They found this ship exceeding rich, being laden chiefly with sugar, skins, and tobacco, and in gold 40,000 moidores, besides chains and trinkets, of considerable value; particularly a cross set with diamonds, designed for the King of Portugal; which they afterwards presented to the Governor of Caiana, by whom they were obliged.
Elated with this booty, they had nothing now to think of but some safe retreat, where they might give themselves up to all the pleasures that luxury and wantonness could bestow, and for the present pitch’d upon a place called the Devil’s Islands, in the River of Suriname on the coast of Caiana, where they arrived, and found the civilest reception imaginable, not only from the Governor and factory, but their wives, who exchanged wares and drove a considerable trade with them.
They seiz’d in this river a sloop, and by her gained intelligence, that a brigantine had also sailed in company with her, from Rhode Island, laden with provisions for the coast. A welcome cargo! They growing short in the sea store, and as Sancho says, no adventures to be made without belly-timber. One evening as they were rummaging (their mine of treasure) the Portuguese prize, this expected vessel was descry’d at masthead, and Roberts, imagining nobody could do the business so well as himself, takes 40 men in the sloop, and goes in pursuit of her; but a fatal accident followed this rash, though inconsiderable adventure, for Roberts thinking of nothing less than bringing in the brigantine that afternoon, never troubled his head about the sloop’s provision, nor inquired what there was on board to subsist such a number of men; but out he sails after his expected prize, which he not only lost further sight of, but after eight days contending with contrary winds and currents, found themselves thirty leagues to leeward. The current still opposing their endeavours, and perceiving no hopes of beating up to their ship, they came to an anchor, and inconsiderately sent away the boat to give the rest of the company notice of their condition, and to order the ship to them; but too soon, even the next day, their wants made them sensible of their infatuation, for their water was all expended, and they had taken no thought how they should be supply’d, till either the ship came, or the boat returned, which was not likely to be under five or six days. Here like Tantalus, they almost famished in sight of the fresh streams and lakes; being drove to such extremity at last, that they were forc’d to tear up the floor of the cabin, and patch up a sort of tub or tray with rope yarns, to paddle ashore, and fetch off immediate supplies of water to preserve life.
After some days, the long-wish’d-for boat came back, but with the most unwelcome news in the world, for Kennedy, who was lieutenant, and left in absence of Roberts, to command the privateer and prize, was gone off with both. This was mortification with a vengeance, and you may imagine, they did not depart without some hard speeches from those that were left, and had suffered by their treachery: and that there need be no further mention of this Kennedy, I shall leave Captain Roberts, for a page or two, with the remains of his crew, to vent their wrath in a few oaths and execrations, and follow the other, whom we may reckon from that time, as steering his course towards execution dock.
Kennedy was now chosen captain of the revolted crew, but could not bring his company to any determined resolution; some of them were for pursuing the old game, but the greater part of them seem’d to have inclinations to turn from those evil courses, and get home privately, (for there was no act of pardon in force,) therefore they agreed to break up, and every man to shift for himself, as he should see occasion. The first thing they did, was to part with the great Portuguese prize, and having the master of the sloop (whose name I think was Cane) aboard, who they said was a very honest fellow, (for he had humoured them upon every occasion,) told them of the brigantine that Roberts went after; and when the pirates first took him, he complimented them at an odd rate, telling them they were welcome to his sloop and cargo, and wish’d that the vessel had been larger, and the loading richer for their sakes: to this good natured man they gave the Portuguese ship, (which was then above half-loaded,) three or four Negroes, and all his own men, who returned thanks to his kind benefactors, and departed.
Captain Kennedy in the Rover, sailed to Barbados, near which island, they took a very peaceable ship belonging to Virginia; the commander was a Quaker, whose name was Knot; he had neither pistol, sword, nor cutlash on board; and Mr. Knot appearing so very passive to all they said to him, some of them thought this a good opportunity to go off; and accordingly eight of the pirates went aboard, and he carried them safe to Virginia; they made the Quaker a present of 10 chests of sugar, 10 rolls of Brazil tobacco, 30 moidores, and some gold dust, in all to the value of about 250 £.
