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5 doubt what course to take, but having money in my pocket, I travelled to London by land.

On my arrival in that city, I happily contracted an acquaintance with the master of a ship who had been on the coast of Guinea: taking a fancy to me, he told me, that if I would go the voyage with him, I should be at no expense; and if I would carry any thing with me, I should have the advantage of trading for myself. Encouraged by this offer, by the assistance of some of my relations, with whom I still corresponded, I raised forty



pounds, which I laid out in such toys and trifles, as he directed me to buy. But though in this voyage I was continually sick; yet under my worthy friend, I got a competent knowledge of the mathematics, and the rules of navigation; learned how to keep an account of the ship’s course, and to take an observation: this voyage made me both a sailor and a merchant; for I brought home five pounds nine ounces of gold dust for my