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Containing an Account of what happened to the King and People ofWhidaw,and theDahomes,since I came away from thence, to the Time of my return thither in the Month ofFebruary 1729-30.All which I was informed of, by some white Gentlemen of good Credit, who resided atJaqueenall the Time I was absent.
Containing an Account of what happened to the King and People ofWhidaw,and theDahomes,since I came away from thence, to the Time of my return thither in the Month ofFebruary 1729-30.All which I was informed of, by some white Gentlemen of good Credit, who resided atJaqueenall the Time I was absent.
UPON my coming toEngland, being in a bad State of Health, I desired leave of my Owner to stay at home a Season, which he was pleased to grant me; and appointed CaptainJohn Daggeto command the Ship I had been in. He made a successful Voyage, and returned with her in the MonthofAugust1729: As I was by that time very well recovered, my Owner was pleased to send me again to the Coast ofGuineain theKatherine Galley. Having therefore spent some time on theWindwardandGold Coast, I proceeded forWhidaw. In my way to that place I stop’d atGreat Popoe, which lies a few Leagues to the Windward ofWhidaw. Being informed there, that the late King ofWhidawwas near that place, withCaptain Ossue, one of his principal Cabociers or Lords, on two barren sandy Islands, with many other People, I sent my first Mate on Shore with a Present to each of them. He returned at night, with some of the King’s People, who brought me a Goat from him: Saying, “Their Master being in a poor Condition, had nothing better to send me.” And they having bought some few things, I sent them on Shore again. After they were gone, my Mate gave me the following account, “That the King and CaptainOssue, had with them many Thousands of People who lived in a miserable manner, theIslands they were on being so barren, that they produced nothing: But by means of the River which separated them from the Continent, they were very well secured from theDahomesPower; who not understanding the Management ofCannoes, could not invade them. Moreover, they had planted several great Guns, which secured the Passes, so that they were in no fear of the Enemies. But then, on the other hand, they could not sow Corn, or other Pulse in that barren place, but were supplied with what they wanted by their Neighbours ofGreatandLittle Popoe. However, this constantly decreased their Numbers, they being obliged to sell their Wives, Children, and Servants for Provisions and other necessaries, because they had no Money left.”
FromGreat PopoeI went to the Road ofWhidaw, where being informed there was little Trade, I proceeded forJaqueen, which is seven Leagues to the Eastward of it; and anchored in that road the 20th ofFebruary1729-30: At my going on Shore there, the King ofDahomè’s Agentcame to see me; and upon my enquiring after his Master’s welfare, he told me, “He would send a Messenger to inform his Majesty of my Arrival: But as the King was then in his own Country, far inland, it would be at least twenty days before he could have an Answer.” At his taking leave, he promised to let me know his Master’s Pleasure on the return of the Messenger. Accordingly he came to see me again, about three weeks after his former visit, and told me, “The King was very glad to hear of my being once more arrived atJaqueen; but as he was then far within Land, tho’ he was desirous of seeing me again, yet he could not in reason require it: His Master being sensible, such a long Journey would be neither safe for my Health, nor suitable to my Business; but in case the King came toArdra, whilst I was atJaqueen, which is but two days journey off, and where I had formerly been with his Majesty, he should be very glad to see me there once more.” However,this not happening, I had not the Fortune to see the King a second time.
I now come to relate what I heard from several white Gentlemen residing atJaqueen, ever since my former Voyage, concerning theWhidawsand theDahomes. The King ofWhidaw, with abundance of his People, having fled to the Islands formerly mentioned, the King ofDahomèwas disappointed in his design of destroying him, as he had always intended. So that he contented himself with keeping Possession of the Country ofWhidaw, by an Army encamp’d atSabee, which had been the principal place of the Kingdom, till destroyed by him. But in time this Army being much diminished, it incouraged CaptainOssueto leave the Islands, and settle himself, with many of his People, near theFrenchFort, which is about four Miles fromSabee; believing the great Guns therein would be a sufficient Protection from theDahomes, in case they should offer to disturb him. This Fort had a dry Ditch, with mud Walls made of the Earth that was dug out of it; and was a squareplace with Towers at each Corner, on which were mounted several Cannons; and their Lodgings, Storehouses, and even their Magazine of Gunpowder, were covered with Rushes, according to the Custom of that Country; which occasioned a terrible Misfortune, as shall be immediately related.
