It was but one day more before they arrived off Cochin, where, by a fishing canoe, they sent a letter onshore; and in the afternoon, with the sea-breeze, ran into the road and anchored, saluting the fort with 11 guns each ship, and received the return, in an equal number; a good omen of the welcome reception they found; for at night there came on board a large boat, deeply laden with fresh provisions and liquors, and with it a servant (of a favourite inhabitant) called John Trumpet: he told them they must immediately weigh, and run farther to the southward, where they should be supplied with all things they wanted, naval stores or provisions.
They had not been long at anchor again, before they had several canoes on board with both black and white inhabitants, who continued, without interruption, all good offices, during their stay; particularly John Trumpet brought a large boat of arrack, than which, nothing could be more pleasing (about 90 legers,) as also 60 bales of sugar; an offering, it’s presumed, from the Governor and his daughter, who, in return, had a fine table clock sent him, (the plunder of Captain Mackra’s ship,) and she a large gold watch, earnests of the pay they designed to make.
When they had all on board, they paid Mr. Trumpet to his satisfaction, it was computed, 6 or 7,000 £ gave him three cheers, 11 guns each ship, and throw’d ducatoons into his boat by handfuls, for the boatmen to scramble for.
That night being little wind, did not weigh, and Trumpet, in the morning, waked them to the sight of more arrack, chests of piece-goods, and ready made clothes, bringing the fiscal of the place also with him. At , while those were on board, saw a sail to the southward, which they weighed, and chased after; but she having a good offing, got to the northward of them, and anchored a small distance from Cochin Fort; the aforementioned gentlemen assuring them, that they would not be molested in taking her from under the castle, solicited before hand for the buying her, and advised them to stand in, which they did boldly, to board her; but when they came within a cable’s length or two of the chase, now near shore, the fort fired two small guns, whose shot falling nigh their muzzles, they instantly bore out of the road, made an easy sail to the southward, and anchored at night in their former berth, where John Trumpet, to engage their stay a little longer, informed them, that in a few days a very rich ship was to pass by, commanded by the general of Bombay’s brother.
This governor is an emblem of foreign power. What inconvenience and injury must the master’s subjects sustain under one who can truckle to such treacherous and base means, as corresponding and trading with pirates to enrich himself? Certainly such a man will stickle at no injustice to repair or make a fortune. He has the argumentum ad baculum always in his own hands, and can convince, when he pleases, in half the time of other arguments, that fraud and oppression is law. That he employs instruments in such dirty work, expresses the guilt and shame, but no way mitigates the crime. John Trumpet was the tool; but, as the dog said in the fable, on another occasion, What is done by the master’s orders, is the master’s actions.
I cannot but reflect, on this occasion, what a vile government Sancho Pancho had of it; he had not only such perquisites rescinded, but was really almost starved; the victuals taken from him almost every day, and only under a pretence of preserving His Excellency’s health: but governments differ.
From Cochin some were for proceeding to Madagascar directly; others thought it proper to cruise till they got a store-ship, and these being the majority, they ply’d to the southward, and after some days saw a ship in shore, which being to windward of them, they could not get nigh, till the sea wind, and night, favouring, they separated, one to the northward, the other to the southward, thinking to enclose her between: but to their astonishment, and contrary to expectation, when day broke, instead of the chase, found themselves very near five sail of tall ships, who immediately making a signal for the pirates to bear down, put them in the utmost confusion, particularly Taylor’s ship, because their consort was at a distance from them, (at least three leagues to the southward) they stood to one another, and joined, and then together made the best of their way from the fleet, whom they judged to be commanded by Captain Mackra; of whose courage having experience, they were glad to shun any farther taste of.
In three hours chase, none of the fleet gaining upon them, excepting one grab, their dejected countenances cleared up again, the more, in that a calm succeeded for the remainder of that day; and in the night, with the land wind, they ran directly off shore, and found next day, to their great consolation, that they had lost sight of all the fleet.
This danger escaped, they proposed to spend Christmas (the ) in carousing and forgetfulness, and kept it for three days in a wanton and riotous way, not only eating, but wasting their fresh provisions in so wretched and inconsiderable a manner, that when they had agreed after this to proceed to Mauritius, they were in that passage at an allowance of a bottle of water per diem, and not above two pounds of beef, and a small quantity of rice, for ten men for a day; so that had it not been for the leaky ship, (which once they were about
