coops of poultry; and
+taking on board three passengers bound for the Island of Trinidad,
+sailed from Catskill the tenth of November, 1822, and arrived in
+New-York after a passage of two days, where I shipped a crew and
+prepared for the voyage. About the seventeenth of November we sailed
+from New-York, bound to the Island of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>Trinidad. After we got under
+weigh I found the greater part of my crew so badly intoxicated that they
+could not stand upon deck, but having fair wind and good weather I
+proceeded to sea; the mate, cooper, and cook, being sober, I thought we
+could manage the vessel until the crew could attend to their duty. We
+passed the night without getting any assistance from them. The next
+morning I ordered the mate to go into the fore-castle, where they slept,
+and search for liquor, and if necessary, break open all the seamen's
+chests, and if he found any he was to break the bottles or heave them
+overboard. He returned to the cabin with one bottle containing about a
+pint, being all he could find. We learned afterwards that they had some
+more secreted, which he was not able to discover. Towards evening the
+second day we were able to get them all at work but one. About eight
+o'clock in the evening that one came on deck and appeared somewhat
+bewildered with delirium tremens.</p>
+
+<p>I was then called to my supper, being much fatigued, having stood at the
+helm over twenty-four hours, while the mate, cooper, and cook took care
+of the stock on deck. Within two minutes after I entered the cabin I
+heard the cry, "He is overboard," when I jumped on deck and threw over
+many articles of lumber, long lines, &amp;c. but the night being dark, and a
+heavy sea running, we soon lost sight of him. This seaman's name was
+James Currie, who said he was born in Rhode Island, and I found by <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>the
+papers he left, that he had lately been discharged from the Frigate
+Constellation. One of his shipmates informed me that he had just arrived
+from a three years' cruise, and had received three hundred dollars when
+he was paid off, but had spent the whole of it in three weeks, and was
+indebted to his landlord about seventeen dollars more. My seamen were
+all sober and at their duty in a couple of days, and we proceeded on the
+voyage without any other occurrence worth recording, and arrived, after
+a passage of thirty-five days, at Port Spain, in the Island of Trinidad,
+where we landed our horses, which had stood on their feet the whole
+passage. Many of them had the heaves badly when they were taken on
+board, but were perfectly cured when they landed. This being the third
+time of successful experiment with diseased horses as a veterinarian, I
+pronounced a sea voyage a perfect cure for the heaves, whether in horses
+or other animals.</p>
+
+<p>The Island of Trinidad was ceded to the English by the Spanish
+government, and by the law of Nations the Spanish laws were to remain in
+force for twenty years after the transfer, which time had not expired. A
+Spanish governor is clothed with almost as much power as an emperor. Sir
+Ralph Woodford had been selected as governor, and was a tyrannical man,
+and very unpopular among the inhabitants. The city of Port Spain is one
+of the pleasantest places I have ever seen in the West Indies. The
+streets are kept very clean and in good order. No <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>man can leave the
+Island without a permit from the governor. A merchant of Port Spain
+visited the Island of Tobago, a distance of about sixty miles, where he
+remained two or three days and then returned, when the governor had him
+arrested and committed to jail, where he remained six days: his only
+crime was leaving the Island without a passport signed by the governor.</p>
+
+<p>A Mr. J. Robbins, an American, informed me that he owned a house in one
+of the principal streets in the city, which street the governor ordered
+to be paved, and a tax laid on the property in that street to defray the
+expenses of flagging. The tax on his house and lot amounting to over six
+hundred dollars, and not being able to pay it, the property was sold at
+a great loss.</p>
+
+<p>The license to retail liquors in the city is sold annually at auction,
+to the highest bidder; one person purchasing the license for the whole
+town, gives security, and then divides it as he pleases. The soil of
+this Island is rich, producing sugar-cane and cocoa in abundance.
+Coffee, and all kinds of tropical provisions and fruits are raised here
+in large quantities. The Island abounds with snakes of an enormous size.
+I visited an American gentleman, residing in the country about twelve
+miles from Port Spain, who had a snake-skin stuffed which was
+twenty-three feet long; it was shot by one of his negroes, and on
+opening it they found a whole deer. A few hours before we left the port
+news was received from the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span>interior of the Island that a snake had been
+shot containing the bodies of a black woman and child. The principal
+currency of the country is Spanish dollars punched through the centre,
+making a hole about the size of a five cent piece; the dollar still
+passing for the same value in the way of trade, and the plug which is
+taken out passes for one-eighth of a dollar. After passing through a few
+hands they find their way to some Jew, who reams the hole so large that
+you can pass a twenty-five cent piece through them, but they still pass
+for a dollar by way of trade. To prevent deception and loss, most
+bargains are stipulated to be paid in whole dollars.</p>
+
+<p>The English government has made a strong effort to introduce the
+cultivation of tea into this Island, by importing a number of Chinese
+laborers; it has proved to be a thorough failure. After their arrival in
+the country they became so indolent that it was found impossible to make
+them cultivate the land. They intermarried with the negroes, and became
+useless to society, laboring only to supply their daily wants.</p>
+
+<p>Having sold all my cargo, and taken on board over a hundred hogsheads of
+molasses, I sailed for New-York, where we arrived about the first of
+April, 1823. On the passage home we experienced a heavy gale of wind,
+which caused the loss of one thousand gallons of molasses.</p>
+
+<p>On selling the cargo we found the West India trade unprofitable, in
+consequence of the low prices of the produce of the Islands, which
+caused heavy <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span>losses on return cargoes. I held a consultation with my
+partners in the vessel, when it was agreed to sell the Combine at
+auction and abandon the trade.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2>
+
+
+<p>The following, copied from the <i>Northern Whig</i> of December 3d, 1822, is
+a correct account of the capture of the piratical vessels by Lieutenant
+Commandant Allen, who lost his life during the engagement:</p>
+
+<blockquote><p>"It becomes our painful duty to record the death of Lieutenant
+William Howard Allen, of the United States Navy. He commanded
+the United States Schooner Alligator, and on the 11th of
+November last, while leading his brave tars in the Alligator's
+boats to attack a nest of pirates near Matanzas, was shot by
+them in the head and breast, and survived but four hours.
+Undaunted, even in death, he cheered his men, and had the
+consolation of witnessing the surrender of one of the piratical
+vessels, and the re-capture of five merchantmen before he
+expired. He was buried on the succeeding day at Matanzas, with
+military honors.</p>
+
+<p>"Lieutenant Allen was a native of this city, (Hudson,) was born
+on the 8th of July, 1790, entered the navy in the 20th year of
+his age. He was Second Lieutenant on board the Argus, in the
+summer of 1813, and during the bloody conflict between the
+Argus and the Pelican, the command of the former devolved for a
+time upon him. W. H. Watson, the First Lieutenant of the Argus,
+a brave and worthy officer, speaks of his conduct in high and
+merited terms. He was also in the Congress Frigate during her
+cruise in the Chinese Seas.</p>
+
+<p>"He was attached to his profession, courted glory, and feared
+no danger. In the last war he saw much service; and whether in
+war or peace, never failed to do his duty.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p><p>"We shall conclude our brief observations with the following
+remarks, which have been kindly furnished us at the particular
+request of a number of the friends of Lieutenant Allen, and
+which were the conclusion of a discourse delivered from the
+pulpit, by the Reverend B. F. Stanton, on the Sunday succeeding
+the day on which the afflictive news of the death alluded to
+arrived here.</p>
+
+<p>"After a reference had been made to the frequent instances in
+which, for a few years past, the inhabitants of Hudson have
+been suddenly and unexpectedly deprived of some of their most
+respected and valued fellow citizens, it was observed, that, in
+addition to all the previous calamities of the nature which we
+had experienced, we have recently been called upon by the
+righteous Providence of Him whose 'path is in the great deep,
+and whose footsteps are not known,' to contemplate another,
+which, in some of its features, perhaps, is the heaviest of
+all. I shall undoubtedly be readily understood, by most of my
+hearers, to refer to the tidings which have lately reached us
+of the lamented death of Lieutenant William H. Allen, a native
+of this town, and an officer in the United States Navy.</p>
+
+<p>"It is not any design on this occasion to attempt to do justice
+to his memory by pronouncing his eulogy. This will probably be
+done by abler pens and more eloquent tongues. My aim at present
+is merely to advert to a few of the leading traits in his
+character, and to call on those who hear me to listen to the
+monitory voice of Heaven which addresses us in this afflictive
+dispensation. As a son he was filial, as a brother he was kind
+and affectionate, as a gentleman he was amiable and
+accomplished in his manners, as a friend he was trusty and
+sincere, as a man he was humane and generous: he had a soul
+that was indignant at meanness and vice! In his morals, I
+believe, he was free from those defilements which are too often
+known to tarnish the reputation of those in his profession, and
+to which they are so peculiarly liable: In his religious
+sentiments, if I am not mistaken, he was a candid believer in
+divine revelation: As a lover of his country, he was ardent and
+ever eager, when summoned by her call, to be foremost in her
+defence; and as an officer he was active, faithful, skilful,
+and courageous. In the engagement that terminated his naval
+career, he occupied a post most pregnant with danger, and
+though mortally wounded in the early part of it, he still
+animated his valiant tars, while the life-blood was fast ebbing
+from its seat, to persevere till the victory <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span>was gained. By
+these encomiums, however, it is not intended that he was
+exempted from a participation in that polution of our nature
+which is common to every individual of the human family. Though
+he was possessed of excellencies which <i>we</i> may be allowed to
+admire and applaud; in the sight of infinite purity, like every
+other human being, he was a ruined sinner, </p></blockquote>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 5em;">"Sprung from the man whose guilty fall,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 5em;">"Corrupts our arce and taints us all."</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<blockquote><p>But neither the personal excellencies which so strongly
+endeared him to those who knew him, the affections of his
+numerous friends, nor the wants of his country, could render
+him impervious to the shaft of death. No, his generous spirit
+is fled. Though brave, he has fallen a victim to the king of
+terrors, who conquers all. A band of piratical marauders, whose
+iniquitous occupation is the plunder of the seas, and whose
+perfidies and cruelties, which are audaciously committed on the
+broad highway of nations, are continually augmenting, and in
+our opinion, loudly call for the interfering arm of national
+government, to extirpate, if possible, these freebooters, from
+the face of the earth; a horde of these unprincipled
+miscreants, who are the stigma of the human kind, have deprived
+his country of his valuable services. He has lain down and will
+rise not. 'Till the heavens be no more he shall not awake, nor
+be raised out of sleep. His mangled remains are deposited in a
+land of strangers, and far from his family and his home. He
+will no more return to alleviate, by his presence, the severe
+and long continued afflictions of 'the mother that bare him,'
+to meet the embraces of the fond sisters that loved him, and to
+receive the gratulations of the inhabitants of this place, who
+were proud to claim him as their fellow-citizen. Yes, his
+generous spirit has gone! The war song has died away upon his
+ear. By the thrilling notes of the clarion, which once prompted
+him to deeds of valor, he is now unmoved! His body is silent
+and still in 'the narrow house of all living.' He reposes, with
+others of his valiant compeers, to await 'the sound of the
+archangel and the trump of God.' But it is the consolation of
+surviving friends to reflect, that, though he sleeps, and they
+shall behold him no more, he has fallen in the arms of victory,
+and in the common cause of his country and of mankind. His
+memory will be for ever embalmed in the tenderest recollections
+of his acquaintances. His loss will be deplored <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>as a national
+calamity; and we would reverently trust, that, before his
+spirit took its returnless flight, as he had been educated in
+the principles of the Christian faith, and knew to whom a
+sinner has to go, if his soul is ever saved, from his bloody
+bed of glory he raised his dying eyes and his supplicating
+voice to that God who is no respecter of persons, but who is
+rich in mercy unto all that call upon him, in whose presence
+the rich and the poor alike meet together; with whom the high
+and the low, the noble and the ignoble, stand upon the same
+level, in the effulgence of whose holiness the lustre of the
+hero is dimmed, who permits none to glory before Him, save in
+the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with whom alone can
+avail the sacrifice of a broken and a contrite heart." </p></blockquote>
+
+<hr class="tb" />
+
+<blockquote><p>From the New-York Evening Post.</p>
+
+<p>"With emotions of indignation and unavailing grief, we find
+from the following article, that one of our bravest American
+officers and most valuable citizens, Lieutenant Commandant
+Allen, has fallen by the merciless hands of the sea-robbers who
+for several years have roamed the seas unchecked, fearlessly
+plundered our vessels, and remorselessly assassinated their
+crews with every species of barbarity that hellish ingenuity
+could invent." </p></blockquote>
+
+<hr class="tb" />
+
+<blockquote><p>From Relf's Philadelphia Gazette.</p>
+
+<p>"<span class="smcap">Melancholy Tidings</span>.&mdash;We have to-day to record an event which
+must excite in the breast of every American, and we may venture
+to add, in that of every civilized man, emotions of profound
+regret and indignation&mdash;Lieutenant Commandant Allen, one of the
+rising stars in our national galaxy, has fallen by the hands of
+unprincipled pirates. In the earnest and honorable execution of
+his duty to his country and to mankind, this gallant and
+accomplished young officer has become the victim of a gang of
+desperate buccaneers; but in this, as in most of the
+occurrences of our naval warfare, he died in the lap of
+victory. This melancholy intelligence was received this morning
+from an intelligent gentleman, passenger in the Mary Ann,
+Captain Cory, from Havanna, (now below,) and is furnished to us
+in these words:</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p><p>"About the 9th, two masters of American vessels came to
+Havanna for the express purpose of raising money for the ransom
+of their vessels, bound to Havanna, which with two other
+Americans (bound to New Orleans) had been recently captured by
+two piratical schooners near Key Romain, and left at anchor in
+that neighborhood waiting their return. Captain Allen, of the
+Alligator, on coming into port next day, being informed
+thereof, started, without coming to anchor, in search of the
+pirates, whom on that or the next day he discovered in the
+channel of Matanzas. The Alligator drawing too much water, two
+boats were manned and stood for them; an action ensued, in the
+early part of which Captain Allen received two musket balls,
+one in the head, the other in his breast, and soon died,
+encouraging his men to do their duty; which they nobly
+performed, for after a short contest the pirates abandoned
+their vessel and swam to the shore. The vessels were taken
+possession of by the victors and carried into Matanzas.</p>
+
+<p>"They mounted one gun each, amid-ship, with forty men each,
+well armed, and considerable plunder on board. Our informant
+does not know what became of their prizes.</p>
+
+<p>"The Mary Ann has despatches on board from the American Agent
+at Havanna, furnishing official information in relation to this
+disastrous occurrence.</p>
+
+<p>"Since the above was in type, (says <i>The Evening Post</i>,) the
+following letter was handed us, confirmatory of the melancholy
+truth of the account, with further particulars. We cannot but
+express our unqualified admiration of the gallantry of spirit
+that impelled the undaunted Allen, undismayed by the bloody
+signal of <i>no quarter</i>, which waved aloft, to attack an armed
+vessel, with a desperate crew in an open boat, and with only a
+few men. His virtuous indignation bore away all prudent
+reflections, and he rushed into the jaws of death itself to
+rescue or avenge his fellow citizens. Captain Allen is a native
+of Hudson, in this State, where his mother and sisters now
+reside. May we not hope that the vessels in our harbor will
+unite in giving at least one outward testimony of their
+mourning for his loss, by raising their flags half-mast high
+to-morrow. </p></blockquote>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left:50%;">"<span class="smcap">Matanzas</span>, November 11, 1822.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<blockquote><p>"To Messrs. G. G. &amp; S. Howland,</p>
+
+<p>"My dear Sirs:&mdash;The gallant Allen is no more! You witnessed the
+promptitude with which he hastened to relieve the vessel which
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>I informed him had been captured off this port. He arrived
+just in time to save five sail of vessels, which he found in
+possession of a gang of pirates, three hundred strong,
+established in the Bay of Lejuapo, about fifteen leagues east
+of this. He fell, pierced by two musket balls, in the van of a
+division of boats, attacking their principal vessel, a fine
+schooner of about eighty tons, with a long eighteen-pounder on
+a pivot, and four guns, <i>with the bloody flag nailed to the
+mast</i>. Himself, Captain Freeman, of marines, and twelve men,
+were in the boat much in advance of his other boats, and even
+took possession of the schooner after a desperate resistance
+which nothing but a bravery almost too daring could have
+overcome. The pirates, all but one, escaped by taking to their
+boats and jumping overboard, before the Alligator's boats
+reached them. Two other schooners escaped by the use of their
+oars, the wind being light.</p>
+
+<p>"Captain Allen survived about four hours, during which his
+conversation evinced a composure and firmness of mind, and
+correctness of feeling, as honorable to his character and more
+consoling to his friends than even the dauntless bravery he
+before evinced.</p>
+
+<p>"The Alligator arrived here to-day, in company with the prize,
+and five re-captured vessels. Arrangements are making with the
+governor, with the concurrence of the commander of the Spanish
+Brig of war Marte, [of whose conduct the officers of the
+Alligator speak in the highest terms,] to inter him with the
+honors of war to-morrow morning. It is certain that the pirates
+are but little weakened by this contest, and there is reason to
+fear that our commerce with this Island and New Orleans will be
+almost annihilated, unless an effectual force is stationed here
+to prevent it. But the best comment I can make is to add a list
+of vessels re-taken, and to state that many of the men are
+missing, and probably have been murdered. Should any of our
+vessels of war arrive, please state these facts, and leave no
+efforts untried to procure some additional force to come
+immediately here. </p></blockquote>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left:50%;">"In great haste, your's very truly,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left:50%;"><span class="smcap">"Francis Adams</span>.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<blockquote><p>"Loss in Alligator's two boats&mdash;Captain Allen and two oarsmen
+killed; two men mortally wounded; three severely.</p>
+
+<p>"[By an arrival at Philadelphia we learn that the United States
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>Schooner Alligator had arrived at Matanzas with the pirate
+schooner and the vessels re-taken from the pirates, (the Ship
+William &amp; Henry, of New-York, Brig Iris, of Boston, and Brig
+Sarah Marael, of New-York, bound to New Orleans; Schooner
+Sarah, of Boston, for Mobile, Schooner Mary Ann, of Salem, for
+Matanzas,) are all ordered for Charleston. The pirate schooner
+has arrived, it is said, at Norfolk.]" </p></blockquote>
+
+<p>After the arrival of the piratical schooner at Norfolk she was condemned
+and sold to a citizen of that place, who gave her the name of Allen, in
+remembrance of the brave but unfortunate commander who lost his life in
+capturing her. Some time after she was purchased by Messrs. H. &amp; D.
+Cotheal and A. D. Hallett, the former owners of the Price, and I was
+employed to take the command of her, and proceed to the Island of St.
+Andreas, and from thence to Chagres.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.<br />
+
+Schooner Allen.</h2>
+
+
+<p>About the twenty-seventh of December, 1823, I took charge of the Allen.
+She was a small sharp-built schooner, armed with a long six-pound
+cannon, mounted on a circle, with a patent slide, and was well fitted
+for sea. My crew were three seamen, a mate and cook. We sailed from
+New-York the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>twenty-ninth of December, and made our passage to the
+Island of Old Providence in seventeen days, where we stopped and traded
+two or three days, and then proceeded to the Island of St. Andreas,
+where I met Mr. Henry T. Smith, who had been my former clerk in the
+Indian trade. I supplied him with what goods he wanted and then sailed
+for Chagres. On my arrival there I wrote a letter to the American Consul
+at Panama, informing him that I had a consignment of goods on board for
+him. After a few days I received a letter from a Mr. Montaudevert,
+informing me that Mr. Craig, the consul had left Panama and departed for
+New-York on a visit, leaving him in charge of his business during his
+absence. In three or four days after I received his letter he arrived at
+Chagres and took lodgings on board with me. The next day he hired a
+large canoe to take the goods up the river to a place called Cruses, a
+distance of forty-two miles, which is said to be the head of canoe
+navigation on that river. The provisions I had on board was all put up
+in half barrels for the customary mule transportation over the Isthmus,
+by slinging two across each mule's back, two half barrels being a load
+for a mule. After all our arrangements were made the canoe was hauled
+alongside of the Allen. When she made her appearance there I was struck
+with surprise at her length and breadth, she being some feet longer than
+my little schooner. I took up a rule and measured her breadth, which I
+found was eight feet from one side to the other, and her length <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>over
+sixty feet, being dug out of one solid tree, free from shakes or cracks.</p>
+
+<p>In the morning we loaded the canoe with one hundred and forty-one half
+barrels of flour, and twenty half barrels of pork and mackerel, and two
+hogsheads filled with firkins of butter. The canoe had a large quantity
+of other freight on board before she come alongside of the Allen. After
+delivering all the goods consigned to Mr. Craig, I sold Mr. Montaudevert
+thirteen hundred and forty dollars' worth of goods consigned to myself,
+on a credit of ninety days, and took his note, payable in gold dust, at
+two hundred and fifty dollars per pound, or Spanish dollars, at my
+option. Mr. Montaudevert told me if I returned there in the Allen next
+voyage he would ship on board of her on freight, thirty thousand
+dollars' worth of dust. This may show the reader that gold dust has been
+gathered in that region for many years; and if that country was as well
+searched as California is at this day, no doubt many beds of that
+valuable ore might be found. I remained in Chagres eight or ten days,
+selling goods from the vessel at retail at good prices. Having four
+hogsheads of rum and brandy on board, which I found was a contraband
+article in that government, I entered them at the custom house for
+exportation, and afterwards sold them to an American captain, who agreed
+to meet me a few miles at sea, out of the jurisdiction of that
+government, where I delivered them and received my pay.</p>
+
+<p>The river Chagres is navigable for small vessels <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>about half a mile
+inside of the bar, which has about eleven feet of water on it at full
+tide. The town contains about fifty huts, called houses, built after the
+model of the Indians. The inhabitants are called Samboes, being a
+mixture of native Indian, Negro, and white blood. They are a very
+indolent, harmless, and inoffensive race; and their customs and manners
+are much like the native Indians.</p>
+
+<p>I got under weigh and proceeded a few miles to sea, when I found the
+vessel lacked ballast, so we ran into Porto Bello and purchased a few
+tons of fustic, which put her in good sailing trim, when we shaped our
+course back towards the Island of St. Andreas, where I took Mr. Henry T.
+Smith, and his return cargo on board, consisting of four hundred pounds
+of tortoise shell, and five or six thousand dollars in gold and silver,
+which he had collected for the owners of the Allen. We soon got under
+weigh and shaped our course for New-York.</p>
+
+<p>As my little schooner was a fast sailor, pilot-boat model, I beat to the
+windward, hoping to get sight of the Island of St. Domingo and sail
+through the windward passage. After a few days we succeeded in obtaining
+sight of that Island and sailed along under the lee of it; keeping a
+bright look-out for suspicious looking vessels. Knowing that my vessel
+had been taken from the pirates, I was fearful that some of the former
+gang who once had possession of her might capture me, when I could not
+expect anything but immediate death.</p>
+
+<p class="figcenter"><img src="images/fig210.jpg" alt="" /><br />Schooner Renegade firing into the Schooner Allen.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p><p>The morning after we got sight of the Island we discovered a suspicious
+looking schooner laying at anchor near the land, about five miles to the
+windward of us, who got under weigh in great haste. I soon perceived
+with my spy glass that her deck was full of men. She bore down towards
+us, we hauled close upon the wind, which brought her into our wake about
+four miles astern of us. Both vessels had their colors flying. Neither
+of us dared to trust the other. Our new neighbor soon after rounded too,
+hauled up his fore-sail, and fired a large shot, which we could plainly
+discover skipping on the surface of the water some distance from us. I
+took the helm myself and kept the vessel close to the wind, fearing my
+seamen would be careless about steering her. The strange schooner
+continued firing at us about every half hour, while we were going fast
+to the windward of him, until about twelve o'clock. In the afternoon the
+wind became light, when we discovered that the strange vessel was
+gaining upon us. The captain afterwards informed me that he had thirty
+sweeps, and most of his men employed in rowing for some hours, being
+determined to overhaul us. We kept on our course until about 3 o'clock,
+when we found ourselves near the land on the Island of Cuba, and the
+suspicious craft gaining fast upon us. We had no alternative but to tack
+ship; soon after, he fired a shot which struck under our bowsprit, and
+wet our fore-sail up to the gaff, this was followed by another that
+grazed our mast-head, and another fell <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span>a few feet under the stern. The
+fourth shot struck the after leach of the main-sail and cut off the bolt
+rope and the after-cloth of the sail, and glancing downwards, struck the
+trunk-deck and entered the cabin, passed through my bed, and then
+followed the ceiling into the hold, cutting away the plank and three
+timbers and landed in a bag of cotton. Although the ball, weighing
+thirty-two pounds, passed through the deck within six feet from where I
+stood at the helm, being much engaged in giving orders to set the
+square-sail, I did not discover that it had passed through the deck
+until some minutes after, when the cook came out of the cabin and told
+me that Mr. Smith was wounded by a splinter striking him on the head. I
+then raised my spy-glass and took a good survey of my antagonist,
+supposing him to be a pirate. On looking at him some time, (all hands on
+board the Allen being greatly agitated,) I discovered a number of red
+coats on her deck, when our grief was turned to joy, being satisfied
+that they were English marines. Soon after she approached within hailing
+distance of us, when I was ordered to hoist out my boat and come on
+board of her. When I got on board I was accosted by the captain with,
+"Did you not see the colors flying on board of my vessel." I answered,
+"Yes, sir, but I do not trust to colors in these piratical days." He
+then said, "You have cost me a great deal of powder and shot this day."
+I answered, by saying, "Never mind, King George is able to pay for it."
+He then asked me if my vessel <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>leaked badly. I told him that I had but
+little time to ascertain how bad she did leak, but knew that she had
+some holes in her. He sent a lieutenant, carpenter, and four men on
+board of the Allen to examine and pump her out, and invited me into the
+cabin to drink with him. I told him I did not drink any ardent spirits;
+he then said, "Damn it, you're a Yankee, and can take a bottle of cider
+with me." After we entered the cabin and were seated, he looked at me
+with a smile, saying, "Curse me if you ain't game, you stand fire well."
+In the mean time he called the gunner to the cabin door, saying,
+"Gunner, how many shot have you fired at this man this day." The gunner
+answered him, "Sixteen thirty-two pound shot, and four long
+twelve-pounders."</p>
+
+<p>He then told me, if I thought it necessary to put into some port for
+repairs, he would recommend Kingston, Jamaica, as the best to sail for;
+and if I had any valuable articles in her, he would take them on board
+of his vessel for safety, and convoy me to that port. I informed him
+that I had over eight thousand dollars in specie, and four hundred
+pounds of tortoise-shell, worth ten dollars per pound. In the mean time,
+the lieutenant arrived from the Allen and reported that he thought she
+could be kept perfectly free from water by having the pump well manned.
+After some consultation together, he agreed to let his carpenter,
+sailing master, and four seamen remain on board the Allen, and he would
+hoist lights and signals, and convoy her to Kingston <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span>for repairs. He
+then gave his name, and a history of himself and the schooner he now
+commanded. He said, "About one year since I obtained a furlough from my
+government, and took charge of a merchant ship bound from Liverpool to
+Jamaica and back to that port. On my passage from Jamaica towards home I
+was captured by the pirates, robbed of eight thousand dollars, and many
+articles, and most cruelly beaten and horribly tortured. The vessel he
+was now in was taken from the pirates by one of his Majesty's ships, and
+carried into Jamaica, condemned, and then fitted out under the name of
+the Renegade, for the purpose of capturing pirates; and that he was
+appointed to the command of her, and was determined to cruise after them
+until he had obtained some satisfaction from them." After this
+conversation ended I went on board my vessel and followed the Renegade,
+who shaped her course for Kingston. Night soon approached, when she
+showed her signal light, which we followed. During the night the light
+winds and smoky weather caused us to lose sight of her until the next
+morning, when we found ourselves near a place called the White Horse,
+about twelve miles from Port Royal, which lies at the entrance of
+Kingston harbor. Our vessels were now laying becalmed a short distance
+from each other. Soon after the sea-breeze arose, both vessels being
+under weigh, near together, we set all our sails and steered for the
+mouth of the harbor, and the Allen arrived there three miles ahead of
+the Renegade. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>This satisfied me that the use of the sweeps on board of
+the Renegade caused the long chase between us, and the loss of his
+Majesty's powder and shot.</p>
+
+<p>On my arrival at Kingston I called on Messrs. O'Hara &amp; Onfloy for
+advice, when we applied to the admiral on that station to allow the
+Allen to be taken into the king's dock-yard for repairs, which he
+refused. We then applied to the collector of the port for leave to take
+out her cargo, in order to heave her bottom out of water and repair it.
+The collector informed us that he could not grant us that leave without
+permission from the governor, who resided at Spanish Town, twelve miles
+from Kingston. We had to employ a competent person to draw the petition,
+who let us know that we must advance him thirty dollars to purchase a
+sheet of stamped paper to write the petition upon. After the article was
+drawn I was obliged to hire a man and furnish him with a horse and
+carriage to convey it to the governor, who granted my request. The only
+favor I had to acknowledge was, the governor's sending me the thirty
+dollars which I paid for the sheet of stamped paper, in consequence of
+the assault being committed by an English-government vessel.</p>
+
+<p>The carpenter hove the schooner's bottom out and repaired her in three
+or four days; but I was detained eight days in obtaining a permit to
+land the cargo for that purpose. The whole of the expenses were about
+two hundred and sixty dollars. During this time I often met Captain
+Fiatt, the commander <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>of the Renegade, at public houses and elsewhere,
+who was a gentleman in all respects. He was profuse in expressing his
+regret that the unfortunate occurrence had happened to my vessel; and
+was still full of his determination to pursue the pirates until he got
+some revenge for the injuries he had received from them. After the
+vessel was repaired I took on board four thousand six hundred dollars
+belonging to my owners, and returned with the Allen to New-York. About
+one year after, I visited Kingston on my way home from the Spanish Main.
+When I inquired after Captain Fiatt, whom I left in the Renegade, an
+English naval officer informed me that while cruising he landed with his
+boat and crew on the Isle of Pines, and was missing for some time, when
+another man-of-war's boat was sent in search of him. When the officer
+and boat's crew landed on the Island they found the bodies of Captain
+Fiatt and his boat's crew strewed on the ground, riddled with balls, and
+the captain so horribly and vulgarly mangled as showed that none but
+fiends could have been guilty of murdering them.</p>
+
+<p>To give the reader some idea of the horrible atrocities committed by the
+pirates at that time, I have thought proper to insert the following
+account, copied from <i>The Evening Post</i> of April 15th, 1822:</p>
+
+<blockquote><p>"<i>Commodore Porter's Squadron.</i></p>
+
+<p>"<i>Piracies.</i>&mdash;The last news that has been received from this
+squadron is contained in the New-York papers extracted from the
+<i>St. Thomas' Times</i> of March 5. On the 4th the squadron got
+under <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span>weigh and put to sea from St. Thomas'. Piracies of an
+enormity that the bare recital of them make the blood run cold,
+are continually taking place. A Dutch Brig was taken in sight
+of Moro Castle, at Havanna. The French Brig La Jeune Henrietta
+was taken on the 17th of March, the captain, passengers, and
+all the crew were most cruelly beaten, and they and the vessel
+robbed. The Schooner Success, from Matanzas, bound to New
+Providence, was captured and converted into an assistant
+pirate, two ladies, passengers, made prisoners, one of whom was
+hanged up till life was almost extinct, in order to make her
+confess where the money on board was secreted. The Dutch Brig
+Minerva was captured and burned. The Brig Columbia, from
+Washington, North Carolina, was captured, robbed of parts of
+her cargo and sails. The Brig Alert, from New Orleans, was
+boarded off the Moro by three boats, the captain and cook
+killed, and one man mortally wounded. A brig has lately arrived
+from the Balize, belonging to Kennebunk, formerly commanded by
+Captain Perkins, she was from Port-au-Prince, via Campeachy,
+where he was boarded by a pirate schooner of about forty tons,
+manned by forty ruffians. 'They stabbed Captain Perkins in a
+cruel manner and cut off one of his arms; he then told them
+where the money was, which amounted to two hundred doubloons;
+after which they cut off his other arm and thigh, placed oakum
+dipped in oil under his body and in his mouth, and set fire to
+it, which soon put an end to his life. The mate had a sword
+thrust through his thigh, and the vessel was robbed of
+everything moveable, such as cables, anchors, charts, books,
+rigging, sails, &amp;c.' It would seem by these accounts, which
+have all come to hand the past week, that our squadron was of
+little or no use in those seas. The true way we think would be
+to put armed crews on board of merchantmen, at sea, after they
+had left the port they sailed from, and in this way the pirates
+could get no intelligence of vessels destined to go against
+them.</p>
+
+<p>"Captain Harding, of the Schooner Aspray, who arrived at Boston
+last Monday, from Havanna, in twelve days, informs that he was
+chased out of the Bay of Matanzas by two piratical boats, and
+running down for Havanna threw off her deck load to get clear
+of a piratical schooner. Brig Alert, of Portsmouth, from New
+Orleans, had just arrived off the Moro with a deck load of
+hogs. She was boarded in the night by two piratical boats, with
+six men each, and Captain Charles Blunt was murdered and thrown
+overboard; <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span>the cook was stabbed, thrown among the hogs and
+partly devoured by them. The crew were maltreated, and the
+vessel plundered. Captain Harding states, that when she sailed
+from Havanna it was hourly expected that orders would be issued
+for the detention of French vessels in port." </p></blockquote>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.<br />
+
+Schooner Frances.</h2>
+
+
+<p>On the sixteenth day of July, 1824, I made a contract with one Captain
+Oliver C. Murray, master of the Schooner Frances, of New-York, to
+proceed with him on a trading voyage to the Musquitto Shore, Chagres,
+Porto Bello, St. Blas, &amp;c. as a pilot and assistant trader.</p>
+
+<p>We took on board an assorted cargo, and sailed from New-York about the
+last of July. After being at sea some three days Captain Murray was
+taken sick, when he called the mate and crew into the cabin and told
+them that he had given up the charge of the schooner to me, that they
+must obey me accordingly. This was unsolicited by me. We then proceeded
+direct to Porto Bello, where we opened a trade with the inhabitants,
+remaining there about three weeks, experiencing heavy showers of rain
+every day we tarried there, it then being the rainy season on that
+coast. We proceeded from that port <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span>to Carthagena, a distance of about
+two hundred and sixty miles, where we were informed by the inhabitants
+that there had not fallen a drop of rain in that place during the last
+ten months.</p>
+
+<p>Carthagena is the strongest fortified city I ever visited, being
+enclosed with a wall some fifteen feet high, which is approached by a
+slope of easy assent. The wall appears to be from fifteen to twenty feet
+thick, having embrasures with heavy cannon mounted on it, about one
+hundred feet from one to another, all around the city, with a good road
+on the top of the wall. On the outside of the wall there is a deep
+trench, where water can be let in five or six feet deep if the city
+should be invaded by an enemy. Vessels bound into the harbor are obliged
+to keep close to the main land, which brings them near a long tier of
+forts. The greatest part of the channel is filled in with large stones,
+which appears to have been the work of ages.</p>
+
+<p>We remained here about two weeks, and were visited by numbers of
+captains of Columbian privateers, most of them Americans, who had
+obtained commissions signed by General Bolivar; they purchased many
+articles from us. Before we got the schooner under weigh we took on
+board three members of the Columbian Congress and their servants. A son
+of one of the congressmen had been educated in Europe, and spoke good
+English. We agreed to convey them to Chagres. They came direct from
+Bogata, the seat of government of this Republic, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span>their congress having
+just adjourned; they were on their way home, across the Isthmus. The
+Columbian Congress had passed a law to raise the duties on imports about
+twelve per cent. We had a large assortment of goods on board, which we
+sold at retail at every port where we landed. On our passage these
+members of congress, who had come direct from the seat of government,
+and assisted to pass laws to raise the revenue and prevent smuggling,
+purchased over three hundred dollars' worth of goods of us on the
+passage, and had them put up in proper packages to pass through the
+custom house as their baggage, so as to defraud the government of the
+duties.</p>
+
+<p>A short time before we arrived at Chagres one of them, who had an
+English negro servant, ordered him to tell Captain Murray that he could
+put some of his goods amongst their baggage if he wanted to smuggle them
+on shore through the custom house, as their baggage was considered
+sacred, and that no custom house officer dare to examine it. Being well
+acquainted with the tricks of these Spanish officers, I prevailed on
+Murray not to trust them, telling him this was only a trick to cheat him
+out of his goods, as I had heard, from good authority, of a number of
+tricks of this kind which had been practised by the collector of Porto
+Bello and other ports on the Main.</p>
+
+<p>We landed our passengers and remained some days at Chagres, where we
+sold some goods and then returned to Porto Bello. We purchased some
+fustic and other articles, and proceeded to the coast of St. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span>Blas,
+touching at a number of small harbors, where we bought fustic in small
+quantities. While laying in the mouth of one of these narrow rivers,
+called Nombre Dios, (name of God,) I found by inquiry that I was only
+about thirty miles from the residence of one of my old traders, named
+Campbell, who had visited New-York with me in the Schooner Price, and
+was there when General Jackson made his first visit to that city. I told
+Captain Murray that I should feel much pleased to visit Campbell, and I
+would willingly assist to paddle a canoe thirty miles to see any honest
+friend. This pleased him much, as he wanted an introduction to the trade
+on that coast. The next morning we fitted out our canoe, by putting a
+dinner-pot, fire-works, and some provisions, and a large jug, containing
+two or three gallons of gin, on board, to treat my Indian friends on my
+arrival among them. We were now well prepared for the trip, having
+plenty to eat and drink. If the winds or weather detained us on the
+passage we could go on shore, haul up our canoe, build a fire, cook our
+provision and then lay down on the ground and get a comfortable sleep,
+by keeping a kind of watch amongst ourselves to prevent the fire from
+going out, that being our only protection from tigers, panthers, and
+other wild beasts, who will never approach a fire. They are very
+numerous on this coast. I tried this experiment many years successfully.</p>
+
+<p>We left the schooner early in the morning and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span>proceeded more than one
+half of our journey, when a strong breeze of head wind compelled us to
+go on shore and take up our lodging for the night. The next morning, the
+wind having abated, we got under weigh, and reached Campbell's house
+that afternoon. I was received by my old friend in the most affectionate
+manner. He, knowing that I was very fond of craw-fish, wilkes, &amp;c.
+despatched a number of young men to fish for them, and others to go and
+gather some of their best fruits for us to eat. At the same time the
+most of his neighbors visited his house, many of them bringing fruits,
+sugar-cane, &amp;c. We were treated to the best supper the country afforded,
+and he furnished us with clean hammocks to sleep in. The morning after,
+we made a good breakfast; a large assemblage of Indians met at
+Campbell's house, when he asked me to christen his children, which I
+declined, by saying I had no book with me. I soon discovered that he
+felt dissatisfied with my denial, for he had invited all his neighbors
+there to witness the performance. He earnestly entreated me a second
+time to perform the ceremony. After some further entreaty I yielded to
+his request, which seemed to throw a gleam of joy on all the assembly of
+Indians, whose eyes were steadily fixed upon me. When I got prepared to
+perform the ceremony, I asked Campbell in his usual way of speaking
+English, "What him name." He answered me, saying, "Dat General Jackson."
+I then sprinkled water on his head, laid my hand upon it, and pronounced
+his <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>name with an audible voice; this was the oldest boy. I called for
+the next, when he brought forward a younger lad; when I asked his name,
+the answer was, "Dat must be your name," so I christened him Jacob
+Dunham; then calling for another, he brought me a small girl, when I
+asked concerning the name, he answered me, "Dat must be your wife name,"
+and I christened her Fanny Dunham. The fourth one being called for,
+Captain Murray requested Campbell to have it christened after his wife;
+he agreed to it, as it was a small girl, and I named her Lucretia
+Murray. After the ceremony was ended Captain Murray presented the
+children with fifty cents each. A good dinner was prepared on the
+occasion, which we partook of in the most jovial and friendly manner,
+after which we visited a number of the neighboring houses in company
+with my friend Campbell, where we were received with a hearty welcome,
+and presented with such fruits as the country afforded.</p>
+
+<p>In the morning, while we were preparing to return to the schooner,
+Campbell called me out to a small store house, where he took up the hind
+quarter of a baboon or large monkey, well smoked, and presented it to me
+to eat on our passage back to the schooner. I did not like to wound his
+feelings by refusing his present. On looking into his store room I
+observed a number of large smoked birds about the size of a common
+turkey, which I told him suited my taste much better than monkey, which
+he readily exchanged, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>as the natives consider a fat monkey the best
+meat that the country produces. He supplied us with bread-stuff and
+fruits. We took our departure for the vessel, and arrived on board that
+night.</p>
+
+<p>We continued trading along the coast a few days, when we fell in with an
+old schooner under Columbian colors, but American built, said to belong
+to a man named Varney, who was on board of her, but could not hold her
+papers while sailing under that flag, not being a naturalized citizen of
+that government. It appeared he had employed a black citizen of that
+country to hold her papers, in the capacity of captain, who was then
+laying sick in a canoe on the schooner's deck.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Murray told me he had heard from Carthagena that a government
+schooner was cruising in pursuit of the Frances to capture her for
+trading on this coast without license, that we must take the goods out
+of her and put them on board of Varney's old schooner as speedily as
+possible, and then proceed to sea with her immediately; that I must go
+on board of her and take charge of the goods as supercargo. The goods
+were transferred that afternoon in great haste, without my having time
+to examine the old vessel as I ought to have done. She had a motley crew
+of different nations on board. When I took a view of them, I told Murray
+that I would not trust my life on board of her without he gave me two or
+three of the Frances' crew to go with me, which request he complied
+with, when we hurried to sea, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span>bound to the Island of St. Andreas. After
+we got out a little from the land we tried the pump, and found she
+leaked very badly, but dared not put back, fearing we might be captured.
