... And then how did they get back? Any guesses on a time table? (Though I'm thinking that last one will be the easiest to figure out on my own.)
I'm having a devil of a time figuring out which way a Salem, Massachusetts black pepper trader would sail to get to Sumatra in 1798/1800. I'm trying to write a novel featuring a fictionalized version of the historic quest for black pepper as the primary plotline, and which cultures and obstacles I present will be dramatically different depending on which damn way the ship goes around the world.
I've looked online and I'm still doing research, but thought I'd ask here first. I'll update if I manage to get one of the deacons at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site on the phone.
Update: Apparently no one at the Salem Maritime museum actually answers the phone, and the voicemail box isn't set up. Gah. I'll try again here in a bit.
Two days of calling, then messaged their Facebook group with the question... To discover they were closed for two days and didn't bother updating the website lol.
But the answer!! They got there going around Africa to the Indian ocean--not sure how they got back. That's a start, at least. I'm glad this part of the mystery is solved.
Oh, and if anyone's got resources on being an American merchant sailor in late 1700s / early 1800s, I'd love to read 'em!