Accidents > Dangers of the deep, or, Narratives of shipwreck and adventure at sea

EAST INDIAMAN. 77
below; so a trade was then began in China-
ware for provisions.
The natives, however, from seeing so few
people on board, began to be very insolent
and troublesome, insomuch, that it was neces¬
sary to keep an armed sentry on each gang¬
way to prevent them from coming on board,
which they were extremely eager to do.
One hand was employed in making a main-
topsail, and the rest in getting out the stump
of the mainmast, which was hove overboard.
A jury mainmast was stepped and rigged ;
and a main-topmast was made of a sprung
main-topsail-yard, and the ship rigged.
Six slaves were purchased for three barrels
of gunpowder; they were set to work during
the day, and at night seemed in irons. The
doctor’s gun was given to the king, and a jar
of arrack, for which he returned two goats.
The king then came on board with ten
wives, each of whom were presented with a
China bowl, and every one of them returned
a goat.
The Sussex was now in good trim for sea,
her bottom had been scrubbed, and tarred as
low as possible, and her sides tarred. The
sails were bent, and that part of the quarter-