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The viſiting Boat ſpoke at a Diſtance with us firſt, and our Men were obliged to run fore and aft on the Decks before them, to ſhew they were wholeſome; this neceſſary Precaution is, leſt any Ship may bring the Plague or any other Diſeaſe to their hot Country. Next the Kings Boat boarded us, and ſearched our Ship for Tobacco and Soap, or other prohibited Goods, but found none: If they had found any, the Perſon in whoſe Cuſtody they were, was liable to large Penalties of Law, and would be directly carried to the Trunk (their Priſon) and if not able to pay the high Fine inflicted upon them, would be tranſported as a Slave to the Braziles. The reaſon for this is, you are obliged to buy thoſe prohibited Articles from them, while you are in their Ports.
One Day when employed working with my Knife upon Deck, the Captain ordered me with others to man the Boat; I in a hurry put my Knife in my Pocket and jumped into the Boat with my Comrades; and when the Captain was aſhore, I went with another of my Fellows into a Portugueſe Celler for a Bottle of Wine, which is only Three-pence of our Money; but having ſeveral Things lying above my Money, I brought out a Handful of them, amongſt which was my Knife, which the Portugueſe, like a Fury, wrung from my Hand, and drew a long ſharp Knife of his own, called a Spadron, and would have ſtabbed me with it, had not an Engliſh Merchant, who was juſt coming paſt the Shop in that very Inſtant, jumped in and Seized the Villain and aided my Eſcape.
When our Ship was loaded there with Salt, Fruit, and Wine, we came down the River to Bull Bay, oppoſite of King's Palace, where we anchored. A Brig belonging to Yarmouth lay moored along-ſide of us, and ſome Brazil Shipswas
