I come now to give an Account of the Mutinies
that have happened on board the Ships where
I have been.
These Mutinies are generally occasioned
by the Sailors ill usage of these poor People,
when on board the Ship wherein they are transported
to our Plantations. Wherever therefore I
have commanded, it has been my principal
Care, to have the Negroes on board my Ship
kindly used; and I have always strictly charged
my white People to treat them with Humanity
and Tenderness; In which I have usually found
my Account, both in keeping them from mutinying,
and preserving them in health.
And whereas it may seem strange to those
that are unacquainted with the method of
managing them, how we can carry so many hundreds
together in a small Ship, and keep them in
order, I shall just mention what is generally
practiced. When we purchase grown People,
I acquaint them by the Interpreter, "That,
now they are become my Property, I think
fit to let them know what they are bought
for, that they may be easy in their Minds:
(For these poor People are generally under
terrible Apprehensions upon their being bought
by white Men, many being afraid that we design
to eat them; which, I have been told, is
a story much credited by the inland Negroes;)
So after informing them, That they are bought
to till the Ground in our Country, with several
other Matters; I then acquaint them, how
they are to behave themselves on board towards
the white Men; that if any one abuses them,
they are to complain to the Linguist, who
is to inform me of it, and I will do them
Justice; But if they make a Disturbance,
or offer to strike a white Man, they must
expect to be severely punished."
![[Click on image to enlarge]](../../images/18thc/necklace2.jpg)
When
we purchase the Negroes, we couple the sturdy
Men together with Irons; but we suffer the
Women and Children to go freely about: And
soon after we have sail'd from the Coast,
we undo all the Mens Irons.
They are fed twice a day, and are allowed
in fair Weather to come on Deck at seven
a Clock in the Morning, and to remain there,
if they think proper, till Sun setting. Every
Monday Morning they are served with Pipes
and Tobacco, which they are very fond of.
The Men Negroes lodge separate from the Women
and Children: and the places where they all
lye are cleaned every day, some white Men
being appointed to see them do it.
I have been several Voyages, when there
has been no Attempt made by our Negroes to
mutiny; which, I believe, was owing chiefly,
to their being kindly used, and to my Officers
Care in keeping a good Watch. But sometimes
we meet with stout stubborn People amongst
them, who are never to be made easy; and
these are generally some of the Cormantines,
a Nation of the Gold Coast. I went in the
year 1721, in the Henry of London,
a Voyage to that part of the Coast, and bought
a good many of these People. We were obliged
to secure them very well in Irons, and watch
them narrowly: Yet they nevertheless mutinied,
tho' they had little prospect of succeeding.
I lay at that time near a place called Mumfort
on the Gold-Coast, having near five hundred
Negroes on board, three hundred of which
were Men. Our Ship's Company consisted
of fifty white People, all in health: And
I had very good Officers; so that I was very
easy in all respects.
After we had secured these People, I called
the Linguists, and ordered them to bid the
Men-Negroes between Decks be quiet; (for
there was a great noise amongst them.) On
their being silent, I asked, "What had
induced them to mutiny?" They answered, "I
was a great Rogue to buy them, in order to
carry them away from their own Country, and
that they were resolved to regain their Liberty
if possible." I replied, "That
they had forfeited their Freedom before I
bought them, either by Crimes or by being
taken in War, according to the Custom of
their Country; and they being now my Property,
I was resolved to let them feel my Resentment,
if they abused my Kindness: Asking at the
same time, Whether they had been ill used
by the white Men, or had wanted for any thing
the Ship afforded?" To this they replied, "They
had nothing to complain of." Then I
observed to them, "That if they should
gain their Point and escape to the Shore,
it would be no Advantage to them, because
their Countrymen would catch them, and sell
them to other Ships." This served my
purpose, and they seemed to be convinced
of their Fault, begging, "I would forgive
them, and promising for the future to be
obedient, and never mutiny again, if I would
not punish them this time." This I readily
granted, and so they went to sleep. When
Daylight came we called the Men Negroes up
on Deck, and examining their Irons, found
them all secure. So this Affair happily ended,
which I was very glad of; for these People
are the stoutest and most sensible Negroes
on the Coast: Neither are they so weak as
to imagine as others do, that we buy them
to eat them; being satisfied we carry them
to work in our Plantations, as they do in
their own Country.
However, a few days after this, we discovered
they were plotting again, and preparing to
mutiny. For some of the Ringleaders proposed
to one of our Linguists, If he could procure
them an Ax, they would cut the Cables the
Ship rid by in the night; and so on her driving
(as they imagined) ashore, they should get
out of our hands, and then would become his
Servants as long as they lived.
For the better understanding of this I must
observe here, that these Linguists are Natives
and Freemen of the Country, whom we hire
on account of their speaking good English,
during the time we remain trading on the
Coast; and they are likewise Brokers between
us and the black Merchants.
