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I
A NEW
COLLECTIO>
*
VOYAGE
DISCOVERIES and TRAVEI
CONTA ININQ
Whatever is worthy of Notice, in
EUROPE, ASIA,
AFRICA and AMERICA;
IK 1EIPECT TO
The- Situation and Extent of Empires, Kingdoms,
Provinces! their Climates, Soil, Produce, &
WITH
The Manners and Cufloms of the feveral Inhabit:
their Government, Religion, Arts, Sciences,
Manufactures, arid Commerce.
The whole confiding of fuch English and Foibiow Au
i\ arc in moll Eftcem ; including the Descriptions and Rei
of feme late celebrated Travellers, not to be found in t
other Collection.
Illuflrited with • Viridy of ■cconta
MAPS, PLANS, and elegant ENGRAVING
LONDON:
Printed for J, KNOX, near Southampton-Slrer
in thc'Strand, MDCCLXVII.
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COLLECTION
VOYAGES and TRAVELS.
The VOYAGE of Sir FRANCIS DRAKE
round the Globe.
TH E learned Camden informs us, ftiat fir Fran-
cis Drake was the fon of a clergyman^ who,
in the time of queen Elizabeth, became vi-
car of Upnore, on the river Medway. But the in.
duftrious John Stowe fays, that he was the eldcft of
twelve brethren, all children of Edmund Drake, of
Taviftock, in the county of Devon, mariner; and
rfiat he was born in the year 1540. The only way
to reconcile thefe accounts, is to fuppofe that Ed-
mund Drake, being a zealous Protectant, fufTering
much for his religion in the days of Henry VIII.
and, having likewife a competent (hare of learn-
ing, was ordained deacon in the days of queen Eli-
zabeth, and fettled at Upnore. As for our hero,
he received the Chriftian name of Francis from his
godfather Francis earl of Bedford : but it does not
appear, that he obtained any great benefit from that
nobleman's patronage in his youth; for as foon as
he was able, he was fent to lea, apprentice to the
mafter of a Imall bark trading to France and Zea-
land ; who, having a great afte&\ou fat \.W\s.&., w\.
being himfelf a bachelor, -«V\eriYve, cfctw^ Vi^-A*1
Vol. JH. "B
?b
2 THE VOYAGE OF
him his bark. At the age of eighteen Mr. Drake
was made purfer of a fhip, which went to the Bay
of Bifcay ; and at twenty he made a voyage to the
coaft of .Guinea. In ail thefe voyages he diftin-
guilhed himfelf by his extraordinary courage, and by
a fagacity very unufual in perfons of his age. His
laudable clefire of glory induced him to venture all
that he had in the world in a voyage to the Weft
Indies in the year 1565, but in this he had no
fuccefs. In 1567, he ferved under his kinfman fir
John Hawkins, in the bay of Mexico j but was ftiHr
unfortunate, returning from thence rich* in point of
fame, but, as to his circumftances, in a manner
undone. Thefe difappointments ferved only to
heighten his refentment and therefore he made two
voyages more into thofe parts, the firft in 1570, with
two Ships, the Dragon and Swan; the fecond in
1571, in the Swan alone, purely for the fake of in-
formation, and that he wight, qualify himfelf for tin-.
dertaking fomething of importance in thofe parts,
which by his courage and pcrfeverancc, he brought
to bear.
His character being now fufHciently eftabliQiedr
he found enow ready to venture part of their for-
tunes in a voyage he propofed; for which having
made all things ready, he failed May the 24th, 1572*.
in the Pafca of Plymouth, which was of no greater,
burden than feventy ton 1 having for his confort the
Swan, of two hundred fifty ton, commanded by his.
brother John Drake, with fevemy-three men and,
boys, and provisions for a year. Such was the pre-
paration he made for attacking the King of Spain
lh the Weft Indies, which he believed he had a right
to do, in order to make reprifals for what he had ■
fuffered by his fubje&s. In this voyage he facked.
the famous town of Nombre de Dios, and foon af-
ter faw from an high tree, the South Seas; which
fight inflamed him with a violent defire of carrying,
an Hhglilh fhip thither, an attempt never made, per-
Jjtxps never thought of, before that time. \w iM*
.4. *" cxoeivaQn.
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE.
i
expedition he acquired immenfe riches for his own-
ers, as well as himfelf-, being a man of fuch genero-
fuy, that he fcorned to take even thole advanta-
ges, which any other man would have confidered as
his right ; of which we have a very remarkable
fiance in his behaviour* on a prefent made him by
a captain or prince of the free Indians inhabiting the
ifthmus of Darien, who, in return for a cutlals pre-
feiued htm by captain Drake, gave him four large
wedges of gold, which he threw into the common
Hack: " My owners, faid he, gave me thatcutlafs,
V and k is but juft they mould have their Utares
" of its produce. His return to England was as for-
tunate as his foreign expedition ; for, in twenry-
three days, he failed from the cape of Florida, to
the ifles of Scilly; and arrived at Plymouth on
Sunday Auguft the 9th, 1574, in fermon-rime. The
news of captain Drake's return being carried into the
church, there remained few or no people with the
preacher, all running out to obferve the blefling of
God upon the dangerous adventures of the captain,
who had fpent one year, two months, and fome odd
days, in this voyage. The wealth he had thus
acquired, he generoufly fpent in his country's fer-
vice, equipping no Ida than three frigates at his own
expence, which he commanded in perlbn, and with
which he contributed greatly to the reduction of the
rebellious Irifh, under the conduct of that worthy
nobleman Walter earl of BSex After his death,
he chofe for his patron fir Chriftopher Hatton, at
that time vicechamberlain to the queen, and after-
wards chancellor of England : by his intereft, not-
withstanding great oprofition, captain Drake ob-
tained the queen's commiffion lor that voyage, which
he had io long meditated.
Me was no fooncr thus provided, than his friends
contributed largely toward this glorious expedtton;
and captain Drake, on his fide, applied with equal di-
bgtiKe to the ecturm ever* ^mw^^w-«^
THE VOYAGE OF
plifliing his undertaking ; and, with this view, equip-
ped five mips, viz. the Pelican, called by him after-
wards the Hind, admiral, burden an hundred tons,
Francis Drake, captain general ; the Elizabeth, vice-
admiral, eighty cons, John Winter, captain; the
Marigold, a bark, of thirty tons, John Thomas, cap-
tain j the Swan, a fly- boat, of fifty tons, captain
John Chelfer ; and the Chriftopher, a pinnace of fif-
teen tons, captain Thomas Moon. Thefe (hips he
manned with one hundred and fixty-fbur able men,
and furniihed them with fuch plentiful provifion of
all things necefTary, as lb long and dangerous a voy-
age fee med to require: withal (lowing certain pin-
naces aboard in pieces, to be let up as occafion might
call for. Neither did he omit to make provifion alfo
for ornament and delight, carrying for this purpofc
with him expert muficians, rich furniture, all the
velTels for his table, and many belonging to his cook-
room, being of filver ; with divers utenfils of all
forts, of curious workmanlhip ; whereby the civility
and magnificence of his native country might, among
all nations, whither he Ihould come, be the more
admired. All things being thus adjufted, captain
Drake failed out of Plymouth Sound November the
5th, 1577, about five in the afternoon ; but by 3
fearful ftorm, wherein they fuftained fome damage,
he was forced to put back again; when, having, in
few days, fupplied all defects, on the 13th of Decem-
ber, the fame year, with more favourable winds,
he once more hoifted his fails and put to fea. He
avoided, as much as he could, falling in too early
with the land; and the wind favouring his defign,
they made none, till the 25th of the fame month
they fell in with Cape Cautin, on the coaft of Bar-
bary, and, on the 27th, came to the ifle of Maga-
dor, lying one mile diftance from the main, between
which and the ifle they found a very fate and conve-
nieiu harbour. Here the admiral directed a pinnace
to be buik, /javjng brought, &.% we, obfavtd tha
VwSw
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. 5
hulks of four ready framed from England. While
they were upon this work, fome of the inhabitants
came to the water-fide (hewing flags of peace : upon
which the admiral fent out his boat to know their
minds : one of his men Hayed as a pledge amongft
them, and two of their company were brooght a Ihip
board. They told him by figns, that the next day
they would furnith his (hips with good provifions,
which civility he rewarded with linen cloth, (hoes,
and a javelin, things very acceptable to them •, and fo
they departed. The next day they came as ctiey had
promiled, and one of the men, whole name was Fry,
leaping out of the boat amongft them, thinking to
have leaped into the arms of friends, made himfelf
the prifoner of thofe perfidious wretches, who,
threatening to (tab him if -he made any refiftance,
prefently mounted him a horfeback, and carried him
up into their country, from whence, however, af-
ter examination, he was fent fafely back.
The pinnace being finilhed, they fee fail Decem-
ber the 30th, and January the 17th they arrived at
Cape Blanco, where they found a (hip at anchor
within the cape, having only two mariners in her :
this (hip they took, and carried her into the harbour,
where they Saved tour days: in which time the ad-
miral muttered his men alhore. to prepare them for
land, as well as fea-fervice. Here they took of the
fiihennen fuch neceflarits as they wanted, and alfo
one of their barks of about forty ton, leaving behind
them a little bark of their own. They left this har-
bour January the 22d, carrying along with them
one of the Fortugticfc caravels, which was bound to
the ides of Cape de Verd for fait ; the mailer of the
caravel aflured the admiral, that in one of the Cape
de Verd iflands, called M3yo, there was a good ftorc
of dried cabritos, or goats, which were every year
made ready for fuch fhips of the king's as called
there. They came to this place January the 27th
M
\lN^
THE VOYAGE OF
but the inhabitants would drive no trade with than,
the king's orders having pofuivcly forbade it : yet
the next day they went to take a'view of die ifland,
the admiral fending out a company of men for that
purpofe. They marched towards the chief place of
the ille, and, having travelled through the moun-
tains for three days, they came thither before day-
break : they found that the inhabitants were all tun
away, but, as for the country, by tne manuring,
it appeared to be more fruitful, than the other part
of th<: ifland. They reded themfelves here a while,
and banqueted upon delicious grapes, and cocoa-
nuts, which were in their prime even at that fcafon
of the year, which is the depth of winter with us in
England.
Having fatisfied themfelves with thefe fruits, they
marched iarther into the ifland, and law great (lore
of cabritos ; but they could take none of them,
though, if they had pleated, they might have fur-
nilhtd themieives with fome that were old, dead,
and dried, which the people had Lid nut on purpofe
for them : but, not caring for the retufi of the ifland,
they iciurned to their lbips, with an account of what
they had fern.
January the 2 iff, they went from hence, and failed
by the ifle St. Jago ; in palling by which, the people
difcharged three pieces of cannon at them, but with-
out doing miichief. The iikind is fair and large,
inhabited by I'ortuguefe; but the mountains are pof-
feffed by the Moors, who, to deliver themfelves from,
flavery, fled to theie places of refuge, where they
have fortified themlcUcs. Before this ifland they
faw two fhips under Jail, one of them which they
took, and found to be a good prize, laden with wines :
the admiral retained the pilot, but dikharged the
ihip and the men, giving them ibme victuals, a butt
of wine, and their wearing cluaths *. The fame night
* The reafiv, of inking tiitlf fliip* wa:, that at this lime Poku-
gal was annexed to the crown vi Spiia.
B
SIR FRANCIS DRAK1
they came to the illand Del Fogo, or the Burning
Ifland, which is inhabited by Portugtrcfe: on the
north fide there is a fort of volcano, that is conti-
nually belching out fmoke and flame: on the fouth
fide lies a very delightful ifland, full of ttees eveV
green and flouriftiing, and refrefhed with cooling
itreams, that pour themfelves out into the fea. Here
was no convenient road for their (hips, the fea being
-fo deep, that there was no pofiibillry of fixing an
anchor thereabout. Leaving thtie iflands, they
drew toward the line, being fomcrimes becalmed
for a long time together, and, at others, beaten with
tempefts. They had continually great plemy of filh,
as dolphins, bonitos, and flying-hih, (qtat of which
drop: down into their (hips and could not rife again,
becaufe their finny wings wanted moifture.
From the firft day of their departure from the
Wands of cape Verde, they failed 54. days without
fight of land j and the firft which theyfaw was the
coaft of Brafil, in 36° of fouth latitude. April the
5th, the barbarous people on more, having difco-
vered the (hips, began to ufe their accuitomed cere-
monies, in order to raife a ftorm to (ink their fhips :
For this purpofe they made great fires, and offeree!
fomc f.u-rifices to the devil ; but atprefent, it feems,
he was not able to ferve them. April the 7th, they
had lightning, rain, and thunder ; in which ftorm
they loft the company of a little bark, the Chrifto-
pher; but the 1 ith they found her again ; and the
place where all the fhips, that were dHperfe'd in the
fcarch of her, met together, the admiral called Cape
Joy, and here every (hip tool; in frefh water. The
country hereabouts was fair and plealiinr, the air fweet
and mild, the foil rich and fruitful. The inhabitants
feemed to be only fome herds of wild deer, no others
being to be few, though they difecrned the foot-
fteps of lome people in the ground. Having weighed
anchor, and run a little ftrthEt, dw.^ waS:^. <w.tS«.
■ft ^ V*e«3*sw.
$ THE VOYAGE OF
harbour between a rock and the main, where the
rock breaking the force of the fca, the (hip rode
very fafely. Upon this rock they killed feveral feals,
keeping them for food, and found them wholefome,
though not pleafant.
Their next courfc being to 36° of fouth latitude,
they entered the great river of Plate, and came into
between 53 and 54 fathom of frelh water j but, find-
ing no good harbour there, they put out to fea
again. Sailing on, they came to a good bay ■, in
which bay were feveral pretty iflands, one of which
was flocked with feals, and .the others, for the molt:
part, with fowls, fo that there was no want of any
provifions, or of good water there. The admiral
being on fhore in one of thofe iQands, the people
came dancing and leaping about him, and were very
free to trade ; buc their cuftom was not to take any
thing from any other pcrfon, unlefs firft thrown down
pn the ground. They were comely ftrong-bodied
people, very fwift of foot, and of a brifk lively con.
flitution. The Marigold, and the Chrillopher, (be-
ing fent to difcover a convenient harbour) returned
with the happy news of fpch an one j into which
they went with all their (hips. Here the feals abound-
ed to that degree, that they killed more than 200 in
pn hour's fpace. The natives came boldly and con-
fidently about them, while they were working on
fhore i their faces were painted, and their apparel
pnly a covering of beaft-flans (with the fur on) about
fheir waifts, and fomething wreathed about their
heads. They had bows an ell long, but no more
than two arrows a-piece. They feemed to be not
altogether deftitute of martial difcipline, as appeared
by the method they obferved in ordering and rangT
jng their men •, and they gave fufficient proof of
their agility, by ftealing the admiral's hat off from
his very head ; which was a brave prize among them ;
One taking the hat, and another the gold lace that,
wa$
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. 9
was on it i neither of which could ever be got from
them again. They were the nation which Magel-
lan called Paragons.
Having difpatched all affairs in this place, they
failed ; and June the 20th, they anchored in port
St Julian, fo called by Magellan. Here they law
the gibbet on which Magellan had formerly executed
fome of his mutinous company : and here alio admi-
ral Drake executed one captain Doughty, the moft
fufpe&ed a£tion of his life. After which execution,
Auguft the 17th, they left St. Julian's port, and the
20th fell in with the ftreight of Magellan, going in-
to the South Sea. The 2 1 ft they entered the ftreight,
which they found to He very intricate and crooked,
■with divers turnings ; by which means, ihiftin|
about fo often, the wind would fometimes beagainl
them, which made their failing very troublcfome,
and not only fo, but dangerous too, efpecially if any
fudden blaits of wind came: for, though there be
fevcral good harbours about, and frelh water enough,
yet the fea is fo deep, that there is no anchoring
there, except In fome very narrow river or corner,
or between the rocks. There are vaft mountains,
covered with lhow, that fpread along the land on
both fides the ftreights; the tops of which mount up
in the air to a prodigious height, having two or three
regions of clouds lying in order below them. The
ftreights are extremely cold, with froft and mow con-
tinually : yet the trees and plants maintain a con-
ftant verdure, and fiourilh notwithstanding the feem-
jng feverity of the weather. At the fouth and eaft
parts of the ftreight there are various illands, between
which the fea breaks into the ftreights, as it does
into the main entrance : The breadth of it is from
one league, where it is the narroweft, to two, three,
or four leagues, which is the wideft -, and the tide*
fife high through the whole.
September the 6th they entered the South Sea at
the c;jpe or head Ihore, and the 7th they were driven
ao THE VOTACE OT
by a ftorm back from that entrance more than £<&
leagues longitude, and i • to the fouth of the freight;
from the bay they were driven fouthwards of the
fitreights% in 57° of fouth latitude, where they an-
chored among the i (lands, finding good fre(h water*
*nd excellent herbs. Not far from hence, they en-
tered another bay, where they found naked people,
ranging from one ifland to another in their canoes,
iio feek provifions. Thcfe traded with therti for
fuch commodities as they had. Sailing northward
from hence, they found three iflands, in one of
which was fuch plenty of birds, as is hardly cre-
dible. Odtober the 8th» they loft the company
jof the fhip,. in which was Mr. Winter, Being noV
come to the other mouth of the ftreigbts, they pu
away towards the coaft d( Chili, which the genera
xnaps place: to the fouth-weft, but they found after
wards to tie to the north-eaft and eafterly \ fo tha
thofe coafts were either not fully discovered, or a
fcaft not faithfully defcribed. They proceeded Hi'
in the fame courfe, till, upon the 29th of Nbvembf
they came to the ifle of Mocha, where they c
anchor, and the admiral, with ten men, went aiho
The people that dwelt there, were fuch as the <
creme cruelty of the Spaniards had forced from th
own habitation to this ifland, to preferve their li
and liberties. They carried themfelves at firft '
civilly to the admiral and his men, bringing t
potatoes, and two fat ihecp, promifmg alio to b
them water j for which they received ibme prefi
The next day two men were font afhore with ba
for water ; and the natives, having them at an
vantage, prefently fcized them, and knocked t
on the bead. The reafon of this outrage was
caufe they took them for Spaniards, whom th<
rer fpare when they fall into their hands.
Continuing their courfe for Chili, and dr
near the coalls of it, they met an Indian in a <
who, miftaking them for Spaniards, told them
With
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. if
»t St. Iago there was a great Spanilb (hip laden for
Peru. The admiral rewarding him for his intelli-
gence, he very readily conducted them where the
Ihip lay at anchor, which was port Val tarifo, in
33° 40' of fouth latitude. All the men they had in
her were no more than eight Spaniards and three ne-
groes i and tliey, fuppoimg the Engliih to have been
fnen Is, welcomed them by beat 01 drum, and in-
vited 1 em to drink fome Chili wine with them. But
they, revolving rirfl: to fecure their prize, and then
drink, immediately boarded the Ihip, and, driving
all the Spaniards under hatches, took, poflbffion.
One of the Spaniards, feeing how they were ierved,
defperately leaped overboard, and fwam to the town
01 St. lago, to give them notice' of the coming of the
Engliih ; upon which, all the inhabitants prefently
quttttd the Mm and ran away, which they might
quickly do, there nnt being above nine houlholds in
the whole town. The admiral and his men entered,
rifled the town and the clupel, taking out of it a fil-
ver thalice, two cruetb, and an altar-cloth. They
found in the town alfo a good cargo of Chili wine,
and boards of cedar wood 1 all which they carried to
their fhips. The general then tuning let all the pri-
foners on ftwre, except one, whom he referved for
his pilot, he left St lago, and directed his oourfe for
Lima, the capital of Peru.
As they were now at lea, and had both leifure and
opportunity to examine the particulars of the booty
taken at St lago, they found 25,000 pezoes of pure
gold of Bald i via, which amounted to fomewhat more
than 7,000 :-paniib. ducats: So, continuing their
courle to Lima, they put into the haven of Coquirri-
bo, which lies in }g° 30' S. L. Here the admiral
fent fourteen men alhore to fetch water 1 but the
Spaniards happening to fpy this fmill company, and
being refolved, for the glory of their nation, to un-
dertake revenge upon, fo daring an enemy, they,
With an army of 360 horlV, and 200 foot attacked
it .'THE VOYAGE OF
thcfc fourteen Englifh ; and, after fome difpute, by
the help of their guns, made a daughter of one of
fhem, the other thirteen coming back to the fhip.
After this, the Englifh going again on fhore to bury
their dead man, the Spaniards put out a flag of truce ;
but they, believing their fidelity to be no greater
than their courage, did not care to truft them, and fo
went off. From hence they came to a port called
Tarapaxa, where, being landed, they found a Spa-
niard aOecp upon the fhore, with eighteen bars of
filver lying by him, which came to about 4000 Spa-
pifh ducats : they did not difturb the Spaniard's re-
pofe, but, taking the filver, left him to take out
his nap. Not far from hence, going alhore for wa-
ter, they met a Spaniard and an Indian driving eight
Peruvian fheep, laden with very fine filver, every
flieep having two leather bags (containing fifty pounds
weight each) on his back. They delivered the poor
animals from their irkfome burdens, and lodged the
bags in their own fhips : after which, the Indian and
Spaniard were permitted to drive on. They failed
hence to Arica, which is in 8° 30' of fouth latitude -,
and, in this port, found three fmall barks, which,
being rifled, yielded them fifty-feven wedges of filver,
each weighing about twenty pounds: They took no
pritbners in the barks ; for the men that belonged
to them, fearing no Grangers coming thither, were
all gone on more to make merry amongft themfelves.
They did not aflault the town, having not ftrength
enough for it : fo, putting out to fea again, they
met with another little bark laden with lmen cloth,
part of which the admiral took, and fo let her go,
difdaining to hurt others, where he could do him-
fclf no good.
February the 13th they came to the port of Lima,
which lies in 1 1 ° 50' fouth latitude ; and, having en-
tered the haven, found there twelve fail of mips ly-
ing fail at' anchor, with all their fails down, without
watch or guard* their matters being all drinking and
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. 13
caroufing afhore : examining the contents of thefe
(hips, they found -a cheft full of rials of plate, great
(lore of filks and linen-, all which plate they carried
to th<-ir own (hips, with part of the filks and linen.
The admiral here had notice of another very rich
ftiip, called the Cacafuego, which was gone towards
Paita, which they purfuing thither, found that before
their arrival, (he was gone for Panama : but, however,
though they miffed their intended prize, another
(which they took in their purfuit of her to Panama)
paid them the charge of their voyage : For, befides
the ropes, and other tackling for (hips, which they
found in her, (he yielded them eighty pounds weight
of gold, together with a fine crucifix of the fame
metal, richly adorned with emeralds ; all which, with
fome of the cordage, they fi-ized : but refolving ftill
to proceed in the purfuit of the Cacafuego, the ad-
miral, to encourage his company, promifed, that
whoever firft faw her, fhould have his gold chain for
a reward; which fell to the Chare of Mr. John Drake,
who firft defcried her about three o'clock. About
fix o'clock they came up with her, gave her three
(hots, ftruck down her ouzen, and boarded her.
They found her full as rich and valuable as (he was
reported to be, having aboard her thirteen chelts full
of rials of plate, eighty pounds weight of gold, a
good quantity "of Jewels, and twenty-fix ton of filver
bars. The place where this prize was taken, was
called cape San Fra cifco, about 150 leagues from
Panama, and in 1 ° degree of north latitude. Among
other rich pieces of plate, which they found in this
fliip, they met with a couple of very large filver
bowls gilt, which belonged to the pilot of her: the
admiral, feeing thefe, told him, that he had two
fine bowls, but "he muft needs have one of them;
which the pilot yielded to, not knowing how to help
himfelfi and, to make it look lefs like compuliion,
he prefented the other of them to the admiral's
fteward. Having ranfacked the Cacafuegp4 they
?4 THE VOYAGE OF
call her off; and, continuing their courfe to i
weft, they met with a ihip laden* with linen cloth,
China dilhes, and filks of the fame country ; the
owner of it was a Spaniard, then on board, from
wham the admiral took a falcon, wrought with mafly
gold, with a great emerald fct in the breaft of itj
betides this, cliufing what lie liked of the wares
aboard this vefiel, and fcizing the pilot for his own
fervice, he turned off the fhip. This pilot brought
them to the haven of Guatulco, the town adjacent to
which had but (as he faid) feventeen Spaniards in it:
having, therefore, put to Hiore, they marched di-
rectly to the town, and lb up to the public hall of
juftice, where they found a court fitting, and a judge
ready to pals fentence upon a parcel of poor negroes,
that were accufed of a plot to fire the town : but
the admiral's coming charged the fcene of affairs at
this court i for lie, being judge himfelf, palled fen-
tence upon them all, both judges and criminals, to
become his prifoners ; which fentence was prekntly
executed, and they were all carried away to the fhips.
Here he made the chief judge write to the townfmen,
to keep at a diftance, and not pretend to make any
refiftance: fo the town being cleared, they ranfacked
it all over, rinding no other valuable plunder than
about a buihd of rials of plate -, only one of their
company took a rich Spaniard flying out of the town,
who paid him for his trouble in purl'uing him, with
a gold chain, and fome jewels. Here the admiral
fetcing alhore fome Spanilli prifoners, and his old
Portuguefe Pilot, whom he took at the iflind of cape
de Verd, departed hence for the Ifland Canno : while
they lay here, a certain Spanilh (hip, bound for the
Philippine iflands, came in their way, which they
only lightened of a part of the burden of her mer-
chandize, and lb diicliarged her.
The admiral, now thinking he had, in fome mea-
sure, revenged both the public injuries of his coun-
try, as well as his own private wrongs, upon the Spa-
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. ij
mards, began to deliberate upon his return home:
but which way lie mould take, was the queftion to be
r^folved : to return by the ftrcights of the South Sea*
be thought would be to throw himlclf into the hands
of the Spaniards, who would probably there wait
for him, with a far greater ftrength than he could
now cope with ; for he had at this time but one fhip
left, not ftrong, though it was a very rich one.
AU things therefore considered, he rcfolved to go
round to the Moluccas, and fo follow the courfe of
the Portuguefe, to get home by the cape of Good
l^ope: but, .being becalmed, he found it necef-.
fary to fail more northerly to get a good wind.
Upon this defign they failed at leaft 6oj leagues,
which was all the way they made from April 16. to
June 3. June 5, being got into 430 of north lati-
tude, they found the ait excefiive cojdi and the fur-
ther they went, the fc verity of the weather was more
intolerable : upon which fcore they ntadc toward the
land, till they came into 3S0 north latitude, under
which hcighth of the pole they found a very good
bay, and bad, a favourable wind to enter the fame.
Accordingly litre they had fame correlpondence
with the people of the country, whole honies lay all
along upon the water-fide. They fent the admiral
a prefent qf feathers, and cawls of net-work, who
entertained them with fo much kindrtefs and libe»
rality, that the poor people *.vere infinitely pleafed.
Though the country be cold, yet they id order the
matter in the framing their houfea, as to live out
of danger of ftarving i for they furround them whir
a deep trench, upon the outmofc edge of which
they raife up great pieces of timber, which dole all
together at the top like the fpire of a fteeple ; theic
bed is the bare ground ltrewed with rufhes, and their!
fire-place in the middle, about which they all lie-;
The men go naked, the women wear a clofe gar-*
meat of btdruibes, d/cfled after the manner of
.*
16 THE VOYAGE OF
hemp, which, fattened about their middles,
down to their hips, and upon their flioulders
have a deer's (kin ; but their very good qu^
make amends for their ordinary dret's and figur^
ing extremely dutiful to their hulbands. The a<r
ral had, quickly after, another prefent from th
which was feathers and bags of tobacco ; a confn
able body of them waiting upon him at the 1;
time : they were all gathered together at the tor
an hill, from whence their (beaker harangued the
miral, who lay below in his tent pitched at the 1
torn of the hill : when this was ended, they left t
weapons, and came down, offering their own
fents, and, at the fame time, civilly returning t
which the admiral had made them. All the wl
the women who remained above, pofiefled wit
mad fury, tore their hair, and made dreadful h(
ings, which is the common mufic at their facrifi
Jbmething of which nature was then folemniz
The men below were better employed, attent
very diligently to divine fervice, then performec
the admiral's tent. Thefe circumftances, tho
trivial in themfelves, are of confequence in after
our firlt difcovery of California.
The news of the Englifh being there, hai
fpread about in the country, there came two am
fadors to the admiral, to tell him, that the king
coming to wait upon him, and defined a token
peace to allure his fafe conduct. The admiral h
jng given this, the whole tWin began to march
wards them, and that in very good and graceful
der: in the front came a very comely perfon, bi
ing the Sceptre before the king, upon which hi
two crowns, and three chains of a very great leng
the crowns were made of net-work, and artifici
wrought with feathers of many colours, and
chains were made of bones. Next to the fcep
bearer came the king himfelf, a very comely pre
perfon, ihewing an air of majefly in all his dep
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. 17
ment; he was furrounded by a guard of tall martial-
looking men, who were all clad in (kins. Next to
thefe came the common people, having, to make the
finer (hew, painted their faces, fome white, Ibme
black, and fome of other colours-, and all with their
arms full of prefents, even the very children not ex-
cepted. The admiral drew up all his men in line of
battle, and flood ready to receive them within hia
fortifications : at fome dirtance from him, the whole
train made a halt, and kept a profound filence, ac
which time the fceptre- bearer made a fpeech of half
an hour long. This being ended, the fame officer,
of a Speech-maker, became a dancing-mafter, and,
at the fame time, (truck up a fong, in both which he
was followed by king, lords, and common people,
who came finging and dancing up to the Admiral's
fences. Being all let down there, after fome pre-
liminary compliments, the king madeafolemn offer
of his whole kingdom, and its dependences, to
the admiral, defiring him to take the lbvereignty
upon him ; and profefilng, that he himfelf would be
his very loyal fubject : and, that this might not
feem to be mere compliment and pretence, he did,
by the confent of his nobles there prefenr, take off
the illuftrious crown of feathers from his own head,
and fix it upon the admiral's ; and, at the fame time,
inverting him with the other enfigns of royalty, did,
as much as in him lay, make him king of the coun-
try. The admiral accepted of his new- offered dig-
nity, as her majtfty's reprefentative, in her name,
and for her ufe; it being probable, that from this
donation, whether made in jeft or in earneft, by thefe
Indians, fome real advantages might hereafter re-
dound to the Englim nation and intereft in thofe
parts. The common people difperfed ihemtelves up
and down every-where amongft the admiral's tents,
expreffing an admiration and value for the Englim,
to the degree of madnefs and profanenefs j coming
before thtm with faenfiecs, which they pretended to
Vol. III. C offer
it THE VOYAGE OF
offer with a profound devotion to them, till they, by
force, kept them back, exprefling their utmoft ab-
horrence of them i and directed them to the Supreme
Maker and Preferver of all things, whom alone
they ought to honour with religious worihip. The
admiral and his people travelled to fome diftancc up
tn the country, which they foui.d to be extremely full
of deer, which were large and fat, and very often
looo in a herd. There was alio fuch a vail plenty
of rabbets, that the whole country feemed to be one
inure great warren ; they were of the bignefs of a
Barbary coney, their heads like thofe in our parts,
their feet like a mole's, and their tail refembling that
of a rat ; under the chin' of each fide is fattened a
bag, into which the creature injects what food it gets
abroad, and preferves it for a time of neceflity. The
flefh of them is a valuable dim among the natives,
and their flans afford robes for the king, and all the
great men. The earth of the country feemed to
promife very rich reins of gold and filver, there be-
ing hardly any digging without throwing up fome of
the ores of them. The admiral called it Nova Al-
bion, partly in honour to his own country, and partly
from the profpect of white Cliffs and Banks, which
it yields to them that view it from the fea. At his
departure hence, he fet up a monument with a large
plate, upon which were engraven her majefty's name,
picture, arms, title to the country, the time of their
arrival there, and the admiral's own name. In this
country the Spaniards had never fet footing, nor did
they ever difcover the land by many degrees to the
Southward of this place.
. Sailing from hence, they loft fight of land till
October 1 3, upon which day in the morning they
?fcll in with certain iflands in 8° of north latitude j
from whence they met a great number of canoes
coming laden with cocoas, and other fruit : thefe
canoes were hollowed within with a great deal of
*/r> and looked Jmooth and mining without like bur-
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. 19
tiifhed horn ; the prow and ftern both yielded inwards,
circlewife; on each fide of them lay two pieces of
timber, about a yard and an half long, more or left,
as ihe veflel was bigger or lefs ; they were of a con-
fiderable height, and, for (hew, fet off in the infide
with white ftiells : the people that were in them, had
the lower part of their ears cut round, and ftretched
down a confiderable way upon their cheeks, by the
weight of thofe things they hang in them. They
feemed to defign their nails for weapons, letting
them grow a full inch in length. Their teeth are as
black as pitch ; and they have a way to preferve
them, by eating of an herb, with a fort of powder,
which they ever carry about with them for that pur-
pofe. Odtober j 8, they came to leveral other iflands ■,
fome of which appeared to be very populous, and
continued their courle by the iQands of Tagulada,
Zelon, and Zewarra; the firft of which had good
ftore of cinnamon, and the inhabitants of all of them
were friends to the Portuguefe. The admiral, without
making any delay, fleered the fame courfe ftill. No-
vember the 14th, they fell in with the Moluccas, and,
intending for Tiridore, as they coaiied along the
ifland Mutyr, which belongs to the king of Ternatc,
they met his viceroy, who, feeing the admiral's ftiip,
without fear came aboard him. He advifed the ad-
miral by no means to profecute his voyage to Tiri-
dore, but to fail directly for Ternate, becaufe his
mailer was a very great enemy to the Portuguefe, and
would have nothing to do with them, if they were
at all concerned with Tiridore, or that nation, who
were fettled there. The admiral, upon this, reiblved
upon Ternate ; and early next morning came to an,
anchor before the town : he fent a mefTenger to the
king with a velvet cloak, as a prefenc, and to allure
him, that he came thither with no defign, bqt purely
that of trading in his country. The viceroy alio by
this time had been with the king, and difpofed him
to entertain a very favo\.Yia.\a\s dovawj^^ ■iwe.^^wfe-
C 1 V^
ao THE VOYAGE OF
lifh v which wrought fo far, that the king returned a
very civil and obliging anfwer to the admiral's mef-
fage, alluring him, that a friendly correfpondence
with the Englifh nation was highly pleating to him ;
that his whole kingdom fhouldlie open to them, and
whatever it yielded fliould be at their fervice ; and,
moreover that he was ready to lay himfelf, and his
kingdom, at the foot of fo glorious a princefs, as was
the queen, whom they ferved, and to make her his
fovereign, as well as theirs : and, in token of this,
he fent the admiral a fignet, carrying it, befides,
with a very great refpeft to the Englifh meflenger,
who went to court, and had been received there with
much pomp and ceremony. The king, having a
mind to make the admiral avifit on ftiip- board, lent
beforehand four large canoes, filled with the moft
dignified perfons about him ; they were all dreflcd in
white lawn, and had an exceeding large umbrella of
very fine perfumed mats, borne up with a frame
made of reeds, fpreading over their heads, from one
end of the canoe to another ; their fervants, clad in
white, ftood about them ■, and, without thefc, were
ranks of foldiers placed : in order, on both fides their
martial men, were placed the rowers, in certain well-
contrived galleries, which lay three of a fide all along
the canoes, and were decently raifed one above the
other, each gallery containing eighty rowers. Thefe
canoes were furnifhed too with all warlike provisions,
and the foldiers well accoutred, having all manner of
weapons, both oSenfive and defensive. Rowing
near the (hip, they all paid their reverences to the
admiral, in great order, one after another; and told
him, that the king had fent them to conduct him
into a fafer road than that he was in at prefent. Soon
after came the king himfelf, attended by fix grave
antient perfons : he feemed to be much pleafed with
the Englifh mufic, and much more with the Englifh
generality, which the admiral exprefied to the full in
vay large prefents made to him, and his nobles.
TV*
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. 21
The king promifcd the next day ro come aboard again -,
and thac Tame night lent them in ftore of provisions,
as rice, hens, fugar, cloves, a fort of fruit they call
frigo and fago, which is a meal they make out of
the tops of trees, melting in the mouth like fugar,
but tailing like a four curd ; but yet, when made
up into cakes, will keep fo as to be very fit for eat-
ing at ten years end. The king came not aboard ac-
cording to his promife, but fent his brother toexcufe
him, anci withal to invite the admiral afhore, and to
be a pledge for his fafe return : The admiral declined
going himfelf, but fent fome gentlemen of his reti-
nue, in company of the king's brother, and kept the
viceroy till their return. They were received alhorc
by another brother of the king's, and feveral of the
nobles, and conducted in great ftate to the caftle,
where there was a court of at leaft one thoufand per-
fons, the principal of which was the council, to the
number of fixty, very grave perfons, and four Turkifh
envoys, in fcarlet robes and turbans, who were there
to negotiate in matters of trade between Conftanti-
nople and Ternate : the king came in, guarded by
twelve lances, a glorious canopy, embroidered with
gold, being carried over his head. He had a loofe
robe of cloth of gold hung about him, his legs bare,
but ihoes of cordovan upon his feet ; he had circlets
of gold wreathed up and down in his hair, and 3
large chain of the fame metal about his neck, and
very fair jewels upon his fingers. A page ftood at
the right hand of his chair of ftate, blowing the cool
air upon him with a fan two foot in length, and one
broad, eurioufly embroidered and adorned with fa-
phires, fattened to a ftafF three foot long, by which
the page moved it. He kindly received the Englilh
gentlemen, and, having heard their mefiage, fent
one of his council to conduct them back to their
fliips. He is a potent prince, and has feventy i (lands
under him, befides Ternate, which is itfelf the bell
C 3
22 THE VOYAGE pF
of all the Moluccas. His religion, and that .of hi?
country, is Mahometanifm.
After this, the admiral, having difpatchcd all hi?
affairs here, weighed anchor, and put off from Ter-
nate, failing to a little ifland fouth ward of the Ce-
lebes, where they ftaid twenty-fix days. This iflancf
is extremely woody •> the trees are of a large, high
growth, ftrait, and without boughs, except at top,
and the leaves fomething like our Englifh broom.
Here they obferved a fort of mining flies, in great
multitudes, no bigger than the common fly in Eng-
land, which flamming up and down in the air, be-
tween the trees and butties, made them appear as if
they were burning. Here are bats alio as big as
hens, and a- fort of land cray-flfli, which dig holes in
the earth like conies, and are fo large, that one of
them will plentifully dine four perfons. Setting fail
from hence, they defigned to have -run for the Mo-
luccas; but, having a bad wind, and being ampngft
a parcel of iilands, with much difficulty they re-
covered the mouth of Celebes •, where, being not
able, for contrary winds, 'to continue a weftcrn
courfe, they altered to the fouthward again ; which
they found very hazardous, by reafon of the fhoals
that lie thick among the iflands. This they proved
by a dangerous, and almoft fatal experiment, on
Jan. 9, 1579, when they ran upon a rock, in which
they ftuck fall from eight at night to four in the
afternoon of the next day. In this diftrefs, they
lightened their (hip upon the rock of three ton of
cloves, eight pieces of ordnance, and fomc provi-
sions -, very quickly after which, the wind chopping
about from the (Varboard to the larboard of the fhip,
they hoifted fail ; and the happy gale, at that mo-
ment, inttrely ditengaged them trom the incum-
brances of the rock. . February 18, they fell in with
the fruitful ifland Baratene, having, in the mean
time, fuffered much by winds and flioals. The
people
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. 23
people of it arc of a comely proportion in their
bodies, but of a far more beautiful difpofition of
mind, being very civil and courteous to ttrangers,
and punctually juft in all their dealings. The men
cover only their heads and their loins ; but the wo-
men, from the waift down to the foot: Befides
which, they load their arms with large heavy brace-
lets of bone, brafs and horn. Linen cloth is a very
good commodity here; thefe people being fond
of it, to make girdles and rolls for their heads.
The ifland affords gold, filver, copper, fulphur,
nutmeg, ginger, long-pepper, lemons, cucumbers,
cocoas, frigo, lago, &c. particularly a lort of fruit,
in bignefs, form, and hufk, refembling a bayberry,
hard, but pleafandy tatted, and, when boiled, is
foft and or good eafy digeftion : in ihorr, except
Ternate, they met with no place that yielded greater
plenty of all comforts for human life than this ifland
did.
Leaving Baratene, they failed for Java major,
where they met with a courteous and honourable
entertainment likewife : The ifland is governed by
five kings, who live in perfect good understanding
with each other. They had once four of their ma-
jellies on Chip- board at a time; and the company of
two or three of them very often. The Javans are a
ftout and warlike people, go well armed, with
fwords, targets, and daggers, all of their own manu-
facture, very curious, both as to the fafhion and
temper of the metal. They wear Turkifh turbans
on their heads ; the upper part of their body is na-
ked j but, from the waift downwards, they have a
{>intado of filk, trailing on the ground, of that co-
our which pleafes them belt. They manage their
women quite after another rare than the Moluccans
do-, for thefe latter will hardly let a ftranger fee
ihem, whereas the former are fo far from that nicety,
that they will very civilly offer a traveller a bedfel-
low. And, as they are thus civil and hofpitable to
C 4 fe-TOTSSS..
*4 THE VOYAGE OF
ftrangers, fo they are pleafant and fbciable among
themfclves -, for in every village they have a public
houfe, where they will meet, and bring their feveral
(hares of provifions, joining all their forces together
' in one great feafl;, for the Keeping up good fellow-
fiiip amongft the King's fubjects. They have a way
peculiar to thenifelves of boiling rice ; they put it
into an earthen pot, which is of a conical figure,
open at the greater end, and perforated all over. In
the mean time, they provided another large earthen
pot full of boiling water, into which they put this,
ferforated veflel, with the rice, which fwelling, and
Ding the holes of the pot, but a fmall quantity of
water can enter. By this fort of boiling, the rice is
brought to a very firm confiftency, and, K laft, is
caked into a fort of bread j of which, with butter,
oil, fugar, and fpices, they make fcveral very plea-
fant kinds of food. The French difeafe prevails
among them in this ifland -, but, inftead of fetching
out the poifon by a falivation, they do it by a fort of
perfpiration through all the pores of the body, and
that by fitting naked in the fun for fome hours, whofe
fcorching rays open thole pafiages, and give free
vent to the noxious particles, to difcharge themfclves.
The admiral here had news of fome great Ihips that
lay not far off; fo, not knowing what they might
prove, he would flay no longer. From hence they
failed for the Cape of Good Hope, which was the
firft land they fell in withal, neither did they touch
' at any otter tilt they came to Sierra Leona, upon
the coaft of Guinea. They palled the cape June ig,
and, by the pleafure of the voyage that way, found
how much the Portuguefe had abufed the world in
the falfe repfefentations of the horrors and dangers
pf it. July 22, they arrived at Sierra Leona, where
fhey found great ftore of elephants.
After two days ftay, which they fpent in wooding,
watering, and taking in refrelhments, they failed
from thence. July 25, they found themfelves vr*-,
■ ~ ..... dct
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE.
der the tropic of Cancer, being then 50 leagues off
the nearell land. On the nd of the fame month,
they were in the height of the Canaries j but, being
fufficiently (locked with all necefiarjes, they made no.
flay there, but continued their voyage to Plymouth,
where they arrived on Monday September 26, 1580,
but, according to their account, it was Sunday. In.
this cireum-navigation of the globe he fpent two
years, ten months, and a few days. The report of
his return was very foon fpread through the king-
dom ; and as that was an age when virtue might be
faid to be in falhion, it made a great noife, efpecrally
among fuch as affected to ditlinggifli themfelves
either as the patrons of arms, or arts, all of them
ftriving to exprefs their fenfe of his worth, by the
praifes, and other teftimonies of regard, which they
paid to captain Drake.
It was not, however, reafonable to expect, that
fo bold and brave an action, attended likewife by
fuch vaft applaufe, mould pais altogether uncenfured ;
and therefore we need not be furprifed, that there
were many who endeavoured to give a wrong colour
to this gallant action. They gave out, that his fur-
rounding the globe ferved only to amule common
minds, and that the main bufinefs of his voyage was
plunder, of which, they faid, he had acquired enough
to exempt the nation frqm taxes for feven years j
that as there was no war proclaimed againft Spain, it
was a dangerous thing to own fuch an adventurer,
fince the public might come to pay d-;ar for the
prizes he had taken : that our merchants had great
effects in Spain, and therefore realbn to doubt, that
a handle might be taken tofeizeour merchants goods
to make good his depredations. Thele objections
really weighed much with Ibme people, and others
thought fit to countenance them, though they did
not Believe them. The Spanilh embaflador alfo at-
tacked him by very warm memorials, his party Ailing
liim the Mailer Thief of the unknown world. The
afi THE VOYAGE OF
friends and patrons of captain Drake, however^ who
found thcmfclvcs wounded through his fides, took
abundance of pains to vindicate his conduct ; allcdg-
ing, on his behalf, that he had the queen's commif-
fion to juftify his making reprifals ■, that the more
wealth he had brought home, the more the nation
was obliged to him •, that the Spaniards had already
done us very great injuries, and therefore they had
more reafon to fear us, than we them ; that,' in fine,'
if the king of Spain had a mind to feize pur mer-
chants effects, the public would do well to receive
this Indian treafure by way of equivalent -, and that,
if they did not, it would break the fpirit of that fort
of men, who were otherwife molt like to break the
Jpirits of the Spaniards. Such were the reafonings
on both fides, while the thing remained in fufpenfe,
as if queen Elizabeth intended to hear every body's
fentiments, before fhe decided the merits of fo great
a caufe.
Things remained for a confiderable time in this
fituation, during which captain Drake, no doubt,
was extremely uneafy, as not knowing, whether, af-
ter all his toils abroad, he might not be declared a
pirate at home. There is however reafon to believe,
that the queen delayed to difclofe her fentiments
from motives of true policy, as inclining to fee what
effects this conduct of hers might have had upon the
raurr, of Spain, which was certainly withheld from
meddling fo far as was otherwife intended in her af-
fairs, by the hopes of drawing fo great a treafure
out of our hands ; and, to keep them in this hope,
me very artfully confented to part with fame fmall
fums to Mendoza the Spanifh agent. At laft, when
things were come to a crifis, the queen threw off the
veil at once ; and notice being given to captain
Drake of her intention, flie, on the 4th of April
1581, went on board his ihip at Deptford, where
flic was magnificently entertained j and, after dinner,
was gracioufly pleafed to confer the honour of kn ight-
hood
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. 27
hood on captain Drakef telling him, at the fame
time, that his actions did him more honour than his
title- There was a prodigious croud attended her
majefty upon this occafion, ib that they broke down
fhe bridge laid from the fhore to the Ihip, by that
time (he was got on board it ; yet of 200 perfons,
who by this accident fell into the Thames, not one
was either drowned or hurt, which her majefty was
pleafed to attribute to the fortune of Sir Francis
Drake. After this public approbation of the fove-
reign, all ranks of people redoubled their congratu-
lations ; and Sir Francis Drake himfelf is laid thence-
forward to have given for his device the terraqueous
globe, with thismotto, Tu primus circumdedijli me, i.e.
Tbou firji encompaffed me ; but not excluding his for-
mer motto, Diviito auxilio, i.e. By the help of God.
This fhip was prcierved many years at Deptford,
as a very great curiofity j and when it was almoft en-
tirely decayed, a chair was made out of it, and lent
as a prefent to the univerfity of Oxford, where is is
irill to be feen.
£ . .*» 1
THE
VOYAGE round the WORLD,
PERFORMED BY
Captain WILLIAM DAMPIER.
CAptain William Dampier was defcended from a
very reputable family in Somcrfctfhire, where
he was born in the year 165a ; and, during the life-
time of his father and mother, had fuch an educa-
tion, as was thought requifite to fit him for a trade.
But, lofing both his parents while he was very young,
thofe, who had the care of him afterwards, finding
him of a roving difpofition, and ftrongly inclined to
go to fea, refoived to comply with his humour in this
refpeft j and, about the year 1 669, bound him to a
maftcr of a ihip who lived at Weymouth in Dorfet-
Jhire, with whom he made a voyage to France the
fame year, and, in the next, went to Newfound-
, land. He was fo pinched by the feverity of that
climate, that, on his return, he went home to his
friends in the country, having loft much of that eager-
lids, with which he had been poficfled for going to
fea. This, however, foon returned, on his hearing
of an outward-bound Eaft India fhip, which was
ipeedily to fail from the port of London ; and there-
upon, in the latter end of the year 1670, he came
up to town, and entered himfelf before the matt on
board the John and Martha of London, captain
Earning commander, with whom he made a voyage
to Bantam in the iQand of Java, and back j by which
he acquired a great deal of experience. He re-
turned
THE VOYAGE, &c.
i9
turned inro England in January 1672, and retired to
his brother's houfe in Somerfetihire, where he ftaid
all the next dimmer. In 1673, he entered himfelf
on board the Royal Prince, commanded by the fa-
mous Sir Edward Spragge, and was in two engage-
ments againft the Dutch that fummer; but, falling
lick, was, put on board an hofpital-fhip a day or two
before the laft engagement, in which that brave Eng-
lifli feaman was killed, and which Mr. Darnpier faw
only at a diftance. After this, he went down again
to his brother's in Somerfetfhire, where, meeting
with one colonel Hellier, who had a large eftate in
Jamaica, he was perfuaded by him to go over to
that ifland, where he was to be employed in the ma-
nagement of it. With this view, he failed from the
river Thames in the fpring of the year 1674, and
refided fomewhat more than a year at Jamaica;
where, not liking the life of a planter, he, at the
perluafion of one captain Hodfell, engaged himfelf
among the logwood cutters, and embarqued in Au-
guft 1675 for Campeachy, where he refided for fome
time, and followed that employment diligently, tho'
he underwent many and great hardlhips, before he
had an opportunity of returning to Jamaica, which
he did in the end of the year. In the February fol-
lowing, he embarqued again for Campeachy, being
now better provided for the trade of logwood-cutter
than before. He continued here a good while, and
acquainted himfelf perfeftly with the manner of cut-
ting logwood, and trading in it j which enabled him
to form fome projects tor advancing his fortune:
This, however, made it necelTary for him to return
firft to Jamaica, and then to England, where he ar-
rived on board a Ihip commanded by one captain
Loader, in the month of Auguft 1678. It was this
new fcene of life in the bay of Campeachy, that in-
troduced him to the acquaintance of fome Bucca-
neers, and gave him a notion of that fort of life,
in which he afterward engaged, and of which, it
& THE VOYAGE Ofr
fa certain* be was afterwards very much albamcd
This was probably the reafon, that he has con-
cealed many circumftances, with which, however,
the world has been made acquainted by others, who
had not, perhaps, the fame reafons for keeping them
fecret. But to proceed with the hiftory of our au-
thor's -adventures.
In the fpring of the year 1679, he embarked on
board the Loyal Merchant, of London, commanded
by captain Knapman, bound for Jamaica, where he
arrived in the latter end of April, the fame year,
with an intent to have provided himfelf in fuch man-
ner, as might have fet him' up for a complete log-
wood-cutter, and trader in the bay of Campeachy.
But he afterward changed his resolution, and laid
out the beft part of what he was worth in the pur-
chafo:ft£ a fmall eftate in Dorfetihirc, of a perfon he
knew to have a good tide -, and then made an agree-
ment with one Mr. Hobby, to take a trip to the
Continent before he went for England. Soon after
their fetting out, they came to an anchor in Nigral
bay, at the weft end of Jamaica : They found there
the captains Coxon, Sawkins, Sharpe, and other pri-
vateers, with whom all Mr. Hobby's men prefently
agreed to go, and left nobody with him but our au-
thor -, who, believing that his affiftance could not do
him much good, confented to go along with them
too. At the clofe of the year 1 679, they fet out :
their firft expedition was againil Porto-Bello, which
. being accompliflied, they took a refolution to crofs
the ifthmus of Darien, in order to purfue their de-
£gns in the South Seas. On April 5, 1680, they
landed near Golden IQand, being between 3 and 400
ftrong, carrying with them fuch proviQons as were
neceffary, and toys to gratify the free Indians, through
whofe country they palled. In about nine days rime
they arrived at Santa Maria, which they took with-
out much difficulty, but found there neither gold
nor proviiions, as they expe&ed -, fo \hrj feud there
6 . <h&i
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER.
3i
only three days, and then embarked on board canoes,
and other fmall craft, for the South Seas. On April
23, they were in fight of Panama-, and, having in
vain attempted Puebla Nova, before which captain
Sawkins, then acting as commander in chief, was
killed, they went off" to the ifles of Quibo. On
June 6, they failed from thence for the coaft of Peru ;
and, touching at the iflands of Gorgonia and Plata,
they came to Ylo, which they took in the month of
October. About Chriftmas, the fame year, they ar-
rived in the ifland of Juan Fernandez, which was
the fartheft they went towards the South : there they
depofed captain Bartholomew Sharpe, who had the
chief command after the death of Sawkins, and made
choice of one captain Watling to command, under
whom they attempted Arica. Herethey were repulfed
with the lofs of twenty-eight men, among whom was
their new commander captain Watling; when they fail- '
ed for fome time withoutany commander; but, arriv-
ing in the ifland of Plata, their crew fpHt into two
factions ; when it was refolved, before they proceeded
to the choice of a commander, that the majority,
with their new captain, fliould keep the (hip, and
the minority fliould content themfelves with the ca-
noes and fmall-craft. Upon the poll/captain Sharpe
was reftored, and Mr. Dampier, who had voted
again ft him, prepared, with his aflbciates, to return
over land into the North Seas,
On April 17, 1681, they quitted captain Sharpe,
and, without acknowleging any commander, refolved
to profecute their delign of repafling the ifthmus,
though they were but torty-feven men in all. This
was one of the boldeft undertakings that ever came
into the head of defperate men, and yet they per-
formed it without any considerable lofs. On May 1,
they landed on the Continent ; paft the ifthmus in
twenty-three days; and, on the 24th, embarked on
board captain Triftrian, a French privateer, with
■whom they joined a fleet of tfvife few. «& \r»\$«..
|i THE VOYAGE OF
confifting of nine veffels, on board of which went
near 600 men. This was 1 Very great force, and
they flattered themfelves with the hopes of doing great
things againft the Spaniards : but through variety of
accidents, though chiefly through the disagreement
among their commanders, they were able to do very
little, except that thefe people, who came over land,
made themfelves mafters of a tartan ; and, putting
themfelves under the command of captain Wright,
Continued cruizing along the Spanifh. coaft, quite
down to the Dutch fettfement of Curacoa. Herf
they endeavoured to fell a good quantity of fitga'r*
which they had taken on board a Spanifh (hip j but,
falling in that defign, they profecuted theif voyage to
TortugaS, and from thence to the Caracca coaft, where:
they took three barks, one laden with hides, ariothef
with European commodities, and the third with
earthen-ware and brandy. With thefe prizes they
proceeded to the ifland of Roca, where they fhared
them, and then rcfolved to feparate, though they
were but fixty in all : of thefe, about twenty, among
whom our author was, took one of the barks, and,
with their fhare of the goods, proceeded directly for
Virginia, where they arrived in the month of July
1682, There they continued for fome time, and
then the beft part of them made a voyage to Caro-
lina, from whence they once more came back to Vir-
ginia; and, having fpent the beft part of their
wealth, were now ready to enter on any fcheme that
could be propofed for getting more -, nor was it long
before fuch an opportunity offered. Captain Cooke
coming thither with a prize, and declaring his refo-
lution to go into the South Seas, and cruife upon the
Spaniards j Mr. Dampier, whofe old acquaintance he
was, and who knew him to be an able commander,
readily agreed to go with him, and brought mod of
his companions into a like difpofition; which was
of greater confequence to that commander, as it fur-
nifhed him with one-third of his whole company. In
2 ibis
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 33
this voyige it was that captain Cowley a&ed as mat-
ter, though he was not trufted with the tru? ddign.
They failed from Achamack in Virginia, Augurt 2 a
1683, and ftecred their courle for the Cape de Verd
iflands. In their patTage they met with a violent
ftorm, which lafted a whole week. We have now"
feen our author embarked ; the remainder of his
voyage lhall be given in his own manner.
The I lie of Salt, fays captain Darhpier, is fi tinted
in 16° latitude, and in 19^ 33' longitude weft from
the Lizard in England. It is in length from north!
to fouth nine leagues, and in breadth about two
leagues; has abundance of falc ponds, (whence it de-
rives its name) but no trees or grafs that ever I law.
Some few poor goats feed upon fhrubs near the fea-
fide. I have alfo feen fome wild fowl here, and efpe-
cially the Flamingos, a rcddjfh fowl, of the fhape of
a heron, but much larger, living in ponds, or muddy
places: we (hot about fourteen of them, though they
are very fhy : their nefts they build with mud, in the
fhallow places in ponds or Handing waters -, thefe
they raile up like hillocks, tapering to the top, two
feet above the furface of the water, where they leave
a hole to lay their eggs in, which when they do, or
are hatching them, they ftand with their long legs
in the water dole to the hillocks, and ib cover the
hollownefs only with their rumps ; for, if they Ihould
fit down on them, the weight of their bodies would
break them. The young ones cannot fly, nor do
they come to their true colour or fhape, till they are
ten or eleven months old, but run very faft : their
flefh is lean and black, but not ill tailed : They have
large tongues, and, near the root of them, a piece
of fat, which is accounted a great dainty. 1 law, at,
■~:of
po-
rve
nor
lief
another time, great ftore of thefe birds at the ifie cf
Rio la Hacha, near the continent of America, oppo-
fite to Curacao, but never could fo fully oblerve'
their nelts, or young ones, as here. We found not
above five or fix men in the ifland of fait ; the chief
VOL. III. B \swws§«.
f4 THE VOYAGE OF
brought us three or four poor goats •, in Fetuta fqr
which, and fome fait we bought of hiro, we gavo,
him fome old cloaths.
We failed from the ifle of Salt to St. Nicholas, an-
other of the Cape Verd iflcs, twenty-two leagues
wed tout h- weft. From thence we came to an an-
chor on- the fouth-eaft fide. It is of a triangular form,
the longeft fide to the caft being thirty leagues ia
length, and the other two twenty each : near the
fbore it is rocky and barren; but has fome valleys
farther in the country, which produce vines and
grafs. The chjef of the ifle, with two or three
gentlemen, brought fome of the wine aboard us,
v which was of a pale colour, and tailed like Madeira
wine, but was a little thick: they told us, that the
principal village was in a valley, fourteen miles from
the bay, where we then were, and contained about
too families i they were of a dark fwarthy com-
plexion- After having fpent five or fix days here in-
digging of wells for frelh water, we failed to Mayo*
anothe? of the Cape de Verd iflands, forty miles eafjb
by fouth from the lalt, where we came to an anchor
to the north-weft fide of it. We would have pro-
vided ourfelves with fome beef and goats here, but
they would not let our men come aihore ; becaufe
one captain Bond, a Briftol man, bad, not long be-
fore, carried off fome of the chief inhabitants under
the fame pretence, This ifie is but fmall, and the
coaft full of fhoals ; yet has a confiderable commerce
in fait and cattle*.
From the Cape Verd iflrs we fleered our courfe to
the fouth. with an eaft north-eaft wind directly to the
flreights of Magellan ; but at 10" north latitude, the
wind blowing hard at fouth by well, and fouth fouth-
weit, we directed our courfe to the Guinea coaft, and
came in a few days to an anchor at the mouth of
5 he rborough river, where there is an Englifh, factory
• See a funicular ileicription of iheCaf* Verd iflaodi, incapttin
Roberts' f Voyage, to he found in vol. z,
1 ^KM&V
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 35
ffouth of Sierra Leona, which drives a confide rable trade
with camwood, yielding a red colour, ufed by the
dyers. Not far from the more we faw a pretty large
village, in-habited by negroes ; the houfes were low,
except one in the middle, where they entertained us
with palm-wine, and brought aboard good ftore of
(ice, fowls, honey, and lunar-canes. About the middle
©f November we profecuted our voyage to the
ftreighes of Magellan ■, but, as foon as we got out to
fca, we met with tornadoes, three or four in a day,
which, together with calms, made us advance but
(lowly, the wind veering at intervals to the fouih and
by eaft, and fouth fouth-eaft, till we were paft the equi-
noctial line, about a degree to the eaft ofthelileof Sc
fago. After we werecome i° to the fouth of the line,
the wind turned to theealt, which made us fteerfouth-
weft by weft ; and, the farther we got to the fouth, the
wind increaied upon us from the eaft. At 3° fouth
latitude, we had the wind at fouth-eaft; and at 5*
at (burh-eaft, where it held a confiderable time, and
carried us the 18th of January, 16^4, to 360 of fouth
latitude, without any remarkable accident. The lea
hereabouts being of a pafilh colour, we thought to
have found ground with our line, but found none
at too fathom. At noon I computed 10 be 480 50'
welt from the Lizard, the variation 150 50'. January
28, we made three ifies of Sebakl de Weert, in 51 °
1$ fouth latitude, and 57 ° 28' longitude, weft from
the Lizard of England, the variation 33s 10'. We
came to an anchor within two cables length of the more
of the furthermoft of thole three iOands, where we
found foul rocky ground, and the iiland barren, and
deftitute of trees, but fome dildo-bufties growing
near the lea fide. We faw the fame day vart (boats
of Imall red lobfters, no bigger than one's finger;
but were perfectly like our lobfters, except in their
colour.
, As we found neither fafe anchoring nor frefh wa-
ter at thofe illes* wc made the belt of aw -«v\ v^-
3$ THE VOYAGE OF
ward the freights of Magellan. February t, we
came in fight of the freight le Maire, which we found
very narrow, with high land on both fides. ' The
wind at north north-weft, we failed with a briflc gale
till within four miles of the mouth, where, being
becalmed, we found a very frong tide fetting out of
the freights to the north ; but whether it flowed or
ebbed we were not able to diftinguilh -, becaufe it
ran all ways, breaking on all fides, and tolling our
fliip at fuch a rate, as I never faw before or fince.
At eight o'clock at night we failed with a weft north-
weft wind to the eaft, in order to fail round the States
Ifle } at the call end of which, anchoring the 7th at
noon, we found ourfelves at 45° 52' fouth latitude.
At this end are three frnall rocky iflands, white with
the dung of birds. We fleered to the fouth, in
order to fail round to the fouth of Cape Horn, the
fouthermoft point of Terra del Fuego v but the winds
running betwixt the north-weft and weft, we did not
fee the Terra del Fuego. After the frft evening,
we made the freight of le Maire : as 1 did not fee
the fun, at fetting or rifing, from the time we left
the ifles of Sebald de Weert, till we came into the
tiouth Seas, fo I am not able to tell you the variation :
I made, indeed, an obfervation at noon in 59* 30'
longitude, the wind at weft: by north ■, and at night
the- wind veered about to the fouth-weft at 6o°, the
furtheft fouth latitude I ever was in. February 14,
we were furprifed by a mod violent ftorm in 57 " lati-
tude to the weft of Cape Horn, which continued till
the 3d of March, from the fouth-weft, and fouth-weft
and by weft, and weft fouth-weft. March 3, it blew
•frelh gale from the fouth, and afterwards from thewfl:,
vhich brought us into the South Sea. The 9th, we
found ourfelves at 470 10', and the variation 150 3©'
eaft. The 1.7 th, we had a fair gale from the fouth-eaft
at 36° latitude, the variation 8s eaft. The 19th.
early in the morning, we difcerned a fail to the fouth
0/ us, which we fuppofed to be aSpanifh merchantman
bouod
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER.
bound from Baldivia to Lima ; but proved one tap-
rain Eaton, from London, who being bound to the
South Seas as well as we, we kept company with him
quite through the (freights.
March 24, we got in fight of the ille of Juan
Fernandez, and loon after came to an anchor, in a
bay at the fouth end, in 25 fathom water, within
two cables length of the Ihore *. We fent imme-
diately to look after a Mulkito man we had been
forced to leave there three years before ; and who,'
notwith Handing all the fearch made by the Spaniards
after him, had kept himlelf concealed in the woods.
When he was left there by captain Wailing (after
captain Sharpe was turned out) he had with him a
gun, a knife, and fome powder and Ihot, which be-
ing all fpent, he fawcd his gun-barrel into filial I
pieces, and thefe he made up into harpoons, hooks,
and fuch-like inftruments; all which, though it may
feem Orange, yet is commonly pracVifed among the
Mufkiro Indians, who make all their inftruments
without cither forge or anvil. And the other Indi-
ans, who have not the ufe of iron from the Europe-
ans, make their hatchets, wherewith they cut their
timber and wood, of a very hard (tone. In the hol-
lowing out of their canoes, they make ufe of fire
befide. The Hone h:uchets ot the Indians, near
Blewncld River, are ten inches long, fourteen broad,
and two inches thick in the middle, ground away
flat and (harp at both ends; the handle is in the
midlt, being a deep notch, of a ringer's length,
which they bind round with a wirhe of about tour
feet long. Thus the Indians of f atagonia head their
arrows very artificially with ground flints : with
thefe before-mentioned inftruments our Mulkito man
ufed to ftrike goats and filh lor his fubliltence j his
hut being half a mile from the lea-fide, made of
* This ifland is accurately deicnbeJ in Anion's voyage ; follow-
ing.
|| THE VOYAGE OF
goat fliins ; as was his bed, the fame ferving like*
wife for Ijis cloatbing ; thofe he had, when he was
left, being quite worn out. We had no fooner
landed, than another Mufkito, aboard our Hip, ran
to meet his countryman, and, after he bad thrown
himfelf on his face upon the ground, embraced him
With all [he marks of tendernefs ; which ceremony
being over, he came to falute us his old friends,
His name was Will, and the other's Robert : For,
though they hav<.- n:> names among themfelves, they
love to have names given them by the Engliih. This
idand has only two bays fir. lor anchorage, with a
rivulet of freih water in each : both thefe are at the
fall end, and fo conveniently fituated, that they
might be Strengthened and defended by a (lender force
againft a powerful army, there being no accefs to
jJiem from the Weft over the high mountains. Here
it was that five Englifhmen, left here by captain
Pavis, fecured themJelves againft a great number of
Spaniards.
After ftaying fourteen days at the iQand of Juan
fernandez, we fet fail again April 8, 1684, in com-
pany with captain Eaton, for the PacificSea, pro-
perly fo called, being that part of the Mare del Zur
which extends from louth to north, betwixt 300 and
40° fouth latitude ; and, from the American ihore
to the weft, without limitation, as far as I know. I
have failed in this fea 250 leagues without any dark
or rainy clouds, tempefts, tornadoes, hurricanes, or
any other winds, except the trade-winds j notwith-
standing which, the fea runs high at the new and full
moon, and makes landing very unfafe. I have,
however, frequently taken notice of hazy and foggy
weather in the mornipg, fo as to hinder the obferva-
tion of the fun. We continued our courfe towards
the line to the 24° fouth latitude, in fight of the
Continent of America. This vaft track of land be-
longing to Chili and Peru being very mountainous,
Hf failed no nearer than twelve or fixteen leagues to
it,
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 39
it, for fear of being difcovered by the Spaniards ;
and [lie land, from 240 to io° fouth latitude, fttfl
exceeds the former in height, being incloicd by three
or four ridges of mountains within one another, the
furthermoft within the country furpaffing the reft in
height i they exceed, in my opinion, in height, the
peak of Trneriff, and of St. Martha, or any other
in the world that ever I faw. Sir John Narborough,
in his voyage to Ealdivia, mentions very high tands
near that city, lying upon the coaft ; and i have been
informed from divers Spaniards, that from Coquim-
bo, at 300 fouth latitude, to Baldivia, at 40" louth,
the fhoie is aifo very high ; which makes me con-
clude, that thefe ridges extend all along the Soutb>
Sea coaft from one end of Peru and Chili to the
other, they are called the Andes. 1 his I believe
to be the reafon why but few, and thefe very
i'mall rivers, exonerate themfelves into the fea,
fcarce any of them beirg navigable, and fome drying
up at certain f&uosi of the year. Thus the river of
Uli runs with a brifk current from January 10 June,
and th-n decreafes till September, when it quite dries
up till January again, -as I can fay on my own expe-
rience, and as I have heard the Spaniards affirm the
fame of other rivers on this coaft. So I look upon
§them rather as torrents, occafior.ed by rain at certain
feafons, than rivulets.
We continued our courfe at fome diftance along
the coaft till May the 3d, at 90 40' fouth latitude,
when we deferring a veffel, captain Eaton took her,
being laden with timber. Afterwards we fteered our
I courfe to the ifle of Lobos, at 6° 24' fouth latitude,
five leagues from the continent. This ille is called
Lobos de la Mare, to diftinguifh it from another
nearer the Continent, and, therefore, called Lobos
de la Terra ; Lobos fignifying as much as a feal in
Spanifii, of which there is great plenty hereabout.
May 10, we anchored near Lobos de la Marc with
our prize. This is properly a double iiland, each of
lS A. *.TX&fc
J9 THE VOYAGE OF
a mile in circuit, feparatecj by a fmall channel,
not capable of receiving any fhips of burden : A
little way from the more, on the north fide, feveral
rocks lie fcattered in the lea : at the weft end of the '
eaftermoft ille, is a fmall fandy creek, where mips
may be fecure from the winds ; all the reft of the
more being rocky cliffs. The land is alfo rocky and
fandy, without any frefh water, trees or fhrubs, or
any land animal, except fowls, as boobies, but
above all, penguins, a fort of fea-fowl of the bignefs
-of a duck, and having juit fuch feet, but the bill is
pointed : their wings are no more than ftumps, which
jerve them inftead of fins in the water ; and they are
.covered rather with down, than with feathers : As
they feed on fifh, fo their ftefh is but of an indiffer-
ent tafte, but the eggs are very good. The pen-
guins are to be feen ail over the South Sea, on
the coaft of Newfoundland, -and on the Cape of
Good Hope.
Upon examination of the prifoners. being convinced
{fiat we were difcovered by the Spaniards; and, confe-
quently, that they would keep all their richeft (hips
in port, it was confidered, whether we mould attack
fome place thereabouts; and Truxilo, though a po-
pulous city, and of a difficult accefs in landing, at
the port of Quanehagno, fix miles hence, being
thought the mod likely place, we prepared for the
faid expedition! and. May 17, found our whole
number to confift of 10H found men ; but, the next
day, fome of our men defcrying three veflels to the
weft, without the ifles, and one betwixt the ifte and
the Continent, we gave thefti chace; we in captain
Cooke's ihip that towards the Continent, and captain
Eaton the other two. They were foon taken, and
proved to. be laden with flour from Guanehagno to
Panama : in one of them we found a letter from the
V^eroy of Lima, to the prefident of Panama, inti-
mating, that, having notice of fome enemies lately
fome into thofc feas, he had immediately fent away
- ' " \^
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 4.1
thefe three fhips to fupply their wants ; at the fame
time, being informed by the prifoners, that thofeof
Truxillo were erecting a fort near their harbour of
Guanehagno, we refolved to give over our defign of
attacking that place, and filtered with our three prizes
to the ifles of Gallipagos, fo called by the Spaniards
from their fuppofed difappearing. May 3 1 , we came
to an anchor at the eaft tide of one of theeaftermoft
ifles, a mile from the Ihore, in fmeen fathom water,
clear, white, hard fand *.
There is no place in the world fo much ftored wi'h
guanas and land, tortoifes as thefe ifles. The firlt
are fat, and of an extraordinary fi/_e, and exeeeding
tame •, and the land tortoifes fo numerous, that fo re
hundred men may fubfift on them for a confi,1er..ble
time. They are very fat, and as pleatant food as a out-
let; and of fuch bignels, that one of them weighs
150 or 200 pounds ; and are from two iter CO
feet fix inches over the belly-, whereas, 111
places, I never met with any above thirty 'pounds
weight; though I have heard them fay. that C
Laurence, or Madagafcar, there are alto very lar.-e
ones. There are three or four forts of land toftoifts
in the Well Indies. After a fea tortoife gets afiiore
to lay, ihe is an hour before (he returns, becaufe Ihe
always chutes her places above high -w r
where file makes a large hole with her fins in the
fand, to lay her eggs in ; which done, fhe covers
them up two feet deep wirh the fame fand Ihe had
raked out before : fometimes they will take a view of
the place beforehand, and be lure to return to the
fame the next day to lay. The tortoifes are taken in
the night, upon the more, when they are turned
upon their backs, above the high-water mark, and fo
fetched away the next morning; but a large green
tortoife will find work enough for two able fellows to
turn her upon her back.
Theft ifunJj are defcribed by Woodes Rogers,
-
43 THE VOYAGE OF
After a flay of twelve days among thefe ifles, one
of our Indian prifoncrs, a native of Rio Lega, hav-
ing given us an ample account of the riches of that '
place, and offered his fervice to conduit us thither,
it was refolved to take his advice ; and accordingly
we fet fail the 12th of June, wjch an intention to
touch in our way at the ifle of Cocoas : we took our
courts north 40 40' latitude, with a fouth and by weft
and lbuth fouth weft winds -, and, as we came weft
to the ifle of Cocoas, the wind fouth- weft and by fouth,
thus we continued our courfe to 5° 40' north latitude,
when; defpairing to make the ifle of Cocoas as the
wind flood, we directed our courfe to the continent.
The ifle of Cocoas lies in 50 15' north latitude, itt
circuit feven or eight leagues, but has no inhabi-
tants. Near the fea-fide it produces a certain plea-
fant herb in the low grounds, called Geamadael by
the Spaniards. As it is environed with fteep rocks,
fo there is no coming near it, except that on the
rjorth-eaft end fhips may ride fafely in a fmall creek:
this is what I learn from the Spaniards, and was con-
firmed to me by captain Eaton. The fair weather,
and fmall winds, conducted us by the beginning of
July to Cape Blanco, on the continent of Mexico,
£0 called from two white rocks, half a mile from the
cape, in 90 56' latitude j they are taper, high, and
fteep, like two high towers ; the cape itfelf is about
the fame height as Beachy-head, on the coaft of Suf-
fer, in England, being a full point jetting out with
fteep rocks to the fea, but having an eafy defcent oh
both fides from the Bat on the top, which, being
covered with tall trees, affords a plcafant profpecr,.
On the north-weft fide of the cape, the land runs
in north-eaft for four leagues, making a fmall bay,
called the Caldera Bay j at the entrance whereof, at
the north-weft fide of the cape, a fweet-water rivulet
difcharges itfelf into the fea amongft the low lands.
Thefe are very rich, and abounding in lofty trees,
which extend a mile north-eaft beyond the rivulet.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER.
+3
where the Savannas begin, and run feveral leagues
into the country; being here-and-there beautified'
with lirull groves of trees, and covered with a fwett,
thick, and long grafs, fome of the heft I ever faw
in the Weft Indies. Deeper into the bay, tin low
lands are flared with mangroves ; bur, rarthci no
the country, the land is higher, partly woods, rur.iy
hilly favannas ; the grafs whereof is not fo good as
the former, neither are the trees in the woods fo tall,
but faull and fhorr. From the bortom of this b^y,
you may travel over hilly favannas for fourteen or
fifteen leagues to the lake of Nicaragua,
On the coafl: of the North Sea, captain Cooke,
who had been very ill ever fince our departure fru;u
the iiLiiid Juan Fernandez, died as foon as we came
within two or three leagues of this cape, a tiling Ire-
quern at fea, for people to die in view of the land,
after a long illnefs : and as, in a few hours after,
we came to anchor a league within the cape, near
the mouth of the before- mentioned rivulet, at four-
teen' fathom clear hard fand, he was immediately car-
ried on fliore, under a guard of twelve armed men,
jn order to his interment. While our men were bufy
in digging the grave, three Spanifh Indians came
to them, afking them feveral impertinent queftionsj
which our people having anfwered as they thought
convenient, they kept them in dlfcourie till they
found means to feize them all three, though one of
them efcaped their hands again. The other two, be-
ing carried aboard, confefled that they were fent thi-
ther as fptes, to inform themfelves concerning us,
from Nicoya, a fmall Mulatto town, twelve or four-
teen leagues hence, feated upon the banks of a ri-
ver bearing the fame name, which being a place very-
convenient for building and refitting of ihips, the
piefident of Panama had fent advice of our coming
into thefe feas to their magiflrates.
Concerning the inhabitants of the country, they
(oU us, (hat they lived moitly by manuring of their
44
THE VOYAGE OF
grounds for corn, and feeding their cattle in the Sa-
vannas or plains, of which they had great (lore ; and
that they fent their ox- hides to the North Sea, by
the lake of Nicaragua ; as they did alfo a fort of red
wood, (which I fuppofe to be the fame, called at
Jamaica blood wood, or Nicaragua wood) ufed for
dying, which they exchanged there for linen and
woolen commodities brought thither from Europe.
They added, that not far from thence was- a large
beef-pen, where we might provide ourfclves with
what cows or bulls we had occafion for. As this was
a fcarce commodity amongft us at that time, twenty-
four of us were immediately difpatched in two boats,
who, under the conduct of one of the Indians, landed
at a place a league from the fhip, and haled their
boats upon the dry land : thus, led by their guide,
they came to the pen, in a large favanna, two miles
from the boats, where, finding abundance of bulls
and cows feeding, fome were for killing three or
four of them immediately ; but the reft oppofed the
tame, alleging, they had better ftay all night, end
in the morning kill as many as they had occafion for.
Hereupon I, and eleven more, thought fit to return
aboard, which we did without the leaft oppofition,
expecting the coming of the reft the next day j bur,
hearing nothing of them by four o'clock in the af-
ternoon, ten men were lent in a canoe to look after
them. They were no fooner come into the bay where
they landed before, but they found their comrades
upon a fmall rock, half a mile from the lhore, (land-
ing up to the middle in water, whither they had
Bed for refuge to cfcape the hands of forty or fifty
well armed Spaniards, with guns and lances, who
had burnt their boat : they were got upon the rock
at low water ; but it being then flowing water, they
muft have infallibly perilhed, had our canoes come
but one hour later, which now brought them fafe
aboard. We afterwards feized upon two canoes,
ready fitted, in this bay -, for mips and barks they
CAPTAINWILLIAM DAMPIER. 45
have none, nor any instrument for fifhing, there be-
ing fcarce any fifli thereabouts. This country abound-
ing in wood, called lance-wood, growing ftraight, like
fo many allies, and very hard and tough, we cut a
good quantity of it to make handles or (laves for
oars, and fcouring-rods for our guns, as being much
more durable than thofe made of afh.
The 19th of July, the day before our departure
from the bay of Caldera, Mr. Edward Davis, our
quarter- mailer, was conftituted captain, in the room
of captain Cooke, deceafed: the next day we failed,
in company with captain Eaton, and one of our meal
prizes, towards Rio Leja, with a moderate north
wind, which brought us, in three days, over again ft
the faid port. The country about Kio Leja is ea-
fily difcovered at fea, by reafon of an high, peaked,
burning mountain, called Volcano Vejo, the Old
Volcano, by rhe Spaniards. It is eafily diltinguifhed,
being very high, fo as to be feen twenty leagues at
fea; befides that there is no other mountain, like
this, on that coaft ; and it fmokes all day, and alio
fends forth flames at night. If you wili make the
harbour, the mountain muft bear north-eaft ; then,
fleering directly with the mountain, that courfe will
bring you to the harbour, the" entrance whereof you
fee about three leagues off it. You mull take the
advantage of the tea- winds to enter, which are here
at fouth (but h- weft. 1 he harbour is inclofed by a
low ifle, of a mile in length, a quarter of a mile broad,
and one and half from the continent. At each end
is a channel ; that on the ealt, being narrow, and
having a very ftrong tide, is fcarce ever ufed ; but
that on the weft end, being much larger, is molt
frequented by (hips, which muft, however, have a
care of a certain faddy fhole on the north-weft point
of the ifle, which as loon as they are pall, they muft
keep clofe to the (hore of the ilk, there being a fand-
bank, which runs above half-way out from the con-
tinent ■, after which, there is very good riding near
r
46- THE VOYAGE OF
the main fliore, in feven or eight fathom water, cleajf
hard fand. This point is able to- contain aoo fhipa,
About two leagues thence is fewed the town of Rio
Leja, in a fenny country, fuH of red man-grow trees,
betwixt two narrow branches of the fea, the wefter-
moft whereof reaches op to the town* and the eafter-
moft runs up near the baekfide of it % bat no lhip^
-ing can come to the town ; the defcriprion whereof
will give the reader in my return hither.
Being in fight of the Volcano Vejo, feven or eight
leagues from the fhore, the mouth bearing north"
eaft, we took in our topfails, and made towards- the
harbour; and then-, letting out our canoes, rowed
up to the fmall'- town, that makes the harbour of
Rio Leja, by nine o'clock in the morning ; where
we difcovered an houfe, and foon after three men •
going into a canoe on the infida of the ifland, and
making what hafte they could to row to the conti-
nent! which before they could reach, we overtook
them, and carried them to the little ifle. At the -
fame time, we obferved one' on- horfebaek on the
continent, riding away full (peed' towards the town.
They frankly confeffed, that they had been placed
there by the governor of Rio Leja, who had been
advifrd of our coming into thofe parts, to keep
watch day and night ; and that horicman we faw rid-
ing'away, was placed upon the fame account on the
continent, within an hour's riding of the towm Thus,
-finding ourfelves dilcovered, the horfeman being
gone three hours before Eaton and his canoes came
to the ifland, the defign upon that town was laid
afide for this time. This fmall ifland has a curious
fpring of frelh water, fome trees, and good ftore of
grafs ■, but no beafts to feed upon it; and is fituated
at 120 10' north latitude. We ftaid till four o'clock
in the afternoon ; then we went aboard again ; and,
purfuant to a confutation held betwixt captain Ea-
ton and captain Davis July 26, took our courfe the
next day for the gulph of- Amapalla,
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 47
This gulph is a large branch of the fea, entering
eight or ten leagues deep into the country. On the
fouth fide of its entrance, it has a point, or cape
Cafwioa j and, on the north-weft fide, St. Michael's
Mountain, at ia° 40' north latitude. They both
appear very remarkable at fea -, for the cape is an
high round point, the land near it being very low;
and Mount Michael is a high peaked hill, not very
fteep, at the foot whereof, on the fouth-eaft, is a
low plain ol a mile in length. This bay or gulph
has many i Hands, but uninhabited, One pretty targe
we law belonging to a monaftery, where four or five
Indians looked after the cattle, that fed there in great
numbers. This gulph has two channels, one be-
twixt cape Calwina and Mangera, the other between
this laft place and Amapalla. The beft anchorage is
on the call fide of Amapalla, oppofite to the low
grounds, the reft being high lands. As you go in
deeper, you may ride on the north eaft fide of Ama-
palla, clofe to the main. This the Spaniards call
the port of Martin Lopez. The gulph extends a
great way beyond the ifie ; but it is not deep enough
to bear Ihips of burden.
Captain Davis being fent before, with two canoes
into this gulph, to get ibme priibners, he came to
Mangera, where, finding a path from1 the creek, he
followed it towards the town-, but the inhabitants
no fooner had notice of his coming, than they ran
all into the woods, leaving only the pritft behind
them j who being taken, with two boys his atten-
dants, captain Davis made them conduct: him to the
ifle of .Amapalla, where being landed, he marched
up to the before-mentioned place, a mile from the
landing-place, on the top of the hill. The inhabi-
tants, who law them advance, were ready to retire
into the woodsy but the fecretai y, an enemy to the
Spaniards, having perfuaded them that they were
friends, who craved their afiiftance againft their
common opprefibrs, they bid Davis and his men wel-
come. After the ftrft Mwaiuw, ^^ u\m.Oor.\v»-
4.8 THE VOYAGE OF
wards the church, (the prieft, brought along by cap-
tain Davis, at the head of them) their only place of
public meeting, whether for confutations or diver-
fions, where they kept their vizards, hautboys, ftrutn-,
ftrums, (a kind of cittern) and other mutical inftru-
ments. Here they meet to make merry, efpecially
in the night preceding or next enfuing any holiday*
where they dance, ling and play, with antic drefles
and geftures ; though, to fpeak truth, their mufic
and mirth have fomething very melancholy in them,
fuitable to the yoke they groan under.
But to return to captain Davis : his intention was-,
as foon as they were all got into the church, to en-
gage'all their afliftance againft the Spaniards, to ac-
complilh which the prieft had promifed his good of-
fices ', but, juft as a few of the remaining Indians
were entering the church, one of captain Davis's
men pulhed a man forwards, to haften him into the
church j which the Indian being frightened at, fee
tip his heels, and the reft, taking the alarm, followed i
fo that captain Davis and the frier being left alone
in the church, he ordered his men to fire at them;
which being done, the Secretary was killed in the
fray : and fo the whole project vanifhed into fnioke,
by the foolilhnefs of one inconfiderate fellow. The
fame afternoon, our Ihip being entered the gulph
between cape Cafwina and the iue of Mangera, came
to an anchor on the eaft fide, near the ifle of Atna-
palla. Captain Davis came aboard us with the frier,
who told us, that, fince the fecretary was killed, they
had no other way than to fend for the cafica ; which
being done by the prieft, he came, attended by fix
other Indians, who did us conliderable fervice in con-
ducting us whither we had occafion to go, efpeci-
ally to fetch beef i for which' they were rewarded to
their fatisfaltion. On this iftand of Amapalla, a
company of Englifh and French landed afterward,
and thence came to the continent, and marched by
Land to the Cape River, which has got ks name
tan
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 49
from its difcharging itfclf into the north feas near
Cape Gratia. At the fource of this river they make
bark-logs, wherewith they pafled into the north feas.
However, they were not the firft who knew this
cartage, fomething of it having been difcovered
by fome Englifh thirty years before, who went up
this Cape River into the north feas in canoes, to the
fame place where the French built their bark-logs,
and thence to an inland town called Segovia. They
performed this not without incredible difficulty, and
in no lefs than a month's time, by reafon of the
many catarafts of this River, which obliged them
frequently to hale their canoes alhore, and drag them
over land, till they were pad thefe water-falls. I
have fpoken with feveral, that were in this expedi-
tipn, and, if I miftake not, captain Sharpe was one
of them. But to return to our voyage : after we had
careened, and provided our fhips with frefh water,
captain Davis and captain Eaton broke off confort-
Ihip; and the laft left the gulph September 2.
September 3, 1684, having fcen the frier on fhore,
we failed with the land-wind at weft north-weft, out
of the gulph of Amnpalla through the channel be-
twixt Mangera and the ifle of Amapalla, directing
our courfe to the coalt of Peru. As the tornadoes,
with thunder, lightening, and rains are very frequent
on thefe coafts from June to November, we had
our fhare of them, coming moft from the fouth eaft ;
but afterwards, the wind veering to the weft, It
held till we came within light of cape St. Francifco,
where we met with fair weather, and a fouth wind.
This cape, being an high full point of land, lies
at i° 20' north latitude, and is covered with lofty
trees. As you pafs by it from the north fide, you
may eafily millake a fmall low point for the cape-,
but, foon after you pafs it, you will dilcover it with
triple points. The land near it is high, and the
mountains appear black. We plied along the fhort,
for the advantage both of the Jea and land-mt\d&, tba
Vol. III. &
5t> THE VOYAGE OF
firft blowing from the fouth, as the land-winds cfo
from fouth fouth-eaft, though fometimes, when wc
were oppofite to a river's mouth, the wind would
turn to fouth-eaft. September 20, we came to an
anchor near the ifle of Plata, at fixteen fathom, be-
ing now fallen in with the places whence I began the
account of this voyage, after having compaffed the
whole continent of South America. The ifle of
Plata, fituated at 1° to' fouth latitude, is about four
miles in length, and one and an half in breadth, of
a pretty good height, and tnclofcd with rocky cliffs,
except in one place on the eaft fide, which is the
only place where a frefh-water torrent falls down
from the rocks. The top is flat and plain, the foil
fandyj yet it produces three or four forts of low and
fmall trees, not known in Europe. Thefe trees
were much overgrown with mofs ; and pretty good
grafs is to .be found here in the beginning of the
year ; but here are no land-animals to feed upon it,
that vaft number of goats, which ufed to be here
formerly, being all deftroyed. , However, they have
. a great many boobies and men-of-war birds. Some
fay the Spaniards have given it the name of Plate
Ifland, ever fince fir Francis Drake carried thither*
the Cacafuego, a rich fhip of theirs laden with plate.
The place for anchorage is on the eaft fide, about
the middle of the ifle, clofe to the fhore, within two
cables length of the fandy bay, in eighteen or twenty
fathom of faft oufy ground, and very fmooth water j
bccatife the fouth-eaft point of the ifle keeps off the
force of the fouth winds, which commonly blow,
here. In this fandy bay, oppofite to the anchoring-
placc, is good landing, this being the only place
that leads up into the ifle. From the fouth-eaft point
runs out a fmall fhole about a quarter of a mile into
the fea, where, when it flows, you fee great riling
in the water. The tide is'ftrong, flowing to the
fouth, and ebbing to the north. At the fame point
are three fmall, but high rocks» about a cable's
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. $t
length from the iilci and as many, but much larger,
at the north-eaft end. All round the ifland there is
deep water, except in the before- mentioned road ;
and, near the (hole, there are great plenty of fmalt
fea-turtles mentioned before : the ifland bears four
or five leagues weft Couth-weft from cape St. Lau-
renzo.
After a day V (lay here, we continued our voyage
to point St. Helena, bearing Couth from the ifle of
Plata, at 2° 15' Couth latitude, It appears high and
fiat like an ifle, being Currounded with low grounds,
and covered on the top with thirties ; but without
trees. As it jets out into the fea, it makes a good
large bay to the north fide, a mile within which, ort
the very fea, fide, (lands a wretched village, called
alCo St. Helena, inhabited by Indians ; but the ground,
though low, being Candy and barren, they have nei-
ther trees nor gral's, or any corn or fruit, except
water-melons 1 which are very good here. They are
forced to fetch their water as far as the river Ca-
lanche, four leagues thence, at the bottom of the
fame bay. They live chiefly upon fifh, and are Cup-
plied with rnaiz Cor Algatrane. Near this town,
about five paces above the high-water mark, there
iflucs out of the earth a certain bituminous fubilance,
called Algatrane by the Spaniards, which, by long
boiling, becomes hard like pitch, and is ufed as Cuch
by the Spaniards. To the leeward of the point, di-
rectly oppofitc to the village, is good anchorage v but,
on the well fide, very deep water. Some of our
men, b,eing Cent in the night-time to take the vil-
lage, landed in their canoes in the morning, and
took Come priibners, and a fmall bark fet on fire by
the inhabitants, allcdging, that they had done it by
fpecial 'trder from the viceroy. Our men coming
back the Came evening, we returned again into the
ille of Plata, where we anchored ^eptember 26,
■which very evening, we Cent Come of our men to
Manta, an Indian village, wo ot vV.WRXwsjarei.'w^
5a THE VOYAGE OF
of cape St. Laurenzo, to get more prifoners, in hopes
of better intelligence.
Mama is a fmall village, inhabited by Indians, on
the Continent, feven or eight leagues from the ifle
of Plata. Its buildings are mean, and fcattered ;
but, being raifed on an eafy afcenc, afford a very
agreeable profpect towards the fea-fide. The church
here is very fine, and adorned with carved work, be-
caufe this place was formerly inhabited by Spaniards.
As the grounds about it arc dry and fandy, they bear
neither corn nor roots, but only a few fhrubs. They
are fupplied with provifions by fea, this being the
firft place, where the {hips bound from Panama to
Lima, and other parts of Peru, refrefli themfelvcs.
They have an excellent fpring of frefli water be-
tween the village and the Tea. Juit oppofite to the
village, one mile and an half from the Ihore, is a
rock, which proves often dangerous, becaufc it ne-.
ver appears above water; but, a mile within this.
rock, is fafe anchorage at fix, eight, or ten fathom,
hard and clear fand. About a mile wed from the
anchoring- place, a (hole runs out a mile into the Tea.
Behind the town, directly fbuth of it, a good way
into the country, ftands a very high mountain, riling
up into the clouds like a fugar-loaf ■■, and therefor*
ferves for a good tea-mark, there being none other
like it on all that coaft. We returned to our mea»
who landed about day break, one mile and half from
the village j but the inhabitants, being already ftir-
ring, took the alarm, and fo got all away, except
two old women, who, being taken prifoners, declared,
that the viceroy, upon news brought him, that a
good number of the enemies were come over the
ifthmus of Darien into the South Seas, had ordered
the burning of their (hips, the deftroying of all the
goats in the ifle of Plata, and no more provifions to
be kept than for their own prefent ufe.
We reiurned the next day to the ifle of Plata,
where we found our (hip. Here wc ftaid, unn;-
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. $j
-lalved what courfe to take, till October 2, when cap-
tain Swan, commander of the Cygnet of London,
a rich Ihip, which was defigncd to trade on that
coaft, came to an anchor in the fame road; but,
being difappointed in his hopes to traffic thereabouts,
his men had forced him to take aboard a company
of privateers he met with ac Nicoya, being the fame
we were told of at Manta ; for they were come by
land, under the command of captain Peter Harris,
nephew to the fame captain Harris who was killed
before Panama. Captain Swan's ihip being unfit for
fervice, by reafon of his cargo, molt of nil goods
were fold upun credit, and the reft thrown overboard,
except the fine commodities, and fume iron tor bal-
laft. Then captain Davis and captain Swan joined
company by content-, and Harris had a (mail bark
given him. Our bark, which had been fenr three
days before cruizing, brought m a prize laden with
timber, which they had taken in the bay Guiaquil.
The commander told us, that it was credibly re-
ported at Guiaquil, that the viceroy was fitting out
ten frigates to chafe us out of thofe feas. This made
us wifh for captain Eaton-, and it was refolved to
fend our fmall bask towards Lima, to invite him to
join company with us. This done, we fitted up an-
other fmall bark into a firelhip ; and, October 20,
failed for the ifie of Lobos. The wind being very
flack, we did not pafs by the point of St. Helena till
the 23d, and the 25th croiTed the bay of Guiaquil.
The 30th, we doubled the cape of Blanco, at 30"
48', the worft cape in the South Seas to double, be-
cauie you cannot here, as in molt other places, ftand
off at kz, by reafon of the ftrong current, which,
letting north-weft, will carry a (hip oft more in two
hours, than the can get again in five. Thus we
were forced to keep near the Ihore, which is not of-
ten performed without great difficulty ; for as there
arc no land-winds here, it generally blows hard at
fouth luuih-weft, or fouth by weft. The cape is fux-
54 THE VOYAGE OF
rounded with white rocks on the fea-fide, whence,
queftionlefs, it has got its name ; and the country
□ear it appears ftccp and rugged.
November 2, we lay about fix leagues off Payta,
whence we fent feveral canoes, manned with no
men, to attack the town, a fmall fea-port belonging
fo the Spaniards, at 50 15', built on a fandy rock
near the fea-fide, under an high hitl. It has two,
churches, though not more than feventy five or
eighty houfes, low, and meanly built. It is like moft
of the other buildings all along the coaft of Peru.
They build their walls with a kind of brick made
of earth and ltraw, dried only in the fun, three feet
long, two broad, and one i thick. In tome places
they only lay poles acrofs, covered with mats inftead
flf roofs % but fometimes they ufed roofs. The rea-
fon why they build fu meanly, is partly becaufc
they want materials of good ftone and timber, partly
becaufe it never rains, which only makes them folia
citous of keeping out the fun j and thofe walls, tho*
never fo flight and brittle, "yet will there hold firm
for a confiderable time, as they were at firft, being
pot fhaken or mouldered by the wind and rains,
The timber the better fort make ufe of in their
buildings, js brought thither from other places.
Their walls, as well as thofe of their churches, are
neatly whitened, both within and without, with very
large beams, polls, and doors, alt adorned with car-
ved work, befides good pictures brought thither
from Spain, and rich hangings of tapeftry, or painted
calicoes. But the houfes of Payta were not of that
fort, though their churches were large and handfome.
Clofe by the fea is a fmall fort, which, with muf-
quets only, commands the harbour, as another on
the top of an hill commands both that and this fort.
They arc obliged to fetch their frefh water, as alio
their fowls, hogs, plaintains, and Matz from Colon,
a town two leagues north north-eafl: from Payta,
ffhere a frefli-warex river empties Uiejf into the fea.
The
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 55
The dry track of this country begins to the north
from cape Blanco, and reaches to Coquimbo, at 300
fouth latitude, where I never faw or heard any rain,
nor of any green thing growing, either in the moun-
tains or valleys, except in lonie places watered con-
ftantly with divers rivers.
The' people of Colon are much addicted to fifh-
ing, which they perform in bark-logs: thefe are
compofed of divers round logs of wood, like a
rafter, but in different manners, according to the
ufe for which they are intended. Thofe defigned
for filhing are only three or four logs of light wood,
eight feet long, joined to each other on the fides
with wooden pegs and withes. The middleman is al-
ways longer than the reft, efpecially at the fore part,
which ends, by degrees, in a point, the better to
cut the waves. Thole intended for carrying mer-
chandize are made after the fame manner and fhape,
of twenty or thirty great trunks of trees, joined
together, thirty or forty feet long. Upon thefe they
fatten, with wooden pins, another fhorter row of
logs crofs-ways. From this double bottom they
raife a raft of ten feet, by the means of potts fet
upright, which are the fupporters of two thick trees
laid acrofs each other, juft like our wood-piles, but
not fo clofe as in the bottom of the float, and at
the end and fides only, the .inner part being hollow.
In this, at four feet high from the beam of the bot-
tom, they lay final! poles clofe together, which icrve
for a bottom of another room, on the top whereof
they make juft fuch another floor. The firft ftory
ierves for the hold, in which they flow ballaft, and
water-cafks, or jarsj and the fecond for the feamen,
and what belongs to them. Above this fecond floor
the goods are ftuwed, as high as they think tit, which
fcldom exceeds ten feet. Some fpace is left behind
for the fleerfman, and before tor the kitchen, efpeci-
ally in long voyages, becaufe they fonte times go 5
or 600 leagues. They have a very large rudder,
E 4 tosL^
56 THE VOYAGE OF
and, in the midft of this machine, a maft, with \
large fail, like our weft-country barges.
As they cannot go but before the wind, they am
only fit for thofe feas, where the wind blows con-
itantly one way, feldom varying above a point of
two in the whole voyage betwixt Lima and Panama. -
If thereabouts they meet, as fometimes it happens,
with a north-weft wind, they drive before it till it
changes, having nothing elfe to do in the mean while
but to avoid the Jhore ■, for they never fink at fea.
Thefe laft bark-logs carry fixty or feventy tons of
wine, oil, flour, lugar, Quito cloth, foap, drcfled
goat-lkins, &c. They are managed by three or four
boatfmen only, who after they come to Panama, fell
both the goods and veflel there, becaufe they can-
not go back in them by the trade-wind. The fifh-
ing bark -logs are likewife furnifhed with mafts and
fails, and are much eaficr managed than the large
ones. Thefe get out at night with the land-wind,
and return in the day-time with the fea-wind. Thefe
Jmall bark-logs are ufed in a great many places in
the Well Indies, and in fome in the Eaft Indies. On
the coaft of Coromandcl they ufe only one, or fome-
times two logs, made of a light wood, without fail
or rudder managed by a fingle man, who, with his
legs in the water, fleers the log with a paddle.
The next town of confequence to Payta is Piura,
a fpacious place, forty miles thence, feated in a val-
ley upon ft" river, which difcharges itfelf into the bay
of Chirapee, at 7 9 north latitude. This bay, though
much nearer to Puna than Payta, yet is feldom vi-
fited by {hips of burden, being full of (holes; but,
inftead thereof, they fail to Payta, one of the bell
harbours on the coaft of Peru ; being flickered at the
fouth-weft by a point of land, which renders the bay
very fmooth, and ronftquently fafe from anchorage,
from fix to twenty fathom in clear fand. Molt fhipa
bound either to the north or fouth touch at, Payta
for frcfti water, which is brought thither from Colon
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 5y
at a reafonable rate. November 3, early in the morn-
ing, our men landed four miles fouth of Payta, where
ihey took ibme prifoners that were fet for a watch,
who told us, that the governor of Piura was come
with ioo men to their afliftance : notwithftanding
this, our men attacked the fort on the lull, and took
it with little oppofition ; whereupon the governor and
inhabitants quitted the town : our people loon en-
tered it, but found it empty of money, goods, and
provifions. The fame evening, we came with our
/hips to an anchor not far from the town, a mile from
the fhorc, at ten fathom water ; we flayed fix days,
in hopes of getting a ranfom for the town ; but, per-
ceiving we were not likely to have any, it was laid
i,n alhes.
