296 STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



The Batavian government covenanted that British Guinea- 

 men should be allow^ed to sell their cargoes in the colonies for 

 three years, but not be permitted to take away any thing in re- 

 turn, except bills upon Holland. This regulation was certainly 

 very hard ; however, during the four months peace, which 

 subsisted, after they were in possession of Demerary, several 

 cargoes were sold, and the ships, obliged to leave the river in 

 ballast, used to lay off and on the coast in the day, and would 

 anchor at night to take in the produce which was brought off 

 to them. By these means considerable quantities of cotton 

 were thrown into the London and Liverpool markets, notwith- 

 standing the means taken by the Dutch corvette Hippomenus, 

 which sent out several tenders to intercept this smuggling 

 trade. I was coming up from Essequebo one night, and be- 

 fore we perceived it, the weather being very dark, were 

 alongside of an English Guineaman, who was then taking in 

 cotton. We were immediately hailed and ordered to stand 

 off; but continuing on our tack, and nearing the vessel more 

 and more, we were saluted by a shower of musket balls, se- 

 veral of which passed through the sails and wounded the 

 masts ; fortunately no other injury was done. The negroes 

 appeared perfectly composed, and proceeded to put the 

 schooner about, merely saying *'Them buchra sailor mad — 

 no ?" While we were in stays, another volley was fired, but 

 more f6r the purpose of frightening than of injuring, as the 



