They sailed the ; and with jury masts, and such old sails as they left me, I made shift to do the like on the , together with forty-three of my ship’s crew, including two passengers and twelve soldiers, having but five tons of water aboard; and after a passage of forty-eight days, I arrived here , almost naked and starv’d, having been reduced to a pint of water a day, and almost in despair of ever seeing land, by reason of the calms we met with between the coast of Arabia and Malabar.—We had in all thirteen men killed and twenty-four wounded; and we were told, that we had destroyed about ninety or a hundred of the pirates. When they left us, they were about three hundred whites and eighty blacks in both ships. I am persuaded, had our consort the Greenwich done his duty, we had destroyed both of them, and got two hundred thousand pounds for our owners and selves; whereas to his deserting us, the loss of the Cassandra may justly be imputed. I have delivered all the bales that were given me into the company’s warehouse, for which the Governor and Council have ordered me a reward. Our Governor, Mr. Boon, who is extreme kind and civil to me, has ordered me home with this packet; but Captain Harvey, who had a prior promise, being come in with the fleet, goes in my room. The Governor hath promis’d me a country voyage, to help make me up my losses, and would have me stay to go home with him next year.
Captain Mackra certainly run a great hazard, in going aboard the pirate, and began quickly to repent his credulity; for though they had promised, that no injury should be done to his person, he found their words were not to be trusted; and it may be supposed, that nothing but the desperate circumstances Captain Mackra imagined himself to be in, could have prevailed upon him to fling himself and company into their hands, perhaps not knowing how firmly the natives of that island were attach’d to the English nation; for about 20 years ago, Captain Cornwall, commodore of an English squadron, assisted them against another island called Mohéli, for which they have ever since communicated all the grateful offices in their power, insomuch that it became a proverb, that an Englishman, and a Juanna man were all one.
England was inclined to favour Captain Mackra; but he was so free to let him know, that his interest was declining amongst them; and that the pirates were so provoked at the resistance he made against them, that he was afraid he should hardly be able to protect him; he therefore advised him to sooth up and manage the temper of Captain Taylor, a fellow of a most barbarous nature, who was become a great favourite amongst them for no other reason than because he was a greater brute than the rest. Mackra did what he could to soften this beast, and ply’d him with warm punch; notwithstanding which, they were in a tumult whether they should make an end of him, or no, when an accident happen’d which turn’d to the favour of the poor captain; a fellow with a terrible pair of whiskers, and a wooden leg, being stuck round with pistols, like the man in the almanac with darts, comes swearing and vapouring upon the quarterdeck, and asks, in a damning manner, which was Captain Mackra: the captain expected no less than that this fellow would be his executioner;—but when he came near him, he took him by the hand, swearing, damn him he was glad to see him; and show me the man, says he, that offers to hurt Captain Mackra, for I’ll stand by him; and so with many oaths told him, he was an honest fellow, and that he had formerly sail’d with him.
This put an end to the dispute, and Captain Taylor was so mellow’d with the punch, that he consented that the old pirate ship, and so many bales of cloth should be given to Captain Mackra, and so he fell asleep. England advised Captain Mackra to get off with all expedition, least when the beast should awake, he might repent his generosity: which advice was followed by the Captain.
Captain England having sided so much to Captain Mackra’s interest, was a means of making him many enemies among the crew; they thinking such good usage inconsistent with their polity, because it looked like procuring favour at the aggravation of their crimes; therefore upon imagination or report, that Captain Mackra was fitting out against them, with the company’s force, he was soon abdicated or pulled out of his government, and marooned with three more on the island of Mauritius: an island indeed, not to be complained of, had they accumulated any wealth by their villainies that would have afforded some future comfortable prospect, for it abounds with fish, deer, hogs and other flesh. Sir Thomas Herbert, says, the shores with coral and ambergris; but I believe the Dutch had not deserted it, had there been much