At night we fet fail hence, with the land-wind to-
wards Lobos. The 14th day we came within fight
of the iQe of Lobos de Terra, bearing eaft from us -,
and, at eight o'clock at nighr, came to an anchor
at the north-eaft end of it, at four fathom water.
The ifle of Lobos de la Terra is of an indiftercne
height; and, at a diftance, appears altogether like
the ifle of Lobos de la Mare; we anchored at the
north-eaft end of it, in four fathom water. It has,
at the north end, a rock, a quarter of a mile from
the fhore ; and, betwixt it, a channel of feven fathom
water. In the afternoon, we failed with a fouth eaft
wind to Lobos de la Mare, where we arrived May
19. The 26th, in the evening, we difcovered a
bark at a diftance, which was fent to fee whether we
were (till in thefe 1'eas; but we, keeping clofe under
the fhore, remained there undifcovercd. The 29th,
in the morning, we fet fail for the bay of Guaia,
fituared betwixt cape Blanco to the fouth, and point
Chandy to the north, twenty-five leagues from cape
Blanco. In the bottom of this bay lies a Imall iile,
called St. Clara, extending eaft and weft, having
many fholes to the Nore; which makes the (hips,
bound fprGuiaquil, to pals on the fouth fide of it.
5$ THE VOYAGE OF
The Spaniards fay, there lies a very rich wreck or
the north Ode ; but that there is very hard coming
at it, by reafon of the great multitudes of cat-fifh ;
which filh is not unlike a whiting, but with three fins
on the- back, and one on each fide, which have each
a bone ; and, if they ftrike into the flefti, it proves
frequently mortal : they are met with all along the
American coafts, and like wife in the Eaft Indies ;
tbeir fiefh is both fweet and wholfome.
From the ifles of St. Clara to Puma Arena, the
Jandy point being the weftermoft point of the ifles of
Puna, is {even leagues eaft north-eaft : here fhips,
bound for Guiaquit, take in their pilots, which live
in a town of the faid ifle, bearing the fame name, on
the fouth fide, feven leagues from point Arena.
The ifle of Puna iifelf is low, ftretching fourteen
leagues call and weft, and five leagues broad : it has
a ftrong tide round the Chore, which is full of little
creeks and rivers : near this town is a fmall point,
where the inhabitants are obliged to keep a conftant
watch. The inland part of the ifle is good pafture-
ground, intermixed with fome wood-lands, pro-
ducing divers, to us, unknown trees ; and, amongft
the reft, abundance of palmetoes. The houfes of
the town of Puna ape built on pofts ten or twelve
feet high, into which they go up by ladders, and
are thatched with palmeto-leaves : the like contriv-
ance I have feen among the Malayans in the Eaft
Indies The beft place for anchorage is directly op-
pofite to the town, within a cable's length of the
Ihore, at five fathom water. From Puna to Guia-
quil is feven leagues, and one league to the entrance
of the river Guiaquil, which is two miles over, and
afterwards runs up into the country in a pretty ftrait
channel, the ground, on both fides marfhy, and full
of red mangrove-trees : about four miles on this fide
of the town of Guiaquil the river is divided by a
fmall low ifland, into two chnanels; that to the fouth-
weft is the broadeft, though the other is as deep.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 59
From the upper end of this ifle to the town is near
a league, and the river thereabouts of the fame
breadth, where a Ihip of great burden may ride with
fafety, efpecially towards that fide where the town
ftands. It is feated clofe by the river, partly on an
afcent, and partly On the foot of a final! hill, with a
great defcent towards the river-fide. It is defended
by two forts, erefted on the low grounds, and an-
other on the hill, being one of the beft fea-ports be-
longing to the Spaniards in the South Sea, under the
jurifdi&ion of a governor, and beautified with divera
tine churches, and other good buildings. They ex-
port cocoas, hides, tallow, farfaparil^, drugs, and
woollen cloth, called Quito cloth.
Having formed a defign againft the town of Guia-
quil, we left our Ihips at cape Blanco, and fleered
with a bark, and fome canoes, to the ilk of St. Clara,
in the bay of Guiaquil, and thence in two canoes to
point Arena, where we took, the next day, fome of
the fifhermen of Puna, and afterward their watch,
together with the whole town and inhabitants. The
next ebb, we took a bark kden with Quito-cloth,
coming from Guiaquil ; the mafter whereof told us,
that there were three barks full of negroes coming
with the next tide. From whence we, lying near
the town of Puna, embarked all our men in canoes,
leaving only five men aboard the bark, with orders
not to fire at any thing till next morning at eight1
o'clock, by which time we fuppofed we Ihould have
taken the town. We had not rowed above two
miles, before we took one of the barks laden with
negro:s; the mafter whereof having told us, that
the other two would not come out till the next
tide, we rowed forward ; but our canoes being hea-
vily laden, it was break of day before we came with-
in two leagues of the town, there being not above
iin hour's flood : now we abiconded all day in an ad-
jacent creek; and, at the fame time, fent orders by
pneol our canoes to our bark left near Puna, not to
66 THE VOYAGE OF
fire till the next day -, bun to no purpofe ; for the be-
fore-mentioned two barks with negroes, being come
out of the harbour with the evening-tide, paffed by
without being feen or heard by us ; and, falling down
with the ebb cowards Puna, our bark, feeing them full
of men, fired three guns at them, before our canoes
could bring them our lair, orders. But we took the
matters 'of both the barks, as they were making their
efcapeon ihore. The firing of thefe three guns put
us all into great confirmation, as not questioning
but that thereby the townfmen had taken the alarm ;
and that therefore fom'e were for advancing to the
town immediately, others for returning to our mips :
but as the ebb tide hindered us from going upwards,
fo captain Davis, with fifty of his men, refolved to
inarch by land to the place -, the reft, judging it im-
practicable, remained in the "creek to fee the iflue
of the enterprife. After four hours captain Davis
and his men, having been almoft choaked in the
marches among the mangrove-woods, returned with-
out having been able to advance far on their way to
the town. It was then refolved to row up in fight of
the town; and, if we found ourfelves difcovered,
to retire without attempting : fo, rowing through
the north-call channel, we got in the night in view
of the towa, .when, at the difcharge of a mufquet,
we faw, on a fudden, the whole town full of lights ;
where, as there was but one feen before, this ap-
peared almoft an infallible fign that we were difco-
vered ; but, as fome alledged, that thefe lights were
ufed by the Spaniards in the nights before holidays,
as the next day was, they upbraided captain Swan
and his men with cowardice : we landed in a place
two miles on this fide of the town, which being all
over- run with woods, we were forced to expect, day-
light. We had two Indians guides ; one was run
away from Guiaquil, the other a prifoner we had
taken three days before j the lalt being led by a cord
by one of captain Davis's men, who teemed one cf
the
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 6i
the moft forward in the enterprize; but now, per-
haps, beginning to repent his rafhnefs, cut the rope
wherewith the guide was tied, and (o let him make
his efcape into the town: when he judged him to be
out of danger of being retaken, he cried out, that
lbmebody had cut the rope -, lb that, after we had;
fearched in vain for our guides, it was unanimoufly
rtfolved to defift. However, about break of day, we
rowed up into the middle of the river, where we lay
Hill about half an hour, without being in the lealt
molefted from the town, though we landed on the
oppofite bank to a beef-clofc, and killed a cow.
We returned the ninth to Puna; and, in our way,
feized upon the three before- mentioned barks, laden
with iooo iufty negroes ; out of them we kept about
fixty, and left the reft with the barks behind ; where-
as, if we had carried them all to it. Maria, on the
ifthmus of Dariert, we might, with their affiftance,
have worked the gold mines on that iide ; and, by
erecting a fort or two at the entrance of the river of
St. Maria, and with the affiftance of the natives our
friends, and lame thoufands of Englith and French
privateers from all pans of the Weft Indies, have
not only maintained ourfelves there againft all the
power of Spain, but alfo extended our conquefts to
the coails and gold mines of Quito.
We fct fail again the 13th, and arrived at the ifle
of Plata the 1 6th ; where, after having provided our-
felves with freih water on the continent, we parted
our cloth, and refolvcd unanimoufty to direct our
courfe to Lovalia, a town in the bay of Panama.
Accordingly we fet fail December 23, with a brilk
fouth fouth-weft wind, towards the bay of Panama.
The next morning, we palled in fight of cape Paflao, 8'
fouth of the line, being a round point, but very high,
divided in the middle, bare towards the fea, but co-
vered with fruit-trees to the land-fide; the land hilly
and woody. Betwixt this and the cape St. Francii'co,
you fee abundance of fmall points, which indole fo
many fandy creeks, futt oi w« oi feNws!i.VSs&&.
6z THE VOYAGE OF
As our dcfign was to look for canoes, in fome river
or other unfrequented by the Spaniards, fo our In-
dian pilots were but of little ufe to us : however, as
we were indifferent for the reft what river we came
to, fo we endeavoured to make the river of St. Iago,
by reafon of its nearnefs to the ifle of Gallu, in
which there was much gold, and where there was
fafe anchorage for our (hips. We palled by cape St.
Francifco -, whence, to the north, the fea-fide is full
of trees, of a vaft height and ihicknefs : from this
cape the land runs more eafterly into the bay of Pa-
t nama, this cape being its boundary to the fouth, as
the ides of Cobeya or Quito are to the north. Be-
twixt this cape and the ifle of Gallo are feveral large
rivers, but we paffed them all to go to St. Iago, a
large navigable river, 2° north : about feven leagues
Up in the country it divides itfelf into two branches,
which inclofe an ifle four leagues in circumference -,
the broadeft is the fouth-weft channel ; they are both
very deep, but the narrowed has fandy banks at its
entrance ; fo that, at low ebb, a canoe cannot pals
over them. Beyond the ifle, the river is a league
broad, the channel (trait, with <a fwift current; it
flows three leagues up the river, but to what height
X am not able to tell : it runs through a very rich
foil, producing all forts of the talleft trees ufually
found in this climate; but efpecially red and white
cotton-trees, and cabbage trees, of the largeft kind.
The white cotton-tree grows not unlike an oak,
but much taller and bigger v the trunk ftrait, with-
out any branches to the top, where it fends forth
■ftrong branches j the bark is very fmooth, the leaves
of the bignefs of a plumb-tree-leaf, dark-green, oval,
fmooth, and jagged at the ends ; they are not always
biggeft near the roots, but often in the middle of the
trunks. The cotton they bear is filk-cotton, which
falls in November and December upon the ground;
but not To fubftantial as that of the cotton-lhrub,
but rather like a down of thiftles •, they don't think
it worth their while to gather it in tbjt^Wca. \w&*».
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 6*5
but in the Eaft Indies they put it into their pillows.
In April i he old leaves fall off, which, in a week's
time, are fupplied by frelh. The red cotton-tree is
fomewhat lei's -, bur, for the reft, altogether like the
other j except that it produces no cotton, and irs
wood hard, though both are fomewhat lportgy, they
are found in the fiat grounds, both in the Eaft aiid
Weft Indies.
The cabbage-tree is the tailed in thofe woods,
fome being above 120 feet high; it is likewifc with-
out boughs or branches, except on the top, where
its branches are of the thicknefs of a man's arm, and
twelve or fourteen ."«t long; two feet from the flern
come forth fmall ling leaves, of an inch broad, (a
thick and regular on both fides, that they cover the
whole branch : in the midft of thefe high branches
fhoots forth the cabbage itfelf; which, when taken
out of the outward leaves, is a foot in length, and
of the thicknefs of the fmall of a man's leg, being
white like milk, fweet and wholfome : betwixt the
cabbages and the large branches fprout forth other
fmall twigs, two feet long, very clofe together; at
the extremities of which grow hard and round ber-
ries, of the bignefsof a cherry, which, once a year,
fall from the trees, and are excellent food for the
hogs. The trunk has rings half a foot afltnder, the
bark is thin and brittle, the wood hard and black,
and the pith white; as the tree dies after its head is
gone, they cut them down before they gather the
fruit.
As the coaft and country of Lima has continual
dry weather, fo this part of Peru is feldom without
rains; which, perhaps, is one reafon why they have
made but fmall difcoveries on this coaft : add to this,
that when they go from Panama to Lima, they don't
pafs along the coaft, but fail up to the weft, as far
as the Cobaya illes, for the weft winds, and thence
ftand over to the cape St. Francifco : in their return
they coaft ic ; but their (hips being then tadta, asc
\SK*.
«4- THE VOYAGE OF
not fit to enter the rivers, which, as well as the fcaS
fide, are covered with woods and bullies, and there-
fore are fit places for the natives to lie in ambufeadc.
Thefc Indians have fome plantations of maiz and
Plain tains, as alio fome fowls and hogs.
We entered the river of St. Iago, with four ca-
noes, December 27, by the letter branches, and met
with no inhabitants till within fix leagues of its
mouth, where we difcovered two fmall huts, thatched
with palrncto- leaves ; and, at the fame time, Irr-
dians, with their families and houihold goods, pad-
dling againft the ftream much falter than we could
row, becaufe they kept near the banks. On the op>
polite fide to the welt, we faw many other huts a
league off; but, the current being very rapid, we
did not care to venture crofs it. In the two huts,
on the eaft fide, we found nothing but a few plan-
tains, fowls, and one hog, which feemed to be of
the European kind, fuch as the Spaniards brought
formerly into America, but efpecially to Jamaica,
Hifpaniola, and Cuba, where they feed in the woods,
(being marked beforehand) in the day-time ; and
at night are called, and kept in pens, by the found-
ing of a conch-lhell. On the continent of America,
they don't turn their hogs into the woods. We re-
turned the next morning into the river's mouth, with
an intention to fail on to the ille of Gallo, where we
had ordered our ihips to meet us.
This ifle is but fmall, and without inhabitants,
feated at 30 north latitude, in a fpacious bay, three iS>
leagues from the river Tomaco, and four leagues and '-■
a half from an Indian village of the fame name : it is
indifferently high, and well ftorcd with timber-trees : ■"
at the north-eaft end is a good fandy bay, near which
is a fine fpring of frelh water, and againft the bay is
very good anchorage, at fix or feven fathom water i
there is but one channel to approach the ifle at four
fathom water, but you mult go in with the flood,
apd come out with the ebb. The river of Tomaco,
2
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 65
fuppofed to have its rife arnongft the rich mountains
of Quito, lias borrowed its name from an adjacent
village of the fame name. lis banks are well peopled
by the Indians, and fome Spaniards, who traffic for
gold with them. It is ib {hallow at the entrance*
that only barks can enter it. The town of Tomaco
is a fmall place, feated near the mouth of a river,
for the entertainment of the Spaniards, who traffic
in thofe parts. From this place to the branch of the
river of St. Iago, where we then were at anchor, is
five leagues. -
As the land here is low and full of creeks, we left
the river December si, and crofted thefe fmall bays
in our canoes : in our way we faw an Indian houfe,
whence we took the mafter, and whole family, and
fo rowed forward, and came at twelve at night to
Tomaco: here we feized upon all the inhabitants!
find, among the reft, one Don Diego de Pinas, a
S pan i lh knight, whole Ihip was not far off, at an-
chor, to lade timber : fo we took her, and found
thirteen jars of good wine aboard her, but no other
lading. An Indian canoe came aboard us, with three
of the natives, who were ftrait and well-limb'd, but
of low ftature, with black hair, long vifages, and
fmall nofes and eyes, and of a dark complexion.
The 31ft. feveral of our men, who had been feven
or eight leagues up the river, returned with their
canoes, and brought along with them fome ounces
of gold they had found in a Spanifh houfe, but the
leople were fled.
January 1, 16S5, as we were going in our canoes
from Tomaco towards Gallo, we took a packet of
letters in a Spanifh boat, lent from Panama to Lima,
whereby we underftood, that the preiident of Pana-
ma wrote to haftcn the plate-fleet thither from Lima,
the Armada from Spain being come to Porto-Bello :
this news foon made us alter our refolution of going
to Lavelia; inftead whereof, it was refolved to ren-
dezvous among the King's, or Pearl Iilands, not far
Vol. IK. F fcRwja.
66 THE VOYAGE OF
diftant from Panama, and by which all (hips, bound
to Panama from the coaft of Lima, mull of necef-
fity pals. Accordingly we failed the 7th •, the 8th ,
we took a (hip of 90 tons, laden with flour, and
continued our voyage with a gentle fonth wind, to-
wards Gorgonia, an ifle twenty-five leagues diftant
from that of Gallo, where we anchored the 9th, at
the weft fide of it, in thirty-eighth fathom clean '
ground, two cables length from the Ihore, in a fandy
bay, the land againft it very low *.
The 1 3th, we purfued our voyage to the King's
Ifle, being now two men of war, and two tenders,
one firefhip, and the prize : we failed forward with
the common trade-wind fouth, along low land on
the continent near the fea fide, but with a profpeA
of mountains deeper into the country. The 16th,
we palled by cape Corientes, at 5" 10' latitude, be-
ing an high point, with four fmall hillocks on the top ;
the current then running ftrong to the north. The
2 ift, we came in fight of point Garachina, at 7° 2cf
north latitude. The land is high, rocky, and with
out trees near the fea-fide: within the point is plen-
ty of oy tiers and mufiels. About twelve leagues
from this point, are the King's or Pearl ifles : betwixt
thefe and the before-mentioned point of Garachina,
is a fmall, fiat, barren ifle, called Galleria, near which
we came to anchor for that time. The King's or
Pearl Ifles are a good number of low woody ifles,
feven leagues from the continent, and twelve leagues
from Panama, and fourteen leagues in length north
north-weft by north, and fouth-eaft by fouth. In
the maps they are called the Pearl Ifles, though I
never could fee one pearl-oyfter, or any thing like it
near them. The channel, betwixt them and the con-
tinent is leven or eight leagues broad, of a moderate
depth, and has good anchoring all along : the ifles,
though lying clofe together, yet have their channels
* Thii iJIflnd 11 defcribed by Woodw Rogers.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 6>
fit for boats. At the end of St. Paul's ifle is a con-
venient careening place, in a good deep channel, m-
clofed by the land. You muft enter in on the north
fide, where the tide rifes ten feet perpendicular. The
25th, we brought our {hips in with a fpring-tide;
and, after having cleaned our barks firlt, we fent
them the 27th to cruize towards Panama: they
brought us, the fourth day after, .a prize, coming
from Lavelia with maiz, or Ind'iaj corn, faked beef,
and fowls. Lavelia is a large town, feated on the
bank of a river, on the north fide of the bay of Pa-
nama, feven leagues from the fea-fide: as Nata is
another town, feated in a plain, near another branch
of the fame river: thefe two places iupply Panama
with hogs, fowl, beef, and maiz. In the harbour
where we careened, »e found abundance of fhell-
filh, with fome pigeons and turtle doves.
Our fhips being well careened by the 14th of Fe-
bruary, and provided with fuel and water, we failed
out from amongll the ifles the 18th, and anchored
in the great channel, betwixt the ides and the con-
tinent, at fifteen fathom water, loft oufy ground ; and
the next day cruized in the channel towards Panama^
about which the more appears very beautiful, with,
variety of fmall woods and hills ; bcfides that, a
league from the continent, you fee divers fmall ifles,
fcattered partly with trees ; and the King's Ifles, on
the other fide the channel afford a very fair profpecf,
according to their various fiiapes and fititations. The
1 6th, we anchored within a league of the iiland of
Pacheque, in feventeen fathom water j and the 18th,
fleered our courfe with a north caft wind directly to-
wards Panama, where we anchored directly oppofite
to Old Panama, once a place of note in thofe parts -,
but the greateft part thereof being laid in albes in
1673, by fir Henry Morgan, it was never rebuilt
finct.
About four leagues from the ruins of Mirjfrni
ma, near the river-fide, ftands New Panama, a v.-x\
£ 2 'tosiiif^'iSJt
ffittVYJfa — _
68 THE VOYAGE OF
handfome city, in a fpacious bay of the fame name,
into which difembogue many long navigable rivers,
fome whereof are not without gold ■, befide that,
it is beautified with many pleafant ifles ; the country
about it affording a delightful profpeft to the fea.
by reafon of variety of adjacent hills, valHes, groTes,
and plains : the houfes are for the moll pari of
brick, and pretty lofty, especially the prefident*s»
the churches, monafteries, and other public ftruc-
tures, which make the bell (hew in the Weft Indies :
it is encompafied with a high wall of ftone, on which
are mounted a good number of guns, which for-
merly were only planted to the land-fide, but now
alfo to the fea. This city has a vaft traffic, as be-
ing the ftaple for all goods to and from all parts of
Peru and Chili ; befide that, every three years, when
the Spanifh Armada comes to Porto-Bello, the plate-
fleet comes thither with the king's plate, befide
what belongs to the merchants -, whence it is carried
on mules by land to Porto-Bello.
The zoth, we anchored within a league of three
little rocky iflands, called the Perico iflands j and,
the a i ft, took another prize, laden with hogs, beef*
fowl, and fait, from Lavclia. The 24th, fleered
over to the ifle of Tobago, in the fame bay, fix
leagues fouth of Panama : its length three miles,
and its breadth two. It is very rocky and fteep, ex-
cept on the north fide, where it has an eafy defcent ;
and, as the foil is black and good up to the middle
of the mountains, they produce abundance of fruit,
as plantains, bananas, and, near the fea-fide, cocoa
and mam met- trees •, thefe laft are large and (trait,
without knots, boughs, or bunches, and fixty or fe-
venty feet high. At the tops fprout out fome fmall
branches, thick and clofe together •, the fruit is of
the bignefs of a large quince, round, and covered
with a grey rind, which, before it is ripe, is brittle •,
but, when come to maturity, grows yellow, and will
peel with eafe. The ripe fruit is of the fame co-
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 69
lour, like a carrot, finclls and taftes well, and has
two rough flat ftoncs in the middle, each of the big-
nefs of a large almond. The fouth-weft fide is co-
vered with trees and fire-wood, but the north fide
has a very fine frefh-water fpring, which falls fram
the mountains into the ffea. Near it formerly ftood
a pretty town, with a fair church, but the greateft
part has been deftroyed by the privateers. Oppofite
to the town, a mile from the more, is good an-
choring, fixteen or eighteen fathom water, foft oufy
ground. At the north north-weft end lies a fmall
town, called TobagiHa, with a channel betwixt both ;
and on the north-eaft fide of Tobagilla, another fmall
one, without a name.
Whilft we were at an anchor near Tobagilla, we
were in great danger of being trepanned by a pre-
tended merchant of Panama, who, under colour of
trading privately -with us, inftead of a bark, ad-
vanced with a fire-ihip, pretty near us, hailing us
with the water word. Thereupon, fome of our men,
more fufpicious than the reft, bid her come to an
anchori which fhe not doing, they fired at her;
which fo terrified the men, that they got into their
canoes, after they had fet her on fire, and we were
forced to cut our cables, to efcape the danger. At
the fame rime captain Swan, who lay a mile from
us at anchor, faw a fmall floar, with only one man
upon it, driving towards his fhip, but foon after dif-
appeared ; he fuppoled this to have been a machine,
made up with tombiiflible matter, to faften to his
rudder, (as it happened to captain Sharpe near Co-
quimbo) but that the fellow, thinking himfelf dis-
covered, had not courage enough to go forward in
the emerprize; but captain Swan thought alio fit to
cut his cables, and to keep under fail all night. The
fire-ihip was framed and managed by one captain
Bond, who formerly run away from us to the Spa-
niards, without whole sfiiftance they could not have
fitted her out ; it being ahnoft incredible, how grofs-
ly ignorant the SpaniatiAs, \a tVvt Sw»\\ 'a.w.v* «*■"*
S J
76 THE VOYAGE OF
fea affairs. In jhe morning, while wc were bufy in
recovering our anchors, we difcovercd a whole fleet
of canoes, full of men, pafs betwixt Tobagilh and
die other ifle, who proved Englifh and French pri-
vateers, lately come out of the North Sea over the
Lthmusof Darien ; there were 3 So in all, 200 French
and 80 Englifh ; thefc laft were taken aboard cap-
tain Davis and captain Swan, and the reft put into
1 our flour-prize, under the command of captain Gro-
net, their countrymen j in return for which, he of-
fered captain Davis and captain Swan, each a com-
million from the governor of Petit Goave, it being
their cuflom to carry along with them blank com-
millions from, the fa id governor. Captain Davis ac-
cepted of one ; but captain Swan, having one from
the duke of York, refufed it.
Every thing being thus diipofed, we fet fail, March,
the 2d, towards the gulph of St. Michael, in quert of t
captain Townley (who, they told us, was coming
with 1 80 Englifh over the ifthmus of Darien.) This
gulph lies thirty leagues fouth-eaft from Panama,
and you mull turn for paflage betwixt theKing's Iflcs
and the Continent.
March 3, as we were (leering for the guiph, cap-
tain Swan kept near to the Continent, as we did
nearer to the King's Iflcs ; where, at two of the clock
in the afternoon, near the place where we had ca-
reened our (hips, we met captain Townley with his
crew, in two barks which they had taken, one laden
with brandy, wine, and fugar, and the other with
flour. As he wanted'room for his men, and had
occafion for the jars in which the Spaniards carry
their wines, brandy, and oil, in tbefc parts, con-
taining feven or eight gallons a piece, he diftributed
part thereof amongft our (hips, being then all at an-
chor among the King's Iflands : but, as it was to-
wards the latter end of the dry feafon, and r.11 the
water dried up. we failed to the point of Garr.ichina,
in hopes of finding frefh water. The 21 !>, we an-
chored
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 71
chored two miles from the point, and found the tide
very ftrong, coming out of the river Sambo. The
22d, we anchored at four fathom within the point ;
we found the tide to run nine feet, and the flood to
fet north north-caff, and the ebb fouth fouth-weft :
the natives brought us fome refrefhments j but, as
they did not underftand in the lealt the Spanifh
tongue, I fuppofe they had no commerce with the
Spaniards. Meeting with no freih water here, we
fet fail for Porto-Pmas, lying feven leagues fouth-
ward by weft hence, at y° north latitude. It de-
rived its name from the vaft numbers of pine-trees
growing there.
The country rifes, from the fea-fide, by a gentle
afcent, to a confiderable height, and is pretty woody
near the fhore: at the entrance of the harbour are
two fmall rocks, which render the paiTage into it nar-
row, and the harbour but of a flender compafs -, be-
fide that, it lies txpofed to the fouth-weft wind.
This made us not go into the harbour, but fend our
boats to bring fome frefh water, which they could
not perform, by reafon of the high fea near the more ;
fo we turned towards point Garrachina, where we ar-
rived the 29th. In our way, we-rook a veficl laden
with cocoa from Guaiaquil: finding ourielves here
alfo difappointed in getting of frefh water, we failed
the 30th for Tobago, with a fouth fouth-weft wind,
being now in all nine fhips. April 1, we anchored
at the ifle of Pacheque, and the 3d at Pcrico : our
men took a canoe, with four Indians, and a mulatto j
who, being found to have been in the fiiefhip that
was lent to burn our fhip, was hanged immediately.
Whilft we were employed in filling of water, and
cutting of wood for fue), we fent four canoes to the
Continent, to get fome fugar in the adjacent fugar-
works, to make our cocoa up into chocolate; but
efpecially to get fome coppers, which we much
wanted to boil our victuals in, fince our number was
fo confiderably increafed : they brought us three cop-
72 THE VOYAGE OF
pers. In the mean while, captain Davis fent his
bark to the ifle of Ottoque, feated in the bay of Pa-
nama, but uninhabited, except by a few negroe
flaves, who bred up fome fowls and hogs there..
Here our men met with a mefienger fent to Panama,
with an account that the Lima fleet was failed :;
moft of. the letters had been thrown into the fea ; yet,
out of the remaining part, we understood that the
fleet was coming under a convoy, compofed of all.
the (hips of ftrength that they had been able to bring
together from Peru. Being informed thac-the king^
fhips always came that way where we now lay, we--
failed the loth from. Tobago to the King's Ifles, and
the nth anchored at the place, where we careened.
Here we met with captain Harris, who had brought
along with him fome men (we had heard the Indians
mention before) from the river St. Maria, but they-
were not near fo many as they reported. The igthi
2<jo men were fent in canoes to the river Cheapo, to
furprife the town of the fame name. The 2 1 ft, we
followed, and arrived the 2 2d at the ifle of Chepelio,
a pleafant ifland, feated in the bay of Panama, fe-
ven leagues from the city of that name, and one
league from the Continent, being about two miles,
long, and as many broad, low on the north fide, but:
rifing by an eafy afcent to the fouth. The foil is
very good, producing in the low grounds fiore of
delicious fruits, fuch as plantains, fapadilloes, avcK
gato-pears, mammees, mammee-fapotas, flar apples*
&c. On the north fide, half a mile from the Ihore,
is a good anchoring- place, where is alfo a very good
fpring of frefh water near the fea-fide. This ifle lies
dire&ly oppofite to the river Cheapo.
The river of Cheapo has its rife in the mountains
on the nor h fide, being inclofed afterward between;
them and the mountains on the fouth fide. It turns
to the we", anJ at laft, forcing its way to the fouth-
wefl, makes a kind of a lemicircle, and afterward
runs gently to the fea, where it difcharges itfelf fe-
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 73
ven leagues from Panama. It is very deep, and a
quarter of a mile broad j but, by reafon of the fands,
that choke up its entrance, is navigable only by
barks. About fix leagues from the fea-fide Hands
the city of Cheapo, on the left bank of the river, in,
a champagne country, affording a very plcafant view,
by reafon of divers adjacent hills, covered with woods,
though the greatcft part is good pafture-ground;
but the fouth fide of the river is all wood-land for
niany leagues. The 350 men before-mentioned,
fent to this place, returned the 24th, having taken
the town without the leaft oppofition ; but found
nothing worth mentioning there. In the way thi-
ther, they took a canoe with armed men ; lent to
watch our motions ; but the men efcaped for the molt
parr. The 25th being joined by captain Harris, wc
failed the 26th, and arrived at Tobago the 28th ; and
finding ourfelves now 1000 ftrong, it was confulted,
whether we fhould make an attempt upon Panama;
but being informed by our prifoners, that they had
received a confiderable reinforcement from Porto-
Bello, that defign was hid afide. May 4, we failed
again for the King's Ifles, whereabout we cruifed
till the 2 2d, when we fent two canoes to the ifle of
Chepelio, to get fome prifoners. They returned the
25th, with three feamen of Panama, who informed
us, that, having iffued a ftrict order there, not to
fetgh any plantains from the adjacent ides, this had
occafioned a great fcarcity ; and that they expected
every day the arrival of the fleet from Lima. On
the fouth fide of the ifle Pachcque lie tw.o or three
fmall illes, and betwixt them a channel not above
feven pacts wide, and a mile in length. On the eaft
fide of this channel we lay at anchor with our whole
fleet, confifting of ten fail, but only two men of war,
viz. captain Davis, thirty-fix guns, 156 men ; and
captain Swan, fix teen guns, 140 men j the reft be-
ing provided only with fmall arms, making in all
960 men; we had alfo one firefhip. Hitherto we
•ji THE VOYAGE OF
had the wind at north north-caft, with fair weather*
but, the 28th, the rainy feafon began. About eleven
of the clock, it beginning to clear up, we discovered
the Spanilh fleet three leagues weft north-weft from
the ifle of Pacheque, Handing to the eaft, we being
then at anchor a league fouth-eaft from the ifle, be-
twixt it and the Continent. About threein the af-
ternoon we failed, bearing down right before the
wind upon the Spaniards, who kept clofe on a wind-
to come up with us ; but night approaching, we ex-
changed only a few {hot. As foon as it began to be
dark, the Spanilh admiral put out a light at his top,
as a flgnal for the fleet to come to an anchor. In
half an hour after, it was taken down again -, but ap-
peared foon after as before, which we fuppofing to be
in the admiral's top, kept under fail, being to the
windward ; but found ourfelves deceived in our ex-
pectation, by a ftratagem contrived by the Spaniards,
who, having put this fecond light on the topmaft*
head of one or their barks, fent her to the leeward 1
fo that, in the morning, we found that they had got
the wtather-gage of us. They came up with full
fail ; fo we were forced to make a running fight of it
all the next day, almoft quite round the bay of Pa-
nama i for we came to anchor againft the ifle of Par
cheque. Captain Townley, being hard prefled by
the Spaniards, was forced to make a bold run through.
the before-mentioned channel, betwixt Pacheque and
the three adjacent fmall ifles-, and captain Harris
was forced away from us during the fight. Thus
our long projected deflgn vanilhed into fmoke. The
Spanilh fleet, according to the report of fome pri-
soners taken afterwards by captain Wright, confuted
of fourteen fail, befides periagoes, or boats of twelve
or fourteen oars apiece, among which were eight
fliips of good force; viz. from tight to forty-eight
guns. They were computed to have 3000 men
aboard the whole fleet, and two firefliips. The 30th,
in the morning, we law the Spanilh fleet three leagues
CAPTAINWILLIAM DAMPIER. 75
to the leeward of us at anchor; and, at ten of the
clock, with an eafy gale from the fouth, making the
beft of their way to Panama. We do not know
their lots. We had but one man killed. Captain
Gronet, who was not in the fight, laid the fault
thereof on his men. He was ordered to leave us,
in a confultation held for that purpofe, where it was
alfo refolved to fail for the ifles of Quibo, or Cobaya,
in quell of captain Harris.
In our voyage to Quibo, the wind being conftantly
at fouth fouth-weft and fouth-weft;, we met with
very bad weather; fo that we did not reach thefe ifles
till June 15, where we met wich captain Harris *.
June 6, u being agreed, that, fince we had mined
at fea, we fliould try our fortune by land, the city
of Leon was pitched upon, (on the coaft of Mexico)
as being neareft to us ; but, wanting canoes 10 land
our men, we cut down trees, to make as many as we
had occalion for. In the mean time 150 men were
fent to make themfclves matters of Puebla Nova, (a
town on the continent near thefe ifles) in hopes of
getting fome provifions there. They took the town
with much difficulty, and returned the 26th; but
met wich nothing there, except an empty bark.
July 5, captain Knight came to us, having been far-
ther to the weft, where meeting with no purchafe,
he failed to the fouth as far as the Bay of Guaiaquil,
where he took two bark-logs with wine, oil, brandy,
fugar, foap, &c. The mailer declared, that the
merchant-iriips defigned to have been fent away by
the SpanihS fleet to Panama, did ftay behind at
Payta, till farther orders ; and that, had he had
more ftrength, they might eafily have been taken.
In a month's time, our canoes being got ready, cap-
tain Harris, with his men, went on board captain
Davis and captain Swan (his fliip being rotten) -, and,
* At the deCcriptions in Anion undoubtedly defervc the prefe-
rence, we reFer 10 hi* voyage for an acsouni of Quibo.
4 v*
76 THE VOYAGE OF
July 20, we foiled from Quibo towards Rio Leja,
the next port to the city of Leon, being now 640
men, eight fail of (hips, three tenders, and a fire-
fbip, the wind at fouth fouth-weft. Coafting along,
we pafTed by the gulph of Nicoya, that of Dulcc,
and the ifle of Caneo, the land low, covered with
wood, and almoft deftitute of inhabitants. We bad
variable winds : but moil fouth-weft and weft fouth-
weft, the land-winds at north north-eaft. We were
much peftered with toriiadoes. Auguft 8, at 1 1 ° 20'
liorth latitude, we difcovered the Volcano Vejo, or
old Volcano, the fea-markof Rio Leja, bearing north-
caft by north ; and no fooner had we brought the faid
mountain to bear north-eaft, but we made provifion
for landing (he next day.
The 9th, we fent 520 of our men in thirty-one
canoes towards the harbour of RioLega. The wea-
ther was fair, and the wind favourable, till two in
the afternoon, when a tempeft, mixed with thunder
and lightning, had almoft buried us in the fea j but,
after half ah hour, it began to abate, and fo did the
agitation of the fea, it Deing obfervable, in thofe
hot countries, that the waves toon rife and fall. At
ievcn of the clock at night it was calm ; but, finding
we could not be ready to land before day, being fiva
leagues from more, we ftaid thereabout till next
evening, for fear of being difcovered •, but, about
three of the clock, another tornado had like to have
put an end to our enterprize. However, as the fame
did not laft long, we entered the creek lying on the
fouth-eaft fide of the harbour, leading to Leva, in
the night ; but durft not go farther til) day-break,-
when we rowed deeper into the creek, which is very
narrow, and the land on both fides marfliy near the
banks, and full of mangrove-trees; fo that there is
no palling through them. Beyond the mangrove-
trees, upon the firm ground, they caft up a frnall in-
trenchment. We rowed as fall as we could, and landed
470
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. f%
470 men, leaving the reft (of which number I was
one) to guard the canoes.
The city of Leon (lands twenty miles in the
country, in a fandy plain, near a peaked burning
mountain, thence called the volcano of Leon, the
way to it being through a champagne country, co-
vered with long gral's. Betwixt the landing-place and
thecitywerefeveralfugar-works; and, about mid-way
a delicious fordable river, being the only thing they
met with in their way. Two miles on this fide the
city is an Indian town, where a pleafant fandy road
leads you to the city, the houfes whereof are ftone,
and large, with gardens about them j but low, and
covered with pantile. It has three churches and a
cathedral. Its fituation is in a fandy plain, with fa-
vannas ail round about it, which drink up the rain,
and afford a free pafiage to the breezes from all fides.
This makes it both heakhful and pleafant, though
it is not a place of great commerce, all their fub-
ilance being in cattle and fugar-works.
Our men marched at eight of the clock, captain
Townley leading the van, at the head of eighty of the
brifkeft men. Captain Swan followed him with 100
more \ and captain Davis brought up the rear with
170, in conjunction with captain Knight. Captain
Townley, being advanced two miles before the reft,
and having forced feventy horfe to a retreat at four
miles on this fide of the city, marched forward,
and, at three of the clock in the afternoon, with his
eighty men only, entered the town without refiftancej
but met with ibme oppofition from five hundred foot
and two hundred horle, firft in a broad ftreet, and af-
terwards in the great market place •, but the foot, fee-
ing the horfe take to their heels, alio retreated, leav-
ing the town to our people's mercy. Captain Swan
came not into the town till four o'clock ; Davis about
five; and Knight, with the remainder, not till fix.
The Spaniards killed one of our men, that draggled be-
hind, being very old, and refufing to accept of quarter;
>.
}S THE VOYAGE OF
»nd took one Smith prifoner. Next day, the gover-
nor fent word he would ranfom the town. We de-
manded 30,000 pieces of eight, and provisions for
1000 men for four months ; which he not relifhing,
we fet the 'city on fire the 14th, and marched toward
bur canoes die next morning. Smith was exchanged
for a gentlewoman. We releafed another gentleman*.
upon his parole to deliver to us 1 50 oxen for his ran-
fom at Rio Leja, the place we intended to attack
next.
The 16th in the afternoon, we came back in our
canoes to the harbour of Rio Leja, where our fhips
were come to an anchor by that time. The Creek*
that leads from Rio Leja, extends from the north-
weft part of the harbour's mouth to the north, about
two leagues from the ifle in the harbour's mouth, Co
the town. The firft two-third parts are broad % but
afterwards clofes in a narrow deep channel, lined on
both (ides with many cocoa-trees. A mile from
the entrance of the creek, it winds to the weft.
Here it was,1 that the Spaniards caft up an intrench-
ment, fronting the entrance of the creek, defended
by ioofoldiers, and twenty guards. Below itaboom
of trees was made acrofs the creek j fo that they
might have kept off 1000 men, had they not wanted
courage to keep their pod ; but, at the firing of two
of our guns, they quitted it, leaving us at liberty to
cut down the boom. This done, we landed, and
marched to the town of Rio Leja, a fine borough,
- feared a mile thence, upon a fmall river, in a plain.
It has three churches, and an hofpital with a hand-
fome garden to it, the place being feated in an un-
wholefome air, among the fens and marines, which
fend forth a noifome fcent. We took the town with-
out the leaft oppofition. The country about it has
many fugar- works, and inclofures for cattle ; and
great quantities of pitch, tar and cordage are made
by the country -people. It produces alio melons,
pine-apples, guavas, and prickle-pears.
■
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 7$
The fhrub, that bears the guava- fruit, has long
and (mail boughs, a white and fmooth bark, and
leaves like the hade. The fruit refembles a pear,
with a thin rind, and many hard feeds. It may be
eaten while green, a thing feldom obferved in fruits
either in the eaft or weft Indies. It is yellow, foft,
and well-tafted. After it is ripe, it may be baked
like pears, and will coddle like apples. There are
different forts, diftinguifhed by their fhape, tafte,
and colour i fome being red, others yellow, in the
infide. Before it is ripe, it is aftringent -, but after-
wards loofening. The prickle pear grows upon a
fhrub five feet high, in many places in the Weft In-
dies. It thrives beft in faltiln fandy grounds, near
the fea-fhore. Each branch of this fhrub has two
or three round leaves, of the breadth of a man's
hand, not unlike houfe-leek, edged with prickles of
an inch long. At the extremity of the leaf grows
the fruit, of the bignefs of a large plum, final 1 to-
wards the leaf, and thicker to the end, where it opens
like a medlar. The fruit has alio fmall prickles, is
green at firft, but turns red by degrees. The pulp
is of the fame colour with the fubftance of a thick
fyrup, with fmall black feeds. Its tafte is pleafant
and cooling. I have often obferved, that, if you
eat twenty or more of them at a time, they wiil co-
lour the urine as red as blood j but without any ill
confequence.
We found nothing confiderable in the town, ex-
cept 500 packs of flour, and fome pitch, tar, and
cordage. We received alfo the 150 oxen promifed
by the gentleman we releafed at Leon, which, to-
gether with the fugar, and fome other cattle we
found in the country, was extremely welcome to us.
Weftaid here from the 17th to the 24th. The 25th,
captain Davis and captain Swan parted, the firft hav-
ing a mind to return to the coall of Peru -t the other
intending to go farther to the weft. As I had a cu-
riofity to be better acquainted with the northern parts
*o THE VOYAGE OF
of the continent of Mexico, I left captain Davis, and
went aboard captain Swan. Captain Townley, with
his two barks, joined us ; but captain Harris and
captain Knight followed captain Davis. The 27th,
captain Davis with his fhip, went out of the har-
bour -, but we ftaid fome time behind, to provide
ourfclves with water and fuel.
By this time our men began to be much afflicted
with fevers, which we attributed to the remains c£
a contagious diftemper, that lately reigned at- Rio
Leja ; for captain Davis's men underwent the fame
fate. September 3, we failed again, fleering to the
weft. We bad bad weather all along the coaft, with
violent tornadoes, thunder and lightning. The tor*
nadoes blew from the north-weft. The tempeftuous
weather kept us out at fea ; fo that we faw no land
till the 14th, at 120 51' north latitude. We came
in fight of the volcano or burning mountain of
Guatimala. It appears with a double peak, like two
fugar- loaves, betwixt which fomctimes break out
the tire and fmoke, efpecially before bad weather.
The city of Guatimala is feated near the foot of thig
Jiigh mountain, eight leagues from the South Sea,
and forty or fifty leagues from the Gulph of Matique
in the Bay of Honduras in the North Seas. It is re-
puted a rich city, the country about it abounding
in feveral commodities peculiar to it, and tranfported
thence into Europe, efpecially the four noted dyes,
indico, otta or annatta, filvefter, and cochineal. The
land near the volcano of Guatimala is low by the fea-
fide i but, by degrees, becomes higher and higher
for about ten leagues from the more. We faw
abundance of drift-wood and pumice-ftones floating
in the fea. Thefe laft were thrown out by the moun-
tain, and warned by the rains into the fea. The
24th, at. 1 40 30' north latitude, the weather being
fettled, captain Townley went afhore with 106 men
to the weft, in hopes to find a landing place,
and fome refrefbments for our fick men.- We lay
by.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. Si
by till the 26th, when, coafting along to the weft,
with a north-weft wind, wc faw a track or" high land,
beginning at the eaft, and running for ten leagues
within the land to the weft, where it finks by an eafy
defcent. On this fide of it, near to the fea, we faw
rich paftu re- plains, mixed with pleafant groves. The
country near the fea-fhore was defended by fandy
hills -, but the boifterous waves would not let our
men land with their canoes. We were forced to
coaft ftill for eight or nine leagues farther ; but cap-
tain Townley, feeing no profpecT: of landing, re-
turned aboard with his men October 2. Bur, being
refolved to try his fortune again, he forced his ca-
noes aftiore in a fandy bay, where he landed with
the lofs of one man, and moft of the powder fpoiled
with the fait water. When they were got aftiore,
they found the country full of torrents, and unford-
able rivulets -, fo they were forced to return to their
canoes. They were charged by 200 Spaniards and
Indians j but theft they foon repulfed, and forced
them to take the way of Teguantapeque, the fame
town that captain Townley went to look for, but
could not get fight of it. Immediately after his re-
turn, we failed again, with a brific north north- eaft:
wind, ftill coafting to the weft, within two miles of
the ftiore. At fix miles from the land we found nine-
teen fathom, and, at eight miles, twenty-one fathom,
coarfe fand. We could not difcover either creek or
bay for twenty leagues farther, till we came to the
ifle of T angola, where there is fafe anchorage. It is
high, but fmall, yet well furnilhed with wood and
water, about a league from die Continent, which has
{ilcafant paftu re- grounds near the fea, but high wood-
and deeper in the country. We failed a league far-
ther into the port of Guatulco, one of the beft in
the kingdom of Mexico, at 150 30' north latitude.
On the eaft fide of the entrance of the harbour, about
a mile from it, is a fmall ifland adjacent to the fhore,
and, on the weft fide of the faid entrance, a great
Vol, III. G ^\V»
8i THE VOYAGE OF"
hollow rock, open at the top, through which the
waves of the fea force their pafiage, as if through a
pipe, with a great noife, and to a great height, even
in the calmeft weather-, fo that it affords a good
mark to teamen bound for this port. - The whole
depth of the harbour is about three miles, and its
breadth one mile. It runs in north-weft. The weft
fide is the more fecure, becaufe the reft is expofed to
the fouth-weft winds, which are frequently on this
coaft.
Here captain Townley landed again with fome
men -, and, marching to the eaft, came to the river
Capalita, which has a very fwii't current ; but is deep
at its entrance. A league from Guatutco, two of
our men fwam over the river, where they feized upon
three Indians, that were placed there to keep watch.
As they could not fpeak- Spanifli, fo they made figns,
that they could conduct them to a village ; where-
upon 140 men were fent, under the conduct of cap*
tain Townley, myfelf being one, who returned the
8th, having feen, after fourteen miles march, a fmall
Indian village, where they found nothing but fome
vinelloos drying in the fun. - The vinello is a perfume
which communicates a delicate flavour to chocolate ;
it grows on a fmall kind of vine, creeping up about
the trees. This, at firft, bears a yellow flower, which
produces a cod of the bignefs of the ftem of a to-
bacco-leaf, and about four or five inches long. This
cod is green at firft, but, when ripe, becomes yel-
low : the feeds are black. After they are gathered,
they lay them in the fun, which makes them foft,
and 'of a chefnut colour. They fqueeze it flat after-
wards with their fingers. The Spaniards, who buy
this commodity very cheap of the Indians, flake them
afterwards with oil. I never heard of any of the
.vinelloes, except hereabouts, about Caiocha in the
bay of Campeachy, and Bocco-toro. Near this laft
place, I gathered them myfelf, and endeavoured to
.- cure them, but could nctt ; and, as I know other
1 \«feoav
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 8-f
perfons, who have lived many years in thefe parts,
and have attempted the fame with no better fuccefs,
I am apt to believe the Indians have tome peculiar
way to cure them, that hitherto is unknown to us.
The 10th, we fent four canoes before to the weft,
to expect, our coming at Port Angels; and, in the
mean while, endeavoured to take fome prilbners.
The 12th, we failed with our fhips from Guatulco,
the land lying along to che weft, inclining to the
fouth, for twenty or thirty leagues, the fea-winds at
north. We coafted along as near as we could to
the more, to take the benefit of the land-wind, the
lea wind being againft us, befides that we were kept
back by the current fetting to the eaft ; lb that we
were forced to come to an anchor at Sacrificio, an ide
half a mile long, a league to the weft of Guatulco,
and half a mile From the continent. To the welt of the
ifle appears a good bay, but it is rocky. The bed an-
chorage is betwixt the ifle and the continent, at five or
fix fathom water, though the tide is pretty ftrong here,
the fea rifing about fix feet. The 23d, we landed
100 men at Port Angels, who fubfifted three or four
days upon fait beef, and got ftore of fait maiz,
hogs, cocks and hens, in an adjacent houfe to the
plain \ but could carry but little aboard, by reaiba
of the great diilance from the fea-fide. The 27th,
we failed in the morning with the land-wind -, about
noon the fea-wind blew j and, at night, we anchored
at fixteert fathom water, near a fmall rocky ifle, fix-
teen leagues welt from Port Angels ; and half a mile
from the Continent. The 28th, we continued our
voyage with the land-wind ; the fea-wind blew hard
in the afternoon, and, at night, we met with the
other two canoes we had fent out from Guatulco -,
they had been as far as the port of Acapulco ; and,
in their return, took in frefh water in fpite of 150
Spaniards that would have oppofed it. Thence they
came into a lalt-water lake, or pond, on the banks of
which finding abimdana.- of dry nib, they brought
ie aboard us. As we wetc. yift. off tfcis. "a!***.-,. ^«-
G 7,
84 THE VOYAGE OF
fcnt twelve men in a canoe for more fifh. The ens-
trance of the take is clofely hemmed in with rock*
on both fides, that the paflage betwixt them is not
above a piftol-fhor over, but within the lake is f+
confiderable eompafe. The Spaniards, being alarmed
already, now feeing our canoes before the lake, pofteoY
themfelves behind the rocks, and fired" fuch a volley
of fliot upon our canoe, at her entering into the
pond, that they wounded five of our men : however,,
our people rowed forward into the lagune, or pond,,
out of gun-fhot, where they ftaid two days and three-
nights, not daring to repafs the fame way they came :
at laft captain Townley, who lay nearer to the more
than we, hearing the firing of fome guns that wayy
manned one of the canoes, and beating the Spaniards-
from the rocks, opened them a free paffage -r fo that
chcy returned aboard Odobcr^i. This lagune ia-
in i6° 40' north latitude.
November 2, we pafled by the rock of Algatroli \.
the land near it is high, woody, and mountainous u>
the country ■, fix 'miles to the well of the faid rock*
lie (even- or eight white cliffs to the fouth by weft,,
whereof a large mole runs out five miles at lea* Two-
leagues to the welt of thefe cliffs is an bandfome
river, having a fmall ific at its entrance : the eaft
channel is mallow and fandy, but that to the weft
will admit of canoes. The 3d, we came to an an-
chor oppofue to this river, one mile and an half to
fliore, at fourteen fathoms. The Spaniards having
call up an intrenchment along the weft channel, de-
fended by 200 foldiers, we landed our men, and
forced them thence with litde oppoGrion : wc found
here a good quantity of fah, defigoed for the faking,
the fin they take in the lake ; but we faw no nets,
hooks,! or lines, nor any bark, canoe, or boat. March-
ing three leagues into the country, wc took a Mu-
latto prifoner, who informed us, that lately there was
a ftout fhip come from Lima to Acapulco : captain
Townley Sanding in need of a better (hip than that
which he pofleficdj it was agreci, \.Wa^ ww.niw.Vv-
6 Vtfc.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPTER. «5
•out fome oppofition from captain Swan, to fetch the
faid (hip out of that harbour. The 5th we continued
coaftingtothe weft toward Acapulco: the 7th, twelve
leagues from the (hore we faw the high land of Aca-
pulco, very remarkable for a round hill betwixt two
other hills-, the weftermoft being the largeft and
toigheft, with two hillocks' on.the top-, but the eafter-
moft is higher and more peaked than the middlc-
moft. The port of Acapulco is fo large and con-
venient, as to be able to contain fome -hundreds of
fhips without danger. Acrofs the entrance of the
harbour is a low ifle, one mile and a h«If long,
and half a mile broad, ftretcm'rig from caft to weir.
At each end is a deep channel for the entrance
of their fhips, and their coming out, provided
they enter with the fea-wind, and come out with
the land-wind, and thele blow at ftated times of
the day or night. The channel at the weft end is
narrow, but fo deep, that there is no anchorage:
through this the mips come in from Manilla, but
the fhips from Lima pafs through the fouth-weft
channel. The harbour runs in eight miles to the
north ■, then, clofing up in a narrow channel, goes
a mile farther to the weft. At the entrance of this
channel, on the north-weft fide, juft by the fca-fide,
ftands the town of Acapulco, near which is a plat-
form with a good number of guns-, and over-£gainft
the town, on the eaft fide, .ftands a ftrong caftle, de-
fended by no lei's than forty great guns -, fhips com-
monly ride within reach of this caftle, at the bottom
of the harbour. Captain Townley went with 140
men, in twelve canoes, to fetch out the Lima fliip j
but by force of weather, was forced into Port Mar-
quis, a good harbour, a league eaft of the port of
Acapulco : here they ftaid all day, and the next night
/owed fofdy to Acapulco, where they found the (hip
riding at anchor 100 yards from the caftle and plat-
form i fo that, finding it impoffible to carry her oft",
he returned much diffatisfied. The. iuK, <we. <&&£&.
farther to the weft, with the, \mvWy\A «. wat^x-taS
G 3
I
m
56 t THE VOYAGE OF
As the fea-winds are here at Couth-weft, we failed
along a fandy bay, twenty leagues in length', where
there was good anchorage two miles from the fhore ;
but the lea-waves fell with fuch violence againft it,
that there is no fafc landing-place. Near the lea-fide
the grounds are low, and abound with trees, efpe-
jcially with Spreading palm-trees, which are fome-
times twenty or thirty leet high, but no bigger than
.an ordinary am. The country is intermixed with
many fmall hills, which are, for the moil pare, bar-
ren ; but the valleys very fertile. At the weft end of
this bay, jets out into the fea the hill of Pet apian,
at 170 20' north latitude, being a round point, chat
appears like an iflc at fea. A little farther to the
weft, is a little knot of round hills : we entered be-
twixt thefe and the point, where we anchored at the
north weft fide of the hill, at eleven fathom water.
Here we fent 170 men afhore j who, marching
fourteen miles into the country, came to a wretched
Indian village, left by the inhabitants; fo that we
met with nobody but a mulatto woman, with four
fmall children: being brought aboard, me declared,
that a caravan of mules, laden with Hour and other
goods, defigned for Acapuko, had ftopt their jour-
ney on the road to the weft of this village. So we
failed farther to the weft the 1 Sth, about two leagues,
to a place called Chequetan, a pretty good harbour,
having the conveniency of a frelh-water river, and
abundance of wood : we landed ninety-five men the
oth, in fix canoes, having the mulatto woman for
their guide, at Eftapa, a league weft of Chequetan :
Hence they were carried by their guide through a
pathlefs wood, by a river- fide, into a plain, near
which, in a farm-houfe, they found the caravan,
confifting of fixry mules, laden with flour, choco-
late, cheefes, and earthen-ware ; all this they carried,
except the earthen veffels, with fome beef they had
killed, and brought to their canoes, and thence to
Qffl fhips, ' Captain Swan went afterwards alhoret
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAM'PIER. &j
and killed eighteen cows more without the leaft: op-
pofition. The country is woody, but fertile, and
watered with many rivers and rivulets.
The 2 1 ft, wc Tailed with the land-wind, which is
at north here, and ihe lea- wind at weft ibuth-weft,
coafting along to the weft. At firft the land appears
with ragged hills; but, farther to the weft, with
fruitful valleys betwixt them. The 25th, wc pafied
by an high hill, divided into peaks, at 180 8' north
latitude : the Spaniards fay, there Hands a town, cal-
led the Cupan, not far from it, but we could not find
the way to it. The 26th, 200 men were lent to en-
deavour to find out the city of Colima, a rich place;
but, though they rowed twenty leagues along the
fhore, they could not meet with any place to land in,
and faw not the leaft fign of any inhabitants. At
two places they faw two horfemen, and our men fol-
lowed them, but loft the track in the woods ; lb we
returned the 28th on board; and, foon after, the
Volcano, or burning mountain, of Colima, very re-
markable for its height, at 1 S w 36' north latitude,
fix leagues from the fea-fide, appeared, with two
high points, from each of which lilues always either
fire or 1'moke. The valley, in which it Hands, bears
the name of. the mountain, as does the adjacent
town, the chief city of all the country. If we ma/
credit the Spaniards, it is a mod delightful and fer-
tile valley, abounding in cocoas, corn, and plantains,
being ten or twelve leagues wide to the fea, and
rtretching a great way into the country; but there is
no landing-place near it, occafioned by the impetu-
ofity of the waters ; for, about two leagues from the
eaft fide, is low woody ground, and, at the end, is
a deep river, which difembogues into the lea-, but,
by reafon of a land-bank at the mouth, there is no
entrance, even for canoes. The 29th, 200 men
were lent again, to try whether they could find any
path or track leading to the town ot'Sallagua, feated,
as the Spaniards report, at the weft end of the bay of
G 4 Ose,
88 THE VOYAGE CF
the valley of Colimat but, the wives running fofcigH
there , was no landing, they returned aboard the
30th.
December i, we came in fight of the port of Sal-
lagua at 1 8° $z' : It is a bay, parted by a rocky point
about the middle ; fo that it appears like two diftinft
harbours, in either of which is fafe anchorage at ten
or twelve fathom water, though the weft harbour i%
the belt, having, befide this, the cooveniency of *
frefh-water rivulet falling inco the fea. We faw *
good number of armed Spaniards, to whom we gave
a vifit, the next morning, with 200 of our beft men|
but the foot never flood one charge, and the horfc
foon followed them ; in the purfuit, our men, light-
ing upon a broad road, leading through a woody and
rocky country, followed it for four leagues ; but,
finding not the lead footfteps of any inhabitants,* ,
they turned back, and in their way took two drag-
gling mulattoes, who allured them, that the broad,
road led to the city of Oarrah, four long days jour-
ney from hence, and that thefe men were lent from
that city to fecure the fhip from Manilla, that was
to fet paffepgers afhore there. The Spanifli maps
place the town of Sallagua hereabouts, but we could
fee no figns of it. December 6, we failed aga'n) coaft-
ing to the. weft towards Cape Corientes, in hopes of
meeting thereabout with the (hip expected from the
Philippines. The fea-winds are here north-weft,
and the Land-wind at north ; the land indifferent '
high, fprinkled with many ragged points, and woody.
Here I was affli&ed with the dropfy, and fo were
many of our n^en : this being a common difeafe on
this coaft, the natives pretend to cure it with the
Hone or cod of an alligator (of which they have
Jour, viz. one near each leg within the fiefh) beaten
to powder; but we had not the good fortune to meet
with any of thefe creatures, though they are fomc-
t-imes found hereabouts. Betwixt Sallagua and Cape
Corientes are divers good ports we did not touch at.
' ' &i
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER.
As we approached the cape, it appeared with many
white cliffs, and, deeper into the country, with
peaked hills ; to the weft of thefe runs a ridge of
mountains, beginning with an high fteep mountain
at the eaft end, with three peaKS, refembling 3
crown j whence the Spaniards called it Coronada, the
crown land ; but at the weft end it terminates in an
eafy defcent. The 1 ith, we were in fight of Cape
Corientes, bearing north by weft, and the Coronada
to the north. This cape is pretty high, very fteep
and rocky towards the fea, but flat on the top, and
covered with trees; it is at 20' 28' north latitude:
1 found its longitude from Teneriff 23* 56', keeping
thereby to the weft, according to our courfe ; purfu-
ant to which computation it is, from the Lizard in
England, 12 i° 41', and the differenceof timeeight
hours fix minutes. The (hip from the Philippines
being obliged to make this point in her voyage home-
wards, we took our ftations with our four iail, fo as
that we judged we could not well mifs the ftiips :
but, as we wanted provifions, fifty or fixty men were
fent in a bark to the weft of the cape to get fomc :
they returned the 17th without any purchafe, not
being able to get about the cape, the wind being ge-
nerally northweft and fouth-weft on this coaft ; how-
ever, they left four canoes, manned with forty-fix
men, behind, who intended to row to the weft.
The 18th, we failed to the ifles of Charnetly, eigh-
teen leagues to t heeaft of Cape Corientes : They are five
low, fmail, and wood y ifles, iurrounded with rocks, and
lying in form of an half-moon, within a milefrom that
Ihore, betwixt which and thefe ifles, there is fafe an-
chorage. They are inhabited by fifhermen, fervants
to fome of tiie inhabitants of the city of Purification,
a confiderable place, fourteen leagues up in the
country. The 20th, we entered on the fouth-eaft
fide, and anchored betwixt the ifles and the conti-
nent ; we found here frefh water, wood, and rock-
filh in great plenty. The 21ft, fixty of our men.
"m
qq , THE VOYAGE OF
under captain Townley, were fent feven or eight
leagues to the weft, to furprife an Indian village.
The 24th, the four canoes, left thereabout by
i captain Townley's bark, returned to us near the
cape, having got beyond it by the help of their oars,
and landed in the valley of Valderas, or Val d'Iris,
the Valley of Flags, lying at the bottom of a deep
bay, inclofed between Cape Corientes on the fouth-
eaft, and the point Pontique on the north-weft. The
breadth of the valley is three leagues; the fandybay
is level to the fea, and, affords a good landing-place.
Id the midft is a good frefh- water river, navigable
with boats ; but at the latter end of the dry feafon,
viz. in February, March, and April, it becomes
brackilh.' On the land-fide, this valley is bounded
by a green hill, which, by its eafy defcent in the val-
ley, affords a delightful profpecl ; as do the wide-
spread paflurcs, ftored with cattle, the pleafant groves
of guavas, orange, and lime-trees, which grow wild
here in vaft numbers. In this delightful valley we
landed thirty-feven men, who, advancing three miles
into the country, were attacked by 1 50 Spaniards,
horfe and foot: by good fortune there was an adja-
cent wood, which afforded an happy retreat to our
men, who from thence fired fo funoufly upon the
Spaniards, that they killed their leader, and feven-
tecn troopers, befides many wounded, with the lots
only of four men, and two wounded : This made
the enemy retreat ; however, had the foot feconded
the horfe, fcarce one of our men could have efcaped.
The 28th, captain Townley returned aboard with
forty bufhels of maiz, which he had taken in an In-
dian village to the eaft of Cape Corientes, five leagues
in the country. We continued cruifing off this cape
till the firft of January, when we failed for the val-
ley of' Valderas, to provide ourfelves with fome beef:
at night we anchored at fixty fathom water, a mile
from the ihore.
We continued here till the 7th, and landed 240
men (go whereof were conftantYy tm^VrjtA vo tnwii
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER.
9'
the motions of the Spaniards:) we killed and falted
as much beef as would fcrve us two months 5 and,
had we not wanted fait, we might have had much
more. By this time our hopes of meeting with the
Manilla (hip being quite vanifhed, we concluded,
that, whilft we had been employed in looking for
provifion alhore (he had given us the (lip to the eaft;
which proved true, according to the account we had
afterward by fevers! prifoners. The lols of fo great
and rich a prize mull chiefly be attributed to the wil-
fulnefs of captain Townley, who would needs at-
tempt the taking of the Lima fhip in the harbour of
Acapulco, when, at the fame time, we ought to have
provided ourfelvcs, as we might then have done,
with beef and maiz for l'uch an entcrprize, which
whilft we were forced 10' feek, we loll this (hip;
whereas, had we not wanted necefiaries, we might
have gone even as tar as Cap? Lucas, in California,
where Sir Thomas Cavendifh formerly took one of
theie Manilla (hips. Hitherto we had a double de-
fign in view; firit, the taking of the Manilla (hip;
fecondly, the lea re h after rich towns and mines near
this coait, not knowing that the wealth hereabouts
lies all in the inland country; but now, finding our-
Jelvcs quite deceived in our hopes, we parted, cap-
tain Townlev going back to the eaft, and we, la
captain Swan's lhip, to the weft.
January 7, we lailed from this valley, the land-
wind being at north-weft, and at night palled by
Pontique, the weft point of the Valley of Vald)
ten leagues from Cape Corientes, at 20" 50' north
latitude. A league beyond it, to the weft, lie two
little tiles, called the Pomtcjues: beyond thofe, the
Ihorc runs ragged to the north for eighteen leagues.
The 14th, we came to anchor in a channel betwixt a
fmall, white, rocky ifle and the continent, at fbur-
teen fathom, at 21° 15'. The ifle is three leagues
from the main; we anchored one league from it.
From this ifland the land runs in north, making a
£jndy bay ; We anchored one Vca^vic fc«& Oa« yswo.-
9» THE VOYAGE OF
nent, but there is no landing. We found the land-
wind all along here at northreaft, and the fea-wind
at north-weft.
• The 20th, we anchored one league on the eaft fide
of the ides of Chametly, (different from the before-
mentioned) being a knot of fix fmall ifles at 23*
1 i', a little to the fouth of the tropic of Cancer, .
three leagues from the continent : one or two of them
only have fome fandy creeks, to the fea-fide, and pro-
duce a certain fruit, called Penguins : thefe are of
two forts, red and yellow ; the laft grows on a ftem,
of the thicknefs of a man's arm, a foot from the
ground, with leaves of half a foot long, and one
inch broad, edged with prickles : the fruit grows juft
at the top of the ftalk. in clutters ; they are round*
and of the bignefs of an hen's egg : ' the rind is pretty
thick, and the pulp full of black feeds, of a delight-
ful tafte. The red penguin is no bigger than an
onion, but of the fhape of a nine-pin j it does not
grow on a ftalk, but immediately out of the ground*
ftanding upright, fometimes fixty or feventy in a
flutter, being encompaued with prickly leaves of one
foot and an half, or two feet long.
Captain Swan went with 100 men to the north, to
find out the river Cullacan, fuppofed to lie at 24°
north latitude, in the province of Cullacan, with a
fair rich town upon its banks : but, though they had
rowed above thirty leagues, they could find no river,
neither was there any fafe landing-place. Seven
leagues north north- weft from the ifles of Chametly
is a lake, with a narrow entrance, at 230 30', called
Rio de Sail by the Spaniards, it having water enough
for canoes to enter. Our men landed on the weft
fide, and took fome maiz at an adjacent farm?
houle, and, at another landing, an Indian, who in-
formed us, that Ave leagues thence there was an In-
dian town : fo our men marched toward it, and.
coming near the place, were encountered by a good
body of Spaniards and Indians -, but thefe being
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 93
beaten back after the firft charge, they entered the
town, where they found only two or three wounded
indians, who told them, that the town was called
laflaftan, and that five leagues hence there were two
rich gold mines. We ftaid here till the ?d of Fe-
bruary, when eighty men were fent, and landed in
the River Rofario, about three leagues from the fca.
They came to a pretty little town, of the fame name,
where the prifoners allured them, that the before-
mentioned mines were not above two leagues from
thence j but, as we had prefent occafion for provi-
fions, we carried aboard ninety bufhels of maiz,
without fcarching after the mines. The jd, we an-
chored again ft the mouth of the river Rofario, one
league from the (bore, in feven fathom, at n° 15'
north latitude. But as this fmall quantity of provi-
fions was not likely to do our bufinefs for our in-
tended voyage, we landed, the 8th, forty men, to
feek the river Oletta, fuppofed to lie to the eaft of
the river Rofario ; but they returning without any
booty, or without being able to find it, we refolved
to go on the eaft, to the river of St. Iago, where we
anchored the nth, two miles from the (bore, in fe-
venteen fathom water, foft oufy ground, three leagues
from the white high rock of Maxemelbo, bearing
north north-weft, as the high hill Zelifco bore fouih-
eaft of us.
The river of St. Jagc, one of the mod conlider-
able on this coaft, lies in 220 15'. It has ten leet
water on the bar at low-water : its breadth, at the
entrance, is about half a mile ; but it is broader with-
in, three or four rivers discharging themfvlves into it
there: the water is brackifh ; but, near the mouth,
on the fandy fhore, you may dig frefb water at three
or four feet. Captain Swan fenc out feventy men to
look for a town, the country having a fair profpect.
After they had rowed up and down two days, they
landed in a corn -field, where, while they were bufy
in gathering the maiz, they ieized an Indian, who
\j3&
94 THE VOYAGE OF
told them, that four leagues farther there was a town
called S" Pecaque. They were no fooner Come on
board, but captain Swan, with 140 men, went in
eight canoes five leagues up the river, which was
thereabout not above a piftol fhot wide, with high-
banks i and, landing his men, marched through fer-
tile plains and woods for three or four hours : at
their approach, the Spaniards quieted the place ; fo .
we entered it without opposition.
The town of S" Pecaque is feated on the fide of a
wood, in a fpacious plain. It is not very large,
■but neatly built, with a fquare market-place in the
middle, as moll Spanilh towns are, and has two
churches. There are filver mines five or fit league*
from this town .- the ore whereof is carried from this
place by mules to Compoftella, where it is refined;
Compoftella is the capital of this part of Mexico*,
twenty-one leagues diftant from Pecaque, inhabited
by about ;o white families, and 5 or 600 Mulattoes-
and Indians. As our men found plenty of maiz, fir-
gar, fait, and fah-fifh here, captain Swan ordered one
half of them to carry provifions aboard, whilft the
other took care of the town : this they did by turns*
having got fome horfes to eafe them in their labour.
Thus they continued for two days; but, the lothv
captain Swan, being informed by a prifoner, that
1000 armed men had lately marched from St." lago
(a rich town upon the river, three leagues thence) to-
attack our men, ordered his people' to get all the
horfes they could, and to march all together, with
what provifions they could carry, to their canoes 1
but they rctufmg to obey him, till all the provifions
could be carried on board, he was forced to let one
half of them go on with 54 horfes ; but they had
not marched a mile, before the Spaniards, lying in
ambulh, attacked and killed them all upon the fpot:
captain Swan marched to their relief, but came too
late, being all (lain and ftript, though, at the fame
rime, they never attempted to engage him, having*
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 95
qucftionlefs, paid pretty dear for their viftory. Cap-
tain Swan being returned aboard with the reft of his
men, with what provifions they had got, it was re-
folved to fail to Cape St. Lucas, on California, in
hopes of a commerce with the Indians there, and,
confequently, in the lake of California. This lake
is properly a channel, or part of the fca, betwixt the
ifle and the continent ; but either not much known
by the Spaniards, or elfe concealed by them, for fear
that the other European nations fhould find out that
way to the mines of New Mexico-, for they vary
confiderably about it in their charts-, fome make it
an ifle, others join it to the continent, but not one
of them gives any account of the tides, the depth,
or harbours, in or near this lake; whereas their hy-
drographical maps defcribe the coafts towards Afta,
on the weft fide of the ifle from Cape St. Lucas to
400 north. New Mexico, according to the report
of the Spaniards, and fome Englifh prifoners there,
lies near fifty leagues north-weft from Old Mexico,
where the richeft mines of all this country are fup-
pofed to be ; though there are, queftionlefs, fome
alio in other parts hereabout, as well as on the con-
tinent, near the main-land of California; though, as
the Spaniards have mines enough to manage, they
have not taken the pains to difcover them -, and the
vaft difhmce of this country has, no doubt, been
the occafion, that no discoveries have been made by
others, or are like to be made, unlefs a nearer way
thither could be found, I mean by the north-weft.
I am not ignorant, that divers unluccefsful attempts
have been formed for the dilcovery of a north-weft
paflage : the reafbn whereof I attribute to their March-
ing for the paflage at the beginning through Davis's
or Hudlon's bay i whereas, in my opinion, the learch
ought to have been begun in the South Seas, and
thence along by California, and fo a paflage made
back into the Weft Seas. The fame rule might be
obferved in difcovering the norch-eail paflage, viz.
§6 • THE VOYAGE OF
to winter about Japan, Cores, and the north-eali
part of China, and fo take *ae advantage of the np->
preaching Spring and Summer to go along the coaft
of Tartary, whence you may have time enough to
reach Archangel, or fome other port on thefe coafts.
From hence we {ailed the 21 It towards California,
with a north- weft and weft north-weft wind. After
we came paft the ifles of St. Maria, we had ftrong
winds at north north-weft, and at north, the ufuai
trade-wind, and confequendy loft ground till Fcbru*
ary 6 1 to that the 7th we were forced to the eaft
•gain, to the Marias, where we anchored the 7th, at
the eaft end of the middlcmoft of thefe ifles, in eight
fathom, good clear fand. This ifle we call Prince
George's Iflc. The ifles called Marias are three
iuands, ftretching north-weft and fouth-eaft fourteen
leagues of an indifferent height, ftony, barren, and
uninhabited, at 1 2 v 40' north latitude, forty leagues
diftant from Cape St. Lucas on California, bearing
eaft fouth-eaft, and twenty leagues from Cape Con*
entes, bearing upon the fame points of the compafii
with Cape St. Lucas. They produce fome Cedars*
and, near the Tea-fide, a green prickly plant, with .
leaves not unlike the penguin-leaf, and a root like
that of the fempervive, but much longer. The In*
dians of California have a great part of their fubfift-
ence from thefe roots. We baked and eat fome of
them, and found them to tafte like the Englifh bur-
dock boiled. I had been long fick of the dropfy,
fo I was laid in the fand, and covered up to the head
for half an hour. I fweated exceedingly, and, I be-
lieve, with good effect ; for I began to mend loon
after.
We remained here careening till the 26th ; but as
there is no frefh water to be gotten here in the dry
feafon, we were forced to fail to the valley of Valde-
ras, where we anchored the 26th, near the mouth of
the before- mentioned river; which being alfo brack -
ifh at this time, we failed three leagues nearer to the
Caoe
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 97
Cape Corientcs, and anchored by a fmall round ifle,
half a mile from the (hore, four leagues to the north
of the cape. The rivulet where we filled our water,
is on the continent, juft oppofite to the ifle. Being
by this time fufficiently convinced of our miftake
concerning the riches of this coaft, and the proba-
bility of rinding fome lea-ports worth our taking,
founded upon an erroneous opinion we had con-
ceived, that the commerce of this country was car-
ried on by lea, whereas it is entirely managed by
land, by the help of mules, we were the fooner pre-
vailed upon to try our fortune in the Eaft Indies.
Our men, being encouraged with the hopes of bet-
ter fuccefs for the future, and through the pcrfua-
fions of captain Swan, failed from cape Corientcs
March 31. In all this voyage, we faw neither fifti
nor fowl, except once, being then, according to my
account, 4975 miles well from cape Corientcs, in the
kingdom of Mexico, when we faw a vaft number of
boobies, fuppoied to come from fome rocks not far
off, and mentioned in fome hydrographical maps (but
we did not fee them.) After we had failed 1900
miles, our men began to murmur ; but, being' en-
couraged with fair words by captain Swan, we failed
forward ; and, feeing fome clouds fetting in the weft,
they were looked upon as the forerunners of land.
May 20, at four o'clock in the afternoon, being in
120 55* north latitude, and (leering weft, we difco-
vered, to our great joy, the ifte of Guam, at eight
leagues diftance. Guam is one of the Ladrone ifles,
under the Spanifh jurifdiflion. Its length is twelve
leagues, and its breadth four, lying north and fouth,
defended by a fmall fort, with fix guns, and a garri-
fon of thirty foldiers, under a Spanilh governor, for
the conveniency of the Philippine Ihips, that touch
here for refremments in their voyage from Acapulco
to Manilla. The Ibil is indifferently fruitful, pro-
ducing rice, pine-apples, water-melons, mulk-melons,
oranges, limes, cocoa-nuts, and a certain fruit called
Vol. III. H i!e*
9t THE VOYAGE OF
the bread fruit, growing on a tree as Urge as our
apple-trees, with dark leaves. The fruit is round,
and grows on the boughs, like apples,r of the big-
nefs of a good penny-loaf. When ripe, it turns yel-
low, foft, and fweetj but the natives take it green,
and bake it in an oven, till the rind is black. This
they fcrape off, and rat the infide, which is foft and
white, like the infide of new baked bread, having
neither feed nor ftone ; but if it is kept above twenty-
four hours it is harm. As this fruit is in feafon eight
months in the year, the natives feed upon no other
fort of bread during that time. They told us, that
all the Ladrone ifles had plenty of it. I never heard
of it in any other place. May 31, we came to us
anchor on the weft fide of this iile, near the middle
of it, one mile from the Ihore, there being no an-
choring on the eaft fide, by reafon of the trade-
wind, which forces the waves with great violence
againft it on that fide. The natives are ftrong limbed,
copper- coloured, with long black hair, fmall eyes,
high nofes, thick lips, very white teeth, and of a
ftern countenance, though they were very affable
to us. The air is accounted exceeding wholfome,
except in the wet feafon betwixt June and October.
Thefe Indians inhabit in .fmall villages on the weft
fide near the Ihore, and have certain priefts to in-
ftrutt them in the Chriftbn religion. By means of
fomc prefents lent to the governor, and an obliging
ktter from captain Swan, we obtained good (lore ot
hogs, cocoa-nuts, nee, wheaten hil'cuits, and other
refreihments, befides fifty pounds of Manilla to-
bacco i and, being informed by one of the friers,
that the iflc of Mindanao, one of the Philippine
iflands, inhabited by Mahometans, abounded with
provifions, we failed June 2, with a ftrong call wind,
and arrived the 21 at the iflc of St. John, one of the
Philippine iflands.
The Philippines are a range of large iflands, reach-
ing from 50 north latitude to 19% and to 160 Ion-
■ %\vadc.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 99
gitude. The chief of them is Luconia, where Ma-
gellan was killed with a poilbned arrow, and is now
entirely under the Spanifh fubjection. Their capi-
tal city here is Manilla, a large town and iea-port,
feated at the fouth eaft end, oppofite to the ifle of
Mindora, a place of great ftrengrh, and vaft trade,
becaufe the two great (hips from Acaptilco fetch
thence vait quantities of India commodities, brought
thither by the Chinefe and Vortuguefe, and fometimes
alfo by the Englilh of Fort St. George, though by
Health, the Spanifh allowing no commerce here to
the Englilh or Dutch, for fear they mould dilcover
bodi their weaknefs, and the riches of Aofe iiles,
which abound in gold.
To the fouth of Luconia are twelve or fourteen
other large ides (befides an infinite number of letter
ones) inhabited by Spaniards-, but the two Ibuthrr-
moft, viz. that of St. John and Mindanai ,
only ones not lubject to the Spanifh junkliction.
The ifle of St. John lies between y" and 8U north la-
titude, on the eaft fide of Mindanao, about four
leagues from it. Its length, from north north-weft
to fouth fouth-eaft, is thirty-eight leagues, and its
breadth about the middle twenty-four leagues. The
foil is very fat and fertile. Mindanao is, next to
Luconia, the largeit of all the Philippine tttends,
its length being fixty leagues, and its breadth forty
or fifty, the fouth end at 50 north latitude, and the
north-weft end reaching almoft to 8° north latitude.
The foil is generally fat ; and the (tony, hills produce
many forts of trees, moll of which are not known
among us. The vallies are watered with frelh brooks
and rivulets, and ftorcd with divers forts of ever-
green tr^-es and variety or fruits i but, above all the
reft, a fort of trees, which grow wild in groves i'e-
veral miles long, called the libby-tree by the natives,
which furniflies the Sago. The poor people feed
upon it inftcad of bread here for* three or four months
in the year.
Ha TV
ioo THE VOYAGE OF
The libby tree is not unlike the cabbage-tree j
the bark and wood hard, full of a white pith, like
that of the elder-tree. They cut down the tree, and,.
fphtting it in the middle, take out the pith, which
they (lamp or beat well in a mortar or trough i
which done, they put it in a cloth, and, pouring
water upon it, ftir it well, till the water carries alio
the fubltance with it through the cloth into the
trough i this, after it is well fettled, they feparate
from the water (by drawing it off) and bake it into
cakes. The fago, tranfponed hence into other parts
of the Eaft Indies, is dried into fmall pieces, like
comfits, and ufed, with milk of almonds, as a good
remedy againfl: fluxes, being very aftringent. We
dial! only add, that the nutmegs here are extremely
large and good ; but they do not care to propagate
them, for fear the Dutch, who monopolize the trade
of the fpice iflands, mould be induced to give them
a vifit.
This ii'k affords both wild and tame beafts. Of
tame fowls they have only ducks and hens ; but, of
the wild kind, pigeons, parrots, paraquetoes, turtle-
doves, bats as big as our kites; and of fmall birds
an infinite number. Their chief filh are bonetoes,
fnooks, cavalies, bremes, mullets, and fea tortoifes.
Neither do they want harbours, creeks, and rivers.
The climate of Mindanao is not fo cxceflive hot, es-
pecially near the fea- fide, considering its fituation near
the line ; fince the fea-breezes cool the air by day,
as the land-winds do at night. The wind blows from
the eaft from October to May, when it blows weft
to October again. Thefe welt winds produce the
wet feafon, which is heavieft in July and Auguft,
and begins to remit, by degrees, in September, and
ceafes in October, when the eaft wind, brings fair
weather till May. Though the inhabitants of the
ilk of Mindanao are generally alike in colour, fta-
ture, and in their religion, (being Mahomedans) yet
they diire.' in their language and government.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. toi
The Mindanyans, properly lb called, are of low
flature, with fmall iinibs, little heads, and itraight
bodies i fmall eyes, fhort nofes, wide mouths, thin red
lips, and black teeth, but found Their hair is black
and ftraight ; their complexion tawny, but fomething
brighter than that of other Indians. They are inge-
nious and nimble, but much addicted to idlcnels ;
civil and obliging to fixangers, bur withal impla-
cable when once difobliged. Their cloa things are,
a turban tied once round the head with cloth, the
ends fringed or laced, tied in a knot, and hanging
down. They wear alfo breeches, and frocks over
them i but neither (lockings nor flioes. The women
tie their black and long hair together in a knot, hang-
ing down behind. They are fmaller-featured than
the men, and have very little feet. Their garment*
are only a piece of cloth fewed together at both ends,
and a frock reaching a little below the waift
One peculiar cuftom they have in the city of Min-
danao, that as foon as any Grangers arrive, the men
of Mindanao come aboard, to invite them to their
houfes, where they are lure to inquire, whether any
of them have a mind for a Pagally, or innocent fe-
male friend. The ftrangers, in civility, are obli-
ged to accept the offer made them of fuch a friend,
and to fhew their gratitude by a. fmall prefenr, as
the continuance of the fame friendthip mult be pur-
chafed by fotne other trifles-, in return for which,
they have the liberty to eat, drink, and fleep in their
friends houfes for their money. They have no other
entertainment there gratis, except a little tobacco and
betel, a mean way of begging, though prac"tifcd even
among the richeft of the place.
The capital o( rhis ifle bears the fame name with
the ifland, and is feated on the lbuth fide, two miles
from the lea, upon the bank of a fmall river, in 70
20' north latitude. Their houfes are built upon
pofts, from fourteen to twenty feet high, having only
one floor, but many rooms or partitions. The fol-
H 3 wH
;
io2 THE VOYAGE OF
tan's houfe refts upon 150 great pofts, and was much
higher than the reft, with grea_t broad ftairs leading
up to it. In the hall flood twenty pieces of iron can-
non, placed on field carriages. The general, and
other great men, have alfo fome guns in their houfes,
the floors whereof are generally well matted, they
ufing no chairj, but fining crofs- legged. Their or-
dinary food here is rice, fago, and fon-.e fmall fifh j
but the better furl eat buffaloes and fowl, though a
great de I of rice with them.
The chief trades in this city are goldfmiths, black-
fmiths, carpenters, and fhipwrights ; for they build
good fhips both for trade and war. Their chief com-
modities, exported, are gold, bees-wax, and tobacco.
The two firft they purchafe from the mountaineers ;
and the laft grows all over the ifle in vaft plenty.
Thele they exchange for calicoes, muflins, and China
filks. The Mindanao tobacco is reckoned no way
inferior to that of Manill.i j yet you may buy ten or
twelve pounds of it for a rial. They have many wives;
but I never could learn their marriage- ceremonies,
except that ihey feaft their friends for the moft part
of the night. They are under the government of a
fultan, who is poor enough •, but fo abfolute, that he
even commands every private fubjecYs purfe at plta-
fure. He was between ftfry and fixty years old, and
had twenty nine concubines, befides his queen. When
he goes abroad, he is carried on a couch upon four
mens moulders, attended by a guard of eight or ten
men. He has a brother called Raja Laut, who is
both chief minifter and general) a Jhrewd man, of
good convcrfation, who both fpcaks and writes Spa-
nifli very well. In their wars they make ufe of fwords,
lances, and hand- crenels, a weapon much like a bayo-
net, which the greateft to the meaneft always wear
about them. They never fight any pitched battle
in the field, but make fmall wooden forts, defended
by guns, wherein they encamp, and endeavour to
furprize
■
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. ioj
furprize one another by Imall parties ; and they nei-
ther give nor take quarter.
We came to anchor at the north eaft fide of the
Ilk; but, under/lauding -by fo;ne of the natives, that
the city of Mindanao was on the weft fide, we (leered
to the fouth-ealt with a touth-weft wind. We ar-
rived July iSth, at the entrance of the river Minda-
nao, in 6° 22' north latitude, and 230 12' longitude
weft from the Lizard of Kn^land, where we anchored
in fifteen fathom water, clear hard land, two miles
from the ftiore.
Soon after, Raja Laut, and one of the fultan's
forts, came aboard us, and demanded in Spanifh, who
wc were ; and, bdng toiJ that we were Englifli. they
aiked, whether we were come to fettle among them,
of which they had had ibme promife before, and
were now in hopes to fee it effected, and to ferve
them tor a protection aguinfl; the Dutch, whom they
very much dreaded. Truly, had we confidered the
matter, it would have been much for our advantage
to have done fo, confidering the commodious fitua-
tion of the ifie of Mindanao, betwixt the fpice
illands and the Philippines : neither did we want any
thing requifite for fueh a fettlcment, being provided
with all forts of artificers, as carpenters, bricklayers,
Ihoemakers, raylors, &x, as alio with convenient
tools, arms, guns great and I'm all, and ammunition
fufficient for iuch a beginning: and, notwithstanding
the great diftance or this iiland from Eflj
needed not have been without hopes of leafonablt.-
fupplies thence. But to return to Raja Laut and his
nephew : they invited captain Swan afhore, and pro-
miied :o furnilh him with whatprovifions he wanted,
defiring, tliat, in the mean time, we fhould fecure
our ftiip in the river, for ftar of the approaching
weft winds; which captain Swan, after lome delibe-
ration, agreed to.
The tempe.luous weather now approaching, the
iailors hauled the fhip up the river, 50 or 60 fitfaer-
H 4 ttftSi
IO+ THE VOYAGE OF
men lending their afliftance -, after which, they
moored her in a hole dug for that purpofe, where-
in ihe was always a-float, and here many citizens
came on board of her, who foon provided the men
with Pagallys, and captain Swan being generally at-
tended at dinner with his trumpets, Raja Laut was
greatly delighted with the mufic.
During the wec.feafon, the city of Mindanao,
which is a mile in length, and ftretches alone the
bank of the river, was a perfect pond, and the
floods frequently warned down large pieces of tim-
ber from the country, that would have endangered
the vefiel, had not great care been taken to prevent
it. As foon as the floods began to fubfide, captain
Swan hired a warehoufe, in which he deppfited his
goods and fails, in order to careen the (hip, when
it was furpriflng to fee the multitude of worms that
had eaten into her bottom, during her (lay in this
harbour. But having new ftieathed her, they fleered
out on the 10th of December, when they began to
take in rice, and to fill their water. But the king's
brother, who had his views in delaying the vefiel,
conftantly kept feveral of the men on fliorc, hunt-
ing of black cattle, under the pretence of ftocking
the Ibip with beef. However, in ten days, they met
with only four cows, none of which they were able
to run down.
At this time, captain Swan had fome thoughts
of quitting Mindanao, in order to take in a lading
of ipice, in a neighbouring ifland, which is fuiee
fallen into the hands of the Dutch. However, mod
of his men expected that he would have continued
privateering, to which he had an utter averfion,
though he carefully concealed it from his people.
The day after Chriftmas-day, Raja Laut had a
hunting match, in fearch of black cattle, in which
he was accompanied by five or fix Englifhmen, and
all his wives: but in this hunting match they killed
but three heifers. However, he and his company
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. io5
got drunk two or three times, with a pleafant extract
of rice.
At th's time, one of the Englifh failors happening
accidentally to find captain Swan's journal, in which
he had taken notice of the flighted offence of every
failor on board, and was even lavilh of invectives
againft the whole crew in general, he (hewed it to
the reft of his comrades, wlio, upon this, refulved
to depofe captain Swan, which they accordingly did,
chufing Mr. Kead captain in his room, and Mr.
Teate, matter; and leaving him with thirty-fix men
on fhore, fit (ail on the 14th of January, 1687, in
order to cruize before Manilla.
February 3. we anchored in a bay on the weft
fide of an iflund without a name, in 90 15', on the
well fide of the ifle of Sebo, in 18 fjthom water,
oufy ground. Its length is eight or ten leagues. In
the middle of this bay we law a low, filial], woody
ifle, haunted by a fort of bats, of the bignefs of a
large fowl, their wings, when extended, being feven
or eight feet long : every night we faw them, in vaft
fwarms, take their flight towards the great ifle, and
return to the little one in the morning.
We failed hence February 10, with a north wind,
coafting along the weft fide of the I'hilippine ifks.
In our paflage by Panga, (a large ifle inhabited by
the Spaniards) we faw many fires, fuppoled to be
lighted to give notice of our approach, it being rare
to fee a (hip on this coaft. The 18th, we came to
an anchor at the north-weft end of the ifle of Min-
dora, in ten fathom ; it is a large ifle, the middle of
it lying in 130 longitude. It ftretches in length
forty leagues north-weft and fouth-eaft. A fmall
brook of water runs into the fca near the place where
we anchored, and we faw good ftore of hogs and
oxen, but they were fo wild we could catch or kill
none. Whilft we were here, a canoe, with four In-
dians, came hither from Manilla, who told us, that
the
io6 THE VOYAGE OF
the harbour of Manilla was feldom without twenty
or thirty veflels, Chinefe, Portuguefe, and Spani-
ards; and that if we had a mind to trade, (clande-
stinely) they would carry our letters to certain mer-
chants there. The 7.1ft, we failed again, and, the
23d, came to the fouth-calt end of the iile of Luco-
nia. We took two Spanifh barks from Pagaflanam,
a fmall town on the north-eaft of this ifle, bound to
Manilla: one of thefe had goods aboard for the Aca-
pulco fliip.
The ifle of Luconia extends in length 6 or j° of
longitude, and ics breadth, near the middle, fixty
leagues. The fouth end is in 120 30', and the north
end in 90° north latitude. ' It is furrounded by ma-
ny other fmall ifles, cfpecially at the north end.
Mindora is the chief, and the neareft to it, and im-
parts its name to a channel that runs between it and
the ifle of Luconia, called the Streights of Mindora.
The country is partly compofed of large pafturc
plains, and partly of mountains. Thefe afford Come
gold, as the favannas or plains are well ftored with
buffaloes, bullocks, horfes, Cheep, goats, and hogs.
The inhabitants, who live in little towns, are In-
dians, under the Spanilh jurifdiction, and inftrufted
in the Romi(h religion by Spanifh priefts.
Manilla is the chief, if not the only city of the ifle
of Luconia, leated at the foot of a ridge of high
hills fronting the harbour, near the Couth-weft point
of the ifle, in 140 north latitude. It is defended by
a ftrong wall; the houCes are fpacious, ftrong, and
covered with pantile ; and the ftreets large and re-
gular, with a market-place in the midft. They have
many fair churches and convents. The harbour is
very large. Befulcs the two great Acapulco {hips,
they have abundance of fmall veflels or their own.
The Chinefe have commonly thirty or forty junks or
ftout veCiels here: and the Portuguefe have alfo li-
berty of commerce in this ifle. A league on this
fide
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 107
fide the city is a flrong fort to defend the harbour,
where the great fhips lay at anchor.
The time of the year being too far fpent for our
purpofe, we refolved to fail for Pulo Condore, a
knot of fmall ifles on the coaft of Cambodia, and to
return in May, to lie in wait for the Acapulco (hip.
Accordingly, February 26, we failed from Luconu,
Coming to 140 north latitude, we fleered fouth by
weft: for Pulo Condore -, and, 'in our way thither, goc
fight of the fouth end of the Prafel fholes, of three
fandy ifles, or large fpots of fands, (landing juft
above the water, a mile from us. March 1 3, we
came in fight of Pulo Condore, or the ifle of Condore,
and anchored the 1 ^th on the north fide of the ifle,
in ten fathom, clean hard land, two miles from the
fhore. Pulo Condore is the chief of a knot of
ifles, and the only inhabited one of them in 8° 40'
north latitude, forty leagues fouth by eaft from the
mouth of the river of Cambodia. Two of thde
ifles are pretty high and large, the reft very fmall.
That 1 Ipeak of, is five leagues long, lying call and
well, and three miles broad, but in fotnc places not
a mile. The other large ifle is three miles km. ,
ftretching north and fouth : betwixt thofe two, at
the weft: end of the largeft, is a convenient harbour,
the entrance on the north fide, where thefe two
ifles lie a mileafundcr. On the largeft iflc grows a
tall fee, the trunk three or four feet diameter, which
the inhabitants cut horizontally half through, a foot
from the ground ; and then cutting the other part
aOope inwardly down, till it meets with the tranivcrfe
cut, thence dlftill a liquor into an hollow made in
the fi-micircular flump ; which, when boiled, becomes
good tar; and, if boiled Hi II more, perfect pitch,
and anfwers both ufes. Such a tree affords two
qu trts oi juice every day for a month together, then
its up, and recovers again. Mere are alio mango-
trees, the fruit whereof they pickle, while they are
green, with fait, vinegar, and a little garlick. Grapes
io$ THE VOYAGE OF
grow in this ifle on a ftrait tree, of a foot diameter,
in clutters about the body of the tree, like the co-
coas ■, they are both red and white, much like our
grapes, and of a plcafant tafte. This ifle alio
abounds in wild nutmeg-trees : thefe are of the big-
nefs of our walnut-trees, and the fruit grows amongft
the boughs, like our walnuts. It is fmaller than the
true nutmeg, but grows like it, and is of the fame
foape, but without fmell or . tafte. Befides hogs,
guanoes, and lizards, thefe ifles have divers forts of
birds, as parrots, parraquecoes, turtle-doves, pigeons,
and wild cocks and hens. The fea affords limpets,
mullets, and tortoifes. They have many frefli-water
brooks, running into the fea for ten months in the
year, and lie very conveniently for trade with Japan,
China, Manilla, Tunquin, Cochinchina, &c
The inhabitants of the ifle of Condore are origi-
nally Cochinchinefe, of a middle ftature, but well-
fliaped, much darker than the Mindanyans ; their
hair is ftraight and black, their eyes of the fame co-
lour, but fmall j and fo are their nofes, yet pretty
high ; their lips thin, with a little mouth, and white
teeth. They are very civil, but poor, having no
other employment but to gather the juice for tar,
and draw fome oil from the fat of the tortoife, which
they tranfport to Cochinchina. They offer their wo-
men to all grangers for a very fmall matter ; a cuf-
tom ufed alio at Pegu, Siam, Cochinchina and Cam-
bodia ; in the Eaft Indies, and on the coaft of Guinea,
in Africa, and alfo at Tunquin. They are Pagans,
and worfhip chiefly the elephant and horfe, befide
other images of birds and Rlh. But I obferved none
of human fhape.
March 15, we looked for a place to careen in \
and, having met with one, we entered the fame the
1 6th, where we ftaid till the 6th of April, when we
went hence to the place where we anchored before,
on the north fide of the great ifle, to fill frefli water ;
which being accomplifhed by the 21ft, we failed
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 109
again from Pulo Condore, our courfe weft by fouth,
with an caft north-eaft wind, for the bay of Siam.
The 24th, we entered the bay of Siam, which is very
deep; and went in among the ifles, at the bottom
of the bay. In one of thd'e we found a fmall vil-
lage, inhabited by fiihermen, but no fifh: fo we
turne.d back ; but, being becalmed, did not return
to Pulo Ubi till May 13, where we call anchor on
the eaft fide, and were detained by tempefts till the
20th. The 21ft, we failed thence back for Pulo
Condore, where we came to an anchor the 24th:
here five or fix of our men, going aboard a Malayan
vefiel, were tabbed by the Ibip's crew.
June 4, being provided with fuel and freih-water,
we failed from Pulo Condore, with a fouth weft wind,
intending to make Manilla ; but the wind foon turn-
ing eaft and fouth-eaft, and continuing fo for ten
days, we were forced to alter our courfe, and fteer
for the ifle of Prata, a fmall low ifland, inclofed with
rocks, in 'the way betwixt Canton (a Chinefe (ea-
porc) and Manilla, in 200 4' north latitude ; but the
eaft winds continuing for five or fix days longer with
great violence, we law ourfelves obliged to alter our
refolution once more, and to obey the wind, which
brought us near the Chinefe more the 25th of June,
where we came to an anchor on the north-eaft end
of the ifle of St. John, lying on the fea-coaft of
Quantung or Canton, in China, in 220 30' north la-
titude. The inhabitants live, for the moft part,
by cultivating their grounds, which produce rice.
Whilft we lay at anchor here, a Chinefe Junk lay-
near us : ihe was flat both at the head and ftern, with
little huts on her deck of three feet high, covered
with palmetto-trees. She had a large cabin with an
altar, and lamp burning in it. The hold was di-
vided into feveral partitions, each of them fo tight,
that, if a leak ftiould Ipring in one, the goods in the
next would receive no damage. Every merchant
has his particular room, where he flows his goods.
no THE VOYAGE OF
and fometimes lodges in it himfeif. Theft junks
have no more than two marts, viz. a main-malt and
fore-mad : the lad has a iquare fail and fquare yard ;
but the main-maft has a fail narrow aloft like a Hoop's
fail In fair weather they ufe alfo a top-fail, which
they hail down on the deck in foul weather, yard
and all. The main mail of the biggeft junks are as
big as any of our. third-rate men of war, but not
pieced, being all of one tree.
As we law the forerunners of an approaching tem-
ped, we weighed anchor, not to want fea room. It
was not long before we found our guefs too true;
for the next day, being the 4th of July, the wind
coming to the north-eair, we were furpriled by'the
mod violent temped I ever remember ; which laded,
by "intervals, till the 6th. We refitted our mips
buc our men, being terrified to the higheft degree
by the lad ftorm, and dreading the approaching full-
moon, refolved to deer towards the Pifcadores, or
Filher Ides, in 230 north latitude.
Theft are a good number of iflands, lying betwixt
the ifle of Formofa, and the continent of China. Be-
twixt the two caftermoft is a good harbour ; and, on
the wed fide of the eadermoft, is a large town and
fort, defended by a Tartar garrifon of about three
hundred men. The houfes were low, but neatly
built. On the ifland, on the wed fide of the har-
bour, near the fea-fide, we faw another fmall town,
Inhabited by Chineft; and mod of the other ifles
have fome Chinefe (more or lefs) living in them.
We came to an anchor in the harbour July 20, and,
fending our boat alhore, were civilly received by
the Tartarian governor, who fent us fome prefents,
(among the reft a heifer, the fined I ever eat in my
life) but would not allow us either to trade there,
or come afhore on that ifle. In return for which Mr.
Read (now our captain) fent him a filver-hilted fword,
a carbine, and a gold chain.
