CHAPTER 11

When our ship was got ready for sea again, I was entreated by the captain to go in her once more; but, as I felt myself now as happy as I could wish to be in this life, I for some time refused; however, the advice of my friends at last prevailed; and, in full resignation to the will of God, I again embarked for Cadiz in March 1775. We had a very good passage, without any material accident, until we arrived off the Bay of Cadiz; when one Sunday, just as we were going into the harbour, the ship struck against a rock and knocked off a garboard plank, which is the next to the keel. In an instant all hands were in the greatest confusion, and began with loud cries to call on God to have mercy on them. Although I could not swim, and saw no way of escaping death, I felt no dread in my then situation, having no desire to live. I even rejoiced in spirit, thinking this death would be sudden glory. But the fulness of time was not yet come. The people near to me were much astonished in seeing me thus calm and resigned; but I told them of the peace of God, which through sovereign grace I enjoyed, and these words were that instant in my mind:

When our ship was ready for sea again, the captain urged me to sail on her once more. But I now felt as happy as I could wish to be in this life, so I refused for a time. However, my friends’ advice finally persuaded me. Fully accepting God’s will, I sailed again for Cadiz in March 1775. We had a very good voyage, without any serious accident, until we reached the waters off the Bay of Cadiz. Then one Sunday, just as we were entering the harbour, the ship struck a rock and knocked off a garboard plank. This plank is the one next to the keel. In an instant, everyone aboard was thrown into great confusion and began crying loudly for God to have mercy on them. Although I could not swim and saw no way to escape death, I felt no fear, having no desire to live. I even rejoiced in spirit, thinking death would bring me straight into heavenly glory. But the appointed time had not yet come. The people near me were greatly astonished to see me so calm and accepting. But I told them about the peace of God I enjoyed through his sovereign grace. At that very moment, these words came to mind:

At this time there were many large Spanish flukers or passage-vessels full of people crossing the channel; who seeing our condition, a number of them came alongside of us. As many hands as could be employed began to work; some at our three pumps, and the rest unloading the ship as fast as possible. There being only a single rock called the Porpus on which we struck, we soon got off it, and providentially it was then high water, we therefore run the ship ashore at the nearest place to keep her from sinking. After many tides, with a great deal of care and industry, we got her repaired again. When we had dispatched our business at Cadiz, we went to Gibraltar, and from thence to Malaga, a very pleasant and rich city, where there is one of the finest cathedrals I had ever seen. It had been above fifty years in building, as I heard, though it was not then quite finished; great part of the inside, however, was completed and highly decorated with the richest marble columns and many superb paintings; it was lighted occasionally by an amazing number of wax tapers of different sizes, some of which were as thick as a man's thigh; these, however, were only used on some of their grand festivals.

At this time, many large Spanish passenger vessels, full of people, were crossing the channel. Seeing our situation, a number of these vessels came alongside us. As many people as could help began working. Some worked our three pumps, while the rest unloaded the ship as quickly as possible. We had struck only a single rock, called the Porpus, so we soon got off it. By providence, the tide was high, so we ran the ship ashore at the nearest place to prevent her from sinking. After many tides, we repaired her with great care and hard work. When we had finished our business at Cadiz, we sailed to Gibraltar and then to Malaga. Malaga was a very pleasant and wealthy city, with one of the finest cathedrals I had ever seen. I heard that the cathedral had been under construction for more than fifty years, though it was still unfinished. Much of the interior, however, was complete and richly decorated with the finest marble columns and many magnificent paintings. On certain occasions, an astonishing number of wax candles of different sizes lit the cathedral. Some were as thick as a man's thigh. These candles, however, were used only during some of their great religious festivals.

I was very much shocked at the custom of bull-baiting, and other diversions which prevailed here on Sunday evenings, to the great scandal of Christianity and morals. I used to express my abhorrence of it to a priest whom I met with. I had frequent contests about religion with the reverend father, in which he took great pains to make a proselyte of me to his church; and I no less to convert him to mine. On these occasions I used to produce my Bible, and shew him in what points his church erred. He then said he had been in England, and that every person there read the Bible, which was very wrong; but I answered him that Christ desired us to search the Scriptures. In his zeal for my conversion, he solicited me to go to one of the universities in Spain, and declared that I should have my education free; and told me, if I got myself made a priest, I might in time become even pope; and that Pope Benedict was a black man. As I was ever desirous of learning, I paused for some time upon this temptation; and thought by being crafty I might catch some with guile; but I began to think that it would be only hypocrisy in me to embrace his offer, as I could not in conscience conform to the opinions of his church. I was therefore enabled to regard the word of God, which says, 'Come out from amongst them,' and refused Father Vincent's offer. So we parted without conviction on either side.

I was deeply shocked by the custom of bull-baiting and other amusements common here on Sunday evenings. These practices brought great disgrace on Christianity and morality. I used to express my disgust at them to a priest I had met. I often debated religion with this priest. He worked hard to convert me to his church, and I worked just as hard to convert him to mine. During these debates, I would bring out my Bible and show him where his church was wrong. He then said he had been to England, where everyone read the Bible, and that this was very wrong. But I answered that Christ wanted us to search the Scriptures. In his eagerness to convert me, he urged me to attend one of the universities in Spain. He promised that my education would be free. He also told me that if I became a priest, I might eventually become pope. He said that Pope Benedict was a black man. As I had always wanted to learn, I considered this tempting offer for some time. I thought that by being crafty, I might win some people over through deception. But I began to think that accepting his offer would be hypocritical. I could not, in good conscience, accept his church's beliefs. So I was able to follow the word of God, which says, 'Come out from amongst them,' and refused Father Vincent's offer. We therefore parted without either of us convincing the other.

Having taken at this place some fine wines, fruits, and money, we proceeded to Cadiz, where we took about two tons more of money, &c. and then sailed for England in the month of June. When we were about the north latitude 42, we had contrary wind for several days, and the ship did not make in that time above six or seven miles straight course. This made the captain exceeding fretful and peevish: and I was very sorry to hear God's most holy name often blasphemed by him. One day, as he was in that impious mood, a young gentleman on board, who was a passenger, reproached him, and said he acted wrong; for we ought to be thankful to God for all things, as we were not in want of any thing on board; and though the wind was contrary for us, yet it was fair for some others, who, perhaps, stood in more need of it than we. I immediately seconded this young gentleman with some boldness, and said we had not the least cause to murmur, for that the Lord was better to us than we deserved, and that he had done all things well. I expected that the captain would be very angry with me for speaking, but he replied not a word. However, before that time on the following day, being the 21st of June, much to our great joy and astonishment, we saw the providential hand of our benign Creator, whose ways with his blind creatures are past finding out. The preceding night I dreamed that I saw a boat immediately off the starboard main shrouds; and exactly at half past one o'clock, the following day at noon, while I was below, just as we had dined in the cabin, the man at the helm cried out, A boat! which brought my dream that instant into my mind. I was the first man that jumped on the deck; and, looking from the shrouds onward, according to my dream, I descried a little boat at some distance; but, as the waves were high, it was as much as we could do sometimes to discern her; we however stopped the ship's way, and the boat, which was extremely small, came alongside with eleven miserable men, whom we took on board immediately. To all human appearance, these people must have perished in the course of one hour or less, the boat being small, it barely contained them. When we took them up they were half drowned, and had no victuals, compass, water, or any other necessary whatsoever, and had only one bit of an oar to steer with, and that right before the wind; so that they were obliged to trust entirely to the mercy of the waves. As soon as we got them all on board, they bowed themselves on their knees, and, with hands and voices lifted up to heaven, thanked God for their deliverance; and I trust that my prayers were not wanting amongst them at the same time. This mercy of the Lord quite melted me, and I recollected his words, which I saw thus verified in the 107th Psalm 'O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever. Hungry and thirsty, their souls fainted in them. They cried unto Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

