18th C Indian Ocean Voyages

Stowaways

In the Age of Sail, ships could have crews of hundreds of individuals, and also carried passengers and moved soldiers around the globe. With such a large number of people on board, it was inevitable that stowaways often found their way onto these ships. If you take a look at French East India company records, you'll often find examples of a "passager clandestin" who was "trouvé caché à bord" or individuals who "embarqué furtivement."

So, who were these individuals?

In some cases they were poor Europeans seeking opportunities abroad. Sometimes they were runaway slaves, seeking to escape harsh treatment. In one case, on the Prince de Conti, it was a cabin boy who had missed his boat, so hopped on another in hopes of catching up.

Learn more about stowaways on the Prince de Conti by clicking the links below:

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