Children kidnapped

“While I frequented this country, the crew of a Canary fishing bark brought, from the coast of the Desart to the city of Palmas, a boy and a girl, his sister, who were decoyed on board: the boy was then about eleven years of age, and the girl about nine; they were both dressed in antelopes skins. Shortly after their arrival, the fishermen of Palmas went in a body, and complained to the Royal Audience against the people who had brought away the children, and begged that they might be sent back to their parents; enforcing this reasonable request, by representing the danger they were in of being massacred by their relations, who would infallibly wreak their vengeance on the Canarymen who should attempt to land on their coast. This representation has its desired effect; the Audience ordered the captives soon after to be sent to their own country, with some presents to their disconsolate parents.

Before their departure, many artifices were used to induce them to change their religion: they were genteelly clad, elegantly lodged, and entertained by people of the first rank, who endeavoured to make everything in the island as agreeable to them as possible; but all this could not shake the boy’s constancy, for he continued firmly attached to the religion of his fathers: the girl, tempted by the gaiety of the ladies dress, and other pleasures of the place, seemed to waver; however her brother had so much influence over her as to prevent her conversion. ”

George Glas, 1764