I I - American Memory

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been given, fome of the Merchants from on Shore, whff
had been concern'd in furnifliing the Cargo, came on
Board in the Forenoon to take Leave of the Captain,
and wiih hixn a good Voyage, as is ufual on fuch Occa-
iions.
Whether it was concerted by the whole Gang before
liand we know nor, but while the Captain was treating;
and entertaining the Merchants under the Awning up-
on the Quarter-Deck, as is the Cuftom in thofe hot
Countries, three of the Seamen, -viz. Winter and Pe-
ter/on, two S"^-eiies, and Mac a Scot/man, came
rudely upon the Qaarter-Deck, and as if they took that
Opportunity becaufe the Merchants v/ere prefent, be-
lieving the Captain would not ufe any Violence with
them in the Prefence of the Merchants, they made a
long Complaint of their ill Ufage, and particularly of
their Provifions and Allowance (as they faid) being not
fufBcient, nor fuch as ordinarily made in other Mer-
chant Ships, fceming to load the Captain, Monfieur
Feriieau, with being the Occaficn of it, and that he
did it for his private Gain j which however had not
been true if the Faft had been true, the Overplus of
Prcvifions (if the Stores had been more than fulK.
cient) belonging to the Owners, not to the Captain,
at the End of the Voyage, there being alfo a Steward
on Board to take the Accompt.
In the.'r making this Complaint they feem'd to di-
rcft their Speech to the Merchants, as well as to the
Captain, as if they had been concern'd in the Ship
(which they were not) or, as if defiring them to inter-
cede for them to the Captain that they might have Re-
dref«, and might have a better Allowance.
I'he Captain was highly provok'd at this Rud^nefs,
as indeed he had Reafon, it being a double Affront to
him, as it was done in the View of the Merchants who
were come on Board to him, and to do him an Honour
at parting ; however he reftrain'd his PalTion, and gave
them not the leail angry Word, only, that if they
were aggrieved they had no more to do,, but to have
let:
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