After taking on some fine wines, fruit, and money at this place, we continued to Cadiz. There we took on about two more tons of money and other goods, then sailed for England in June. At about 42 degrees north latitude, we faced headwinds for several days. During that time, the ship advanced no more than six or seven miles on a direct course. The lack of progress made the captain extremely irritable and bad-tempered. I was very sorry to hear him often blaspheme God's most holy name. One day, while the captain was in this ungodly mood, a young gentleman travelling as a passenger challenged him. The young man said the captain was wrong, because we ought to thank God for everything. We lacked nothing on board. Although the wind was against us, it favoured others who perhaps needed it more than we did. I immediately supported the young gentleman, speaking with some boldness. I said we had no reason at all to complain, because the Lord treated us better than we deserved. The Lord had done everything well. I expected the captain to be very angry with me for speaking, but he said nothing. Yet before the same time the next day, June 21, we witnessed our kind Creator's providential care. We felt great joy and astonishment, for his ways are beyond the understanding of his unseeing creatures. The night before, I had dreamed of a boat just beside the mainmast's supporting ropes on the starboard side. At exactly half past one the following afternoon, I was below deck, just after we had eaten in the cabin. The man at the helm called out, A boat! His cry instantly brought my dream to mind. I was the first to jump onto the deck. Looking ahead from the supporting ropes, just as in my dream, I spotted a little boat some distance away. But the waves were high, and at times we could barely see the boat. Still, we stopped our ship, and the extremely small boat came alongside. Eleven men in a terrible state were aboard, and we immediately took them onto our ship. By all human judgment, these men would have died within an hour or less. Their boat was so small that it barely held them. When we rescued them, they were half drowned. They had no food, compass, water, or any other necessities. They had only a piece of an oar to steer with, and could steer only directly before the wind. So they had to trust themselves entirely to the mercy of the waves. As soon as all the men were aboard, they fell to their knees. With their hands and voices raised to heaven, they thanked God for rescuing them. I trust that my prayers joined theirs at the same time. The Lord's mercy deeply moved me. I remembered his words in the 107th Psalm, whose truth I had just witnessed: 'Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy lasts forever. Hungry and thirsty, their souls grew faint within them. They cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. He led them along the right path, so they could reach a city where they could live. If only people would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful deeds for humanity! For he satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness.

'Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death:

'Those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death:

'Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. They that go down to the sea in ships; that do business in great waters: these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord.'

'Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. Those who sail the seas in ships and do business on great waters see the works of the Lord. They see his wonders in the deep. Anyone who is wise and pays attention to these things will understand the Lord’s loving kindness.'

The poor distressed captain said, 'that the Lord is good; for, seeing that I am not fit to die, he therefore gave me a space of time to repent.' I was very glad to hear this expression, and took an opportunity when convenient of talking to him on the providence of God. They told us they were Portuguese, and were in a brig loaded with corn, which shifted that morning at five o'clock, owing to which the vessel sunk that instant with two of the crew; and how these eleven got into the boat (which was lashed to the deck) not one of them could tell. We provided them with every necessary, and brought them all safe to London: and I hope the Lord gave them repentance unto life eternal.

The poor, distressed captain said, 'The Lord is good. Because I am not ready to die, he has given me time to repent.' I was very glad to hear these words. When a suitable opportunity came, I spoke to him about God's care and guidance. The survivors told us they were Portuguese and had been aboard a brig loaded with grain. The cargo shifted at five o'clock that morning, causing the vessel to sink immediately, taking two crew members with it. None of the eleven survivors could explain how they had got into the boat, which was tied to the deck. We provided them with everything they needed and brought them all safely to London. And I hope the Lord led them to repentance and eternal life.

