At This Time Considerable Jealousies Sprung Up, Respecting
The Capacity And Conduct Of The Vice-Admiral, Which Were Soon Increased
By His Losing His Other Boat And One Man, And Which Could Not Be
Recovered By All Their Care.
This carelessness occasioned much murmuring
and discontent among the seamen, which the vice-admiral daily increased
by his haughty behaviour, and by his contempt for advice, which no man
needed more than he.
The 4th October, they met a small fleet of English, Dutch, and French
ships, returning from Barbary, from whom they had accounts of a terrible
pestilence then raging in that country, which had swept away 250,000
persons in a very short space of time. The 6th, they came between the
islands of Teneriff and Grand Canary, and on the 3d November, they came
in sight of the coast of Guinea. December 4th they were off Cape Palma,
in lat. 3 deg. 30' N.[68] and on the 10th came in sight of Princes Island,
in lat. 1 deg. N.[69] Sending their boats ashore to this island, carrying a
flag of truce, they were met on the shore by a negro, bearing a similar
flag, from whom they demanded a supply of provisions, which was accorded
on fair and friendly terms; but, while settling the terms, they were
suddenly surprised by a party from an ambush, which cut off several of
them, one of whom was Mr Mellish, their English pilot. The Portuguese
pursued them to their boats, which they briskly attached, killing the
admiral's brother, and had nearly captured the whole party.
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