ſince they could not go a Cruizing any more, it was Time to think of eſtabliſhing themſelves at Land; to which Purpoſe they took all Things out of the Sloops, made Tents of the Sails, and encamped themſelves, having a large Quantity of Ammunition, and abundance of ſmall Arms.
Here they met with ſeveral of their Countrymen, the Crew of a Privateer Sloop which was commanded by Captain Thomas Tew; and ſince it will be but a ſhort Digreſſion, we will give an Account how they came here.
Captain George Dew and Captain Thomas Tew, having received Commiſſions from the then Governor of Bermudas, to ſail directly for the River Gambia in Africa; there, with the Advice and Aſſiſtance of the Agents of the Royal African Company, to attempt the taking the French Factory at Goorie, lying upon that Coaſt. In a few Days after they ſailed out, Dew in a violent Storm, not only ſprung his Maſt, but loſt Sight of his Conſort; Dew therefore returned back to refit, and Tew inſtead of proceeding on his Voyage, made for the Cape of Good Hope, and doubling the ſaid Cape, ſhaped his Courſe for the Straits of Babel Mandel, being the Entrance into the Red Sea. Here he came up with a large Ship, richly laden, bound from the Indies to Arabia, with three hundred Soldiers on Board, beſides Seamen; yet Tew had the Hardineſs to board her, and ſoon carried her; and, ’tis ſaid, by this Prize, his Men ſhared near three thouſand Pounds a Piece: They had Intelligence from the Priſoners, of five other rich Ships to paſs that Way, which Tew would have attacked, tho’ they were very ſtrong, if he had not been over-ruled by the Quarter-Maſter and others. This differing in Opinion created ſome ill Blood amongſt them, ſo that they reſolved to break up pyrating, and no Place was ſo fit to receive them as Madagaſcar; hither they
ſteered