Hamilton’s account of the east indies,

4 37

had one key, and each of the fupercargoes one. A common ftrumpet, called Mrs.Kennedy, who at that time was married to an Irifh pirate of that name, and kept an or-dinary in Malacca , gave the firft fupercargo a philtre that made him doat on her almoftto diftra&ion. He was never eafy out of her company while awake, and in his fleephe called her by name. When fhe had got him fo far in the noofe, fhe pretended fhehad great need of money, and would fain have borrowed a cheft of one thoufandpounds fterling of the Scots Company’s money. The bewitched fupercargo coulddeny her nothing fhe afked for, and promifed, that if he could bring his fecond to con-fent, fhe fhould have, it, but that confent could be got on no terms, though the firftproffered to be accountable to their mailers for that fum, and he acquainting her withthe impoffibility of getting that confent, fhe contrived a way to remove the fecond bypoifon, and going to a female friend of hers, who was well acquainted with the myfleryof poifoning, procured a dole fo fmall, that fhe could drop it in his broth or drink with-out his perceiving it; and accordingly, fhe took an opportunity to dine with them oneday when they had broth at table, and in ferving the broth about, fhe dropped it amonghis. The fame night it began to operate by gripings and fweating, and he being breda furgeon, took fome medicines to correct the gripings, which in fome meafure themedicine did, but he loft his appetite, and his excrements came fionv him as black as ink.In the interim a fhip arrived from Surat, bound to China , wherein the chief fupercargowas obliged to embark with the Company’s flock, and left the fecond at Malacca , totake care of what was left there. A few days after the Surat fhip failed, I arrived atMalacca , and found the fecond fupercargo in a deplorable condition.

He finding all medicines ineffectual, began to fear poifon, and fent for the Dutch doctor of phyfick to confult him, who, on fight of his excrements, told him plainly thathe was poifoned, and advifed him to fend for a noted Malaya doctor, who lived at apltlce called Batantiga, about four miles to the north-weft of Malacca , which he forth-with did, and when the dodtor came, he felt his pulfe, and immediately told that heWas poifoned, and that if he could not tell what poifon he had taken, his cure was verydefperate and uncertain. I advifed my friend to let old Beelzebub (for he was a man ,or walking fhadow, of a difmal afpecl, near an hundred years old) take him into hiscare. My friend took my advice, and complimented the dodlor with five Japon cu-pangs, or fifty Dutch dollars. Old Efculapius laughed when he received the prefent,but could not fhew one tooth, but promifed his utmoft endeavours to cure him. Heafked my friend if he fufpedted any body particularly, who might owe him a grudge.He anfwered, none but Mrs. Kennedy, or fome of her companions. The doctor calledfor a tea-cup, and fome frefh limes, which were brought to him. He turned all out ofthe room but rnyfelf ajid his patient, and cut fome limes, and fqueezed their juice intothe tea-cup till it was full. Pie then muttered fome unintelligible words, keeping hisright hand moving over the cup for the fpace of three or four minutes, and finding hisconjuration was not fatisfadlory, he fhaked his old head, and looked dejected. Hethen muttered fome other words with an higher voice, keeping his hand in motion asbefore, and in two minutes the juice in the cup feemed to boil as if fire had been underit. Then he began to fmile. I had the curiofity to put my finger into the juice, butit retained its ordinary coldnefs. He then told his patient that his cure was certain,on which he had a promife of five cupangs more when the cure was effe£led. Heordered the patient to fend a fervant to Mrs. Kennedy’s door, and watch between thehours of ten and twelve, and to obferve well if there was any unufual noife in her houfebetween thofe hours, and fo took his leave with a contented countenance. At ten myfriend fent a fervant according to direction, and he and I fat difcourfing about what we