The Levant Voyage of the Blackham Galley (1696-1698)

This volume publishes for the first time, the journal kept by John Looker (?16701715) recording his service as ships surgeon on the Blackham Galley, a London-built merchantman on its second trading voyage to the Levant, between December 1696 and March 1698. divides naturally into three parts. The Blackham Galleys outward and homeward voyages were largely without incident. The time spent by the Blackham Galley in Turkish waters, covers its voyage from Smyrna to Constantinople, where the ship stayed for a month, and then returned to Smyrna. Captain Newnams ill-advised and disastrous attempt at privateering in Ottoman waters on the return journey to Smyrna, led to the detention of his vessel at Smyrna. Lookers account of the Blackham Galleys enforced stay in Smyrna furnishes a detailed account of social life in the international merchant community, as well as portside life seen from below, with its taverns and prostitutes, and the activities and frequent debauches of an increasingly bored and fractious crew. Lookers record also provides interesting detail of his professional approach to treatment of the illnesses, accidents and occasional deaths of members of the company of his own and other ships anchored off Smyrna.