The King ofDahomèbeing informed of CaptainOssue’s return into his Country, resolved to send an Army to drive him out; which the other having notice of, retired with many of his People into theFrenchFort:Ossuelittle thinking at that time, that the Governor was the occasion of his Enemies coming in order to betray them.
The next day after he and his People were received into the Fort, theDahomèArmy came down, and being informed theFrenchhad given them Protection, contrary to a secret Promise their King had received from the Governor, they assaulted the Fort. But having nothing but small Arms to make their Attack, it would have availed little, had not theThatch of the Houses within the Fort taken Fire. This Accident alarmed the white Men, who knowing there was a great quantity of Gunpowder in their Magazine, and no possibility of stopping the Fire, fled to theEnglishFort, which was within Musquet-Shot of their own, and so saved themselves: But the black People not being so sensible of their Danger, suffered very much by the blowing up of the Magazine, there being above one thousand of them killed, besides many wounded by this Accident. However, in the Confusion, and under cover of the Smoke, CaptainOssue, and several of his People, escaped to theEnglishFort: Where GovernorWilson, who then resided there for theAfricanCompany, generously gave them Protection; and to prevent Accidents, ordered immediately all the Houses in the Fort to be unthatch’d, and by firing on theDahomeswith his Cannon, killed several, and kept the rest at a distance.
TheDahomeshaving taken theFrenchFort, sheltered themselves therein; andthe next morning sent a principal Man amongst them to GovernorWilson, to know the reason why he had fired on their Army. To which he answered, “That they having come down out of the Country in a hostile manner, without giving him the least notice, and attacked his Neighbours theFrench, he looked on it as the common Cause of all theEuropeanssettled there, who were bound to assist one another.” To this theDahomesreplied, “That when they came down, they had no design to attack theFrenchFort, for the King had no quarrel with the white Men: But the Governor having taken CaptainOssueand his People into theFrenchFort, contrary to his Promise, it obliged them to act as they had done.” At the same time they told the Governor to his Face, “That he had first sent to their King by aFrenchSurgeon, then residing with their Master, to persuade his Majesty to send an Army down, to destroy CaptainOssueand his People; promisingat the same time he would give them no Protection.” This theFrenchGovernor denied, but all that were present believed it to be too true; and by this means he let theDahomessee, that white Men (whom they had before a high opinion of) could be the basest of Villains, when their Interest tempted them thereto. For it was much suspected, that the Governour had contrived the whole Affair, in order to squeeze a large Sum of Money from CaptainOssueto protect him, and for some other infamous Views. However, he met afterwards with a suitable Reward, being killed by theWhidaws, whom he had so much injured.
As soon as the King ofDahomèwas informed of the taking of theFrenchFort, he sent this Message to theFrenchGovernor; “that he had brought this Misfortune on himself by his Perfidy, for he had no quarrel to his Nation; therefore he would order his Soldiers to repair the Fort, which had been greatly damaged by the Powder: Or if he did not desire this, he might departwith all theFrenchmento his own Country.” After this, the Ships that lay then in the Road ofWhidawhad good Trade for Women and Children, which theDahomeshad taken of CaptainOssue’s People, but there were few Men taken; many of them being lost when the Magazine blew up: and the rest having fled to the Island which their King was in.
I come now to relate a great Misfortune which befel theDahomes, some Months after they had taken theFrenchFort. For the better understanding of it, the Reader is to know, that the King ofDahomèhaving conquered several Countries within a few Years, and depopulated them; the King ofWeemey’s Sons, with other Princes, (whose Fathers this Conqueror had taken in War, and beheaded) fled to a far Inland Potent Nation called theJ-oes. The King ofWhidawhaving, afterOssue’s Defeat, found means to send Messengers to the King of this Country, they, and the others that had fled to him for Protection, did at last, through their earnest Sollicitations, obtainan Army to march against the King ofDahomè, whom they all look’d upon as a most cruel Destroyer of Mankind. This Nation ofJ-oefight all on Horseback, and living a great way on the North towardsNubia, they can at no other time march to the Southward, but when the Season for Forage, and the dry Weather sets in. The King ofDahomèhad notice of their coming, a few days before they reached his Country; and he having formerly experienced how terrible such Numbers of Horse had been to his Army, which consists of none but foot Soldiers; he resolved to bury his Riches, burn his Towns, and then fly into the Woods and Thickets with his People; which is a common thing amongst theNegroes, for the weaker side to do, when at War; for they have no fortified Towns as inEurope: So they that are Masters of the Field command the Country far and near.
