A sailor's life under four sovereigns . ced and scarcely a month out, Icould neither think nor dream of anything but visiting the British factory at Piccaninny Cestos, asmall thatched hut, nearly hidden in Jungle, I founda sickly-looking lad surrounded by a number ofnatives, each of whom brought a small portion of oil—about a gallon—in calabashes, in exchange for asmall measure of cloth. By way of protection, thehut was surrounded by a high sort of railing formedof stakes, just wide enough apart to admit the muzzleof a musket, by which means the companion of thesick lad was shot thr
A sailor's life under four sovereigns . ced and scarcely a month out, Icould neither think nor dream of anything but visiting the British factory at Piccaninny Cestos, asmall thatched hut, nearly hidden in Jungle, I founda sickly-looking lad surrounded by a number ofnatives, each of whom brought a small portion of oil—about a gallon—in calabashes, in exchange for asmall measure of cloth. By way of protection, thehut was surrounded by a high sort of railing formedof stakes, just wide enough apart to admit the muzzleof a musket, by which means the companion of thesick lad was shot through the head a few days 206 A Sailors Life CHAP. 1837. previously. This brutal act was supposed to havebeen committed by the Kings son. I offered to setfire to all his black Majestys huts along the coast,but was informed that by so doing I should put astop to the trade, which appeared to be of much moreconsequence than the poor lads life. The natives are odd-looking animals. They arenot troubled with too much clothing, but besmear. West African Nati-ves. their face and bodies with mud by way of ornament,and wear a necklace of pigs teeth byway of a charm,to keep the devil at a distance. I reached the ship at the same time as the otherboats from this expedition. They had pulled up inthe dark towards the anchorage of Trade Town, andat midnight were just able to discern their vesselslying in the anchorage. Goldsmith directed thateach boat should take one, which they did by pullingalongside their respective vessels as nearly as possibleat the same time. xviii Slaving Vessels 207 The pinnace boarded a fine schooner called the , with everything ready for a start. Herfore topsail yard was hoisted to the masthead, hercat-fall was overhauled, and a luff tackle for weighingthe anchor stretched along her deck. The plankswere arranged over the water casks, ready for thereception of her slaves, who were always brought onboard heavily ironed. And even the articles, deli-cat
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade189, booksubjectgreatbritainroyalnavy