+So we all agreed to pursue the voyage. We were now compelled to try the
+pump every fifteen minutes during the passage to St. Andreas, which was
+twenty-three days.</p>
+
+<p>Immediately after our arrival in that harbor I took all the goods on
+shore. Two days after, Varney undertook to heave the old schooner out,
+to repair her bottom, when the deck slid off, and she sunk, never to
+rise again. The negro captain died the second day after we went to sea,
+when we committed his body to a watery grave.</p>
+
+<p>Some time after Captain Murray arrived with the Frances in the harbor
+and learned the fate of Varney's old vessel, when he chartered a small
+schooner belonging to St. Andreas to take the remainder of his goods on
+board, and carry them to St. John's, on the Spanish Main. The next day
+they were all put on board of the new schooner. Murray now made up his
+mind to send the Frances back to New-York, and wanted me to take charge
+of her as master, which I refused to do, knowing it to be a broken
+voyage, and if I acted as master of her I could not libel the vessel for
+my wages. I told him he could give the mate charge of the Frances, and
+that I would assist to navigate her back to New-York, which he agreed
+to. He and Varney went on board of the new chartered schooner, and
+proceeding <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span>to St. John's, took out the goods and transported them up
+that river into Nunanger Lake, on a trading voyage. All our arrangements
+being finished, both vessels proceeded to sea, when we shaped our course
+for New-York.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after we got to sea I examined the list of return cargo which
+Murray had left on board the Frances; it consisted mostly of fustic,
+which was selling in New-York at that time at reduced prices, and I
+found that the whole cargo would not pay the charter of the schooner,
+which was two hundred dollars per month, besides victualing, manning and
+port charges.</p>
+
+<p>The Frances proved to be such a dull sailer that we could seldom force
+her more than seven knots per hour, in addition to which her sails and
+rigging had been badly injured by the continued rains on that coast,
+which rendered her unfit for any voyage. We were beating to the
+northward about fourteen days before we made the land, which proved to
+be Cape Antonio, we then steered into the Gulf-stream, which assisted us
+to work our way to the northward and eastward, and were a number of days
+sailing in the Gulf before we reached the latitude of Charleston, where
+we encountered a succession of heavy gales of wind which split our sails
+and carried away the greatest part of our running rigging. Finding our
+water and provisions growing short, we concluded to put into Charleston
+for relief, and the next day the wind proving favorable we steered
+direct for that <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>port, where we anchored in a crippled condition. After
+our arrival there, we wrote to the men whom we supposed were Captain
+Murray's sureties for the charter of the Frances, informing them of our
+misfortune, when they applied to the underwriters for relief. When we
+had waited two or three weeks in Charleston, an agent of the
+underwriters arrived there from New-York, bringing with him rigging and
+sails, when we made some tempory repairs, and then sailed for New-York,
+where we arrived after a passage of two weeks.</p>
+
+<p>After we arrived in port it was discovered that Murray had not over
+twenty dollars when he first undertook the voyage. He was a good looking
+man, and belonged to the Masonic order, could sing a good song, and tell
+a humorous story, and had a peculiar way of gaining the confidence of
+his associates. He had but few personal acquaintances in the city; but
+had obtained security from two or three responsible merchants for the
+charter of the schooner Frances for a voyage of some months, at two
+hundred dollars per month, and they had loaned him money to pay the
+advance wages of the mate and seamen, and supplied him with ship stores,
+besides making large shipments of goods on their own account. He took
+many goods from different people in invoices of from fifty to one
+thousand dollars, agreeing to carry them free from freight, and return
+them one-half of the net profits. Among the shippers was his landlady, a
+poor widow woman, whom he persuaded to make a shipment <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span>of crockery
+amounting to fifty or sixty dollars, who, no doubt expected it would be
+sold at California prices. I have since conversed with many of the
+shippers by the Frances on this voyage, who say that they never received
+any returns for the goods which they shipped on board the schooner, or
+any account of the sales of them. The sureties were compelled to pay the
+seamen's wages and all other expenses. Some years after I learned that
+Murray died in some part of Central America.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.<br />
+
+Voyage to New Orleans.</h2>
+
+
+<p>About the first of December, 1831, I entered into an agreement in
+Philadelphia with a large contractor, who had engaged to open a canal
+from the city of New Orleans to Lake Ponekertrain. He had hired about
+one hundred and fifty men, and chartered a brig to carry them to New
+Orleans. We sailed about the sixth of December, and made our passage out
+in twenty days. The captain of the brig was a young man who was but
+little acquainted with that coast. As he found that I was more
+experienced than himself, he was very civil to me. I gave him
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>information about this dangerous coast. On our arrival at New Orleans
+we were conveyed to some large shantees, built for the accommodation of
+the workmen. I was stationed in the store-room, with orders to weigh out
+the provisions, keep a daily account of the expenditures, and make
+weekly returns to the treasurer. This I found a very disagreeable
+situation, as the men were constantly finding fault with their
+provisions, although they were furnished with good tea, coffee, sugar,
+smoked shoulders, potatoes, salt fish, wheat bread and butter every
+Friday, fresh beef twice in the week, and eight glasses of whiskey per
+day. Notwithstanding this good treatment, we had riots among the men
+every few days, and all deficiency in stores or cooking was laid to my
+charge, and they often threatened my life. There were two other
+encampments on the same canal, one on the lake side, and one in the
+middle station, where they murdered one cook, mortally wounded one
+overseer, and severely injured many others.</p>
+
+<p>A few months after they grew so riotous that the City Guards had to be
+called out to suppress them, when they were discharged by the company,
+and I was released from my contract. After they had spent all their
+wages they returned to their work and were very orderly. This canal is
+only six and a half miles long, and eight feet deep, but has added
+greatly to the wealth of the city. There was an old canal, formed mostly
+by nature, running nearly parallel <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>with this new one, having about five
+feet depth of water in it, but it was often so much out of repair as to
+make it difficult to navigate, and as it did not answer the desired
+purpose, the new one was made. I obtained employment in a little
+schooner, which ran between New Orleans and Covington, through the old
+canal, crossing the lake and ascending a small river called Chepunkee,
+navigable some twenty-two miles. We sailed into the mouth of it about
+three miles, and then took in our sails and towed her the remaining
+distance to the little village called Covington. The river is so narrow
+in many places that vessels have scant room to pass by each other; a
+slight current sets down the river the whole time.</p>
+
+<p>At Covington I found a number of steam sawmills, and abundance of sawed
+timber and boards, a few hotels, boarding houses, stores, and a printing
+office and several dwelling houses. This place is considered a healthy
+resort in the sickly season. Many small vessels find employment here in
+transporting lumber, brick, and cotton. We soon took in a cargo of
+lumber and returned to New Orleans, where we discharged it; when I
+entered on board of another schooner and made a trip to Mobile, which I
+found a very handsome city. The houses are built in modern style, the
+place has in it a number of large elegant hotels and stores, and many
+handsome streets. I was much annoyed with musquittoes while we remained
+in port, but soon left for New Orleans, where we landed after a passage
+of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span>two days. In a short time I started for another trip across the
+lake. On my return I was taken sick. Finding that my small means would
+not support me long at a boarding house, and also pay the doctor's
+bills, I applied to the collector of the port, who gave me an order to
+go to the Marine Hospital, supposing I had a just claim to go there
+after paying hospital money to support such institutions over thirty
+years. During my stay in the hospital I found it was a private
+institution; that the collector and the keeper of it were kinsmen, and
+that the collector paid the keeper seventy-five cents per day for the
+board of every seaman he sent there. The daily rations allowed each man
+were about eight or ten ounces of bread, and five or six ounces of fresh
+meat, with the accompaniment of a small bowl of tea. The whole would not
+cost per day over twelve cents per man.</p>
+
+<p>A number of seamen remain here a long time after they are restored to
+health, without receiving a discharge from the doctor, who is making
+fifty cents per day, or more, for their board. These men leave the
+hospital in the morning in pursuit of work, which they generally find,
+purchase their dinners at eating houses, and return to the hospital at
+night, where they receive their small rations and lodgings, the keeper
+pocketing his seventy-five cents per day from government during their
+stay here. They are left to decide for themselves when it is best to be
+well. In consequence of this, many of the sick in the hospital are
+crowded out of comfortable lodgings.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span></p><p>It will easily be seen that the greatest part of the tax collected from
+the hard earnings of seamen is used to enrich political favorites. I
+remained in this establishment about sixty days, during that time the
+yellow fever raged there violently, causing a number of deaths in the
+house. Many patients were brought there who were unable to walk or stand
+on their feet, and were most of them soon cured.</p>
+
+<p>After I left the hospital I found some light employment for a few days,
+when I agreed to take another trip across the lake. Previous to my going
+on board of the vessel I returned to the hospital, where I had left some
+of my clothing, took with me such as I wanted, and left some of my heavy
+articles in charge of a sailor named Daniel Dunn, with whom I had formed
+a short acquaintance in the hospital, and proceeded over the lake, where
+we remained a few days, and then returned to the city. On my return I
+found the cholera had broken out and was raging to such an alarming
+degree that the inhabitants were terror-struck. The returns of deaths
+were over two hundred per day. Laborers wages for digging in the church
+burying ground was seven dollars per day. Not being able to procure
+laborers sufficient to dig single graves, they dug canals about one
+hundred rods in length, of sufficient depth to place three coffins one
+above the other, the water in the bottom of it being about eighteen
+inches deep. All graves dug in New Orleans are half filled with water
+before the coffins are deposited in them.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p><p>The morning after my return I proceeded to the hospital to see after my
+clothing. On visiting the building I was much surprised on walking
+through many of the rooms without seeing a living soul. In the back yard
+I found eight or ten dead bodies laying on the ground in a putrid state.
+I then searched the upper stories, and in a room called the small-pox
+ward, I found one dead body laying on a bed covered with a woollen
+blanket, in a very putrid state, the offensive gas rising through the
+blanket like a dense fog. Some few were still alive, but suffering for
+want of attendance. On descending the stairs I met the assistant
+physician of the hospital, and asked him the cause of this great neglect
+of the few who were still living. He told me that Doctor M'Farlane, the
+proprietor, was very sick, and that the cook, steward, washer woman, and
+the black man who conveyed the corpses to the grave, were all dead, and
+that they could not procure any assistance. He asked me if I would try
+to hire some help for him. I told him that I would use my best exertions
+to procure him some, but if I could not obtain any I would assist him
+myself. I then left him and returned to my lodgings. Just before I left
+my boarding house to visit the hospital I heard one of the boarders, a
+journeyman hatter, who had been on a drunken frolic for some days, say
+that he had spent all his money and had not enough left to get his
+bitters that morning. Knowing that the want of money in such
+circumstances stimulate men to undertake unpleasant jobs sooner <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span>than go
+without their bitters, I proposed his going to work with me at the
+hospital, and rendering the doctor all the assistance in our power,
+which he readily agreed to. When we arrived at the place I introduced
+the doctor to the hatter. After the introduction was over my partner
+showed a great anxiety to fix on the price of our day's work, which was
+soon settled at five dollars each. The bargain being closed we were
+presented with some antidote, which we were ordered to snuff up our
+noses.</p>
+
+<p>About this time three or four carts arrived at the door, when we were
+requested to assist in carrying out the few sick persons that remained
+in the building, which we found to be only sixteen, being all that were
+left alive out of about sixty inmates that I left there some ten days
+before.</p>
+
+<p>The doctor showed us a number of rough boxes, called coffins, which were
+placed in the back yard. Many of them were made very wide, that they
+might hold two dead bodies. He requested us to harness up a poor old
+half-starved horse, which we found on the premises. After a long search
+we found the old harness scattered about the yard, which we gathered up,
+both of us being ignorant of the way of putting it together. After a
+long consultation we placed it on the horse's back, which was so sore
+that he trembled badly during the operation. After we had rigged him and
+the cart, we agreed to take on one of the double coffins for the first
+load. We opened one of them and placed a large body in it, and then
+hunted for a small <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span>one to crowd into the same box; when we had
+accomplished this we attempted to lift the double coffin on to the cart;
+finding that we were not able to accomplish it we were obliged to roll
+it on. I asked the hatter if he would drive the horse to the grave-yard,
+telling him I was unacquainted with that employment. He told me he was a
+stranger to that business, and insisted upon it that I must be the
+driver. I mounted the cart and proceeded towards the burying ground, on
+the road we found the mud so deep that the cart wheels buried themselves
+nearly up to the hubs. After driving nearly a mile we arrived at the
+Catholic burying ground, where we found a long canal and twenty or
+thirty men employed in digging and receiving dead bodies. Before our
+arrival there, a board burst off from the coffin, which caused one arm
+to hang out. The Irish laborers employed there commenced a quarrel with
+us, swearing that they would be the death of us if we brought any more
+coffins there in that situation, and we found some difficulty in
+prevailing upon them to receive the present one. They at last agreed to
+help lift it off the cart. It was then placed in the canal, where the
+water was about two feet deep, two men stood upon it until they put
+another coffin on the top of it, when they placed the third one on the
+top of the second one, making the tier three deep, laying the coffins
+crossways in the canal. When one tier was finished they hove large
+quantities of lime upon it and commenced another.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span></p><p>We now returned to the hospital and took in two more bodies, enclosing
+them in single coffins. This time we found a number of chickens busily
+employed in the hospital yard picking maggots out of the eyes and ears
+of the putrid bodies laying on the ground in the yard. The hatter and
+myself had a long consultation about handling the putrid carcases, and
+agreed between ourselves to pick out the soundest of them first. We
+noticed some cartmen drawing a number of loads of wood and depositing
+them on a vacant lot of ground near the hospital. A report was
+circulated that the Mayor of the city had ordered the building to be
+burned down that night. We proceeded back to the grave-yard, where we
+met with a more peaceable reception. On our return we found the fowls
+still busily engaged on the dead bodies, which had become more putrid
+during our short absence. This was one of the most unpleasant scenes I
+ever witnessed. We stopped on our way and took some refreshments, and
+then conveyed two more loads to the burying ground, carrying two at each
+load.</p>
+
+<p>About sunset we unharnessed our old horse and put him in his place.
+Having satisfied our employer we took our discharge. We agreed between
+ourselves to stop at the hospital a short time and see what disposal was
+to be made of the remaining dead bodies. Soon after sunset some eight or
+ten men made their appearance and took up an old door and bored one or
+two holes through it, and putting a rope through <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span>the holes, rolled two
+of the putrid bodies upon it, and then took hold of the rope and dragged
+it to a vacant lot near the hospital, which process they continued until
+they had gathered them all into one heap, when they went to the various
+rooms and took all the beds and bedsteads containing the dead bodies,
+and carried them into the same yard and deposited them on the putrid
+heap; they next broke down the fence to more readily kindle the fire on
+this offensive mass, when they piled on the three cords of wood which
+the Mayor had sent there for that purpose, set it on fire, and consumed
+the whole of it.</p>
+
+<p>On viewing the place, while passing it the next morning, I could not
+discover a particle of bone larger than a man's finger-nail left.</p>
+
+<p>The Cholera raged in New Orleans to a frightful degree for some months
+after; the average number of deaths in the city was two hundred per day
+for several weeks.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after this I made a trip in a little schooner to St. Marks, and a
+small port called Magnolia, in West Florida, and then returned to the
+city, where I remained about two months, when I found employment as a
+mate on board of a brig called the Commodore Barry, bound to New-York,
+where I was to receive my wages and be discharged. We performed our
+passage home without meeting with any occurrence worth recording.</p>
+
+<p>New Orleans is one of the most immoral cities I ever visited. All kinds
+of amusement are indulged <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span>in on Sundays: most of the military
+companies, both foot and horse, are assembled on that day in a public
+square in front of the Mayor's office and drilled. The Sabbath is the
+day elected for sham fights. The piazzas of the largest hotels are
+filled with bands of musicians, playing enchanting tunes to attract
+customers. The doors of billiard rooms are thrown open to public view,
+and large sums of money are often bet on the games. Strolling negro
+musicians are found playing on their banjoes and tamborines at the
+corners of the streets. On Sunday evenings, circuses, play-houses and
+gambling rooms, attract a large collection of people.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.<br />
+
+Schooner Horizon.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Having lost all my property except a small homestead, by the many
+captures I had experienced, the perils of the sea, and the fluctuations
+of prices in the West India produce, and being now out of employment,
+and looking upon every man as slothful who remained idle when he could
+earn a competence by working for less wages then he formerly received, I
+agreed with a young inexperienced captain to perform <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span>a voyage with him
+in a small schooner of seventy tons, called the Horizon, from New-York
+to the Island of Teneriffe. My name was entered on the shipping articles
+as mate, although it was verbally understood that I was to be considered
+as the navigator and sailing master.</p>
+
+<p>We commenced loading about the first of January, 1835, with staves and a
+few other articles, and went to sea about the eighth, the vessel being
+deeply loaded, which made her wet and uncomfortable for a winter's
+voyage. We proceeded on the passage without any material accident until
+we arrived in the latitude of Teneriffe, when we were overtaken by a
+violent gale of wind, which lasted nearly two days; we shipped a number
+of seas, which cleared our decks of staves, carried away our bulwarks,
+broke our bowsprit, and sprung the head of our fore-mast; rendering the
+schooner totally unmanageable. The next day the wind abated, and the sea
+became more moderate, when we made all the repairs that our scant
+materials would admit of, and in the afternoon discovered the high Peak
+of Teneriffe. Finding our water running low, having had our last cask
+stove during the gale, we agreed to come upon an allowance of one bottle
+of water for each man per day. The weather became mild, with light
+variable winds, which rendered the vessel quite unmanageable, as we had
+no head sail to keep her before the wind in light breezes. With longing
+eyes we viewed the majestic pyramid for fourteen days, the wind
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span>remaining the same during all that time, when we approached so near the
+harbor of Oratava that we were boarded by a pilot who conducted us into
+that port. Our schooner's cables being only about forty fathoms long,
+would not reach the bottom in that harbor, and we were obliged to hire a
+cable and anchor to ride by during our stay in port.</p>
+
+<p>While lying here it is necessary to keep a pilot constantly on board,
+that we may be ready to proceed to sea the moment the wind changes so as
+to blow towards the land. After we had remained in the harbor some four
+or five days, and procured carpenters to repair our vessel, a gale of
+wind commenced, and we were compelled to slip our cable and go to sea
+again, where we remained about two days, when we put into the Island of
+Palmos, at which place we continued three or four days. After the gale
+abated we returned to our former anchorage in Oratava harbor.</p>
+
+<p>The harbor of Oratava is surrounded by high rocks, almost perpendicular,
+faced with sharp points, which makes it impossible to ascend them. When
+vessels are wrecked in this place they are very soon dashed to pieces,
+and their crews meet a watery grave. The anchorage is situated about
+twelve miles from the foot of the Peak, where the weather is so mild
+that sailors are working on board vessels with no clothing except shirts
+and trowsers, while the Peak is covered with snow. Our pilot informed me
+that snow fell on the Peak every month in the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>year except March. The
+snow, from the appearance, forms a body of ice, and the brilliant rays
+of the sun at its rising are reflected on this ice-capped mountain with
+such dazzling light that the beholder is struck with awe as he surveys
+this mighty wonder of the world. I had but one opportunity to visit the
+shore, where I remained but a few moments while signing a protest. My
+short stay prevents my giving the reader any description of the place.</p>
+
+<p>We employed two native carpenters to repair the damages the schooner had
+received on the passage, they came on board early every morning,
+bringing their dinners with them, which consisted of a six cent loaf of
+wheat bread, one head of lettuce, and a bottle of wine; this being the
+only food they had. At twelve o'clock they sat down on deck, made their
+meal and drank the wine. They brought on board a few very coarse
+carpenter's tools, among which was a hand-saw that attracted my
+particular attention, as it had a small hole in the point of it, through
+which they put a nail gimblet; when they wanted to split a board they
+lined in the usual manner, then placed one end on the deck and raised
+the other end up to an angle of about forty-five degrees, being
+supported by a saw-bench, when one of them took the saw by the handle in
+the common way, while the other put the gimblet through the hole in the
+point, which he took hold of by placing his fingers on both sides of the
+blade, and assisted in drawing the saw through the board, his comrade
+shoving on the other <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span>end; this was the first time I ever knew that it
+took two men to work one hand-saw.</p>
+
+<p>The expenses of repairs here are very great. I think one American
+carpenter will perform more labor in one day than six of those natives.</p>
+
+<p>We were detained here a long time in discharging our cargo for want of
+lighters, being obliged to land it in small boats, which made but a few
+trips on shore each day, the same boats bringing back our return cargo.
+Our supply of fire wood getting very short we inquired the price of that
+article on shore, and found that they asked twenty dollars per cord for
+it. We purchased a few sacks of coal for the return passage. After
+remaining here some weeks we sailed for New-York, where we shortly
+arrived, all in good health. The cargo was soon discharged, all hands
+paid, and I returned to my home.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.<br />
+
+Sinking of the Sloop First Consul.</h2>
+
+
+<p>About the first of September, 1842, two of my friends in New-York
+purchased a Sloop called the First Consul, about twenty-five tons
+burden, and gave me the charge of her with orders to employ her <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>in any
+trade I thought proper to earn a living in. I remained in the city some
+weeks seeking employment for my vessel, but after many applications for
+freights, without success, I found myself disappointed in my
+calculations in obtaining business for her in the city. As a last
+resort, I determined to proceed up the Hudson River as far as Rondout,
+where I expected to procure some small freights of coal to deliver at
+the neighboring villages on the river.</p>
+
+<p>On the fifteenth of October I left New-York for Rondout, where I
+obtained a freight of about thirty tons of coal to be delivered at
+Poughkeepsie. We loaded and left for our port of destination, where we
+discharged our cargo and agreed to return and take in another for the
+same company. Finding the sloop proved leaky I proceeded home to
+Catskill, where I procured a caulker and gave her some repairs, when we
+returned to Rondout and took on board another cargo of coal. Supposing
+the vessel to be perfectly tight in her upper works after the
+overhauling she had received, we loaded her deep, in order to take a
+full canal boat's cargo on board. After we had proceeded some distance
+on our passage we discovered that the vessel leaked badly. We had light
+baffling winds during the night, and tried the pump hourly. Finding we
+could keep her free without very heavy fatigue, we apprehended no
+serious danger, and soon arrived at the same wharf in Poughkeepsie where
+we had landed our last cargo, and hauled into a small slip which I
+considered a very safe harbor. I <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>had one man on board with me, whom I
+told we would get some breakfast, when we would go below and take a
+short nap, as we had been on deck all night; after which would find the
+owner of the coal and obtain leave to discharge the deck load that day,
+although it was Sunday. We then retired into the cabin and laid down to
+sleep, it being about eight o'clock in the morning. After laying about
+two hours I was aroused by a loud cry, "Come out, come out, you are
+sinking." I sprang upon my feet, determined to save my trunk and
+clothing, which I was prevented from doing by a column of water rushing
+in at the cabin door. I forced myself upon deck, which at this time was
+some feet under water, when I found my legs entangled with old rigging
+and lumber. While trying to extricate them, the shore being steep the
+vessel settled down, which parted the hawser that held her fast to the
+wharf, when she slid off into the channel and sunk in thirty feet water,
+with all my clothing, &amp;c. and I was compelled to swim on shore, which I
+reached in a shivering condition, but was soon furnished with dry
+clothing, and treated in the kindest manner by a gentleman living near
+by.</p>
+
+<p>Two or three days after I hired two vessels, procured spars, chains, and
+necessary apparatus, together with a number of men, and made an attempt
+to raise the First Consul. After several days' hard labor and fatigue we
+succeeded in raising her, so as to float her on the flats, when we
+bailed the water out <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span>and discharged the coal from her hold, the bulk of
+the deck load having been washed overboard. I found most of my clothing,
+books, papers, &amp;c. in the cabin in a very dirty condition. My troubles
+did not end here: before I could receive any assistance from my friends,
+the sloop was attached for the expenses of getting her up, and sold for
+less than the amount of the bills, when I returned home penniless, my
+mind fixed on the distich&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left:20%;">Since all things to destruction tend,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left:20%;">My voyage of life will shortly end.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+
+
+
+<p class="center">
+FINIS.
+</p>
+
+
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<h2><a name="Transcribers_Notes" id="Transcribers_Notes"></a>Transcriber's Notes.</h2>
+
+<p>There are many spelling irregularities and inconsistencies in this book.
+The ones most obviously printing errors have been corrected as noted
+below. Others were left as printed in the text. These include: "ancles"
+and "ankles;" "alledging;" "armadilla;" "attrocities" and "atrocities;"
+"Baratara" is probably "Barataria;" "bed quilt" and bed-quilt;" "Bigman
+Bank" and "Bigman's Bank;" possibly "Boro Toro" and "Boco Toro" are the
+same place; "Bogata" for "Bogota;" "Britanic;" "callipach" for
+"carapace;" "cassader" and "cassauder" for "cassava;" "chissels;"
+(Emperor) "Christoff" and "Christophe," presumably the same person;
+"Lieutenant Coakley" and "Lieutenant Cookley;" "cocoa nuts" and
+"cocoa-nuts;" "cowhides" and "cow-hides;" "errant" for "errand;"
+"equiped;" "facinating;" "favourite" and "favorite;" "fopish;"
+"gratulations;" "Grenada" and "Greneda;" "guana" is possibly "iguana;"
+(Captain) "Humphreys" and "Humphrey", probably the same person;
+"journies;" "Leforet" and "Laforet;" "Lynn Haven" and "Lynhaven;"
+"mattrass" for "mattress;" "Mr. Mores" and "Mr. Morse", on page 134;
+"Musquitto," "Musquito," "Mosquitto" and "Mosquito" (the tribe and
+coast); "musquitto," "mosquito" and "mosquitto" (the insect); "out-fit"
+and "outfit;" "out-sailed" and "outsailed;" "polution;" "Ponekertrain"
+for "Ponchartrain;" "Port au Prince" and "Port-au-Prince;" "practice(s)"
+and "practise(d);" "sailer" and "sailor" for a ship (not a seaman, which
+is always "sailor"); "shantees;" "St. Andrews" and "St. Andreas;"
+"sun-set" and "sunset;" "Captain Teft" and "Captain Tefts;" "temporary"
+and "tempory;" "threshhold;" "too," as in "laying too," "hove too,"
+etc.; "visiters;" "water-mellons;" "wilkes" for "whelks."</p>
+
+<p>Left "Captain's Mitchell and Lafitte" on page 4, although "Captains"
+would have been more grammatical.</p>
+
+<p>Changed period to comma on page 7: "Corn Island,"; and on page 8:
+"Royalists of Port-au-Prince,".</p>
+
+<p>Changed "Schoouer to "Schooner" on page 8: "English Schooner."</p>
+
+<p>Changed "Croswel" to "Croswell" on page 10: "Thomas O'Hara Croswell."</p>
+
+<p>Added comma after "Stonington" on page 14: "Stonington, Connecticut."</p>
+
+<p>Left "the commodores word" on page 22, although "commodore's" would have
+been more grammatical.</p>
+
+<p>Changed "Ramalies" to "Ramillies" in the caption to the figure for page
+26.</p>
+
+<p>Changed "patatoes" to "potatoes" on page 31: "potatoes to be worth."</p>
+
+<p>Changed period to comma on page 37, after "blockading Savannah at the time."</p>
+
+<p>Changed "sailidg ing" to "sailing" on page 37: "After sailing."</p>
+
+<p>Changed "blocakding" to "blockading" on page 39: "an old blockading
+decree."</p>
+
+<p>Changed "fustick" to "fustic" on page 40: "fustic, sarsaparilla, &amp;c."</p>
+
+<p>Changed "he" to "the" on page 50: "made the threat."</p>
+
+<p>Added closing double quote on page 53 after: "and every thing you want."</p>
+
+<p>Changed "ran" to "run" on page 68: "who had run away."</p>
+
+<p>Changed "day-light" to "daylight" on page 69: "until daylight."</p>
+
+<p>Changed "Coloured" to "Colored" in the caption to the figure on page 88.</p>
+
+<p>Left "a weavers spool" as is on page 98, even though "weaver's" would
+have been more grammatical.</p>
+
+<p>Changed "licence" to "license" on page 126: "received the license."</p>
+
+<p>Changed "lea" to "lee" on page 127: "lee of an island."</p>
+
+<p>Changed "feathes" to "feathers" on page 130: "ornamented with feathers."</p>
+
+<p>Changed "traveling" to "travelling" on page 131: "we were travelling."</p>
+
+<p>Left "manatee's" on page 148, even though "manatees" would have been
+more grammatical.</p>
+
+<p>Changed "birth" to "berth" on page 166: "a damned good berth."</p>
+
+<p>Page 187 refers to "Cape Francios" in the Dominican Republic. Although
+this is probably "Cape Francois", it was left as is.</p>
+
+<p>Removed extra single quote before "in addition" on page 200.</p>
+
+<p>Left "your's very truly" on page 204, even though "yours" would have
+been more grammatical.</p>
+
+<p>Changed "anothor" to "another" on page 209: "followed by another."</p>
+
+<p>Changed "throwu" to "thrown" on page 215: "thrown overboard."</p>
+
+<p>Changed "earnesly" to "earnestly" on page 220: "He earnestly entreated."</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Journal of Voyages, by Jacob Dunham
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOURNAL OF VOYAGES ***
+
+***** This file should be named 33835-h.htm or 33835-h.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/8/3/33835/
+
+Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Stephen H. Sentoff and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+(This file was produced from images generously made
+available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+http://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at http://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit http://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
+
+
+</pre>
+
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/33835-h/images/fig001.jpg b/33835-h/images/fig001.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..099bece
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835-h/images/fig001.jpg
diff --git a/33835-h/images/fig026.jpg b/33835-h/images/fig026.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..747f7d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835-h/images/fig026.jpg
diff --git a/33835-h/images/fig048.jpg b/33835-h/images/fig048.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b1a458
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835-h/images/fig048.jpg
diff --git a/33835-h/images/fig061.jpg b/33835-h/images/fig061.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc8ae85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835-h/images/fig061.jpg
diff --git a/33835-h/images/fig062.jpg b/33835-h/images/fig062.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a45f079
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835-h/images/fig062.jpg
diff --git a/33835-h/images/fig083.jpg b/33835-h/images/fig083.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c4b66c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835-h/images/fig083.jpg
diff --git a/33835-h/images/fig113.jpg b/33835-h/images/fig113.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8d7629f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835-h/images/fig113.jpg
diff --git a/33835-h/images/fig123.jpg b/33835-h/images/fig123.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0bd4833
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835-h/images/fig123.jpg
diff --git a/33835-h/images/fig132.jpg b/33835-h/images/fig132.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..296421a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835-h/images/fig132.jpg
diff --git a/33835-h/images/fig153.jpg b/33835-h/images/fig153.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4b5df7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835-h/images/fig153.jpg
diff --git a/33835-h/images/fig177.jpg b/33835-h/images/fig177.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f067c5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835-h/images/fig177.jpg
diff --git a/33835-h/images/fig210.jpg b/33835-h/images/fig210.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5e7db09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835-h/images/fig210.jpg
diff --git a/33835.txt b/33835.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..55571c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,6384 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Journal of Voyages, by Jacob Dunham
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Journal of Voyages
+       Containing an Account of the Author's being Twice Captured
+       by the English and Once by Gibbs the Pirate...
+
+Author: Jacob Dunham
+
+Release Date: October 3, 2010 [EBook #33835]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOURNAL OF VOYAGES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Stephen H. Sentoff and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+(This file was produced from images generously made
+available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: CAPT. JACOB DUNHAM.]
+
+
+
+
+JOURNAL OF VOYAGES:
+
+CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF
+THE AUTHOR'S BEING TWICE CAPTURED BY THE ENGLISH
+AND ONCE BY
+GIBBS THE PIRATE;
+
+HIS NARROW ESCAPE WHEN
+CHASED BY AN ENGLISH WAR SCHOONER;
+
+AS WELL AS HIS BEING
+CAST AWAY AND RESIDING WITH INDIANS.
+
+TO WHICH IS ADDED
+
+Some account of the Soil, Products, Laws and Customs of Chagres,
+the Musquitto Shore, and St. Blas, at the Isthmus of Darien.
+
+With Illustrations.
+
+BY CAPTAIN JACOB DUNHAM.
+
+NEW-YORK:
+
+PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR,
+And Sold by Huestis & Cozans, 104 and 106 Nassau-street.
+
+1850.
+
+
+
+
+Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year of our Lord one
+thousand eight hundred and fifty, by JACOB DUNHAM, in the Clerk's Office
+of the District Court of the Southern District of New-York.
+
+
+  D. Fanshaw, Printer and Stereotyper,
+  35 Ann, corner of Nassau-street.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+                                                                  page.
+
+  AUTHOR'S APOLOGY,                                                   9
+
+  EARLY LIFE OF THE AUTHOR,                                          11
+
+  CHAPTER I.--Sloop Rover
+      Capture by the English--Sale and sinking of the Sloop Rover,   13
+
+  CHAP. II.--Sloop New-York
+      Second capture by the English--Exchange of Prisoners,          30
+
+  CHAP. III.--Sloop Biddle
+      Captain's Mitchell and Lafitte, the Pirates,                   37
+
+  CHAP. IV.
+      Casting away of the Sloop Biddle near Waa-waa River--with
+      some account of the Indians,                                   52
+
+  CHAP. V.
+      Pearl Key Lagoon, and more of the Indians,                     70
+
+  CHAP. VI.
+      Runaway Negroes among the Indians--The Sookerman,              77
+
+  CHAP. VII.--Visit to Corn Island,                                  89
+
+  CHAP. VIII.--Visit to Bluefields
+      Permit of George Frederick, King of the Musquitto Nation,      92
+
+  CHAP. IX.--Mode of Taking Turtle
+      Musquitto Laws--Produce--Customs, &c.                          98
+
+  CHAP. X.
+      Some description of the country and inhabitants of the
+      Musquitto Nation,                                             105
+
+  CHAP. XI.--Sloop Governor Tompkins,                               111
+
+  CHAP. XII.--Schooner Price, First Voyage
+      Leading the dance in Old Providence--A ball at St. Andreas,   115
+
+  CHAP. XIII.--Schooner Price, Second Voyage
+      Landing at St. Blas,                                          120
+
+  CHAP. XIV.
+      The harbor of Little Cordee--Trading with the Indians,        125
+
+  CHAP. XV.--Schooner Price, Third Voyage
+      A fleet of Patriots (or pirates) at Old Providence,           140
+
+  CHAP. XVI.--Schooner Price, Fourth Voyage
+      Our Boats fired into at Corn Island,                          151
+
+  CHAP. XVII.--Schooner Enterprise,                                 160
+
+  CHAP. XVIII.--Schooner Felicity
+      Republicans and Royalists of Port-au-Prince,                  162
+
+  CHAP. XIX.--Schooner Felicity, Second Voyage
+      The smartest Padre (or priest) in the West Indies,            167
+
+  CHAP. XX.--Schooner Combine
+      Captured by the Pirates--Placed in the ring to be
+      shot--Capture of the Aristides by Pirates,                    170
+
+  CHAP. XXI.--Schooner Combine, Second Voyage
+      Our trade in Horses--The Yellow Fever at
+      Port-au-Prince--Counterfeit Coin--Arbitrary Laws,             187
+
+  CHAP. XXII.--Schooner Combine, Third Voyage,                      194
+
+  CHAP. XXIII.
+      Capture of the Piratical Vessels by
+      Lieutenant Commandant Allen,                                  199
+
+  CHAP. XXIV.--Schooner Allen
+      Chased by an English Schooner--Horrible attrocities
+      committed by Pirates on the Spanish Main,                     205
+
+  CHAP. XXV.--Schooner Frances
+      Trading Voyage to Musquitto Shore, Chagres,
+      Porto Bello, &c.--The Author officiates at a christening,     216
+
+  CHAP. XXVI.--Voyage to New Orleans
+      The Hospital--Direful visitation of the
+      Yellow Fever--Disposal of the Dead,                           226
+
+  CHAP. XXVII.--Schooner Horizon
+      Peak of Teneriffe--Queer Carpenter,                           236
+
+  CHAP. XXVIII.--The Sloop First Consul
+      Sinking of the Sloop--and return home penniless,              240
+
+
+
+
+AUTHOR'S APOLOGY.
+
+
+_In presenting the following Voyages to the public, I must inform my
+readers that I have had but a common school education, and am
+unaccustomed to composition. I can only tell my story in a plain
+straight forward way, not being able to ornament it with flowery
+language._
+
+_My Voyages were all written by myself. I employed competent persons to
+copy the work from my manuscript, and they corrected the small
+inaccuracies that had escaped my observation._
+
+_I thought, that although my book might contain many defects, if
+composed by myself, that it would still gain more than it lost, by being
+the production of the very person who had seen and taken part in the
+scenes he related, and could vouch for the truth of all he had
+witnessed. It is not given to the public as a specimen of the beautiful
+in style, but as the story of an old sea captain who had lived in one of
+the most eventful periods of our country's history; and one who had
+nearly arrived at his last anchorage._
+
+_With this brief outline of my life, and this short explanation, I
+commit my little book, with confidence, to an indulgent public._
+
+                                        _Jacob Dunham._
+
+
+
+
+RECOMMENDATIONS.
+
+
+Captain Jacob Dunham, having applied to the Congress of the United
+States, for relief, on account of losses sustained by him by piratical
+robbery, We, the undersigned, do hereby certify that we are well
+acquainted with the said Jacob Dunham, have known him for many years
+past, that he is a man of truth and veracity, and that his statements
+are entitled to full faith and credit:
+
+  Thomas O'Hara Croswell,
+      Post-Master, Catskill.
+  Abel Bruce, M. D.
+  Robert Dorlon, Esq.
+  Orrin Day,
+      President of Tanner's Bank, Catskill.
+  Hon. Malebone Watson,
+      Judge of Supreme Court, New-York.
+  Hon. John Adams.
+  Caleb Day, Esq.
+  J. D. Beers,
+      President of Bank of North America, New-York.
+  Jacob Haight,
+      Treasurer of State of New-York.
+  Hon. Zadock Pratt.
+  T. K. Cooke,
+      Member of New-York Assembly.
+  James Powers,
+      State Senator.
+  Calvin Balis,
+      Alderman of New-York City.
+  W. P. Hallett,
+      Clerk of the Supreme Court of State of New-York.
+  Edwin Croswell,
+      State Printer, Albany, New-York.
+
+_Catskill, New-York, December 30, 1839_
+
+
+
+
+EARLY LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.
+
+
+On the twenty-seventh day of April, 1779, in the town of Colchester, in
+the State of Connecticut, I was launched into the world, and entered on
+the tempestuous voyage of life.
+
+While yet an infant at the breast, FATE snatched me from my mother's
+arms, viewed me with a scornful eye, and exclaimed, "I doom this babe _a
+slave to hardships, dangers, and disappointments_."
+
+The following pages will show how far the prophecy has been fulfilled.
+My father, Samuel Dunham, was a Warrant Officer in the American Navy
+during the Revolutionary War, and followed the sea during almost his
+whole life-time. Whether the occupation of my father before me has had
+anything to do in shaping my course in life, the author is not wise
+enough to say, but leaves it to those who make greater pretensions than
+himself.
+
+In the year 1785, the Author emigrated, along with his father, to where
+the village of Catskill now stands. The whole village contained but
+seven houses, and was cut up into cultivated fields and gardens. My
+father having bought half an acre of ground situated about where the
+Greene County Hotel now stands, built himself a small house. After
+living in Catskill about one year, my uncle sent for me to come to
+Connecticut and live with him, which I did. I returned to Catskill in
+the Spring of 1793, and then went as an apprentice to the Messrs. Thomas
+O'H. & Mackay Croswell, Printers, who then published a small newspaper
+called _The Catskill Packet_. I lived with the Croswell's about six
+years and a half, where I was well treated. Having a great desire to see
+some of the world, I went to Charleston, South Carolina, where I found
+employment in a Printing Office for a few months. During that winter I
+witnessed a large funeral procession in that city in commemoration of
+the death of General Washington. In the Spring of 1800, I returned to
+Catskill, and found some employment in the coasting trade, on the Hudson
+River. During the summer and the winter following, I made three voyages
+to Charleston and Savannah, and then returned to Catskill and worked at
+the Printing business about two years. I then made one voyage to the
+Island of St. Croix as a seaman. During this time I was married, in
+Catskill, in August, 1801, to a young woman named Fanny Morgan. I then
+found employment in the coasting trade in different vessels for one or
+two years, when I entered the employment of Messrs. T. B. & A. Cooke, as
+one-fourth owner of a packet sloop which sailed between Catskill and
+New-York, where we did a good business for many years. Not being content
+in doing well and making money in a moderate way, and a war breaking out
+between England and America, I determined to try my luck again on the
+Ocean; picturing to myself a rapid increase of the little property I had
+gained by hard and slow earnings.
+
+From the time I left this safe business to embark on the Ocean, my
+adventures predicted by dame Fate, commenced. Since that time I have
+been rudely driven by winds and storms, captured by enemies, robbed by
+pirates, and have made many hair-breadth escapes both by sea and land,
+until the present time. I have now brought my poor old sheer hulk to
+anchor in the harbor of Catskill.
+
+Not having much to occupy my mind, I frequently take a survey of my past
+life, which has been checkered with many frightful scenes.
+
+Being strongly urged by many old friends, for several years past, to
+publish some account of my unfortunate adventures, I have reluctantly
+yielded to their request. In so doing, I must crave the indulgence of my
+readers.
+
+
+
+
+CAPTAIN DUNHAM'S
+NINETEEN VOYAGES.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+  "The sailor ploughs the raging main,
+  "In hopes a competence to gain,
+  "And when his toil and danger's o'er,
+  "Safe anchors on his native shore."
+
+Sloop Rover.
+
+
+About the middle of May, in the year 1813, having a great desire to
+engage in some adventure; and hoping that fortune would smile upon my
+undertakings, I purchased of Messrs. Coddington & Thorp, of New-York,
+one quarter of an old Sloop called the Rover; for which I paid one
+hundred and twenty-five dollars. Messrs. Coddington & Thorp, and Captain
+Silus S. Vail, were owners of the other three-quarters.
+
+The Rover was an old condemned sea vessel, having old thin sails, two
+deck beams broken, without top-mast, and a large piece of leather two
+feet square nailed over a rotten plank in her bottom.
+
+As this was during the last war between the United States and England,
+the port of New-York and our whole north-eastern coast was closely
+blockaded by English shipping. It therefore became necessary for our
+citizens to transport large quantities of flour and other commodities
+from Baltimore and adjoining towns, to New-York by land; and from thence
+to be conveyed to the Eastern markets. The expense of transporting flour
+and other heavy articles by land, caused speculators and traders to seek
+shipments by water to Eastern ports. Freights of course were high, and
+but little attention paid by merchants to the crafts they chartered. A
+number of old vessels were offered for freight, the Rover rating No. 1
+among them. The carrying business being well up, and much in that line
+offering, I embraced a proposal of one dollar per barrel for
+transporting 500 barrels of flour and 70 barrels of bread from New-York
+to Providence, Rhode Island.
+
+I sailed from New-York about the 20th of May, intending to run through
+the most exposed places in the night, watching the movements of the
+blockading vessels closely, and when I got into a good harbor I intended
+to remain there until another dark night.
+
+In heavy gales of wind the blockading ships generally put to sea for
+their own safety; which gave me an opportunity to make my passage
+unmolested.
+
+I arrived, after a passage of forty-eight hours, at Stonington,
+Connecticut, without discovering any of the vessels of the enemy. I
+found a number of vessels had taken shelter in that harbor to avoid an
+English frigate which was cruising between Block Island and Newport. I
+remained at Stonington a few days, when a dark night appearing, I again
+made sail, and arrived at Providence, my port of destination, in safety.
+We landed our cargo, and Mr. Thorp, one of the owners, who had
+accompanied me for that purpose, was left to dispose of it.
+
+Two or three days after unloading my vessel, I again sailed for
+New-York. We anchored at the mouth of Newport harbor for the purpose of
+awaiting an opportunity of returning when the blockading frigate should
+stand out to sea. I had to wait but a few days; as soon as I saw she was
+far enough from the port I made sail, and by keeping near the shore,
+arrived at Stonington without molestation from the enemy. Here I learned
+that New London, a port between me and my destination, was closely
+blockaded by a British fleet consisting of two 74 gun ships and two
+frigates. There were ten or twelve sail of coasting vessels then lying
+in the harbor at Stonington, most of which had been East with cargoes,
+and were waiting for dark nights or other favorable opportunities to
+pass the blockading squadron. I remained here eight or ten days. During
+this time the inhabitants of the town were much alarmed, fearing the
+enemy would send in armed boats to cut out our vessels, and by that
+means annoy the inhabitants and fire the town.
+
+To show our patriotism and courage, a meeting was called of the officers
+and crews of all the vessels in the harbor. We volunteered our services
+to stand night watches, and do all in our power in case an attack should
+be made. Our means of defence were scanty; a few fowling guns being the
+only weapons we had on board our vessels.
+
+Some of the inhabitants finally procured for us an old ship gun, which
+we loaded with powder, but could not procure balls to fit it. We at
+length found one which we imagined we could force into the gun. After a
+long time, with a sledge and crowbar, we succeeded in driving it within
+six or eight inches of the cartridge.
+
+The captains drew lots for the first watch, which fell upon me. I took
+charge of the watch until 12 o'clock that night, and was much pleased
+that we were not annoyed by the enemy, as I concluded that the firing of
+our own gun would make more havoc among us than all the enemy could
+bring against us. At the close of my watch I learned that two Sag-harbor
+vessels were getting under weigh, intending to pass through Plum Gut,
+which would conduct them some distance from where the enemy lay at
+anchor. As it was a dark night, and not being myself a good pilot
+through that passage, I concluded to follow them. The wind being light,
+they outsailed my vessel until I lost sight of them. About break of day
+it was so calm that I could not pass the fleet or get back to
+Stonington. I soon discovered a barge in pursuit of me, but there was no
+way of escape. The boat had on board a lieutenant, a midshipman, and
+twelve armed men. They left a prize master and two men to take charge of
+my sloop, and then proceeded to capture another small vessel at that
+time in sight. They soon overhauled her; but as she had nothing of value
+on board, having only some household furniture, and women and children,
+they let her pass. Three of the British vessels after firing a number of
+guns toward the shore proceeded to sea, while my vessel was taken within
+a small distance of the commodore's ship, which remained at anchor.
+
+And here, as I deem it will not be altogether uninteresting to my
+readers, I will make a slight digression, in giving a brief description
+of the personal history of Commodore Hardy; for such was the name of the
+officer who had command of the fleet which had captured us. Although
+some Americans are under the impression that nothing good can come from
+British officers, which idea in many instances has been justified; yet,
+with regard to Sir Thomas Hardy, it might truly be said, that he was
+"One of Nature's noblemen;" for such his conduct to myself and crew
+fully showed him to be. He appeared to be a man about forty-five years
+of age, about six feet in height, elegantly formed, and possessing a
+benign expression of countenance, scarcely to be expected from one who
+had been following, from his youth, a sea-faring life, and had been
+engaged in some of the most bloody naval battles on record. When a poor
+boy he was taken on board the English fleet by Lord Nelson, continued
+with him during his various engagements, and became Nelson's principal
+fighting commander. At the battle of Trafalgar the admiral died in his
+arms.
+
+On a signal being made we were ordered on board the commodore's ship. My
+vessel being old and shabby, I thought it best to keep on my working
+clothes to show my apparent poverty, which would excite some sympathy,
+but I had a good suit of clothes in my chest. When I got on board I
+found I was in his majesty's ship Ramillies, Sir T. W. Hardy, commander.
+I cast my eyes about in as awkward a manner as I could; the officers
+gathered round to have a little sport with a poor Yankee. They commenced
+their conversation by asking me if I were ever on board of a
+seventy-four before; I answered in the negative. The captain of marines
+then, taking hold of my striped cotton pantaloons, asked me if we made
+such fine cloth as that in our country. I told him a little, just to
+cover our nakedness during the war. Soon after a message came for me to
+go aft to see the commodore. I thought I would show myself very
+submissive by taking off my hat and putting it under my arm. The first
+salutation I had from him was, "Put on your hat, sir. Did you know that
+we were lying here." "Yes, sir," was my reply. He said, "How dare you
+venture out." I answered that I had been lying at Stonington a number of
+days, waiting for a dark night to get past him. He then told me he must
+burn my vessel and send me to Halifax. I told him if the sentence was
+irrevocable, I had nothing to offer. I then left him and went forward
+and sat down on a gun in a pensive manner. He soon accosted me by asking
+me to go and get some breakfast, saying, "If I keep you I will not
+starve you to death." I thanked him, but told him I had taken breakfast
+before I left his prize. I kept my seat on the gun for a long time,
+until I excited the attention of the sailors, one of whom accosted me by
+saying, "Captain, don't look so sorrowful, our captain is a damned
+clever fellow; I guess he will give up your old serving mallet," as he
+called my sloop. "Yes," said another, "I would willingly give up my
+share, for it will not be enough to make more than a glass of grog
+apiece." The officers made themselves merry by passing many jokes with
+me, supposing they had a green Yankee to sport with. In the afternoon
+the commodore said, pointing towards my vessel, "That is a fine large
+sloop of yours; can't you give me fifteen hundred dollars for her; I am
+going to send two officers on board to prize her." I told him that was
+three times more than she was worth, and five times more than I was
+worth; that she was an old condemned vessel; that he could not send her
+to Halifax or Bermuda. I told him I thought if I could get on shore I
+could raise one hundred dollars, and perhaps that would be a
+compensation for the trouble he had in capturing her; that I presumed he
+would make a target of her to fire at if he retained her. He then left
+me: about half-an-hour after he called me into his cabin and said that
+he wanted to raise a little money to distribute among his crew; that he
+had not enough to allow one dollar apiece to them. Said he, "I want to
+use your old sloop for about three days. If you think you can raise one
+hundred dollars by going on shore, you can take your boat and go; and if
+you return in three days with the money, you shall have your sloop
+restored to you."
+
+My two men immediately hauled the boat alongside ready for embarking. I
+bid the commodore good-by, and was going over the ship's side, when he
+called me back, saying, "I must parole you before you go!" "Just as you
+please," said I. "He said he was only doing me a favor, for then my own
+countrymen could neither draft nor impress me after I landed." I then
+took my boat and proceeded to Stonington, and arrived there that
+evening. I found most of the vessels that I left there before my
+departure. The captains assembled around me, eager to learn the news. I
+related my story and the bargain I had made with the commodore. Some
+thought I had made a good bargain, while others thought me foolish;
+saying, that if I returned on board he would keep my hundred dollars and
+send me to Halifax as a prisoner. The next day I negotiated with a
+merchant of that place for a loan of eighty dollars, by giving a draft
+on my friend in New-York for eighty-six dollars, and pledging my watch,
+quadrant, charts, &c. and a note I held against a merchant in New-York
+of one hundred dollars, as a security for the payment of the draft.
+This, with thirty dollars in bills, which I had in my pocket, was more
+than sufficient to ransom my vessel.
