<SPAN name="THE_LIFE_CAREER_AND_DEATH_OF_CAPTAIN_THOMAS_WHITE"></SPAN>
<h2>THE LIFE, CAREER AND DEATH OF CAPTAIN THOMAS WHITE.</h2>
He was born at Plymouth, where his mother kept a public house. She
took great care of his education, and when he was grown up, as he
had an inclination to the sea, procured him the king's letter.
After he had served some years on board a man-of-war, he went to
Barbadoes, where he married, got into the merchant service, and
designed to settle in the island. He had the command of the
Marygold brigantine given him, in which he made two successful
voyages to Guinea and back to Barbadoes. In his third, he had the
misfortune to be taken by a French pirate, as were several other
English ships, the masters and inferior officers of which they
detained, being in want of good artists. The brigantine belonging
to White, they kept for their own use, and sunk the vessel they
before sailed in; but meeting with a ship on the Guinea coast more
fit for their purpose, they went on board her and burnt the
brigantine.
<p>It is not my business here to give an account of this French
pirate, any farther than Capt. White's story obliges me, though I
beg leave to take notice of their barbarity to the English
prisoners, for they would set them up as a butt or mark to shoot
at; several of whom were thus murdered in cold blood, by way of
diversion.</p>
<p>White was marked out for a sacrifice by one of these villains,
who, for what reason I know not, had sworn his death, which he
escaped thus. One of the crew, who had a friendship for White, knew
this fellow's design to kill him in the night, and therefore
advised him to lie between him and the ship's side, with intention
to save him; which indeed he did, but was himself shot dead by the
murderous villain, who mistook him for White.</p>
<p>After some time cruising along the coast, the pirates doubled
the Cape of Good Hope, and shaped their course for Madagascar,
where, being drunk and mad, they knocked their ship on the head, at
the south end of the island, at a place called by the natives
Elexa. The country thereabouts was governed by a king, named
Mafaly.</p>
<p>When the ship struck, Capt. White, Capt. Boreman, (born in the
Isle of Wight, formerly a lieutenant of a man-of-war, but in the
merchant service when he fell into the hands of the pirates,) Capt.
Bowen and some other prisoners got into the long-boat, and with
broken oars and barrel staves, which they found in the bottom of
the boat, paddled to Augustin Bay, which is about 14 or 15 leagues
from the wreck, where they landed, and were kindly received by the
king of Bavaw, (the name of that part of the island) who spoke good
English.</p>
<p>They stayed here a year and a half at the king's expense, who
gave them a plentiful allowance of provision, as was his custom to
all white men, who met with any misfortune on his coast. His
humanity not only provided for such, but the first European vessel
that came in, he always obliged to take in the unfortunate people,
let the vessel be what it would; for he had no notion of any
difference between pirates and merchants.</p>
<p>At the expiration of the above term, a pirate brigantine came
in, on board which the king obliged them to enter, or travel by
land to some other place, which they durst not do; and of two evils
chose the least, that of going on board the pirate vessel, which
was commanded by one William Read, who received them very
civilly.</p>
<p>This commander went along the coast, and picked up what
Europeans he could meet with. His crew, however, did not exceed 40
men. He would have been glad of taking some of the wrecked
Frenchmen, but for the barbarity they had used towards the English
prisoners. However, it was impracticable, for the French pretending
to lord it over the natives, whom they began to treat inhumanly,
were set upon by them, one half of their number cut off, and the
other half made slaves.</p>
<p>Read, with this gang, and a brigantine of 60 tons, steered his
course for the Persian Gulf, where they met a grab, (a one masted
vessel) of about 200 tons, which was made a prize. They found
nothing on board but bale goods, most of which they threw overboard
in search of gold, and to make room in the vessel; but as they
learned afterwards, they threw over, in their search, what they so
greedily hunted after, for there was a considerable quantity of
gold concealed in one of the bales they tossed into the sea!</p>
<p>In this cruise Capt. Read fell ill and died, and was succeeded
by one James. The brigantine being small, crazy and worm-eaten,
they shaped their course for the island of Mayotta, where they took
out the masts of the brigantine, fitted up the grab, and made a
ship of her. Here they took in a quantity of fresh provisions,
which are in this island very plentiful and very cheap, and found a
twelve-oared boat, which formerly belonged to the Ruby East
Indiaman, which had been lost there.</p>
<p>They stayed here all the monsoon time, which is about six
months; after which they resolved for Madagascar. As they came in
with the land, they spied a sail coming round from the east side of
the island. They gave chase on both sides, so that they soon met.
