CHAPTER XLI - OCCUPATION OF DELAGOA BAY BY THE DUTCH

Summary

About the commencement of the eighteenth century—the exact date cannot be given—the Portuguese ceased sending vessels from Mozambique to trade at Delagoa Bay. Owing to the occasional intrusion of English adventurers they had found that very little profit was to be made there, and the port was frequented by pirates, whose visits caused it to be regarded as a dangerous locality. The last vessel sent from Mozambique had been taken and destroyed by these rovers of the sea. She had a crew of blacks, with only a European master and a book-keeper, and was lying at anchor off Shefina Island, on which was the depôt for goods and the principal residence of the visitors while they remained in the bay. A ship flying the white flag of France sailed in and dropped anchor close by, and the two white men, who did not suspect the real character of the stranger, very imprudently went on board her. They were not allowed to leave, so during the night the blacks in the trader became alarmed, and thought it well to have their firearms ready and to make preparation for hasty flight, if that should be necessary.

At daybreak next morning the pirate got out three boats to seize the Portuguese vessel, and in one of them sent the captive book-keeper in order to deceive those on board. As the boats approached, the prisoner, who must have been a man of the highest fortitude, shouted to the blacks to defend themselves, and they, after firing at the rowers, quickly hoisted sail and tried to escape.