I was happy once more amongst my friends and brethren, till November, when my old friend, the celebrated Doctor Irving, bought a remarkable fine sloop, about 150 tons. He had a mind for a new adventure in cultivating a plantation at Jamaica and the Musquito Shore; asked me to go with him, and said that he would trust me with his estate in preference to any one. By the advice, therefore, of my friends, I accepted of the offer, knowing that the harvest was fully ripe in those parts, and hoped to be the instrument, under God, of bringing some poor sinner to my well beloved master, Jesus Christ. Before I embarked, I found with the Doctor four Musquito Indians, who were chiefs in their own country, and were brought here by some English traders for some selfish ends. One of them was the Musquito king's son; a youth of about eighteen years of age; and whilst he was here he was baptized by the name of George. They were going back at the government's expense, after having been in England about twelve months, during which they learned to speak pretty good English. When I came to talk to them about eight days before we sailed, I was very much mortified in finding that they had not frequented any churches since they were here, to be baptized, nor was any attention paid to their morals. I was very sorry for this mock Christianity, and had just an opportunity to take some of them once to church before we sailed. We embarked in the month of November 1775, on board of the sloop Morning Star, Captain David Miller, and sailed for Jamaica. In our passage, I took all the pains that I could to instruct the Indian prince in the doctrines of Christianity, of which he was entirely ignorant; and, to my great joy, he was quite attentive, and received with gladness the truths that the Lord enabled me to set forth to him. I taught him in the compass of eleven days all the letters, and he could put even two or three of them together and spell them. I had Fox's Martyrology with cuts, and he used to be very fond of looking into it, and would ask many questions about the papal cruelties he saw depicted there, which I explained to him. I made such progress with this youth, especially in religion, that when I used to go to bed at different hours of the night, if he was in his bed, he would get up on purpose to go to prayer with me, without any other clothes than his shirt; and before he would eat any of his meals amongst the gentlemen in the cabin, he would first come to me to pray, as he called it. I was well pleased at this, and took great delight in him, and used much supplication to God for his conversion. I was in full hope of seeing daily every appearance of that change which I could wish; not knowing the devices of satan, who had many of his emissaries to sow his tares as fast as I sowed the good seed, and pull down as fast as I built up. Thus we went on nearly four fifths of our passage, when satan at last got the upper hand. Some of his messengers, seeing this poor heathen much advanced in piety, began to ask him whether I had converted him to Christianity, laughed, and made their jest at him, for which I rebuked them as much as I could; but this treatment caused the prince to halt between two opinions. Some of the true sons of Belial, who did not believe that there was any hereafter, told him never to fear the devil, for there was none existing; and if ever he came to the prince, they desired he might be sent to them. Thus they teazed the poor innocent youth, so that he would not learn his book any more! He would not drink nor carouse with these ungodly actors, nor would he be with me, even at prayers. This grieved me very much. I endeavoured to persuade him as well as I could, but he would not come; and entreated him very much to tell me his reasons for acting thus. At last he asked me, 'How comes it that all the white men on board who can read and write, and observe the sun, and know all things, yet swear, lie, and get drunk, only excepting yourself?' I answered him, the reason was, that they did not fear God; and that if any one of them died so they could not go to, or be happy with God. He replied, that if these persons went to hell he would go to hell too. I was sorry to hear this; and, as he sometimes had the toothach, and also some other persons in the ship at the same time, I asked him if their toothach made his easy: he said, No. Then I told him if he and these people went to hell together, their pains would not make his any lighter. This answer had great weight with him: it depressed his spirits much; and he became ever after, during the passage, fond of being alone. When we were in the latitude of Martinico, and near making the land, one morning we had a brisk gale of wind, and, carrying too much sail, the main-mast went over the side. Many people were then all about the deck, and the yards, masts, and rigging, came tumbling all about us, yet there was not one of us in the least hurt, although some were within a hair's breadth of being killed: and, particularly, I saw two men then, by the providential hand of God, most miraculously preserved from being smashed to pieces. On the fifth of January we made Antigua and Montserrat, and ran along the rest of the islands: and on the fourteenth we arrived at Jamaica. One Sunday while we were there I took the Musquito Prince George to church, where he saw the sacrament administered. When we came out we saw all kinds of people, almost from the church door for the space of half a mile down to the waterside, buying and selling all kinds of commodities: and these acts afforded me great matter of exhortation to this youth, who was much astonished. Our vessel being ready to sail for the Musquito shore, I went with the Doctor on board a Guinea-man, to purchase some slaves to carry with us, and cultivate a plantation; and I chose them all my own countrymen. On the twelfth of February we sailed from Jamaica, and on the eighteenth arrived at the Musquito shore, at a place called Dupeupy. All our Indian guests now, after I had admonished them and a few cases of liquor given them by the Doctor, took an affectionate leave of us, and went ashore, where they were met by the Musquito king, and we never saw one of them afterwards. We then sailed to the southward of the shore, to a place called Cape Gracias a Dios, where there was a large lagoon or lake, which received the emptying of two or three very fine large rivers, and abounded much in fish and land tortoise. Some of the native Indians came on board of us here; and we used them well, and told them we were come to dwell amongst them, which they seemed pleased at. So the Doctor and I, with some others, went with them ashore; and they took us to different places to view the land, in order to choose a place to make a plantation of. We fixed on a spot near a river's bank, in a rich soil; and, having got our necessaries out of the sloop, we began to clear away the woods, and plant different kinds of vegetables, which had a quick growth. While we were employed in this manner, our vessel went northward to Black River to trade. While she was there, a Spanish guarda costa met with and took her. This proved very hurtful, and a great embarrassment to us. However, we went on with the culture of the land. We used to make fires every night all around us, to keep off wild beasts, which, as soon as it was dark, set up a most hideous roaring. Our habitation being far up in the woods, we frequently saw different kinds of animals; but none of them ever hurt us, except poisonous snakes, the bite of which the Doctor used to cure by giving to the patient, as soon as possible, about half a tumbler of strong rum, with a good deal of Cayenne pepper in it. In this manner he cured two natives and one of his own slaves. The Indians were exceedingly fond of the Doctor, and they had good reason for it; for I believe they never had such an useful man amongst them. They came from all quarters to our dwelling; and some woolwow, or flat-headed Indians, who lived fifty or sixty miles above our river, and this side of the South Sea, brought us a good deal of silver in exchange for our goods. The principal articles we could get from our neighbouring Indians, were turtle oil, and shells, little silk grass, and some provisions; but they would not work at any thing for us, except fishing; and a few times they assisted to cut some trees down, in order to build us houses; which they did exactly like the Africans, by the joint labour of men, women, and children. I do not recollect any of them to have had more than two wives. These always accompanied their husbands when they came to our dwelling; and then they generally carried whatever they brought to us, and always squatted down behind their husbands. Whenever we gave them any thing to eat, the men and their wives ate it separate. I never saw the least sign of incontinence amongst them. The women are ornamented with beads, and fond of painting themselves; the men also paint, even to excess, both their faces and shirts: their favourite colour is red. The women generally cultivate the ground, and the men are all fishermen and canoe makers. Upon the whole, I never met any nation that were so simple in their manners as these people, or had so little ornament in their houses. Neither had they, as I ever could learn, one word expressive of an oath. The worst word I ever heard amongst them when they were quarreling, was one that they had got from the English, which was, 'you rascal.' I never saw any mode of worship among them; but in this they were not worse than their European brethren or neighbours: for I am sorry to say that there was not one white person in our dwelling, nor any where else that I saw in different places I was at on the shore, that was better or more pious than those unenlightened Indians; but they either worked or slept on Sundays: and, to my sorrow, working was too much Sunday's employment with ourselves; so much so, that in some length of time we really did not know one day from another. This mode of living laid the foundation of my decamping at last. The natives are well made and warlike; and they particularly boast of having never been conquered by the Spaniards. They are great drinkers of strong liquors when they can get them. We used to distil rum from pine apples, which were very plentiful here; and then we could not get them away from our place. Yet they seemed to be singular, in point of honesty, above any other nation I was ever amongst. The country being hot, we lived under an open shed, where we had all kinds of goods, without a door or a lock to any one article; yet we slept in safety, and never lost any thing, or were disturbed. This surprised us a good deal; and the Doctor, myself, and others, used to say, if we were to lie in that manner in Europe we should have our throats cut the first night. The Indian governor goes once in a certain time all about the province or district, and has a number of men with him as attendants and assistants. He settles all the differences among the people, like the judge here, and is treated with very great respect. He took care to give us timely notice before he came to our habitation, by sending his stick as a token, for rum, sugar, and gunpowder, which we did not refuse sending; and at the same time we made the utmost preparation to receive his honour and his train. When he came with his tribe, and all our neighbouring chieftains, we expected to find him a grave reverend judge, solid and sagacious; but instead of that, before he and his gang came in sight, we heard them very clamorous; and they even had plundered some of our good neighbouring Indians, having intoxicated themselves with our liquor. When they arrived we did not know what to make of our new guests, and would gladly have dispensed with the honour of their company. However, having no alternative, we feasted them plentifully all the day till the evening; when the governor, getting quite drunk, grew very unruly, and struck one of our most friendly chiefs, who was our nearest neighbour, and also took his gold-laced hat from him. At this a great commotion taken place; and the Doctor interfered to make peace, as we could all understand one another, but to no purpose; and at last they became so outrageous that the Doctor, fearing he might get into trouble, left the house, and made the best of his way to the nearest wood, leaving me to do as well as I could among them. I was so enraged with the Governor, that I could have wished to have seen him tied fast to a tree and flogged for his behaviour; but I had not people enough to cope with his party. I therefore thought of a stratagem to appease the riot. Recollecting a passage I had read in the life of Columbus, when he was amongst the Indians in Mexico or Peru, where, on some occasion, he frightened them, by telling them of certain events in the heavens, I had recourse to the same expedient; and it succeeded beyond my most sanguine expectations. When I had formed my determination, I went in the midst of them; and, taking hold of the Governor, I pointed up to the heavens. I menaced him and the rest: I told them God lived there, and that he was angry with them, and they must not quarrel so; that they were all brothers, and if they did not leave off, and go away quietly, I would take the book (pointing to the Bible), read, and tell God to make them dead. This was something like magic. The clamour immediately ceased, and I gave them some rum and a few other things; after which they went away peaceably; and the Governor afterwards gave our neighbour, who was called Captain Plasmyah, his hat again. When the Doctor returned, he was exceedingly glad at my success in thus getting rid of our troublesome guests. The Musquito people within our vicinity, out of respect to the Doctor, myself and his people, made entertainments of the grand kind, called in their tongue tourrie or dryckbot. The English of this expression is, a feast of drinking about, of which it seems a corruption of language. The drink consisted of pine apples roasted, and casades chewed or beaten in mortars; which, after lying some time, ferments, and becomes so strong as to intoxicate, when drank in any quantity. We had timely notice given to us of the entertainment. A white family, within five miles of us, told us how the drink was made, and I and two others went before the time to the village, where the mirth was appointed to be held; and there we saw the whole art of making the drink, and also the kind of animals that were to be eaten there. I cannot say the sight of either the drink or the meat were enticing to me. They had some thousands of pine apples roasting, which they squeezed, dirt and all, into a canoe they had there for the purpose. The casade drink was in beef barrels and other vessels, and looked exactly like hog-wash. Men, women, and children, were thus employed in roasting the pine apples, and squeezing them with their hands. For food they had many land torpins or tortoises, some dried turtle, and three large alligators alive, and tied fast to the trees. I asked the people what they were going to do with these alligators; and I was told they were to be eaten. I was much surprised at this, and went home, not a little disgusted at the preparations. When the day of the feast was come, we took some rum with us, and went to the appointed place, where we found a great assemblage of these people, who received us very kindly. The mirth had begun before we came; and they were dancing with music: and the musical instruments were nearly the same as those of any other sable people; but, as I thought, much less melodious than any other nation I ever knew. They had many curious gestures in dancing, and a variety of motions and postures of their bodies, which to me were in no wise attracting. The males danced by themselves, and the females also by themselves, as with us. The Doctor shewed his people the example, by immediately joining the women's party, though not by their choice. On perceiving the women disgusted, he joined the males. At night there were great illuminations, by setting fire to many pine trees, while the dryckbot went round merrily by calabashes or gourds: but the liquor might more justly be called eating than drinking. One Owden, the oldest father in the vicinity, was dressed in a strange and terrifying form. Around his body were skins adorned with different kinds of feathers, and he had on his head a very large and high head-piece, in the form of a grenadier's cap, with prickles like a porcupine; and he made a certain noise which resembled the cry of an alligator. Our people skipped amongst them out of complaisance, though some could not drink of their tourrie; but our rum met with customers enough, and was soon gone. The alligators were killed and some of them roasted. Their manner of roasting is by digging a hole in the earth, and filling it with wood, which they burn to coal, and then they lay sticks across, on which they set the meat. I had a raw piece of the alligator in my hand: it was very rich: I thought it looked like fresh salmon, and it had a most fragrant smell, but I could not eat any of it. This merry-making at last ended without the least discord in any person in the company, although it was made up of different nations and complexions. The rainy season came on here about the latter end of May, which continued till August very heavily; so that the rivers were overflowed, and our provisions then in the ground were washed away. I thought this was in some measure a judgment upon us for working on Sundays, and it hurt my mind very much. I often wished to leave this place and sail for Europe; for our mode of procedure and living in this heathenish form was very irksome to me. The word of God saith, 'What does it avail a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?' This was much and heavily impressed on my mind; and, though I did not know how to speak to the Doctor for my discharge, it was disagreeable for me to stay any longer. But about the middle of June I took courage enough to ask him for it. He was very unwilling at first to grant my request; but I gave him so many reasons for it, that at last he consented to my going, and gave me the following certificate of my behaviour:

I was happy once more among my friends and brethren until November. Then my old friend, the celebrated Doctor Irving, bought an exceptionally fine sloop of about 150 tons. He wanted to begin a new venture, cultivating a plantation at Jamaica and the Musquito Shore. He asked me to join him and said he would trust me with his estate before anyone else. On my friends’ advice, I accepted his offer. I knew that the harvest of souls was fully ripe in those parts. I hoped, under God, to help bring some poor sinner to my dearly loved master, Jesus Christ. Before I sailed, I found four Musquito Indians with the Doctor. They were chiefs in their own country. Some English traders had brought them here for selfish purposes. One was the Musquito king’s son, a young man of about eighteen. While here, he had been baptized with the name George. They were returning at the government’s expense after about twelve months in England. During that time, they had learned to speak fairly good English. About eight days before we sailed, I spoke with them and was deeply distressed by what I learned. Apart from being baptized, they had not attended any churches during their stay. Nor had anyone paid attention to their moral conduct. I was deeply sorry to see this sham Christianity. Before we sailed, I had just enough opportunity to take some of them to church once. In November 1775, we boarded the sloop Morning Star, commanded by Captain David Miller, and sailed for Jamaica. During the voyage, I made every effort to teach the Indian prince the doctrines of Christianity. He knew nothing at all about them. To my great joy, he listened closely. He gladly received the truths that the Lord enabled me to explain. Within eleven days, I taught him all the letters. He could even put two or three together and spell them out. I had an illustrated copy of Fox’s Martyrology, which he greatly enjoyed looking through. He asked many questions about the cruelties committed by papal authorities shown in the pictures, and I explained them. I made such progress with this young man, especially in religion, that he would rise to pray with me. Whenever I went to bed, at various hours of the night, he would get up if he was already in bed. He wore nothing but his shirt when he joined me. Before eating any meal with the gentlemen in the cabin, he would first come to me to pray, as he called it. His behavior pleased me, and I took great delight in him. I prayed earnestly to God for his conversion. I fully hoped to see daily signs of the change I wished for. I did not know Satan’s schemes. He had many agents sowing weeds as fast as I sowed good seed, and tearing down as fast as I built. We continued this way for nearly four-fifths of the voyage, until Satan finally gained the upper hand. Some of his messengers saw how far this poor heathen had advanced in piety. They began asking whether I had converted him to Christianity, laughing and making fun of him. I rebuked them as strongly as I could. But their treatment left the prince wavering between two opinions. Some truly wicked men, who did not believe in an afterlife, told him never to fear the devil. They said no devil existed. If the devil ever came to the prince, they asked him to send the devil to them. They teased the poor, innocent young man until he would no longer study his book! He would not drink or carouse with these ungodly men. Nor would he spend time with me, even in prayer. This grieved me deeply. I tried my best to persuade him, but he would not come. I begged him repeatedly to explain his behavior. At last he asked me, 'How is it that all the white men on board can read, write, navigate by the sun, and know everything, yet swear, lie, and get drunk, except you?' I answered that they did not fear God. If any of them died in that condition, they could not go to God or be happy with him. The prince replied that if these men went to hell, he would go to hell too. I was sorry to hear him say this. He sometimes suffered from toothache, as did some others aboard at the same time. So I asked whether their toothache eased his own. He said, No. Then I explained that if he went to hell with these men, their suffering would not lessen his. My answer affected him deeply and greatly lowered his spirits. For the rest of the voyage, he preferred to be alone. When we reached the latitude of Martinico and were close to sighting land, a strong wind blew up one morning. We were carrying too much sail, and the mainmast fell over the side. Many people were on deck as the yards, masts, and rigging came crashing down around us. Yet not one of us suffered the slightest injury, although some came within a hair’s breadth of death. In particular, I saw two men miraculously saved by God’s protecting hand from being crushed to pieces. On January fifth, we sighted Antigua and Montserrat, then sailed along the rest of the islands. On the fourteenth, we arrived at Jamaica. One Sunday there, I took the Musquito Prince George to church, where he saw Communion being given. When we left, we saw all kinds of people buying and selling all kinds of goods. The market stretched almost from the church door to the waterfront, half a mile away. These activities gave me much to speak about in warning the young man, who was greatly astonished. Our vessel was ready to sail for the Musquito shore. I went with the Doctor aboard a slave ship to buy enslaved people to take with us to cultivate a plantation. I chose only people from my own country. On February twelfth, we sailed from Jamaica. On the eighteenth, we reached a place on the Musquito shore called Dupeupy. I gave our Indian guests some parting advice, and the Doctor gave them a few cases of liquor. They then took an affectionate leave of us and went ashore, where the Musquito king met them. We never saw any of them again. We then sailed south along the shore to Cape Gracias a Dios. There was a large lagoon or lake there, fed by two or three very fine, large rivers. Fish and land tortoises were abundant. Some local Indians came aboard. We treated them well and told them we had come to live among them. They seemed pleased at this. So the Doctor, some others, and I went ashore with them. They showed us different places so we could choose land for a plantation. We chose a spot with rich soil near a riverbank. After unloading our supplies from the sloop, we began clearing the woods and planting different vegetables, which grew quickly. While we worked, our vessel sailed north to Black River to trade. There, a Spanish coastguard vessel encountered and captured her. This was a serious loss and caused us great difficulty. Nevertheless, we continued cultivating the land. Every night, we lit fires all around us to keep away wild animals. As soon as darkness fell, the animals began roaring horribly. Our home was deep in the woods, so we often saw animals of different kinds. None ever harmed us except poisonous snakes. The Doctor treated their bites by giving the patient about half a tumbler of strong rum as soon as possible. He mixed plenty of Cayenne pepper into the rum. In this way, he cured two natives and one of his own slaves. The Indians were extremely fond of the Doctor, and with good reason. I believe they had never had such a useful man among them. They came to our home from every direction. Some woolwow, or flat-headed Indians, lived fifty or sixty miles upriver from us, on this side of the South Sea. They brought us a good deal of silver in exchange for our goods. Our neighboring Indians mainly supplied turtle oil and shells, a little silk grass, and some food. But they would do no work for us except fishing. A few times, they helped cut down trees so we could build houses. They worked exactly like the Africans, with men, women, and children all joining in. I do not remember any of them having more than two wives. The wives always accompanied their husbands when they visited us. They generally carried whatever the visitors brought and always squatted behind their husbands. Whenever we gave them food, the men ate separately from their wives. I never saw the slightest sign of sexual misconduct among them. The women wore beads and liked painting themselves. The men also painted their faces and shirts, even excessively. Their favorite color was red. The women generally cultivated the ground, while the men were all fishermen and canoe makers. Overall, I never met a nation with such simple customs or so little decoration in their houses. As far as I could learn, they had no word expressing an oath. The worst expression I ever heard during their quarrels came from the English: 'you rascal.' I never saw any form of worship among them. But in this respect, they were no worse than their European brethren or neighbors. I am sorry to say that no white person in our settlement was better or more religious than those unenlightened Indians. The same was true everywhere else I visited along the shore. The white people either worked or slept on Sundays. To my sorrow, we ourselves worked far too much on Sundays. After some time, we truly could not tell one day from another. This way of life laid the foundation for my eventual departure. The natives were well built and warlike. They especially prided themselves on never having been conquered by the Spaniards. They drank great quantities of strong liquor when they could get it. We distilled rum from pineapples, which grew abundantly here. When we did, we could not get the natives to leave our place. Yet their honesty seemed greater than that of any other nation I had lived among. Because the country was hot, we lived under an open shed. We kept all kinds of goods there, without a door or a lock protecting anything. Yet we slept safely, never lost anything, and were never disturbed. This surprised us greatly. The Doctor, others, and I often said that if we slept like this in Europe, our throats would be cut the first night. At certain intervals, the Indian governor traveled throughout the province or district with attendants and assistants. He settled all disputes among the people, like a judge here, and was treated with great respect. Before visiting our home, he made sure to give us advance notice. He sent his stick as a token, requesting rum, sugar, and gunpowder, which we did not refuse to send. At the same time, we made every preparation to receive his honor and his followers. He came with his tribe and all our neighboring chiefs. We expected a solemn, dignified judge, sensible and wise. Instead, before he and his gang came into sight, we heard them making a great uproar. They had become drunk on our liquor and had even robbed some of our friendly Indian neighbors. When they arrived, we did not know what to make of our new guests. We would gladly have done without the honor of their company. But we had no choice, so we feasted them generously all day until evening. Then the governor became thoroughly drunk and very disorderly. He struck one of our friendliest chiefs, our nearest neighbor, and took his gold-trimmed hat. A great disturbance followed. The Doctor tried to make peace, since we could all understand one another, but without success. Finally, the visitors became so violent that the Doctor feared he might get into trouble. He left the house and hurried to the nearest woods, leaving me to manage among them as best I could. I was so angry with the Governor that I wished to see him tied to a tree and flogged. But I did not have enough people to stand against his party. So I thought of a trick to quiet the disturbance. I remembered a passage from a life of Columbus that I had read. While among Indians in Mexico or Peru, he had frightened them by predicting certain events in the heavens. I tried the same method, and it succeeded beyond my greatest hopes. Once I had decided what to do, I went into their midst and took hold of the Governor. I pointed to the heavens and threatened him and the others. I told them God lived there and was angry with them. They must not quarrel like this, because they were all brothers. If they did not stop and leave quietly, I would take the book, pointing to the Bible. I would read it and tell God to strike them dead. The effect was like magic. The uproar stopped immediately. I gave them some rum and a few other things, and they left peacefully. The Governor later returned the hat to our neighbor, whose name was Captain Plasmyah. When the Doctor returned, he was extremely pleased that I had managed to get rid of our troublesome guests. Out of respect for the Doctor, me, and his people, the nearby Musquito people arranged grand celebrations. In their language, these were called tourrie or dryckbot. In English, the expression means a drinking feast, and it seems to be a distorted form of that phrase. The drink consisted of roasted pineapples and casades that had been chewed or pounded in mortars. After standing for some time, the mixture fermented. It became strong enough to cause drunkenness when consumed in quantity. We received advance notice of the celebration. A white family living within five miles of us told us how the drink was made. Two others and I went early to the village where the festivities would take place. There, we saw the entire process of making the drink and the kinds of animals intended for food. I cannot say that either the drink or the meat looked inviting. Thousands of pineapples were roasting. They squeezed them, dirt and all, into a canoe kept there for that purpose. The casade drink stood in beef barrels and other containers, looking exactly like pigswill. Men, women, and children roasted the pineapples and squeezed them with their hands. For food, they had many land turtles or tortoises, some dried sea turtle, and three large, live alligators tied to trees. I asked what they intended to do with the alligators and was told they would be eaten. I was greatly surprised and went home quite disgusted by the preparations. On the day of the feast, we took some rum and went to the appointed place. A great crowd had gathered, and the people welcomed us very kindly. The festivities had begun before we arrived, and they were dancing to music. Their instruments were much like those of other dark-skinned peoples. But I thought their music much less melodious than that of any other nation I knew. Their dancing involved many curious gestures and varied movements and postures, none of which appealed to me. The men danced separately from the women, as among our own people. The Doctor set an example for his people by immediately joining the women, though the women had not chosen him. Seeing that the women were displeased, he joined the men. At night, they created a great blaze of light by setting fire to many pine trees. Meanwhile, the dryckbot passed merrily around in calabashes or gourds. Yet consuming this liquor could more accurately be called eating than drinking. One man, Owden, the oldest father in the neighborhood, wore a strange and terrifying costume. Skins decorated with various feathers covered his body. On his head, he wore a very large, tall headdress shaped like a grenadier’s cap, with spikes like a porcupine’s. He made a particular noise resembling an alligator’s cry. Our people joined the dancing out of politeness, though some could not drink the tourrie. But plenty of people wanted our rum, and it soon ran out. The alligators were killed, and some were roasted. Their roasting method involved digging a hole and filling it with wood, which they burned down to coals. Then they laid sticks across the hole and placed the meat on them. I held a raw piece of alligator meat in my hand. It was very rich. I thought it looked like fresh salmon, and it smelled wonderfully fragrant, but I could not eat any. The celebration finally ended without the slightest disagreement among anyone present, although the company included different nations and complexions. The rainy season began around the end of May, with heavy rain continuing until August. The rivers overflowed, and our crops in the ground were washed away. I thought this was partly a judgment upon us for working on Sundays, and it troubled me deeply. I often wished to leave and sail for Europe. Our conduct and this heathen way of life were deeply distressing to me. The word of God says, 'What does a man gain if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?' These words weighed heavily on my mind. Although I did not know how to ask the Doctor to release me, I could not bear staying any longer. Around the middle of June, however, I found the courage to ask. At first, he was very unwilling to agree. But I gave him so many reasons that he finally consented to my departure. He gave me the following certificate of my conduct:

