Sea-Captain Alexander Hamilton on Sea-Life & Piracy

[Mission]

This is rather interesting (if somewhat unbelievable and rather long) story that I saw summarized and reprinted in Eric Graham's book Seawolves: Pirates & the Scots. It involves pirate Walter Kennedy's wife and some sort of magical nonsense. So it's a good story, if nothing else:

“I saw strange Cures performed by the Malaya Doctor at Malacca [in Malaysia]. One of them was on a Gentleman of my Acquaintance, who was second Supercargo of a Scots Ship called the Speed-well, which was lost near Malacca. After the Ship was lost, the first Supercargo took an House near the Town, by the Sea-side, to put their Cargo and Stores in it, that were saved, but eleven Chests of Treasure and some fine Goods were lodged in one of the Dutch Company’s Ware-houses in the Fort, which had three Locks on the Door. The Governor had one Key, and each of the Supercargoes one.

A common Strumpet called Mrs Kennedy, who at that time was married to an Irish Pirate of that Name, and kept and Ordinary in Malacca, gave the first Supercargo a Philtre [love potion] that made him dote on her almost to Distraction. He was never easie out of her Company while awake, and in his Sleep he called her by Name. When she had got him so far in the Noose, she pretended she had great Need of Money, and would fain have borrowed a Chest of one thousand Pounds Sterling of the Scots Company’s Money. The bewitched Supercargo could deny her nothing she asked for, and promised that if he could bring his Second to consent, she should have it, but that Consent could be got on no Terms, tho’ the first proferred to be accountable to their Masters for that Sum, and he acquainting her with the Impossibility of getting that Consent, she contrived

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a Way to remove the Second by Poison, and going to a female Friend of hers, who was well acquainted with the Mystery of Poisoning, procured a dose so small that she could drop it in his Broth or Drink without his perceiving it, and accordingly she took an Opportunity to dine with them one Day when they had Broth at Table, and in serving the Broth about, she dropt it among his.

The same Night it began to operate by Grippings [pain in the stomach or intestines] and Sweating, and he being bred a Surgeon, took some Medicines to correct the Grippings, which in some Measure the Medicine did, but he lost his Appetite, and his Excrements came from him as black as Ink. In the Interim a Ship came from Surat, bound to China, wherein the chief Supercargo was obliged to embarqe with the Company’s Stock, and lef the Second at Malacca, to take Care of what was left there. A few Days after the Surat Ship sailed, I arrived at Malacca, and found the second Supercargo in a deplorable condition.

He finding all Medicines ineffectual, began to fear Poison, and sent for the Dutch Doctor of Physick to consult him, who, on Sight of his Excrements, told him plainly that he was poisoned, and advised him to send for a noted Malaya Doctor, who lived in a Place called Batantiga [Footnote 285: ‘Batu Tiga’ means ‘Third Mile’ and is a common way of expressing the names of small villages which have no other features.] about four Miles to the Northwest of Malacca, which he forthwith did, and when the Doctor came, he felt his Pulse, and immediately told that he was poisoned, and that if he could not tell what Poison he had taken, his Cure was very desperate and uncertain.

I advised my Friend to let old Beelzebub (for he was a Man, or walking Shadow, of a dismal Aspect, near an hundred Years old) take him into his Care. My Friend took my Advice, and complimented the Doctor with five Japon Cupangs, or fifty Dutch Dollars. Old Esculapius laught when he received the Present, but he could not shew one Tooth, but promised his utmost Endeavours to cure him. He asked my Friend if he suspected any Body particularly, who might ow him a Grudge. He answered, none by Mrs Kennedy, or some of her Companions. The Doctor called for a Tea Cup, and some fresh Limes, which were brought to him. He turned all out of the

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Room but my self and his Patient, and cut some Limes, and squeezed their Juice into the Tea-cup till it was full. He then mutter’d some unintelligible Words, keeping his right Hand moving over the Cup for the Space of three or four Minutes, and finding his Conjuration was not satisfactory, he shak’d his old Head, and lookt dejected. He then mutter’d some other Words with an higher Voice keeping his Hand in Motion as before, and in two Minutes the Juice in the Cup seemed to boil as if a Fire had been under it. Then he began to smile. I had the Curiosity to put my Finger into the Juice, but it retained its ordinary Coldness.