The King ofDahomèhaving thus in time provided for his Safety by Flight, theJ-oeswere disappointed: But oneAppragahand his People, formerly subjectto the King ofWhidaw, but now under the Dominion of theDahomes, did not escape so well. For not moving so soon by two days as they did, theJ-oescame up with him and his People, and took abundance of them, with allAppragah’s Riches; and he himself was hardly put to it to escape, with a few of his Servants.
After this theJ-oesmarched on in quest of theDahomes, but finding they were got into the thick Woods and Bushes, they incamped near them; making frequent Assaults, and often taking some of theDahomesPrisoners. At last, they so distressed them, that for want of other Provision, they were obliged to eat many of their own Slaves. Yet theDahomespatiently endured these Calamities, knowing theJ-oeswould be obliged to retire in a little time, on account of the rainy Season that was approaching, and for want of Forage: Accordingly they were obliged to retire soon after; and theDahomesthen returned to their own Country, and rebuilt their Towns again.
During these Misfortunes of theDahomes,which lasted several Months, various Reports came toWhidaw. Sometimes it was said, “That the King ofDahomèwas killed:” But that was again contradicted: And it was reported, “he had lost so many of his People, that he never could be again in a Condition to disturb his Neighbours;” and this was so currently believed that no one doubted of it.
About this time, which was in the beginning ofJuly1729, GovernorWilsondeparted fromWhidaw, in order to return toEngland. He left in his room one Mr.Testefole, who had resided there many Years, but was no ways equal to him in Prudence and Conduct, as his unhappy Fate will afterwards show. For tho’ this Person had been often at the King ofDahomè’s Camp, where he was always used with great Civility, yet now believing that King was so far reduced, that the People ofWhidawhad nothing more to fear from him; he too hastily advised their King, to leave the barren Islands wherein he had fled with his People, and come and take again Possession of his Country.
Hereupon the King ofWhidawresolved to return; and, to provide against the worst, he desired his Neighbours ofPopoeto lend him some of their Forces; which they readily did. For these People, with all theCoast-Negroes, mortally hate theDahomes, on account of their Cruelty, and their Barbarity in eating human Flesh. And, besides that thePopoesare little afraid of theDahomesPower, because they live in Islands, they now assisted theWhidawsout of Policy; thinking, if they were reinstated in their Country, Trade would soon revive, which had been so long interrupted on account of the War. So they sent them some thousands of their People; and at their Arrival the King ofWhidawjoined them with his Forces. Tho’ he was a very fat unwieldy Man, yet he marched at the head of his Army, which consisted of about fifteen thousand Men, including thePopoes, and incamped in his own Country for some time, near theEnglishandFrenchForts. This theDahomesknew nothing of; for they had so mean an opinion of theWhidaws, thatthey never thought they would attempt to settle again in their own Country: Neither had they, since the departure of theJ-oes, sent any of their People to the Sea side, having been employed in repairing their Towns, and about other Affairs. These being near finished, the King ofDahomèsent some of his Traders down with Slaves, to theEnglishandFrenchForts: But his People were much surprised to see such an Army ofWhidawsincamped near them. So they returned in great haste to inform their King, who upon the receipt of this News, was greatly embarassed; for he had lost many of his best Soldiers whilst theJ-oesremained in his Country, and kept him so long in the Bushes. Moreover, his Majesty had lately sent an Army into the inland Country, to take Slaves: For as I have formerly observed, he drives no regular Trade in Slaves, but only sells such as he takes in his Wars.