Though I was much attached to the doctor, I was happy when he consented. I got every thing ready for my departure, and hired some Indians, with a large canoe, to carry me off. All my poor countrymen, the slaves, when they heard of my leaving them, were very sorry, as I had always treated them with care and affection, and did every thing I could to comfort the poor creatures, and render their condition easy. Having taken leave of my old friends and companions, on the 18th of June, accompanied by the doctor, I left that spot of the world, and went southward above twenty miles along the river. There I found a sloop, the captain of which told me he was going to Jamaica. Having agreed for my passage with him and one of the owners, who was also on board, named Hughes, the doctor and I parted, not without shedding tears on both sides. The vessel then sailed along the river till night, when she stopped in a lagoon within the same river. During the night a schooner belonging to the same owners came in, and, as she was in want of hands, Hughes, the owner of the sloop, asked me to go in the schooner as a sailor, and said he would give me wages. I thanked him; but I said I wanted to go to Jamaica. He then immediately changed his tone, and swore, and abused me very much, and asked how I came to be freed. I told him, and said that I came into that vicinity with Dr. Irving, whom he had seen that day. This account was of no use; he still swore exceedingly at me, and cursed the master for a fool that sold me my freedom, and the doctor for another in letting me go from him. Then he desired me to go in the schooner, or else I should not go out of the sloop as a freeman. I said this was very hard, and begged to be put on shore again; but he swore that I should not. I said I had been twice amongst the Turks, yet had never seen any such usage with them, and much less could I have expected any thing of this kind amongst Christians. This incensed him exceedingly; and, with a volley of oaths and imprecations, he replied, 'Christians! Damn you, you are one of St. Paul's men; but by G——, except you have St. Paul's or St. Peter's faith, and walk upon the water to the shore, you shall not go out of the vessel;' which I now found was going amongst the Spaniards towards Carthagena, where he swore he would sell me. I simply asked him what right he had to sell me? but, without another word, he made some of his people tie ropes round each of my ancles, and also to each wrist, and another rope round my body, and hoisted me up without letting my feet touch or rest upon any thing. Thus I hung, without any crime committed, and without judge or jury; merely because I was a free man, and could not by the law get any redress from a white person in those parts of the world. I was in great pain from my situation, and cried and begged very hard for some mercy; but all in vain. My tyrant, in a great rage, brought a musquet out of the cabin, and loaded it before me and the crew, and swore that he would shoot me if I cried any more. I had now no alternative; I therefore remained silent, seeing not one white man on board who said a word on my behalf. I hung in that manner from between ten and eleven o'clock at night till about one in the morning; when, finding my cruel abuser fast asleep, I begged some of his slaves to slack the rope that was round my body, that my feet might rest on something. This they did at the risk of being cruelly used by their master, who beat some of them severely at first for not tying me when he commanded them. Whilst I remained in this condition, till between five and six o'clock next morning, I trust I prayed to God to forgive this blasphemer, who cared not what he did, but when he got up out of his sleep in the morning was of the very same temper and disposition as when he left me at night. When they got up the anchor, and the vessel was getting under way, I once more cried and begged to be released; and now, being fortunately in the way of their hoisting the sails, they released me. When I was let down, I spoke to one Mr. Cox, a carpenter, whom I knew on board, on the impropriety of this conduct. He also knew the doctor, and the good opinion he ever had of me. This man then went to the captain, and told him not to carry me away in that manner; that I was the doctor's steward, who regarded me very highly, and would resent this usage when he should come to know it. On which he desired a young man to put me ashore in a small canoe I brought with me. This sound gladdened my heart, and I got hastily into the canoe and set off, whilst my tyrant was down in the cabin; but he soon spied me out, when I was not above thirty or forty yards from the vessel, and, running upon the deck with a loaded musket in his hand, he presented it at me, and swore heavily and dreadfully, that he would shoot me that instant, if I did not come back on board. As I knew the wretch would have done as he said, without hesitation, I put back to the vessel again; but, as the good Lord would have it, just as I was alongside he was abusing the captain for letting me go from the vessel; which the captain returned, and both of them soon got into a very great heat. The young man that was with me now got out of the canoe; the vessel was sailing on fast with a smooth sea: and I then thought it was neck or nothing, so at that instant I set off again, for my life, in the canoe, towards the shore; and fortunately the confusion was so great amongst them on board, that I got out of the reach of the musquet shot unnoticed, while the vessel sailed on with a fair wind a different way; so that they could not overtake me without tacking: but even before that could be done I should have been on shore, which I soon reached, with many thanks to God for this unexpected deliverance. I then went and told the other owner, who lived near that shore (with whom I had agreed for my passage) of the usage I had met with. He was very much astonished, and appeared very sorry for it. After treating me with kindness, he gave me some refreshment, and three heads of roasted Indian corn, for a voyage of about eighteen miles south, to look for another vessel. He then directed me to an Indian chief of a district, who was also the Musquito admiral, and had once been at our dwelling; after which I set off with the canoe across a large lagoon alone (for I could not get any one to assist me), though I was much jaded, and had pains in my bowels, by means of the rope I had hung by the night before. I was therefore at different times unable to manage the canoe, for the paddling was very laborious. However, a little before dark I got to my destined place, where some of the Indians knew me, and received me kindly. I asked for the admiral; and they conducted me to his dwelling. He was glad to see me, and refreshed me with such things as the place afforded; and I had a hammock to sleep in. They acted towards me more like Christians than those whites I was amongst the last night, though they had been baptized. I told the admiral I wanted to go to the next port to get a vessel to carry me to Jamaica; and requested him to send the canoe back which I then had, for which I was to pay him. He agreed with me, and sent five able Indians with a large canoe to carry my things to my intended place, about fifty miles; and we set off the next morning. When we got out of the lagoon and went along shore, the sea was so high that the canoe was oftentimes very near being filled with water. We were obliged to go ashore and drag across different necks of land; we were also two nights in the swamps, which swarmed with musquito flies, and they proved troublesome to us. This tiresome journey of land and water ended, however, on the third day, to my great joy; and I got on board of a sloop commanded by one Captain Jenning. She was then partly loaded, and he told me he was expecting daily to sail for Jamaica; and having agreed with me to work my passage, I went to work accordingly. I was not many days on board before we sailed; but to my sorrow and disappointment, though used to such tricks, we went to the southward along the Musquito shore, instead of steering for Jamaica. I was compelled to assist in cutting a great deal of mahogany wood on the shore as we coasted along it, and load the vessel with it, before she sailed. This fretted me much; but, as I did not know how to help myself among these deceivers, I thought patience was the only remedy I had left, and even that was forced. There was much hard work and little victuals on board, except by good luck we happened to catch turtles. On this coast there was also a particular kind of fish called manatee, which is most excellent eating, and the flesh is more like beef than fish; the scales are as large as a shilling, and the skin thicker than I ever saw that of any other fish. Within the brackish waters along shore there were likewise vast numbers of alligators, which made the fish scarce. I was on board this sloop sixteen days, during which, in our coasting, we came to another place, where there was a smaller sloop called the Indian Queen, commanded by one John Baker. He also was an Englishman, and had been a long time along the shore trading for turtle shells and silver, and had got a good quantity of each on board. He wanted some hands very much; and, understanding I was a free man, and wanted to go to Jamaica, he told me if he could get one or two, that he would sail immediately for that island: he also pretended to me some marks of attention and respect, and promised to give me forty-five shillings sterling a month if I would go with him. I thought this much better than cutting wood for nothing. I therefore told the other captain that I wanted to go to Jamaica in the other vessel; but he would not listen to me: and, seeing me resolved to go in a day or two, he got the vessel to sail, intending to carry me away against my will. This treatment mortified me extremely. I immediately, according to an agreement I had made with the captain of the Indian Queen, called for her boat, which was lying near us, and it came alongside; and, by the means of a north-pole shipmate which I met with in the sloop I was in, I got my things into the boat, and went on board of the Indian Queen, July the 10th. A few days after I was there, we got all things ready and sailed: but again, to my great mortification, this vessel still went to the south, nearly as far as Carthagena, trading along the coast, instead of going to Jamaica, as the captain had promised me: and, what was worst of all, he was a very cruel and bloody-minded man, and was a horrid blasphemer. Among others he had a white pilot, one Stoker, whom he beat often as severely as he did some negroes he had on board. One night in particular, after he had beaten this man most cruelly, he put him into the boat, and made two negroes row him to a desolate key, or small island; and he loaded two pistols, and swore bitterly that he would shoot the negroes if they brought Stoker on board again. There was not the least doubt but that he would do as he said, and the two poor fellows were obliged to obey the cruel mandate; but, when the captain was asleep, the two negroes took a blanket and carried it to the unfortunate Stoker, which I believe was the means of saving his life from the annoyance of insects. A great deal of entreaty was used with the captain the next day, before he would consent to let Stoker come on board; and when the poor man was brought on board he was very ill, from his situation during the night, and he remained so till he was drowned a little time after. As we sailed southward we came to many uninhabited islands, which were overgrown with fine large cocoa nuts. As I was very much in want of provisions, I brought a boat load of them on board, which lasted me and others for several weeks, and afforded us many a delicious repast in our scarcity. One day, before this, I could not help observing the providential hand of God, that ever supplies all our wants, though in the ways and manner we know not. I had been a whole day without food, and made signals for boats to come off, but in vain. I therefore earnestly prayed to God for relief in my need; and at the close of the evening I went off the deck. Just as I laid down I heard a noise on the deck; and, not knowing what it meant, I went directly on the the deck again, when what should I see but a fine large fish about seven or eight pounds, which had jumped aboard! I took it, and admired, with thanks, the good hand of God; and, what I considered as not less extraordinary, the captain, who was very avaricious, did not attempt to take it from me, there being only him and I on board; for the rest were all gone ashore trading. Sometimes the people did not come off for some days: this used to fret the captain, and then he would vent his fury on me by beating me, or making me feel in other cruel ways. One day especially, in his wild, wicked, and mad career, after striking me several times with different things, and once across my mouth, even with a red burning stick out of the fire, he got a barrel of gunpowder on the deck, and swore that he would blow up the vessel. I was then at my wit's end, and earnestly prayed to God to direct me. The head was out of the barrel; and the captain took a lighted stick out of the fire to blow himself and me up, because there was a vessel then in sight coming in, which he supposed was a Spaniard, and he was afraid of falling into their hands. Seeing this I got an axe, unnoticed by him, and placed myself between him and the powder, having resolved in myself as soon as he attempted to put the fire in the barrel to chop him down that instant. I was more than an hour in this situation; during which he struck me often, still keeping the fire in his hand for this wicked purpose. I really should have thought myself justifiable in any other part of the world if I had killed him, and prayed to God, who gave me a mind which rested solely on himself. I prayed for resignation, that his will might be done; and the following two portions of his holy word, which occurred to my mind, buoyed up my hope, and kept me from taking the life of this wicked man. 'He hath determined the times before appointed, and set bounds to our habitations,' Acts xvii. 26. And, 'Who is there amongst you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God,' Isaiah 1. 10. And thus by the grace of God I was enabled to do. I found him a present help in the time of need, and the captain's fury began to subside as the night approached: but I found,

