SPILSBÙRy's voyage to AFRICA* 
December 26th. We picked op a very large canoe adrift; 
carae to an aiicbor in four fathoms^ and saw a strange sail iu 
§hoFe steering to the northward. Sent our cutter to reconnoitre 
again; at eight A. M. lired three guns: at ten observed our 
cutler coaling ; without having found the mouth of the river. 
jVlnde sail again to the N. W. 
December 27lh. At five P. M. anchored with the kedge in 
three and half fathoms. We now, from several circumstances, 
indeed we must be at the mouth of the river : all hands w^ere 
therefore anr^^ious m malnng preparation, knowing the enemy's 
prival03r to be of superior force to us. We hung the hammock 
cloths over our sides to prevent their seeing the guns : our 
he^^d was muflled up, and disguised m the same maiiner : and 
the carpenters were employed in making a false poop: which 
when finished, occasioned her looking more like a rusty old 
Guioeaman, than a man of war. 
December 28th. The cutter returned ; they had been a long 
y;ay vip the river, and in the night were close to the privateer,, 
jjefore they were aware of their situation : nor did they iirjd it 
out until they heard their sentries challenge each other. She 
immediately got under weigh, and a brig with her did the ssrt.e; 
our boat f(?llowing them, but close under t)ie hand for fear of 
discovery. When our cntter left tlieni they had anchored at the 
mouth of the river, v^bich is twelve or fourteeji miles to 
the northward of its place m the charts. From the soundings, 
two and half fathoms, there was scarce water to get over the 
bar. it was therefore proposed, if we could not get in with the 
Favourite, to cut the privateer out. We hoisted out the gig, and 
sent the first and second lieutenants to make observations, 
Jn the mean time we got under weigh. We had not made much 
progress, when we saw them returning, waving thor hats. We 
îiow got out all our sweeps, regulated the sti^kes by the drum, 
and sent the boats ahead to tow. When they came back, they 
said they had seen her taken aback, with a prize, which she had 
njade Dropped anchor at one P. M. we saw two brigs under 
American colours: at two commenced firing, when a black 
p^'ivateer hoisted French colours and returned it : at twenty 
minutes past two she struck : w e boarded her ; and they called 
for the doctor. I was consequently sent on board, and found 
seven killed, including the captain, and twenty-four wounded : 
thoir decks were so slippery with blood, that 1 could not stand 
\vithout h{îldn>g by the rigging. Having ordered those who 
were dead U\ be thrown overboard, 1 found an old man with his 
fuce entirely cut away, except the lower jaw; the ball had left 
ïieither eyes, nose, uor cheeks! and where the septum of the 
imse w as, 1 could see the braio forcing a passage. This pom 