They hailed each other and receiving the same answer from each
vessel, viz. <i>from the seas,</i> they joined company.</p>
<p>This vessel was a small French ship, laden with liquors from
Martinico, first commanded by one Fourgette, to trade with the
pirates for slaves, at Ambonavoula, on the east side of the island,
in the latitude of 17 deg. 30 min. and was by them taken after the
following manner.</p>
<p>The pirates, who were headed by George Booth, now commander of
the ship, went on board, (as they had often done,) to the number of
ten, and carried money with them under pretence of purchasing what
they wanted. This Booth had formerly been gunner of a pirate ship,
called the Dolphin. Capt. Fourgette was pretty much upon his guard,
and searched every man as he came over the side, and a pair of
pocket pistols were found upon a Dutchman, who was the first that
entered. The captain told him that <i>
he was a rogue, and had a
design upon his ship
</i>, and the pirates pretended to be so angry
with this fellow's offering to come on board with arms, that they
threatened to knock him on the head, and tossing him roughly into
the boat, ordered him ashore, though they had before taken an oath
on the Bible, either to carry the ship, or die in the
undertaking.</p>
<p>They were all searched, but they however contrived to get on
board four pistols, which were all the arms they had for the
enterprise, though Fourgette had 20 hands on board, and his small
arms on the awning, to be in readiness.</p>
<p>The captain invited them into the cabin to dinner, but Booth
chose to dine with the petty officer, though one Johnson, Isaac and
another, went down. Booth was to give the watchword, which was
<i>hurrah</i>. Standing near the awning, and being a nimble fellow,
at one spring he threw himself upon it, drew the arms to him, fired
his pistol among the men, one of whom he wounded, (who jumping
overboard was lost) and gave the signal.</p>
<p>Three, I said, were in the cabin, and seven upon deck, who with
handspikes and the arms seized, secured the ship's crew. The
captain and his two mates, who were at dinner in the cabin, hearing
the pistol, fell upon Johnson, and stabbed him in several places
with their forks, but they being silver, did him no great damage.
Fourgette snatched his piece, which he snapped at Isaac's breast
several times, but it would not go off. At last, finding his
resistance vain, he submitted, and the pirates set him, and those
of his men who would not join them, on shore, allowing him to take
his books, papers, and whatever else he claimed as belonging to
himself; and besides treating him very humanely, gave him several
casks of liquor, with arms and powder, to purchase provisions in
the country.</p>
<p>I hope this digression, as it was in a manner needful, will be
excused. I shall now proceed.</p>
<p>After they had taken in the Dolphin's company, which were on the
island, and increased their crew, by that means, to the number of
80 hands, they sailed to St. Mary's, where Capt. Mosson's ship lay
at anchor, between the island and the main. This gentleman and his
whole ship's company had been cut off at the instigation of
Ort-Vantyle, a Dutchman of New-York.</p>
<p>Out of her they took water casks and other necessaries; which
having done, they designed for the river Methelage, on the west
side of Madagascar, in the lat. of 16 degrees or thereabouts, to
salt up provisions and to proceed to the East Indies, cruise off
the islands of St. John, and lie in wait for the Moor ships from
Mocha.</p>
<p>In their way to Methelage they fell in (as I have said) with the
pirate, on board of which was Capt. White. They joined company,
came to an anchor together in the above named river, where they had
cleaned, salted and took in their provisions, and were ready to go
to sea, when a large ship appeared in sight, and stood into the
same river.</p>
<p>The pirates knew not whether she was a merchantman or
man-of-war. She had been the latter, belonging to the French king,
and could mount 50 guns; but being taken by the English, she was
bought by some London merchants, and fitted out from that port to
slave at Madagascar, and go to Jamaica. The captain was a young,
inexperienced man, who was put in with a nurse.</p>
<p>The pirates sent their boats to speak with them, but the ship
firing at them, they concluded it a man of war, and rowed ashore;
the grab standing in, and not keeping her wind so well as the
