CHAP. XVI.
of
Captain John Evans,
And his Crew.
John Evans was a Welch Man, had been formerly Maſter of a Sloop belonging to Nevis, but loſing his Employ there, he ſailed for ſome Time out of Jamaica as Mate, till happening in Company of three or four of his Comrades, and Wages not being ſo good as formerly, and Births ſcarce, becauſe of the great Number of Seamen; they agreed to go abroad in ſearch of Adventures. They ſailed, or rather rowed out of Port Royal in Jamaica, the latter End of September 1722, in a Canoa; and coming on the North-Side of the Iſland, went aſhore in the Night, broke open a Houſe or two, and robb’d them of ſome Money, and every Thing elſe they could find that was portable, and brought the Booty on Board the Canoa.
This was very well for the firſt Time, but this kind of Robbery did not pleaſe ſo well, they wanted to get out to Sea, but having no Veſſel but their Canoa, they were prevented in their laudable Deſign; however, they kept a good look out, and traverſed the Iſland, in Expectation that Providence would ſend ſome unfortunate Veſſel as a