Though I was very fond of the doctor, I was happy when he agreed. I prepared everything for my departure and hired some Indians with a large canoe to take me away. All my poor countrymen, the slaves, were very sorry when they heard I was leaving. I had always treated them with care and affection. I had done everything I could to comfort the poor people and make their condition easier. After saying goodbye to my old friends and companions, I left that place on June 18, accompanied by the doctor. We traveled south along the river for more than twenty miles. There I found a sloop whose captain told me he was going to Jamaica. I arranged my passage with him and one of the owners, named Hughes, who was also aboard. Then the doctor and I parted, both shedding tears. The vessel sailed along the river until night, when it stopped in a lagoon within the river. During the night, a schooner belonging to the same owners arrived. The schooner needed crew, so Hughes asked me to serve aboard it as a sailor and offered me wages. I thanked him, but said I wanted to go to Jamaica. He immediately changed his tone, swore at me, and abused me terribly. He asked how I had gained my freedom. I told him and explained that I had come to the area with Dr. Irving, whom he had seen that day. My explanation did no good. He continued swearing fiercely at me. He cursed the master who had sold me my freedom, calling him a fool. He called the doctor another fool for letting me leave him. Then he ordered me to join the schooner, or I would not leave the sloop as a free man. I said his demand was very unjust and begged to be put ashore again. But he swore that he would not allow it. I said I had twice been among the Turks, yet had never seen such treatment there. Much less could I have expected anything like it among Christians. My words enraged him. With a torrent of curses, he replied, 'Christians! Damn you, you are one of St. Paul's men. But by G God, unless you have St. Paul's or St. Peter's faith and walk on the water to shore, you shall not leave this vessel.' I now discovered that the vessel was heading toward Carthagena, among the Spaniards, where he swore he would sell me. I simply asked what right he had to sell me. Without another word, he ordered some of his men to tie ropes around each ankle and wrist. They tied another rope around my body and hoisted me up, leaving my feet unable to touch or rest on anything. There I hung, though I had committed no crime and had faced neither judge nor jury. My only offense was being a free man. In that part of the world, the law gave me no remedy against a white person. Hanging there caused me great pain. I cried and begged desperately for mercy, but all in vain. My tyrant, furious, brought a musket from the cabin and loaded it before me and the crew. He swore he would shoot me if I cried any more. I had no choice but to remain silent. Not one white man aboard said a word on my behalf. I hung that way from between ten and eleven at night until about one in the morning. Then, finding my cruel tormentor fast asleep, I begged some of his slaves to loosen the rope around my body. I wanted my feet to rest on something. They loosened the rope, risking cruel punishment from their master. Earlier, he had severely beaten some of them for not tying me up when he ordered them to. I remained in that condition until between five and six the next morning. During those hours, I trust I prayed to God to forgive this blasphemer, who did not care what he did. But when he woke that morning, his temper and attitude were unchanged from the night before. When the crew raised the anchor and the vessel began moving, I once again cried and begged to be released. Fortunately, I was now in their way as they raised the sails, so they let me down. I then spoke about this wrongful treatment to Mr. Cox, a carpenter I knew aboard. He also knew the doctor and the good opinion the doctor had always held of me. Mr. Cox went to the captain and told him not to carry me away like that. He explained that I was the doctor's steward and that the doctor valued me highly. The doctor would resent such treatment when he learned of it. The captain then told a young man to put me ashore in a small canoe I had brought with me. Those words filled my heart with joy. I hurried into the canoe and set off while my tyrant was below in the cabin. But he soon spotted me, when I was no more than thirty or forty yards from the vessel. He ran onto the deck with a loaded musket and aimed it at me. Swearing fiercely and horribly, he threatened to shoot me immediately unless I returned aboard. I knew the wretch would carry out his threat without hesitation, so I returned to the vessel. But, as the good Lord arranged it, just as I drew alongside, he was abusing the captain for letting me go. The captain answered him in the same manner, and both soon became furious. The young man with me now climbed out of the canoe. The vessel was sailing quickly over a smooth sea. I thought I must risk everything or lose my chance. At that moment, I set off again in the canoe, paddling toward shore for my life. Fortunately, there was such confusion aboard that I escaped beyond musket range unnoticed. Meanwhile, the vessel sailed in another direction with a favorable wind. The crew could not overtake me without turning the vessel into the wind. But before they could do that, I would have reached shore. I soon landed, giving many thanks to God for this unexpected rescue. I then went to the other owner, who lived near that shore and with whom I had arranged my passage. I told him how I had been treated. He was very astonished and seemed very sorry. He treated me kindly and gave me refreshments and three roasted ears of Indian corn. These were for a journey about eighteen miles south to look for another vessel. He then directed me to an Indian district chief, who was also the Musquito admiral and had once visited our home. Afterward, I set off alone across a large lagoon in the canoe, because I could find no one to help me. I was exhausted, and my belly hurt from the rope by which I had hung the night before. As a result, I sometimes could not manage the canoe, because paddling was very hard work. Still, shortly before dark, I reached my destination. Some of the Indians knew me and welcomed me kindly. I asked for the admiral, and they took me to his home. He was glad to see me and gave me whatever refreshments the place offered. I also had a hammock to sleep in. These people treated me more like Christians than the white men I had been among the previous night. Those white men, however, had been baptized. I told the admiral I wanted to reach the next port and find a vessel to take me to Jamaica. I also asked him to send back the canoe I had brought, and offered to pay him for doing so. He agreed and sent five able Indians with a large canoe to carry my belongings to my intended destination, about fifty miles away. We set off the next morning. After leaving the lagoon, we traveled along the shore. The sea was so rough that the canoe often came very close to filling with water. We had to go ashore and drag the canoe across several narrow stretches of land. We also spent two nights in swamps swarming with mosquitoes, which troubled us greatly. To my great joy, this exhausting journey over land and water ended on the third day. I boarded a sloop commanded by Captain Jenning. The vessel was partly loaded, and he told me he expected to sail for Jamaica any day. He agreed to let me work for my passage, and I began working. We sailed within a few days. But, to my sorrow and disappointment, we headed south along the Musquito shore instead of toward Jamaica. I was already used to such tricks. As we traveled along the coast, I was forced to help cut a great deal of mahogany ashore. We had to load the wood aboard before the vessel sailed onward. This troubled me greatly. But among these deceivers, I could see no way to help myself. I thought patience was my only remaining remedy, and even that was forced upon me. There was much hard work aboard and little food, unless we happened to catch turtles. Along this coast there was also a particular kind of fish called manatee, which was excellent to eat. Its flesh tasted more like beef than fish. Its scales were as large as a shilling coin. Its skin was thicker than any I had ever seen on another fish. There were also vast numbers of alligators in the brackish coastal waters, making fish scarce. I spent sixteen days aboard this sloop. During our coastal journey, we reached another place where there was a smaller sloop called the Indian Queen. Its commander was John Baker. He too was an Englishman. He had spent a long time trading along the coast for turtle shells and silver. He had collected a good quantity of both aboard. Baker badly needed crew. He learned that I was a free man and wanted to go to Jamaica. He told me he would sail there immediately if he could find one or two men. He also made a show of treating me with attention and respect. He promised me forty-five shillings sterling a month if I joined him. I thought this much better than cutting wood for nothing. So I told the other captain I wanted to go to Jamaica aboard the other vessel. But he would not listen. Seeing that I was determined to leave within a day or two, he prepared to sail. He intended to carry me away against my will. This treatment distressed me deeply. I had already made an agreement with the captain of the Indian Queen. So I immediately called for her boat, which lay nearby, and it came alongside. On my present sloop, I had met a former shipmate from my North Pole voyage. With his help, I moved my belongings into the boat. I boarded the Indian Queen on July 10. A few days later, we finished our preparations and sailed. But again, to my great distress, this vessel headed south instead of going to Jamaica as the captain had promised. We traded along the coast, traveling nearly as far as Carthagena. Worst of all, the captain was cruel and bloodthirsty, and a dreadful blasphemer. Among his crew was a white pilot named Stoker. The captain often beat him as severely as he beat some of the black people aboard. One night, after beating Stoker most cruelly, the captain put him into the boat. He ordered two black men to row Stoker to a deserted cay, or small island. Then he loaded two pistols and swore fiercely that he would shoot the men if they brought Stoker back aboard. There was not the slightest doubt he would carry out his threat. The two poor fellows were forced to obey his cruel order. But once the captain was asleep, they took a blanket to the unfortunate Stoker. I believe that blanket saved his life by protecting him from the insects. The next day, the captain needed much pleading before he agreed to let Stoker return aboard. When the poor man returned, he was very ill from his night on the island. He remained ill until he drowned a short time later. As we sailed south, we reached many uninhabited islands covered with fine, large coconuts. I badly needed food, so I brought a boatload of coconuts aboard. They lasted me and others several weeks, providing many delicious meals during our shortage. One day before this, I could not help noticing God's guiding hand. He always supplies all our needs, though we do not know how he will do so. I had gone a whole day without food and had signaled for boats to come out, but in vain. So I prayed earnestly to God for help in my need. As evening ended, I went below deck. Just as I lay down, I heard a noise above. Not knowing what it meant, I immediately went back on deck. What should I see but a fine, large fish, weighing about seven or eight pounds, which had jumped aboard! I took the fish and marveled, giving thanks for God's goodness. Something else seemed no less extraordinary to me. The captain, who was very greedy, made no attempt to take the fish from me. Only he and I were aboard, because everyone else had gone ashore to trade. Sometimes the men did not return from shore for several days. Their absence annoyed the captain, and he would vent his fury on me. He beat me or made me suffer in other cruel ways. One day in particular, his wild, wicked madness drove him to strike me several times with different objects. Once he struck me across the mouth with a glowing stick from the fire. Then he brought a barrel of gunpowder onto the deck and swore he would blow up the vessel. I was at my wits' end and prayed earnestly to God for guidance. The barrel's lid was off. The captain took a burning stick from the fire to blow himself and me up. A vessel was approaching within sight, and he thought it was Spanish. He was afraid of falling into the Spaniards' hands. Seeing his intention, I took an axe without his noticing and stood between him and the powder. I resolved to strike him down the instant he tried to put the burning stick into the barrel. I remained there for more than an hour. Throughout that time, he struck me often, still holding the burning stick for his wicked purpose. I truly would have considered myself justified in killing him in any other part of the world. I prayed to God, who enabled my mind to rely on him alone. I prayed for acceptance, so that his will might be done. Two passages from his holy word came to mind. They sustained my hope and kept me from taking this wicked man's life. 'He has determined the times appointed beforehand and set the boundaries of where we live,' Acts xvii. 26. And, 'Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Whoever walks in darkness and has no light, let him trust in the Lord's name and rely on his God,' Isaiah 1. 10. Through God's grace, I was able to do just that. I found him ready to help in my time of need. The captain's fury began to ease as night approached. But I found,

