A
SUPPLEMENT,

UPON my coming to England, being in a bad State of Health, I desired leave of my Owner to stay at home a Season, which he was pleased to grant me; and appointed Captain John Dagge to command the Ship I had been in. He made a successful Voyage, and returned with her in the Month of August 1729: As I was by that time very well recovered, my Owner was pleased to send me again to the Coast of Guinea in the Katherine Galley. Having therefore spent some time on the Windward and Gold Coast, I proceeded for Whidaw. In my way to that place I stop’d at Great Popoe, which lies a few Leagues to the Windward of Whidaw. Being informed there, that the late King of Whidaw was near that place, with Captain Ossue, one of his principal Cabociers or Lords, on two barren sandy Islands, with many other People, I sent my first Mate on Shore with a Present to each of them. He returned at night, with some of the King’s People, who brought me a Goat from him: Saying, “Their Master being in a poor Condition, had nothing better to send me.” And they having bought some few things, I sent them on Shore again. After they were gone, my Mate gave me the following account, “That the King and Captain Ossue, had with them many Thousands of People who lived in a miserable manner, the Islands they were on being so barren, that they produced nothing: But by means of the River which separated them from the Continent, they were very well secured from the Dahomes Power; who not understanding the Management of Cannoes, could not invade them. Moreover, they had planted several great Guns, which secured the Passes, so that they were in no fear of the Enemies. But then, on the other hand, they could not sow Corn, or other Pulse in that barren place, but were supplied with what they wanted by their Neighbours of Great and Little Popoe. However, this constantly decreased their Numbers, they being obliged to sell their Wives, Children, and Servants for Provisions and other necessaries, because they had no Money left.”

From Great Popoe I went to the Road of Whidaw, where being informed there was little Trade, I proceeded for Jaqueen, which is seven Leagues to the Eastward of it; and anchored in that road the 20th of February 1729-30: At my going on Shore there, the King of Dahomè’s Agent came to see me; and upon my enquiring after his Master’s welfare, he told me, “He would send a Messenger to inform his Majesty of my Arrival: But as the King was then in his own Country, far inland, it would be at least twenty days before he could have an Answer.” At his taking leave, he promised to let me know his Master’s Pleasure on the return of the Messenger. Accordingly he came to see me again, about three weeks after his former visit, and told me, “The King was very glad to hear of my being once more arrived at Jaqueen; but as he was then far within Land, tho’ he was desirous of seeing me again, yet he could not in reason require it: His Master being sensible, such a long Journey would be neither safe for my Health, nor suitable to my Business; but in case the King came to Ardra, whilst I was at Jaqueen, which is but two days journey off, and where I had formerly been with his Majesty, he should be very glad to see me there once more.” However, this not happening, I had not the Fortune to see the King a second time.

I now come to relate what I heard from several white Gentlemen residing at Jaqueen, ever since my former Voyage, concerning the Whidaws and the Dahomes. The King of Whidaw, with abundance of his People, having fled to the Islands formerly mentioned, the King of Dahomè was disappointed in his design of destroying him, as he had always intended. So that he contented himself with keeping Possession of the Country of Whidaw, by an Army encamp’d at Sabee, which had been the principal place of the Kingdom, till destroyed by him. But in time this Army being much diminished, it incouraged Captain Ossue to leave the Islands, and settle himself, with many of his People, near the French Fort, which is about four Miles from Sabee; believing the great Guns therein would be a sufficient Protection from the Dahomes, in case they should offer to disturb him. This Fort had a dry Ditch, with mud Walls made of the Earth that was dug out of it; and was a square place with Towers at each Corner, on which were mounted several Cannons; and their Lodgings, Storehouses, and even their Magazine of Gunpowder, were covered with Rushes, according to the Custom of that Country; which occasioned a terrible Misfortune, as shall be immediately related.

The King of Dahomè being informed of Captain Ossue’s return into his Country, resolved to send an Army to drive him out; which the other having notice of, retired with many of his People into the French Fort: Ossue little thinking at that time, that the Governor was the occasion of his Enemies coming in order to betray them.

