The Duty of these Fanti, is to execute all the Orders issued by the Magistrate, as none else can execute them, and to superintend every Thing respecting the Duties and Precautions of the Office of Health, with this Difference between them and the Guardians, that the latter are always looked upon to be in the same Condition as the Ship, Passengers, or Merchandizes which they guard; whereas the Fanti keep themselves always clear, and serve for an Escort upon all Occasions; without being in the least contaminated.
As soon as ever the Fante is arrived along-Side the suspected Vessel in his own Boat, the Captain must get into his own Boat with his Sailors, and keep behind the Fante’s, which precedes always at a due Distance, in order to oblige to sheer off all Vessels they may meet by the Way, and to take Care that the Ship-Boat itself do not approach any Vessel, or put to Land at any Island in their Way to the Parts of the Magistrate’s Abode on the Shore, which are so barricadoed, that, though Discourse may be held at a Distance between the New-Comers, and those at Land, no Communication of any Kind can happen; and as soon as the Captain is on Shore, he is introduced, through a guarded Street, to the Spot destined for him to be examined at, which is an Inclosure shut up on all Sides; where, by the Clerk of the Magistrate, (an Officer particularly appointed for that Business) he is, from a Window, examined, at a due Distance.
The Inquiry turns particularly upon, Whence the Vessel comes, and in what Length of Time; If from a healthy or suspected Part; What Kind of a Voyage she has had; What Places touched at; and Whether in them he had been admitted to Communication or not; If he met any Ships at Sea, and from whence, and Whether he had any Communication with them. The Number is demanded of his Crew and Passengers; If they have been always well in the Voyage, or if any of them are missing; What, and how much, is the Cargo he brings; If all from one Place, or from many; and lastly, Whether, in what regards the Health, he had observed in any Parts any Risings; and intimating to him, that he must exhibit all the Papers and Letters he has.
The first of these to be examined on the Spot, are the Patents or Bills of Health, in order to compare with them the Facts delivered in the Examination, and particularly the Number of Persons who are on Board the Vessel. This is looked upon to be so essentially requisite, and of such Consequence, that if any Vessel should arrive without it, though it should be come from a Place absolutely free, and even in the Neighbourhood, it would either not be admitted at all, or not have any Communication granted it, unless after a most rigorous Quarantine.
If by chance the Patents should be defective, and should denote a greater or less Number of Persons than are taken down in the Examination, the Captain must prove, in the clearest Manner, either the Flight or Death, and particularly the Condition of that Person who is wanting; and in the same Manner he is to produce particular Patents; and with Evidence upon Examination, and by other Proofs of the same Nature, he is to make it appear from what Place he took up the Person who happens to be one more than the Number set forth in the said Patents; since, in the first Case, there may remain a Doubt, that the Deficiency may have been owing to Death by Infection, or to Flight to Parts not named; and in the second Case, it is to be considered, that it is possible, that the Person, exceeding the Number mentioned in the Patent, may have been received from some suspected Vessel, or from some infected Place.
Besides these Patents, the Captain is also to give a distinct Account of all his Cargo, both of its Quality and Quantity; which is called giving a Manifest; from whence is discovered, whether any of the Merchandizes may have been brought from suspected Countries; in which Case the Captain must prove, that in that Place they had undergone the necessary Purification. By Means of the Manifest, Lights also are gathered as to what Kind of Quarantine may be proper for infectious Ladings of different Kinds, and Orders given for taking out such as are of a Nature not to give Suspicion.
’Tis here proper to observe, that this Order for Examining and Comparing is executed on every Vessel arriving in these Parts, they being all treated upon the Foot of Suspicion, (tho’ they be not so) until, that by the Concert produced by the aforesaid Enquiries, a Certainty is obtained of their Condition: Nor can they before that have any Communication at all; and as the very Essence of this momentous Concern depends upon Integrity and Fidelity, every Captain is guilty of High Treason for any Prevarication in his Depositions upon Examination, or any Falsification of his fiduciary Papers; this Point being watched with the utmost Attention and Care.
These Researches being over, if the Vessel really comes from a Place that is free, it is declared free; if from a suspected one, the Captain is reconducted on Board his Ship with the same Precautions used on his being brought ashore.
And as the Guardian is already on Board it, he begins now to exercise his Functions; 1st, He forms a distinct List of the Number, Names and Sirnames of all the Persons on Board; 2dly, Another List of all the Things belonging to each Person, distinguishing those which are simply for their Use from such as may be traded with; it being lawful to keep the first in the Ship, when any Person performs his Quarantine aboard with the Crew; but they must be exposed to Air, and every Day handled; the same not being allowed to Merchandize, which must all be purified at the Lazarettos. Both these Rolls or Lists are sent to the Magistrate; and, the Captain’s Assertions on his Examination being entirely proved, Order is given for unlading the Ship, and for transporting the Goods to the Lazaretto; it never being allowed, either that any Goods remain in the Ship for Purification, or that the Time of Quarantine for the Ship should begin till the Unlading is finished.