for the north side of Cuba, and
was desired to rendezvous every Sunday afternoon off Cape Maize. This was
Tuesday. In the meanwhile we sent a boat into a small bay to the westward
of the Cape to fill some small casks with water from a fall we saw from
the ship. Three hours afterwards she returned, not only with water but
also with three large pigs, which the master, who had direction of the
boat, had shot. At last Sunday arrived; we were off the Cape, but no
_Fancy_. The weather had been very squally, and we thought it probable she
might have got to leeward. The following morning we spoke an American brig
from St. Jago, who informed us that she had passed a Spanish schooner
laden with tobacco at anchor at the mouth of the river. We stood in, and
discovered the ship with the glass. In the evening I volunteered to cut
her out, and at dusk we started in a six-oared cutter. By eleven at night
I was within the mouth of the river and under the Moro Castle and another
large fort. Our oars being muffled prevented any noise. We pulled round
the entrance twice, but to no purpose, as the vessel had removed and we
could not discover her. Daylight was breaking as we cleared the shore,
when we saw a vessel which appeared like our ship standing towards us, but
were with reason alarmed at seeing three more. I immediately concluded
they were enemy's privateers. My fears were soon confirmed by their
hoisting Spanish colours, and the nearest began firing at us. I had eight
men and a midshipman with me, and we all did our utmost to escape.
Unfortunately our ship was not in sight, and after a fatiguing and anxious
pull for three hours and having two of the boat's crew wounded, I was, in
consequence of the nearest privateer being within pistol shot, obliged to
surrender. We were taken possession of by the _Gros Souris_, a Spanish
zebec with a long eighteen-pounder and seventy-five men. The other vessels
were a three-masted zebec with an English sloop which she had captured and
a schooner. Two hours afterwards we were all at anchor in the river, and
the next day proceeded to St. Jago, where I had, with the crew, the
felicity of being put into the gaol. In the afternoon I received my
parole, as also did the youngster who was with me. The American Consul,
Mr. B., very handsomely sent a person to conduct me to the American hotel.
This said tavern was kept by a Boston widow, who was really a good sort of
person. The _table d'hote_ was very tolerabl