He then told his Patient that his Cure was certain, on which he had a Promise of five Cupangs more when the Cure was effected. He ordered the Patient to send a Servant to Mrs Kennedy’s Door, and watch between the Hours of Ten and Twleve, and to observe well if there was any unusual Noise in her House between those Hours, and so took his Leave with a contented Countenance. At Ten, my Friend sent a Servant according to Direction, and he and I sat discoursing about what we had observed in the Doctor’s Actions towards effecting the Cure. About Eleven the Spy came and told us that Mrs Kennedy had run stark mad, making an hideous Noise, and said, She had seen the Devil in the little House in the Garden, in a monstrous Shape and terrible Aspect. She soon after grew furiously mad, scratching and biting every Body she could come at, and so the Family was forced to threw on a Bed, and tie her down to it.

In that Fit she continued till about eight in the Morning, that the old Conjurer came to Town, who, upon the Advice given him, went directly to visit her. Upon Sight of him she became calm and sensible. He ordered every Body out of the Room, and askt her what Poison she had given to his Patient. She was very loth to tell, and proferred him 500 Dollars to forsake his Patient, and let the Poison operate; but he honestly refused, and assured her that the same Devil that she saw in the Garden, should be her continual Companion all her Days, and would often make her feel the Effects of his Power, if she did not instantly declare what the Poison was, and from whom she had it. She seeing no other Remedy, confest where she had the Poison, but could not tell what it was.

The Doctor sent for the

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old Schoolmistress of Wickedness, and when she came, he threatned to torment her also, by his humble Servant the Devil, if she did not forthwith declare what Poison had been given, which she did, and he took away Mrs Kennedy’s Companion the Devil, and the Patient was well enough in eight or ten Days, to follow his Affairs, but Mrs Kennedy lookt ever after disturb’d, as if continually frightned.” (Hamilton, p. 383-6)

[Swashbuckler 1700]

This is rather interesting (if somewhat unbelievable and rather long) story that I saw summarized and reprinted in Eric Graham's book Seawolves: Pirates & the Scots. It involves pirate Walter Kennedy's wife and some sort of magical nonsense. So it's a good story, if nothing else:

“I saw strange Cures performed by the Malaya Doctor at Malacca [in Malaysia]. One of them was on a Gentleman of my Acquaintance, who was second Supercargo of a Scots Ship called the Speed-well, which was lost near Malacca. After the Ship was lost, the first Supercargo took an House near the Town, by the Sea-side, to put their Cargo and Stores in it, that were saved, but eleven Chests of Treasure and some fine Goods were lodged in one of the Dutch Company’s Ware-houses in the Fort, which had three Locks on the Door. The Governor had one Key, and each of the Supercargoes one.

A common Strumpet called Mrs Kennedy, who at that time was married to an Irish Pirate of that Name, and kept and Ordinary in Malacca, gave the first Supercargo a Philtre [love potion] that made him dote on her almost to Distraction. He was never easie out of her Company while awake, and in his Sleep he called her by Name. When she had got him so far in the Noose, she pretended she had great Need of Money, and would fain have borrowed a Chest of one thousand Pounds Sterling of the Scots Company’s Money. The bewitched Supercargo could deny her nothing she asked for, and promised that if he could bring his Second to consent, she should have it, but that Consent could be got on no Terms, tho’ the first proferred to be accountable to their Masters for that Sum, and he acquainting her with the Impossibility of getting that Consent, she contrived

__

a Way to remove the Second by Poison, and going to a female Friend of hers, who was well acquainted with the Mystery of Poisoning, procured a dose so small that she could drop it in his Broth or Drink without his perceiving it, and accordingly she took an Opportunity to dine with them one Day when they had Broth at Table, and in serving the Broth about, she dropt it among his.

