PREFATORY NOTICE TO CAPTAIN SINGLETON.

xiii

reached the western coast, Singleton separated himself from the rest of his companions, and embarking at Cape Coast Castle, returned to England, where he soon dissipated And with this ends the first part of his

his property.

adventures.

"The second part of his life was no less remarkable, but terminated more hopefully. As soon as he had seen the bottom of his purse, he went on board a trading vessel bound for Cadiz, where he engaged in a conspiracy to seize the ship. But the plot failing, he transferred himself to another vessel that was her companion, and where the crew met with better success. Having chosen Wilmot, one of them, their captain, and Singleton his lieutenant, they laid in stores for a voyage, and put to sea. It was not long before they captured a Spanish sloop, which they manned for a privateer, giving the command to Singleton. After a cruise of two years, they began to grow rich, disposed of the sloop, and transferred the crew to a large Spanish frigate carrying thirty-eight guns, of which Singleton had the command. With this force they swept the seas of every vessel that came within their reach. In one of their prizes was a Quaker from Pennsylvania, a surgeon by profession; who, being a useful person, was made to bear them company, and cuts a considerable figure in the story. They now thought of returning home with their booty, and agreed to rendezvous at Madagascar. Here they fell in with Captain Avery, a noted pirate of those times, whose exploits are matter of history. But a difference now arising between Singleton and the other commander, they parted company, Wilmot carrying away all the spoil. Our hero had now to begin the world again; but he was not disheartened. Having a large frigate carrying 44 guns, and four hundred men, besides a sloop at his disposal, he set sail

It was

again, his friend the Quaker bearing him company. not long before they took some valuable prizes, with the contents of which they carried on a considerable trade, and in the end grew very rich. It was now time to think of leaving off so hazardous a mode of life, with the guilt of which our Captain began to have some compunctions of conscience, that were instilled into him by the Quaker. For some considerable time he was under great terror of mind, even bordering upon despair; but the Quaker's discourses brought him to some composure, with a resolution to reform his life, and make all the reparation in his power for the injustice he had committed. The Quaker had a sister in England, to whom he remitted a considerable sum of money, with directions to take a house in the country, as a retreat for them upon their arrival. This they at length accomplished; and the story ends by Singleton's marriage to the fair Quakeress.

"This work is inferior to some of De Foe's narratives. His hero is altogether a worthless character, and the actions recounted of him, are such as few readers would take delight in. From the nature of the story, these, indeed, could not be much otherwise. Singleton is a faithful portrait of a numerous herd that swarmed upon the seas at that period. The events of his life are those of any other pirate, but diversified by some strange adventures, which owe their existence to the fertile brain of the writer. Those who take delight in adventures of this nature, will find much to amuse, if not to instruct them. De Foe has less moralizing in this, than in most of his other works, yet it is not entirely lost sight of; for towards the close, his hero becomes a reformed man. The story of the Quaker, who was the agent in the change, is by far the best part of the work."

THE LIFE,

ADVENTURES, AND PYRACIES

O F THE FAMOUS

CAPTAIN SINGLETON:

CONTAINING

An Account of his being set on shore in the Island of Madagascar ; his Settlement there; with a Description of the Place and Inhabitants : of his Passage from thence in a Paraguay to the main land of Africa; with an Account of the Customs and Manners of the People; his great Deliverance from the barbarous Natives and wild Beasts; of his meeting with an Englishman, a Citizen of London, among the Indians; the great Riches he acquired; and his Voyage home to England. As, also, Captain Singleton's Return to Sea; with an Account of his many Adventures and Pyracies with the famous Captain Avery and others.

LONDON:

Printed for J. BROTHERTON, at the Black Bull in Cornhill; J. GRAVES, in St. James's Street; A. DODD, at the Peacock, without Temple Bar, and T. WARNER, at the Black Boy, in Pater

noster Row.

1720.

THE ADVENTURES

OF

CAPTAIN SINGLETON.

CHAPTER I.

DESCRIPTION OF MY ORIGIN-I AM STOLEN IN INFANCY, AND SOLD TO A GIPSEY-AT TWELVE YEARS OLD THE MASTER OF A SHIP CARRIES ME WITH HIM TO NEWFOUNDLAND-WE ARE TAKEN BY AN ALGERINE-RETAKEN BY THE PORTUGUESE -AN OLD PILOT TAKES CHARGE OF ME, WITH WHOM I MAKE A VOYAGE, AND BEGIN STEALING-I AM CONCERNED IN A MUTINY, AND SET ON SHORE WITH FIVE OF THE CREW -TRANSACTIONS THERE.

As it is usual for great persons, whose lives have been remarkable, and whose actions deserve recording to posterity, to insist much upon their originals, give full accounts of their families, and the histories of their ancestors; so, that I may be methodical, I shall do the same, though I can look but a very little way into my pedigree, as you will see presently.

If I may believe the woman whom I was taught to call mother, I was a little boy, of about two years old, very well dressed, had a nursery-maid to attend me, who took me out on a fine summer's evening into the fields towards Islington, as she pretended, to give the child some air; a little girl being with her, of twelve or fourteeen years old, that lived in the neighbourhood. The maid, whether by appointment or otherwise, meets with a fellow, her sweetheart, as I suppose; he carries her into a public-house to give her a pot and a cake; and while they were toying in the house, the girl plays about, with me in her hand, in the garden and at

B