DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70303#0192
166
EMBARKED FOR ST. DOMINGO.
he could desire; and so far aided his purposes as to be-
come a willing instrument to my future misfortunes.
I did not remain long before I was to become the ob-
ject of more degradation; as, in consequence of an order
from the regiment Captain Bowen belonged to, he was
ordered to embark for St. Domingo ; and projecting far-
ther plans on ray happiness, for, conceiving me pro-
perly subjugated to his purpose, and remarking my
figure was extremely well calculated for the situation he
had assigned me, he produced a complete suit of male
attire; and for the first time made me acquainted with
the unmanly design he had formed, of taking me with
him to the West-Indies, in the menial capacity of his
foot-boy.
I had not much time to deliberate how to act; and by
this time knowing his peremptory disposition, in a fit of
frenzy and despair, I yielded to the base proposal, and
assumed the character he had thought fit to assign me, in
the name of John Taylor, which I ever after retained.
Thus equipped, I travelled with him to Falmouth,
where soon after our arrival, we embarked on board the
Crown transport, Captain Bishop, and set sail for the
West Indies on the 20th day of March, 1792. We had
not been long on our voyage before I began to experience
the hardships of my situation : shipboard even to the ro-
bust and most daring of the male sex, is at first a very
unpleasant dwelling ; and it must naturally be supposed,
was to one like myself particularly disagreeable ; and the
novelty of my new attire did not exempt me from being
compelled to live and mess with the most menial of the
ship’s company, as Captain Bowen never suffered me
once after I was on board to eat with him, but forced me
to put up with what he left at meal times.
Fearful of incurring the raillery which detection
would have occasioned, I resolved to endure the hard-
ships
EMBARKED FOR ST. DOMINGO.
he could desire; and so far aided his purposes as to be-
come a willing instrument to my future misfortunes.
I did not remain long before I was to become the ob-
ject of more degradation; as, in consequence of an order
from the regiment Captain Bowen belonged to, he was
ordered to embark for St. Domingo ; and projecting far-
ther plans on ray happiness, for, conceiving me pro-
perly subjugated to his purpose, and remarking my
figure was extremely well calculated for the situation he
had assigned me, he produced a complete suit of male
attire; and for the first time made me acquainted with
the unmanly design he had formed, of taking me with
him to the West-Indies, in the menial capacity of his
foot-boy.
I had not much time to deliberate how to act; and by
this time knowing his peremptory disposition, in a fit of
frenzy and despair, I yielded to the base proposal, and
assumed the character he had thought fit to assign me, in
the name of John Taylor, which I ever after retained.
Thus equipped, I travelled with him to Falmouth,
where soon after our arrival, we embarked on board the
Crown transport, Captain Bishop, and set sail for the
West Indies on the 20th day of March, 1792. We had
not been long on our voyage before I began to experience
the hardships of my situation : shipboard even to the ro-
bust and most daring of the male sex, is at first a very
unpleasant dwelling ; and it must naturally be supposed,
was to one like myself particularly disagreeable ; and the
novelty of my new attire did not exempt me from being
compelled to live and mess with the most menial of the
ship’s company, as Captain Bowen never suffered me
once after I was on board to eat with him, but forced me
to put up with what he left at meal times.
Fearful of incurring the raillery which detection
would have occasioned, I resolved to endure the hard-
ships