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Page 7
The next Morning, a Council was call'd, which breaking up, four Negroes,
who had not behaved well in this last Action, were brought bound, and
laid in the largest Street upon their Backs; all the Women and Children
piss'd upon them; after which, Captain _Thomas_ told 'em, That the
Example they had given, had it been follow'd, must have ended in the
Destruction of 'em all; and tho' their Crime was pardon'd, and their
Lives given 'em, yet they must not hereafter think of being Freemen,
since they did not deserve that Liberty which they were not zealous in
defending; neither cou'd they, after the Disgrace they had suffer'd,
and which they deservedly had brought on themselves, hope ever to be
admitted into the Company of brave Men, were they exempted from the
Slavery to which their Pusillanimity had condemn'd 'em. After this
they were sold to the best Bidder. I remember, he who was sold at the
greatest Price, brought no more than Two Dozen of Fowls and a Kid, to
be paid the next publick Festival. The Scout who had not given timely
Advice of the Enemy's Approach, was next brought out and beheaded; and
Three, who run away at the first Attack, were hang'd. Out-Centinels were
placed, and all the Men lay that Night on their Arms, for _Qwanaboa_,
their Prophetess, foretold another Attack, which she apprehended wou'd
prove their Ruine, if not prevented by uncommon Vigilance and
Bravery.
Four Days pass'd, and none of the Enemy appearing, they began to recover
their Spirits, and grew less cautious; their most advanced Scouts were
recalled, and they imagin'd the _English_ had no Knowledge of this
Village. The Fifth at Night, when they were in perfect Tranquillity,
the _English_, who had, by a distant and difficult way, climb'd the
Mountains, and got above the Village, about Twelve at Night, came down
upon 'em, and were in the Streets before the Negroes had any Inkling of
their being so near. They enter'd the Village with Thirty or Forty Men,
and about half that Number intercepted all the Ways. Here began a cruel
Slaughter, for none they could light on were spared, but Women and
Children, who were all taken. Capt. _Thomas_ fought, and died like a
Hero; my grateful _Cuffey_, join'd by about a Dozen more, made all
possible Resistance; but finding their utmost Efforts useless, taking
me with them, with Menaces, if I did not go freely, they clamber'd over
some Rocks, and skulking thro' the thick of the Woods, reach'd a Morass
on the top of the Mountain, where we lay hid Three Days. The Fourth,
press'd by Hunger, Six of 'em ventured out to get Plantanes, but they
never returned; for which Reason, the Fifth Day we went in Search of
Food. At Night we got into a Plantane Walk, from whence, after having
fill'd our Bellies, and loaded our Backs, with the ripe Fruit, we
retired to the Woods.
Next Day, _Cuffey_ went out by himself, and, at his Return, told us,
he had observ'd a large Canoe with Sails and Paddles, at the Sea Side,
which belonged he believ'd to some Fishing Negroes. He propos'd the
siezing, loading it with Plantanes, and going to the _Spanish_ Coast,
which he was sure he could make shift to find, having been there with
the _Buccaniers_. This was unanimously agreed to by the rest. I desired
to be left behind, but their Fear wou'd not let 'em consent to my Stay.
At Night we went again to the Plantane Walk, where I hop'd to make my
Escape; but one of 'em always held me by the Arm, suspecting I would
give 'em the slip. Being loaded, we follow'd _Cuffey_ to the Canoe,
where we found a Negro asleep, whom they bound, and having taken what
Plantanes they thought fit, and found two large Runlets of Water in the
Canoe, with Fishing-nets and other Tackle, they set Sail about Eleven
o' Clock with a fine Hand Breeze, which carried us before Day to the
last End of the Island.
The next Day about Even, we saw _Hispaniola_, and landed at Four o'Clock
the Day following in a Creek, where we filled our Runlets with fresh
Water, and going up into the Country, we catched a Number of Land
Crabbs, which we dress'd and eat.
We lay two Days in this Creek, and in the Night of the second, coasted
along the Island unperceived; but as we cross'd the Streights between
Cape _Maese_ and Cape _Nicholas_, which divides the Islands of
_Hispaniola_ and _Cuba_, we were seen and chased by a Sloop, which very
soon came up with us, and proved a Free-booter, whose Crew was of all
Nations and Colours. They offer'd the Seven Negroes their Liberty, and
each Half a Share of an able Seaman, which they readily accepted. To me
they would have given a whole Share, but I refusing to join 'em, they
resolved to set me on Shore with the first Conveniency, tho' some were
for throwing me over-board.
We were Eight Days without seeing a Sail, but the Ninth, about Break of
day the Man at the Top-mast Head, descried one on our Leeward Bow. The
Pyrates immediately prepared for an Engagement; we clapp'd our Helm
a-weather, eas'd out our Main-sheet, and gave Chase. She proved a tall
Ship, and did not seem to make Sail to avoid us; which was the Reason we
brought to, and a Consultation was held, whether it was safe or not to
venture upon her? It was resolved in the Affirmative. In Consequence of
this, we bore away for her, and when we were in less than Gun Shot, we
perceived she was very deep, _Spanish_ built, and mounted Thirty Guns by
the Number of Ports, tho' we were surprized they were all close, and not
a Man appeared on her Decks.
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