+
+I returned to the Ramillies that afternoon. The boatswain, a grave
+looking old gentleman, very hospitably took me by the hand and asked me
+to go and live with him. He conducted me down two or three pair of
+stairs into his own room, which I found well furnished, but had no other
+light than a lamp, as his room was below the water. He told one of his
+boys to make a clean cot for me to sleep in, and to wait on me if I
+wanted anything. He treated me with some old rum he said he had kept on
+board for three or four years. He lamented much that England and America
+were at war with each other; that he never could realize us as
+prisoners, because we both spoke the same language and sprung from one
+nation.
+
+The next morning I rose early, put on my best suit of clothes and went
+on deck. I saw the first lieutenant on the starboard side of the deck
+with his hands in his breeches pockets, walking very gracefully to and
+fro. To amuse myself I put my hands in my pockets, and commenced walking
+the opposite side of the deck in the same manner. He immediately stopped
+and looked at me with some surprise, exclaiming, "Is that you? Damn it,
+you have better clothes than I have. When we captured and brought you on
+board you had on an old short jacket and cotton trowsers, and looked so
+pitiful that most of the crew offered to give up their share of your old
+shallop if the commodore would let you go. But I give you credit for it.
+You have Yankeed us better than any one we have taken yet." I looked
+about to see my old vessel which I left at anchor about half a mile from
+the ship, but she was missing. He asked me if I was looking for my old
+sloop. I told him I was. He said that I would never see her again. I
+told him I was not alarmed about it, for I had the commodores word for
+it. He said he would be damned if I ever got her again. I told him the
+commodore had promised me to give her up in three days, and if he did
+not keep his word I would take my boat, land at New London, and get a
+warrant for him. He was pleased with the joke and soon after called his
+brother officers around him, who took me into a room and treated me with
+wine, segars, &c. They were very polite to me during my stay on board.
+
+New London appeared from the deck of the ship to be four or five miles
+distant. Fishing boats came every day from the town and fished within a
+mile, without interruption. On their return they were often hailed from
+the ship to come on board, and the officers and crew purchased what fish
+they wanted, and paid a liberal price. I could see from the deck, with
+the spy glass, colors flying, and troops marching and re-marching in the
+city of New London. Above the city were the frigates United States and
+Macedonia, and the sloop-of-war Wasp, at anchor. During my stay of four
+or five days on board, the commodore would every afternoon send for me
+to come into his cabin, for the purpose of having some humorous
+conversation, which caused the time to pass very agreeably. The
+remainder of my time was passed among the officers, some of whom had
+relatives living in the city of New-York, with whom I had formerly
+traded. We became familiar, and they insisted on taking my name and
+number of my boarding house, saying, that when they took the city of
+New-York they would come and take a bottle of wine with me. I told them
+if ever they saw me in the city of New-York after they had captured it,
+it would be without a head.
+
+The day before my departure from the ship, finding the commodore in good
+humor, I told him that I was a poor man and had a large family to
+support with my old sloop, that flour was worth only seven dollars per
+barrel in New-York, and was worth fourteen dollars in Boston, and that
+it would do him no harm to give me a passport to carry a cargo to Boston
+or neighboring ports. He paused for awhile, and then with a smile said,
+"You look like a pretty clever fellow, and if you go to New-York and
+take in a cargo, and come back here before I leave this station, which
+will be in about three weeks, I will then give you a passport. But if
+you attempt to run by me in the night, I shall make a prize of you."
+The next day my old sloop returned to the Ramillies with a quantity of
+beef on board. I made some complaint to the first lieutenant that the
+sailors had eaten up all my provisions and lost my lead-line, and
+hand-saw, &c. He remunerated me by giving me five times the value of
+what I had lost. I paid the commodore the ransom money, received their
+best wishes for a prosperous voyage, and departed.
+
+On my arrival in New-York I was much interrogated to know why I had not
+obtained a license from Commodore Hardy; to which I gave evasive
+answers. Congress having about this time passed some stringent laws
+requiring our vessels of war to overhaul and search all vessels bound
+to, or coming from an enemy's ship, I thought best to keep my own
+secrets. An acquaintance of mine called on me and asked me if I thought
+it safe to take a cargo to Boston or some of the Eastern ports. I told
+him if I were able to purchase one, I would try it. He told me to call
+on him in a short time, as he thought he could procure a freight for me.
+He soon obtained five hundred barrels of flour, and seventy barrels of
+bread, at one dollar per barrel for freightage, and three per cent
+commission for selling. I was to remit the proceeds by mail, or pay it
+to their correspondents in Boston.
+
+About the 20th of June I sailed from New-York and arrived within about
+five miles of the Ramillies, where I anchored. At daylight I found a
+barge coming towards us. My seamen were frightened, and attempted to
+make their escape to the shore, a distance of two miles; by threats and
+persuasion I prevented them. Soon after the barge came alongside. The
+commanding officer asked me what cargo I had on board, and sundry other
+questions. He then said, "You must be crazy. It was only last week we
+had you prisoner, when we pitied you so much that we volunteered to give
+up our shares in your old sloop if the commodore would let you go." I
+told him I thought the commodore would let me pass. He replied, "You
+need not expect any favor from him, as he has sworn vengeance against
+all Americans. Yesterday morning we discovered a schooner lying at
+anchor near where you now are. I was ordered to go and capture her. I
+proceeded towards her, and saw the crew take her boat and pull for the
+shore; when I boarded her I found no person on board. In the cabin I
+found a manifest of her cargo, and in the list, some naval stores which
+we wanted for the ship's use. We got the schooner under weigh, beat her
+up within half a mile of the ship and came to anchor. Mr. Collingwood,
+our second lieutenant, whom you well know, was sent to relieve me, and I
+went to report to the commodore. The hatches were taken off and the
+tackle hooked on to a barrel of naval stores, when the schooner blew up.
+There were fourteen men on board, and all were killed except three
+seamen who were furling the fore-topsail. Those three were thrown some
+twenty rods, when the fore-mast was blown out of her. You cannot expect
+any favors of the commodore." Before leaving New-York I learned that
+some persons who had been captured by the commodore, ascertained, while
+on board, that he was in want of naval stores; as soon as the news got
+abroad, some merchants purchased by subscription an old schooner, and
+placed thirty casks of powder in her hold. Some machinery was attached
+to the powder by a string, which was also fastened to a barrel of naval
+stores, and when it was raised had caused the explosion, as related by
+the lieutenant.
+
+[Illustration: Blowing up of the old Schooner near the Ramillies.]
+
+My sloop was soon brought and anchored within half a mile of the ship. I
+was taken on board the ship and conducted to the commodore, who spoke to
+me in a pleasant manner. "Well, sir," said he, "I see you have arrived
+here again. What does your cargo consist of? Where are you bound?" I
+told him my cargo was flour, and that I was bound to Boston and some of
+the neighboring ports. He gave me a passport to protect me from capture
+by the English ships, and told me I could proceed on my voyage. I then
+steered for Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where I sold some of my flour at
+sixteen dollars per barrel. Finding the market dull, I proceeded to
+Newburyport, where I found an abundant supply. From thence I proceeded
+to Boston, where I sold the remainder of my flour at auction, at
+fourteen dollars per barrel.
+
+After my flour was disposed of I purchased a cargo of boards to carry
+to Providence, Rhode Island. I loaded the sloop, intending to be ready
+to sail in the morning, but the tide receding during the night, the
+Rover was left aground at the Long Wharf. When I awoke in the morning I
+found my vessel had fallen over on her side, and had five feet of water
+in her hold. I procured a caulker, who, with myself and crew, went into
+the mud and water and commenced stopping the leaks, while the water was
+running out from her bottom from almost every seam. We caulked the
+largest with table knives, wooden wedges, &c. We then took four pounds
+of candles and a quantity of wood ashes and made a kind of putty, with
+which we stopped the remainder. In the mean time my two seamen were
+arrested for stealing and sent to jail. I hired a number of men and
+bailed and pumped out the water. I then shipped a new crew and proceeded
+to Providence. On my arrival there I was cordially greeted by the
+inhabitants, and disposed of my cargo very advantageously. In
+consequence of my good fortune a number of Quaker, and other persons,
+who were strangers to me, urged me to take charge of a good brig;
+supposing that I could protect their property. I declined taking another
+vessel, as my passport would not protect me with any other than the one
+I had. I, however, did not state to them the reason.
+
+The rage for shipping in the Rover was so great that I could get about
+five times more for freightage than I could in time of peace. I took on
+board 31 pipes of brandy, 20 hogsheads of sugar, and 100 ceroons of
+tallow, and sailed for New-York. When I arrived at Hell Gate and was
+attempting to pass it, the wind being light, the sloop drifted upon the
+rock called the Hog's-back, and the tide falling, her bottom was left
+half out of water. At about 11 o'clock at night I made out to remove her
+off from the rocks, having four feet of water in her hold. She drifted
+back out of the Gate, when I succeeded in hauling her on shore and made
+her fast to the rocks. As it was dark and rainy, we could not tell at
+the time where we were. On groping my way into the cabin I found the
+water six inches deep on the cabin floor. I then lay down with clothes
+wet through to my skin. At daylight I found the Rover, the tide having
+left her, some rods high and dry upon the rocks, and the water running
+from most of her seams. I called all hands and went to caulking with
+table knives, &c. We then applied a few pounds of putty and ashes to the
+seams. At high water she again floated. After hiring four negroes to go
+with us to New-York to assist in pumping and bailing, we proceeded on
+our course.
+
+When we got to the city we hauled her into Coenties Slip, where the
+bottom is soft and muddy. The mud having filled up her seams in a few
+hours, she ceased leaking, and passed for a tight craft. I notified my
+consignees of our arrival and then landed the cargo. Five hogsheads of
+sugar were damaged in consequence of the leaking of my vessel. The
+consignees paid me for all the freight, and threw the loss of the
+damaged sugar upon the underwriters in Providence, who insured a
+considerable amount in the cargo.
+
+As I had now been some time absent from my family, who resided in
+Catskill, I concluded to make them a visit. I agreed with my partners in
+the sloop to sell her at auction during my absence. The Rover was
+visited by multitudes of people, who pronounced her the most lucky
+vessel in the harbor. Many of them, I suppose, thought her to be a
+phantom ship. For myself, I felt well satisfied, as I had over two
+hundred dollars per month during the three months I sailed her, on a
+capital of one hundred and twenty-five dollars.
+
+The fame of the Rover was so great that she sold for $480. The purchaser
+took her up the Sound to Long Island, and laid her on shore at high
+water. He then loaded her with wood by driving alongside at low water.
+But when the tide rose he found her sides broken in and her hold filled
+with water. My hand trembles while I write of the untimely end of the
+charming sloop Rover.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+Sloop New-York.
+
+
+About the first of November, 1813, having added a little to my small
+capital by my late adventure in the Rover, and feeling eager to add
+more, again trusting to the smiles of fickle fortune, I purchased a
+small sloop called the New-York, of 28 tons burden. Soon after I sold
+one-fourth of her to Messrs. T. B. & A. Cook, merchants in Catskill, and
+one-half of her to two merchants in the city of New-York. They
+considered it a kind of lottery adventure. One of the new owners in
+New-York had correspondents in Norfolk, Virginia, who informed us of the
+high prices of Northern produce in that city, and the situation of the
+English squadron in Lynhaven Bay, and advised us to procure a small
+vessel of light draught of water, and that by sailing in over a shoal
+called the Horse-shoe, in a dark night, we might avoid coming in contact
+with the enemy's fleet.
+
+The American coast was closely blockaded by the English vessels, but
+heavy gales of wind frequently drove them off the coast for a short
+time, which offered some chance of making passages by keeping near the
+land.
+
+The high prices of Northern produce in Southern markets held out great
+inducements to shippers to engage in exporting it. Our correspondents
+at Norfolk, stated potatoes to be worth one dollar and fifty cents per
+bushel; onions, sixteen dollars per hundred ropes; salt, two dollars and
+fifty cents per bushel, and cheese twenty-five dollars per cwt.
+
+We loaded the sloop with four hundred bushels potatoes, two hundred
+bushels salt, three thousand four hundred and fifty ropes onions, and
+eight thousand six hundred pounds of cheese; all shipped on the joint
+account of the owners.
+
+I was to purchase and sell the cargo, and when I arrived at Norfolk was
+to buy three or four old brigs or schooners, load them with coal, and
+when a favorable opportunity occurred by the enemy being driven to sea
+by the wind, send them to New-York. Vessels could be purchased in
+Norfolk at that time for one-third of their real value in time of peace;
+and the price of coal in New-York was three or four times as much as in
+Norfolk.
+
+My wages, as master, was one hundred dollars per month, and I drew
+one-fourth of the profits of the whole concern.
+
+On the 14th of November I sailed from New-York and proceeded to Sandy
+Hook, where I discovered an English frigate close in with the land, in
+chase of an American schooner, which she compelled to run ashore near
+Shrewsbury. I sailed into Mosquitto Cove, and took shelter among some
+thirty American gun-boats, the crews of which went as volunteers to
+protect the wreck of the schooner from being plundered by the English
+frigate, which they accomplished.
+
+After tarrying two days at Mosquitto Cove, we weighed anchor and
+proceeded to sea, keeping as near the land as we could without being in
+danger of running aground, until we were some distance south of Cape
+Henlopen, when a violent gale of south-east wind commenced, and with our
+utmost exertions we succeeded in running into the bay.
+
+Here I ascertained that my pilot, whom I had taken much pains to obtain,
+and who at the time I employed him had informed me he was well
+acquainted with that coast, had deceived me; he now for the first time
+informed me that he knew nothing of the different shoals and inlets on
+the Southern coast. I had now no alternative but to run by chance and
+keep a sharp look out for breakers. My little sloop was literally buried
+under water. The gale kept increasing until near night, when she struck
+upon a shoal. She thumped terribly, and almost every sea was breaking
+entirely over us when a seaman exclaimed, "She is bilged, a plank has
+come up from her bottom." On examination we found it was the shoe of her
+keel. We tried the pump and found we could keep her free of water by
+pretty hard labor. Soon after, she thumped over the shoal into nine feet
+water, where she did not strike so often, and remained there until dawn.
+At daylight we cast out the anchors and succeeded in getting her into
+three or four fathoms water.
+
+We then commenced repairing damages in the best manner we could. Her
+false keel had been broken and had swung across her main keel, which we
+could not repair. We then made sail for Chesapeake Bay and arrived that
+day about sun-set, without any material mishap.
+
+Soon after, a light easterly wind sprung up, and we made sail for
+Norfolk. After entering the bay the wind slackened. About 11 o'clock in
+the evening it became a dead calm, with a thick fog: a strong tide set
+in, which prevented my going out to sea again. Soon after midnight we
+heard the cry, "Past 2 o'clock, and all's well," which I afterwards
+ascertained proceeded from His Britanic Majesty's ship Dragon, 74 guns,
+commanded by Commodore Barry, lying at anchor in the bay.
+
+We continued drifting into the bay until about sunrise, when a light
+breeze sprung up and dispersed the fog, and we found ourselves drifting
+directly towards an English 20 gun brig called the Sophia, and the Acton
+of 16 guns, both lying at anchor within a mile of us. We were soon
+boarded from the Sophia, and we and our baggage taken on board of her.
+The brigs then got under weigh and proceeded up the bay, taking my sloop
+in tow, and anchored at the mouth of the river Severn.
+
+During the next night they fitted out an expedition of four or five
+boats, and sent them up the river to cut out two or three of our vessels
+which were lying in the harbor, but they soon returned without
+accomplishing their design, having only obtained a quantity of plunder.
+They told me the inhabitants gave them a warm reception, by firing from
+behind trees and fences, and caused them to abandon the vessels. They
+weighed anchor the next morning, and after cruising about the bay, again
+took their station near Watt's Island. Here they made their rendezvous
+for some time; the officers occasionally going on shore, some days
+cruising about, and returning to the usual anchorage at night. They
+procured an abundance of cattle, sheep and poultry from the Island, and
+in about nine or ten days captured eight old schooners loaded with
+flour, from the Rappahannock, and bound to the Eastern markets. They
+sailed from there and anchored in Lynn Haven Bay, where we were sent on
+board the commodore's ship Dragon. I found twelve American captains
+prisoners on board the commodore's ship, who had been captured by the
+Squadron. The prizes which they had taken were small old vessels, some
+of which they stripped of their rigging and sails and set on fire; some
+parted their cables in a gale of wind and drifted to sea, my vessel
+among them. But my sloop, the New-York, and one or two others were
+afterwards towed back by the frigate and sent to Bermuda.
+
+The American captains were quartered with the petty officers, such as
+midshipmen, captain's clerks, &c. and were treated with gin, segars, &c.
+and passed their time very jovially in telling stories, bragging of our
+naval engagements, &c. I must here tell a story related to me by one of
+the officers of the Dragon.
+
+He said the Americans ought to be damned if they did not make an admiral
+of one Captain Turner, who commanded a Baltimore schooner. He said that
+while they were blockading the coast of France they captured him and his
+schooner; they put a prize-master and crew on board, and the crew of the
+schooner were put on board the Squadron, except Captain Turner and the
+cook, who remained on the schooner, which was ordered to sail for
+England. The next day Turner succeeded in getting the prize-master and
+crew drunk, killed the prize-master and part of the crew, and confined
+the remainder. He then returned to France with his vessel, shipped a new
+crew, and put to sea again. One morning they discovered from the
+Squadron, a schooner in company with two frigates, being between the
+schooner and the land. The Dragon steered directly for the schooner,
+while the frigates steered in different directions, to prevent the
+schooner from going back again into port. The Dragon by setting all her
+light sails was fast coming up with her, and commenced firing her bow
+guns, to which the schooner paid no attention. They soon came within
+musket-shot and fired a number of volleys which riddled the schooner's
+sails. The captain of the Dragon then gave orders to cease firing, as he
+considered it cold-blooded murder. On coming within a few rods of the
+schooner they saw but one man on board, and standing at the wheel. When
+within a short distance he suddenly put down her helm, which brought her
+broad side across the ship's bow, intending that the ship should run
+over her. But the ship's helm was immediately put up, which caused her
+to strike the schooner near the bow and brought her alongside of the
+ship. They then hailed, "What schooner is that?" To which the man at the
+helm replied, "The Prize, Captain Turner, the very man you are looking
+for." On boarding the schooner, they found the crew all below, except
+the captain, who said he did not wish to expose his crew to their fire.
+He said the excitement was great on board the ship: that all the
+officers signed a petition to mitigate Turner's punishment.
+
+While we were lying in Lynn Haven Bay, the Dragon had captured a small
+vessel, put on board of her a cannonade or short nine-pounder, a
+quantity of small arms, and called her the "Snap Dragon." They sent her
+out in pursuit of plunder and slaves, about one hundred and fifty of
+whom were captured as runaways from their masters. But on one of the
+expeditions of the Snap Dragon, she was captured by the Americans,
+having thirty men on board, and the prisoners sent to Baltimore. Soon
+after an exchange was agreed upon by which the prisoners of the Snap
+Dragon were exchanged for the Americans on board the ship. When the crew
+of the Snap Dragon were brought on board the ship we were all
+discharged, which caused no little rejoicing among us. We then returned
+to Baltimore, took leave of each other and made our way to our
+respective homes.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+Sloop Biddle.
+
+
+Soon after my unfortunate adventure in the New-York, I took command of a
+schooner called the Caty Ann, and made a voyage to Savannah and back to
+New-York, without capture. Although Sir James Yeo, in the South Hampton
+frigate, was closely blockading Savannah at the time, I made a second
+attempt to proceed to the same port. After sailing a few miles south of
+Sandy Hook light-house we were chased back by an English frigate, and
+the schooner narrowly escaped being captured. The whole coast was so
+closely blockaded that I abandoned going to sea again until after peace
+was proclaimed.
+
+About the first of May, 1813, I took charge of the brig Cyrus, of
+New-York, and made one voyage to Georgetown, South Carolina, and back,
+and then made another to Bermuda and Turk's Island.
+
+Ever ready to sacrifice my personal comfort for the prospect of
+increasing the means of gaining an honest living--being in the prime of
+life and enjoying good health, and that huge monster, Fear, seldom
+throwing his dark shadow across my path--I engaged again to open a
+trade with the Indians on the Musquito Shore, on the borders of South
+America, now called New Greneda, or Central America. This country
+formerly belonged to the government of Spain, which still tried to
+exercise authority over it, although rebellions had broken out both in
+the North and South of it; and, the then called government of Columbia,
+under General Bolivar, aided by a number of Americans and others, with
+vessels commissioned as privateers, and land forces, made a strong
+resistance to the Spanish government. They fought many desperate battles
+with the royalists, under what was then called the Patriot, or Columbian
+flag. Carthagena, their largest sea-port, was taken and re-taken three
+several times, and every man in it put to death.
+
+The king of the Musquito Indians claims the sea-coast of that country
+from the False Cape, lat. 15 deg. 14' N. to Port Boro Toro, lat. 9 deg. 29' N.
+The government of Old Spain likewise claimed it, but never had been able
+to dispossess the Indians. The sea-board of this country is very level,
+interspersed with lakes, rivers and creeks. From May until November the
+country is visited with heavy showers of rain. In many places I have
+from time to time walked in water some inches deep to go from one house
+to another. The Indian towns are mostly built some distance up the
+rivers or creeks, to secure them from any attacks from the sea-board.
+They have no roads inland, their whole travel being in canoes, by which
+means they can visit the different tribes, hauling them across narrow
+necks of land that separate one lake or river from another.
+
+The Spanish government, under an old blockading decree had declared that
+any person found trading with these Indians, if captured, should lose
+his cargo by confiscation, and be sent to the mines for life. The
+government of Spain likewise claimed three small islands near the
+Musquito Shore, viz: Old Providence, lying in lat. 13 deg. 27' N. long. 80 deg.
+39' W. This island I found inhabited by about thirty families of free
+people of different nations and colors, and from five to thirty slaves
+to every free person in the island. St. Andreas, lying in lat. 12 deg. 33'
+N. long. 81 deg. W. It contains about seventy-five families of free people,
+and about eight hundred slaves; it was lately the residence of a Spanish
+Governor named Gonzales. This place had a small fort, garrisoned with
+about thirty soldiers. I shall hereafter give the reader a further
+description of the island, related to me by Captain Mitchell, commonly
+called Mitchell the Pirate.[A] Great Corn Island lays in lat. 12 deg. 19'
+N. long. 82 deg. 11' W. about forty miles from the main land. Little Corn
+Island, lying about ten miles from the great one, is inhabited, and
+produces large quantities of cocoa nuts and wild fruits.
+
+     [A] The only account I have ever read of Mitchell is, that he
+     was a partner with Lafitte, the Pirate, when they took
+     possession of Baratara, where they carried their prizes. They
+     kept possession of the place for some considerable time,
+     bidding defiance to the authorities on that coast. Governor
+     Claibourne, of Louisiana, afterwards issued a proclamation,
+     offering these pirates a free pardon on condition that they
+     would join the army then under command of General Jackson, for
+     the defence of New Orleans. They accepted of the Governor's
+     terms, repaired to that place with all their men, and put
+     themselves under the command of the General, who placed them in
+     the hottest part of the battle, where they fought in the most
+     gallant manner. Lafitte and Mitchell both held commissions
+     under the government of the Republic of Columbia at this time.
+
+The staple produce of the above named island is cotton. The soil is
+fertile and produces plantains, yams, sweet potatoes, and Tropical
+fruits in abundance. The inhabitants raise plenty of hogs and poultry,
+which they fatten on cocoa nuts, the oil from which, while fresh, is
+equal to lard for cooking fish, &c. and after it becomes rancid burns
+well in lamps.
+
+About the first of January, 1816, I made a contract with the Messrs.
+Cotheal & Hoff and Mr. A. S. Hallett, merchants of New-York, to take
+charge of a small sloop called the Biddle, of thirty-two tons burthen. I
+was to proceed to Musquito Shore, land at the island of Old Providence,
+(if I saw no suspicious looking vessels in the harbor;) and open a trade
+with the Indians for the purchase of tortoise shell, which was very
+valuable at this time; these Indians furnish large quantities of that
+article. I likewise had orders to exchange my goods for hides,
+deer-skins, cochineal, gum elastic or India rubber, gum copal, cotton,
+fustic, sarsaparilla, &c.
+
+I took on board an assorted cargo, calculated for a barter trade. As I
+was totally unacquainted with the trade, this voyage was considered an
+experimental trip. On my arrival the inhabitants informed me that they
+had not seen the American flag flying there for the last fourteen years.
+
+I could not procure any correct charts of that coast. I found many
+shoals that never had made their appearance on any chart, so little had
+these seas been surveyed. I suppose young mariners have less difficulty
+in that respect now, as Queen Victoria has become god-mother to the
+young king of Musquito Shore, and taken him under her parental care, to
+assist him in robbing his neighbors' territories.
+
+I will here give the reader a short description of the country, the
+undertaking, and some account of the disasters which befell me in the
+prosecution of the voyage. Having loaded my little sloop, (about the
+size of a clam boat,) I soon shipped a crew, which consisted of a North
+River captain, who had never been out of the sight of land, to act as my
+mate; and two old broken-down sailors, one acting as seaman and the
+other as cook. We sailed about the first of February, with a fair wind,
+and made our passage in twenty-two days to the Island of Old Providence,
+where we hoisted our flag for a pilot. I soon discovered a fishing
+canoe, having one white man and three or four negroes on board, who
+volunteered to pilot us into the harbor. I inquired of the white man,
+whose name was John Taylor, one of the largest planters in the island,
+for a Mr. Hoy, to whom I had a letter of introduction. Mr. Taylor
+replied that Mr. Hoy was dead, that he was his father-in-law. He took
+the letter, promised me friendly assistance, and piloted my vessel into
+the harbor. The inhabitants soon came on board and commenced a brisk
+trade with me. Previous to leaving New-York, I was advised not to enter
+the harbor of Old Providence if I saw any vessel looking like a
+privateer or man-of-war in sight of the place. In the afternoon I kept a
+good look out with my spy-glass, until near sun-set, when I discovered a
+schooner beating up under the lee of the island. I immediately applied
+to my new friend, Taylor, to pilot me out of the harbor, promising him
+to return again in a few days, which he utterly refused. He told me that
+the vessel in sight was a privateer belonging to Captain Mitchell, who
+commanded her--that Captain M. kept his (Taylor's) daughter as a wife,
+and that Mitchell was a clever fellow and would not molest me. As the
+channel of the harbor was narrow and difficult to pass through, I
+decided to remain at anchor rather than run the risk of getting the
+vessel on shore, considering it was best to keep quiet and trust to
+fortune. I felt somewhat agitated as the privateer approached the land,
+it being a dark night.
+
+About 12 o'clock she anchored a short distance from us, when I was
+hailed from her, asking, "What sloop is that, and from whence come you?"
+I answered, "Sloop Biddle, from New-York." In a few moments a boat came
+alongside with the captain and eight men, all armed. I showed the
+captain my papers, and assured him my cargo was _bona fide_ American
+property. He answered me, saying, "We shall see more about that
+to-morrow morning." He then left me and returned to his own vessel. Soon
+after I heard the report of a large cannon from the privateer, which was
+mounted on a circle, filled with chain and grape-shot, and pointed
+towards the shore, where it cut a decent road through the small trees.
+The next morning Captain Mitchell told me the gun was loaded full to the
+muzzle, and that when he loaded it he intended to fire into my vessel
+without hailing her, supposing she was Spanish, to whom he showed no
+quarter. On a second reflection he thought it best to hail the sloop
+before he fired. He said, "Had I fired into you, I should have cut your
+vessel all in pieces." He discharged the gun toward the shore as a
+signal to send a horse to convey him to Mr. John Taylor's, whom he
+called his father-in-law, as he kept his daughter Sarah as a wife.
+
+Mitchell appeared to have full control over the island, and no one dare
+question his authority. He had made this place his rendezvous for some
+time past, bought all the provisions they could spare, both from masters
+and slaves, and paid them liberally, having plenty of money on board,
+and, like most seamen, was lavish in its expenditure. He had lately
+escaped from Carthagena, and brought a few half-starved passengers from
+that city. In running past one of their forts, a cannon ball had struck
+the schooner's fore-mast and cut it half off.
+
+One of the passengers informed me that Carthagena was so closely
+besieged by the royalists at that time, that cowhides were sold at
+twelve dollars apiece, for food, and that he was obliged to pay three
+dollars for a pilot-biscuit, to prevent starvation. Some time after, I
+learned that the city was taken and all the inhabitants put to death.
+
+The next morning after my arrival I was visited by Captain Mitchell,
+John Taylor, and most of the inhabitants of the island, who were much
+pleased to see an American vessel in the harbor, saying it was the only
+one that they had seen there in many years past. I was invited on shore
+to dine at Mr. Taylor's, in company with Captain Mitchell, where a good
+dinner was provided for us, consisting of roast pig, poultry, &c. My
+plate was plentifully supplied by Captain Mitchell. On looking over the
+table I did not discover any bread. Soon after a plate of roasted
+plantains was set before me. I took one, not knowing how to use it, this
+being the first I had ever seen of this kind of food. I soon found it to
+be the common bread of the country. We were politely waited upon, having
+a negro boy, from ten to fourteen years old, without one rag of clothing
+about him, standing behind the chair of each person at table, with a
+bush in his hand to keep the flies from annoying the company. The
+following day I was invited to dine on board Captain Mitchell's vessel.
+His boat was sent for me at the proper hour, and I was politely
+received on board and soon after conducted to the table, which was
+elegantly furnished with silver platters, plates, knives, forks, spoons,
+pitchers, tumblers, &c. and with the exception of knife-blades, every
+other article on the table was pure silver. He showed me many valuable
+diamonds, and large quantities of old gold and silver; and the least
+valuable article I saw on board his vessel was the schooner's ballast,
+which consisted of brass cannon.
+
+I opened a good trade with the inhabitants, selling goods at retail,
+from one to three hundred per cent profit. In ten days I sold over
+eighteen hundred dollars' worth; about one-half was received in money,
+and the remainder in cotton. I took part of the cotton on board, and the
+balance was to be paid on my return to that port.
+
+Captain Mitchell visited me daily, and told me some of his adventures.
+He said that a few months previous he had captured a small trading
+schooner, armed her for a privateer, and appointed one Captain Rose to
+the command of her, who was then on a cruise. A short time before, Rose
+had been with him in Old Providence. "While laying here," said he, "I
+made up my mind to sail for New-York, and there sell my vessel and cargo
+and retire to private life, thinking my means would support me. One
+morning, while contemplating my future enjoyments when I got well
+settled in New-York, I thought it would much disturb my mind to think
+that old Gonzales should boast that he had frightened Mitchell, who
+dared not attack him. He had sent me many saucy messages, by trading
+vessels, saying, I dare not come to St. Andreas, to annoy him, as I had
+the inhabitants of Providence, who were afraid to resist me. These
+reflections so affected my mind that I immediately ordered my boat
+manned and went on board of Rose's vessel. I told Rose that we would
+never leave these seas until we had made an attack on St. Andreas, and
+that he must prepare himself to join me on the morrow. The next day we
+made the necessary preparation and sailed for that island, a distance of
+about sixty miles, where we arrived early in the evening, ran into the
+harbor and came to anchor. All hands on board, being only forty-six,
+including officers and seamen, had volunteered to make an attack on the
+island. We all landed, about 11 o'clock at night, except one man in each
+vessel. Being well acquainted with the local situation of the island, I
+proceeded to the plantation of Mrs. Lever, and captured her
+negro-driver, whose name was Frank, and told him to conduct me secretly
+to his young master William, if he did not I would kill him instantly.
+Frank soon led me to William's house, where we found him in bed. We
+seized him without making any alarm, and told him that death was his
+portion if he did not go with us without making any noise and strictly
+obey my orders. I had often heard of the boastings this young Lever had
+made of what he would do if he could catch Mitchell, and thought the
+present a good opportunity to retaliate upon him. I then told him he
+must conduct me to the house of Governor Gonzales without making any
+alarm, call the governor from his bed and tell him that Captain Mitchell
+was near the island with two privateers; that you imagine the island in
+great danger, and think it necessary to prepare for immediate defence.
+
+"We marched directly to the house, where we found the governor in bed. I
+kept my men still, not allowing a loud word to be spoken. Lever obeyed
+my orders punctually, calling the old man out of bed by telling him his
+alarming tale. As soon as the old man opened the door I took hold of him
+and conveyed him on board of my vessel. We landed a six-pound brass
+cannon during the night, unroofed the governor's house, and mounted the
+gun on the second floor of the building. I sent a party to the fort, who
+put to death a few soldiers they found sleeping there. A number having
+taken lodgings with their families prevented their sharing the same
+fate.
+
+"I took possession of the governor's house for my head quarters, where I
+issued a proclamation, addressed to the inhabitants, inviting them to
+surrender their arms, and by complying with the request, all private
+property should be respected. About ten o'clock the next morning I
+discovered a collection of about sixty men with two nine-pound carriage
+guns, on their way to my head quarters. Immediately beating up for
+volunteers, sixteen men agreed to follow me. On marching towards the
+enemy they abandoned their field-pieces and dispersed in great haste. We
+dismounted the guns and spiked them, burnt the carriages, and returned
+to our head quarters unmolested. Three days after, the inhabitants
+accepted of the proposed terms, and all opposition to my command ceased.
+I took the governor's negroes, money, plate, &c. and repaired on board,
+where I remained some days, treating the old fellow politely at my
+table, feeding him on the best the island produced, furnishing him with
+wine at his dinner, and plenty of Spanish segars. In a few days he
+appeared cheerful, composed, and conversed with me in a familiar manner.
+On the tenth day after his capture I gave him a good dinner, took a
+glass of wine with him, and told him I was going to hang him that
+afternoon. He laughed, supposing it a joke, and that I had no intention
+of harming him. He was sitting in an armed-chair near the cabin door, on
+deck, smoking a segar, when I ordered one of the seamen to reave a
+yard-rope from the fore-yard, bring the end aft and put it round his
+neck. He was soon dragged from the chair to the fore-yard-arm."
+
+[Illustration: Captain Mitchell hanging Governor Gonzales.]
+
+After Captain Mitchell had related his story, I asked him what he did
+with his body; he replied, "I let him hang about an hour, and then cut
+the rope and let the old devil go adrift." I said he should have spared
+his life, he being an old man who could never do him much harm. He
+replied, "I have served him the same as they will serve me when they
+catch me."
+
+Captain Mitchell told me he was now bound to New-York, which he intended
+to make his permanent residence, but he must go by the way of New
+Orleans, as he had fourteen negro slaves he wanted to sell there. I told
+him the laws of the United States strictly forbid the carrying of slaves
+into that country; if he was caught in the act his vessel and cargo
+would be forfeited. He said he was well acquainted with one Sisson, a
+New Orleans pilot, who would smuggle them on shore for him. I cautioned
+him against the attempt, by saying, "Captain Mitchell, be careful that
+those negroes do not sell you before you do them." He has often, since
+the loss of his vessel and cargo, repeated to me the caution I then gave
+him. He made a contract with me to return to Providence, after I had
+been to Musquito Shore and disposed of my cargo, and take Miss Sarah
+Taylor (whom he called his wife) and her servant to New-York, agreeing
+to pay me three hundred and thirty dollars for their passages; saying he
+intended to proceed along the coast of Cuba in search of Spanish
+vessels, and in all probability would have some hard engagements, and
+did not want a woman sniffling about him; and that he would eventually
+meet her in New-York.
+
+Miss Sarah Taylor was educated in Jamaica, and had the appearance of a
+lady of some accomplishments, although she was living as a concubine.
+
+Captain Mitchell was a man of some education, about five feet six inches
+high, dark hair and eyes, and had the appearance of a gentleman; was
+very liberal to unfortunate seamen, and one of the greatest tyrants to
+exercise authority over them that I have ever heard of. He had at that
+time two sailors lying in the stocks near Taylor's house, with their
+ancles two feet above the ground, they lying out of doors on their
+backs, their bodies exposed to the sun for two or three days. He
+informed me that he had captured a prize some time previous, and the
+prize-master and crew had run away with the vessel; that he then took an
+oath to shoot any of the crew if he ever saw them again. A few months
+after, he visited Corn Island, where one of the crew happened to arrive.
+Some of the inhabitants cautioned the man to keep out of his sight. He
+boastingly replied that Mitchell dared not shoot him. Mitchell said he
+hoped the man would not appear in his presence, as he did not want to
+kill him. "But," said he, "one day when I was taking a walk on the
+island he (knowing I had made the threat) presented himself a short
+distance before me, when I took a musket and shot him dead."
+
+Some of the inhabitants informed me that the negro cook belonging on
+board his vessel asked him one day what he should cook for his dinner.
+Mitchell told him to kill a pig which they had on board. The cook did
+not understand his answer, and knowing his ungovernable temper, dared
+not ask him a second time, but built his fire and had his water
+boiling. At twelve o'clock Mitchell asked him what he was cooking for
+dinner, to which the cook replied, "I did not understand what you wanted
+for dinner." Mitchell seized him by the hair of his head with one hand,
+and with a ladle in the other poured the boiling water on him until he
+scalded him to death. One of the sailors told him he thought that was
+hard usage. Mitchell immediately drew a pistol from his belt and shot
+the sailor dead and then threw him overboard.
+
+Captain Mitchell informed me that some years since he was cast away on
+the shore of the Pacific Ocean, and found it necessary to cross over the
+country by land to the Atlantic coast to get home, that he was arrested
+for not having a passport to travel. He was thrown into prison and for
+some misdemeanor was put into the stocks, where he had to lie on his
+back for some months, and while thus confined he had taken an oath that
+he would never die in peace until he had killed one hundred Spaniards
+with his own hands. Some three years after this time I accosted him in a
+humorous manner, by saying, "Mitchell how many have you due now?" He
+replied, "Seventeen, by G--d, Dunham, I have killed eighty-three with my
+own hands."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+After ten days successful trade at Old Providence, I got under weigh and
+proceeded towards Musquito Shore, and in the day-time ran in near the
+land, but could not discover any settlements. I kept beating to the
+northward, keeping as near the shore as safety would admit, with a good
+look-out for houses or canoes. By my observations I found a strong
+current setting to the southward. After beating up three days, we
+discovered a number of Indian houses near the entrance of a bay which
+appeared like a good harbor. From my reckoning I supposed this place to
+be Cape Gracios a Dios, (mercy of God.) I carefully sounded my way into
+the harbor and anchored.
+
+Soon after we anchored, a canoe containing six or eight Indians, having
+a stripe of hair about three inches broad, extending from one ear to the
+other across the top of their heads, which were shaved close to the
+skin, came out to our vessel. They spoke to us in broken English. I
+asked them if this place was called the Cape. They answered "Yes." We
+discovered an English Island flag flying on shore near the largest
+house, and asking them who owned the house where the flag was flying;
+they answered "Admiral Dalby;" looking at me with some surprise, they
+exclaimed, "Don't you know Admiral Dalby?"
+
+Supposing I had to appear before some great chief, whose name sounded
+so loud in my ears, I put on my best go-a-shore suit, to use an old
+sailor phrase, and treating the Indians with rum, &c. went on shore with
+them, and was conducted to the house of Admiral Dalby, whom I found
+dressed in a clean shirt and white pantaloons, a cotton handkerchief
+tied on his head, and an old English Admiral's red vest, with some old
+lace trimmings, having long skirts extending nearly to his knees, and
+without shoes. Seeing his _majestic_ appearance, I approached him with
+all the politeness of a French dancing-master. After the ceremonies were
+ended, he asked me what country I came from, and what articles I wanted
+to purchase. I replied that I came from New-York, in North America, and
+that I belonged to the same continent that he did; that I wanted to
+purchase tortoise-shell, cow-hides, deer-skins, gum elastic, gum copal,
+cochineal, &c. We spent some time in ascertaining the Indian names of
+the gums, &c. before he understood what articles I wanted to purchase.
+He said, "Indian man and American man all one country belongs to, all
+the same as brothers, me right king's officer, all white men must help
+um; me good man, have good head, savy good? this place all me belong to.
+To-morrow I send plenty men to fetch you skins, gums, and every thing
+you want."
+
+After all our arrangements were completed, it being the first time I
+ever had the honor of negotiating with an _admiral_, I invited him to go
+on board my vessel and drink tea with me; which invitation he readily
+accepted. On our arrival on board, my little table was soon placed on
+deck under an awning. The cook supplied us with the best our little
+sloop afforded; the _admiral_ was seated at the head of the table, and
+waited on in the politest manner. After he had finished his tea, he
+drank a few glasses of rum and returned to his home.
+
+When the cook set his table the next morning, he missed his tea spoons.
+Diligent search was made for them, but they could not be found. We
+charged the poor old cook with throwing them overboard in shaking out
+his crumbs of the table-cloth, which he strongly denied. The spoons cost
+about two or three cents apiece. The next day I called at the admiral's
+house, where I saw his children playing with my spoons. On inquiring I
+found the admiral had carried them on shore in his breeches pocket.
+
+I remained at the Cape about one week, where I purchased a small
+quantity of tortoise-shell, some hides, deer-skins, tiger-skins, gums,
+&c. My owners had given me orders on my arrival in that country to
+procure an Indian pilot who was well acquainted with the coast.
+
+My old friend, Admiral Dalby, procured me a pilot to conduct me to Pearl
+Key Lagoon, where most of the inhabitants spoke good English. I had a
+letter of introduction to an inhabitant of that place, whose name was
+Edward Patterson, a native of Curracoa, who had lived with the
+Musquitoes many years, and intermarried with them. The pilot and his
+son-in-law came on board. I was compelled to hire the latter that he
+might assist his father-in-law in returning with his canoe. The price
+agreed on was ten yards of Osnabergs to each; no difference in the
+price, whether the voyage was performed in one week, or I detained him
+three months: it was all the same.
+
+We weighed anchor and proceeded to the southward, intending to stop at
+every settlement between the Cape and Pearl Key Lagoon. The next day we
+anchored at Sandy Bay. Soon after, we were visited by Governor Clemente,
+Admiral Hammer, General McLean, and many petty officers and citizens.
+After treating with a few gallons of rum, by way of introduction, I
+opened a brisk trade with them, bartering my goods for the same kind of
+articles I had bought at the Cape. The governor brought on board with
+him one of his nine living wives. After remaining here three days, we
+got under weigh and steered southward, keeping near the land, under the
+direction of the pilot. In the evening I began to doubt his skill, and
+often hove the lead to satisfy myself, the pilot being stationed forward
+to keep a good look-out. About ten o'clock I heard the sound of out,
+out, out. I looked under the lee of the boom and discovered we were near
+the breakers. We attempted to tack ship, but found it impossible. In a
+few moments we were driven upon the reef, unshipping our rudder and
+thumping so hard that I expected she would break in pieces. About an
+hour after, she beat over the shoal into nine feet water, where we came
+to anchor. The next day I sounded a passage out between the shoals. In
+heaving the vessel through the passage we broke our largest anchor, and
+finding it impossible to save her, hoisted the jib and ran her on shore.
+When the wind abated we landed our sails, dry goods and hardware. We
+built a comfortable tent, which protected our goods from the rains which
+visit that country almost every day from May until November. We found
+ourselves near the mouth of a river called Waa-waa, some fifteen miles
+from the residence of Governor Clemente. After remaining here a few days
+I sent the pilot to the governor's residence, claiming his protection
+and requesting him to furnish me with men and canoes to transport my
+goods to Pearl Key Lagoon, and I would pay them a liberal compensation
+for their services. The messenger returned with an answer, that the
+governor had gone on an excursion through his dominions, and was not
+expected to return in less than two or three weeks. We passed our time
+in shooting deer, conies, parrots, boobies, gulls, &c. and catching
+fish, which we found in abundance.
+
+After we had remained here four weeks, the governor arrived, accompanied
+by forty or fifty Indians. I provided a good dinner for the governor,
+his lady and officers, who were invited to my table. Rum, gin, and
+Catalonia wine, were served out in abundance. The governor promised me
+protection and assistance; but his business required his return home
+immediately, but added that he would send me relief the next day. Before
+we had finished dinner the mob of Indians commenced stealing our
+tumblers from the table, likewise knives, forks, some empty kegs, and a
+fine pig, which we had fattened, as well as most of the loose articles
+about our premises. I had made the governor many presents for his
+promised protection, and I remonstrated with him against this wanton
+outrage, without obtaining any redress.
+
+About sunset the Indians all left my camp, except four canoes of country
+Indians, who lived four days paddle up some of the rivers: and according
+to the pilot's interpretation, they did not associate with the
+governor's gang, who treated them with contempt. After the governor and
+his tribe had left us, these Indians came to my tent, whom I treated
+with hospitality, and they encamped near us that night. The next morning
+my mate advised me to hire these Indians to take me to Pearl Key Lagoon
+in their canoes, taking my money, dry goods, and all my valuable
+articles with me, and he and the two sailors would remain by the wreck
+and take care of the heavy goods until I could procure some vessel or
+large craft to transport them to that place. Fearing an attack from the
+governor's party, I employed the pilot to negotiate a bargain with these
+Indians, as they could not speak English. He soon made an agreement by
+which I was to give two officers, captains of towns, ten yards of check
+shirting cloth each, and the soldiers, as he called them, five yards
+each, and five yards for the hire of a large canoe.
+
+The bargain being closed we loaded the four canoes, together with the
+pilot's, with dry goods, cutlery, &c. In the large canoe I put my chest,
+charts, quadrant, clothing, nine hundred dollars in specie, and a ten
+gallon keg of rum, knowing it would stimulate them to perform the voyage
+with despatch, by giving them a drink on arriving at certain places we
+could see ahead. The cook had boiled me a piece of salt beef to carry
+with me, and put up two or three pounds of sea-bread. I took a jug of
+rum in addition to the ten gallon keg, on board of the canoe in which I
+embarked, and put a tea-cup in my pocket to serve as a tumbler. As soon
+as the canoes were loaded I measured ten yards to each of the officers,
+according to our contract, and then measured off five yards and gave it
+to one of the soldiers, who threw it on the ground, when the Indians
+commenced unloading the canoes. I called on the pilot for an
+explanation, and was informed that the soldiers said they had to work as
+hard as the officers, and would not proceed with me unless I gave them
+ten yards each. I was unable to avoid the extortion, and gave them the
+same quantity I had given the officers. In complaining to the pilot of
+the treatment I had received from the Indians, and the crime they had
+committed in stealing from me, he replied, "Tief man can't go and live
+wit God, Devil must catch um." After I had given the check to each of
+the twelve Indians who were to convey me to Pearl Key Lagoon, one of
+them seized his and escaped to the woods, which was the last I saw of
+him.
