At Cape Three Points we found our Water-Pond almost dried up, tho’ the Wind at S. E. had lately brought on two or three heavy Showers of Rain, and they failing, constant thick Fogs in the day, and what is very unusual at the distance we anchor, Dews in the night on board: The Current to Westward. In this Bay, two or three Evenings running, we saw a monstrous Fish heavily moving about the Ship, divided into eight or ten different Parts, each as large as a Thornback, sinking immediately at the throwing over a Hook; the Sailors call it a Devil-Fish. Fire-Flies also, (common to warm Latitudes,) flew about in the night; an Insect that makes the like light in the Air, as Glow-Worms on the Ground.
What I shall farther observe from this Cruise or the Circuit we have made, I never yet met either of those useful Animals, a Dog or a Horse, among the Natives; the latter, Bosman (who writes of Guinea) says, are numerous in-land; and of the other, their Bark turns to a Howl in three or four Broods, their Ears and Colour inclining to a Fox. Those I have seen, and not hitherto mentioned, are, among Quadrupeds, the Cat, Hare, Rat, Lizzard, Boar, Porcupine, Civet-Cat, Camelion, and Petto or Sluggard, from the Slowness of his March; he will grow lean in the time he takes to ascend a Tree, and never comes down till he has devoured all the Fruit. Birds, the Parrot, Paraquet, Pheasant, Partridge, Wild-Duck, Turtle-Dove, Snipe, Kite, and others. Fish, the Jack, Plaise, Sole, Bream, Thornback, Dab, Lobster, Crab, Shrimp, &c. Reptiles, the Toad, Scorpion, Centipes.
PYRATES.
As Roberts the Pyrate, by the bold Sweep made in August, had struck a Pannick into the Traders, we were several times in our late Cruise alarmed with Stories of their being again to Windward; which kept us Plying, till others contradicting such Report, and considered with the rashness of the Attempt, returned us to our Rendesvouz in Cape Corso Road, where we had scarce well arrived, before Mr. Phips received Intelligence by two or three Canoos dispatched to him, of Vessels chased and taken by them a few Leagues off, committing great Cruelties. They were well manned, we understood, having increased their number greatly by this double Expedition, and the Reputation of their Success; the Seamen every where entering, notwithstanding our neighbourhood, and where they refused, by report, ’twas oftner thro’ Fear, than any detestation of the Practice.
The Conclusion from our Advices, was to follow them to Whydah; for avoiding this Road, (which it might be imagined they would do, in respect to our being there) the next and chiefest Place for Booty was there. We missed them however by 24 hours, but following quickly to Cape Lopez, luckily fixed the Limits of their Navigation; their Drunkenness, Inadvertency, and Disorder, making them fall an easy Prize to us.
Discipline is certainly an excellent Path to Victory; we see it through all Nations, who in some ages are warlike, in others effeminate. Courage, locutory or military, like a Trade, is gained by an Apprenticeship. The Coward to-day, may seven years hence become a brave Fellow, and metamorphosed again, perhaps by a bad Wife, or other adverse Fortune. What makes our Militia laughed at, even by Men draughted from them? only because they want that constant Discipline, the red Coat and martial Law, that makes the other terrible: Every Man in standing Troops, is in a School of Exercise, where, if not dull, he may acquire the Tread, the Talk, and Courage of a Hero.[37] Subordination is an Essential to it in this very Discipline; the Gentleman brought up ever so tamely, finding a Courage with his Commission, and for the most part, increasing as he becomes a Captain, a Colonel, or a General. The Pyrates, tho’ singly Fellows of Courage, yet wanting such a Tye of Order, some Director to unite that Force, were a contemptible Enemy, neither killed nor wounded us a man in taking them, and must ever, in the same Circumstances, be the Fate of such Rabble.
We found in the three Ships about 200 Englishmen, 60 or 70 stout Negro Slaves, great plenty of trading Goods, and, what more attracted the Eye, a large quantity of Gold Dust, by computation, 8 or 10000l. the Searches made, and the Diligence of the Officers in those Searches, imagining themselves to have some share in the Heap, makes that Sum very probable; the Pyrates themselves giving out double: for all which, the Commander at home obtained the Privy-Seal.