The same Night it began to operate by Grippings [pain in the stomach or intestines] and Sweating, and he being bred a Surgeon, took some Medicines to correct the Grippings, which in some Measure the Medicine did, but he lost his Appetite, and his Excrements came from him as black as Ink. In the Interim a Ship came from Surat, bound to China, wherein the chief Supercargo was obliged to embarqe with the Company’s Stock, and lef the Second at Malacca, to take Care of what was left there. A few Days after the Surat Ship sailed, I arrived at Malacca, and found the second Supercargo in a deplorable condition.

He finding all Medicines ineffectual, began to fear Poison, and sent for the Dutch Doctor of Physick to consult him, who, on Sight of his Excrements, told him plainly that he was poisoned, and advised him to send for a noted Malaya Doctor, who lived in a Place called Batantiga [Footnote 285: ‘Batu Tiga’ means ‘Third Mile’ and is a common way of expressing the names of small villages which have no other features.] about four Miles to the Northwest of Malacca, which he forthwith did, and when the Doctor came, he felt his Pulse, and immediately told that he was poisoned, and that if he could not tell what Poison he had taken, his Cure was very desperate and uncertain.

I advised my Friend to let old Beelzebub (for he was a Man, or walking Shadow, of a dismal Aspect, near an hundred Years old) take him into his Care. My Friend took my Advice, and complimented the Doctor with five Japon Cupangs, or fifty Dutch Dollars. Old Esculapius laught when he received the Present, but he could not shew one Tooth, but promised his utmost Endeavours to cure him. He asked my Friend if he suspected any Body particularly, who might ow him a Grudge. He answered, none by Mrs Kennedy, or some of her Companions. The Doctor called for a Tea Cup, and some fresh Limes, which were brought to him. He turned all out of the

__

Room but my self and his Patient, and cut some Limes, and squeezed their Juice into the Tea-cup till it was full. He then mutter’d some unintelligible Words, keeping his right Hand moving over the Cup for the Space of three or four Minutes, and finding his Conjuration was not satisfactory, he shak’d his old Head, and lookt dejected. He then mutter’d some other Words with an higher Voice keeping his Hand in Motion as before, and in two Minutes the Juice in the Cup seemed to boil as if a Fire had been under it. Then he began to smile. I had the Curiosity to put my Finger into the Juice, but it retained its ordinary Coldness.

He then told his Patient that his Cure was certain, on which he had a Promise of five Cupangs more when the Cure was effected. He ordered the Patient to send a Servant to Mrs Kennedy’s Door, and watch between the Hours of Ten and Twleve, and to observe well if there was any unusual Noise in her House between those Hours, and so took his Leave with a contented Countenance. At Ten, my Friend sent a Servant according to Direction, and he and I sat discoursing about what we had observed in the Doctor’s Actions towards effecting the Cure. About Eleven the Spy came and told us that Mrs Kennedy had run stark mad, making an hideous Noise, and said, She had seen the Devil in the little House in the Garden, in a monstrous Shape and terrible Aspect. She soon after grew furiously mad, scratching and biting every Body she could come at, and so the Family was forced to threw on a Bed, and tie her down to it.

In that Fit she continued till about eight in the Morning, that the old Conjurer came to Town, who, upon the Advice given him, went directly to visit her. Upon Sight of him she became calm and sensible. He ordered every Body out of the Room, and askt her what Poison she had given to his Patient. She was very loth to tell, and proferred him 500 Dollars to forsake his Patient, and let the Poison operate; but he honestly refused, and assured her that the same Devil that she saw in the Garden, should be her continual Companion all her Days, and would often make her feel the Effects of his Power, if she did not instantly declare what the Poison was, and from whom she had it. She seeing no other Remedy, confest where she had the Poison, but could not tell what it was.