+
+All things being ready, we made sail, myself taking charge of the large
+canoe, with orders for them all to keep close company, by shortening
+sail when necessary, so that they could assist one another should any
+accident happen. I now began to reflect on my forlorn situation, having
+five canoes under my control, twelve Indians, and only one that could
+speak English, the naked ocean on one side, the wilderness on the other,
+and a passage of one hundred and twenty miles to make before I could
+find a civilized habitation. We proceeded about ten miles on our way,
+when we ran our canoes on shore and drew them up on the beach, which was
+performed in great haste to prevent their filling with water and wetting
+the goods, to avoid which, I covered all the cargoes with cowhides.
+
+Having secured our canoes, the Indians took cutlasses and dug a spring
+of fresh water, which after bailing out two or three times appeared
+clear, and we drank it with a real good will after we had mixed it with
+rum. I had made an agreement with them, by interpretation of the pilot,
+that I would treat them every time I drank myself, and at no other time,
+which was considered a fair bargain. They then took my meat and bread,
+and ate it all at one meal; after which they made a large fire on the
+ground to keep away tigers, panthers, &c.
+
+I landed two chests, one containing my money and clothing, the other my
+most valuable goods; and wrapping myself in an old bed quilt, which
+protected me from the mosquitoes, took lodging on my chests, the Indians
+taking their station near the fire. The next morning we had nothing to
+eat. About nine o'clock the Indians went into the woods, _progging_, as
+they termed it, and after being gone some time returned with a few small
+oysters and some wild honey, which was all the food we got that day. The
+next morning we got under weigh and proceeded a few miles, when the wind
+rising created a heavy sea, and we were obliged to run our fleet on
+shore and remain until the following day.
+
+In the afternoon the Indians unloaded two of the small canoes, (the wind
+having ceased blowing,) paddled out some distance and caught a large
+quantity of fish. At night they boiled three or four pots full, setting
+up until twelve o'clock and devouring all the fish they had caught. I
+thought they consumed five or six pounds each. The next morning we got
+under weigh and proceeded on our voyage until the afternoon, when the
+wind increasing, it was found necessary to lighten my canoe. I made a
+signal for the pilot to come alongside, he immediately obeyed, calling
+one of the captains of a town to join: when, after a short consultation,
+it was agreed to take some boxes of check shirting and the ten gallon
+keg of rum out of my canoe and put them on board of theirs. Strict
+orders were again given to keep close together, that assistance might
+be rendered to each other if necessary, the sea running high at the
+time. The captain's and pilot's canoes soon out-sailed the rest of the
+fleet. I made signals for them to shorten sail, which they paid no
+attention to, and at sun-set they were so far ahead that we could not
+discern them.
+
+We then landed with the three canoes, made our fire and brought my two
+chests ashore, as on the night previous. Not having had any food that
+day I went a short distance into the woods, where I found some old
+cocoa-nuts, of which I made a poor supper. Not having any one to
+converse with, I laid down on my chests near the fire, my eight Indians
+near me. They soon commenced a long conversation, and being somewhat
+anxious to learn the subject of it, I lay listening very attentively.
+Having a fire-light I could see all their movements. I heard one of them
+repeat the word "_Buckra_" at the same time drawing his hand across his
+throat. I then imagined they were concocting some plan to kill me. In
+the morning they went into the woods, caught a land-tortoise, and laying
+him on a large fire with his back down, kept him there until he was
+dead, and then cutting a hole in his side, took out his inwards and
+roasted him in the shell, from which we made our breakfast.
+
+[Illustration: Indians making motions to kill Captain Dunham.]
+
+I had discovered that these Indians had but little strength of body, in
+loading and unloading canoes; in handling heavy chests and boxes, it
+always took three Indians to carry one end when I could carry the
+other. Wishing to try their strength, by signs I introduced wrestling,
+jumping, &c. I found I could throw three of them on the ground at one
+time without much trouble. I then took my pistols from my chest, fired
+at targets, and performed many other exercises in order to show them my
+strength was much greater than theirs, that they might be cautious how
+they attacked me.
+
+[Illustration: Indians Cooking an Alligator for breakfast.]
+
+In the afternoon we got under weigh and proceeded a few miles, when we
+encamped for the night. The next morning the Indians went into the swamp
+after some food, and returned in a short time with a young alligator
+three or four feet in length, which they had caught: having tied up his
+mouth with a bark rope, they dragged him along on the ground by it. They
+also brought some alligator's eggs, which we boiled. They placed the
+middle of the alligator on the top of the fire, one holding the rope
+which secured his mouth, another his tail, (he being yet alive,) and
+burned him to death; after which they cut him to pieces and boiled his
+flesh in the pot, from which we made our breakfast. I ate some of the
+eggs, which I found very tough. Our jug of rum had been exhausted two or
+three days, and the Indians had lost all their ambition. I tried to make
+them understand, by signs, that when we arrived at Great River we should
+find our comrades who had left us in the two canoes, and get rum and
+provisions for the remainder of our voyage. Soon after, they showed me a
+point of land some distance ahead, and repeated the words, "Great
+River." I took a paddle in my hand and assisted them, at the same time
+making signs, by lifting the jug to my mouth, giving them to understand
+that they should have plenty of rum when we arrived there. When we were
+within two miles of the mouth of the river the Indians suddenly ran the
+canoes on shore, hauled them up on the land, unloaded all my goods and
+ran toward the woods, leaving me alone on the beach. I felt much
+surprised at being left in this sudden manner, half starved with hunger,
+and my strength exhausted for want of sleep. After piling up all my
+goods in the best manner I could, I re-loaded my pistols and prepared to
+defend myself. Hunger now prompted me to look for something to eat. I
+saw a large green turtle, some four feet in length, laying upon his back
+a few rods from my goods. I then walked in a different direction from
+the turtle, in pursuit of something to allay my hunger. Suddenly I
+discovered a large, strange Indian approaching toward me, having two
+small ropes in his hand, with eyes spliced in the ends, which he was
+slipping backward and forward as he approached near me. I slowly
+retreated some distance, casting my eyes over my shoulder, looking for
+some weapon to defend myself, when I discovered a stick of wood about
+the size of a man's wrist, which I quickly secured. He, advancing, asked
+if I was captain of the American vessel that was cast away on the coast
+a few weeks since, and if I was hungry. I told him yes: he still
+approached me during this conversation; upon which I raised my club and
+told him if he came any nearer to me I would kill him. He said if I
+would go with him to Admiral Drummer's house, which was but a short
+distance, I could get plenty to eat. I informed him that the Indians I
+had hired to carry my goods to Pearl Key Lagoon, had thrown them on
+shore here, left me, and that I dare not leave my goods unprotected on
+the beach. He said he would tell the Admiral of my situation, and
+informed me that two days ago two canoes, having some of my goods on
+board, arrived at the mouth of the river, that one of them had upset in
+passing the bar and lost one keg of rum and one box of dry goods, which
+had sunk, and that they had been fishing for them but could not find
+them. He then took his leave, and going to the turtle put the ends of
+his rope on his flippers, placed the middle across his breast and
+dragged him off.
+
+Admiral Drummer hearing of my arrival here, sent an Indian slave with a
+gold headed cane, which he considered as a badge of his office, inviting
+me to his house to take some breakfast. I returned my reasons for not
+accepting his invitation, by saying "I dare not leave my goods
+unprotected." Soon after the admiral brought me some warm cocoa, smoked
+meat and roasted plantains to eat. My appetite being good I made a
+hearty dinner. After some time my Indians returned from the woods with
+some coarse food they had gathered in the swamps. I told the admiral I
+had paid these Indians in advance to transport my goods to Pearl Key
+Lagoon, that they had broken their contract, and that they appeared
+determined to leave me here. After conversing with them some time, he
+told me they said they were half starved, had not any provisions to
+proceed with, and would not go any farther. He also said they were
+mountain Indians, living in the interior of the country, and were not
+under his control, but ordered them to put the goods into their canoes
+and carry me into the mouth of the river, where I would find the two
+boats which had left me some days before.
+
+In the afternoon I was visited by the admiral, his two wives, and a
+number of his tribe. I made him and his wives many presents, and he
+promised to meet me the next day at the mouth of the river, when he
+would furnish me with men and canoes to carry me to the Lagoon. He left
+me soon after to return to his home. We proceeded with our three canoes
+into the mouth of the river, where I found the other two, one of them
+belonging to the pilot, who told me that, in crossing the bar at the
+mouth of the river, the captain's canoe had turned over and lost one box
+of check cloth, the ten gallon keg of rum, and they had both sunk, that
+they had fished for them a long time, but could not find them; also,
+that the captain had lost his dinner-pot by upsetting his canoe, and I
+must pay him for it, because he was at work for me. Another Indian had
+wrapped himself in his canoe-sail, and had laid so near the fire he had
+burnt a hole in it, and I must pay for it because he was in my employ.
+
+Soon after my arrival in the mouth of the river the pilot told me he
+would go to the admiral's house and procure me some provisions; he left,
+followed by the whole gang, except one sick Indian who remained with me,
+with whom I could not converse except by signs. Knowing that a keg of
+rum would not sink in the water, I thought it best to search the shore
+and see what discoveries I could make. After walking about one-fourth of
+a mile I discovered a cow-hide secreted in the edge of the woods, which
+drew my attention to it. By removing the hide I discovered the box of
+dry goods and the dinner-pot for which he had demanded payment. I walked
+back to our landing place, took one of the canoes and carried the box,
+pot, &c. to my camp, where I opened the box and found some of the check
+a little wet, but not from the upsetting of the canoe. I searched the
+beach for some time, but could not find any traces of the rum-keg.
+Having no companion left with me except my sick Indian, and no food to
+eat, I was obliged to pick up old cocoa-nuts or any other articles I
+could swallow to satisfy my craving appetite.
+
+On the evening of the third day after my arrival here my Indians
+returned much intoxicated, without the pilot. They picked up their
+baggage and prepared for their departure; then laid themselves down
+near the fire, and soon fell asleep. I piled up my goods as compactly
+as I could, loaded my pistols and laid myself down on the top of them,
+supposing they would attempt to rob me, and escape with their plunder. I
+did not shut my eyes until about four o'clock and then fell asleep,
+which continued about half-an-hour, when I awoke and found they were
+taking their departure. I took a hasty look at my goods and found they
+had only taken from me one empty jug and a few small articles of little
+value.
+
+A few hours after, the pilot, accompanied by Admiral Drummer, his two
+wives, and thirty or forty Indians arrived, bringing me some provisions,
+which I ate greedily. After making the admiral and his wives many
+presents, I asked his price to carry me and my goods to Pearl Key
+Lagoon. He told me I must pay him the same price I had paid the Indians
+who had left me here--ten yards of check cloth to each man, and ten
+additional yards for the hire of a large canoe belonging to himself. The
+bargain being closed, the admiral and his party all left me, except
+those I had employed to carry me to the Lagoon.
+
+After the pilot had returned from the admiral's I asked him the cause of
+their tarrying so long, knowing my destitute situation. He said they had
+been to a drink-about of pine-liquor--a custom I did not then
+understand. During my residence at the Lagoon I have been an invited
+guest to drink-abouts. Pine-apples are raised in abundance in this
+country, which the inhabitants of a number of settlements from time to
+time collect in large quantities, and assemble at some central place,
+where they convert them into a kind of pulp and then press out the
+juice, put it into some old cask and let it remain a few days, when it
+becomes the most palatable liquor I ever drank, and produces
+intoxication when taken in large quantities.
+
+Some months after, I learned the deception these Indians had practised
+upon me. The pilot and his comrades, who had run away from me with the
+keg of rum and box of dry goods, arrived at Great River two days before
+me. They poured some water on the box of dry goods, and then carried the
+keg of rum to the admiral's house. After our arrival at Great River they
+left me on the beach, half starved, as stated above, and returned to the
+admiral's, where they remained drunk about three days.
+
+The contract being finished, we loaded the canoes and I paid the men in
+advance, according to the custom of the country. I urged them to launch
+the canoes and proceed on our voyage immediately, which they refused to
+do, saying that night would overtake us before we could arrive at the
+Lagoon. They said they would sail the next morning at daylight, and then
+laid themselves down near the fire for the night. I wrapped myself up in
+the old bed-quilt and took lodging on my chests as usual, the mosquitoes
+so thick about us that we could not see any thing at a distance; they
+annoyed the Indians so much that they lost all patience. At eleven
+o'clock they launched their canoes and we proceeded on our voyage.
+Before we took our departure I had given them orders to keep the canoes
+near together for mutual safety. After we had gone a short distance, I
+discovered by the stars that the captain of my canoe had lost his
+course, and was running from the land into the ocean. I remonstrated
+with him by making signs. About two o'clock I made out to convince him
+of his error, when he steered towards the land, which brought us into
+the trough of the sea, and I was compelled to bail water without
+intermission until daylight, when I found we were within three miles of
+the land, but could not discover any canoes in sight of us. We steered
+our boat in near the land where the water was not so rough, and kept in
+close to the shore. When we came to the mouth of Pearl Key Lagoon we saw
+smoke a short distance from the mouth of the harbor, and going to the
+place from which it proceeded found our comrades cooking some fish, they
+had caught, for breakfast. We joined with them and took a scanty meal.
+Soon after, we all got under weigh and proceeded about three miles, when
+we arrived at the village of Pearl Key Lagoon, to my great joy, after a
+passage of ten days. I was so thoroughly exhausted that I could not walk
+from the canoe to the house without assistance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+Pearl Key Lagoon lies in latitude 12 deg. 10' N., longitude 82 deg. 54' W. The
+village is situated about four miles from the entrance of the Lagoon, or
+_Lake_, into the sea. The village contains thirteen houses; the
+inhabitants generally speak English, and are more civilized and
+hospitable than the neighboring tribes. This place is the centre of
+trade for the whole coast, and is often visited by English traders.
+
+I was hospitably received by Edward Patterson, a native of Curracoa, who
+had resided here many years. He had three wives living with him, all
+enjoying peace and good will towards each other. Patterson gave me a
+hearty welcome to his house, and provided me a room in it to retail my
+goods. He furnished his table with the best food the country produced,
+cleanly cooked in English style. Two days after my arrival here my mate
+and the two seamen arrived from the wreck of the sloop. They informed me
+that a large number of Indians had encamped near the wreck and commenced
+plundering the vessel, and they considered it unsafe to remain there any
+longer. They repaired the sloop's boat, put their clothing and some
+light goods on board, and after a few days' hard rowing reached this
+place, with health and strength much exhausted. Two or three days after
+a small English schooner arrived here, and I gave the captain two
+hundred dollars to carry me to the wreck and bring back all the goods we
+could save from it. We sailed the next day, and arrived there two days
+after. We found the shore white with cotton, the Indians having cut open
+the bales and carried away the sacks, leaving the cotton loose on the
+beach, which the winds had scattered all along the shore for a great
+distance. They had emptied two pipes of Catalonia wine on the ground and
+carried away the casks; also emptied some cases of Holland gin and
+filled the bottles with rum, cut many holes in the vessel to get out the
+iron, and committed many other depredations. On inquiry I found that
+most of the goods had been carried to Governor Clemente's house, about
+thirty miles up the Waa-waa river. We employed some Indians to carry us
+in their canoes to the governor's residence, there being no roads for
+travelling by land in the country. When we arrived at his excellency's
+dwelling we found a collection of forty or fifty Indians assembled
+there, raving with intoxication; a hogshead of rum placed in the middle
+of the house, with the bung taken out and the Indians filling their
+calabashes by pouring it out of the bung-hole, wasting one-half in
+pouring it out. The governor's invitation to spend the night with him
+was readily accepted. He promised me he would restore all my goods that
+could be found about his premises. The next day I found one pipe of gin
+and one hogshead of rum unopened, which he consented to restore to me.
+Here a difficulty arose: the distance from his house to the landing
+place at the river was about one and a half miles, and no way of
+conveyance except rolling the casks. I requested the governor to furnish
+me men, and I would pay them liberally for their services in conveying
+the goods to the landing place. He said he could not compel them to
+assist me. My mate and two men I had brought with me succeeded in
+rolling the casks to the shore after a tedious job of one and a half
+days. I found sixteen barrels of salt belonging to me about the
+premises, which we undertook to roll to the landing, but the governor
+pursued us with his axe and broke the staves of the casks, when we
+abandoned them. I then picked up all the remaining goods I could find
+belonging to me, sent them on board the canoes, and putting my mate and
+seamen on board as sentries for the night, took lodgings at the
+governor's house. In the morning my attention was drawn towards the
+governor's nine wives, who were seated round a fire outside of the
+house, eating their breakfast in perfect harmony. From appearance their
+ages were from sixteen to sixty years. I afterwards learned that eight
+of the Indians had died from the effects of the liquor which they had
+stolen from the wreck.
+
+The governor and his gang had destroyed and robbed me of about eighteen
+hundred dollars' worth of property, for which I could not obtain any
+redress. We embarked in our canoes and proceeded to the schooner, where
+we took the goods on board, and the next day landed them at the Lagoon.
+My property being all collected together, I fitted up my store and
+received calls from all parts of the country, having that load-stone
+_Rum_ to attract them.
+
+Among the visiters who came to console me in my unfortunate situation,
+was a Sookerman, named Hewlett, who brought me a present of two
+pine-apples, for which I offered him twelve and a half cents in payment,
+he refused it, saying, "I was a poor cast-away thing, and all Indians
+must help me." I placed a bottle of gin upon the table and invited him
+and his comrade to drink, which they readily accepted, remaining with me
+until near night, when they had emptied the bottle; then taking an empty
+bottle from his pocket, he had the modesty to ask me to fill it for him
+to carry home. I was selling gin at this time for fifty cents per
+bottle. Pine-apples are considered of little value in this country,
+being worth from one to two cents apiece.
+
+A Sookerman practices as a physician in sickness, but always abandons
+his patient before the approach of death; he tells fortunes, can
+discover thieves, and when the hurricane months are near approaching, he
+resorts to some hill with his cutlass in his hand, which he waves in the
+air to prevent the gales from destroying their crops of vegetables. He
+collects an annual tax from all the inhabitants of his district, for his
+services in cutting the breeze as they call it. If they refuse to pay
+his tax the laws of the country allow him to seize upon any property he
+can find, not excepting a man's dinner-pot. If a gale of wind happens to
+sweep over the country and destroy their crops, he screens himself by
+saying, "Some rascals have neglected the payment of their tithes." He
+cannot see a woman in child-bed, or the woman or child under nine months
+after the birth of it. He is prohibited from seeing any dead corpse, as
+he imagines the sight of either of these would cause his immediate
+death. The Sookerman makes all his journies in canoes, accompanied by
+some of his friends. When they approach any village, he lays down in the
+bottom of his canoe, and a sail is covered over him to protect his eyes,
+while some of his comrades visit the houses of the villagers to
+ascertain whether there are any of those dread sights in their houses.
+When his wife shows signs of pregnancy she retires to a house built in
+the woods, where she must remain nine months after her accouchment,
+before she can return to her husband.
+
+My landlord, Patterson, informed me that he knew a Sookerman who landed
+at a village in a canoe, without sending a messenger before him to
+discover the object of his danger; it being stormy weather he landed in
+great haste and ran to the nearest house for a shelter, and opening the
+door quickly, the first object he saw was a woman holding a child in her
+arms. The shock was so great that he fell down on the threshhold of the
+door and died the third day after.
+
+Two miles from the village where I had located myself was another
+settlement called Bigman Bank, a village of some renown, being the
+residence of General Bigman and Admiral Walkin. Soon after I had my
+store arranged to receive company I was visited by a number of young
+ladies from Bigman's Bank who were considered the belles of the village.
+The Indians residing in villages on the sea-coast imagine themselves far
+superior to the inland tribes. They form the same opinion that a fopish
+city dandy does of a country farmer, supposing him to be destitute of
+common sense because he does not put all his earnings on his back and
+cheat the tailor and shoemaker out of more.
+
+After the young ladies were all seated in the house, my friend Patterson
+introduced me to them, and requested me to fill some glasses with gin
+and pass them round, saying, "They had never drank any gin before, and
+did not know the strength of it, that we should soon see sport." After
+remaining some time and drinking freely, they attempted to depart, when
+one of them, named Betsey Young, a girl possessing a pleasant and
+beautiful countenance found herself unable to walk, and her comrades
+took her on their backs and departed apparently much mortified as I was
+myself. After they returned to their homes Betsey's mother gave her a
+severe reprimand for her intoxication. The next morning she bent the top
+of a small tree to the ground, tied a handkerchief to it and putting one
+end round her neck let the tree straighten up, which hung her in the
+air. Soon after her mother discovering her unfortunate situation cut
+her down and restored her to life. A few months after she became one of
+the king's wives.
+
+I was visited by a respectable Frenchman, named Ellis, residing thirty
+miles up a river called Waa-waa-han, which empties into the Lagoon a few
+miles from this place. The Musquito king had given him a tract of land
+seven miles in length, bounded on the river, a well cultivated
+plantation, producing coffee, sugar-cane, corn, yams, sweet potatoes,
+all kinds of tropical fruits, and bread-stuffs in abundance. He owned
+twenty or thirty slaves, and cultivated a good garden. He informed me
+that he had fought for my country in the Revolution, under Count de
+Grass. His nearest neighbor, named Gough, resided twelve miles from him,
+who had a grant of land extending twelve miles along the river, and
+owned a few slaves, but paid little attention to cultivation. I found
+Mr. Ellis a very honest man, and a true friend to me. He kept a mulatto
+woman as his wife, whose name was Fanny. He sent many orders to me to
+bring out such articles as he wanted. He told me that one evening he was
+making out an order for goods and asked his wife if she wanted any thing
+added to the order. She answered by saying, "Tell Captain Dunham to
+fetch me out one man-goose and one woman-goose." Mr. Ellis often sent me
+garden vegetables, cucumbers, water-mellons, tropical fruits, &c.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+Among my new neighbors I found eight runaway negro slaves who had
+deserted from the Island of St. Andreas, in canoes, a distance of about
+two degrees, and took refuge here. To make the reader understand the
+tragic scenes that follow, I shall describe them by giving the names of
+the tribes they belonged to in their native country. Two of them being
+called Jim, I shall be obliged to attach to the name of each that of the
+tribe to which he belonged, to distinguish the parties.
+
+The English traders from Jamaica, who have monopolized the trade of this
+country, frequently visit this place, stopping at St. Andreas and Corn
+Island on their passage. They are often commissioned to apprehend
+runaway slaves, return them to their masters, and receive their rewards.
+These negroes were well apprised of this custom, and took great
+precaution to arm and defend themselves if they were attacked. On the
+arrival of any English vessel in the harbor, they retreated to the woods
+and remained until the vessel left the port before they made their
+appearance among us again, when they returned to the house which they
+occupied when I first landed in the place, situated about fifty rods
+from my store. When they went upon any excursion they were each armed
+with a loaded musket and plenty of ammunition, determined never to be
+taken prisoners alive. In addition to their armament, they purchased
+from me five cutlasses, which they ground very sharp and carried with
+them daily. Scotland and Jim belonged to the Ebo tribe in Africa, their
+native country. Moody and the other Jim to the Mandingo tribe in the
+same country; another negro, named Prince, was a native of Jamaica.
+Scotland had a daughter with him, Moody and Mandingo Jim, both had their
+wives with them. There always appeared a national antipathy existing
+between the Ebo and Mandingo negroes, which caused many disputes between
+them. Prince always tried to remain neutral between the parties, often
+acting as umpire in the settlement of their difficulties. On the arrival
+of any vessel, or any dangerous report, they compromised all their
+private quarrels and united for the common defence.
+
+The negroes soon discovered that I had no means to annoy them, and that
+the English traders were very jealous of me as a trespasser on their
+exclusive right to trade here, I being the first American who had
+attempted to open a trade with the Indians within the last fourteen
+years. These negroes soon commenced trading with me, having fifty or
+sixty dollars in money, and earnestly solicited my friendly aid, by
+informing them of any plot I should discover from the English traders,
+or the Mosquito king's officers to apprehend them, promising on their
+part to sell me all the tortoise-shell they could catch, and purchase
+all their goods from me. I readily ratified the treaty for my own
+safety. To use an old adage, "Those who live in glass houses must never
+throw stones."
+
+My goods were poorly protected against robbers, my store being covered
+on the outside with thin slips of wood, resembling lath wove together
+like a basket and admitting light through the spaces sufficient to read
+or write without windows. A man could kick a hole through it in two
+minutes.
+
+Soon after I purchased a mahogany canoe, made a sail to fit her, and
+took a number of excursions to the neighboring villages, purchasing
+shell, gum, &c. It frequently happened that I did not see a white man in
+two or three weeks. The negroes often got alarmed by hearing false
+reports about their apprehension, and finding that I sometimes did not
+reach home until after dark, they came to my store and requested me to
+wear a white chip hat when I went on any excursion, or appeared out
+after dark, that they might know me, as they had agreed to shoot any
+strange white man who should approach them in the night. I complied with
+their request for my own safety. I have frequently called at their house
+in the night to procure a light, always calling them by name before I
+approached their door, and always found them laying on their arms, ready
+to repel any attack.
+
+Some weeks after, my landlord purchased from me a quantity of goods,
+and I advanced him about six hundred dollars in cash, which he agreed to
+pay me in tortoise-shell, at two dollars per pound, it being worth at
+that time seven dollars in New-York. He embarked in a large canoe on a
+trading voyage, along the southern coast of that country, a distance of
+about two degrees. Most of the able-bodied men of this and the
+neighboring villages fitted themselves out for a three months' voyage to
+the southward, to catch turtle. After they had all embarked I found
+there was no male inhabitant left except myself, my five negroes, two or
+three old infirm Indians, and a whole village of women and children. The
+negroes gave me the title of governor, and agreed to submit to such laws
+as I should prescribe for them. One of the laws I passed was to sell
+them only one bottle of rum per day, which they agreed to, and behaved
+themselves well for two or three weeks, caught some shell, and sold it
+to me. Ebo Jim I found to be a good marksman with a gun, and I furnished
+him often with powder and shot, with which he killed a great many wild
+parrots for me to eat, from which I had a number of good meals.
+
+After a few weeks the negroes imagining there was a plot laid to entrap
+them, agreed to retire to a house they had found in the woods, where
+they thought themselves secure, and live in peace together. Scotland,
+Moody and the two Jims, took their leave of me and departed. Prince, the
+neutral negro, remained in the village. He was a coarse carpenter, and
+made some tables and sundry little articles for the Indians, and had
+many friends among them. Scotland and his party visited me two or three
+times after they had gone to their new habitation, and were supplied
+with their one bottle of rum per day, according to agreement, when they
+would depart peaceably to their new home. The fourth time they visited
+me they asked me for their bottle of rum, as usual, which was furnished
+them. They then left for a short time and returned with a request that I
+would fill the bottle again for them, which I refused to do, by telling
+them it was a breach of our agreement; but on their promising me
+faithfully if I would let them have another bottle they would not broach
+it until they got home, I filled it; they left, and as I supposed, had
+gone home. About one hour after, a number of women and children appeared
+at my door, where I had laid myself down in my hammock, reading, and
+making a most hideous noise, called on me to come out, as Scotland was
+killing Moody. I ran as fast as I could until I came near to the
+combatants, when I saw Scotland thrust his cutlass into the thick part
+of Moody's thigh, near the bone, the point running at least one foot
+through. Moody being vanquished, Mandingo Jim, his comrade, then rushed
+forward with cutlass in hand and struck at Scotland's head, who dodged
+the blow, at the same time returning a blow with his cutlass which
+struck Jim near the wrist, severing his hand from his arm, leaving it
+hanging by a small string of skin and flesh. Ebo Jim then ran into the
+battle with his gun cocked to shoot down his conquered adversaries, when
+I interfered, and by threats and persuasion prevented any further
+effusion of blood. The battle being ended, I proposed to cut off the
+wounded hand, but my opinion was overruled by the company, who decided,
+to use their own language, that "The hand could be mended up again." My
+landlord's oldest wife, whose name was Sally, and who was considered a
+great doctress among the inhabitants of this region of country, procured
+some splinters of wood, dressed the wound with wild honey and bound it
+up, Sally acting as head surgeon among the company. I furnished them
+with candles, which they made great use of as salve to dress the wounds.
+On the third morning after, Sally came to my store and told me that
+Jim's hand was all spoiled, that she had ground up her butcher knife to
+cut it off. She repaired to the room and requested Jim's wife to open
+the wound that she might dress it, which she complied with. Sally
+instantly drew her knife, which was concealed behind her, and cut the
+hand off, to the great surprise of all the spectators. She continued the
+application of honey and tallow for three or four weeks, when Jim so far
+recovered as to be able to shoot parrots for me again. After the battle,
+Scotland and Ebo Jim retired to their habitation in the woods, and in
+the course of three or four weeks Moody and Mandingo Jim removed to
+Bigman's Bank, about two miles from this place.
+
+[Illustration: Triangular fight between three Colored Men.]
+
+A few weeks after, Moody and his partner Jim came to my store on some
+errant. My provisions getting short, I agreed to accompany them home to
+Bigman's Bank and procure a fresh supply of such articles as I stood in
+need of. I got on board of their canoe, which had but two seats, and
+placed myself by the side of Moody, who commenced a long negro story
+which absorbed our attention. On the way I discovered a pelican sitting
+in a tree near by, and called on Jim to shoot it; he drew up his gun and
+cocked it: at that instant the pelican flew from the tree before he had
+time to fire: the old negro laid his gun down on the seat along side of
+us, and proceeded on with his long story, carelessly holding his hand
+over the muzzle. By some accidental movement, unobserved by me, the gun
+was discharged, and having a lead slug in it, cut a large piece of flesh
+from the thick part of his hand, and took off three of his fingers,
+leaving them hanging by small pieces of skin. We made the best way we
+could to the village, where I procured a pair of scissors and severed
+the fingers from the hand.
+
+Some time after, another report was circulated that some of the king's
+officers had received orders to arrest these negroes, which gave them
+great alarm. Ebo Jim implored me to write to Mr. Ellis, my old friend,
+begging his protection until he could procure a passage back to his
+former owner, which Mr. Ellis readily granted, and making me a visit
+soon after, he took Jim home with him and afterwards sent him back to
+his former mistress. I was much pleased to see Mr. Ellis, he being the
+first white man I had seen within the last three weeks.
+
+Moody, Mandingo Jim and Scotland, had a meeting soon after, and agreed
+to forgive and forget all their former difficulties and return to their
+old retreat for safety, and there unite for the defence of each other.
+All their former contests being settled, I advised them to retire and
+live peaceably together, and not annoy me or the Indians any more with
+their private quarrels, which they faithfully promised to adhere to.
+
+I now employed myself cheerfully in reading and other amusements for a
+few days, when suddenly an Indian called at my door and told me that
+Scotland wanted me to come down to the landing place, that he was lying
+in his canoe badly wounded. I repaired to the place, where I found his
+sail spread over his canoe, and he lying on the bottom. I perceived that
+the blood had covered the whole bottom of the canoe, apparently one inch
+or more deep. On examination of his body I found he had received a large
+charge of shot in his right breast, which had cut out about one pound of
+flesh; and another in his thigh, which had severed the bones, and cut
+the flesh to pieces in the most shocking manner. I asked him how this
+misfortune happened to him. He answered me by saying, "Captain, Jim and
+Moody do me too bad. This morning Jim and me go a hunting together, we
+come home about eleven o'clock, I feel tired and lay down on my crawl
+and go to sleep; first I know, I hear a gun go pow, I look at the door
+and see Jim stand there, I say, 'Jim, see what these Indians do me;' Jim
+say, Moody give it to him, Moody fire his gun and break my thigh, and
+then both run away and left me. By and by one Indian come, and I give my
+gun to paddle me here to see you. Now I want you to get Sally and the
+other woman to mend me up again."
+
+I called on my hospitable Sally, who hastily declared she would not try
+to mend Scotland up, or have him left in the village, and I must send
+him back to his house in the bush: if she should mend him up again he
+would kill Moody and Jim, and that she would have no farther trouble
+with these negroes. There being no white person to advise with, I called
+Prince, the neutral negro, and told him he must take Scotland back to
+his house, help him on his crawl or bed, set a calabash of water within
+reach, and leave him. Prince hesitated some about obeying my orders, but
+by persuasion and some reward, he embarked in the canoe and paddled him
+back to his house, helped him into it, placed him on his crawl, and at
+his request built a fire, set water within his reach, loaded his gun,
+and placed ammunition near him, for he was determined to defend himself
+as long as he had breath.
+
+After they had departed, I sat down on the beach and reflected on the
+forlorn situation of this unfortunate desperado. He well knew he must
+die from his wounds, or be murdered by Moody and Jim, or destroyed by
+tigers, his hut having no doors to protect him from wild beasts. When
+Prince returned I asked him if he had any conversation with Scotland on
+the passage. He replied, "Yes, I told Scotland that Moody and Jim would
+kill him this night. He replied, then they will say, there is a _man_
+dead."
+
+At night I retreated to my lodgings in my store, where I slept for the
+protection of my property. At this time I had learned that the English
+traders on the coast had held a meeting and entered into an agreement,
+pledging themselves never to carry me, nor take any letters to Jamaica
+or elsewhere, to help me to get away from this coast. Having no white
+friends to console me, and being more than two thousand miles from my
+family and friends, I retired to bed with solitary feelings. Not having
+much inclination for sleep, I remained awake until about twelve o'clock,
+when I heard the report of a gun, which I imagined had ended the
+tragedy.
+
+At daylight I arose and called on an old negro who had resided here with
+his family many years, the Indians called him _darmer_, equivalent to
+grandfather in the English language, who conducted me to Scotland's hut.
+I found the old negro laying dead on his crawl, or bed, a musket ball
+having passed through his body. Having met Moody and Jim, before our
+arrival at Scotland's house, I compelled them to go back with me. I
+accused them with having committed the murder, and endeavored to impress
+upon their minds the enormity of the crime. They denied the firing of
+the last fatal shot, by saying, Scotland had tied the trigger of his gun
+to the side of his house, placed the muzzle against his side, and by
+pulling the gun discharged the contents, becoming his own executioner. I
+selected a place to bury the remains of the old negro, but having no
+shovels to dig with, we were obliged to use wooden paddles, my only help
+being Moody and Jim, and they both cripples, we made but slow progress.
+Soon after Prince arrived, when I sent him to an Indian house some
+distance from the place, to borrow a hoe, to assist in digging the
+grave. The woman of the house refused to lend it, saying, "Her daughter
+was sick, and if she lent the hoe to dig a grave the doctor or
+_sookerman_, who attended her, would forsake the house if he knew the
+hoe had been used for that purpose." We finally succeeded in digging two
+or three feet deep, when I sent home and got a saw and cut Scotland's
+canoe in two pieces, then placing the corpse between them, put him,
+together with all his clothes in the grave, according to the custom of
+the country. Previous to interring the corpse, I offered to give away
+his clothes, but no person would accept of them, because the owner was
+dead. The funeral ceremonies being ended, I returned home, hoping to
+enjoy some repose after the long annoyance from these negroes.
+
+Fresh reports were soon circulated that the king had commissioned one of
+his officers, called Sambo Tom to arrest Moody and Jim. They hearing of
+this report, determined to leave this part of the country, and pass
+through a border settlement inhabited by a tribe of Indians called the
+Woolwas, adjoining the Spanish settlements, and seek protection from the
+Spaniards. Sambo Tom pursued, but not daring to arrest them himself, he
+employed the Woolwas to do so. The negroes having arrived among the
+Woolwas, hired some of them to transport them in their canoes to the
+Spanish settlements; but being well armed, and having plenty of
+ammunition, the Indians were afraid to attack them, and therefore
+professed great friendship, agreeing to convey them where they wished to
+go. Two canoes joined in this expedition, and while passing a fall in
+the river the Indians upset the one containing the negroes, which wet
+their guns and ammunition, when the Indians in the other canoe threw
+their lances and killed them in the water. Their wives were given up to
+their former owners at St. Andreas.
+
+Little did I think when I landed in this country among a mixed race of
+Indians, that I should find some _blood_ relations, so called by the
+natives, among them. An Indian woman, calling her name Sally Bryant, the
+wife of Scipio, one of the king's quarter-masters, called on me and told
+me she was a blood-relation of mine, and claimed some present as an
+acknowledgment of it on my part. I asked her what evidence she had of
+our relationship. She replied, "That her father was an American." The
+argument was so conclusive that I did not think it necessary to
+contradict it, but gave her some small presents, which were well repaid.
+Sally often volunteered to assist me in selling my goods, and brought me
+many customers by saying to the Indians, "My countryman's goods are
+better and cheaper than them Englishman's, and he no rogue, like them
+English traders."
+
+Soon after, a Curracoa man arrived from Bluefields, one of the
+wealthiest men of that place, who brought a message from his wife, known
+by the name of Mrs. Peggy, requesting me to furnish her with some goods
+to sell on commission, and she would deal honestly by me, having heard
+of my misfortune in losing my vessel, &c. that she wanted to see me very
+much, and pitied me more because I was a relative of hers, her father
+being an American. I forwarded Mrs. Peggy two or three hundred dollars'
+worth of goods to sell on commission, the greatest part of which she
+sold, made good returns, and I found her more honest than white
+relations generally are in their trade with each other.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+Visit to Corn Island.
+
+
+I sold the Biddle's sails, which I had saved from the wreck, for eighty
+pounds of tortoise-shell, payable at Corn Island, which lies in the
+wide ocean, forty miles from the main land. I soon received a message,
+saying the shell was ready for delivery, but I must come and receive it.
+Having been advised of the danger of leaving it there, and that delays
+were dangerous in dealing with those I had bargained with, and fearing I
+should lose my debt if I neglected it, I determined upon making the trip
+in my canoe, the only conveyance I had for getting there. The easterly
+trade-winds constantly prevail here, except the westerly land breezes,
+which blow during the night, and extend out a few miles from the shore.
+My canoe was fitted in Indian style, having a number of small holes
+bored in her sides near the top, and small cords attached to them, to
+which we tied our dinner-pot, gun, or any other articles we wished to
+carry with us, which I found a safe plan for preserving the necessaries
+we carry on board. If the canoe happens to turn over, such accidents
+having frequently happened to me, the whole crew swim along side, turn
+her up, and by rolling her quickly soon discharge most of the water.
+This being done, one man gets into the canoe and bails out the remainder
+with his hat or paddle, while the goods remain hanging by the ropes.
+After this is accomplished all hands get on board and go on.
+
+I hired three Indians, took some provisions, a jug of rum and a
+dinner-pot on board, and proceeded on the voyage. After losing the land
+winds we had to paddle our canoe directly against the wind and a rough
+sea. We paddled about fifteen miles, when we landed on a small desolate
+island or sand bank, having no vegetation on it except half-a-dozen
+small trees about the size of a man's leg. It being nearly dark, we
+hauled our canoe up the beach, cooked and ate some fish, and then laid
+ourselves down on the ground to sleep. Soon after, it commenced raining,
+when the Indians got up and stripped themselves naked, turned the canoe
+bottom upwards and put their clothes under it. I followed their example,
+and we all sat down naked on the ground, leaning against some small
+trees, and remained in that situation until about daylight, the rain
+pouring down in torrents during the night. As the sun arose the weather
+became pleasant, and we proceeded on our voyage, arriving at Corn Island
+that evening, after a hard days' paddle.
+
+Great Corn Island lies in latitude 12 deg. 10' N., longitude 82 deg. 11' W. and
+is about six miles in circumference. The soil is fertile, producing good
+cotton, abundance of provisions, and all kinds of tropical fruits;
+breeds good horses, cattle, hogs, poultry, &c. and has abundance of
+fish. The Island contains about twenty-five dwelling houses, and from
+one to two hundred slaves. Little Corn Island lays about ten miles north
+of the Great one, is uninhabited, but produces an abundance of
+cocoa-nuts.
+
+I remained at Corn Island two days, where I was treated with the
+greatest hospitality, being furnished with plenty of provisions, fruits,
+&c. and having collected my shell, I embarked early in the morning,
+with a fair wind, for Pearl Key Lagoon. The wind soon died away and left
+us with a dead calm, and we were obliged to paddle under a burning sun
+during the day, which blistered my cheeks and ancles, not having any
+stockings on my feet. We arrived at our home about eleven o'clock that
+night.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+Visit to Bluefields.
+
+
+Bluefields lies about twenty-five miles south of Pearl Key Lagoon on the
+main land, and has a good harbor for small vessels, the water on the bar
+at the mouth being about nine feet deep.
+
+The English government took possession of it many years ago, but
+afterwards exchanged their possessions here with the Spanish government
+for the Bay of Honduras. Colonel Hudson, an English planter from the
+Island of Jamaica, settled here with a number of negro slaves. By the
+exchange of the country, he found it difficult to remove his slaves, who
+had intermarried with the Indians, and he was obliged to sell them their
+freedom and take their security for the payment of the debt, which was
+to be paid in yearly instalments. From what I could learn from these
+negroes, he never realized much from them. The inhabitants of
+Bluefields are mostly called Samboes, being a mixture of negro, Indian,
+and white blood.
+
+After remaining a few months at the Lagoon, and receiving many
+invitations, I concluded to make a visit to Bluefields, form some new
+acquaintance, and call on my _countrywoman_, Mrs. Peggy, who claimed to
+be a relation of mine because her father was said to be an American, and
+ascertain what progress she made in disposing of the goods I had sent to
+her to sell on commission.
+
+I fitted up my canoe, hired three Indians, put our dinner-pot, gun,
+fishing spears and some provisions on board, and launched out into the
+broad ocean again. After we had proceeded about fifteen miles the wind
+increased, which caused the sea to run so high that we were obliged to
+run our canoe on shore, and hauling her up we built a fire, a precaution
+necessary in travelling in this country to avoid being attacked by wild
+beasts, and after cooking a scanty meal took lodging on the ground. We
+were much annoyed during the night by musquittoes and small gnats, or
+sand-flies, which allowed us but little sleep. The next morning, the
+wind having moderated, we got under weigh and proceeded to Bluefields,
+where we arrived about sunset.
+
+Here we learned that a negro man had lately been employed in cutting up
+a large green turtle on the shore near that place, and while stooping
+down to accomplish his undertaking, a tiger sallied out of a thicket of
+bushes, sprang upon his back and struck one of his claws into the back
+of his neck, inflicting a mortal wound which caused his death the third
+day after.
+
+I was joyfully received by Mrs. Peggy, my countrywoman, and all her
+family: also received invitations to visit most of the families of the
+town. A good supper was provided for me, and I was treated with the best
+food and fruits that the country afforded. The usual lodgings in this
+country is hammocks, suspended across the house, in which a person
+accustomed to them can sleep very comfortably. Mrs. Peggy wishing to
+treat me with extraordinary kindness, I being a kinsman of hers,
+furnished me with what she called a crawl, fitted up in a spare bedroom,
+for my lodging.
+
+A crawl is made by cutting four small crotched sticks of wood, three or
+four feet in length, which are driven into the ground, (the house having
+no floor,) and two sticks some three feet in length, placed across the
+ends, then a number of round sticks, much resembling hoop-poles roughly
+trimmed with the bark on them, are laid closely together, resting on the
+cross-poles and covered over with a piece of Indian cloth, which forms
+the sacking of the bedstead. I retired to my lodging at an early hour,
+as I had not enjoyed much sleep the preceding night, and laying myself
+down on the crawl thought to take some repose, but I soon found the
+knots in the poles were harder than my flesh. "So coy a dame was sleep
+to me, with all the weary courtship of my care-tried thoughts, I could
+not win her to my bed," and I was glad to _crawl_ off the crawl and take
+up my lodgings on the ground under it.
+
+The next day Mrs. Peggy wishing to treat me with the best food the
+country afforded, procured a large fat monkey, had it neatly dressed,
+and roasted in good style for dinner. As it was roasting before the fire
+it looked so much like a human being that I felt my appetite crawl off,
+and told my good countrywoman that I had made an engagement to meet an
+Indian at a village about two miles from that place, at 12 o'clock, to
+purchase a quantity of shell, and wished to be punctual in my promise.
+This excuse for absence obtained her reluctant consent to let me go, and
+I lost my dinner. I left Bluefields the next day and returned to Pearl
+Key Lagoon.
+
+I must here relate a humorous conversation I heard at Bluefields between
+two of the most respectable young ladies of that place, named Mary and
+Mauger. A vessel having arrived there from Curracoa, the captain and two
+others came on shore, and setting down along side of these young ladies,
+commenced a vulgar conversation with Mauger. Mary having more modesty
+than her companion, immediately called Mauger away from them, and said,
+"Mauger, you fool gal, why you talk them Curracoa Buckras, mind by and
+by, mouth fly off."
+
+The father of the present Musquitto king must have been fond of women,
+as he had no less than fourteen wives. He was a great tyrant, and was
+murdered by his subjects for his tyranny over them. The English
+government ordered his two eldest sons to be carried to Jamaica and put
+under the care of the Duke of Manchester, then governor of that island,
+where they remained about six years and obtained a fair English
+education. The present king, who calls his name George Frederick, was
+furnished with a large outfit from the duke, consisting of a suit of
+clothes worth eighteen hundred dollars, repairs of his father's crown
+fifteen hundred dollars, and four thousand dollars' worth of goods and
+presents to distribute among his subjects. A sloop of war was fitted out
+to carry him to the Bay of Honduras, where he was crowned, and from
+thence conveyed to his own dominions.
+
+Soon after my return from Bluefields I was visited by the new king, it
+being his first visit to the Lagoon. After my introduction I told him
+the English traders on the coast were determined to prevent my opening a
+trade with his subjects, and solicited his protection. He readily agreed
+to give me a permit, which he himself signed, and is as follows:
+
+                                 "Pearl Key Lagoon, _July 20th, 1815_.
+
+     "Permission is hereby given to Captain Jacob Dunham, a citizen
+     of the United States of America, to touch and trade in all
+     parts of my dominions in any vessel from North America.
+
+                                 "GEORGE FREDERICK,
+                                 King of the Musquitto Nation."
+
+I made the king a few presents, and the inhabitants gave us a ball,
+where we amused ourselves by dancing on a ground floor. The king left us
+a few days after.