We
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. m
We failed from hence the 29th with a fouch-weft
wind, (leering for certain .iHands we had pitched
upon, that lie betwixt Formola and Luconia, being
known by no other names than the Five liles. Wc
failed by the fouth-weft end or" Formofa, a large ifle
fituated betwixt 2 1 ° 20', and 25" io' north latitude,
from fouth to north. Its longitude is from 142° 5*
to 143 ° 1 6' eaft from the peak of TeneritF. It was
formerly well inhabited by the Chinefe, and fre-
quented by the Enghfti ; but the Taitars have fince
fpoiled the harbour, for fear the Chinefe mould for-
tify themfelves there. Auguft 6, we came to an
anchor on the eaft fide of the northermoft of the
Five IQcs in fifteen fathom water: they lay in 20"
20' north latitude, and their longitude, according to
the charts, is 141° 50'. Contrary to our expecta-
tions, we found, on the ifle near which we anchored,
three or four large towns. The weftermoft ifle is
the biggefti this the Dutch among us called the
Prince of Orange Ifie, being feven or eight leagues
long, and two broad, ltmching north and fouth.
There are two more Urge ifles ; the northermoft we
called Grafton Ifle : it ftretches four leagues in length
north and i'juth, and is one league and an half broad:
unto the third great ifle we gave the name of Mont-
mouth Ifle, lying to the fouth of Grafton Ifle, three
leagues long north and foiich, and one broad : the
other two ifles, lying eaft and weft, betwixt Monmouth
and the fouth end of Orange Ifle, are called the Ba-
ftiee, (from a certain liquor we drink there) and the
Goat ifles.
Orange ifland is the largcfr, but uninhabited, be-
ing rocky and barren-, and no anchorage near ic.
Monmouth and Grafton ifles are hilly, but well in*,
habited. The Goat and B;ifhee ifles are fiat and even,
and the firft has one town in it. The hills of all thefc
ifles are rocky, but ertile in waft, plan-
tains, bananas, pine-apples, pompions, lugir-canes,
potatoes, and Ionic co:ton; and arc well watered
Hi THE VOYAGE OF
with brooks of frefli- water. They are alfo well fibred
with goats and hogs, but fcarce any fowl, either wild
or'tame.
The natives are fhort and thick, round-vifaged,
with low foreheads, and thick eye-brows ; their eyei
of an hazel colour, and fmall, but much bigger than
the Chineft- -, their noles are both low and fhort ; their
lip and mouth middle-fized, with white teeth, and
thick, black, lank hair, cut fhort to their ears ; their
complexion is of a dark copper-colour. They go al-
ways bare-headed ; and the greateft part have no
, chains, but a clout about the middle : fome have
jackets or plantain leaves, as rough as a bear-fkin.
The women have a (hort pecicoat of coarfe calico,
(of th; ir own making) which reaches a little below
the knees. Both lVxes wejr ear-rings made of a yel-
low metal, ha/mg the weight and colour of true
gold, but ionic thing paler : whether it were fuch in
effect or no, I am not able to fay ; for it looks of a
fine colour at fin), but afterwards fades; which made
us fufpeft it, and therefore our people did not pur-
chafe much of it. We obferved the natives to be-
fmear it with red earth, and then, putting it into a
quick fire till it was red-hot, brought it to its former
colour again.
Their houfes are fmall, and fcarce five feet high.
They inhabit in villages, built on the fides of rocky
hills, three or four rows one above another. Thefc
rocky precipices are framed by nature into different
degrees, or, as it were, deep fleps or ftories, upon
each of which they build a row of their houfes, com-
municating together gradually, by ladders fet from
each of thefe rows up to one another in the middle
of it j which if they remove, there is no coming at
them. They are alio very expert in building their
boats, (for the men live moftly by fifhing) much like
our Deal yauls. They have alfo larger vefiels, ma-
naged with twelve or fourteen oars, two men on one
bank. They never kill any goats or hogs themfelves;
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 113
but feed upon the guts or entrails $ and rheir fkins,
which they broil, alter they hue finged the hair off".
They make alfo a difh of locults, whicl. come at cer-
tain fcafons to devour their potatoes. They take
them with nets, and broil or bake them in an earthen
pan. This dilh eats well enough. Their ordinary
drink is water-, but, befides this, they boil a lort of
liquor out of the juice of fu g:\r- canes, mixed with
black-berries: this they put attcrwards into jars,
and let it work four or five days. After it is fettled,
it becomes clear, and affords a llrontr and pleafant
liquor, in tale and colour ni ■: unlike * ngliffi beer.
The natives call this liquor Bafhee ; whence our crew
gave this name to one of the ifles.
What language they fpeak, I know not, as not
having any affinity either with the Chinefe or Ma-
layan languages. The only arms they ufe are lances,
headed with iron -, and they wear a kind of armour of
a buffalo's hide, without any fleeves, which readies
down below the knees, where it is three feet wide,
and as (liff* as a board, butclofe about their fhoui-
ders. I could not perceive them worfliip any thing;
neither law I any idols, or any government or-precc-
dency among themfelves, except that the children
were very refpectful to their parents. However, it
is likely, they have fome ancient cufloms intieadof
laws j for we faw a young lad buried alive, as we
fuppofed, for theft.
They have but one wife, and fhe and the children
are very obedient to the head of the family -, the boys
are educated to fifhing, and the girls to work with
their mothers in the plantations, which are in the
vallies, where every man plants his own ground ac-
cording to the bignefs of his family. Fur ;iie rrlt,
they are a fort of civil quiet people, not only to Gran-
gers, but alfj among themielves ; for all the time
we were here, whil t they came frequently aboard
us, they ufed to exchange their yellow mcral, their
goats and fruit, for iron. During our flay here,
Vol. 111. Ti
H4 THE VOYAGE OF
had provided ourfelves with feventy or eighty fat
hogs, and plenty of potatoes, for our intended voy-
age to the ifle of Manilla: but, September 25, be-
ing again furprifed with a moft violent temped, which
forced us out to the fea, we were every moment in
danger of being fwallowed up by the waves till the
39th, when the fury of the winds being fomewhtt
allayed, we made the beft of our way back to the
ifle, of which we got fight the 30th, but could not
come to an anchor in the fame place where we were
before, till the 1ft of October. This laft ftorm lb
difheartened our men, that they all refolved to ley
afide their defign of cruifing before Manilla ; but,
by the perfuafion of captain Read, and captain Teat
the matter, they refolved to go to cape Comorin,
and thence into the Red Sea. As the eaftern Mon-
foon was at hand, our neareft and beft way had been
to pafs through the ftreight of Malacca -, but captain
Teat perfuaded them to go round on the eaft fide of
the Philippine ifles, and fo, keeping fouth of the
Spice ifles, to pafs into the Indian ocean, about the
ifle of Timor.
We failed October 3, from the ifles to the fouth,
intending to pafs through the Spice iflands : we Ailed
on the catt fide of Luconia, and thcother Philip-
pine iflands, coafting to the fouth.
We arrived, November 9, at the ifland Celebes,
where we anchored at the north-eaft end. The ifle
extends itfelf from north to fouth, in 70 latitude, arid
in breadth 30. It lies under the line, the north end
at 1 ° 30' north latitude, and the fouth end at 50 8af"
fouth latitude. At the fouth end of the ifle is %
gulph, eight leagues wide, and fifty long, running ■
directly north into the country, having divers fmafl
iflands in the middle of it. Near the fouth end, at
the welt fide of the ifle, is feated Macafiar, a rich
and ftrong town belonging to the Dutch. By reafon
of the itrong current fetewg to the Weft, we had
2 much
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. 115
much ado to get to the eaft fide of the ifle -, and the
23d, being at 1° 20' fouth, we law a large opening
like a creek •, and, fix leagues to the fouth of it,
a range of large and fmall ifles, and many fboals,
betwixt which and the ifle of Celebes we palled, not
without trouble, and came to an anchor half a m:le
from the great ifland, in eight fathnm fartdy ground,
in i° 50' fouth latitude. We (laid there till the
29th, and the 30th fteered away fouth betwixt two
Ihoals, at 3" fouth. .latitude, ten leagues from the
ille of Celebes, Toward the evening, we law two
or three fpouts : a fpom is a piece of a cloud, hang-
ing down, feemingly Hoping, and fometimes bend-
ing like a bow, but never perpendicular ; after which
the fea begins to foam, and you fee the water move
gently round, till, increasing in a whirling motion,
it flies upward, a hundred puces in circumference ac
the bottom, but leffening gradually to the fmallnefs
of a fpour, through which the fea-water appears to
be conveyed into the clouds, as is manifeit by the ln-
creafc of the bulk and blacknefs thereof: then you
fee immediately the cloud (which was immoveable
before) drive along, and the fpout keeping the fame
courfe for half an hour, till the fucking is over, and
then breaking off, all the water that was below the
fpout, or pendulous cloud, falls again into the fea,
with a terrible noife and claihing; however, theJe
fpouts are more terrible than dangerous.
December 1, fteering fouth, with a fouth fouth-
ea It wind, at 30 34.' fouth latitude, we got fight of
the iile of Bouton, about ten leagues fouth -weft of
us: the 5th, we got dole to the north- weft end of
Bouton Ille, but the harbour is at the eaft fide of it,
in 4" 54' fouth latitude. This ifland ftretches twenty-
five leagues in length fouth- weft, and north-weft four
leagues from the fouth-eali end of the ifle of Celebes ;
its breadth is ten leagues: within 3 league of the
harbour, and half a mile from the lea, is a long town
I z tailed
n6 THE VOYAGE OF
called Callafufung, fcated on th- top of a fmall hill*
in a pleafant plain, inclofed with a walk of cocoa-
trees, and about tlieie with a ftrong ftone wall. The
inhabitants are not unlike the Mindanayans, but
neater, are Mohammedans, and fpeak [he Malayan
language. The 6th, they brought us eggs, fowls,
potatoes, &c. aboard; and the fultan came after-
wards in perfon in a boat, guarded by ten or twelve
mtifqueteers. We ftaid here till the 1 2th •, and then,
fleering to the fouth-eaft, we patted near four or five
fmall illes, 5° 40' fouth latitude, fix leagues from
Cailafufung harbour. The 28th, wefaw the north-
well point of Timor, diftant eight leagues fouth-eaft
by ealt. The ifle of Timor is high and mountainous,
ftretching in length feventy leagues north-eaft and
ibuth-vv.it, its breadth fixtcen leagues, the middle
of it in 90 fouth latitude. The 29th, we flood off
fouth toward New Holland, part of the Terra Au-
ftralis incognita.
The 3 1 ft, we ftood to the fouth wind at weft, in
120 ?o' latitude-, at night we ftood in the north for
fear of a Ihoal. laid down in the chares, at 23* 50*,
bearing fouth by weft from the call end of Timor :
in the morning we faw the (hoal, being a fpot of
land appearing above the furface of the water, with
divers rocks about it, ten feet above the water. It
is of a triangular form, each fide one league and a
half long. This (hoal is reprefentcd in our charts
fixteen or twenty leagues from New Holland ; but
we ran at leaft fixty leagues afterward due fouth
before we fell in with it.
January 4, 1688, we fell in with the land of New
Holland, at i6°5o' latitude; and, running along to
the earl twelve leagues, came to a point of land,
three leagues to the eall of which is a deep bay. We
anchored a league to the eaft of this point, January
5, two miles from the fhore, in 29 fathom, hard fand
and clean ground.
New
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. ny
New Holland is a vail track ofland, that neither
joins to Aha, Atrica, or America *. It was even
low and fandy ground, the points only excepted,
which are rocky, and i'onie ifles in this bay. • This
part had no freili water, e>.ccpt what was dug, but
div\rs forts of tree-, and, among the reit, the dragon-
tree, which produces the gum-dngon, or dragon-
blood: we law neither fruit-trees, not lb much as the
track of any living animal, except one, which feemed
to be the footltep of a beail, of the bignefs of a large
malttff-dog. The inhabitants are the molt milerable
wretches in the nmvcrfe, having no houfes or cover-
ing but the heavens ■, no garments, except apiece
of the bark of a tree, tied lik- a girdle round the
waift j no fheep, poultry, or fruit-, but feed upon
a few fifh, cockles mulfrls, and periwinkles ; with-
out religion or government, but cohabit promifcu-
oufly : for the reft, their bodies are llrait, thin, and
ftrung limbed, wi^h great hands and eye-brows, and
round foreheads . Their eye-lids are constantly half-
clofed, to keep the flies out, v. hich are exceflive
troublefome here : they have large bottle noles, thick
lips, and wide mouths. Both men and women, old
and young want the two fore teeth of the upper-
jaw -, but whether they draw them, I am not able to
tell. They have no heards, but blavk ihorr curled
hair, like the African negroes, and are as black as
thofe. Their wejpons arc a fort of wooden cutlaflcs;
inliead of a lance, they have a Orait pole, lharpened
and hardened at the end. Of their language I can
fay nothing, but that they fpeak pretty much in the
throat. We landed ieveral times, and at laft brought
them to fomething of a familiarity with us, by giv-
ing them fome old cluaths j but could never prevail
with them to give us the leaft afiiltance in carrying
n8 THE VOYAGE OF
water, or otherwife, they being very averfe to work*
March 12, we failed hence, taking our courfe
north. April 7, we got fight of the iile of Sumatra,
bearing north, being then at 7" fouth latitude} and,
the 8th, faw the wen end of that ifle, being at 6*
fouth latitude. May 1, we ran down by the north-
well end of Sumatra, directing our couric to the Ni-
cobar iflands ; we got fight ofthem the 4th, a cluftcr
of iflands lying fouth of the Audeman ifles-, but the
moil foutherly of them is properly called the Nico-
bar, lying four leagues north ^north-weft from the
north welt end of Sumatra. The inhabitants trade
promifcuouQy with all the European nations ; their
chief commodities being ambergrile, and fruits.
May 5. we anchored in a fmall bay, at the north-
weft end of the iOe of Nicobar, properly fo called, in
eight fathom- water -, its length is twelve leagues, the
breadth three or four, in 70 30' north latitude. It
produces plenty of cocoas and mailories, a fruit of
tlit bigutfs of the bread fruit at Guam (before-men-
tioned) which the natives boil in water in covered
jars. The inhabitants here are ftrait-limbed, long-
vifaged, with black eyes, and well-proportioned
nolcs -, their hair is lank and black, their complexion
of a copper-colour; the women have no eye-brows;
I fuppofe they pulled them out, becaufe the men did
not like them : the roe:i wear only a kind of fafli
round their middle. And the women nothing but a
pcttico.it from the waift to the knees : their language
had fome words of Malayan and Portuguefe in it 1
their habitations were built upon polls near the fea-
fide. but I could find no fettled government among
them. Mr Hall, Mr. Ambrofe, and I, being defir-
ous to leave the unruly crew we failed with, were fet
afliore on this ifle, with an intent to go hence to
Achin.
Accordingly we left this ifle May 5, with four
Malayans and a Portuguefe, in a Nicobar canoe, not
much
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. ug
much bigger than our below- bridge London wher-
ries i we rowed to the fouth four at a time, by turns.
The 7th, we looked out for Sumatra, fuppofing we
were within twenty leagues of it ; but, imtead there-
of", faw Nicobar at eight leagues diftance ; at noon
we found 6° 55' latitude. The 18th, the wind in-
creafmg upon us, we were forced to run before the
wind and feai the tempeii was fo violent, that we
expected every moment to have bten fwallowed by
the fea- waves. The 19th, to our great joy, one of
our Malayan friends cried out Pulo Way, i. e. the
Ifle of Way, fituated near the north-weft end of Su-
matra, which, about noon, we difcovered to be the
very ifle of Sumatra. The high land they had mif-
taken tor the ifle of Way, proved the Golden Moun-
tain of Sumatra. The 20th, we fleered with a weft
(wind for the fhore ; and, in the afternoon, anchored
near the mouth of the river Faflange Ionca (in the
ifle of Sumatra) thirty-fix leagues to the eaft of Achin,
and fix leagues to the Weft of Diamond Point. As
we were half-dead with the fatigues of this voyage,
we were carried to a fmall fifher-town near the river,
where we were kindly treated by the inhabitants, and
ftaid till June, when we leit this place ; and, in three
days fail, arrived at Achin. In July following, I
went with captain Welden to Tonquin, and returned
to Achin in April 1689, where I iiaid till Septem-
ber i when, making a more voyage to Manacca, I
came thither againlt Chriltmas 1690. Soon after.
I went to Fort St. George; whence, after a ftay of
five months, I came back to Bencoolen, an Englifh
factory on the weft coaft of Sumatra. An Indian
prince, whofe name was leoly, was purchafed by
one Mr. Moody at Mindanao, together with his mo-
kther : Mr. Moody and I went together to Bencoo-
len ; where, at parting, he gave me half the Ihare in
this painted prince, and his mother, and left them
in my cuftody. They were born in the ifle of Mean-
gis, abounding in gold, cloves, and nutmegs, as
" himfelf
i4o THE VOYAGE OF
htmfelf told me : He was curioufly painted dowp to
the breaft, and betwixt his moulders behind, but
mod of all on the thighs before, after the nature of
flower- work. By what I could undeiftand, this .paint-
ing was done by pricking the (kin, and rubbing in it
a certain gum of a Lite, called Damurer, uied in-
ftead of pitch in fome part of the Indies. As 'to his
captivity, he faid, thai, as one day, he, his father
and mother, were going in a canoe to one of the
two adjacent illes, they were taken by fqme Minda-
navan Rihermen, who fold them all r.o the interpreter
of Raja Laut, with whom he and his mother lived
as (laves five years, and then were fold for fixty dol-
lars to Mr. Mcody. Some time afterward, Mr.
Moody prefentctl me alfo with his fhare in them,
bur the mother died not long after, and I had much
ado to lave the fon's life.
During my (lay at Bcncoolen, I ferved in the qua-
lity of a gunner of the fort •, but, my time bejngex-
pjred, I g-t aboard captain H«-aih, in the Defence,
with my painted prince, in order to my return for
England. January 25, we failed in company of
three Ih.ps more ; but h;;d not been long at fea, be-
fore a fatal diftemper ra^cd aboard us, which we at-
tnbut d to the badnefs t f the water taken in at Beo-
coolen during the la.id -floods, which is often impreg-
nated w.th the tinctures of poifonous roots or herbs :
the belt remedy we had, was to mix fome tamarinds
wuh the rice we eat, which I believe preferved the
lives of rmny of our m.n, having fcarcefo many mep
left as we*e able, but with great difficulty, to bring
us to the Cape of '" aod Hope, where we came to
an anchor the beginning of April, by the affiftance
of a Dutch captain and his nen.
After a flay ot lix weeks here, we failed, May 3,
towards St. Helena, an ifle feated in 160 fouth la-
titude, where we arrived June 20. It is about nine
leagues long; and, though 400 leagues from the con-
tinent, enjoys a ferene air, (except in the rainy fea-
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAMPIER. in
Ion) and a temperate and healthy climate ; which,
together with the- refrelhing herb? this ifland pro-
dut . ^he reafun-that our Eaft India lhips touch
here to recover their lcamen from the (curvy, which
i little time. This iile after its firft dif-
f by the ; 'oftuguete, was poflefled by the Dutch;
~C relinquishing it for the Cape of Good Hope,
:he Englifh let tied here till 1672, when they were
beaten out of it by the Dutch, who were forced, foon
after, to lurrendcr it again to the Englifh, under cap-
tain Monday. We have now a fort there, with a
garrilon, and a good number of great guns, to de-
fend the common landing-place, being a fmall bay,
not above 500 paces wide : within this bay llands
a fmall Englilh town -, the inhabitants having their
plantations deeper into the country, which turnilh
them with potatoes, plantains, bananas, hogs, bul-
locks, cocks, and hens, ducks, geel'e, and turkeys,
in vail plenty. July 2, 1 69 1 , we left this ilk, fleer-
ing our courfe for England. We took the mid-way,
betwqjt Africa and the American continent, ftill to
the north of the line ; and came to an anchor in the
Downs, September 16, following. After my arrival
in the Thames, bei g in want of money, I fold, at
firft, part of the property I had in the before-men-
tioned prince Ieoly, and by degrees all the reft. I
underftood afterward, that he was carried about for
a fight, and (hewn for money -t and that at laft he
died of the fmall-pox at Oxford.
[ 132 ]
VOYAGEofCapt. WOODESROGERS
in the Duke, and Capt. STEPHEN
COURTNEY in the Duchess, round the
WORLD.
IT has been univerfally allowed by thofe who are pro-
per judges of iuch expeditions, that there never
was any voyage of this nature fo happily adjufted, fa
well provided for in all refpefts, or in which the ac-
cidents, that ufually happen in privateers, were fo ef-
fectually guarded againft as in this : which was chiefly
owing to the perfonal abilities of the gentlemen at
Briftol, who charged themfelves, not only with the
expences of this expedition, but with the care of ail
things relating to it. Their firft concern was the choice
of proper officers, in which they were very fortunate:
captain Woodcs Rogers, who commanded in chief,
was a bold, active, indefatigable officer, one that
would not give up his opinion too readily to others,
and who was not to be flattered by other peoples
giving up their opinions to him. He had been a
large fufferer by the French, and was naturally no
great friend to that nation ; but his molt Angular
quality, and that which indeed recommended him to
this command, was a peculiar art he had of main-
taining his authority over his feamen, and his readi-
nefs in finding out expedients in the molt difficult
conjunctures. Captain Stephen Courtney was a man
of*birth, fortune, and of very amiable qualities :
he contributed confidcrably to the expence of the
voyage,
THE VOYAGE, &c. 123
voyage, and took a (bare in it, that he might fee
how it was managed, and be able either to prevent
mifcarriages, or, at lead to mike a faithful report
of them. Captain Thomas Dover, who was third
in command, was a proprietor alio, and went for
the fame reafon. He was by profeflion a phyfician,
and, toward the decline of his life, made a noife in
the world, by recommending the ule of crude mer-
cury. He was a man of a rough temper, and could
not e3ftly agree with people about him : but his un-
toward difpofition had one good effect, which was
this j that it hindered his making any party to fup-
port him in his ill humours. As for captain Edward
Cooke, who was fecond to captain Courtney, he had
been twice taken by the French, once by four Dun-
kirk privateers, and again by two men of war of fifty
guns. The pilot, in the larger fhip, was captain
William Dampier, who was now to proceed for the
fourth time into the fouth leas, where his name was
very well known, and, from his exploits, terrible ro
the Spaniards i and they were alfo extremely careful
in the choice of their inferior oifkers, and, as far as
it was pollible, even of their private men.
The proprietors, in the next plsce, undertook to
lay down rules for the conduel of the voyage ; which
weredigefted and Signed by a committee of the pro-
prietors, and ilyled, very properly, TheConftitu-
tion.
We have two accounts of this voyage, one by
captain Rogers, the other by captain Cooke, and
both in the manner of a Journal That of captain
Rogers will be principally regarded-, but, where it
is neceflary, explanatory circuir.flances and defcrip-
tions will be borrowed from captain Cooke. To
proceed therefore : all things neceflary being pro-
vided, fays Mr. Rogers, we were firlt 10 fail for Cork,
in order to m^ke up our complement of men 1 our
force Handing thus: the Duke, burden about 300
tons, 30 guns, and 170 men, captain Woodes Ko-
M&tMU
124 THE VOYAGE OF
gers commander, captain Thomas Dover fecond cap-
tain, with three lieutenants, &c. and the Duchefs,
captain Stephen Courtney commander, captain Ed-
ward Co jkc lecond captain, with three lieutenants,
burden 370 tons, 16 guns, and 151 men : both ihips
had legal commiffions from his royal highnefs prince
George of Denmark, Lord high admiral of England,
to cruife on the coafts of Peru and Mexico, in the
South Seas, againft ht-r majefty's enemies, the French
and Spaniards-, and to act join-ly, as belonging to
the lame owners, merchants in Brii.ol. On the 15th
ot June, 1708, we towed down from Hong-road to
King-road, in order to fit our fhip, and the better
to keep our feamen on board; where we continued
till Monday Auguft the ill -, and then, at eleven in
the forenoon, unmoored ; and at two weighed, with
our contort the Luchefs, eight fail of other Ihips,
and two Hoops.
On the 5th of Auguft, we had fight of the IrHh
fhorc; and, about eight in the evening, we weighed
with the flood, a final! gale at eaft : we had a Kin-
iale pilot on board, who endangered our fhip, it be-
ing dark and foggy. Be'ore day, he would have
turned us into the next bay to the well ward of Cork,
had not I prevented it •, which provoked me to chat
life him for undertaking to pilot a (hip, fince he un-
derstood his buflnefs no better. We fpent the time
till the 27th of Auguft, in adjufting all things, and
taking on board our frefh men provided for us at
Cork, and in difcharging feveral we had brought
from Briitul, and whom, by experience, we knew not
to be fir for our purpoie. We had now above double
the number of officers ufual in privateers, and a large
complement of mm to each fhip. We took this
method of doubling our officers, to prevent muti-
nies, which often happen in long voyages; and that
we might have a large provifion for a fucceffion of
officers in each fhip, in cafe of mortality. Our fhip
w«s now fo full, that wc fent our fheet-cable, and
other
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 125
other new ftore-cordage. to Mr. Nobler Rogers, at
Cork, to make room for our men and provifions,
having three cables bt-fi.le, and br-irg willing rather
to ipare that, than any thing elle v-e had on board.
Our crew were continually marrying while we flaid
at Cork, though they expected to Jail immediately.
Among others, the re Was a Dane coupled by a Ro-
miih prietl: to an Irifh woman, without undemand-
ing a word of each other's language, f<j that they
were forced to ufe an interpreter-, yet 1 perceived,
that this pair fcemed more afflicted at reparation than
any of the reft : the fellow continued melancholy for
fcveral days after we were at fea. The reft, undi p-
ftanding each other, drank their cans of flip till
the tail minute, concluded with a health to ouryond
voyages, and their happy meeting, and then parted
unconcerned. Moll or us, the chief ofhetis, em-
braced this defign of privateering round the world,
to retrieve the lofies we had fuftained by the enemy.
Our complement of l'ailors in both (hips was 333, of
which above one third were foreigners from mod
nations i feveral of her majeiry's fubjects on board
were tinkers, taylors, hay-makers, pedlars, lidlers,
ore. one negro, and about ten boys. With this
mixed crew we hoped to be well manned, as fuon as
they had learned ihe ufeof arms, and got their fea-
legs, which we doubted not ibon to teach them, and
bring them to djfcipline.
On the firft of September we took filling or-
ders, the better to keep con pany with the Mailings
and fleetj after having agreed with our confort
captain Courtney, on lignals between us, and ap-
pointed places of rendezvous, in cafe of reparation,
and how long to lie for ta^h other at every place.
About ten in the morning we came to fail with the
HalUngs, and about twenty meichant mips bound
to the fouthward and weitward. On the 4th ir bl.w
frefh in the morning: captain Paul male a fignal
for me, captain Courtney, and captain Edwards,.cum-
VtVMWl«
n6 THE VOYAGE OF
naander of the Scipio ; and, after {peaking with him,
he feot his boat for us, being larger than ours : we,
with Mr. Dover and Mr. Vanbrugb, went in her,
and found captain Paul aboard his flaip. He pro-
poled to me and confort, when he left the fleet,
which would be very Toon, to cruife a few days to-
gether off" cape Finifter. After having afketj us what
we wanted, that he could fupply us with, lie gave
us fcrubbers, iron fcrapers for the Qiip-bottom, a
fpeaking- trumpet, and other things that we had not:
but would accept nothing from us, becaufe our voy-
age would be long ; but told us, he fhould be well
pleated, if our owners returned him the fame necef-
uries for his Hup when he came back. About fix in
the evening we returned to our own (hip, and hav-
ing called all our crew upon deck, we acquainted
them whither we were bound, and what our deugoa
were, that, in cafe any difputes had arifcn, we might
have feat the mutineers home in her majefty's Sup
of war ; but there was nobody at all difiatisfied, ex-
cept one poor fellow, who was to have been tytbing-
man that year, and was apprehenfive his wife would
be obliged to pay forty {hillings for his default ; but,
when he faw every body elfe cafy, with ftrong hopes
of plunder, he likewifc grew quief by degrees, and
drank as heartily as any body, to the good fuceds of
the voyage.
On the 10th, about fix in the morning, we faw a
fail, to which we immediately gave chace: about
three in the afternoon we came up with her, and
then file bore downright upon us, thewing Swfcdiih
colours: I fired twice at her, before the brought to;
then went aboard her with my yaul, captain Court*
ney's boat being juit before me. We examined the
mailer, and found he came round Scotland and Ire-
land; we fufpecred he had contraband goods on
board, but we found it difficult to prove fhe was a
prize i and not being willing to hinder time by carry"
tug
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. ,27
ing her into any harbour, ro examine her farther j we
Jet her go withouc the leafl embezzlement.
While 1 was on board the Swede, our men mu-
tinied j the ring-leaders being our boatfwain, and
three other interior officers. This morning, the
chief officers having kept with me in the after-
part of the fhip, we confined the authors of this
iiiforiltT, in which there was not one foreigner
concerned : we put ten of the mutineers in irons.
This mutiny would not have been eafily laid, were
it not for the number of our officers, which we began
to find very neceffary to bring our crew to order and
difcipline; which is always very difficult in priva-
teers, and without which it is impoffible to carry on
any dillant undertaking like ours. The next day I
difcharged the prifoners out of irons, on their hum-
ble fubmiflion, and moll folcmn promifes of dutiful
behaviour for the future : fuch among them as were
petty officers, we rellored to their commands, and
all on board were forbid to difobey or reproach them,
on account of any paft errors in their conduct; fo
that now we were all quiet again, and the crew in
exceeding good humour, things having ended much
beyond their expectations, there not being a man in
irons who would not willingly have compounded for
a whipping; and were therefore excellive brifk and
diligent to (hew their gratitude for having efcaped it.
On the 1 8th, at five in the morning, we law a
fail right a-hcad, between Fuerteventura and Grand
Canary : we chafed, and at ten came up with and
took her. She was a fmall Spanifh (hip, bound from
TenerirT to Fuerteventura, with leveral men and
women paflengers, and laden with fundry forts of
goods. The next day, at eight in the morning, bore
•way for Oratavia road, where we flood ofF-and»on,
and lent away the prize's boat, with one of the
owners agents, a pritft, and the mailer of the prize,
to treat about ranlbming the vefiel; and to get wine,
proviiions, and other neceffanes, for both (hips.
About
ii8 THE VOYAGE OF
About eight in the morning, of the 2cth, a boat
came from the town, with a letter from the Englifh
merchants reGding there, wherein they cxpoftulated
! with us for making a prize of the bark, alleging,
that there was a free trade agreed to in thole iflands,
between her majefty of Great Britain, and the kings
of France and Spain, fo religioufly obferved by the
latter, that they had caufed an Englifh (hip, taken
there by a French privateer, to be reftored: and
farther, reprefenting the danger that might arife to
themfelves, living upon permiflion in the enemy*!
country, if the faid bark /were not immediately
given up, for which reprifals would be made on
them ; as alfo, that we mould be anfwerable at home
for interrupting the fettled commerce. Captain
Rogers, and captain Courtney, immediately return-
ed ananfwer; importing, that, having no instruc-
tions relating to the Spanilh veflels trading among
thofe ifiands, they could not juftity parting with the
bark on their bare opinions, without fome order
or proclamation of her majefty -, the Englilh being
Erotefted there only on anchoring-ground, and the
ark being taken at fea : that, in cale Mr. Vanbrugh
were not reftored, they would carry away all the
prifoners they had; and, if they apprehended any
detriment to the facrxyy, they might ranfom the
bark, and feek their redrefs in England. They de-
fired difpatch, there being no time to lofe; and,
upon fending back Mr. Vanbrugh, they would rc-
leafe their prifoners.
At night another letter came in anfwer to this,
from Mr. William Poulden, the conful ; the effect
whereof was, That the Englilh men of war were
civilly received there, and never committed hoftili-
ties-, and that it was ftrange we (hould infift on
ranfoniing any Spaniards, who were never made p«-
foners in England, or elfewhere: and the governor
there delivered up to him any Englilh prilbnert
that were brought in by privateers} wherefore he
defired
8
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 129
defired thofc in our cuftody might be difmiflcrd,
and the bark difcharged, excepting a prefent of wine
in return. With this, from the aforefaid conful at the
city of Laguna, came another from, the above-men-
ioned merchants atOratavia port, much to the fame
Iwrport with the others, only offering to pay the va-
ue of 450 pieces of eight, the fum demanded for the
bark, in wine, brandy, fugar, oil, barley, and greens,
to prevent incenfing the natives againft them, not
queftiohing but reparation would be made them in
England. The captains Rogers and Courtney re-
plied at the fame time, threatening to cruife among
the iflands, to make amends for their loft time, and
to cannonade the town of Oraravia, unlefs they re-
ceived fatisfaftion. On the 2id, at four in the
morning, we flood in for the fhore, making a clear
Ihip; but, foon after, we faw a boat coming, with
our owners agenr, and Mr Crofs, one of the Englifh
merchants, bringing five buts of wine, and other re-
frefhments. We lay by off the town, took the goods
out of the prize, fold the burk to Mr. Crofs for 450
dollars, and put the prifoners aboard her. Thurf
ended this troublefbme affair, and we were once more
at liberty to mind our own concerns, and to think of
profecuiing our voyage, which wc did, after firrt
holding a committee, where the whole of the late
tranfaction was candidly examined, and nnanimoufly
approved; which method, for every body's fecurity,
we fteadily purfued through the whole voyage; and
felt the happy effecl: of it on our return, when every
tranfaction appears in its proper Irght to our owners.
On the tatl of September we ran by Santa Lucia,
one of the cape de Verd iflands ; and, by eight in
the morning, being very ne. r the weft end oi the
iQand of St. Vincent, we b'ire away between it and
the ifland of St. Antoiiy, and then into the harbour
of St- Vine, rit; and, about eleven a clock, came to
an anchor in ten fathom water, within the rock:
then Icang fevcral men afhore, and knowing the
Vol. III. K illand
13a THE VOYAGE OF
ifland not to be inhabited, captain Cooke went in
the pinnace armed, to fee what they were, and found
them to be Porcuguefe, come from the ifland of St.
Antony to catch Tea tortoife, or, as the ieamen,cail
them, turtles ; who told him, we might wood and
water here. This ifland lies in latitude or" i6° 55'
north, and 25° 36' longitude from the meridian of
London. There are on it great plenty of Guinea
hens, fomc hogs and goats -, and, .in the road, we
caught plenty of fifh. In the woods there are abun-
dance of large fpiders, as big as fmall walnuts ; and
their webs very troublefome to get through, being
as ftrong as ordinary threads, and very many of
them. While we lay here, new disturbances arofc
amongft the men in relation to plunder -, for here we
had an opportunity of purchafing things, and there-
fore every man wilhed, that he had ibme thing to-
purchafe with. The effects taken in the Kite prize
occafioncd thefe heart-burnings ; to put an end to all
which, and to fix the people in a firm refolution of
doing their duty, we determined to fettle this afiair
at once, by framing fuch articles, as, without giving
our owners any ground of complaint, might infpire
the feamen with courage and constancy, and make;
them as willing to obey, as their officers were ready
to command. It coft fome trouble to adjuft and
fettle thefe articles; but that was thoroughly com-
penfated, by our finding, that they effectually
anfwered our purpofe ; and that, among fuch a
number of people, there was not one who refuted to
comply.
We were at this time under fome difficulties upon
another account; we had fent our linguift on fliote to
get refrefhments, and after flaying two days, in
which time we heeled and cleaned our ihips, and got
wood and water on board, our boat returned with
nothing but limes and tobacco, and no news of our
linguift: but, foon after, there came another boat,
belonging to that part of the ifland where the go-
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 13*
vernor lives, with iiis deputy governor, a negro,
who brought limes, tobacco, oringes, fowls, po-
tatoes, hogs, bananas, muflc, water-melons, and
brandy, which we bought of him, and paid in fuch
prize-goods as we had left of the bark's cargo, cheap
enough. They are poor people, and will truck at
any price for what they want, in fuch payments as
they can make. We were now ready to fail, and,
therefore, called a council, to confider what was to
be done with refpect to our linguiir, who had pro-
mifed the deputy governor to wait for him at the
water-fide, but was not lb good as his word ; and,
therefore, as this appeared to be intirely his own
fault, the officers of both Ihips came unanimoufly to
a refolution, that we had better leave him behind,
than fuffer two (hips to wait for one man who had ,
difobeyed his'ordcrs. We were the more inclined
to do this, in order to fet a proper example, that
other people might learn, when fent alhore, to com-
ply with their inllructions, and come on board di-
rectly when they had done their bufinefsj without
flattering themlelves, that fine words, and fair
excufes, would atone for breach of orders, and the
delay of the voyage, to gratify the humours and
fancies of private men. It was, indeed, but a very
indifferent place to leave him in; but, on the other
hand, as he knew the language, was well acquainted
with the people among whom he was left, and
might eafily find a paffage home, we perfifted in our
refolution, and gave the neceffary directions for fail-
ing as foon as poflible, that we might not lofe the
advantage of the feafon, or be obliged to double
Cape Horn at a wrong time of the year.
On the 8th of October, at feven in the evening,
after putting the deputy governor on alhore, where
he mult lie in an hole of the rocks, there being no
houfc on that part of the ifland, we failed; our
confort having got before us, and lying with a light
for us. There were feveral negroes on the ifland,
K 2 thr
»3i THE VOYAGE OF
that came from St. Nicholas, and St. Antonio, to
make oil of turtle, there being very good green
turtle at this time of the year, which I fometimes al-
lowed our men to eac ; they have likewifc wild goats,
but in no great plenty, wild afies, Guiney hens*
kcrlews, and abundance of fca fowl. Captain Dam-
pier, and others aboard our mips, that had formerly
put in at St. Iago, another of thefe Cape de Vera
lflands, told us, that though this ifland is not often
frequented by (hips, yet it is preferable to St. Iago,
for fuch as are outward-bound j becaufe it is a much
better road for lhips, and more convenient for water
and wood, and has better landing. The ifland- is
mountainous and barren ; the plaineft part lies againft
this fandy.. bay, where wc rode. The wood that
grows in it is ihort, and fit for no ufe but firing.
The heats were exceflive to us, who came newly
from Europe -, fo that feveral of our men began to
be Tick, and were blooded. Some of our officers,
that went afhore to hunt, could meet no game, but
a wild afs, which, after a long chafe, they got
within Oiot, and wounded -, yet he afterwards held
out fo as to tire them, and they returned empty and
weary. Thefe iflands are fo well known, that I need
not lay much of them *. In our paftage toward the
coalt of Brafil, Tome new dilpur.es arofe amongft
the men ; and, after various confutations, it was
refolved, that one Page, who was a fecond mate on
the Duchefs, fhould be fent to fcrve on board the
Duke, from whence Mr. Ballet was to remove on *
board the Duchefs. Captain Cooke was fent to
execute this order j but Page refufed to obey it;
upon which a difpute followed, that ended in blows:
however, Page was at laft brought on board our {hip,
where, being charged with mutiny, he defired to go
to the head to eafe himfelf, before he made his de- .
fence j which being permitted, he jumped orcr-
* See Robert's voyage to thefe iflands, in ml. ii.
board,
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. r33
board, in hopes of getting back to the Duchefs,
while both the captains were abfent; but he W3S
taken up, brought on board again, and punifhed,
which put an end to this diHention.
On the iNih of November, we anchored before the
ifland of Grande in eleven fathom witer. While wc
lay here, there were new quarrels, and things had
certainly come to a great height on board the Duchefs,
if captain Courtney had not put eight of the ring-
leaders immediately into- irons-, which frighted the
reft, and, in all probability, prevented an attempt- to
run away with the fhip : yet it did not quite free us
from ill humours ; for, on the 25th, in the after-
noon, twolrifh land-men Hole into the woods, think-
ing to gee away from us, though two filch fparks ran
away the 23d from the Duchefs, and in' the night
were fo frighted with tygers, as they thought, but
really by monkeys and baboons, that they plunged
into the water, hallooing to the fhip, till they were
fetched aboard again. About four next morning,
the watch on the quarter-deck fpied a canoe, and
called her to come on board ; but they not anfwer-
ing, and driving to get away, made our people
fuipeft they had either got our men that ran away,
or were coming by agreement, to fetch them off the
ifland which was uninhabited. We immediately fent
the pinnace and yawl after them; the pinnace, com-
ing up near the canoe, fired, to flay them, but to no
purpofe; at laft, they wounded one of the Indians
that rowed in the canoe. He that owned and fleered
her was a f iar, and had a quantity of gold, which
he got at the minis, I fuppofe by his trade of con-
fefling the ignorant. The friar had jgft run the ca-
noe aihore on a little ifland, full of wood, as our
boats landed; and afterward told us he had gold
there. A Portugj.iefe, that would not run away with,
the father, becaulc he had no gold to hide, knew our
people to be Englifh, and called the father back.
The man that was wounded could not move, and
K-3
134- THE VOYAGE OF
was brought by our men, with the father and feveral
flaves, that rowed the large canoe, on board our fhip,
where our furgeon drefted the wounded Indian, who.
died in two hours time. I made the father as wel-
come as I could; but he was very uneafy at the lots
of his gold, and the death of his (lave-, and laid, he
would feck for juftice in Portugal or England. The
next day, both our men were taken and put in irons ;
and the laft day of this month we left this place, of
which I fhall give the reader a (hort d?fcription.
The ifland Grande is remarkably high land, with ■
a fmall cliff and a tip Handing up on one fide, in
the middle of the higheft land, eafy to be feen, if
clear. And there is a fmall ifland to the fouthward
without it, which riles in three little hummocks : the
neareft hummock to the ifland is the lead; as we
came in-and-out we law it, and it appears alike on
bath fides. There is alio a Angularly round white
rock, that lies on the larboard fide neareft to Grande,
between it and the main at the entrance going in.
On the ftarboard fide there are ftveral iftands, and the
main is much like iilands, till you get well in. The
belt way, when you open the coves that are inhabited
on the ftarboard fide going in, is to get a pilot to -
carry you to the watering cove within Grande; other-
wife fend in a boat to the frefh- water cove, which
lies round the inner weftermoft point of the ifland,
and near a league in the pafiage is between fmall
iflands, but room enough, and bold : it is the fecond
cove under the firfl high mount, and round behind
the firft point you fee when you are in between the
two iilands. This is the cove where we watered;
there are two other coves very good, with fome (hoal-
banks between them, but no fhoal-ground before we
come to this cove. We founded all the pafiage in,
and feldom found lefs than ten fathom water, but
had not time to know or found the reft of the coves.
The town bears north -eaft about three leagues dif-
tantfrom this cove."
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS.
The iffand of Grande is near about nine leagues
long, high land, and fo is the main within : all you
lee near the water- fide is thick, covered with wood.
The ifland abounds with monkeys, and other wild
beafts; has plenty of good timber, fire-wood, and
excellent water, with oranges and lemons, with gua-
vas growing wild in the woods. The neceffaries we
got from the town were rum, fugar, and tobacco,
which they fell very dear, though not good to fmoke,
it is fo very ltrong. We had alfo fowls and hogs, but
the latter are icarce; beef and mutton are cheap,
but no great quantity to be had. Indian corn, ba-
nanas, and plantains, guavas, lemons, oranges, and
pine-apples, they abound with, but have no bread,
except caffjda, (the fame fort as is eaten in our Weft
Indies) which they call faranada pan, bread of wood j
they have no kind of falading. We had fine plea-
fant weather moll of the time we were here, but hot
like an oven, the fun being right over us. The
winds we did not much oblerve, becaufe they were
link and variable, but commonly between the north
and the eaft. I had Newhoff's account of Bra-
iil on board; and, by all the inquiry and obfer-
vation I could make, found his defcription of the
country, its product, and animals, to be juft *.
We continued our voyage, coafting very far to
the louth, where we endured great cold, which
affected our men extremely, infomuch that a third
part of both mips companies fell Tick; and this in-
duced us to bear away for the ifland of Juan Fer-
nandez i which we, however, did not find very eafsly,
on account of irs being laid down differently in all
the charts ; and captain Dampier likewife was at a
lols, though he had been here fo often, and though
he had a mnp of the ifland in his head, that agreed
exactly with the country when we came to lee it:
which ought to induce fea-offners to prefer what is
* See NieuhofTi account of Brafil, in our full volume.
K 4 properly
>35
agues
11
^3* THE VOYAGE OF
properly their bufinefs to idle am u feme tits ; CinCCi
-with all this knowledge, we were forced to make
the main-land of Chili in order to find this ifland, and
did not ftrike it without difficulty at l.ifl:*f
On February i, 1 709, we came before that ifland,
having had a good obfervation the day before, and
found our latitude to be 34" ic' Touch. In the af-
ternoon, we hoi lied out our pinnace; and captain
* Dover, with the boat's crew, went in her to go amore,
though we could not be lefs than four leagues off.
As foon as the pinnace was gone, I went on board
the Duchefs, who admired our boat attempting going
afhore at that diftance from land. It was againlt my
inclination; but, to oblige captain Dover, , Ilet her
go: as foon as it was dark, we law a light afhore.
Our boat was then about a league from the ifland,
and bore away for the (hips as -foon as flic law the
lights: we put our lights aboard for the boat, though
fome were of opinion, the lights we faw were out
boat's lights : but, as night came on, it appeared too
large for that: we fired our quarter deck guri, and
fcveral mufquets, (hewing lights in our mizen and
fore-fiirouds, that our boat might find us whilft we
were in the lee of the ifland: about two in the
morning pur boat came on board, having been two
hours on board the Duchefs, that took them up a-
ftern of us ; we were glad they got well off, becaufe it
began to blow. We were all convinced the light was
on the Ihore, and defigned to make our fhips ready
to engage, believing them to be French (hips at
anchor, and we muft either fight them, or want wa-
ter. While we were under thefe apprehenuons, we
flood on the backfide of the ifiand, in order to fall in
with the foutherly wind, till we were' paffed the
ifland 3 and then we came back to it again, and ran
clofe aboard the land that begins to make the north-
cart fide. We Hill continued to reafon upon this mat-
• See this ifland particularly dclcribed in Anion's voyage.
ten
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 137
teri and it is in a manner incredible, what ftrange
notions many of our people entertained from the
fight of the fire upon the ifland. It ferved, however,
to (hew peoples tempers and fpirits ; and we were
able to give a tolerable guefs how our men would
behave, in cafe there really were any enemies upon
the ifltod. The flaws came heavy off the (hare, and
we were forced to reef our top-fails when we opened
the middle bay, where we expected to have found
our enemy; but faw all clear, and no mips, nor in the
other bay next the north-eaft end. Thcfe two bays
are all that mips ride in, which recruit on this illindi
but the middle bay is by much the be ft. Wc guelTed
there had been {hips there, but that they were gone
on fight of us.
We fent our yawl afhore about noon, with captain
Dover, Mr. Fry, and fix men, all armed: mean
while we and the Duchefs kept turning to get in, and
fucli heavy flaws came off the land, that we were
forced to let go our top fail meet, keeping all hands
to ftand by our fails, for fear of the winds carrying
them away: but when the flaws were gone, we had
little or no wind. Thefe flaws proceeded from the
land, which is very high in the middle of the ifland.
As our boat did not return, we fent our pinnace with
the men armed, to lee what was the occafion of the
yawl's itay, for we were afraid, that the Spaniards
had a garrifon there, and might have fcized them.
We put out a fignal for our boat, and the Duchefs
(hewed a French enfign. Immediately our pinnace
returned from the more, and brought abundance of
cray-nfh, with a man cloathed in goat-fldns, who
looked wilder than the firft owners of them. He had
been on the ifland four years and four months, being
left there by captain Straddling in the Cinque-ports;
his name was Alexander Selkirk, a Scotfman, who
had been matter of the Cinque-ports, a (hip that
came here laft with captain Dampier, who told me,
that this was the bcil man in her. 1 immediately
agreed
I3» THE VOYAGE OF
agreed with him to be a mate on board our (hip :
it was he who made the fire laft night when he faw our
(hips, which he judged to be Eoglifh. During his
Hay here, he faw feveral mips pais by, but only two
came in to anchor : as he went to view them, he
found them to be Spaniards, and retired from them ;
upon which they (hot at him : had they been French,
he would have fubmitted; but chofe to rifque hit
dying alone on the ifland, rather than fall into ,the
hands of the Spaniards - in thefe parts -, becaufe he
apprehended they would murder him, or make a
Gave of him in the mines ■, for he feared they would
(pare no ftranger that might be capable of difcover-
tng the South Seas. The Spaniards had landed, be-
fore he knew what they were ; and they came fo near
him, that he had much ado to efcape ; for they not
only (hot at him, but purfued him to the woods,
where he climbed to the top of a tree, at the foot of
which they made water, and killed feveral goats
juft by, but went off again without difcovering him.
He told us that he was born at Largo, in tho
county of Fife, in Scotland, and was bred a failor
from his youth. The reafon of his being left here,
was a difference between him and his captain i
which, together with the (hip's being leaky, made
him willing rather to flay here, than to go along with
htm at firft -, and, when he was at laft wilting to go,
the captain would not receive him. He had been at
the ifland before to wood and water, when two of the
Slip's company were left upon it for fix months, till
the (hip returned, being chafed thence by two French
South Sea (hips. He had with him his deaths .and
bedding, with a firelock, fome powder, bullets, and
tobacco, a hatchet, a knife, a kettle, a bible, fome
practical pieces, and his mathematical inftruments
and books. He diverted and provided for himfelf
as well as he could ; but, for the firft eight months,
had much ado to bear up againft melancholy, and
the terror of being left alone in fuch a defolate place.
He
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS, i39
He bujlt two hues with pimento-trees, covered them
with long grafs, and lined them with the (kir.s of
goats, which he killed with his gun as he wanted, fo
long as his powder lulled , which was but a pound;
and that being almoll fpent, he got fire by rubbing
two (ticks of pimento wood together upon his knee.
In the leflcr hut, at fome diftance from the other, he
drelTcd his victuals ; and in the larger he llept, and
employed himfelf in reading, finging pfalms, and
praying! fo that he Jii'id, he was a better chriftian,
while in this falkude, than ever he was before, or
than, he was afraid, he mould ever be again. At
firlt he never eat any thing till hunger conftrained
him, partly for grief, and pan ly for want of bread
and fait : nor did he go to bed, till he could watch
no longer; the pimento wood, which burnt very
clear, Served him both for fire and candle, and re-
frefhed him with its fragrant fmell. Me might have
had fiGi enough, but would not eat them fur want
of fait, became they occaftoned a loofenefs, except
cray-fiih, which arc as large as our lobfters, and
very good : thefe he fometimes boiled, and at other
times broiled, as he did his goats fielh, of which he
made very good broth, for they arc nor fo rank as
ours: he kept an account of 500 that he killed while
there, and caught as many more, which he marked
on the ear, and let go.
When his powder failed, he took them by ipeed
of feet-, for his way of living, continual exercife
of walking and running, cleared him of all grofs
humours; fo that he ran with wonderful fwiftnefs
through the woods, and up the rocks and hills, as we
perceived when we employed him to catch goats for
us. We had a bull dog, which we fent, with feveral
of our nimbleft runners, to help him in catching
goats ; but he diftanced and tired both the dog and
the men, caught the goats^ and brought them to us
on his back. He told us, that his agility in purfu-
ing,a goat had once like to have coll him his life;
he
,4b THE VOYAGE OF
he purfucd it with fo much eagerncfs, that he catch-
ed hold of it on the brink of a precipice, of which he
was not aware, the buOies hiding it from him ; fo
that he fell with the' goat down the precipice, a great
height, and was fo (tunned and bruifcd with the fall,
that he narrowly efcaped with his life ; and, when
he came to his fcnfes, found the goat dead under
him: he lay there about twenty-four hours, and waa
fcarce able to crawl to his hut, which was about a:
anile diftant, or to ftir abroad again in ten days. He
Came at laft to reliih his meat well enough without
felt or bread ; and, in the feafon, had plenty of good
furneps, which had been fowed there by captain
Dampier's men, and have now overfpread tome acres
■ of ground. He had enough of good cabbage from
th# cabbage- trees, and feafoned his meat with- the
fruit of the pimento-ttees, which is the fame as Ja-
fcufica pepper, and fmells delkioufly : he found alfo
a black pepper, called Malageta, which was very
good to expel wind, and againit griping in the guts.
He foon wore out all his Ihoes and cloaths by run-
ning in the woods; and, at laft, being forced to
ftiift without them, his feet became fo hard, that he
ran every where without difficulty; and it was fome
time before he could wear (hoes after we found him ;
for, not being ufed to any fo long, his feet fwelled,
when he came firft to wear them again.
After he had conquered his melancholy, he di-
verted himfelf fometimes with cutting his name on
the trees, and the time of his being left, and conti-
nuance there. He was at firft much pefteredvith
cats and rats, that had bred in great numbers, from
fome of each fpecies, which had got afhore from (hips
that pot in there to wood and water : the rats gnawed
his feet and cloaths whilft afleep, which obliged him
to cherifh the cats with his goats flefh, by which
many of them became fo tame, that they would lie
about him in hundreds, and foon delivered Mm from
the rats: he likewifc tamed fome kids; and,todiverc
himfelf,
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 141
himfelf, would now- and- then iing and dance with
them, and his cats : fo that, by the favour of Provi-
dence, and vigour of his youth, being now but
thirty years old, he came, at laft, to conquer all the
inconveniencies of his folitude, and to be very eafy.
When his cloaths were out, he made himfelf a coat
and a cap of goat-fkins, which he Hitched together,
with little thongs of the fame, that he cut with his
knife. He had no other needle, but a nail; and,
when his knife was worn to the back, he made
others, as well as he could, of fome iron hoops, that
were left afhore, which he beat thin, and ground
upon (tones. Having fome linen-cloth by him, he
fewed him fome fliirts with a nail, and ditched them
with the worfted of his old (lockings, which he pull-
ed out on purpofe. He had his laft dirt on when
we found him in the i fluid ".
At his firft coming on board us, he had lb much
forgot his language, for want of ufc, that we could
fcarce underftand htm ; for he feemed to fpeak his
words by halves. We offered him a dram •, but he
would not touch it, having drank nothing but water
fince his being there ; and it was fome time before he
could relifli our victuals. He could give us an ac-
count of no other product of the illand, than what
we have mentioned, except fome black plums, which
are very good, but hard to come at, the trees, which
bear them, growing on high mountains and rocks.
Pimento-trees are plenty here, and we faw fome of
fixty feet high, and about two yards thick ; and cot-
ton-trees higher, and near four fathom round in the
ftock. The climate is fo good, that the trees and grals
are verdant all the year round. The winter lath no
* When Mr. Selkirk crime to England, he put hii paperi into the
hand: of the famous Mr. Daniel Defoe, to digtft for publication;
but that iiiduilrious gentleman convened the materials into his well
known hillcry of Rohinfon Cnifoe, and returned Mr. Selkirk hi*
papers again ; after ihus defrauding him of the emolument lie was fo
juf'iv (.'milled to hope fiora them, by this piece of craft.
longer
i42 THE VOYAGE OF1
longer than June and July, and is not then fevere^
there being only a fmall froft, and a little hail } but
fbmetimes great rains. The heat of the fummer is
equally moderate -, and there is not much thunder*
or tempeftuous weather of any fort. He faw no veno-
mous or favage creature on the iOand, nor any other
fort of beads, but goats, the firft of which had been
put afhore here, on purpofe for a breed, by Juan
Fernandez, a Spaniard, who fettled there, with
fome families, till the continent of Chili began to
fubmk to the Spaniards j which, being more profi-
table, tempted them .to quit this iQand, capable*
however, of maintaining a good number of people,
and being made fo ftrong, that they' could not be
eafily diflodged from thence.
February 3, we got our fmith's forge on more,
fet our coopers to work, and made a little tent for
me to have the benefit of the air. The Duchefs had
alfo a tent for their lick men ; fo that we had a final!
town of our own here ; and every body employed, a
few men fupplied us all with fifh of feveral forts, all
very good, in fuch abundance, that, in a few hours,
we could take as many, as would ferve 200. There
were fea-fowls in the bay, as large as geefe ; bat eat
filhy. The governor (as we called Selkirk) never ■
failed of procuring us two or three goats a day for
our fick men -, by which, with the help of the
greens, and the wholfome air, they recovered very •
toon of the fcurvy ; fo that captain Dover and I both
thought it a very agreeable feat, the weather being
neither too hot, nor too cold. We fpent our time,
till the 10th, in refitting our fhips, taking wood on
board, and laying in water, that which we brought
from England and St. Vincent, being fpoilcd by the
badnefs of the calks. We likewife boiled up about
eighty gallons of fea-lions oil, as we might have
done feveral tons, had we been provided with veffels.
We refined it for our lamps, and to fave candles.
The .failors fometimes ufe it to fry their meat, for
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. i4i
want of butter, and find ic agreeable enough. The
men, who worked on our rigging, eat young feels,
which they preferred to our Ihip's victuals, and faid,
it was as good as Engliih lamb, though I mould have
been glad of fuch an exchange. We made what
hafte we could to get all the neceflaries on board,
being willing to lofe no time* for we were informed
at the Canaries, that five flout French lhips were
coming together to thefe feas.
On February 13, we held a confutation, in which
we made feveral regulations tor preferving fecrecy,
difcipline, and liner, honefty, on board both vefTels;
and, on the 17th, we fettled another matter of as
great importance, which was, that two men from on
board the Duke mould be put on board the Duchefs,
and two men from on board the Duchefs on board
the Duke, in order to fee, that juftice was recipro-
cally done by each fhip's company to the other. On
the 28th, we hoifted both pinnaces into the water, to
try them under fail, with a gun fixed in each of
them, and whatever elfe was requifitc to render them
very ferviceable fmall privateers. We found the
nights very cold, and the days not near fo warm as
might have been expected in that latitude, where
there never falls any rain, but fuch dews in the night,
as are equivalent to it, though the air is, generally
fpeaking, ferene. On May 15, in the evening, we
faw a fail: our confort, being nearer!, foon took her.
She was a little vefiel, of fixteen ton, from Payta,
bound to Cheripe for flour, witli a fmall fum of mo-
ney to purchafe it ; the ma(ler*s mine Antonio He-
liagos, a Meftizo, or one begotten between an Indian
and a Spaniard ■, his crew eight men, one of them
a Spaniard, one a negro, and the reft Indians. We
afked them for news; and thev aflured us, that all the
French lhips, being feven in number, failed out of
thefe feas fix months ago-, and that no more were u
return: adding, that the Spaniards had fuch an aver-
fion to them, that, at Callao, the fea-port for Lima,
they
i44 THE VOYAGE OF
they killed fo many of the French, and quarrelled
. fo frequently with them, that none were differed to
come alhore there for fome time before they failed
from thence. After we had put men on board the
prize, he haled off" clofe on a wind for Lobos, having
{hot within it •, and, had we not been better informed
by the crew of the prize, might have endangered our
fhips, by running in farther, becaule there are fhoals
between the ifland and the main. There is a paflage
for boats to windward to come into the road, which
is to the leeward of thcfe iflands, in a found between
them. It is not half a mile broad ; but above a
mile deep ; has from ten to twelve fathom water,
and good anchor ground. There is no coming in
for (hips, but to leeward of the iflands. We went in
with a final! weather-tide, though I never perceived
it to flow above three feet whilft we lay here. The
wind commonly blows foutherly, veering a little to
the eaftward. On the ea'ftermoft ifland (which was
on our larboard fide as we lay at anchor in the
found) there is a round hummock, and behind it a
fmall cove, very fmooth, deep, and convenient enough
for a fh'ip to careen in. There we haled up, and
fitted our little frigate. The higlieft part of the ifland
appears, in the road, not much higher than a large
fliip's top-maft-head. The foil is an hungry, white,
clayifli earth, mixed with fand and rocks. There is
no freth water, or green thing, on the iflands. Here
is abundance of vultures alias carrion-crows, which ,
looked fo like turkeys, that one of our officers, at
landing, blefled himfelf at the light, and hoped to
fare delicioufly here. He was fo eager, that he would
not ftay till the boat could put him alliore ; but leaped
into the water with his gun, and, getting near enough
to a parcel, let fly at them : but, when he came to
take up his game, it flunk infufferably, and made
us merry at his miftake. The other birds here are,
penguins, pelicans, boobies, gulls, and a fort of fowls
like a teal, that ncftle in holes on the land. Our
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS
men got loads of them, which thi-y fkinned, and
praifed them for very good meat. We found abun-
dance of bulrufhes, and empty jars, that the Spaniih
filhermen had left alhore. All over this coaft they
ufe jars inllead of calks for oil, wine, and all other
forts of liquids. Here is abundance of feals, and
fome fea-lions. The feals are much larger than at
Juan Fernandez ; but the fur not fo fine. Our
people killed levcral, with a defign to eat their livers ;
but one of our crew, a Spaniard, dying fuddenly af-
ter eating them, I forbad the ufe of them. Our
prifoners told us, they accounted the old feals very
unwholfome. The wind always blowing frclh over
the land, brought an ugly noifome fmell aboard from
the feals more, which gave me a violent head-ach*
and every body el'e complained of this nauieous
fmell. We found nothing lo offenftve at Juan Fer-
nandez. Our prifoners told us, th^y expe&ed the
widow of the late viceroy of Peru would fhortly cm-
bark for Acapulco, with her family and riches, and
ftop at Payta to refrefh, or fail near in fight, as cuf-
toniary, in one of the king's (hips of thirty-fix guns;
and that, about eight months ago, there was a Ihip
with 200,000 pieces of eight aboard, the reft of her
cargo liquors and flour, which had palled Payta for
Acapulco. Our prifoners added, that they left J'eig-
nor Morel in aftout Ihip, with dry goods, for Lima,
recruiting at Payta, where he expected in a few days
a French built (hip belonging to the Spaniards, to
come from Panama richly laden, with a biihop
aboard. Payta is a common recruiting place to thofe
I who go to or from Lima, or molt parts to windward,
in their trade to Panama, or any part of the coaft of
Mexico. Upon this advice, we agreed to fpend as
much time as poflible cruifing off of Payta, without
difcovering ourfelves, for fear of hindering our other
defigns.
On April i, we took a galleon, by which I mean
no more than a Ihip built in that manner, commanded
Vol. III. L \it
i46 THE VOYAGE OP
by two brothers* whole names were Jofeph and John
Morel. She was of the burden of 500 ion, laden
with dry goods and negroes. The next day we toot
another prize •, and, on the 7th* Mr. Vanbrugh was
removed from the council; But here our author*
differ : captain Rogers lays, that captain Dover ac-
Oifcd him of great infolence to him ; but captain
Cooke lays, that it was captain Rogers himfelf chat
accufed him, for offering to vote with him, right or
wrong, upon all occafions. It was a great pity thefe
difputes happened at that time, when all things were
preparing for action, and a refolution taken to at-
tack the town of Guiaquil, however provided •, in
order to which, it was determined to fend the Duke
and the Beginning to Payra, the latter to go in and
take a view of the harbour, to fee if there were any
(hips in it, and afterwards to cruife with thirty men*
in hopes of fallvgjn with the aforefaid bifhop. This
was a feafon o. great confultation, which was foon
fucceeded by adtion. On April 1 1 , there was a grand
council held on board the Duke, wherein all things
were fully confidered, the conqueft of Guiaquil re*
folved on, and a paper, in the nature or inftruclions
from the committee to the commanders in chief was
prepared; which, however formal it might feem, was
undoubtedly a very right method, and kept, as well
as taught, every man in his duty.
On April 12, it was refolved in a committee,
not to fend the Beginning prize into Payta, as had
been agreed on, for fear of being difcovered 1 but to
attempt ihe town of Guiaquil, the enterprize to be
conducted by the three captains Dover, Rogers, and
Counmy; t<ie Brit to command a company of ma-
rines of f v: n.y men ; the fecond a company of offi-
cers anci sailoi , of leventy one men ; the third, fuch
■flrth'T comp y of feventy-thrce men; captain
Du'npier with h- artillery; and, for a referve, upon
occafiun twenty i o i:tn: in all, 238. Captain
Edward Cooke 10 command theDuchefs, with forty-
two
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 147
two men j captain Robert Fry, the Duke, with forty
men : total, ^20 men : the blacks, Indians, and pri*
foners, were about 266 more. On the t^th, we
haled in for cape Blanco, and at noon it bore eait
fouth-eaft, dtltant ten leagues. A committee being
held, certain articles relating to plunder were agreed
on, for the encouragement or officers and men.
On the 15th, in the morning, we faw a fail near
the (hore •, and, having little wind, the Duke's bo.it,
commanded by captain Fry, and the Duchefs's, by
captain Cooke, rowed directly for her, going off in
fuch hade, that neither of us had the fwivel guns
we ufed to carry in the boats, nor our full comple-
men of men, only ten mufquets, four piftols, and
not much powder and mot, nor any water -, and row-
ed very hard to come with the (hip for the ipace of
fix leagues 1 the Duke's boat coming firft near her,
ihe put out Spaniih colours, fired a gun at them, and
hoiiled a Spanith Bag at the main top-mad- head : the
Duke's boat then lay by for us to come up ■, we faw
die was French built, and, by the account the pri-
foners had given us before, concluded it mull be
the fhip we had been fo long cruifing for, which was
to carry the bifhop. Our mips being almoft out of
fight, and the Spaniards fo near the coad, and mak-
ing the beft of her way to run athore in a fandy bay,
we refolved to lay her aboard in each bow, and ac-
cordingly made the bet of our way, I being then on
her weather quarter, and captain Fry on her lee:
we defigned to have told them we were friends, till
git out of the way of their ftern-chace j but the
uke's men, thinking the Spaniards had been go-
ing to give us a volley, poured in their fliot among
them, then we laid in our oars, and fell to k: the
difpute was hot for a long time, we keeping a con-
flant fire, and the enemy anfwering ; who killed two
of captain Fry's men, and wounded one ot his, and
I two of mine. One of the dead men was captain
John Rogers, our fecond lieutenant, and brother to
I* 3 s^WA
i+8 THE VOYAGE OF
captain Rogers, who behaved himfelf very well dur-
ing the action. The Duke's boat, Ending the en-
terprize too difficult, bore away ; and fomc time
after we did the like. Captain Fry having put fomc
of .his men aboard us, given us fome powder and
{hot, and taken in our wounded men, flood away
for the (hips, whilft I made again tor the enemy, . re-
volving to keep her from the fhore, and, rather than
fail, to clap her aboard ; the Spaniards, perceiving
what we defigned, edged off to lea, and we after
them. Our {hips came up apace, and we kept dole
to the Spaniard, fometimes firing at him. The Du-
chefs being come up, fired a {hot or two at him ;
.and then he (truck, and we clapt him aboard. The
men begged for good quarter ; and we promifed
them all civility imaginable. This (hip came from
Panama, and was bound for Lima, to be fitted out
for a man of war, the captain having his commilfion
accordingly. There were feventy blacks, and many
pafiengers, with a confiderable quantity of pearls
aboard; the lading, bale-goods; and fomething be-
longing to the bilhop ; but they had fet him on more,
with feveral pafiengers, where they touched laft.
The veiTel was about 270 ton burden, commanded
by Don Jofeph Arizabclla, who told us, the bilhop
Jiad been landed at point St. Helena, and gone by
land to Guiaquil. We found feveral guns in the
Jiold, for the (hip would carry twenty four, but
had only fix mounted. Many of the pafiengers were
confiderable merchants at Lima, and the brilkeft
Spaniards 1 ever faw. When the French had this
.veffel, flic was called la Lune d'Or, the Golden
•Moon. Captain Cooke (whofe account we follow)
remained aboard her, fending the captain and pnfon-t
xrs to our (hips.
. On the 2 tit, ip the morning, the Beginning was
fent a-head towards point Arena, on the ifland of
Puna, for fear of any danger; but Ihe found there
•only an empty vcficl riding clofc under the point :
lbs
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 3g
fiie proved to be a new Spanifh bark, that, had been
font to load fait ; but the men having fight of us,
thought proper to abandon her; all apprehenfions
were now totally removed, and, at five in the after-
noon, the tranfports rowed for the town of Guiaquil,
and at eleven faw a light in the town ; whereupon
we rowed as eafy*as could be, for fear of difcovery,
till within a mile of it; then heard a centinel call to
another, and bid him bring fire. Perceiving we were
difcovered, we rowed over to the other fide, againft
the town*, fiw a fire made where the centinels talked,
and, foon after, many lights all over the town -, and,
at the water-fide, heard them ring the alarm-bell,
fire feveral vollies, and light a fire on the hill where
the beacon was kept, to give the town notice that
we were come up the river. Hereupon the boats
came to a grappling, and fuch an hot difpute arofe
among fonie of our officers, that they were heard
afiiore ; but the Spaniards, not underftanding what
they faid, fetched an Englifhman, and conducted him
along the fhore, to interpret what they heard. How-
ever, before he came, the difpute was over. This
account we had from that very Englifhman, who af-
terward came over to us, and proceeded in the
voyage.
A council was held in the (tern of one of the boats,
to refolve, whether we fhould land immediatrly, or
ftay till day-break ; and the officers differing in their
opinions, it was agreed, finre we did not know the"
ground, and the barks were not come up, which had'
near half the men and the artillery, to ftay till day-
I light, when it was hoped the barks would join. We
tell a litfic way down the river to meet them, hear-'
ing feveral mufquet-lhots in our way, which, at firft,"
we thought might be from the Spaniards a'ing the
Ihore. On the 23d, at break of day, we 1 one of
our barks at anchor clofe under the fhort ithin a
mile of the town, and at flood, the other coming up
the river ; we then rowed back to the bark which had
L 3 fired
S
i5* THE VOVAOB OF, -
fired thofe mufqueO at fome fifhermen ptujitg byy
whom we took. When all our forces were joined*
we held a council in the pinnace, proceeded up the
river, and fent a flag of truce with the captain of the
French built (hip, the governor of Puna, and an-
other prifoser; then towed up the barks a-breaft
againft the town, and came to an anchor. When
the captain of the French built fhip came to the cor-
rcgidor, or mayor of the town, be afked our number*
w&ch the captain magnified. The corregidor an*
fwered, they were boys, and not men : and the cap-
tain replied, he would find they were men ; for they
had fought him bravely in their open boars, though
lie had killed one of the commanders brothers, and
wounded and killed others-, and, therefore* advifed
him to agree for the ranfom of the town ; for, though
he had 3000 men, he would not be able to withftand
them : to which the corregidor replied, my horfe is
ready.
On the 33d, having towed the barks clofe up be-
fore the town, and brought them to the pinnace, we
went up the river after tome vefiels, and brought fix
of them to an anchor by our barks : we alfo took, pof-
fefiion of .two new* of about 400 ton each* then
went afliore with a flag of truce, and the gover-*
nor came on board one o) the prizes, to agree about
the ranfom of the town and Ihips; but it could not
be then concluded. He promifed to meet the cap-
tains again at feven in the evening; yet he was
not fo good as his word. The boats went up the
river again to fee for more fhips, and returned with-
out finding any : however, we took feveral canoes,
with fome plate on board. On the 24th, in the
morning, the governor came off again to treat : our
captains thought to have feized him, becaufe he had
"forfeited his word irf'not returning over night, and fbf
lending word that morning, that he had more people
Come into the town : but he, alledging that it was
contrary to a Bag of truce, was let on (bore again, and
had
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 151'
had an hour's time given him to get his men ready.
However, the boat went and came two or three limes
with the flag of truce ; but the governor and cap-
tains not agreeing, all things were made ready, and
we towed nearerthe more, wearing our union-jack at
our main top-maft-heads.
At four in the afternoon the men landed, with fo
much bravery, that the Spaniards fired only their
firft volley, and fled, our people prefling them and
purfuing them to their cannon, which they foon
gained, the gunner only, who was an Irifliman, Hand-
ing by them till he was wounded in four places,
whereof he died foon after -, as we were informed by
fome prifoners we took. Our men marched in a
body through both towns, driving out the enemy,
placed three guards in the three churches, and fet
fire to five or fix houfes in the old town, that flood
adjoining to the wood, left the Spaniards lhould have
any cover from them to annoy our guard, which was
within piftoHhot. All this night they kept firing
out of the woods at our centinels, or any other that
ftirred out of the guard, yet did no harm ; feveral
parties of horfe and foot came down, without making
any attempt: in the mean while the Duchefs's pin-
nace, which was commanded by lieutenant Connely,
with twenty-two men, went up the river, landed at
every houfe, took their plate, and what ehe of value
they found, and had fome fkirmUhes with the enemy,
in which one of our men was wounded. On the
35th, the enemy appeared thick in the woods, fome-
times coming out; and our guards had fome fkir-
miihes with them, in which one man was wounded,
fo that they expected to be attacked.
On the 26th, in the morning, captain Courtney
marched to his guard again, to cover the men who
were getting down provifions, &c. Several prifon-
ers were taken, and brought to the main guard.
Meflengers, with a flag of truce, came about ran-
foming the town, but could not agree : in the af-
L 4 ternoon
1j« Tflfe VOYAfiE O*
ternoon brought one boat of provifions aboard the"
barks ; and at three returned to ranfom the town,
which was at laft agreed on for 30,000 dollars % we
to have three hoftages, and to ftay at Puna till they
could raife the laid fum, the people having carried
their money out of town, and being fo difperfed. that
there was no railing it whilft we were there, the in-
habitants of the adjacent country having withdrawn
all their effetts. On the 27th, in the morning,
the hoftages for ranfom were put on board, as was
a boat's lading of brandy : we took down our union
flag, and hoifted a flag of truce, firing a gun for a
fign.il, that the Spaniards might come into the tewn,
and that no hoflilities mould be committed on either
fide, during the time we had agreed to ftay for the
money, having before concerted with the Spaniards,
to make the (aid fignal for them to come in to fe-
cure what we had left, that the Indians and blacks
might nor rob: and, I am apt to believe, they had
plundered as much as we had taken } for we took
feveral, as we went the rounds, laden with goods,
-which they owned they had ftolen ; and were after-
wards informed, that, in the hurry, the inhabitants
had given plate and money to blacks to carry out of
the town, which they could never hear of after.
On the 29th, in the morning, the barks weighed,
and got down to Puna, where they anchored off the
town. Captain Rogers, in the Duke's pinnace, came
"on board, and gave an account, that they had taken,
plundered, and ranfomed the town of Guiaquil j
that three of our men hid been killed i two by our
own people, and one by the Spaniards ; and four
wounded: that the inhabitants, whil- treating, had
■carried off their money and plate, retiring to the
woods, and leaving their guns •, four whereof were
taken, with a confiderable quantity of meal, peale,
fugar, brandy, and wine, which was coming down
in the barks. What we killed and wounded of the
enemy'
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 153
<?nemy could not be known, becaufe they earned
them off!
Having, from the (hip's fide, difcovered a fail
ftanding up the river, with the tide of flood, we fent
both (hips boats after her, and, at four in the after-
noon, fhc ftruek to the boats. They brought her
in at night. She was a fratll Spanilh bark from Che-
ripe, and bound up to Guhquil, having on bo;ird
330 bags of meal; and 140 arrob.is, that is, 35 hun-
dred weight of fugar; Tome onions, quince, and pome-
granates: this, with the fix barks, and t.vo great
fliips ranfonu'd with the'tuwn of Guiaquil, makes
fourteen prizes taken in thole leas. Captnin Woodes
Rogers in his relation, blames captain Courtney for
being in a hurry to quit the place, though he ac-
knowleges, that his lieutenant Mr Streton was ihot
by accident in his leg, his own piftol going off un-
luckily, which rendered it necelTary to fend him in-
Itantly on board the fmall craft; and that molt of
their men were grown carelels, weak, and heartily
weary of their new trade of being foldiers. One cir-
cumltance he mentioned, which deletes notice for
its Angularity. As he was marching out of the town,
he happened to mifs one John Gabriel, a Dutchman,
who ferved in his own company ; and took it for
granted, that he was cither taken or killed. But
the poor fellow had a better time of it : he happened
to take up his quarters in a certain houfe, where
there was fome excellent brandy, which the Dutch-
man attacked lb often, that, at laft, it laid him on the
floor; and in this condition he was, when captain
Rogers and his men quitted the place. A little af-
ter, the matter of the houfe returned, and found
the Dutchman ftretched at his full length, and fo
fait, that it was a difficult matter to diftinguilh whe-
ther he was dead or afleep. The Spaniard refolved
to make the experiment; but, firft. of all, called in
his neighbours, whoadvifed him to fecure the Dutch-
man's arms -, which being done without any difficul-
$$4 tHE VOYAGE OP
ty. they next raifed him up, and fet him on his feet,
when, after a little tottering, he opened his eyes,
and began to Hare about him, being fenfible chat
he was not afleep, and not very well Satisfied to find
himfelf awake, and in fuch company. His landlord,
however, foon let his heart at reft, by refloring
htm his arms, and advifing him to make all the hade
he could to join his companions, who were' not yet
embarked. There did not need many entreaties to
Jet the Dutchman forward ; he moved with all the
alacrity imaginable, and got fafely aboard. If this
ftory be a little ftrange, captain Rogers adds an ob-
Jervation that is (till ftranger, which is, that, of all
the men who landed on this occafion, there was not
a foul that drank a cup too much but this poor Dutch-
man ; which, if true, the town of Guiaquil had the
honour to be plundered by the fobereft fet of people
that ever were of their profeflion. But it is now time
to come to the forms of capitulation, which the Spa-
niards, as perfons moll deeply interelted in it, de-
fired might be drawn up in proper form : and fo
they were, with the omiffion only of a fingle circum-
flanre; viz that the place was taken by force of
arms, which the Spaniards infilled Ihould be parti-
cularly fpecified, to demonftrate that they had been
beaten before they comented to treat. To this the
Englifh very willingly yielded, which produced the
fallowing fcheme of articles, which fatisfied both par-
ties, procuring one the money they wanted, and fa-
tisfying the other as to the point of honour j a thing
no Spaniard ever willingly gave up.
Contract for the ranfom of the town of Guiaquil.
* TI7 Hereas the city of Guiaquil, lately in fubjec-
* VV WO" t0 Philip V. king of Spain, is now
* taken by ftorm, and in the poHeffion of the cap-
* tains Thomas Dover, Woodes Rogers, and Stephen
* Courtney, commanding a body of her Majefty of
* Great
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 155
* Great Britain's fubjeds-, we the underwritten 1 EC
* content to become hoftages for the faid city, idd
1 to continue in the cuftody of the faid captains Tho-
* mas Dover, Woodes Rogers, and Stephen Court-
* ney, till 30,000 piet.es of eight fhall be paid to
* them for the ranlbm of the faid city, two new (hips,
' and fix barks ; during which time no hoftility is to
" be committed on either fide between this and Pu-
* na; the faid fum to be paid at Puna, in fix days
1 from the date hereof; and then the hoftages to be
* difcharged, and all the prilbners to be delivered
' immediately : otherwife trie faid hoftages do agree
* to remain prifoners, till the faid fum is difcharged
* in any other part of the world. In witnifs where-
' of, we have voluntarily fet our hands this 27th day
* of ApriJ, O. S. and the 7th of May, N. S. in the
* year of our Lord 1709.'
The plunder took here, extlufive of the ranlbm
received for the town, was very confiderable ; for
we found there 230 bags of flour, beans, peale. and
rice ; fifteen jars of oil ; 1 60 jars of other liquor -,
fome cordage, iron ware, and fmall nails ; with about
four half jars of powder; about a ton of pitch and
tar; a parcel of cloathing and neceftaries ; end, as I
fuefs, about 1200 1. in plate, car-rings, &c. and 150
ales of dry goods, four guns, and about 200 Spanifh
ordinary utelefsarms and mufquet- barrels j a few packs
of indico, cocoa, and anotto; with about a ton of
Joaf-fugar. We left abundance of goods in the town,
bcfidc liquors of molt forts, and iea-itorcs, with fe-
vcral warehoufes full of cocoa, divers ihips on the
flocks, and two new (hips unrigged, upwards of 400
ton, which coft: above 80,000 crowns j and then lay
at anchor before the town. We were alfo to deliver
four barks aftiore, and leave two here to bring down
the ranfom. By this it appears the Spaniards had a
good bargain; but this ranfom was far better for us,
than to burn what we could not carry off. The hof-
tages informed us, that, during the treaty, 80,000
1 piece*
156 THE VOYAGE OF
pieces of eight of the king's money were Cent out
of ihe town, befide their plate, jewels, and other
things of the grcatefl value; 16that.it is certain, that
if we had landed at fi'rit, and given them no time at'
all, we had been much greater gainers than we were*
and I have greit reafon to belie e that we might, in'
that cafe, have made 200,000 pieces of eight in ready
money, pla:e, and jewels ; and yet the place had -ne-
ver been lb poor for forty years pail, as at the time
we t- ok it, there having been a fire about a year and
an half before, which had burnt down be'.t part of
the town, and occasioned a very great expenee in re-
building it. As it was, we thought ourfelves- very
happy ; and all imaginable care was taken, that every
man toncened in the expedition Ihould find his ac-
count in it -, by which the expediency of the articles
beforc-meniiont d fully appeared : and our people were
lb perfectly faiisfied with the ufage they received on
this occafion, that they cxptefied the grcatefl ala-
crity in the execution of every enterprise that was
afterward undertaken. To fay the truth, this is a
matter of the utmoft importance with privateers, for,
if the men have the lealt jealoufy of their being ill-
treated, fuch difputes arife, as do infinitely more
mifcbief than the value of what can be gotten by
fuch practices can repair: but to proceed.
When May 2 came, which was the laft day ap-
pointed to wait fur the money, and no boat arriving,
we began to be very uneafy. At length, however,
■1 boat arrived, and brought us -2,000 pieces of
eight; whith we received 1 and dtfpatched the boat
back again, telling them we defigned to leave the
place the next morning, and would carry away the
hoftages if they did not come time enough to pre-
vent it. We ftaid, however, till the 6th ; and then
captain Courtney was relblved to depart, being ap-
prchcnfive that we Ihould be attacked by the French
and Spanifli Iquadron. I endeavoured, but in vain,
to convince h:m, that as yet we were not in any dan-
ger
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS.
'57
ger of being: attacked j becaufe it was not poEib'e
that the French and Spaniards could have rectivei
notice by i his rime at Lima, an. I have fitted out a
force furficienc to engage us We failed however,
and cime to an anchor about four in the afternoon,
few leagues before point Arena.
The nuxt morn.ng, jbout two o'clock, *f were
preparing to fail, when Mr Morel, and a gentleman
froth Puna, related to our prifoncrs brought us 3500
pieces of eight more towards the ranfom This put
in fo good an humour, that, in the afternoon,
we difchargeJ all our prifoncrs, except the Morels,
the three hoftages, and three or four more. The
gentleman thai came from Guiaquil had a gold chain,
and fonie other things of value, with which he bought
our bark the Beginning, which was now of no far-
ther ufe. We gave the captain of the French fhip
three negro women; Mr. Morel another; and to
moft of the prii'oners their wearing apparel ; fo that
we parted very good friends. They to|d us, that
one Don Pedro Cienfuegos, whom we 'put afliore at
Puna, and who was a man of great credit, had got
together a confiderable fum of money, and dcfigncd
to buy goods of us-, for which purpofe he would be
down in twelve hours time : but the majority of our
officers would not believe them ; but conceiving tins
to be a fcheme for detaining us till the French and
Spanifh fleet came, were in lb much the greater hur-
ry to get away. But, before we proceed, let me
give you a fliort defcription of the town of Guiaquil,
as we found it.
Guiaquil is divided Into two parts, called the Old
and the New Towns -, both of them together confin-
ing of about 500 Routes, joined by a long wooden
bridge, for people to pals over on foot, above half
a mile in length, with ibme houfes on each fide at a
diftance. It is fitu.ucd in a low boggy ground, fo
dirty in winter, that without this bridge there would
be fcarce any going from one houfc to another:
there
j58 THE VOYAGE OP
there is but one regular (beet along the river-Ode to
the bridge, and from it along the Old Town. Be-
fore the church of St. Iago is a very hand tome pa*
radc i but the church itl'clf lies in ruins. There ate,
in all, four churches, viz. St. Iago, or St. Janes
the A pottle, which, as I faid, isdeUroyed; St, Au-.
guftin, St. Francis, and St. Dominic ; and before
this laft another parade, with an half moon, on which
fix guns may be planted i but there were none when
we came. BeGde thefe, there is a chapel, and there
had been a church of St. Ignatius, belonging to the
Jefuits, but burnt down. They were all decently
adorned with altars, carved work, pictures, an organ
in that of St. Auguftin ; but the plate belonging to.
them was carried away, the priefts and ftudems be-
ing all gone into the woods : fome of the hpufes were
of brick, particularly about the parade, before the
fire ; the reft of timber, or bamboes split, and. feme
of them decently furnimed. In the merchants ftorc-
houfes there were great quantities of meal, brandy*
fugar, cloathing, cordage, and iron. The inhabi-
tants had fome calalhes; but I know not of what life
they could be, unlefs to carry them a ftoneVthrow tot
church *, efpecially in winter, all about being fo fau*
and boggy, that there could be no road made for
them. This morafs ground was full of the largeft
toads I ever Taw, fome of them as big as an Pnglifb.
two-penny loaf.
There were 2000 inhabitants of all forts, including
Indians, Mulattocs, and blacks. This town is weS
fituated for trade, and for building of mips, as lying;
fourteen leagues from point Arena, and ieven from
Puna, up a large river, which receives feveral final*
ones that fall into it ; with many villages and farm-
houfes round about. The water is irefli for four
leagues below it -, and all along the banks grows.
abundance of mangroves and larfaparilla ; and, on
account of this latter, the water is accounted good;
for the French difeafe : however, when the floods
come.
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 159
come down from the mountains, the water is not
reckoned fo wholfome, by realbn it brings along fe-
veral poifonous plants and fruits, among which a
the Manchirulla venomous apple, whereof all birds
that tafte die •, and we faw hundreds of them dead
on the water whilft we were there. They have great
plenty of beeves, goats, Iheep, hens, ducks, Mulcovy
ducks, and fome forts unknown to us in England ;
as alfo horfes, and great numbers of carrion-crows,
which the Spaniards will not furFer to be killed, pre-
lerving them to devour all carrion. The fhips here
are built under ftieds, to fhelter the men from the
fun. The town is governed by a corregidor, being
the fupreme magistrate appointed by the king. The
accounts which have been given of this phce by th»
French buccaneers are fo falfe, that there is not the
leaft degree of truth in them ; infomuch that, from
their defcriptions, it fcarce appears to be the fame
place, had they not left infamous marks of their hav-
ing been here : for when they took the town of Guia-
quil, about twenty-two years ago, they difcovered little
or no bravery in the attack, (though they loft a great
many men) and committed a deal of barbarity and
murder after they had the place in their power, which
was above a month here and at Puna. The feafons
here are improperly called winter and fummer: the
winter is reckoned from the beginning of December
to the laft of May -, and all that feafon is fultry hot,
wet, and unhealthy : from the latter end of May to
December is ferene, dry, and healthy, but not fo vio-
lently hot as what they call winter. Their cocoa is
ripe, and moftly gathered between June and Auguft;
and of the other fruits natural to thofe climates, idme
•re ripe, and others green, all the year. But, as our
prifoners furnifhed us with a very full and exact ac-
count of all the adjacent country dependent on the
government of Guiaquil, I have judged it requifite
to add to this account of the town, a view likewife
of the province, that the reader may perfectly
i6o THE VOYAGE OF
hend the condition of the Spanilh inhabitants therein ?
and judge from thence, as from a fampk, of the
ftate of this great empire of Peru, at the time that
we were thus engaged in attacking its ports and coaftt
where we acted as became men who had legal com-
miffions, and did nothing that was not justified by
the law of arms, which, in time of war, is the law
of nations.
The city or town of Guiaquil is the metropolis;
of a province of that name in Peru, governed by a
prefident, with five or lis oiodors, which make a
royal Audiencia, or chief court of Judicature, ac-
countable only to the viceroy in military affairs j every
province has a government of the fame nature. The
governors are commonly appointed, or, to fpeak more
properly, purchalc their offices, in Old Spain tor life,
or good behaviour j and in cajc any die or miibehave .
themfelves, the viceroy may name another during his.
time, which ought to be but five years ; but fome-
tkncs he gets thefe offices of his own placing con-
firmed by an order from .'■pain, which is a confider-
able part of the viceroy's unknown profits. The hue
viceroy continued fourteen years, ieveral new ones
having died by the way. The king of Spain him-
felffcarcely lives in more fplendor than his viceroy in,
the city of Lima, where the chief courts of judica-
ture are kept, and appeals are brought thither from
all courts and provinces of this extenfive kingdom.
The trade to and from Mexico is forbidden here, un-.
der the fevereft penalty i efpecially tranfporting quick-
filver from Peru thither, becaufc quantities are brought'
from Old Spain, which is impoled on the refiners at
great rates. Here are many mips employed coafting
in this kingdom ■, but a trade is lb feverely prohibited
between them and Mexico, that all the commodities,
with filver and gold in returns, may have little other
circulation in thefe vaft countries, but by the flota and
galleons to and from Old Spain. Yet, notwithftand-*
ing the feverity ufed againil private traders by ths
viceroy*
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 16*1
viceroys and corregidors, there are fotne who run
the rifle, Thefe have no mercy fliewn them if de-
tected, all trade being carried on in the king's name,
though his majefty has little or no fhare in it.
All Englifh and Dutch goods, except what comes by
the galleons, are prohibited ; fo that private traders,
after they have by Health purchafed them in the North
Seas, muft vend them in like manner all over Peru.
And if the wholefale merchants have not good cer-
tificates from the commerce of Seville, that their com-
modities come by the fiota or galleons ; whenever the
goods are queflioned, they muft difcover them, for
tear of punifhment; unlefs they have a good in-
tereft in the viceroy, which cofts dear to purchafe and
preferve: fo that the trader makes little profit but
where the chief officers have a feeling. Yet though
thofe mercenary viceroys are fo fevere on others, they
themfelves employ the corregidors to negotiate a trade
for them by a third hand, which cannot be done to
the purpofe without being publicly known ■, lb that
fhips are conftantly employed on their account, and
carry quick-fdver, and all manner of prohibited
goods to and from Mexico, out of bye-ports. Thus,
being their own judges, they get vail eftates, and
Hop all complaints in Old Spain by bribes. The
goods they trade for have a free pafiage, and fail
through the continent -, whilft others, if they do but
offer at it, are punifhed. Their other ways of getting
money unjuftly are too many; but in fliort, in my
opinion, there is no country naturally more rich, nor
any people more terribly opprefTed.
The Spaniards fay, that a viceroy, after purchafing
his place with all that he has, and quitting old Spain
as poor as Job, comes hither like an hungry lion,
to devour all that he can ; and that every officer un-
der him in the provinces (who are ten times more than
neceflary) are his jackals to procure prey for him, that
rliey may have a ihare of it themfelves.
Vol. 111. M The
i$z THE VOYAGE OF
The province abounds with feveral forts of good
timber, which makes it the chief country of Peru for
building and repairing of ihips ; there are feidom lefs
than fix or feven at a time on the ftocks before the
city of Guiaquil. The chief commodity this city,
and its chief province afford, is cocoa, which is fo
plentiful as to lupply molt places of the South Sea -r
they fay, there is never lefs exported in a year than
30,000 cargaas, each cargau 81 pound weight, and
forru-times double the quantity : it was purchased ge-
nerally at half a rial per pound, but now much cheaper,
lb that the cargau may be bought for two pieces of
eight and a half. Their coafting trade is for fait and,
falt-fiih from point Santa Helena, and moll vended
at Quito, and other dittant places within land : a tail
quantity of timber is laden here for Truxilio, Chana,
Lima, and other fea ports, wture it is fcarce. It pays
a great freight, and is a profitable trade. They ex-
port alfo from hence, rice, cotton, and fome dried
jerked beef. There are no mines of filver or gold
in this province, but plenty of all forts of cattle, and
very cheap, efpccially on the ifland Puna, where we
fupplied ourfelves with what we could conveniently.
Here is no other corn but Indian ; fo that all their
flour is brought from Tiuxillo, Chcripe, and other
places in the windward parts : it blows here always
foutheriy. They are alfo fupplied with feveral forts
of woollen cloth, and very ltrong good bays made at
Quito. Their wines, brandy, oil, olives, and fugar*
&c. come from Pilcola, Naica, and other places to
windward: all forts of Ku'opean goods come hither
from Panama, whither they are brought over land
from Porto-Bello out of the North Seas : fo that the
number of lhips that come and go from hence, with-
out including coafters, are no lefs than forty fail every
year j which lhews that tlie port of Guiaquil is no
mean place of trade in mis part of the world. A mar-
ket is alio kept on bark-logs and boats in the river*
every
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 1G3
every day, before the town, with all that the country
affords, in great plenty. 1 he other towns of the pro-
vince are governed by lieinenjms, deputed by the
corregidor 1 above half of them border on the fame
river, and its branches ; fo that they can join thefe of
the capital in two tides, though at feveral leagues
diitance. Few of thofe prifoners that fell into our
hands were healthy and found; near half of the Spa-
niards dii'covered publicly to our doctors their malady,
in order to get phyfic irom them againft the French
dileafe, of which they make very light. All the Spa-
niards allow, that this rich country is not a tenth
peopled, nor are half the Indians, far within land,
civilized; though they affirm their king has, in the
Weft Indies, more fubjecls of feveral colours, than
in all Spain, or the reft of his dominions in Europe ;
which may be true.
On May 1 1, we had a ftrong gale at fouth fouth-
welt. We bore away fur the Gailopagos iflands ; and in
a very melancholy condition we were : for we had up-
wards of twenty men taken ill on board the Duke,
and near fifty on board our conlbrc, feized with a
malignant fever, contracted, as 1 fuppole, at Guia-
quil, where I was informed, that about a month or
five weeks before we took it, a contagious difcafc
which reigned there, fwept off ten or twelve perfons
every day for a confiderable time. >-o that the floors
of all the churches (which are their ufual burial-places)
were rilled fo faft, that they were obliged to dig a
large deep hole, of about a rood fquare, dole by the
great church, where I kept guard 1 and this hole wis
aimoft filled with bodies half-putiihed. The morta-
lity was lb very great, that many of the people had
left the town ; and our lying fo long in the church,
furrounded with facta unwhollbme fcents, was enough
10 inteft us too. About this time captain Courtney
was taken ill j and captain Dover went on bdard to
prefcribe for him. In twenty-four hours we had fifty
M 2 men
i64 THE VOYAGE OF
men down, and the Duchefs upwards of feventy;
and in the following twenty-four hours, there were
ten men more down in each Imp.
On the 17th we difcovered land i and on the 1 8th«
at day-break, we were within four leagues of two large
tflands, almoft joining together, having pafled the
other that we faw yefterday. We fent our boat aihore
to look for water, and agreed with our confort where
to meet, in cafe of reparation. They turned toward
the windward, and left us to try this ifland for water.
All our prizes were to ftay near us under fail, by a
remarkable rock. But, in the afternoon, the boat re-
turned with a melancholy account, that no water was
to be found, the prizes we expefted lying to wind-
ward for us by the rock, about two leagues ofFfhore;
but Mr. Hatiey in a bark, and the Havre de Grace
turned to windward, after our confort the Duchefs ;
fo that only the galleon, and the bark that Mr. Sel-
kirk was in, ftaid for us. We kept plying to wind-
ward all night, with a light outj which they fol-
lowed. At five in the morning we fent our boat
aihore again, to make a further fearch in this ifland
for water. In the evening the boat returned, and re-
ported that there was no water to be found, though
the people went three or four miles up into the coun-
try. They likewife told me, that the iOand is no-
thing but loofe rocks like cinders, very rotten and
heavy ; and the earth fo parched that it will not bear
a man, but breaks into holes under his ftet. This
makes me fuppofe there has been a volcano here : for
though there is much fhrubby wood, and fome greens
on it ; yet there is not the leaft fign of water, nor is
it poflible that any can be contained on fuch a fur-
face. In fhort, we found thefe iflands very little an-
fwered either our expectations, or the defcriptions we
had of them : and our lofs of Mr. Hatiey, who, with
five of our men, two Spanifh prifoners, and three ne-
groes, loft us in a bark, where they were provided
only with water for two days, and fcarce any other
occcjftricfr
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 165
neceQaries, together with many unlucky accidents,
made us wilh ourlelves from among theft illands.
Therefore, on May 26, captain Dover and I went on
board the Duchefs, where, after a confutation, it was
refolved to run in for the ifland Plata to water, and
fo come off again, tor fear of meeting with two French
mips, one of fixty, and the other of forty-fix guns,
and the Spanilh man of war, who, we were ad-
vifed, would be fuddenly in fearch of us. But, if we
could find no water in any of thole illands going in,
we defigned to fit our fhips there, and not go near
the main, our (hips being out of order, and our men
fickly and weak, and fcveral alio having been buried.
We failed on the 27th i and, on the 30th, we held
another council on board the Duchefs, where it was
agreed to go Brit to Gorgona, to fee if there were
any Englilh mips there, and afterward to Mangla,
Malaga, or Madulinar, where are fonie Indians, ene-
mies to the Spaniards, who, as the pilots informed
us, feldom came thither, nor could thence get intel-
ligence of us ; and if we could trade with the Indians,
might have fwine and fowls, good bananas, plan-
Cains, and other refrefhments.
In this courft, the Duchefs took a prize, which
proved to be a veflel of burden of ninety ton, bound
from Panama to Guiaquil, called the St. Thomas
de Villa Nova, Juan Navarro Navaret commander.
There were about forty people aboard, including
eleven negro flaves ; but little of European goods,
except fome iron and cloth. The next we made the
ifland of Gorgona ; and, on the 8th, our boats brought
in another prize, which was a (mail bark, of about
fifteen tons, called the Golden Sun. She belonged
to a creek on the main, and was bound for Guiaquil,
Andros Enriguis matter, with ten Spaniards and In-
dians, and fome negroes ; no cargo, but a very little
gold-dult, and a large gold chain i together about
500 1. value, which were fee u red aboard the Du-
chels. On June 19, in the evening, there was % con-
M 3 fijltation
166 THE VOYAGE OF
fultatkm on board the (hip above-mentioned, at which
feme of my officers and captain Dover affifted. Be-
ing difcompofed, I was not with them ; but refolved
to aft in confortfhip, according to their agreement.
After they had examined the prifoners, they refolved
to go to Malaga, an ifland which had a road, where
we deligned to leave our mips, and, with our boats,
row up the river for the rich gold mine of Barbacore,
called aho by the Spaniards, the Mines of St. Juan,
from a village about two tides Up the river of that
name. There we deligned to furprize canoes, as fit-
ter than our boats to go againft the ftream -, for this
time of the year being fubject to great rains, which
make a ftrong frelh down the river, our pilot, an old
Spaniard, did not propofe to get up to the mines in
lels than twelve days. 1 had often fufpected his know-
ledge ; but, according to their resolutions on board
the Duchels, we made {ail about twelve O'clock that
night, and fleered north-eaft for the place.
In the morning, I difcourfed captain Morel, as I
had done feveral times before, and all the reft of the
prifoners, who agreed, that this ifland called Malaga
.was an unfrequented place, and rfor fit for fliips, that
ever they heard of. I had alfo two prifoners on board,
that were taken in the laft prize, who had been at the
laid ifland very lately. I examined them ftparately,
and they agreed that a (hip could not be fare there i
and that the place being fo narrow, it was impoflible
to get in but with the tide; which ran very ftrong i
that the entrance was full of lhoals, and had not wa-
ter enough but at fpring-tides, for our (hips to get
out or in : befide that, if a Ihip gets loofe, (as we
muft moor head and ftern) (he would turn all a-drift,
and very much endanger the whole. They added,
that the river was fo narrow, before we could get to
the mines, that the Indians and Spaniards might fell
trees acrofs, and cut off our retreat, there being thick
woods on the banks of the river, from whence the
Jndians would gall us with their poifoned arrows ; for
f tlwfc
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS, 167
tliofe about the mines were at amity with die Spa-
niard;, and a bold and very numerous people.