This Linguist was so honest as to acquaint
me with what had been proposed to him; and
advised me to keep a strict Watch over the
Slaves: For tho' he had represented to
them the same as I had done on their mutinying
before, That they would all be catch'd
again, and sold to other Ships, in case they
could carry their Point, and get on Shore,
yet it had no effect upon them.
This gave me a good deal of Uneasiness.
For I knew several Voyages had proved unsuccessful
by Mutinies; as they occasioned either the
total loss of the Ships and the white Mens
Lives; or at least by rendring it absolutely
necessary to kill or wound a great number
of the Slaves, in order to prevent a total
Destruction. Moreover, I knew many of these
Cormantine Negroes despised Punishment, and
even Death it self: It having often happened
at Barbadoes and other Islands, that on their
being any ways hardly dealt with, to break
them of their Stubbornness in refusing to
work, twenty or more have hang'd themselves
at a time in a Plantation. However, about
a Month after this, a sad Accident happened,
that brought our Slaves to be more orderly,
and put them in a better Temper: And it was
this. On our going from Mumfort to Anna-maboe,
which is the principal part on the Gold Coast,
I met there with another of my Owner's
Ships, called the Elizabeth. One Captain
Thompson that commanded her was dead; as
also his chief Mate: Moreover the Ship had
afterwards been taken to Cape Lahoe on the
windward Coast, by Roberts the Pirate with
whom several of the Sailors belonging to
her had entered. However, some of the Pirates
had hindered the Cargoe's being plundered,
and obtained that the Ship should be restored
to the second Mate: Telling him, "They
did it out of respect to the generous Character
his Owner bore, in doing good to poor Sailors."
When I met with this Vessel I had almost
disposed of my Ship's Cargoe; and the Elizabeth being
under my Direction, I acquainted the second
Mate, who then commanded her, That I thought
it for our Owner's Interest, to take
the Slaves from on board him, being about
120, into my Ship; and then go off the Coast;
and that I would deliver him at the same
time the Remains of my Cargoe, for him to
dispose of with his own after I was sailed.
This he readily complied with, but told me, "He
feared his Ship's Company would mutiny,
and oppose my taking the Slaves from him:" And
indeed, they came at that instant in a Body
on the Quarter-deck; where one spoke for
the rest, telling me plainly, "they
would not allow the Slaves to be taken out
by me." I found by this they had lost
all respect for their present Commander,
who indeed was a weak Man. However, I calmly
asked the reason, "Why they offered
to oppose my taking the Slaves?" To
which they answered, "I had no business
with them." On this I desired the Captain
to send to his Scrutore, for the Book of
Instructions Captain Thompson had received
from our Owner; and he read to them, at my
request, that Part, in which their former
Captain, or his Successor (in case of Death)
was to follow my Orders. Hereupon they all
cried out, "they should remain a great
while longer on the Coast to purchase more
Slaves, if I took these from them, which
they were resolved to oppose." I answered, "That
such of the Ship's Company as desired
it, I would receive on board my own; where
they should have the same Wages they had
at present on board the Elizabeth, and
I would send some of my own People to supply
their Places." This so reasonable an
Offer was refused, one of the Men who was
the Ship's Cooper telling me, that the
Slaves had been on board a long time, and
they had great Friendship with them: therefore
they would keep them. I asked him, "Whether
he had ever been on the Coast of Guinea before?
He replied no. Then I told him, "I supposed
he had not by his way of talking, and advised
him not to rely on the Friendship of the
Slaves, which he might have reason to repent
of when too late." And 'tis remarkable
this very person was killed by them the next
Night, as shall be presently related.
So finding that reasoning with these Men
was to no Purpose, I told them, "When
I came with my Boats to fetch the Slaves,
they should find me as resolute to chastise
such of them as should dare to oppose me,
as I had been condescending to convince them
by arguing calmly." So I took my leave
of their Captain, telling him, "I would
come the next Morning to finish the Affair."