The next day after he and his People were received into the Fort, the Dahomè Army came down, and being informed the French had given them Protection, contrary to a secret Promise their King had received from the Governor, they assaulted the Fort. But having nothing but small Arms to make their Attack, it would have availed little, had not the Thatch of the Houses within the Fort taken Fire. This Accident alarmed the white Men, who knowing there was a great quantity of Gunpowder in their Magazine, and no possibility of stopping the Fire, fled to the English Fort, which was within Musquet-Shot of their own, and so saved themselves: But the black People not being so sensible of their Danger, suffered very much by the blowing up of the Magazine, there being above one thousand of them killed, besides many wounded by this Accident. However, in the Confusion, and under cover of the Smoke, Captain Ossue, and several of his People, escaped to the English Fort: Where Governor Wilson, who then resided there for the African Company, generously gave them Protection; and to prevent Accidents, ordered immediately all the Houses in the Fort to be unthatch’d, and by firing on the Dahomes with his Cannon, killed several, and kept the rest at a distance.

The Dahomes having taken the French Fort, sheltered themselves therein; and the next morning sent a principal Man amongst them to Governor Wilson, to know the reason why he had fired on their Army. To which he answered, “That they having come down out of the Country in a hostile manner, without giving him the least notice, and attacked his Neighbours the French, he looked on it as the common Cause of all the Europeans settled there, who were bound to assist one another.” To this the Dahomes replied, “That when they came down, they had no design to attack the French Fort, for the King had no quarrel with the white Men: But the Governor having taken Captain Ossue and his People into the French Fort, contrary to his Promise, it obliged them to act as they had done.” At the same time they told the Governor to his Face, “That he had first sent to their King by a French Surgeon, then residing with their Master, to persuade his Majesty to send an Army down, to destroy Captain Ossue and his People; promising at the same time he would give them no Protection.” This the French Governor denied, but all that were present believed it to be too true; and by this means he let the Dahomes see, that white Men (whom they had before a high opinion of) could be the basest of Villains, when their Interest tempted them thereto. For it was much suspected, that the Governour had contrived the whole Affair, in order to squeeze a large Sum of Money from Captain Ossue to protect him, and for some other infamous Views. However, he met afterwards with a suitable Reward, being killed by the Whidaws, whom he had so much injured.

As soon as the King of Dahomè was informed of the taking of the French Fort, he sent this Message to the French Governor; “that he had brought this Misfortune on himself by his Perfidy, for he had no quarrel to his Nation; therefore he would order his Soldiers to repair the Fort, which had been greatly damaged by the Powder: Or if he did not desire this, he might depart with all the Frenchmen to his own Country.” After this, the Ships that lay then in the Road of Whidaw had good Trade for Women and Children, which the Dahomes had taken of Captain Ossue’s People, but there were few Men taken; many of them being lost when the Magazine blew up: and the rest having fled to the Island which their King was in.

I come now to relate a great Misfortune which befel the Dahomes, some Months after they had taken the French Fort. For the better understanding of it, the Reader is to know, that the King of Dahomè having conquered several Countries within a few Years, and depopulated them; the King of Weemey’s Sons, with other Princes, (whose Fathers this Conqueror had taken in War, and beheaded) fled to a far Inland Potent Nation called the J-oes. The King of Whidaw having, after Ossue’s Defeat, found means to send Messengers to the King of this Country, they, and the others that had fled to him for Protection, did at last, through their earnest Sollicitations, obtain an Army to march against the King of Dahomè, whom they all look’d upon as a most cruel Destroyer of Mankind. This Nation of J-oe fight all on Horseback, and living a great way on the North towards Nubia, they can at no other time march to the Southward, but when the Season for Forage, and the dry Weather sets in. The King of Dahomè had notice of their coming, a few days before they reached his Country; and he having formerly experienced how terrible such Numbers of Horse had been to his Army, which consists of none but foot Soldiers; he resolved to bury his Riches, burn his Towns, and then fly into the Woods and Thickets with his People; which is a common thing amongst the Negroes, for the weaker side to do, when at War; for they have no fortified Towns as in Europe: So they that are Masters of the Field command the Country far and near.