French built ship, run among a parcel of mangroves, and a stump
piercing her bottom, she sunk: the other run aground, let go her
anchor, and came to no damage, for the tide of flood fetched her
off.</p>
<p>The captain of the Speaker, for that was the name of the ship
which frightened the pirates, was not a little vain of having
forced these two vessels ashore, though he did not know whether
they were pirates or merchantmen, and could not help expressing
himself in these words: "How will my name ring on the exchange,
when it is known I have run two pirates aground;" which gave handle
to a satirical return from one of his men after he was taken, who
said, "Lord! how our captain's name will ring on the exchange, when
it is heard, he frightened two pirate ships ashore, and was taken
by their two boats afterwards."</p>
<p>When the Speaker came within shot, she fired several times at
the two vessels; and when she came to anchor, several more into the
country, which alarmed the negroes, who, acquainting their king, he
would allow him no trade, till the pirates living ashore, and who
had a design on his ship, interceded for them, telling the king,
they were their countrymen, and what had happened was through a
mistake, it being a custom among them to fire their guns by way of
respect, and it was owing to the gunner of the ship's negligence
that they fired shot.</p>
<p>The captain of the Speaker sent his purser ashore, to go up the
country to the king, who lived about 24 miles from the coast, to
carry a couple of small arms inlaid with gold, a couple of brass
blunderbusses, and a pair of pistols, as presents, and to require
trade. As soon as the purser was ashore, he was taken prisoner, by
one Tom Collins, a Welshman, born in Pembroke, who lived on shore,
and had belonged to the Charming Mary, of Barbadoes, which went out
with a commission but was converted to a pirate. He told the purser
he was his prisoner, and must answer the damage done to two
merchants who were slaving. The purser answered, that he was not
commander; that the captain was a hot rash youth, put into business
by his friends, which he did not understand; but however,
satisfaction should be made. He was carried by Collins on board
Booth's ship, where, at first, he was talked to in pretty strong
terms; but after a while very civilly used, and the next morning
sent up to the king with a guide, and peace made for him.</p>
<p>The king allowed them trade, and sent down the usual presents, a
couple of oxen between twenty and thirty people laden with rice,
and as many more with the country liquor, called <i>toke</i>.</p>
<p>The captain then settled the factory on the shore side, and
began to buy slaves and provisions. The pirates were among them,
and had opportunities of sounding the men, and knowing in what
posture the ship lay. They found by one Hugh Man, belonging to the
Speaker, that there were not above 40 men on board, and that they
had lost the second mate and 20 hands in the long boat, on the
coast, before they came into this harbor, but that they kept a good
look out, and had their guns ready primed. However, he, for a
hundred pounds, undertook to wet all the priming, and assist in
taking the ship.</p>
<p>After some days the captain of the Speaker came on shore, and
was received with great civility by the heads of the pirates,
having agreed before to make satisfaction. In a day or two after,
he was invited by them to eat a barbacued shoat, which invitation
he accepted. After dinner, Capt. Bowen, who was, I have already
said, a prisoner on board the French pirate, but now become one of
the fraternity, and master of the grab, went out, and returned with
a case of pistols in his hand, and told the Captain of the Speaker,
whose name I won't mention, that he was his prisoner. He asked,
upon what account? Bowen answered, "they wanted his ship, his was a
good one, and they were resolved to have her, to make amends for
the damage he had done them."</p>
<center>
<ANTIMG src="./images/338.jpg" alt="Hugh Man wetting the Priming of the Guns." height-obs="446" width-obs="600">
</center>
<h4><i>Hugh Man wetting the Priming of the Guns.</i></h4>
In the mean while his boat's crew, and the rest of his men ashore,
were told by others of the pirates, who were drinking with them,
that they were also prisoners: some of them answered, <i>
Zounds, we
don't trouble our heads what we are, let's have t'other bowl of
punch
</i>.