Being in this State of Perplexity (when he had not a sufficient Number of Soldiersto encounter theWhidawsandPopoestogether, and, on the other hand, could not bear to see himself braved by such a cowardly Race as theWhidaws,) his Policy extricated him out of this Difficulty. He ordered a great number of Women to be armed like Soldiers, and appointed Officers to each Company, with Colours, Drums and Umbrellas, according to theNegroeFashion. Then ordering the Army to march, the Women Soldiers were placed in the Rear, to prevent Discovery. When they came in sight of theWhidawArmy, the latter were much surprized to see such Numbers ofDahomèSoldiers, as they supposed them all to be, marching against them: For they had much depended on the former Reports, that they were so far reduced, as not to be able (at least so soon) to have made Head against them. At this unexpected sight theWhidawswere divided: Some were for retiring back to the Islands; but others who were commanded by CaptainOssue, with thePopoes, were for fighting. During this Dispute, theDahomèArmy marched on boldly, and CaptainOssue, with thePopoeGeneral, as bravely advanced to meet them; and attacked their right Wing so briskly, that they drove them for some time before them. But theWhidawswho were with the King, at that instant cowardly fled; tho’ his Majesty used his utmost endeavours and Intreaties to stop them, and at last wounded several with his Lance, to oblige them to second CaptainOssue’s People: But all in vain. This being observed by the left Wing of theDahomes, they fell on the Rear ofOssue’s Soldiers, and soon obliged them and thePopoes, to fly in their turn; which the King ofWhidawperceiving, and being so very unwieldy and fat, he had no other way to save his Life, but to fly into the dry Ditch of theEnglishFort; where, by the help of two of his Sons, his Majesty got over the Wall, and so escaped the fury of his Enemies: But many of his People were killed, and others taken.
Mr.Testefole, the Governor, was at a great loss how to act on this occasion.For he foresaw theDahomeswould demand the King, and insist on his being delivered to them, as soon as they should know he was in the Fort. Which if he refused to do, he was sensible, they could oblige him in time to do it, by starving him. Moreover, he could not but sustain a great loss by the Interruption of Trade. So the Governor persuaded the King to leave the Fort that Night, and he happily escaped to his barren Islands again. However, the King ofDahomèwas afterwards fully informed of all this, and likewise that the Governor had been the principal occasion of theWhidawsendeavouring to regain their Country: Which he highly resented.
TheDahomes, after this, retired from about the Forts, and, leaving a small Army atSabee, returned to their own Country; where many Banditti of other Nations resorting to them, their King, in a few Months, found his Strength and Power as much increased, as when he fled from theJ-oes. But the Countries being laid waste far and near by his former Wars, tho’he has large Territories of many hundred Miles, and as fine a Country under his Dominion, as any in the Southern Parts ofAfrica; yet he is only a great King in name for want of Subjects, by reason of his having destroyed in so cruel a manner the Inhabitants of all the Places he has conquered. This has obliged many hundred thousands to fly from his Arms, into foreign Countries; that are by Situation secured from his rambling Bands, either by great Rivers, Mountains or Lakes.
He has acted since as impolitick a part in another matter. For he gave his word to a great number of the former Inhabitants, If they would return again into their own Country, they should quietly enjoy it, upon paying a certain Tribute. On this many thousands returned into the Kingdom ofArdra, where they built Houses, sowed Corn, and planted Potatoes; but no sooner were these poor People settled, than theDahomessurprized them, and killed or took captive all that could not escape from them. The Kinghaving thus broken his promise, I believe no others will ever venture to trust him: And the Country, in all Probability, will remain uninhabited, during his Life: Moreover, by this means the Trade atWhidawis almost ruined; for the far inland People having now no Markets to carry their Slaves to, as formerly, and theDahomesusing no Trade but that of War, fewNegroesare now brought down to be sold to theEuropeans.
Whether it was the badness of Trade, occasioned by theDahomesacting in this manner, or any thing else, that enraged Mr.Testefoleagainst them; he was so imprudent, that on all Opportunities he used their People ill, when they came to theEnglishFort: And at last whipped one of their principal Men at the Flag-Staff; and upon his complaining of this great Indignity,Testefolerashly replied,He would serve his King in the same manner if he was in his Power. All this being afterwards reported to his Majesty, it highly offended him: And he said, “Surely this Man must be full of Maliceagainst us, else he could never have so suddenly forgot our former Kindnesses to him.”