The King of Dahomè having thus in time provided for his Safety by Flight, the J-oes were disappointed: But one Appragah and his People, formerly subject to the King of Whidaw, but now under the Dominion of the Dahomes, did not escape so well. For not moving so soon by two days as they did, the J-oes came up with him and his People, and took abundance of them, with all Appragah’s Riches; and he himself was hardly put to it to escape, with a few of his Servants.

After this the J-oes marched on in quest of the Dahomes, but finding they were got into the thick Woods and Bushes, they incamped near them; making frequent Assaults, and often taking some of the Dahomes Prisoners. At last, they so distressed them, that for want of other Provision, they were obliged to eat many of their own Slaves. Yet the Dahomes patiently endured these Calamities, knowing the J-oes would be obliged to retire in a little time, on account of the rainy Season that was approaching, and for want of Forage: Accordingly they were obliged to retire soon after; and the Dahomes then returned to their own Country, and rebuilt their Towns again.

During these Misfortunes of the Dahomes, which lasted several Months, various Reports came to Whidaw. Sometimes it was said, “That the King of Dahomè was killed:” But that was again contradicted: And it was reported, “he had lost so many of his People, that he never could be again in a Condition to disturb his Neighbours;” and this was so currently believed that no one doubted of it.

About this time, which was in the beginning of July 1729, Governor Wilson departed from Whidaw, in order to return to England. He left in his room one Mr. Testefole, who had resided there many Years, but was no ways equal to him in Prudence and Conduct, as his unhappy Fate will afterwards show. For tho’ this Person had been often at the King of Dahomè’s Camp, where he was always used with great Civility, yet now believing that King was so far reduced, that the People of Whidaw had nothing more to fear from him; he too hastily advised their King, to leave the barren Islands wherein he had fled with his People, and come and take again Possession of his Country.

Hereupon the King of Whidaw resolved to return; and, to provide against the worst, he desired his Neighbours of Popoe to lend him some of their Forces; which they readily did. For these People, with all the Coast-Negroes, mortally hate the Dahomes, on account of their Cruelty, and their Barbarity in eating human Flesh. And, besides that the Popoes are little afraid of the Dahomes Power, because they live in Islands, they now assisted the Whidaws out of Policy; thinking, if they were reinstated in their Country, Trade would soon revive, which had been so long interrupted on account of the War. So they sent them some thousands of their People; and at their Arrival the King of Whidaw joined them with his Forces. Tho’ he was a very fat unwieldy Man, yet he marched at the head of his Army, which consisted of about fifteen thousand Men, including the Popoes, and incamped in his own Country for some time, near the English and French Forts. This the Dahomes knew nothing of; for they had so mean an opinion of the Whidaws, that they never thought they would attempt to settle again in their own Country: Neither had they, since the departure of the J-oes, sent any of their People to the Sea side, having been employed in repairing their Towns, and about other Affairs. These being near finished, the King of Dahomè sent some of his Traders down with Slaves, to the English and French Forts: But his People were much surprised to see such an Army of Whidaws incamped near them. So they returned in great haste to inform their King, who upon the receipt of this News, was greatly embarassed; for he had lost many of his best Soldiers whilst the J-oes remained in his Country, and kept him so long in the Bushes. Moreover, his Majesty had lately sent an Army into the inland Country, to take Slaves: For as I have formerly observed, he drives no regular Trade in Slaves, but only sells such as he takes in his Wars.

