| Citation |
BPB.767.043a
7 Dec 1767:11,12,13,21,22 (538)
Philadelphia, November 11, 1767. [Narrative submitted by] A
Traveller.
In the beginning of April last, being advised by my friends
for the benefit of my health, to try the sea air, and change
of climate, I embarked from this port for Rhode-Island,
where I was agreeably surprized inmeeting my old school-
mate, Captain Joseph Roxfield of the ship Peggy, belonging
toLisbon, for which port he was to sail in a few days, and
finding that I was in pursuit of health, he pressed me to
become his passenger, to which I readily consented. . .
[report of trip to the Western Islands, and shipwreck,
rescue by a ship bound for Africa, and another shipwreck]
If ever you have seen what the sailors call Mother Cary's
chickens, dancing on the waves, you may form a tolerably
good idea of our situation, . . . [Rescue by Negroes,
observation of wedding ceremony] The ceremony being over,
the company joined in a circular dance, with the married
pairs in the middle. . .
But mark the uncertainty of human happiness! The dancers
were proceeding with the young pairs, to the cabbin, when in
an instant, they were surrounded by a company of armed
negroes, who bound the whole company, me among the rest, and
hurried us with great expedition into the wood; . . . [taken
to English fort, and released, taken as passenger on slave
vessel for Barbados]. . . A week passed very quietly, when
the Captain ordered the mate to go down and bring up twenty,
saying, "he would make the devils dance for their health",
but no sooner was the hatch unbarred than a number of them,
who had got off their irons, rushed upon the deck, and
attacked the crew, . . . [description of battle on board,
with slaves thrown overboard]
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