As we understood afterwards, they had the Knowledge of our being upon the Island, but knew not in what Part of it, and were therefore very cautious and wary how they went on Shore, and came all very well arm’d. This gave us a new Difficulty, for in the very first Excursion that any of them made from the Watering-place, there was not less than twenty of them, all well arm’d,
and they pass’d by in our Sight; but as we were out of their Sight we were all very well pleas’d with seeing them go by, and being not oblig’d to meddle with them, or show our selves.
But we had not long lain in this Circumstance, but, by what Occasion we knew not, five of the Gentlemen Tarrs were pleas’d to be willing to go no farther with their Companions; and thinking all safe behind them, because they had found no Disturbance in their going out, came back the same Way, straggling without any Guard or Regard.
I thought now was our Time to show our selves; so taking them as they came by the Place where we lay in Ambuscade, we plac’d ourselves just in their Way, and as they were entring a little Thicket of Trees, we appear’d; and calling to them in English, told them they were our Prisoners; that if they yielded, we would use them very well, but if they offer’d to resist, they should have no Quarter: One of them looking behind, as if he would show us a Pair of Heels, I call’d to him, and told him, if he attempted to run for it, he was a dead Man, unless he could out-run a Musquet-Bullet; and that we would soon let him see we had more Men in our Company; and so giving the Signal appointed, our three Men, who lay at a Distance, shew’d themselves in the Rear.
When they saw this, one of them, who appear’d as their Leader, but was only the Purser’s Clerk, ask’d, Who we were they must yield to? And if we were Christians? I told them, jestingly, We were good honest Christian Pirates, and belong’d
to Captain Avery, (not at all letting them know that I was Avery himself) and if they yielded it was enough; that we assur’d them they should have fair Quarter and good Usage upon our Honour; but that they must resolve immediately, or else they would be surrounded with 500 Men, and we could not answer for what they might do to them.
They yielded presently upon this News, and deliver’d their Arms; and we carry’d them away to our Tent, which we had built near the Place where our Boat lay. Here I enter’d into a particular serious Discourse with them about Captain Avery, for ’twas this I wanted, upon several Accounts: First, I wanted to enquire what News they had had of us in Europe? and then to give them Ideas of our Numbers and Power as romantick as I could.
They told us, that they had heard of the great Booty Captain Avery had taken in the Bay of Bengale; and among the rest, a bloody Story was related of Avery himself, viz. That he ravish’d the Great Mogul’s Daughter, who was going to be marry’d to the Prince of Pegu; that we ravish’d and forc’d all the Ladies attending her Train, and then threw them into the Sea, or cut their Throats; and that we had gotten a Booty of ten Millions in Gold and Silver, besides an inestimable Treasure of Jewels, Diamonds, Pearls, &c. but that we had committed most inhuman Barbarities on the innocent People that fell into our Hands. They then told us, but in a broken imperfect Account, how the Great Mogul had resented it; and that he had raised a great Army against the English Factories, resolving to root them out of his Dominions; but that the Company had appeas’d him by Presents, and by assuring
him that the Men who did it, were Rebels to the English Government, and that the Queen of England would hang them all when ever they could be taken. I smil’d at that, and told them, Captain Avery would give them Leave to hang him, and all his Men, when they could take them; but that I could assure him they were too strong to be taken; that if the Government of England went about to provoke them, Captain Avery would soon make those Seas too hot for the English, and they might even give over their East-India Trade, for they little thought Circumstances Captain Avery was in.
This I did, as well to know what Notions you had of us in England, as to give a formidable Account of us, and of our Circumstances to England, which I knew might be of Use to us several Ways hereafter. Then I made him tell his Part, which he did freely enough; he told us, that indeed they had receiv’d an Account in England that we were exceeding strong; that we had several Gangs of Pirates from the Spanish West-Indies, that had taken great Booties there, and were gone all to Madagascar to join Captain Avery; that he had taken three great East-India Ships, one Dutch, and two Portuguese, which they had converted into Men of War; that he had 6000 Men under his Command; that he had twelve Ships, whereof three carry’d 60 Guns a-piece, and six more of them, from 40 to 50 Guns; that they had built a large Fort to secure their Habitations; and that they had two large Towns, one on one Side, one on the other of a River, cover’d by the said Fort, and two great Platforms or Batteries of Guns to defend the Entrance where their Ships rode; that they had an immense invaluable Treasure; and that it was said, Captain Avery