Being in this State of Perplexity (when he had not a sufficient Number of Soldiers to encounter the Whidaws and Popoes together, and, on the other hand, could not bear to see himself braved by such a cowardly Race as the Whidaws,) his Policy extricated him out of this Difficulty. He ordered a great number of Women to be armed like Soldiers, and appointed Officers to each Company, with Colours, Drums and Umbrellas, according to the Negroe Fashion. Then ordering the Army to march, the Women Soldiers were placed in the Rear, to prevent Discovery. When they came in sight of the Whidaw Army, the latter were much surprized to see such Numbers of Dahomè Soldiers, as they supposed them all to be, marching against them: For they had much depended on the former Reports, that they were so far reduced, as not to be able (at least so soon) to have made Head against them. At this unexpected sight the Whidaws were divided: Some were for retiring back to the Islands; but others who were commanded by Captain Ossue, with the Popoes, were for fighting. During this Dispute, the Dahomè Army marched on boldly, and Captain Ossue, with the Popoe General, as bravely advanced to meet them; and attacked their right Wing so briskly, that they drove them for some time before them. But the Whidaws who were with the King, at that instant cowardly fled; tho’ his Majesty used his utmost endeavours and Intreaties to stop them, and at last wounded several with his Lance, to oblige them to second Captain Ossue’s People: But all in vain. This being observed by the left Wing of the Dahomes, they fell on the Rear of Ossue’s Soldiers, and soon obliged them and the Popoes, to fly in their turn; which the King of Whidaw perceiving, and being so very unwieldy and fat, he had no other way to save his Life, but to fly into the dry Ditch of the English Fort; where, by the help of two of his Sons, his Majesty got over the Wall, and so escaped the fury of his Enemies: But many of his People were killed, and others taken.

Mr. Testefole, the Governor, was at a great loss how to act on this occasion. For he foresaw the Dahomes would demand the King, and insist on his being delivered to them, as soon as they should know he was in the Fort. Which if he refused to do, he was sensible, they could oblige him in time to do it, by starving him. Moreover, he could not but sustain a great loss by the Interruption of Trade. So the Governor persuaded the King to leave the Fort that Night, and he happily escaped to his barren Islands again. However, the King of Dahomè was afterwards fully informed of all this, and likewise that the Governor had been the principal occasion of the Whidaws endeavouring to regain their Country: Which he highly resented.

The Dahomes, after this, retired from about the Forts, and, leaving a small Army at Sabee, returned to their own Country; where many Banditti of other Nations resorting to them, their King, in a few Months, found his Strength and Power as much increased, as when he fled from the J-oes. But the Countries being laid waste far and near by his former Wars, tho’ he has large Territories of many hundred Miles, and as fine a Country under his Dominion, as any in the Southern Parts of Africa; yet he is only a great King in name for want of Subjects, by reason of his having destroyed in so cruel a manner the Inhabitants of all the Places he has conquered. This has obliged many hundred thousands to fly from his Arms, into foreign Countries; that are by Situation secured from his rambling Bands, either by great Rivers, Mountains or Lakes.

He has acted since as impolitick a part in another matter. For he gave his word to a great number of the former Inhabitants, If they would return again into their own Country, they should quietly enjoy it, upon paying a certain Tribute. On this many thousands returned into the Kingdom of Ardra, where they built Houses, sowed Corn, and planted Potatoes; but no sooner were these poor People settled, than the Dahomes surprized them, and killed or took captive all that could not escape from them. The King having thus broken his promise, I believe no others will ever venture to trust him: And the Country, in all Probability, will remain uninhabited, during his Life: Moreover, by this means the Trade at Whidaw is almost ruined; for the far inland People having now no Markets to carry their Slaves to, as formerly, and the Dahomes using no Trade but that of War, few Negroes are now brought down to be sold to the Europeans.

Whether it was the badness of Trade, occasioned by the Dahomes acting in this manner, or any thing else, that enraged Mr. Testefole against them; he was so imprudent, that on all Opportunities he used their People ill, when they came to the English Fort: And at last whipped one of their principal Men at the Flag-Staff; and upon his complaining of this great Indignity, Testefole rashly replied, He would serve his King in the same manner if he was in his Power. All this being afterwards reported to his Majesty, it highly offended him: And he said, “Surely this Man must be full of Malice against us, else he could never have so suddenly forgot our former Kindnesses to him.”

