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CapeLopezmakes a safe and pleasant Bay, our anchoring in 20 Fathom Water, the Cape N W B N, the Watering-place S B E, each a mile and half distance.
Coming in, we bring the Cape S. S. W. to avoid what most Charts lay down, the Shoal calledFrenchman’s Bank, about a League and half N. N. E. from the Cape;and some say there are other Shoals between that and theMainto the Northward.
The Cape is low and steep, yet looks bluff with Trees, has someSavannahsbehind, the resort ofBuffaloes; I have seen a dozen head at a time here, which, when you are minded to hunt or shoot, theNegroesare ready to assist. The Bay is well stored with Fish, and the Country affords Plantains, Goats, Fowls, and particularly grey Parrots, all cheap; but their principal trading Commodities are Wax in Cakes, and Honey, exchanged with us on easy terms, for Linnen, Calicos, Stuffs, Pewter Spoons, Knives,&c.and it is the Seal of all Bargains, to take hold of one another’s Hands and say,Palaaver suquebah.
Pou, or Wood, is after the rate of a Fathom, for an oldGuineaSheet; their Water free, and easy come at, but is a standing Pool, and not so well-tasted therefore as Springs.
The Natives are harmless and inoffensive, never sell one another. But when Ships come in, flock towards the Bay with Wax, Honey, a few Teeth, and little Gold; which last, I rather believe, is brought thither, because not one of them seemed to know the Value of it. They are timorous, and therefore have their Habitations at a distance from the Sea, few of them venturing on board a Ship; feared, I suppose, by the Tricks have formerly been put upon them by our Traders: so that webarter altogether on shore, where they attend for that purpose.
Their familiar Salute at meeting, is by clapping their hands two or three times, to one another. To a Superior, (theCabiceer, or the Aged) they bend the Knee, raising first their Hands to the out-parts of their Shoulders or Arms, then patting the other’s Hands gently three times, they cryChambaat each time, and retreat with three times clapping their own hands:—to profess an extraordinary Friendship to you, they raise your Hand as high as they can reach.
Many of them have borrowed Names from theEuropeansthat 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 someDashee, before you strike a Bargain with any of the otherNegroes; a Bottle of Brandy, a Sabre, Knife, or any ordinary Apparel is acceptable;the Chiefloves 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 moreridiculous, and scaramouchFigure, than any of his naked Dependants.
Jacobuswas 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 ofMonomotapa, 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.
AsJacobusand 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 ofMay, another Leader on shore misinterpreting it as a particular Respect toJacobus, grew jealous, seized his House during the Revel, his Wives, and hisDashees, 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.
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