Many of them have borrowed Names from the Europeans that put in here, and are pleased when you will adopt them to wear such a Cognizance of your Remembrance; they do not sollicit this Favour till after several views, that they see something to be admired, or that the Person asked, has a fancied Sympathy of Temper, or likeness with themselves.
As they come down to trade in Tribes, each has a Captain or Leader, who always craves or claims some Dashee, before you strike a Bargain with any of the other Negroes; a Bottle of Brandy, a Sabre, Knife, or any ordinary Apparel is acceptable; the Chief loves to distinguish himself by an Imitation of our Dress, and is often so preposterously set out with Hat, Wig, and Breeches, that he makes a fifty times more ridiculous, and scaramouch Figure, than any of his naked Dependants.
Jacobus was one of these; he takes on him the Title of King, without knowing the meaning, and came on board to visit us in a very antick Figure; an old Sailor’s Wig turned upside down, half a pair of Breeches, Jacket, Hat, &c. yet this Man seemed to be reverenced much by the others, and in drinking, two of them always held up a Cloth before his Face, that he might not be seen; the Custom seems to have a State in it, and borrowed perhaps from some neighbouring Monarch: He of Monomotapa, it is said, never drinks, but the Court put up their Prayers with a loud Voice, which being heard by others, is transmitted over the whole Town.
As Jacobus and his Company grew drunk, (for they swallowed nothing but Bumpers of Brandy) I observed this Respect was laid aside; and what was a greater Misfortune, the Prince and his Retinue beheld with winking Eyes, all their Hovels on fire ashore: The Occasion this; we happening to have all our Colours flying, and some Guns let off in honour of the 28th of May, another Leader on shore misinterpreting it as a particular Respect to Jacobus, grew jealous, seized his House during the Revel, his Wives, and his Dashees, drank up all his Brandy, eat all his Victuals, cudgelled his People, and set both his Houses on fire.
Next Morning, on unravelling the Mystery, the Surprize was over, and all became good Friends again. They have very little Knowledge or Use of Fire-Arms, because no Trade scarce; their Weapons being Spears, Arrows, and Clubs, and it is a bloody Battle among them, when half a dozen of a side are knocked down.