Upon this information, 1 was furjjnkd, that the
council had not informed themfelves better, before
they reiblved on going to this plate; and immediately
fent Mr. White our linguift with the two prifoners,
on botrd the Duchefs, to undeceive captain Court-
ney, and his officers, and to deiire his company,
with Ibme of the reft, without lofs of lime, that we
might agree how to act for our fafety and intereft,
and not to proceed farther on this hazardous en-
terprize. *On a iblemn confutation, this was accord-
ingly refolved; and, in compliance of that refolution,
we came back to Gorgona, our condition being fo
bad at this juncture, that, if we had been attacked,
we mould fcarce have been in a condition to have
defended ourfclves.
On the 13th of June, about four in the morning,
we anchored in forty fathom water, and reiblved to
careen the Duchefs firlt, and then the Duke : our
fick we removed aboard the galleon, and the Bclc
officers on board the Havre de Grace, where they
had all the conveniences wc could afford them. We
likewife fet up a tent afhore for the irffc 01 the ar-
mourer, and cooper's crew, and directed a place to
be cleared for our fick mens tents-, all which was
performed with fuch diligence, that, by the 28th,
we got our provifions on board, and mounted all our
guns: having in fourteen days caulked our ihps all
round, careened, rigged, and ttowed them again
both fit for the fea-, which was great difpatch, con-
lidering what we had to do was in an open place, with
few carpenters, and void of the ufual convcnicncics
for careening The Spaniards, our prifoners, being
very dilatory faiiors, were amazed at our expedition ;
and told us, they ufually take fix weeks, or two
months, to careen one of the king's (hips at Lima,
where they are provided with all neccflaries, and ac-
count it good diipatch. On the 29th, we fet up «
M 4 tcoj
i68 THE VOTAGE OF
tent on (here for the tick, who were, even by thii
time, much better than when we came to the iflaod,
notwithstanding the Spaniards reprefented it as ex-
tremely lick and unwholfome; but the bare lying
afhore, having their dodors with them, and an op-
portunity of walking about when they grew a little
better, had fo good an effect, that, while our found
men were employed in fitting our fhips for fea, our
fick men gathered ftrength enough to return to their
duty. Our Spanifh prifoncrs went into the woods
with us, (hewed us timber that was proper to be cut,
and gave us every other kind of afliftance in their
power. We now let out ground for ajope-yard, erect-
ed a tent for a finich, another for a block, the third
for a fail-maker; and each had his crew to aft under
him, for the better difpatch of bufinefs. It is not
to be fuppofed, that thefe people were all excellent
Jn their profeflionsj but, however, they made a ftiift
to carry on things very well for our work, nccefiHy
and praftice. having taught them many refources,
which the ableft man, in their branches of bufinefs,
would never have thought of, or, perhaps, could
have been brought to believe practicable, if they had
been told of them by others.
By this method of afting, we had fettled a plan-
tation, on the little ifland of Gorgona; and, as
every officer had his charge, and furveyed a parti*
cular fort of artizans, we had bufinefs enough upon-
pur hands, and were all thoroughly and pleafantly
employed. Our Spanifh prifoncrs looked on with
amazement at our working from break of day till
night in that climate, and in that manner; and, what
rnoftof all furprifed them, was our finding out fome
pew expedient, when prefled by new difficulties, and
when, in the judgment of our Spaniards, it was in>
poffible for us to proceed any further ; fo that our
diligence and fuccefs raifed our credit with them pro-
riigjuufly. The natives of Old Spain are accounted
but
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 169
but ordinary mariners; but here they are much
worfe, all the prizes we took being rather cobbled,
than fitted out for the fea ; fo that, had they fuch
weather as we often meet with in the European feas in
winter, they could fcarce ever reach a port again.
While we were here, we agreed together to fit out
the Havre de Grace with twenty guns, and put men
out of each ihip aboard her under captain Cooke*s
command, refolving to carry her home with us, and
to make a third (hip to cruife in our company whiltt
we were in thefe feas. This was the great work on
which we were employed from the 29th of June to
the 9th of July, when ihe was completely fin'ifhed;
and we gave her the name of the Marquis, having
provided a good entertainment: we faluted each of
the other fhips with three huzzas from on board her,
diftributed liquor among the company, drank, her
majefty's and our owners healths, and to our own
fuccefs, in conjunction with our new confort. We
foon after fent two of our main-deck guns on board
the Marquis ; the Duchefs did the like; which, with
four taken at Guiaquil, and twelve that were in the
fhip, made twenty very good ones-, the carriages all
new, or fo well repaired, that they were as good and
ftrong, as if mounted in England. The next thing
to be confidered was, how to provide her with men:
this was very foon fettled -, for I agreed to put thirty-
five on board her, and captain Courtney twenty-fix,
fo that her complement was fixty-one white men, and
twenty negroes, captain Edward Cooke, comman-
der, and our fecond lieutenant, Mr. Charles Pope,
to command under him. We agreed, that the cap-
tain, with his officers and men, Ihould have equal
wages with ours in the like pofts, to encourage them.
The next thing of confequence was to get rid of
our prifoners, who began to be a burden upon us,
and of no ufe at all. It was therefore determined,
that they fhould be all fct afliore, after trying every
method poflible to engage them in a fcheme for
trading
iTo THE VOYAGE OF
trading with us. Wc had feveral times difcourfed
the two Morells, and Don Antonio, about ranfom-
ing the goods, and were in hopes of felling them to
advantage, but deferred coming to particulars till
now ; becaufe we plainly faw, that unlets they could
*havc the cargoes under a quarter value, they would
not deal with us. I propofed going to Panama, and
lying fix days as near it as they pleafed, till they
brought the money we fhould agree for, at a moderate;
rate, provided they left hoftages on board us, whom,
on failure, we would carry to England. To this
they would have agreed, provided we would take
■60,000 pieces of eight for all the prize-goods. Then
I propofed their ranfoming the galleon, and putting
■a great part of the goods aboard her, provided one of
thofe three, and another they could procure, would
be hoftages for the fum. They anfweied, that nei-
ther of them would go hoftage to England for t-hc
world. I mentioned delivering the galleon and car-
go to them here, provided two of them would be
hoftages to pay us the money at any other place but
Panama or Lima, in fix days, if they would give us
120,000 pieces of eight, being the loweft price we
would take for all the prizes and goods, negroes,
&c. They told us, that trading with ftrangers, efpe-
cially the Englilh and Dutch, was fo ftriclly prohi-
bited in thofe feas, that they muft give more than the
prime coft of the goods in bribes, to gee a'lkence
to deal with us-, fo that they could not affure us of
payment, unlefs we fold the goods very cheap :
therefore, not finding it worth our time, and know-
ing the danger we muft run in treating with them,
wc defifted, and ordered the:n all afhore, Itill hop-
ing this would compel the Morells and Navarre to
get money for us, and prevent our burning the
Slips we could not carry away. Some of our peo-
ple were for keeping feveral others when they were
flrft taken, but they were over-ruled ; though now
every body feemed to confels, that had been a better
method.
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGFUS. 171
method, becaufe it would have given us a greater
opportunity of trading, and of ridding our fhips of
thole goods which were of no value to us here, and
loved only to hinder our failing.
But to proceed: on the 10th of July, we put
feventy-two pri loners on board the bark, and, with
our twu pinnaces, (he failed for the main. Cn the 1 jth
1 ] [ha n-ormng, thele veJlels returned from landing
our prisoners, and brought off feven finall black
cade, twelve hogs, and fix goats, fome limes and
plantains, which were very welcome to us. They
me; with little elfe of value in the village they were
ati and, the others being far up the river, they did
not think it worth while to vifit them. The country
where they landed was lb poor, that our men gave
the prilbnirrs five negroes, ibrne bays, nail., &C to
purchttfe rhemielves i ubfillence. The inhabitants
alhure had notice of our taking Guiaquil, and were
jealous of ourbeing at this iihnd, becaufe they heard
our guns when we -fired, in order to Jcale them after
Careening, According to the report of our people,
our prl'jners were not extremely well plealed w;th,
the change of their iituation, or even with the reco-
very of liberty, in fuch a place -, and leemed to regret
the advantages they enjoyed on board us.
To fay the truth of the matter, I verily believe,
that Don Antonio, the Fleming, fig. Navarre, and
the Morells, did not expect to part with us fo lud-
denly; but, by continuing with us, and knowing we
could not carry away all the prizes and goods, they
hoped we fhould of courfe have freely given them
what we could not keep. They begged we would
delay burning the lhips, and promiled to raile what
money they could, and return within the time to ia-
tisfy us. One of the chief prilbners we now parted
with, was Don Juan Cordofo, defigned governor of
Baldivia, a brilk man, of about thirty-five years of
age: he had ferved as a colonel in Spain, had the
misfortune to be taken in die north leas by an Eng-
lilh
i72 THE VOYAGE OF
liih privateer near Porto-Bello, and carried to Ja-
maica, from whence he was fent back to Porto-Bello.
He complained heavily of the ufage he met with from
the Jamaica privateer but we parted very good
friends, and he returned us hearty thanks, and a ftone
ring for a prefent to one of the Duchefs's lieutenants,
that had lent him his cabin while he was tick on
board. We allowed liberty of confeience on board our
floating commonwealth to our prifonersi for, there
being a prieft in each fhip, they had the great cabin
for their mafs, whilft we ufed the church of England
fervice over them on the quarter-deck.
On the 15th of June, came on board, in a fmall
canoe, one Michael Kendall, a free negro of Jamaica,
who had lived tor fome time as a (lave in die village
our people had plundered : he happened not to be
there then-, but, as Toon as he had an account of it,
he fairly ventured his life to get away to us. From
him we received the following remarkable account of
an attempt made upon the gold mines, in which he
was himiclf concerned. His relation was to this ef-
/e&: That, when war was declared at Jamaica, he
embarqued under the command of one captain Ed-
ward Roberts, who was joined in commiflion from
the governor of Jamaica, with the captains Rath,
Golding, and Pilkington. They had 106 men, and
deiigned to attempt die mines of (ago, at the bottom
of the gulph of Darien. There were more comman-
ders and men came out with them, but did not join in
this defign. They had been about five months out,
when they got near the mines undiscovered. They
failed fifteen days up the river in canoes, and travelled
ten days by land afterward : by this time, the Spa-
niards and Indians, being alarmed, laid ambufcades,
and mot many of them. The enemy having aflem-
bled at leaft 500 men, and the Englifh being dimi-
nished to about fixty, including the wounded, the
Spaniards fent them a flag of truce, and offered them
their lives, after a fmall fkirmifh, wherein the Englifh
2 loft
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 173
loft four, and the enemies about twelve men. The
Englifh, being in want of provifions, quite tired out,
and not knowing their way back, agreed to deliver
their arms, on condition to be ufed as prifoners of
war. Having thus yielded, the Spaniards and Indians
carried them in canoes three days up the river that
leads to the fame mines they defigncd to attempt,
treated them very well, and gave them the fame
food that they eat themfelves. But the fourth day,
when they came to a town beyond the mines, and
thought all danger had been part, an order came from
the chief Span'tlh officer to cut them all off, which the
Indians and Spanim troops did, as thofe poor difarmed
wretches fat at victuals ; lb that in this barbarous man-
ner they were all mafiacred in a few minutes, except
a Scots, a French, and an Englifh boy, with twelve
free negroes, which, at the interceffion of a prieft,
they kept for flaves.
This man, being one of them, happened to be fold
firft to the mines, where, he fays, he cleared at leaft
three pieces of eight a day for his marten and from
thence he was fold to this place. We took notice of
this to the Morells, who came the next morning with
money to ranfom what they could of us, putting them
in mind of the different treatment they had from us,
and how grateful they ought to be for it; which they
feemed very readily to acknowledge, and, indeed,
behaved, upon all occafions, with much honour. We
fold them good bargains, 'tis true ; but, on the other
hand, they ran great hazards in trading with us, and
trufted us always with their perfons and money, at the
fame time that we had the effects in our hands they
came to purchafe.
On the 1 ft of Auguft, the officers we appointed to
appraife the plunder, met on board the galleon, and
valued the clothing, in order to divide it amongft the
officers and men of each, according to their refpecHve
[hares. On the 3d in the afternoon, they made an
id of appraifing the cloths, at a very low rate,
amounting
«74 THE VOYAGE OF
amounting to four hundred pounds ; and the filver-
hilted fwords, buckles, fnufF-boxes, buttons, and filvef
plate in ufe aboard every prize we took, and allowed
Co be plunder, at four {hillings, and fixpence per piece
of eight, amounted to 74.3 1. 15 s. betides 3 lb. 12 oz.
which was in rings, gold fnuff boxes, ear-rings, and
gold chains, taken about prifoners. This I believe
an exalt account.
Early next morning we had like to have had a mu-
tiny amongft our men : the lteward told me, that
feveral of them had laft night made a private agree-
ment; and that he heard fome ringleaders, by way of
encouragement, boaft to the red, that iixty men had
already figncd the paper. Not knowing what this
combination meant, or how it was deiigned, 1 fent
for the chief officers into the cabin, where we armed
ourfelves, lecured two of those mutinous fellows, and
prefendy feized two others : the fellow that wrote the
paper we put in irons : by this time, all hands were
upon deck, and we had got their agreement from thofe
who were in the cabin : the purport of which was, to
oblige themfelves not to take their plunder, nor to
move from thence, till they had juftice done them, as
they termed it.
There being fo many concerned in this defign, the
captains Dover and Fry defired I would difcharge thofe
in confinement, upon their afking pardon, and faith-
fully promifing never to be guilty of the like, or any
other combination, again 1 ufed all the arguments I
could offer, lhewed them the danger and folly of com-
binations, and exhorted them to believe, they would
have juftice done them in England, Ihould any thing
fccm uneafy to them now, or in the whole courfe of
the voyage. With thefe, and other healing argu-
ments, all appeared eafy and quiet, and every man
feemed willing to ftand to what had been done, pro*
vided the gendemen, that were officers, and not failors
amongft us, had not fuch large mares, which they
alledged were unreafonable j and that they could not
poffibly.
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 175
poflibly, in a privateer, deferve what they were al-
lowed, in proportion to the (hip's company. This
we did in pari yield to, in order to appeale thefe male-
contents 1 tor difputes about plunder are the common
occalionof privateers quarrelling amongft themfeives,
and ruining their voyages. Another paper was drawn
up, for every man to lwear what cloaths, goods, &c
he hid received of the agent1:, and to reftore what-
ever he had taken without the agents knowledge, in
order to a juft dirtribution of the plunder ; and every
one was to oblige himfelf in a penalty of twenty (hil-
lings for every milling value that lhould be found
about him concealed, befides the former penalty
agreed on, of lofmg his (hare of any prize or pur-
chafe, for concealing above the value of half a piece of
eight. And, for the encouragement of difcoveries,
the informer was to have half the penalty, and the
protection of the commander. This paper was ob-
jected to by fevcral of the officers, who infifted, that
there ought to be a greater latitude allowed them to
advantage themlelvcs, fince they had ventured their
lives thither on (o difficult an undertaking This
made us defer figning it till a better opportunity ; for,
unlefs fuch agreements as thefe had been constantly
promoted, as occalion required, the temptation of in- .
terett would have ma-ie us fall into irrecoverable con-
fuiions aboard, which generally end in a feparaticn, or
worfe.
Some time afier this, I propofed another thing,
which, I thought, would prove very a Ivamageous
for our owners, and the common imereft ; and this
was, the fending captain Cooke, in the Marquis, with
a cargo of our prize-goods, to the Brafils-, which
commifiion he would have executed. By this I pro-
pofed to lave our provi lions, fince he would not have
required any great ltock for that voyage, and, confe-
quently, might have remained longer in the South
Seas. In the next place, I propofed profit -, tor thefe
goods would have come to an extraordinary market at
1 the
176 THE VOYAGE OF
the Brafils,. and have yielded twice or thrice as much
as we could make of them any other way: and, laftly,
after fecuring, in this manner, To considerable an -ad-
vantage on our voyage, as we mult have reaped from
the produce of thefe goods, our fhips had been fuffici-
endy provided for attacking the Acapuloo (hip. But
my contorts did not understand, or at leaft would not
approve, thefe reafons \ and fo the project fell to the
ground, which they, however, repented afterward,
when it was too late. -
On the 7th, we gave fig. Morel 1 and Navarre their
fhips, and all the goods we could not carry away, for
what money our agents received of them. As for- the
effects in the bark, we agreed for 12,000 pieces of
eight, which, with 3000 there remained or the old
debt for the ranfom of Guiaquil, made 15,000 in the
whole, and which were to be brought in twelve days.
Captain Cooke valued the money now on board, for
the ufe of the owners, 20,000 pounds, and the goods
at 60,000 pounds. We gave thefe gentlemen a pa-
per, which might ferve to prated them, in.cafe they
fell into the hands of the Spaniards ; and we intended
to have taken an acknowledgment under their hands,
as to the particulars of the bargain; but the bark
failed away from us in the night.
I cannot help taking notice here of the honourable
behaviour of our crew during the time thefe prifoners
were on board, in order to fhew how much they re-
garded the credit of their commiffion, and of their
country. Amongft our prifoners taken on board fig.
Navarre's fhip from Panama, there was a gentlewo-
man, and her family -, her eldeft daughter, a pretty
young woman, of about eighteen, was newly married,
and had her hufband with her. We affigned them the '
great cabin aboard the galleon •, and none were fufler-
. cd to intrude amongft them, or to feparate their com-
pany : yet the hufband (I was told) f hewed marks of
jealoufy, the Spaniards epidemic difeafe. But, I
hope, he had not the leaft reafon for it amongft us.
We
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. i77
Vc had notice thefe ladies had concealed treafurc
about them, and ordered a female negro, that we
took, and who fpoke Englilh, to fearch them narrow-
ly ; and (he found fome gold chains, and other things,
cunningly hid under their cloaths. We gave them
molt of their wearing-apparel and neceflaries, with
three female mulatto fiaves, and parted very friendly.
They confefled to our people, who put them on
mure, that we had been much civiller than they did
expect, or believed their countrymen would have been
in the Uke cafe ; and fent back the hufband with gold,
to purchaic fome goods and two (laves of us.
Gorgona lies in 3° north latitude, about fix leagues
from the main, and is about 3 leagues in length, buc
narrow. At a diihmce it appears Uke three hills. It
is full of wood and till trees, among them is the Palma
Maria, of which the Spaniards make malts, and from
it a balfam iiTu.es, that is efteemed efficacious in feve-
ral difeaies. It has a variety of trees and plants pecu-
liar to thefe hot climates. The animals found here
are monkeys, Guinea-pigs, hares, lizards, and lion-
lizards, which change their colours, and are fine crea-
tures.
Auguft r 1, we failed, and the next morning came
up the bark which created lo much uneafinefs; and
put Mr. Selkirk and his crew on board her. As our
lhips were but very thinly manned, and there was
likely to be more actions than fince we had been in
thefe feas, it was therefore thought advifeable to
recruit a little ; which, confidering where we were,
will feem a hole extraordinary: but the myftery will
be very foon explained, by my telling the reader, that,
on the 1 6th, we muttered die negroes on board the
Puke, and found them thirty-five, ftrong able fel-
lows, fit for lervice. When they were together, I
told them, that, if they would behave bravely, and
aft faithfully, their flavery was at an end; on which
thirty-two of them engaged, and defired they might
be improved in the ufc of arms, which fome of them
V*~ HI. N already
m
,78 ' THE VOYAGE 0*F
already uaderftood ■, - adding, that, if I would allow
them arms and powder, thefe would teach the reft.
Upon' this, I made Michael Kendall, the Jamaica
free negro, who deferred from the Spaniards to us at
Gorgona, their leader ; and charged him to be conti-
nually exercifing them, becaufe I did not know how
foon we might mecr. with an enemy: I took down,
the names of thole that had any ; and thofc that want-
ed, I bellowed names on them ; and, to confirm our
contract, I made them drink a dram all round, to our
good fuccefc. At the fame time, 1 gave them bays
for cloaths; and told them, they mult look upon
chemlclves as Englifhmcn, and no more as negro
flaws Co the Spaniards •, at which they cxprefied
ehemfelves highly pleafcd.
The next morning,' we faw a fail ; and both the
Duchefe and we gave chace, and took her in an hour's
time. She was a veflel of feventy tons, and had four-
and-twenty negroes, men and women, in her. After
this, we flood over to the bay of Jecames, where the
Indians are free j and, with much-ado, by the help
of a prieft, entered on trade with them. On the
27th, we began to heel and clean our lhips bottoms}
and fent ieveral of our bed failors, and two carpen-
ters, to aflift the Marquis afhore. Our men kept
one half at arms, while the reft loaded the boats, left
the Indians, who are generally treacherous, mould
watch an opportunity to fall on them. Our people,
that came off the fhore, took particular notice, that
the red paint, with which the Indians were firft daub-
ed, was a declaration of war-, and, after we had
amicably treated with them, they rubbed it off} but .
itill kept their arms. We lent them three large wooden
Spanifh faints, that we. had out of Morell's lliip, to
adorn their church ; which they accounted a great
■prefent : and I fent a feathered cap to the chief In-
dian's wife ; which was likewife very well accepted :
and I had a prefent of bows and arrows in requital.
■In the mean time, our linguift and prifoner managed
their
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 179
their buiinefs beyond expectation, lelling very ordi-
nary bays at one piece or eight and an half per yard,
and other things in proportion ; lb that we had pro-
visions very cheap.
On September 1, we failed from thence ; and, on
the 6th, captain Courtney, captain Cooke, and cap-
tain Dampier, dined on board of me, when captain
Cooke complained of his fhip being crank -, and that
we need not have tacked fo near the more, fince we
might eafily have fetched the Gallapagos without
tacking. All agreed to this, except our pilot, Dam-
pier, who was poflrive of feeing other lands about
100 or 110 leagues from the main, under the equinox.
1 la cold us, he was at them formerly, and has de-
Jcribed them in one of his voyages; and that ihofe
iihnds we were at, lay to the welt of them: but we
judged him miftaken, or we had feen them in the laft
runs to and from thele iflands. On the 8th, we ran
over and beyond where our pilot affirmed the iflands
wsrej fo that we all agreed, that the iflands he was
ar, when a bucanneering, could be no other, but
thofe we were at, and were going to now, the neareil
part of tfiem lying 165 leagues to the weftward of
the main-land.
Tin- fame day, we made one of the Gallauagos
illandi-, and, the next day, hoifted out our p'nnace:
captain Dover and Mr. Glendall went in for thVfhore.
TheDuchefs's pinnace returned very foon, ladeA with
turtles. Jn the mean time, we'eame to an an.'tior in
about thirty fathom water, about two miles offihore,
being rocky at bottom. In letting izo the anchor, the
buoy-rope was immediately cut off, and our fhip
drove; fo that we thought our cable wis alfo cut:
but, after driving about half a mile, die ihip rode
very well. We fent our yawl and fame men alhore,
to turn fame turtles in the night: but to no purpofe-,
becaufe wc afterward found, they only came alhore in
the day.
N 3, On
i8o ■ THE VOYAGE OF'
On the 1 3th, the Duchefe's people having informed
us where they got their land turtles, I lent our pin-
nace, which, at night, returned with thirry-feveni and
fo the fait they found in a pond -, and the yawl brought
twenty fea turtles: fo that we were very full of them.
Some of the largcft of the land turtles are about 100
pounds weight; and thole of the fea upwards of 400.
The land turtles laid eggs on our deck. Our men
brought fome from the fhore, about the bignefs of a
goofe's egg, white, with a large thick {hell, exactly
round.
Thefe creatures are the ugUeft in nature; the fhell
not unlike the top of an old hackney-coach, as black
as jet; and fo is the outfide flan, but Ihrivelled, and
very rough. The legs and neck are long, and about
the bignefs of a man's wrift; and they have club-feet,
as big as one's fift, fhaped much like thofe of an ele-
phant, with five thick nails on the fore-feet, and but
four behind; and the head little, and vifage {hull, like
fhakes ; and look very old and black. When at firft
furprifed, they ihrink their neck, head, and legs, un-
der then* fhell. Two of our men, with Heutentant
Stratum, and the trumpeter of die Duchefs, affirm
they faw vaft large ones of this fort, about four feet
high-^ They.mounted two men on the back of one of
them* which, with its ufual (low pace, carried them,
and never regarded the weight. They fuppofed this
could not weigh lels than 700 lb. I do not affect giv-
ing relations of ftrange' creatures, fo frequently done
by others 1 but where an uncommon creature falls in
my way, I cannot omit it. The Spaniards tell us,
they know of none elfewhere in thefe teas; but they
are common in Brafil.
On the 15th, we had afine breeze, came up to the
reft, and agreed to lie by, with our heads to the eaft-
ward, till midnight, being in fight of the rock, where
we loft: po»i* I ladey, , when lalt here. On the 16th
at four o'clock in the afternoon, we lent our yawl
for
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 181
for captain Cooke and captain Courtney, with whom
we agreed to bear away, feeing fo many iflands and
rocks to the weftward, we did not care to incumber
ourleivsrs among them in the night. By fix, we found
the remedy worfe than the difeafe, and, at nuft-head,
could fee -all low rocks, almoft joining from ifland tc*
ifland, that we teemed land-locked for three points of
thf ccmpals, and no way open, but to the fouth-caft,
from whence we came; fo we refolved to return that
way, and made Ihort trips all night, keeping conti-
nual founding, for fear of lholes, and had from forty
to fixty fathom water. In the morning, we had got
far enough 10 windward to return. We could have no
obfervarion, the fun being in our zenith, tho* we found
the weather here much colder, than in any latitude
within ten degrees of each fide the equator. The Du-
chefs (not beina ib well provided with turtle as we)
lent her boat afhore on another ifland, where they got
her lading of excellent turtle, leaving a vaft number
on Store that they could not bring away. We had as
many aboard as we had room for. At (even we all
joined, and agreed to lie by till two in the morning,
whence we continued our courfe, with an eafy fail,
till break-day; we were abreaft of the Thorough-
fare, where we tried for water the laft time. •
I ordered a gun to be fired at a venture, to fee if
it were poffible Mr. Hatley could be there alive, and
then feeing, or hearing us, might make a fmoke on
iliore, as a fignal ; but we had no i'uch good luck;
fo that our hopes for him were all vanifhed, and, we
final1)* concluded, that we could do no more for him,
than we had done already. The 18th and 19th,
we faw feveral more iflands, one of them a large one,
which we fuppoicd reached near the Equinoctial, and
abundance of I'm a 11 iflands betwixt us. The 19th at
noon, we had an indifferent good obfervation, lati-
tude 2" %' north. W:e law in all (fome that wc
fearched, and others that we viewed at a diftance at
both times) no lei's than fifty, but none that had the
N 3 lean;
i8? THE- yOYA)GE. OF
leaft appearance. of frefh water. Sig. Morell. tells
me, that a Spanifh man of war, employed to crime
for pirates, waspnee at an ifland that lies by itfelf in .
latitude i°.io' or jo fourh; they called it St, Maria
del Aquada, a plealanc ifland, and good road, fuH
qf wood, and plenty of water, and turtle of both
for.ts( with fiflv&c. lying about 14.0 Spanifh leagues
weft from the ifland of Plata; but,. I believe, it is
at leaft thirty leagues more, and that it is no other
but the fame ifland .where captain Davis, the Englifh
hueanncer, recruited; and all the light he has left to
jrjnd it again, is, that it lies to the weftward or.thefc
iflands he was at with the other bucanneers, which,
as. I' have before examined, can be no other than
thefe iflands we had been twice at. We had no oc-
■*afion to look for this ifland the fecond trip, though,
I believe, it is eafy to find it omewithom farther di-
rections.
: :< Here are moil forts of fea-birds among thefe
iflands, and fome land-birds, particularly hawks of
ieveral forts, and . turtle-doves, both fo very tame,
that we often hit them down with flicks. ■ I faw no
Jbrjta of bealbj but (here are guanas in abundance,
and land-turtle almoft on every ifland. It is ttrange
how the latter got. here; becaule they cannot come of
themfelves, and none of that fort are found on the
main. Seals haunt fome of thefe iflands, but not fo
numerous, nor their fur fo good, as. at Juan Fer-
nandez: a very large one made at methree feveral
times, and, had I not happened to have a pike-ftafF,
pointed with iron, in my hand, I might have been
killed by him 1 1 was" on the level land when he came
open mouthed at me, out of the water, as quick and
fierce as the moft angry dog let loofe: I ftruck the
point into his bread, and wounded him all the three
times he made at me; which forced him at laft to re-
tire, with an ugly nofe, marling, and Ihewing his long
teeth at me out of the water. This amphibious beaft
,-ft'^j as big as a large bear.
7 On
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 1J3
On the firft of October we made the main Und of
Mexico. Our buimels now was, to look for the
iflands called Trcs Marias, to procure fome refrcfep-
nunts; and found this a work of dilTiculiy, being
very uncertain as to their filuatiun. On the 4th \a-
the afternoon, Cape Corientes bor^ call north-eaft
about ten leagues : the next morning, being verjr
clear weather, we difcovered two iflands at the dil-
tance of fourteen leagues, one bearing north by weft,
the other north by eaft. At noon we had an obfer-
vation, and found ourfelves in the latitude of ao° 45'
north. The fight of thefe iflands was very fatisfec-
tory i for, though our men had their fill of land and
lea- turtle, which kept them from the fcurvy, yet [
found [hem weak, it being but a faint tort of food,
except they had enough bread or flour with itj
whereas they had but a pound and a quarter of bread
or flour for live men a day -, which was done to pro-
long our ftock of bread againft we came to live wholly
on our fait provifions, and mould be then forced to
allow more.
On the 6th, we fent lieutenant Fry, in the pin*
nace, on fhore, on the eaftermoft iiknid, to try whe-
ther there was any good road or conveniency for us
to recruit there. At nine they returned, and told
me, the ifland had ioul ground near half a mile from
the fhore, bad anchorage, worfe landing, and no
frefij water, but wood enough. A melancholy fat<
to us, our water growing Ihort. We haled on a
wind for the middle ifland, which captain Dampier,
1 believe, can remember he was at, when he belong-
ed to captain Swan, and found water. Having little
wind, we fent our boat towards the ifland, to view jt»
before we could get up thither with the fhip. Th«
DuchelVs people, and our pinnace, had been alhore at
fevcral places on the fouth-eaft fide of the ifland, and
found better water at every place. On the Sih, thofe
that had been on the ifland reported, they law no Ago
of any people having been lately there, but found a hu-
N 4 (i
i>4 THE VOYAGE OF
man fkull above ground ; which we fuppofed to be One
of the two Indian captains Dampicr tells us were left
here by captain Swan about twenty-three years ago :
for victuals being fcarcewith thcfe bucanneers, they
would not carry the poor Indians any farther-, but,
after they had ferved their turns, left them to make
a miferable end on a defolate ifland.
We kept a light out all night, and a fire in the
ifland,. that, if the Marquis and. bark, who had left
company, faw it, and had a gale, they might come
into anchor-ground: but, having no fight of them
at day-break, I went on board our contort, and pro-
pofed my going out to look after them ; but they
made light of it, and thought it nccdlefs, believing
they would be in after us without any afliliance. The
recruit of cattle, hogs and plantains, at Fccames,
held to the Gallapagos ; and we fed on the turtle
ever fince, excepting thole two laft days. This ac-
cidental flock of frefh food was fome refrefhment to
Our men, and prolonged our Bock of European pro-
visions. On the 9th, I fent lieutenant Glendall to
view the other fide of the ifland ; and he told me,
on his return, that it was much better than this, had
feveral fandy bays, in which he faw the track of many
turtle. Upon this intelligence, I fent back the boat
thither in the evening, and next morning they came
aboard with a full load of turtle, and left another be-
hind them ready turned; and, which was of much
greater confequence, they found tolerable good water ;
whereas what we had hitherto drank was phyfical, and
nprged exceflively. As we wooded, watered, and
furmfhed ourfelves with frem provifions here,* and as
thefe are places very little known, I (hall defcribe
them.
The iflands of Tres Marias lie north-weft, in a
range, about four leagues afunder. The largeft
Ifland is "the weftermoft. ' which appears to be high
double land, and above five leagues in length ; the
middle ifland about three league.? the longeft way j
and.
and
fcigl
Z
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 185
the eaftermolt fcarce two leagues : thefc arc alio
igh lands, and full of trees. Near the leaft ifland
arc two or three fmall, broken, white illands. One of
the oiitermoit of thefc appeared fo much like a ihip
under fail at a diftance, that we gave the ufual fignal
tor a chace, but foon found our mirtai;e. Thefc
iflands have abundance of different forts of parrots,
igeons, doves, and other land birds, of which we
illed great numbers, with excellent hares, but much
:fs than ours : we (aw abundance of guanas, and
ime raccoons-, the latter barked and fnarlcdat us like
3gs, but were eafily beat off with flicks. I think
ic water more worthy of remark than any thing we
w here; b-caufc we found but two good fprings,
which ran down in large ftreams near others, that
were very bitter and di [agreeable, which, I fuppofe,
might proceed from fhrubs and roots that grow in
the water, or from ibme mineral.
The turtle here are very good, but of a different
lhape from any I have ken-, and. though vulgarly
there are reckoned but three forts of turtle, we have
feen fix or feven different forts.at fcveral times ; and
our people have eat of them all, except the very large
whooping or loggerhead turtle, (as they are called)
found in Brafil in great plenty, and fome of them
above 500 lb, weight : we did not eat of that fort,
becaufe then our provifions were plentiful. Thofe at
the Gallapagos illands, both male and female, I ob-
fcrved, came afnore in the day time, and not in the
night, quite different from what I have feen or heard
of the reft. All that we caught in this ifland, was
by turning them in the night, and were females which
came afhore to lay their eggs in the dry fand ; one
of thefc had 800 eggs in its belly, 1 50 of which were
ready for laying
I could not imagine, that turtle were fix weeks in
hatching, as fome authors wrhe, coniidering [he fun
makes the fand fo. very hot where-ever thofc eggs
are found -, and that inftead of a fhell, they have no-
thing
186 THE VOYAGE OF
thing but a very thin film : in order therefore to be
better informed, I ordered fame of our men on fllore
to watch carefully for one, and fuffcr her to lay her. .
eggi without difturbance, and to take good notice
of the time and place. Accordingly they did fo,
and allured -me, they found the eggs addled in left
than twelve hours ; and, in about twelve hours more*
they had young ones in them, completely fhaped, and
altve : had we (laid a little longer, 1 might have given
myfelf, and others, thorough fatisfaftion in this quick
production of tortoifes : from whence 1 am inclinable
to credit the report of divers of oue tailors, who aflcrty
that where they have found eggs in the fand, and
looked for them in three days time after, in the lame
place, they found nothing but films : this fh=ws, that
the young ones are hatched within that time. They
affured me alfo, that they had obferved, more than
once, that the young brood run out of the fand every;
day, directly for the fea, in great numbers, and
quicker than the old ones. There was little fifh about
the fliores of this ifland, and of the fame forts men-
tioned at other places in thefe feas ; but.tbe plenty o£
turtle, at this time, fupplied the defect, r We found
good anchor-ground about this middle ifland, and
gradual foundings, from twenty to four fathom wa-
ter, clofe by the fhore. Between this and the leaft
ifland, it is about the fame depth, as where we wens.
Between them I found no fhual, but what was vifible j
as a rock off the fouth-weft point, and a fhoal off the
north- eafl point of the fame, with another at a great
diftance from that point of thdeaft ifland. but neither
runs above half a mile from the more.
On the ift of November we faw high-lands, which
proved the point of California, or that head-land
which the failors rail Cape St. Lucas. It was now ne«
cefTary to put in execution the rules we had formerly
laid down for cruifing; as alio to fettle our regulations
about plunder, and again It gaming ; all which was
done on the eleventh. According to our agreement*
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 18^
mine was to betheoutermoft fhip the Du-hefs in the
middle, and the Marquis next the land ; the neareft
/hip to be fix leagues at leaft, and nine at molt, from
the fhore-, the bark to ply to-and-fro, and carry ad-
vice tVcm fhip to fhip. By this agreement, we could
fpread fifteen leagues, and fee any thing that might
pals M in the day within twenty leagues of the fhore-,
and, to prevent the fhip? palling in the night, we
we-rc to ply to windward all day, and drive all night.
On the fifth uf November we changed our fituation,
and the Duchefs was next the (bore, and the Marquis
in the middle. It gave us great la t intact ion, to con-
fuier. that in this very place, and about this very
day. Sir Thomas Candiih took the Manilla fhip.
On the 16th, we lent the bark to look for water
on the main; and the next morning they R-tumed,
having fcen wild Indians, who paddled to ihem oti
bark-logs : they were fearful of coming near our peo-
ple at firlt, but were foon prevailed with to accept of
a kniie or two, and fome bays; for which they re-
turned two bladders of water, a couple of live foxes,
and a dser's-fkin. Till now, we thought the Spa-
niards had miiTionaries among thefe people -, but they
being naked, having no fign of KurOpean com-
modities, nor the leaft word of Spanifh, we concluded
they were quite favage. We difpatched the bark
and boat a fecond time with trifles, in hopes to get
fome refrefhment from them.
On the t8ch, before fun-fet, we could perceive
our bark under the fhore •, and, having little wind,
|he drove mod part of the night, to be near us in the
morning. We fent out our pinnace, and brought the
men a.board, who told us, that their new acquaint-
ance were grown very familiar, but were the pooreft
wretches in nature, and had no manficr of Rtre/h-
metlt far us: they came freely aboard to eat fomedf
our victuals, and by figns, invited our men afhoT.
The Indians fwam afhore to guide the bark-logs that
ur men were on, there being too much fra to land
out
i88 THE VOYAGE OF
oat of our boat. After they got fafc on more, the
Indians led each of our men betwixt two of them, up
the bank, where there was an old naked gentleman,
with a deer (kin fpreadon the ground, on which
they kneeled before our people, who did the like,
and wiped the water off their faces without a cloth.
Thefe that led them from the water fide, rook the
fame care of them for a quarter of a mile, and led
them very (lowly, through a narrow pafs, to their
huts, where they found a. dull mufician, rubbing two
jagged (licks acrofs each other, and humming to it,
to divert and welcome their new gucfts. After thefe
Ceremonies were over, our people fat on the ground
with them, eat broiled filh, and were attended back
in the fame manner, with the Indian mufic. The
iavages brought a fample of every thing they bad*
. except their women, children, and arms, which we
find are not common to ftrangers. Their knives,
made of (harks teeth, and a few other of their curio-
fittcs, our people brought aboard to me, which I
prelbrved, to mew what (hifts may be made.
On the 28th in the afternoon, we heard the Mar-
quis fire a gun, which was anfwercd by the Duchets,
vho had the middle birth. We tacked immediately,
and made all poGible fail, fuppofing they had feen a
ftranger. The Marquis Uood to us, toward the
(here, and we foon met here : by four o'clock I was
aboard them, and inquired into the caufe of the
alarm -, was furprifed to hear they took us for the
Manilla (hip, and the gun they fired, was to alarm
the Duchefs to give chace, as (he had done all the
day, though not regarded by us, who knew the
Marquis, and admired they could mistake the Duke.
Immediately each (hip returned to his (lation. Soon
after our main ticgave way, and our main yard came
down at once, but did no other damage. Next
morning we faw the bark coming off (hore, where
fhe had been becalmed: being longer wanting than
ufual, we were afraid they were cut off by the Indian.;.
On
CAPTAIN WOODE.S ROGERS. 189
On the 9th of December, Mr. Duck, the matter of
the bark, came aboard, and preferred me with fome
dolphins he had from the Indians. I ordered our
matter to go with him, and endeavour, if poffible,
to diicover the more along to the northward, to find
out a better harbour than that where the Indians
lived ■, and. if they met with the Duchefs, to tell
captain Courtney, I thought it convenient for one of
the Ihips to go into the bay we had already diicover- ,
ed, and there to take in water and wood, &c. fo to
fit our Ihips by turns, to fave time, and, conle-
quently, piovitions, which be^nn now to grow Ihort
with us. We were a'fo fomething dubious of feeing
the Manilla Ihips, becaufe it was near a month after
the time they generally fall in with this coail where
we were cruifing for them -, but. what embarrafTed
us moft was, the impodibility of procuring any in-
telligence which might deliver us from this perplexi-
ty. To aft with judgment and ipirit in fo nice a con-
juncture, it was refolved on the 4th, that the Mar-
quis Ihould go into the harbour, in order to refit j
that 1 and the duke Ihould keep the outward birth,
and the Duchefs remain between us and the fhore.
It was like-wile fixed, that we Ihould cruife but eight
days longer in hopes of this Manilla fhip.
On confidering our provifions, we found the bread
on board all the Ihips, at our prefent (hort allowance,
for about feventy days at moil. Our run to Guam,
one of the Ladrones, could not poflibly be perform-
ed in lefs than fifty days; which added to the time
we were ftiil to remain here, made it evident, that,
on our arrival there, we Ihould have bread only for
eleven days: and, even then, we ran two hazards;
the firft, that our voyage might be longer, and,
in that cafe, our bread mutt fail, before we ar-
rived at Guam -, the other, that, in cafe we had fuch
a remainder of bread when we came there, it was
not quite certain, that we Ihould obtain a fupply.
Yet, at all events, we were obliged to relblve upon
this
t£» THE VOYAGE OF
this courfc, becaufe it was Amply impofilble for uj to
go round by Cape Horn, and fo to the Brafils, where
we might have fold our goods to vaft advantage*
and made our voyage back to Great Britain in much
lefs time.
The thoughts of all theft difficulties naturally made
Us a tittle mehncholy : however, on the 2 i ft of De-
cember, we bore away for the port where the Marquis
was refitting; but, about nine in the morning, the
man at the maft-head cred out, that he faw a fail,
befides the Duchefs and bark, diftant about feven
leagues from us. We hoifted bur enfign immediate-
ly, and bore away after her-, the Duchefs did the
Eke^ but, it falling calm, I ordered the pinnace to be
manned, and lent out, to make what (he was. In the
mean time, our (hip's company were ftrangely divid-
ed in their opinion : fo.tie^were very pofitive, that it
was the Marquis come out of port; and, to confirm
this, they aflcrted. that jhe fail had no fore top-maft;
upon which we recalled the pinnace, put a cap aboard
her for the Marquis, and then fent her away again •,
and by this time it was noon. AH the reft of the day
we had very little wind, fo that we made no great
way ; and the boat not returning, kept us in a lan-
guifhing condition, not being able to determine,
whether the fail was our confort the Marquis, or the
Acapulco ftiip. Our pinnace was ftill in light, and
we had nothing to do but to watch her motions: wc
could fee, that me made towards the Duchels's pin-
nace, which rowed to meet her : they lay together
fome time, and then the Duchefs's pinnace went
'back to their (hip, which gave us gre.it hopes.
In order to obtain fome certainty, I ordered Mr.
Fry on board the Duchefs, in our yawl, to know
what that fhip was, and to agree, if the was not the
Marquis, how to engage her: as foon as the yawl
was gone, we hoifted French colours, and fired a
gun, which the ftranger anfwered ; and this in fome
jneafure, cleared the doubt. Mr. Fry, however,
quickly
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 191
quickly returned, with die joyful news, that this was
really the Manilla lliip, for which we had waited fo
long, and of feeing which we began now to dtfpair.
This revived all our courage, and every body was
as active in preparing for (he engagement, as we
could poJTibly dcfire. The thoughts of being made
at once, difpcrfed all our melancholy reflections
on the fkortnels of our provilions, and our long run
to Guam.
We had now nothing in our heads, but being
mailers of the mighty treafure on board this India
ibip; and every moment lcemed an hour, till we
came up with her. We agreed the two pinnaces
ihould lend her all night, and keep (hewing falie
fires, that we might know whereabout they and the
chace were ; and if we were to fortunate as to come
up with her together, we agreed to board her at once.
We made a clear (hip before night, had every thing
in readincls to engage her at day- break, and kept a
very good look-out all night for the boat's falfe
fires, which we faw, and anfwered frequently. At
day- break we (aw the chace upon our weather- bow,
about a league from us, the Ducheis a-head of her
to leeward, near about half as far. Towards fix our
boat came aboard, having kept very near the chace
all the night, and received no damage-, but told us,
the Uuchcfs palled by her in the night, and (he fired
two mot at them, but they returned none. We had
no wind, but got out eight of our lhip's oars, and
rowed above an hour* then there fpiung up a fmall
breeze.
I ordered a large kettle of chocolate to be made
for our lhip's company (having no fpirituous' liquor
to give them)i then we went to prayers, and, before
we had concluded, were difturbed by the enemy's fir-
ing at us. They had barrels hanging at each yard-
arm, that looked like powder- barrels, to deter us
from boarding thcn>. About eight o'clock we began
-
i92 THE VOTAGE OF
to engage her by ourfelves ; for the Duchefs, being
to leeward, and having little wind, did not cook up.
The enemy fired her ftern-chace upon us firrt, which
we returned with our fore-chace feveral times, till we
came nearer j and, when clofe aboard each other, we
gave her feveral broadfides, plying our ("mall arms
very brifkly, which they returned as thick for a
while, but did not ply their great guns half fo faft a*
we. After fome time, we Ihot a little a head of
them, lying thwart her hawle, clofe aboard; and
plied them fo warmly, that [he foon (truck her co-
tours two-thirds down. By this time the Ducbefi
came up, and fired about five guns, with a volley of
final! fhot; but the enemy, having fubmitted, nude
no return.
We fent our pinnace aboard, and brought the cap-
tain. With the officers, away; and, having examined
them, found there was another fhip come out of Ma-
nilla with them, of larger burden, having about forty
brafs guns mounted, and as many pattereroes ; but,
they told us, they loft her company three months
ago, and reckoned me was got to Acapulco- before
■ this time, (he failing better than this fhip. This
prize was called by the fwelling name of Noftra Se-
niora de la Incarnation Difengamo, fir John Pichberty
commander; (he had twenty guns, twenty pattere-
roes, and 193 men aboard, whereof nine were killed,
ten wounded, and feveral blown up with powder.
We engaged them about three glafies; in which
time, we had only myfelf and another man wounded.
I was (hot through the left check ; the bullet (truck
away great part of my upper jaw, and feveral of my
teeth, part of which dropt down upon the deck,
where I fell: the other, William Powell, an Irifb
landman, was (lightly wounded in the buttock.
They did us no great damage in our rigging, but a
(hot difabted our mizen-maft. I was forced to write
what I would fay, to prevent the lofs of blood, sad
becauie of the pain I fuffered by fpeaking,
On
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS.
J9S
* On the 23d of September, after we had put our,
ihips to rights, we flood in for the harbour, which
wai dilhnt about feven leagues to the north-eaft'
Our furgeons went on board the prize, to drci's their
wounded men. About four iii the afternoon we
came to anchor, and received the compliments of all
on board the Marquis, on bur fu'dden and unexpected
luccels, and which afforded us no fmall iatisfaction : '
we found that Ihip in good condition, ready to fail,
and all the men on board her very brifk, and eager
for action. At eight in the evening, we had a con-
futation on the two great points; firft, what fhould
be done with the hoflages •, and, next, how wc fhould
aft with refpect to the other Manilla fhip, which wc
thought there was at leaft a great probability of our
taking, if we could remain here a little longer. We
agreed that it would be bed, fmce we 'had good rea-
fon co believe the holt ages from Guiaquil, and the
commander of the Manilla (hip, who was a French
gentleman, viz. the chevalier Jean Pichberti, bro-
ther to the famous Mr. du Cais, to be men of flrid"t
honour -r to make the beft terms poffible, and then fee
them at liberty. As to the other, we met with
greater difficulty. I was very defuous of going out
with the Ducheis to cruife for the other Manilla Ihipj
but there having been fume reflections cart, on ac-
count of the Duchefs not engaging our lall prize fo
foon as it was thought fhe might have done, captain
Courtney was abfolutcly bent on going out wirh the
Marquis: and the officers of both ihips voting for
this in the committee, my propofal was overruled,
and we were forced to flay in the harbour againftour
will. It was, however, agreed, that we fhould put
ten of our belt hands on board the Ducheis. that ibe
might be the better able to attack the Acapulco Ihip,
if Die faw her; and, on Chriftmas-eve, fhe and the
Marquis failed. As foon as they were gone, we put
part of the goods aboard the bark into the prize, in
order to fend away our prilbners. The agreement we
Vol. III. O made
104. THE VOYAGE OF
made with them was this : as there were ftlll 400*
pieces of eight due for the ranfom of Guiaquil, we
agreed to fell them the bark and cargo for 2000
more *, and to take the chevalier Pichberti's bills*.
parable in London, for the round fum of 6000
pieces of eight -, which he very readily gave us, and
ajn acknowledgment under his hand, that he thought.
it a good bargain.
: On Chriltmas-day we polled two centinels on the,
top of an hill, from whence they had a fair view of
the fea, with inftruclions, whenever they faw three
fai) of (hips in the offing, to make three wafts, with
their colours, that we might have time enough tp.fc-
cure our prifoners, and to get out to the relief of our
contorts -, which indeed we expected, as having cer-
tain intelligence that this was a much ftronger ihip.
than the other, better manned, and better provided
in all refpefts ; fo that, if fhe was carried, it muft
prove very hard work on both fides, for which, we-
were to prepare. On the 26th, in the afternoon, the
centinels made three wafts, and we immediately feat
the yaul to them for better fausfaftion, and found
there were three fail out at fea : upon which we in-
ftandy put all' the prifoners aboard the bark, taking
away her fails, and fetched our men aboard, leaving,
only twenty-two hands belonging to us aboard the.
prize, to keep, affift. and look after them. The-
prifoners, who were about 1 70, being fecured aboard
our bark, without arms, rudders, fails, or a boat,,
and moored near a mile from our prize, a few more
of our men than was fufficient to give them vi&uals,
and drink, might have guarded them very iafclyi
yet for the more fecurity, we left a lieutenant of each.
ihip, and the above men well armed, aboard our
prize, and immediately weighed, in order to go and
affift our contorts to attack the great Ihip when me
came in fight. Captain Dover thought fit to go on
board the prize, and exchange pofts with one of the.
lieu-
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. \$$
lieutenants that guarded the prilbners, and fent him
to us in his {lead.
I was in fo weak a condition, and my head and
throat 16 much fwelled, that I yet fpake in great pain,
and not loud enough to be heard at any diftance ; fo
chat all the reft of the chief officers, and our furgeons,
would have perfuaded me to (lay in the harbour in
fafety aboard our prize. We weighed our anchors,
and got under fail at ieven o'clock. ; we faw lights fc-
veral times in the night, which we took to be our con-
torts boats making falfe fires.
In the morning, at day-break, we faw three fail to
the windward of us ; but were lb far diftant, that we
could not make which were our conforts, and which
the Chace, till about nine o'clock, when we law the
Dutchefs and Chace near together, and the Marquis
ftanding to them with all the fail ihe could croud.
We made what fail we could, but were to leeward
of them three or four leagues, and having a fcant
wind, made little way. At noon, they bore foilth-eaft
of us, being right to windward about three leagues.
In the afternoon, we faw the Marquis come up with
the Chace, and engage her pretty britklyj but foon
fell to leeward out of cannon-fhot, and lay a confi-
derable time, which made us think Ihe was lbme way
or other difabled. I ordered the pinnace to be man-
ned, and fent away to her ; and, if what we fufpect-
ed proved true, and we had no wind to get up with
them before night, our boat might dog the Chace with
fignals till the morning, that (he might not efcape us
and the other ihips-, but before the boat could gee
up with them, the Marquis made fail, and came up
with the Chace ; and both went to it again brifkly
for four glafles and upward. Then the Ihip, which
we took to be the Duchefc, fteered a-head to wind-
ward of the enemy, I fuppole to fix her rigging, of
Hop her leaks. Meanwhile the other ihip kept her
in play, till Ihe bore down again; and each firing a
broadfide or two, left off" becaufe it was dark. They
O 2 then
i96 . THE VOYAGE OF
then bore fbuth of us, which was right in the wind's
eye, diftant about two leagues.
: By' midnight we were pretty well' up with them,
and our boat came aboard, having nade fklfe fires,
which we anfwered. They had been aboard the Du-
chefs and the Marquis, and told me the' former had
her fore-maft much difablcd, and the ring of an an-
chor mac away, with feveral men wounded, and one
killed, having received a fhot in the powder-room,
and feveral in their upper works, But all ftopt -. they
engaged the fhip by themfelves the night before, which
was what we took to be the boats lights, being out
of the hearing of the guns, At that rime they could
perceive the enemy was in diibrder, her guns not
being all mounted, and confequenriy their netting-'
deck and clole-quarters unprovided ; lb that, had ic
been my good fortune in the Duke, to accompany the
Duchefs, as I defired, we all believed we might then
have carried this great fhip \ or if they in the Du-
, chefs, had thought of taking molt of the men out
of the Marquis, who did not fail well enough to
come up to their affiftance at firft, they alone, very
probably, might have taken her, by boarding at once,
before the Spaniards had experienced our ftrength ;
being afterward fo well provided, as encouraged them
to lie driving, and give us all opportunity to board
them when we pleaied. Captain Cooke lent me word,
that the Marquis had fired near all her fhot and pow-
der; but had efcaped very well, both in marts, rig-
ging, and men. I fent our boat with three barrels
of powder, and fhot in proportion, and lieutenant
Fry, to confult our contorts how to engage the ene-
my to . the bed advantage at break of day. The
Chace had made (ignals to our fhip all the day and
night, becaule fhe took us for her conforr, which
we had in pofleffion -, and, after it was dark, had
edged away to us, otherwise I fhould not have been
up with her, haying very litde wind, and that againft
as. 4
In
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS.
197
In the morning, as foon as it wa3 day, the wind
veering at once, put our (hip about, and t; U
fired tint Up6n the Duchefs, who, by mean^ of the
wind's veering, was rteareft the1 enemy : flu- returned
it Imartiy : we flood as near as feofpble, hring as our
guns came to be;ir: but the Duchefi being by this
time thwart ttfe haws, and finngvery faff, tKofefliot
that milled the enemy, flew from the Duchefs over
us, and betwixt our marts ; Jo that we ran the rifk of
t&Cdfvoi 'liore damage from them than from the
enemy, if we had lain on ner quarters and crofs her
ftern. as i deligned. while the enemy lay driving
there : this forced us to lay along-fide, clofe aboard
her, where we kept firing round-fliot, and did not
load with any bar or partridge, becaufe the (hip's
fides were too thick to receive any damage by it ;
and no men appearing in fight, it would have been a
clog to the force of our round-fhru.
We kept clofe aboard her, and drove as (he did,
as near as pofliblc : the enemy kept to their clofe-
quarters ; fo that we did not fire our finall arms till
we law a man appear, or a port open ; when we tired
as quick as polTible. Thus we continued for four
glalfes, about which time we received a fhot in the
main-malt, which much difabled it : foon after, the
Duchefs and we firing together, came back clofe un-
der the enemy, and had like to have been ail aboard
her: fo that we could make little ufe of our guns.
Then we fell a-ftern in our birth along fide, where
the enemy threw a fire ball out of one of her tops,
which lighting upon our quarter-deck, blew up a
cheft of arms and cartouch- boxes, all loaded, and
feveral cartridges of powder in the fteersge ; by
which means Mr. Vanburgb our agerrf, and a Dutch-
man, were very much burnt. - It might !uve done
more damage, had it not been quenched foort, Af-
ter we got clear of each other", the Dtichefs ftbod in
for the fhore, where flic lay braced to, mending her
rigging, &c. The Marquis fired feveral fhot, but
O j m
i?* THE VOYAGE OF
to little purpofe, her guns being fmall : we were clofe
aboard feveral times afterwards, till at laft we re-
ceived a fccond {hot in the main-maft, not fi»r from
the oth-r, which rent it miferably, and the maft fet->.
tied to it ; lb that we were afraid it would drop by
the board : and, having our rigging (battered very
much, we fleered off and brought to, making a fig-
nal to our contorts what to do : in the interim, We
got ordinary fifties for a fupport to the main-maft,
and fattened it as well as we could, to fecuic it at
prefent. .
' Captain Courtney and captain Cooke came aboard
with other officers ; where we conGdered the con-
dition the, three ihips were in, their mails and rig-
ging being much damaged, in a place where we
cou Id get no recruit ; that if we engaged her again,
we could propofe to do no more than what we had
already done, which was evident did her no great
hurt ; befide, our ammunition was very fhort, hav-
ing only enough to engage a few glaftea longer ; all
this being ferioufly confidered, and knowing the
difficulty we fhould have to get malls, and the lime
and proviGons we muft fpend before we could get
them fitted, we refolved to forbear attempting' oer
furfher, fince our battering her fignified little, and,
we had not ftrtngth enough to board her; there-:
fore we agreed to keep her company till night, 'the a
to Jofe her, and make the bed of our way into the
harbour, to fecure the prize we had already taken.
We engaged firft and laft about feven hours, dur-
ing all which time we had, aboard the Duke, but
eleven men wounded, three of whom were fcorched
with gun-powder.' I was again unfortunately wound^
ed in my left foot with a fplinter, juft before we
blew up on the quarter-deck j ib that I could not
fjtand, but lay on my back in a great deal of miferv^
part of my heel-bone being ftruck out, and all under
my ancle cut above half-through; which bled very
much, and weakened me before it could be drafted
. and
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 199
and flopped. The Duchefs had about twenty men
killed and wounded : three of the latter and one of
the former were my men. The Marquis had none
killed or wounded, but two fcorched with powder.
The enemy's was a brave lofty new fhip, the ad-
miral of Manilla, and this the firft voyage (lie had
made. She was called the Vigonia, of about 900
tons, and could carry fixty guns, about forty of
which were mounted, with as many pattereroes, all
brafs i her complement of men on board, as wc were
informed, was above 450, befide paflengers ; they
added, that 150 of the men on baard this great fhip
were Europeans, feveral of whom had been formerly
pirates, and having now got all their wealth aboard,
were refolvcd to defend it to the laft. The'gunner,
who had a poft in Manilla, was an expert man, and
had provided the fhip extraordinary well for defence,
which made them fight fo defperately. Thefe large
fhips are built at Manilla, with excellent timber, that
will not fplinter-, they have very [hick fides, much
ftronger than they build in Europe.
Thus ended our attempt on the biggeft Manilla
fhip, which I have heard related fo many ways at
home, that I thought it neceffary to fet down every
particular circumftance of it, as it flood in my jour-
nal. Had we been together at firft, and boarded
her, we might probably have taken this great prt2e;
but after the enemy had fixed her netting-neck and
clofe quarters, they valued us very little- I believe
alfo we might have burnt her with one of our ihips;
but that was objefled againfl by all the officers, be*
caufe we had goods of value on board all our fhips.
The enemy was the better provided for us, becaufe
th-:y had heard at Manilla, from our Englifh fettle-
ments in India, that there were two fmall fhips fitted
from Briftol, that defined to attempt fomewhat in
the South Seas, and that captain Dampier was pilot ;
which was the reafon they had fo many Europeans
aboard the great fbip, moft of whom having, as I
Q 4. fttf}
aoo THE VOYAGE OF
{aid, their wealth aboard, they would fight to the ut-
moA i and having agreed to pay no freight there, bad
filled up all between the guns with bales, to fecure
the men.
-.On January t, 1710, we returned again into port;
and as we were now determined to make as quick
difpatch as pofliblc, in our paffage to the Eaft Indies,
we immediately' parted with our prifoners, -giving
them the bark, with water and provifions fuiEcient
for their voyage to Acapulco. Then we applied
ourfelves to fettling our own affairs. We fpent our.
time to* the 7th in refitting, wooding, and watering;
and very fatisfadory it was. for us to find as much
bread on board the prize, as, with our old ftock,
might fupply us in our long run to Guam.
About this time, captain Courtney, and his offi-
cers, with thole on board the Marquis, were too wil-
ling to compliment captain Dover with the chief -com-
mand of the prize, which, till now, I thought he
would not have accepted, his polls already being
above a commander or any of our prizes ; but I and
my officers were againft it, becaufe we believed cap-
tain Fry, or others, were fitter perfons to take charge
of her.
After a long difpute, Mr. Fry and Mr. Stretton
were appointed both to aft in equal polls, to take
charge of the navigating the ihip, though under cap-
tain Dover, almoft in the feme manner I propofed at
firfti only he had the title of chief captain in that
ihip, which was fo fmall a difference, where titles
were fo common, that we all contented to it: and
at the fame time they chofc officers, agreeing, that
we ihou'd put thirty men aboard her, the Duchefs
twenty-five, and the Marquis thirteen, which, with
thirty-fix Manilla Indians, called lalcars, and other
prhoners we had left, made her complement about
no men : fo that all our differences about this af-
fair were at an end, and we drank to our fafe arrival
in Great Britain. In the morning, we put thirty-
J®ood hands aboard her: the Duchefs and Mar-
quis
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 201
quis put no more than their iharc. The captains
Courtney and Cooke, and two or three more of the
committee came to me, where we Jigned a paper
for captain Dover and the two commanders, recom-
mending peace ami tranquillity amongit them ; and
that, in cilc of leparation, the place of rendezvous
was to be Guam, one of the Ladrone iQands, where
we defignrd to touch.
As 1 have not rilled this work with a variety of
defcriptions, lb, before I quit America, it may not
be amifs to give the reader ibmc account of Califor-
nia -, the rather becaufe moil of what I relate 1 was
eye-witnefs of, and therefore it deferves the greater
credit. I hive heard from the Spaniards, that fbme
of their nation had failed as far betwixt California
and the main as 42 ° north latitude, where, meeting
with fhoal water, and abundance of iflands, they
durft not venture any farther; fo that, if this be true,
in all probability, it joins to the continent a little
farther to the northward : for Ihoal water and iflands
are a general fign of being near fome mainland. But
the Spaniards, having more territories in this part
of the world than they know how to manage, are
not curious after further difcoveries. The Manilla
Jhips, bound to Acapuko, often make this coaft in
the latitude 400 north ; and I never heard of any that
dilcovered it farther 10 the northward. What I can
fay of it from my own knowlege is, that the land
where we were is, for the mod part, mountainous,
barren, andfandy, and had nothing but a few fhrubs
and bulhes, which produced fruit and berries of fe-
veral forts. Our men, who went in our bark to view
the country, about fifteen leagues to the north-
ward, fay, it was there covered with tall trees. The
Spaniards tell us of leveral good harbours in this
country j but we found none of them near this cape.
We frequently faw fmoke in feveral places ; which,
made us believe the inhabitants were pretty nume-
rous. The bay where we rode, had but very indif-
ferent
sol THE VOYAGE OF
Cerent ftnehering-ground in deep water, and is th*
Worft recruiting- pi ace we met with-fince we came
out. The wind, at this time of the year, generally
blowing over land, makes it good riding on the ftar*
bo*rd-hde of the bay, where you anchor on a bank that
has from ten to twenty five fathom water : but the
reft, of the bay is very deep ; and, near the rocks,
on the larboard fide, going in, there is no ground.
During the time of our ftay, the air was ferene, plea-
f&ht and healthful ; and we had no ftrong galea of
wind, very little rain, but great dews fell by night,
when it was very cold.
The natives we faw here had large limbs, were
Very ftraight, tall, and of a much blacker com-
pknon than any other people that I had feen in the
Sooth Seas; their hair long, black, and ftraight,
which hung down to their thighs: the men (lark*
leaked', and the women had a covering of leaves or
little clouts made of ftlk-grafs, or the fkins of birds,
and beads, round their wauls. All of them that we
faw were old, and miferably wrinkled. We fuppofe
they were afraid to let any of their young ones come
near us ; but needed not : for, befide the good or-
der kept among our men in that refpeel, if we^idge
by what we faw, they could not be very tempting!.
The language of the natives was as unpleafant K>
tis, as their afpeftj for it was very harfh and broad,
and they pronounced it fo much in their throat. I.
defigned to have brought two of them away with
me, in order to have had fome account of the cbun*
try. when rhey had learnt fo much of our language
as to enable them to give it ; but being fhort of pro-
vifions, I durft not venture it.
Some of iliem wore pearls about their arms and
necks, having firft notched each pearl round, and fat-
tened it with aftringoffiik-grafs; tor, I fuppofe, they
knew not how to bore them. The pearls were mixed
with little red berries, Hicks, and bits of fhells,
which they looked upon to be fo fine an ornament,
3 that,
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 103
:hat, though we had glafs beads of feveral colours,
and other toys, they would accept none of them.
They coveted nothing we had but knives, and other
cutting inftruments i and were (o honeft, that they
did not meddle with our coopers or carpenters tools ;
fo that, whatever was left alhore at night, we found
in the morning. We faw nothing like European
furniture or utenfils about them. Their huts were
very low, and made of branches of trees and reeds ;
but not fufficiently covered to keep out rain. They
had nothing like gardens or provifions about them.
They fubfilted chiefly on fifii while we were here,
which, with the miftxablenefs of their huts, that
feemed only to be made for a time, made us con-
clude they had no fixed habitation here, whatever
they might have elfewhere ; and that this was their
fifhing-kafon.
We (aw no nets or hooks, but wooden inftru-
ments, with which they ftrike the filh very dex-
troufty, and dive to admiration. Some of our failors
told me, they faw one of them dive with his inftru-
menr, and, whilft he was under water, put up his
ftriker with a fifh on the point of it, which was taken
ofF by another that watched by him in a bark-log.
The reader may believe of this what he pleafes; but
I give iC the more credit, becaufe I myfclf threw
fome raity knives over-bjard, on purpofe to try the
divers, who Grldom milled catching a knife before it
could fink three or four fathom, which 1 took to be
an extraordinary proof of their agility. In (read of
bread, theyufcd a little black feed, which they ground
with ftones, and eat by ha-1 Jfuls. Some of our men
thickened their broth with it, and faid, it tafted fome-
what like coffee. They have fome roots that eat like
yams ; a fort of feeds that grow in cod, and tafte
like green peafe ; a berry, which refembles thofe of
ivy, and being dried at the fire, ears like parched
peafe. They have another, like a large currant, with
l white tartim pulp, a ftone and a kernel. This font
ore
204 THE VOYAGE OF.
of fruit they fcem to value much. They have,alfo
a fruit, which grows on the prickle-pear-tree, uftes
like gooseberries, and makes good fauce. They have
many other feeds and plants unknown to us ; but 1
was not in a condition to view and defcnbe them.
. They feem to have an hunting-feafon, by the fltins
of deer wc faw among them. They paid much re-
feed to one man, whofe head was adorned. ; with
leathers, made up in the form of a cap. In . other
rrfpefts, they feemed to have all things in common ;
for, when they exchanged fifh with us for old knives,
of which we had plenty, they gave the knives .to any
that flood next; and, after they had enough, we
could get no fi(h from them. They appeared to.be
very idle, and feemed only to look after a prefect
fabfiftence. They obferved our men very attentive-
ly, while they cut wood, and filled water ■, but did
not lend us a hand at either, or indeed in anything
that required hard labour. Their arms- are, bows
and arrows, with which they can (hoot birds flying.
Their bows are about feven feet long, and of a tough
wood, unknown to us, with firings of.&k-grais;
their arrows about four feet and an half, ■ made of
cane, and pointed with filh-bones, that they fliape for
the purpofe. Molt of their knives, and other. cutting
inftruments, are made of (harks teeth.' I faw two
or three large pearls in their necklaces and-, bracelets ;
and the Spaniards told me, they had quantities of
them from the inner part of the guiph of California,
where they have miffionaries planted among them..
; Our men told me, they faw heavy mining ftones
alhore, which looked as if they came from lome mine s
but they did not inform me of this till we werearfeaj
otherwife 1 would have brought fome of thepij to
have tried what metal could have been extracted out
of them. The Spaniards likewife informed, me,
that the country in general within, on the main-land
of Mexico, is pleafant and abounds with cattle, and
-provifions of all forts. The natives grew, very fami-
liar
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS.
liar with us, and came frequently aboard to view our
ihips, which they mightily admired. We la v no
boats or canoes among them, or any craft, but bark-
logs, which they fleered with paddles at each end-'
We gave one of the natives a fhirt ; but he foon
tore k in pieces, and gave it to the rert of his com-
pany to put the feeds in, which they ufed for bread.'
We faw no utenfils for cookery amongfr. them ■, nor
do I fuppofe they have any ; for they bury their 6IH
in an heap of fand, and make a fire over it, till they
think it fie for eating. There were in this bay all
the fifh ufual in thefe feas. The entrance into the
harbour may be known by four high rocks, which
tlook like the Niedles of the ifle of Wight, as you'
come from the westward ; the two weftermoft in form
of fugar -loaves; the innermoft has an arch like a
bridge, through which the fea makes its way. Here
you ride land-locked from eaft to north back to the
fouth-eaft by eaft : yet it is but an ordinary road, if
the wind Ihould come ftrong out of the fea, which
it never did while we lay there.
I have now done with California, of which the
Spaniards would know very little, but for thefe an-
nual vefiels that fail from Manilla to Acapulco. As
I have mentioned thefe Ihips, I ftiall take occafion to
obferve, that, generally (peaking, thofe that come
from Manilla arc much richer than our prize ; for
ihe waited a long time for the Chinefe junks to bring
filk i which not arriving, flic came away with a cargo
mixed with abundance of ccarfe goods. Several of
the prifon~rs allured me, that it was a common thing
for a Manilla Ihip to be worth 10,000,000 pieces of
eighti ib that, had it not been for this accident, we
had taken an extraordinary prize indeed. After mjr
return into Europe, 1 met, in Holland, with a failor,
who had been on board the Lrge ftiip when we en-
gaged her-, and let ire into the ftcret, that there was
no taking her; for the gunner kept constantly in
the powder room, declaring that he had taken the
lacra-
aofi THE VOYAGE'OF
fecramcnt to blow the fhip up if we boarded her.;
which made the men exceedingly refolute in her de-
fence- I was the more ready to credit what this man
told me, becaufe he gave a regular and circumftan-
tial account of the engagement.
January 10, we weighed from port Seguro, but
were becalmed under the more till the izth in the
afternoon, when there fprung a breeze, which ran ui
out of fight of the land. We took our departure
from cape St. Lucas, which bore north by eaft, ac
twelve o'clock, diftance fifteen leagues: we were
forced to go with little or no refrelhment, having
"but three or four fowls, and a very (lender Hock of
Uquor : fevcral of our men were in a weak condition,
befide myfelf, Mr. Vanbrugh, and the reft that were
wounded. We were forced to allow but one pound
and an half of flour, and one finall piece of meat to.
five men in a mefs, with three pints of water a man,
for twenty-four hours, for drink and dreffing their
victuals. We ftruck down ten of our guns into the
hold, to eafe our fhip. On the 1 6th, the Batche-
lor. made a fignal to give us fome bread, they hav-
ing found a good quantity of bread and fweet-meatt
onboard her, but little of flefh kind. We had one
thoufand weight of bread for our fliare, the Duchefs as
much, and the Marquis five hundred weight ; inlicu of
which, we fent back to the prize two cafks of flour, one;
of Englifh beef, and one of pork, they having but
forty-five days provifions aboard in flefh. On the
afith in the morning, the water was very much difco-
loured, at which being furprized, we immediately
founded, but found no ground. We fpokc with,
the Duchefs, and agreed to go away weft fouth-weft,
till we got into the latitude of 13% becaufe our Spa*
ntfh pilot told us, it was dangerous going into 14°,
by reafbn of iflands and fhoals, where a Spanifh- vef*
fel was loft fome time ago. Ever fince, the Ma-
nilla Ihip, in her return from Acapulco, runs in
latitude 13° t and keeps the parallel, till they make
the
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS, loa-
the iHandof Guam. On the 28th, the ftewardmif-
fing fome pieces of pork, we immediately iVarched,
and found the thieves : one of them had bt-cn guilty
before, and forgiven, on promife of amendment*
but was punilhed now, lelt forbearance i'.xmld en-
courage the reft to follow this bad practice, pro-
vifians being lb lhort, and our runs fo long, which,
Kight prove of ill coniequence: I ordered them to
e main- jeers, and evay man of die wjtch. to give
em a blow with the cat-of- nine-tails •, and their
mcfs-maies, being privy to the their,*, were put in.
irons.
March the nth, we had fight of bocli iflsnds, the
northermoit bearing north north-welt, dsltant about
leven leagues; and the body of the weitcrtnolt weft
ibutb-weft five leagues. The Spaniards i3.y, there is.
a great Ihoal between theie iflands, but ncirirft to
Serpana. We ran along the more, being iatisfied-.
it was ihe ifland of Guam, from whence there c.:mc
feveral flying proas to look at the Ihips ; they ran
by us very mitt, but none would venture on board.
At noon, the weftermolt part of the ifland bore welt -,
1 at the fame time, we made a low Imall ifland,
ling to Guam, with a Ihoal between it and Guam.
The illar.d appeared green, and very pleafint : Olf
it there runs a fpic of land to the Ibutbward-, bur,.
keeping it a good birch from you, as you come near
it, there is no danger, being gradual foundings to.
the Ihoal. After we were clear of it, we fpfttng our
loof, and ftood in for the harbour, which lies mid-
way betwixt this and ihe north part of the ifhnd;
and got to an anchor in [he aftefftoga in twelve fitxj
thorn water, about half a mile off more, where there
was a lutle village. I lie fmall ifland to ihe fbuth
bore fourh of us, diltaiu about three leagues ; audi
another fmall one to the northward bore north north-.
vyeft, about two leagues.
J he neceffity of our Hopping at thefe iflands to .;
get a refreihment of provifions was very great, our>
20* THE VOYAGE OF
fea-ftore being almoft exhaufted ; and what we had
left was very ordinary, efpccially our bread and flour,
which was not enough for fourteen days, at the fhort-
eft allowance. In order to recruit quietly, we en-
deavoured to get fome of the natives aboard, that
were in the proas, to keep them as hoftages, in cafe
of fending any of our men to the governor. One of
them, as we were turning into the harbour with
Spanilh colours, came under our item : There were
two Spaniards in the boat, who, on oar alluring
diem that we were friends, came on board; and,
foon after, came a menage from the governor, to
whom we wrote a very refpeftful letter, and the next
day received a civil anfwer to it, with a generous of-
fer of any thing the ifland afforded ; which made us
very cafy. On the 13th an entertainment was pro-
vided on board the Batchelor for the Spanifh gentle-1
men, to which 1 was carried, being not able to
move myfeif, but was hoifled in a chair out of the
fhip into the Batchelor -, where we agreed, that a de-
putation fhould be lent from each fhip, to wait on
the governor with a handfome prefent, in acknow-
ledgement for his great civility, and the readinefs he
expreffcd to fupply us. On the 15th, there was an-
other entertainment on board the Marquis, to which
I was carried as to the former; and, after which, a
committee was held, in which our former refolution
was confirmed.
On the 16th, our pinnace went with feveral of
our officers to the governor's amore, who received
them with all imaginable friendfhip and refpecr,
having near 200 men drawn up in arms at their
landing, and the officers and clergy of the ifland, to
conduct them to the governor's hoofe, which was a'
very handfome feat, confidcring where we found it. '
They entertained them with at leaft fixty difbes of
feveral forts, the belt that could be got in the ifland';
and when they took their leaves, each fired a volley
«f iirudl arras. They prefented the governor, ac-
cording
1
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 209
cording as we had agreed, with two negro boys
dreflcd in liveries, twenty yards of fcarlet doth-
ferge, and fix pieces ofcambrick; which he feem»
ed wonderfully pleated with, and promiled to affift
us in whatever lay in his power. The next day
we got our dividend of provifions. On the 18th,
ihcre was an entertainment aboard us, where we had
molt of our officers, and four Spanilh g ntlemen
from the governor. I made them as welcome as
time and place would permit, diverting them with
mufic, and our failors dancing till night, when we
parted well pleafed on both fides. We got fome
more bullocks on board, being fmall lean cattle,
but what we gladly accepted. It was agreed to make
an handfome prefent to the governor's deputy, who
tot our provifions together, wherein he ufed all pof-
ble difpatch. We gave him, and the reft of the
gentlemen, what they efteemed double the value of
what we received of them ; which they certified un-
der their hands, and that we had been very civil to
them : we alio gave them the like certificate, figned
by all our officers, to fhew to any Englifh that might
have occafion to recruit there, and parted very friend-
ly. Having finifhed that affair, it was agreed that
we fhould lteer from hence a weft by fouih courfe.
to go clear of fome iQands that lie in our way, and
then thought it proper to iteer dire&ly for the fouth-
eaft part of Mindanao, and from thence the cleared
way to Ternate. In the mean time I put an old
Spaniard alhore, called Antonio Gomes Figuero,
whom we took in the firft bark in the South Seas,
and kept in order to carry him to Great Britain, to
condemn all our prizes taken there-, but he being
now not likely to live, we agreed to difinifs him, he
giving us a certificate, that he faw us attack and take
icvenU prizes, all fubjefts to Philip V. king of Spain,
&c. I gave him fome cloaths, and other things to
help him in his ficknefsi then put him aftiorc to the
deputy governor, and the reft of the Spanish officers,
who gave us a certificate, that they received fuch a
Vol HI. P pcriun.
zio THE VOYAGE OP
Serfon. The governor prefented us with one of f heir
ying proas or prows, which the Spaniards told me
would run twenty leagues in an hour, which I think
exceeds the truth ; but, by what I Taw, I verily be-
lieve they may run twenty miles or more in the time ;
for, when they viewed our mips, they pafled by us
like a bird flying *.
As foon as the boat returned from landing lignior
Figuero, we put under fail, having a fine breeze of
wind at eaft north-eaft. April 14, in the afternoon,
we made land, which bore weft north-weft, diftant
about ten leagues ; and fuppofed it to be the north-
eaft part of Celebes. We few three water-fpouts [
one of which had like to have broken on the Marquis,
but the Duchefs, by firing two ihot, broke it before
it reached her. We faw a very large tree afloat,
with a multitude of filh about it, and two large iflands,
the fouthermoft bearing fouth-weft, diftant about
eight leagues, and the northcrmoft weft north-weft,
feven leagues, both being the lame land we faw the
day before ; and the latter we then fuppofed to be
the fouth -eaft part of Moratay ; and the other, the
north part of Gilolo. In this condition, we failed
till towards the latter end of the month : with this
additional vexation, that ourfliip was fo leaky, that it
was as much as four men were able to do to keep her
free half an hour.
Captain Dampier difcouraged us very much : he
bad been twice here, and therefore what he faid
amongft the fearrien pafled without difpute j and he
laid it down as a thing certain, that if we could not
reach Ternate, or find the ifland of Tula, it was -
-impofllble for us to get any refrefliment, there being
nothing to be met with on the coaft of New Guinea.
There were, in the mean time, great heart-burnings
on board all the flips about the reduction of our al-
lowance, fo that we were obliged to enlarge it again ;
" See rhe cooftruflioo of thefe proas accurately described in An-
ion'1 voyage.
CAPTAIN "WOODES ROGERS. 211
fo little is reifonable to prevail againft hunger. On
the 18th of May, we pafled between the hi^h-land
of New Guinea-and the low-land of Gilolo : and, on
the 20th, we made another high ifland, which we
took to be Ceram.
On May 24, being in the latitude of the ifland of
Bouro, we expected to make that land, which is
about twenty leagues to the fouth-weft of Ceram,
and near the fame diftance, in a parallel with Am-
boyna, which we defigncd to have touched at, if the
wind had proved favourable : but, as the fouth-eaft
monfoon was now fet in, we were out of hopes of
reaching it; and, notwithftanding the fkill of cap-
tain Dampier, we were ftill very doubtful, Whe-
ther the ifland we paflTed by laft was Ceram or Bouro.
By an obfervation we had at noon, it appeared that
sve were in 40 30' fouth latitude, and 2370 29' lon-
gitude weft from London. As we were now in the
latitude of the louthern part of Bouro, we imputed
our not feeing it to the currents fetting us to the
weftward of it. The next day we came to a refolu-
tion not to fpend any more time in fearching for
Bouro j as alfo to drop our defign of going to Am-
boyna, and to make the beftofour way for the ftreighrs
of Bouton; where, if we arrived fafely, we might
get proviGons fuflicient to carry us toBatavia.
In purfuanee of this agreement, we haled away
fouth-weft by fouth for them, having a frefh gale of
wind at eaft ; but by two in the morning, we fell in
with a parcel of iflands to the eaftward of Bouion ■,
and had certainly been aftiore on one of them, had
not the weather cleared up at once. We made a
lhitt, and wore : the (hips then flood off north-caft
from the land till day-break, when we faw it trend-
ing from fouth by eaft, to fouth-weft by fouth, about
fix leagues diftance, which made a fine large bay ;
but as we flood in, we perceived an opening, and
that there were two iflands, with three lying thwart
the outlet to the fouthward of both : we hoifted out
t 2 our
iU THE VOYAGE OF
our pinnace, and fern her alhorev the Duchefi did
the fame, from whence they brought off fome cocoa-
nuts, of which there were plenty there; and cold ut
there were Malayan inhabitants, who feemed to be
very friendly. Up the bay we faw feveral boats,
houfes, and abundance of the native Malayans walk-
ing along the fhore : we fent in our boats for provi*
lions and pilots, and myfelf and the Marquis turned
up very near to the town ; but founding feveral times,
found no ground. The natives informed us, there
was a bank oppolite to the town, where we might
anchor.
Abundance of people came off with Indian wheat,
cocoa-nuts, yams, potatoes, papas, hens, and feveral
forts of birds, to truck with us for cloaths, knives,
fciuars, and other toys; being very civil to all ap-
pearance. They are Mohammedans, of a middle
ftature, and tawny; but the women are Ibmewhat
clearer than the men ; having very long black haxv
their mouths, lips, nofes fmall : they wear a linen
waiftcoat, which reaches only to the lower part of
their breafts ; and about their waift a piece of cloth,
three or four yards wide, and a yard-deep, which they
wrap about them inftead of a petticoat. The men
that came off were all naked, having only a cloth rol-
led about their middle ; fome of the better fort of
people had a loofc fort of waiftcoat, and a piece of
linen rolled about their heads, with a cap of pahn-
tree-leaves, to keep the fun from fcorching. They
brought off feveral cicatoes and parrots, very fine
birds. Along the more-fide we fcw feveral wein
they had to catch filh. In turning up, we found the
current very ftrong againft us, and the prize loft
ground considerably ; wherefore, in the evening, the
Duchets fired a gun ; we ran out, and drove all night.
The names of thefe two iOands are Cambava and
. Waafhut : thefe iflands lie in latitude 5° 13', lon-
gitude 338" weft from London,
We
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 213
We ftood from thofe iftands to the weftward, and
ran along-fhore, as near as we durft, to weather the
weftermoft point of land, where we expected to find
an harbour -, but, as we neared it, found a long track
of high-land trending to the fouth ward, as far as
fouth-weft and by fouth : we agreed in opinion, that
was the ifland Bouton, but that we had overfhot the
freights. We made fail to fee if we could difcover
any land farther to the fouthward ; but finding none,
we failed on, keeping the wind as near as poflible,
becaufe of the current, which lets ftrong to the fouth-
weft. By two a clock in the morning we were near
a fmall iiland, that bore fouth fouth-weft of us about
two leagues-, but having clear weather, we ftood
from it till day-break, there being no other land near
it that we law, except that we came fronv which we
had opened five points farther to the weftward. I
was unwilling to aft any longer without the confent
of the committee: fo the major part of us met
aboard the Duchefs, where we agreed to ftand back,
and make the land plain, fo as to be fully fatisfied
what it was, and withal to find a recruit of water
and wood before we proceeded any farther, being in
want of every thing, being then in fouth latitudes"
50', longitude 230 ° 38' weft from London.
In purfuance of this agreement, we ftood back
the next day, and made little or no fail all night :
In the morning, we had very fine clear weather, and
made the land exceeding plain, which was very high,
with iflands under it. It looked mod of it as if in-
habited, being pretty thick of wood, and promifing
us, in other refpetts, plenty of refrefhmcnts j but
our misfortune was, that we could not meet here
with any ground that would hold our anchors -, and
the next day, the Duchefs ftanding over to the other
fide of the bay, had no better fortune, but was forced
to return, without anchoring, to us again. A little
before ihe came back, our boat, which we had fent
on more, returned ; the people on board having, by
P 3 prefents.
414 THE VOYAGE OF .
prefents, engaged fome of the Malayans to come on
board with them; in which they certainly judged'
right, though we could make do ufe of their intel-
ligence for want of an interpreter-, I lent to the Ba-
chelor, who had one ; but captain Dover refined to
let him come to me, notwithftanding he had no trier
for him : then I fent a fecond time, that I might
know the beft anchoring- place for our fhips ; and
treated the people with fweetmeats, and other thing*
they fancied, but could not keep them, or fend them
aboard the Bachelor to fecurc her, feeing white fhoal-
water near us -, but they palled by us, in danger of
running on the fhoals, not knowing the beft anchor-
ing-placc for want of the linguift. At parting, they
made figns, and pointed to the land to the northward,
which they called Buroo. Our pilot, captain Dam-
pier, fays he has been formerly through the ftrcights ;
and, in his book, tells us of a town: near the fouth-
part of them where the king refided ; but he knew
nothing of it now, except the bare ftory. Upon this,
we agreed to fend one of the pinnaces and the lin-
guift along with him, to' End out the town, being
willing to venture him to wait on his majefty the
king of Bouton, to folicit for a fupply of provifions,
for which we would gladly pay; and, to make- the
better appearance, we fent Mr. Vanbrugh and Mr.
Connely along with him. The water flows here above
fifteen feet. There are places near to the town,
which lie to the northward fix leagues, from whence
we rode, where a fhip might, on occafion, be laid
afhore to refit -, and we could have carried the Duke
jthither to ftop her leak, but were not willing to lofe
time,- fince we found it did not increale more than
one pump could vent, which we had men enough to
keep continually going.
On the 30th, in the morniog, a proa came from
the king, with a nobleman on board, who had nei-
ther Ihoes nor ftockings ; and a pilot to carry us up
JO town. The firil tjueftion this Indian lqrd aflced,
after
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 215
after he came on board, was, how we durft come to
an anchor there, without leave firft had and obtained
of the great king of Bouton ? He brought each com-
mander a piece of Bouton ftriped cloth, a bottle of
arrac, fome rice in bafkets, &c. as a prcfent from
the king; as alfo a letter from the officers we had
fent alhore, giving an account that they had been
very well received ; and that ihe town where the
king refided is large, walled, and fortified, and had
feveral great guns; another prefent was returned,
and five guns fired by every (hip, at the meflenger's
going off, at which he feemed very well pleated.
We wooded and watered at the iftand Sampo, and
feveral proas came off to us with fowl, Indian corn,
pompions, papas, lemons, Guinea-corn, &c. which
they trucked for knives, iciflars, old cloaths, &c.
The people were civil, but fold very dear ; yet our
officers making a longer ftay at the town than was
intended, we began to fufpedt they were detained,
fhofe Moors being very treacherous : however, we
heard from them every day ; and, on June 5, the
Duchefs's pinnace came down with Mr. Connely, who
told us there were four lafts of rice coming, which
was bought of the king, and coft 600 dollars, fifty
dollars in tale being allowed to make up the weight,
becaufe the royals were- light; and that Mr. Van-
brugh was detained for the payment. The next
morning it came, and was equally diftributed among
the four (hips; fome great men coming to deliver it,
and receive the money : a Portuguefe, fent by the
king, was detained till our boat returned, and
provifions began to come more plentifully and
cheaper.
The town of Bouton is feated on the afcent of an
hill ; on the top whereof is a fort, incloled with
an old ftone wall, on which there are guns and pa-
tereroes mounted. The king, and a i:onfiderab!e
number of people, live in the laid fort, where an
herb-market is kept every day. The king has five
P 4 wives,
3i4 THE VOYAGE OP
wives* bcfide concubines, and four men, called Puff
Baffas, who carry great canes, with filver heads, to
rnanage their affairs. His majefty, on his long black
hair, wears a fort of green gaufe, ftrewed with
fpangles -, goes always bare-footed and bare-legged ;
is fometimes clad like a Dutch (kipper; but, when
he appears in ftate, has a long calico gown over his
ihort jacket. In council, he fits on a chair covered
with red cloth ; is always attended by a ferjeant and.
fix men, with match-locks; bcfide three others^
one of which wears a head-piece, and carries a large
fcimitar in his hand ; another holds a fhield; and the
third a great fan. Four (laves fit at his feet, one o£
them holding his betel- box, another a lighted match,
another his box to fmoke, and a fourth his fpitting-i
bafon. The petty kings and great men fit on his
left-hand, and before him} every one attended by a
fiave in the council chamber, where they chew to-
bacco and betel in the king's prefence* and fpealc'
to him fitting crofs-lcpgcd, joining their hands, and
lifting them up to their fore-head. The town it
very populous ; and by it runs a fine river j which,' -
they fay, comes down from ten miles up the country,
ebbs and flows confidt-rably, and has a bar at the
entrance i fo that boats cannot come out at low- water.'
At leaft, 1 5^0 boi.ts belong to this river, fifty where*
of are proas ,ov war, carrying pattercroes, and forty
or fitty n en each. About fifty iflands are tributary
to the king, who fends 'fome of his proas, once a
year, to gash r in the tribute, which cOnfifts of fiavesj
each ifianci giving him ten inhabitants out of every
hundred. There is one mofque at Bouton, which is
fuppikd with priefts from Moca, the people being
Mohammedans. They are great admirers of mu-
ficj their -houfts are built upon ports i Dutch money*
is current here, and Spanifh dollars. On the 1 7th,
our pinnace returned, with Mr. Vanbrugh, and all
Our men, having parted very friendly with his ma-
jefty, but could not get a pilot for money : however,
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS, 217
we refolved to ftay no longer, and to truft wholly tq
Almighty Providence for our future pttfervatioi).
We difmifled the Portuguefe linguift, and beg.in to
unmoor our Ihips. The next day, we made three
i (lands to the northward of Zalayer; and the look-
ing of other land to the weftward of all which, we
took to be the fouthermoft p-irt of Celebes,
On the icth, our pinnaces came up with a fmall
veffel ; who told them they were bound for Maoiffar,
Dutch factory on the fouth part or Celebes. The
pinnace took the mailer ol her on board, who pro-
rhifed to pilot us, not only through the (heights of
Zalayer, but to Batavia, if we could keep it iecrer,
for fear of the Dutch, He fent his veflel to lie in
the narrower paflage, baween the ifl-nds, till fuch
time as our lhips came up. About four a clock we
entered the ftreight, betwixt the iflands that are next
to Zalayer, and another little one to the northward of
that, being the middlemoft of the three -, having found
a good paflage, three leagues over, all deep water,
fleering through north-weft by weft, to give the lar-
board iflands a good birth j then we made the fouth-
ermoft part of Celebes. The fame morning, the pi-
lot promifed to carry us through the channel the
great Dutch lhips generally went for Batavia, and by
that means avoid the ftioals, called the Brill and
Bunker-ground.
The Brill has very uneven foundings-, and in ma-
ny places, but three fathom water, and lefs; fo we
haled away to the northward, keeping the ifland
Celebes aboard, the fouth-weft part of which trends
away in low land, with high mountains at the back
of it -, and off" the point there lies a rock, pretty high
and remarkable. At four o'clock we came to found-
ing, and had ten fathom; and came to an anchor
under the ifland, behind the fpit of land, in ten fa-
thom water, very good clean ground. The rock of
Celebes then bore north-eaft by north four leagues,
the northermoft of the keys two leagues, and the
middle-
^B
ii8 THE VOYAGE OF
middlemoft weft fouth-weft three leagues : the other
being (hut in with the long ifiand, we kept the land
going all the way constantly through -, and had never
left than fix fathom, nor more than ten.
As foon as it was day, we weighed, and went be*
twixt the two fmall keys, keeping neareft the north-
ertnoft founding all the way, and had no more than
ten fathom. The water ft ill deepening, being clear
of them, we haled away weft, and then fouth-weft,
having a frelh gale at fouth-eaft, and fouth-eaft and
by eaft ; no land in fight at noon, but part of the
high-land at Celebes, which bore eaft, diftant about
twelve leagues. It was very welt for us that we met
with this pilot -, for, having no good charts, nor any
one acquainted with thofe feas, we had run greater
hazards. On the 14th, we ran by the ifland Madura,
which is about four leagues long, lying eaft and weft,
on the north fide of Java, the land we made in the
morning being the north-eaft part of it. In the afr
ternoon, we faw the lhips in the road of Batavia,
betwixt thirty and forty fail, great and fimll -, and
got happily to anchor juft after fun-let, betwixt fix
and feven fathom water, at the long defired port of
Batavia, in latitude 6° 10' fouth, longitude 252?
5 1 ' weft from London.
By our reckoning here, we altered our account of
time, having, as is cuftomary, loft almoft one day
in running weft fo far round the globe.
When we came *m fight of Batavia, and cfpecially
after fome Hoops had been aboard us, I found, that
after failing f> long with them, I was abfolutely a
ftranger to the humours of our people. A few days
before, they were perpetually quarrelling and jang-
ling i a difputed tide to a lump of fugar would
have created a tumult, which could have been laid
by nothing but the profpeet of a dram -, but now
there was nothing but hugging and making by the
hand, and blefling their (tars, and queftionihg if
there, was fuch a paradife upon earth j and all this
becaufe
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 119
becaufe they had arrack for eight-pence a gallon,
and fugar at a penny a pound : the next minute all
together by the ears again ; about who (hould put
the ingredients together; for the weather being
hot, and the materials exceflively cheap, labour was
now become a very confiderable thing.
We anchored here in five fathom water, the ground
fo foft and oufy, that the anchor finks above a fa-
thom; fo that it cannot foul : and therefore (hips
always ride fingle. The town bore fouth by eaft,
diftant a mile and an half; and the illand Onreft
bore north-weft: by north, diftant two leagues and
an half. At this ifland the Dutch clean and careen
all their {hips, and have two wind-mills on it to faw
timber. They hale their fhips along-fide of a wharf,
where there are two cranes to discharge them, and
ftore-houfes to lay up the goods. The Duchefs
fired thirteen guns to falute the Dutch flag; but it
being night, he did not anfwer: yet the next morn-
ing he fent his boat aboard, to beg my pardon for
that omiflion, which he would then repair. Soon
after, the Duke fired thirteen guns ; and the Dutch
flag anfwered both our fhips gun for gun. Between
twelve and one, two Engliih gentlemen came aboard
us, the one captain of an Engliih (hip, there being
three and a (loop in the road, all i elonging to Ma-
drafs. All of us, who were commanders, went
afbore, and landed at Bomb-Key, whence we pro-
ceeded to the fhabander, who conducted us to the
caftle, before Abraham van Ribeck, general of In-
dia, who received us very civilly; but was very in-
quifitive, and (hewed vifibly an intention to find
fome pretence for denying us what we a(k<d, and
bad occafion for. To fatisty him effectually, and pre-
vent all difputes, we not only (hewed him our com-
mifiions, which, in fad, was all he had a right to
demand-, but we likew'tfe gratified him with an ex--
tradr. of our journal and proceedings, that he might
be convinced that we had afted fairly, and done no-
thing
a*o. THE VOYAGE OF
dung but what was jufhfied by our comniiffions."
After all, we were forced, to bear, not only with his
haughty airs, and the natural ftownds of Dutch coun-
cils, but with many other difagreeable circumftances,
that fhewed us plainly, we owed little, if any thing,
to fnendlhip or good-will.
." Soon aftetour arrival at Batavia, we went about fit-
ting the Marquis ■, but, being firit ordered upon the
careen, the fliabander having allowed us leveral Ma-
layan caulkers, when we came down to the bends,
we found them, as well as the Hern and ftern-paft,
fo much worm-eaten and rotten, the fhip being
very old, and having only a Angle bottom, that we
ordered a furvey of carpenters to view her, who all
agreed that there was no fitting her in that place for
going about the Cape of Good Hope, her 'Condition
being extraordinary Dad -, which obliged us. to hire a
vefiel to take out her lading. Then we applied our-
selves to fitting of the other Ihips, but could not, at
any rate, obtain leave of the government to repair to
the ifle of Orneft ; but were allowed to go to the
low fmall ifland Horn, which is near the other, in-
habited by a few Malayan fifhermen •, and on it was
abundance of cocoa-nuts, plantain, papa, guava, and
Other fruit-trees. The government allowed us a
finall vefiel of that, fort they call champans, to ca-
reen our fiiips by; We then hove down the Duke
and Duchefs, and found- their flieathing alfo very
much worm-eaten in foitie places. When the fiiips
were fitted we returned .again to Batavia road, where
we rigged the three, and told the Marquis, after tak-
ing out all the goods, and moft of the ftores, to cap-
tain Opie and captain Oldham. Then all the offi-
cers and men were diftributed among the other ihips,
except one Dutchman who ran away.
The weather was extremely hot during our flay*,
many officers- and men fell lick; and I was one of
the number!. .The mafter of the Duke, the gunner
of the Duchefs, and feveral of our men died of the
flux.
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 22r
flux. John Read, a young man belonging to the
Ducheis, venturing to f im, had both his legs mapped
off by a fliark, which, at the fecond bite, before we '
could get him on board, took off the boitom of hii
belly; fo that he was dead before we could take
him up.
The city of Batavia lies on the north-weft fide of
the famous iQand of Java, in the latitude of 5" 50'.
The eaft and weft winds blow all the year. along the
Ihore, befides the ordinary land and fea- winds, which
exceedingly cool the air, and make it pleafant; other-
wife it would be intolerably hot. Their fummer be-
gins in May, with continual breezes from the eaft,
and a very clear fky, tilt the latter end of October, or
beginning of November, when the winter begins
with hard rains, which hold fometimes three or four
days without intermiflion. In December the welt
winds blow very violently ; fo that there is little
trade on the coalt of Java. In February the weather
is changeable, with fudden thunder-ftorms. In March
they begin to low. June is their pleafanteft month.
In September they gather in their fugar and rice.
And, in October, they have plenty of fruit and flowers,
plants and herbs of moft forts. There is a large,
fenny, plain country before the city; but this is ex-
ceedingly well improved by the Dutch: and, to the
eaft, it is very full of wood and morafles. The city
is fquare, with a river running through it, and fortifi-
ed by a ftrong wall, and twenty-two baftions.
About ten years paft, there was an earthquake,
which overturned part of the mountains in the coun-
try, and altered the courfe of the river; fo that the
canals in and about Batavia arc not near lb commo-
dious as they have been, nor the entrance into the
river fo deep: and, for want of a ftrong current of
water to keep it open, they are forced to employ a
large engine to preferve the mouth of the river navi-
gable, for fmall veffels to come Into the canah of the
city. It lies in a bay, in which there us icveoteea
■■i
tiz THE VOYAGE OF '
or eighteen iflands, which fo break off the fea, that1,
though the road is Very luge, yet it is fafe. The
banks of the canals through die city are faced with
ftone on both fides, as far as the boom, which is fhuc
up every night at nine o'clock, and guarded by fot-
diers. There are channels cut out of the main rivet
fur fmaller veflels ; and every boom pays roll.
All the ftreets run in ftraight lines, moft of them
being above thirty feet broad on each Tide, clear of the
chanels, and paved next the houfes with bricks. All
the ftreets are very well built and inhabited, fifteen
of which have chanels; and they reckon fifty-fix
bridges on them, moft of them of ftone. The. country-
feats and buildings round the city are generally neat
and well-contrived, with handfome gardens for fruit
and flowers, fountains, and ftatues. The vaft quan-
tities of cocoa-nut-trees every where afford delightful
groves. They have fine ftruclureshere; particularly
the crofs church, built of ftone, and the infide very
neat. There are two or three churches for the Dutch,
and two for the Portuguefe proteftants, who are a
mixt fort of people. There is one church alio for
the proteftant Malayans. The town-houfe is -built of
brick, in a fquare, about the centre of the city, two
ftories high, and very finely built; where all courts
are held, and all matters relating to the civil govern-
ment of the city are determined; and the.fenators
and directors of the military affairs meet. There is
an inner court, inclofed with an high wall, and a
double row of ftone pillars, where the officers of
juftke live.