+
+I soon became familiar with the Indians, by joining in their amusements
+and obtaining a knowledge of their laws, customs, &c. I received an
+invitation to go to what they call "a drink-about of pine-liquor." I
+quickly dressed myself in Indian fashion, having my face ornamented with
+red paint, forming curls and other figures, and my hat ornamented with
+beautiful plumage plucked from the birds of the forest. I proceeded
+about two miles in company with most of the inhabitants of our place to
+the village of Bigman's Bank, where we were joined by the principal
+inhabitants of the neighboring villages within five or six miles of that
+place, who had previously brought their pine-apples, pealed them, grated
+them up fine and squeezed out the juice into a sixty gallon cask, which
+was full, and had been in a state of fermentation for some days past,
+but had now become pure, and contained spirit sufficient to intoxicate
+all those who drank much of it. Before the drinking commenced the men
+gave up their knives and other weapons to the squaws. The men remained
+there two or three days, but I returned home the first evening, fully
+satisfied. I continued my trade with the Indians, bartering my goods for
+tortoise-shell, cow-hides, deer-skins, tiger-skins, gum copal, India
+rubber, &c.
+
+Having much leisure time, I devoted a great part of it to learning
+their language, customs, laws, manner of taking turtle, fish, birds and
+different animals; mode of agriculture; births, marriages and burials,
+of which I shall endeavor to give the reader some information.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+Mode of Taking Turtle.
+
+
+There are three kinds of turtle inhabiting these seas: the first and
+most valuable are the hawk-bill, they are caught for the beauty of their
+shell, which contains thirteen pieces, covering the thick callipach of
+the turtle, which is from two to four feet long. The outer shell is
+taken from the carcase by setting it up before a warm fire, when it
+peels off. The second is called loggerhead turtle, having a shell much
+resembling the hawk-bill, but not worth anything for manufacturing. The
+third is the green turtle, whose flesh is very delicious, and so well
+known that I consider any description unnecessary. The Indians take them
+by what they call striking, having a pole about the size of a fishing
+rod, with a small spear, two or three inches long, well barbed at the
+point, to which one end of a small cord, about sixty feet long, is made
+fast and wound round a piece of cork-wood, resembling a weavers spool.
+He then stands up in his canoe, and by taking aim hits his mark and
+secures his prey.
+
+Another mode of taking turtle is by making set nets, about thirty feet
+square, from large twine, they then carve imitation turtle out of soft,
+light wood, which are smoked over the fire to give them a turtle color,
+and then attached to the upper side of the net, where they float on the
+surface of the water as buoys, while the bottom is anchored with stones.
+The turtle resort to the nets to play with the wooden decoys, and during
+their sport generally get one of their flippers entangled, and by
+struggling to extricate themselves get into the net and are easily
+taken.
+
+The next operation of catching them is performed by three or four
+Indians going to the resort of the turtles, where they build a temporary
+hut to live in, each takes possession of his ground, say one quarter or
+half a mile; on which he walks backwards and forwards like a sentry on
+guard during the night, watching the movements of his game; and when the
+turtles crawl up the beach to deposit their eggs, during the laying
+season, he turns them over on their backs, where they remain until he
+wants to take possession. When ready, he removes them at pleasure.
+
+The turtle generally crawls up about ten rods from the sea-shore on the
+soft beach-sand, making a large track with its flippers, and digging a
+hole in the sand about two feet deep, lays forty eggs, and returns to
+the sea again the same night. About fifteen nights after, the identical
+turtle returns to the same nest and lays forty more eggs, then retreats
+into the sea again and returns there no more during that season.
+
+The manatee, or sea-cow, is from ten to fourteen feet long, and has a
+head much resembling our common cow without horns. They often get asleep
+on the surface of the water, when the Indians very carefully paddle
+their canoes to them, and by throwing their small spears into them,
+capture them in the same manner they do the turtle. The beef when cut up
+is twelve or fourteen inches thick, having a strip of fat and lean
+intermixed about every inch, being the handsomest beef I ever beheld or
+tasted, and having no kind of fish taste or smell.
+
+The coast here abounds with a variety of good fish; the larger ones are
+mostly taken by spearing.
+
+The Indians have often brought me beef of the mountain-cow, which I
+found of a very good flavor. I never saw but one young one of that
+species, and cannot give a very good description of them. The young one
+I saw, much resembled a young fawn. They are killed by shooting.
+
+Parrots, when cooked, taste much like our wild pigeons, and are taken in
+abundance by shooting. A few tame ones are kept about the houses, which
+fly into the shade-trees near the premises, and serve as stool-pigeons
+to call down the wild flocks that are daily passing over the villages.
+
+The armadilla also inhabits this country, and is considered very
+palatable food. The guana, resembles the common lizard in shape and
+color, and is from two to four feet in length, in this country its flesh
+is considered delicious meat.
+
+The cattle are much larger than those of the United States. They seldom
+milk the cows, which run in herds, and are not domesticated. Each
+inhabitant marks his calves when young; and when he wants to kill a beef
+he shoots one of his own mark. They domesticate but few horses, having
+scarcely any roads, the country being cut up with lakes, rivers, and
+creeks, without bridges. The principal travel is performed in canoes.
+The horses are well formed, but a kind of tick eats the gristle out of
+their ears, which causes them to fall down on their head, giving them
+the appearance of lopped eared hogs.
+
+They have abundance of hogs and poultry, which are cheaply fed on
+cocoa-nuts that grow wild along the sea-coast, and are gathered in large
+quantities. The first work of the morning, performed by the Indian
+women, is breaking cocoa-nuts for the hogs, and cracking some for the
+dogs, then cutting up fine for the poultry. They grate up a large
+quantity with tin graters, put it in pots and extract the oil, which
+makes good lard for frying fish; and when it turns rancid becomes very
+fair lamp oil. Forty cocoa-nuts will produce one gallon of it.
+
+The forests abound with wild hogs of two different species, called Warry
+and Pecara, having a small tit or navel on their backs. When they are
+shot the Indians immediately cut out the tit to prevent its scenting the
+meat. I have ate the flesh of it often, and found it equal to other meat
+of the pork kind.
+
+Plantain is the principal bread food of the country, and easily
+cultivated. It also produces yams, cassauder, sweet potatoes or eddies,
+and many other vegetables; but the natives are too indolent to cultivate
+them. I lived seven months among them without tasting a mouthful of
+bread, or even craving it.
+
+I will now give a small extract of Musquitto laws, viz: If a man commits
+adultery with his neighbor's wife, and it comes to the knowledge of her
+husband, he takes his gun and goes to the forest where he finds a herd
+of cattle belonging to the neighborhood; he shoots a good fat bullock
+and calls on the neighbors to assist him to dress it and convey it home,
+where he makes a great feast, inviting the man who committed the
+offence, and all the neighbors to partake with him, when the offender,
+who is bound by law, pays for the bullock and all is amicably settled.
+
+If a man prevails on another man's wife to leave her husband and live
+with him, the law compels him to pay a fine of four backs of
+tortoise-shell, worth six dollars each, amounting to twenty-four
+dollars, and a receipt in full is verbally acknowledged, without any
+hard feelings between the parties.
+
+I once witnessed a settlement between two men in a cause of this kind,
+both parties appeared well satisfied, and parted on the most friendly
+terms.
+
+They have a singular law for the collection of debts. If I trust an
+Indian goods, he belonging to another town or settlement, and he
+neglects to pay me, and I find another Indian belonging to the same
+town, having tortoise-shell or other produce in his canoe, I can take it
+away from him for the debt, and he must look to the man who was indebted
+to me, for remuneration.
+
+Marriage contracts are made by parents while the children are infants.
+Two families living in one neighborhood, one of them having a son and
+the other a daughter, enter into a contract that they shall be
+considered man and wife. When they are of a proper age to be joined
+together, all the inhabitants of the place assemble together, build them
+a house, help them to a hammock to sleep in, and a dinner-pot for
+cooking, and they commence as house keepers. After living together for
+some years as man and wife, the husband receives a present of a female
+child from _its_ parents, which he carries home, and calls it his _young
+wife_, the first wife taking the same care of it she would of her own
+children until it becomes of proper age, when the husband builds a new
+house for the first wife to live in, and takes the young wife for a
+house-keeper. I have often been invited into Indian houses and
+introduced to the family in this manner: "This is my old wife," pointing
+to an elderly woman, and "This is my young wife," pointing to a girl
+from six to ten years old. The old wife would smooth her hair and
+appear to feel a great deal of pride in being presented to me.
+
+On the day a woman is delivered of a child she goes to the sea-side,
+wades into the water knee depth, washes herself and infant, and the next
+day slings the child on her back, gets into a canoe and paddles two or
+three miles to visit her friends.
+
+I here take my leave of Musquitto laws and customs for the present.
+
+As the plan of cutting a canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean,
+by the way of the River St. Johns, which leads from the Atlantic into
+the Lakes Nicaragua and Leon, has so much engaged the attention of the
+public latterly, my thoughts have been carried back to a conversation I
+had with an old Musquitto Indian about thirty-five years since.
+
+He said, "The Indians frequently paddled their canoes up the St. John's
+River, through Nicaragua Lake into Lake Leon, where they found a small
+river, and proceeded to the head of it, which brought them so near the
+head of another river which led into the Pacific, that they hauled their
+canoes over by land from the head of one river to the other, and then
+passed through into the Pacific Ocean."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+The bite of many of the snakes of this country is so poisonous as to
+cause death in a few hours. During my residence at the Lagoon I was
+visited by an Indian admiral, named Drummer, who resided at Sandy Bay,
+some forty miles north of the Lagoon; he related the following story,
+which happened a few weeks before. "He sent an Indian slave to his
+plantain walk, distant two or three miles, to cut some bread-stuffs; not
+returning that night, he the next morning sent his son-in-law to look
+after the slave. He not returning, the following morning a number of the
+inhabitants proceeded to the plantain walk, where they found the dead
+bodies of the two men, and the snake which had caused their death lying
+near them."
+
+Some hurricanes occasionally visit this coast, which destroy their crops
+of bread-stuffs, and cause temporary famine in certain districts.
+
+While cruising along the coast some months after the occurrence of one
+of these tornadoes, I landed within a few miles of the residence of
+Admiral Hammer, in company with a man named Benjamin Downs, who was well
+acquainted with the admiral. We proceeded to his house and asked for
+something to eat, when he told us his bread-stuffs had all been
+destroyed by a gale of wind, and addressed Downs as follows: "Ben Downs,
+don't you think the Almighty little bit too bad this time?" "Why, and
+what do you mean?" asked Downs. The admiral replied, "He send too much
+strong breeze and broke all the plantain walk."
+
+The country is infested with numerous insects, &c. such as mosquittoes,
+sand-flies, fire-ants, chigoes, centipedes, scorpions, cock-roaches, and
+an immense number of alligators. The ground in many places is overrun
+with large ants, called the travelling army, which destroy whole fields
+of vegetation. It is also infested by insects called dog-fleas, which
+are a great annoyance at night; and the sea-coast abounds with sharks of
+a very large size.
+
+To give the reader a short description of the country and inhabitants I
+shall quote from a late writer. "The Musquittoes are a small nation of
+Indians, never conquered by the Spaniards, the country being so situated
+as to render any attempts against them impracticable; for they are
+surrounded on all sides by land, by morasses or impassable mountains,
+and by sea with shoals and rocks; besides, they have such an implacable
+hatred to the Spaniards, for inhumanity and cruelty in destroying many
+millions of their neighbors, that they would never have any
+correspondence with them; for whenever they sent any missionaries or
+other agents amongst them, they _hid them_, that is, put them to death.
+The king has little more than the title, unless the nation is at war;
+having no revenues, and few prerogatives; being obliged in time of peace
+to fish and fowl for the support of himself and family. He hath indeed
+some distinction shown him, and now and then presents made him by the
+governor of Jamaica, and the English traders, who frequently touch and
+trade there."
+
+I occupied my time in selling goods and purchasing shell, skins, gums,
+&c. and during my leisure hours partook of the sports of the Indians,
+that I might pass away the time as agreeably as my situation would admit
+of, not knowing how I could get away from the country, as the English
+traders [the only people who visited the Musquittoes] had agreed never
+to carry me to Jamaica, or take any letters that would assist me to get
+to my family, fearing I should become a rival in the trade, and be the
+means of introducing others into it.
+
+About the first of November a Captain Humphreys, one of the Jamaica
+traders, arrived in the harbor, and came on shore and took supper with
+me. The Indian ladies got up a ball on the occasion. After dancing was
+over, Captain H. and myself took a walk together. During which he said
+to me, "Dunham, your case is a hard one, the old English traders on this
+coast, myself among them, have agreed never to carry you to Jamaica, or
+to assist you to get away from here, or take any letters from you to
+Jamaica or elsewhere, notwithstanding we consider you a very clever
+fellow; but if we assist you to get home, you will lead down twenty
+Yankee traders and destroy our business with the Indians." Captain H.
+appeared to possess the feelings that one seaman should have for
+another, and continued, "Dunham, if you can get ready to go with me in
+two days I will carry you to Jamaica; but I will not carry your shell,
+or any other articles you have bought of the Indians." I expressed my
+sincere thanks for his kind offer, but told him I did not wish to be
+taken there for nothing; that I had money, and was willing to give him
+one hundred dollars for my passage. I informed him that I had kept one
+half barrel of pork and a case of gin hid away for some months,
+intending to purchase a large canoe with them to carry me to the Bay of
+Honduras, if no other conveyance offered. He refused to accept any
+compensation whatever for my passage.
+
+The next day I packed up my shell, amounting to five hundred and
+seventy-two pounds, and the remnants of my goods, and sent them thirty
+miles up the river Waa-waa-han to be left with my worthy old French
+friend, Mr. Ellis. I then called on my landlord for his bill for the
+rent of my store, and board for two or three months. He laughed at my
+being so simple as to suppose he would charge anything for it, and
+peremptorily refused; but as he was indebted to me for goods, I deducted
+forty dollars from his account, which he reluctantly accepted. The
+vessel being now ready for sea, the inhabitants of the village all
+escorted me to the beach, bringing me many presents of fruits, and
+shaking me by the hand, with downcast eyes bade me a hearty farewell.
+
+Captain H. had to proceed to the coast of St. Blas to settle with his
+traders, having left goods with three or four Indians, at different
+settlements, to sell for him. This circuitous route made the distance to
+Jamaica five or six hundred miles further, stopping at a number of
+places on the Musquitto Shore, viz: St. John's River, Boco Toro and
+Crekimala, where we took on board a quantity of sarsaparilla and sundry
+other articles, and then proceeded to St. Blas. On our arrival there we
+were visited by a large number of Indians in canoes, who commenced
+trading with us. One of them acting as clerk took charge of the goods
+and dealt them out to the others by fathoming them off with his arms,
+this being their custom of measuring cloth. The goods being mostly
+staple articles, the prices there seldom varied. Shell had a fixed price
+of one dollar per pound. The captain paid little attention to the trade.
+A small pump was left in a hogshead of rum, from which the clerk filled
+the bottle and passed it round as often as it was called for, and every
+few hours he would call the captain and give him a handful of money,
+saying, "Here is so much," which he would put in his pocket, neither of
+them counting it, nor would the captain ask anything about the trade.
+Often the captain and myself took a canoe and went off fishing, leaving
+fifty or sixty Indians on board dealing with the clerk, who had the sole
+control of the trade. When we had finished trading at one place the
+Indians piloted us to another harbor on the coast, where we proceeded in
+the same manner. We sailed along the coast more than one hundred miles,
+touching and trading at the different towns. Two of the natives took
+passage with us for Jamaica, where we arrived about the first of
+December. Here I tasted bread for the first time in eight months, having
+lived on Indian bread-stuffs during that time, and seldom thinking of
+any other, being well satisfied with that food. On our arrival at
+Montego Bay the captain took me home to his house, and treated me very
+politely.
+
+Soon after my arrival in Jamaica I found a brig bound to Baltimore, and
+took passage in her; I arrived there after a voyage of twenty-five days,
+and sailed for New-York, where I had an interview with my owners, and
+obtained a furlough from them for a few days, that I might visit my
+family; after which I returned to New-York and proceeded back to the
+Musquitto Shore.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+Sloop Governor Tompkins.
+
+
+In February, 1817, I took charge of the Sloop Governor Tompkins, of
+thirty-four tons, belonging to the same owners that the Biddle did;
+being promoted two tons in the size of the vessel. I took on board an
+assorted cargo, bound for Old Providence, Corn Island, and Musquitto
+Shore. I took with me a young man named Samuel B. Warner, to serve as
+clerk of our store at Pearl Key Lagoon, where I intended to resume the
+trade I had left. My crew consisted of a mate, two seamen, and a cook.
+In the Gulf-stream we encountered a violent gale of wind, shipped a
+heavy sea, which swept our deck and washed the cook overboard, and I
+never saw him again. I made a passage of seventeen days to Old
+Providence, where I met with a heavy sale of goods; from thence I went
+to Corn Island, and to Pearl Key Lagoon. There I hired part of an Indian
+house, landed some goods, and Mr. Warner opened a store. From thence I
+sailed for Cape Gracios a Dios, and visited the king, who entertained me
+with a ball and other amusements. I then proceeded back to the Lagoon,
+touching and trading at Sandy Bay, where I was visited by a large number
+of Indians, who brought on board tortoise-shell, tiger-skins,
+deer-skins, India rubber, gum copal, &c. which I bought in exchange for
+goods. The chiefs and their subjects got very drunk on the occasion, and
+as it was difficult to suppress the quarrels that arose among them, I
+was obliged to get my vessel under weigh to rid myself of them. I
+returned to the Lagoon, where Mr. Warner had opened a very good trade
+with the Indians, and appeared well pleased with the country.
+
+I hired three Indians to man my canoe, and took a trip up the river
+Waa-waa-han, to visit my old friend Mr. Ellis, with whom I had left the
+tortoise-shell and other articles previous to my embarking with Captain
+Humphreys for Jamaica. On my passage up the river I called on Mr. Gough,
+an Englishman, whom I have spoken of in a former chapter; I remained but
+a few hours with him, having but little leisure to view his plantation,
+which had the appearance of a good soil, but lacked cultivation. When I
+arrived at the house of Mr. Ellis I was received with a hearty welcome,
+and treated with the best the country afforded. After taking some
+refreshments we took a walk over his grounds, which were well
+cultivated, having a beautiful orange walk, with two rows of trees set
+out in straight lines for nearly half a mile, forming a most
+delightfully shaded road. I purchased two or three tons of coffee from
+him, which he had raised on his place, and kept on hand for want of
+purchasers, the Jamaica traders always refusing to buy it. He told me
+he had plenty of cattle on his premises, which could be made very useful
+in clearing the ground, by breaking them in to work with ploughs. I told
+him to make out a memorandum, and I would bring him out ploughs, chains,
+ox-yokes and such other articles as he wanted. He gave me a list of what
+he needed, which I furnished him on the next voyage, when he broke in
+his cattle, cleared up new lands, and used his ploughs with very good
+success for many years afterwards. Mr. Ellis agreed to send my shell,
+goods, and coffee, down to the Lagoon in canoes, which promise he
+punctually performed. I remained with him during that night. In the
+morning, soon after I arose, I heard the bellowing of a cow near the
+house, and running out of the door a laughable scene attracted my
+attention. Mr. Ellis had domesticated a large ring-tailed monkey, and
+raised a long pole near the house, on the top of which was put a box for
+the monkey to sleep in; having fixed a small chain around his neck, with
+the end fast to the pole, jocko was furnished sufficient length of chain
+to go up and down at his pleasure. Mr. Ellis kept two or three docile
+milch cows about his premises, and one of them having ventured near the
+monkey's pole, he ran down and seized the end of her tail, taking a
+couple of turns round the pole and holding fast to the end of her
+switcher; the poor cow struggled and bellowed to get her liberty, but
+jocko held on until his master appeared with a cane, when he reluctantly
+gave up his sport.
+
+[Illustration: Jocko amusing himself with a Cow.]
+
+I took leave of my old friend and proceeded down the river. The weather
+being clear and warm, the woods and banks swarmed with macaws, parrots,
+bill-birds, and others of variegated plumage. An immense number of
+monkeys, chattering and jumping from one tree to another with great
+rapidity, formed a most pleasing and lively scene; added to which was
+the fragrance of countless flowers.
+
+I arrived at the Lagoon that evening. The next day I took my coffee,
+shell, &c. on board, arranged my business with Warner, took leave of my
+Indian friends, and sailed for home.
+
+Nothing very material happened on the way except contrary winds, which
+prolonged our passage. We arrived in New-York after an absence of one
+hundred and one days from the time we left that city, having made a
+profitable little voyage, which always procures a captain a good
+reception from all concerned in it. I then returned to Catskill, where I
+found my family and friends all well. Finding the Tompkins too small and
+uncomfortable, I requested the owners to purchase a larger craft. After
+remaining six days with my family, I received a letter from them, saying
+they had exchanged the Tompkins for a more commodious vessel, and
+requesting me to come to New-York as soon as circumstances would permit.
+Two days after the receipt of the letter I arrived there.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+Schooner Price.--First Voyage.
+
+
+About the last of May, 1817, my former owners of the Biddle and Tompkins
+purchased the Schooner Price, built at Baltimore, sixty-eight tons
+burden. On my last two voyages I found all the harbors along the Spanish
+Main so destructive to a wood-bottomed vessel, that in a few months it
+would be entirely destroyed. The fresh water emptying into the sea at
+these places make the water brackish, which increases the quantity of
+worms. The Price being iron fastened, obliged us to cover her bottom
+with zinc instead of copper, which was accomplished in a few days. We
+then put an assorted cargo on board suited to that market.
+
+On the second day of June I sailed from New-York, bound to Old
+Providence, St. Andrews, Corn Island, and Musquitto Shore. Nothing
+worthy of notice took place on the passage. We arrived at Old Providence
+in seventeen days, where I commenced a brisk trade. The inhabitants
+urgently requested me to give them a ball. I had on board a drummer and
+a cook who played the flute; they had a fiddler and triangle player on
+shore. I complied with their request, they agreeing to make all the
+necessary arrangements, as my time was occupied in selling goods, (such
+as calicoes, jackonets, muslins, shoes, ribbons, jewelry, cologne water,
+pomatum, beads, liquors, &c.) having an invoice of one hundred and sixty
+different articles to be sold at retail. During the day the managers of
+the ball came on board, and I furnished them with coffee, sugar,
+crackers, cheese, &c. Soon after sunset I went on shore, where I found a
+motley group of English, Spanish, and Curracoa natives of all colors. I
+was introduced to a young white lady as a partner, who had been educated
+in Jamaica, and understood the rules of country dances. According to the
+custom of the place, the person giving a ball is expected to lead the
+figure during the whole night. I conformed to the fashion of course. On
+examining the room, I soon found it had no floor, but being an old
+sailor, thought I could beat my way, which I accomplished in as gallant
+a manner as did Lord Nelson when he fought through the combined fleet.
+
+I had a trunk full of sheep skin morocco ladies' shoes on board, which
+cost at auction thirty-one cents per pair, I sold most of them here at
+two dollars per pair; many of them were danced out in one night. I sold
+many other articles at about the same per centage.
+
+By the custom of the Island, every person invited to a ball must give
+one in return. One of the ladies who attended my ball gave one two
+nights after. Her outlay for goods bought from me was over sixty
+dollars.
+
+Two or three days after the second ball I sailed for St. Andrews, where
+we arrived the same evening. Immediately on our anchoring a large number
+of the inhabitants of the Island came on board, ours being the first
+American vessel they had seen there in fourteen years. I commenced a
+heavy trade with them. This Island contains three times the population
+of Old Providence. As these Islanders had heard that I gave a ball at
+Providence, it would not do to refuse them one. It being agreed upon, I
+told them to appoint their own managers, and then send on board and get
+such articles as they required to treat their company with, not wishing
+to be annoyed until they were ready; and as I was a stranger, I did not
+want to have anything to do with giving the invitations. At the
+appointed hour I went on shore, a horse and servant were waiting to
+convey me to the ball-room, where I found a polished English lady, who
+was to act as my partner, and lead the figure during the night, which I
+was compelled to submit to until the ball ended. There was a floor in
+the ball-room here, which made our dancing less laborious. We kept it up
+briskly until 12 o'clock, and then partook of some refreshments. We then
+recommenced dancing, and kept perseveringly at it until sunrise next
+morning. But my trouble had just commenced. More than one half of the
+free inhabitants were colored, whom I afterward found to be my best
+customers, none of whom had been invited to the ball except an old man,
+by the name of Bent, the wealthiest man on the Island, owning about
+ninety slaves, whom the whites dare not overlook. I satisfied the
+colored people that it was no fault of mine that they had not received
+an invitation to my ball, at the same time treating them with the
+greatest politeness, inviting them on board to partake of refreshments.
+They, in order to be revenged on their white neighbors, gave a ball two
+or three nights afterward, passing a resolution that no white man except
+Captain Dunham should be invited.
+
+At the appointed time a horse and waiter were sent to convey me to the
+dance, which I knew it was my interest to attend. On arriving at the
+place I found everything in good order, and was received with the most
+facinating flourishes of high life, and introduced to a partner
+three-fourths white, dressed in silk. I was called upon again to lead
+the figure for the night. At 12 o'clock partook of refreshments, and
+retired at four next morning, highly delighted with my prowess in
+dancing.
+
+By this introduction I secured all the trade of the colored population,
+and retained it until I left, which was several years after the dance.
+
+We next sailed for Corn Island, having parted with all the inhabitants,
+both white and black, on the most friendly terms. We arrived in two
+days, and commenced trade, as usual; we procured hogs, poultry, and
+fruits in abundance. Our trade was unexpectedly interrupted by a gale of
+wind which parted my largest cable. I lost the anchor, was driven over
+a reef of rocks, broke the rudder, and found myself at sea in a gale,
+which lasted about three days; after which we rigged a spar to act as a
+substitute for a rudder, by which means we regained the harbor. There we
+repaired the damage, and sailed for Pearl Key Lagoon, where I found Mr.
+Warner in good health and spirits, and my Indian friends overjoyed to
+see me. I landed many goods here, that I might get at my assortment and
+recruit our store, and sold some articles to the inhabitants.
+
+We then sailed for Cape Gracios a Dios. On our arrival, the king, who
+had built himself a new house, came on board, with some of his admirals
+and other great men, whom I treated with liquor until they were all
+badly intoxicated. I bartered some goods in exchange for shell, skins,
+gums, &c. and proceeded down along the coast to Bluefields, touching and
+trading at the different harbors, and then returned to the Lagoon, where
+I landed the remainder of my goods at our store, and then sailed for
+New-York. Nothing material happening on the passage, I shall omit a
+description of it. On arriving in the city I was well received by my
+owners and friends, having made a prosperous voyage. After discharging
+my cargo, I visited my family in Catskill, where I spent ten days, and
+then returned to New-York to prepare for another voyage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+Schooner Price.--Second Voyage.
+
+
+Finding our trade increasing, my owners and myself thought it would be
+much advanced by sending out a small vessel to be stationed on the
+coast, and employed in running along the shore selling goods, and
+collecting return cargoes for the Price, viz: tortoise-shell, hides,
+skins, gums, sarsaparilla, &c. The owners of the Price then purchased a
+small sloop, called the Traverse, of near nineteen tons burden, having a
+mast fifty feet long. We sheathed her bottom with zinc, and rigged her
+for sea. My old mate, Captain N. Soper, volunteered to take command of
+her; a man from Troy, named Thomas Teft, shipped as mate, and a man from
+Staten Island as seaman. I had an Indian boy who was bound to me as an
+apprentice, who volunteered as cook. The Price was armed with a
+six-pound cannon, well mounted, and the Traverse with a swivel. We soon
+got our cargoes on board, and insured both vessels. The intention was to
+keep company as long as the weather would permit. Both were placed under
+my control. The weather being very cold, and our little vessels deeply
+loaded, a heavy sea in the harbor had coated them with ice.
+
+On the nineteenth day of February, 1818, we got under weigh, the
+wharves being lined with spectators to see a vessel of eighteen tons
+commencing a voyage of over two thousand miles. They gave us three
+hearty cheers, which we answered by discharging our cannon. A fair wind
+carried us to sea, where we kept company for three days, when a violent
+gale separated us. I cruised the whole of next day in search of the
+Traverse, without finding her. Thinking it useless, I resumed my course
+and proceeded to the Island of Old Providence, where we arrived after a
+passage of seventeen days, and opened my trade as usual. The Traverse
+arrived four days after, having sprung her mast near the deck.
+
+The next day we hauled the Traverse along side of the Price, raised her
+masts with the schooner's purchases, sawed off the broken part, about
+five feet, took her sails on shore and shortened them to fit the mast,
+put them in good order for sea, exchanged part of her goods and gave her
+a suitable cargo to retail along the coast. Two or three days after I
+gave the captain orders to proceed to the Main and stop to trade at
+sundry ports, named in his instructions, and from thence proceed to St.
+Blas, where he would meet me in the Price. I took Henry T. Smith with me
+to Lagoon, to act as clerk in our store, in place of Mr. Warner, who
+wished to return to New-York. I remained here two or three days, and
+then sailed for the Lagoon. On my arrival Mr. Warner was in good health,
+and much pleased to find himself released by Mr. Smith's taking his
+place as clerk in the store. We landed the most of our heavy goods,
+made every necessary arrangement for business, and giving the proper
+directions, I proceeded to Bluefields, sold a few goods, cancelled some
+old debts, and procured a pilot for the coast of St. Blas, for which we
+soon after sailed.
+
+I obtained information at Corn Island, at the Lagoon, and at Bluefields,
+of the English traders having heard that I intended to extend my trade
+to that coast. They had employed an agent whom they had supplied with
+the necessary articles of trade, and told the inhabitants that if they
+traded with that Yankee captain they would withdraw from them; and also
+told them that the Yankee captain might sell them some articles a little
+cheaper at first, but that he was a worthless fellow, and could not
+continue the trade long, when they would be left destitute, as no
+Englishman would supply them. The English traders urged the Indians to
+put myself and crew to death, and burn our vessel. My friends who gave
+me the information, strongly remonstrated against my going to St. Blas,
+saying that my life would be sacrificed in so doing. In a conversation
+afterwards with one of the English traders, I spoke of the cold-blooded
+murder they wished the St. Blas Indians to be guilty off, which he
+denied, but admitted that they told the Indians to destroy our goods.
+
+However the minds of the Indians might have been operated upon at the
+time of hearing their murderous proposals, they made no attempt to harm
+me.
+
+[Illustration: Captain Dunham landing at St. Blas.]
+
+On our arrival on the coast of St. Blas, not knowing the channel, we
+came to anchor near an island, where we discovered a number of canoes,
+and thirty or forty Indians on the shore. Being short of water, I
+concluded to take a small water-keg into my canoe and land among the
+Indians for the purpose of procuring some, and also to get a pilot, if
+possible, to take the vessel into the harbor. Before leaving the vessel
+I told the mate that the Indians had such an inveterate hatred against
+the Spaniards, that if any of their vessels were cast away on this coast
+they would massacre every person on board; that I thought they had never
+seen the American flag, and bade him keep a good look-out with the
+spy-glass, and not hoist our colors until he saw me safe among the
+Indians, fearing they might suppose it to be Spanish, or some enemy's
+flag. My mulatto pilot and sailor, and myself, then proceeded toward the
+island where we had seen the Indians. When within about one hundred rods
+of the shore there were about thirty bows and arrows pointed towards us.
+On looking back to the vessel I saw the colors hoisted and streaming
+with the wind. It being too late to retreat, and perceiving that the
+water was only about two feet deep, I jumped overboard, and told my men
+to follow; having no other clothes on save our shirts and pantaloons,
+the water was not particularly annoying. I took my hat in my hand and
+extended my arms full length, showing thereby that there were no weapons
+about me. As I approached the shore they all laid down their bows and
+arrows and met us with a hearty welcome. The Indian arrows are made of
+strong reed, four or five feet long, pointed with nails or spikes about
+fourteen or fifteen inches in length, which they sharpen with files or
+cold chissels. With these they kill wild beasts, fowls and fish. When
+shot into the water the reed is so buoyant that the light end swims
+about one foot above the surface.
+
+Previous to my departure from the Price, my Mate took a scissors, a
+knife, and some other articles out of the goods belonging to the cargo,
+and left them lying carelessly about the vessel. I requested him to put
+them back into the packages, together with any articles he might use;
+but he told me very abruptly that _he_ purchased them in New-York. Some
+angry words passed between us. As he was an intemperate, bad
+dispositioned man, I had reason to suppose that he hoisted the colors
+for the purpose of revenging himself on me; thinking, doubtless, that
+the Indians would murder me, though he excused himself by saying he
+thought I had landed before he hoisted them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+St. Blas has no king, but is a kind of Patriarchal government, being
+ruled by the old men and the sookerman of the Island, whose laws are
+obeyed in the strictest manner. The sookerman acts as physician, and
+also foretells future events. Theft or adultery is seldom known in that
+country. The civilized world talk of liberty, but these savages alone
+truly enjoy it. They pay no tithes or taxes, require no locks to protect
+themselves from thieves, have neither taverns nor boarding houses, every
+traveller being made welcome at whatever house he may happen to stop.
+There he will receive such entertainment and fare as is provided for the
+family. Their hospitality is the same, whether he remains a day, a
+month, or longer. I never heard of but one woman of that tribe who had
+issue by a white man. The father of the child was a captain of a Jamaica
+trading vessel. When the Indians discovered her situation, she was
+separated from the tribe, placed in a house built for her in the woods,
+entirely deprived of all kind of intercourse with them; being considered
+as an outcast. When the child was three or four years of age it was put
+on board of a Jamaica vessel and banished from the country.
+
+In describing my next voyage I shall narrate many of the customs and
+manners of this region. The Indians brought their canoes alongside of
+our vessel and piloted us safely into the harbor, called Little Cordee,
+where we found good anchorage; we were immediately visited by some
+thirty or forty canoes. One of the Indians asked the privilege of
+trading for me. I told him he might if he got permission from the old
+men and sookermen, as we had not yet their leave so to do. He paddled to
+the shore, and returned in a short time with three old men and a
+sookerman, from whom we received the license which we desired.
+
+I gave them plenty to eat and drink; they in return invited me on shore,
+where I was well entertained. My Indian trader then commenced the
+business for me by fathoming off cloth, many articles of staple goods,
+such as shirting, check, powder and shot, &c. all of which had been sold
+at one uniform price for many years. The Indians also had always
+received one dollar per pound for tortoise-shell. When any goods
+differed from such as the English traders had sold them, my Indian agent
+would ascertain the price from me and proceed in his usual way in
+bartering and selling. It was entirely unnecessary for me to trouble
+myself about his bargains. He would come to me with his hands full of
+silver change, saying, here captain, is so much money, and without
+further remark would again turn to his business of salesman.
+
+After remaining three or four days, my clerk asked me if he might be my
+trader during the season of taking turtle, which lasted four or five
+months. His price was ten pounds Jamaica currency, about thirty dollars.
+This being pretty reasonable, I answered him in the affirmative, telling
+him to select such goods as he wished for his trade, I at the same time
+taking an account of them, although I dared not let him know that I had
+done so. I furnished him with the means of preserving his goods from the
+rain, supplied him with steelyards, and every article necessary for the
+trade on that coast. The goods amounted to about six hundred dollars. He
+then volunteered to pilot us along the coast free of expense, except his
+board and liquor.
+
+We at length got under weigh, having about twenty canoes in tow,
+proceeded a few miles and came too at night under the lee of an island.
+In the morning we started again, and arrived at the River Caledonia;
+here we obtained permission to trade, the inhabitants giving us a hearty
+welcome. After remaining here two or three days we sailed for the River
+Mona, opening our trade immediately on our arrival, having obtained such
+license from the proper authorities, remained but a few days, and sailed
+for the River De Ablo, or River Devil. Here I engaged an Indian named
+Billy, who had sailed with Captain Humphrey, an English trader, some two
+years before. Billy was much pleased to see me, and immediately
+commenced trading in my service, upon the same terms as those on which I
+had engaged the former Indian, Campbell; he selected his goods and took
+about the same quantity as Campbell had, and was fitted out much in the
+same manner, having everything necessary to carry on the trade during
+the season. After remaining here three or four days, we sailed back to
+the River Cordee, where I had ordered Captain Soper to meet me with his
+sloop.
+
+I remained at Cordee about two weeks, waiting for the appearance of the
+vessel. On her arrival we took out all the cargo she had collected along
+the coast, and put it on board the Price, and took what was left on
+board the Price and put it on board the Traverse, and, according to my
+letter of instruction, gave Captain Soper command of the Price, with
+directions to proceed to New-York; he took Mr. Warner with him. On
+taking charge of the Traverse myself, I retained Mr. Tefts, my Indian
+apprentice boy, also an Indian lad who was one of the Musquitto king's
+brothers with me, and one of the St. Blas Indians, who acted as seaman.
+The schooner soon sailed for New-York, and we for Corn Island, where we
+arrived in four days. After touching at Corn Island, we sailed from
+thence to Cape Gracios a Dios, where we were visited by the king, who
+invited us to his house, which I accepted of. Remaining here some days,
+my little sloop was overloaded with Indians, eating and drinking, the
+king being constantly intoxicated. He gave me directions not to trust
+any Indian on his account without a written order from him. He came on
+board one day and asked me for the amount of his account, which was
+near one hundred dollars. He examined it silently, then ordered his men
+into his canoe and abruptly left the vessel. I felt somewhat surprised
+at his leaving in this manner without an explanation.
+
+In the afternoon some Indians came on board who had been in the habit of
+bringing the king's verbal orders for goods, and said the king had sent
+them to get a ten gallon keg of rum for him; not wishing to offend him,
+I asked the Indians where he, the king, was, they replied, "We must
+paddle up the river a little bit, and then ride horse a little bit."
+Determined to know if there was any fraud in the verbal order, I started
+with the Indians to see the king.
+
+We paddled up the river about four or five miles, when we landed. A
+horse was brought for each man; our leader mounted, taking his ten
+gallon keg up before him; each was supplied with a bunch of plantain
+leaves for a saddle. The night being dark, and the rain falling in
+torrents, we groped our way through thick woods, my horse acting as my
+guide. I kept my hand extended before my face to protect my eyes from
+the limbs of the trees for some distance, when we arrived at a small
+creek; we dismounted and crossed over in a canoe, the Indians swimming
+their horses across. Being mounted again we rode about three miles
+further through a level prairie land. The foot-path being covered with
+water about four inches deep, and the rain falling incessantly. At
+length we arrived at the king's house, his majesty not having a dry
+thread of clothes about him. On entering I found an Indian by the name
+of Thompson, an old acquaintance, acting as door-keeper, who conducted
+me into the house and presented me with a hammock; and being very much
+fatigued, begged him not to tell the king that I had arrived. He
+promised he would not. Soon after I got in my hammock, the king, who lay
+in an adjoining room, called for a drink of water, which was brought.
+The servant at the same time telling him that the American captain had
+arrived (that being the name by which I was known on the Indian coast.)
+He immediately arose, told his servants, called quarter-masters, to
+bring the women for a dance. To please him I had to put on an Indian
+dress, have my face painted, and my head ornamented with feathers. The
+king took the lead in the performances, which lasted until morning; he
+ordered a bullock to be killed for breakfast, which made a very good
+repast, after which I retired, much fatigued, to a hammock, where a
+sound sleep soon refreshed me. The king retired to rest, slept until
+dark, when, springing up suddenly, he ordered his quarter-masters to
+bring the horses. I remonstrated with him, saying, "For pity sake, king,
+do not take me through that wilderness this night." Rubbing his eyes, he
+declared, "It is not night, but morning." After some time, being
+convinced of his mistake, he ordered the quarter-masters to collect the
+women again for another dance, which was kept up until 11 o'clock that
+night, when I begged permission to retire.
+
+Next morning the king apologized to me by saying, since he had detained
+me so long, I should be remunerated with some tortoise-shell, for "I
+know," said he, "you would willingly stop any where, two or three days,
+if you could get a few pounds of tortoise-shell." Our horses were soon
+brought, rigged as usual, with a bunch of plantain leaves for a saddle,
+and a bridle made of bark. The king mounted, one of his queens being
+placed behind him on the same horse; the gristle of his horse's ears
+being removed, caused them to lap down on his head much like a
+long-eared hog. I mounted the other. The mud and water was at least four
+inches deep on the road, being the rainy season. We proceeded about a
+quarter of a mile, when the king dismounted, and getting up behind me,
+called to his waiters to get him a large stick, which he applied to my
+poor old horse's flank without mercy; off we went in a smart gallop, the
+mud and water flying in every direction. Having proceeded about a mile
+we came to a small lane leading from the main road, which we were
+travelling, along which were three small houses to be seen. The king
+halted, saying to me, "Go up here and I will get you some shell." I rode
+with the king to the front of the house, where a young Indian girl,
+apparently eighteen years of age, stood near the door. The king
+addressing me, asked if I did not think her handsome. My answer, of
+course, was in the affirmative. The king then commanded his
+quarter-masters to catch her and throw her on behind me. The girl having
+an old dress on, ran into the house and returned with a clean one, the
+quarter-masters then lifted her on behind me astride the horse. The king
+kept in the rear to drive my horse into a canter, the mud and water
+flying into our eyes at such a rate that I could hardly keep the road.
+When we came to the creek the horses swam across, while the king, the
+two women, and myself crossed in a canoe; the king trying to upset us,
+which I prevented almost by main force, as the creek swarmed with
+alligators. Having passed it, we travelled through woods for two or
+three miles, when we embarked in a canoe for the Cape. Gladly did I
+return to my vessel. The king, not unmindful of his promise to make me
+some remuneration for my detention, sold me some thirty or forty pounds
+of shell, which he owed to an English trader.
+
+[Illustration: Mosquito King and Captain Dunham taking an airing.]
+
+There was at the time two English trading vessels lying in the harbor. I
+had one passenger on board, belonging to Corn Island. One day the
+English captains, my passengers, and myself, being overtaken by a rain
+storm on shore, took shelter under an old woman's roof, where she was
+engaged in frying fish for her dinner. Her house was built like many
+houses in that country, simply of a thatched roof, supported by
+crotches, having no sides. As we were assembled here, the notion got
+into our heads to try the old lady's temper and placing ourselves at
+the four corners of her domicile, clapped our shoulders under the
+roof and bore it off, leaving the poor old woman frying her fish in the
+rain, which soon put out her fire, while we received a volley of curses
+for our sport. We, however, returned it to its proper place, breaking
+the poor old creature's crockery in so doing, which was all she
+possessed. We invited her on board our vessels the next day, telling her
+we would make good her loss; nor were we unmindful of our promise when
+she made her appearance. We supplied her with plates, cups, saucers,
+knives, forks, &c. so that her house was better furnished with these
+articles than any in the town. We also threw in a bottle of rum to make
+the affair perfectly satisfactory to her.
+
+After remaining at the Cape a few days, where I purchased some shell, a
+considerable quantity of India rubber, gum copal, deer and tiger-skins,
+and deer-horns, paying for them in goods, we proceeded to Sandy Bay,
+where, after bartering four or five days for such articles as we got at
+the Cape, we next sailed for Great River, continuing our bartering for
+the same articles, and then started for Corn Island, intending to take
+in provision there, it being decidedly the best place for that purpose
+in the country. From thence we sailed for the Lagoon, where having
+landed such goods as were needed to keep a good assortment in our store,
+we proceeded along the coast, touching at Bluefields, Martina,
+Buckatora, and some other small ports, and then returned to Corn
+Island. Here I met the schooner Price, which had arrived two days
+previous, direct from New-York, with a new supply of goods. Captain
+Soper informed me that he had lost one man overboard on his passage
+home. I found on board the Price a man named Mores, who had some
+interest in the cargo. I gave the command of the sloop to Mr. Tefts, and
+took charge of the schooner again. I supplied Captain Tefts with a new
+assortment of goods, and ordered him to proceed along the Musquitto
+coast and procure all the return cargo he could, and from thence to St.
+Blas, where he could meet me in the Price. I proceeded with the Price
+direct to St. Blas, where I repainted her. Here Mr. Morse was taken sick
+and died, and we buried him on an uninhabited island, and then sailed
+for the harbor of Cordee, where I found my Indian trader, Campbell, who
+came on board and brought the returns for the goods I had left with him
+to sell. He brought on board a quantity of shell, a few bags of cocoa, a
+purse of money, and the remnants of the goods, and told me he had three
+or four canoe loads of fustic, laying on the beach, which he had
+purchased for me. He laid the shell, cocoa, return goods, and the purse
+of money down on the deck, telling me that was all he had. I asked him
+if he had taken out his wages. He said he had, and we considered all
+accounts between us settled, without making any figures. We remained
+here two or three days, and purchased a few thousand cocoa-nuts, and
+then sailed for the River De Ablo, where I met my other trader, Billy,
+who came on board with his returns, which being the same as Campbell's,
+I settled his account in the same manner, with one exception. I asked
+him if he had taken out his wages, he answered, "Not all," when I handed
+back the purse of money to him, and he took out fourteen dollars, and
+then returned it, saying, "Now we are even," which was as good as a
+receipt.
+
+Campbell was on board acting as pilot, and he and Billy told me they
+must go and see my country, which request I readily granted. I purchased
+more cocoa-nuts, and took them on board when the Traverse arrived. I put
+all the goods I had left of her cargo on board the schooner Price, and
+prepared to sail the next morning. That evening we were visited by all
+the old men and sookermen in that vicinity, together with forty or fifty
+young men; the bottle of rum was passed round among them often during
+the night by Campbell or Billy, the old men relating stories and giving
+their charge to my traders, who were going to New-York with me. The St.
+Blas Indians have a peculiar custom about talking: when an old man is
+speaking, all the company are silent, not one lisp is heard from any
+other person, except at the end of every sentence, when each listener
+says, "Ah!" When one old man has ended his story another commences
+without any interruption. I laid down to sleep at eleven o'clock and
+slept till five in the morning, when I awoke and found them talking.
+Some time after, I called one of the Indians aft who spoke English, and
+asked him why this talk had continued all night: he answered me by
+saying, "The old men had told Campbell and Billy that they would be the
+first of their tribe whoever visited my country; that they must keep
+sober and honest, and conduct themselves like gentlemen."
+
+Having all things ready for sea, I took leave of the old patriarchs by a
+hearty shake of the hand, and proceeded on my voyage.
