being done, he told Wright
he was his prisoner; and informing himself concerning the said ship, he
understood there were no Europeans on board except two Dutch, and one
Frenchman, all the rest being Indians or Armenians, and that the
Armenians were part owners of the cargo. Kid gave the Armenians to
understand that if they would offer anything that was worth his taking
for their ransom, he would hearken to it; upon which they proposed to
pay him twenty thousand rupees, not quite three thousand pounds
sterling; but Kid judged this would be making a bad bargain, wherefore
he rejected it, and setting the crew on shore at different places on the
coast, he soon sold as much of the cargo as came to near ten thousand
pounds. With part of it he also trafficked, receiving in exchange
provisions or such other goods as he wanted. By degrees he disposed of
the whole cargo, and when the division was made it came to about two
hundred pounds a man, and, having reserved forty shares to himself, his
dividend amounted to about eight thousand pounds sterling.

The Indians along the coast came on board and trafficked with all
freedom, and he punctually performed his bargains, till about the time
he was ready to sail; and then, thinking he should have no further
occasion for them, he made no scruple of taking their goods and setting
them on shore without any payment in money or goods, which they little
expected; for as they had been used to deal with pirates, they always
found them men of honor in the way of trade--a people, enemies to
deceit, and that scorned to rob but in their own way.

Kid put some of his men on board the _Queda_, merchant, and with this
ship and his own sailed for Madagascar. As soon as he was arrived and
had cast anchor there came on board of him a canoe, in which were
several Englishmen who had formerly been well acquainted with Kid. As
soon as they saw him they saluted him and told him they were informed he
was come to take them, and hang them, which would be a little unkind in
such an old acquaintance. Kid soon dissipated their doubts by swearing
he had no such design, and that he was now in every respect their
brother, and just as bad as they, and, calling for a cup of bomboo,
drank their captain's health.

These men belonged to a pirate ship, called the _Resolution_, formerly
the _Mocco_, merchant, whereof one Captain Culliford was commander, and
which lay at an anchor not far from them. Kid went on board with