Here are hofpitals, fpin-houfes, and rafp-houfes,
the fame as in Amfterdam, with all other public
buildings, equal to moft cities in Europe. The
Chinefe have alfo a large hofpital in this city for their
aged and fick perfbns; and manage their charity fo
well, that you never fee a Chinefe that looks defptcable
in the ftreet. The Dutchwomen have greater, privi-
leges in India, than in Holland, or anywhere elfei
for,
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 223
for, on (light occafions, they are divorced from their
hufbands, and Oiare the cftate betwixt them. A law-
yer told me at Batavia, he has known, out of fifty-
eight caufes all depending in the council-chamber,
fifty-two of them were divorces. Great numbers of
the natives, who are criminals, are chained by pairs,
and kept at hard labour, under a guard, perpetually
clearing the chanels and moats round the city, or any
other work for the public. Three leagues weft from
the town is the ifland Onreft, where all the compa-
ny's fliips are refitted. There are magazines of naval
ftores, defended by platforms of guns.
The caftle at Batavia is quadrangular, lies in a
level, and has four baftions and curtains, faced with
white ftone, and provided with watch-houfes. In
this caftle, or rather citadel, the Dutch governor ge-
neral, and moft of the members of the council of
India, with the other officers of Batavia, have their
refidence. The governor's palace is of brick, large
and well-built. In this palace is the council-cham-
ber, the fecretary's office, and dumber of accounts.
The general's hall is hung with bright armour, en-
figns, flags, &c. taken by the Dutch here. The
governor gives audience to ftrangers, who are intro-
duced to him by the fhabander, who is commifiioner
of the cuftoms. The garrifon on duty is generally
about 1000 ftrongj and all the outworks are faid to
be furnifhed with provifions, as well as can be; but
the foldiers are kept much under, except the gover-
nor's guards, who have large privileges, and make a
fine appearance. The governor general lives in as
great fplendor as a king : he has a train and guard,
viz. a troop of horfe, and a company of foot, with
halbards, in liveries of yellow fattin, richly adorned
with filver-lace and fringes, to attend his coach,
when he goes abroad. The guards are as well equip-
ped as thofe of moft princes in Europe. His lady has
alfo her guards and train. He is chofen but for three
years, out of the twenty-four counfellors, called rads
of
«4 THE VOYAGE OF
of India* twelve of whom muft always refide in the
The Chinefe have the greateft trade here, farm
moft of the excife and culloms, live according to their
own laws, and are allowed their- idolatrous worfhip.
They have a chief, that manages then* affairs with the
company, who allows them great privileges, and par*
ticularly a representative in council; who has a vote;
when any of the Chinefe are tried for life. But theft
privileges are allowed only to fuch Chinefe as inhabit
here *, for others are not permitted to flay above fit
months in the town, or on the iflahd Java. The
other ftrangers, btfides Europeans, are Malayans,
with fome from moft parts of India.
The Javanefe, or ancient natives, are numerous,
and faid to be barbarous .and proud, of a dark co-
lour, with flat faces, thin, fliort, black hair, krgfr
eye brows and cheeks. The men are ftrong-limbed;
but the women are fmall. The former have a wrap-
per of calico three or four times round their bodies,
and the latter from their arm-pits to their knees*
The men have two or three wives, befide concu-
bines; and the Dutch fay, they are much addicted
to lying and ftealing. Thole on the coafl; are gene*
rally Mohammedans j but the others Pagans. The
women are not fo tawny as the men, and many of
them handforae -, but, in general, amorous, and un-
faithful to their hufbands, being very apt to give
poifon, which they do very cunningly. The town it
very populous -, but not one-fixth of them Dutch-.
The Chinefe here go all bare-headed, with their hair
roiled up, and long gowns, carrying fans in their
hands. The Dutch fay, they are more kiduftribus
and acute in trade, than themfetves. •
The difciplme and order of the Dutch here, borik
in civil and military affairs, is truly admirable. They
-have all the necefTaries for building and careening
flops, as well as in Europe ; and their officers as rei
gular as in his majefty's yardsv^ whereas we have not-
J * thing
:aptain woodes Rogers. 225
riling like it in India. They keep the natives very
much in awe, being perfectly defpoiic in their go-
vernment ; but they are more tender to the Chincfe,
becaufe of the great trade they have by their means ;
and that they pay great rents for their fhops, befides
large taxes ; and from lixteen to thirty per cent, for
money, which they frequently borrow of the Dutch.
I was told there are here about 80,000, who pay the
Dutch a dollar a head each month, for liberty to
wear their hair, which they are not allowed to wear ac
home, fince they were conquered by the Tartars.
There come hither from China fourteen or fixteen
large junks yearly, being flat-bottomed veflels, from
3 to 500 tuns burden. The merchants come along
with their goods, which are lodged in different parti-
tions in the veflels, like warehoufes, for which they
pay a certain price, and not for the weight or mea-
sure of the cargo, as we do; fo they fill them with
what they pleafe. They come in with an eafteriy
monfoon, and generally arrive in November or De-
cember, and return the beginning of June-, fo that
the Dutch have all Chinefe commodities brought to
them, cheaper than they can fetch them: and, being
conveniently fituated for the fpice-trade, they have
all in their own hands. Batavia wants no commodi-
ties that India affords. They have feldom lefs than
twenty fail of fliips at Java, from thirty to fifty and
fixty guns each, with men enough for them on all oc-
cafions. Their foldiers are very well trained, and
there is a company always on duty ac every gate of the
city and citadel; and they have 7 or 8000 difciplin-
ed Europeans in and about the city, who can be
afiembled. and ready for acHon at a very Jhort warn-
ing. It is the metropolis of their Indian fettlemencs,
and fends governors and officers to all the reft. The
late general, before we came hither, had war with
the Indians, which, I was informed, had like to have
fpoiled their fettlements -, but, at laft, they divided
the natives amongft themfelves, brought them to a
Vol. III. Q_ peace
226 THE VOYAGE OF
peace on advantageous conditions, and are now pret-
ty fecure of the fea-coafts. There are many plcaiant
feats about the city* and the adjacent country abound*
with rice, fugar-cane-fields, gardens, and orchards,
mills for fugar, corn, and gunpowder ; lb that this is
one of the plea&nteft cities in the world. I do not
think it fo Urge as Briftol -, but it is more populous.
They have fchools for Latin, Greek, Sec. and a print*
ing-houfe. They have lately begun to plant coffin
here, which thrives very well; fo that, in a tittle
time, they may be able to load a {hip or two: but I
am told, it is not fo good as that in Arabia.
On the 17th of October we arrived at the water-
place on the main, having failed from Batavia on the
14th. On the 19th, at two in the afternoon, we
came to an anchor with our belt bower, in a bay
about a league to the weft ward of Java head, in fif-
teen fathom water, oufy ground, about a mile from
the fhore ; fent our pinnace for water, and then our
fail-maker, wooden, Sec. captain Pike, and Mr.
Block, came in a boatfrom Batavia, the firft of them,
after his (reward, who had concealed himfelf, un-
known to moft of us, aboard the Batchelor. In the
evening, captain Pike lent us, his boat and men-, we •
put into her feveral of our men, with arms and pro-
vifions from each fhip ; and fent her away to. Pepper
Bay, to buy fowls, and other frelh provifions, giving
them for that purpofe knives, and other toys,- which
the natives there value above money.
In the evening we had much thunder, lightning,
and rain, which put us in fear for the men lent to
Pepper Bay ; continued wooding and watering till the
38th, and lent feveral men alhore to kill buffaloes,
.which "being extremely wild, they could (boot none,
and durft not ftay alhore at night, by reafon of the
manytygers: one of them was very near fcizing a
man of ours, who, to fave himfelf was obliged to
take the water; at Jeaft twenty lhots were made at
the tyger before he went off, and they faw feveral
others
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 227
others at the fame time. The Indian king, and his
people, dealt friendly with us, trucking fowls, and
what elfe they had to Ipare, for knives, and the like.
They generally came aboard everyday, and, we giv-
ing them fome trifle at parting, they were kind to our
men aihore. The wind being commonly at Ibuth-eaft,
and a frefli gale, we were under fome apprehenfions
for our men fcnt to buy fowls in Pepper Bay, having
heard nothing of them fince their departure, and mif-
wafting the boat might be overiet, or the men de-
tained by the Javans. But, on the 25th in the
evening, the boat returned, to our great fatisfa&ion,
with the men, bringing about twelve dozen of fowl,
fome mangoes, &c. captain Pike's fteward came on
board the Duchefs, hoping we would conceal him;
but was immediately fent on board the Batchelor to
his commander, who gladly received, and promifed
to pardon him.
We made land the 15th of December, came in
with the more the 18th, and had founding in 60 and
70 fathom, the ground grey gret with fmall ftones
and (hells ; had a ftrong toutherly current, fouth lati-
tude 34, ° 2', longitude 334° 34' weft from London.
The fame day we had very hard flaws of wind orFthe
high land, till we came within fight of the lion's head
and rump, two hills over the Cape Townj and this
day we arrived in the harbour of the cape, falutcd the
Dutch fort -ith nine guns, and were anfwered by
(even. We anchored in fix fathom water, about 3
mile off Ihore, and found only one Englilh fliip, call-
ed the Donegal, capuin Cliff commander, home-
ward-bound from Mocho, and two Middleburghers,
outward-bound for Batavia, in the harbour, befide
the guard-fliip, and two or three galliots. On the
z<)th, we moored our fliip, and got down our yards
and top-malts, to guard againft the hard flaws of
wind offthe table-land, which frequently blow very
frelh betwixt eaft lbuth-eaft and fouth-ealt, We fcnt
fixteen fick men- afhore.
0^2 On
uB THE VOYAGE OF
Oft the i ft of February, I offered fome propofals,"
in writing, to captains Dover and Courtney, with the
reft of the committee -, wherein I told them, it was
my opinion, we" fliould lofe too much time to (lay
for the Dutch fleet, in order to have the benefit of
her convoy to Holland •, which would not only be out
of our way, but very tedious and chargeable; and:
we having large quantities of decaying goods on
board, the time we fhould lofe by waiting for the
Dutch, might be advantageoufly employed in BraOl,
where we could lie in very little danger of the ene-
my, and vend them at great rates, and thence, get to
Briftol through the north channel, having the mai-
mer before us, continuing in the latitude of 550 or
56°, two or three hundred leagues before we got the
length of the north of Ireland ; and by that means,
might avoid the track of the enemy. I earneftly
preflcd, that, if they could not agree to this, one of
our privateers might take this alone, and the other
keep with the Batchelor and Dutch fleet. But-the
majority was againft any thing but going home with
the Dutch fleet all together -, fo that all I could do
more, was to remind them of examining the goods
aboard the Batchelor, apd to take out of her fo much
goods in fafe package, as would lie in the like room
of European goods, on board the Duchefs -, that, if
any accident fhould happen to the Batchelor, we
might have part of her value in another bottom. I
defired, if any amongft them were not of this opinion,
they would give their reafbns to the contrary in writ-
ing i but we could agree on nothing.
On April 5, at day-break, the flag hoifted a blue"
enfign, loofed the forecop-fail, and Bred a gun, as a
fignal to unmoor : as we were heaving in our cabje,
it rubbed againil the oakam, which had got into the
leak, and occafioned the (hip to be as leaky again as
ever, fhe having been indifferent tight for fome " '
time, and we were in hopes it would have continued. .
About noon I came aboard very thin, and in no better 3
health "3
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 229
health than I was when I went firft afliore at our ar-
rival here : prefcntly after I went aboard the flag,
there being a fignal made for all the Englilh com-
manders. We had before received our orders, which
were very particular, and to be punctually obferved.
About four in the afternoon, the flag, vice, and rear-
admirals, weighed with part of the fleet, and fell
down to Robins or Penguin iiland, where they lay for
the reft of the (hips. On the 1 6th, in the afternoon, we
all weigh from Penguin ifland, being fixteen Dutch,
and n\ne EngliOi Chips, having a fine frefli breeze
at fouth fouth-eaft. The Cape of Good Hope has
been fo often defcribed, that I do not think it necef-
fary to detain the reader with any account of it here*.
There happened nothing remarkable in our voyage
till June 5, when the admiral made a fignal for all the
Englilh commanders, and fome of the Dutch fkip-
pers, to come on board j where we found an excel-
lent entertainment', and the good humour of the
Dutch admiral foon made all the company underftand
each other without a linguift, though we had much
ado to get one at firft meeting: we parted before the
fun fet, and had a fine day. The 28th, being got
into the latitude of 51 ° north, we had thick foggy
weather ; fo that the flag fired two guns every half-
hour, and each (hip anfwered with one. This conti-
nued feveral days, which confumed a great deal of
powder-, but, by the noife of the guns, it was eafy
to keep company, thoggh fometimes fo thick for
feveral hours, that we could not fee three (hips
'lengths.
On July 14, we faw two (hips in the afternoon-,
one of which we fpoke with, being a Dane, bound
for Ireland ; Ihe informed us of the Dutch men of
war that were cruifing for us off Shetland, (being ten
fail) whom (he faw four or five days ago, and reckon-
ed herfelf now about forty leagues from the land.
* Sec Kolbein's account of the cape and its inhabitant), in vol.
Q- 3
nd.
We
e3o THE VOYAGE OF
We had founding then in feventy fathom water,
brown gravelly ground. I juft hid time to fend the
owners copies of my letters from xhe Cape of Good
Hope; and to let diem know, that we were now
got fo far fafe toward the concLufiuri of a fatiguing
voyage.
In the morning, we made Fair Ifland, and Foul
ifland, lying off Shetland. Prefemly after we jaw
the men of war; but, having little wind, and they a
good way diftant from each other, we could join but
one of them by noon. The next day all the men of
war joined us, except one or two, with the filhing-
doggers, which were cruiftng off1 to the nonh-eaft of
Shetland. After mutual falutations, both by the
Engiifli and the Dutch mips, one of the men of .war
was ient out to fee for the miffing Chips. The in-
habitants of thofe iflands came aboard with what pro-
vifions they had, being very poor people, who lUbfift
moflily by fifhing. On the 17th, 1 wrote a fingle letter
to the owners in general, by a Scots fifiiihg boat be-
longing to Shetland, advifing them of our joining
the men of war who were ordered with the Beet to the
Texel, where we hoped to meet an English convoy.
The Dutch India admiral, though but a company's
Ihip, -wears his flag -, gives fignals and oiders to the
Dutch men of war, which is not fuffcrcd among the
Engliflv, and, in the whole run from the cape, kept
an exac~t difcipline in the fleet, not futfcring -any of
the commanders to go out of- the Ihips to vifit each
other at fea without a figna), or leave.
On the 73d, the weather being clofe, the -commo-
dore made a lignal about ten o'clock tor feeing land ;
prefenriy all the fleet anfwered him with their colours.
The pilot-boats corning off aboard the (hips, we part-
ed with the Rotterdam and Middleburgh ihips, moft
of the men of .war going with them to fee them fafe
.in. The flag, and all the Engliih (hips, faluted the
Commodore, and afterward we faluted the flag, to
welcome him in fight of Holland ; and, as foon as
they
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. a3l
they were got over the bar, the Dutchmen fired at
their fafe arrival in rheir own country, which they
very affectionately called Fatherland.
About eight at night we all came fafe to anchor in
fix fathom water, about two miles ofTihore. On the
24th, in the morning, the Dutch flag weighed, in or-
der to go up to the unlivering place : as he paffed by
us, we gave him three huzzas, and nine guns. In
the afternoon I went up to Amfterdam, where we had
letters from our owners, to direct us how to act, and
proceed from hence.
On the 28th, the Englifh Eail India ftups had or-
ders to be in readinefs for failing with the firft Dutch
convoy for London. We got fome provifions aboard
from Amfterdam on the 30th, When I came aboard,
on the ift of Auguft, by confent of our council, we
difcharged what men we Ihippcd at Batavia and the
Cape, and afterward went away from Amfterdam.
On the 4th, the Duchefs and Batchelor went up the
road called the Vlicter, being a better road ihan the
Texel. In the evening, we had news of fome of our
owners being at the Hildar: Mr. Pope went to wait
upon them, and, in the morning, came aboard with
them : after a ihort (lay, they went for the Duchefs
and Batchelor, designing thence for Amfterdam. We
welcomed them with fifteen guns at their coming and
going. The Englilh Eaft India fhips, and others,
ound f^r England, weighed with the Dutch convoy
the fame day, having a fine gale at north-eaft.
On the 6th, we weighed from the Texel, and
went up to our confbrts, it being by a particular or-
der from the owners, for our better fecurity, being
obliged to wait here, fearing the India company
would be troublefome, although we had dealt for no-
thing but neceflaries in India. In order to obviate
this, and convince the world, as well as the Eaft India
company, of our honefty and good conduct in this
refpeet, the officers firft drew up an affidavit, letting
forth there never was any commerce carried on in the
0^4. Indies,
i3a THE VOYAGE OF
Indies, or any tranfaftions of buying and felling, but
for provifions, and other things, for the (hips ; and,
that no fufpicton might remain, an abftracfc of our
journal was drawn up, and the beft part of the (hip's
company voluntarily (wore to it. On the igth in the
afternoon, we had news of our convoy lying without
the Texel j which was very acceptable to the crews of
each (hip, who were in the utmoft uneaunefs at our
long ftay, being juft at home ; fo that we had much
ado to keep the companies aboard, till now we got
every thing in readinefs, in order for falling' down to
them.
On the 20th, about five in the afternoon, we got
down to the Texel, where we found our convoy ac
anchor, being the Eflex, Canterbury, Medway, and
Dulwich men of war. On the 22d in the morning,
the wind being at north-eaft, we weighed from the
Texel, and by ten of the clock got clear of the chan-
nel. In the afternoon, the commodore took the
Batchelor in tow ; and next morning, the wind being
againft us, we bore away again for the harbour ; as
did likewife four Dutch men of war, that came out
with us, bound for London : after feeing us fafe in,
he (food off to the northward, with the Canterbury
and Medway,. but came in the next morning. On
the 24th, our officers met, where, confulting, that
our three (hips wanted neceflaries to keep the Tea, in
. cafe we fhould meet with bad weather, we xequefted
captain Roffey our commodore, that he would pleafc
to ftay, (hould the wind be fair, till fuch time as we
could be provided with the faid neceflaries from Aro-
fterdam ; which was granted. On the. 30th, at break
of day, we weighed, as did likewife four Dutch men,
of war.
On the tft of Oflober, about eleven o'clock, we
came to an anchor in the Downs, where feveral of our
owners came on board, and, after they had vifited
every (hip, went on (hore with fome prifoners, to exa-
mine them about our capture, &c. At three this
morning,
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 233
morning, the Eflex made a fignal to unmoor ; and
betwixt nine and ten weighed, he being ordered up
to the Buoy in the Nore, and we to make the belt of
our way to the Hope. October 14, at eleven o'clock,
we and our confort got up to ErifF, where we came to
an anchor, which ends our long and fatiguing voyage.
IT was owing to this expedition of Woodes Rogers,
that the fpirit of privateering in th-j South Seas was
not totally loft in England, where abundance of art
had been ufed to propagate an opinion, that it was
fimply impoftible for any privateer fquadron to aft
with fuccefs, at leafl for their owners : and that, if
any thing was taken, it mult be in a bucan net ring
way, that is, for the fole advantage of ihe crew.
But, in all thefe refpedts, this voyage has undeceived
us, and plainly lhewn, that, under prober command,
our people are able to do as great things now, as ever
they did in the days of Elizabeth; and, indeed, it is
offering the greatcft indignity to our feamen to think,
otherwife. Amongft the reft of the bug bears in-
vented to terrify our people from going into thofe
feas, one was, the dreadful treatment they met with
from the Spaniards, when, by any accident, they
fell into their hands. As to this, captain Rogers has
fet the matter in its true light. He deplores the lofs
of Mr. Hatley in the moft attesting terms ; probably
from an opinion, that he might be tlarved at fea, or
forced to live alhore on fonie of the barren Galla-
pagosillands: but he very fairly tells us, that, after
that gentleman fell into the hands of the Spaniards,
he was very kindly treated, and fent up to Lima as a
priioner of war, which was what he had reafon to ex-
pect;. It is indeed true, that, when he and his boat's
company landed at Cape Paflao, and furrendered
themfelves, they were very barbaroufly ufed, having
their hands tied behind them, hung up by their necks,
and almoft half-flayed with whips : but then, by whom
was this done ? by a mixed people, the off-fpring of
negroei
234 THE VOYAGE OF
negroes and Indians, who bore an implacable hatred
to every man of a white complexion, out of meer aver-
fion to the Spaniards. In this diftrcfs they had pro-
bably ended their days, but for a prieft, who inter-
pofed, and preferved them.
The next remarkabje thing in this voyage, is the
prudence (hewn in the ceconomy of it, which ought
to recommend it as a precedent on all fuch occasions
for the future. This excellent management ap-
peared particular ly in the method taken of holding
councils before any tranfactions of importance, to
confider the -proper means for effecting it : and then,
■when the thing was frelh in every body's head and
memory, to bring the conduft of the affair under tx-
amjnation.ib as to procure another refolution of the
committee, either approving or diftpproving it. By
this meafure all fafts were lb effectually fettled, that
they would admit of no difoutes after they came
home ; and k is wery plain, that the debates which
happened aboard, were hindered from growing to -a
dangerous height by this very method : for, as no-
thing could be absolutely determined while they were
aboard, every body was anxious and afliduous in
fettling properly the papers, upon the teftimony of
which, the fenfe of their owners, in regard to their
condufl, was to be determined.
A third circumftance that deferves regard, is the
weaknefs of the Spaniards; for it appears plainly,
that they were not, at this time, in a much better
condition than when Drake and Candifh ravaged their
colonies : and of this captain Rogers was fo fcnftble,
that, in the preface to his book, he lays it down as a
thing extremely pra&icable, not only to plunder the
Spanifh lettlements on the coaft, but even to fix gar-
rifons there, which, be thinks, it would not be in the
power of the Spaniards to excel, before they received
a relief from Britain. It is not eafy to .fay whether at
this time, fuch a fcheme as he recommends would be
practicable-, but this,may fafely be laid, that nothing
that has fince happened has Ihewjj fuch a defign to be
impoffiblc
CAPTAIN WOODES ROGERS. 235
impoffible. At the time captain Rogers wrote, he
had before his eyes the example of the French tarry-
ing on, partly with, and partly without, the confent
of the Spaniards, iuch a commerce in that part of the
world, as enabled them to make head againft the reft
of all Europe : which is a circumftance that deferves
to be very well confidered. Since, if the wealth of
Spain, in the hands of France, may prove the ruin of
all her neighbours, it feems to be a natural inference,
that ir is not only lawful, but abfohitely incumbent
upon us, to profecute the only method that can poffi-
bly prevent it.
Before this fubject is difmiffed. we cannot but re-
mark the great utility of voyages to the South Seas,
but as tliefc can never be undertaken but when we are
at war with the Spaniards, lb that opportunity ought
never to be let flip : fince, otherwife, we are in dan-
ger of lofing all knowledge of that navigation, to
which we have a right in common with the reft of
mankind ; and which, fome time or other, may turn
to the infinite advantage of the Britiih nation. / 11
the adventurers who have vifited thoie Teas from the
*Mys of queen Elizabeth to this time, have intimat-
ed the mighty advantages that might be expected
from our endeavouring to fix in fome part, radier
than be continual wanderers in the South Seas. The
grand objection has been, that it is very difficult to
furniJh provifions for fo long an expedition, or to keep
our (hips fufficiently manned, fo as to be in a condi-
tion of fettling when they come hither. But, per-
haps, we ought to enquire, whether tiiefe difficulties
really fpriog from the defign itfelf, or from our me-
thod of managing it.
The accurate voyage which immediately follows,
contains fo many valuable facts, obfervations, and juft
reafoning, of later date, relating to the South Seas;
that we may fpare any farther remarks than what the
judicious compiler of that voyage offers, reflecting the
proper meafures to be taken to turn our knowlcge of
that remote navigation to a national advantage.
C *36 ]
ABSTRACT
O F
A VOYAGE round the WORLD,
By GEORGE ANSON, Efq*
Afterward LORD ANSON*,
Commander in Chief of a Squadron of his Majefly's Ship*.
As compiled from his Papers, by the Reverend
Mr. Waltir, Chaplain of the Centurion.
THE Iquadron under the command of Mr. An-
ion having undergone many changes in its
deftination, its force and its equipment, during the
ten months between its original appointment and
its final failing from St. Helens ; the hiftory of thefe
alterations is a detail neceffary to be made public,
both for the honour of thofe who firft planned and
promoted this enterprize, and for the juftification of
' thofe who were entrusted with its execution.
When in the latter end of the fummer of the year
1 7 30, it was forefeen that a war with Spain was inevi-
table, it was the opinion of fome confiderable perfofls
tHn trufted with the adminiftration of affairs, that
the molt prudent (lep the nation could take, was at-
" He wj.< crralrd lord A nfon in r 747, firft lord of die admiralty
in 1751, and in 1761, commanded the Iquadron tbat brought over
the queen, which was the lad letvice his lordfhip performed. Me
died June the fixih, 1762.
tacking
ANSON's VOYAGE, &c. 237
tacking that crown in her diftant fettlements; as by
this means it was fuppofed that we mould cut off the
principal refources of the enemy, and mould reduce
them to the necefnty of fincerely defiring a peace.
In purfuance of thefe fentiments, George Anion,
Efq; then captain of the Centurion, being at that
time abfent on acruife, a veflcl was difpatched to his
ftation fo early as the beginning of September, and he
received orders to return with his (hip to Portf-
mouth, and to attend the board of admiralty. When
he arrived, he was informed by Sir Charles Wager
that two fquadrons would be immediately fitted out
for two fecret expeditions, which however would
have fome connexion with each other: that he, Mr.
Anfon, was intended to command one of them, and
Mr. Cornwall the other : that the fquadron under
Mr. Anfon was to take on board three independent
companies of a hundred men each, and Bland's regi-
ment of foot : and that, as foon as this fquadron could
be fitted for the fea, they were to fet fail, with exprefs
orders to touch at no place till they came to Java
Head in the Eaft Indies : that there they were only
to ftop to take in water, and thence to proceed di-
rectly to the city of Manilla, fituated on Luconia,
one of the Philippine iilands : that the other fquadron
was to be of equal force with this commanded by Mr.
Anfon, and was intended to pafs round Cape Horn
into the South Seas, to range along that coaftj and
after cruifing upon the enemy in thole parts, and at-
tempting their fettlcments, this fquadron in its return
was to rendezvous at Manilla, there to jo.n the fqua-
dron under Mr. Anfon, where they were to refrelh
their men, refit their ftu'ps, and perhaps receive
orders for other considerable enterprizes.
This fcheme was doubtlefs extremely well pro-
jected, and could nit but greatly advance the public
fervice, and the reputation and fortune of thole con-
cerned in its execution : for had Mr. Anfon proceeded
fur Manilla at the time sod in the manner propofed by
Sir
m
%3% ANSON's VOYAGE
Sir Charles Wager, he would, in all probability, have
arrived there before they had received any advice of
the war between us and Spain, and confequently be-
fore they had been in the leaft prepared for the recep-
tion of an enemy. The city of Manilla might be
well fuppofed to have been at that time in the fame
defencelefs condition with all the other Spanifh fettle-'
ments, juft at the breaking out of the war :' that is to
fey, their fortifications neglected, and in many places
decayed ; their cannon difmounted, or rendered ule-
fcfs by the mouldering of their carriages -y their
magazines, whether of military ftores or provifions,
ail empty ; their garrifons unpaid, and confequently
thin, ill-afiefted, and difpirited j and the royal chefts
in Peru, whence alone all thefe diforders could receive
their rcdrefs, drained to the very bottom. The con-
fequence of this city, and the ifland it ftands on, may
be in fome meafure cltimated, from the known
healthinefs of its air, the excellency of its port and
bay, the number and wealth of its inhabitants, and
the very extenfive and beneficial commerce which it
carries on to the principal pans in the Eaft Indies and
China, and its exclulive trade to Acapulco; the
returns for which, being made in filver, are, upon
the loweft valuation, not lefs than three millions of
dollars per annum.
On this fcheme Sir Charles Wager was fo intent,
that in a few days after this firft conference, that is, on
November i S, Mr. Anfon received an order to take un-
der his command the Argyle, Severn, Pearl, Wager,
and Tryal floop -, and other orders were iflued to him
delating to the victualling of this Iquadron. But Mr.
Anfon, attending the admiralty the beginning of Ja-
nuary, was informed by Sir Charles Wager, that, for
reafonS with which he (Sir Charles) was not acquaint-
ed, the expedition to Manilla was laid afide. It may
be conceived, that Mr. Anion was extrenvly chagrined
at tie lofing the command of ib infallible, fo honour-
able, and, in every refpecT:, fo defirable an enterprize;
3 elpecially
ROUND THE WORLD.
*19
rfpecially too, as he had already, at a very great
expence, made the necefiary provifioii for his own
accommodation in this voyage, which he had reafon
to expect would prove a very long one. However,
Sir Charles, to render this difappo intme.it in ibme de-
gree more tolerable, informed him, that the expedi-
tion to the South Seas was ftill intended, and that he
(Mr. Anion) and his fquadron, as their firfr, detona-
tion was now countermanded, mould be employed in
that fervice. And, on the ioth or* January, he
received his commiffion, appointing him commander
in chief of the foremen tioned fquadron, which (the
Argyle being in the courfe of their preparation chang-
ed for the Gloucester) was die fame he failed with
above eight months after from St. Helens. On this
change of deftination, the equipment of the fquadron
was ftill prolecuted with as much vigour as ever; and
the victualling, and whatever depended on the com-
modore, was foon fo far advanced, that he conceived
the (hips might be capable of putting to fca the in-
ltant he mould receive his final orders, of which he
was in daily expectation. At lail, on the 28th of
June 1740, the duke of Ncwcaftle, principal fccre-
tary of State, delivered to him his majefty's inftrue-
tions, dated January 31, 1719, with an additional in-
ftruction from the Lords juftices, dated June 19, 1 740.
On the receipt of thefe, Mr. Anion immediately
repaired to Spithead. with a refolution to fail with the
firll fair wind, flattering himfelf that all his difficul-
ties were now at an end. For, though he knew by
the mufters, that his fquadron wanted three hundred
feamen of their complement (a deficiency which, with
all his afliduity, he had not been abie to get fuppKed)
yet, as Sir Charles Wager informed him, that an order
from the board of admiralty was difpatehed to Sir
John Norns, to fpare him the numbers which he
wanted, he doubted not of its being complied with.
But, on his arrival at Portfmouth, he found himlelf
greatly
140 ANSON's VOYAGE
greatly miftaken and difappointed in this perfualiod i
,ror, on his application, Sir John Norris told him, he
could fparc him none, for he wanted men for his
own fleet. This oceafioned an inevitable and a very
considerable delay -, for it was the end of July before
this deficiency was by any means fupplied, and all
that was then done was extremely fliort of hisneeef-
fitics and expectation. For admiral Balchen, who
Succeeded to the command at Spithead, after Sir
John Norris had failed to the weftward, inftead of
three hundred failors, which Mr. Anfon wanted of his
complement, ordered on board the fquadron a hun-
dred and feventy men only, of which thirty-two
were from the hofpital and ftck quarter.
But the commodore's mortification did not end
here. It has- been already obferved, that it was at firft
intended that colonel Bland's regiment, and three
independent companies, of a hundred men each,
fhould embark as land-forces on board the fquadron.
But this difpofition was now changed; and all the
Jand- forces that were to be allowed, were five hun-
dred invalids, to be collected from the om-penfion-
ers of Chelfea college. Mr. Anfon was gready
chagrined at having fuch a decrepid detachment
allotcd him-, for he was fully perfuaded that the
greateft part of them would perilh long before they
arrived at the foene of action, fince the delays he had
already encountered, necefiarily confined his paflkge
round Cape Horn to the moft rigorous feafon of the
year. Inftead of having five hundred, however,
there came on board no more than two hundred and
fifty-nine : for all thofe who had limbs and ftrength
' to walk out of Portfmouth, deferred"; leaving behind
them fuch only as were literally invalids. Indeed, it
is difficult to conceive a more moving fcene, than the
embarkation of thefe unhappy veterans, thus hurried -
from their repofe into a fatiguing employ, to which
neither the ftrength of their bodies, nor the vigour
of
ROUND THE WORLD. 24.1
bf their minds, were any way proportioned j and
this too, after they had fpent the activity and itrcngth
of their youth in their country's fervice.
And here it is neceffary to mention another mate-
rial particular in the equipment of this Iquadron. It
was propofed to Mr. Anion, after it was relblved
that he mould be fent to the South Seas, to take
with him two perfons, under the denomination of
agent victuallers. Thofe- who were mentioned for
his employment had formerly been in the Spanilh
"Weft Indies, in the South Sea company's fervice -,
and it was fuppofed, that, by their knowledge and
intelligence on that coaft, they might often procure
provilions for him by compact with the inhabitants,
when it was not to be got by force of arms. Thefe
agent victuallers, were for this purpofe, to be allowed
to carry to the value of 15,000!. in merchandize on
board the fquadron : for they had reprefented, that it
would be much cafier for them to procure provifions
with goods, than with the value of the fame goods in
money. Whatever colours were given to this fchenir,
it was difficult to perfuade the generality of mankind,
that it was not principally intended for the enrich-
ment of the agents, by the beneficial commerce they
propofed to carry on upon that coaft. Mr. Anion
from the beginning objected both to the appoint-
ment of agent victuallers, and the allowing them to
carry a cargo on board the fquadron; for he con-
ceived, that in thofe few amicable ports where the
fquadron might touch, he needed not their afiiftance
to contract for any provilions the place afforded -t and
on the enemy's coaft, he did not imagine that they
could ever procure him the neceflaries he mould
want, unlefs, which he was refolved not to comply
with, the military operations of his fquadron were to
be regulated by the ridiculous views of their trading
projects. All that he thought the government ought
to have done on this occafion, was to put on board
to the value of 2 or 3000 1. only of fuch goods, as
Vox.. III. R the
14% ANSOK's VOYAGE
the Indians, or the Spamfla planter* in tho lets culti-
vated part of the eoalt, might be tempted with:
fmce it was in fuch places only, that he imagined ic
would be worth while to truck with the enemy for
provisions-, and, in theie places, it was fufficiently
evident a very ("mail cargo would furfice.
This cargo was at fir ft Hupped on board the Wager-
ftore-fliip, and one of the victuallers ; no part of it
being admitted on board the men of war. But,
when the commodore was at St. Catharine's, he con*
fidered, that, in cafe the fquadron fhould be fcparat-
ed, it might be pretended that form- of the (hips were
djfappointed of provifions, for want of a cargo to
truck with -, and therefore he diftributed feme of the
lead bulky commodities on board the men of war.
He left the remainder principally on board the Wager,
where it was loll; and more of the goods perifliing
$y various accidents to be recited hereafter, no part
of them being difpofed of upon the coaft; the few
that came home to England did not produce, when
fold, the fourth part of the original price. So true
was the commodore's judgment of trie event of thit
proje£t, which had been by many conftdered as in-
fallibly productive of immenfe gains. But to return
to the tranfaftions at Portfmouth.
To fupply the place of the invalids which deferred,
as is mentioned above, there were ordered on board,
two hundred and ten marines detached from different
regiments. Thefe were raw and undiiciplined men;
for they being juft raifed, had fcarccly any thine
more of the loldier than their regimentals; none of
them having been lb far trained as to be permitted
to fire. The laft detachment of thefe marines came
on board the 8th of Auguft, and on the 10th the
fquadron failed from Spithead to St. Helen's, there to
wait for a Fair wind to proceed on the expedition'
But the delays already fuffertd had not yet fpent
all their influence -, for we were now advanced into a>
feafon of the year, when the wefterly winds are ulii-
4 ally
ROUND THE WORLD.
ally very conftant, and very violent; and it was
thought proper that we fhould put to lea in company
with the fleet commanded by admiral Balchen, and
the expedition under lord Cathcart. As we made up
in all twenty-one men of war, and a hundred and
twenty four fail of merchantmen and transports, we
had no hopes of getting out of the channel with fo
laree a number of (hips, without the continuance of
a fair wind for fome confidcrahlc time This was
what we had every day iefs and lefs reafon to expeft,
as the time of the equinox drew near; fo that our
golden dreams, and our ideal pofiellion of the Peru-
vian treafures, grew each day more faint : and the
difficulties and dangers of the palTage round Cape
Horn, in the winrer feafon, filled our imaginations
in their room. It was forty days, from our arrival
at St. Helen's, to our final departure from thence j
and even then, having orders to pnxeed without lord
Cathcart, we tided it down the channel with a con-
trary wind. But this interval of forty days was not
free from the difp leafing fatigue of often letting fail,
and being as often obliged to return •, nor exempt
from dangers, greater than have been fome times
undergone in furrounding the globe. On the 6th of
September, being returned to an anchor at St. He-
len's, after one of thefe fruitlefs efforts, the wind blew
fo frefh, that the whole fleet (truck their yards and
ropmafts, to prevent driving: yet, notwuhftanding
this precaution, the Centurion drove the next evening,
and brought both rabies a-head, and we were in no
(mall danger of running foul of the Prince Frederick,
a leventy-gun (hip, moored at a fmall dillance under
our (tern s though we happily efcaped, by her driv-
ing at the fame time, and fo preferving her diltance:
but we did not think ourfelves fecure, till we at lad
let go the (beet-anchor, which fortunately brought
us up. Our hopes of a fpeedy departure were even
now fomewhat damped by a fublequent or er, which
Mr. Anfon received on the i zth of September, and
R 2 by
*44 ANSON's VOYAGE
by which he was required to take under his convoy
the St. Alban's, with the Turky fleet, and to join
the Dragon and the Winchefter, with the Straits and
the American trade, at Torbay or Plymouth; and to
{iroceed with them to Tea aa far as their way and ours.
ay together. This incumbrance of a convoy gave
us fome uneafinels, as we feared it might prove the
means of lengthening our voyage to the Madcras.
However, Mr. Anfon, now having the command him-
jelf, immediately fent directions to Torbay, that the
fleets he was there to take under his care, might be
in a readinefs to join him inftamly on his approach.
And at laft, on-the 18th of September, he weighed
from St. Helen's ; and, though the wind was at firft
contrary, had the good fortune to get clear of the
channel in four days,
• Having thus gone through the refpe&ive fteps
taken in the equipment of this fquadron, it is fuffici-
■ently obvious how different an afpedk this expedition
bore at its firft appointment in the beginning of Janu-
ary, from what it had in the latter end of September,
when it left the channel; and how much its numbers,
hs ftrength, and the probability of its fuccefs were
diminiihed, by the various incidents which took place
in that interval : for, inftead of all our old and ordi-
nary featnen exchanged for iuch as were young and
able, (which the commodore was at firft promifed) and
having our numbers completed to their full comple-
ment; we were obliged to retain our firft crews,
which were very indifferent; and a deficiency of
three hundred men in our numbers was no otherwifc
made up, than by fending on board a hundred and
■ feventy men, the greateft part compofed of fuch as
. were difcharged from hofpitals, or new-raifed marine!,
who had never been at fea before : and, in the land-
' forces allotted us, the change was ftili more disad-
vantageous- But the diminifhing the ftrength of the
fquadron was not the greateft inconveniency which
attended
ROUND THE WORLD.
245
attended thefe alterations ; for the contefts, reprei'en-
tations, and difficulties, they continually produced,
m which the authority of the admiralty was not al-
ways i'u omitted to, occafiontd a delay and wafte of
tim<_', that, in its coniequences, was the fource of
all the di&flers to which this enterprise was afterwards
expelled.
On the 1 8th of September 1740, the fquadron,
as wi' have oblerved, weighed from St. Helen's with a
contrary wind; the commodore propofing to tide it
down the (hannei, as he dreaded lefs the inconveni-
ences he fhould thereby have to druggie with, than
the rifk he mould run of ruining the enterprize by an
uncertain, and. in all probability, a tedious attendance
for a fair wind.
The fquadron alloted to this fervice, confided of
five men of war, a floop of war, 3nd two victual-
ling (hip? They were the Centurion of fixty guns,
four hundred men, George Anfon, Efq; commander;
the Gloucefter of fifty guns, three hundred men,
Richard Norris commander-, the Severn of fifty guns,
three hundred men, the honourable Edward L-egg
commander-, the Pearl of forty guns, two hundred
and fifty men, Matthew Mitchel commander-, the
Wager of twenty-eight guns, one hundred and fixty
men, Dandy Kidd commander ; and the Tryal (loop
of eight guns, one hundred men, the honourable
John Murray commander : the two victuallers were
pinks, the largeft of about four hundred, and the
other of about two hundred tons burdens. Thefe
were to attend us till die provifions we had taken on
board were fo far conf.'med, as to make room for
the additional quantity they carried with them, which,
when we had take*-, into our fhips, they were to be
difcharged. The invalids and marines, under the de-
nomination of land-forces, were commanded by
lieutenant-colonclCracherode. With this fquadron,
together with the St. Alban's and the Lark, and the
trade under their convoy, Mr. Anfon tided it down
R 3 tte
a46 ANSON's VOYAGE
the channel for the firft forty-eight hours t and, on
the aoth, in the morning, we difcovered off the Ram-
Head, the Dragon, Winchefter, South Sea Cattle, and
Rye, with a number of merchantmen under their con-
voy : thcfe we joined about noon the lame day, our
commodore having orders to fee them, together with
the St. A loan's and Lark, as far into the lea as their ,
courfc and ours lay together. When we came in
fight of this laft mentioned fleet, Mr. Anfon firft
hoifted his broad pendant, and was faluted by all the
men of war in company.
When we had joined this laft convoy, we made up
eleven n en of war, and about one hundred and fifty
fail of merchantmen, confiding of the Turky, the
Straits, and the American trade. Mr. Anion the
fane day made a fignal for all the captains of the
men of war to come on board him, where he deliver-
ed them iheir fighting and failing inftruftiojis, and
then, with a fair wind, we all flood toward the
fouth-weft i and the next day at noon, being the 2 1 ft,
we had run lorty leagues from the Ram-Head. Be-
ing now clear of the land, our commodore, to render
bur vie ■'.' more extenfive, ordered captain Mitche], in
the Pearl, to make fail two leagues a head of the
fleet every morning, and to repair to nis ftation every
evening. Thus we proceeded till the 25th, when
the Winchefter and American convoy made the con-
ccr.ed fignal for leave to feparate, which being an-
fwered by the commodore, they left us: as the St,
Alban's and the Dragon, with the Turky and Straits
convoy, did on the 29th. After which feparation,
there remained in company only our own fquadron
and our own victuallers, wi'h which we kept on
ourcourfe for :hc ifland of Madera. But the winds
were fp contrary, that we had the mortification to be
forty days in our paflage thither from St. Helen's,
though it U known to be often done in ten or twelve.
This delay was a molt unpleafing circumllance t
fince as we had departed from England much later
than
ROUND THE WORLD. 247
than tire Aught to have done, We had placed almoft all
our hopes of fuccefs in the chance of retrieving, in
fome meafure at fea, the time we had fo unhappily
wafted at Spithead and St. Helen's. However, at
lail, 6n Monday, Odober the 15th, at five in the
morning we, ro our great joy, made the land, and
in the afternoon came to an anchor in Madera*
Road, in forty fathom water-, the Brazen-Head bear-
ing from us eatt by fouth, the Loo north north weft,
and the great church north north eaft. The next
day, the conful of the ifland vifiting the commo-
dore, we falut' d him with nine guns on his coming
on board.
1 his ifland of Madera, where we were now arriv*
ed, is famous through all our American fetdements,
for its excellent wines, which feem to be defigned by
providence for the rcfrefhment of the inhabitants o£
the Torrid Zone. It is fituated in a fine climate, in
the latitude of 32° : 27' north ; and in the longitude
from London (by our different reckonings) of i8° £
Co ig° x weft* though hid down in the charts in
1 70. It is compofed of one continued hill, of a con*
fiderable height, extending itfelf from eaft to weft:
the declivity of which, on the fouth-iide, is cultivated
and interfperfed with vineyards : and, in rhc midft of
this dope, ihe merchants have fixed their country-
feats, which help to form a very agreeabic profpe£t.
There is but one confidtr-ible town in the whole
iiJand ; it is named Font hi ale, and i* fcraied on the
fouth part of the ifland, at the bottom of a huic
bay. Toward the fea, it is <:d ended by a high
wall, with a battery of cannon, bcfidc a cadlc on
the Loo, which is a rock (Ian .mg \n the w;i er at
a fmall diftance from the fhore. !•■ nch'elc h tht '/fdjr
place of trad..*, and ini'ccd the on y \X*va v/h« r< *» 1%
poffiblc for a boat to land*, ar;<i, rvTii \v*', fht
beach is covered with large (tow*, *n?\ a io\ntt
furf continually beats upon it: u§ il-a* tht innitw>>
dore did not cart to ventu ttuj/t lw 4/, Ix/»ii
R u$
$48 ANSON's VOYAGE
to fetch the water off, there was fo much dangerf
of their being loft. He therefore ordered the capr
tains of the fquadron to employ Portuguefe boats
on that fervice. v
We continued about a week at this ifland, wa-
tering our (hips, and providing the fquadron with
wine and other refrcihments. Here, on the 3d of
November, captain Richard Norris fignified, by a let-
ter to the commodore, his defire to quit his com-'
mand on board the Gloucefter, in order to return to,
England for the recovery of his health. This requeft
the commodore complied with ; and thereupon was
pleafed to appoint captain Matthew Mitchel to
command the Gloucefter in his room, and to re-
move captain Kidd from the Wager to the Pearl,
and captain Murray from the Tryal (loop to the
"Wager, giving the command of the Tryal to lieu-
tenant Cheap. Thefe promotions being fettled, with
other changes in the lieutenancies, the commodore^
On the following day, gave to the captains their
orders, appointing St. Jago, one of the Cape de
Vend Iflands, to be the iirft place of rendezvous,
in cafe of feparation j and ' directing them, if they
did not meet the Centurion there, to make the beft
of their way to the ifland of St. Catharine's, on
the coaft of Brazil. The water for the fquadron
being the fame day completed, and each (hip fupplied
with'as much wine and other refreshments as they
could take in, we weighed anchor in the afternoon,
and took our leave of the ifland of Madera. But;
before we ' depart, it may be neceflary to give fome
account of the proceedings of the enemy, and of
the meafures they had taken to render- all our de-
figns abortive. ■
When Mr. Anfon vifited the governor of Madesa,
he received information from him, that for three of
four days,' in the latter end of October, there had
appeared to the weflward of that ifland feven or eight
Hiips of the line, and a patache, which laft was fent
' ' " ' ■ every
ROUND THE WORLD. 24*
every day clofc in to make the land. The governor
aflured the commodore, upon his honour, that none
upon the ifland had either given them intelligence, or
had in any fort communicated with them ; but that
he believed them to be either French or Spanifli, but
-was rather inclined to think them Spanifli. On this
intelligence, Mr. Anfon fcnt an officer in a clean
floop, eight leagues to the weftward, to reconnoitre
them ; and, if poflible, to difcover what they were :
but the officer returned, without being able to get a
fight of them , fo that we ftill remained in uncer-
tainty. However, wexould not but conjecture, that
this fleet Was intended to put a flop to our expedi-
tion ; which, had they cruized to the cattward of "he
ifland, in (lead of the weftward, they could not but
have executed with great facility. For, as in that
cafe they muft have certainly fallen in with us," we
fhould have been oblige A. to throw over-board vaft
quantities of provifions, to clear our (hips for an en-
gagement *, and this alone, without any regard to the
event of the action, would have effectually prevented
our progrefs. This was fo obvious a mcafure, that
we could not help imagining reafons which might
have prevented them from purfuin:? it. We after-
ward in the courfe of our expedition, were per-
fuaded that this was the Spanifli fquadron, com-
manded by Don Jofeph Pizarro, which was fent out
purpofely to traverfe the views and enterprizes of our
fquadron, to which, in ftrengrh, they were greatly
fuperior. As thi$ Spanifli " armament then was fo
nearly connected with our expedition, and as the ca-
taftrophe it underwent, though not eflfefted by our
force, was yet- a confiderable advantage to this nation,
and produced in confequence of our equipment ; we
wilk give a fummary account of their proceedings,
from their firft letting out from Spain in the year
1 740, till the Afia, the only fliip or the whole fqua-
dron which returned to Europe, arrived at the Groyne
in the beginning of the year 1746.
I
ISO ANSON's VOYAGE
This fquadron {befide two fiups intended for the
Weft Indies, which did not part company till after
they had left the Maderas) was compofed of the fol-
lowing men of war, commanded by Don Jbfeph Pi-
zarro. The Alia of fixty fix guns, and fevcn hun-
dred men; the admiral's fliip j the Guipufcoa, of
fcventy four guns, and feven hundred men v the
Hermiona, of fifty four guns, and five hundred men ;
the Elperanza, of fifty guns, and four hundred and
fifty men ; the St. Eftevan, of forty guns, and three
hundred and fifty men : with a patache, of twenty
guns. Thefe Ihips, over and above their complement
of failors and marines, had on board an old Spanifh
regiment of foot, intended to reinforce the garri-
Jbns on the coaft of the South Seas. When this fleet
had cruized for fome days to the leeward of the Ma-
deras, as is before- mentioned, they left that ftation in
the beginning of November, and fleered for the ri-
ver Plate, where they arrived the 5th of January O.
S. and coming to an anchor in the bay of Maldo-
nado, at the mouth of (hat river, their admiral Pi-
zarro fent im media; ely to Buenos Ayres for a fupply
of proviiions j for they had departed from Spain with
only four months provifions on board. While they
Jay here expe&ing this fupply, they received intelli-
gence, by the treachery of the Portugufe governor
of St. Catharine's, of Mr, Anion's having arrived at
that iQand on the * 1 (I of December preceding,, and
' of his preparing to put to Tea again with the ut-
moft expedition. Pizarro, notwithftanding his fu-
perior force, had his reafons (and as fome fay, his or-
ders likewife) for avoiding our fquadron any where
ftiort of the South Seas. He was befide extremely
defirous of getting round Cape Horn before us, as
he imagined that flep alone would effectually baffle
all our defigns : and therefore, on hearing that we
were in his neighbourhood, and that we mould foon
be ready to proceed for Cape Horn, he weighed an-
chor with the five large (hips, (the patache being dis-
abled
ROUND THE WORLD. 25*
abled and condemned, and the men taken out of
her) after a ftay of leventeen days only, and got un-
der fail without his provifions, which arrived at Mal-
donado within a day or two after his departure.
But, notwithstanding the precipitation with which
he departed, we put to fca from St. Catherine's
four days before him, and, in fome part of our
paflage to Cape Horn, the two fquadrons were fo
near togeih-T, that the Pearl, one of our (hips, be*
ing feparated from the reft, fell in with the Spanifh
fleet, and miftaking the Alia for the Centurion, had
fot within gun-£hot of Pizarro before (he difcovered
er error, and narrowly efcaped being taken.
It being the 2 2d of January when the Spaniards
weighed from Maldonado, as has been already men*
tioned, they could not expedt to get into the lati-
tude of Cape Horn before the equinox •, and as they
had reafon to apprehend very tempeftuous weather
in doubling it at that feafon, and as the Spanifh tail-
ors, being for the mod part accuftomed to a fair
weather country; might be expe&ed to be very avcrfe
to fo dangerous and fatiguing a navigation i the better
to encourage them, fome part of their pay was ad*
vanced to them in European goods, which they were
to be permitted to difpofc of in the South Seas : that
fo the hopes of the great profit each man was to make
on his venture, might render him lefa diij>otrd U) re.
pine at the hardfhips and perils he would in all pro-
bability meet with, before his arrival on the uull of
Peru.
Pizarro with his fquadron having, t/rward tin? lat-
ter end of February, run the Wif/th of CJaiir I lornt
he then ftood to the we ft ward, in order to douhlr if *
but in the night of the lad day of l-rbruary, O. Nf
while with this view they were turning 10 windward*
the Guipufcoa, the ficrmiona, and th<- Hik-uh/*,
were feparated from the admiral, ami ihr llnimoiu
was fuppofed to founder at fca, for (he wa* never
Iwrd
252 ANSON's VOYAGE
hoard of more ; and the Guipufcoa was run aihore,
and funk on the coaft of Brazil.
The calamities of all kinds- which this fquadron
underwent, in this unfuccefsful navigation, can only
be paralleled by what we ourfelves experienced m the
feme climate, when buffetted by the fame ftorms.
There was indeed fome dtverlity in our diftrefles,
which rendered it difficult to decide, whole fituation
was moll worthy of commiferation. For, to all the
misfortunes we had in common with each other, as
fhattered rigging, leaky mips, and the fatigues and
delpondency, which neceflarily attend thefe difafters j
there was Superadded on board our fquadron the ra-
vage of a moft deftrudive and incurable dilcaie -, and,
on board the Spanifh fquadron, the devaluation of fa-
mine. For this fquadron, either from the hurry of
their outfet, their prcfumption of a fupply at Buenos
Ayres, or from other lefs obvious motives, departed
from Spain, wiih no more than four months provi-
fion on board, and even that, it is faid, at fhort al-
lowance only. So that, when by the ftorms they met
with off Cape Horn, their continuance at lea was
prolonged a month or more beyond their expectation,
they were reduced to fuch infinite diftrefs, that rats,
when they could be caught, were fold for four dol-
lars a-piece j and a failor, who died on board, had his '
death concealed for fonie days by his brother, who
during that time lay in the fame hammock with the
corpfe, only to receive the dead man's allowance of
provifions.
: In this dreadful fituation they were alarmed, (if
(heir horrors were capable of augmentation) by the
difcovery of a confpiracy among the marines on board
the Afia, the admiral's lhip. This had taken its rife *
chiefly from the miferies they endured : for though
no lefs was propofed by the confpirators than the
maflacring the officers and the whole crew, yet their
motive for this bloody refolution feemed to be na
more than their defire of relieving their hunger, by
appro-
ROUND THE WORLD.
25}
appropriating the whole ftiips provisions to them-
fclves. But their defigns were prevented, whenjuft
upon the point of execution, by means of one of
their coofeflbrs : and three of their ring-leaders were
immediately pur to death. However, though the
confpiracy was fuppreffed, their other calamities ad-
mitted of no alleviation -, but grew each day more
and more deftructive. So that, by the complicated
diftrefs of fatigue, fickneis, and hunger, the three
fhips which eicaped, loft the greateft part of their
men : the Afia, their admiral's Imp, arrived at Monte
Vedio, in the river <"f Plate, with half her crew only ;
the St. Eftevan had loft in like manner half her hands,
when (he anchored in the bay of Baragan : the Efpe-
ranza, a fifty gun (hip, was ft ill more unfortunate,
for of four hundred and fifty hands, which (he
brought from Spain, only fifty-eight remained alive,
and the whole regiment of foot perilhed, except fixty
men. But, the reader will conceive a more diftinct
and particular idea of what they underwent upon
this occafion, from a Ihort account of the fate
of the Guipufcoa, extrafled from a letter, writ-
ten by Don Joleph Mendinuetta, her captain, to a
perfon of diftinct ton at Lima; a copy of which fell
into our hands afterward 'in the South Seas.
He mentions, that he feparated from the Hermiona
and the Efperanza in a fog, on the 6th of March,
being, as is fuppofed, to the fouth-eart of Staten-
Land, and plying to the weftward; that in the night
after, it blew a furious ftorm at north-weft, which
fplit his main-fail, and obliged him to bear away with
his fore-fail -, that he likewife fprung his main-malt,
and the fhip made Jo much water, that with four
pumps and bailing he could not free her: that on
the 9th it was calm, but the fea continued o hi. h,
that the fhip in rolling opened all her upper works
and feams. and ftarted the butt ends of her planking,
and the greateft part of her top timbers; the l>'.lts
being drawn by the violence * -oil ; numbers
every
15+ ANSON's VOYAGE
every day pcrifhing by the fatigue of pumping ; and
thofc who furvived, being quite difpin ted by labour,
hunger, and the feveriry of the weather, they hav-
ing two fpans of fnow upon the decks : that then find-
ing the wind fixed in the weftern quarter, and blowing
ftrong, and confequendy their paffage to the we:: ward
impofltble, they refolved to bear away for the river
of Plaw: that, on the 2 2d, they were obliged to
throw over-board all the upper deck guns, and an an-
chor, and to take fix turns or* the cable round the (hip,
to prevent her opening : that the fbip rolled fo much*
that the main-mad came by the board; and, in a
few hours after, the loft in like manner her fore-matt
'and her mizen-maft; and that, to accumulate their
misfortunes, they were foon obliged to cut away their
bow.'prit, to diminifh, if pofiible, the leakage at her
head : that thofe who were capable of working at
the pumps, (at which every officer without excep-
tion took his turn) were allowed only an ounce and
half of bifcuit per diem j and thofe who were fb fick
or fo weak, that they could not affiit in this neceffary
labour, had no more than an ounce of wheat ; fo that
it was common for the men to fall down dead at the
pumps : that they could not immediately fet up jury-
mafts, but were obliged to drive like a wreck, be-
tween the latitudes or 32° and 280, till the 24th of
April, when they made the coaft of Brazil, at Rio de
Patas, ten leagues to the louthward of the ifland of
St. Catharine's : that here they came to an anchor,
and that the captain was very defirous of proceeding
to St. Catharine's : if pofiible, in order to fave the
hull of the fhip, and the guns and (lores on board
her; but the crew inftantly left off pumping, and
being enraged at the hardfhips they had fuffered, and
the numbers they had loft, (there being at that time
no lefs than thirty dead bodies lying on the deck)
they all wtrh one voice cried out, On shore, On
shore, and obliged the captain to run the fhip in
dhe&ly for the land, where, the 5th day after, (he
funk
ROUND THE WORLD.
■
Junk with her (lores ; but the remainder of the crew,
whom hunger and fatigue had (pared, to the num-
ber of four hundred, got fafe on (hare.
From this account of the adventures and cataftrophe
of the Guipuk-oa, we may form forne conjecture of
the manner in which the Hermiona was lo!t, and
of the diftrefies endured by the three remaining Qjips
of the fquadron, which got into the river Plate.
Thefe la(t being in great want of mafts, yards, rig-
Sng, and all kinds of naval ftores, and having no
pply at Buenos Ayres, nor in any of their neigh-
bouring lettlements, Pizarro difpatched an advice-
boat with a letter of credit to Kio Janeiro, to pur-
chale what was wanting from the Portugueie. He,
at the fame time, fent an exprefs acrols the continent
to St. Jago, in Chili, to be thence forwarded to the
viceroy of Peru, informing him of the difaflers that
had befallen his fquadron, and defiring a remittance
of 200,000 dollars from the royal cherts at Lima, to
enable him to victual and relit his remaining (hips,
that he might be again in a condition to attempt the
paffage to the South Seas, as foon as the fcafon of
the year Ihould be more favourable. It is mentioned
by the Spaniards as a moft extraordinary circum-
fiance, that the Indian charged with this exprefs
(though it was then the depth of winter, when the
Cordilleras are efteemed impaflable on account of
the fnow) was only thirteen days in his journey from
Buenos Ayres to St. Jago in Chili, though tliefu plates
are diftant three hundred Spanilh leagues, near forty
of which are amongll the fnows and precipices of
the Cordilleras.
The return to this difpatch of Pizarro's from
the viceroy of Peru was no ways favourable: in-
stead of 200,000 dollars, the fum demanded, thp
viceroy remitted him only 100,000, telling him,
that it was with great difficulty he was able to
procure him even that.
The
iS6 ANSON's VOYAGE
The advice-boat fent to Rio Janeiro alibexecuted
her commiflion but imperfe&h/i for though fbd
brought back a confiderable quantity of pitch, tar;
and cordage, yet ihe could not procure either mafts
or yards : and, as an additional misfortune, Pizarro
was difappointed of fome mafts he expe&ed from Pa-
raguay. In the Oftober following, Pizarro Was pre-
paring to put to fea with two Ihips, in order to at-
tempt the pafiage round Cape Horn a fecond time ;
but the St. Eftevan, in coming down the river Plate,
ran on a Oioal, and beat off her rudder; on which,
and other damages Ihe received, Ihe was condemned
and broke up, and Pizarro in the Afia proceeded to
fea without her. Having now the fummer before
him, and the winds favourable, no doubt was made
of his having a fortunate and fpeedy paflage ; but
being off Cape Horn, and going right before the
wind in very moderate weather, though in a fwel-
ling fea, by fome mifconduft of the officer of the
watch, the fhip rolled away her mafts, and was a
fecond time obliged to put back to the river of Plate
in great diftrefs.
The Afia having considerably fuffered in this fecond
unfortunate expedition, the Efperanza, which had been
left behind at Monte Vedio, was ordered to be refitted,
the command of her being given to Mindinuetta,
who was captain of the Guipufcoa when fhc was loft.
He, in the November of the fucceeding year, that
is, in November 1742, failed from the river of Plate
to the South Seas, and arrived fafe on the coaft of
Chili •, where his commodore Pizarro pafling over
land from Buenos Ayres, met him. There were
great animofities and contefts between thefe two
gentlemen at their meeting, ©ccafioncd principally
by the claim of Pizarro to command the Efperanza,
which Mind'muetta had brought round •, for Mindi-
nuetta refufed to deliver her up to him, infifting,
that as he came into the South Seas alone, and under
ROUND THE WORLD. 257
no fuperior, it was not now in the power of Pizarro
to refume that authority which he had once parted
with. However, the prefident of Chili interpofing,
and declaring for Pizarro, Mindinuetta, after a long
and obftinate It ruggle, was obliged to fubmit.
But Pizarro had not yet completed the feries of
his adventures ; for, when he and Mindinuetta came
back by land from Chili to Buenos Ay res, in the
year 1745, they found at Monte Vedio the Alia,
which, near three years before, they had left there.
This ihip, they refoWed, if poffible, to carry to Eu-
rope, and with this view they refitted her in the beft
manner they could : but their great difficulty was to
procure a fufficient number of hands to navigate her,
for all the remaining Tailors of the fquadron, to be
met with in the neighbourhood of Buenos Ayres, did
not amount to a hundred men. They endeavoured
to fupply this defeft by prefling many of the inha-
bitants of Buenos Ayres, and putting on board, be-
fide, all the Englifh prifoners then in their cuftody,
together with a number of Portuguefe fmugglers,
which they hed taken at different times, and fome
of the Indians of the country. Among thefe laft
there was a chief and ten of his followers, who had
been furprized by a party of Spaniih foldiers about
three months before. The name of this chief was
Orellana •, h'j belonged to a very powerful tribe,
which had committed great ravages in the neigh-
bourhood of Buenos Ayies. With this motley crew,
(all of them, except the European Spaniards, ex-
tremely averfe to the voyage) Pizarro fet fail from
Monte Vedio in the river of Plate, about the begin-
ning of November 1 745 : and the native Spaniards,
being no ftrangers to th? diffatisfadtion of their forced
men, treated both thole, thr Englifh prifoners, and
the Indians, with great infolence and barbarity ; but
more particularly the Indians, for it was common
for the meaneft officers in the (hip to beat them moft
cruelly on the flighteft pretences, and oftentimes only
Vol. III. S 10
258 ANSON's VOYAGE
to exert their fuperiority. Orellana and his follow-
ers, though in appearance diffidently patient and fuh-
milfive, meditated a fevere revenge for all thefe in-
humanities. As he converfed very well in Spanifli,
(thefe Indians having, in time of peace, a great inter-
courfe with Buenos Ayres) he affected to talk with
fach of the Englilh as unclerftood that language, and
feemed very deurous of being informed how many
Englifhmen there were on board, and which they
were. As he knew that the Englilh were as much
enemies to the Spaniards as himfelf, he had doubt-
lefs an intention of difclofing his purpofes to them,
and making them partners in the fcheme he had pro^
jefted for revenging his' wrongs, and recovering his
liberty:' but having founded them at a diftance, and
not finding them To precipitate and vindictive as he
expected, he proceeded no farther with them, but
relblved to trail alone to the refolution of his ten
faithful followers. Having agreed pn the meafures
neceflary to be taken, they firft furnifhed themfelves
with Dutch knives (harp at the point, which being
the common knives uled in the (hip, they found no
difficulty in procuring: befide thefe, they employed
their leifure in tecretly cutting out thongs from raw
hides, of which there were great numbets on board,
and in fixing to each end of thefe thongs the double-
headed fhot of the fmall quarter deck guns. This,
,when fwung round their heads, according to the prac-
tice of their country, was a moft mifchievous wea-
pon, in the ufe of which the Indians about Buenos
Ayres are trained from their infancy, and confe-
quently are extremely expert. Thefe particulars
being in good forwardnefs, the execution of their
fcheme was perhaps precipitated by a particular out-
rage committed on Orellana himfelf. One of the of-
ficers ordered Orellana aloft, which being what he was
incapable of performing, the officer, under pretence
of his difobediencc, beat him with fuch violence,
that he left him bleeding on the deck, and llupified
. " for
ROUND THE WORLD. 259
for fome time with his bruifes and wounds. This
ufage undoubtedly heightened his ihirft for revenge,
fo that, within a day or two after this incident, he-
and his followers opened their defperate refolves in
the enfuing manner.
It was about nine in the evening, when many of
the principal officers were on the quarter-deck, in-
dulging in the fremnds of the night airj the wafle
of the (hip was filled with live cattle, and the fore-
caftle was manned with its cuftomary watch. Orel-
lana and his companions, under cover of the n;ght,
having prepared their weapons, and thrown off their
rrowzers and the more cumbcrous part of their drefs,
came all together on the quarter-deck, and drew to-
ward die door of the great cabin. The boatfwaio
immediately reprimanded them, and ordered them to
be gone. On this Orellana fpoke to his followers in
his native language, when four of them drew off, two
towards each gangway, and the chief and the fix re-
maining Indians Itemed to be fiovly quitting the
quarter-deck. When the detached Indians had t.ik.n
puifeffion of the gangway, Orellana placed his hands
hollow ro his mouth, aod bellowed out the war-cry
tiled by thofe favages, which is faid to be the harlh-
eit and moft terrifying found in nature. This hide-
ous yell was the fignal for beginning the maflacre:
for on this they all drew their knives, and brand i(hed
their double-headed (hot ; and the fix with their chief,
which remained on the quarter-deck, immediately
fell on the Spaniards, who were intermingled with
them, and laid near forty of them at their feet.
Many of the officers, in the beginning of the tu-
mult, pufhed into the great cabin, where they put
out the lights, and barrkadoed the door : wlulft of
the others, who had avoided the firil fury of the In-
dians, fome endeavoured to efcape along the gang-
ways into the furecaflle, where the Indians, placed
on purpofc, flabbed the greateft part of them as they
attempted to pals by; or forced them off the gang-
S 2 ways
auempi
a6o ANSON's VOYAGE
ways into the wade. Some threw themfelves volunta-
rily over the barricadoes into the wade, and thought
themfelves fortunate to lie concealed amongft the
cattle i but the greateft part efcaped up the main
fhrouds. Though the Indians attacked only the
quarter-deck, yet the watch in the forecaftle finding
their communication cut off, and being terrified by
thofe who, not being killed on the fpot, had ftrength
fufHcient to force their paffage, and not knowing ei-
ther who their enemies were, or what were their num-
bers, they likewife gave all over for loft, and in great
confufion ran up into the rigging.
Thus theie eleven Indians, with a refolution per-
haps without example, poflefied themfelves almoft
in an inftant of the quarter-deck cf a (hip mounting
fixty fix guns, and manned with near five hundred
hands; and continued in peaceable pofleflion of this
poft a confiderablc time. For the officers in the great
cabin, amongit w!;om were fizarro and Mindinuetta,
the crew betwee.. decks, and thofe who had efcaped
into the tops and rigging, were only anxious for their
own fafety; and were for a long time incapable of
forming any project for fupprelfing the infurrection,
and recovering the poffeflion of the (hip. It is true,
the yells of the Indians, the groans of the wounded,
and the confuted clamours of the crew, all heightened
by the obfeurity of the night, had at firft greatly mag-
nified their danger, and had filled them with the
imaginary terrors which darkneis, diibrder, and an
ignorance of the real ftrength of an enemy never fail
to produce. For as the Spaniards were fcnfible of' the
dififfeclion of their preft hands, 'and were alfo con-
fcious of their barbarity to their prilbners, they ima-
gined the confpiracy to be general, andconlidered their
■own deftruction as infallible ; fo that, it is faid, fome
of them had once taken the refolution of leaping
into the fea.
However, when the Indians had entirely cleared
the quarter-deck, the tumult in a great meafure fub-
iided j
ROUND THE WORLD,
261
' Tided ; for thole who had efcaped were kept filent by
their fears, and the Indians' were incapable of pur-
fuir
■ the
diibrder Orellana,
he law himfeif matter of the quarter-deck, broke
open the arm-clieft, which, on a (light fufpicion of
mutiny, had been ordered there a few days before,
as to a place of the greateft fecurity. Here he took
it for granted, he fliould find cutlaffcs futficient for
himfeif and his companions, in the ufe of which wea-
pon they were all extremely Ikilful, and with thefc,
it was imagined, they propofed to have forced the
great cabin : -but on opening the cheft, there appeared
nothing but fire-arms, which to them were of no
ufe. There were indeed cut la (Fes in the cheft, but
they were hid by the fire-arms being laid over them.
This was a fenfible difappointment to them, and by
this time Pizarro and his companions in the great
cabin were capable of converting aloud through the
cabin-windows and port- holes, with thofein the gun-
room and between decks, and from hence they learnt
that the Englilh (whom they principally fufpected)
were all fafe below, and had not intermeddled in this
mutiny: and by other particulars they at laft dis-
covered, that none were concerned in it but Orellana
and his people. On this Pizarro and the officers re-
folved to attack them on the quarter deck, before
any of the dilcontented on board fliould fo far reco-
ver their firft furprize, as to reflect on the facility
and certainty of feizing the ftrip by a junction. With
this view Pizarro got together what arms were in the
cabin, which were no other but piftols, and for thefe
they had neither powder nor ball. However, hav-
ing now fettled a correfpondence with the gun-room,
they lowered down a bucket out of the cabin-win-
dow, into which the gunner put a quantity or. piftol-
cartridges. When they had thus procured ammu-
nition, and had loaded their piftols, they fct the ca-
bin door partly open, and fired feveral Ihot amongil
the Indians on the quarter-deck, though at firlt wich-
S 3 Wit
a& ANSON's VOYAGE
out effeft : but at laft Mindinuetta, -whom we have
often mentioned, had the fortune to Ihoot Orellana
dead on the fpot ; on which his faithful companions
abandoning all thoughts of further refifhnce, inftanth/
leaped into the tea, where every man perifhed.
Thus was this infurrection quelled, after the quar-
ter-deck ' ad been full two hours in the power of
this great and daring chief, and his gallant unhappy
countrymen.
' Ptzatro having efcaped this imminent peril, fleered
for Europe, and arrived fafe on the coaft of Gaili-
eia in the beginning of the year 1746, after having
been abfent between four and five years, and having,
by his attendance on our expedition, diminifhed the
naval power of Spain by above three thoufand hands,
and by four considerable (hips of war and a patache.-
Whoever confiders the very large proportion, which
this fquadron bore to the whole navy of Spain, will
confefs, that, had our undertaking been attended
with no other advantages than that of ruining fo great
a part of the lea-force of fo dangerous an enemy,
this alone would be a fufficient equivalent for our
equipment, and an inconteftible proof of the fervice
which the narion has thence received. Having thus
concluded this futtimary of Pizarro's adventures, we
fhafinow return again to the narration of our own
trfnfa&ions.
On the third of November we weighed from Ma-
dera, after orders had been given to the captains to
rendezvous at St. Jago, one of the Cape de Verd
iflands, in cafe the -fquadron was Separated. But
the next day, when we were got to fea, the com-
modore confidering that the feafon was far advanced,
and that touching at Jago would create a new delay,
he for this reafon thought proper to alter his ren-
dezvous, and to appoint the ifland of St. Catharine's*
on the coaft of Brazil, to be the firft place, to which-
the fhips of the fquadron were to repair in cafe of
Reparation.
la
ROUND THE WORLD. 263
In ourpafiage 10 the ifland of St. Catharine's, we
found the direction of the trade-winds to differ con-
fiderably from what we had rcafon to expefl, both
from the general hiftories given of thefe winds, and
the experience of former navigators. For though we
met with a north-eaft wind, about the latitude of
28° north, yet from the latitude of 250 to the lati-
tude of 1 8" north, the wind was never once to the
northward of the eaff, but, on the contrary, almoft
conftantly 10 the fouthward of it. However, from
thence to the latitude of 6° 20' north, we had it ufu-
ally to the northward of the eaft, though not en-
tirely, it having for a thort time changed to eaft
fouth-eaft. From hence, to about 40 46' north,
the weather was very unfetfled -, fometimes the wind
was north-eaft, then changed to fouth-eaft, and fome-
times we had a dead calm, attended with fmall rain
and lightning. After this, the wind continued al-
moft invariably between the fouth and eaft, to the
latitude of y9 30' fouth; and then again, as invari-
ably between the north and eaft, to the latitude of
*5* 3°' fouth; then eaft and fouth-eaft, to 2jg 37'
fouth. But after this, even to the latitude ofay"
44.' fouth, the wind was never once between the
fouth and the eaft, though we had it at times in all
the other quarters of the compafs. But this laft cir-
cumftance may be in fomc meafurc accounted for,
from our approach to the main continent of the Bra-
zils. I mention not thefe particulars with a view
of cavilling at the received accounts of thefe trade-
winds, which are in general fufficiently accurate: but
I thought it a matter worthy of public notice, thar
fuch deviations from the cftablilhed rules do fomc-
rinies take place, to guard navigators againft fuch un-
expected irregularities.
On the 1 7th of November, the commodore made
a fignal for the Ihips to bring to, and to take on
board their ftiares of the brandy from the IndulVry
Pink ; and in this the long-boats of the fquadron
S 4
264 ANSON's VOYAGE
were employed the three following days, when the
Pink being unloaded, Ihe parted company with us,
being bound for Barbadoes, there to take in a freight
for England. Moft of the officers of the fquadron
took the opportunity of writing to their friends at
home by this (hip ; but (he was afterward unhappily
taken by the Spaniards.
On the 20th of November, the captains of the
fquadron reprefented to the commodore, that their
(hips companies were very ftckiy, and that it was
their own opinion, as well as their furgeons, that it
would tend to the prefervation of the men to let in
more air between decks ; but that their (hips were fo
deep, they could not poffibly open their lower ports.
On this rcprcfentation, the commodore ordered fix
air-fcuttles to be cut in each ihip, in fuch places where
they mould lead weaken it.'
And on this occafion I cannot but obferve, how
much it is the duty of all thofe, who either by office
or authority, have any influence in the direction of
our naval affairs, to attend to this important article,
the prefervation of the lives and health of feamen.
If it could be fuppqied, that j he motives of huma-
nity were infufficient for this purpofe, yet policy,
and a regard to the fuccefs of our arms, and the in-
tereft and honour of each particular commander,
mould naturally lead us to a careful and impartial
examination of every probable method, propofed for
maintaining a (hip's crew in health and vigour.
We crolied the equinoctial with a fine frelh gale
at fouih-eaft on Friday the 28th of November, at
four in the morning, being then in the longitude of
Z't° 59' wdi from London : And on the 2d of De-
cember in the morning, we (aw a fail but could not
come up with her. We were much chagrined at the
ef ape of this veliel, as we then ap\ rehended her to
be an advio -boat fent from Old Spain to Buenos
■ Ayrts, with notice ot our expedition ; but we have
fince
ROUND THE WORLD.
fince learnt that it was our Eall India company's pac-
ket bound to St. Helena.
On the iot!i of December, being by our accounts
in the latitude of 200 fouth and 36 ° 30' longitude
weft from London, the Tryal fired a gun to denote
foundings. We immediately founded, and found
fixty fathom warer, the bottom coarle ground with
broken Ihells. The Tryal being a-head of us, had
at one time thitty-i'even, fathom, which afterwards in-
crcaled to 90 : and then fhe found no bottom, which
happened to us too at our fecond trial, though we
founded with a hundred and fifty fathom of line.
This is the Ihoal which is laid down in moft charts
by the name of die Abrollos ■, and it appeared we
were upon the very edge of it ; perhaps farther in it
may be longerons. We were then, by our different
accounts, from ninety to fixty leagues eaft of the
coalt of Bralil. The next day but one we fpoke
with a Portuguefe brigantine from Rio Janeiro,
bound to fiahia del todos Santos, who informed us
that we were thirty-four leagues from cape St.Thomas,
and forty leagues from Cape Frio; which laft bore
from us weft Couth-weft. By our accounts we were
near eighty leagues from Cape Frio •, and though,
on the information of this brigantine, we altered our
courfe, and ftood more to the fouthward, yet by our
coming in with the land afterwards, we were fully
convinced that our reckoning was much correcter
than our Portuguefe intelligence. We found a con-
fiderable current letting to the fouthward, after we
Had palled the latitude of 160 fouth: the fame
.took place all along the coaft of BrafU, and even to
the fouthward of the river of Plate, it amounting
Sometimes to thirty miles in twenty-four hours, and
once to above forty miles.
If this current is occalioned (as it is moll pro-
bable) by the running off of the water, accumulated
on the coalt of Brafil, by the conflant fweeping of
the eaftern trade-wind, over the Ethiopic ocean, then
i66 ARSON'S VOYAGE
it is mod natural to fuppofc, that its general conrft
is determined by the bearings of the adjacent fhore.
Perhaps too, in almoft every other inftance of cur-
rents, the fame may hold true, as I believe no ex-
amples occur of confiderable currents being obferted
at any great diftance from land. If this then could
be eftablifhed as a general principle, it would be al-
ways eafy to correct the reckoning by the obfcrved
latitude.
We now began to grow impatient for a fight of
land, both for the recovery of our Tick, and for the
rerrelhment and fecurity of thofe who as yet conti-
nued healthy. When we departed from St. Helen's,
we were in fo good a condition, that we loll but two
men on board the Centurion, in our long paflage to
Madeira. But in this prefent run between Madeira
and St. Catharine's we were remarkably fiekly. The
disorders, in general, were fuch as are common to
the hot climates, and what molt fhips bound to the
fouthward experience, in a greater or lefs degree.
Tbefe are thofe kind of fevers, which they ufually
call calentures : a difeale, which was not only terrible'
in its firft inftance, but even the remains of it often
proved fatal to thofe who confidered themfelves as re-
covered from it. For it always left them in a very
weak and helplefs condition, and ufually affli&ed
cither with fluxes or tenefmufes. By our continuance
at fea, all thefe complaints were every day increafing,
fo that it was with great joy we difcovered the coaft
of Brafil on the i6r.h of December, at feven in the
morning *.
The coaft of Brafil appeared high and mountain-
ous land, extending from weft to weft fouth-weft,
and when we firft faw it, it was about fcventeen
leagues diftant. At noon we perceived a low double
land, bearing weft fouth weft, about ten leagues dif-
*-Fortn account of Brafil, fee Nieuhoff '« Voyige to Brafil, m
th; preceding patt of t hi* work,
6 tanty
ROUND THE WORLD.
tent, which we took to be the ifland of St. Catha-
rine's. That afternoon and the next morning, the
wind being north north-weft, we gained very little
to windward, and were apprehenfivc of being driven
to the leeward of the ifland ; but a little before noon,
the next day, the wind came about to the fouthward,
and enabled us to fteer in between the north point of
St. Catharine's, and the neighbouring ifland of Alvo-
redo. As we ftood in for the land, we had regular
foundings, gradually decreafing, from thirty-fix to»
twelve fathom, all muddy ground. In this laft depth
of water we let go our anchor at five o'clock in the
evening of the 1 8th, the north-weft point of the;
ifland of St. Catharine's bearing fouch fou:h-weft,
diftant three miles ; and the ifland of Alvoredo north
north-eaft, diftant two leagues. Here we found the
tide to fet fouth fouth-calt, and north north-weft, at
the rate of two knots, the tide of flood coming from
the fouthward. We could, from our fhips, obferve
two fortifications at a confiderable diftance within
us, which fecmed defigncd to prevent the paflage of
an enemy between the ifland of St. Catharine's and
the main. And we could foon perceive that our
fquadron had alarmed the coalt, for we law the two
forts hoift their colours, and fire feveral guns, which
we fuppoied were fignals for aflembfing the inhabi-
tants. To prevent any confufion, the commodore
immediately lent a b^at with an officer on more, tcr
compliment the governor, and to defire a pilot to
carry us into the road, The governor returned a
very civil anfwer, and ordered us a pilot. On the
morning of the 20th, we weighed and flood in, and
toward noon the pilot came on board us, who, the
fame afternoon, brought us to an anchor in five fa-
thom and an half, in a large COrnrnodtooa bay on
the continent fide, called by the French Bon Port.
In rtanding from our laft anchorage to this place, we
every where found an ouzy bottom, with a depth
of water firft regularly decicifing to five fathom,
and
26S ANSON's VOYAGE
and then increafing to feven, after which we had
fix and five fathom alternately. The next morning
we weighed again with the fquadron, in order to
run above the two fortifications we have mentioned,
which are called the catties of Santa Cruiz and St.
Juan. Our foundings now between the iiland and
the main were four, five, and fix fathom, with mud-
dy ground. As we palled by the caftle of Santa
Cruiz we faluted it with eleven guns, and were an-
fwered by an equal number ; and at one in the -after-
noon, the fquadron came to an anchor in five fathom
and a half, the governor's ifland bearing north north-
weft, St. Juan's caftle north-eaft i eaft, and the
ifland of St. Antonio fouth. In this pofirion we
moored at the iiland of St. Catharine's on Sunday the
ziftof December, the whole fquadron being, as al-
ready mentioned, fickly, and. in great want of re-
frelhments : both, which inconveniences we hoped
to have foon removed at this fettlement, celebrated by
former navigators for its healthinefs, and the plenty
of its provifions ; as well as for the freedom, indul-
gence,, and friendly affiftance there given to the mips
of all European nations, in amity with the crown
of Portugal.
Our firft care, after having moored our {hips, was
to get our fick men on fhore, preparatory to which,
each fliip was ordered by the commodore to ereft
two tents ; one of them for the reception of the dif-
eafed, and the other for the accommodation of the
furgeon and his afliitants. We fent about eighty
fick from the Centurion -, and the other fhips, 1 be-
lieve, fent nearly as many, in proportion to the num-
ber of their hands. As foon as we had performed
.this necefiary duty, we feraped our decks, and gave
our ihip a thorough cleaning ; then fmoked it be-
tween decks, and after all wafhed every part well
with vinegar. Thefe operations were extremely ne-
Ceflary, for correcting the no'ifome ftench on board,
and for destroying the vermin.
Our
ROUND THE WORLD.
Our next employment was wooding and watering
our Iquadron, caulking our fhips fides and decks,
overhauling our rigging, and fecuring our mafts
againft the tempeftuous weather we were, in all pro-
bability, to meet with in our pafiage round Cape
Horn, in fo advanced and inconvenient a fealbn. But
before thefe tranlaftions are entered upon, it will
not be improper to give fame account of this ifland
of St. Catharine's, and of the neighbouring country j
both as the circumitances of this place are now great-
ly changed from what they were in the time of for-
mer writers, and as thefe changes laid us under many
more difficulties and perplexities than we had reafon
to expect.
This ifland is efteemed by the natives to be no
where above two leagues in breadth, though about
nine in length : it lies in 490 45' of weft longitude
of London, and extends from the fouth latitude of
27° 35* to tnat °^ 2%°- Although it be of a consi-
derable height, yet it is fcarce discernible at the dif-
tance of ten leagues, being then obfeured under the
continent ot Brafil, whofe mountains are exceeding
high : but on a nearer approach it is eafy to bediftin-
guifhed, and may be readily known by a number of
fmall iflands, lying at each end, and lcattered along
the eaft fide of it.'
The north entrance of the harbour is in breadth
about five miles -, the diftance from thence to the
ifland of St. Antonio is eight miles, and the courfe
from the entrance of St. Antonio is fouth fouth-weft
J- weft. About the middle of the ifland the harbour
. contracted by two points of land to a narrow chan-
and to
on the
nel, no more than a quarter of a mile broad
defend this paflage, a battery was erecting
point of land on the ifland fide. But this fecms to
be a very ufclefs work, as the channel has no more
than two fathom water, and confequently is navi-
gable only for barks and boats, and therefore feems
to be a pafiagc that an enemy could have no induce-
ment
i
t$o ANSON'S VOYAGE
merit to attempt, efpecially as the common paflage
at the north end of the ifland is fo broad and fate,
that no fquadrpn can be prevented from coming in
by any of their fortifications, when the fea-breeze is
made. JBefides the battery mentioned above, there
tie thwe other forts carrying on for the defence of
cbeharbdu^ ,cooe of which are yet completed. The
firft of thefe, .called St. Juan, is built on a point of
St. Catharine's near Parrot Ifiand -, the fecond, in
form of a -half-moon, is on the ifland of St. Anto-
nio; and the third, which feems to be the chief, and
has fome appearance of a regular fortification, is on
an ifland near the continent, where the governor re-
fides.
The foil -of the ifland is truly luxuriant ; and the
ground is covered over with one continued fbreft of
trees, of perpetual verdure j which, from the exr
Uberance of the foil, ate fo .entangled with briars,
thorns, and underwood, as to form a thicket abfor
lutely impenetrable, except by fome narrow path-
ways, which the inhabitants have made for their own
convenience. Thefe, with a ftw fpots cleared for
plantations along the fhore, facing the continent, are
the only uncovered parts of the ifland. The woods
are extremely fragrant, from the many aromatic
trees and fhrubs with which they abound j and the
fruits and vegetables of all climates thrive here, al-
tnoft without culture, and are to be procured in great
plenty. The fiefli provifions are however much inr
ferior to the vegetables : there are indeed final) wild
cattle to be purchafed, fomewhat like buffaloes, but
thefe are very indifferent food, their flem being of
a loofe contexture, and generally of a difagreeable
flavour, which is probably owing to the wild cala,-
baih on which they feed.
The water both on the ifland and on the oppofite
continent is excellent, and preferves at fea as well as
that of the Thames ; for after it has been in the cafk
a day or two, it begins to purge itil-lf, -and is foon
Covered
ROUND THE WORLD.
covered over with a green fcum, which, in a few
days, fubfides to the bottom, and leaves the water
as clear as cryftal, and perfectly fweet. The French
(who during their South Sea trade in queen Anne's
reign, firft brought this place into repute) ufually
wooded and watered in Bon Port, on the continent
fide, where they anchored with great fafety in fix
fathom water i and this is doubtlefs the moll com-
modious road for fuch ftiips as intend to make only
a ftiort flay. But we watered on the St. Catharine's
fide, at a plantation oppofitc to the ifland of St. An-
tonio.
Thefe are the advantages of this ifland of St. Ca-
tharine's; but there are many inconveniencies attend-
ing it, partly from its climate, but more from its new
regulations, and the late form of government efta-
blilhed there. With regard to the climate, it mud be
remembered, that the woods and hills which furround
the harbour, prevent a free circulation of the air :
and the vigorous vegetation which conftantly takes
place there, furnifhes fuch a prodigious quantity of
vapour, that all the night, and a great part of the
morning, a thick fog covers the whole country, and
continues till either the fun gathers ftrength to difii-
pate it, or it is dilperfed by a brifk fea-breeze. This
renders the place clofe and humid, and probably
occafioned the many fevers and fluxes we were there
afflidted with. To thefe exceptions muff, be added,
that all the day we were peftered with great numbers
of mufcatos, which are not much unlike the gnats in
England, but more venomous in their flings. And
at lun-fet, when the mufcatos retired, they were fuc-
ceeded by an infinity of fand-flies, which, though
fcarce difcemible to the naked eye, make a mighty
buzzing, and wherever they bite, raife a fmall bump
in the flefh, which is foon attended with a painful
itching. But as the only light in which this place
dclerves our confederation, is its favourable fituation
for fupplying and refreihing our cruizers intended
for
27z ANSON's -VOYAGE"'
for the South Seas : in this view its greateft incon-
ventencies remain ftill to be related.
In the time of Frezier and Shelvocke, this place
ferved only as a retreat to vagabonds and outlaws,
who fled thither from all parts of Brafil. They did
indeed acknowledge a fubjection to the crown of Por-
tugal, and had a perfon among them whom they cal-
led their captain, who was confidercd in iome fort as
their governor : but both their allegiance to their
. king, and their obedience to their captain, feerrjed to
be little more than verbal. In this fituation they were
extremely hofpitable and fritndly to fu<h . foreign
ihips as came amongft them. For thefe mips want-
ing only provifions, of which the natives had great
ftore ; and the natives wanting cloaths, (for they of-
ten defpifed money, and refuted to take it) which
the ihips furnilhed them with in exchange for their
provisions; both fides found their account in this
traffick j and their captain or governor had neither
power nor intereft to reftrain it or to tax it. But of
late, for reafons which Ihall be hereafter mentioned,
thefe honeft vagabonds have been obliged to receive
amongft them a new colony, and to i'ubmit to new
laws and new forms of government. Inftcad of their
former ragged bare-legged captain, whom however
they took care to keep innocent, they have now the
honour to be governed by Don Jole Sylva de Paz,
a brigadier.of the armies of Portugal ; whofe behavi-
our cannot but be extremely embarrafling tofuch Bri-
tiih (hips as touch there in their way to the South
Seas. For one of his practices was placing centi-
nels at all the avenues, to prevent the people from
felling us any refrefhments, except at fuch exorbitant
rates as we could not afford to give. His pretence
for this extraordinary ftretch of power was, that he
was obliged to prefervc their provifions for upwards
of an hundred families, which they daily expelled to
reinforce their colony. However, this, though fuffi-
ciently provaking, was far from being the moft ex-
ceptionable
ROUND THE WORLD. 27$
teptionable part of his conduct. For by the neigh-
bourhood of the river Plate, a conliderable fmug-
gling traffic is carried on between the Portuguefe and
the Spaniards, efpecially in the exchanging gold for
filver, by which both princes are defrauded uf their
fifths; and in this prohibited commerce Don Jofe was
fo deeply engaged, that in order to ingratiate himfclf
with his Spanilh correfpondents (for no other reafon
can be given for his procedure) he treacherouny dif-
patched an exprefs to Buenos Ayres in the river of
Plate, where Pizarro then lay, with an account of
our arrival, the ftrength of our fquadron, and every
circumftance which he could fuppole our enemy dc-
firous of being acquainted with. And the fame per-
fidy every Bncifh cruizer may expect who touches
at St. Catharine's, while it is under the government
of Don Jofe Sylva de Paz.
The governor of Rio Grande allured us, that in
the neighbourhood of this ifland there were confider-
able rivers, which were found to be extremely rich,
and which was the reafon that a garrifon, a military
governor, and a new colony was fettled there. ■ And as
the harbour at this ifland is by much ihe lecureft
and the moll capacious of any on the coaft, it is not
improbable, if the riches of the neighbourhood an-
fwer their expectation, that it may become in lime
the principal fettlement in Brafil, and the molt con-
fiderable port in all South America.
When we firfl: arrived at St. Catharine's, we were
employed in refrelhing our lick on more, in wooding
and watering the fquadron, cleanfing our mips, and
examining and fecuring our mails and rigging, as
has been already obferved. At the fame time Mr.
Anion gave directions, that the (hips companies Ihould
be fupplied with frefh meat, and that they Ihould be
victualled with whole allowance of all the kinds of
provifions. In conf'equence of thefe orders, we had
frefh beef fent on board us continually for our daily
expence j and what was wanting to
Vot. III.
Iowa1
a74 ANSON's VOYAGE
lowance, -we received from our victualler the Anna
Pink, in order to preterve tbe provifions on board
our fuuadron entire for our future fervice. The fca-
fon or the year growing each day lefs favourable for
our paffage round Cape Horn, Mr. Anfon was very
defirous of leaving this place as loon as pofiible -, and
we were at firft in hopes that our whole bufinefs would
be done, and we mould be in a readinefs to fail in
about a fortnight from our arrival: but on examin-
ing the Tryal's malts, we, to our no fmall vexation,
found inevitable employment for twice that time.
For, on a furvey, it was found that the main-maft
was fprung at the upper wouldirg, though it was
thought capable of being fecured by a couple of
fifties-, but the foremaft was reported to be unfit for
fervice, and thereupon the carpenters were fent into
the woods, to endeavour to find a flick proper for
a foremalt. But after a'fearch of four days, they
returned without having been able to meet with
any tree fit for the purpofe. This obliged them to
come to a fecond consultation about the old foremaft,
■when it was agreed to endeavour tafceure it by caOng
it with three fifties : and in this work the carpenters
were employed, till within a day or- two of our fail-
ing. In the meantime, the commodore thinking it
necefiary to have a clean vefiel on our arrival in the
South Seas, ordered the Tryal to be hove down,- as
this would not occafion any lofs of time, but might
be compleated while the carpenters were refitting her
mails, which was done on fliore.
On tbe 271b. of December we difcovered a fail ia
the offing, and not knowing but ihe might be a Spa-
niard, the eighteen oared boat was manned and armed,,
and fent under the command of our fecond lieute-
nant, to examine her, before lhe arrived within the
protection of the forts. She proved to be a Portu-
guefe biigan'.ine from Rio Grande. And though our
officer, as it appeared on inquiry, had behaved with
the utmoft civility to the mailer, and had refufed to
accept
ROUND THE WORLD.
accept a calf", which the mailer would hive forced on
him as a prefent i yet the governor took great of-
fence at our lending our boat, and talked of it as a
violation of the peace fubfilting between the crowns
of Great Britain and Portugal. We at firft imputed
this ridiculous bluftering to no deeper a caufe than
Don Jofe's infolence; but as we found he proceeded
fo far as to charge our officer with behaving rudely,
and opening letters, and particularly with an attempt
to take out of the veflel, by violence, the very calf
which we knew he had refufed to receive as a preient j
we had hence reafon to fulpect, that he purpofeJy
fought this quarrel, and had more important motives
for engaging in it, than the mere captious bias of
his temper. What thefe motives were, it was not lb
eafy for us to determine at that time ; but as we af-
terward found by letters, which fell into our hands
in the South Seas, that he had difpatched an exprefs
to Buenos Ayres, where Pizarro then layt with an
account of our fquadron's arrival at St. Catharine's,
as mentioned before;, we thence conjectured that
Don Jofe had raifed this groundlefs clamour, only
to prevent our vifiting the brigantine when Ihe ihould
put to fea again, left we might there find proofs of
his perfidious behaviour.
It was near a month before the Tryal was refitted ;
for not only her lower mafts were defective, as hath
been already mentioned, but her main top-mait and
forer-yard were like wife decayed and ratten. While
this work was carrying on, the other (hips of the
fquadron fixed new (landing rigging, and fet up a
fulficient number of preventer (hrouJs to each malt,
to fecure them in the molt effectual manner. And
in order to render the (hips ftifter, to enable them to
carry more fail aboard, and to prevent their drain-
ing their upper works in hard gales of wind, each cap-
tain had orders given him, to llrike down ibme of
their great guns into the hold. Thefe precautions
being complied with, and each (hip having taken in
T 2
276 ANSON's VOYAGE
as much wood and water as there was room for, tlrf
Tryal was at laft compleated, and the whole fqua-
dron was ready tor the fea : on which the tents on
ihore were ftruck, and all the lick were received on
board. And here we had a melancholy proof how
much the healthiness of this place had been over-rated .
by former writers ; for we found, that though the
Centurion alone had buried no lefs than twenty-
eight men fince our arrival, yet the number of her
ficic was iri the fame interval increafed from eighty
to ninety-fix. 'When our crews were embarked, and
every thing was prepared for our departure, the com-
modore' made a fignal for all captains, and delivered
them their orders, containing the fucceffive places of
rendezvous from hence to the coaft of China. And
then, on the next day, being the 1 8th day of Janu-
ary, the fignal was made for weighing, and the
fquadron put to fea, leaving without regret this ifland
of St. Catharine's j where we had been fo extremely
difappointed in our refrcftiments, in our accommo-
dations, and in the humane and friendly offices which
we had been taught to expect in a place, fo much
celebrated for its hofpitality, freedom, and conveni-
ency.
In leaving St. Catharine's, we left the, laft ami-
cable port we propofed to touch at, and 'were now
proceeding to an hoftile, or at heft, a defart and in*
fiofpitable coaft. And as were to expect a more boif-
tcrous climate to the fouthward than any we had yet
experienced, not only our danger of feparation would
by this means be much greater than it had been hi-
therto, but other accidents of a moremifchievous na-
ture were likewife to be apprehended, and, as much
as poffible, to be provided againft. Mr. Anion,
therefore, in appointing the various ftations at which
the (hips of the fquadron were to rendezvous, had
conlidered, that it was poffible his own Ihip might
be difablcd from getting round Cape Horn, or might
'be loft * and had given proper direction, that even
ROUND THE WORLD.
=77
in that cafe the expedition Ihould not be abandoned.
The orders delivered to the captains, the day before
we failed from St. Catharine's, were, that in cafe of
feparation, which they were with the utmoft care to
endeavour to avoid, the firft place of rendezvous
mould be the bay of port St. Julian -, defcribing the
place from fir John Narborpugh's account of it :
there they were to fupply themfelves with as much
fait as they could take in, both for their own ufe, and
for the ufe of the fquadron ; and if, after a ftay of
ten days, they were not joined by the commodore,
they were then to proceed through Straits le Maire
round Cape Horn, into the South Seas, where the
next place of rendezvous was to be the ifland of Nof-
tra Senora del Socoro, in the latitude of 45° fouth,
and longitude from the Lizard ;i° iz' well. The?
were to bring this ifland to bear eaft north-eaft, and
to cruize from five to twelve leagues diftance from
it, as long as their ftore of wood and water would
permit, both which they were to expend with the
utmoft frugality. And when they were under an
abfolute neceflity of a frefh fupply, they were to ftand.
in, and endeavour to find out an anchoring-place;
and in cafe they could not, and the weather made it
dangerous to fupply their Ihips by (landing off and
on, they were then to make the beft of their way to
the ifland of Juan Fernandes, in the latitude of 330
37' fouth. At this ifland, as foon as they had re-
cruited their wood and water, they were to continue
cruifing off the anchoring-place for fifty-fix days -, \t\
which time, if they were not joined by the commo-
dore, they might conclude that fome accident had
befallen him, and they were forthwith to put them-
felves under the command of the lenior officer, who.
was to ufe his utmoft endeavours to annoy the ene-
my both by lea and land. With thefe views their
new commodore was to continue in thofe feas as long
as his provifions lafted, or as long as they were re-
cruited by what he Ihould take from the enemy,,
T 3 fer
a?8 ANSON's VOYAGE
ferving only a fufficient quantity to carry him and the
fhips under his command to Macao, at the entrance
of the river of Canton on the coaft of China, where,
having fupplied himfelf with a new flock of pro-
vifions, he was thence, without delay, to make trje
bcft of his way to England. And as.it was found
impoflible as yet to unload our victualler the An-
na Pink, the commodore gave the matter of her
the fame rendezvous, and the fame orders to put
him{elf under the command of the fame feuior
officer.
Under thefe orders the fquadron failed from St.
Catharine's on Sunday the iSth of January, as
hath been already mentioned. The next day we had
very fquaily weather, attended with rain, lightning, and
thunder; but it foon became fair again, with light
breezes, and continued thus till Wednefday evening,
when it blew frelh again ; and increafingall night, by
bight the next morning it became a moft violent
.ftorm, and we had with it lb thick a fog, that it was
impoffible to fee at the diftance of two fhips length,
fo that the whole fquadron difappeared. On thia
a fignal was made, by firing guns, to bring to
with the larboard tacks the wind being then due
eaft. We ourfelves immediately handed the top-
fails, bunted the main-fail, and lay to under a reef-
ed mizen till noon, when the fog difperfed, and
we Coon (iifcovered all the fhips of the fquadron,
except the Pearl, who did not join us till near a
month afterward. Indeed the Tryal floop was' a
great way to leeward having loft her main maft
in the fqual!, and having been obliged, for fear
of bilging, to cut away the raft. We therefore
bore down with the fquadron to her relief, and
the Gloucefter was ordered to take her in tow ;
for the foul weather did not entirely abate till the day
after, and 'even then a great fwell continued from
, the eaftward, in confequence of the preceding
ftorrq.
After
ROUND THE WORLD.
