A Voyage to the East Indies: Page 99

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A Voyage to the East Indies: Page 99

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we steer’d our Course for England under the Direction of Captn. Abercrombie of the Walpole who being the oldest Captain, was Commodore of the Fleet. Before we sail’d, there were several Accounts of several french Men of War being in the Bay, but these prov’d only Inventions to enhance the Premium for Insurance, which was twenty five Guineas when we left Calcutta. The Captains had private Instructions given them to open in the Latitude 19Nº Fortunately our Ship sail’d much better than she did outward bound, the Commodore being the heaviest sailor of the Four. I say fortunately for we had not occasion to crowd so much sail, wch would have distress’d us as the ship was badly Man’d, having but few Europeans on board & a Number of Lascars who were good for Nothing. We made a very great Passage, till we came off the Cape which we had orders to come no nearer to than the Latitude of 40Sº because of the french Cruizers, but a Gale of Wind coming on from the N.W. prevented our getting round the Cape so soon as we had reason to expect it being Summer Time . . When it first came on to blow, the Commodore laid his Ship to, under bare Poles, but the other ships were under a Mainsail, and Main or Mizen Stay Sail which they were oblig’d to keep out to prevent their rowling so violently as to carry any thing away. [end page 99]
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