nt that they had been stolen from Po-Po, near
Wydah. She had also a quantity of merchandise on board, without having
any Custom-house certificate of clearance from the Havannah, or indeed
any other account of it, which circumstances led us to believe that it
had been plundered from some American vessel. It was evident that she
had been along the Gold Coast, and round the Bights of Benin and Biafra.
The Captain stated that he was going to Prince's Island to procure
anchors, having only one remaining, and that one, with but a single
fluke to it. We afterwards learnt from the crew that he had endeavoured
to enter the river Lagos, but had been fired on and forced to retire, by
several Brazilian vessels lying there at the time. We conjectured that
she had left the West Indies, on a pretence of going to the coast of
Africa, upon a slaving voyage, without any cargo, except perhaps a small
quantity of specie, in dollars and gold, but carrying an efficient crew,
composed of persons from various nations, and a good stock of
provisions. Vessels, thus equipped, frequently traverse these seas, and
being generally very fast sailers, they contrive to keep away from ships
better armed than themselves, and to board only those that they can
approach, or run away from, at convenience; when convinced that they are
not likely to encounter any resistance, they plunder such vessels at
their pleasure: but should they arrive on the coast of Africa, without
having succeeded in obtaining plunder on their voyage to enable them to
purchase slaves, they entrap and steal such negroes as they can get into
their power, and then return to the West Indies to dispose of their
slave cargo. This is the general character of these pirates, that are
occasionally met in different parts of the North Atlantic Ocean, and
also about the equinoctial line. I have heard numerous instances of
vessels, from Europe, bound to these latitudes, meeting on their voyages
with one or more of such vessels. Prison ships going to New South Wales
have been followed by them; and scrutinized with spy glasses from their
decks: but they have never yet ventured to attack a prison-ship, the
sight of soldiers being quite enough to deter them from any hostile
attempt. Indeed, I believe the best plan in meeting these marauders is,
to assume as bold an air, and make as much show of resistance as
possible. Knowing the character of these craft, Captain Owen thought it
right to detain the brigan