Hamilton’s account of the east indies. 269

brood of hogs, that has greatly increafed. They alfo chriftened many rivers and cape-lands that are not now frequented, but only known by their names, and ferve for neftsto pirates. The French made a fettlement on the eaft fide of it, and called it PortDauphin ; but finding that the commerce there would not bear the expence of thecolony, they left it again.

The Englifh formerly drove a trade for Haves on the weft fide of the ifland, particu-larly at St. Auguftine’s bay, and at new and old Meffalige, but now they are afraid ofthe pirates, though fome venture their necks in going to trade with them. There havebeen feveral fquadrons of Britifh men of war lent to cruize on the pirates, but havehad very ill fuccefs in finding them out; but one Scots fhip commanded by one Mil-lar, did the public more fervice in deftroying them, than all the chargeable fquadronsthat have been fent in queft of them ; for, with a cargo of ftrong ale and brandy,which he carried to fell them, in anno 1704, he killed above 500 of them by caroufmg,though they took his fhip and cargo as a prefent from him, and his men entered, mollof them, into the fociety of the pirates.

It was reported in India , that Commodore Littleton had forae of that gang on board,the Anglefey at Madagafcar, but, for fome valuable reafons, he let them go again;and becaufe they found a difficulty in cleaning the bottoms of their large fhips, hegeneroufly affifted them with large blocks and tackle-falls for careening them.Whether thofe reports were true or falfe, I will not undertake to determine, but I fawa pirate at Bengal, in the French company’s fervice, that affirmed it.

Madagafcar is environed with iflands and dangerous fhoals, both of rocks and fand.St. Mary’s, on the eaft fide, is the place where the pirates firft chofe for their afylum,having a good harbour to fecure them from the weather, though in going in there arefome difficulties, but hearing that fquadrons of Engliffi ffiips were come in queft ofthem, they removed to the main ifland for more fecurity, and there they have madethemfelves free denizens by marriage; and I am of opinion, that it will be no eafymatter to difpoffefs them. In anno 1722, Mr. Matthews went in queft of them, butfound they had deferted the ifland of St. Mary’s, leaving behind them fome marks oftheir robberies, for in fome places they found pepper a foot thick, lying on the groundin the open air. The Commodore aforefaid went with his fquadron over to the mainifland, but the pirates had carried their fhips into rivers or creeks, out of danger of themen of war, and to offer to burn them with their boats, would have been impracti-cable, fmce they could have eafily diftreffed the boat’s crews out of the woods. TheCommodore had difcourfe with fome of them, but they flood on their guard,ready to defend themfelves, if any violence had been offered them.

I have heard it reported by fome who had frequented Madagafcar for trade, that thenatives that live far from the fea, are of a tawny complexion, and have long hair ontheir heads, whereas thofe that are born near the fea, are very black, and their hair■ like lambs-wool. What religion they profefs, I know not, and the pirates are but feurvyfchool-mafters to teach them morals.

There are many iflands and fhoals lying to the eaftward of Madagafcar. St. Apol-loni is uninhabited ; Domafcarenhas is inhabited by the French , but formerly by theEngliffi, and was called by them, the Englifh Forefl. Maritius was formerly inhabitedby the Dutch , but in anno 1703, they had orders to leave it, and repair to Batavia, andl he Dutch Company fent fhipping for their tranfportation. Diego Rais, which is thenext ifland to Maritius, was made a French fettlement, but finding it barren, they lefth in 3 years; all the reft were always uninhabited, as well to the eaftward as the north-ward,