The pirates continued here a whole year, when being desirous of going to Ambonavoula, they asked the king’s assistance to build a boat, and he, for 1000 dollars, set negroes to work, under the directions of Capt. North, and a vessel of 15 tons was set up and launched with great dispatch. In this boat they went to a river, called Manangaro, thirty leagues to the northward of Maratan. Here some of their comrades came to them in a boat belonging to the Scotch ship Neptune, and helped to transport their goods to Ambonavoula, where he had before settled, and had a woman and three children.
He had not been long returned before his neighbouring natives reported, that the Timouses, who had followed him from the southward, had a design to rebel against, and murder him and the other whites, which giving too easy credit to, he made war upon, and drove these poor people out of the country.
Some time after he built a sloop, and went to Antonguil, where he purchased 90 slaves, and took in the Scotch supercargo, Mr. George Cruikeshank, with a design to carry him to Mascarenhas; but all his comrades were against it, saying, when he got to Europe, he would prove their destruction. North answered, that nothing could be more cruel, after they had taken the greater part of what the poor gentleman had, than to keep him from his country, family, and friends. For his part, were he his prisoner he should not ask their consent in doing an act of humanity, and the only one they were able, towards making him some reparation, since they could not return his goods, which were parcelled out into so many shares.
On North’s saying thus much, they put the affair in question to vote, and there being many who were under obligations to North, and whom he influenced in favour of the supercargo, 48 out of 54 voted for discharging him. North having gained this point, the pirates asked if he also designed to take with him one John Barnard, a young Scotchman, a great favourite of his, who had been midshipman on board the Neptune, a thorough seaman, and very capable of taking the command in any voyage. He answered, there was a necessity for taking him, since he should want his assistance, as he depended on his knowledge. His companions said Barnard would certainly give him the slip, which would be a loss to them all, as he was an excellent navigator, and therefore his detention was necessary to the common good. To this North answered, that his own security would oblige his taking care that he should not get from him, since no other on board was capable of finding the way back to Ambonavoula.
He went to Mascarenhas, where the supercargo and his negro were put on shore with all the money he had, which amounted to about 1600 dollars; for when the pirates made prize of the Neptune, in the manner already stated, they took none of the money they themselves had before paid for liquors, &c. either from the captain, supercargo, or any other on board; for that they looked upon a base, as well as dishonest action; but to the ship and remaining part of the cargo, they had a fair title, viz. they wanted both.
North would not suffer Barnard 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 returned to Madagascar. In the voyage, as Barnard was very greatly in his favour, and his confidant, he told him, his design was to leave his children at Mascarenhas, 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 atonement for his former life and never more go off the island on any account; that he would give his sloop to Barnard, with 200 dollars, that he might find some means to return home, since he very wisely refused to join with the pirates.
When he came on the Madagascar coast, he heard a French ship had touched there, and left some men behind; upon which account North ran to the southward 100 leagues out of his way, to inquire after and assist these people.
He found but one man, whom he took home with him, clothed 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 restored 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 40, he returned to his settlement. He designed now to carry his children to Mascarenhas, but being dissuaded by Barnard on account of the season, he went to Methelage on the west side of the island to trade for samsams. Having purchased a considerable quantity of them, he went to Johanna, thence to Mayotta, and returned 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 he 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 redeemed 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, though 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 30 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, raised 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 the neighbouring natives, and in the night surprised and murdered 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.