279
After this accident we flood to the fouthward with
linle interruption. And here we experienced the fame
letting of the current, which w; ha J obfcrvtd before
our arrival at St. Catharine's -, that is, we ftAftPaHy
found ourfelves to the foutiiward of our reckoning,
by about twenty utiles e^ich day. This devhtioh,
with a little inequality, tailed till we had pallid the
latitude of the river of Plate; and even then we dif-
covered that the fame current, however difficult to
be accounted for, did yet undoubtedly take place;
for we were not fatisfied in deducing it from the error
in our reckoning, but we actually tried it more than
once, when a calm made it practicable.
As loon as we had paffed the latitude of the river
of Plate, we had foundings which continued all along
the coall of Patagonia. Thefe foundings, when well
afcertained, being of great ufe in determining the
pofirion of the ihip, and we having tried them more
frequently, and in greater depths, and with more at-
tention, than I believe hath been done before us; I
fhall recite our obfervations as fuccinftly as ! can. In
the latitude of 360 : 52', we had fixty fathom of wa-
ter, with a bottom of fine black and grey fand ; from
thence, to 390 : 55', we varied our depths from fifty
to eighty fathom, though we had conftantly the fame
bottom as before •, between the laft mentioned lati-
tude, and 43 ° : 16', we had only fine grey fand,
with the fame variation of depths, except that we
once or twice leflened our water to forty fathom. Af-
ter this, we continued in forty fathom for about half
a degree, having a bottom of coarfc fand and broken
Ihelis, at which time we were in fight of land, and
not above feven leagues from it. As we edged from
the land, we met with variety of foundings ; firft
black fand, then muddy, and foon after rough
ground with ftones-j but when we had encreafed our
water to forty-eight fathom, we had a muddy bottom
to the latitude of 460 : 10'. Hence drawing toward
the Ihore, wc had firft thirty fix fathom, and (till
T4 kept
i8o ANSON's VOYAGE
kept fhoaling our water, till at length we came into
twelve fathom, having constantly (mall ffcones and
pebbles at the bottom. Part of this time we had a
view of Cape Blanco, which lies in about the lati-
, tude of 470 : 10', and longitude weft from London
69*. This is the molt remarkable land upon the
coaft. Steering from hence fouth by eaft nearly, we,
in a run of about thirty leagues, deepened our water
to fifty fathom, without once altering the bottom;
and then drawing toward the fliore with a fouth weft:
courfe, varying rather to the weftward, we had con-*
ftantly a fandy bottom, till our coming into thirty
fathom, where we had again a fight of land, diftant
from us about eight leagues, lying in the latitude of
480 : 31'. We made this land on the 17th of Fe-
bruary, and at five that afternoon we came to an
anchor, having the fame foundings as before, in- the.
latitude of 48 ° : 58', the fouthermoft land then in,
view bearing fouth fouth weft, the northermoft north
one half eaft, a fmall ifland north weft, and the
weftermoft hummock weft fouth weft* Jo this (lation
we found (he tide to fet fouth by weftf and weigh-1 '
ing again at five the next morning, we, an hour
afterward, difcovered a fail, upon which the|Severh
and Gloucefter were both directed to give chace;,
but we foon perceived it to be the Pearl, which fepa-
rated from us a few days after we left St. Catha-
rine's, and on this we made a fignal for the Severn. to
rejoin the fquadron, leaving the Gloucefter alone- in
the purfuit. And now we were furprifed to fee* that
on the Glouceftcr*s approach, the people Qn board
the Pearl encreafed their fail, and ftobd from her.
However, the Gloucefter came up with them, but
found them with their hammocks; in their nettings,
and every thing ready for an engagement. At two
in- the afternoon the Pearl joined,- us, and running up
under our item, lieutenant Salt haled the commodore,
and acquainted him, that captain Kidd died w the
gift of January. He likewifc informed us, that he
..!■■:* ..■'.- ta\
ROUND THE WORLD.
had feen five large mips the 10th inftant, which he,
tor fome time, imagined to be our fquadron: fo that
he fuffered the commanding fhip, which wore a red
broad pendant, exa&ly rdembling that of the com-
modore, at the main top-mad head, to came within
Oiot of him before he difcovered his miftake-, but
then finding it not to be the Centurion, he haled clofe
upon the wind, and crouded from them with all his
fail, and (landing crofs a ripling, where they hefitat-
ed to follow him, he happily efcaped. He made
them to be five Spanifh men of war, one of them
exceedingly like the Gloucefter, which was the occa-
fion of his apprehenfions when the Gloucefter chaced
him. By their appearance he thought they confided
of two (hips of feventy guns, two of fifty, and one
of forty guns. It feems the whole fquadron conti-
nued in chace of him all that day; but at night,
finding' they could not get near him, they gave
over the chace, and directed their courfe to the fouth-
ward.
Had it not been for the necefiity we were tinder of
refittingtheTryal, this piece of intelligence would have
prevented our making any day at St. Julian's-, but
as it was impoflible for that (loop to proceed round
the cape in her prefent condition, fome day there was
inevitable; and therefore the fame evening we came
to an anchor again in twenty-five fathom water, the
bottom a mixture of mud and fand, and the high
hummock bearing fouth wed by weft. And weigh-
ing at nine in the morning, we lent the two cutters
belonging to the Centurion and Severn in fhore, to
difcovcr the harbour of St. Julian, while the (hips
kept ftanriing along the coaft, about the diftance of*
league from the land. ■ At fix o'clock we anchored in
the bay of St. Julian, in nineteen fathom, the bot-
tom muddy ground with fand, the northermoft land
in fight bearing north and by ead, the fouthermofr,
fouth one half cad; and the high hummock, to which
Sir John Narborough formerly gave the name of
V
%U ANSON's VOYAGE
Wood's-Moimt, well fouth weft. Soon after the
cutter returned on board, having difcovered the har-
bour, which did not appear to us in our fituation, the
northermoft paint Hunting in upon the fouthermoft,
and in appearance doling the entrance.
Being come to an anchor in this bay of St. Julian,
principally with- a view of refitting the Tryal, the
carpenters were immediately employed in that buB-
nefs, and continued fo during our whole (lay at the
place. The Tryal's main-matt having been carried
away about twelve feet below the cap, they contrived
to make the remaining part of the maft ferve again, .
and the Wager was ordered to fupply her with a Ipare
main cop-mail, which the carpenters converted into
a new fore-mail. And I cannot help obfcrving, that
this accident to the Tryal's maft, which gave us fo
much uncafinds at that time, on account of the de-
lay it occafioned, was, in all probability, the means
of prefervjng the Hoop, and all her crew. For be-
fore this, her mads, how well fbever proportioned
to a better climate, were much too lofty for thefe
high fouthern latitudes : fo that, had they weathered
the preceding ftorm, it would have been impoffible
for them to have flood againft thofe feas and tempefts
we afterward encountered in paffing round Cape
Horn.
Whilft we ftaid at this place, the commodore ap-
pointed the honourable captain Murray to fucceed to
the Pearl, and captain Cheap to the Wager ; and he
promoted Mr Charles Saunders, his firft lieutenant,
to the command of the Tryal. But captain Saunders
lying dangeroufty ill of a fever on board the Centu-
rion, and it being the opinion of the furgeoos, that
the removing him on board his own Ihip, in his pre-
fent condition, might tend te the hazard of his life,
Mr. Anfon gave an order to Mr. Saumarez, firft lieu-
tenant of the Centurion, to act as matter and com-
mander of the Tryal, during the illoeis of captain
Saunders.
Here
ROUND THE WORLD.
**3
Here the commodore too, in order to cafe tlte
expedition of all unnecefTary expences, held a farther
confutation with his captains about unloading and
difcharging the Anna Pink i but they reprefented to
him, that they were fo far from being in a condition
of taking any part of her loading on board, that
they had Hill great quantities of provilions in the
way of their guns between decks, and that their
Ihips were withal fo very deep, that they were noc
fit for action without being cleared. This put the
commodore under a neceflity or retaining the fink in
thefervice: and, as it was apprehended we Ihould
certainly meet with the Spanilh fquadron, in patting
the cape, Mr. Anfon thought it ad vif table to give
orders to the captains, to put ail their profifions,
which were in the way of their guns, on board the
Anna Pink, and to remount fuch of their guns as
had formerly, for the eale of their fhips, been order-
ed into the hold.
This bay of St. Julian, where we are now at an-
chor, being a convenient rendezvous, in cafe of fe-
paration, tor all cruizers bound to the fouthward,
and the whole coaft of Patagonia, from the river of
Plate to the Straits of Magellan, lying nearly paral-
lel to their ulual route, a fhort account of the lingu-
larity of this country, with a particular defcription of
Port St. Julian, may perhaps be neither unacceptable
to the curious, nor unworthy the attention of future
navigators; as fome of them, by unforefcen acci-
dents, may be obliged to run in with the land, and
to make fome Hay on this coaft; in which cafe the
knowledge of the country, its produce, and inhabi-
tants, cannot but be of the utmoft coniequence to
them.
To begin then with the tract of country ufualiy
ftylcd Pacagoni.!. This is the name often given eo
the fouthermoft part of South America, ".Inch is
unpofieffed by the Spaniards, extending from their
fettlcnients to the Straits of Magellan. This coun-
ty
»f)4 ANSON's VOYAGE
try, on the caft fide, is extremely remarkable for %
peculiarity not to be parallelled in any other known
part of the globe: for, though the whole territory
to the northward of the river of Plate is full of wood,
and ftored with immenfe quantities of large timber
trees j yet,- to the fouthward of the river, no trees of
any kind are to be met with, except a few peach*
trees, firft planted and cultivated by the Spaniards,
in the neighbourhood of Buenos Ayres: fo that on the
whole ealtern coaft of Patagonia, extending near four
hundred leagues in length, and reaching as far back
as any difcoveries have yet been made, no other
wood has been found than a few infignificant fhrubs.
Sir John Narborough in particular, who was Tent out,
by king Charles the fecond, exprefsly to examine this
country, and the Straits of Magellan, and who, in
purfuance of his orders, wintered upon this coaft, in
Port St. Julian and Port Defire, in the year 1670,
tells us, that he never faw a ftick of wood in the
Country large enough to make the handle of an •
hatchet.
, But though the country be fo deftitute of wood, it
abounds with pafture. For the land appears in ge-
neral to be made up of downs of a light dry gravelly
foil, and produces great quantities of long coarfe
grafs, which grows in turfs, interfperfed with large
Barren fpots of gravel between them. This grafs, in
many places, feeds immenfe herds of cattle : for the
Spaniards at Buenos Ayres, having,' foon after their
firft fettling there, brought over a few black cattle
from Europe,- they have thriven prodigioufly by the
plenty of herbage which thfy every where met, and
ire now encreafed to that degree, and are extended
fo far into different parts of Patagonia, that they are
not cohftde'red as 'private property ; but many thou-
fands at a- time are (Uughtered every year by the hun-
ters, only for their hides and tallow. The manner
of killing thefe cattle, being a practice peculiar to
that part of the world, merits a mote circurnftantial
3 -. ■— - defcriprion.
ROUND THE WORLD.
ilefcripti
i%5
The hunrers employed ori this occafion
being all of them mounted on horfeback, (and both,
the Spaniards and Indians in chat part of the world
are ufually mod excellent horfemert) they arm them-
lelves with a kind of a fpear, which, at its end, inltead
of a blade, pointed in the ufual manner, has its blade
fixed a crofs : with this instrument they ride at a bcaft
and furroiind him, when the hunter that comes behind
him ham-ftrings him. And as after this operation the
beaft foon tumbles, without being able to raife himfelf
again, they leave him on the ground, and purfue others,
whom they ferve in the tame manner. Sometimes
there is a Second party, who attend the hunters, to
(kin the cattle as they fall : but it is laid, that at
other times the hunters chule to let them languilh in
torment till the next day, from an opinion that the
anguifh, which the animal in the mean time endures,
may burft the lymphatics, and thereby facilitate the
reparation of the fkin from the carcafe. And though
their prielts have loudly condemned this molt barba-
rous practice, and have gone fo far, if my memory
does not fail me, as to excommunicate thofe who fol-
low it i yet all their efforts to put an entire (top to it
have hitherto proved ineffectual.
Betide the number of cattle, which are every year
fUughtered for their hides and tallow, in the manner
already defcribed, it is often neceilary, for the ufes
of agriculture, and for other purpofes, -to take them
alive, without wounding them : this is performed
with a moft wonderful and almoft incredible dexte-
rity, and principally by the ufe of a machine, which
the Englifh, who have refided at Buenos Ayres, ge-
nerally denominate a lafli. It is made of a thong of
leveral fathoms in length, and very ftrong, with a
running nooje at one end of it: this the hunters (who
in this cafe are alfo mounted on horfeback) take in
their right hands, it being firlt properly coiled up,
and having its end oppofue to the noofe fattened to
' thus prepared they ride at a herd of
cattle.
•86 ANSON's VOYAGE
cattle. When they arrive within 2 certain diflance of
a beaft, they throw their thong at him with fuch ex-
aftnefs, that they never fail otnxing the noofe about
his horns. The 'bead, when he finds hi mfclf entan-
gled, generally runs i but the horfe, being fwifter,
attends him, and prevents the thong from being too
much drained, tilt a fecond hunter, who follows the
game, throws another noofe about one of its hind
legs ; and this being done, both horfes (for they are
trained to this practice) inftantly turn different ways,
in order to ftrain the two thongs in contrary direc-
tions, on which the beaft, by their oppoiite pulls, is
prefently overthrown, and then the horfes ftop, keep-
ing the thongs ftill upon the ftretch. Being thus
on the ground, and incapable of refinance, (for he is
extended between the two horfes) the hunters alight,
and lecure him in fuch a manner, that they afterwards
eafily convey him to whatever place they pleafe.
They in like manner noofe horfes, and, as it is laid,
even tigers -, and, however ftrange this lull circum-
fhuice may appear, there are not wanting perfons of
credit who affert it.
The cattle which are killed in the manner alrea-
dy obferyed, are flaughtered only for their hides
and tallow, to which fometimes are added their
tongues ; but the reft of their flefh is left to putrify,
or to be devoured by the birds and wild beads. The
greateft part of this carrion falls to the (hare of the
wild dogs, of which there are immenfe numbers to
be found in that country ; originally fuppofed to
have been produced by Spanilh, dogs from Buenos
Ayres, who, allured by the great quantity of carrion,
and the facility they had by that means of fubfifting,
left their matters, and ran wild ; for they are plainly
of the breed of the European dogs, an animal not
originally found in America. But though thefe dogs
are laid to be forne thoufands in a company, they
hitherto neither diminifh nor prevent the increafe of
the cattle, not daring to attack the herds, by reafon
2 of
ROUND THE WORLD.
of the numbers which conftantly feed together, but
contenting rhemfelves with the carrion left them
by the hunters, and perhaps now and then with a
few ftragglers, who by accidents are teparated from
the main body they belong to.
Belide the wild cattle, which have fpread them-
felves in fuch vaft herds from Buenos Ayres towards
the fouthward, the fame country is in like manner
furnifhed with horfes. Thefe too were firft brought
from Spain, and are alfo prodigioufly encreafed, and
run wild to a much greater diftance than the black
cattle : and though many of them arc excellent, yet
their number makes them of very little value; the
beft of them being often fold, in the neighbouring
tertlements, where money is plenty and commodities
very dear, for not more than a dollar a-piete. But,
whatever plenty of flefh provifions may be found
here, there is one material refrefhment which this
eaftern fide of Patagonia fcems to be very defective
in, and that is frefh water ; for the land being gene-
rally of a nitrous and filinc nature, the ponds and
ftreams are frequently brack ifh : however, as good
water has been found there, though in fmall quanti-
ties, it is not improbable, but, on a further fearch,
this inconvenience may be removed.
To the account already given, muft be added, that
there arc, in all parts of this country, a good number
of Vicunnas, or Peruvian flieep ; but thefe, by reafon
of their (hynefs and fwiftnefs, are killed with diffi-
culty. On the eaftern coaft too, there are found
immenfe quantities of teals, and a vaft variety of
tea-fowl, among which the moft remarkable are the
Penguins; they are in fize and fliape like a goole;
but, inftead of wings, they have Ihort ftumps like
fins, which are of no ute to them, except in the
water: their bills are narrow, like that of an albi-
trofs, and they ftand and walk in an erect pofture.
From this, and their white bellies, Sir John Narbo-
rough whimfically likened them to little children
ftanding up in white aprons.
The
a«8 ANSON's VOYAGE
The inhabitants of this caftern coaft appear to be
but few, and have rarely been feen more than two
or three at a time, by any (hips that have touched
here. We, during oar ftay at the port of St. Julian,
&w none. However, towards Buenos Ayres, they
are fufficienriy numerous, and oftentimes very trouble-
fomc to the Spaniards; but there the greater breadth
and variety of the country, and a milder climate yield
them a better protection ■, for in that place the conti-
nent is between three and four hundred leagues in
breadth ; whereas, at Port St. Julian, it is little more
than a hundred : to that I conceive the fame Indians,
who frequent the weftern coaft of Patagonia, and the
Straits of Magellan, often ramble to this fide. As
the Indians- near Buenos Ayres exceed thefe fouthem
Indians in nuihber, fo they greatly furpafs them -in
activity and fpirit, and feem in their manners to be near-
ly allied to thofe gallant Chilian Indians, who have long
*fet the whole Spanifh power at defiance, have often
ravaged their country, and remain to this hour indc-
Endcnt. For the Indians about Buenos Ayres have
irnt to be excellent horfemen, and are extremely
expert in the management of all cutting weapons,
though ignorant of the ufe of fire-arms, which the
Spaniards are very follicitous to keep out of their
hinds. ' And, of the vigour and resolution of- thefe
Indians, the behaviour of Orellana and his followers,
whom we have formerly mentioned, is a memorable
inftance. Indeed, were we difpofed to aim at the
utter fubverfion of the Spanifh power in America, no
means feem more probable to effeft it, than due en-
couragement and affiftance given to thefe Indians, and
thofe of Chili.
Thus much may fuffice in relation to the eaftern
coaft of Patagonia. The weftern coaft is of lets ex-
tent -, and by reafon of the Andes, which flcirt it, and
ftretch quite down to the water, is a very rocky and
dangerous more. However, we mall now return to
St. Julian > where it muft be remembered, that the
bar
ROUND THE WORLD,
bar at the entrance, is often Shifting, and has many
holes in it. The tide flows here north and lomh, and
at full and change, ril^s four fathom.
We, on our firlt arrival here, lent an officer on
more in order to procure a quantity of fait for the ufe
of ihe fquadron, Sir John Narborough having ob-
served, when he was there, that the fait produced in
that place was very white and good, and that in Fe-
bruary there was enough to nil a thoufand mips :
but our officer returned with a fample which was very
bad, and he told us, that even of this there was but
little to be got ; poffibly the weather had been more
rainy than ordinary, and had deftroyed it.
The Tryal being nearly refitted, which was our
principal occupation at this bay of St. Julian, and
the fole occafion of ourftay, the commodore thought
it neceflary, as we were now directly bound for the
South Seas, and the enemy's coafts, to fix the plan
of his firft operations : and therefore, on the 24th of
February, a fignal was made for all captains, and a
council of war was held on board the Centurion ; at
which were prefent the honourable Edward Legg,
captain Matthew Mitchel, the honourable George
Murray, captain David Cheap, together with colonel
Mordaunt Cracherode, commander of the land-forces.
At this council Mr. Anion propofed, that their firft
attempt, after their arrival in the South Seas, fhould
be [he attack of the town and harbour of Baldivia,
the principal frontier of the dhtrict of Chili. Mi.
Anfon informed them, at the fame time, that it
was an article contained in his majelly's inftruilions to
him, to endeavour to fecure lbme port in the South
Seas, where the Ihips of the fquadron might be ca-
reened and refitted. To this propofition made by
the commodore, the council unanimously and readily
agreed-, and, in confequence of this refolution, new
inftrudtions were given to the captains of the fqui-
dron, by which, though they were ftill direfted, in
cafe of Separation, to make the belt of their way* 10
Vol. III. U the
l9o ANSON's VOYAGE
the ifland of Neuftra Senora del Socoro, yet (notwith-."
{landing the orders they had formerly given them at
St. Catharine's) they were to cruife off* that ifland on*
ly ten days ; from whence, if not joined by the com-
modore, they were to proceed, and craife off the
harbour of Baldivia, making the land between the
latitudes of 40°, and 40° : 30', and taking care to
keep to the fouthward of the port : and, if in four-
teen days they were not joined by the reft of the
iquadron, they were then to quit ftation, and to di-
rect their courfe to the ifland of Juan Fernando,
afcer which they were to regulate their farther pro-
ceedings by their former orders. The fame direc-
tions were alfo given to the matter of the Anna
Pink, who was not to fail in anfwering the fignals
made by any (hip of the fquadron, and was to be
very careful to deftroy his papers and orders, if he
Ihould be fo unfortunate as to fall into the hands of
the enemy. And, as the reparation of the fquadron
might prove of the utmoft prejudice to his majefty's
fervice, each captain was ordered to give in charge
to the fefpe&ive officers of the watch, not to keep
their (hip at a greater diftance from the Centurion
than two miles, as they would anfwer it at their
peril : and, if any captain fhould find his fliip beyond
the diftance fpecified, he was to acquaint the com-
modore with the name of the officer who had thus
neglected his duty.
Thefe necefiary regulations being eftablithed, and
the Tryal (loop completed, the fquadron weighed on
Friday the 27th of February, at (even in the morn-
ing, and flood to fea •, the Gloucefter, indeed, found
a difficulty in purchaung her anchor, and was left a
confiderable way a-ftern, fo that in the night we fired
feveral guns as a fignal to her captain to make (ail,
but he did not come up to us till the next morning j
when we found that they had been obliged to cue
their cable, and leave their beft bower behind them.
Standing now to the fouthward, we had great expec-
tation
ROUND THE WORLD.
btk>n of falling in with Pizarro's fquadron -, for,
during our ftay at Port St. Julian, there had gene-
rally been hard gales between the weft north weft and
fouth weft, lb that we had reafon to conclude the
Spaniards had gained no ground upon us in that in-
terval. Indeed, it was the profpect of meeting with
them that had occafioned our commodore to be fo
very folicitous to prevent the feparation of our ftiips :
for, had we been folely intent on getting round Cape
Horn in the lhorte.ft time, the propereft method for
this purpoie would have been, to have ordered each
Ihip to have made the bed of her way to rendezvous,
without waiting for the reft.
On the 4th of March we were in fight of Cape
Virgin Mary, and not more than fix or feven leagues
diitant from it. This Cape is the northern boundary
of the entrance of the Straits of Magellan ; it lies in
the latitude of 520 : 21' fouth, and longitude from
London 7 1 ° : 44/ weft, and feems to be a low flat
land, ending in a point. Off this Cape our depth of
water was from thirty-five to forty-tight fathom.
The afternoon of this day was very bright and clear,
with fmall breezes of wind, inclinable to a calm, and
moft of the captains took the opportunity of this
favourable weather to pay a vifit to the commodore :
but, while they were in company together, they were
all greatly alarmed by a fudden flame, which burft
out on board the Gloucefter, and which was fucceed-
ed by a cloud of finoke. However, they were foon
relieved from their apprehenfions, by receiving infor-
mation, that the blalt was occafioned by a I'park of
fire from the forge lighting on iome gun-powder and
other combuftibles, which an officer on board was
preparing for ufe, in cafe we fhould fall in with the
Spanilh fleet; and that it had been extinguilhed,
without any damage to the (hip.
We here found, what was conftantly verified by
all our obfervations in thefe high latitudes, that fair
weather was always of an exceeding (hort duration,
U a
HiaaUaari
392 ANSON's VOYAGE
and that when it was remarkably fine, it was a certain
prefage of a fucceeding ftorm ; for the calm and fun*
(bine of our afternoon ended in a molt turbulent
night. The wind frefhened from the fouth weft as the
night came on, and encrcafed its violence continu-
ally till nine in the morning the next day, when it
blew fo hard, that we were obliged to bring to with
the fquadron, and to continue under a reefed mizeh
till eleven at night, having in that time from forty-
three to fifty-feven ' fathom water, with black fand
and gravel: and by an obfervation we had at noon,
we concluded a current had fet us twelve miles to the
fouthward of our reckoning. Toward midnight the
wind abating, we made fail again ; and fleering fouth,
we difcovered in the morning, for the firft time, the
land called Terra del Fuego, flrecching from the
' fouth by weft to the fouth eaft one half eaft. This
indeed afforded us but a very uncomfortable profpect,
it appearing of a ftupendous height, covered every
where with fnow. We fteered along this (hore all
day, having foundings from forty to fifty fathom,
with ftones and gravel. And, as we intended to pafs
through Straits le Maire next day, we lay-to at night,
. that we might not overfhoot them, and took thisop-
;portunity to prepare ourfelves for the tempeftuous
climate we were foon to be engaged in : with this
view we employed ourfelves good part of the night in
bending an entire new fuit of fails- to the yards. At
four the next morning, being the 7th of March, we
made fail, and at eight we faw the land; and foon
after we began to open the Straits ; at which time
Cape St. James bore from us eaft fouth eaft, Cape
St. Vincent fouth eaft one-half eaft, the middlemoft
of The Three Brothers fouth and by weft, Monte-
gorda fouth, and Cape St. Bartholomew (which is
the fouthermoft point of Staten-land) eaft fouth eaft.
If we had not happened to have coafted a confiderahle
way along (hore, we might have miffed the Straits,
and have got to the eaftward of Staten-land before
ROUND THE WORLD.
*9J
we knew it. This is an accident that has happened
to many (hips ; particularly, as Frazier mentions, to
the Incarnation and Concord, who, intending to pals
through Straits le Mairc, were deceived by three hills
on Staien-land, like The Three Brothers, and fome
creeks relembling thofe of Terra del Fuego, and
thereby ovcrfhot the Straits.
On occafion of this mention of Staten-land, we
mull remark, that though Terra del Fuego had an
afpect extremely barren and defolate, yet this ifland
of Staten-land far lurpafies it, in the wildnefs and
horror of its appearance : it fceming to be entirely
compoil-d ot inacceffible rocks, without the lealt
mixture of earth, or mould, between them. Thefe
rocks terminate in a vaft number of ragged points,
which fpire up to a prodigious height, and are all of
them covered with cvcrlafting mow: the points them-
felves are on every fide furrounded with frighrful
precipices, and often over-hang in a moft aftonifliing
manner; and the hills which bear them, are gene-
rally feparated from each other by narrow clefts,
which appear as if the country had been frequently
rent by earthquakes j for thefc chafms are nearly per-
pendicular, and extend through the fubftance of the
main rocks, almo't to their very bottoms : lb that
nothing can be imagined more favjge and gloomy,
than the whole alpedt of this coaft. But to proceed :
I have above mentioned, that on the 7th of March,
in the morning, we opened Straits le Maire, and
foon after, or about ten o'clock, the Pearl and Tryal
being ordered to keep a-head of the fquadron, we
entered them with fair weather and a bnfk gale, and
were hurried through by the rapidity of the tide in
about two hour1;, though thty an* between feven and
eight leagues in length. As thefe ftra'us are often
efteemed to be the boundary between the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans, and as we prefumed we had
nothing before us from hence but an open fea,
u 3 tui
4£4 ANSON's VOYAGE
till we arrived on rhofc opulent coalts where all our
hopes and wifhes centered, we could not help perT
fuadiog ourfelves, that the greateft difficulties of our
voyage were now at an end, and that our moft fan-
guine dreams were upon the point of being realifed.
Thus animated by thefe flattering delufions, we
pafied thofe memorable (traits, in fine ferene weather,
Ignorant of the dreadful calamities which were then
impending, and juft ready to break upon us-, igno-
rant that the time drew near, when the fquadron
. would be feparated never to unite again, and that
this day of our paflage was the laft chearful day that
the greateft part of us would ever live to enjoy.
We had Scarcely reached the fouthern extremity of
the Straits le Maire, when our flattering hopes were
inftandy loft in the apprehenfions of immediate de-
ftrudtion : for, before the fternmoft fhips of the fqua-
dron were clear of the Straits, we obferved all the
prefages of an impending ftorm. Prelendy the
wind fhifted to the fouthward, and blew in fuch vio-
lent fqualls, that we were obliged to hand our top-
jails, and reef our main- fail •, whiht the tide too, which
had hitherto favoured us, at once turned furioufly
againft us, and drove us to the eaftward with prodi-
gious rapidity ■, fo that we were in great anxiety for
the Wager and Anna Pink, the two fternmoft veflels.
And now the whole fquadron, inftead of purfuing
their intended courfe to the fouth weft, were driven,
to the eaftward by the united force of the ftorm, and
of the currents ; fo that next day in the morning we
found ourfelves near feven leagues to the eaftward of
Straits le Maire, which then bore from us north weft.
The violence of the current, which had fet us with fo
much precipitation to the eaftward, together with the"
fiercenefs and conftancy of the wefterly winds, foon
taught us to corifidcr the doubling of Cape Horn as
an,enterprize that might prove too mighty for our
eflbrts, though fbme amongft us had lately treated
iiie difficulties which former voyagers were faid to
have
ROUND THE WORLD. 295
have met with in this undertaking as little better than
chimerical, and had fuppofed them to arift rather
from timidity and unfkilfulnefs, than from the real
embarraffments of the winds and feas : but we were
now feverely convinced, that thefe cenfures were
rafh and ill-grounded.
From the ftorm which came on before we had well
got clear of Straits le Maire, we had a continual fuc-
celfion of fuch tempeftuous weather, as furprifed the
oldeft and moll experienced mariners on board -t and
obliged them to confefs, that, what they had hitherto
called ftorms, were inconfiderable gales, compared
with the violence of thefe winds, which raifed fuch
fhort, and at the fame time fuch mountainous waves,
as greatly furpafTed in danger all feas known in any
other part of the globe. It was not without great
reafon, that this unuiual appearance filled us with con-
tinual terror; for, had any one of thefe waves broke
fairly over us, it mult, in all probability, have lent
us to the bottom. Nor did we efcape with terror
only ; for the (hip rolling inceffantly gunwale to,
gave us fuch quick and violent motions, that the men
were in perpetual danger of being dafhed to piece?
againft the decks, or fides of the Ihip. And though
we were extremely careful to fecure ourfelves from
thefe (hocks, by grafping fome fixed body, yet many
of our people were forced from their hold; fome of
whom were killed, and others greatly injured.
Thefe tempelis, ib dreadful in themfelves, though
unattended by any other unfavourable circumftance,
were yet rendered more mifchievous to us by their
inequality, and the deceitful intervals which they at
fome times afforded. For though we were oftentimes
obliged to lie-to for days together under a reefed
mizen, and were frequently reduced to lie at the mer-
cy of the waves under our bare poles, yet now and
then we ventured to make fail with our courfes double-*
reefed, and the weather proving more tolerable, would
perhaps encourage us to fet our top-fails ; after which
U 4
zo6 ANSON's VOYAGE
the wind, without any previous notice, would retunt
upon us with redoubled force, and would in an in-
ftant tear our fails from the yards- And, that no cir-
cumftance might be wanting which CQuld heighten,
our diftrefs, thefe blafts generally brought with them
a great quantity of fnow and fleet, which caied our
rigging, and froze our fails, thereby rendering them
and our cordage brittle and apt to fnap upon the
flighted ftrain. This added greatly to the diffi-
culty and labour of working the (hip ; benumbing
the limbs of our people, and making them incapable
of exerting themfelves with their ulual activity, and,
even difabling many of them, by mortifying thei?
toes and fingers. It were endlels to enumerate the
various difalters of different kinds which befel us
during the courfe of this navigation. The (hip, by
labouring in tliis lofty fea, was now grown fo loyfe
in her upper works, that {he let in the water at every
' {earn, fo that every part within board was constantly
expofed to the fca-water, and fcarcely any of the of-
ficers ever lay in dry beds. Indeed it was very rare
that two nights ever palled without many of them
being driven from their beds, by the deluge of wa-
ter that came in upon them.
On the 23d we had a moll violent ftorm of wind,
hail, and rain, with a very great fea; and though we
handed the main t^p-fail before the height of the
{quail, yet we found the yard Iprung; and foon af-
ter the foot-rope of the main-fail breaking, the main-
fail itlelf fplit inftar.tly to rags, and, in Ipite of our
endeavours to fave it, much the greate. part of it
was blown over-board. On tins the commodore
made the fignal for the fquadron to bring-to ; and
the ftorm at length flattening to a calm, we had art
opportunity of getting down our main top-fail yard
to put the carpenters to work upon k, and of rcT
pairing our rigging. After which, having bent a
hew mainfail, we got under fail again, with a mo-
derate breeze : but, in left than twenty-four hours,
we
ROUND THE WORLD. 297
we were attacked by another fiorm ftill more furious
tiian the former ; for tt proved a perfect hurricane,
and reduced us to the neceffity of lying-to under
our hate poles. As our flup kept the wind better than
any of the reft, we were obliged, in the afternoon,
to wear lhip, in order to join the fquadron to
the leeward, which ctherwife we fhould have been
in danger of lofing in the night : and, as we
dared not venture any fail abroad, we were ob-
liged to make ule of an expedient, which anfwered
our jHiri)ulc; this was putting the helm a- weather,
and manning the fore-ihrouds. But though this me-
thod proved iuccefsful for the end intended, yet, ia
the execution of it, one of our abieft li-amen was
canted over-board: we perceived, that, notwith-
ftanding the prodigious agitation of the waves, he
fwam very ftrong, and it was with the utmoft con-
cern that we found ourlelves incapable of affifting
him. Indeed, we were the more grieved at his un-
happy fate, a^ we loft fight of him ftruggling with.
the waves, and conceived, from the manner in which
he fwam, that hr might continue fenfible, ior a con-
fiderable time longer, of the horror attending his ir-
retrievable fituation.
Before this laft mentioned ftorm was quite abated,
we found two of our main-fhrouds, and one mizen-
Jhroud, broke ; ail which we knotted, and fet up im-
mediately. From hence we had an interval of three
or four days lefs tempeftuous than ulual, but ac-
companied with a thick fog, in which we were ob-
liged to fire guns almoit every half-hour, to keep
our fquadron together. On the 3 1 ft we were alarmed
by a gun fired from the Gloucefter, and a fignal
made by her to fpeak with the commodore. We im-
mediately bore down to her, and were prepared to
hear of feme terrible dilafter-, but we were apprifed
of it before we joined her, for we faw that her main-
yard was broke in the flings. This was a grievous
misfortune to us all at this juncture -, as it was ob-
vious
i.
dft
298 ANSON's VOYAGE
vious it vrauld prove a hindrance to our failing, and
would detain us the longer in thefe inhofpitable la-
titudes. But our future fuccefs and fafety was not to
be promoted by repining, but by refblution and ac-
tivity; and therefore, that this unhappy incident
might delay us as little as poflible, the commodore
ordered feveral carpenters to be put on board the
Gloucester from the other fliips of the fquadron, in
order to repair her damage with the utmoft expedi-
tion. And the captain of the Tryal complaining at
the fame timin that his pumps were fo bad, and his
(loop made fo great a quantity of water that he was
fcarcely able to keep her free, the commodore or-
dered him a pump ready fitted from his own (hip.
It' was very fortunate for the Gloucester and the
Tryal, that the weather proved more favourable this
day than for many days both before and after ; fince
by this means- they were enabled to receive the aflUr-
ance which feemed effential to their prefervation,
and which they could fcarcely have had at any other
time, as it would have been extremely hazardous to
have ventured a'boat on board.
The next day; that is, on the tftof April, the
weather returned again to its cuftomary bias -. and on
the third there came on a ftorm, which both in its
violence and continuation (for it tailed three days)
exceeded a 1 that we had hitherto encountered. In
its firft onfet we received a furious fhock from a fea
which broke upon our larboard quarter, where it
ftoved in the quarter-gallery, and ruflned into the
(hip like a deluge -, our rigging too fuffered extreme-
ly from the blow : among the reft, one of the ftraps
of the main dead-eyes was broke, as was alio a main-
fhroud and puttock-fhroud -, fo that, to eafe the ftrels
upon the mads and fhrouds, we lowered both our
main and fore-yards, and furled all our fails, and in
this pofture we lay-to for three days, when the ftorm
' fomewhat abating, we ventured to make fail under
our courfes only. But even this we could not do
long;
ROUND THE WORLD.
long ; for the next day, which was the 7th, we had
another hard gale of wind, with lightening and rain,
which obliged us to lie to again till night. It was
wonderful, that, notwithstanding the hard weather
we had endured, no extraordinary accident had hap-
pened to any of the fquadron fince the breaking of
the Gloucefter's main-yard : but this good fortune
now no longer attended us-, for, at three the next
morning, fcveral guns were fired to leeward as fignals
of diftreis : and the commodore making a fignal for
the fquadron to bring-to, we, ac day-break, faw
the Wager a confiderable way to leeward of any
of the other fhips, and foon perceived that (he had
loft her mizen-maft and top-fail yard. We imme-
diately bore down to her, and found this ditafter had
arifen from the badnefs of her iron-work ; for all the
chain-plates to windward had given way, upon the
fhip's fetching a deep roll. This proved the more
unfortunate to the Wager, as her carpenter had been
on board the Gloucefter ever fince the 3 1 ft of March,
and the weather was now too fevere to permit him
to return. Nor was the Wager the only Ihip of the
fquadron that fuffered in this tempeft •, for, the next
day, a fignal of dittrefs was made by the Anna Pink,
and, upon fpeaking with the mafter, we learnt
that they had broke their fore-day, and the gam-
mon of the bowfprit, and were in no fmall danger
of having all their malts come by the board ; fo that '
we were obliged to bear away until they had made
all faft, after which we haled upon a wind again.
And now, after all our follicitude, and the nume-
rous ills of every kind to which we had been incef-
famly expofed for near forty days, we had great con-
folation in the flattering hopes we entertained, that
our fatigues were drawing to a period, and that wc
ihould foon arrive in a more hofpitable climate, where
we fhould be amply repayed for all our pad fufferings.
For, toward the latter end of March, we were ad-
vanced by our reckoning near io° to the weftwarct
of
3oo ANSON's VOYAGE
cf the weftermoft point of Terra del Fuego ■> and this
allowance being double what former navigators have
thought neceffary to be taken, in order to compen-
fate the drift of the weftern current, we cfteemed
ourfelves to be well advanced within the limits of
the Southern Ocean, and had therefore been ever
fince ftanding to the northward with as much expedi-
tion as the turbulence of the weather, and our frequent
difaftcrs permitted. And on the 13th of April, we
were but a degree in latitude to the Southward of the
weft entrance of the ftraits of Magellan-, fo that we
fully expected, in a very few days, to have experi-
enced the celebrated tranquillity of the Pacific
Ocean.
Butthefe were delufions, which only fcrved to ren-
der our difappointments more terrible : for the next
morning, between one and two, as' we were ftand-
ing to the northward, and the weather, which had
till then been hazy, accidentally cleared up, the Pink
made a fignal for feeing land right a-head ; and, it
being but two miles diftant, we were ah under the
moft dreadful apprehenfions of running on fhore ;
which, had either the wind blown from its ufual
quarter with Its wonted vigour, or had not the moon
fuddenly fhone out, not a fhip amongft us could pof-
fibly have avoided : but the wind, which fbme few
hours before blew in fqualls from the fouth-weft, hav-
ing fortunately fhifted to weft north-weft, we were
enabled to (land to the fouthward, and to clear our-
felves of this unexpected danger; and were fortunate
enough by noon to have gained an offing of near
twenty leagues.
By the latitude of this land we fell in with, it was
agreed to be a part of Terra del Fuego, near the
fouthern outlet defcribed in Frezier's chart of the
Straits of Magellan, and was fuppofed to be that
point called by him Cape Noir. It was indeed moft
wonderful, that the cumncs fhould have driven us
to the eaftward with fuch llrength ■, for the whole
fquadron
ROUND THE WORLD. 3oi
fquadron efteemed tliemfclves upwards of ten de-
grees more wefterly than this land : fo that in running
down, by our account, about nineteen degrees of
longitude, we had not really advanced half that dif-
tance. And now, inftead of having our labours and
anxieties relieved by approaching a warmer climate
and more tranquil leas, we were to fteer again to the
fouthward, and were again to combat thole weftern
blafts which had fo often terrified us ; and this too,
when we were greatly enfeebled by our men falling
ficlc and dying apace, and when our fpiru9, dejected
by a long continuance at fea, and by our late difap-
pointment, were much lefs capable of fupporting us
in the various difficulties which we could not but ex-
pect in this new undertaking. Add to all this too,
the difcouragemenc we received by the diminution of
the ftrength of the fquadron; for, three days before
this, we loft fight of the Severn and the Pearl in the
morning, and though we fpread our (hips, and beat
about for them fome time, yet we never faw them
more. Full of defponding thoughts and gloomy
prefages, we flood away to the fauth-weft, prepared
by our late difafter to lufpect, that how Urge foever
an allowance we made in our welling for the drift of
the weftern current, we might ftill, upon a fecond
trial, perhaps find it infufneicnt.
The improper feaJon of the year in which we at-
tempted to double Cape Horn, and to which is to
be imputed the difappointment of falling in with
Terra del Fuego, when we reckoned ourfelves above
a hundred leagues to the weltward of that whole
coaft, and, confequently, well advanced into the
Pacific Ocean ; this unfeafonable navigation, I fay,
to which we were neceflltated by our too late depar-
ture from England, was the fatal fource of all the
misfortunes we afterward encountered. For, from
hence proceeded the feparation of our fhips, the de-
ftruitton of our people, the ruin of oik project on
Baldivia, and of all our other views on the Spanilh
placet
3oa ANSON'S VOYAGE
plates i and the reduction of our fquadron, from the
formidable condition in which it palled Straits le
Maire, to a couple of fluttered half-manned trailers
and a floop, fo far difabled, that in many climates
they fcarcely durft have put to lea. To prevent
therc&re, as much as polfible, all (hips hereafter
bound to the South Seas from fuffering the fame ca-
lamities, we fhall infert in this place fuch directions
sod observations, as either experience and reflection,
or the converfation of the molt Ikilful navigators on
board the - fquadron could furnifh, in relation to
the molt eligible manner of doubling Cape Horn )
whether in regard to the feafon of the year, the
courfc proper to be fteered, or the places of lefrelh-
ment both on the caft and weft fides of South Ame-
rica.
And firft, with regard to the proper place for re-
frefhment on the eaft fide of South America, For
this purpofe the ifland of St. Catharine's has been
ufually recommended by former writers, and on their
faith we put in there} as has been formerly men-
tioned : but the treatment we met with, and the"
fmall ftore of refrefliments we could procure there*
are fufficjent reafons to render all {hips for the future
cautious, how they truft themfelves in the govern-
ment of Don Jofe Sylva de Paz. And though future
governors mould themfelves deleft fo fakhlefs 8 pro-
cedure, yet as ihips are perpetually palling from fome
or other of the Brafil ports to the river ot Plate, the
Spaniards could fcarcely fail of receiving, by this
means, carnal intelligence of any Britilh lliips upon
the coalt: which however imperfect fuch intelli-
gence might be, would prove of dangerous import
to the views and interefts of thofe cruifcrs who were
thus difcovered.
For the Spanilh trade in the South Seas running
all in one track from north to fouth, with very little
deviation to the eaftward or weftward, it is in. the
power of two or three cruifets> properly ftariqned in
, different
ROUND THE WORLD. 303
different parts of this track, to poffefs themfelves of
every fhip that puts to fea : but this is only fo long as
they can continue concealed from the neighbouring
coaft; for the inftant an enemy is known to be in
thole leas, all navigation is prohibited, and confe-
quently all captures are at an end. Since the Spani-
ards, well apprized of thefe advantages of the ene-
my, fend expreffes along the coaft, and lay a gene-
ral embargo on all their trade -, a meafure, which they
prudcntially forefee, will not only prevent their vef-
fels being taken, but will foon lay any cruifers, who
have not ftrength fufficient to attempt their places,
under neceftity of returning home. Hence then
appears the great importance of concealing all expe-
ditions of this kind •, and hence too it follows, how
extremely prejudicial that intelligence may prove,
which is given by the Portuguele governors to the
Spaniards, in relation to the defigns of mips touch-
ing at the ports of Brafil.
However, notwithftanding the inconveniencies we
have mentioned of touching on the coaft of Brafil, it
will oftentimes happen, that fhips bound round Cape
Horn will be obliged to call there for a ftipply of
wood and water, and other refrefhmems. In this
cafe St. Catharine's is the hft place I would recom-
mend, both as the proper animals for a live flock at
fea, as hogs, (heep, and fowls, cannot br pr^cun
there, (for want of which we found ourfclves greatly
diftrelled, by being reduced to live almoft entirely
on fait provisions) and alfo becaufe, from its being
nearer the river of Plate than many of their other
fetdements, the inducements and conveniences
betraying us are much ftronger. The place 1 would
recommend is Rio Janeiro, where two of our fqua-
dron put in after they were feparated from us in pat-
ting Cape Horn : for here any quantity of hogs
poultry may be procured -, and this place beii
more diftant from the river of Plate, the difficul
of intelligence is fomewhat inhanced, and confeqm
at
;ly
"g
nr
30+ ANSON's VOYAGE
Jy the chance of continuing there undifcovered, in
feme degree augmented.
I next proceed to the confideration of the proper
courfe to be fleered for doubling Cape Horn. And
here, I think, 1 am fufliciently authorized by our own
fatal experience, and by a careful comparifon and
examination of the journals of former navigators, to
give this piece of advice, which in prudence I think
ought never to be departed from : that is, that all
fhips bound to the South Seas, inftead of palling
through Straits le Maire, ihould conftantly pafs to
the eaftward of Staten-land, and mould be invari-
ably bent on running to the fouthward, as far as the
latitude of 61 or 62 degrees, before they endeavoured
to ftand to the weftward ; and that when they are got
into that latitude, they Ihould then make Aire of luf-
ficient wefting, before they once think of fleering to
the northward.
But as directions diametrically oppofite to thefe.
have been formerly given by other writers, it is in-
cumbent to produce reafons for each part of this
maxim. And firft, as to the pafling to the eaftward
of Staten-land. Thofe who have attended to the
rifque we ran in pafling Straits le Maire, the danger
we were in of being driven upon Staten-land by the
.current, when, though we happily efcaped being put
on fliore, we were yet carried to the eaftward of that
tfland : thofe who reflect on. this, and the like acci-
dents which have happened to other fhips, will furely
not cfteem it prudent to pafs through Straits le Maire,
and run the rifque of fhipwreck, and after all find
themfclves no farther to the weftward (the only rea-
fon hitherto given for this practice) than they might
have been in the fame time, by a fecure navigation
in an open fea.
And next,, as to the directions I have given for
running into the latitude of 6 1 or 62 fouth, before
any endeavour is made to ftand to the weftward : the
jcafbns for this precept are, that in. all probability
4 the
ROUND THE WORLD. 305
the violence of the currents will be hereby avoided,
and the weather will prove lefs tempeftuous and un-
certain. This laft circumflance we ourfelves expe-
rienced moft remarkably. The air indeed was very
cold and (harp, and we had ftrong gales, but they
were fteady and uniform, and we had at the fame
time funfhinc and a clear iky ; whereas in the lower
latitudes, the winds every now and then intermitted,
as it were, to recover new ftrength, and then re-
turned fuddenly in the moft violent gufts, threaten-
ing at each blaft the lofs of our malts, which mult
have ended in our certain deftruction. And that the
currents, in this high latitude, would be of much
lefs efficacy than nearer the land, feems to be evin-
ced from thefe confiderations, that all currents rurt
with greater violence near the ftiore than at fea, and
that at great diilances from more they are fcarccly
perceptible: indeed the rcafon of this fcems fuffici-
ently obvious, if we confider, that conftant currents
are, in all probability, produced by conftant winds,
the wind driving before it, though with a (low and
imperceptible motion, a large body of water, which
being accumulated upon any coaft that it meets with,
muft efcape along the ftiore by the endeavours of its
furface, to reduce itfelf to the fame level with the
reft of the ocean. And it is reafonable to fuppofe,
that thole violent gufts of wind which we experien-
ced near the (hore, fo very different from what we
found in the latitude of fixty degrees and upward?,
may be owing to a fimilar caufe ; for a wefterly wind
almolt perpetually prevails, in the fouthem part of
the Pacific Ocean ; and this current of air being in-
terrupted by thofe immenfe hills called the Andes,
and by the mountains on Terra del Fuego, which
together bar up the whole country to the fouthward
as far as Cape Horn, a part of it only can force its
way over the tops of thole prodigious precipices,
whilft the reft mult naturally follow the dire^ion or"
the coaft, and muft range down the land to the lbuth-
Vol. III. X ward,
3o6 ANSON's VOY.AGJE
ward, and fweep with an impetuous and irregular
blaft round Cape Horn, and the fouthermoft part of
Terra del Fuego. However, not to rely on thefe
fpeculations, we may eftabliQi, as mconteftible, thefe
matters of fact, that both the rapidity of the cur-
rents, and the violence of the weftern gales, are left
fenfible in the latitude of 61 or 62 degrees, than
nearer the fhore of Terra del Fuego.
But though I am fatisfied from both our own ex-
perience, and the relations of other navigators, of
the importance of the precept I here infift on, that
of running into the latitude or. 61 or 62 degrees, be-
fore any endeavours are made to Hand to the welt-
ward ; yet I would advife no Ihips hereafter to trull
fo far to this management, as to neglect another moll
eflential maxim* which is the making this paiTage in
the height of fummer, that is, in the months of De-
cember and January. Indeed, if the mere violence
of the weftern winds be confulered, the time of our
pafilige, which was about the equinox, was perhaps
the moft unfavourable of the whole year; but then
it fnuft be remembered, that independent of the winds,
there are, in the depth of winter, many other incon-
veniencies to be apprehended, which are almoft infu-
perable. As I would therefore advife all Ihips to
make their pafiage in December and January, if pof-
fible ; fo I would warn them never to attempt the
doubling Cape Horn from the eaftward, after the
month of March.
As to the propereit port for cruifers to refrefti at
on their arrival in the'ibuth Seas, there is fcarcely
any choice j the ifland of Juan Fernandes being the
only place that can be prudently recommended for
this purpofe. For though there are many ports on
the weftern fide of Patagonia, between the ftraits of
Magellan and the Spanilli fcttlements, where (hips
■ might ride in great iafcty, might recruit their wood
and water, and might procure lome few refrefti-
nientsj yet that coalt is in itfelffo dangerous, from
Round the world. 307
ks numerous rocks and breakers, and from the vio-
lence of the weftern winds, which blow conftantly
full upon it; that it is by no means advifeable to fall
in with that land, at leait till the roads, channels,
and anchorage, in each part of it are accurately fur-
veyed.
To this we may add, that as all our future expe-
ditions to the South Seas mult run a confiderable
rifque of proving abortive, whilft in our pafiage
thither we are under the neceflity of touching at
Brafil ; the difcovery of fome place more to the
fouthward, where (hips might refreih and fupply
themfelves with the necefiary fea-ftock for their voy-
age round Cape Horn ; would be an expedient which
would relieve us from this embaraflhient, and would
furcly be a matter worthy of the attention of the
public. Nor does this fcem difficult to be effected.
For we have already the imperfect knowlege of two
places, which might perhaps, on examination, prove
extremely convenient for this purpofe : one of them
is Fepy's ifland, in the latitude of 47 " fouth, and
laid down by Dr. Halley, about eighty leagues to
the eaftward of Cape Blanco, on the coaft of Pata-
gonia; the other is Falkland's ifles in the latitude of
51 ° j lying nearly fouth of Pepy's ifland. The firft
ef thefe Was difcovered by captain Cowley, in his
voyage round the world in the year 1686; who re-
prelcnts it as a commodious place for Jhips to wood
and water at, and fays, it is provided with a very
good and Capacious harbour, where a thoufand fail
of ftiips might ride at anchor in great iafcty j that it
abounds with fowls, and that as the fliore is either
rocks or lands, it feems to promife great plenty of
filh. The fecond place, or Falkland's ifles, have
been feen by many mips both French and Engltfh,.
being the land laid down by Krezier, in his chart of
the extremity of South America, under the title of
the new Iflands. Woodes Rogers, who run along the
north-eaft coall of thefe ifles in the year 1708, tells
us,
3o8 AMSON's VOYAGE
us, that they extended about two degrees in length,'
and appeared with gentle deScents from hill to hill,
and teemed to be good ground, interfperfed with
woods, and not deftitute of harbours. Either of
diefe places, as they are iflands at a considerable dis-
tance from the continent, may be fuppofed, from
their latitude, to lie in a climate Sufficiently tempe-
rate. It is true, they are too little known to be at
prefertt recommended as the moll eligible places of
refrefhment for fliips bound to the Southward : but
if, on examination, one or both of thefe places fhould
appear proper for the purpofe intended, it is Scarcely
to be conceived, of what prodigious import a con-
venient (ration might prove, fituated fo far to the
Southward, and fo near Cape Horn.
And as all difcoveries of this kind, though ex-
tremely honourable to thofe who direct, and promote
them, may yet be carried on at an inconfiderable ex-
pence, fince Small vefiels are much the propereft to
be employed in this Service; it were to be wiflied,
that the whole coaft of Patagonia, Terra del Fuego,
and Staten-land, were carefully Surveyed, and the nu-
merous channels, roads and harbours with which they
abound, were accurately examined. The difcovery
of this coaft hath Sormerly been thought of Such con-
Sequence, by reaSon of its neighbourhood to the
Araucos and other Chilian Indians, who are generally
at war, or at leaft on ill terms, with their Spanifh
neighbours, that fir John Narborough was purpofely
fitted out in the reign of king Charles II. to Survey
the ftraits of Magellan, the neighbouring coaft of
Patagonia, and the Spanifh ports on that frontier j with
directions, if poffible, to procure fome intercourfe
with the Chilian Indians, and to eftablilh a corre-
ipondence with them.
It is true, fir John Narborough did not Succeed
ih opening this commerce, which in appearance pro-
mised i'o many advantages to this nation. However,
his disappointment was merely accidental, and his
tranf-
ROUND THE WORLD.
tranfa&ions upon that coaft (befide the many valuable
improvements he furnilhed to geography and navi-
gation) are rather an encouragement for future trials
of this kind than any objection againft them ■, and it
appeared, by the precautions and fears of the Spani-
ards, that they were fully convinced of the practica-
bility of the fcheme he was fent to execute, and ex-
tremely alarmed widi the apprehenfion of its confe-
rences.
But to proceed on our voyage; after the mor-
tifying diiappointment of failing in with the coaft of
Terra del Fuego, when we elteemed ourfelves ten
degrees to the wertward of it ; we ftood away to the
fouth-weft till the 23d of April, when we were in
upward of 6q° of fouth latitude, and by our account
near 6° to the weft ward of Cape Noirj in this run
we had a feries of as favourable weather as could
be well expected in that part of the world, even in
a better fealbn : fo that this interval, letting the in-
quietude of our thoughts afide, was by for the moft
eligible of any we enjoyed from Straits le Maire to
the weft coaft of America. But on the 24th, in the
evening, the wind began to blow frcfli, and foon in-
crealed to a prodigious ftorm-, and the weather be-
ing extremely thick, about midnight we loft fight,
of the other four mips of the fquadron, which, notT
withftanding the violence of the preceding ftorrns,
had hitherto kept in company with us. Nor was
fhis our fole misfortune j for the next morning, en-
deavouring to hand the top-fails, the clue-lines and
bunt-lines broke, and the fhects being half-flown,
every feam in t.he top-fails was f-on iplit from top
to bottom, and the main top-fail fliook fo ftrongly
in the wind, that it carried away the top lamhorn,
and endangered the head of die rnaft •, however, at
length fome of the moft daring of our men ventured
upon the yard, and cut the fail away dole to tlte reefs,
though with the utmoft hazard of their lives ; whilft,
at the lame time, the foretop-fail beat at?out the yard
X 3 witl*
309
liable
navi-
|W ANSON's VOYAGE
with lb much fury, that it was foon blown to pieces i
nor was our attention to our top-fails our fole env
ployment, for the main-fall blew loofe, which obli-
ged us to lower down the yard to lectin: the fail, and
the fore yard being likewife lowered, we lay to ut\-
der a mizen. In this ftorm, befide the lofs of our
top-fails, we had much of bur rigging broke, and
loft a main ftudding- fail-boom out of the chains.
On the 25th, about noon, the weather became
more moderate, which enabled us to fway up out
yards, and to repair, in the bell: manner we could, out
fluttered rigging; but rail we had no fight of the
jeft of our iquadron, nor, indeed were we joined by
any of them again, till after our arrival at Juan Fer-
nandes ; nor did any two of tllcm, as we have fincct
learned, continue in company together. This total
and almoft inftantaneoits feparation was the more won-
derful, as we had hitherto kept together for fevent
weeks, through all the reiterated tempefls of this tur-
bulent climate. It mult indeed be owned, that we
had hence room to expeft, that we might make our
paflage in a fhorter time than if we had continued
together, becaufe we could now make the beft of our
way without being retarded by the misfortunes of
the other (hips ; but then we had the melancholy re-
flection, that we ourfelves were hereby deprived of
the afiiftance of others, and our fafety would depend
upon our fingle (hip j fo that if a plank flatted, or
any other accident qf the fame nature mould take
place, we muft all irrecoverably perilh : or fliould
we be driven on fliore, we had the uncomfortable,
profpect of ending our days on fome defolate coaft,
without any rcafonable hope of ever getting off again ;
whereas, with another fliip in company, all thefe ca-
lamities are much lefs formidable, fmce one fliip at
Jeaft might efcape, and be capable of preferving or
relieving the crew of the other.
The remaining part of this month of April we had
generally hard gales, although we had been every
ROUND THE WORLD. 3u
day, fince the 22d, edging to the northward -, how-
ever, on the laft day of the month, we flattered our-
felves with the expectation of foon terminating all our
fufferings -, for we that day found ourfclves in the la-
titude of 52" 13', which being to the northward of
the ftraits of Magellan, we were allured that we had
compleated our paflage, and had arrived in the con-
fines of the fouthern ocean -, and this ocean being de-
nominated Pacific, from the equability of the feafons
which are (aid to prevail there, and the facility and
fecurrty with which navigation is there carried on,
we hoped to experience lbme kind of compenfation
for the complicated miferies which had lb constantly
attended us for the laft eight weeks. But here we
were again difappointed -, for in the fuccceding month,
of May, our fufferings role to a much higher pitch
than they had ever yet done, whether we confider
the violence of die ftorms, the fluttering of our lulls
and rigging, or the diminiihing and weakening of
our crew by deaths and ficknefs, and the probable
profpecT: of our total deftruftion.
Soon after our patting Straits le Maire, the fcurvy
began to make its appearance among]! us j and our
long continuance at tea, the fatigue we underwent,
and the various difappointments we met with, had
occafioned its fpreading to fuch a degree, that at the
latter end of April there were but few on board who
were not, in fome degree, afflicted with it ; and in that
month no lei's than forty-three died of it on board
the Centurion. In the month of May we loft near
double that number 1 and as we did not get to land
till the middle of June, the mortality went on in-
creating, and the difeafe extended kielf fo prodigi-
oufly, that, after the lofs of above two hundred men,
/ we could not at laft multer more than fix fore-maft
men in a watch capable of duty.
(This difeafe, fo frequently attending long voyages,
and fo particularly deftructivc to us, is furely the
moll Angular and unaccountable of any that afiefta
X 4 the
3,i ANSON's VOYAGE
the human body : its fymptoms are inconftant antf
innumerable, and it is not eafy to complcar the Ions
roll of its various concomitants. It often produced
putrid fevers, pleurifies, the jaundice, and violent
rheumatic pains; and fometimes itoccafioned an ob-
ftinate coftivenefs, which was generally attended
with a difficulty of breathing, and this was efteemed
the moil deadly of all the fcorbutic fymptoms : at
other times the whole body, but more efpecially the
legs, were fubject to ulcers of the worn kind, at-
tended with rotten bones, and fuch a luxuriancy of
fungous fleih, as yielded to no remedy. But a
mou extraordinary circumftance, and what would be
fcarcely credible upon any fingle evidence, is, that
the fears of wounds which had been for many years
healed, were forced open again by this virulent dif-
temper: of this, there was a, remarkable inftance
in one of the invalids on board the Centurion, who
had been wounded above fifty years before at the
battle of the Boyne ; for though he was cured foon
after, and had continued well for a great number of
years part, yet ,on his being attacked by the fcurvy,
his wounds, in the progrefs of his difeaie, broke out
afrefh, and appeared as if they had never been healed.
Nay, what is Hill more aftonithing, the callus of a
broken bone, which had been compleatly formed for
a long time, was found to be hereby diflblved, and
■ the fracture feemed as if had never been confolidated.
Indeed, the effects of this difeafe were, in almoft
every inftance, wonderful; for many of our people,
fhough confined to their hammocks, appeared tp
have no inconfiderable ihare of health, tor they eat
and drank heartilyi were chearful, and talked with
much feeming vigour, and ykh a ftcong tone of
yoke; and yet, on their being the leaft moved,
though it was only from on^patt of the (hip to the
pther, and that too in their. 'paBimocks, they have
immediately expired ; and others* who have confided
jn their feeming ftraigth, and £ave rcfolved to get
out of their hammocks, have'died before they could
well reach the deck: nor was it an uncommon thing
for thofe who were able to walk the deck, and to do
fome kind of duty, to drop down dead in an inftant,
on any endeavours to aft with their utmoft effort.
We entertained hopes, that when we mould have
once fecurcd our paffage round the Cape, we fhould
put a period to this, and all the other evils which had
ib conltantly purfued us. But it was our misfortune
to find, that the Pacific ocean was to us lefs hofpitable
than the turbulent neighbourhood of Terra del Fuego
and Cape Horn. For being arrived, on the Sth of
May, off" the ifland of Socro, which was the firft
rendezvous appointed for the fquadron, and where we
hoped to have met with fome of our companions, we
cruiied for them in that ftaiion feveral days. But here
we were not only difappointed in our expecl at'tons of
beingjoined by our friends, and were thereby induc-
ed to favour the gloomy fuggeftions of their having
all perilhed ; but we were iikewife perpetually alarm-
ed with the fears of being driven on ftiore upon this
coaft, which appeared too craggy and irregular to
give us the leaft profpeft, that in fuch a cafe any of
us could poffibly efcape immediate deftruftion. In
fome places indeed we difcerned feveral deep bays
running into the land, but the entrance into them
were generally blocked up by numbers of little
iHands ; and had we been driven afliore by the wef-
tern winds which blew almoft conftantly here, we
did not expect to have avoided the lofs of our fliip
and of our lives.
This continued peril, which lafted for above a
fortnight, was greatly aggravated by the difficulties
we found in working the Ihip; as the fcurvy had by
this time deftroyed lo great a part of our hands, and
had, in fome degree, affected almoft the whole crew.
Indeed, during the greatcft part of the time we were
upon this coa!t, the wind blew ib hard, that in an-
other utuacion, where we had fuhlcient fea-room, we
jhould
3i4 ANSON's VOYAGE
fbould certainly have lain- to ; but in the prefent ex-
igency we were neceflitated to cany both our courfes
and top-fails in order to keep clear of this lee-fliore.
In one of thefe fqualls, which was attended by feve-
ral violent claps of thunder, a fudden flalh of fire
darted along our decks, which, dividing, exploded
with a report like that of feveral piftols, and wounded
many of our men and officers as it .palled, marking
them in different parts of the body: this flame was .
attended with a ftrong fulphureous (tench, and was
doubtlefs of the fame nature with the larger and
more violent blafts of lightning which then filled the
air.
It were endleis to recite minutely the various difaf-
ters, fatigues, and terrors, which we encountered on
this coalt ; all thefe went on increafing til] the 2 2d of
May, at which time, the fury of all the ftorms which
we had hitherto encountered, feemed to be combin-
ed* and to have confpired our deftruclion. In this
' hurricane almoft all our fails were fplit, and great part
of our (landing rigging broken; and, about eight in
the evening, a mountainous overgrown-iea took us
upon our ftarboard-quarter, and gave us fo prodigi-
ous a fhock, that feveral of our fhrouds broke with the
jerk, by which our mails were greatly endangered ;
pur ballaft and (lores too were fo ftrangely Ihifted,
that the (hip heeled afterwards two ftreaks to port.
Indeed it was a mod tremendous blow, and we were
thrown into the utmoft confirmation from the appre-
henfion of inftantly foundering-, and though the
wind abated in a few hours, yet, as we had no more
fails left in a condition to bend to our yards, the (hip
laboured very much in a hollow fea, rolling gunwale
to, for want of (ail to fteady her : fo that we expect-
ed our mafts, which were now very (lendcrly fiij>
ported, to come by the board every moment. This
was the laft effort of that ftormy climate ; for in a
day or two after we got clear of the land, and found
{he weather more moderate than we haa yet experi-
enced.
enced fince our pa(Ting Straits Lc Maire. And now
having cruifed in vain for more than a fortnight in
queft of the other Ihips of the fquadron, it was re-
folved to take the advantage of the prcfent favour-
able feafon and the olftng we had made from this
terrible coaft, and to make the beft of our way for-
the ifland of Juan Fernandes. For though our next
rendezvous was appointed off the harbour of Baldivia,
yet we had the greateft reafon to fufpeft, that all but
purlel'ves had perifhed. Befides, we were by this
time reduced to fo low a condition, that inftead of
attempting to attack the places of the enemy, our
ptmolt hopes could only fuggtrt to us the poffibility
of faving the fhip, and fome part of the remaining
enfeebled crew.
To fave time, which was now extremely precious,
and likewife to avoid being engaged with a lec-fhore,
we refolved, if pqffible, to hit the ifland upon a me-
ridian. And, on the 28th of May, being nearly in
the parallel upon which it is laid down, we had great
expeclatiqns of feeing it: but not finding it in the
pofuion in which the charts had taught us to expect
i£, we began to fear that we had gone too far to the
weftwardi and therefore, though the commodore
himfelf was ftrongly perfuaded, that he law ic on the
morning of trie 28th, yet his officers believing it to
be only a cloud, to which opinion the hazinefs of the
weather gave fome kind of countenance, it was, on a
confutation, refolved to ftand to the eaftward, in the
parallel of, the ifland : as it was certain, that by this
courfe we fhould either fall in with the ifland, if we
were already to the weftward of it ; or mould at leatf.
make the main land of Chili, from whence we might
take a new departure, and allure ourfelves, by rini-
ninfr to the-weilward afterward, of not milling the
jdmid a fecond time.
On the 30th of May we had a view of the conti-
nent of Chi(Ldiftant about twelve or thirteen leagues;
the land made exceeding high and uneven, and ap-
peared
ji6 ANSON's VOYAGE
pcared quite white ; what we faw being doubtlefs i-
part of the Cordilleras, which arc always covered with
friow. Though by this view of the land we afcer-
cairted our polition, yet it gave us great uneafinefs to
find that we had fo needlefsly altered our courte,
when we were, in all probability, j uft upon the point
of making the ifland : for the mortality amongft us
was now increafed to a moll dreadful degree, and
thofe who remained alive were utterly difpirited by
this new difappointment. In this defponding condi-
tion, with a crazy (hip, a great fcarciiy of frefh water,
and a crew fo univcrfally difeafed, that there were not
above ten fore- maft men in a watch capable of doing
duty, and even fome of thefe lame, and unable to
go aloft": under thefe difliearming circumftances, we
ttood to the weftwardj and, on the 9th of June, at
day-break, we at laft difcovered the long-wiihed for
ifland of Juan Fernandes.
Though, on the firft view, this ifland appeared to
be very mountainous, extremely ragged and irregu-
lar -, yet as it was land, and the land we fought for,
it was to us a moll agreeable fight. Becaule at this
place only wc could hope to put a period to thofe ter-
rible calamities we had fo long ftruggled with, which
had already fwept away above half our crew, and
w!iich, had we continued a few days longer at fca,
would inevitably have completed our deftruflion.
For we were by this time reduced to fo helplefs a
condition, thar, out of two hundred and odd men
which remained alive, we could nor, taking all our
watches together, mufter hands enough to work the
fhip on an emergency, though we included the of-
ficers, their fervants, and the boys.
The wind being northerly when we firft made the
ifland, we kept plying all that day, and the next
night, in order to get in with the land ; and wearing
the Ihip in the middle watch, we had a melancholy
inftance of the almoft incredible debility of our peo-
ple j for (he lieutenant could mufter . no more than
two.
ROUND THE WORLD.
two quarter- ni afters, and fix fore-mall men capable
or" working ; fo that without the afiiftance of the
officers, iervants, and the boys, it might have proved
impolfible for us to have reached the ifland, after we
had got fight of it; and even with this afliftance
they were two hours in trimming the fails. To fo
wretched a condition was a fixty gun fliip reduced ,
which had palled Straits Le Mai re but three months
before, with between four and five hundred men, al-
moft all of them in health and vigour,
However, on the 10th in the afternoon, we got
tinder the Ice of the ifland, and kept ranging about
it, at about two miles diftance, in order to look out
for the proper anchorage, which was defcribed to be
in a bay on the north fide. Being now nearer in with
the (bore, we could difcover that the broken craggy
precipices, which had appeared fo unpromifing at a
diftance, were far from barren, being in molt places
covered with woods; and that between them there
were every where imerfperfed the fineft vallics, clothed
with a moll beautiful verdure, and watered with nu-
merous ftreams and cafcades, no valley, of any ex-
tent, being unprovided of its proper rill. The water
too, as we afterwards found, was not inferior to any
we had ever tafted, and was contrantly clear. The
afpeft of th^s country, thus diverfified, would, at all
times, have been extremely delightful ; but in our
diftrefTcd fituation, langutfiiing as we were for the
land and its vegetable productions, (an inclination
conftantly attending every ftage of the fea Icurvy) it
is Icarcrly credible with what eagernefs and traniuort
we viewed the fhore, and with how much impatience
we lonped for the greens and other rcfreftiments
which were then in fight, and particularly the water:
for of this we had been confined to a very fparing al-
lowance a confiderable time, and had then but five
ton remaining on board. Thofc only who have
endured a long feries of thirft, and who can readily
recal the delire and agitation which the ideas alone of
l'i rir.Ss
3i& ANSON's VOYAGE
fprings and brooks have at that time railed in them;
can judge of the emotion with which we eyed a large
cafcade of the moft tranfparerit water, which poured
itfelf from a rock hear a hundred feet high into the
lea, at a fmall diftancefrom the ihip. Even thofe
amongft the difeafed, who were not in the very laft
ftages of the diftemper, though they had been long
confined to their, hammocks, exerted the fmall remains
of ftrength that were left them, and crawled up to the
deck to feaft themfelves with this reviving profpect.
But at laft the night clofed upon us, before we had
fatisfied ourfelves which was the proper bay to anchor
. in ; and therefore we refolved to keep in foundings
all night, and to fend our boat next morning to dis-
cover the road : however, the current fhifted in the
night, and fet us fo near the land, that we were
obliged to let go the beft bower in fifty-fix fathom*
not half a mile from the more. At four in the morn-
ing, the cutter was difpatched with our third lieu-
tenant to find out the bay we were in fearch of, who
returned again at noon with the boat laden with feals
and grafs ; for though the ifiand abounded with bet-
ter vegetables, yet the boat's-crew, in their fliort
ftay, had not met with them; and they well knew
that even grafs would prove a dainty, as indeed it
was all foon and eagerly devoured. The feals toa
were confidered as frefh provifions ; but as yet were
not much admired, on account of the prodigious
quantity of cxccllsnt fifli, which the people on board
had taken, during the abfence of the boat;
The cutter, in this expedition, had difcovered the
bay where we intended' to anchor, which we found
was to the weftward of our prefent ftation ; and the
next morning, the weather proving favourable, we
endeavoured to weigh, in order to proceed thither :
but though, on this occafion, we muftered all the
ftrength we could, obliging even the fick, who were
fcarce able to keep on their legs, to aflift us ; yet the
capftan was fo weakly manned, that it was near four
hours
ROUND THE WORLD. 319
hours before we hove rhe cable right up and down:
after which, with our utmoft efforts, and with many
furges and fome purchafes wc made ufe of to increafe
our power, we found ourfelves incapable of ftarting
the anchor from the ground. However, at noon, as a
frefh gale blew toward the bay, we were induced to
Jet the fails, which fortunately tripped the anchor; and
then we fleered along the (bore, till we came abreaft
of the point that forms the eaftcrn part of the bay.
On the opening of the bay, the wind that had be-
friended us thus far, fhifted and blew from thence in
fqualls; but by means of the head- way we had got,
we loofed clofe in, till the anchor brought us up in
fifty-fix fathom. Soon after we had thus got to our
new birth, we discovered a fail, which we made no
doubt was one of our fquadron -, and on its nearer
approach, we found it to be the Tryal (loop. We
immediately fent fome of our hands aboard her, by
whofe amftance fhe was brought to an anchor be-
tween us and the land. We foon found that the (loop
had not been exempted from the fame calamities
which we had fo feverely felt ; for her commander
captain Saunders, waiting on the commdobre, in-
formed him, that out of his fmall complement, he
had buried thirty-four of his men ; and thofe that re-
mained were fo univerfally afflicted with the fcurvy,
that only himfelf, his lieutenant, and three of his
men were able to (land by the fails. The Tryal
came to an anchor within us, on the 12th, about
noon, and we carried our hawfers on board her, in
order to moor ourfelves nearer in more ; but the wind
coming off the land in violent gulls, prevented our
mooring in the birth we intended. Indeed our prin-
cipal attention was employed on bufinefs rather of
more importance: for we were now extremely occu-
pied in lending on fhore materials to raife tents for the
reception of the lick, who died apace on board, and
doubtlefs the diftemper was confiderably augmented,
by the flench and tilthincfs in which they lay •, for
the
3jo ANSON'S VOYAGE
the number of the difeafed was fo great, and fo few?
could be fpared from the neceflary duty of the fails to
look after them, that it was impoflible to avoid a
relaxation in the article of cleanlinefs, which rendered
the ihip extremely loathfofne between decks. Not-
withftanding our defire of freeing the fick from their
hateful fituation, aqd their own extreme impatience to?
get on more, we had not hands enough to prepare the
tents for their reception before the 1 6th ; but on that
and the two following days we fent them all on (bore,
amounting to a hundred and fixty-feven perfons, be-
fides twelve or fourteen who died in the boats, on their
being expofed to the frefli air. The greareft part of
©ur flick. were fo infirm, that we were obliged to carry
them out of the ihip in their hammocks, and to con-
vey them afterward in the fame manner from the
water-fide to their tents, over a ftony beach. This
was a work of confiderable fatigue to the few who
were healthy, and therefore the commodore, accord-
ing to his accuftomed humanity, not only affifted
herein with his own labour, but obliged his officers*
without diftiroSion, to give their helping hands. The
extreme weaknefs of our fick may in Tome meafure
be collected from the numbers who died after they
had got on fhorc ; for it had generally been found,
that the land, and the refrefhments it produces, very
foon recovered molt ftages of the fca-fcurvy; and we
flattered ourfelvcs, that thofe who had not. perifhed
on this firft expofure to the open air, but had lived to
be placed in their tents, would have been fpeedily re-
ftored to their health and vigour; yet, to our great
mortification, it was near twenty days after their land-1
ing, before the mortality was tolerably ceafed ; and
for the firft ten or twelve days, we buried rarely lefs
than fix each day, and many of thole, who furvlvedj
recovered by very flow and infenfible degrees, In-
deed thofe who were well enough at their firft get-
ting on more, to creep out of their tents, and crawl
about, were foon reUeved, and recovered their health
6 and
ROUND THE WORLD.
3*<
find ftrength in a very fhort rime ; but in the refty the
difeafed leemed to have acquired a degree of invete-
racy" which was altogether without example.
We /hall now proceed to give a diftinct account
oF this ifland, its fituation, productions, and all its
conveniences v particulars we were well enabled to
be minutely inftructed in, during our three months
ftay there ; and as it is the only commodiousplace in
thofe feas, where Bricifh cruifers can refrefli after their
paflage round Cape Horn, and where they may re-
main for fame time without alarming die Spanifh
coaft, Mr. Anfon was particularly indirftrious in
directing the roads and coafts to be furveyed, and
other obfervations to be made, knowing, from his
own experience, of how great confequence thefe ma-
terials might prove to any Britifh veflels hereafter em-
ployed in thofe feas.
The ifland of Juan Fcrnandes lies in the latitude of*
330 -.40' fouth, and is a hundred and ten leagues
diftant from the continent of Chili. It is faid to have
received its name from a Spaniard, who formerly
procured a grant of it, and refided there lbme time with
a view of fettling on it, but afterward abandoned it.
The ifland is of an irregular figure; its greateft ex-
tent is between four and five leagues, and its greateft
breadth fomewhat fhort of two leagues. The only
fafe anchoring at this ifland is on the north fide, where
are three bays; the middlemoft, known by the name
of Cumberland Bay, is the wideft and dee'peft, and
in all refpects much the beft j for the other two, de-
nominated the eafi. and weft bays, are fcarcely more
than good landing places, where boats may conveni-
ently put their calks on fhore.
As Cumberland Bay is by far the mod Commodi-
ous road in the ifland ; fo it is advileable for all fhips-
to anchor on the weftern fide of this bay, within little
more than two cables length of the beach Here
they may ride in forty fathom water, and be, in a
great meafure, fheltered from a large heavy fea, which
tomes rolling in whenever an eafcern or a wefterrf
vot. m. y *&.*
_-£-
32i ANSON's VOYAGE
wind blows. It is however expedient, in this cafe, to
cackle or arm the cables with an iron chain, or good
rounding, for five or fix fathom from the anchor, to '
fecure them from being rubbed by the fbulnefi of the
ground.
A northerly wind, to which alone this bay is ex-
pofed, very rarely blew during our ftay here ; and as
it was then winter, it may beTuppoJed, in other fea-
fons, to be left frequent. Indeed, in thofe few in-
ftances, when it was in that quarter, it did not blow
With any great force : but this perhaps might be ow-
ing to the high-lands on the fouchward of the bay,
which checked its current, and thereby abated its-
violence -, for we had reafon to fuppofe, that a few
leagues o% it blew with conliderabfe ftrength, fince
it rometimes drove before it a prodigious fea, in
' which we rode fore-cattle in. But though the northern
winds are never to be apprehended, yet the fouthem
winds, which generally prevail here, frequently blow
off the land in violent gufts and fqualls, which how-
ever rarely lad longer than two or three minutes.
The northern part of this ifland is compofed of
high craggy hills, many of them inacceffible, though
generally covered with trees. The foil of this part is
loofe and (hallow, fo that very large trees on the hills
foon perifh for want of root, and are then eafily over-
turned; which occafioned the unfortunate death of
one of our failors, who being upon the hills in fearch
of goats, caught hold of a tree upon a declivity to
afijft him in his afcent, and this giving way, he im-
mediately rolled down the hill, and though in his fall
he fattened on another tree of considerable bulk, yet
that alfo giving way, he fell *tmongft the rocks, and
was darned to pieces. Mr. Brett likewife met with
an accident only by retting his back againft a tree,
near as large about as himfelf, which flood on a (lope ;
lor the tree giving way, he fell to a confiderable dif-
tance, though without receiving any injury. Our
prifocers (whom, as will be related in the fequel, we
afterward
ROUND THE WORLD. 323
afterward brought in here) remarked, that the ap-
pearance of the hills in lome parr of the Hand ref m-
bled that of the mountains in Chili, where the gold
is found: fo that it is not impomble but mines might
be difcovered here. We obl'crved, in fome places,
feveral hills of a peculiar fort of red earth, exceeding
vermillion in colour, which, perhaps, on examina-
tion, might prove ufeful for many purpofes. The
fouthern, or rather the fouth weft part of the ifland,
is widely different frjm the reft, being dry, ftony,
deftitute of trees, and very flat and low, compared
with the hills on the northern part. This part of
the ifland is never frequented by (hips, being (un-
rounded by a fteep more, and having little or no frelh
water; and befide, it is expofed to the foutherly
wind, which generally blows here the whole year
round, and in the winter folftice very hard.
The trees of which the woods on the northern fide
of the ifland are compofed, are moll: of them, aroma-
tics, and of many different forts : there are none of
them of a fize to yield any confiderabk timber, ex-
cept the myrtle-trees, which are the largeft on the
ifland, and fupplied u<. with all the timber we made
ufe of i but even thefe would not work to a greater
length than forty feet. The top of the myrtle-tree
is circular, and appears as uniform and regular, as if
it had been clipped by ait; it bears on its bark an
excrefcence like mofs, which in tafte and ftnell re-
fembles garlic, and was ufed by our people inftcad
of it. We found here too the pimento- tree and like-
wife the cabbage-tree, though in no great plenty.
And, befide a great number of plants of various kinds,
which we were not botanifts enough either to dc-
fcribe, or attend to; we found here almoft all the
vegetables, which are ufually efteemed to be particu-
larly adapted to the cure of thofe fcorbutic diforders,
which are contracted by fait diet and, long voyages.
Thefe vegetables, with the fifh and flefh we got here,
Y a were
.
£24 ANSON's VOYAGE •
were not only extremely grateful to our palates, aft er the
long courfe of fait diet which we had been confined to*
but were likewile of the moft falutary coniequence to
our fick, and of no mean fervice to thofe who were
well.
To the vegetables I have already mentioned, of
which we made perpetual ufe, I muft add, that we
found many acres of ground covered with oats and
clover.
The excellence of the climate and the loofenefs of
the foil render this place extremely proper for all kinds
of vegetation -, for if the ground be any where acci-
dentally turned up, it is immediately overgrown with
turnips and Sicilian radtfhes; Mr. Anfon therefore
having with him garden-feeds of all kinds, and ftones
of different forts of fruits, he, for the better accom-
modation of his countrymen who fhould hrreafter
touch here, fowed both lettuces, carrots, and other
garden plants, and let in the woods a great variety of
plumb, apricot, and peach ftones : and thefc laft he '
has been informed have Once thriven to a very re-
markable degree.'
This may in general fuffice as to the foil and vege-
table productions of this place : but the face of die
country, at leaft of the north part of the ifland, is
fo extremely lingular, that I cannot avoid giving it
a particular consideration. I have already taken no-
tice of the wild, inhofpitable air with which it firft
appeared to us, and the gradual improvement of this
uncouth landfcape as we drew nearer, till we were at
laft captivated by the numerous beauties we discover-
ed on the fhore. And muft now add, that we found,
during the time of our reudence there, that the in-
land parts of the ifland did no ways fall fhort of the
{anguine prepofieffions which we firlt entertained in-
their favour. For the woods, which cowered moft of
the fteepefl: hills, were free from all bufhes and under-
wood, and afforded an eafy pafiage. through every pact
of them i and the irregularities of the hills and preci-
i picev
ROUND THE WORLD.
pices, in the northern part of the ifland, neceflarily
traced out by their various combinations a great num-
ber of romaniic vallies ; mod of which had a ftream
of the cleared: water running through them, that tum-
bled in cafcades from rock to rock, as the bottom of
the valley, by the courfe of the neighbouring hills,
was at any time broken into a fudden (harp defcent:
fome particular fpots occurred in thefe vallies, where
the (hade and fragrance of the contiguous woods, the
loftinefs of the overhanging rocks, and the tranlpa-
rency and frequent falls of the neighbouring ftreams,
prefented fcenes of fuch elegance and dignity, as
would with difficulty be rivalled in any other part of
the globe. It is in this place, perhaps, that the fim-
ple productions of unaffifted nature may be faid to
excel all the fictitious defcriptions of the moll ani-
mated imagination. I fhall finilh this article with a
Jhort account of that fpot where the commodore
pitched his tent, and which he made choice of for his
own refidence, though I defpairof conveying an ade-
quate idea of its beauty. The piece of ground which
he chofe was a fmall lawn, that lay on a little afcent,
at the diftance of about half a mile from the fea. In
the front of his tent there was a large avenue cut
through the woods to the fea-fide, which Hoping to
the water with a gentle defcent, opened a profpeft
of the bay and the (hips at anchor. This lawn was
fcreened behind by a tall wood of myrtle fweeping
round it, in the form of a theatre, the fiopc on
-which the wood flood, rifing with a much (harper
afcent than the lawn itielf ; though not fo much, but
that the hills and precipices within land towered up
confiderably above the tops of the trees, and addqd
to the grandeur of the view. There were, befide,
two ftreams of cryftal water, which ran on the right
and left of the tent, within an hundred yards diftance,
and were (haded by the trees which Ikirtingthe lawn
on either fide, compleated the fymmciry of the
whole.
Y 3 Former
3»6 ANSON's VOYAGE
Former writers have related, that this - ifland
abounded with vaft numbers of goats, and their ac-
counts are not to be quel'ioned, this place being the
ufual haunt of the buccaneers and privateers, who
formerly frequented thofe feas. And there are two
inftancesj one of a Mufquito Indian, and the other
of Alexander Selkirk, a Scotchman, who were left
there by their refpeflive Ibips, and lived alone upon
this ifland for fome years, and consequently wcre.no
ftrangers to its product. Selkirk, who was the laft,
after a Hay of between four and 6ve years, was taken
off the place by the Duk; and Duchefs privateers of
BriftoL as may be feen at large in the journal of their
voyage*. His manner of life, during his folitude,
was in molt particulars very remarkable -, but there is
one circumftance he relates, whch was ftrangely ve-
rified by our own obiervation. He tells us, amongft
other things, that as he often caught more goats than
he wanted, he fometimes marked their ears and let
them go. This was about thirty-two years before our
(urival at the ifland. Now it happened, that the
firil goat that was killed by our people at their land-
ing had its ears flit, whence we concluded, that he
had doubtlefs been formerly under the power of Sel-
kirk. This was indeed an animal of a moft vener-
able afpect, dignified with an exceeding majeftic
beard, end with many other fymptoms of antiquity.
During our hay on the ifland, we met with others
marked in the fame manner, all the males being dill in-
guifhed by an exuberance of beard, and every other
characieritfic >f extreme age.
But the Spaniards being informed of the advantages
which the buccaneers and privateers drew from thepro-
vifions which goat-flcfh here furnifbed them with,
have endeavoured to extirpate the breed, thereby to
deprive their enemiesof this relief. For this purpofe,
they put on fhore great numbers of large dogs, who
* See p. 137 of this rolwjw.
have}
KQUND THE WORLD,
have increafed apace, and have deftroyed all the goats
in the acceffible part of the country ; fo that there
now remain only a tew amongrt the craggs and preci-
pices, where the dogs cannot follow them. By this
means we found it extremely difficult to kill them ;
and yet we were fo defirous of their fleih, which we.
all agreed much rel'embled venilbn, that «B got
knowledge, I believe, of all their herd?, and it was
conceived, by comparing their numbers together,
that they fcarcely exceeded two hundred upon the
whole ifland. Thefe dogs, who are matters of all the
acceffible parts of the illand, arc of various kinds,
fome of them very large, and are multiplied to a pro-
digious degree. They ibmerimes came down to our
habitations at night, and ftole our provmons ■, and
once or twice they fee upon iingle perfons, but atfift-
ance being at hand, they were driven off without do-
ing any miichicf. As at prefent it is rare for goats
to fall in their way, we conceived that they lived
principally upon young feals i and indeed fome of our
people had the curioficy to kill dogs fomfctimes and
drels them, and it feemed to be agreed that the,y had
a filhy tafte.
Goats-flcfh being fcarce, and our people growing
tired of fifh, they at ialt condefcended to eat feals,
which by degrees they came to relifh, and called it
lamb. The leal, numbers of which haunt this ifland,
hath been fo often mentioned by former writers, that
it is unneceffary to fay any thing particular afloat
them in this place. But there is another amphibious
creature to be met with here, called a fra-lion, thut
bears fome relembiance to a feal, though it is much
larger. This too we eat under the denomination of
beef; and as it is fo extraordinary an animal, it well
merits a particular dcicripiii.n. They are in lize,
when arrived at their full growih from twelve to
twenty feet in length, and from eight to fifteen in
circumference : they are extremely fat, To that afttr
cut through the fit in, which is about an inch in thick-
Y 4 nels,
p8 ANSON'S VOYAGE
nets, there is at lead a foot of fat before you ran
come at either lean or bones -, and we experienced
piore than once, that the fat of fome of the largcft
afforded a butt of oil. They are likewife very
full pf bloody for if they are deeply wounded in
a dozen places, there will inftantly gufh out as many
fountains of blood, fpputing to a confiderable dis-
tance : and to try what quantity of blood they con-
tained, we fhot one firft, and then cut its throat, and
meafuring the blood that came from him* we found,
that bcfides what remained in the veffels, which to be
fure was considerable, we got at leaft two hogfhcads.
Their ikins are covered with fhort hair of a light dun
colour, but their tails and their 6ns, which ferve them
for feet on fhore, are almoft blacki and are divided
at the ends like fingers ; the web which joins them
not reaching to the extremities, and each of thefe
fingers is furnifhed with a nail. They have a diftanr.
refemblance to an overgrown feal, though in fome
particulars there is a manifeft difference between
them, efpecjally In the males. Thefe have a large
fnout or trunk hanging down five or fix inches below,
the end of the upper jaw ; which the females have
not, and this renders the countenance of the male and
female eafy to be diftinguifhed from each other ; and
betides, the males are of a much larger fize. Thefe
animals divide their time equally between the land
and fea, continuing at fea all the fummer, and com-
ing on fhore at the letting in of the winter, where
they refide during the whole feaibn. In this interval
they bring forth their young, and have generally two,
at a birth -, which they fuckle, being at firft about the
fize of a full-grown feal. During the time thefe fea?
|ions continue on fhore, they feed on the grafs which
growjyiear the banks of the frefh- water ftreams ; and,
when pot employed on feeding, fleep in herds in the
mpft miry places they can find out. As they feem to
pe of a. }ethargic difpofition, and are not eafily
fwakeped, each herd was obferved to place fome of
|heiy
ROUND THE WORLD
3*S
their males at a diftance, in the nature of centinels,
■who never failed to alarm, whenever any one attempt-
ed to moleft, or even to approach them : and they
were very capable of alarming, even at a confider-
abie diftance, for the node they make is very loud
and of different kinds, fometimes grunting like hogs,
and at other times Jhorting like horles in full vigour.
They often, efpeciaily the males, have furious battles
■with each other, principally about their females.
We were one day extremely iurprized by the fight of
two animals, which at firfl appeared different from
all we had ever obferved ; but, on a nearer approach,
they proved to be two fea-lions, who had been gor-
ing each other with their teeth, and were covered over
with blood: one of them, whom, from his fize and
iuperiority, the fcamen ufed to call the Bafhaw, gene-
rally lay furrounded with a feraglio of females, which
no other male dared to approach ; and he had not ac-
quired that pre-eminence without many bloody con-
tefts, of which the marks (till remained in the nume-
rous fears which were vifihle in every part of his
body. We killed many of them for food, particu-
larly for- their hearts and tongues, which we efteemed
exceeding good eating, and preferable even to thole
of bullocks : in general there was no difficulty in kill-
ing them, for they were incapable either of efcaping
or refilling ; as thtir motion is the molt unwieldy that
can be conceived, their blubber, all the time they
are moving, being agitated in large waves under their
fltins. However, a Jailor one day being carelefsly em-
ployed in fldnning a young fea-lion, the female, from
whence he had taken it, came upon him unperceiv-
ed, and getting his head in her mouth, (he with her
teeth fcored his fltull with notches in many places,
and thereby wounded him fo dclperately, that, though
ail poffible care was taken of him, he died in a few
days.
Thefe are the principal animals which we found
ppon the ifiand : for we law but few birds, and thole
chiefly
gjo ANSON's VOYAGE
chiefly hawks, blackbirds, owls, and humming birds.
We faw not the Pardda, which burrows in the
ground, and which former writers hare mentioned to
be found here; but as we often met with their holes,
we fuppofed that the dogs had deftroyed them, a*
they have almoft done the cats : for thefe were very
numerous in Selkirk's time, but we faw not above- one
or two during our whole ftay. However, the rats
ftill keep their ground, and continue here in great
numbers, and were very troublefome to us, by infeft-
ing our tents nightly.
But that which furniihed us with the moll delicious
repafts at this ifland, remains ftill to be defcribed.
{This was the fifli, with which the whole bay was mod:
plentifully ftorcd, and with the greateft variety : for
we found here cod of a prodigious fize ; and by the
report of feme of our crew, who had been formerly
employed in the Newfoundland fiftiery, not in lets
plenty than is to be met with on the banks of that
■ifland. We caught alfo cavallies, gropers, large
breams, maids, filver fifh, congers of a peculiar kind,
Utd above all, a black fifli which we molt efteemed,
called by fome a chimney fweeper, -in ihape refembling
-m carp. Betide the filh we have already mentioned,
we found here one delicacy in greater perfection, both
K to fize, flavour, and quantity, than is perhaps to
be met with in any other part of the world: this was
fea cray fifti ; they generally weighed eight or nine
pounds apiece, were of a molt excellent tafte, and lay
m fuch abundance, near the water's edge,- that the
boat-hooks often (truck into them, in putting the boat
to and from the fhore.
Having thus given the reader fome idea of the file
and circumftances of this place, which was to be our
rcfidence for three months ; 1 (hall now proceed to
relate all that occurred to us in that interval.
The arrival of the Tryal (loop at this iflandfo, foon
frfter we came.thcre ourfelves, gave us great hopes of
being
ROUND THE WORLD.
3}i
being fpcedily joined by the reft of the fquadron-, and
we were for fome days continually looking out, in ex-
pectation of their coming in fight. But near a fort-
night being elapfed, without any of them having ap-
peared, we began to deipair al ever meeting them
again ; as we knew that, had our fhip continued fo
much longer at fea, we fhould every man of us have
perifhed.
But on the 21ft of June, fome of our people from
an eminence on more, decerned a fhip to leeward,
with her courtes even with the horizon ; and they,
at the fame time, particularly ublerved, that (lie
had no fail abroad except her comics and her main
topfail. This circumftance made them conclude
that it was one of our fquadron, which had pro-
bably furrerrd in her fails and rigging as fevere-
ly as we had cone: but they were prevented from
forming more definite conjectures about her; for,
after viewing her for a fhort time, the weather
grew thick anJ hazy, and they loit fight of her. On
this report, and no fhip appearing for fome days after,
we were all under the greateft concern, fufpeding
that her people mgbt bein the utmoft diftreis for want
of water, and fo jiminiihed and weakened by fick-
nefs, as net to be able to ply up to windward : fo
that we feared that, after having been in fight of the
ifiand, her whole crew would notwithitanding periih
at fea. However, on the z6th, towards noon, we
difcerned a la.il in the nonh-eaft quarter, which we
conceived to be the very fame fhip that had been feen
before, and our conjectures proved true: and about
one o'clock (he approached lb near, ihu we could
diftinguifh her to be the Gloucefler. As we had no
doubt of her being in great diftrefs, the commodore
jmmedia'ely ordered his boat to her affiftance, laden
with frefh water, fifh and vegetables, which was a
very feafonable relief to them ; for our apprehenfions
of their calamities appeared to be but too well
grounded, as pahaps there never was a crew in
more
i
:
L
332 ANSON'S VOYAGE
.more difireffed (ituatton. They had already thrown
over-board two thirds of their complement, and of
thofe which remained alive, fcarccly any were cap-
able of doing duty, except the officers and their fer-
vantn. They had been a confiderable time at the
fmall allowance of a pint of frefli water to each man
for twenty-four hours, and yet they had fo little left,
that, had it not been for the fupply we fent them,
they muft foon have died of thirft. The (hip plied
in within three miles of the bay ; but, the winds and
currents being contrary, flic could not reach the road.
However, (he continued in the offing the next day ;
but as (he had no chance of coming to an anchor, un-
lefs the wind and currents fhifted -, the commodore
repeated his afliftance, fending to her the Tryal's
boat manned with the Centurion's people, and a far-
ther fupply of water and other refrefhrnents. Cap-
win Mitchel, the captain of the Gloucefter, was un-
der a neceflity of detaining both this boat and that
fent the preceding day -, for without the help of their
crews, he had no longer ftrength enough to navigate
the fliip. In this tantalizing fituation the Gloucefter
continued, for near a fortnight, without being able
to fetch the road, though frequently attempting it,
and at fome times bidding very fair for it. On the
nth of July, we obferved her ftretching away to the
eaftward at a confiderable diftance, which we fuppof-
ed was with a defign to get to the fouthward of the
ifland ; but as we toon loft fight of her, and (he did
not appear for near a week, we were prodigioufiy
concerned, knowing that (he muft be again in extreme
diftrefs for want of water. After great impatience
about her, we discovered her once more on the »6th,
endeavouring to come round the eaftern point of the
ifland j but the wind, (till blowing directly from the
bay, prevented her getting nearer than within four
leagues of the land. On this, captain Mitchel made
fignals of diftrefs, and our long-boat was fent to him
with a (tore of water, and plcqty of fifli, and other
"" refreftunents.
ROUND THE WORLD. 333
refre foments. And ihe long boat being not to be
fpared, the cockfwain had pofitive orders frotn the
commodore to return again immediately ; but the
weather proving ftormy the next day, and the boat
not appearing, we much feared (he was loft, which
would have proved an irretrievable misfortune to us
all. However, the third day after, we were relieved
from this anxiety by the joyful fight of the long-
boat's fails upon the water j on which we fent the
cutter immediately to her afEftance, who towed her
along fide in a few hours-, when we found that the
crew of our long-boat had taken in fix of the Glou-
ceiler's fick men to bring them on fhore, two of
which had died in the boat. We now learnt that the
Gloucefter was in a moll dreadful condition, having
Icarcely a man in health on board, except thofe they
received from us : and, numbers of their fick dying
daily, it appeared that, had it not been for the la(t
flipply fent by our long-boat, both the healthy and
diieafed muft have all perifhed together for want of
water. Thefe calamities were the more terrifying, as
they appeared to be without remedy : for the Glou-
cefter had already fpent a month in her endeavours
to fetch the bay, and (he was now no farther advanced
than at the firft moment ftie made the ifland ; on the
contrary, the people on board her had worn out all
their hopes of ever fucceeding in it, by the many ex-
periments they had made of its difficulty. Indeed,
the fame day her fituation grew more defperate than
ever, for after ihe had received our.laft fupply of re-
frefhments, we again loft fight ofheri (o that we in
general defpaired of her ever coming to an anchor.
Thus was this unhappy vefiel bandied about within
a few leagues of her intended harbour, whilft the
neighbourhood of that place and of thofe circum-
ltances, which could alone put an end to the cala.
mities they laboured under, ferved only to aggravate
their diftrefs, by torturing them with a view of the
relief it was not in their power to reach. But (he was
at lad delivered from this dreadful fituation, at a
time
334 ANSON's VOYAGE *
time when we lead' expected it; for after having loft
fight of her for feveral days, we were pleafingly fur-
prized, on the morning of the 33d of July, to lee
her open the north eaft point of the bay with a flow-
ing fail i when we immediately difpatched what boats
we had to her affiftance, and in an hour's time from
our firft perceiving her, fhe anchored fare within us in
the bay. And now we were more particularly con-
vinced of the importance of the affiftance and refresh-
ments we fo often lent them, and how impoflible ic
would have been for a man of them to have furvived,
had we given lefs attention to their wants. For not-
withftanding the water, the greens, and frefh provi-
fions which we fupplied them with, and the hands ws
fent them to navigate the fhip, by which the fatigue
of their own people was diminifhed, their fick reliev-
ed, and the mortality abated; not with ftanding this
indulgent care of the commodore", they yet buried
above three fourths of their crew, and a very fmall
proportion of the remainder were capable of affifting-
in the duty of the fhip. On their coming to anchor,
our firft endeavours were to afltft them in mooring,
and our next to fend their tick on more : tbefe were
now reduced by deaths to lefs than fourfcore, of which
we expefted to lofe the greateft part; but whether it
was, that thofe farther! advanced in the diftemper
were all dead, or that the greens and frefh provifions
we had fent on board had prepared thofe which re-
mained for a more fpeedy recovery, it happened,
contrary to our expectation, that their fick were in
general relieved and reftored to their ftrength, in a
much fhorter time than our own had been when we
firft came to the ifhnd, and very few of them died on
Store.