The King upon this ordered his People to watch for an Opportunity to surprize the Governor, and make him Prisoner; and his Imprudence soon made him fall into their Hands in the following manner. There was aFrenchCaptain who had a Factory, at some distance from theEnglishFort: This Gentleman had been drinking with the Governor all night, and when the day came, he persuaded Mr.Testefoleto go and drink Coffee with him at his Factory. TheDahomes, who were on the Watch, seeing him go to theFrenchman’s House, went and surrounded it, demanding to have the Governor delivered to them. This the Captain at first refused, but they threatning to burn his Factory; he told them, He would forthwith bring him out. So he went into the House, and advised Mr.Testefoleto make his Escape; which he refusing to do, the Captain put him by force into a large Chest, and lock’d him in: Thenhe went out, and told theDahomes, “He could not find the Governor, and that he believed he had escaped.” This so enraged them, that they fired a Pistol at the Captain, which shot him in the Arm, and thereupon broke into his House, where they at last found the unfortunate Man in the Chest; whom they took out, tied his Hands and Legs, and putting him into a Hammock, sent him away to their King, who was at that time encamp’d up into the Country, four days journey off.
This unhappy Gentleman flattered himself, that the former Kindness the King had shown for him, would now save him; but his Majesty was so highly offended, that he would not vouchsafe to see him; so that he gave himself up for lost. However, a few days after this he was sent down toSabee, about four Miles from the Fort, where he was given to understand, “If he would write to the Person that commanded in his Abscence for several things, which they named for his Ransom, that on their being sent he should have his Liberty.”
This he readily complied with, and they instantly allowed him more Freedom, permitting two of his own Negroe Servants to wait on him; so that he began to be easy in his Mind: But the Scene soon changed; for on their receiving the Things he had writ for, and which were of a considerable Value, these cruel base Villains seized his Person, and made his Body fast to Stakes drove in the Ground: Where, spreading him on his Belly, they with sharp Knives cut open his Arms, Back, Thighs and Legs in several places, and filled the Wounds with a mixture of Limejuice, Salt and Pepper mixed together; which put him to inexpressible Torment. However, they soon after put him out of his pain, by cutting off his Head. Then they cut his Body in pieces, broiled them on the Coals, and eat them.
Thus this poor Gentleman lost his Life in a terrible manner. And tho’ the King ofDahomèhas since denied to some white People, “That he gave Orders to have him put to death;” His Majestysaying, by way of Excuse, “He only told some of his principal People to carry him toSabee, and there do with him what they thought fit, not suspecting they would have used a white Gentleman in such a manner;” Yet it is not to be doubted but they knew their Master’s Mind too well in this Affair. For his Majesty punished none of those that were Actors in this cruel Tragedy; tho’ it was earnestly insisted on. Nay some of them that eat part of his Flesh, have been since so audacious, as to tell severalPortugueseGentlemen, that talked with them about it; “ThatEnglishBeef was very good.”
After Mr.Testefole’s unhappy Fate, two white Men running away from theEnglishFort, one of them went to the King ofDahomè, and informed him, “There were but four white People left in the place, so that he might easily take it.” The King replied, “He had no quarrel with theEnglishNation; for what had been done to the late Governor, he by his Imprudence had brought on himself: And he hoped, theAfricanCompanywould send a fitter Person to command theFortfor the future.”
Sometime after this the King ofDahomèconsidering he should certainly be invaded again by theJ-oes, as soon as the Season permitted them to march, and dreading very much their power, he sent Embassadors with large Presents to their King, together with one of his handsomest Daughters. These were civilly received, and had the good fortune to succeed in their Negotiations. For they so gained some great Men about the King, by presenting them with large pieces ofCoral(which theJ-oesesteem above all things) that by their means an advantagious Peace was obtained for their Master, and they were civilly dismissed with handsome Rewards. For a Confirmation of the Peace, the King ofJ-oesent, a little while after, one of his Daughters to the King ofDahomèfor a Wife; and she was received with great Joy by the King and his People.
At my going on Shore atJaqueen, the latter end ofFebruary1729-30: I wasinformed of all that I have here related; and tho’ I found Trade very dull, yet all the white Gentlemen residing at that place, were full of Expectations, That, now a Peace was concluded between theJ-oesand theDahomes, we should soon have a great manyNegroesbrought down for Sale. But tho’ I was there above two Months, Trade did not mend in the least: And I am afraid it will not for many Years, because of the great Destruction of the Inhabitants of the neighbouring Countries, who used to carry on a regular Trade with the far inland People: Neither will those that had the good fortune to escape theDahomesCruelty, dare to return during the Life of the present Conqueror, whose Perfidiousness and Treachery they have often experienced.