+
+Nothing material occurred until we got into the latitude of 24 deg., when
+our main-mast was carried away and we rigged a temporary jury-mast:
+having a long fore-sail, we were enabled to keep the schooner on her
+way; and being a sharp Baltimore clipper, she made pretty good headway
+under her fore-sail. Three days after, while laying too in a gale of
+wind, we lost one of our seamen, named William Latch, overboard. After a
+passage of thirty-five days we arrived in New-York. My Indians knew not
+what cold meant, and having some flannel on board, I made them some
+shirts on the passage, and gave them some old cast-off woollen clothing
+to protect them from the wintry weather of our coast. When we approached
+the cold latitudes we had a warm south-east wind, which brought us into
+the harbor of New-York without experiencing much of the severity of the
+weather. The first night after our arrival I went to my boarding house,
+where I tarried until early next morning, when I went to visit the
+schooner. As I approached the wharf where she lay, I saw Campbell
+looking at his fingers, turning his hands over and viewing them very
+closely. I accosted him in his accustomed manner of speaking, saying,
+"Campbell, what de matter?" he replied, "My God! captain, somet'ing bite
+me and I can't see 'im." His own country being infested with
+musquittoes, sand-flies, fire-ants, and sundry insects, which he could
+see, this invisible sting of cold he could not account for. I took them
+to a clothing store and rigged them with winter dunage. I then took them
+to a boarding house, and in the evening the mate escorted them to the
+play-house, thinking he could astonish them. The next morning I asked
+Campbell how he liked the play, he replied, "Too much fight; one old man
+go dead." In spite of all my efforts to the contrary, they would follow
+me at a distance. One day being near the City Hall, my two Indians
+following, as usual, I thought I would stop and let them overtake me,
+and have a view of the building, knowing that Campbell had never seen
+even a frame house, previous to his arrival in New-York. As they came up
+with me the keeper came out, and invited us up into the picture gallery,
+where we saw full-length portraits of all the governors of the State,
+and many other distinguished men, which the Indians viewed without any
+manifestation of surprise. We soon after went down Broadway, and as we
+approached St. Paul's Church, Campbell observing the covered figure of
+the Saint, set in the wall of the building, stopped, and looking at it
+some time, said, "Captain what dat old man tand dare for?" We passed on
+a little further, when I met my old acquaintance, Doctor Samuel L.
+Mitchell, who had visited me on my return from every voyage since I had
+been in this trade, in consequence of my furnishing him with roots,
+plants, and Indian curiosities. He was pleased at seeing the Indians,
+and asked what country they came from, their customs, manners, &c. I
+gave him a brief explanation, and he then insisted upon my going home
+with him, saying, "Mrs. Mitchell must see them," to which I consented.
+We repaired to his house, where I made a short visit, and he agreed to
+let me retire, provided I would come to the college at two o'clock that
+day, as he was to lecture there at that hour. On my return from the
+doctor's I passed through Maiden Lane, where many of the windows were
+decorated with toys. My Indians stopped to view them, and I could not
+get them any further until I entered the stores and purchased some
+whistling birds, swimming geese, &c. which they looked upon as the
+greatest curiosities in the whole city. At two o'clock I repaired to the
+college with my Indians. The doctor felt of their heads, looked down
+their throats, &c. and said they belonged to the same species as those
+who inhabit the Sandwich Islands and a part of Asia. The students gave
+them a donation of eight dollars, and we returned to our respective
+boarding houses.
+
+A few days after, General Jackson visited New-York, which caused
+considerable noise and bustle. My Indians called on me to conduct them
+to the place of his landing, which was Whitehall, saying, "Me want to
+see dat big big American gineral." I conducted them to the place of
+landing, and the first object which attracted their attention was the
+military officers forming the procession, with long feathers on their
+hats, and they begged me very hard to go purchase some of those feathers
+for them. These Indians had every temptation to get intoxicated, having
+plenty of money given them by the owners of the Price and myself, and a
+donation of eight dollars from the students of the college: in addition
+to which the cartmen daily put up six-penny pieces for them to shoot at
+with their bows and arrows, which they generally got. We made them
+acquainted with a number of pleasant liquors which they had never before
+tasted, such as wine, cordial, beer, &c. but nothing could induce them
+to get drunk, having received a strict charge from the old men of their
+own country before they left home to keep sober until they returned.
+
+After going through the necessary forms at the Custom House, the vessel
+was unloaded, and I obtained a furlough of two weeks to visit my family
+at Catskill, whom I found in good health. At the appointed time I
+returned to New-York and made the necessary preparations for another
+voyage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+Schooner Price.--Third Voyage.
+
+
+Having purchased a suitable cargo for the trade, and got it on board, we
+were prevailed upon to take as passengers, a man and his wife, with two
+small children and a black servant, whom we tried hard to get rid of, by
+charging them an exorbitant price; but the man insisted on going, having
+been formerly a resident of Old Providence, and one of my old customers
+in that island. My cabin was not larger than a farmer's hen-roost,
+having only four berths, and those so narrow that one could hardly turn
+over in them. At night we covered the floor of the little cabin
+completely; the man and his wife, two children, the black servant, my
+two Indians, cabin boy, the mate and myself, all lodged in one nest. We
+sailed from New-York about the third of March, 1819, bound to Old
+Providence, St. Andreas, Corn Island, Musquitto Shore, and St. Blas.
+When we arrived in latitude 32 deg. we were overtaken by a violent gale of
+wind, which obliged us to heave the vessel too. As the gale abated (the
+sea running very high) we shipped a sea which swept our deck, taking the
+cook and caboose, which was well served down to ring-bolts, drove into
+the deck, but they were drawn out by the violence of the waves. Our
+boat, oars, and other articles on deck were all swept overboard. By
+means of some spare running gear the cook was hauled on board. The next
+day the sea moderated, when we opened the hatches and got out a new
+caboose. On my departure from Corn Island I had taken an order from an
+English trader to bring out two patent American cabooses for him, which
+I then had on board. We rigged our new caboose and proceeded on our
+voyage, meeting with no further disasters worthy of notice. On our
+arrival at Old Providence I found a small fleet of vessels there, called
+patriots, (another name for pirates,) who had taken possession of the
+island, and had hoisted the Columbian flag. On my entering the harbor
+they laid an embargo on my vessel for a few days. The expedition was
+commanded by a man who called himself Aurey, assisted by another, styled
+Admiral Bogar, and the third went by the title of Commodore Parker.
+Their squadron consisted of two small gun brigs, and two or three
+privateer schooners. Their land force amounted to two or three hundred
+men: they had what they called an English camp, a French camp, and an
+American camp. They had hanged one American, and severely flogged
+another for some crime, giving him one hundred lashes under the gallows.
+They pretended to hold some commission under General Bolivar. I demanded
+a return of my vessel, which they reluctantly granted me, and I sailed
+for the Island of St. Andreas, where I found another squadron of vessels
+from England, consisting of a twenty-gun brig, commanded by Captain
+Hudson, with three transport ships, having about five hundred officers
+and soldiers on board, bound to Porto Bello, all under the command of
+Sir Gregor McGregor. On my arrival I was visited by an old English
+officer, named Rafter, who was apparently a gentleman, he acted as
+commander in the absence of Sir Gregor McGregor, who had not arrived at
+that time; he wanted to purchase a pipe of gin from me for the use of
+the troops, and give me a bill on London in payment. The next day Sir
+Gregor arrived from St. Domingo, in company with an old Spanish
+gentleman, named Lopes, from whom he had borrowed about twelve thousand
+dollars, and promised to make him governor of the first city he should
+capture.
+
+The next day Commodore Hudson came on board the Price, and offered me
+one hundred dollars per day and a handsome present for myself, to join
+the fleet and go on an expedition with them for a few days. I told him
+that my vessel was insured, and that it would be a total breach of my
+orders to comply with his request. In the afternoon they laid an embargo
+on the Price. The following day was appointed for a great celebration,
+which was to take place at the house of Mrs. Lever, a respectable widow
+lady. I visited the place where they landed the troops from the vessels,
+raised a flag staff and hoisted the New Grenadian flag. Silk cushions
+were brought into the house and placed on the table where General
+McGregor, Governor Lopes, and other officers, took the oath of
+allegiance to the government of New Grenada; most of the officers being
+under half pay from the English, looked sad when they renounced their
+allegiance to their own country. Three days after, they sailed for Porto
+Bello, taking Colonel Woodbine as pilot, and proceeding within a few
+miles of that place, they landed in a thicket of woods; then taking a
+foot-path, they entered the city undiscovered by the inhabitants, and
+took possession of the place without the loss of a man. Most of the
+inhabitants fled from their houses and left them to the conquerors. Old
+Lopes was appointed governor, and the officers taking possession of the
+vacant dwelling houses which the Spaniards had left, sat themselves down
+like private gentlemen. Soon after the soldiers revolted and refused to
+do duty, alledging that the general had promised them twenty dollars
+bounty for the first city they should capture. Before the insurrection
+could be put down, the general raised eight dollars per man and
+distributed it among them, and then issued a proclamation to the
+inhabitants, inviting them to return to their habitations and take the
+oath of allegiance to the new government, when private property would be
+respected. Most of the people complied with his request, by taking the
+oath required of them. In the meantime information was secretly sent
+over to the Pacific by these Spaniards, where they raised an army of
+eight hundred men, who marched across the Isthmus, and lay encamped in
+the woods three or four miles back of the city; while those who had
+taken the oath of allegiance were keeping up a regular communication
+with them. The soldiers who had possession of the city having procured
+an abundance of liquor, all got intoxicated, and the officers retired to
+their beds without placing any sentries on duty. The Spaniards in the
+city sent spies to the royalists, informing them that the patriot
+soldiers were all drunk, and totally off their guard. During the night
+the royalists marched into the city and took possession of the forts,
+which were very strong, (one in particular is said to mount three
+hundred and sixty-five guns,) without meeting with any resistance, or
+the loss of a single man. They killed about thirty of the patriots and
+made the remainder prisoners, only twelve escaping. I here give you a
+sketch of the complete success of the Spaniards, as recited by the
+General's right hand man. Lieutenant Cookley, aid-de-camp to General
+McGregor, about three weeks after the loss of the army, said, "That on
+the night of the re-capture of the city by the royalists, he was
+quartered in the second story of the government house in Porto Bello,
+General McGregor occupying one room, and Governor Lopes another, and
+being himself very unwell, he was obliged to get out of his bed and walk
+the room. Between three and four o'clock he heard some persons coming up
+stairs. Feeling alarmed, he seized his sword and pistols and ran to the
+door of the room, where he met three men well armed; he shot one, and
+killed another with his sword, the third one retreated with a slight
+wound; in the meantime he cried out, 'General McGregor, you are
+betrayed.' The general sprang from his bed, and taking his mattrass,
+dropped it from the window on the ground; then letting himself down to
+it, ran for the shore, and jumping into the sea attempted to swim to the
+commodore's vessel; but being unskilled in swimming, he was picked up by
+a boat and carried on board, having no clothing on except his shirt.
+Another division of Spaniards ascended the stairs of the government
+house, and proceeding to the room of Governor Lopes, killed him in his
+bed."
+
+Those taken prisoners were marched across the Isthmus to the South Sea,
+where they were compelled to work in chains on the fortifications. Some
+months after I learned that these prisoners, in trying to effect their
+escape, were most of them butchered by the Spaniards.
+
+After my release from the embargo at St. Andreas I sailed for the coast
+of St. Blas, where I arrived without any further molestation, at the
+harbor of De Ablo. My vessel was soon surrounded with canoes, filled
+with old men and young ones. No ambassador returning from a foreign
+mission to his own country was ever received with a more hearty welcome
+than my Indians were by their own countrymen. Liquor was soon passed
+around, and a long conversation commenced, which lasted, with little
+intermission, until the next morning; and my traders seemed to be
+absolved from the injunction laid upon them by the old men, not to get
+drunk during their voyage, as I discovered that Campbell was so drunk
+before twelve o'clock, that he could not rise from his seat without
+help. While relating his adventures he gave his hearers a long
+description of the white rain he had seen in New-York, (meaning snow,)
+and sundry other wonderful events and curiosities.
+
+The Andes mountains on this coast extend near the sea-shore, and are
+inhabited by baboons and other large monkeys, who keep up a hideous
+noise during the night, which was a great annoyance to our slumbers, as
+the echo passes from mountain to mountain. The next day after our
+arrival here we experienced a violent thunder storm, the noise of the
+thunder echoed in a most tremendous manner from different hills, which
+appeared like a cannonading along the whole coast. I sat amazed at the
+sound, when an old Indian who was intoxicated, broke silence, by saying,
+"That thunder is great rascal, he make too much quarrel here."
+
+My traders now applied for another outfit of goods for the coming
+season, which I readily supplied them with, they taking about the same
+quantity as on the previous voyage.
+
+The men of St. Blas are of small stature, generally about five feet two
+or three inches high; wearing their hair long on the back of the head,
+cued down on their backs with a cotton ribbon of their own manufacture,
+the hair cut straight across the forehead, high cheek bones, and of a
+light copper complexion. They dress in check or flannel shirts, with
+linen trowsers. The young men are not allowed to wear their shirt flaps
+inside of the waist-bands of their trowsers until they are about forty
+years old, when they assume the character of old men. The women are
+small and delicately formed, having very small feet and hands, and are
+remarkably modest in their behaviour. Their dress consists of a piece of
+blue cloth, about four feet long, wrapped around their bodies under the
+arms, and extending to their knees, a string or two of coral beads tied
+around their legs, below the knee, and another around above the ankle.
+The women all wear a piece of pure gold wire of large size, in the form
+of a triangle, stuck through the inside of the nose. The old men wear a
+number of strands of coral beads around their necks, and hanging down on
+their bosoms. The sookerman wears two or three pounds of large coral
+beads hanging closely about the neck, and the old men wear their shirt
+flaps inside of their waist-bands as a mark of their dignity. From the
+best information I can obtain, St. Blas is the oldest Republic on the
+Continent of America, and should be a model government for Mexico and
+the South American Republics, which are constantly driving their rulers
+out of the country and changing Republics into Empires.
+
+The soil of St. Blas produces an abundance of bread-stuffs, such as
+yams, sweet potatoes, cassader, eddies, plantains, &c. Also cocoa-nuts,
+lemons, oranges, sugar cane and cocoa. They here breed a great number
+of hogs, poultry, &c. The country abounds with large quantities of wild
+hogs, mountain cows, armadillas, deer, conies, and innumerable wild
+fowl. The whole coast swarms with turtle, craw-fish, manatee's, and a
+great variety of shell-fish. There are some four hundred islands, lying
+from two to four miles from the main land-shore, which forms an inland
+sea, making the whole coast a good harbor. Every one of these islands
+produces limes, or lemons, bird, cayenne, gourd and squash peppers. When
+a table is set in this country a green pepper and lemon are placed by
+the side of your plate, which serves for pepper and vinegar to season
+your meat or vegetables. After clearing up half an acre of ground, ten
+days labor of one man in each year would produce bread-stuffs sufficient
+for a family of fifteen persons. Plantains set out on good soil will
+yield a crop, every nine months, for twenty years. Yams and sweet
+potatoes require planting and digging yearly.
+
+Having given the reader a short description of St. Blas, which may
+appear somewhat imperfect, I hope it will be recollected, should there
+be any imperfections, that I have no history of that country to refer
+to; most of my information having been obtained from the natives, who
+speak broken English. On taking leave of St. Blas I proceeded to St.
+Andreas, at which place I arrived after a passage of two days. Here I
+met General McGregor, who appeared much dejected, having among other
+losses left all his clothing behind, which fell into the hands of the
+enemy. Lieutenant Coakley came on board my vessel and related to me all
+the particulars of the expedition which I have narrated. Of the land
+forces, only twelve returned out of five hundred who left here some
+three weeks before. After remaining here three or four days, we sailed
+for Cape Gracios a Dios. On my arrival there I commenced trading, as
+usual. The next morning, it being the Fourth of July, and being in a
+strange port, I thought I would not make any preparations for
+celebrating the day. I told the mate, however, that he might release the
+crew from work and give them some extra rations of grog, &c. Before I
+had finished giving my orders to the mate, the king came on board with a
+large canoe, loaded with Indians, and saluting me with a loud voice,
+said, "Blast your eyes, why don't you fire a salute, hoist your colors
+and celebrate your country's holyday." I answered him, by saying, "I
+have nothing good to eat." He replied, "You shall soon have something;"
+when getting into the canoe with the Indians, they paddled him on shore,
+and killing a beef, soon returned with two quarters. We then hoisted our
+colors and fired a salute; and a number of the king's officers coming on
+board, we partook of a good dinner; and not forgetting plenty of liquor,
+we made ourselves delightfully merry. At night the king and company
+retired very peaceably.
+
+The king had frequently solicited me to take him home with me, but never
+got himself ready to embark, and he now renewed the conversation on the
+subject. I told him that my family did not reside in the city of
+New-York, but lived two degrees north of it, at a small village called
+Catskill, near a mountain of that name. He replied, that would suit much
+better, as he wanted to see the country and my home. He then said,
+"There is one condition in the bargain; if I go home with you, you may
+call me major, or colonel, or some other officer; but if you call me
+king I will be the death of you, for I am not going home with you to be
+made a damned puppet-show of."
+
+Having finished my trade here, I sailed down along the coast, touching
+and trading at the different harbors, as usual, until I arrived at the
+Lagoon, where I landed the goods from the vessel at the store, and
+taking in all the exchange goods collected there, sailed for Corn
+Island, where we took in some more return cargo. While at Corn Island
+Captain Mitchell gave me an order to bring him a new boat, thirty feet
+long, to row with six oars, &c.
+
+We now sailed for New-York, where we arrived without meeting with any
+occurrence worth recording. After discharging our cargo I again visited
+my family at Catskill, whom I found in good health. I remained with them
+about eight days, and then returned to New-York. In the course of a few
+days we had procured another cargo, which taking on board, together with
+the new boat for Captain Mitchell, we were again ready for sea.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+Schooner Price.--Fourth Voyage.
+
+
+The Price being now ready for sea, about the first of August we got
+under weigh and proceeded on our voyage towards Old Providence, St.
+Andreas, Corn Island and the Main. We made our passage to Old Providence
+in seventeen days, where we remained about three days bartering off
+goods in our usual manner. We then sailed for St. Andreas. On the
+passage we, in a squall, carried away the head of the schooner's
+main-mast, above the eyes of the shrouds. On our arrival at that port I
+repaired the mast-head by cutting off five or six feet, and forming a
+new one. This altered the appearance of the vessel very much, when
+viewed from a distance. We remained some time at St. Andreas, selling
+goods, collecting debts, taking in all the cotton and other freight we
+could procure. Here I took on board a captain and crew belonging to
+Jamaica, whose schooner had been upset in a squall and lost near this
+island. I agreed to carry them to the Main, where they expected to get
+on board of some of their own country vessels. We got under weigh and
+sailed for Corn Island with a light breeze. When we arrived within seven
+or eight miles of Great Corn Island the wind died away to a dead calm,
+and we lay drifting at the mercy of the sea. I was in great haste to
+get on shore at the island, as I had ordered Captain Teft, who commanded
+the sloop Traverse, to meet me there in the Price on the tenth of
+September, which time had expired some days before. Fearing he would be
+discouraged by waiting, and sail for some other port, which would cause
+a great delay in our meeting, and there being no signs of a wind that
+would carry the Price into the harbor that night, I was advised to hoist
+out the new boat which we carried out for Captain Mitchell; having a
+double boat's crew with the Englishmen, we could man her with six oars
+and soon row in. The boat was accordingly hoisted out and manned, and we
+proceeded toward the shore. It being a star-light evening, and the
+harbor having some rocks and stones on the bottom, I seated myself on
+the taffrail of the boat, which raised my head some two feet above the
+heads of the crew, and enabled me to see any dangerous rocks, and steer
+clear of them, it being what seamen call a bright bottom. I had on my
+head a large brimmed white Panama hat, of course a good mark to shoot
+at. A few days previous to my leaving Corn Island, on my last voyage, it
+was currently reported there that the United States man-of-war Schooner
+Fire Brand was cruising in these seas. We approached the harbor about
+nine o'clock in the evening. As we came near the shore we were hailed by
+one of the gang who were there, saying, "What boat is that?" My schooner
+always carried canoes instead of boats, which we found much better to
+land in the surf, and for that reason I had abandoned the use of the
+latter in this trade, for the last three years, and all the inhabitants
+of that island knew it. My boat being long, and much resembling what is
+called on board of a man-of-war the captain's gig, I answered, "United
+States Schooner Fire Brand." They said, "pull in then." At that instant
+fourteen men fired into us, the shot whistling past my head so close
+that it appeared to deafen me for a moment. As soon as they hailed us, I
+told the men in the boat to stop rowing, so that the questions and
+answers could be distinctly heard. As soon as they had fired, a favorite
+old sailor in the boat, who pulled the after oar, with his back toward
+the shore, being between me and those who fired at us, spoke to me in a
+very mild tone, saying, "Captain, I am wounded." I then told the crew to
+pull away, they all gave way upon their oars except this man, who laid
+still in the bottom of the boat; this irritated me so much, thinking
+that my favorite old tar should be the first to skulk from danger, not
+supposing from the mildness of his expression that he was much wounded,
+I jumped from the tiller of the boat in great haste, caught him by the
+collar and gave him a shake, saying, "Pull away, you skulking fellow."
+You may imagine my astonishment when I found that he was a lifeless
+corpse. In the meantime I heard the company on shore ramming down their
+cartridges into their guns, preparing for another fire. All the time
+keeping a bright look-out alongside of the boat, for fear of running
+her on the rocks, I discovered that we had got into two or three feet
+water, and were not more than one hundred and fifty feet from those who
+were preparing to fire a second time. I ordered my men to stop rowing
+and follow me, which they immediately did. I jumped overboard into the
+water, my crew following me. We then made our way to our assailants,
+when I found my own clerk, and Captain Tefts, of the little sloop
+Traverse, who were here waiting for my arrival, Captain Mitchell, for
+whom I brought the boat, and Benjamin Downs, father of a colored
+apprentice boy I had then on board. In short, they were all old
+acquaintances of mine. I was highly excited on the occasion. They made a
+long apology by saying, that the royalists in Porto Bello had fitted out
+two armed schooners to scour the coast, and that they had captured two
+English vessels found trading with the Indians: that they mistook the
+Price for one of them, her appearance being so much altered by the loss
+of the head of her main-mast, that they supposed I had been captured by
+one of these vessels and was a prisoner in the boat, and compelled to
+answer their questions, as they all knew my voice, and that if they
+suffered a crew to land they would all be butchered, as they had given
+aid and shelter to the patriots for a long time. I landed the body of my
+unfortunate man and placed it under the care of some of my friends,
+procured a pilot, went on board the Price, and brought her into the
+harbor the next morning. I then buried the poor sailor in as decent a
+manner as the country would admit of, collecting most of the inhabitants
+of the island to join the funeral procession. There being no clergymen
+in the island, I read the burial service at the grave, this being my
+usual custom at sea on committing dead bodies to the ocean.
+
+[Illustration: Captain Dunham landing at Corn Island.]
+
+I fitted out the Traverse for another cruise by giving Captain Teft a
+new supply of goods, when he proceeded on a trading voyage to the Main.
+I took Mr. Smith, the clerk of the store on board, and sailed for the
+Lagoon, when we took on board all the goods we had there, and proceeded
+to a small harbor, called Salt Creek, supposed to be a better place for
+our trade. I also took a few Indians to assist in building the store,
+which I landed there, with myself and crew, and erected a comfortable
+building in less than four days, modeled after the houses of that
+country, landed a supply of goods, and left Mr. Smith to dispose of
+them, sold the Sloop Traverse, and took Captain Teft and his crew on
+board. Having learned that the royal governor of Porto Bello had fitted
+out one or two man-of-war schooners, which had captured two English
+traders on the coast of St. Blas, where it was necessary for me to
+proceed, I hired three men in addition to Captain Tefts and his little
+crew, to proceed with me to that place. My schooner being armed with a
+six-pound cannon, with about thirty fowling guns, plenty of cutlasses,
+and some boarding pikes, we proceeded to the coast of St. Blas, where
+we were advised by the Indians to put the schooner into a small river,
+about two hundred feet wide, and wait a few days before we proceeded to
+the River De Ablo, our port of destination. We warped the schooner into
+the mouth of the river, in shoal water, where we supposed the enemy's
+vessels could not come near enough to injure us, and prepared ourselves
+for an encounter with their boats if they sent them to attack us, by
+making cartridges of musket-balls and buck-shot, put up in bags of six
+pounds each, in addition to round balls and cannister-shot. I likewise
+supplied about thirty Indians with ammunition, who promised to come to
+my assistance if the enemy disturbed me. I divided my men into two
+watches, and kept a good look-out four days and nights. About the fifth
+night we heard the sound of a horn a number of times; about 12 o'clock
+all hands were called to quarters. We soon discovered, however, that the
+sound proceeded from a canoe, which when we had let it approach within
+hail, we found to contain the crew of an English trader, who had been
+captured by a royal privateer and carried into Porto Bello, where they
+had escaped from their prison, stolen a canoe, and then paddled to this
+place, a distance of about sixty miles, without food. Soon after, we
+learned from the Indians that the cruisers had left the coast. We then
+proceeded to the River De Ablo, where I found my traders waiting my
+arrival. They brought their returns, goods, &c. on board, and a
+settlement was made in a satisfactory manner on both sides in less than
+one hour. I purchased a few thousand cocoa-nuts and some fustic, which I
+took on board, and sailed for Cape Gracios a Dios, touching at Corn
+Island.
+
+On my arrival at the Cape I took on board all the return cargo I could
+procure, and proceeded to the Lagoon, stopping at the different harbors,
+as usual. When at the Lagoon I made known my intention of leaving the
+trade, when a number of sookermen assembled to bestow their farewell
+benediction upon me, saying that I had traded a long time with them, and
+that they were much pleased with me, and did not blame me for leaving
+them, as they supposed I wanted to stop at home and mind my wife and
+pickaninies (meaning children) for a time, but should never die until I
+returned to that country, and would never die there, but return to my
+own country, after I had visited them, and die at my own home. After
+taking an affectionate leave of them all, we took our departure toward
+home.
+
+After buffeting the storms and tempests of the ocean for nearly four
+years, carrying on an average, a crew of six persons, including the mate
+and myself, and having lost six, viz: one by desertion, one by death on
+board, one shot, and three by drowning, I thought it best to seek some
+more comfortable trade in which to gain a support for myself and family,
+and one less exposed to hardships, and such constant risk of health and
+life. I was always compelled, while on this trading business, to sleep
+on deck, my cabin being small and dark, having no windows. If I laid
+down in the cabin I was soon covered with cock-roaches, musquittoes, and
+fire-ants, besides being exposed to centipedes, scorpions, &c. which
+terrified me so much that I dare not take lodging there while we were in
+the tropical climes, although I needed shelter from the excessive rains
+which visit that country from May until November. Having a good awning,
+which was always spread when the vessel was anchored, we generally ate,
+drank and slept on deck until we arrived in the cold latitudes, when
+those insects became torpid, and cold weather compelled me to seek
+shelter in the cabin. On parting with the Indians I felt distressed, and
+could not avoid showing my gratitude toward them for their native
+kindness, and the many evidences of friendly intent which they had shown
+for me. I had often called at their hovels when out on excursions, being
+fatigued and hungry, needing food and rest, when the poor Indian, having
+but one plate and one old knife and fork in his house, would place them
+on his little table, or some substitute for one, and cook the best meal
+he could procure, making me take a seat by the table, and with a hearty
+good will urging me to eat, while he, sharpening the end of a stick that
+he might take the meat out of the pot with it, would sit down on the
+ground-floor and eat his dinner, refusing to come to the table with me,
+because he had but one set of dishes. Having but one hammock to sleep in
+himself, he invariably left that for me, while he would take his
+lodging on a cow-skin placed on the ground-floor.
+
+The whole furniture of each Indian family would not cost ten dollars.
+
+We stopped at Corn Island, collected all the return we could obtain, and
+sailed for New-York, where we arrived about the first of January, 1820,
+without any particular incident worth notice, discharged the cargo,
+settled with my owners, and returned to Catskill, where I found my
+family in the enjoyment of their usual health. I now determined to
+remain at home during the winter, and enjoy some repose from the toils
+of the sea, having spent but five or six weeks with my family during the
+last five years.
+
+I now entered into an agreement, in company with Mr. Apollos Cooke,
+merchant, of Catskill, to open a trade from that place to the West
+Indies. During the winter we purchased a cargo of lumber for that
+market, intending to charter or purchase a vessel to carry it there as
+soon as the navigation of the Hudson River opened.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+Schooner Enterprise.
+
+
+Early in the month of March, 1820, I proceeded to New-York, for the
+purpose of chartering or purchasing a vessel to carry our timber to the
+West India market, and spent a few days in the city on that business.
+While sitting at the breakfast table one morning, I was asked by a
+ship-master, an old acquaintance, if I did not want to take a voyage to
+Bermuda. I replied no; that I came to New-York to charter a vessel to go
+to Catskill, and take in a cargo of lumber there. He said he thought I
+might make some sale or contract for it in that place. Here our
+conversation ended, and I thought no more about it. After breakfast he
+asked me to take a walk with him. When we had journeyed some little
+distance, we met a man with whom he passed the usual compliment of good
+morning, and said, "This is Captain Dunham, of whom I spoke to you." He
+asked me what wages I would require to take charge of a schooner to go
+to Bermuda. I told him fifty dollars per month. He said he had agreed
+with a captain to go the voyage for forty dollars per month, but he was
+unfortunately taken sick and could not go. I bid him good morning, and
+had proceeded a few rods when he called on me to stop, saying he would
+split the difference with me. I told him I would go. He then took me
+into a store, saying, "There is your mate and crew, and I wish you to
+take them to a Notary Public's office in Pine-street, and have the
+shipping papers made out, and I will come there with the money and pay
+the expenses;" which he soon performed. After this was accomplished we
+went to the Custom House and obtained a clearance, and then parted and
+went to dinner. He requested me to call immediately after dinner at a
+lumber-yard he mentioned, where I would find him on board the schooner,
+as he had engaged a passage for New-Haven at four o'clock that
+afternoon, where he resided. He handed me a letter addressed to the
+captain of the Schooner Enterprise, containing direction for the voyage;
+and telling me he hoped I would do for him as I would for myself, took
+leave of me. I found the schooner to be one of the large full-built
+Eastern vessels, having the deck loaded to the height of eight feet. I
+hurried and got some clothing and a small out-fit, and having left some
+old clothes and bedding, charts, quadrants, &c. in New-York, on my last
+voyage; I had them put on board that afternoon, procured a pilot and
+went to sea at eight o'clock the next morning. We made our passage to
+Bermuda in seven days, where we discharged our cargo, and taking on
+board a ballast of fustic, returned from Bermuda to New-York in seven
+and a half days; making the whole time gone only twenty-nine days, being
+one of the most pleasant voyages I ever made. My acquaintance with the
+owner was so short, that, after my return, when he came on board and
+gave me his hand, I looked for some time before I could recollect him.
+When I left Catskill I took with me only two or three changes of shirts,
+&c. promising my family to return in a few days. In the journey I so
+unexpectedly took there was nothing interesting, and I merely insert it
+to keep up the chain of my voyages.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+Schooner Felicity.
+
+
+About the first of June, 1820, I chartered the Schooner Felicity in
+New-York, and proceeded to Catskill, and took in a cargo for St.
+Domingo; returned to New-York, and after shipping a crew, sailed on the
+twenty-second of June for Port au Prince, in the Island of St. Domingo,
+where we arrived after a passage of eighteen days, without the
+occurrence of anything which would interest the reader. I found Port au
+Prince to be a large but dirty city, no care being taken to clean the
+streets, the yellow fever often raging here, particularly among the
+shipping. The government is called a Republic, with a president elected
+for life, receiving a salary of forty thousand dollars for his services,
+and thirty thousand for his table expenses. The president being a
+military chieftain, exercises great power over his subjects, who have
+only the shadow of a Senate and Assembly, as they are subservient to his
+will. The soil of the Island is very fertile, producing sugar-cane,
+coffee, cocoa, and three crops of corn in one year; also, beans,
+cabbages, water-mellons, and most kinds of garden vegetables: plantains,
+yams, and every variety of tropical fruits in abundance. The Island at
+this time was divided into three departments; the northern part was held
+by a black royal Emperor, who styled himself Christoff, and exercised as
+much power over his subjects as does the Emperor of Russia over his. The
+southern part was owned by the Spaniards, as a Republic; the western by
+the Republicans called Haytians, who were then at war with the Royalists
+under the command of the black emperor. The war between those two
+parties had been carried on for many years, and ended in the total
+overthrow of the Royalists; the emperor blowing his brains out with his
+pistol.
+
+The president of this Republic lays heavy export duties on the produce
+of the Island. The stamp duties on paper are said to amount to over two
+millions per annum. All merchants and mechanics pay a heavy tax for
+licenses to carry on their business. Whites are excluded from carrying
+on their trades in their own names, or from purchasing real estate in
+this Republic. A white can take a black partner, male or female, and do
+business in his or her name. Most of the white men settled here prefer
+the latter. This government has a mint, and coin their own money, which
+contains ten per cent of silver mixed with other metal. They coin no
+pieces larger than twenty-five cents, none smaller than six and a
+quarter. This coin is considered a lawful tender, and the laws strictly
+prohibit the carrying of any foreign gold or silver out of the country,
+on penalty of forfeiting it. This compels any person selling a cargo
+there to lay the returns out in some of the produce of the Island, which
+is consequently the cause of heavy losses to the shippers. The
+inhabitants are a mixed race of black and white, varying in color from
+the blackness of charcoal to almost the whiteness of a snow-ball, and
+hundreds of them have to take hard oaths to satisfy the authorities that
+they have some black blood running through their veins, which entitles
+them to the rights of citizenship in the Island. I have seen many
+red-whiskered fair complexioned men pass themselves off for men of
+color. Their national religion is Roman Catholic, no other being
+tolerated, but strictly prohibited. The president keeps up a standing
+army of forty thousand men, well uniformed, disciplined and equiped. As
+I shall have to refer to their laws, customs and manners in my next
+voyage, I shall leave the subject for the present.
+
+Not being able to sell my timber at Port au Prince without a sacrifice,
+my consignee applied to the government agent to purchase it, of which he
+acquainted the president, who gave me a letter addressed to the public
+administrator of Jerimie, and requesting me to proceed with my vessel
+and cargo to that port, which I immediately complied with, after getting
+a letter of address from an Italian Jew I found in Port au Prince, but
+who resided in Jerimie, addressed to Messrs. Laforet & Brier, to whom I
+consigned my vessel and cargo. On my arrival at that place my consignees
+sold to the administrator all the timber he wanted, and the remainder at
+an under price to individuals. My provisions sold at a saving. Jerimie
+contains about two hundred houses, most of them being in a dilapidated
+condition, in consequence of the constant alarm in which the inhabitants
+have been kept by a troop of banditti, headed by an insurgent colonel,
+who had deserted from the army, and had so terrified the people that the
+women and children took shelter in the forts during the night, while the
+men were kept under arms, being obliged to suspend all agricultural
+pursuits, and leave their villages to decay. A few months since, the
+chief of the banditti had been killed, his troops surrendered their arms
+and received a pardon from the president. The inhabitants were now
+making great preparations to repair their buildings and call back their
+former trade.
+
+While in this port, the padre, or priest died; he was carried to the
+church in a chair, being tied fast to it, in a sitting posture, a book
+placed in his hands. The corpse remained in this situation until about
+four o'clock in the afternoon, when a marble slab was taken out of the
+floor, an excavation made in the ground, the body deposited in the hole
+with the clothes on, and then covered with a thick coat of lime.
+
+A friend of mine, named Ghio, arrived here from Port au Prince in
+company with one Captain Mills, from New-York, and while he and the
+captain were walking the streets of Jerimie, Ghio for the first heard of
+the death of the padre, when bursting into a flood of tears, he
+exclaimed, "Captain Mills the poor padre is dead, and I suppose I shall
+have to fill his place again," weeping at the same time. After a moments
+pause, he said, "Captain Mills, it is a damned good berth, I can make
+ten dollars a day by it." Ghio acted as a substitute in the place of the
+deceased padre until his place was supplied by another.
+
+I remained at Jerimie three or four weeks, employed in selling out my
+cargo and obtaining a return freight of coffee, &c. I procured many
+orders for house frames and other articles, and was strongly urged to
+bring out some carpenters and a blacksmith, whom the inhabitants
+promised to aid and assist in their business. Having disposed of all my
+cargo and taken on board my return freight, I proceeded to sea, bound to
+New-York, where I arrived in safety after a passage of eighteen days,
+sold my return cargo, and sailed for Catskill, where I arrived about the
+first of November. I then repaired the schooner and prepared for another
+voyage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+Schooner Felicity.--Second Voyage.
+
+
+At Catskill I procured another cargo, filled up all my orders, and
+taking on board four carpenters as passengers, bound to Jerimie, sailed
+for New-York, where we remained three or four days employed in shipping
+a crew, purchasing stores, &c. We sailed from New-York about the eighth
+of December, and arrived at Jerimie about the first of January, 1821. On
+my arrival I called on my old friends, Leforet & Brier, where I was
+politely received, particularly by Mr. Brier, who escorted me to his
+house to take breakfast. After inquiring about the passage of my vessel,
+news in New-York, &c. he said he had news to tell me. I told him I
+should be pleased to hear it. He said, "Captain Dunham, we have got a
+new padre here since you left for home; he is the smartest padre we ever
+had; he can beat any man in Jerimie playing at billiards, boxing,
+fencing, or jumping; he has killed two men in duels, and I assure you,
+sir, he is the smartest padre in all the West Indies."
+
+Among the orders given me, was one for thirty thousand loose cedar
+shingles, which, when landed on the beach, I learned were intended to
+re-cover the church. All the ladies in the town soon assembled at the
+place where the shingles were landed; rich and poor, some dressed in
+silk, and others with fine muslin gowns, having hoops in their hands,
+which they stuck full of shingles, and laying them on their backs
+carried them to the church, when they were taken by the carpenters, who
+put them on the roof, not allowing one of them to be carted; thus
+showing great zeal to protect from contamination every thing connected
+with their church.
+
+The negroes on this Island are far more numerous than the mulattoes,
+mustees, and other colors. The old mulattoes being the heirs of their
+former masters, were many of them sent to France and educated; and the
+president being a mulatto, gives them as many offices as he dare; but is
+obliged to confer some on the blacks to prevent an insurrection; still I
+found there was considerable hatred between them. One day while walking
+the streets I heard a quarrel between a mulatto and a negro. The mulatto
+commenced, "What are you doing, nigger?" the negro replied, "Who are
+you, mulatto? you no got any country; white man got country and negro
+got country, mulatto no got any country, he's a damned _mule_."
+
+My carpenters landed and were seeking some employment, when they were
+informed that they could not make any contracts in their own names,
+being white men, and not having any license, and the laws of the country
+not allowing a white man to obtain one. To obviate this a petition was
+drawn up and signed by most of the inhabitants, and sent to the
+president, for a special permit for the eldest carpenter to carry on
+his trade. Some weeks after the president sent him a license, the rest
+of the carpenters working under him. I was very fortunate in the
+disposal of my cargo, most of it selling at a good profit, and by paying
+a large premium I procured about twenty hundred Spanish dollars, which
+were smuggled on board and brought to New-York.
+
+Coffee being high in that port, I was obliged, in purchasing it, to
+dispose of the St. Domingo coin I received in payment for my cargo.
+Being ready for sea, I took leave of my friends and sailed for New-York,
+where we arrived about the first of May, 1821. The schooner having
+proved leaky on the passage, I refused to make another voyage in her.
+Soon after my arrival in New-York I received a letter from my old
+friend, Mr. Apollos Cooke, of Catskill, advising me to purchase, on our
+joint account, a schooner called the Combine, which was now laying in
+New-York, and could be procured very cheap. On viewing the Combine I
+found her timbers sound, but her decks and upper works badly worn, so I
+called on the agent, and after some time spent in chaffering, purchased
+her and left for Catskill, where I arrived about the 26th of May.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+Schooner Combine.
+
+  "A wolf will not a wolf ensnare,
+  "And tigers their own species spare,
+  "Man more ferocious, bends his bow,
+  "And at his fellow aims the blow."
+
+
+After the arrival of the Combine at Catskill, we had her well examined
+by a carpenter, who found her timbers sound. We then agreed to repair
+her by laying a new deck, putting in new ceiling, and giving her a
+thorough overhauling, so as to fit her for a sea voyage, which was done
+at an expense of nine hundred dollars. Large quantities of freight was
+offered for shipment, which I advised to take some part of, informing my
+partner in the vessel, Mr. A. Cooke, that I had but little over two
+thousand dollars, which would fall short of paying for one-half of the
+vessel and cargo; but he preferred our owning the whole cargo jointly,
+saying, "I will advance you any money you may want until you make the
+voyage." We then purchased a suitable cargo and filled up many orders I
+had brought from Jerimie. After we had gathered all our bills together,
+I found my money exhausted and myself indebted five hundred and
+seventy-two dollars to my partner. The vessel being repaired and
+loaded, we took on board four passengers, bound to Jerimie, and sailed
+for New-York. On my arrival at New-York I made it my first business to
+apply to the Marine Insurance Office for insurance, expecting I should
+have to pay an extra premium, my vessel being seventeen years old. After
+applying at all the offices in the city, and producing a certificate
+from old respectable carpenters, and some of our best citizens, that
+they considered her timbers as good as any North River vessel of two
+years old, my application was rejected, and I had no alternative but to
+proceed to sea as my own insurer, having my little all at stake, except
+a small homestead. I shipped a crew and made the necessary preparation,
+put to sea about the 10th of August, and shaped my course for Jerimie,
+where we arrived the sixth of September.
+
+On my arrival at that port I sold my cargo, as usual, with the
+assistance of my former consignees, Messrs. Laforet & Brier. Jerimie
+being a dangerous port in heavy gales of wind, I was advised to send my
+vessel to Corail, a distance of twenty miles, to remain a few weeks, it
+being a safe harbor, while I remained in Jerimie to collect debts and
+procure a return cargo. After remaining here some fourteen or fifteen
+days, I was attacked with a violent fever, which confined me to the bed
+until the vessel was ready for sea, when I was taken on board, hoping
+the air would restore me to health. After being at sea some thirty-six
+hours, my mate found the fever increasing on me so fast that he gave up
+all hopes of my recovery, and asked my permission to return to Jerimie,
+to which I consented. The vessel was put about and steered for that
+port, we neared the entrance of the harbor early the next morning, when
+I thought the fever began to abate, and requested the mate to put to sea
+again and proceed toward home. My health improving slowly, I was helped
+on deck every morning, where I remained during the day, lying under a
+small awning to screen me from the scorching sun, and helped into the
+cabin at night to protect me from the heavy dews. My health continued to
+improve daily. On the eleventh day of October we discovered land ahead,
+which proved to be the south side of the Island of Cuba. Finding it
+impossible to beat up against the current, we concluded to run round the
+west end of the island. Nothing material occurred until the thirteenth
+of October, in the morning, when I discovered land, which I identified
+as Cape Antonio; my health by this time was so much improved that I was
+able to get on deck without assistance. I told the mate to go below and
+get some repose, he having had but little rest during my sickness, and
+that I was well acquainted with the passage round the Cape.
+
+About nine o'clock, while doubling the Cape, we discovered three small
+schooners, one small sloop, and a large open boat lying at anchor about
+two miles from the land. In about the space of fifteen minutes the whole
+fleet got under weigh and bore down for us. One of the largest
+schooners ran down within musket-shot of us, fired a gun, and we hove
+too, while the rest of the fleet surrounded us. The largest schooner
+immediately sent a boat alongside of us, containing eight or nine men,
+who boarded us with muskets and drawn cutlasses in their hands, each of
+them having a long knife and a dagger slung by his side. Immediately
+after getting on deck, one of them cried out, "Foward," two or three
+times in broken English, pointing at the same time toward the
+fore-castle. The mate, sailors, and two passengers who were on board,
+ran forward and jumped into the fore-castle. I being very weak, dragged
+along slowly, when the man who gave the order commenced beating me
+severely with the broad side of his cutlass. I remonstrated with him,
+saying I was sick and could not walk any faster; he answered me, "_No
+intende_." I then discovered he was a Portuguese, and not understanding
+that language, I excused myself as well as I could in the French
+language, hoping he understood me; but I found it did not relieve my
+back, as he continued to beat me all the way to the fore-scuttle, and
+there giving me a heavy blow on the head as I descended, closed it,
+where we remained about half an hour; they in the meantime appeared to
+be searching the vessel. After letting us up from the fore-castle they
+ordered the sailors to work the vessel in near the land and anchor her,
+which was soon accomplished. While beating the vessel toward the shore,
+they told me if I would give up my money they would let me go with my
+vessel. This I readily complied with, hoping to save the vessel and
+cargo. I then gave them all the money I had, consisting of four hundred
+and eighty dollars in gold and silver. After they had received it they
+broke open our trunks, seized all our clothes, taking the finest shirts
+and vests, and putting them on one over another.
+
+As soon as they had anchored my vessel they hauled their largest
+schooner alongside, while the rest of the fleet were laying within a few
+rods of us, and then all hoisted the bloody flag, a signal for death. I
+was ordered into the cabin, where one of the pirates, having found a
+bottle of cordial, took it up in one hand, and drawing his cutlass with
+the other, struck off the neck and handed it to me, flourishing his
+cutlass over my head, and making signs for me to taste it, which I found
+it difficult to do on account of the broken particles of glass. After I
+had tasted it he went to a case of liquor standing in the cabin, took
+out the bottles and compelled me to taste of them. After this ceremony
+was over one of the pirates drew a long knife from its sheath, and
+taking hold of the hair on the top of my head, drew the knife two or
+three times across my throat near the skin, saying, "Me want to kill
+you." Another pirate soon approached me with a dagger, with which he
+pricked me lightly in the body, two or three times, saying, "Me kill you
+by and by." I was then dismissed from the cabin and driven into the
+fore-castle with the sailors and passengers. My cook was put on board
+the schooner lying alongside of us. Some of the pirates went aloft on
+board my vessel and cut loose her square-sail, top-sail, and
+top-gallant-sail, and afterwards took our fore-sail, boat, oars, loose
+rigging, one compass, one quadrant, all our beds and bedding,
+tea-kettle, all our crockery, knives and forks, buckets, &c. leaving us
+destitute of every kind of cooking utensil except the caboose. We
+remained some time in the fore-castle, when suddenly the fore-scuttle
+was opened and the mate called on deck, and the scuttle again closed,
+leaving us in the dark in a state of uncertainty. We soon heard them
+beating the mate; after that noise had ceased, we heard the word,
+"Fire," given with a loud voice, then after a moment's pause another
+voice was heard, saying, "Heave him overboard." I had a desperate
+sailor, called Bill, who flew to his chest for his razor to cut his own
+throat, saying he would be damned before he would be murdered by them
+rascals. The pirates had previously robbed the sailors' chests of all
+the articles they contained, and among them Bill's razor. After a little
+while the scuttle was again opened, when they called for a sailor. There
+were four in the fore-castle, who looked earnestly at each other, when
+Brown, a favourite old sailor, arose and addressed me, saying, "Captain,
+I suppose I might as well die first as last," then taking me by the hand
+gave it a hearty shake, saying, "Good bye." I told Brown to plead with
+them in the French language, as I thought I had seen some Frenchmen
+among them, and knew that he spoke French fluently. When he had got upon
+deck I heard him speak a few words in that language, but soon after we
+heard them beating him severely. As soon as they had finished beating
+him we again heard the word fire, and soon after, heave him overboard.