<p>A watchword was given, and no boat to be admitted on board the
ship. This word, which was for that night, <i>Coventry</i>, was
known to them. At 8 o'clock they manned the twelve-oared boat, and
the one they found at Mayotta, with 24 men, and set out for the
ship. When they were put off, the captain of the Speaker desired
them to come back, as he wanted to speak with them. Capt. Booth
asked what he wanted! He said, "they could never take his ship."
"Then," said Booth, "we'll die in or alongside of her."--"But,"
replied the captain, "if you will go with safety, don't board on
the larboard side, for there is a gun out of the steerage loaded
with partridge, which will clear the decks." They thanked him, and
proceeded.</p>
<p>When they were near the ship they were hailed, and the answer
was, <i>the Coventry</i>. "All well," said the mate, "get the
lights over the side;" but spying the second boat, he asked what
boat that was? One answered it was a raft of water, another that it
was a boat of beef; this disagreement in the answers made the mate
suspicious, who cried out--<i>
Pirates, take to your arms my
lads
</i>, and immediately clapped a match to a gun, which, as the
priming was before wet by the treachery of Hugh Man, only fizzed.
They boarded in the instant, and made themselves masters of her,
without the loss of a man on either side.</p>
<p>The next day they put necessary provisions on board the French
built ship, and gave her to the captain of the Speaker, and those
men who would go off with him, among whom was Man, who had betrayed
his ship; for the pirates had both paid him the 100<i>l</i> agreed,
and kept his secret. The captain having thus lost his ship, sailed
in that which the pirates gave him, for Johanna, where he fell ill
and died with grief.</p>
<p>The pirates having here victualled, they sailed for the Bay of
St. Augustine, where they took in between 70 and 80 men, who had
belonged to the ship Alexander, commanded by Capt. James, a pirate.
They also took up her guns, and mounted the Speaker with 54, which
made up their number, and 240 men, besides slaves, of which they
had about 20.</p>
<p>From hence they sailed for the East Indies, but stopped at
Zanguebar for fresh provisions, where the Portuguese had once a
settlement, but now inhabited by Arabians. Some of them went ashore
with the captain to buy provisions. The captain was sent for by the
governor, who went with about 14 in company. They passed through
the guard, and when they had entered the governor's house, they
were all cut off; and, at the same time, others who were in
different houses of the town were set upon, which made them fly to
the shore. The long-boat, which lay off a grappling, was
immediately put in by those who looked after her. There were not
above half a dozen of the pirates who brought their arms ashore,
but they plied them so well, for they were in the boat, that most
of the men got into her. The quarter-master ran down sword in hand,
and though he was attacked by many, he behaved himself so well,
that he got into a little canoe, put off, and reached the
long-boat.</p>
<p>In the interim, the little fort the Arabians had, played upon
the ship, which returned the salute very warmly. Thus they got on
board, with the loss of Captain Booth and 20 men, and set sail for
the East Indies. When they were under sail, they went to voting for
a new captain, and the quarter-master, who had behaved so well in
the last affair with the Arabians, was chosen; but he declining all
command the crew made choice of Bowen for captain, Pickering to
succeed him as master, Samuel Herault, a Frenchman, for
quarter-master, and Nathaniel North for captain quarter-master.</p>
<p>Things being thus settled, they came to the mouth of the Red
Sea, and fell in with 13 sail of Moor ships, which they kept
company with the greater part of the day, but afraid to venture on
them, as they took them for Portuguese men-of-war. At length part
were for boarding, and advised it. The captain though he said
little, did not seem inclined, for he was but a young pirate,
though an old commander of a merchantman. Those who pushed for
boarding, then desired Captain Boreman, already mentioned, to take
the command; but he said he would not be a usurper; that nobody was
more fit for it than he who had it; that for his part he would
stand by his fuzil, and went forward to the forecastle with such as
would have him take the command, to be ready to board; on which the
captain's quarter-master said, if they were resolved to engage,
their captain, (whose representative he was) did not want
resolution; therefore ordered them to get their tacks on board (for
they had already made a clear ship) and get ready for boarding;
which they accordingly did, and coming up with the sternmost ship,
they fired a broadside into her, which killed two Moors, clapped
her on board and carried her; but night coming on, they made only
this prize, which yielded them £500 per man. From hence they
sailed to the coast of Malabar. The adventures of these pirates on
