The _Europeans_ were astonished at the Tenderness and Resolution of the Girl, for she was not, by what Her Mien spoke her, past seventeen; and they now admired, as much as they had secretly detested her, for saying she was in haste to be married again, the Meaning of which they did not understand.
After the Husband and Wife were buried, the Crew return'd on Board, and gave an Account of what had pass'd; the Captains Wives (for _Misson_ and his were on Board the _Bijoux_, the Name they had given their Prize from her Make and Gilding) seem'd not in the least surprized, and _Caraccioli's_ Lady only said, she must be of noble Descent, for none but the Families of the Nobility had the Privilege allowed them of following their Husbands on pain, if they transgressed, of being thrown into the Sea, to be eat by Fish; and they knew, that their Souls could not rest as long as any of the Fish, who fed upon them, lived. _Misson_ asked, if they intended to have done the same Thing had they died? We should not, answer'd his Wife, have disgraced our Families; nor is our Tenderness for our Husbands inferior to hers whom you seem to admire.
After their Recovery, _Misson_ proposes a Cruize, on the Coast of _Zangueber_, which being agreed to, he and _Caraccioli_ took Leave of the Queen and her Brother, and would have left their Wives on the Island, but they could by no Means be induced to the Separation; it was in vain to urge the Shortness of the Time they were to Cruize; they answer'd it was farther than _Mohila_ they intended to go, and if they were miserable in that short Absence, they could never support a longer; and if they would not allow them to keep them Company the Voyage, they must not expect to see them at their Return, if they intended one.
In a Word they were obliged to yield to them, but told them, if the Wives of their Men should insist as strongly on following their Example, their Tenderness, would be their Ruin, and make them a Prey to their Enemies; they answer'd the Queen should prevent that, by ordering no Woman should go on board, and if any were in the Ships, they should return on Shore: This Order was accordingly made, and they set Sail for the River of _Mozembique_. In about ten Days Cruize after they had left _Johanna_, and about 15 Leagues to the Eastward of this River, they fell in with a stout _Portuguese_ Ship of 60 Guns, which engaged them from Break of Day till Two in the Afternoon, when the Captain being killed, and a great Number of Men lost, she struck: This proved a very rich Prize, for she had the Value of 250000 _L_. Sterling on Board, in Gold-Dust. The two Women never quitted the Decks all the Time of the Engagement, neither gave they the least Mark of Fear, except for their Husbands: This Engagement cost them thirty Men, and _Caraccioli_ lost his right Leg; the Slaughter fell mostly on the _English_, for of the above Number, twenty were of that Nation: The _Portuguese_ lost double the Number. _Caraccioli's_ Wound made them resolve to make the best of their Way for _Johanna_ where the greatest Care was taken of their wounded, not one of whom died, tho' their Number amounted to Twenty seven.