The next morning we discovered that the vessel which had caused such a fury in the captain was an English sloop. They soon came to an anchor where we were, and, to my no small surprise, I learned that Doctor Irving was on board of her on his way from the Musquito shore to Jamaica. I was for going immediately to see this old master and friend, but the captain would not suffer me to leave the vessel. I then informed the doctor, by letter, how I was treated, and begged that he would take me out of the sloop: but he informed me that it was not in his power, as he was a passenger himself; but he sent me some rum and sugar for my own use. I now learned that after I had left the estate which I managed for this gentleman on the Musquito shore, during which the slaves were well fed and comfortable, a white overseer had supplied my place: this man, through inhumanity and ill-judged avarice, beat and cut the poor slaves most unmercifully; and the consequence was, that every one got into a large Puriogua canoe, and endeavoured to escape; but not knowing where to go, or how to manage the canoe, they were all drowned; in consequence of which the doctor's plantation was left uncultivated, and he was now returning to Jamaica to purchase more slaves and stock it again. On the 14th of October the Indian Queen arrived at Kingston in Jamaica. When we were unloaded I demanded my wages, which amounted to eight pounds and five shillings sterling; but Captain Baker refused to give me one farthing, although it was the hardest-earned money I ever worked for in my life. I found out Doctor Irving upon this, and acquainted him of the captain's knavery. He did all he could to help me to get my money; and we went to every magistrate in Kingston (and there were nine), but they all refused to do any thing for me, and said my oath could not be admitted against a white man. Nor was this all; for Baker threatened that he would beat me severely if he could catch me for attempting to demand my money; and this he would have done, but that I got, by means of Dr. Irving, under the protection of Captain Douglas of the Squirrel man of war. I thought this exceedingly hard usage; though indeed I found it to be too much the practice there to pay free men for their labour in this manner. One day I went with a free negroe taylor, named Joe Diamond, to one Mr. Cochran, who was indebted to him some trifling sum; and the man, not being able to get his money, began to murmur. The other immediately took a horse-whip to pay him with it; but, by the help of a good pair of heels, the taylor got off. Such oppressions as these made me seek for a vessel to get off the island as fast as I could; and by the mercy of God I found a ship in November bound for England, when I embarked with a convoy, after having taken a last farewell of Doctor Irving. When I left Jamaica he was employed in refining sugars; and some months after my arrival in England I learned, with much sorrow, that this my amiable friend was dead, owing to his having eaten some poisoned fish. We had many very heavy gales of wind in our passage; in the course of which no material incident occurred, except that an American privateer, falling in with the fleet, was captured and set fire to by his Majesty's ship the Squirrel. On January the seventh, 1777, we arrived at Plymouth. I was happy once more to tread upon English ground; and, after passing some little time at Plymouth and Exeter among some pious friends, whom I was happy to see, I went to London with a heart replete with thanks to God for all past mercies.