The King upon this ordered his People to watch for an Opportunity to surprize the Governor, and make him Prisoner; and his Imprudence soon made him fall into their Hands in the following manner. There was a French Captain who had a Factory, at some distance from the English Fort: This Gentleman had been drinking with the Governor all night, and when the day came, he persuaded Mr. Testefole to go and drink Coffee with him at his Factory. The Dahomes, who were on the Watch, seeing him go to the Frenchman’s House, went and surrounded it, demanding to have the Governor delivered to them. This the Captain at first refused, but they threatning to burn his Factory; he told them, He would forthwith bring him out. So he went into the House, and advised Mr. Testefole to make his Escape; which he refusing to do, the Captain put him by force into a large Chest, and lock’d him in: Then he went out, and told the Dahomes, “He could not find the Governor, and that he believed he had escaped.” This so enraged them, that they fired a Pistol at the Captain, which shot him in the Arm, and thereupon broke into his House, where they at last found the unfortunate Man in the Chest; whom they took out, tied his Hands and Legs, and putting him into a Hammock, sent him away to their King, who was at that time encamp’d up into the Country, four days journey off.

This unhappy Gentleman flattered himself, that the former Kindness the King had shown for him, would now save him; but his Majesty was so highly offended, that he would not vouchsafe to see him; so that he gave himself up for lost. However, a few days after this he was sent down to Sabee, about four Miles from the Fort, where he was given to understand, “If he would write to the Person that commanded in his Abscence for several things, which they named for his Ransom, that on their being sent he should have his Liberty.”

This he readily complied with, and they instantly allowed him more Freedom, permitting two of his own Negroe Servants to wait on him; so that he began to be easy in his Mind: But the Scene soon changed; for on their receiving the Things he had writ for, and which were of a considerable Value, these cruel base Villains seized his Person, and made his Body fast to Stakes drove in the Ground: Where, spreading him on his Belly, they with sharp Knives cut open his Arms, Back, Thighs and Legs in several places, and filled the Wounds with a mixture of Limejuice, Salt and Pepper mixed together; which put him to inexpressible Torment. However, they soon after put him out of his pain, by cutting off his Head. Then they cut his Body in pieces, broiled them on the Coals, and eat them.

Thus this poor Gentleman lost his Life in a terrible manner. And tho’ the King of Dahomè has since denied to some white People, “That he gave Orders to have him put to death;” His Majesty saying, by way of Excuse, “He only told some of his principal People to carry him to Sabee, and there do with him what they thought fit, not suspecting they would have used a white Gentleman in such a manner;” Yet it is not to be doubted but they knew their Master’s Mind too well in this Affair. For his Majesty punished none of those that were Actors in this cruel Tragedy; tho’ it was earnestly insisted on. Nay some of them that eat part of his Flesh, have been since so audacious, as to tell several Portuguese Gentlemen, that talked with them about it; “That English Beef was very good.”

After Mr. Testefole’s unhappy Fate, two white Men running away from the English Fort, one of them went to the King of Dahomè, and informed him, “There were but four white People left in the place, so that he might easily take it.” The King replied, “He had no quarrel with the English Nation; for what had been done to the late Governor, he by his Imprudence had brought on himself: And he hoped, the African Company would send a fitter Person to command the Fort for the future.”

Sometime after this the King of Dahomè considering he should certainly be invaded again by the J-oes, as soon as the Season permitted them to march, and dreading very much their power, he sent Embassadors with large Presents to their King, together with one of his handsomest Daughters. These were civilly received, and had the good fortune to succeed in their Negotiations. For they so gained some great Men about the King, by presenting them with large pieces of Coral (which the J-oes esteem above all things) that by their means an advantagious Peace was obtained for their Master, and they were civilly dismissed with handsome Rewards. For a Confirmation of the Peace, the King of J-oe sent, a little while after, one of his Daughters to the King of Dahomè for a Wife; and she was received with great Joy by the King and his People.

At my going on Shore at Jaqueen, the latter end of February 1729-30: I was informed of all that I have here related; and tho’ I found Trade very dull, yet all the white Gentlemen residing at that place, were full of Expectations, That, now a Peace was concluded between the J-oes and the Dahomes, we should soon have a great many Negroes brought down for Sale. But tho’ I was there above two Months, Trade did not mend in the least: And I am afraid it will not for many Years, because of the great Destruction of the Inhabitants of the neighbouring Countries, who used to carry on a regular Trade with the far inland People: Neither will those that had the good fortune to escape the Dahomes Cruelty, dare to return during the Life of the present Conqueror, whose Perfidiousness and Treachery they have often experienced.

