North would not suffer J. B. to go ashore; however, to make him amends for his Confinement, he gave him four Negroes, whom he sold for 300 Dollars, and took Care that he should live plentifully and well on board. North’s Business, at this Island, was to get Leave to carry his Children there to be educated in the Christian Faith, which after some rich Presents made the Governor, he obtained, and return’d to Madagascar. In the Voyage, as J. B. was very greatly in his Favour, and his Confident, he told him, his Design was to leave his Children at Mascarenas, and place Fortunes for them in the Hands of some honest Priest, who would give them a Christian Education (for he thought it better to have them Papists, than not Christians) and would then go back to Maratan, and endeavour, by his Penitence, to make Attonement for his former Life, and never more go off the Island on any Account; that he would give his Sloop to J. B. with two hundred Dollars, that he might find some Means to return home, since he very wisely refus’d to join with the Pyrates.
When he came on the Madagascar Coast, he heard a French Ship had touch’d there, and left some Men behind her; upon which Account, North ran to the Southward 100 Leagues out of his Way, to enquire after and assist these People: A Piece of Humanity which ought not to be pass’d by in Silence, for it may shame not a few among us who carry a Face of Religion, and act with greater Barbarity than those whom we hunt and destroy as a Nusance to the World, and a Scandal to the Name of Man. If any thinks this Reflection severe, let him examine into the Number of Thousands who are perishing in Goals, by the Cruelty of Creditors, sensible of their Inability to pay: Let him take a View of the Miseries which reign in those Tombs of the Living, let him enquire into the Number of those who are yearly starved to Death, to gratify an implacable Spirit, and then, if he can, clear the English Laws, which allow a Creditor to punish an unfortunate Man, for his being so, with the most cruel of all invented Deaths, that of Famine; let him, I say, clear them from the Imputation of Barbarity. I beg Pardon for this Digression, which my Concern for the English Character, for this only Reason sunk among Foreigners forced me into.
North found but one Man, whom he took home with him, cloathed and maintained him. When he came back to Ambonavoula, he found the Country all in an Uproar, and the Rest of his Companions preparing for a War with the Natives, but his Arrival restor’d their former Quiet. After four Months Stay at home, he fitted his Sloop to go out and purchase Slaves at Antonguil; but finding few there to his Mind, for in two Months he bought but forty, he return’d to his Settlement. He design’d now to carry his Children to Mascarenas, but dissuaded on Account of the Season, by J. B. he went to Methelage on the West Side of the Island, to trade for Samsams.
Having purchas’d a considerable Quantity of Samsams he went to Johanna, and thence to Mayotta, return’d again to Madagascar, but not being able to get round the North End, on Account of the Current, he put for Mayotta again; on the West Side of this Island put into a Port, called Sorez, where, some Time before, came a Ship from England to trade, commanded by one Price, who going ashore with his Doctor was detained (as was also his Boat’s Crew) till he redeem’d himself and Surgeon, with 200 Barrels of Powder and 1000 Small Arms; but was forced to leave his Boat’s Crew, not having wherewithal to ransom them, tho’ the Demand was only two Small Arms for each Man. These poor Creatures were afterwards sold to the Arabians; in Revenge North and his Crew landed, burnt a large Town, and did all the Damage they could. From Mayotta he went again to Madagascar, where a King of his Acquaintance told him, the Whites and Natives were at War at Ambonavoula; he bought thirty Slaves, refreshed his Crew, and went home. On the News of his Arrival the Natives sent to conclude a Peace, but he would not listen to them; on the contrary, rais’d an Army, burnt a Number of Towns, and took a great many Prisoners.
This Success brought the Natives to sue in a very humble Manner for a Cessation of Arms, that a general Peace might follow: This he agreed to about four Months after his Arrival.
His Enemies, having now the Opportunity, corrupted some of his neighbouring Natives, and in the Night surprized and murder’d him in his Bed. His Comrades, however, being alarmed, took to their Arms, drove the treacherous Multitude before them with great Slaughter; and to revenge North’s Death continued the War seven Years, in which Time they became Masters of all the Country round, and drove out all who did not swear Allegiance to them.
North had his Will lying by him, which directed J. B. to carry his Children to Mascarenas, in his Sloop which he left to the said J. B. who was at the Charge to fit her up, and laid out the greater Part of the Money North bequeathed him; but the Pyrates would not suffer him to stir while the Wars lasted, fearing he would not return, having never join’d them in any Pyracies; and therefore, by one Consent, setting Fire to the Sloop, they detained him several Years, if he is not still there.
FINIS.