+Shortly after, the scuttle was again opened and the captain was loudly
+called. I crawled up the scuttle, being very feeble; they then told me
+if I did not tell them where the money was they would serve me as they
+had the mate and sailor, shoot and then throw me overboard. I still
+persisted that there was no money on board, and entreated them to search
+the vessel. An old Spaniard was pointed out to me who they said was the
+commodore. I asked him what he wanted of me, looking him earnestly in
+the face. He replied, he wanted my money. I told him I had no money, but
+if I had I would give it to him; that the property belonged to him, but
+he had no right to take my life, as I had a family depending on me for
+support. Previous to this, the man who had flogged me before had made a
+chalk ring on the deck, saying, "Stand there," beating me with the flat
+side of a heavy cutlass until the blood ran through my shirt. During my
+conversation with the commodore, finding all my entreaties unsuccessful,
+and my strength much exhausted, I took a firm stand in the ring marked
+out for me, hoping to receive a ball through the heart, fearing if I was
+wounded I should be tortured to death to make sport for the demons.
+Two of the pirates with loaded muskets took their stand and fired them
+toward me, when I cast my eyes down toward my feet looking for blood,
+thinking that I might have been wounded without feeling the pain. During
+this time the man who had beat me before commenced beating me again,
+pointing aft toward the cabin door, where I proceeded, followed by him,
+beating me all the time: he forced me into the cabin, at the same time
+giving me a severe blow over the head with his cutlass. When I entered I
+found both the mate and sailor there whom I supposed had been murdered
+and thrown overboard. The next person called out of the fore-castle was
+Mr. Peck, a passenger, who was immediately asked where the money was; he
+told them he knew of no more money on board. One man stood before him
+with a musket and another with a cutlass, they knocked him down and beat
+him for some time, took him by the hair and said they would kill him. He
+was then ordered to set upon the bit of the windlass to be shot and
+thrown overboard, as the captain and others had been. He took his
+station by the windlass, when a musket was fired at him; he was then
+driven into the cabin. They then called up the remainder of the men from
+the fore-castle, one after the other, and beat and drove them into the
+cabin also, except a Mr. Chollet, a young man, passenger, who escaped
+beating. We were kept in the cabin some time, and after repeated threats
+that they would kill us, were all driven into the fore-castle again.
+They took out all our cargo, consisting of coffee, cocoa,
+tortoise-shell, eight kedge anchors, all our provisions, except part of
+a barrel of beef and about thirty pounds of bread. After they had taken
+all the cargo, spare rigging, &c. of any value, they shifted all the
+ballast in the hold of the vessel in search of money, and calling us on
+deck, we were told to be off. After getting under weigh we proceeded but
+slowly, having no other sails left but the two jibs and the main-sail.
+We looked back with a great deal of anxiety, and saw the pirates seated
+on the deck of the largest schooner, drinking liquor and making
+themselves merry, while we feared that they might change their minds,
+pursue us and take our lives. Night beginning to approach, I thought
+best to go down into the cabin and see what we had left to eat or drink.
+As soon as I had reached the cabin, it being dark, I stumbled against
+something on the floor, which I found to be our cook, whom we supposed
+we had left behind, having seen the pirates put him on board the
+schooner which was lying alongside of us, but knew nothing of his
+return. I spoke to him, but received no answer, I hustled him about the
+cabin, but could not make him speak. I at last got a light and looked
+about for some provisions, cooking utensils, &c. and found about thirty
+pounds of bread, a little broken coffee, and most of a barrel of beef,
+but no cooking utensils except the caboose, with one or two pots set in
+it. The next morning I called all hands into the cabin, showed all the
+bread we had left, and told them it was necessary to go on allowance of
+one biscuit a day per man, which was agreed to, until we could get
+further supplies. I then questioned the cook, (knowing that he was
+driven into the hold of the pirate schooner,) as to what kind of a cargo
+she had. He said there were calicoes and all kinds of dry goods
+scattered about, and more than a hundred demijohns; and "O captain, it
+was the best old Jamaica rum that you ever tasted." I told him if the
+pirates had caught him drinking their rum they would have killed him. He
+said it looked so tempting he thought he would try it. I suppose that
+after having drank a large quantity he made his escape on board of the
+Combine before he felt the effects of it, as he was not aware of our
+release.
+
+[Illustration: The Pirates' plan of exercising the nerves of Captives.]
+
+The next day we were boarded by a boat from a Spanish man-of-war brig. I
+plead hard with the officer who boarded us to go in pursuit of the
+pirates, which he refused to do, saying it was out of their limits to
+cruise. I asked him for a supply of bread, which he denied me. In our
+crippled state we reached Havanna in nine days, where we put in for
+supplies.
+
+On my arrival at Havanna I was met by Captain Dimond, master of the brig
+Harriet, of Baltimore, who had been robbed by these pirates at the same
+place, on the 12th of October. Captain Dimond informed me that the
+pirates put a rope around his neck and hoisted him up to the fore-yard
+of the brig three times, and then let the rope loose, which caused him
+to fall on the deck, where he lay insensible for some time. I asked him
+why he did not give up his money as I had done. He said that twenty-five
+hundred dollars of the money belonged to himself, which was all he was
+worth, and having a family to support, he thought he had almost as well
+part with his life as his money. After he had recovered his senses they
+made another attempt to put the rope round his neck the fourth time,
+when one of the pirates told his comrade to let him alone, because he
+had children. They hauled their vessels alongside of his brig and took
+out all his cargo, also the greatest part of the brig's sails, rigging,
+&c. together with twelve thousand dollars, which they found while
+removing a quantity of fire-wood, and then let him depart.
+
+I proceeded to the American Consul's office, having on an old straw hat,
+which the pirates had put on my head in place of my own, an old ragged
+jacket, one pump, one shoe, and an empty pocket. I entered a protest,
+and asked him to render me some assistance, for which I would give him a
+draft on New-York at sight. This he refused unless I would bottom the
+vessel, but referred me to the house of Grey, Fenandes, & Co. who
+attended to my wants in the most friendly manner. Three days after, the
+ship Lucies, of Charleston, arrived in the harbor, having a prize-master
+on board, who informed me that the United States Brig Enterprise,
+Captain Kearney, had re-captured the Lucies from these pirates, and had
+taken three of the piratical vessels, (the crews having escaped to the
+shore,) and sailed for some port of the United States. I called again on
+Mr. Grey, and told him that Captain Kearney would probably steer for
+Charleston or New Orleans with his prizes, and I felt anxious to
+communicate with him as soon as possible, to reclaim my property. He
+said they had a very respectable correspondent in Charleston, named John
+Stoney, to whom he would write to claim my property for me if he should
+arrive in that port; that I could write to Captain Kearney and enclose
+his letter to Mr. Stoney. Fearing he might sail for New Orleans, I
+addressed a letter to a friend of mine living there, to claim the
+property for me, should the Enterprise arrive at that port.
+
+I learned here that these pirates had been fitted out in this port,
+where most of their cargoes were to be disposed of, and was advised not
+to make much noise about my robbery, as they had many friends here who
+would assassinate me. I found a number of American vessels here, but got
+little assistance from any of them except the captain of a small sloop
+from Bristol, Rhode Island, who tendered me a loan of thirty dollars,
+for which he got my draft on New-York. He gave me many articles which I
+stood in need of, for which I shall ever feel grateful. After my vessel
+was under weigh the captain of a Baltimore ship, who had arrived an hour
+before, learning my misfortune, sent his boat alongside with a barrel of
+beef, some flour, wine, &c. with a message to me, saying, if I wanted
+any other articles he would send them on board. We put to sea with next
+to no conveniences, having no beds or bedding, and but three or four
+knives and forks, some trifling cooking utensils, and all my wardrobe on
+my back. Without any additional sails for our vessel we shaped our
+course for New-York. The winds proving favorable we performed the
+passage in sixteen days.
+
+For a particular account of the capture of the piratical vessels I refer
+the reader to the following letter, published in the papers of the day:
+
+     "_Capture of the Aristides by Pirates._
+
+     "Copy of a letter from Captain Couthony, late master of Brig
+     Aristides, to Mr. Edward Cruft, the owner, in this town, giving
+     the particulars of the capture of that vessel by pirates.
+
+     "_At Sea, United States Brig Enterprise, October 24, 1821._
+
+     "_Dear Sir_:--The melancholy news which I am about to relate
+     will be extremely afflicting to you. We sailed from Liverpool
+     the 28th of August, and had a very pleasant passage till off
+     the west end of Cuba, which we made on the 15th of October at 6
+     P. M. When off Cape Antonio were assailed by five piratical
+     vessels, three schooners, one sloop, and an open boat; the
+     latter after firing several shots at us came alongside with
+     nine men in her; the men mounted the deck, armed with
+     cutlasses, pistols and dirks; on coming on board one took the
+     helm, another knocked me down, seized my watch, &c. and the
+     others ran into the cabin. By this time the other pirates got
+     close around us, and I discovered they were about to run my
+     vessel on shore. On begging them to desist from this design, I
+     was again knocked down; on rising, a musket was pointed at me
+     and one of the villains made several passes at me with a
+     dagger, which I avoided by running forward.
+
+     "We were soon in shoal water, when I again begged of them for
+     God's sake not to run the vessel ashore. They ordered us to let
+     go the anchor.
+
+     "I then went into the cabin, where I found all my trunks,
+     chest, &c. on the floor, and the pirates filling bags,
+     handkerchiefs, &c. with my clothes. They took my chronometer
+     and everything I had, even robbing me of the jacket I had on,
+     and leaving me almost naked. They then ordered us to open the
+     hatches, beating every one of the crew they came across,
+     declaring they would kill every man on board, beginning with
+     me, saying they were pirates, and should not be discovered.
+     During the night our vessel began to strike very hard, when
+     they compelled us to weigh anchor and the vessel was run on
+     shore.
+
+     "They then commenced loading their craft with the most valuable
+     part of our goods, remarking that we should be put to death in
+     the morning to prevent discovery. They struck me down several
+     times, beating the mate and threatening him with instant death
+     if he did not discover where the most valuable goods were. They
+     nearly strangled the boy, bidding him tell where my money was
+     stowed. In the morning they had one of their cruisers loaded
+     with dry goods, and a number of packages in the others; when on
+     the 16th, at 7 A. M. a sail was discovered coming round the
+     Cape. They then consulted on the expediency of murdering me;
+     but one, more humane than the others, dissuaded them from
+     committing the crime. Perceiving the sail to be a vessel of
+     war, they took to their boats, pulled for their vessels and
+     immediately proceeded along shore.
+
+     "They had stove our yawl to prevent our using her, but we
+     patched her so that she floated, and went on board the vessel
+     that was approaching. She proved to be the United States Brig
+     Enterprise, L. Kearney, Esq. commander. I stated to him my
+     dreadful situation, and pointed out to him the five piratical
+     vessels in shore; he immediately made all sail in pursuit, but
+     a reef prevented his getting within gun-shot. He armed all the
+     boats, and with the crews of the ship Lucies, and an English
+     brig, which were likewise in the hands of the pirates, gave
+     them chase, and overhauling them fast, they rowed their vessels
+     on shore inside the Cape, set the loaded one on fire, and took
+     to the woods. Lieutenant M'Intosh, who went on the expedition,
+     took four of the vessels, the boat having escaped. The vessel
+     sat on fire was entirely destroyed, but few remnants of goods
+     were saved, and those partly burnt. The pirates had a train of
+     powder to blow up the vessel on the approach of the boats.
+
+     "On the 17th, at noon, Capt. Kearney brought all the vessels at
+     anchor near our wreck, and sent his crew to our assistance, the
+     Combine being in a bilged condition, with seven feet of water
+     in her hold, and her rudder unshipped. He then loaded three of
+     the late piratical vessels out of the cargo of the Aristides,
+     also the American Schooner Bold Commander, of Staten Island,
+     with goods, one cable, and some of her sails. The brig has on
+     board some goods, a chain cable and a hawser, the latter taken
+     from the pirates.
+
+     "Captain Kearney, after having done his utmost, and saved all
+     he could, in loading the four vessels and his brig, set the
+     wreck on fire on the 20th, at 7 P. M. and remained by her until
+     she was burnt to the water's edge. She was in ten feet of water
+     when I abandoned her, 8 A. M. all in flames. This whole
+     dreadful calamity has nearly overpowered me. A Columbian
+     schooner of one long gun and eighty men likewise anchored near
+     the wreck before she was destroyed, and took a few casks porter
+     and a few bales goods, which would otherwise have been burnt
+     with the vessel. This was done with the consent of Captain
+     Kearney after he had loaded all the other vessels.
+
+     "I shall ever be grateful to Captain Kearney for his kind
+     assistance, friendship and hospitality. He offered me his own
+     clothes, as I was destitute of everything. He will call at
+     Havanna, and from thence proceed to Charleston, where he will
+     deliver the vessels and goods to the proper authorities."
+
+Captain Kearney proceeded with his prizes to Charleston, where the
+vessels and goods were condemned, and sold within eleven days after his
+arrival to accommodate him and his crew, when he sailed on another
+cruise. This gave me no opportunity to reclaim my property, Mr. Stoney
+having neglected to claim it for me. Some weeks after, having learned
+that the property had been carried into Charleston and sold, I proceeded
+to that place and applied to the District Judge of the United States,
+who, after a detention of thirty days, awarded me about seven hundred
+dollars. A large portion of the coffee, and other articles, which were
+taken on board my vessel at Jerimie during my sickness, not being
+marked, caused much difficulty in identifying them. I saw in the
+possession of purchasers at that sale, eight anchors, two saddles, four
+bridles, a number of coffee bags, and other articles of mine; also a
+quantity of tortoise shell, which cost me eight dollars per pound. The
+expenses on what I recovered consumed the greatest part of the goods;
+deducting one-fourth for salvage, duties, cartage, storage, commissions,
+court fees, &c. the remainder went into the Treasury of the United
+States, or should have gone there. I have petitioned Congress for some
+remuneration, which claim has been denied.
+
+On my arrival in New-York (being literally clothed with rags) I was met
+on the way to my boarding house by some of my kind friends, who took me
+to their houses and fitted me with a temporary suit of clothes, and some
+of them advanced me money to purchase more. Mr. Luman Reed loaned me two
+or three hundred dollars to pay the wages due my crew, and defray other
+expenses. Soon after, I proceeded to Catskill with the schooner, sold
+one half of my interest in her; and after paying my old friend, Mr. A.
+Cooke, all the money he had advanced on the out bound cargo for me, I
+proceeded to Charleston to claim my property, as I have before related.
+
+On my return from that port we refitted the Combine with new sails,
+rigging, &c. and agreed to take out an assorted cargo in her hold, and a
+deck load of horses, to the Island of St. Domingo.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+Schooner Combine.--Second Voyage.
+
+
+About the middle of May, 1822, we commenced loading at Catskill, and
+finished in about ten days, when we sailed for New-York, where I shipped
+a crew and left for Cape Francios, in the Island of St. Domingo. We met
+with light winds and strong currents on the passage, which carried us
+some distance to the leeward of our course, and obliged me to put into
+the harbor of Port-au-Prince, where we arrived without any material
+incident. I landed my horses, and having procured a stable for them, was
+advised to select ten or twelve of the handsomest and proceed with them
+to the president's country seat, about six miles from the city, where
+he was confined by ill health. This I consented to as a matter of
+courtesy, and a black colonel, named Burblong, volunteered to accompany
+me. I took my hostler and an interpreter and proceeded to his house. At
+his residence there was an extensive park enclosed by a high brick wall,
+which we entered after passing two armed sentries, when we drew near to
+a large wooden building fitted up in good style, having a piazza all
+round it, and six or eight sentries walking on it, well armed and
+uniformed. As we approached the outside door of the house we found a
+sentry stationed there, who conducted us into the hall, where we found
+another who conducted us into the president's room, which was splendidly
+furnished, where I was introduced to his excellency by Colonel Burblong.
+After the introduction was over, he invited us to take a glass of wine
+with him. The horses were then brought near the door, which, having
+examined, he said were worth two hundred dollars apiece; but since I had
+been so polite as to call on him, he would give me two hundred and fifty
+for as many as his groom should select. The president is about six feet
+in height, of a mulatto color, rather thin in flesh, and makes a good
+appearance on horseback, particularly in reviewing his army, who perform
+their evolutions in the most graceful and soldier-like manner. I sold
+the president one pair of horses, and disposed of a few to individuals
+at a fair profit; the remainder sold at a loss, after deducting
+expenses. The slow sale of horses detained me nearly two months, during
+which time the yellow fever made its appearance, and raged with unabated
+violence until our departure, particularly among the shipping. By the
+laws of the country a ship-master is obliged to land all persons seized
+with sickness on board of his vessel, and place them under the care of
+the nurses of the city, who receive them into their houses at a charge
+of two dollars and fifty cents per day for seamen, and three dollars per
+day for masters and mates. If a seaman dies on board, the master is
+fined five hundred dollars.
+
+About three weeks after our arrival here my cook and one sailor were
+attacked by the yellow fever, I took them ashore and placed them under
+the care of nurses; the hostler was next landed with the same complaint,
+and the third day after I put on shore another seaman in like condition.
+During this day, after a long walk in the hot sun, I retired to the
+house of one of the nurses, where I was taken down with the same fever;
+my cook dying about the time I became fairly sick. The next day one of
+the seamen died. The seamen, hostler, and myself were put under the care
+of different nurses, and in a few days such of us as were spared
+returned to duty.
+
+After the death of my cook I hired an English negro, (who had deserted
+from Turks Island and taken refuge here,) on condition that he should
+serve a few days on trial, and if both parties were suited he was to act
+as cook until the voyage was ended, and to receive the same wages I had
+given his predecessor. After remaining on board a few days, the mate
+sent a message to me on shore, informing me that the cook had threatened
+the lives of some of the sailors by attacking them with an axe. I sent a
+note to the mate requesting him to send the cook on shore. He soon made
+his appearance, when I took him to the store of my consignees and made
+out an account of his time, allowing him wages at the rate of fourteen
+dollars per month, according to agreement. I read the statement to him
+and he appeared well satisfied. I then asked one of the firm to pay the
+bill. He said his partner had stepped out with the key of the money
+drawer in his pocket, but as soon as he returned it would be paid, and
+asked the cook to take a seat; he walked out of the door and was missing
+for some time, when he entered the store in company with a black man,
+dressed in a sergeant's uniform, with a sword and bayonet hanging by his
+side, who introduced himself by saying he had a warrant for me. I was a
+little surprised, and asked him if he wanted me to go with him, or
+required any security for my appearance. He said he did not, and told me
+I must appear in the third ward, No. ----, to-morrow, at 11 o'clock. The
+next day I called at the store of my consignees and got the clerk to
+accompany me to the court. On our way we met a genteel looking, well
+dressed mulatto man, who asked the clerk where we were going. The clerk
+related the story to him, and he volunteered his service to defend my
+cause, and accompanied us to the court room. After we got inside of the
+door I discovered a sentry dressed in full uniform, with side arms,
+walking in front of the door. As I entered the court room I took off my
+hat to show some respect to the honorable black justice. Soon after, my
+antagonist, the cook, entered the door with his hat on his head, when
+the sentry approached him without uttering a word and struck him a heavy
+blow with his flat hand on the side of his head, which knocked his hat
+across the room; this caused the poor fellow to look amazed for a few
+moments, when he picked up his hat very carefully. The trial was soon
+called on. I related the whole story by my interpreter, and the judge,
+without calling a witness on either side, decided that I should pay him
+the same amount of money I had offered him, and that he should pay the
+costs, which was one dollar and fifty cents, being one-half the sum he
+recovered from me.
+
+When I returned to the wharf to go on board my vessel I found the poor
+fellow had been impressed, and sentenced to go on board of a man-of-war,
+and was then lodged in the guard house. He sent a message to me
+imploring my pardon, and begging my assistance to obtain his release.
+
+About this time there was a very great excitement raised in the city in
+consequence of the circulation of counterfeit coin, in imitation of the
+government silver, and a story had been circulated that a considerable
+quantity of this spurious silver was expected from Baltimore. As
+several vessels arrived from that place soon after, they were strictly
+searched, by boring barrels of flour, breaking open boxes and packages
+of goods, by custom house officers, and otherwise searching them. After
+some days it was discovered that the counterfeit coin was brought from
+Jamaica by a Jew, who had been lurking about the city. He was arrested
+and brought before the president for trial, and a report circulated that
+he would certainly be hanged. The president sent for a silver-smith to
+examine the coin, who pronounced it to be one-half pure silver, while
+the government coin was only one-tenth part silver: upon which the
+president said, "Damn him, let him go, for his money is better than
+ours."
+
+The laws of this country are very arbitrary, although they help to
+encourage industry and suppress idleness and dissipation. The president
+makes donations from the public lands to all poor individuals who will
+cultivate them. After they take possession of a lot he obliges them to
+cultivate it. To accomplish this, he sends a small military guard
+through the new settlements, accompanied by an officer, who stops at
+every house, where he makes the following inquiries: "Is this your house
+and plantation?" which being answered in the affirmative, he proceeds,
+"How large is your family?" The man answers, a wife and ---- children.
+The officer then compels him to go and show him the plantation, and to
+point out the number of coffee trees he has planted, &c. If, on
+examining the premises the officer finds only a few trees, and is
+convinced of the indolence of the occupant, he says, "You cannot
+maintain your family by this, and must be a cheat, or steal, you must
+therefore go with me," and he is obliged to join the army or navy.
+
+The farmers being out of the cities and villages, are not allowed to
+come to market except two days in each week, say Sundays and Wednesdays,
+without a special permit. All persons found drinking or rioting about
+public places or grog shops are immediately taken up under the vagrant
+act, sent to prison, and then transported to the army or navy as a
+punishment. The authorities of cities and villages license a limited
+number of butchers in each town, and compel them to keep the market
+supplied with meat every day, and limit the price to twelve and a half
+cents per pound.
+
+Since my last voyage to this Island the president, at the head of his
+army, had many engagements with the royalists under the emperor
+Christophe, whom he conquered, and had obtained possession of all his
+dominions. The emperor, fearing he should be taken prisoner, committed
+suicide by blowing his own brains out with his pistol. The president
+took possession of his castle, where they found about seven millions of
+dollars. By their wars with the French, and their internal wars among
+themselves, they have reduced the male inhabitants so much that they now
+estimate there is eleven females to one male, throughout all their
+dominions.
+
+Having disposed of my cargo and got a return freight on board, I sailed
+for the port of Jerimie, where we arrived the twenty-fourth of July.
+Here I collected about eight hundred dollars in coffee, which was due
+from my last voyage. I sailed for New-York on the twenty-eighth, and
+arrived at Staten Island after a passage of twenty-two days, where we
+were compelled to perform a quarantine of thirty days, at the expiration
+of which time we proceeded to the city, where I disposed of my cargo and
+then returned with the schooner to Catskill, when we refitted her
+previous to the next voyage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+Schooner Combine.--Third Voyage.
+
+
+We loaded the schooner's hold with an assorted cargo, and her deck with
+twenty-eight horses, about fifty hogs, a number of coops of poultry; and
+taking on board three passengers bound for the Island of Trinidad,
+sailed from Catskill the tenth of November, 1822, and arrived in
+New-York after a passage of two days, where I shipped a crew and
+prepared for the voyage. About the seventeenth of November we sailed
+from New-York, bound to the Island of Trinidad. After we got under
+weigh I found the greater part of my crew so badly intoxicated that they
+could not stand upon deck, but having fair wind and good weather I
+proceeded to sea; the mate, cooper, and cook, being sober, I thought we
+could manage the vessel until the crew could attend to their duty. We
+passed the night without getting any assistance from them. The next
+morning I ordered the mate to go into the fore-castle, where they slept,
+and search for liquor, and if necessary, break open all the seamen's
+chests, and if he found any he was to break the bottles or heave them
+overboard. He returned to the cabin with one bottle containing about a
+pint, being all he could find. We learned afterwards that they had some
+more secreted, which he was not able to discover. Towards evening the
+second day we were able to get them all at work but one. About eight
+o'clock in the evening that one came on deck and appeared somewhat
+bewildered with delirium tremens.
+
+I was then called to my supper, being much fatigued, having stood at the
+helm over twenty-four hours, while the mate, cooper, and cook took care
+of the stock on deck. Within two minutes after I entered the cabin I
+heard the cry, "He is overboard," when I jumped on deck and threw over
+many articles of lumber, long lines, &c. but the night being dark, and a
+heavy sea running, we soon lost sight of him. This seaman's name was
+James Currie, who said he was born in Rhode Island, and I found by the
+papers he left, that he had lately been discharged from the Frigate
+Constellation. One of his shipmates informed me that he had just arrived
+from a three years' cruise, and had received three hundred dollars when
+he was paid off, but had spent the whole of it in three weeks, and was
+indebted to his landlord about seventeen dollars more. My seamen were
+all sober and at their duty in a couple of days, and we proceeded on the
+voyage without any other occurrence worth recording, and arrived, after
+a passage of thirty-five days, at Port Spain, in the Island of Trinidad,
+where we landed our horses, which had stood on their feet the whole
+passage. Many of them had the heaves badly when they were taken on
+board, but were perfectly cured when they landed. This being the third
+time of successful experiment with diseased horses as a veterinarian, I
+pronounced a sea voyage a perfect cure for the heaves, whether in horses
+or other animals.
+
+The Island of Trinidad was ceded to the English by the Spanish
+government, and by the law of Nations the Spanish laws were to remain in
+force for twenty years after the transfer, which time had not expired. A
+Spanish governor is clothed with almost as much power as an emperor. Sir
+Ralph Woodford had been selected as governor, and was a tyrannical man,
+and very unpopular among the inhabitants. The city of Port Spain is one
+of the pleasantest places I have ever seen in the West Indies. The
+streets are kept very clean and in good order. No man can leave the
+Island without a permit from the governor. A merchant of Port Spain
+visited the Island of Tobago, a distance of about sixty miles, where he
+remained two or three days and then returned, when the governor had him
+arrested and committed to jail, where he remained six days: his only
+crime was leaving the Island without a passport signed by the governor.
+
+A Mr. J. Robbins, an American, informed me that he owned a house in one
+of the principal streets in the city, which street the governor ordered
+to be paved, and a tax laid on the property in that street to defray the
+expenses of flagging. The tax on his house and lot amounting to over six
+hundred dollars, and not being able to pay it, the property was sold at
+a great loss.
+
+The license to retail liquors in the city is sold annually at auction,
+to the highest bidder; one person purchasing the license for the whole
+town, gives security, and then divides it as he pleases. The soil of
+this Island is rich, producing sugar-cane and cocoa in abundance.
+Coffee, and all kinds of tropical provisions and fruits are raised here
+in large quantities. The Island abounds with snakes of an enormous size.
+I visited an American gentleman, residing in the country about twelve
+miles from Port Spain, who had a snake-skin stuffed which was
+twenty-three feet long; it was shot by one of his negroes, and on
+opening it they found a whole deer. A few hours before we left the port
+news was received from the interior of the Island that a snake had been
+shot containing the bodies of a black woman and child. The principal
+currency of the country is Spanish dollars punched through the centre,
+making a hole about the size of a five cent piece; the dollar still
+passing for the same value in the way of trade, and the plug which is
+taken out passes for one-eighth of a dollar. After passing through a few
+hands they find their way to some Jew, who reams the hole so large that
+you can pass a twenty-five cent piece through them, but they still pass
+for a dollar by way of trade. To prevent deception and loss, most
+bargains are stipulated to be paid in whole dollars.
+
+The English government has made a strong effort to introduce the
+cultivation of tea into this Island, by importing a number of Chinese
+laborers; it has proved to be a thorough failure. After their arrival in
+the country they became so indolent that it was found impossible to make
+them cultivate the land. They intermarried with the negroes, and became
+useless to society, laboring only to supply their daily wants.
+
+Having sold all my cargo, and taken on board over a hundred hogsheads of
+molasses, I sailed for New-York, where we arrived about the first of
+April, 1823. On the passage home we experienced a heavy gale of wind,
+which caused the loss of one thousand gallons of molasses.
+
+On selling the cargo we found the West India trade unprofitable, in
+consequence of the low prices of the produce of the Islands, which
+caused heavy losses on return cargoes. I held a consultation with my
+partners in the vessel, when it was agreed to sell the Combine at
+auction and abandon the trade.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+
+The following, copied from the _Northern Whig_ of December 3d, 1822, is
+a correct account of the capture of the piratical vessels by Lieutenant
+Commandant Allen, who lost his life during the engagement:
+
+     "It becomes our painful duty to record the death of Lieutenant
+     William Howard Allen, of the United States Navy. He commanded
+     the United States Schooner Alligator, and on the 11th of
+     November last, while leading his brave tars in the Alligator's
+     boats to attack a nest of pirates near Matanzas, was shot by
+     them in the head and breast, and survived but four hours.
+     Undaunted, even in death, he cheered his men, and had the
+     consolation of witnessing the surrender of one of the piratical
+     vessels, and the re-capture of five merchantmen before he
+     expired. He was buried on the succeeding day at Matanzas, with
+     military honors.
+
+     "Lieutenant Allen was a native of this city, (Hudson,) was born
+     on the 8th of July, 1790, entered the navy in the 20th year of
+     his age. He was Second Lieutenant on board the Argus, in the
+     summer of 1813, and during the bloody conflict between the
+     Argus and the Pelican, the command of the former devolved for a
+     time upon him. W. H. Watson, the First Lieutenant of the Argus,
+     a brave and worthy officer, speaks of his conduct in high and
+     merited terms. He was also in the Congress Frigate during her
+     cruise in the Chinese Seas.
+
+     "He was attached to his profession, courted glory, and feared
+     no danger. In the last war he saw much service; and whether in
+     war or peace, never failed to do his duty.
+
+     "We shall conclude our brief observations with the following
+     remarks, which have been kindly furnished us at the particular
+     request of a number of the friends of Lieutenant Allen, and
+     which were the conclusion of a discourse delivered from the
+     pulpit, by the Reverend B. F. Stanton, on the Sunday succeeding
+     the day on which the afflictive news of the death alluded to
+     arrived here.
+
+     "After a reference had been made to the frequent instances in
+     which, for a few years past, the inhabitants of Hudson have
+     been suddenly and unexpectedly deprived of some of their most
+     respected and valued fellow citizens, it was observed, that, in
+     addition to all the previous calamities of the nature which we
+     had experienced, we have recently been called upon by the
+     righteous Providence of Him whose 'path is in the great deep,
+     and whose footsteps are not known,' to contemplate another,
+     which, in some of its features, perhaps, is the heaviest of
+     all. I shall undoubtedly be readily understood, by most of my
+     hearers, to refer to the tidings which have lately reached us
+     of the lamented death of Lieutenant William H. Allen, a native
+     of this town, and an officer in the United States Navy.
+
+     "It is not any design on this occasion to attempt to do justice
+     to his memory by pronouncing his eulogy. This will probably be
+     done by abler pens and more eloquent tongues. My aim at present
+     is merely to advert to a few of the leading traits in his
+     character, and to call on those who hear me to listen to the
+     monitory voice of Heaven which addresses us in this afflictive
+     dispensation. As a son he was filial, as a brother he was kind
+     and affectionate, as a gentleman he was amiable and
+     accomplished in his manners, as a friend he was trusty and
+     sincere, as a man he was humane and generous: he had a soul
+     that was indignant at meanness and vice! In his morals, I
+     believe, he was free from those defilements which are too often
+     known to tarnish the reputation of those in his profession, and
+     to which they are so peculiarly liable: In his religious
+     sentiments, if I am not mistaken, he was a candid believer in
+     divine revelation: As a lover of his country, he was ardent and
+     ever eager, when summoned by her call, to be foremost in her
+     defence; and as an officer he was active, faithful, skilful,
+     and courageous. In the engagement that terminated his naval
+     career, he occupied a post most pregnant with danger, and
+     though mortally wounded in the early part of it, he still
+     animated his valiant tars, while the life-blood was fast ebbing
+     from its seat, to persevere till the victory was gained. By
+     these encomiums, however, it is not intended that he was
+     exempted from a participation in that polution of our nature
+     which is common to every individual of the human family. Though
+     he was possessed of excellencies which _we_ may be allowed to
+     admire and applaud; in the sight of infinite purity, like every
+     other human being, he was a ruined sinner,
+
+          "Sprung from the man whose guilty fall,
+          "Corrupts our arce and taints us all."
+
+     But neither the personal excellencies which so strongly
+     endeared him to those who knew him, the affections of his
+     numerous friends, nor the wants of his country, could render
+     him impervious to the shaft of death. No, his generous spirit
+     is fled. Though brave, he has fallen a victim to the king of
+     terrors, who conquers all. A band of piratical marauders, whose
+     iniquitous occupation is the plunder of the seas, and whose
+     perfidies and cruelties, which are audaciously committed on the
+     broad highway of nations, are continually augmenting, and in
+     our opinion, loudly call for the interfering arm of national
+     government, to extirpate, if possible, these freebooters, from
+     the face of the earth; a horde of these unprincipled
+     miscreants, who are the stigma of the human kind, have deprived
+     his country of his valuable services. He has lain down and will
+     rise not. 'Till the heavens be no more he shall not awake, nor
+     be raised out of sleep. His mangled remains are deposited in a
+     land of strangers, and far from his family and his home. He
+     will no more return to alleviate, by his presence, the severe
+     and long continued afflictions of 'the mother that bare him,'
+     to meet the embraces of the fond sisters that loved him, and to
+     receive the gratulations of the inhabitants of this place, who
+     were proud to claim him as their fellow-citizen. Yes, his
+     generous spirit has gone! The war song has died away upon his
+     ear. By the thrilling notes of the clarion, which once prompted
+     him to deeds of valor, he is now unmoved! His body is silent
+     and still in 'the narrow house of all living.' He reposes, with
+     others of his valiant compeers, to await 'the sound of the
+     archangel and the trump of God.' But it is the consolation of
+     surviving friends to reflect, that, though he sleeps, and they
+     shall behold him no more, he has fallen in the arms of victory,
+     and in the common cause of his country and of mankind. His
+     memory will be for ever embalmed in the tenderest recollections
+     of his acquaintances. His loss will be deplored as a national
+     calamity; and we would reverently trust, that, before his
+     spirit took its returnless flight, as he had been educated in
+     the principles of the Christian faith, and knew to whom a
+     sinner has to go, if his soul is ever saved, from his bloody
+     bed of glory he raised his dying eyes and his supplicating
+     voice to that God who is no respecter of persons, but who is
+     rich in mercy unto all that call upon him, in whose presence
+     the rich and the poor alike meet together; with whom the high
+     and the low, the noble and the ignoble, stand upon the same
+     level, in the effulgence of whose holiness the lustre of the
+     hero is dimmed, who permits none to glory before Him, save in
+     the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with whom alone can
+     avail the sacrifice of a broken and a contrite heart."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+     From the New-York Evening Post.
+
+     "With emotions of indignation and unavailing grief, we find
+     from the following article, that one of our bravest American
+     officers and most valuable citizens, Lieutenant Commandant
+     Allen, has fallen by the merciless hands of the sea-robbers who
+     for several years have roamed the seas unchecked, fearlessly
+     plundered our vessels, and remorselessly assassinated their
+     crews with every species of barbarity that hellish ingenuity
+     could invent."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+     From Relf's Philadelphia Gazette.
+
+     "MELANCHOLY TIDINGS.--We have to-day to record an event which
+     must excite in the breast of every American, and we may venture
+     to add, in that of every civilized man, emotions of profound
+     regret and indignation--Lieutenant Commandant Allen, one of the
+     rising stars in our national galaxy, has fallen by the hands of
+     unprincipled pirates. In the earnest and honorable execution of
+     his duty to his country and to mankind, this gallant and
+     accomplished young officer has become the victim of a gang of
+     desperate buccaneers; but in this, as in most of the
+     occurrences of our naval warfare, he died in the lap of
+     victory. This melancholy intelligence was received this morning
+     from an intelligent gentleman, passenger in the Mary Ann,
+     Captain Cory, from Havanna, (now below,) and is furnished to us
+     in these words:
+
+     "About the 9th, two masters of American vessels came to
+     Havanna for the express purpose of raising money for the ransom
+     of their vessels, bound to Havanna, which with two other
+     Americans (bound to New Orleans) had been recently captured by
+     two piratical schooners near Key Romain, and left at anchor in
+     that neighborhood waiting their return. Captain Allen, of the
+     Alligator, on coming into port next day, being informed
+     thereof, started, without coming to anchor, in search of the
+     pirates, whom on that or the next day he discovered in the
+     channel of Matanzas. The Alligator drawing too much water, two
+     boats were manned and stood for them; an action ensued, in the
+     early part of which Captain Allen received two musket balls,
+     one in the head, the other in his breast, and soon died,
+     encouraging his men to do their duty; which they nobly
+     performed, for after a short contest the pirates abandoned
+     their vessel and swam to the shore. The vessels were taken
+     possession of by the victors and carried into Matanzas.
+
+     "They mounted one gun each, amid-ship, with forty men each,
+     well armed, and considerable plunder on board. Our informant
+     does not know what became of their prizes.
+
+     "The Mary Ann has despatches on board from the American Agent
+     at Havanna, furnishing official information in relation to this
+     disastrous occurrence.
+
+     "Since the above was in type, (says _The Evening Post_,) the
+     following letter was handed us, confirmatory of the melancholy
+     truth of the account, with further particulars. We cannot but
+     express our unqualified admiration of the gallantry of spirit
+     that impelled the undaunted Allen, undismayed by the bloody
+     signal of _no quarter_, which waved aloft, to attack an armed
+     vessel, with a desperate crew in an open boat, and with only a
+     few men. His virtuous indignation bore away all prudent
+     reflections, and he rushed into the jaws of death itself to
+     rescue or avenge his fellow citizens. Captain Allen is a native
+     of Hudson, in this State, where his mother and sisters now
+     reside. May we not hope that the vessels in our harbor will
+     unite in giving at least one outward testimony of their
+     mourning for his loss, by raising their flags half-mast high
+     to-morrow.
+
+                                   "Matanzas, November 11, 1822.
+
+     "To Messrs. G. G. & S. Howland,
+
+     "My dear Sirs:--The gallant Allen is no more! You witnessed the
+     promptitude with which he hastened to relieve the vessel which
+     I informed him had been captured off this port. He arrived
+     just in time to save five sail of vessels, which he found in
+     possession of a gang of pirates, three hundred strong,
+     established in the Bay of Lejuapo, about fifteen leagues east
+     of this. He fell, pierced by two musket balls, in the van of a
+     division of boats, attacking their principal vessel, a fine
+     schooner of about eighty tons, with a long eighteen-pounder on
+     a pivot, and four guns, _with the bloody flag nailed to the
+     mast_. Himself, Captain Freeman, of marines, and twelve men,
+     were in the boat much in advance of his other boats, and even
+     took possession of the schooner after a desperate resistance
+     which nothing but a bravery almost too daring could have
+     overcome. The pirates, all but one, escaped by taking to their
+     boats and jumping overboard, before the Alligator's boats
+     reached them. Two other schooners escaped by the use of their
+     oars, the wind being light.
+
+     "Captain Allen survived about four hours, during which his
+     conversation evinced a composure and firmness of mind, and
+     correctness of feeling, as honorable to his character and more
+     consoling to his friends than even the dauntless bravery he
+     before evinced.
+
+     "The Alligator arrived here to-day, in company with the prize,
+     and five re-captured vessels. Arrangements are making with the
+     governor, with the concurrence of the commander of the Spanish
+     Brig of war Marte, [of whose conduct the officers of the
+     Alligator speak in the highest terms,] to inter him with the
+     honors of war to-morrow morning. It is certain that the pirates
+     are but little weakened by this contest, and there is reason to
+     fear that our commerce with this Island and New Orleans will be
+     almost annihilated, unless an effectual force is stationed here
+     to prevent it. But the best comment I can make is to add a list
+     of vessels re-taken, and to state that many of the men are
+     missing, and probably have been murdered. Should any of our
+     vessels of war arrive, please state these facts, and leave no
+     efforts untried to procure some additional force to come
+     immediately here.
+
+                                   "In great haste, your's very truly,
+                                   "Francis Adams.
+
+     "Loss in Alligator's two boats--Captain Allen and two oarsmen
+     killed; two men mortally wounded; three severely.
+
+     "[By an arrival at Philadelphia we learn that the United States
+     Schooner Alligator had arrived at Matanzas with the pirate
+     schooner and the vessels re-taken from the pirates, (the Ship
+     William & Henry, of New-York, Brig Iris, of Boston, and Brig
+     Sarah Marael, of New-York, bound to New Orleans; Schooner
+     Sarah, of Boston, for Mobile, Schooner Mary Ann, of Salem, for
+     Matanzas,) are all ordered for Charleston. The pirate schooner
+     has arrived, it is said, at Norfolk.]"
+
+After the arrival of the piratical schooner at Norfolk she was condemned
+and sold to a citizen of that place, who gave her the name of Allen, in
+remembrance of the brave but unfortunate commander who lost his life in
+capturing her. Some time after she was purchased by Messrs. H. & D.
+Cotheal and A. D. Hallett, the former owners of the Price, and I was
+employed to take the command of her, and proceed to the Island of St.
+Andreas, and from thence to Chagres.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+Schooner Allen.
+
+
+About the twenty-seventh of December, 1823, I took charge of the Allen.
+She was a small sharp-built schooner, armed with a long six-pound
+cannon, mounted on a circle, with a patent slide, and was well fitted
+for sea. My crew were three seamen, a mate and cook. We sailed from
+New-York the twenty-ninth of December, and made our passage to the
+Island of Old Providence in seventeen days, where we stopped and traded
+two or three days, and then proceeded to the Island of St. Andreas,
+where I met Mr. Henry T. Smith, who had been my former clerk in the
+Indian trade. I supplied him with what goods he wanted and then sailed
+for Chagres. On my arrival there I wrote a letter to the American Consul
+at Panama, informing him that I had a consignment of goods on board for
+him. After a few days I received a letter from a Mr. Montaudevert,
+informing me that Mr. Craig, the consul had left Panama and departed for
+New-York on a visit, leaving him in charge of his business during his
+absence. In three or four days after I received his letter he arrived at
+Chagres and took lodgings on board with me. The next day he hired a
+large canoe to take the goods up the river to a place called Cruses, a
+distance of forty-two miles, which is said to be the head of canoe
+navigation on that river. The provisions I had on board was all put up
+in half barrels for the customary mule transportation over the Isthmus,
+by slinging two across each mule's back, two half barrels being a load
+for a mule. After all our arrangements were made the canoe was hauled
+alongside of the Allen. When she made her appearance there I was struck
+with surprise at her length and breadth, she being some feet longer than
+my little schooner. I took up a rule and measured her breadth, which I
+found was eight feet from one side to the other, and her length over
+sixty feet, being dug out of one solid tree, free from shakes or cracks.
+
+In the morning we loaded the canoe with one hundred and forty-one half
+barrels of flour, and twenty half barrels of pork and mackerel, and two
+hogsheads filled with firkins of butter. The canoe had a large quantity
+of other freight on board before she come alongside of the Allen. After
+delivering all the goods consigned to Mr. Craig, I sold Mr. Montaudevert
+thirteen hundred and forty dollars' worth of goods consigned to myself,
+on a credit of ninety days, and took his note, payable in gold dust, at
+two hundred and fifty dollars per pound, or Spanish dollars, at my
+option. Mr. Montaudevert told me if I returned there in the Allen next
+voyage he would ship on board of her on freight, thirty thousand
+dollars' worth of dust. This may show the reader that gold dust has been
+gathered in that region for many years; and if that country was as well
+searched as California is at this day, no doubt many beds of that
+valuable ore might be found. I remained in Chagres eight or ten days,
+selling goods from the vessel at retail at good prices. Having four
+hogsheads of rum and brandy on board, which I found was a contraband
+article in that government, I entered them at the custom house for
+exportation, and afterwards sold them to an American captain, who agreed
+to meet me a few miles at sea, out of the jurisdiction of that
+government, where I delivered them and received my pay.
+
+The river Chagres is navigable for small vessels about half a mile
+inside of the bar, which has about eleven feet of water on it at full
+tide. The town contains about fifty huts, called houses, built after the
+model of the Indians. The inhabitants are called Samboes, being a
+mixture of native Indian, Negro, and white blood. They are a very
+indolent, harmless, and inoffensive race; and their customs and manners
+are much like the native Indians.
+
+I got under weigh and proceeded a few miles to sea, when I found the
+vessel lacked ballast, so we ran into Porto Bello and purchased a few
+tons of fustic, which put her in good sailing trim, when we shaped our
+course back towards the Island of St. Andreas, where I took Mr. Henry T.
+Smith, and his return cargo on board, consisting of four hundred pounds
+of tortoise shell, and five or six thousand dollars in gold and silver,
+which he had collected for the owners of the Allen. We soon got under
+weigh and shaped our course for New-York.
+
+As my little schooner was a fast sailor, pilot-boat model, I beat to the
+windward, hoping to get sight of the Island of St. Domingo and sail
+through the windward passage. After a few days we succeeded in obtaining
+sight of that Island and sailed along under the lee of it; keeping a
+bright look-out for suspicious looking vessels. Knowing that my vessel
+had been taken from the pirates, I was fearful that some of the former
+gang who once had possession of her might capture me, when I could not
+expect anything but immediate death.
+
+[Illustration: Schooner Renegade firing into the Schooner Allen.]
