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第10章

part8-第10章

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proportioned to it; so that; in a word; we resolved to want for 

nothing in the voyage。



All this while I had provided nothing for our assistance when 

we should come to the place and begin to call ourselves planters; 

and I was far from being ignorant of what was needful on that 

occasion; particularly all sorts of tools for the planter's work; 

and for building; and all kinds of furniture for our dwelling; 

which; if to be bought in the country; must necessarily cost 

double the price。



So I discoursed that point with my governess; and she went 

and waited upon the captain; and told him that she hoped ways 

might be found out for her two unfortunate cousins; as she 

called us; to obtain our freedom when we came into the country; 

and so entered into a discourse with him about the means and 

terms also; of which I shall say more in its place; and after 

thus sounding the captain; she let him know; though we were 

unhappy in the circumstances that occasioned our going; yet 

that we were not unfurnished to set ourselves to work in the 

country; and we resolved to settle and live there as planters; 

if we might be put in a way how to do it。  The captain readily 

offered his assistance; told her the method of entering upon 

such business; and how easy; nay; how certain it was for 

industrious people to recover their fortunes in such a manner。  

'Madam;' says he; ''tis no reproach to any many in that country 

to have been sent over in worse circumstances than I perceive 

your cousins are in; provided they do but apply with diligence 

and good judgment to the business of that place when they 

come there。'



She then inquired of him what things it was necessary we 

should carry over with us; and he; like a very honest as well 

as knowing man; told her thus:  'Madam; your cousins in the 

first place must procure somebody to buy them as servants; 

in conformity to the conditions of their transportation; and 

then; in the name of that person; they may go about what they 

will; they may either purchase some plantations already begun; 

or they may purchase land of the Government of the country; 

and begin where they please; and both will be done reasonably。'  

She bespoke his favour in the first article; which he promised 

to her to take upon himself; and indeed faithfully performed 

it; and as to the rest; he promised to recommend us to such as 

should give us the best advice; and not to impose upon us; 

which was as much as could be desired。



She then asked him if it would not be necessary to furnish us 

with a stock of tools and materials for the business of planting; 

and he said; 'Yes; by all means。'  And then she begged his 

assistance in it。  She told him she would furnish us with 

everything that was convenient whatever it cost her。  He 

accordingly gave her a long particular of things necessary for 

a planter; which; by his account; came to about fourscore or 

a hundred pounds。  And; in short; she went about as dexterously 

to buy them; as if she had been an old Virginia merchant; only 

that she bought; by my direction; above twice as much of 

everything as he had given her a list of。



These she put on board in her own name; took his bills of 

loading for them; and endorsed those bills of loading to my 

husband; insuring the cargo afterwards in her own name; by 

our order; so that we were provided for all events; and for 

all disasters。



I should have told you that my husband gave her all his whole 

stock of #108; which; as I have said; he had about him in gold; 

to lay out thus; and I gave her a good sum besides; sot that I 

did not break into the stock which I had left in her hands at 

all; but after we had sorted out our whole cargo; we had yet 

near #200 in money; which was more than enough for our 

purpose。



In this condition; very cheerful; and indeed joyful at being so 

happily accommodated as we were; we set sail from Bugby's

Hole to Gravesend; where the ship lay about ten more days; 

and where the captain came on board for good and all。  Here 

thecaptain offered us a civility; which indeed we had no reason 

to expect; namely; to let us go on shore and refresh ourselves; 

upon giving our words in a solemn manner that we would not 

go from him; and that we would return peaceably on board 

again。  This was such an evidence of his confidence in us; 

that it overcame my husband; who; in a mere principle of 

gratitude; told him; as he could not be in any capacity to make 

a suitable return for such a favour; so he could not think of 

accepting of it; nor could he be easy that the captain should 

run such a risk。  After some mutual civilities; I gave my 

husband a purse; in which was eighty guineas; and he put in 

into the captain's hand。  'There; captain;' says he; 'there's 

part of a pledge for our fidelity; if we deal dishonestly with 

you on any account; 'tis your own。'  And on this we went 

on shore。



Indeed; the captain had assurance enough of our resolutions 

to go; for that having made such provision to settle there; it 

did not seem rational that we would choose to remain here at 

the expense and peril of life; for such it must have been if we 

had been taken again。  In a word; we went all on shore with 

the captain; and supped together in Gravesend; where we were 

very merry; stayed all night; lay at the house where we supped; 

and came all very honestly on board again with him in the 

morning。  Here we bought ten dozen bottles of good beer; some 

wine; some fowls; and such things as we thought might be 

acceptable on board。



My governess was with us all this while; and went with us 

round into the Downs; as did also the captain's wife; with 

whom she went back。  I was never so sorrowful at parting 

with my own mother as I was at parting with her; and I never 

saw her more。  We had a fair easterly wind sprung up the third 

day after we came to the Downs; and we sailed from thence 

the 10th of April。  Nor did we touch any more at any place; 

till; being driven on the coast of Ireland by a very hard gale 

of wind; the ship came to an anchor in a little bay; near the 

mouth of a river; whose name I remember not; but they said 

the river came down from Limerick; and that it was the largest 

river in Ireland。



Here; being detained by bad weather for some time; the captain; 

who continued the same kind; good…humoured man as at 

first; took us two on shore with him again。  He id it now in 

kindness to my husband indeed; who bore the sea very ill; and 

was very sick; especially when it blew so hard。  Here we 

bought in again a store of fresh provisions; especially beef; 

pork; mutton; and fowls; and the captain stayed to pickle up 

five or six barrels of beef to lengthen out the ship's store。  We 

were here not above five days; when the weather turning mild; 

and a fair wind; we set sail again; and in two…and…forty days 

came safe to the coast of Virginia。



When we drew near to the shore; the captain called me to him; 

and told me that he found by my discourse I had some relations 

in the place; and that I had been there before; and so he supposed 

I understood the custom in their disposing the convict prisoners 

when they arrived。  I told him I did not; and that as to what 

relations I had in the place; he might be sure I would make 

myself known to none of them while I was in the circumstances 

of a prisoner; and that as to the rest; we left ourselves entirely 

to him to assist us; as he was pleased to promise us he would 

do。  He told me I must get somebody in the place to come and 

buy us as servants; and who must answer for us to the governor 

of the country; if he demanded us。  I told him we should do as 

she should direct; so he brought a planter to treat with him; as 

it were; for the purchase of these two servants; my husband 

and me; and there we were formally sold to him; and went 

ashore with him

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