I shall conclude this first Book with an account of a Misfortune that befel me by Fire, whilst I was at Jaqueen. The relation, if I mistake not, may be acceptable to the Reader, and give him a true notion of the Buildings, and some other Matters amongst the Negroes.

The Houses in that Country are built with mud-Walls, one Story high. The Rafters that support the Roof are made of Bamboes, which is a light spungy Wood. On these they lay a great quantity of Thatch, which in the dry Season of the Year is like Tinder: Yet the Natives are so careless, that many Fires happen in that Season; there having been no less than five during the two Months I was there, in which some thousands of their Houses were burnt down. This carelesness of the Negroes, I judge, chiefly proceeds from the little regard they have for their Furniture. For it is very mean, except amongst some of the principal People, consisting of Matts to sleep on, earthen Pots to boil their Victuals in; with a few other things of small value. Moreover, the Walls of their Houses being made of Clay, the Fire does them rather good than hurt, as it bakes them harder. And to new cover them it costs but little. So that the Europeans that have Factories in the Town of Jaqueen, are often great Sufferers by these frequent Fires, occasioned generally by the stupid Carelessness of the Negroes, which proceeds from the Reasons just now mentioned.

I thought our Factory pretty safe from it, for we lived in a large Court belonging to the Duke, who was the only Brother of the Lord of the Place by the same Mother, and his chief Minister. This House joined to the Apartments of the Duke’s Women, which it being a capital Crime for the Natives to go into, so it would have been very imprudent for any white Man to have attempted it: Yet the Fire, obliged us to save our selves that way, as I shall just now relate. The other side of the Court we lived in, opened into the Fields; and just by our Door a narrow Street began, where the Lord of Jaqueen’s Feticheer or Priest lived with his Family.

Two Fires having happened in the Town, within a few days one of the other, in which some Portuguese suffered a great Loss in their Goods, I express’d my apprehensions of the like Danger. But the Duke assured me, “It was never known, that either his Brother’s Houses, or his own had been burn’d. For they having abundance of Servants, if any Fire began near them, their People, by unthatching the Houses, soon put a stop to it. Moreover, all the Inhabitants who lived near the Court, were very careful of Fire; because it was death by their Law to all the Family where it began.” These Reasons made me more easy than I had been for some time. But on the fifteenth of March, being Sunday, what I long feared came to pass.

My hired black Servants asked me leave after Dinner, to go to the Burial of one of their acquaintance; and several of my white People did the same, being desirous to see the Customs of the Blacks on this occasion: In which indeed they are very ridiculous and expensive, drinking as much Brandy and other Liquors, as the Circumstances of the deceased Person will allow. I granted them all their request; and by that means there remained only two white Men with me in the Factory.

The Fire began about two a clock that afternoon, in the Feticheer’s House, just opposite to our Door, which immediately taking Fire, prevented our Escape that way. However in the first Surprize, I gave my Box of Books and Accounts to one of my young Men, who ventured through the Door-way with them, tho’ he was scorched by the Flames; and so I luckily saved them. My next care was to save our Gold, which I kept in a large Dutch Chest, thinking it safer there than in a Portmanteau, or a small Box, which our black Servants might have been tempted to run away with. But, in the hurry, I could not find the Key of the Chest, to take the Money out; and the Fire having taken hold of the Thatch of the room wherein it stood, I and the other white Man then remaining with me, took it up, and carried it into the Apartments belonging to the Duke’s Women: Where we met him and his Brother with many People, going to endeavour to stop the Fire, by unthatching the adjoining Houses; but the Flames were got to such a head, that they were soon forced to fly before them. My Man and I having carried the Chest through several windings and turnings in the Duke’s Houses, we began to be quite tired, (for it was very heavy) when, just in the nick of time, five black People came running towards us, and the way was so narrow they could not easily pass by us. One of these Men I knew, who spoke good English, “so I desired him and the others to save the Chest, for which I would well reward them.” He answered, “They durst not assist me; being obliged, on no less a Penalty than the loss of their Heads, to go and save the Duke’s Goods.” By good fortune I had my Cane then hanging on my Wrist, which I used to such purpose, that two of them immediately took up the Chest; whereupon I let the other three pass by: So, with the help of the two Men I had obliged to assist us, we got the Chest at last over a Wall ten foot high, into the Street, and so to the Dutch Factory in safety. But we had the Misfortune to lose in our Factory a large quantity of Goods, with all my Necessaries, except what was in the Chest. All the Duke’s houses, and the greatest part of his Furniture was destroyed; but his Brother’s were preserved, by unthatching the Houses that stood next his Court. I think, for the time this Fire lasted, which was but about an hour, nothing could be fiercer or quicker; and had it happened in the night, we should certainly have been burnt; for we could never have found our way out, amongst so many Turnings and Windings, as were in the Dukes Apartments.

