Therefore in hopes to defray ſome of the Charges he muſt be at, he bought a Sloop, loaded it with ſeveral ſorts of Goods, wherewith the Tinquineſe uſually trade to the neighbouring Iſlands, and putting fourteen Men on board, whereof three were of the Country, he appointed me Maſter of the Sloop, and gave me power to traffick for two Months, while he tranſacted his Affairs at Tonquin.
Source: wiktionary