Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/202

 Getures and Strains of Voice, as hewed to their Dihonour, they had no other Aim than pleaing us; and what I think was till wore, it was not without a View of Interet; for as thee Clergy are the chief Traders, they toop to pitiful and candalous Methods for ingratiating themelves: They and the Government, on this trading Account, maintain as great Harmony, being ever jealous of each other, and practiing little deceitful Arts to monopolize what Strangers have to offer for ale, whether Toys or Cloaths, which of all Sorts are ever Commodious with the Portuguee, in all Parts of the World; an ordinary Suit of Black will ell for even or eight Pound; a Turntile Wig of four Shillings, for a Moidore; a Watch of forty Shillings, for ix Pound, &c.

The Town is of mean Building, but large and populous, the Reidence of the greater Part of the Natives, who, thro’ the whole Iland, are computed at 10000, the Militia at 3000, and are in general, a racally thievih Generation, as an old grave Friend of mine can Witnes; for he having carried a Bag of econd hand Cloaths on Shore, to truck for Proviions, eated himelf on the Sand for that Purpoe, preently gathered a Crowd round him, to view them; one of which deired to know the Price of a black Suit, that unluckily lay uppermot, and was the bet of them, agreeing to the Demand, with little Heitation, provided it would but fit him; he put them on immediately, in as much hurry as poible, without any co-licentia Seignor; and when my Friend was about to commend the Goodnes of the Suit, and Exactnes they et with, not dreaming of the Impudence of running away from a Crowd, the Racal took to his Heels, my Friend followed and bawled very much, and tho’ there was 500 People about the Place, it erved to no other End but making