Page:Life and astonishing adventures of Peter Williamson (2).pdf/3

 THE

LIFE AND ADVENTURES

OF

PETER WILLIAMSON.

I WAS born in the parish of Aboyne, Aberdeen Shire, of respectable parents, who sent me very early to live with an aunt at Aberdeen ; when, under the years of pupillarity, one playing on the quay with others of my companions—being of a stout robust constitution—I was taken notice of by two fellows belonging to a vessel in the harbour, employed, in the trade called kidnap- ping ; that is stealing young children from their parents, and selling them as slaves in plantations abroad. Being market out by those monsters of impiety as their prey, I was cajoled on board the ship by them, where I was no sooner got, than they conducted me between the decks to some others they had kidnapped in the same manner. At that time, I had no sense of the fate that was destined for me, and spent the time in childish