The Doctor sent for the

__

old Schoolmistress of Wickedness, and when she came, he threatned to torment her also, by his humble Servant the Devil, if she did not forthwith declare what Poison had been given, which she did, and he took away Mrs Kennedy’s Companion the Devil, and the Patient was well enough in eight or ten Days, to follow his Affairs, but Mrs Kennedy lookt ever after disturb’d, as if continually frightned.” (Hamilton, p. 383-6)

While that is likely just a story.. It can also be very true while I don't believe that it was...

[Mission]

I don't think the whole thing was a story - I think it is based in fact. Hamilton witnessed parts of it and, despite the fact that he got a lot of the hearsay wrong, I don't think he just made stuff up. (You could conjecture that since he wrote his book several years after this happened he may have confused some parts but there I suspect there is a foundation of truth in it.) However, I think the voodoo stuff is nonsense. If a person were poisoned and didn't die within a day or two, it would seem to me that they would eventually recover as their system eliminated the poison.

(Why are you rolling your eyes at me? That suggests I said something dumb.)

[Mission]

I just found this interesting.

“About 5 Leagues above Jansan, we entred into a Canal cut thro’ a large plain of Cornfields, where we saw many large flat-bottom’d Boats built to breed Ducks, which they bring up for Sale, and to weed the Rice Grounds for Hire. They have three or four Stories over one another, where are the Ducks Nests. On the uppermost they sit and hatch Eggs. In the others they lodge all Night; and it is wonderful to see what Order and Oeconomy those Ducks keep; for some old Drakes (on the Winding of the Whistle) drive all the younger Novices into the Water, some going foremost to shew the Way, while others take Care that none loiter behind. There is a small Port made about a Foot high from the Water, and a Piece of Deal Board laid on it, whose other End lies in the Water on a gentle Descent, that serves them for a Bridge to go out, and come in at when they are out about Service. The Master goes in a small Boat among the Rice Grounds, (for that Grain always grows among Water) and winding his Whistle, they all follow his Boat, and hinder the Growth of the Corn. About Noon he winds his Whistle again, on which they all repair on Board of their own Vessel in good Order, some of the old Drakes bringing up the Rere, whilst other guard the Bridge, to take Care that no Stranger Ducks enter with their own Tribe; and when all are in, the old Guardians enter also and take their proper Posts.

Sometimes when two or three of those Boats are employed in one Field, and their Ducks mingle, and some young Novices, which do not understand their proper Master’s Whistle, chance to come in Company to another Boat, and would enter with the rest, the old Guardian Drakes soon spy them out, and beat them

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away from the Bridge, and on no Account will they suffer them to enter, more than an established Company will admit Interlopers to enter into their Trade.” (Hamilton, p. 490-1)

[Swashbuckler 1700]

I don't think the whole thing was a story - I think it is based in fact. Hamilton witnessed parts of it and, despite the fact that he got a lot of the hearsay wrong, I don't think he just made stuff up. (You could conjecture that since he wrote his book several years after this happened he may have confused some parts but there I suspect there is a foundation of truth in it.) However, I think the voodoo stuff is nonsense. If a person were poisoned and didn't die within a day or two, it would seem to me that they would eventually recover as their system eliminated the poison.

(Why are you rolling your eyes at me? That suggests I said something dumb.)

To be precise I also believe that there is some truth there but the voodoo stufff can be truth .

And Well I have obsession to use smileys even if there is no need .. so you did not said anything dumb but I just meant with that smiley that... well I don't know...

Edited February 23, 2012 by Swashbuckler 1700

[Mission]

I think there is voodoo or magic or whatever-you-like in regard to health matters only so long as you believe in it.

This is a tribute to the latent power of our own minds and the power of belief, not to some unearthly external force.

[Swashbuckler 1700]

I think there is voodoo or magic or whatever-you-like in regard to health matters only so long as you believe in it.

This is a tribute to the latent power of our own minds and the power of belief, not to some unearthly external force.

well to be honest I don't believe that voodoo stuff is real....