After thus giving an account of the principal
events, relating to the arrival of the Gloucefter, in
one continued narration, I fhall only add, that we
never were joined by any other of our fb-ps, except
our victualler, the Anna Pink, who came in about
the middle of Auguft.
Our
ROUND THE WORLD.
335
Our next employment, after fending our lick on
(herefrom the Centurion, was cleafing our (hip and
filling ourwater. The firft of thefe meafures was indif-
penfably necefiary to our future health; as the
numbers of fick, and our deplorable fituation at fca,
had rendered the decks moft intolerably loathlbme.
The filling our water appeared not lefs efiencial
to our fecurity, as we had realbn to apprehend
that accidents might intervene, which would ob-
lige us to quit the ifland at a very fhort warning.
For fome appearances we had difcovered on ihore
upon our firft landing, gave us grounds to believe,
that there were Spanifh cruifers in thefe feas, which
had left the ifland but a fhort time before our arrival,
and might poflibly return thither again. The cir-
cumftances, which gave rife to thefe reflexions were
our finding on (hore feveral pieces of earthen jars,
which appeared to be r'refh broken: we law too,
many heaps of afhes, and near them fifh-bones and
pieces of fiih, befide whole filh, which were but
juft beginning to decay. Thefe were certain indi-
cations that there had been (hips at this place
but a fhort time before we came there " ; and as
all Spanifh merchant-men are inftrocted to avoid
the ifland, on account of its being the common ren-
dezvous of their enemies, we concluded diofe who
had touched here to be fhips of force : and not know-
ing that Pizarro was returned to Buenos Ayres, and
ignorant what ftrength might have been fitted out at
Callao, we were under fome concern for our fafety.
For notwithftanding the rank of our Ihip, which
would only have aggravated ourdifhonour, there was
fcarcely a privateer lent to fea, that was not then an
over-match for us. However, our fears on this head
proved imaginary.
Whilft the cleaning our fhip and the filling our
water went on, wc fct up a large copper-oven on
• See thefe ippesrareei accounted for, i
latter end of our firft volume.
Ulloa's »oysge, at the
(hore
3$tf ANSON'* VOYAGE
Jbore'near the lick tents, in which we baked, bread
every day for the fhip's company ; for being extreme--
ly defirous of recovering our lick as (bon as poffible,
ve conceived that new bread, added to their greens
and frdh. Bftt, might prove a powerful article in, their
relief. Indeed we had all imaginable reafon to endea->
▼our at the augmenting our prefcnt ftrength, as every
Bide accident, which to a full crew would be infigni-
ficanc, was extremely alarming in our prcfent helplefs
fit nation: of this, we had a troublefome inftance the
30th of June •, foti at five' in the morning, we were
aftonimed by a violent guft of wind directly off fhore,
which inftantly parted our frnall bower cable about
-ten fathom from the ring of the anchor : the fhip at
once fwung off to the oeft bower, which happily
ftood the violence of the jerk, and brought us up
with two cables an end in eighty fathom. At this
lime we had not above a dozen teamen in the fhip,
and we were apprehenfive, if the (quail continued,
that we mould be driven to lea in this wretched con-
dition. However, we fent the boat on more, to
bring off all who were capable of acting; and the
wind, foon abating of its fury, gave us an opportu-
nity of receiving the boat back again with reinforce-
ment. With this additional ftrength we immediately
went to work, to heave in what remained of the
cable, which we fufpected had received fome damage,
from the foulnefs of the ground before it parted -,
and, agreeable to our conjecture, we found that feven
fat horn and an half of the outer end had been rubbed,
and rendered unfcrv'ieeable. In the afternoon, we
bent the cable to the fpare anchor, and got it over
the fhip's fide ; and the next morning, July 1, be-
ing favoured with the wind in gentle breezes, we
warped the fhip in again, and let go the anchor in
forty-one fathom y the eaftermoil point now bearing
from us eaft one half fouth j the weflermoft north,
weft by weft; and the bay as before, fouth fouth.
weft ; a fit uation in which we remained fee Lire for the
future.
ROUND THE WORLD. 337
future. However, we were much concerned for the
lofs of our anchor, and iwept frequently for it, in
hopes to have recovered it i but the buoy having
funk at the very inftant that the cable parted, we were
never able to find it.
And now as we advanced in July, feme of our men
being tolerably recovered, the ftrongeft of them were
put upon cutting down trees, and fpiitting diem into
billets i while others, who were roo weak for this
employ, undertook to carry the billets by one at a
time to the water-fide; this they performed, fome of
them with the help of crutches, and others fupportcd
by a fingle (tick. We next fent the forge on fliore,
and employed our 1'miths, who were but juft capable
or working, in mending our chain-plates, and other
broken and decayed iron work. We began too the
repairs of our rigging i but as we had not junk
enough to make ipun-yarn, we deferred the general
overhale, in hopes of the daily arrival of the Glou-
cester, who we knew had a great quantity of junk on
board. However, that we might difparch as fait as
pollible in our refitting, we let up a large tent on the
beach for the fail-makers ; and they were immediate-
ly employed in repairing our old fails, and making
us new ones. Thele occupations, with our cleanl-
ing and watering the Ihip, the attendance on our fick,
and the frequent relief fent to the Gloucefter, were
the principal tranfaftions of our infirm crew, till the
arrival of the Gloucefter at an anchor in the bay.
And then captain Mitchel waiting on the commo-
dore, informed him, that he had*bcen forced by the
winds, in his laft abfencc, as far as the fmall iflmd
called Mafa-Fuero, lying about twenty-two leagues
to the weftward of Juan Fernandes ; and ihat he en-
deavoured to fend his boat on more there for water,
of which he could obierve fevcral firearm, but the
wind blew lb ltrong upon the Ihore, and occafioned
inch a furf, that it was impoffible for the boat to
land-, though the attempt was not altogether ufc-
Vol.IIL 2 Ms,
-- ■ £
338 ANSON1! VOYAGE
Id's, for his people returned with a boat load of fifh.
This ifland had been reprefented by former naviga-
tors as a barren rock *, but captain Mitchel allured
the commodore, that it was almoft every where
covered wich trees and verdure, and was near four
miles in length : and added, that it appeared to him
far from impoflible, but fome fmall bay might be
feund on it, which might afford fuflkient fhelter for
any (hip defirous of refrefhing there.
As four fhips of our fquadron were milling, this
defcription of the ifland of Mala Fuero gave rife to a
conjecture, that fome of them might poBibty have
fallen in with that ifland, and might have miftaken it
for the true place of our rendezvous. This fufpicion
was the more plaufible, as we had no draught of ei-
ther ifland that could be relied on : and therefore,
Mr. Anfon determined to fend the Tryal floop thither,
as foon as {he could be fitted for the fea, in order to
examine at all its bays and creeks, that we might be
fatisfied whether any of our milling fhips were there or
not. It was the 4th of Auguft before the Tryal was
in read'mefs to fail, when, having weighed, it foon
after fell calm, and the tide fet her very near the
eaftern Ihore : captain Saunders hung out lights, and
' fired feveral guns to acquaint us with his danger ;
upon which all the boats were fent to his relief, who
towed the floop into the bay ; where flic anchored
until the next morning, and then weighing again,
proceeded on her cruife with a fair breeze.
And now, after the Gloucefter's arrival, we were
employed in earneft in examining and repairing our
rigging ; but in the (tripping our foremaft, we were
alarmed by difcovering it was fprung juft above the
partners of the upper deck. The fpring was two
inches in depth, and twelve in circumferences' how-
ever, the carpenters on infpefting it, gave it as their
opinion, that fifhing it with two leaves of an anchor-
ftock, would render it as fecure as ever. But, he-
fide this defect in our maft, we had other difficulties
ROUND THE "WORLD. 339
in refitting, from the want of cordage and canvas j
for though we had taken to fea much greater quan-
tities of both, than had ever been done before, yet
the continued bad weather we met with, had occa-
sioned fuch a confumption of thefe ftores, that we
were driven to great ftraits: as after working up all
our junk and old Ihrouds, to make twice-laid cord-
age, we were at laft obliged to unlay a cable to work
into running rigging. And with all the canvas, and
remnants of old fails that could be muftered, we
could only make up one complete fuit.
Toward the middle of Auguft our men being in-
differently recovered, they were permitted to quit
their lick tents, and to bi'ild feparate huts for them-
felves-, as it was imagined, that by living apart, they
would be much cleanlier, and confequently likely to
recover their ftrength the fooner: but at the lame
time particular orders were given, that on the firing
of a gun from the fhip, they mould inftantly repair to
the water-fide. Their employment on fhore was now
either the procuring of refrefhments, the cutting of
wood, or the making of oil from the blubber of the
fea-lions. This oil ferved us for feveral purpofes, as
burning in lamps, or mixing with pitch to pay the
fhip's fides, or, when worked up with wood-afhes,
to Ripply the ufe of tallow (of which we had none left)
to give the fhip boot-hofe tops. Some of the men
too were occupied in faking of cod; for there being
two Newfoundland fifhermen in the Centurion, the
commodore fet them about laying in a confiderable
quantity of falted cod for a lea-ftorc, though very
little or it was ufed, as it was afterward thought to be
as productive of the fcurvy, as any other kind of fait
provifions.
I have before-mentioned, that we had a copper-
oven on fhore to bake bread for the fick ; but it hap-
pened that the greateft part of the flour, for the ufe
pf the iquadron, was on board the Anna Pink : but
the Tryal floop, at her arrival, informed us, that on
Z 2 the
ii^
340 ANSON's VOYAGE
the 9th of May (he had fallen in with our victualler,
not far diftant from the continent of Chili ; and had"
kept company with her for four days, when they were
parted in a hard gale of wind. This -afforded us fome
room to hope that (he was fafe, and that the might
join us ; but all June and July being paft without any
news of her, we then gave her over for loft i and at
the end of July the commodore ordered all the fliips
to a fliort allowance of bread. Nor was it in our
bread onty, that we feared a deficiency ; for fince
our arrival at this ifland, we difcovered that our purfer
had neglected to take on board large quantities of le-
veral kinds of provisions, which the commodore had
cxprefsly ordered him to receive -, fo that the (uppof-
ed loft of our victualler, was on all accounts a morti-
fying coniiderarion. However, on Sunday, the 1 6th
of Auguft, about noon we efpied a fail in the north-
ern quarter, and a gun was immediately fired from
the Centurion, to call off the people from more ;
who readily obeyed the fummons, repairing to the
beach, where the boats waited to carry them on
board. And being now prepared for the reception of
this (hip in view, whether friend or enemy, we had
Various fpeculations about her : at firft, many ima-
gined it to be the Tryal (loop returned from her
cruife ; though as (he drew nearer, this opinion was
confuted, *by obferving (he was a veflcl with three
mafts. Then other conjectures were eagerly can-
vafled, fome judging it to be the Severn, others the
, Pearl, and feverat affirming that it did not belong to
our fquadron : but about three in the afternoon our
difputes were ended, by an unanimous perfuafion that
it was our victualler the Anna Pink. This ftiipj
though, like the Glouccfter, (he had- fallen in to the
northward of the ifland, had yet the good fortune to
come to ananchor in ihe bay, at five "in the after-
noon. Herarrilyal gave us all rhegreatcftjoy; for
each (hip's company was immediately reftored to
their full allowance of bread, and we were now
freed
ROUND THE WORLD. 341
.freed from the apprehenfions of our provifions fall-
ing fhort, before we could reach fome amicable
port; a calamity, which in thefe leas is of all others
the moll irretrievable. This was the lad Ihip that
joined us ; and the dangers me encountered, and
the good fortune which lhe afterwards met, are
matters worthy of a i'eparate narration.
On the firit appearance of the Anna Pink, it
fcemed wonderful to us how the crew of a veffel,
which came to this rendezvous two months after
us, fhould be capable of working their (hip in the
manner they did, with fo little appearance of de-
bility and diftfefs : but this difficulty was foon fol-
ved when fhe came to an anchor-, for we then
found that they had been in a harbour fince the
middle of May, which was near a month before
we arrived at Juan Fernandes : fo that their fuf-
ferings (the rifque they had run of fhipwreck < nly
excepted) were greatly Ihorc of what had been un-
dergone by the reft of the fquadron. It feems, on
the 1 6th of May, they fell in with the land, which
was then but four leagues diltant, in the latitude
°^ 45" i$* iouth. On the firft fight of it they wore
fhip, and flood to the fouthward, but their fore
topfail fplitting, and the wind being weft fouth-weft,
they drove toward the more ; and the captain at
iaft, either unable to clear the land, or, as others
fay, refdlved to keep the lea no longer, (leered for
the coaft, with a view of difcovering fome flicker
amongft the many idands which then appeared in
. fight. The Pink had the good fortune to come
to anchor to the eaftward of the ifland of Inchin ;
but as they did not run fufficiently near to theeaft
more of that ifland, and had not hands enough to
veer away the cable brifkly, they were loon driven
to the eaftward, deepening their water from twenty-
five fathom to thirty-five; and ftill continuing to
drive, they, the next day, the 1 7th of May, let go
their Iheet-anchor. This, though it brought them
Z 3 UP
d
342
ANSON's VOYAGE
up for a Diort time, yet, on the 18th, they drove
again, and were now within a mile of the land,
and expected to Be forced on Ihore every moment,
in a puce where the coaft was fo very high and
deep too, that there was not the leaft profpect of
laving the fhip or cargo: as there was no appear-
ance of a landing-place, the whole crew confuting
of iixtecn men and boys, gave themfelves over for
foft, apprehending, that if any of them, by fome
-extraordinary chance fhould get on ihore, they would,
in all probability, be maflacred by the favages on
the coaft : for thefe, knowing no other Europeans
but Spaniards, it might be expe&ed they would treat
all ftrangers with the fame cruelty, which they had
fo often and fo fignally exerted againft their Spanifh
neighbours. Under thefe terrifying circumftances,
the kink drove nearer and nearer to the rocks which
formed the Ihore ■, but at laft, when the crew ex-
pected each inftant to ftrike, they perceived a fmall
opening in the land, which raifed their hopes ; and
Immediately cutting away their two anchors, they
fteered for it, and found it to be a fmall channel
betwixt an ifland and the main, that led them into
a moil excellent harbour, which, for its fecurity
againft all winds and fweUs, and the (moothnefs of
its water, may perhaps compare with any in the
known Aorld.
Here fee continued for near two months, and here
her people, who were many of them ill of the fcurvy,
were foon refiored to perfect health by the frefti
provifions, of which they procured good flore, and
the excellent water with which the adjacent fhore
abounded. As this place may prove of the utmoft
importance to future navigators, who may be forced
upon this coaft by .the wefterly winds, which are al-
moft perpetual in that part of che world, 1 fball, be-
fore I enter into any farther particulars of the adven-
tures of the Pink, give the beft account I could
collect of this port, its fituation, conveniencies, and
pro-
ROUND THE WORLD.
343
productions. Its latitude, which is indeed a mate-
rial point, is not well afcertained, the Pink having
no obfervation either the day before (he came here,
or within a day of her leaving it: but it is lup-
pofed that it is not very diftant from 450 30' fouth,
and the large extent of the bay before the harbour,
renders this uncertainty of lefs moment. The ifland
of inchin lying before the bay, is thought to be
one of the illands of Chonos, which are mentioned
in the Spanilb accounts, as threading all along that
coafr, and are laid by them to be inhabited by a
barbarous people, famous for their hatred of the
Spaniards, and for their cruelties to filch of that
nation as have fallen into their hands. There are
feveral fine runs of excellent frefh water, which fall
into the harbour, fome of them fo luckily fituated,
that the cafks may be filled in the long-boat with an
hofe. The principal refremments they met with
in this port were greens, as wild celery, nettle-tops,
&c. (which after lb long a continuance at fea, thc-y
devoured with great eagernefs) Ihell fifh and good
ftore of geefe, fliags, and penguins. The climate,
though it was the depth of winter, was not re-
markably rigorous ■, nor the trees, or the face of
the country deftitute of verdure; whence in the
fummer many other fpecies of frefh provifion, be-
fidc thefe here enumerated, might doubtlels be found
there- With all thefe advantages, this place is fo
far removed from the Spanilh frontier, and fo litde
known to the Spaniards themfelves, that there is
reafon to fuppofe, that by proper precautions, a fliip
might continue here undifcovered a long time. It
is moreover a polt of great defence,; for by poffirfs-
ing the illand that clofes up the harbour, and which
is acceflible in very few places, a (mail force might
fecure this port againft all the lirength the Spaniards
could mufter in that part of the world. All theie
circumftances feem to render this port worthy of a
more accurate examination ; and it is to be hoped,
Z 4 that
344 ANSON'S VOYAGE
that the important ufes which this rude account of
it feems to fuggeft, may hereafter recommend it to
the attention of thofc who are more immediately en-
trufted with the conduct: of our naval affairs.
As to the people belonging to the Pink, being
only a few in number, they did not dare to detach
any of their people on diftant fearches j fo that their
excurfions were generally confined to that tract of
land which furrounded the port, and where they
were never out of view of the (hip. Though had
they at firft known how little foundation there was
for their fears, yet the country in the neighbour-
hood was fo grown up with wood, and traverfed
with mountains, that it appeared impracticable
to penetrate: whence no account of the inland
parts could be expected from them. Indeed
they were able to difprove the relations given by
Spanilh writers, who have reprefented this coaft
as inhabited by a fierce and powerful people : for
they were certain that" no fuch inhabitants were there
to be found, at leaft during the winter feafon $ fince
all the time they continued there, they faw no more
than one Indian family, which came into the har-
bour in a Periagua, about a month after the arri-
val of the Pink, and confuted of an Indian near
forty years old, his wife and two children, one three
years of age, and the ether ftill at the breaft. They
teemed to have wkn them all their property, which
was a dog and a cat, a fiming-net, a hatchet, a
knife, a cradle, fome bark of trees intended for the
covering of a hut, a reel, fome worried, a flint and
fteel, and a few roots of a yellow hue and a very
difagreeable tafte, which ferved them for breai
The mafter of the Pink, as foon as he perceived
them, lent his yaul. who brought them on board ;
and fearing left they rnight dilcover him, if they
were permitted to go awa-, he took, as he con-
ceived, proper precautions for fecuring them, but
■ without any mixture of ill ufage or violence: for
ROUND THE WORLD. 345
in the day-time they were permitted to go where
they pleafed about the fhip, but at night were
locked up in the fbrecaftle. As they were fed in
the fame manner with the reft of the crew, and were
often indulged with brandy, which they feemed
greatly to relifh, it did not at firlt appear that thejr
were much difliuisfied with thdr fituation ; efpecially
as the mailer took the Indian on fhore when he went
a (hooting, (who always feemed extremely delighted
when the mafter killed his game) and as all the crew
treated them with great humanity : but it was foon
perceived, that though the woman continued eafy
and chearful, yet the man grew penfivc and reftlefs
at his confinement. He feemed to be a perfon of
good natural parts, and though not capable of con-
verfing with the Pink's people, otherwife than by
figns, was yet very curious and inquifitive j and
mewed great dexterity in the manner of making
himfelf underftood. But the ftrongeft proof his fa-
gacity was the manner of his getting away ; -for,
after being in cuftody on board the Pink eight days,
the fcuttle of the fore-caftle, where he and his fa-
mily were locked up every night, happened to be
unnailed, and the following night being extremely
dark and ftormy, he contrived to convey his wife
and children through the unnailed fcuttle, and then
over the fhip's fide, into the yaul -, and to prevent
being purfued, he cut away fJie long-boat and his
own periagua, which were towing a-ftern, and im-
mediately rowed a-fhore. All this he conducted
with fo much diligence and fecrecy, that he was not
dilcovered till the noiie of his oats in the water, af-
ter he had put off from the fhip, gave notice of his
efcape -, and then it was too late either to prevent or
to purfue him, their boats being all adrift. The
Indian too, by tliis effort, befide the recovery of
his liberty, was in fome fort revenged on thofe who
had confined him, both by the perplexity they were
involved in from the lofs of their boats, and by the
terror
346 ANSON'S VOYAGE
tenor he threw diem in at his departure : fbf on the
firfl: alarm of the watch, who cried out, The Indians I
the whole fhip was in the utmoft confufion, believ-
ing themfelves to be boarded by a fleet of armed
periaguas.
As it was fuppofed that he flill continued in die
woods in the neighbourhood of the port, where it
was feared he might fufrer for want of proviiions,
they eaflly prevailed upon the matter to leave a quan-
tity of fuch food, as they thought would be moft
agreeable to him, in a particular part where they
imagined he would be likely to find it ; and there
was reafon to conjecture, that this piece of huma-
nity was not altogether ufelefs to him ; for, on vi-
firing the place iome time after, it was found that
the proviGon was gone, and in a manner that made
them conclude it had fallen into his hands.
But however, though many of them were fatis-
fied that this Indian ftill continued near them ; yet
others would needs conclude, that he was gone co
the ifland of Chiloe, where they feared he would alarm
the Spaniards, and would foon return with a force
fufficient to furprize the Pink. On this occafion the
matter of the Pink was prevailed on to omit firing
the evening gun ; for it mult be remembered, (and
there is a particular reafon hereafter for attending to
this circumftance) that the matter, from an oftenta-
tious imitation of the practice of men of war, had
hitherto fired a gun every evening at the ferting of
the watch. This, he pretended, was to awe the ene-
my, if there was any within hearing, and to con-
vince them that the Pink was always on her guard •,
but it being now reprefented to him, that his great
fecurity was his concealment, and that the evening
gun might pofllbly difcover him, and ferve to guide
the enemy to him, he was prevailed on to omit it for
the future : and his crew being now well refrelhed,
and their wood and water fufficiently repleniihed, he,
in a few days after the efcape of the Indian, put to
fea,
ROUND THE WORLD. 34.7
fea, and had a fortunate paffage to the rendezvous at
the ifland of Juan Fernandes ; where he arrived on
the 1 6th of Auguft, as hath been already men-
tioned.
The remaining fhtps of the fquadron were the Se-
vern, the Pearl, and the Wager ftore-lhip : the Se-
vern and Pearl parted company with the fquadron off
Cape Noir ; and, as we afterwards learnt, mit back
to the Brafils : fo that of all the (hips which came into
the South Seas, the Wager, captain Cheap, was the
only one that was miffing. This fhtp had on board
a few field-pieces mounted for land-fervice, together
with feme coehorn mortars, and feveral kinds of ar-
tillery ftores, and pioneers tools, intended lor the ope-
rations on fhore : therefore, as the enterprize on Bal-
divia had been refolved on for the firft undertaking of
the fquadron, captain Cheap was extremely follicitous
that thefe materials, which were in his cuftody, might
be ready before Baldivia ; that if the fquadron (hould
poffibly rendezvous there, (as he knew not the con-
dition they were then redviced to) no delay nor dif-
appointment might be imputed to him.
But whilft the Wager, with thefe views, was mak-
ing the beft of her way* to her rendezvous off the
ifland of Socoro, whence (as there was little proba-
bility of meeting any of the fquadron there) fhe pro-
pofed to (leer dire&Iy for Baldivia, (he made the land
on the 14th of May, about the latitude of 470 fouth ;
and the captain exerting himfelf upon this occafion,
in order to get clear of it, he had the misfortune to
fall down the after ladder, and difiocated his flioul-
der, which rendered him incapable of acting. This
accident, together with the crazy condition of the
lhip, which was little better than a wreck, pre-
vented her from getting off to fea, and entangled her
more and more with the land 1 infomuch that the
next morning, at day break, Ihc (truck on a funken
rock, and after bilged, and grounded between two
("mail iflands, at about a mufket-fliot from the fhore.
In
348 ANSON's VOYAGE
In this fituation the ihip continued entire a long
time, fo that all the crew had it in their power to
get fafe on Shore. ; but a general confufion taking
place, numbers of them, inftcad of confulting their
fafety, or reflecting on their calamitous condition, fell
to pillaging the ihip, arming themfelves with the
■firft weapons that came to hand, and threatening to
murder all who Should oppofe them. . This frenzy
was greatly heightened by the liquors they found on
board, with which they got fo extremely drunk, that
fome of them falling down between decks, were
drowned, as the water flowed into the wreck ; be-
ing incapable of railing themfelves up and retreat-
ing from it. The captain therefore having done
his utmoft to get the whole crew on more, was at
laft obliged to leave the mutineers behind him,
and to follow his officers, and foch as he had been
able to prevail on : but he did not fail to fend back
the boats, to perfuade thofc who remained, to have
.Some regard to their prefervation ; though all his ef-
forts were for fome time without fuccefs. However,
the weather next day proving ftormy, and there be-
ing great danger or the fliip's parting, they began
to be alarmed with the fears of pcrifhing, and were
defirous of getting to land : but it feems theirjmad-
nefs had not yet left them, for the boat not appear-
ing to fetch them off" fo foon as they expected, they ac
laft pointed a four pounder, which was on the quar-
ter-deck, againft the hut where they knew the cap-
tain refided on fhore, and fired two loot, which paf-
fed but juft over it.
From this fpecimen of the behaviour of part of the
crew, it will not be difficult to frame fome conjecture
of the difordtr and anarchy which took place when
they at laft got all on Ihore, For the men conceived,
that by the lols of the Ihip, the authority of the of-
ficers was at an end ; and, they being now on a de-
folate coaft, where fcarccly any other provifions could
be got, except what Ihould be faved out of the wreck,
this
ROUND THE WORLD. 349
this was another unfurmountable fourre ofdifcord;
fincc the working upon the wreck, and the fecuring
the provifions, lb that they might be preferved for
future exigencies as much as poflible, and the taking
care that what was necefiary for their prefent fubfift-
ence might be fparingly and equally diftributed,
were matters not to be brought about but by dilci-
pline and fubordination. This mucinous difpofition
of the people, ftimulated by the impulfes of im-
mediate hunger, rendered every regulation made
for this purpoie ineffectual : fo rhat there were con-
tinual concealments, frauds, and thefts, which ani-
mated each man againft his fellow, and produced in-
finite feuds and contefts, and rendered them utterly
ungovernable.
Befide thefe heartburnings occafioned by petu-
lance and hunger, there was another important point,
which fet the greateft part of the people at variance
with the captain. This was their differing with him
in opinion, on the meafures to be purfued in the pre-
fent exigency: for the captain was determined, if
poflible, to fit up the boats in die belt manner he
could, and to proceed with them to the northward.
Since having with him above an hundred men in
health, and having gotten fome fire-arms and am-
munition from the wreck, he did not doubt but thev
could matter any Spanifh veffel they could encounter
with in thofe feas : and he thought he mould not fail
of meeting with one in the neighbourhood of Chiloe
or Baldivia, in which, when he had taken her, he
intended to proceed to the rendezvous at Juan Fer-
nandes. He farther infilled, that Ihould they light
on no prize by the way, yet the boats alone would
eafily carry them thither. But this was a fcheme,
that, however prudent, was no way relilhed by
the generality of his people; for, being quite jaded
with the dillreffes and dangers they had already run
through, they could not think of prolecuting an cn-
terprize farther, which had hitherto proved lb dif-
altrous.'
— r
|5o ANSON's VOYAGE
aftrous. The common reiblution therefore was, to
lengthen the long-boat, and with that and the reft of
die boats to fleer to the fouthward ; to pals through
the ftraits of Magellan, and to range along the eaft
fide of South America, till they fliould arrive at Bra-
111, where they doubted not to be well received, and
to procure a paflage to Great Britain. This project
was at firft fight infinitely more hazardous and tedi-
ous than what was propofed by the captain -, but as
it had the air of returning home, and flattered them
with the hopes of bringing them once more to their
native country, that circumftance alone rendered them
inattentive to all its inconveniencies, and made them
adhere to it with infurmountable obftinacy. So that
the captain himfelf, though he never changed his
■opinion, was yet obliged to give way to the torrent,
and in appearance to acquiefce in this refolurion, whilft
iie endeavoured underhand to give it all the obftruc-
-tion he could} particularly in the lengthening of the
-long-boat : this he contrived mould be of fuch a
tfize, that though it might ferve to carry them to Juan
Jr ernandes, would yet, he hoped, appear incapable
■of fo .long a navigation, as that to the coafl of
rBrafil.
JSut the captain, by his fteady oppofidon at firft
'to this favourite project, had much embittered the
people againft him j to which llkewife the following
unhappy accident greatly contributed. There was
-a midfnipman whole name was Cozens, who had ap-
peared the foremoft in all the refractory proceed-
ings of the crew. He had involved himfelf in brawls
■with moft of the officers who had adhered to the cap-
'tain's authority, and had even treated the captain
-himfelf with great abufe and infolence. As his tur-
bulence and brutality grew every day more and more
intolerable, it was not in the leaft doubted, but there
•were fome violent meafures in agitation, in which
Cozens was engaged as the ringleader : for which
xeafon :the captain, and thole about him, con Handy
kept
ROUND THE WORLD.
35«
kept themfelves on their guard. One day the purfer,
having, by the captain's order, flopped the allowance
of a tellow who would not work, Cozens, though
the man did not complain to him, intermeddled in
the affair with great bitternefs j and grofsly infulted
the purler, who was then delivering out provifions,
juft by the captain's tents, and was himielf fuffici-
ently violent. The purfer, enraged by this fcurrility,
and perhaps piqued by former quarrels, cried out, <a
mutiny, adding, the dog has pistols-, and then
himfelf fired a piftol at Cozens, which however mift
him : bur the captain, on this outcry, and the report
of the piftol, ruftied out of his tent ; and, not doubting
but it had been fired by Cozens as the commence-
ment of a mutiny, he immediately mot him in the
head without farther deliberation, and though he did
not kill him on the fpot, yet the wound proved mor-
tal, and he died about fourteen days after.
However this incident, though fuificiently difplea-
fing to the people, did yet, for a confiderable time,
awe them to their duty, and rendered them more fub-
miflive to the captain's authority : but, at laft, when
towards the middle of October, the long-boat was
nearly compleated, and they were preparing to put
to lea, the additional provocation he gave them, by
coverdy travcrfing their project of proceeding through
the ftraits of Magellan, and their fears that he might
at length engage a party fufficient to overturn this
favourite mealure, made them refolve to make ufe of
the death of Cozens, as a reafon for depriving him
of his command, under pretence of carrying him a
prifoner to England, to be tried for murder -, and
he was accordingly confined under a guard. But they
never intended to carry him with them, as they too
well knew what they had to apprehend on their re-
turn to England, if their commander (hould be pre-
fent to confront them ; and therefore, when they
were juft ready to put to lea, they fet him at liberty,
leaving him and the few who chole to take their for-
35* ANSON's VOYAGE
tunes with him, no other embarkation but the yant,
to which the barge was afterwards added, by the
people on board her being prevailed on to return
back.
' When the (hip was wrecked, there were alive on
board the Wager near an hundred and thirty per-
ionsj of thefe above thirty died during their ftay
upon the place, and near eighty-went off in the long-
boat and the cutter to the fouthward : To that there
remained with the captain, after their departure, no
more than nineteen perfons, which however were -as
many as the barge and the yaul, the only embarka-
tions left them, could well carry bff. It was the 1 3th
of October, five months after die fliipwreck, that the
long-boat converted into a fchooner, weighed, and
flood to the fouthward, giving the captain, who with
lieutenant Hamilton of the land-forces, and the fur-
geon were then on the beach, three cheers at theis
departure : and on the 29th of January following,
they arrived at Rio Grande, on the coaft of Brafil:
but having, by various accidents, left about twenty
of their people on more at the different places they
touched at, and a greater number having perifhed
by hunger during the courfe of their navigation,
there were no more than thirty of them remaining,
when they arrived in that port. Indeed, the under-
taking of itlelf was a moil extraordinary one ; for
(not td mention the length of the run) the veirel was
fcarcely able to contain the number that firft put to
fca in her ; and their ftock of provifion, being only
what they had faved out of the {hip, was extremely
flender : they had this additional misfortune befide, ■
that th'e cutter, the only boat they had with them,
foon broke away from the ftern, and was ftaved to
pieces j fo that when their provifions and their water
tailed them, they had frequently no means of getting
on more to fearch for a frefh fuppjy.
After the long-boat and cutter were gone, the cap-
tain, and thofe who were left with him, propofed to
pafs
ROUND THE WORLD. 353
pafs to the northward in the barge and yaul : but
the weather was To bad, and the difficulty of fubfirting
fo great, that it was two months from the departure
of the long-boat before he was able to put to fea. It
feems, the place where the Wager was caft away was
not a part of the continent, as was firft imagined,
but an ifland at fome diftance from the main, which
afforded no other fort of provifion but fliell-fifh and
a few herbs ; and as the greateft part of what they
had gotten from the (hip was carried off in the long-
boat, the captain and his people were often in ex-
treme want of food, efpecially as they chofe to pre-
lerve what little fca-provifions remained, for their
ftore when they ihould go to the northward. Dur-
ing their reGdence at this ifland, which was by the
feamen denominated Wager's Ifland, they had now
and then a draggling canoe or two of Indians, which
came and bartered their filh and other provifions
with our people. This was fome little relief to their
neceflities, and at another feafon might perhaps have
been greater ; for as there were fcveral Indian huts
on the fhore, it was iuppoled that in fome years, dur-
ing the height of fummer, many of thefe favages
might refort thither to fifh.
On this occalion it is much to be lamented, that the
Wager's people had no knowlege of the Anna Pink
beingfonearthemonthecoaft-, for as (he was not above
thirty leagues diftant from them, and came into their
neighbourhood about the fame time the Wager was
loll, and was a fine roomy fliip, fhe could eafily have
taken them all on board, and have carried them to
Juan Fcrnandes. Indeed, it is probable fhe was ftill
nearer to thtm than what is here eftimated ; for fe-
veral of the Wager's people, at different times, heard
the report of a cannon, which could be no other than
the evening gun fired from the Anna Pink. But to
return to captain Cheap :
Upon the 14th of December, the captain and his
people embarked 111 the barge and the yaul, in order
Vol. III. A a w
394 ANSON'S yOYAGE
to proceed ' to the northward, taking on board with
them all the provifions they could amafs from the
wreck of the /hip j but they had fcarceh/ been an
hour at lea when the wind began to blow hard, and
the fea ran fo high, that they were obliged to throw
the gteateft -part of their provifions over-board, to
■void immediate deftruction : and to add to their
fliftrefs, about a fortnight after, the yaul funk at
in anchor, and one of the men in her was drowned.
As the barge was incapable of carrying the whole
osmpany, they were now reduced to the nard necef-
fky of leaving four marines behind them on that
defelate wore. Notwithstanding thefe dtfafters, they
frill kept on their courle to the northward, though
greatly delayed by the perverfenefs of the winds, and
the frequent interruptions which their fearch after
food occafioned, and conftanUy struggling with a
feries of the molt unfortunate events : till at laft,
it was unanimoufly refolved, finding the difficulties
infurmountable, to give over this expedition, and to
return again to Wager Ifland, where they got back
about the middle of February, quite difiieartencd and
almoft pcrilhing with hunger and fatigue.
However, on their return, they had the good luck
to meet with feveral pieces of beef, which nad been
wafhed out of the wreck, and were fwimraing in the
fea. This was a moft feafonable relief to 'them af-
ter the hardlbips they had endured : and to compleat
their good fortune, there came, in a fbort time, two
canoes of Indians, amongft which was a native of
Chiloe, who fpokc a little Spaniih -, and the furgeon,
•who was with captain Cheap, underftanding that lan-
guage, he made a bargain with the Indian, that if he
would carry the captain and his people to Chiloe in
the barge, he mould have her, and all that belonged
to her for his pains. Accordingly, on the 6th of
March, the eleven perlbns to which - the company
was now reduced, embarked in the barge on this new
expedition; but after having proceeded for a few
4 day*
ROUND THE WORLD.
355
days, the captain and four of his principal officers
j on fhore, the fix, who together with an In-
dian remained in the barge, put off with her to Tea,
-and did not return again.
_/ this means there were left on fliore captain
Cheap, Mr. Hamilton lieutenant of Marines, the ho-
nourable Mr. Byron and Mr. Campbell, midihiptnen,
and Mr. Elliot the furgeon. One would have thought
that their diftrerl'es had long before this time been
incapable of augmentation ; but they found, on re-
flexion, that their prefent fituation was much more
difrmying than any thing they had yet gone through,
being left on a defolate coalt without any provifiori,
or the means of procuring any. But when they were
perfaaded that they had no relief to hope for, they
perceived a canoe at a dirtance, which proved to be;
that of the Indian, who had undertaken to carry them
to Chiloe, he and his family being then on board it.
He made no difficulty of coming to them j for it Teems
he had left captain Cheap and his people a little before
to go a fiming, and had in the mean time committed
them to the care of the other Indian, whom the Tailors
had carried to fea in the barge. When he came on
ihore, and found the .barge gone, and his companion
miffing, he was extremely concerned, and could with
difficulty be perfuaded that the other Indian was not
munhered ■, yet being at laft fttisned with the account
that was given him, he {li!l undertook to parry them
to the Spanifh fettlements, and (as .the Indians arc
well (killed in jifbing and fowling j to procure ihcm
proviiinas by the way.
About the middle of March captain Cheap and the
four who were left with him Jet out for Chiloe, the
Indian having provided a number of canoes, and
gotten many of his neighbours together for that pur-
pole. Soon after they embarked, Mr. Elliot the
furgeon died, fo that there now remained only four
of the whole company. At laft, after a very com-
plicated paflage by land and water, Opttfa Cheap,
A a 2 Mr.
i56 ANSON's VOYAGE
Mr. Byron, and Mr. Campbell, arrived in the begin-
ning of June at the ifland of Chiloe, where they were
received by the Spaniards with great humanity ; but,
on account of fome quafrel among the Indians, Mr.
Hamilton did not get there till two months later.
Thus, was it above a twelvemonth from the lofs of
the Wager, before the fatiguing peregrination ended :
and not till, by a variety of misfortunes, the com-
ny was diminished from twenty to no more than
-, and thofe too brought fo low, that, had their dif-
treflcs continued but a few days longer, in all proba-
bility none of them would have furvived. After fome
ftay at Chiloe, the captain and the three who were with
him were fent to Valparaifo, and thence to St. J ago, the
capital of Chili, where they continued above a year :
but on the advice of a cartel being fettled betwixt
Great Britain and Spain, captain Cheap, Mr. Byron,
and Mr. Hamilton were permitted to return to Eu-
rope on board a French (hip. The other midihip-
man, Mr Campbe), having changed his religion,
whilft at Jago, chofe to go back to Buenos Ay res
with Pizarro and his officers, with whom he went af-
terward to Spain on board the Alia; but having
there failed in his endeavours to procure a commii-
fion from the court of Spain, he returned to Eng-
land, and attempted to get reinftated in the Brituh
navy. And now, after this account of the accidents
which befel the Anna Fink, and the cataftrophe of
the Wager, I fhall again refume the thread of our
own ftory.
About a week afier the arrival of our victualler,
the Tryal Hoop, that had been fent to the ifland of
Mafa-Fuero, returned to an anchor at Juan Fernan-
des, having been round that iQand, without meeting
any part or our fquadron. The following is the ac-
count given of this place, by the officers of the Tryal
(loop.
The Spaniards having generally mentioned two
iflands under ^the name of Juan Fernandes, ftyling
them
ROUND THE WORLD.
357
them the greater and the left ; the greater being that
ifland where we anchored, and the lefs being the
ifland we are now defcribing, which, becaufe it is
more diftant from the continent, they have diftin-
guifhed by the name of Mafa-Fuero. The Tryal
floop found that it bore from the greater Juan Fernan-
des well: by fouth, and was about twenty-two leagues
diftant. It is a much larger and better Ipot than has
been generally reported. They found too, that there
was a place where a (hip might come to an anchor on
the north fide of it, though indeed the anchorage is
inconvenient; for the bank extends but a little way,
is ftcep too, and has very deep water upon it, fo that
fliips muft come to an anchor very near the more,
and there lie expufed to all the winds but a foutherly
one: and befides the inconvenience of the anchorage,
there is alfo a reef of rocks running off the eaftern
point of the ifland, about two miles in length j
though there is little danger to be feared from them,
becaufe they are always to be feen by the feas break-
ing over them. This place has at prefent one ad-
vantage beyond the ifland of Juan Fernandes; for it
abounds with goats, who, not being accuftomed to
be difturbed, were no ways fhy or apprehenfive of dan-
ger, till they had been frequently fired at : and, upon
the whole, they feemed to imagine, that though it
was not the moft eligible place for a fhip to refrefh.
at, yet, in cafe of neceffity, it might afford fome fort
of ftielter, and prove of confiderable ufe, efpecially
to a fingle fhip, who might apprehend meeting wi:h
a fuperior force at Fernandes.
The latter part of the month of Auguft was fpent
in unloading the provifions from the Anna Pink;
when we had the mortification to find that great
quantities of our provifions, as bread, rice, grots,
were decayed, and unfit for ufe. And now, as we
had no farther occafion for her fervice, the commo-
dore, purfuant to his orders from the board of
ralty, lent notice to Mr. Gerard, her matter, that he
A a 3 dif-
.
S5S . ANSON's VOYAGE
difcharged the Anna Pink from attending the fqug-
dron -, and gave him, at the fame time a certificate
fpecfifying how long, fhe had been employed. Bur. the
matter representing it as his opinion, that it was irn-
ppffible to proceed to fea with her before fhe had
been thoroughly refitted ; he therefore requefted
the commodore, that the carpenters of the fquadron,
might be directed to furvey her, that their judgment
of her condition might be known. In compliance
with this defire, Mr. Anfon immediately ordered the
Carpenters to take a careful and ftrict furvey of the,
Anna Pink; purfuant to which, the carpenters im-
mediately fet about the examination, and the next day
made their report : the amount was, that in confc-
quence of the defects and decays they certified, in.
their opinion fhe could iw depart from the ifland,
without great hazard, unlefs (he was firft of all tho-
roughly refitted. But as the repairs propofed by the
carpenters were, in our prelent fituation, impofilble to
be complied with j the commodore therefore agreed
with Mr. Gerard to purchafe the whole together fat
300 1. The Pink being thus broken up, Mr. Ge-
rard, with the hands belonging to the Pink, were
fent on board the Gloucester ; as that Ihip had buried
the greateft number of men, in proportion to their
compliment.
This tranfaction brought us down to the begin-
ning of September, and our people by this tune were
fo far recovered of the fcurvy, that there was little
danger of burying any more atprefent; and there-
fore I (lull now fum up the total of our lofs fince
our departure from England, the better to cpnvey
■ fome idea of our pad fufrerings, and of our prefcnr,
ftrength. We had buried on board the Centurion
fince our leaving St. Helen's, two hundred and ninety-
two, and had now remaining on board two hundred
and fourteen. This will doubtlrfs appear a roofb
- extraordinary mortality: but yet on board the
Gl'jucellcr it had been much greater ; for opt of a
much
ROUND THE WORLD. 359
1 finaller crew than ours they had loft the lame
number, and had only eighty-two remaining alive.
It might be cxpefted that on board the Tryal, the1
(laughter would fuve been the mole terrible, as her
decks were almoft conftantly knee deep in water;
but it happened othenvifc, for fhe efcaped more fa-
vourably than the reft, lince fhe only buried forty-
two, and had now thirty-nine remaining alive. The
havock of" tins difeafe had fallen Itill feverer on the in-
valids and marines than on the tailors ; for on board
the Centurion, out of fifty invalids and leventy-nine
marines, there remained only four invalids, includ--
ing officers, and eleven marines : and on board the
Gloucefter, every invalid perifhed ; and out of forty-
eight marines, only two efcaped. From this ac-
count it appears, that the three fbips together de-
parted from England with nine hundred and fixty-
one men on board, of whom fix hundred and twenty-
fix were dead before this time ; fo that the whole
of our remaining crews, which were now to be dif-
tributed amongft three ftiips, amounted to no more
than three hundred and thirty-five men and boys i.
a number greatly infufficient for the manning the
Centurion alone, and barely capable of navigating all
the three, with the utmoft exertion of their ftrength
and vigour. This prodigious reduction of our men
was ftill the more terrifying, as we were hitherto un-
certain of the fate of Pizurro's fquadron.
In the beginning of September, as has been al-
ready mentioned, our men were tolerably well reco-
vered ; and now, the fealon for navigation in this
climate drawing near, we exerted ourfelves in get-
ting all our (hips in readinefs for the fea. Thus
all hands being employed in forwarding our depar-
ture, we, on the Sth, about eleven in the morn-
ing, efpied a fail to the north-eaft, which conti-
nued to approach us, till her courlcs appeared even
with the horizon. Whilll fhe advanced, we had
reat hopes fhe might prove one of our own fqua-
A a 4 dron ;
360 ANSON's VOYAGE
dron ; but as at length Qie ftcercd away to the eaft-
ward, without haling in for the ifland, we. thence
concluded {he mult be a Spaniard. It was rcfolved
to purfue her, and the Centurion being in the great-
eft forwardnefs, we immediately got ail our hands
on board, fet up our rigging, bent our fails, and by
five in the afternoon got under fail. We had at this
time very little wind, fo that all the boats were em-
ployed to tow us out of the bay •, and even what
wind there was, lafted only long enough to give us
an offing of two or three leagues, when it flatted to
a calm. The night coming on, we loft fight of the
chace, and were extremely impatient for the return
of day- light, in ' hopes to find that (he had been be-
calmed as well as we; though her greater diftanoe
from the land was a reafonable ground for fufpe&ing
the contrary ; as we indeed found in the morning,
to our great mortification ; for though the weather
continued perfectly clear, we had no fight of the (hip
from the maft-head. But as we were now fatisfied
■ that it was an enemy, and the firtt we had fcen in
thefe feas,' we refolved not to give over the itrarch
lightly. We continued on this Courfe all that.day'and
the next, and then, not getting fight of our chace.
We gave over the purfuit ; but on the i2th, at day-
break, we were agreeably furprized with the fight
of a fail on our weatlier-bow, between four and
five leagues diftant. We immediately crouded all
the fail we could, and flood after her, and foon
perceived it not to be the fame fhip we originally
gave chace to. She at firft bore down upon us,
fhewing Spanifh colours, and making a fignat as to
her confort; but otferving that we did hot anfwer
her fignal, fhe inftantly loofed clofe to the wind,
and flood to the fouthward. Our people were now
all in ffiirits, and put the fhip about with great
brifknefs ; and as the chace appeared to be a large
ihip, and had miftaken us for her confort, we con-
ceived that fhe was a man of war, and probably one
of
ROUND THE WORLD. 361
of Pizarro's fquadron : this induced the commodore
to order all the officers cabins to be knocked down
and thrown over-board, with feveral calks of water
and provifions which ftood between the guns -, fo
that we had foon a clear fhip, ready for an engage-
ment. About ten o'clock we were near enough to
djfcover that fhe was only a merchantman, without
lb much as a fingle tier of guns. At half an
hour after twelve, being got within a reafonablc
diftance of her, we fired four Ihot amongft her
rigging -, on which they lowered their top-fails, and
bore down to us, but in very great confufion, their
top-gallant fails and Hay-fails all fluttering in the
winds : this was owing to their having let tun
their Ihects and halyards juft as we fired at them.
After which, not a man amongft them had cou-
rage enough to venture aloft to take them in. As
foon as the veflel came within hale of us, the com-
modore ordered them to bring to under his lee-
quarter, and then hoifted out the boat, and fent Mr.
Saumurcz, his firft lieutenant, to take pofleflion of
the prize. When Mr. Saumurez came on board
them, they received him at the fide, with the ftrong-
cft tokens of the mod abject fubmifiioni for they
were all of them (efpecially the paflengers, who were
twenty-five in number) extremely terrified, and un-,
der the greateft apprehenfions of meeting with very
fevere and cruel ufage ; but the lieutenant endea-
voured, with great courtefy, to diffipate their fright,
afluring them that their fears were altogether ground-
lefs. The prifoners who were fent 011 board the
Centurion informed us, that our prize was called
Nueftra Senoral del Monte Carmelo, and was com-
manded by Don Manuel Zamorra. Her cargo con-
fifted chiefly of fugar, and great quantities of blue
cloth made in the province of Quito, fomewhat re-
fembling our Englifh coarfe broad-cloth, but infe-
rior to them ; with a few bales of cotton, and
fome tobacco j which, though ftrong, was not ill
flavoured.
I
3.fe ANSON'* VOYAGE
favoured. Thefe were t>he principal goods ou>
board her ; but we found betide, what was to u»
much, more- valuable than the reft of the car-
gae ; this was. l'prne trunks of wrought plate, andr
twenty- three ferons of dollars, each weighing up-
wards of 200 pounds averdupois. ?he was bound;
to. the port o£ Valparaiso in the kingdom of Chili,
and propofed to have returned from thence loaded
with corn, and Ghili wine, fome gold, dried beef,;
ajidr fmall cordage, which at Calloa they, convert
into large rope. Our prize had been built upward
of thirty years -, yet, as they lie iri harbour all the
winter months, and the climate is favourable, they'
efteemed it no -very great age. Her rigging was.-
very indifferent, as were likewife her fails, which;
were made of cotton. She had only three four-
pounders, which were altogether unferviceable, their
carriages being fcarcely able to fupport them : and'
there were no fmall arms on board, except a few pif-
lols belonging to the paffengers. The prifo'ners in-
•. formed us, that they left Callao in company with
two other fhips, whom they had parted with fome
days before, and that at firft. they conceived us to be-
one of their company.
- After this (hort account of the fhip and her cargo,
it is neceffary to relate the important intelligence-
which we met w'uh on board her, partly, from the
information of the prifoners, and partly from the
letters and papers which fell into our hands. We
Here firft learnt with certainty the force and deftina*-
tion of that fquadron, whic.i cruifed off the Madeiras
at our arrival there, and afterwards chafed the Pearl,,
in. our paffage to port St. Julian. We had, at the
ftrne time too, the iatisfaction to find, that PizarfOy
after his utmofi: endeavours to gain his paffage into
thefe feas, had been forced back again into the river of
Plate, with the lot's of two of his largeft fhips : and
befides this difappointment of Pizarro, which, con-
fidering our great debility, was no unacceptable in-
telligence,
ROUNp'THE WORLD. 363
tclliaence, we farther learnt, to our great fatisfaftion,
that though an. embargo had been laid upon all (hip-
ping in dide leas by the viceroy of Peru, in the month
of May preceding, yet it now no longer fubfifted. For
on the account lent over land by Pizarro of his own
diftreffes, part of which they knew we muft have en-
countered, and on their having no news of us in eight
months after we were known to fet fail from St. Ca-
tharine's, they were fully latisfied that we were ei-
ther periihed at lea, or at leaft had been obliged
to put back again ; as it was conceived impoflible
for any imps to continue at fea during fo long an
interval.
We alfo learnt from the letters on board, that Pi-
zarro, in the exprefs he difpatched to the viceroy of
Peru, had intimated to him, that if any of the Eng-
ljlh fquadron did arrive in thofe feas,it muft be in a
Very defencelefs condition ; he therefore advifed the
viceroy, to fend what fliips of war he had to the fouth-
ward, where, in all probability, they would intercept
us fingly, before we had an opportunity of touching
at any port for refrclhment •, in which cafe, he doubred
not but we fhould prove an eafy conqueft. The vice-
roy of Peru approved of this advice : and as he had
already fitted out four Ihips of force from Callao ; one
of fifty guns, two of forty guns, and one of twenty-
four guns, which were intended to join Pizarro when
he arrived on the coaft of Chili: the viceroy now
Rationed three of thefe off the port of Conception*
and one of them at the ifland of Fernandes, where
they continued cruifing for us till the 6th of June ;
,\nd then not feeing any thing of us, and conceiving
it to be impoflible that we could have kept the feas
fo long, they quitted their cruife and returned to
Callao, fully perfuaded that we had either periihed,
or at leaft had been driven back. We alfo were told,
that thefe Spanilh (hips fent out to intercept us, had
been greatly mattered by a (lorm during their cruife ;
and that, after dieir arrival at Callao, they had been
kid
3ff4 ANSON's VOYAGE
laid up i and that whenever intelligence was received
at Lima, of our being in thefe feas, it would be at leaftr
two months before this armament could be again
fitted out.
The whole of this intelligence was as favourable
as we, in our reduced circumftarices, could wilh
for. And now we were no longer at a lofs, as to
the broken jars, allies, and nih-bones, which we had
obferved at our firft landing at Juan Fernandes, thefe
things being doubtlefs the reliefs of the cruifers fta-
-tioned off that port. Having thus fatisfied ourfelves
in the material articles of our inquiry, and having
gotten on board the Centurion moft of the prifon-
ers, and all the filver, we, at eight in the evening,
made fail to the northward, in company with our
prize, and at fix the next morning difcovered the
ifland of Fernandes, where, the following day, both
we and our prize came to an anchor.
And here 1 cannot omit one remarkable inci-
dent, which occurred when the prize and her crew
came into the bay, where the reft of the fquadron
lay; The Spaniards jn the Carmclo had becti
fufficiently informed of the diftrefles we had gone
through, and were greatly furprifed that we had
ever formoumed them : but when they faw the
Tryal (loop at anchor, they were ftill more afto-
nifticd, that 'after all our fatigues we had the induftry
(betide refitting our other mips) to complete fuch
a veflel in fo fliurt a time, they taking it for granted
that we had built her upon the fpot. Nor was it with-
out great difficulty they were at laft prevailed on to
believe that Ihe came from England with the reft of
the fquadron ; they long infilling, that it was im-
poflible fuch a bauble as that could pafs round Cape
Horn, when the beft mips of Spain were obliged-
jo put back.
By the time we arrived at Juan ■ Fernandes, the
letters found on board our prize were more minutely
examined : and it appearing from them, and from
the
ROUND THE WORLD.
accounts of our prifoners, ihat feveral other
lerchantmen were bound from Callao to Valparaiib,
Mr. Anfon difpatched the Tryal floop the very next
morning, to cruife off the laft-mentioned port, rein-
forcing her with ten hands from on board his own
ftup. He Hkewife refolved to fcparate the (hips un-
der his command, and employ them in diftind
cruifes •, as he thought that by this means we mould
increale our chance for prizes, but that we fhoufd
likewifc run a lefs rifque of alarming the coaft, and
of being difcovered. And now the Spirits of our
people being greatly railed, and their defpondency
diffipated by this earned of fuccefs, they forgot all
their paft diftreffes, and refumed their wonted ala-
crity, labouring indefarigably in compleating our
water, and in preparing to take our farewel of
the ifland. But as thefc occupations took us up
four or five days, with all our induftry, the com-
modore, in .that interval, directed that the guns
belonging to the Anna Pink, being four fix-poun-
ders, four four- pounders, and two fwivels, mould
be mounted on board the Carmelo, our prize: and
having Sent on board the Gloucefter fix paflengers,
and twenty-three feamet to aflift in navigating the
ihip, he directed captain Mitchel to leave the
tfiand as loon as pofiible, the fervice demanding
the utmoft difpatch, ordering him to proceed to
the latitude of five degrees fouth, and there to
cruife off the high land of Paha, at fuch a dis-
tance from more, as mould prevent his being difco-
vered. On this ftadon he was to continue till he
was joined by the commodore, which would be
whenever it mould be known that the viceroy had
fitted out the (hips at Callao, or on Mr. Anfon's
receiving any other intelligence, that ihould make it
neceflary to unite our ftrength. Thefe orders being
delivered to the captai i of the Gloucefter, and all
our bufineis complcated, we, on the Saturday fol-
lowing, being the 15th of September, weighed an.
char
366 - attS&K's V'OYAQfi
chor in Wmpany with our prize-, and got out of the
bay, taking oar iaft leave of the iflan'd of Juan Fet-
nandes, and fleering to the eaftward, With ah inten-
tion of joining the Tryal floop, in her ftatidn off
Valparatfb.
On the 24th, a little before fan-Jet* we faw two
fail to the eaftward ; on which our prize ftood di-
rectly from us, to avoid giving any fufpicion of out
JSeing cruifers, whilft we made oflrfelves ready for an
engagement, and fleered with all bar tahvas toward
the two (hips we had difcovered. We loon perceived
that one of thefe, which had the appearance of be-
ing a very flout fhip, made directly for us, whilft
the other kept at a great diftance. By feven 6'clock
we were within piftol fhot of the heareft, and had
a broad-Gde ready to pour into her 1 but -as we knew
« was now impoffible For her to efcape us, Mr. Anion,
before he permitted us to fire, ordered 'the matter to
hale the fhip in Spahilh -, on which the commanding
officer on board her, who proved to ht Mr. Hughs,
lieutenant of the Tryal, anfwered us tfi Englifh, and
informed us that fhe Was a prize, taken by the Tryal
a few days before, and that the other fail at a dif-
tance was the Tryal herfelf, difabled jn her mafts. We
were foon after joined by the Tryal, and captain Saun-
ders, her commander. He acquainted the commodore,
that he had taken this fhip the 18th inftant % that fhe
was a prime failor, and had coft him thirty-fix hours
chace before he could come up with her -, that for fort*
rime he gained fo little upon her, that he began td
defpair of taking her; and the Spaniards, though
alarmed at firft with feeing nothing but a cloud of
tail in purfuitof them, the Tryal*s hull being fo k>*
in the water that no part of it appeared, yet know-
ing the goodnefs of their (hip, and finding how Kttte
the Tryal neared them, they at length laid afide thefr
fears, and recommending themfelves to the bleflfcd
Virgin for protection, began to think themfclves fe>-
cure. Indeed their fuccefs was very near doing hw-
nout
ROUND THE WORLD. 367
nour to their Are Marias -t for altering their courfe
in the night, and (hutting up their windows to pre-
vent any of their lights from being feen, they had
fome chance of efcaping ■, but a fmall crevice in one
of the mutters rendered all their invocations ineffec-
tual i for through this crevice, the people on board
the 1 rv.tl perceived a light, which they chafed till
they arrived within gun (hot, and then captain Saun-
ders alarmed them unexpectedly with a broadfide,
when they flattered themfelves they were got out of
his reach : however, for fome time after they Hill
kept the fame fail abroad, and it was not obferved
that this firft lalute had made any imprefHon on
them ; but, juft as the Tryal was preparing to re-
peat her broadfide, the Spaniards crept from their
holes, lowered their fails, and fubmitted without any
opposition. She was one of the largeft merchantmen
employed in thofe leas, being about fix hundred tons
burthen, and was called the Arranzazu. She was
bound from Callao to Valparaifo, and had muck
the fame cargo with the Carmelo we had taken be-
fore, except that her filver amounted only to about
5000 1. fterling.
But to ballance this fuccefs, we had the misfortune
to find that the Tryal had not now a mail left oti
which (he could carry fail, and the wind blew fo hard,
and ratted fuch a hollow fea, that we could not venture
to hoift out our boat, and confequently could havft
no communication with her ; fo that we were obliged
"to lie to for the greateft part of forty-eight hauvs'to
attend her, as we could nave no thought of 'leaving
her to herfelf in her prefent unhappy fitu*;lI;ion.
The weather proving fomewhat fiwe moderate on
the 27th, we lent our boat for r'(C c ;„ of thc
Tryal, who, when he came 1^ board u?, produced
an inflrument, figned by P^$tf ar,d all his officers,
representing that thc 0' bcfidc bei difmafted,
was fo very leaky .r_ hcr ^ [hat ^ ^ moderate
weather it was iTjcfir/ to ply the pumps constantly,
and
5*8 ANSON's VOYAGE
and that they were then fcarccly fufficieht to keep her
free ; and, upon the whole, they apprehended her to
be st prefent fo very defective, that if they met with
much bad weather, they muft all inevitably pcrifh ;
and therefore they petitioned the commodore to take
fomc meafures for their future fafety. But the refit-
ting of the Tryal at prefent exceeded our power. The
commodore therefore had no choice left him, but was
under a rieceflity of taking out our people and de-
ftroying her. When this was refolved on, Mr. An-
ion gave orders to captain Saunders to put it in exe-
cution, directing him to take out of the (loop every
thing that could be of any ufe to the other mips,
and then to fcuttle and fink her. After captain
Saunders had feen her deftroyed, he was to proceed
with his new frigate, to be called the Tfyal Prize,
now mounting twenty guns, and to cruife off the
highland of Valparaifo, keeping it from bim north
north-weft, at the diftance of twelve or fourteen
leagues : for as all Chips bound from Valparaifo to
the northward fteer that courfe, Mr. Anfon propofed
by this means to ftop any intelligence that might be
difpatched to Callao, of two of their Ihips being mif-
fing, which might give them apprehentions of the
Englilh fquadron being in their neighbourhood. The
Tryal's prize was to continue on this ftarion twenty-
four days, and, if not joined by the commodore at
the expiration of that term, ihe was then to proceed
down the coaft to Pifco or Nafca, where flie would
be certain to meet with Mr. Anfon. The commo-
dore likewife ordered lieutenant Saumarez, who com-
manded the Centurion's prize, to keep company with
captain Saunders, both to aflifl him in unloading the
ftoop, and alfo that by fpreading in their cruife, there
might be lefs danger of any of the enemy's fhips
flipping by unobJerveo'. Thefe orders being dit
patched, the Centurion parted from the other veficls
at eleven in the evening, on the 27th of Septem-
ber, directing her courfe to the fouthward, with a
view
ROUND THE WORLD. 369
View of cruifing for fome days to the windward of
Valparaifo.
By this diftribution of our fliips, we flattered our-
felves that we had taken all the advantages of the
enemy that we poflibly could with our fmall force 5
6>r, as we might fuppofe, the Gloucefter by this time
to be drawing near the highland of Paita, we were
enabled, by our fcparate ftations, to intercept all
veflels employed either betwixt Peru and Chili to
the fouthward, or betwixt Panama and Peru to the
northward. ,
But the mod prudent difpofitions carry with them
only a probability of fuccefs, and can never infure
its certainty : fince thofe chances, which it was rea-
fonable to overlook in deliberation, are fometimes
of mod powerful influence in execution. Thus in
the prefcnt cafe, the diftrefs of the Tryal, and our
Quitting our ftation to aflift her (events which no
egree of prudence could either forefee or obviate)
gave an opportunity to all the fliips bound to Val-
paraifo, to reach that<port without moleftation, dur-
ing this unlucky interval^. So that, after leaving
captain Saunders, we were very, Qitpeditious in re-
gaining our ftation, where we g<k tjbe 29th at noon,
yet in plying on and off till the 6th of O&ober, we
had not the good fortune to difcover a fail of any
fort : and then having loft all hopes of meeting with
better fortune by a longer ftay, we made fail to the
Jeeward of the port, m order to join our prizes :
but when we arrived off the highland where they
were dire&cd to cruife, we did not find theip^though
.we continued there for four or five days."*'. ^JS*fup-
pofed that fome chace had occafioned theiM||*ing
their ftation, • and therefore wc proceeded down the
coaft to the highland of Nafca, which was the fecond
rendezvous where captain Saunders was diredted to
join us. Here we got on the 2 1 ft, and were in great
exportation of falling in with fome of the enemy's
veflels, as both the accounts of former voyagers, and
Vol. III. ' B b the
fjo ANSON's VOYAGE
tbc information of our prifoners allured us, that all
(hips bound to Callao conftantly make this land, to
prevent the danger of running to the leeward of the
port. But notwithffcmding the advantages of this
ftation, we faw no fail till the 2d of November,
when two fhips appeared in fight together: we im-
mediately gave them chace, and foon perceived that
they were the Tryal's and Centurion's prizes. We
found they had not been more fortunate in their
cruife than we were; for they had feen no veflel
fince they feparated from us. *
The little fuccefs we all had, and our certainty,
that, had any fhips been ftiiring in theft feas for
lome time paft, we mull have met with them, made
us believe, that the enemy, on miffing the two {hips
we had taken, had laid an embargo on all the
trade in the fouthern parts. We likewife appre-
hended that they might, by this time, be fitting
out the men of war at Callao ; as it was no uncom-
mon thing for an expreis from Valparaifo to reach
Lima in twenty nine or thirty days, and it was now
more than fifty fince we had taken our firft prize.
Thefe apprehenfions determined the commodore to
haften down to the leeward of Callao, and to join
captain Mitchel, who was ftationed offPaita, as foon
as pofiible, that our ftrength being united, we might
be prepared to give the (hips from Callao a warm
reception, if they dared to put to tea. With this
view we bore away the lame afternoon, taking parti-
cular care to keep at fuch a diftance from the more,
that thereVjftiight be no danger of our being difco-
tvered fraorSje&ce: for we knew that all the coun-
try fhips weni'-tommanded, under the fevered: pe-
nalty, not to fall by the port of Callao without flop-
ping -, and as this order was conftantly complied with,
we Ihould undoubtedly be known for enemies, if we
were feen to ad contrary to it. In this new naviga-
tion, not being certain whether we might not meet
the
ROUND THE WORLD.
the Spanifh fquadron, in our route, the commodore
took on board the Centurion part of his crew, with
which he had formerly manned the Carmelo. And
now ttanding to the northward, we, before night
came on, had a view of the final! iflanJ called St.
Gallan, which bore from us north north-eafl, 4- eaftj
about feven leagues diftant. This land lies in the
latitude of about fourteen degrees fouth, and about
five miles to the northward of a highland, called
Morro Vcijo, or the Old Man's Head. 1 mention
this iibnd and the highland near it, more particu-
larly, becaul'e between them is the moll eligible fta-
tion on that coaft, for cruifing upon the enemy ; as
hereabout all (hips bound to Callao, whether from
the northward or the fouthward, run well in with the
land.
On the 5th of November, in the afternoon, we
had the fatisfaftion lo long wiihed for, of feeing a
fail. She firft appeared to leeward, and we all im-
mediately gave her chace j but the Centurion fo
much outfailed the two prizes, that we foon ran them
out of fi^ht, and gained conliderably on the chace :
however, night coming on before we came up with
her, we, about ieven o'clock, loft fight of her, and
were in fome perplexity what courfe to (leer-, but
at lad Mr. Anion refolved, as we were then before
the wind, to keep all his fails fet, and not to change
his courfe ; for though we had no doubt but the
chace would alter her courfe in the night, yet, as it
was uncertain what tack (he would go upon, it wa»
thought prudent to keep on our courfe, as we mult
by this means unavoidably come near her, rather
than to change it on conjecture. Thus then we
continued the chace about an hour and an half in
the dark, fome one or other on board us conftantly
imagining they difcerned her fails right a-hcad of usj
but at length Mr. Brett, our fecond lieutenant, did
really difcovcr her, about four points on the lar-
board-bow, ftrering off to the fcaward : we imme-
B b 2 diatcly
372. ANSON's VOYAGE
diatcly clapped the helm a-weather, and flood for
her-, and in lefs than an hour came up with her*
and having Bred fourteen (hot at her, Ihe ftruck.
Our third lieutenant, Mr. Dennis, was fent in the
boat, with fixteen men, to take pofleffion of the prize.
and to return the prifoners to our fhip. This vefiel -
was named the Santa Terefa de Jefus, built at Guaya-
quil, of about three hundred tons burthen, and was
commanded by Bartolome Urrunaga, a Bifcaycr j
{he was bound from Guaiaquil to Callao •, her load-
ing confifted of timber, cocao, coco-nuts, tobacco,
hides, Pito thread, (which is very ftrong, and is made
of a fpecies of gral's) Quito cloth, wax, &c. The
fpecie on board her wjs inconfiderable, being prin-
cipally fmall fiiver money, and not amounting to
more than 1 70 I. fterling. It is true, her cargo was
of great value, could we have dilpofed of it : but,
the Spaniards having ftricTb orders never to ranfom
their (hips, all the goods that we took in thefe feas,
except what little we had occafion for ourfelves, were
of no advantage to us. Indeed, though we could
make no profit thereby ourfelves, it was fome fatis-
faftion to us to confider, that it was fo much really
loft to the enemy, and the defpoiling them was no
contemptible branch of that fervice, in which we
were now employed by our country.
■ Befide our prize's crew, which amounted to forty-
five hands, there were on board her ten paflengers,
confifting of four men and three women, who' were
natives of the country, born of Spanifh parents,
together with three black flaves that attended them.
The women were a mother and tier two daugh-
ters, the eldeft about twenty-one, and the youngeft
about fourteen. ' It is not to be wondered at, that
women of thofe years Ihould be exceflivcly alarm-
ed at the falling into the hands of an enemy,
whom, from the former outrages of the bucca-
neers, and by the artful infinuations of their priefts,
they had been taught to confider as the molt tcr.
rible
ROUND THE WORLD. 373
rible and brutal of all mankind. Thefe apprehen-
fions too were in the prelent inftance ftrengthened
by the lingular beauty of the youngeft of the wo-
men, and the riotous difpofmon which they might
well expect to find in a fet of tailors, who had
not feen a woman for near a twelvemonth. Full
of thefe terrors, the women all hid themiclves upon
our officers coming on board, and when they were
found out, it was with great difficulty that he
could perfuade them to approach the light : how-
ever, he foon fatisfied them, by the humanity of
his conduct, and by his afTurance of their future
(eeurity and honourable treatment, that they had
nothing to fear. Nor were thefe afTuranccs of the
officer invalidated in the fequel: for the commo-
dore being informed of the matter, fent directions
that they Ihould be continued on board their own
fhip, with the ufe of the fame apartments, and with
all the other conveniencies they had enjoyed before,
giving ftri& orders that they fhould receive no kind
of inquietude or mokftation whatever: and that
they might be the more certain of having thefe
orders complied with, or have the means of com-
plaining if they were not, the commodore permit-
ted the pilot, who in Spanifh fhips is generally the
fecond perfon on board, to ftay with them, as their
guardian and protector. By this indulgent behaviour
of the commodore, the confternatiun uf our female
prifoners entirely ilibfided, and they continued eafy
and chearful during the whole time they were
with us.
At the beginning of this chace the Centurion, as
has been oblerved, ran her two contorts out of Gghfi
When they bad joined u% we proceeded together to
the northward, being now four fail in company.
We here found the lea, for many miles round us,
of a beautiful red colour: this, upon examination,
we impuied to an immenfe quantity of fpawn fpicad
upon its furface •, for, taking up fome of the water
S b 3 in
■
374 ANSON's VOYAGE
in a wine-glad, it foon changed from a dirty afpeft
Co a clear cryftal, with only fome red globules of
a (limy nature floating on the top. At prefent
having a fupply of timber on board our new prize,
the commodore ordered our boats to be repaired,
and a fwivel gun-ftock to be fixed in the bow both
of the barge and pinnace, in order to e'nereafe their
force, in cafe we mould be obliged to have recourle
to them for boarding ihips, or for any attempts on
fhorc.
As we ftood from hence to the northward, nothing
pemarkable occurred for two or three days ; though
we fpread our lhips in foch a manner, that it was
pot probable any veflel of the enemy could efcapc
ws. In our run along this coaft we generally ob-
served, that there was a current which fet us to the
northward, at the rate of ten or twelve miles each
day. And now being in about eight degrees fouth
latitude, we began to be attended with vaft num-
bers of flying fifh and bonitos, which were the firft
we faw after our departure from the coaft of Bra-
fil But it is remarkable, that on the eaft fide of
South America they extended to a much higher
latitude than they do the -weft fide -, for we did
not lofe them on the coaft of Brafil, till ws ap-
proached the fouthem tropic. The reafon for this
diverfity is doubtlefs the different degrees of heat
obtaining in the fame latitude on different fides of
that continent.
The comparifon of the heat and cold of various
climates, has as yet been very imperfectly confi-.
dered. However, enough is known fafely to de-
termine this pofition, that all places between the
tropics are far from being the hotteft on the globe ;
as many of thofe within the polar circles are far
from enduriog that extreme degree of cold, to
which their fituation fhould feem to fubjeft them :
that is to fay, that the temperature of a place de-
pends much more upon other circumftances, than
upon
ROUND THE WORLD.
373
upon its diftance from the pole, or its proximity
to the equinoctial.
This propofuion relates to the general tempera-
ture of places, taking the whole year round ; and
in this fenfe it cannot be denied, jhat the dry of
London, for iniiance, enjoys much warmer feafons
than the bottom of Hudfon's bay, which is nearly
in the fame latitude with it; but where the feverity
of the winter is fo great, that it will icarcely permit
the hardieft of our garden plants to live. And if
the companion be made between the coaft of Brafil
and the weftern more of South America, as, for ex-
ample, betwixt Bahia and Lima, the difference will
be itill more confiderable •, for though the coaft of
Brazil is extremely fultry, yet the coalt of the South
Seau in the fame latitude is perhaps as temperate
and tolerable as any part of the globe-, fince in"
ranging along it, we did not once meet with fo
warm weather, as is frequent in a fummer's day in
England : which was ftill the more remarkable, as
there never fell any rains to refrelh and cool the air.
If this matter be examined by means of the ther-
mometers, which in relpccl to the ablblute degree of
heat and cold are doubtleft the moil unerring evi-
dence i the refult will be indeed moft wonderful.
Since it will hence appear, that the heat in very
high latitudes, as at Peterfburgh for inltance, is at
particular times much greater than any that has been
hitherto obferved between the tropics -, and that even
at London in the year 1746, there was the part of
one day confiderably hotter than what was at any
time felt by a ihip of Mr. Anfon's fqtiadron, in run-
ning irom hence to Cape Horn and back again,
and pairing twice under the fun.
If it lhould be al"ked, how it comes to pafs that
the heat in many places between the tropics is elteCm-
ed Co violent and infufferable, when it appears by
theie inltances, that it is fometimes exceeded in very
high latitudes, the anfwer mult be, that the eltuna-
B b 4 tion
376 ANSON's VOYAGE
tion of heat ought not to be founded upon that
degree which may now and then obtain, but is ra-
ther to be deduced from the medium obferved in
a whole feafon, or perhaps in a whole year : and in
this light it will easily appear, how much more in-
tenfe the fame degree of heat may prove, by being
long continued without remarkable variation. For
inftance, in comparing together St. Catharine's and
Peterfburgh, we will 'fuppofe the fummer heat at
St. Catharine's to be ; 6% by Karenheit's thermo-
meter, and the winter heat to be twenty divifions
fliortof it. Upon this fuppofition then, the medi-
um heat all the year round will be 66°, and this
perhaps by night as well as by day, with no great
variation : now thofe who have attended to thermo-
meters will readily own, that a continuation of this
' degree of heat for a length of time would by the
generality of mankind be (tiled violent and fuffb--
eating. But at Peterfburgh, though a few times in
the year the heat, by the thermometer, may be con-
fiderably greater than at ft, Catharine's, yet, as at
other times the cold is immensely fharper, the me-
dium for a year, or even for one feafon only, would
be far Ihort of 66°.
Befides this eftimation of the heat of a place,
by taking the medium for a confidcrable time to-
gether, there is another 'ci re um(b nee which will (rill
augment the apparent heat of the wanner climates,
and diminifii that of the colder. The meafure of
abfolute heat, marked by the thermometer, is not
the certain criterion of the fenfation of heat with,
which human bodies arc affefler1. For as ihe per-
petual fucceflion of frefh air is neccflary to refpira-
tion, fo there is a Irecits of tainted or ttagnated air
often produced by the continuance of great heats,
which never tails to excite in us an idea of fultrtnefs
and fuffocaring warmth, much beyond whir the heat
'of the air alone, , fuppofing it pure and agitated,
would occafion. I :tr;ce it follows, that the mere
inlpedlion.
ROUND THE WORLD. 377
infpecYion of the thermometer will never determine
the heat which the human body feds from this caufe;
and hence it follows too, that the heat in molt places
between the tropics mult be much more troublcfome
and tineaCy, than tlie fame degree of abfolute heat
in a hiyh latitude : for the equability and duration of
ths tropical heat contribute to impregnate the air
wi'h a. multitude of iieams and vapours not cafily
removed, by reaton of the regularity of the winds in
thofc parts; which only Ihifc the exhalations from
place to place, without dilperfing them. Whereas in
the higher latitudes thele vapours are probably raifed
in fmaller quantities, and the irreguhiity and vio-
lence of the winds frequently difperfe them; fo that,
the air being in general pure and lefs Ihgnant, the
fame degree of abfjlute heat is not attended with
that uneafy and fuffocating fenfauon. This may fuf-
fice in geneial with reipecl: to the prelent lpecu-
lation.
In this climate every circumftance concurred, that
could make the open air and i'ay-light delirable For
in other countries the fcorching heat of the fun in
fuinrmr, renders the greater part of tfte day unapt
cither for labour or amulemcnt ; and the frequent
rains are not lei's troubleibme in the more temperate
parts of the year. But in this happy climate the fun
rarely appears: not that the heavens have at any time
a dark gloomy look ; for there is conftantly a chear-
ful grey Iky, jult furficient to fcrcen the fun, with-
out oafcurinjj the air, or tinging the day-light
with an unpleafmt hue. By tfm means nil pans
of the day are proper for labour or exercifc abroad ;
nor is there wanting that pleafing retrigeration of
the air, which is produced in other climates by
rains; but is here brought about, by the frefh
breezes from the cooler regions to the fouthward.
It is reafonable to fuppofe, that this fortunate com-
plexion of the heavens is principally owing to the
neighbourhood of thcli: vaft hills, tailed the Andes,
which
378 ANSON's VOYAGE
which running nearly parallel to the Ihore, and at i
fmall diftance from it, and extending themfelves im-
menft-ly higher than any other mountains upon the
globe, form upon their fides and declivities a prodi-
gious tract of country, where, according to the dif-
ferent approaches to the fummit, all kinds of
climates may, at all feafons of the year, be found.
Theie mountains, by intercepting great part of the
eaftern winds, which generally blow over the con-
tinent of South America, by cooling that part of the
air which forces its way over their tops, and by
keeping befide a large portion of the atmofphere
perpetually cool, from its contiguity to the (hows
■with which they are covered-, there hills, thus fpread-
ing the influence of their frozen crefts to the neigh-
bouring coafts and feas of Peru, are doubtlefs the
caufe of the temperature and equability which con-
ftantly prevail there. For when we were advanced
beyond the equinoctial, where thefe mountains left
us* and had nothing to fcreen us to the eaftward,
but the high lands on the ifthmus of Panama, which
are but mole-hills to the Andes, we then loon found
that in a (horf tun we had totally changed our cli-
mate, parting in two or three days from the tem-
perate air of Peru, to the iultry burning atmof-
phere of the Weft Indies. But it is time to return
to our narration.
On the ioth of November we were three leagues
fouth of the fomhermoft ifland of Lobos, lying in
the latitude of 6° : 27' fouth : there are two iQands
of this name ; this called l.obos de la Mar -, and an-
other, which is fituated to the northward of it, very
much refembling it in fhape and appearance v and
often miftaken for ir, called Lobos de Tierrc. We
were now drawing near to the ftation appointed to
the Gloucefter; for which reafon, fearing to mifs
her, we made an eafy fail all night. The next morn-
ing at day-break, we faw a (hip in lhore, and to
windward, plying up the coaft: fire had paiTed by
ROUND THE WORLD. 379
us with the favour of the night, and we foon per-
ceiving her not to be the Gloucefter, got our tacks
onboard, and gave her chace-, but it proving very
little wind, fo that neither of us could make much
way, the commodore ordered his barge, his pinnace,
and the Tryal's pinnace to be manned and armed,
and to puriue the cliacc, and board her. Lieute-
nant Brett, who commanded the barge, came up with
her firft, about nine o'clock, and running along-
fide of her, he fired a volley of imall ihot between
the mafts, juft over the he.ids of the people on board,
and then inltamly entered with the grcateft part of
his men ; but the enemy made no refinance, being
furnciently frightened by the dazzling of the cutlafies,
and the volley they hadjuft received. Lieutenant
Brett ordered the fails to be trimmed, and bore down
to the commodore, taking up in his way the two
pinnaces. When he was got within about foui* miles
of us, he put off in the barge, bringing with him 3
number of the pnfoners, who had given him fome
material intelligence, which he was defirous the com-
modore fhould be acquainted with as toon as pof-
fible. On his arrival we learnt, that the prize was
called Neuftra Senora del Carmin, of about two
hundred and feventy tons burthen ; (he was com-
manded by Marcos Morena, a native of Venice, and
had on board forty-three marines : fhe was deep laden
with fteel, iron, pepper, cedar, planks, muffs, rofaries,
European bale goods, powder blue, cinnamon, Romifh
indulgencies, and other fpecies of merchandizes : and
though this cargoe, in our prefent circumftances,
was but of little value to us, yet with refpeft to
the Spaniards, it was the mod confiderable capture
we made in this part of the world ; for it amounted
to upwards of 400,000 dollars prime coit, at Pa-
nama. This ihip was bound to Callao, and had
(lopped at Paita in her pafiage, to take in a recruit
of water and provtlions, having left that place not
above twenty-four hours, bef-jre (he fell into our
hands.
7 \V«Nt
38o ANSON's VOYAGE
I have mentioned that Mr. Brett had received fome
important intelligence. The firft perfon he learnt it
from was one John Williams an lrifliman, whom he
found on board the Spanifh veflel. Williams was a
papift, who worked his pafiage from Cadiz, and had
travelled all over the kingdom of Mexico as a ped-
lar : he pretended, that by this bufinefs he had once
got 4 or 5000 dollars ■, but that he was embarrafled
by the priefts, who knew he had money, and was
st laft ftript of every thing he had. He was indeed
at prefent all in rags, being but juft got out of
Paita gaol, where he had been confined for fome
mifdemeanor ; he exprefled great joy upon feeing his
countrymen, and immediately told them, that, a few
days before, a vefiel came into Paita, where the
matter of her informed the governor, that he had
been chafed in the offing by a very large fhip, which
from her fize, and the colour of her fails, he was
perfuaded muft be one of the fc nglifli fquadron :
this we then conjectured to have been the Glouces-
ter, as we afterward found. The governor, upon
examining the mafter, was fully fatisfied of his re-
lation, and immediaiely fent away an exprefs to Lima
to acquaint the viceroy therewith : and the royal
officer refilling at Paita, apprehenfive of a vifit from
the Englifh, had, from his firft hearing of this news,
been bulily employed in removing the king's trea-
fure and his own to Piura, a town within land,
about fourteen leagues diftant. We further learnt
from our prifoners, that there was a very confider-
able fum of money belonging to fome merchants
of Lima, now lodged in the cuftom-houfe at Paita:
and that this was intended to be Ihipped on board
a vefiel, then in the port of Paita, and was pre-
paring to fail with the utmoft expedition, being
bound for the bay of Sonfonnate, on the coaft of
Mexico, in order to purchafe a part of the cargo
of the Manilla fhip. As the vefiel in which the
money was to be (hipped was eflxemed a prime
iailcr.
ROUND THE WORLD. 381
faiter, had juft received a new coat of tallow on- her
bottom; and might, in the opinion of the prifoners,
be able to fail the fucceeding morning ; the character
they gave of her, left us little reafon to believe that
our Ihip, which had been in the water near two years,
could have any chance of coming up with her, if
we once fuftered her to efcape out of the port. There-
fore, as we were now difcovered, and the coaft would
be foon alarmed, and as our cruifing in theie parts
any longer would anfwer no purpofej the commo-
dore rclulved to endeavour to furprize the place,
having tirft minutely informed himJctf of its ftrength
and condition, and being fully iatisfied, that there
was little danger of lofing many of our men in the
attempt.
The town of Paita is limited in the latitude of
50 : 12' fouth, on a moft barren foil : the extent of
it but fmall, containing in all lefs than two hundred
families. The houfes are only ground-floors -, the
walls built of fpUt cane and mud, and the roofs
thatched with leaves : theft edifices, though ex-
tremely flight, are abundantly iufficiea: for a climate,
where rain is confidereJ as a prodigy, and is not
feen in many years : lb that it is laid, a final! quan-
tity of rain falling in this country in the year 1728,
ruined a great number of .buildings, which mouldered
away, and as it were melted before it. The inhabi-
tants 06 Paita are principally Indians and black ftaves,
or at leaft a mixed breed, the whites being very few.
The port of Paita, though in reality little more than
a bay, is eflecm the belt on that part of the coaft ;
and is indeed a very fecure and commodious ancho-
rage. It is greatly frequently by all veflels coming
from the north i fince here only the fhips from Aca-
pnLo, Sonlbnn;uc, Kealcijo and Panama, can touch
and refrefh in their paflage to Callao: and the
length of theft voyages (the wind for the greateft
part of the year being full againft them) renders it
jmpofiible to perform them without calling upon the
coaft
3«2 ANSON's VOtAGfi
coaft for a recruit of freih water. It is true Paita iff
fituated on fo parched a fpot, that it does not itfelf
furnifli a drop of frelh water, or any kind of greens
or provifions, except fifli and a few goats : but there
is an Indian town called Colan, about two or three
leagues diftant to the northward, from whence water,
maize, greens, fowls, &c. are conveyed to Pair* on
balzas or floats, for the conveniency of the (hips
that touch here ; and cattle are fometimes brought
from Piura, a town which lies about fourteen leagues
up in the country. This port of Paita, befides fur-
nifhing the northern trade bound to Callao, with
water and neceffaries, is the ufual place where paf-
fengers from Acapulco or Panama, bound to .Lima,
difembark; for, as it is two hundred leagues from
hence to Callao, the port of Lima, and as the wind
is generally contrary, the paffage by fea is very te-
dious and fatiguing, but by land there is a tolerable
good road parallel to the coaft, with many ftations
and villages for the accommodation of travellers.
Mr. Anfon having informed himfelf of the ftrength
of the place, refolved to attempt it that very ni^ht.
We were then about twelve leagues diftant from the
fhore, far enough to prevent our being difcovered;
yet not lb far, but that by making all the fail we
could, we might arrive in the bay with our fhips
long before day-break : however, the commodore
prudently confidered, that this would be an impro-
per method of proceeding, as our fhips, being fuch
large bodies, might be eafily feen at a diftance, even
in the night, and might thereby alarm the inhabi-
tants, and give them an opportunity of removing
their valuable i-fttiK He therefore, as the ftength
of the place did not require our whole force, refoived
to attempt it with our boats only, ordering the eigh-
teen oared barge, our own and the Try-al's pinnaces on
that fcrvicc; and having picked our fifty-eight men
to man them, well fumilhed with arms and ammu-
nition, he intrulted the command of die expedition
ROUND THE WORLD.
383
to lieutenant Brett. And the better to prevent the
difappointment and confufion which might arile from
the darkncfs of the night, and from the ignorance
of the ftreets and pafTages of the place, two of the
Spanilh pilots were ordered to attend the lieutenant;
and that we might have the greater fecurity for their
behaviour on this occafion, the commodore took care
to afTlire our prifoners, that they fhould all of them
be releafed, and fet on more at this place, provided
the pilots acted faithfully ■, but in cafe of any mif-
conduct or treachery, he threatened that the pilots
mould be inftantly (hot, and that he would carry the
reft of the Spaniards, who were on board him, pri-
foners to England.
On this occafion I cannot but remark a fingular
circumftance of one of the pilots employed by us in
this bufinefs. It feems, as we afterward learnt, he
had been taken by c.iptain Clipperton above twenty
years before, and had been obliged to lead Clipper-
ton and his people to the furprize of Truxillo, a
town within land to the fouthward of Paita, where
however he contrived to alarm his countrymen, and
to fave them, though the place was carried arltt
pillaged. Now that the only two attempts on fhore,
which were made at fo long an interval from each
other, mould be guided by the fame perlbn, and
he too a prifoner both times, and forced upon the
employ contrary to his inclination, is an accident
very extraordinary. But to return to the matter in
hand.
During our preparations, the (hips themfelves ft jod
toward the port with all the fail they could make,
being fecure that we were yet at too great a diftance
to be feen. But about ten o'clock at night, the (hips
being then within five leagues of the place, lieuten-
ant Brett, with the boats under his command, put
off, and arrived at the mouth of the bay without
being difcovered •, though no fooner had he entered
it, than fome of the people, on board a vcflel riding
384 ANSON's VOYAGE
at anchor there, perceived him, who inttantly get-
ting into their boat, rowed towards the fort* fhoutmg
and crying, The Engush, ths English docs, &c.
by which the whole town was fuddenly alarmed, and
our people foon obferved feveral lights hurrying
backwards and forwards in the fort, and other marks
of the inhabitants being in great motion. Lieute-
nant Brett, on this, encouraged his men to pull bri fitly
up, that they might give the enemy as little time as
poffible. However, before our boats could reach,
the fhore, the people in the fort had got ready fome
of their cannon, and pointed them towards the land-
ing-place ; and though in ihe darknefs of the night
it might be well fuppofed that chance had a greater
(hare than (kill in their direction, yet the firft (hot
parted extremely near one of the boats, whittling juft
over the heads of the crew. This made our people
i\ double their efforts -, fo that they had reached the
Ihore, and were in part difembarked by the time the
fecond gun fired. As fbon as our men landed, they
were conducted by one of the Spanilh pilots to the
entrance of a narrow ftreet, not above fifty yards
diftant from the beach, where they were covered,
from the fire of the fort ; and being formed in the
bed manner the fhortnels of the time would allow,
they immediately marched for the parade, which was
a large fquare at the end of this dree:, the fort being
one fide of the fquare, and the governor's houle an-
other. The huzzas of this fpiritcd detachment, join-
ed with the nr.ife of their drums, and favoured by
the night, hid augmented their numbers, in the
opinion of tie enemy, to at lead three hundred j
by which pcrfuafion the inhabitants were fo greatly
intimidated, that they were much more iblicitous
about the mians of flight than refifta'nee ; fo that
though upon entering the parade, our people receiv-
ed a volley from the merchants who owned the trea-
fure then in the town, and who, with a lew others,
had ranged themfelves in a gallery that ran round the
governor's
ROUND THE WORLD. 3S5
governor's houfe, yet that poff. was immediately
abandoned upon the firll fire made by our people,
who were thereby left in quiet pofTeffion of the
parade.
On this fuccefs lieutenant Brat divided his men
into two parties, ordering one of them to furround
the governor's houfe, and, if poflible, to fecure the
governor, whilil he himfelf at the head of the other
marched to the fort, with an intent to force it. But,
contrary to his expectation, he entered it without
opposition ■, for the enemy, on his approach, aban-
doned it, and made their efcape over the walls;
By this means the whole place was maftered in lefs
than a quarter of an hour's time from the firft land-
ing, and with no other lofs than that of one man
killed on tlie fpot, and two wounded.
Lieutenant Brett, when he had thus far happily
fucceeded, placed a guard at the fort, and another
at the governor's houfe, and appointed centinels at
all the avenues of the town, both to prevent any
furprize from the enemy, and to fecure the effe&s in
the place from being embezzled. This being done,
his next care was to feize on the cuftom-houfe, where
the treafure lay, and to examine if any of the inha-
bitants remained in the town, that he might know
what farther precautions it was neceflary to take ;
but he foon found that the numbers left behind
were no ways formidable: for the greateft part
of them (being in bed when the place was furprized)
had run away with fo much precipitation, that they
had not given themfelves time to put on their cloaths.
In this general rout the governor was not the lafl: to
fecure himfelf, for he fled betimes half naked, leav-
ing his wife, a young lady of about feventeen years
ofage, to whom he had been married but three or
four days, behind him -, though fhe too was after-
ward carried off in her thift by a couple of centi-
nels, juft as the detachment, ordered to invert the
houfe, arrived before it. This efcape of the gover-
Voi. III. Cc nor
386 ANSON's VOYAGE
nor was an unpleafing circumftance, as Mr. Anion.
had particularly recommended it to lieutenant Brett
to fecure his pcrlbn, if poffiblei in hopes that by
that means we might be able to treat for the ranfom
of the place : but it feems his alertnefs rendered the
execution of thefe orders impracticable. The few
inhabitants who remained were confined in one of
the churches under a guard, except fotne ftout ne-
groes which were found in the town j thele, inftead
of being (hut up, were employed the remaining part
of the night to afiift in carrying the trcafure from the
cuftom-houfe and other places to the fort : however,
there was care taken that they mould be always at-
tended with a file of mufqueteers.
The tranfporttng the trcafure from the cuftom-
houfe to the fort, was the principal occupation of
Mr. Brett's people, after he had got poffeffion of the
place. But the tailors, while they were thus bufied,
could not be prevented from entering the houfes which
lay near them, in fearch of private pillage: where
the firft things which occurred to them, being the
cloaths that the Spaniards in their flight had left be-
hind, and which, according to the cuftom of* the
country, were molt of them either embroidered or
laced i our people eagerly embraced thefe glittering
habits, and put them on over their own dirty trow?
ers and jackets; not forgetting at the fame time, the
tye or bag-wig and laced hat, which were generally
found with the cloaths ■, and when this practice was
once begun, there was no preventing the whole de-
tachment from imitating it. But thofe, who came
lateft into the fafhion, not finding men's cloaths fufii-
cient to equip themfelves, were obliged to take up
with women's gowns and petticoats, which (provid-
ed there was finery enough) they made no fcruple of
putting on, and blending with their own greaiy
drefs. So that when a party of them thus ridicu-
loufly metamorphofed firft appeared before Mr. Brett,
he was extremely furprized at the grotefque fight,
and
ROUND THE WORLD. 387
and could not immediately be fetisfied they were his
own people.
Thefe were the tranfaifhons of our detachment on
ihore at Paita the firft night: but to return ro what
wa3 done on board the Centurion in th.it interval*
After the boats were gone off, we lay by till one
o'clock in the morning, and then iiippofing our de-
tachment to be near landing, we tsaac .in oily !ai|
for the bay. About feven in the morning ire bkg'n
to open the bay. and loon after had a vi- w Qf die
town : and though wc had no realbn to doubt of the
fuccefs of the enterprize, yet it was with great joy
that we firft difcovered, by means of our peripec-
tives, an Engliih flag hoifted on the flag-ftalfot the
fort, which to us was an incontettabte projf that
our people was in poflelfion of th<- place. Wc plied
into the bay with as much expedition as the wind,
which then blew off Ihore, would permit us : and at
eleven, the Tryal's boat came on board us, loadea
with dollars and church-plate -, when the officer who
commanded her informi-d us of the preceding night's
tranfa&ions, as we have already related them. About
two in the afternoon wc anchored in ten fathom at.d
a half at a mile and a half diftanre from the town, and
wereconfequently near enough tohaveamorc immedi-
ate intercourfe with thofcon (bore. And now we found
that Mr. Brett had hitherto gone on in collecting and
removing the treafure without interruption : but that
the enemy had rendezvoufed from all parts of the
country on a hill, at the back of the town, where
they made no inconfiderable appearance. For amongft
the reft of their force, there were two hundred horfe
feemingly very well armtd and mounted, and, as we
conceived, properly trained and regimented ; being
furniftied with trumpets, drums, and llandards.
Thefe troops paraded about the hill with great oftcn-
tation, founding their military mufic, anil |
every art to intimidate us, in hopes that we might be
induced to abandon the place before the pillage was
C c 2 com-
388 ANSON's VOYAGE
compleated. But w e were not fo ignorant as to believe,
that this body of horfe, which fecmed to .be what the
enemy principally depended on, would dare to ven-
ture in ftreets and amongft houfes, even had their
numbers been three times as large ; and therefore, not-
withftanding their menaces, we went on calmly, as
long as thet day-light lafted, in fending off the trea-
fure, and in employing the boats to carry on board
refrefliments, fuch as hogs, fowls, &c. which we
found here in great abundance. However, at night,
to prevent any furprize, the commodore lent on fhore
a reinforcement, who ported themfelves in all the
paflages leading to the parade ; and for their further
fecurity, traverfed the ftreets with barricadoes fix
feet^0gh : but the enemy continuing quiet all night,
we, at day-break, returned again to our labour of
loading the boats, and fending them off.
vBythis time we were convinced of what confe-
quence it would have been to us, had fortune 1c-
conded the prudent views of the commodore, by
permitting us to have fecured the governor. For
as we found in the place many ftore-houfts full
of valuable effects, which were ufelefs to us at
prefent, and fuch as we could not find room for
on board: had the governor been in our power,
he would, in all probability, have treated for the
ranfom of this merchandize, which would have been
extremely advantageous both to him and us : where-
as, he bang now at liberty, and having collected all
the force of the country for many leagues 'round, and
having even got a body of militia from Piura, which
was fourteen leagues diftant-, he was fo far elated with
his numbers, and fo fond of his new military com-
mand, that he feemed not to trouble himfelf much
about the fate of his government. So that though
■Mr. Anfon lent feveral meftages to him by fome of
the inhabitants, whom he had taken prifoners, offer-
ing to enter into a treaty for the ranibm of the town
and goods, giving him, at the fame time, an inti-
ROUND THE WORLD. 389
mation that we mould be far from infifting on a rigo-
rous equivalent; ami thrcatning too, that if he would
not condefcend to treat, we would fet fire to the
town, and all the ware-houfts : yet the governor was
lb imprudent and arrogant, that he did not deign
even to return ihe lead anfwer to them.
Op the iecond day of our being in pofieilion of the
place, feveral negroe Haves deferred from the enemy
on the hill, and coming into the town, voluntarily
engaged in our fervice: one of thefe was well known
to a gentleman on board, who remembered him for-
merly at Panama. We now learnt that the Spaniards
without the town were in extreme want of water, for
many of their fiaves crept into the place .by ftealth,
and carried away feveral jars of water to their maf-
rers on the hill : and though fome of them were
feized by our men in the attempt, yet the thirft
among the enemy was fo preffing, that they conti-
nued this practice till we left the place. On this fe-
cond day we were afliired, both by the deferters
and by thefe prifoners we took, that the Spaniards
on the hill, who were by this time increafed to a
formidable number, had refolved to ftorm the town
and fort the fucceeding night ; and that one Gordon,
a Scots papift, and captain of a fhip in thofe feas,
was to have the command of this enteiprize. How-
ever, we, notwith (landing, 'continued finding off our
boats, and profecuted our work without the lead
hurry or precipitation till the evening; when a rein-
forcement was again lent on fhore by the commodore,
and lieutenant Brett doubled his' guards at each of
the barricadoes : and our polls being connected by
the means of centinels placed within call of each
other, and the whole being vifited by frequent
rounds, attended with a drum ; thele marks of our
vigilance, and of our readinels to receive them, cooled
ihrii relblution, and made them forget the vaunts of
the preceding day ; fo thar we patted this fecond
Ccj night
m
I
390 ANSON's VOYAGE
night with as little molcftation as we bad done the
former.
Wt hid finiflicJ fending the treafure on board the
Cen'Unun the evening before \ to that the third
morning, being the 15th of November, the boats
were employed-in carrying off the moft valuable pan
of the effects that remained in [he town. And the
commodore intending to fail in the afternoon, he,
about ten o'clock, puriuant to his promife, fent all
hi- pnfoncrs, amounting to eighty-eight, on fliore,
giving ordrrs to lieutenant Brett to lecure them in one
of the . hardies under a ftnet guard, till the men were
■rea-:y to be embarked. Mr. r.reit .was at the fame
time ordered to bum the whole town, except the
two churches (which by good fortune ftood at fame
tfiUance from the houles) and then he was to aban-
don the pine, and to return on board. Thcfe or-
ders were punctually complied with-, for Mr. Brett
immediately let his men to work, todiftribute pitch,
tar, and other combuftitles, into houfes in different
ftreets of the town ; lb that, the place being fired in
many quarters at the fame time, the deftructkm
might be more violent and hidden ; and the enemy,
after our departure, not be able to extinguifn 11.
"Wht-n thele preparations were made, he, in the next
place, commanded the cannon, which he found in
the fort, to be nailed up s and then fetttng fire to
thofe houfes which were mo.t to the windward, he
collected his men, and marched toward the beach,
where the boats waited to crry them off. As thai
part of the beach whence he intended to embark was
an open place without the town, the Spaniards on the
hill perceiving he was re renting refolved to try if
they coi»ld not preci, hue his departure, and thereby
lay lome foundation ior their future boafljng. To
this end a fmulj jquad on of their horfe, confining of
about fixty, picked out, as I fuppofe, for this fervice,
searched down the hill with much feeming refolu-
ROUND THE WORLD. 391
tionj fo that, had we not entertained an adequate
opinion of their proweis, we might have imagined,
that now we were on the open beach with no advan-
tage of fituation, they would certainly have charged
us : but we prefumed (and we were not miftaken)
that this was mere oftentaiion. For, notwithftand-
ing the pomp and parade they at firlt came on with,
Mr. Brett no iboner ordered his men to halt and face
about, than the enemy flopped and dared not to ad-
vance a iiep further.