The next morning, we discovered that the vessel that had so enraged the captain was an English sloop. The sloop soon anchored near us. To my great surprise, I learned that Doctor Irving was aboard, traveling from the Musquito shore to Jamaica. I wanted to visit my former master and old friend immediately, but the captain would not let me leave. I then wrote to the doctor, explaining how I was being treated and begging him to get me off the sloop. But he replied that he could not, since he was only a passenger himself. He did, however, send me some rum and sugar for my own use. I now learned what had happened after I left the estate I had managed for him on the Musquito shore. While I managed the estate, the enslaved people were well fed and comfortable. A white overseer had taken my place. Through cruelty and misguided greed, this man beat and cut the poor enslaved people without mercy. As a result, every one of them got into a large Puriogua canoe and tried to escape. But they did not know where to go or how to handle the canoe, and they all drowned. As a result, the doctor's plantation was left uncultivated. He was now returning to Jamaica to buy more enslaved people and put the plantation back into operation. On October 14, the Indian Queen arrived at Kingston in Jamaica. Once we had unloaded, I demanded my wages, which came to eight pounds and five shillings sterling. But Captain Baker refused to pay me a single farthing. Yet this was the hardest-earned money I had ever worked for in my life. I then found Doctor Irving and told him about the captain's dishonesty. He did everything he could to help me get my money. We went to every magistrate in Kingston, nine in all, but they all refused to help me. They said my sworn testimony could not be accepted against a white man. Nor was that all. Baker threatened to beat me severely if he could catch me, because I had tried to demand my money. He would have carried out his threat, but Dr. Irving helped me gain protection from Captain Douglas of the warship Squirrel. I thought this treatment was extremely unjust. Yet I found that treating free men this way, instead of paying for their labor, was all too common there. One day, I went with a free Black tailor named Joe Diamond to a man named Mr. Cochran. Mr. Cochran owed him a small sum. When the tailor could not get his money, he began to complain. Mr. Cochran immediately picked up a horsewhip to pay him with that instead. But the tailor escaped by running fast. Such oppression made me look for a vessel that would take me off the island as quickly as possible. By God's mercy, I found a ship bound for England in November. After saying a final farewell to Doctor Irving, I boarded the ship, which sailed with a convoy. When I left Jamaica, he was working at refining sugar. Some months after I arrived in England, I learned, to my great sorrow, that my dear friend had died. He had eaten some poisonous fish. We encountered many very severe gales during the voyage. No significant incident occurred, except that an American privateer came upon the fleet. His Majesty's ship, the Squirrel, captured the privateer and set it on fire. On January 7, 1777, we arrived at Plymouth. I was happy to set foot on English soil once more. I spent a little time in Plymouth and Exeter with some devout friends whom I was happy to see. Then I went to London, my heart full of thanks to God for all his past mercies.