this coast are already set down in Captain Bowen's life, to which I
refer the reader, and shall only observe, that Captain White was
all this time before the mast, being a forced man from the
beginning.</p>
<p>Bowen's crew dispersing, Captain White went to Methelage, where
he lived ashore with the king, not having an opportunity of getting
off the island, till another pirate ship, called the Prosperous,
commanded by one Howard, who had been bred a lighterman on the
river Thames, came in. This ship was taken at Augustin, by some
pirates from shore, and the crew of their long-boat, which joined
them, at the instigation of one Ranten, boatswain's mate, who sent
for water. They came on board in the night and surprised her,
though not without resistance, in which the captain and chief mate
were killed, and several others wounded.</p>
<p>Those who were ashore with Captain White, resolving to enter in
this ship, determined him to go also, rather than be left alone
with the natives, hoping, by some accident or other, to have an
opportunity of returning home. He continued on board this ship, in
which he was made quarter-master, till they met with, and all went
on board of Bowen, as is set down in his life, in which ship he
continued after Bowen left them. At Port Dolphin he went <i>off</i>
in the boats to fetch some of the crew left ashore, the ship being
blown to sea the night before. The ship not being able to get in,
and he supposing her gone to the west side of the island, as they
had formerly proposed, he steered that course in his boat with 26
men. They touched at Augustin, expecting the ship, but she not
appearing in a week, the time they waited, the king ordered them to
be gone, telling them they imposed on him with lies, for he did not
believe they had any ship: however he gave them fresh provision:
they took in water, and made for Methelage. Here as Captain White
was known to the king, they were kindly received, and staid about a
fortnight in expectation of the ship, but she not appearing they
raised their boat a streak, salted the provision the king gave
them, put water aboard, and stood for the north end of the island,
designing to go round, believing their ship might be at the island
of St. Mary. When they came to the north end, the current, which
sets to the N.W. for eight months in the year, was so strong they
found it impossible to get round. Wherefore they got into a harbor,
of which there are many for small vessels. Here they stayed about
three weeks or a month, when part of the crew were for burning the
boat, and travelling over land to a black king of their
acquaintance, whose name was Reberimbo, who lived at a place called
Manangaromasigh, in lat. 15 deg. or thereabouts. As this king had
been several times assisted by the whites in his wars, he was a
great friend to them. Captain White dissuaded them from this
undertaking, and with much ado, saved the boat; but one half of the
men being resolved to go by land, they took what provisions they
thought necessary, and set out. Captain White, and those who staid
with him, conveyed them a day's journey, and then returning, he got
into the boat with his companions, and went back to Methelage,
fearing these men might return, prevail with the rest, and burn the
boat.</p>
<center>
<ANTIMG src="./images/342.jpg" alt="The Murder of the Captain and Chief Mate" height-obs="324" width-obs="500">
</center>
<h4><i>The Murder of the Captain and Chief Mate.</i></h4>
Here he built a deck on his boat, and lay by three months, in which
time there came in three pirates with a boat, who had formerly been
trepanned on board the Severn and Scarborough men-of-war, which had
been looking for pirates on the east side; from which ships they
made their escape at Mohila, in a small canoe to Johanna, and from
Johanna to Mayotta, where the king built them the boat which
brought them to Methelage. The time of the current's setting with
violence to the N.W. being over, they proceeded together in White's
boat (burning that of Mayotta) to the north end, where the current
running yet too strong to get round, they went into a harbor and
staid there a month, maintaining themselves with fish and wild
hogs, of which there was a great plenty. At length, having fine
weather, and the strength of the current abating, they got round;
and after sailing about 40 miles on the east side, they went into a
harbor, where they found a piece of a jacket, which they knew
belonged to one of those men who had left them to go over land. He
had been a forced man, and a ship carpenter. This they supposed he
had torn to wrap round his feet; that part of the country being
barren and rocky. As they sailed along this coast, they came to
anchor in convenient harbors every night, till they got as far as
Manangaromasigh, where king Reberimbo resided, where they went in
to inquire for their men, who left them at the north end, and to
recruit with provisions. The latter was given them, but they could
get no information of their companions.