![[Click on image to enlarge]](../../images/18thc/overboard2_2.jpg)
But
that very Night, which was near a month after
the Mutiny on board of us at Mumfort, the
Moon shining now very bright, as it did then,
we heard, about ten a Clock, two or three
Musquets fired on board the Elizabeth. Upon
that I ordered all our Boats to be manned,
and having secured every thing in our Ship,
to prevent our Slaves from mutinying, I went
my self in our Pinnace, (the other Boats
following me) on board the Elizabeth. In
our way we saw two Negroes swimming from
her, but before we could reach them with
our Boats, some Sharks rose from the bottom,
and tore them in Pieces. We came presently
along the side of the Ship, where we found
two Men-Negroes holding by a Rope, with their
heads just above water; they were afraid,
it seems, to swim from the Ship's side,
having seen their Companions devoured just
before by the Sharks. These two Slaves we
took into our Boat, and then went into the
Ship, where we found the Negroes very quiet,
and all under Deck; but the Ship's Company
was on the Quarter-deck, in a great Confusion,
saying, "The Cooper, who had been placed
centry at the Fore-hatch way, over the Men-Negroes,
was, they believed, kill'd by them." I
was surprized to hear this, wondring that
these cowardly fellows, who had so vigorously
opposed my taking the Slaves out, a few hours
before, had not Courage enough to venture
forward, to save their Shipsmate; but had
secured themselves by shutting the Quarter-deck
door, where they all stood with Arms in their
Hands. So I went to the fore-part of the
Ship with some of my People, and there we
found the Cooper lying on his back quite
dead, his Scull being cleft asunder with
a Hatchet that lay by him. At the sight of
this I called for the Linguist, and bid him
ask the Negroes between Decks, "Who
had killed the white Man?" They answered, "They
knew nothing of the matter; for there had
been no design of mutinying among them:" Which
upon Examination we found true; for above
one hundred of the Negroes then on board,
being bought to the Windward, did not understand
a word of the Gold-Coast Language, and so
had not been in the Plot. But this Mutiny
was contrived by a few Cormantee-Negroes,
who had been purchased about two or three
days before. At last, one of the two Men-Negroes
we had taken up along the Ship side, impeached
his Companion, and he readily confessed he
had kill'd the Cooper, with no other
View, but that he and his Countrymen might
escape undiscovered by swimming on Shore.
For on their coming upon Deck, they observed,
that all the white Men set to watch were
asleep; and having found the Cook's Hatchet
by the Fire-place, he took it up, not designing
then to do any Mischief with it; but passing
by the Cooper, who was centry, and he beginning
to awake, the Negroe rashly struck him on
the head with it, and then jump'd overboard.
Upon this frank Confession, the white Men
would have cut him to Pieces; but I prevented
it, and carried him to my own Ship. Early
the next morning, I went on board the Elizabeth with
my Boats, and sent away all the Negroes then
in her, into my own Ship: not one of the
other Ship's Company offering to oppose
it. Two of them, the Carpenter and Steward,
desired to go with me, which I readily granted;
and by way of Security for the future success
of the Voyage, I put my chief Mate, and four
of my under Officers (with their own Consent,)
on board the Elizabeth; and they arrived,
about five Months after this, at Jamaica,
having disposed of most part of the Cargoe.
After having sent the Slaves out of the Elizabeth, as
I have just now mentioned, I went on board
my own Ship; and there being then in the
Road of Anamaboe, eight sail of Ships besides
us, I sent an Officer in my Boat to the Commanders
of them, "To desire their Company on
board my Ship, because I had an Affair of
great Consequence to communicate to them." Soon
after, most of them were pleased to come;
and I having acquainted them with the whole
Matter, and they having also heard the Negroe's
Confession, "That he had killed the
white Man;" They unanimously advised
me to put him to death; arguing, "That
Blood required Blood, by all Laws both divine
and human; especially as there was in this
Case the clearest Proof, namely the Murderer's
Confession: Moreover this would in all probability
prevent future Mischiefs; for by publickly
executing this Person at the Ship's Fore-yard
Arm, the Negroes on board their Ships would
see it; and as they were very much disposed
to mutiny, it might prevent them from attempting
it." These Reasons, with my being in
the same Circumstances, made me comply.
Accordingly we acquainted the Negroe, that
he was to die in an hour's time for murdering
the white Man. He answered, "He must
confess it was a rash Action in him to kill
him; but he desired me to consider, that
if I put him to death, I should lose all
the Money I had paid for him." To this
I bid the Interpreter reply, "That tho' I
knew it was customary in his Country to commute
for Murder by a Sum of Money, yet it was
not so with us; and he should find that I
had no regard to my Profit in this respect:
For as soon as an Hour-Glass, just then turned,
was run out, he should be put to death;" At
which I observed he shewed no Concern.
Hereupon the other Commanders went on board
their respective Ships, in order to have
all their Negroes upon Deck at the time of
Execution, and to inform them of the occasion
of it. The Hour-Glass being run out, the
Murderer was carried on the Ship's Forecastle,
where he had a Rope fastened under his Arms,
in order to be hoisted up to the Fore-yard
Arm, to be shot to death. This some of his
Countrymen observing, told him, (as the Linguist
informed me afterwards) "That they would
not have him to be frightened; for it was
plain I did not design to put him to death,
otherwise the Rope would have been put about
his neck, to hang him." For it seems
they had no thought of his being shot; judging
he was only to be hoisted up to the Yard-arm,
in order to scare him: But they immediately
saw the contrary; for as soon as he was hoisted
up, ten white Men who were placed behind
the Barricado on the Quarter-deck fired their
Musquets, and instantly killed him. This
struck a sudden Damp upon our Negroe-Men,
who thought, that, on account of my Profit,
I would not have executed him.