When the hurry was pretty well over, the Lord of Jaqueen inquired after me, being under some concern about me; for he did not see me as he passed along in his Brother’s Rooms: As soon as he was informed of my Safety, he sent a Messenger to enquire, “How I did, after so severe a Misfortune?”

It is remarkable, we could never learn how this Fire happened, for tho’ I often press’d the Duke to make an inquiry after it, yet he always declined it; which I believe was on account of his Brother’s Feticheer, in whose Family the Fire began. However, they were so wise as not to let them repair their Houses, but obliged them to build further from the Court which belonged to the Duke.

Adjoining to the Feticheer’s House that was burnt, there was a large square Court, adorned with many handsome Trees that grew round it. In the middle of this place stood the Lord of Jaqueen’s Fetiche. It was made in the fashion of a large Hay-cock, and covered over with Thatch: On the top of this was placed a dead Man’s Scull, before which Offerings were made for the Duke’s Health and Preservation. This Fetiche escaped being burn’d, tho’ all the Houses adjoining to the Court wherein it stood were consum’d. This was cryed up by the People as a great Miracle; saying, “Their Lord’s God had taken care to preserve his own House:” Tho’ by what I could judge it was impossible this Fetiche should be burn’d, because it was at a considerable distance from the Fire, and guarded by so many Trees full of Branches and Leaves. But it was in vain to argue against their superstitious Notion.

After this Misfortune, I sent my People on board to get them more necessaries; during which time I remained in the Dutch Factory. On their return ashore, I was obliged, tho’ much against my will, to take a new-built house belonging to the Duke, but finding no one durst let me one (which it seems had been forbidden for the sake of the Duke’s Advantage) I complied. But what I feared came to pass, for we all got Fevers in a few days after we had been in this House.

About ten days after this, another terrible Fire happened, which began in a Portuguese Factory, and in this manner. A Negroe Cook frying some Fish in Palm-Oyl, the Oyl took fire; and he imprudently throwing Water thereon, the Flame of the Oyl ran up the side of the Wall, (for the Negroe Houses have no Chimneys) and instantly fired the Thatch. Whereupon the Wind then blowing very fresh, it spread in a moment and consumed, in two hours time, one third of the Town, in which stood several thousands of their little Houses: However, this did not come near our Factory.

Soon after this, my People grew so bad, that I was obliged to send them on board the Ship, and have others ashore in their room: In a little while after, the House we had been burnt out of, being repaired, we removed into it; and by this means had the Opportunity of seeing daily thousands of People bring Bamboes and Thatch, to repair the Duke’s Houses with; it being the Custom of the Country so to do, when either their Lord or his Brother wants it. But the noise of the People’s Musick, and antick dancing, on this occasion, gave me much Disturbance: Moreover, Trade continuing still very dull, it gave me no little concern; and having got rid of my Fever for a few days, it returned again. Being in these unhappy Circumstances, I received advice, that two of my Owner’s Ships were arrived in the Road of Jaqueen. Whereupon I left my Factory, and went on board my Ship; and there, the Commanders of the other two and I agreed, “It would be for our Owner’s Interest that I should go directly for England.” So, delivering to one of them what Negroes I had on Board, and receiving what Elephants Teeth, and Gold they had, I left the Road of Jaqueen the first day of May: And having had a fine Passage, in which I intirely lost my Fever, and recovered my Strength a little, I arrived safe in the River of Thames the 13th of July 1730.