I shall conclude this first Book with an account of a Misfortune that befel me by Fire, whilst I was atJaqueen. The relation, if I mistake not, may be acceptable to the Reader, and give him a true notion of the Buildings, and some other Matters amongst theNegroes.
The Houses in that Country are built with mud-Walls, one Story high. The Rafters that support the Roof are made ofBamboes, which is a light spungy Wood. On these they lay a great quantity of Thatch, which in the dry Season of the Year is like Tinder: Yet the Natives are so careless, that many Fires happen in that Season; there having been no less than five during the two Months I was there, in which some thousands of their Houses were burnt down. This carelesness of theNegroes, I judge, chiefly proceeds from the little regard they have for their Furniture. For it is very mean, except amongst some of the principal People, consisting ofMattsto sleep on, earthenPotsto boil their Victuals in; with a few other things of small value. Moreover, the Walls of their Houses being made of Clay, the Fire does them rather good than hurt, as it bakes them harder. And to new cover them it costs but little. So that theEuropeansthat have Factories in the Town ofJaqueen, are often great Sufferers by these frequentFires, occasioned generally by the stupid Carelessness of the Negroes, which proceeds from the Reasons just now mentioned.
I thought our Factory pretty safe from it, for we lived in a large Court belonging to the Duke, who was the only Brother of the Lord of the Place by the same Mother, and his chief Minister. This House joined to the Apartments of the Duke’s Women, which it being a capital Crime for the Natives to go into, so it would have been very imprudent for any white Man to have attempted it: Yet the Fire, obliged us to save our selves that way, as I shall just now relate. The other side of the Court we lived in, opened into the Fields; and just by our Door a narrow Street began, where the Lord ofJaqueen’sFeticheeror Priest lived with his Family.
Two Fires having happened in the Town, within a few days one of the other, in which somePortuguesesuffered a great Loss in their Goods, I express’d my apprehensions of the like Danger. But the Duke assured me, “It was neverknown, that either his Brother’s Houses, or his own had been burn’d. For they having abundance of Servants, if any Fire began near them, their People, by unthatching the Houses, soon put a stop to it. Moreover, all the Inhabitants who lived near the Court, were very careful of Fire; because it was death by their Law to all the Family where it began.” These Reasons made me more easy than I had been for some time. But on the fifteenth ofMarch, beingSunday, what I long feared came to pass.
My hired black Servants asked me leave after Dinner, to go to the Burial of one of their acquaintance; and several of my white People did the same, being desirous to see the Customs of the Blacks on this occasion: In which indeed they are very ridiculous and expensive, drinking as much Brandy and other Liquors, as the Circumstances of the deceased Person will allow. I granted them all their request; and by that means there remained only two white Men with me in the Factory.
The Fire began about two a clock that afternoon, in theFeticheer’s House, just opposite to our Door, which immediately taking Fire, prevented our Escape that way. However in the first Surprize, I gave my Box of Books and Accounts to one of my young Men, who ventured through the Door-way with them, tho’ he was scorched by the Flames; and so I luckily saved them. My next care was to save ourGold, which I kept in a largeDutchChest, thinking it safer there than in a Portmanteau, or a small Box, which our black Servants might have been tempted to run away with. But, in the hurry, I could not find the Key of the Chest, to take the Money out; and the Fire having taken hold of the Thatch of the room wherein it stood, I and the other white Man then remaining with me, took it up, and carried it into the Apartments belonging to the Duke’s Women: Where we met him and his Brother with many People, going to endeavour to stop the Fire, by unthatching the adjoining Houses; but the Flames were got to such a head,that they were soon forced to fly before them. My Man and I having carried the Chest through several windings and turnings in the Duke’s Houses, we began to be quite tired, (for it was very heavy) when, just in the nick of time, five black People came running towards us, and the way was so narrow they could not easily pass by us. One of these Men I knew, who spoke goodEnglish, “so I desired him and the others to save the Chest, for which I would well reward them.” He answered, “They durst not assist me; being obliged, on no less a Penalty than the loss of their Heads, to go and save the Duke’s Goods.” By good fortune I had my Cane then hanging on my Wrist, which I used to such purpose, that two of them immediately took up the Chest; whereupon I let the other three pass by: So, with the help of the two Men I had obliged to assist us, we got the Chest at last over a Wall ten foot high, into the Street, and so to theDutchFactory in safety. But we had the Misfortune to lose in our Factory a large quantity ofGoods, with all my Necessaries, except what was in the Chest. All the Duke’s houses, and the greatest part of his Furniture was destroyed; but his Brother’s were preserved, by unthatching the Houses that stood next his Court. I think, for the time this Fire lasted, which was but about an hour, nothing could be fiercer or quicker; and had it happened in the night, we should certainly have been burnt; for we could never have found our way out, amongst so many Turnings and Windings, as were in the Dukes Apartments.