<p>From hence they went to the island of St. Mary, where a canoe
came off to them with a letter directed to any white man. They knew
it to be the hand of one of their former shipmates. The contents of
this letter was to advise them to be on their guard, and not trust
too much to the blacks of this place, they having been formerly
treacherous. They inquired after their ship, and were informed,
that the company had given her to the Moors, who were gone away
with her, and that they themselves were settled at Ambonavoula,
about 20 leagues to the southward of St. Mary, where they lived
among the negroes as so many sovereign princes.</p>
<p>One of the blacks, who brought off the letter went on board
their boat, carried them to the place called Olumbah, a point of
land made by a river on one side, and the sea on the other, where
twelve of them lived together in a large house they had built, and
fortified with about twenty pieces of cannon.</p>
<p>The rest of them were settled in small companies of about 12 or
14 together, more or less, up the said river, and along the coast,
every nation by itself, as the English, French, Dutch, &c. They
made inquiry of their consorts after the different prizes which
belonged to them, and they found all very justly laid by to be
given them, if ever they returned, as were what belonged to the men
who went over land. Captain White, hankering after home, proposed
going out again in the boat; for he was adverse to settling with
them; and many others agreed to go under his command; and if they
could meet with a ship to carry them to Europe, to follow their old
vocation. But the others did not think it reasonable he should have
the boat, but that it should be set to sale for the benefit of the
company. Accordingly it was set up, and Captain White bought it for
400 pieces of eight, and with some of his old consorts, whose
number was increased by others of the ship's crew, he went back the
way he had come to Methelage. Here he met with a French ship of
about 50 tons, and 6 guns, which had been taken by some pirates who
lived at Maratan, on the east side of the island, and some of the
Degrave East-Indiaman's crew, to whom the master of her refused a
passage to Europe; for as he had himself been a pirate, and
quarter-master to Bowen, in the Speaker, he apprehended their
taking away his ship. War then existing between England and France,
he thought they might do it without being called in question as
pirates. The pirates who had been concerned in taking Herault's
ship, for that was his name, had gone up the country, and left her
to the men belonging to the Degrave, who had fitted her up, cleaned
and tallowed her, and got in some provision, with a design to go to
the East-Indies, that they might light on some ship to return to
their own country.</p>
<p>Captain White, finding these men proposed joining him, and going
round to Ambonavoula, to make up a company, it was agreed upon, and
they unanimously chose him commander. They accordingly put to sea,
and stood away round the south end of the island, and touched at
Don Mascarenhas, where he took in a surgeon, and stretching over
again to Madagascar, fell in with Ambonavoula, and made up his
complement of 60 men. From hence he shaped his course for the
island of Mayotta, where he cleaned his ship, and waited for the
season to go into the Red Sea. His provisions being taken in, the
time proper, and the ship well fitted, he steered for Babel-Mandeb,
and running into a harbor, waited for the Mocha ships.</p>
<p>He here took two grabs laden with provisions, and having some
small money and drugs aboard. These he plundered of what was for
his turn, kept them a fortnight by him, and let them go. Soon after
they espied a lofty ship, upon which they put to sea; but finding
her European built, and too strong to attempt, for it was a
Dutchman, they gave over the chase, and were glad to shake them
off, and return to their station. Fancying they were here
discovered, from the coast of Arabia, or that the grabs had given
information of them they stood over for the Ethiopian shore,
keeping a good look out for the Mocha ships. A few days after, they
met with a large ship of about 1000 tons and 600 men, called the
Malabar, which they chased, kept company with her all night, and
took in the morning, with the loss of only their boatswain, and two
or three men wounded. In taking this ship, they damaged their own
so much, by springing their foremast, carrying away their bowsprit,
and beating in part of their upper works that they did not think
her longer fit for their use. They therefore filled her away with
prisoners, gave them provision and sent them away.</p>
<p>Some days after this, they espied a Portuguese man-of war of 44
guns, which they chased, but gave it over by carrying away their
maintopmast, so that they did not speak with her, for the
Portuguese took no notice of them. Four days after they had left
this man-of-war, they fell in with a Portuguese merchantman, which
they chased with English colors flying. The chase, taking White for
an English man-of-war or East-Indiaman, made no sail to get from
him, but on his coming up, brought to, and sent his boat on board
with a present of sweet-meats for the English captain. His boat's
crew was detained, and the pirates getting into his boat with their
arms, went on board and fired on the Portuguese, who being
surprised, asked if war was broke out between England and Portugal?