The Body being cut down upon the Deck, the
Head was cut off, and thrown overboard. This
last part was done, to let our Negroes see,
that all who offended thus, should be served
in the same manner. For many of the Blacks
believe, that if they are put to death and
not dismembred, they shall return again to
their own Country, after they are thrown
overboard. But neither the Person that was
executed, nor his Countrymen of Cormantee
(as I understood afterwards,) were so weak
as to believe any such thing; tho' many
I had on board from other Countries had that
Opinion.
When the Execution was over, I ordered the
Linguist to acquaint the Men-Negroes, "That
now they might judge, no one that killed
a white Man should be spared:" And I
thought proper now to acquaint them once
for all, "That if they attempted to
mutiny again, I should be obliged to punish
the Ringleaders with death, in order to prevent
further Mischief." Upon this they all
promised to be obedient, and I assured them
they should be kindly used, if they kept
their Promise: which they faithfully did.
For we sailed, two days after, from Anamaboe
for Jamaica; and tho' they were on board
near four Months, from our going off the
Coast, till they were sold at that Island,
they never gave us the least reason to be
jealous of them; which doubtless was owing
to the execution of the white Man's Murderer.
After the Captain [Messervy, of Ferrers galley]
had told me this story, he desired me to
spare him some Rice, having heard, I had
purchased a great many Tuns to the Windward;
where he had bought little, not expecting
to meet with so many Slaves. This request
I could not comply with, having provided
no more than was necessary for my self, and
for another of my Owner's Ships, which
I quickly expected. And understanding from
him, that he had never been on the Coast
of Guinea before, I took the liberty to observe
to him, "That as he had on board so
many Negroes of one Town and Language, it
required the utmost Care and Management to
keep them from mutinying; and that I was
sorry he had so little Rice for them: For
I had experienced that the Windward Slaves
are always very fond of it, it being their
usual Food in their own Country; and he might
certainly expect dissatisfactions and Uneasiness
amongst them for want of a sufficient quantity."
This he took kindly, and having asked my
Advice about other Matters, took his leave,
inviting me to come next day to see him.
I went accordingly on board his Ship, about
three a clock in the afternoon. At four a
clock the Negroes went to Supper, and Captain
Messervy desired me to excuse him for a quarter
of an hour, whilst he went forward to see
the Men-Negroes served with Victuals. I observed
from the Quarter-Deck, that he himself put
Pepper and Palm Oyl amongst the Rice they
were going to eat. When he came back to me,
I could not forbear observing to him, "How
imprudent it was in him to do so: For tho' it
was proper for a Commander sometimes to go
forward, and observe how things were managed;
yet he ought to take a proper time, and have
a good many of his white People in Arms when
he went; or else the having him so much in
their Power, might incourage the Slaves to
mutiny: For he might depend upon it, they
always aim at the chief Person in the Ship,
whom they soon distinguish by the respect
shown him by the rest of the People."
He thanked me for this Advice, but did not
seem to relish it; saying, "He thought
the old Proverb good, that 'The Master's
Eye makes the Horse fat.'" We then
fell into other Discourse, and among other
things he told me, "He designed to go
away in a few days:" Accordingly he
sailed three days after for Jamaica. Some
Months after I went for that place, where
at my arrival I found his Ship, and had the
following melancholy account of his Death,
which happened about ten days after he left
the Coast of Guinea in this manner.
Being on the Forecastle of the Ship, amongst
the Men-Negroes, when they were eating their
Victuals, they laid hold on him, and beat
out his Brains with the little Tubs, out
of which they eat their boiled Rice. This
Mutiny having been plotted amongst all the
grown Negroes on board, they run to the forepart
of the Ship in a body, and endeavoured to
force the Barricado on the Quarter-Deck,
not regarding the Musquets or Half Pikes,
that were presented to their Breasts by the
white Men, through the Loop-holes. So that
at last the chief Mate was obliged to order
one of the Quarter-deck Guns laden with Partridge-Shot,
to be fired amongst them; which Occasioned
a terrible Destruction: For there were near
eighty Negroes kill'd and drowned, many
jumping overboard when the Gun was fired.
This indeed put an end to the Mutiny, but
most of the Slaves that remained alive grew
so sullen, that several of them were starved
to death, obstinately refusing to take any
Sustenance: And after the Ship was arrived
at Jamaica, they attempted twice to mutiny,
before the Sale of them began. This with
their former Misbehaviour coming to be publickly
known, none of the Planters cared to buy
them, tho' offered at a low Price. So
that this proved a very unsuccessful Voyage,
for the Ship was detained many Months at
Jamaica on that account, and at last was
lost there in a Hurricane.