When the hurry was pretty well over, the Lord ofJaqueeninquired after me, being under some concern about me; for he did not see me as he passed along in his Brother’s Rooms: As soon as he was informed of my Safety, he sent a Messenger to enquire, “How I did, after so severe a Misfortune?”
It is remarkable, we could never learn how this Fire happened, for tho’ I often press’d the Duke to make an inquiry after it, yet he always declined it; which I believewas on account of his Brother’sFeticheer, in whose Family the Fire began. However, they were so wise as not to let them repair their Houses, but obliged them to build further from the Court which belonged to the Duke.
Adjoining to theFeticheer’s House that was burnt, there was a large square Court, adorned with many handsome Trees that grew round it. In the middle of this place stood the Lord ofJaqueen’sFetiche. It was made in the fashion of a large Hay-cock, and covered over with Thatch: On the top of this was placed a dead Man’s Scull, before which Offerings were made for the Duke’s Health and Preservation. ThisFeticheescaped being burn’d, tho’ all the Houses adjoining to the Court wherein it stood were consum’d. This was cryed up by the People as a great Miracle; saying, “Their Lord’s God had taken care to preserve his own House:” Tho’ by what I could judge it was impossible thisFeticheshould be burn’d, because it was at a considerable distance from the Fire, and guarded by so manyTrees full of Branches and Leaves. But it was in vain to argue against their superstitious Notion.
After this Misfortune, I sent my People on board to get them more necessaries; during which time I remained in theDutchFactory. On their return ashore, I was obliged, tho’ much against my will, to take a new-built house belonging to the Duke, but finding no one durst let me one (which it seems had been forbidden for the sake of the Duke’s Advantage) I complied. But what I feared came to pass, for we all got Fevers in a few days after we had been in this House.
About ten days after this, another terrible Fire happened, which began in aPortugueseFactory, and in this manner. ANegroeCook frying some Fish in Palm-Oyl, the Oyl took fire; and he imprudently throwing Water thereon, the Flame of the Oyl ran up the side of the Wall, (for theNegroeHouses have no Chimneys) and instantly fired the Thatch. Whereupon the Wind then blowing very fresh, itspread in a moment and consumed, in two hours time, one third of the Town, in which stood several thousands of their little Houses: However, this did not come near our Factory.
Soon after this, my People grew so bad, that I was obliged to send them on board the Ship, and have others ashore in their room: In a little while after, the House we had been burnt out of, being repaired, we removed into it; and by this means had the Opportunity of seeing daily thousands of People bringBamboesand Thatch, to repair the Duke’s Houses with; it being the Custom of the Country so to do, when either their Lord or his Brother wants it. But the noise of the People’s Musick, and antick dancing, on this occasion, gave me much Disturbance: Moreover, Trade continuing still very dull, it gave me no little concern; and having got rid of my Fever for a few days, it returned again. Being in these unhappy Circumstances, I received advice, that two of my Owner’s Ships were arrived in the Road ofJaqueen. Whereupon I left myFactory, and went on board my Ship; and there, the Commanders of the other two and I agreed, “It would be for our Owner’s Interest that I should go directly forEngland.” So, delivering to one of them whatNegroesI had on Board, and receiving what Elephants Teeth, and Gold they had, I left the Road ofJaqueenthe first day ofMay: And having had a fine Passage, in which I intirely lost my Fever, and recovered my Strength a little, I arrived safe in the River ofThamesthe 13th ofJuly1730.