They answered in the affirmative, but the captain could not believe
them. However they took what they liked, and kept him with
them.</p>
<p>After two days they met with the Dorothy, an English ship,
Captain Penruddock, commander, coming from Mocha. They exchanged
several shots in the chase, but when they came along side of her,
they entered their men, and found no resistance, she being
navigated by Moors, no Europeans, except the officers being on
board. On a vote, they gave Captain Penruddock (from whom they took
a considerable quantity of money) the Portuguese ship and cargo,
with what bale he pleased to take out of his own, bid him go about
his business, and make what he could of her. As to the English
ship, they kept her for their own use.</p>
<p>Soon after they plundered the Malabar ship, out of which they
took as much money as came to £200 sterling a man, but missed
50,000 sequins, which were hid in a jar under a cow's stall, kept
for the giving milk to the Moor supercargo, an ancient man. They
then put the Portuguese and Moor prisoners on board the Malabar,
and sent them about their business. The day after they had sent
them away, one Captain Benjamin Stacy, in a ketch of 6 guns fell
into their hands. They took what money he had, and what goods and
provisions they wanted. Among the money were 500 dollars, a silver
mug, and two spoons belonging to a couple of children on board, who
were under the care of Stacy. The children took on for their loss,
and the captain asked the reason of their tears, was answered by
Stacy, and the above sum and plate was all the children had to
bring them up. Captain White made a speech to his men, and told
them it was cruel to rob the innocent children; upon which, by
unanimous consent, all was restored to them again. Besides, they
made a gathering among themselves, and made a present to Stacy's
mate, and other of his inferior officers, and about 120 dollars to
the children. They then discharged Stacy and his crew, and made the
best of their way out of the Red Sea.</p>
<p>They came into the bay of Defarr, where they found a ketch at
anchor, which the people had made prize of, by seizing the master
and boat's crew ashore. They found a French gentleman, one Monsieur
Berger, on board, whom they carried with them, took out about 2000
dollars, and sold the ketch to the chief ashore for provisions.</p>
<p>Hence they sailed for Madagascar, but touched at Mascarenhas,
where several of them went ashore with their booty, about
£1200 a man. Here taking in fresh provisions, White steered
for Madagascar, and fell in with Hopeful Point where they shared
their goods, and took up settlements ashore, where White built a
house, bought cattle, took off the upper deck of ship, and was
fitting her up for the next season. When she was near ready for
sea, Captain John Halsey, who had made a broken voyage, came in
with a brigantine, which being a more proper vessel for their turn,
they desisted from working on the ship, and those who had a mind
for fresh adventures, went on board Halsey, among whom Captain
White entered before the mast.</p>
<p>At his return to Madagascar, White was taken ill of a flux,
which in about five or six months ended his days. Finding his time
was drawing nigh, he made his will, left several legacies, and
named three men of different nations, guardian to a son he had by a
woman in the country, requiring he might be sent to England with
the money he left him, by the first English ship, to be brought up
in the Christian religion, in hopes that he might live a better man
than his father. He was buried with the same ceremony they used at
the funerals of their companions, which is mentioned in the account
of Halsey. Some years after, an English ship touching there, the
guardians faithfully discharged their trust, and put him on board
with the captain, who brought up the boy with care, acting by him
as became a man of probity and honor.</p>
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