+
+The morning after we got sight of the Island we discovered a suspicious
+looking schooner laying at anchor near the land, about five miles to the
+windward of us, who got under weigh in great haste. I soon perceived
+with my spy glass that her deck was full of men. She bore down towards
+us, we hauled close upon the wind, which brought her into our wake about
+four miles astern of us. Both vessels had their colors flying. Neither
+of us dared to trust the other. Our new neighbor soon after rounded too,
+hauled up his fore-sail, and fired a large shot, which we could plainly
+discover skipping on the surface of the water some distance from us. I
+took the helm myself and kept the vessel close to the wind, fearing my
+seamen would be careless about steering her. The strange schooner
+continued firing at us about every half hour, while we were going fast
+to the windward of him, until about twelve o'clock. In the afternoon the
+wind became light, when we discovered that the strange vessel was
+gaining upon us. The captain afterwards informed me that he had thirty
+sweeps, and most of his men employed in rowing for some hours, being
+determined to overhaul us. We kept on our course until about 3 o'clock,
+when we found ourselves near the land on the Island of Cuba, and the
+suspicious craft gaining fast upon us. We had no alternative but to tack
+ship; soon after, he fired a shot which struck under our bowsprit, and
+wet our fore-sail up to the gaff, this was followed by another that
+grazed our mast-head, and another fell a few feet under the stern. The
+fourth shot struck the after leach of the main-sail and cut off the bolt
+rope and the after-cloth of the sail, and glancing downwards, struck the
+trunk-deck and entered the cabin, passed through my bed, and then
+followed the ceiling into the hold, cutting away the plank and three
+timbers and landed in a bag of cotton. Although the ball, weighing
+thirty-two pounds, passed through the deck within six feet from where I
+stood at the helm, being much engaged in giving orders to set the
+square-sail, I did not discover that it had passed through the deck
+until some minutes after, when the cook came out of the cabin and told
+me that Mr. Smith was wounded by a splinter striking him on the head. I
+then raised my spy-glass and took a good survey of my antagonist,
+supposing him to be a pirate. On looking at him some time, (all hands on
+board the Allen being greatly agitated,) I discovered a number of red
+coats on her deck, when our grief was turned to joy, being satisfied
+that they were English marines. Soon after she approached within hailing
+distance of us, when I was ordered to hoist out my boat and come on
+board of her. When I got on board I was accosted by the captain with,
+"Did you not see the colors flying on board of my vessel." I answered,
+"Yes, sir, but I do not trust to colors in these piratical days." He
+then said, "You have cost me a great deal of powder and shot this day."
+I answered, by saying, "Never mind, King George is able to pay for it."
+He then asked me if my vessel leaked badly. I told him that I had but
+little time to ascertain how bad she did leak, but knew that she had
+some holes in her. He sent a lieutenant, carpenter, and four men on
+board of the Allen to examine and pump her out, and invited me into the
+cabin to drink with him. I told him I did not drink any ardent spirits;
+he then said, "Damn it, you're a Yankee, and can take a bottle of cider
+with me." After we entered the cabin and were seated, he looked at me
+with a smile, saying, "Curse me if you ain't game, you stand fire well."
+In the mean time he called the gunner to the cabin door, saying,
+"Gunner, how many shot have you fired at this man this day." The gunner
+answered him, "Sixteen thirty-two pound shot, and four long
+twelve-pounders."
+
+He then told me, if I thought it necessary to put into some port for
+repairs, he would recommend Kingston, Jamaica, as the best to sail for;
+and if I had any valuable articles in her, he would take them on board
+of his vessel for safety, and convoy me to that port. I informed him
+that I had over eight thousand dollars in specie, and four hundred
+pounds of tortoise-shell, worth ten dollars per pound. In the mean time,
+the lieutenant arrived from the Allen and reported that he thought she
+could be kept perfectly free from water by having the pump well manned.
+After some consultation together, he agreed to let his carpenter,
+sailing master, and four seamen remain on board the Allen, and he would
+hoist lights and signals, and convoy her to Kingston for repairs. He
+then gave his name, and a history of himself and the schooner he now
+commanded. He said, "About one year since I obtained a furlough from my
+government, and took charge of a merchant ship bound from Liverpool to
+Jamaica and back to that port. On my passage from Jamaica towards home I
+was captured by the pirates, robbed of eight thousand dollars, and many
+articles, and most cruelly beaten and horribly tortured. The vessel he
+was now in was taken from the pirates by one of his Majesty's ships, and
+carried into Jamaica, condemned, and then fitted out under the name of
+the Renegade, for the purpose of capturing pirates; and that he was
+appointed to the command of her, and was determined to cruise after them
+until he had obtained some satisfaction from them." After this
+conversation ended I went on board my vessel and followed the Renegade,
+who shaped her course for Kingston. Night soon approached, when she
+showed her signal light, which we followed. During the night the light
+winds and smoky weather caused us to lose sight of her until the next
+morning, when we found ourselves near a place called the White Horse,
+about twelve miles from Port Royal, which lies at the entrance of
+Kingston harbor. Our vessels were now laying becalmed a short distance
+from each other. Soon after the sea-breeze arose, both vessels being
+under weigh, near together, we set all our sails and steered for the
+mouth of the harbor, and the Allen arrived there three miles ahead of
+the Renegade. This satisfied me that the use of the sweeps on board of
+the Renegade caused the long chase between us, and the loss of his
+Majesty's powder and shot.
+
+On my arrival at Kingston I called on Messrs. O'Hara & Onfloy for
+advice, when we applied to the admiral on that station to allow the
+Allen to be taken into the king's dock-yard for repairs, which he
+refused. We then applied to the collector of the port for leave to take
+out her cargo, in order to heave her bottom out of water and repair it.
+The collector informed us that he could not grant us that leave without
+permission from the governor, who resided at Spanish Town, twelve miles
+from Kingston. We had to employ a competent person to draw the petition,
+who let us know that we must advance him thirty dollars to purchase a
+sheet of stamped paper to write the petition upon. After the article was
+drawn I was obliged to hire a man and furnish him with a horse and
+carriage to convey it to the governor, who granted my request. The only
+favor I had to acknowledge was, the governor's sending me the thirty
+dollars which I paid for the sheet of stamped paper, in consequence of
+the assault being committed by an English-government vessel.
+
+The carpenter hove the schooner's bottom out and repaired her in three
+or four days; but I was detained eight days in obtaining a permit to
+land the cargo for that purpose. The whole of the expenses were about
+two hundred and sixty dollars. During this time I often met Captain
+Fiatt, the commander of the Renegade, at public houses and elsewhere,
+who was a gentleman in all respects. He was profuse in expressing his
+regret that the unfortunate occurrence had happened to my vessel; and
+was still full of his determination to pursue the pirates until he got
+some revenge for the injuries he had received from them. After the
+vessel was repaired I took on board four thousand six hundred dollars
+belonging to my owners, and returned with the Allen to New-York. About
+one year after, I visited Kingston on my way home from the Spanish Main.
+When I inquired after Captain Fiatt, whom I left in the Renegade, an
+English naval officer informed me that while cruising he landed with his
+boat and crew on the Isle of Pines, and was missing for some time, when
+another man-of-war's boat was sent in search of him. When the officer
+and boat's crew landed on the Island they found the bodies of Captain
+Fiatt and his boat's crew strewed on the ground, riddled with balls, and
+the captain so horribly and vulgarly mangled as showed that none but
+fiends could have been guilty of murdering them.
+
+To give the reader some idea of the horrible atrocities committed by the
+pirates at that time, I have thought proper to insert the following
+account, copied from _The Evening Post_ of April 15th, 1822:
+
+     "_Commodore Porter's Squadron._
+
+     "_Piracies._--The last news that has been received from this
+     squadron is contained in the New-York papers extracted from the
+     _St. Thomas' Times_ of March 5. On the 4th the squadron got
+     under weigh and put to sea from St. Thomas'. Piracies of an
+     enormity that the bare recital of them make the blood run cold,
+     are continually taking place. A Dutch Brig was taken in sight
+     of Moro Castle, at Havanna. The French Brig La Jeune Henrietta
+     was taken on the 17th of March, the captain, passengers, and
+     all the crew were most cruelly beaten, and they and the vessel
+     robbed. The Schooner Success, from Matanzas, bound to New
+     Providence, was captured and converted into an assistant
+     pirate, two ladies, passengers, made prisoners, one of whom was
+     hanged up till life was almost extinct, in order to make her
+     confess where the money on board was secreted. The Dutch Brig
+     Minerva was captured and burned. The Brig Columbia, from
+     Washington, North Carolina, was captured, robbed of parts of
+     her cargo and sails. The Brig Alert, from New Orleans, was
+     boarded off the Moro by three boats, the captain and cook
+     killed, and one man mortally wounded. A brig has lately arrived
+     from the Balize, belonging to Kennebunk, formerly commanded by
+     Captain Perkins, she was from Port-au-Prince, via Campeachy,
+     where he was boarded by a pirate schooner of about forty tons,
+     manned by forty ruffians. 'They stabbed Captain Perkins in a
+     cruel manner and cut off one of his arms; he then told them
+     where the money was, which amounted to two hundred doubloons;
+     after which they cut off his other arm and thigh, placed oakum
+     dipped in oil under his body and in his mouth, and set fire to
+     it, which soon put an end to his life. The mate had a sword
+     thrust through his thigh, and the vessel was robbed of
+     everything moveable, such as cables, anchors, charts, books,
+     rigging, sails, &c.' It would seem by these accounts, which
+     have all come to hand the past week, that our squadron was of
+     little or no use in those seas. The true way we think would be
+     to put armed crews on board of merchantmen, at sea, after they
+     had left the port they sailed from, and in this way the pirates
+     could get no intelligence of vessels destined to go against
+     them.
+
+     "Captain Harding, of the Schooner Aspray, who arrived at Boston
+     last Monday, from Havanna, in twelve days, informs that he was
+     chased out of the Bay of Matanzas by two piratical boats, and
+     running down for Havanna threw off her deck load to get clear
+     of a piratical schooner. Brig Alert, of Portsmouth, from New
+     Orleans, had just arrived off the Moro with a deck load of
+     hogs. She was boarded in the night by two piratical boats, with
+     six men each, and Captain Charles Blunt was murdered and thrown
+     overboard; the cook was stabbed, thrown among the hogs and
+     partly devoured by them. The crew were maltreated, and the
+     vessel plundered. Captain Harding states, that when she sailed
+     from Havanna it was hourly expected that orders would be issued
+     for the detention of French vessels in port."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+Schooner Frances.
+
+
+On the sixteenth day of July, 1824, I made a contract with one Captain
+Oliver C. Murray, master of the Schooner Frances, of New-York, to
+proceed with him on a trading voyage to the Musquitto Shore, Chagres,
+Porto Bello, St. Blas, &c. as a pilot and assistant trader.
+
+We took on board an assorted cargo, and sailed from New-York about the
+last of July. After being at sea some three days Captain Murray was
+taken sick, when he called the mate and crew into the cabin and told
+them that he had given up the charge of the schooner to me, that they
+must obey me accordingly. This was unsolicited by me. We then proceeded
+direct to Porto Bello, where we opened a trade with the inhabitants,
+remaining there about three weeks, experiencing heavy showers of rain
+every day we tarried there, it then being the rainy season on that
+coast. We proceeded from that port to Carthagena, a distance of about
+two hundred and sixty miles, where we were informed by the inhabitants
+that there had not fallen a drop of rain in that place during the last
+ten months.
+
+Carthagena is the strongest fortified city I ever visited, being
+enclosed with a wall some fifteen feet high, which is approached by a
+slope of easy assent. The wall appears to be from fifteen to twenty feet
+thick, having embrasures with heavy cannon mounted on it, about one
+hundred feet from one to another, all around the city, with a good road
+on the top of the wall. On the outside of the wall there is a deep
+trench, where water can be let in five or six feet deep if the city
+should be invaded by an enemy. Vessels bound into the harbor are obliged
+to keep close to the main land, which brings them near a long tier of
+forts. The greatest part of the channel is filled in with large stones,
+which appears to have been the work of ages.
+
+We remained here about two weeks, and were visited by numbers of
+captains of Columbian privateers, most of them Americans, who had
+obtained commissions signed by General Bolivar; they purchased many
+articles from us. Before we got the schooner under weigh we took on
+board three members of the Columbian Congress and their servants. A son
+of one of the congressmen had been educated in Europe, and spoke good
+English. We agreed to convey them to Chagres. They came direct from
+Bogata, the seat of government of this Republic, their congress having
+just adjourned; they were on their way home, across the Isthmus. The
+Columbian Congress had passed a law to raise the duties on imports about
+twelve per cent. We had a large assortment of goods on board, which we
+sold at retail at every port where we landed. On our passage these
+members of congress, who had come direct from the seat of government,
+and assisted to pass laws to raise the revenue and prevent smuggling,
+purchased over three hundred dollars' worth of goods of us on the
+passage, and had them put up in proper packages to pass through the
+custom house as their baggage, so as to defraud the government of the
+duties.
+
+A short time before we arrived at Chagres one of them, who had an
+English negro servant, ordered him to tell Captain Murray that he could
+put some of his goods amongst their baggage if he wanted to smuggle them
+on shore through the custom house, as their baggage was considered
+sacred, and that no custom house officer dare to examine it. Being well
+acquainted with the tricks of these Spanish officers, I prevailed on
+Murray not to trust them, telling him this was only a trick to cheat him
+out of his goods, as I had heard, from good authority, of a number of
+tricks of this kind which had been practised by the collector of Porto
+Bello and other ports on the Main.
+
+We landed our passengers and remained some days at Chagres, where we
+sold some goods and then returned to Porto Bello. We purchased some
+fustic and other articles, and proceeded to the coast of St. Blas,
+touching at a number of small harbors, where we bought fustic in small
+quantities. While laying in the mouth of one of these narrow rivers,
+called Nombre Dios, (name of God,) I found by inquiry that I was only
+about thirty miles from the residence of one of my old traders, named
+Campbell, who had visited New-York with me in the Schooner Price, and
+was there when General Jackson made his first visit to that city. I told
+Captain Murray that I should feel much pleased to visit Campbell, and I
+would willingly assist to paddle a canoe thirty miles to see any honest
+friend. This pleased him much, as he wanted an introduction to the trade
+on that coast. The next morning we fitted out our canoe, by putting a
+dinner-pot, fire-works, and some provisions, and a large jug, containing
+two or three gallons of gin, on board, to treat my Indian friends on my
+arrival among them. We were now well prepared for the trip, having
+plenty to eat and drink. If the winds or weather detained us on the
+passage we could go on shore, haul up our canoe, build a fire, cook our
+provision and then lay down on the ground and get a comfortable sleep,
+by keeping a kind of watch amongst ourselves to prevent the fire from
+going out, that being our only protection from tigers, panthers, and
+other wild beasts, who will never approach a fire. They are very
+numerous on this coast. I tried this experiment many years successfully.
+
+We left the schooner early in the morning and proceeded more than one
+half of our journey, when a strong breeze of head wind compelled us to
+go on shore and take up our lodging for the night. The next morning, the
+wind having abated, we got under weigh, and reached Campbell's house
+that afternoon. I was received by my old friend in the most affectionate
+manner. He, knowing that I was very fond of craw-fish, wilkes, &c.
+despatched a number of young men to fish for them, and others to go and
+gather some of their best fruits for us to eat. At the same time the
+most of his neighbors visited his house, many of them bringing fruits,
+sugar-cane, &c. We were treated to the best supper the country afforded,
+and he furnished us with clean hammocks to sleep in. The morning after,
+we made a good breakfast; a large assemblage of Indians met at
+Campbell's house, when he asked me to christen his children, which I
+declined, by saying I had no book with me. I soon discovered that he
+felt dissatisfied with my denial, for he had invited all his neighbors
+there to witness the performance. He earnestly entreated me a second
+time to perform the ceremony. After some further entreaty I yielded to
+his request, which seemed to throw a gleam of joy on all the assembly of
+Indians, whose eyes were steadily fixed upon me. When I got prepared to
+perform the ceremony, I asked Campbell in his usual way of speaking
+English, "What him name." He answered me, saying, "Dat General Jackson."
+I then sprinkled water on his head, laid my hand upon it, and pronounced
+his name with an audible voice; this was the oldest boy. I called for
+the next, when he brought forward a younger lad; when I asked his name,
+the answer was, "Dat must be your name," so I christened him Jacob
+Dunham; then calling for another, he brought me a small girl, when I
+asked concerning the name, he answered me, "Dat must be your wife name,"
+and I christened her Fanny Dunham. The fourth one being called for,
+Captain Murray requested Campbell to have it christened after his wife;
+he agreed to it, as it was a small girl, and I named her Lucretia
+Murray. After the ceremony was ended Captain Murray presented the
+children with fifty cents each. A good dinner was prepared on the
+occasion, which we partook of in the most jovial and friendly manner,
+after which we visited a number of the neighboring houses in company
+with my friend Campbell, where we were received with a hearty welcome,
+and presented with such fruits as the country afforded.
+
+In the morning, while we were preparing to return to the schooner,
+Campbell called me out to a small store house, where he took up the hind
+quarter of a baboon or large monkey, well smoked, and presented it to me
+to eat on our passage back to the schooner. I did not like to wound his
+feelings by refusing his present. On looking into his store room I
+observed a number of large smoked birds about the size of a common
+turkey, which I told him suited my taste much better than monkey, which
+he readily exchanged, as the natives consider a fat monkey the best
+meat that the country produces. He supplied us with bread-stuff and
+fruits. We took our departure for the vessel, and arrived on board that
+night.
+
+We continued trading along the coast a few days, when we fell in with an
+old schooner under Columbian colors, but American built, said to belong
+to a man named Varney, who was on board of her, but could not hold her
+papers while sailing under that flag, not being a naturalized citizen of
+that government. It appeared he had employed a black citizen of that
+country to hold her papers, in the capacity of captain, who was then
+laying sick in a canoe on the schooner's deck.
+
+Captain Murray told me he had heard from Carthagena that a government
+schooner was cruising in pursuit of the Frances to capture her for
+trading on this coast without license, that we must take the goods out
+of her and put them on board of Varney's old schooner as speedily as
+possible, and then proceed to sea with her immediately; that I must go
+on board of her and take charge of the goods as supercargo. The goods
+were transferred that afternoon in great haste, without my having time
+to examine the old vessel as I ought to have done. She had a motley crew
+of different nations on board. When I took a view of them, I told Murray
+that I would not trust my life on board of her without he gave me two or
+three of the Frances' crew to go with me, which request he complied
+with, when we hurried to sea, bound to the Island of St. Andreas. After
+we got out a little from the land we tried the pump, and found she
+leaked very badly, but dared not put back, fearing we might be captured.
+So we all agreed to pursue the voyage. We were now compelled to try the
+pump every fifteen minutes during the passage to St. Andreas, which was
+twenty-three days.
+
+Immediately after our arrival in that harbor I took all the goods on
+shore. Two days after, Varney undertook to heave the old schooner out,
+to repair her bottom, when the deck slid off, and she sunk, never to
+rise again. The negro captain died the second day after we went to sea,
+when we committed his body to a watery grave.
+
+Some time after Captain Murray arrived with the Frances in the harbor
+and learned the fate of Varney's old vessel, when he chartered a small
+schooner belonging to St. Andreas to take the remainder of his goods on
+board, and carry them to St. John's, on the Spanish Main. The next day
+they were all put on board of the new schooner. Murray now made up his
+mind to send the Frances back to New-York, and wanted me to take charge
+of her as master, which I refused to do, knowing it to be a broken
+voyage, and if I acted as master of her I could not libel the vessel for
+my wages. I told him he could give the mate charge of the Frances, and
+that I would assist to navigate her back to New-York, which he agreed
+to. He and Varney went on board of the new chartered schooner, and
+proceeding to St. John's, took out the goods and transported them up
+that river into Nunanger Lake, on a trading voyage. All our arrangements
+being finished, both vessels proceeded to sea, when we shaped our course
+for New-York.
+
+Soon after we got to sea I examined the list of return cargo which
+Murray had left on board the Frances; it consisted mostly of fustic,
+which was selling in New-York at that time at reduced prices, and I
+found that the whole cargo would not pay the charter of the schooner,
+which was two hundred dollars per month, besides victualing, manning and
+port charges.
+
+The Frances proved to be such a dull sailer that we could seldom force
+her more than seven knots per hour, in addition to which her sails and
+rigging had been badly injured by the continued rains on that coast,
+which rendered her unfit for any voyage. We were beating to the
+northward about fourteen days before we made the land, which proved to
+be Cape Antonio, we then steered into the Gulf-stream, which assisted us
+to work our way to the northward and eastward, and were a number of days
+sailing in the Gulf before we reached the latitude of Charleston, where
+we encountered a succession of heavy gales of wind which split our sails
+and carried away the greatest part of our running rigging. Finding our
+water and provisions growing short, we concluded to put into Charleston
+for relief, and the next day the wind proving favorable we steered
+direct for that port, where we anchored in a crippled condition. After
+our arrival there, we wrote to the men whom we supposed were Captain
+Murray's sureties for the charter of the Frances, informing them of our
+misfortune, when they applied to the underwriters for relief. When we
+had waited two or three weeks in Charleston, an agent of the
+underwriters arrived there from New-York, bringing with him rigging and
+sails, when we made some tempory repairs, and then sailed for New-York,
+where we arrived after a passage of two weeks.
+
+After we arrived in port it was discovered that Murray had not over
+twenty dollars when he first undertook the voyage. He was a good looking
+man, and belonged to the Masonic order, could sing a good song, and tell
+a humorous story, and had a peculiar way of gaining the confidence of
+his associates. He had but few personal acquaintances in the city; but
+had obtained security from two or three responsible merchants for the
+charter of the schooner Frances for a voyage of some months, at two
+hundred dollars per month, and they had loaned him money to pay the
+advance wages of the mate and seamen, and supplied him with ship stores,
+besides making large shipments of goods on their own account. He took
+many goods from different people in invoices of from fifty to one
+thousand dollars, agreeing to carry them free from freight, and return
+them one-half of the net profits. Among the shippers was his landlady, a
+poor widow woman, whom he persuaded to make a shipment of crockery
+amounting to fifty or sixty dollars, who, no doubt expected it would be
+sold at California prices. I have since conversed with many of the
+shippers by the Frances on this voyage, who say that they never received
+any returns for the goods which they shipped on board the schooner, or
+any account of the sales of them. The sureties were compelled to pay the
+seamen's wages and all other expenses. Some years after I learned that
+Murray died in some part of Central America.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+Voyage to New Orleans.
+
+
+About the first of December, 1831, I entered into an agreement in
+Philadelphia with a large contractor, who had engaged to open a canal
+from the city of New Orleans to Lake Ponekertrain. He had hired about
+one hundred and fifty men, and chartered a brig to carry them to New
+Orleans. We sailed about the sixth of December, and made our passage out
+in twenty days. The captain of the brig was a young man who was but
+little acquainted with that coast. As he found that I was more
+experienced than himself, he was very civil to me. I gave him
+information about this dangerous coast. On our arrival at New Orleans
+we were conveyed to some large shantees, built for the accommodation of
+the workmen. I was stationed in the store-room, with orders to weigh out
+the provisions, keep a daily account of the expenditures, and make
+weekly returns to the treasurer. This I found a very disagreeable
+situation, as the men were constantly finding fault with their
+provisions, although they were furnished with good tea, coffee, sugar,
+smoked shoulders, potatoes, salt fish, wheat bread and butter every
+Friday, fresh beef twice in the week, and eight glasses of whiskey per
+day. Notwithstanding this good treatment, we had riots among the men
+every few days, and all deficiency in stores or cooking was laid to my
+charge, and they often threatened my life. There were two other
+encampments on the same canal, one on the lake side, and one in the
+middle station, where they murdered one cook, mortally wounded one
+overseer, and severely injured many others.
+
+A few months after they grew so riotous that the City Guards had to be
+called out to suppress them, when they were discharged by the company,
+and I was released from my contract. After they had spent all their
+wages they returned to their work and were very orderly. This canal is
+only six and a half miles long, and eight feet deep, but has added
+greatly to the wealth of the city. There was an old canal, formed mostly
+by nature, running nearly parallel with this new one, having about five
+feet depth of water in it, but it was often so much out of repair as to
+make it difficult to navigate, and as it did not answer the desired
+purpose, the new one was made. I obtained employment in a little
+schooner, which ran between New Orleans and Covington, through the old
+canal, crossing the lake and ascending a small river called Chepunkee,
+navigable some twenty-two miles. We sailed into the mouth of it about
+three miles, and then took in our sails and towed her the remaining
+distance to the little village called Covington. The river is so narrow
+in many places that vessels have scant room to pass by each other; a
+slight current sets down the river the whole time.
+
+At Covington I found a number of steam sawmills, and abundance of sawed
+timber and boards, a few hotels, boarding houses, stores, and a printing
+office and several dwelling houses. This place is considered a healthy
+resort in the sickly season. Many small vessels find employment here in
+transporting lumber, brick, and cotton. We soon took in a cargo of
+lumber and returned to New Orleans, where we discharged it; when I
+entered on board of another schooner and made a trip to Mobile, which I
+found a very handsome city. The houses are built in modern style, the
+place has in it a number of large elegant hotels and stores, and many
+handsome streets. I was much annoyed with musquittoes while we remained
+in port, but soon left for New Orleans, where we landed after a passage
+of two days. In a short time I started for another trip across the
+lake. On my return I was taken sick. Finding that my small means would
+not support me long at a boarding house, and also pay the doctor's
+bills, I applied to the collector of the port, who gave me an order to
+go to the Marine Hospital, supposing I had a just claim to go there
+after paying hospital money to support such institutions over thirty
+years. During my stay in the hospital I found it was a private
+institution; that the collector and the keeper of it were kinsmen, and
+that the collector paid the keeper seventy-five cents per day for the
+board of every seaman he sent there. The daily rations allowed each man
+were about eight or ten ounces of bread, and five or six ounces of fresh
+meat, with the accompaniment of a small bowl of tea. The whole would not
+cost per day over twelve cents per man.
+
+A number of seamen remain here a long time after they are restored to
+health, without receiving a discharge from the doctor, who is making
+fifty cents per day, or more, for their board. These men leave the
+hospital in the morning in pursuit of work, which they generally find,
+purchase their dinners at eating houses, and return to the hospital at
+night, where they receive their small rations and lodgings, the keeper
+pocketing his seventy-five cents per day from government during their
+stay here. They are left to decide for themselves when it is best to be
+well. In consequence of this, many of the sick in the hospital are
+crowded out of comfortable lodgings.
+
+It will easily be seen that the greatest part of the tax collected from
+the hard earnings of seamen is used to enrich political favorites. I
+remained in this establishment about sixty days, during that time the
+yellow fever raged there violently, causing a number of deaths in the
+house. Many patients were brought there who were unable to walk or stand
+on their feet, and were most of them soon cured.
+
+After I left the hospital I found some light employment for a few days,
+when I agreed to take another trip across the lake. Previous to my going
+on board of the vessel I returned to the hospital, where I had left some
+of my clothing, took with me such as I wanted, and left some of my heavy
+articles in charge of a sailor named Daniel Dunn, with whom I had formed
+a short acquaintance in the hospital, and proceeded over the lake, where
+we remained a few days, and then returned to the city. On my return I
+found the cholera had broken out and was raging to such an alarming
+degree that the inhabitants were terror-struck. The returns of deaths
+were over two hundred per day. Laborers wages for digging in the church
+burying ground was seven dollars per day. Not being able to procure
+laborers sufficient to dig single graves, they dug canals about one
+hundred rods in length, of sufficient depth to place three coffins one
+above the other, the water in the bottom of it being about eighteen
+inches deep. All graves dug in New Orleans are half filled with water
+before the coffins are deposited in them.
+
+The morning after my return I proceeded to the hospital to see after my
+clothing. On visiting the building I was much surprised on walking
+through many of the rooms without seeing a living soul. In the back yard
+I found eight or ten dead bodies laying on the ground in a putrid state.
+I then searched the upper stories, and in a room called the small-pox
+ward, I found one dead body laying on a bed covered with a woollen
+blanket, in a very putrid state, the offensive gas rising through the
+blanket like a dense fog. Some few were still alive, but suffering for
+want of attendance. On descending the stairs I met the assistant
+physician of the hospital, and asked him the cause of this great neglect
+of the few who were still living. He told me that Doctor M'Farlane, the
+proprietor, was very sick, and that the cook, steward, washer woman, and
+the black man who conveyed the corpses to the grave, were all dead, and
+that they could not procure any assistance. He asked me if I would try
+to hire some help for him. I told him that I would use my best exertions
+to procure him some, but if I could not obtain any I would assist him
+myself. I then left him and returned to my lodgings. Just before I left
+my boarding house to visit the hospital I heard one of the boarders, a
+journeyman hatter, who had been on a drunken frolic for some days, say
+that he had spent all his money and had not enough left to get his
+bitters that morning. Knowing that the want of money in such
+circumstances stimulate men to undertake unpleasant jobs sooner than go
+without their bitters, I proposed his going to work with me at the
+hospital, and rendering the doctor all the assistance in our power,
+which he readily agreed to. When we arrived at the place I introduced
+the doctor to the hatter. After the introduction was over my partner
+showed a great anxiety to fix on the price of our day's work, which was
+soon settled at five dollars each. The bargain being closed we were
+presented with some antidote, which we were ordered to snuff up our
+noses.
+
+About this time three or four carts arrived at the door, when we were
+requested to assist in carrying out the few sick persons that remained
+in the building, which we found to be only sixteen, being all that were
+left alive out of about sixty inmates that I left there some ten days
+before.
+
+The doctor showed us a number of rough boxes, called coffins, which were
+placed in the back yard. Many of them were made very wide, that they
+might hold two dead bodies. He requested us to harness up a poor old
+half-starved horse, which we found on the premises. After a long search
+we found the old harness scattered about the yard, which we gathered up,
+both of us being ignorant of the way of putting it together. After a
+long consultation we placed it on the horse's back, which was so sore
+that he trembled badly during the operation. After we had rigged him and
+the cart, we agreed to take on one of the double coffins for the first
+load. We opened one of them and placed a large body in it, and then
+hunted for a small one to crowd into the same box; when we had
+accomplished this we attempted to lift the double coffin on to the cart;
+finding that we were not able to accomplish it we were obliged to roll
+it on. I asked the hatter if he would drive the horse to the grave-yard,
+telling him I was unacquainted with that employment. He told me he was a
+stranger to that business, and insisted upon it that I must be the
+driver. I mounted the cart and proceeded towards the burying ground, on
+the road we found the mud so deep that the cart wheels buried themselves
+nearly up to the hubs. After driving nearly a mile we arrived at the
+Catholic burying ground, where we found a long canal and twenty or
+thirty men employed in digging and receiving dead bodies. Before our
+arrival there, a board burst off from the coffin, which caused one arm
+to hang out. The Irish laborers employed there commenced a quarrel with
+us, swearing that they would be the death of us if we brought any more
+coffins there in that situation, and we found some difficulty in
+prevailing upon them to receive the present one. They at last agreed to
+help lift it off the cart. It was then placed in the canal, where the
+water was about two feet deep, two men stood upon it until they put
+another coffin on the top of it, when they placed the third one on the
+top of the second one, making the tier three deep, laying the coffins
+crossways in the canal. When one tier was finished they hove large
+quantities of lime upon it and commenced another.
+
+We now returned to the hospital and took in two more bodies, enclosing
+them in single coffins. This time we found a number of chickens busily
+employed in the hospital yard picking maggots out of the eyes and ears
+of the putrid bodies laying on the ground in the yard. The hatter and
+myself had a long consultation about handling the putrid carcases, and
+agreed between ourselves to pick out the soundest of them first. We
+noticed some cartmen drawing a number of loads of wood and depositing
+them on a vacant lot of ground near the hospital. A report was
+circulated that the Mayor of the city had ordered the building to be
+burned down that night. We proceeded back to the grave-yard, where we
+met with a more peaceable reception. On our return we found the fowls
+still busily engaged on the dead bodies, which had become more putrid
+during our short absence. This was one of the most unpleasant scenes I
+ever witnessed. We stopped on our way and took some refreshments, and
+then conveyed two more loads to the burying ground, carrying two at each
+load.
+
+About sunset we unharnessed our old horse and put him in his place.
+Having satisfied our employer we took our discharge. We agreed between
+ourselves to stop at the hospital a short time and see what disposal was
+to be made of the remaining dead bodies. Soon after sunset some eight or
+ten men made their appearance and took up an old door and bored one or
+two holes through it, and putting a rope through the holes, rolled two
+of the putrid bodies upon it, and then took hold of the rope and dragged
+it to a vacant lot near the hospital, which process they continued until
+they had gathered them all into one heap, when they went to the various
+rooms and took all the beds and bedsteads containing the dead bodies,
+and carried them into the same yard and deposited them on the putrid
+heap; they next broke down the fence to more readily kindle the fire on
+this offensive mass, when they piled on the three cords of wood which
+the Mayor had sent there for that purpose, set it on fire, and consumed
+the whole of it.
+
+On viewing the place, while passing it the next morning, I could not
+discover a particle of bone larger than a man's finger-nail left.
+
+The Cholera raged in New Orleans to a frightful degree for some months
+after; the average number of deaths in the city was two hundred per day
+for several weeks.
+
+Soon after this I made a trip in a little schooner to St. Marks, and a
+small port called Magnolia, in West Florida, and then returned to the
+city, where I remained about two months, when I found employment as a
+mate on board of a brig called the Commodore Barry, bound to New-York,
+where I was to receive my wages and be discharged. We performed our
+passage home without meeting with any occurrence worth recording.
+
+New Orleans is one of the most immoral cities I ever visited. All kinds
+of amusement are indulged in on Sundays: most of the military
+companies, both foot and horse, are assembled on that day in a public
+square in front of the Mayor's office and drilled. The Sabbath is the
+day elected for sham fights. The piazzas of the largest hotels are
+filled with bands of musicians, playing enchanting tunes to attract
+customers. The doors of billiard rooms are thrown open to public view,
+and large sums of money are often bet on the games. Strolling negro
+musicians are found playing on their banjoes and tamborines at the
+corners of the streets. On Sunday evenings, circuses, play-houses and
+gambling rooms, attract a large collection of people.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+Schooner Horizon.
+
+
+Having lost all my property except a small homestead, by the many
+captures I had experienced, the perils of the sea, and the fluctuations
+of prices in the West India produce, and being now out of employment,
+and looking upon every man as slothful who remained idle when he could
+earn a competence by working for less wages then he formerly received, I
+agreed with a young inexperienced captain to perform a voyage with him
+in a small schooner of seventy tons, called the Horizon, from New-York
+to the Island of Teneriffe. My name was entered on the shipping articles
+as mate, although it was verbally understood that I was to be considered
+as the navigator and sailing master.
+
+We commenced loading about the first of January, 1835, with staves and a
+few other articles, and went to sea about the eighth, the vessel being
+deeply loaded, which made her wet and uncomfortable for a winter's
+voyage. We proceeded on the passage without any material accident until
+we arrived in the latitude of Teneriffe, when we were overtaken by a
+violent gale of wind, which lasted nearly two days; we shipped a number
+of seas, which cleared our decks of staves, carried away our bulwarks,
+broke our bowsprit, and sprung the head of our fore-mast; rendering the
+schooner totally unmanageable. The next day the wind abated, and the sea
+became more moderate, when we made all the repairs that our scant
+materials would admit of, and in the afternoon discovered the high Peak
+of Teneriffe. Finding our water running low, having had our last cask
+stove during the gale, we agreed to come upon an allowance of one bottle
+of water for each man per day. The weather became mild, with light
+variable winds, which rendered the vessel quite unmanageable, as we had
+no head sail to keep her before the wind in light breezes. With longing
+eyes we viewed the majestic pyramid for fourteen days, the wind
+remaining the same during all that time, when we approached so near the
+harbor of Oratava that we were boarded by a pilot who conducted us into
+that port. Our schooner's cables being only about forty fathoms long,
+would not reach the bottom in that harbor, and we were obliged to hire a
+cable and anchor to ride by during our stay in port.
+
+While lying here it is necessary to keep a pilot constantly on board,
+that we may be ready to proceed to sea the moment the wind changes so as
+to blow towards the land. After we had remained in the harbor some four
+or five days, and procured carpenters to repair our vessel, a gale of
+wind commenced, and we were compelled to slip our cable and go to sea
+again, where we remained about two days, when we put into the Island of
+Palmos, at which place we continued three or four days. After the gale
+abated we returned to our former anchorage in Oratava harbor.
+
+The harbor of Oratava is surrounded by high rocks, almost perpendicular,
+faced with sharp points, which makes it impossible to ascend them. When
+vessels are wrecked in this place they are very soon dashed to pieces,
+and their crews meet a watery grave. The anchorage is situated about
+twelve miles from the foot of the Peak, where the weather is so mild
+that sailors are working on board vessels with no clothing except shirts
+and trowsers, while the Peak is covered with snow. Our pilot informed me
+that snow fell on the Peak every month in the year except March. The
+snow, from the appearance, forms a body of ice, and the brilliant rays
+of the sun at its rising are reflected on this ice-capped mountain with
+such dazzling light that the beholder is struck with awe as he surveys
+this mighty wonder of the world. I had but one opportunity to visit the
+shore, where I remained but a few moments while signing a protest. My
+short stay prevents my giving the reader any description of the place.
+
+We employed two native carpenters to repair the damages the schooner had
+received on the passage, they came on board early every morning,
+bringing their dinners with them, which consisted of a six cent loaf of
+wheat bread, one head of lettuce, and a bottle of wine; this being the
+only food they had. At twelve o'clock they sat down on deck, made their
+meal and drank the wine. They brought on board a few very coarse
+carpenter's tools, among which was a hand-saw that attracted my
+particular attention, as it had a small hole in the point of it, through
+which they put a nail gimblet; when they wanted to split a board they
+lined in the usual manner, then placed one end on the deck and raised
+the other end up to an angle of about forty-five degrees, being
+supported by a saw-bench, when one of them took the saw by the handle in
+the common way, while the other put the gimblet through the hole in the
+point, which he took hold of by placing his fingers on both sides of the
+blade, and assisted in drawing the saw through the board, his comrade
+shoving on the other end; this was the first time I ever knew that it
+took two men to work one hand-saw.
+
+The expenses of repairs here are very great. I think one American
+carpenter will perform more labor in one day than six of those natives.
+
+We were detained here a long time in discharging our cargo for want of
+lighters, being obliged to land it in small boats, which made but a few
+trips on shore each day, the same boats bringing back our return cargo.
+Our supply of fire wood getting very short we inquired the price of that
+article on shore, and found that they asked twenty dollars per cord for
+it. We purchased a few sacks of coal for the return passage. After
+remaining here some weeks we sailed for New-York, where we shortly
+arrived, all in good health. The cargo was soon discharged, all hands
+paid, and I returned to my home.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+Sinking of the Sloop First Consul.
+
+
+About the first of September, 1842, two of my friends in New-York
+purchased a Sloop called the First Consul, about twenty-five tons
+burden, and gave me the charge of her with orders to employ her in any
+trade I thought proper to earn a living in. I remained in the city some
+weeks seeking employment for my vessel, but after many applications for
+freights, without success, I found myself disappointed in my
+calculations in obtaining business for her in the city. As a last
+resort, I determined to proceed up the Hudson River as far as Rondout,
+where I expected to procure some small freights of coal to deliver at
+the neighboring villages on the river.
+
+On the fifteenth of October I left New-York for Rondout, where I
+obtained a freight of about thirty tons of coal to be delivered at
+Poughkeepsie. We loaded and left for our port of destination, where we
+discharged our cargo and agreed to return and take in another for the
+same company. Finding the sloop proved leaky I proceeded home to
+Catskill, where I procured a caulker and gave her some repairs, when we
+returned to Rondout and took on board another cargo of coal. Supposing
+the vessel to be perfectly tight in her upper works after the
+overhauling she had received, we loaded her deep, in order to take a
+full canal boat's cargo on board. After we had proceeded some distance
+on our passage we discovered that the vessel leaked badly. We had light
+baffling winds during the night, and tried the pump hourly. Finding we
+could keep her free without very heavy fatigue, we apprehended no
+serious danger, and soon arrived at the same wharf in Poughkeepsie where
+we had landed our last cargo, and hauled into a small slip which I
+considered a very safe harbor. I had one man on board with me, whom I
+told we would get some breakfast, when we would go below and take a
+short nap, as we had been on deck all night; after which would find the
+owner of the coal and obtain leave to discharge the deck load that day,
+although it was Sunday. We then retired into the cabin and laid down to
+sleep, it being about eight o'clock in the morning. After laying about
+two hours I was aroused by a loud cry, "Come out, come out, you are
+sinking." I sprang upon my feet, determined to save my trunk and
+clothing, which I was prevented from doing by a column of water rushing
+in at the cabin door. I forced myself upon deck, which at this time was
+some feet under water, when I found my legs entangled with old rigging
+and lumber. While trying to extricate them, the shore being steep the
+vessel settled down, which parted the hawser that held her fast to the
+wharf, when she slid off into the channel and sunk in thirty feet water,
+with all my clothing, &c. and I was compelled to swim on shore, which I
+reached in a shivering condition, but was soon furnished with dry
+clothing, and treated in the kindest manner by a gentleman living near
+by.
+
+Two or three days after I hired two vessels, procured spars, chains, and
+necessary apparatus, together with a number of men, and made an attempt
+to raise the First Consul. After several days' hard labor and fatigue we
+succeeded in raising her, so as to float her on the flats, when we
+bailed the water out and discharged the coal from her hold, the bulk of
+the deck load having been washed overboard. I found most of my clothing,
+books, papers, &c. in the cabin in a very dirty condition. My troubles
+did not end here: before I could receive any assistance from my friends,
+the sloop was attached for the expenses of getting her up, and sold for
+less than the amount of the bills, when I returned home penniless, my
+mind fixed on the distich--
+
+  Since all things to destruction tend,
+  My voyage of life will shortly end.
+
+
+
+
+FINIS.
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes.
+
+There are many spelling irregularities and inconsistencies in this book.
+The ones most obviously printing errors have been corrected as noted
+below. Others were left as printed in the text. These include: "ancles"
+and "ankles;" "alledging;" "armadilla;" "attrocities" and "atrocities;"
+"Baratara" is probably "Barataria;" "bed quilt" and bed-quilt;" "Bigman
+Bank" and "Bigman's Bank;" possibly "Boro Toro" and "Boco Toro" are the
+same place; "Bogata" for "Bogota;" "Britanic;" "callipach" for
+"carapace;" "cassader" and "cassauder" for "cassava;" "chissels;"
+(Emperor) "Christoff" and "Christophe," presumably the same person;
+"Lieutenant Coakley" and "Lieutenant Cookley;" "cocoa nuts" and
+"cocoa-nuts;" "cowhides" and "cow-hides;" "errant" for "errand;"
+"equiped;" "facinating;" "favourite" and "favorite;" "fopish;"
+"gratulations;" "Grenada" and "Greneda;" "guana" is possibly "iguana;"
+(Captain) "Humphreys" and "Humphrey", probably the same person;
+"journies;" "Leforet" and "Laforet;" "Lynn Haven" and "Lynhaven;"
+"mattrass" for "mattress;" "Mr. Mores" and "Mr. Morse", on page 134;
+"Musquitto," "Musquito," "Mosquitto" and "Mosquito" (the tribe and
+coast); "musquitto," "mosquito" and "mosquitto" (the insect); "out-fit"
+and "outfit;" "out-sailed" and "outsailed;" "polution;" "Ponekertrain"
+for "Ponchartrain;" "Port au Prince" and "Port-au-Prince;" "practice(s)"
+and "practise(d);" "sailer" and "sailor" for a ship (not a seaman, which
+is always "sailor"); "shantees;" "St. Andrews" and "St. Andreas;"
+"sun-set" and "sunset;" "Captain Teft" and "Captain Tefts;" "temporary"
+and "tempory;" "threshhold;" "too," as in "laying too," "hove too,"
+etc.; "visiters;" "water-mellons;" "wilkes" for "whelks."
+
+Left "Captain's Mitchell and Lafitte" on page 4, although "Captains"
+would have been more grammatical.
+
+Changed period to comma on page 7: "Corn Island,"; and on page 8:
+"Royalists of Port-au-Prince,".
+
+Changed "Schoouer to "Schooner" on page 8: "English Schooner."
+
+Changed "Croswel" to "Croswell" on page 10: "Thomas O'Hara Croswell."
+
+Added comma after "Stonington" on page 14: "Stonington, Connecticut."
+
+Left "the commodores word" on page 22, although "commodore's" would have
+been more grammatical.
+
+Changed "Ramalies" to "Ramillies" in the caption to the figure for page
+26.
+
+Changed "patatoes" to "potatoes" on page 31: "potatoes to be worth."
+
+Changed period to comma on page 37, after "blockading Savannah at the
+time."
+
+Changed "sailidg ing" to "sailing" on page 37: "After sailing."
+
+Changed "blocakding" to "blockading" on page 39: "an old blockading
+decree."
+
+Changed "fustick" to "fustic" on page 40: "fustic, sarsaparilla, &c."
+
+Changed "he" to "the" on page 50: "made the threat."
+
+Added closing double quote on page 53 after: "and every thing you want."
+
+Changed "ran" to "run" on page 68: "who had run away."
+
+Changed "day-light" to "daylight" on page 69: "until daylight."
+
+Changed "Coloured" to "Colored" in the caption to the figure on page 88.
+
+Left "a weavers spool" as is on page 98, even though "weaver's" would
+have been more grammatical.
+
+Changed "licence" to "license" on page 126: "received the license."
+
+Changed "lea" to "lee" on page 127: "lee of an island."
+
+Changed "feathes" to "feathers" on page 130: "ornamented with feathers."
+
+Changed "traveling" to "travelling" on page 131: "we were travelling."
+
+Left "manatee's" on page 148, even though "manatees" would have been
+more grammatical.
+
+Changed "birth" to "berth" on page 166: "a damned good berth."
+
+Page 187 refers to "Cape Francios" in the Dominican Republic. Although
+this is probably "Cape Francois", it was left as is.
+
+Removed extra single quote before "in addition" on page 200.
+
+Left "your's very truly" on page 204, even though "yours" would have
+been more grammatical.
+
+Changed "anothor" to "another" on page 209: "followed by another."
+
+Changed "throwu" to "thrown" on page 215: "thrown overboard."
+
+Changed "earnesly" to "earnestly" on page 220: "He earnestly entreated."
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Journal of Voyages, by Jacob Dunham
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOURNAL OF VOYAGES ***
+
+***** This file should be named 33835.txt or 33835.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/8/3/33835/
+
+Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Stephen H. Sentoff and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+(This file was produced from images generously made
+available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+http://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at http://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit http://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/33835.zip b/33835.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7a34aa6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/33835.zip
diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6312041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
+jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize
+this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright
+status under the laws that apply to them.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0e08a51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #33835 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33835)