When our people were arrived at their boats, and
were ready to go on board, they were for fome time
retarded, by miffing one of their number ; and being
unable, on their mutual enquiries, to inform them-
felves where he was left, or by what accident he was
detained, they, after a confideiable delay, refolved to
get into their boats, and to depart without him. But
when the laft man was adlually embarked, and the
boats were jufl putting off, they heard him calling
to them to take him in : the place was by this time
fo thoroughly on fire, and the imoke covered the
beach fo effectually, that they could fcarcely difcover
him, tho' they heard his voice. However, the lieute-
nant inftantly ordered one of the boats to his relief,
who found him up to the chin in water, for he had
waded as far as he duril, being extremely frightened
with the apprehenlicms of falling into the hands of an
enraged enemy. On enquiring into the caufe of his
(laying behind, it was found that he had taken that
morning too large a dofe of brandy, which had
thrown htm into lo found a fie'ep, that he did not
awake till the fire came near enough to fcorch him.
He was llrangely amazed at firfl opening his eyes, to
fee the houfes all in a blaze on one fide, and feveral
Spaniards and Indians not far from him on the other.
The greatnefs and fuddennefs of his fright inftandy
reduced him to a llate of fobriety, and gave him
fufficient prefence of mind to pufti through the
tliickett of the fmoke, as the likclieft means to efcape
C c 4 the
392 ANSON'S VOYAGE
the enemy ; and making the beft of his way to die
beach, he ran as far into the water as he durft, for he
could not fwim, before he ventured to look back.
It ought to be obierved, to the honour of our peo-
ple, that though there were great quantities of wine
and fpirituous liquors found in the place, yet this roan
was the only one who was known to have fo far ne-
glected his duty, as to get drunk. Indeed, • their
whole behaviour, while they were alhore, was much
more regular than could well have been expected
from failors who had been fo long confined to a fnip :
and though part of this prudent demeanor muft
doubtlefs be imputed to the diligence of their officers,
and to the excellent difcipHne to which they had been
constantly inured on board the commodore s yet it
was no fmall reputation to the men, that they Ihouki
generally refrain froitf indulging themfelves in thofe
liquors, which they found ready to their bands at al-
moft every warehoufe.
By the time our people had helped their comrade
out of tr.e water, and were making the beft of their
way to the fquadron, the flames had taken poileffion
of every part of the town, and had got fuch hold,
both by means of the combuftibles that had been
distributed for th.it purpofe, and by the flightnefs of
the materials of which the houfes were compofed,
and their aptitude to take fire ; that it was iufficiently
apparent, no efforts of the enemy (though they
flocked down in great numbers) could poflibly put a
flop to it, or prevent the entire defiruftion of the
place, and all the merchandize contained therein;
Our detachment under lieutenant- Brett having
fafely joined the fquadron, the commodore prepared
to leave the place the fame tven;/]^ ife found,
when he firft came into the bay, i,x veffcls of the
enemy at anchor ; one whereof was the ihip, which,
according to our intelligence, was to have failed with
the treafure to the coaft of Mexico, and which, as we
were perfuaded Ihc was a good Jailer, we refolved to
take
'
ROUND THE WORLD. 393
take with us: the others were two fnows, a bark,
and two row-gallies of thirty-fix oars a-piece. Thefe
hft, as wc were afterwards informed, with many
others of the fame kind built at divers ports, were
intended to prevent our landing in ihe neighbour-
hood of Callao : for the Spaniards, on the firft intel-
ligence of our fquadron and its farce, expected that
we would attempt the city of Lima. The commo-
dore, having no occafion for thefe other veflels, had
ordered the mails of all five of them to be cut away
at his firft arrival; and on his lenving the place
they were towed out of the harbour, fcuttled, and
funk : and the command of the remaining fhip, call-
ed the SolidaJ, being given to Mr. Hughs the lieu-
tenant of the Tryal, who had with him a crew of
ten men to navigate her, the fqnadron, toward mid-
night, weighed anchor, and fajed out of the bay,
being at prefint augmented to fix fail -, that is, the
Centurion, and the TryaPs prize, together with the
Carmelo, the Terefa, the Carmin, and our laft ac-
quired vefiei the Solidad.
It has been already obferved, that all the priibners
taken by us in our preceding prizes were here put
on fhore, and difcbargcd ; amongft whom there were
fame perfon3 of coniklerable diftincuon, efpecially a
youth of about feventeen years of age, fon of the
vice-prefident of the council of Chili. As the barba-
rity of the buccaneers, and the artful ufe the eccle-
fiaftics had made of it, had filled the natives of
thofe countries with the moft terrible ideas of Eng-
lilh cruelty ; we always found our prifoners, at their
firft coming on board us, to be extremely deject-
ed, and under great horror and anxiety. Particularly
this youth, who having never been from home be-
fore, lamented his captivity in the moft moving man-
ner, regretting in very plaintive terms, his parents,
his brothers, his filters, and his native country; of
ail which 'he was fully perfuaded he had. taken his
laft fiirewei : believing [hat he was now devoted, for
the
■
394 ANSOPTs VOYAGE
the remaining part of his life, to an abject and cruel
fcrvitudc. Indeed his companions on board, and all
the Spaniards that came into our power, had the fame
defponding opinion of their fituation. Mr. Anion
'conftantly exerted his utmoft endeavours to efface
thefe terrifying impretfions they had received of us j
always taking care, that as many of the principal
people among them as there were room for, mould
dine at his table by turns ; and giving the ftricteft
orders too, that they mould at all times, and in
every circumftance, be treated with the utmoft de-
cency and humanity. Gut notwithftanding this pre-
caution, it was generally obferved, that the firft day
or two they did not quit their fears, fulpecting the
gentlenefs of their ufage to be only preparatory to
feme unthought-of calamity. However, being at
length convinced of our fincerity, they grew perfect-
ly eafy in their fituation, and remarkably chearfuU fo
that it was often difputable, whether or no they con-
fidered their being detained by us as a misfortune.
For the youth abovementioned, who was near two
months on board us, had taken fuch an affection to
Mr. Anf..n, and feemed fo much pleafed with a
manner of life, totally different from all he had ever
fcen before j that it is doubtful whether, if his own
Opinion had been aflced, he would not have preferred
a voyage to England in the Centurion, to the being
fet on more at Paita, where he was at liberty to re-
turn to his country and friends.
This uniform conduct of the commodore to his
prifoners gave them all the higheft idea of his huma-
nity and benevolence, and induced them ltkewife to
entertain very favourable thoughts of the whole Eng-
liih nation. But whatever they might be dilpofed to
think of Mr. Anfon before the capture of the Tereia,
their veneration for him was prodigioufly increafed
by his conduct toward thofe women, whom he took
in that veflel : for the leaving them in the pofll-ffion
of their apartments, the ftridt orders given to prevent
all
ROUND THE WORLD. 395
all his people on board from approaching them, and
the permitting the pilot to ftay with them as their
guardian, wee measures that feemed fo different
from what might be expetted trom an enemy and an
heretic-, (h.it the Spaniards on board, though they
had rhemlelves experienced his beneficence, were
furprized at. this new inftance of it, and the more fo,
as all this was done without hit ever feeing the wo-
men, though the two daughters were both efteemed
handibme, and the youngeft was celebrated for her
uncommon beiuty. The women themfelves too
were fo fenfible of the obligations they owed him, for
the care and attention with which he had protected
them, that they abiblutely refufed to go on more at
Paita, till they had been permitted to wait on him on
board the Centurion, to return him thanks in perfon.
Indeed, all the pnibners left us with the ftrongeft af-
furances of their grateful remembrance of his uncom-
mon treatment. A jefuit in particular, whom the
commodore had taken, and who was an ecclefiaftic of
fome diftinction, could not help exprrfltng himlelf
with great thankfulnefs for the civilities he and his
countrymen had found on board, declaring, that he
fhould confider it as his duty to do Mr. Anion juftice
at all times. He added, that his ufige of the men m>
foners was fucii as could never be forgot, ami fuchas
he could never fail to acknowlege and recite upon all
occafions: but that his behaviour to the women was
fo extraordinary, and iu extremely honourable, that
he doubted all the regard due to his own ccclefultical
character, would be fcarcely fufficient to render it
credible. Indeed we were afterward informed, that
he and the reft of our prifoners had not been filent
on this headj but had, both at Lama and at < thcr
places, given the gicatcft encomiums to our commo-
dore-, the jefuit in particular, as wc were toid, having,
on his account, interpreted in a lax and hypothetical
fenfe that article of his church, which alTerts the im-
poflibility of heretics being fuved.
When
&6 ANSON's VOYAGE
■ When we got under fail from the coaft of Paita, wc
ftood to the weftward, and in the morning the com'
modore gave orders, that the whole fquadron lhould
fprcad themfelves, to look out for the Gloucefter. For
as we then drew near the ftation where captain Mitchel
had been directed to cruife, we hourly expected k>
get fight of him ■, but the whole day paffed without
feeing him.
And now a jealoufy, which had taken its rife at
Paita, concerning the appropriation of the plunder,
between thofe who had been commanded on more
for the attack, and thofe who had continued on
board, grew to fuch a height, that the commodore;
being made acquainted with it, thought it neccflary
to interpofe his authority to appeafe it. Thefe con-
teds amongft our men, were carried on with great
heat on both fides: and though the plunder in ques-
tion was a very trifle, in comparifon of the treasure
taken in the plaee, yet as the obftinacy of failors is
not always regulated by the importance of the matter
in difpute, the commodore thought it neceflary. to
put a flop to this ferment betimes. Accordingly,
the morning after our leaving Paita, he ordered all
hands upon tiie quarter-deck ; where, addreffing him-
felf to tliofe who had been detached on fhore, he com-
mended their behaviour, and thanked them for their
fervices on that occafion : but then- reprefenting to
them the reafons urged, by thofe who had continued
on board, for an equal diftribution of the plunder,
which he faid. he thought very conciufive ; he there-
fore infilled, that not only the men, but all the offi-
cers likewife, who had been employed in taking the
place lhould produce the whole of their plunder im-
mediately upon the quarter-deck -, and that it lhould
be impartially divided amongft the whole crew, in
proportion to each man's rank and cotnmiffidn : and
to prevent thofe who had been jn pofleffion of the
plunder from murmuring at this diminution of their
lhare, the commodore added, that as an encourage-
ment
ROUND THE WORLD. $37
ment to others who might be hereafter employed on
like ferviccs, he would give his entire lhare to be dif-
tributed amongft thofe who had been detached for
the attack of" the place. Thus this troublefome affair,
which, if permitted to have gone on, might perhaps
have been attended with mifchievous coniequences,
was by the commodore's prudence foon appealed, to
the general fatisfaftion of the fhip's company.
This important bufinefs employed the belt part of
the day, after we came from Faita. And now, at
night, having no Gght of the Gloucefter, the com-
modore ordered the fquadron to bring to, that we
might not pafs her in the dark. The next morn-
ing we again looked out for her, at ten faw a fail,
to which we gave chace -, and at two in the afternoon
we came near enough to diicover her to be theGlou-
cefter, with a fmall veffel in tow. About an hour
after, we were joined by them-, and then we learnt
that captain Mitchcl, in the whole time of his cruife,
had only taken two prizes; one of them being a
fmall fnow, whole cargo confided chiefly of wine,
brandy, and olives in jars, with about 7000 1. in fpe-
cie ; and the other a large baat or launch, which the
G lou tetter's barge came up with near the fhore. The
prifoners on board this lait veffel alleged, that they
were very poor, and that their loading confided only
of cotton i though the circumftances in vvh;cli the
barge furprized them, feemed to infinuatc that they
were more opulent than they pretended to be : for
the Gloucelter's people found them at dinner upon pi-
geon-pyr, ferved up in filver difhes. However, the
officer who commanded the barge having opened fe-
veral of the jars on board, to iatisfy his curiofity, and
finding nothing in them but cotton, he was inclined
to believe the account the prifoners gave him : but the
cargo being take;: on board the Gloucester, and there
examined more Itricrly, they were agreeably furprized
to find, that the whole was a very extraordinary piece
of falfe package > and [Hat th.-re was concealed
amongft
■
J9« ANSON's VOYAGE
amongfl: the cotton, in every jar, a considerable quanv
tity of double doubloons and dollars, to the annum;
on the whole of near ta.oool. This treasure was go-
ing to Paita, and belonged to the lame merchants
who were the proprietors of the greaieft part of the
money we had taken there : fo that had this boat
eJcapcd the Gbucefter, it is probable her cargo would
have fallen into our hands. Belide thefe two prizes
which we have mentioned, the Gloucester's people
told us, that they had been in fight of two or three
other (hips of the enemy which had Heaped them j
and one of them, we had realbn to believe from {bum
of our intelligence, was of immenfe value.
Being now joined by the Gloucefter and her prise,
it was refolrcd that we would ftand to the northward*
and make the belt of our way either to Cape St.
Lucas on California, or to Cape Corienr.es on the coaft
of Mexico. Indeed the commodore, when at Juan
Fernandas, had determined with himfelf to touch in
the neighbourhood of Panama, and to endeavour to
get ibme correfpondence over-land with the fleet un-
der the command of admiral Vernon. For when we
departed from England, we left a large force at Portf-
mouth, which was intended go be fent to the Weft
Indies, there to be employed in an expedition againft
fome of the Spanifli fetdements. And Mr. Anion
taking it for granted, that this enterprize had fuc-
ceeded, and that Porto Bello perhaps might be then
garrifoned by Bririfh troops, he hoped, that on his
arrival at the ifthmus, he fhould eafily procure an in-
tercourfe with our countrymen on the other fide. So
that Mr. Anfon flattered -himfelf, that he might
by this means have received a reinforcement of men,
and that by fettling a prudent plan of operations
with our commanders in the Weft Indies, might
have taken even Panama itfelf. This would have
pven to the Britifli nation the pofleflion of that
ifthmus, whereby we fhould have been in effect maf-
tsrs of all the treasures of Peru, and lhould have had
ROUND THE WORLD. 399
in our hands an equivalent for any demands, which
we might have been induced to have made on either
of the branches of the houfc of Bourbon.
Such were the projects which the commodore re-
volved in his thoughts at the ifland of Juan Fer-
nandes, notwnhftanding the feeble condition to which
he was then reduced. But in examining the papers
which were found on board the Carmclo, the firll
prize we tool;, we learnt that our attempt againft Car-
thagena had failed, and that there was no pi
that our fleet, in that part of the world, would engage
in any new enterprize, which would at all facilitate
this plan.
The only feafible meafure which was then left us,
was to fteer as foon as poflible to the fouthern parts of
California, or to the adjacent parts of Mexico, there
to cruife for the Manilla galeon, which we knew was
now at fea, bound to the port of Acapulco ; and.
we doubted not to get on that ftation time enough to
intercept her. This (hip does not ufually arrive at
Acapulco till toward the middle of January, and we
were now but in the middle of November ; and not
conceiving that our paflage thither would cofr. us
above a month or five weeks, we imagined we
had near twice as much time as was neceflary for
our purpofe. Indeed there was a bufinefs which we
forefaw would occafion fome delay, but we flattered
ourfelves that it would be difpatched in four or five
days, and therefore could not interrupt our project.
This was the recruiting of our water 1 for the number
of prifbners we had entertained' on board, fince our
leaving the jlland of Fernandes, had fo far cxhaufted
our ftock, that it was impoflible to think of ventur-
ing upon this paiTagc to the coaft of Mexico, till we
had procured a frefh fupply ■ efpecinlly as at Paita,
where we had fome hopes of getting a quantity, we
did not find enough for our confumpuon during our
(lay there. It was for fome time a matter of delibe-
ration, where we (hould take in this neceflary article;
but
-
400 ANSON's VOYAGE
but by cbnfulting the accounts of former navigators,
tnd examining our prifoners, we at laft refolved for
the ifland of Quibo, fituated at the mouth of the bay
of Panama : nor was it but on good grounds that the
commodore conceived this to be the properefl: place
for watering the fquadron. Indeed, there was a
fmall ifland called Cocos, which was lefs out of our
way than Quibo, where fome of the buccaneers have
pretended to find watery but none of our prifoners
knew any thing of it : and befide, by going to Qui-
bo we were not without hopes that fome of tlic
enemy's mips bound to or from Panama, might fall
into our hands.
Determined therefore by thefe reafons for Quibo,
we directed our courfe northward, being eight uil in
company, and confequently having the appearance of
a very formidable fleet; and on the 19th, at day-break,
we difcovered Cape Blanco, bearing fouth fouth eaft,
one half eaft, feven miles diftant. This cape lies in
the latitude of 40° 15' fouth, and is always made by
mips bound either to windward or to leeward ; fo that
off this cape is a moft excellent ftation to cruile upon
the enemy. By this time we found that our laft
prize, the Solidad, was far from anfwering the cha-
racter given her of a good failer ; fhe and the Santa
Terefa delaying us confiderably. The commodore
therefore commanded them both to be cleared of
every thing that might prove ufeful to the reft of the
mips, and to be burnt : and having given proper in-
structions, and a rendezvous to the Gloucefter and
the other prizes, we proceeded in our courfe for
Quibo -, and on the 2 2d in the morning, faw the ifland
of Plata, bearing eaft, diftant about four leagues. At
three in the afternoon point Manta bore fouth eaft by
eaft, feven miles diftant; and there being a town of
the "fame, name in the neighbourhood, capt. Mitchel
took this opportunity of lending away feveral of his
prifoners from the Gloucefter in the Spanith launch.
The boats were now daily employed in diftributing
4 prcvifions
ROUND THE WORLD. 401
provifions On board our prizes, to complete their
ftock for fix months : and that the Centurion might
be the better prepared to give the Manilla fhip a
warm reception, the carpenters were ordered to fix
eight flocks in the main and foretops, which were
properly fitted for the mounting of fwivel guns.
On the 2 5th we had a fight of the ifland of Gallo,
bearing eaft fouth eaft and one half eaft, four leagues
diftant ; and from hence we crofTed the bay of Pa-
nama with a north weft courfe, hoping that this
would have carried us in a direct line to the ifland of
Quibo. But we afterward found that we ought
to have flood more to the weftward -, for the
winds in a fhort time began to incline to that
quarter, and made it difficult to gain the ifland.
After parting 'the equinoctial, (which we did on
the 22d) and leaving the neighbourhood of the Cor-
dilleras, and ftanding more and more toward the
ifthmus, where the communication of the atmofphere
to the eaftward and the weftward was no longer in-
terrupted ; we found in very few days an extraordinary
alteration in the climate. For inftead of that uniform
temperature, where neither the excefs of heat or cold
was to be complained of, we had now for feveral
days together clofe and fultry weather, rcfembling
what we had before met with on the coafl of Brafil,
and in other parts between the tropics on the eaftem
fide of America. We had befide frequent calms and
heavy rains ; which we at fitfl afcribed to the neigh-
bourhood of the line, where this kind of weather is
generally found to prevail at all feafons of the year ;
but obferving that it attended us to the latitude of
feven degrees north, we were at length induced to be-
lieve, that the ftormy feafon, or, as the Spaniards
call it, the vandevals, was no: yet over.
On the 27th, captain Mitchel having finifhed the
clearing of his Iargeft prize, (he was fcuttled, and fet
on fire ; but we ftill confifled of five fhips, and were
fortunate enough to find them all good failcrs ; To
Vol. III. D d that
4<a ANSON's VOYAGE
that we never occafioned aoy delay to each other.
Being now in a rainy climate, which we had been
long difufed to, we found it neceflary to caulk the
decks and fides of the Centurion, to prevent the rain-
water from running into her.
On the 3d of December we bad a view of the ifland
of'Quiboi theeaftendof which then bore from us
north north weft, four leagues diftant, and the ifland;
of Quicaro well north wett, about the Tame djftance.
Here we ftruck ground fixty-five fathom of line, the
bottom of grey find, with black (pecks. When we
had thus got fight of the land, we found the wind to
hang wefterly ; and therefore, night coming on, we
thought it advifcable to ftand off till the morning,
as there are faid to be fome fhoals in the entrance of
the chapnel. But the wind Mill proving unfavour-
able, we were obliged to ply on and off for the
fucceeding twenty-four hours, and were frequently
taken aback. However, about jhree in the afternoon
we entered the Canal Bueno, palling round a fhpal
which ftretches off about two miles from the fouth
point of the ifland. This Canal Bueno, or Good
Channel, is at leaft fix miles in breadth ; and as we
had the wind large, we kept in a good depth of wa-
ter, generally from twenty-eight to thirty-three fa-
thom, and came not within a mile and a half diftance
of the breakers: though, in all probability, if it had
been necefiary, we might have ventured much nearer,
without incurring the lead danger. At ieven in the
evening we anchored in thirty-three fathom muddy
ground ; the fouth point of the ifland bearing fouth
eaft by eaft, a remarkable high part of the ifland weft
by north, and the ifland Sebaco eaft by north.
The next morning, after our anchoring, an officer
was difpatched on fliore to difcover the watering
place, who having found it, returned before noon ;
and then we fent the longboat for a load of water,
and at the fame time we weighed and flood farther in
with our mips. At two we came to an anchor in
twenty-
ROUND THE WORLD. 403
twenty-two fathom, with a bottom of rough gravel
intermixed with broken Ihelis, the watering plate
now bearing from us north weft one half north, only
three quarters of a mile diftant.
This ifland of Quibo is extremely convenient for
wooding and watering; fince the trees grow clofe to
the high-water mark, and a large rapid ftream of frefh
water runs over the fandy beach into the fea: lo that we
were little more than two days laying in all the wood
and water we wanted. The whole ifland is of a very
moderate height, excepting one part. It confifts of
a continued wood fpread all over the whole furface of
the country, which preferves its verdure the year
round. Amongft the other wood, we found there
abundance of caflia, and a few lime-trees. It appear-
ed fingular to us, that, confidering the climate and
the Ihclter, we mould fee no other birds than parrots,
parroquets, and mackaws ; indeed of thele laft there
were prodigious flights. Next to thefe birds, the ani-
mals we found in molt plenty were monkeys and
guanas, and thele we frequently killed for food; for
notwithstanding there were many herds of deer upon
the place, yet the difficulty of penetrating the woods
prevented our coming near them ; fo that though we
i'aw them often, we killed only two during our day.
Our prifoners affured us, that this ilLnd abounded
with tigers 1 and we did once difcover the print of a
tiger's paw upon the beach, but the tigers thernfelves
we never faw. The Spaniards too informed us, that
there was frequently found in the woods a moil mif-
chievous ferpent, called the flying fnake, which
they laid darted itfclf from the boughs of trees on
either man or beaft that came within its reach ;
and whofe (ling they believed to be inevitable
death. Befide thefe dangerous land-animals, the
fea thereabout is infefted with great numbers of al-
ligators-of an extraordinary fize -, and we often ob-
ferved a large kind of flat-fiih, jumping a consider-
able height out of the water, which we fuppofed to be
the fith that is faid frequently to deftroy the pearl di-
D d 2 vtw.
I
04; ANSON's VOYAGE
vers, by clafping them in its fins as they rife from the
bottom : and we were told that the divers, for their
fecurity, are now always armed with a (harp knife,
which, when they are entangled, they (lick into the
belly of the filh, and thereby difengage themlelves
frdm its embraces.
Whilft the (hip continued here at anchor, the, com-
modore, attended by fomeof his officers, went in a boat
to examine a bay which lay to the northward -» and
they afterwards ranged all along the eaftem fide of
the Uland. And in the places where they put on
fhore in the courfe of this expedition, they generally
found the foil to be extremely rich, and met with
great plenty of excellent water. In particular near
the north eaft point of the ifland, they difcovered a
natural cafcade, which furpafled, as they conceived,
every thing of this kind, which human art or induf-
try hath hitherto produced. All the neighbourhood
of this ftream was a fine wood ; and even the huge
manes, of rocks which overhung the water, and
which, by their various projections, formed the ine-
qualities of the channel, were covered with lofty foreft
trees. Wliilft the commodore, with thole accompa-
nying him, were attentively viewing this place, and
were remarking the different blendings of the water,
the rocks, and the wood, there came in fight, as it
were ftill to heighten and animate the profpect, a
prodigious Bight of mackaws, which hovering over
this fpot, and often wheeling and playing on the wing
about it, afforded a moft brilliant appearance, by the
glittering of the fun on their variegated plumage : fo
thtrtfome of the fpectators cannot refrain from a kind
of* tranfport, when they recount the complicated beau-
lies which occurred in this extraordinary water-fall.
In this expedition, which the boat made along the
eaftem fide of the ifland, though they difcovered no
inhabitants, yet they faw many huts upon the fhore,
and great heaps of fhells of fine mother of pearl
fcattered up and down in different places : thefe were
the remains left by the pearl-fUhers from Panama,
6 * who
ROUND THE WORLD.
405
who often1 frequent this place in the fummer feafon;
for the pearl oyfters, which are to be met with every
where in the bay of Panama, do fo abound at Quibo,
that by advancing a very litde way into the fea, you
might (loop down and reach them from the bottom.
They are ufually very large, and out of curiofity we
opened fome of them with a view of tafting them, but
we found them extremely tough and unpalatable.
And having mentioned thefe oyfters and the pearl
fifhery, I muft beg leave to recite a few particulars re*
lating to that fubject.
The oyfters moft productive of pearls are thofe
found in confiderable depths; for though what are
taken up by wading near fhore, are of the fame fpe-
cies, yet the pearls they contain are few in number
and very fmall. It is faid too, that the pearl partakes
in fome degree of the quality of the bottom on which
the oyfter is lodged; lb that if the bottom be mud-
dy, the pearl is dark and ill coloured.
The taking up oyfters from great depths for the
take of their pearls, is a work performed by negro
Qaves, of which ^\e inhabitants of Panama and the
neighbouring coaft formerly kept vaft numbers, which
were carefully trained up to this bufinefs. Thefe are
(aid not to be efteemed complete divers, till they
have by degrees been able to protract their ftay fo
long under water, that the blood gufbes out from
their nofe, mouth, arjd ears : and it is the tradi-
tion of the country, that when this accident has once
befallen them, they dive for the future with much
greater facility than before ; and they have no appre-
henfion either that any inconvenience can attend it,
the bleeding generally flopping of itfelf, or that there
is any probability of their being ever fubject to it a '
fecond time. But to return from this digrefiion.
Though the pearl oyfter, as hath been faid, was
incapable of being eaten, yet that defect was more
than repaid by the turtle; a dainty which the fea at
this place fumifhed us with in the grcatdt plenty and
D d 3 perfection,
406 ANSON's VOYAGE
pnfe&ion. There are generally reckoned four fpe-
cies of turtle; that is, the trunk turtle, the logger-
head, the hawkfbiil, and the green turtle. The two
firft are rank and umvholefome ; the hawkfbill (which
affords the tortoife-(hell)isbut indifferent food, though
better than the other two j but the green turtle is ge-
nerally elteemed, by the greatefl part of thofe who are
acquainted with its tafte, to be the mod delicious of all
eatables. At this iQand we caught what quantity we
pleafed with great facility ; for as they are an amphibi-
ous animal, and get on fhore to lay their eggs, which-
they generally depofit in a large hole in the fand, juft
above the high water-wark, covering them up, and
leaving them to be hatched by the heat of the Ton,
we dually difperfed feveral of our men along the
beach, whole bufinefs it was to mm them on their
backs when they came to land j and the turtle being
thereby prevented from getting away, we brought
them off at our leifure. By this means we not only
fecured a fufficient ftock- for the time we ftayed on the
ifland, but we carried a number of them with us to
fea, which proved of great fervice both in lengthen-
ing out our (tore of provifion, and in heartening the
whole crew with an almoft confrant fupply of frefli
and palatable food. For the turtles being large, they
generally weighing about 200 1. weight each, thofe
we took with us laired near a month : fo that before
our ftore.was {pent, we met with a frefh recruit on the
coaft of Mexico, where in the heat of the day we often
faw great numbers of them faft aflcep, fkiating on the
furface of the water. Upon difcovering them, we
ufually fent out our boat with a man in the bow, who
was a dexterous diver: and as the boat came within
a few yards of the turtle, the diver plunged into the
water, taking care to raife clofe upon it, when ieizing
the fhell near the tail, and prcfling down the hinder
pans, the turtle was thereby awakened, and began to
ftrike with its claws, which motion fupported both it
and the diver till the boat came up and took them in.
By
ROUND THE WORLD.
,;p;
rEy dm management we never wanted turtle for the
lucceeding four months in which we continued at fea.
In the whole feven months, from our leaving Juan
Fernandes to our anchoring in the harbour of Cheque-
tan, we buried no more in the whole Iquadron than
two men -, a moil inconteftable proof that the turtle,
on which we fed for the laft four months of this
term, was at leaft innocent, if not fomething more.
Confidering the fcarcity of other provifions on
Line part of the coaft of the South Seas, it appears
wonderful that a fpecies of food, fo very palatable
and falubrious as turtle, fhould be profcribed by the
Spaniards as unwholeibme, and little lefs than poifon-
ous. Perhaps the ftrange appearance of this animal
may have been the foundation of this fuperftkious
averfion, of which we had many inftances during the
courfe of this navigation. I have already obierved,
that we had taken in our prizes fome Indian and ne-
gro flaves-, we did not difmifs them with their inaf-
tcrs, but continued them on board, as our crews
were thin, to affift in navigating our fhips. Thefe
poor people were.aftonifhed at our feeding on turtle,
and feemed fully perluaded that it would foon de-
ftroy us: but finding that none of us luffered in out
health by this diet, they at laft got fo far the better
of their averfion, as to be perfuaded to tafte it, to
which the abfence of all other kinds of frefh pro-
vifions might not a little contribute. However, it
was with great rcluilance, and very fparingly, that
they firft began to eat of it : but the relilh improv-
ing upon them by degrees, they at laft grew extreme-
ly fond of it, and preferred it to every other kind
of food, and often felicitated each other on the hap-
py experience they had acquired, and the luxurious
and plentiful repafts it would always be in their
power to procure, when they fhould again return
back to their country. Thole who are acquainted
with the manner of life of thefe unhappy wretches,
need not be told, that next to large draughts of fpi-
Dd 4 rituous
4oS ANSON's VOYAGE
rituous liquors, plenty of tolerable food is the grcatfift
joy they know, and confequendy the difcovenng the
means of being always fupplied with what quantity
they pieafed, of a food more delicious to the pa-
late than any their haughty lords and mailers could
indulge in, was doubtlefs a circumftahce which they
cohfiaered as the molt fortunate that could befall
them.
In three days time we had compleated our bufi-
nefs at this place, and were extremely impatient to
depart, that we might arrive time enough on the
coaft of Mexico, to intercept the Manilla galeon.
But' the wind being contrary, detained us a night j
and the next day, when we got into the offing, which
we did through the fame channel by which we en-
tered, 'we were' obliged to keep hovering about the
ifland, in hopes of getting fight of the Glouccfteri
who was feparated from us on our firft arrival. It
was the 9th of December, in the morning, when we
put to fea; continuing to' the fouthward of the
ifland, looking out for the Gloucefter, we, on the
16th, at five in the afternoon, difcerned a fmall fatt
to the northward of us, to which we gave chacei
and coming up with her, took her. She proved to
be a 'bark from Panama, called the Jefii Nazareno.
She had nothing on board but fome'oakum,' about a
ton of rock-falt, and between 30 and 40 1. in ipeciei
molt of it confifting of fmall Elver money, intended
for purchasing a cargo of provifions at Cheripe, an,
inconfiderable village on the continent'.
And on occafion of this, prize I cannot but ob-
ferve, for the ufe of future cruifers,' that, had wfc
been in want of provifions, we had, by iti\& capture^
an obvious method of fuppiyirig purfelves. For at
Cheripe there is a conftant ftore of provifions pre^
pared ifpr the ycffels who go thither every week from
Panama, the market of Panama being chiefly fup-.
plied from thence : fo that by putting a few of oiir
hands on board our prize, we might cafily have fei zed
■ / " ■ *Vto#j
'
ROUND THE WORp. 409
a large quantity without any hazard, fince Cheripe i 5
a place of no ftrength. As provifions are the ihple
commodity of that place and of its neighbourhood,
the knowlege of this circumftance may be of great
ufe to fuch cru'ifers as find their provifions grow leant,
and yet are defirous of continuing on that coaft.
On the mh of December we were at laft re-
lieved from the perplexity we had fuffered, occa-
sioned by the leparation of the Gloucefter -, for orj
that day fhe joined us, and informed us, that in tack-
ing to the iouthward, on our firft arrival, ftie had
ifprung her fore-top-maft, which had difabled her
from working to windward, and prevented her fromi
joining us fooner. And now we fcuttled and funk
the Jeiu Nazareno the prize we took laft -, and hav-
ing the greateft impatience to get into a proper fta-
tion for intercepting the Manilla galeon, we flood al-
together to the weftward, leaving the ifland of Qui-
to, notwithftanding all the impediments we met
with, about nine days after our firft coming in fight
of it.
On the tzth of December we flood from Quibo
to the weftward, and the fame day the commodore
delivered frefli inftructions, appointing the rendcz-
voufes, and the courfes to fleer in cafe of a fepara-
tion. And firft, the veflels were directed to ufe all
poffible difpatch in getting to the northward of the
harbour or Acapulco, where they were to endea-
vour to fall in with the land, between the latitudes
of iS and i g degrees} from thence to beat up the
coaft at eight or ten leagues diftance from the fbore,
till they came a-breaft of Cape Gorientes, in the la-
titude of 20° 20'. After they arrived there, they
were to continue cruifing on that ftation till the 14th-
of February, when thry were ro depart for the middle
ifland of the Tres Marias, in the latitude of 21*
25', bearing from CapeCorientes north-weft by north
twenty five leagues diftant. And if at this ifland
they did not meet the Commodore, they were there
4io ANSON's VOYAGE
to recruit their wood and water, and then immedi-
ately to proceed fer the ifland of Macao, on the
coaft of China. Thefe orders being diftributed to
all the (hips, we had little doubt of arriving foon
upon our intended ftation ; as we expected upon the
increafing our offing from Quibo, to fall in with the
regular trade-wind. But, to our extreme vexation,
we were baffled for near a month, either by tempef-
tuous weather from the weftern quarter, or by dead
calms and heavy rains, attended with a fultry air :
lb that it was the 2£th of December before we ftw
the ifland of Cocos, which, according to our reckon-
ing, was only a hundrtd leagues from the continent *
and even then we had the mortification to make fo
little way, that we did not lofe fight of it again in
five days.
This ifland we found to be in the latitude of 50 20'
north. It has a high hummock toward the weftern
part, which dtfcends gradually, and at laft terminates
in a low point to the eaftward. From the iQand of
Cocos we flood weft by north, and were till the 9th
of January in running an hundred leagues more.
We had at firft flattered ourfelves, that the uncertain
weather, and weft' rn gales we met with, were ow-
ing to the neighbourhood of the continent ; from
which, as we got more diftant, we expected every-
day to be relieved, by falling in with the eaftern
trade-wind : but as our hopes were fo long baffled,
and cur patience quite exhaufted, we began at length
to defpair of fucceeding in the great purpofe in view,
that of intercepting the Manillr. galeon. This pro-
duced a general dejeftion amongft us, as we had at
firft confidered the project as almoft infallible, and
had indulged ourfelves in the molt boundlefs hopes
of the advantages we mould thence receive. How-
ever, our defpbndence was at laft fomewhat allevi-
ated by a favourable change of the wind ; for, on
the 9th of January, a gale fprung up the firft time
from the north-ealr, and oft this we took the Car-
melo
ROUND THE WORLD. 411
melo in tow, as the Gloucefter did the Carmin,
making all the fail we could to improve the advan-
tage, becaufe we dill fufpefted that it was only
a temporary gale which would not laft long ;
though the next day we had the fatisfaftion to find
that the wind did not only continue in the fame
quarter, birc blew with fo much brifknefs and fteadi-
nefs that we no longer doubted of its being the true
trade-wind. As we now advanced a-pace toward
our ltation, our hopes began again to revive, and
our former defpftir by degrees gave place to more
fanguine prejudices; infumuch that though the cuf-
tomary fea'on of the arrival of the galecn at Acapul-
co was already elapfed, *yet we were by this time un-
reasonable enough to flatter ourfelvcs that fome acci-
dental delay might, for our advantage, lengthen out
her p.iflage beyond its ufual limits.
When we got into the trade-wind, we found no
alteration in it t:ll the 17th of January, when we
were advanced to the latitude of 1 2U 50', but on that
day it fhitted to the weft ward of the north: this
change we imputed to our having haled up too foon,
though we then efteemed ourlelves lull ftventy
league] from the coaft ; whence, and by our former
experience, we were fully fattened that the trade-
wind doth not take place, but at a confiderablc dif-
tance from the continent. After this the wind was
not fo favourable to us as it had been : however, we
(till continued to advance; and, on the 26th of Ja-
nuary, being then to the northward of Acapulco,
we tacked and Hood to the eaitward, with a view
of making land.
When, on the 26th of January, we flood to the
eaftward, we expected by our reckonings to have
fallen in with the land en the 28th ; yet though the
Weather was perfectly clear, we had no fight of it at
fun-let ; and therefore we continued our courfe, not
doubting but we Ihould fee it by the next morning.
About ten at night we difcovend a light on the lar-
board-
_vi ANSON's VpYAGE
board-bow, bearing from us north north-oft. The
Tryal's prize too, who was about a mile a-hcad of
lis, made a fignal at the fame time for feeing a fail:
as wc had none of us any doubt but what we Jaw
was a fhip's light, we were all extremely animated
with a firm rjerfuafion that it was the Manilla galeon,
which had been fo long the object of our wifhes :
and what added to our alacrity, was our expectation
of meeiing with two of them infteadpf one ; for we
took it for granted, that the light in view was car-
ried in the top of one fhip, for a direction to her
confort. We immediately caft off" the Carmelo, and
prefied forward with all our canvas, making a fignal
for the Gloucefter to do the^ame. Thus we chafed
the light, keeping all our hands at their refpecriw
quarters, under an expectation of engaging within
half an hour. In this conftant and eager attention
we continued all night, always prefutrung that an- ■
other quarter or an nour would bring us up with
this Manilla fliip, whole wealth, and that of her
iuppoled confort, we now cftimated by round mil-
lions. But when the morning broke, and day-light
came on, we were moft ftrangely and vexatioufly dif-
appointed, by finding that the light which had oc-
calioned all this buille and expectancy, was only a
fire on the Oiore. It muft be owned, the circum-
fiances of this deception were extraordinary ; for, by
our run during the night, and the diitance of the
land in the morning, there was no doubt to be made
but this fire, when we firft difcovered it, was above
twenty-five leagues from us; and yet, no perfbn on
board doubted of its being a fhip's light, or of its,
being near at hand. It was indeed upon a very high
mountain, and continued burning for feveral days
afterwards -, however, it was not a vulcano, but ra-
ther, perhaps, a trad of ftubble or heath, fet on fire
for fome purpofe of agriculture.
At fun-ri(ing, after this mortifying delufion, we
foLind ourfelves about nine leagues off the land,
which
ROUND THE WORLD. 413
which extended from the north-weft to eaft, ' north.
On this land we obferved two remarkable hummocks,
fuch as are ufually called paps, which bore north from
us: thefe a Spanilh pilot and two Indians, who were
the only perfons amongft us that pretended to have
traded in this part of the world, affirmed to be over
the harbour of Acapulco. Indeed, we very much
doubted their knowlege of the coaft ■, for we found
thefe paps to be in the latitude of 17" 56', whereas
thole over Acapulco are laid to be 17 degrees only;
and we afterwards found our fulpicions of their Ikill
to be well grounded.
Being now in the track of the Manilla galeon, it
was a great doubt with us, as it was near the end of
January, whether (he was or was not arrived : but
examining our prifoners about it, they allured us,
that (he was fomecimes known to come in after the
middle of February -, and they endeavoured to per-
fuadc us, that the fire we had feen on more was a
proof that flic was yet at fea ; it being cuftomary, as
they faid, to make ufe of thel'e hires as fignals for her
direction, when (he continued longer out than ordi-
nary. On this realbning of our prifoners, rtrengrhencd
by our propenfity to believe them in .1 matter which
fo pleafingly flattered our wifhes, we relblved to cruife
for her for fome days ■, and we accordingly fprcad our
(hips at the diftance of twelve leagues from the coaft,
in fuch a manner, that it was impoflible (he mould
pafs us unoblerved. However, not feeing her foon,
we were at intervals inclined to fulpect that (he had
gained her port already ; and as we now began to want
a harbour to refrelh our people, the uncertainty of
our prelent fiuiation, gave us great uneafinds, and
we were very felicitous to get fome pofnive intel-
ligence, which might either let us at liberty to con-
fute our neccfiities, if the galleon was arrived, or
might animate us to continue our prelent cruife with
chearfulnefs if (he wai not. With this view the com-
modore, after examining our prilbners very particu-
larly,
414 ANSON's VOYAGE
Iarly, refolved W fend a boat, under colour of the
night, into the harbour of Acapulco, to lee if the
Manilla (hip was there or not. To execute this en-
terpri2e, the barge was difpatched the 6th of Febru-
ary, carrying a fufficicnr crew and two officers. Our
barge did not return to us again till the eleventhi
when the officers acquainted Mr. Anion, that, agree-
able to our fulpicion, there was nothing like. a. har-
bour in the place where the Spanifh pilots had at firft
aflerted Acapulco to lie ; that after they had fatisfied
themfelves in this particular, they fleered to- the eaft-
ward, in hopes of difcovering it, and had coafted
along fliore thirty- two leagues; that at the end of
their run they could juft difcover two paps at a very
great diftance to the eaftward, which from their ap-
pearance and their latitude they concluded to be thole
in the neighbourhood of Acapulco. On this intel-
ligence we all made fail to the eaftward, in order to
get into the neighbourhood of that port ; the com-
modore being determined to fend the barge a fe«
cond time upon the lame enterprize, when we were
arrived within a moderate diftance. Accordingly
the next day, which was the 1 2th of February, we
being by that time confidcrably advanced, the barge
was again difpatched, and particular inftrucYions gi-
ven to the officers to preferve themfelves from being
feen from the fhore. On the 13th we efpied a high
land to the eaftward, which was firft imagined to be
that over the harbour of Acapulco; but we after-
wards found that it was the high land of Seguateneio,
where there is a fmall harbour, of which we (hall
have occafion to make more ample mention hereafter.
^e waited fix days, from the departure of our barge,
without any news of her, ib that we began to be un-
eafy for her fafety ; but, on the 7th day, that is, on
the igth of February (he returned: when the offi-
cers informed the commodore, that they had dilco-
vered the harbour of Acapulco, which they etleemcd
t« bear from us call ibuth-eaft, at leaft fifty leagues
7 diltant :
ROUND THE WORLD. 415
diftant: that on t-he 17th, about two in the morn-
ing, they were got within the illand that lies at the
mouth of the harbour, and yet neither the Spanifh
pilot, nor the Indian could give them any informa-
tion where they then were-, but that while they were
lying upon their oars in fufpence what to do, being
ignorant that they were then at the very place they
fought for, they difcerned a 1'mall light near the fur-
face of the water, on which they inltantiy plied their
paddles, and moving as filently as pulfible toward
it, they found it to be in a fifhing canoe, which they
furprized, with three negroes that belonged to it.
The officers further added, that they had immedi-
ately turned the canoe adrift againit the face of a
rock, where it would be inevitably daihed to pieces
by the fury of the lea : this they did to deceive thofe
who perhaps might be lent from ih? town to fearch
after the canoe •, for upon feeing feveral remains of a
wreck, they would immediately conclude that the
people on board her had been drowned.
On examining thefe negroes, we found that we
were indeed diiappoiotcd in our expectation of inter-
cepting the galleon before her arriving at Acapulco ;
but we learnt other circuniUances which ftill revived
our hopes, and which, we then conceived, would
mote than balance the opportunity we had already
loft : for though our negroe priibners informed us,
tha: the galleon arrived at Acapulco on our 9th of Ja-
nuary, which was about twenty days before we fell
in with this coaft; yet they at the fame time told
us, that the galieon had delivered her cargo, and
was taking in water and provifions in order to re-
turn i and that the viceroy of Mexico had, by pro-
clamation, fixed her departure from Acapulco to
the 14th of March, N. S. Thislall news was moft
joyfully received by us, fince we had no doubt but
flie mult certainly fall into our hands, and it was
much more eligible to feize her on her return, than
it wouJd have been to have taken her before her ar-
rival
4i6 ANSQN's VOYAGE
rival ; as the fpecie for which fee had fold her cargo,'
and which Ihc would now have on board, would be
prodigioufly more to be efteemed by us than the1
cargo icfelf j great part of which would have perilhetf
on our hands, and none of it could have been dif-
pofed of by us at fo advantageous a mart as Aca-
pulco.
Thus we were a fecond time engaged in an eager
expectation of meeting with this Manilla {hip, which;
by the fame of its wealth, we had been taught to
confider as the moft deniable capture that was to
be made on any part of the ocean. But lince all
our future projects will be in fome fort regulated
with a view to the pofleffion of this celebrated gal-
leon, and lince the commerce which is carried on
by means of thefe veflels between the city of Manila
and the port of Acapulco, is perhaps the moft valu-
able, in proportion to its quantity, of any in the
known world -, I lhall endeavour to give fomc ac-
count of the particulars relating thereto.
Though Spain did not acquire the property of
any of the fpice iflands, yet the difcovery ofthe Phi-
lippines, made by Magellan, was thought too con-
fiderable to be neglected ; lince thefe were not far
diftant from thofe places which produced fpices, and
were very well fituated for the Chinefe trade, and
for the commerce of other parts of India. A com-
munication therefore was loon eftablilhcd, and care-
fully fupported between thefe idands and the Spa-
nifh colonies on the coaft of Peru : when the city of
Manila, (which was built on the ifland of Luconia,
the chief of the Philippines) became in a Ihort time
the mart for all Indian commodities, which were
bought up by the inhabitants, and were annually
fent to the South Seas, to be there vended on their
account. The returns of this commerce to Ma-
nila being principally made in filver, the place by
degrees grew extremely opulent, and its trade fo far
increafed as to engage the attention ofthe court of
ROUND THE WORLD. 4i7
Spain, and to be frequently controlled and regu-
lated by royal edifts.
In the infancy of this trade, it was carried on from
the pore of Callao to the city of Manila, in which,
navigation the trade-wind continually favoured them j
fo that notwithstanding thefe places were dillant be-
tween three and four thoufand leagues, yet the voy»
age was often made in little more than two months :
but then the return Irom Manila was extremely
troublefome and tedious, and is laid to have fome-
times tallied above a twelvemonth •, which, if they
pretend to ply up within the limits of the trade-wind,
is not at all to be wondered at. Indeed, though it
is averted, that in their firft voyages they were fo
imprudent and unfkilful as to attempt this courfe ;
yet that rou:e was foon laid afide by the advice, as
it is laid, of a Jefuit ; who perfuaded them to ileer
to the northward till they got clear of the trade-winds,
and then by the favour of the wefteriy winds, 'which,
generally prevail in high latitudes, to ftretch away
for the coaft of California. This, we know, hath
been the practice for at leaft a hundred and fixry
years palt -, as Sir Thomas Cavendiih, in the year
1586, engaged oft' the fouth end or California, a
vefl'el bound from Manila to the American coaft.
And it was in compliance with this new plan of na-
vigation, and to Jhurten the run buth backwards and
forwards, that the Itaple of this commerce to and
from Manila, was removed rr.jm Callao on the coaft
of Peru, to the port of Acapulco on the coaft of Mexi-
co, where it continues fixed to this time-
Such were the earlv regulations of this commerce \
but its prticnt condition being a much more inter*
efting fubjecl, it will be proper to give a defcrip-
tion of the ifiand of Luconia, and of the port and
bay of Manila.
The ifiand of Luconia, though fituated in the la-
titude of 15° north, is elleemed 10 be in general ex-
tremely healthy, and .he water that is found upon
Vol. III. E c «
4iS ANSON's VOYAGE
it is laid to be the beft in the world : it produces all
'the fruits of the warm climates, and abounds in a.
moft excellent breed of horfes, fuppofed to be car-
ried thither firit from Spain : it is very well feated
for the Indian and Chinefe trade, and the bay and
port of Manila, which lies on its weftern fide, is
perhaps the moft remarkable on the whole globe:
the bay being a large circular bafon, near ten leagues
in diameter, great part of it entirely land-locked.
On the eaft fide of this bay ftands the city of Ma-
nila, which is large and populous ■, and which, at
the beginning of this war, was only an open place,
its principal defence confifting in a fmall fort, which
was almoft furrounded on every fide by houfes -, but
they have lately made confiderable additions to its
fortifications *. The port, peculiar to the city, is
called Cabite, and lies near two leagues to the fouth-
ward ; and in this port all the (hips employed for
the Acapulco trade are ufually ftationed.
The city of Manila itfelf is in a healthy fituation,
is well watered, and is in the neighbourhood of a
very fruitful and plentiful country : but as the prin-
cipal bufinefs of this place is its trade to Acapulco,
it lies under fome dilad vantage, from the difficulty ,
there is in getting to fea to the eaftward; for the
pafiage is among iflands and through channels, where
the Spaniards, by reafon of their unfkilfulnefs in
marine affairs, wafle much time, and are often in
great danger.
The trade carried on from this place to China, and
different parts of India, is principally for fuch com-
modities as are intended to fupply the kingdoms of
Mexico and Peru. Thefe are fpices, all forts of Chi-
nefe filks and manufactures -, particularly filk ftock-
ings, of which I have heard that no lefs than fifty
thoufand pair were the ufual number (hipped in each.
* This city was taken by the Engliflj at the clofe of the late
war; and reltoted at the enfuiog peace.
cargo k
ROUND THE WORLD.
419
cargo j vaft quantities of Indian fluffs, as callicocs
and chines, which are much worn in America, toge-
ther with other minuter articles, as goldfmirhs work,
&c. which is principally wrought at the city of Ma-
nila itfelf by the Chinefe ; for it isfaid. there are at
leaft twenty chouland Chinefe who conftintly rcfide
there, either as fervants, manufacturers, or brokers.
.All tnefe different commodities are collected at Ma-
nila, thence to be tranfported annually in one or
more (hips to'the port of Acapulco, in the kingdom
of Mexico.
This trade to Acapulco is not laid open to all the
inhabitants of Manila, but is confined by very parti-
cular regulations, fomewhat analogous to thofe by
which the trade of the regifler fhips from Cadiz to
the Weft Indies is restrained. The mips employed
herein are found by the king of Spain, vvho pays the
officers and crew ■, and the tonnage is divided into a
certain number of bales, all of the fame fize: thefe
arc distributed amongft the convents at Manila, but
principally to the jeluits, as a donation to fupport
their millions, for the propagation of the catholic
faith. The convents have thereby a right to em-
bark fuch a quantity of goods on board the Manila
ftiip, as the tonnage of their bales amount to ; or if
they chufe not to be concerned in trade themfclves,
"they have the power of felling this privilege to others:
nor is it uncommon, when the merchant to whom
they ft 11 their fhare is unprovided of a Stock, for the
convents to lend him considerable fums of money on
bottomry.
The trade is. by the royal edicts, limited to a
certain value, which the annual cargo ought not to
exceed. Some Spanifh manulcripts mention this li-
mitation to be 60 ;>,(" rOO dollars ; but the annual car-
go^docs certainly furpafs this fum : and though it
may be difficult to fix itsexait value, yet, from ma-
ny companions, the return cannot be much Short of
three millions of dollars.
E c 2 As
44o ANSON's VOYAGE
As it is fufficiently obvious, that the greateft iharc
of the treafure returned from Acapulco to Manila
does not remain in that place, but is again difperfed
into different parts of India ; and as all European na-
tions have generally efleemed it good policy to keep
their American let dements in an immediate depen-
dence on their mother country, without permitting
them to carry on directly any gainful traffic with
oth'er powers; thefe considerations have occaGoned
many remonftrances ro be prefented to the court of
Spain againft this Indian trade, allowed to the king-
dom ot Mexico. Don Jofeph Patinho, who was
formerly prime mhiifter, and an enemy to the Je-
fuits, about the year 1725, rcfolved to abolifh this
trade, and to have permitted no Indian commodi-
ties to be introduced into any of the Spanilh pons
in the Weft Indies, except fuch as were brought thi-
ther by thi regiticr fliips from Europe. But the
powerful intrigues of the Jel'uits prevented this re-
gulation from taking place.
This trade from Manila to Acapulco, and back
again, is ufually carried on in one, or at moft two
annual (hips, which fet fail from Manila about July,
and arrive at Acapulco on the December, January,
or February following ; and having there difpofed
of their etfe&s^ return for Manila fome time in
March, where they generally arrive in June ; (b that
the whole voyage takes up very near an entire year.
For this reafon, though there is often no more than
one (hip freighted at a time, yet there is always one
ready for the fea when the other arrives ; and there-
fore the commerce at Manila is provided with three or
four ftout mips, that in cafe of any accident the trade
may not be fufpended. Thelargeft of thefe iliips is de-
scribed as little lefsthan one of our firftrate men of war;
and indeed Ihe mult be an enormous iize, as it is known,
that when ihe was employed with other (hips from
the faaie port, to cruife for our China trade, ihe
had
ROUND THE WORLD. 421
had no lefs than twelve hundred men on board.
Their other (hips, though Far inferior in bulk to this,
are yet ftout large vefTcls, of the burthen of twelve
hundred tonand upward; and ufually carry from three
hundred and fifty, to fix hundred hands, paflcngers
included, with fifty odd guns. As thcle are all
king's fhips, commiflioned and paid by him, there
is ufually one amongft the captains fliled general,
and he carries the royal ftandard of Spain at the main-
top gallant-maft-head, as we (hall more particularly
obferve hereafter.
And now having defcribed the city and port of
Manila, and the /hipping employed by its inhabi-
tants, it :s necefiary to give a more circumftantial
detail of the navigation from rhence to Acapulco.
The (hip having received her cargo on board, and
being fitted for the fea, generally weighs from the
mole of Cabite about the middle of July, taking the
advantage of the wefterly monlbon, which then ftts
in. . The getting through the channel called the Boc-
cadero, to the eaftward, is a troublelbme naviga-
tion, and in fact, it is fometimes the end of Auguft
before they complcat it. When they have cleared
this paffage, and arc difentangled from the iflands,
they ftand to the northward of the eaft, till they ar-
rive in the latitude of thirty degrees or upward,
where they expert to meet with wefterly winds, be-
fore which they ftretch away for the coaft of Cali-
fornia. It is indeed moft remarkable, that by the
concurrent teftimony of all the Spanish navigators,
there is not one port, nor even a tolerable road as
yet found out betwixt the Philippine iflands and the
coaft of California: fo that from the time the Manila
(hip firil lofes fight of land, ihe never lets go her
anchor till fhe arrives on the coalr of California, and
very often not till fhe gets to its fouthcrmoft extre-
mity. As this voyage is rarely of lefs than fix
months continuance, and the (hip is deep laden with
merchandize and crowded with people; it may ap-
E e 3 pear
■ 4i2 ANSON's VOYAGE
pear Wonderful how they can be fupplied with a flock
of frelh wa:er for fo long a time. 1 he method of
■ procuring it is indeed extremely lingular, and de-
fences a very particular recital.
It is well known to thoJe who are acquainted with
'the Spanilh cuftorm in the Sourh Seas, that their
water is preferved on (hipboard, .not in calks, but in
earthen jars, which in fome fort refembje the lar^e
oil jars we often fee in Europe. When the Ma-
nila (hip firft puts to fea, (he takes on board a much
greater quantity of water than can be flowed be-
tween de^ks, and the jars which contain it are hung
all about the fhrouds and flays, fo as to exhibit at
a diftance a very odd appearance. Though it is one
convenience of their jars, that they are much more
manageable than calks, and are liable to no leakage,
unh fs they are broken •, yet it is furficientiy obvious,
that a fix, or even a three month (lore of water, could
never be flowed in a fhip fo loaded, by any manage-
ment whatever ; :.nd therefore without fome other
fupply, this navigation could net be performed. A
limply intieed they have, bur the reliance upon it
feems at firft fight fo extremely precarious, that it
is wenderful fuch numbers fhould rifquethe perilhing
by the molt dreadful of all deaths, on the expecta-
tion of fo cafual a relief. In ihort. their only me-
thod of recruiting their water is by the rains, which
they meet with between the latitudes of 30 and 40°
north, and which they are always prepared to catch.
For this purpofe they take to fea with them a great
number of mats, which, whenever the rain defcends,
they range flopingly agiinft the gunwale, from one
end of the (hip to the other, their lower edges rett-
ing on a large fplit bamboe; whence all the water
which falls on the mats, drains into the bamboe, and
by this, as a trough, is conveyed into a jar. And
this method of furnifhing themlclves with water,
ho-*, ever accidental and extraordinary it may at firft
fight appear, hath never been known to fail them,
but
ROUND THE WORLD.
423
but it hath been common for them, when their voy-
age is a little longer than ufual, to fill all their water-
jars kvcral rimes over.
However, though their diflrefies for frefh water
are much fhort of what might be expected in fo te-
dious a navigation ; yet there are other inconveni-
ences generally attendant upon a long co .timiance
at fea, from which they are not exempted. The
principal of thefe is the fcurvy, which fometimes
rages with extreme violence, arid deftroys great num-
bers of the people; but at other times their pafTage
to Acapulco (or which alone I would be here under-
ftood to fpeak) is performed with little lots.
The length of time employed in this pafTage, fo
much beyond what ufnally occurs in any other known
navigation, is perhaps in part to be imputed to the
indolence and unlkilfulnefs of the Spanifh lailors, and
to an unnecefTary degree of caution, on pretence of
the riches of the velfel : for it is faid, that they
rarely fet their main-fail, in the night, and often lie
by unneceffarily. Thus much is certain, that the
imlrudjons given to their captains feem to have been
drawn up by fuch as were more apprehenfive of too
ftrong a gale, though favourable, than of the incon-
venlencies and mortality attending a lingering and
tedious voyage. For the captain is particularly or-
dered to make his pafTage in the latitude of 30 de-
grees, if p'lfliblc, and to be extremely careful to
lbind no farther to the northward than is abfolutely
necelfary for the getting a welterly wind. This, ac-
cording to our conceptions, appears to be a very ab-
furd reltriction -, fince it can fcarcely be doubted, but
that in the higher latitudes the wefterly winds are
much Headier and briflcer than in the latitude of 30
degrees. Indeed the whole conduct of this naviga-
tion feems liable to very great cenfure. Since, if
inttead of (leering eaft north-eaft, into the latitude;
of 30 degrees, they at firlt flood north rail, or even
(till more northerly, into the latitude of 40 or 45 de-
E e 4 grecs,
42A- ANSQN's VOYAG;E
grces, in part of which coaft the trade-winds would
greatly aflift them, 1 doubt not but by this manage-
ment they might conJiderably contract their .voyage,
and perhaps perform it in halt the time which is now
altotted for it. This may in feme mcafure be de-
duced from their own journals j fince in thofe I have
feen, it appears, that they are often a month or fix
weeks after their laying the land, before they get in-
to the latitude of 30 degrees ; whereas, with a more
northerly courfe, it might eafily be done in lefs than
a fortnight. Now when they were once well advan-
ced to the northward, the wefterly winds wouid foon
blow them over to the cdaft of California, and they
would be thereby freed irom the other embaraflments
to which [hey are at prefent fubjected, only at the
expence of a rough lea and a flirt gale. This is not
merely matter of fpeculation ; furl am credibly in-
formed, thar. about the year 1721, a French lhip,
by purfuing this courfe, ran from the coaft of China
to the valley of Vanderas on the coaft of Mexico in
lefs than fifty days.
However, to return to the actual occurrences of
the prefent navigation. The Manila ihip having
flood fo far to the northward as to meet with a weft-
erly wind, ftretches away nearly in the fame latitude
for the coaft of California : and when the has run
into the longitude of about 100 degrees from Cape
Efpirhu Santo, the generally finds a plant floating
on the lea, which, being culled Porra by the Spani-
ards, is, I prefume, a fpecies of fea-leek. On the
f,ght of this plant, they eftecm thcmfelvcs fuffici-
ently near the Califomian ihore, and immediately
Hand to the (buthward, without endeavouring to ap-
proach the coaft, till they have run into a lower la-
titude. However, when they draw near its fouthern
extremity, they venture to hale in, both for the fake
of making Cape St. Lucas to afcertain their reckon-
ing, and alfo to receive intelligence from the Indian
inhabitants, whether or no there are any enemies
ROUND THE "WORLD.
425
I
On the coaft : and this laft circumftance, which is a
particular article in the captain's inltructions, obli-
ges us to mention the late proceedings of the Jeiuits
among the Californian Indians.
Since the firfb difcovery ot California, there have
been various wandering miffionaries, who have vifited
it M different times, though to little purpok : but
or" Idle years the Jeiuits, encouraged and iup^orted
by a large donation from the marquis de Valero, a
mult munificent bigot, have fixed themielves upon
the phice, and have there ellablifhed a very confider-
able miHion ; and being thus occupied in advancing
the inttreft of their focicty, it is no wonder ir fome
fhare of attention is engaged about the fecurity of
the Manila (hip, in which their convents at Manila
are lo deeply concerned. For this purpole there arc
nfri ]h:neiits conftanriy kept in readinefs for her;
and mere is befide cure taken at Cape St. Lucjs, to
look out for any fhip of the enemy which might be
cruifing there to intercept her, this being a nation
where file is conrtantly expected. The captain of the
galeon is ordered to fall in with the land to the noith-
ward <-f Cape St. Lucas, where the inhabitants arc
directed, on light of the velTel, to make the proper
fignals with fires. If the captain finds that he has
nothing to fear, he is directed to proceed for Cape
St. Luc.;s, and thence to Cape Corientes, after which
he is to coalt it along for the port of Acapulco.
The molt ui'ual time of the arrival of the galeon
at Acapulco is toward the middle of January: but
this navigation- is lb uncertain, that it is fomeiimes
a month fooncr or later. The port of Acapulco is
by much the fee u re ft and fineil in all the northern
part of the Pacific Ocean, being, as it were, a bafon
furrounded by very high mountains : but the town
is a mull wretched phce, and extremely unhealthy;
for the air about it is fo pent up by the hills, that
it has fcarcely any circulation. Acapulco is befide
deilitute of frclh water, except what is brought from
a con-
426 ANSONV VOYAGE
a considerable di (lance, and is In all refpefts to in-
convenient, that, ex< ept while the Manila galeon is
in the pore, it is almoft deferred.
When the galeon arrives in this port, flic is gene-
rally moored on its weftern fide to two trees, and
her cargo is delivered with all pofBble expedition.
The Cargo being la .ded and difpofed of, the filver
and the goods intended for Manila, taken on board,
together with provifions and water, the (hip puts to
fca with the utmoft expedition : for it is an exprefs
order to the ca, tain to be out of the port of Aca-
pul o on his return before the firft day of April.
1'he galeon being fitted in order to her return,
the captam, on leaving the port of Acapulco, fteers
for the la iiud'- of i 30 or 14', and then continues on
that parallel, till he gees fight of the ifland of Guam,
one ot the Ladrones. In thh run the captain is par-
ticularly directed to be careful of the flioals of St.
Bar:hol >mew, and of the ifland of Gafparico. He is
alfo told in his instructions, that to prevent his pafling
the Ladrones in the dark, through all the month of
June, fi.es mill be lighted every night on the higheft
part of Guam and Rota
At Guam there is a fmall Spanilh garrifon, (as will
be more particularly mentioned hereafter) purpofely
intended to fecure that place for the refrelhment of
-the galeon. However, the danger of the road at
Guam is lb great, that though die galeon is ordered
to call there, yet Ihe rarely ftays above a day or two,
but fteers away direftly for Cape Efpiritu Santo, on
the ifl.ind ofS.imal. Here the captain is again or-
dered to look out for fignals, and more particular in-
tellLe ice, purfuant to which, he is to regulate his
■conduct. If there is nothing to fear, he is to pur-
fue his courfe without interruption, making the beft
of his way to the port of Cabite, which is the port
to the cky of Manila.
It has been already mentioned that our barge had
furprifed three negroe fiihermen, which gave us in-
exprcfilble
ROUND THE WORLD. 427
txpreffible fatisfacTion j as we learnt from our pri-
foners-, that, the galeon was then preparing to pot
to Tea, and /hat her departure was fixed, by an edi£fc
of the viceroy of Mexico, to the 14th of March,
N. S. that is to the 3d of March, according to
our reckoning at that time.
What related to this Manila fhip being the matter
to which we were moll attentive, it was neceflanly the
firft article of our examination -, but h.iving Guasfied
ourfciws on this head, we thin indulged our cu-
riofity in enquiring after other news; when the pri-
fomrs informed us, ihat they had received intelli-
gence at Acapulco, of our hav.ng plandeied and
burnt the town of Pairs ; and that, on this occafion,
the governor of Acapulco had augmented the forti-
fications of the place, and had taken levenl precau-
tions to prevent us trim forcing our way into the
harbour; th:t in particular, he had pl-ntcd a guard
on the iiland which lies at the harbour's mnum, and
that this guard had betrn withdrawn but two nights
before the arrival of our barge.
The withdrawing of this guard was a circumftance
that gave us much pleilure, fince it leemed to de-
monliratc, not only that the enemy had not as yet
difcovered us, but Hkewue that 'they had now no far-
ther apprehenfiona of our viliting their coaft..
" Satisfied therefore thit we wircundifcovered, and
that the day was fixed for the departure of the galeon
from Acapulco, we made all neccflary preparations,
and waited with the utmolt impatience tor the im-
portant moment. Durirrg this interval we were em-
ployed in fcrubbing and clt anting our (hips bottoms,
and regulating the orders, fignals, and poiitions to be
obfervtd when we fhould arrive off Acapulco.
It was on the ill: of March we made the highlands,
ufually called the paps, over Acapulco ; and got with
all poffible expedition into the fituation prefcribed
by the commodore's orders. The diftiibution of our
fquadron on this occafion, both for the intercepting
the
428 ANSON's VOYAGE
the galeon, and for avoiding any difcovery from the
fhore, was fo very judicious that it well merits to be
defcribed. It was thus : the Centurion brought the
paps over the harbour to bear north north-eaft, at
fifteen leagues diftance, which was a fufficient offing
to prevent our being feen by the enemy. To the
weftward of the Centurion was ftationed the Car-
melo, and to the eaftward the Trial's prize, the Glou-
cefter, and the Carmin : thefe were all ranged in a
circular line, and each Ihip was three leagues diftant
from the next -, fo that the Carmelo and the Carmin,
which were the two extremes, were twelve leagues
removed from each other : and as the galleon could,
without doubt, be difcerned at fix leagues diftance
from either extremity, the whole fweep of our fqua-
dron, within which nothing could pafs undilcovered,
was at leaft twenty-four leagues in extent -, and yet
we were fo connected by our iignals, as to be eafily
and fjleedily informed of what was feen in any part
of the line. * To render this difpofition ftill more com-
pleat, and to prevent even the poffibility of the ga-
Jeon's efcaping us in the night, the two cutters be-
longing to the Centurion and Gloucefler, were both '
manned and fent in fhore, and commanded to lie all
day at the diftance of four or five leagues from the
entrance of the port, where they could not poffibly
be difcovered ; but in the night they were directed
to (land nearer to the harbour's mouth.
Befide the care taken to prevent the galeon from
paffing by us unobferved, we had not been inatten-
tive to the means of engaging her to advantage when
we came up with her : for confidering the thinnefs of
our crews, and the vaunting accounts given by the
Spaniards of her fize and ftrength, this was a con-
fiderariun not to be neglected. As we fuppofed that
none of our (hips but the Centurion and Gloucefter
were capable of lying along fide of her, we took on
board the Centurion all the hands belonging to the
Carmelo and Carmin, except what was juft fufficient
ROUND THE WORLD. 429
to navigate thofe (hips; and captain Saunders was.
ordered to fend from the TryaPs prize ten Englilb-
men, and as many negroes, to reinforce the crew of
the Gloucefter. At the fame time, for the encou-
ragement of our negroes, of which wc had a confi-
derable number on board, we promifed them, that
on their good behaviour they fhould have their free-
dom.
Being thus prepared for the reception of the ga-
leon, we expected, with the utmoft impatience, the
often mentioned 3d of March, the day fixed for her
departure. But, to our extreme vexation, both this
day and the fucceeding night pafcd over without any
news of the galeon : however, we did nor yet dt-
fpair, but were all heartily difpoied to flatter our-
felves, that fome unforelecn accident had intervened,
which might have put off her departure for a few
days ; and fuggeilions of this kind occurred in plenty,
as we knew that the time fixed by the viceroy for
her failing, was often prolonged on the petition of
the merchants of Mexico : and as the 7th of March
was Sunday, the beginning of Pafiion-wee!:, which is
oblerved by the Papifts with great ftrictnels, as a to-
tal ceflation from all kinds of labour ; fo that no fhip
is permitted toftir out of port during the whole week -,
this quieted our apprehenfions for fome time, and
difpofed us not to expeel: the galeon till the week fol-
lowing. At length we began to fear that the enemy
had, by fome accident, difcovered our being upon
the coaft, and had therefore laid an embargo on the
galleon till the next year. And indeed this perfus-
ion was but too well founded; for we afterward
learnt that our bargr-, when fent on the difcovery of
the port of Acapulco, had been feen from the Ihore j
and that this circumltance, no embarkations but ca-
noes ever frequenting that coaft, was to them a Effici-
ent proof of the neighbourhood of our fquadron ;
on which they Hopped the galeon till the iucteed-
ing year,
"ftp
430 ANSON's VOYAGE
The commodore himfelf, though he declared not
his opinion, was yet in his own thoughts apprehen-
^ five that we were difcovered, and that the departure ■
of the galcon was put off-, and he had, in confe- .
quence of this opinion, formed a plan for poflefling
himlelf of Acapclco-, becaule he had no doubt but
the treafure as yet remained in the town, even though,
the orders for the difpatching of the galeon were coun-
termanded.
But as this fcheme was formed by the commodore,
upon a matter of opinion only ■, he thought it pru-
dent to continue cruifing on his prefcnt ftation, as
long as the neceflary attention to his ftores of wood
and water, and to the feafon for his future paflage to-
China, would give him leave. And therefore, as the '
cutters had been ordered to remain' before Acapulco.
tfll the 23d of March, the fquadron did not change its,
pofition till that day; when the cutters not appear-
ing, we were in fome pain for them, apprehending
they might have fuffcred either from the enemy or
the weather : but we were relieved from our concern
the next morning, when we difcovered them though
at a great diftance, and to the leeward of the fqua-
dron. We bore down to them, and took them up,
and were informed by them, that, conformable to
their orders, they had left their ftation. the day be-
fore, without having ieen any thing of the galeon ^
and we found, that the reafon of their being fo far
to the leeward of us, was a ftrong current which had
driven the whole fquadron to windward.
By information which was afterward received, it
appeared that this prolongation of our cruife afforded
us no contemptible chance of feiztng the treafure
on which we had fo long fixed our thoughts. For
after the embargo was laid on the galeon, the per-
fons interefted in the cargo difpatched feveral expref-
fcs'to Mexico, to beg that (he might fl ill be permit-
ted to depart: it feems they knew, by the accounts,
font from Paita, that we had not more than three
hundred; '
ROUND THE WORLD.
43t
hundred men in all, whence they infifted that there
was no:hing to be feared. And though the viceroy
was inflexible, yet on the account of their repretcn-
tation, (he was kept ready for the fea near three
weeks after the firft order' came to detain her.
When we had taken up the cutters, all the (hips
being joined, upon enquiry into our llo..k of frefli
water, it was found to be lb very ilender, that we
were under a neceffiry to procure a frelh Jlipply.
Conl'ulting what place was the properelt for th.s pur-
pofr, it was agreed, that the harbour of SegUjUaneio
or Chequetan being the neareft, was, on that account,
the molt eligible ; lb that it was immediately refolded
to make the bell of-ojr way thither: but that, even
while we were recruiting our water, we .might not
totally abandon our views upon the galeon, which
perhaps, from intelligence of our being employed at
Chequetan, might venture to flip jaut to lea-, our
cutter, under the command of Mr Hughes, the lieu-
tenant of the Tryal's prize, was ordered to cruife off
the port of Acapulco for twenty-four days j that if
the gateon fhould fct fail in that interval, we might
be fpeedily informed of it. By the lit of April we
were ib far advanced towards Seguatancio, that we
thought it expedient to fend out two boats to difco-
ver the watering-place : they were gone fome days,
and our water being now very Ihort, it was a parti-
cular felicity to us that we" met with daily fupplies
of turtles for had we been entirely confined to fait
provilions, we mult have fuffcred extremely in fo
warm a climate. Indeed we were apprehcrifive of
be;ng foon txpofed to a calamity, die moft terrible
of any that occurs in the long dilheartening catalogue
of the diftreflcs of a fci-faring life.
But thefe gloomy fuggeftions were at length hap-
pily ended : for our boats returned on the 5th of
April, having, about feven miles to the weftward of
the rocks of Seguataneio, met with a place fit for
our purpofe-, and which, by the defcription they
gave of it, appeared to be the port of Chequetan,
432 ANSON's VOYAGE
mentioned by Dampier ; fo thac on the 7th we flood
for it, and that evening came to an anchor in eleven fa-
thom-
Thus, after a four months continuance at fea,
from the leaving of Quibo, and having but fix days
water on board, we arrived in the harbour of Che-
quctan, which lies in the latitude of I7U 36' north*
and is about thirty leagues to the weftward of Aca-
pulco. It is eafy- to be difcovered by any fhip that
will keep well in with the land, efpecially by fuch as
range down the coaft from Acapuko, and will at-
tend to the following particulars.
There is a beach of fand which extends eighteen
leagues from the harbour of Acapulco to the weft-
ward,, againfi: which the fea breaks fo violently, that
with our boats it would be impoffihle to land on any
part of it : but yet the ground is lb clean, that'dur-
' ing the fair feafon, (hips may anchor in great Jafety,
at the diftance of a mile or two from the more. The
land adjacent to this beach is generally low, full of
villages, and planted with a great number of trees ;
a^d on the tops of lome fmall eminences there are
iVvtral look -out towers j fo that theface of the coun-
try affords a very agreeable profpect. It is a moil
remarkable particularity, that in this whole extent,
containing, in appearance, the molt populous and
belt planted diftrict of the whole coaft, there fhould
be neither canoes, boats, nor any other embarkations,
either for filbing, coafting, or for pleafure. This
cannot be imputed to the difficulty of landing; be-
came in many parts of Africa and Afia, where the
fame inconvenience occurs, the inhabitants have pro-
vided againft it by veflels of a peculiar fabric. It
is therefore probable that the government, to pre-
vent frmiggling, has prohibited the ufe of all kinds
of fmall craft in that diftrict.
The beach here defcribed is the fureft guile to
thoic who are defirous of finding the barbour of Che-
quetan; for five miles to the weftward of the extre-
mity of this beach there, v^cass a hummock, which
ROUND THE WORLD. 433
at h"rft makes like an Miami, and it in Ihape not very
unlike the hill of Petaplan, hereafter mentioned,
though much fmaller. Three miles to the weltward
of this hummock, is a white rock n~ar the fhore,
which cannot ealily be paded by unobierved : it is •
about two cables length from the land, and lies in a
large bay about nine leagues over. The weft point
of this bay is the hill ot Petaplan,' which, like the
foremen tioncd hummock, may be at firft miftaken.
for an ifiand, though it be, in reality, a peninfula,
joined to the continent by a low narrow irthmus. The
bay of Seguatancio extends from this hill a great
way tu the weftward j and at a fmall diftan£e from die
hill, and oppofite the entrance of the bay, there is
an afiemblage of rocks, which are white, from the
excrements of boobies and tropical birds. Thefc
rocks bear weft by north from Petaplan ; and about
feven miles to the weftward of them lies the harbour
of Chequetan, which is ftil! more minutely diftin-
guimed by a large and fingle rock that rifes put of
the water a mile and an half diftant from the en-
trance, and bears fouth i weft from the middle of it.
It is to be added, that the coaft is no ways to be
dreaded between the middle of October and the be-
ginning of May j though in the remaining part of the
year there are frequent and violent tornadoes, heavy
rains, and hard gales, in all directions of the compafs.
The harbour is invironed on all fides, except to
the weltward, with high mountains overfpread with
trees. The pafiage into it is very fafc on either fide
of the rock that lies off the mouth of it, though we,
both in coming in and going out, left it to the eaft-
ward. The ground without the harhour is gravel
mixed with (tones, but within it is a foft mud : and
it mult be remembered, that in coming to an anchor
a good allowance ihould be made for a large fwell,
which frequently caules a great fend of the lea ; a*
likewife, fur the ebbing and flowing of the tide.
Vol. III. F f which
434 ANSON's VOYAGE
which we obferved to be about five feet, and that it
fet nearly eaft and weft.
As the country hereabout appeared to be well
peopled and cultivated, we hoped to have eafily
procured from thence lbme frefh provifions, of which
we now ftood greatly in need. To facilitate thefe
views the commodore, the morning after we came
to an anchor, ordered a party of forty men, well'
armed, to march into the country, and to endeavour
to difcover fome town or village, where they wefe
10 attempt to fet on foot a correfpondehce with the
inhabitants. Our people were directed, on this oc-
cafion, to proceed with the greateft circumfpection,
and to make as little oftentation of hoftility as pof-
Fible i for we were fenfible, we could find no wealth
in thefe parts worth our notice. Toward evening,
the party returned, greatly fatigued by their unufual
exercife, and fome of them fo far fpent, that they
were obliged to be brought back upon the fhouMers
of their companions. They had penetrated, as they
conceived, about ten miles into the country, along
a beaten track, where they often faw the frefh dung
of horfes or mules j till the heat of the day increas-
ing, and finding no water to quench their thirft,
they were firft obliged to halt, and then rtfolved to
return -, for as they law no figns of plantations or
cultivated land, they had no reafon to believe that
there was any village or fctflement near them. How-
ever, to leave no means untried of procuring lbme
intercourfe with the people, the officers fhick up fc-
veral poles in the road, to which were affixed deck-
rations, written in Spanilh, encouraging the inha*
bitants to come down to the harbour to traffic with
t», giving them the ftrongeft aflurances of a kind
reception, and faithful payment for any provifions
they mould bring. This was doubtlefs"a very pru-
dent meafure ; yet it produced no effect.
After our unfuccefsful attempt to engage the
people of the country to furnifh us with the ne-
ceflarics
ROUND THE WORLD. 435
ceflaries we wanted, we defifted from any more en-
deavours of the feme nature, and were obliged to
be contented with what we could procure tor our-
fclves in the neighbourhood of the port. We caught
fifh here in tolerable quantities ; and here, and in no
other place, met with that extraordinary fifh called
the torpedo, or numbing filh.
The animals we met with on ihore were principally
guanas, with which the country abounds, and which
irS by fome reckoned delicious food. We law no
beaft of prey here, except the alligator -, feveral of
which our people difcovered, but none of them very
large. However, we were farisfied that there were
great numbers of tygers in the woods, though none of
them came in fight ; for we every morning found
the beach, near the watering-place, imprinted very
thick with their footfteps : but we never apprehended
any mifchief from them i fince they are by no means
fo fierce as the Afiatic or African tyger.
The fruits and vegetable rcfreihments at this place
were neither plentiful, nor of the beft kinds : but
yet, upon the whole, it mull be owned to be a
place of confiderable confequence, and that the know-
lege of it may be of great import to future cruifers.
For except Acapulco, which is in the hands of the
enemy, it is the only fecure harbour in a vaft extent
of coart.
The next morning, after our coming to an anchor
in the harbour of Chequetan, we lent about ninety of
our men well armed on Ihore; forty of whom were
ordered to march into the country, as hath been men-
tioned, and the remaining fifty were employed to co-
fer the watering place, and to prevent any interrup-
tion from the natives.
Here we completed the unloading of the Carmelo
.■md Carmin, which we had begun at lea; here too
it was agreed, after a mature con ful tat ion, to deilroy
the Tryal's prize, as well as the Carmelo and Car-
min, whofe fate had been before rdbUed on. Indeed
F f a the
436 , ANSON's VOYAGE
the Tryal's prize was in good repair, and fit for the
fea ; but as the whole numbers on board our fqua-
dron did not amount to the complement of a fourth
rate man of war, we found it was impoflible to divide
them into three ihips, without rendering each of
thofe mips incapable of navigating in fafety through
the tempeftuous weather we had reafon to expect on
the coaft of China, where we fuppofed we fliould ar-
rive about the time of the change of the monfoons.
During our flay here, there happened an Incident
which, as it proved the means of convincing our
friends in England of our fafety, which for fome time
they had defpaired of, and were then in doubt about,
I (hall beg leave particularly to recite. From this
harbour of Chequetan there was but one path-way
which led through the woods into the country. This
we found much beaten, and we were thence convin-
ced, that it was well known to the inhabitants. As it
pafled by the fpring-head, and was the only avenue
■by which the Spaniards could approach us, we, at fome
diftance beyond the fpring-head, felled fcverai large
trees, and laid them one upon the other acrofs the
path-, and at this barricadoe we constantly kept a
guard. This alfo anfwered another purpofe, which was
not in itfelf lefs important : which was to hinder our
own people from ftraggling fingly into the country,
where we had reafon to believe they would be fur>
priled by the Spaniards, who would doubtlefs be ex-
tremely follicitous to pick, up fome of them, in hopes
of getting intelligence of our future defigns. But
notwithltanding this precaution, we milled one Lewis
I-eger, who was the commodore*s cook : as he was
a Frenchman, and was fufpecled to be a papift, it
was at firft imagined that he had deferted, with a
view of betraying all that he knew to the enemy ;
though this appeared, by the event, to be an ill-
grounded furmiie ; for it was afterward known, that
he had been taken by fome Indians, who carried him
priibner to Acapulco, from whence he was .transferred
ROUND THE WORLD. 437
to Mexico, and then to Vera Cruz, where he was
Ihipped on board a veffel bound to Old Spain. But
this vefiel being obliged by fome accident to put in-
to Lifbon, Leger cicaped on Ihore, and was by the
Britilh conful lent from thence to England -, where he
brought the firft authentic account or the fafety of the
commodore, and of his principal tranfjctions in the
South Seas.
Toward the latter end of April, the unloading of
our three prizes, our wooding and watering, and in
fhort, every one of our propoied employments at the
harbour of Chequetan, were completed : fo that, on
the 27th of April, the Tryal's prize, the Carmelo
and the Carmin, all which we here intended to de-
ftroy, were towed on more and fcuttled, a quantity
of combuftible materials having been diftributed in
their upper works. The next morning the Cen-
turion with the Gloucefter weighed anchor ; though
as there was but little wind, and that not in their
favour, they were obliged to warp out of the har-
bour. When they had reached the offing, one of the
boats was difpatched back again to fet fite to our
prizes, which was accordingly executed. After this a
canoe was left fixed to a grapnel in the middle of the
harbour, with a bottle in it well corked, inclofmg a
letter to Mr. Hughes, who commanded the cutter,
which had been ordered to cruifc before the port of
Acapulco, when we ourfelves quitted that ftation.
Mr. Hughes, the time of whofe return was now
confiderably elapfed, was directed by this letter to go
back immediately to his former ftation before Aca-
pulco, where he would find Mr. Anfon, whorefolved
to cruife for him there a certain number of days j
after which it was added, that the commodore would
return to the fouthward to join the reft of the fqua-
dron. This laft article was infertrd to deceive the
Spaniards, if they got pofiefllon of ihe canoe, as we
afterwards learnt they did ; but could not impofe on
Mr. Hughes, who well knew that the commodore
F f 3 had
/
43s AN SOWs VOYAGE
had no fquadron to join, or any intention of fleering
back to JPeru.
Being now in the offing of Chequetan, bound
arofs the vaft Pacific ocean in our way to China, we
were impatient to run off the coaft as foon as pof-
fible ; fmcc the ftormy feafon was approaching apace.
As we had no further views in the American feas,
we had hoped that nothing would have prevented us
from fteering to the weftward the moment we got out
qf the harbour of Chequetan : and it was no fmall
mortification to us; that our neceflary employment
{here hftd detained us fo much longer than we ex-,
pe&ed. But now, when we had put to fea, we were
further detained by the abfence of the cutter, and the
neceffity we were under of ftanding toward Aca-
pulco in fearch of her.
By Sunday the 2d of May, we were advanced
within three leagues of Acapulco, and having feei*
nothing of our boat, we gave her over as loft, which,
befides the companionate concern for our ihip-mates,
was in itfelf a misfortune, which, in our pretent fcar-
city of hjmds, we were all greatly ipterefted in : fince
the ocew of the cutter, confifting of fix men and the
lieutenant, were the very flower of our people, pur-
pofcly picked out for his fervice. However, as it
was the general belief among us that they were taken
and carried into Acapulco, the commodore's pru-
dence fuggefted a pffQjeS which we hoped would
recover them. He wrote a letter to the governor of
Acapulco, telling him, that he would releafe all his
Spanilb and Indian prifoners, provided the governor
returned the cutter's crew. This letter was difpatched
in the afternoon by a Spanilh officer, of whofe honour
we had a good opinion, and who was furnilhed with
a launch belonging to one of our prizes, and a crew
of fix other prisoners, who gave their parole for their
return. We did not doubt but the governor would
readily comply with Mr. Anion's propofal, and there-
fore we kept plying on and off the whole night, in-
tending
o
ROUND THE WORLD. 439
tending to keep well in with the land, that we might
receive an anfwer at the limited time, which was the
next day, being Monday : but both on Monday and
Tuefday, we were driven fo far off fliore, that we
could not hope that any anfwer could reach us; and
even on the Wednefday morning we found ourfelves
fourteen leagues from the harbour of Acapulco.
However, as the wind was then favourable, we preffed
forward with all our fail, and did not doubt of get-
ting in wiih the land that afternoon.
Whilft we were thus (landing in, the centinel called
out from the malt-head, that he faw a boat under fail
at aconfiderable diftance to the fouth eaftward : this
we took for granted was the anfwer of the governor
to the commodore's meflage, and we inftantly edged
rewards her; but as we approached her, we found,
to our unfpeakable joy, that it was our own cutter.
And though, while ihe was ftill at a diltance, we
imagined that (be had been difcharged out of the port
of Acapulco by the governor 1 yet when (he drew
nearer, the wan and meagre countenances of the
crew, the length of their beards, and the feeble and
hollow tone of their voices, convinced us that they
had fuftered much greater hardihips than could be
expedted from even the feverities of a Spanilh prifon.
They were obliged to be helped into the (hip, and
were immediately put to bed, where by reft, and
nourilhing diet, they recovered their health and vi-
gour apace. And now we learnt that they had kept
die fea the whole time of their ahfence, which was
above fix weeks ; that when they had fimlhed their
cruife before Acapulco, and had juft begun to ply to
the weftward, in order to join the fquadron, a ilrong
adverfe current had forced them down the coafr. to
the eaftward, infpice of all their efforts to the con-
trary -, that their water being all expended, they
were obliged to fearch the coaft farther on to the east-
ward, in queft of fome convenient landing-place,
but found every where fo large a furf, th.it there
y f + was
44» ANSON's VOYAGE
was not the leaft poffibility of their landing; that
at laft, giving up all hopes of fuccour, the heat of
the climate too augmenting their neceflities, they
abandoned themfelves to defpair, but that a tnoft
unexpected Ihower of rain happily relieved them i
and being now luckily favoured by a ftrong cur-
rent, they joined us in lefs than fifty hours, from
that time, after having been abfent in the whole full
forty-three days.
Having thus recovered our cutter, the fole object
of our coming a fecond time before Acapulco; the
commodore determined not to lofe a moment's time
more, but to run off the coaft with the utmoft expe-
dition, both as the ftormy feafon on the coaft of
Mexico was now approaching a-pace, and as we were
apprehenfive of having the wefterly monfbons to
ftruggle with when we came upon the coaft of China :
for this reafon we no longer flood toward Acapulco,
as at prefent we wanted no anfwer from the governor.
However Mr. Anfon refolved not to deprive his pri-
foners of the liberty which he had promifed them ;
and therefore they were all immediately embarked in
two launches, well equipped with marts, fails, and
oars; with a ftock of water and provifions put on
board them fufficient for fourteen dayi. There were
difcharged 57 perfons, the greateft part of them Spa-
niards, the reft being Indians and fick negroes : in-
deed as our crews were very weak, we kept the
mulattoes and fome of the (touted of our negroes,
with a few Indians to aflift us ; but we difmifled every
Spanifh prifoner whatever. We have fince learnt,
that thefe two launches arrived fafe at Acapulco,
where the prifoners could not enough extol the hu-
" maniiy with which they had been treated. It feems
the governor, before their arrival, had returned a very
obliging anfwer to 'our letter, and had at the fame
time ordered out two boats laden with the choiceft
refremments and provifions that were to be procured
at Acapulco ; which he intended as a .prefent to the
ROUND THE WORLD. 441
commodore : but thcfe boats nor having found our
(hips, were at length obliged to put back again, after
having thrown all their provifions over-board in a
ltorm which threatened their destruction.
Thus, on the 6th of May, we, for the laft time,
lofe fight of the mountains of Mexico, perfuaded,
that in a few weeks we fhould arrive at the river of
Canton in China, where, we expected to meet with
many Engliih fhips, and with numbers of our coun-
trymen i and hoped to enjoy the advantages of an
amicable well frequented port, inhabited by a polifh-
ed people, and abounding with the conveniences of
a civilized life j bleflings which now for near twenty
months had never been once in our power.
After the recital of the tranfactions of the commo-
dore, and the (hips under his command, on the coafts
of Peru and Mexico-, it will be no ufelefs digreflion
to examine what the whole lquadron might have been
capable of atchieving, had it arrived on its deftined
fcene of action in fo good a plight as it would pro-
bably have done, if the paffagc round Cape Horn
had been attempted at a more feafonable time of the
year. To begin theni it will be granted, that in the
iummer time we might have got round Cape Horn
without any material damage to our fhips or men.
We might doubtlefs have appeared before Baldivia in
fulf ftrength, and in a condition of entering imme-
diately on action ; and therefore, as that place was in
a very defencelefs ftate, it was impoflible that it could
have oppofed our force, or that its half ftarved inha-
bitants, molt- of whom are convifls banifhed thither
from other parts, could have had any other thoughts
than that of Submitting. This would have been a
very important aequilirion -, fince when Baldivia,
which is an excellent port, bad been once in our pof-
feffion, wc fhould immediately have been terrible to
the whole kingdom of Chill, and fhould doubtlefs
have awed the molt diftant parts of the Spaniih em-
pire in America. Indeed it is far from improbable,
that
Mz ANSON's VOYAGE
ihat by a prudent ufe of this place, aided by our
other advantages, we might have given a violent
4hock to the authority of Spain on that whole conti-
nent ; and might have rendered fome at lead of her
provinces independent. This would certainly have
turned the whole attention of the Spaniih minifhy to
that part of the world : and thence Great Britain, and
her allies, might have been rid of the numerous dif-
ficulties, which the wealth of the Spaniih Indies, oper
rating in conjunction with the Gallick intrigues, have
conftantly thrown in their way.
But that I may not be thought to over-rate the
force of this fquadron, by afcribing to it a power of
overturning the Spaniih government in America, it
is ncceffary to obferve, that the conjuncture was the
moll favourable .we could have defired : the Creolian
fubjects were difaffected, their governors at variance ;
the country wretchedly unprovided with arms and
itores, and they had fallen into a total neglect of all mi-
litary regulations in their garrifons. The Indians on
their frontier were univerlally difcontented, and feem-
ed to be watching with impatience fome favourable
moment when they might take a fcvcre revenge for
the barbarities they had groaned under during more
than two ages : fo that every circumftance concurred
to facilitate the enterprifes of our fquadron. Of all
thele articles we were amply informed by the letters
we took on board our prizes ; none of thefe vefiels
having had the precaution to throw their papers
over- board.
The ill blood amongft the governors was greatly
augmented by their apprelienuons of our fquadron ;
for every one being willing to have it believed, that
the bad condition of his government was not the effect
of negligence, there were continual demands and re-
monftrances among them, in order to throw the blame
upon each other.
By fea there was no force capable of oppofing us ;
for how foon foever we had fajled? Pizarro's fquadron
could
ROUND THE WORLD. 443
jcould not have failed fooner than it did, and there-
fore could not have avoided the fate it met with. As
we fhould have been mailers of the ports of Chili,
we could thereby have fupplied ourfelves with the
provifions we wanted in the greateft plenty ; and
from Baldivia to the equinoctial we ran no rilque of
lofing our men by ficknefs, (that being of all climates
the moil temperate and healthy) nor of havi g our
Ihips difabled by bad weather. And had we wanted
failors to alfift in the navigating of our fquadron,
whilft a considerable proportion of our men were em-
ployed on Ihore, we could not have failed of getting
whatever numbers of Indian failors we pleafed in the
ports we mould have taken, and from the prizes which
would have fallen into our hands.
Having thus difcufied the prodigious weight
which the operations of our fquadron might have
added to the national influence of this kingdom, we
will follow the fluttered remains of our force acrofs
the Pacific ocean.
When, on the 6ch of May, 1742, we left the
coaft of America, we flood to the fouth weft, with a
view of meeting the north eaft trade-wind, which the
accounts of former writers taught us to expect at fe-
venty or eighty leagues from the land. We had be-
fide another reafon for Handing to the fouthward,
which was the getting into the latitude of 13 or 14°
north ; that being the parallel where the Pacific ocean
is moll ufually crofied, and confequently where the
navigation is efleemed the fafeft : this laft purpofe we
had foon anfwered, being in a day or two fufficiently
advanced to the fouth. But though we were at the
fame time more diftant from the (horc, than we had
prcfumed was necefiiiry for the falling in with the
trade wind ; yet in this particular wc were moft
gricvoufly difappointed •, it was feven weeks, from our
leaving the coaft, before we got into the trade-wind.
This was an interval in which we had at firft believed
we mould well nigh have reached the eaftermoft parts
of
4+4 ANSON'S VOYAGE
of Alia; but we- were fo baffled with contrary and
variable winds, that we were not as yet advanced
above a fourth of the way. The delay alone would
have betn a fufficient mortification! but there were
other circumftances attending it, which rendered this
fitnation not lefs terrible, and our apprehenfions per-
haps ftill greater than in any of our paft calamities.
For oar two (hips were by this time extremely crazy ;
and many days had not palled before we difcovered
a. fpring in the foremaft of the Centurion, which
rounded about twenty-fix inches of its circumference,
and whrc5 was judged to be at leaft four inches deep.
And no fooner had the carpenters fecured this mall
with, riffling ir, than the Gloucefter made a fignal of
cGftrefs, to inform us that Ihe h,ad a fpring in her
main-malt, twelve feet below the trufTel-trees ; which
appeared fo dangerous that fhe could not carry any
Jill upon it. Our carpenters, on a ftricl examination
of this maft, found it exceflively rotten and decayed;
and it being judged neceffary to cut it down as low
as it was defective, it was by this means reduced to
nothing but a- ftump, which ferved only as a ftep to
the top-malt. Thefe accidents being added to our
other diftrefles occafioned great anxiety about our fu-
ture fafety. For the fcurvy now began to make
frefh havock amongft our people : and we too well
knew the effects of this diieafe, by fatal experience,
to fuppofe that any thing except a fpeedy paflage
could fecure the greater part of our crew from being
deffxoyed. Indeed, feveral amongft us were willing
to believe, that in this warm climate, fo different
from what we felt in palling round Cape Horn, the
violence of this ciifeafe, and its fatality, might be
in fome degree mitigated. But the ravage of the
diftemper,, in our prefent circumftances, foon con-
vinced us of the falfity of this fpcculation -, as it like-
wile exploded certain other opinions which ufually
pals current about the caufe and nature of this difeafe.
For it has been generally prefumed, that filfficient
fupptes of ■water anaoi fcem^wiifions, are effectual
ROUND THE WORLD. 445
preventives of this malady, but it happened that in
the prelent cafe we had a considerable ltock of frelh
provifions on board, being the hogs and fowls which
were taken at Paita-, we befides almoft daily caught
great abundance of bonitos, dolphins, and albicopes :
die unlettled feafon, which deprived us of the be-
nefit of the trade-wind, proved extremely rainy;
fo that we were enabled to fill up our water-cadis,
almoft as fall as they were empty ; and each man had
five pints of water allowed him every day during the
pafTage. But notwithstanding this plenty of water,
notwithftanding that the frefh provifions were diltri-
buted amongit the fick, and the whole crew often
fed upon fuh, notwithltanding the great attention
paid to cleaniing and keeping the Ihips airv and
fweeti yet neither were the fick hereby relieved,
or the progrefs or malignity of the djieafe at all
abated.
However, I would not be underftood to aOrrt,
that frefh provifions, plenty of water, and a conftant
fupply ofiweet air between decks, are matters of no
moment: on the comrary, they are all of them ex-
tremely conducive to the health and vigour of a
crew, and may in many cafes prevent this fatal mala-
dy from taking place. What 1 have advanced, is
only to evince, that in fome inltances, both the cure
and prevention of this malady is impoiiible to be ef-
fected, by any management, or by the application of
any remedies which can be made ule of at fea. In-
deed, when it has got to a certain head, there are no
other means in nature for relieving the fick but car-
rying them on more, or at lealt bringing them into
the neighbourhood of the land.
It was at lall refolvcd by the commodore to try
the fuccefs of the pill and drop of Mr. Ward. For
however violent the operations of thele medicines arc
faid to have fume-times proved, yet in the prefcnt in-
Itance, where, without fome remedy, deftructioa
feemed inevitable, the experiment at leait was thought
advitc-
446 ANSON's VOYAGE '
adviieable. Out of the numbers who took tftem>'
One,' foon after fwallowing the pill, was feized with
a violent bleeding at the nofc : he was before grvcri
over by the furgecn; and lay almoft at the point of
death; bat he immediately found hhnfelf much bet-
ter, and continued to recover, tnottgh fiowty, titt
we arrived on more, which was near a fortnight after.
■'■ A few others too were relieved for fome days, bat the'
,. difcafe returned again with as much virulence as
' ever. The moft remarkable property of fhefe me-
dicines was, that they acted in proportion to the vi-
gour of the patient; fo that thofe who were within
two or three days of dying were fcarcery affefted •;
and as the patient was differently advariced in the
difeaic, the operation was either a gentle peripirafjbh,
an eafy vomit, or a moderate purge : but if they were
taken by one in full ftrength, they then produced all
the forementioned effects with confiderable violence;
which fometirnes continued for fix or eight hours to^
gether, with little intermifiion.
When we reached the trade-wind, and it fettled
between the north and eaft, yet it feldom blew with
£0 much ftrength, that the Centurion might not have
carried all her fmall fails abroad without the lead
danger-, fo that, had we been a fingle Ihip, we might
have run down our longitude a-pace, and have ar-
rived at the Ladrones foon enough to have reco-
vered great numbers of our men, who afterward
perifhed. But theGloucefter, by the lofs of her main-
mall, failed fo very heavily that we had feldom any
more than our top-fails fet, and yet were frequently
obliged to lie to tor her : and, on the whole we loft
Tittle lefs than a month by our attendance upon her,
in confequence of the various mifchances me encoun-
tered. During all this run it was remarkable, that
we were rarely many days together without feeing
great numbers of birds ; which is a proof that there
are feveral iilands, or at leaft rocks, (battered all
along, at no very confiderable dtftance from our
track.
tie
ROUND THE WORLD. 447
The trade-wind con tinned to favour us, without
any fluctuation, from the end of June till toward the
end of July. But on the 26th of July, being then,
as we efteemed, about three hundred leagues from
the Ladrones, we met with a wefterly wind, which,
did not come about again to the eaftward in four
days time. In one part of thefe four days the wind
flatted to a calm, and the ihips rolled very deep j by
which means the Gloucefler's fbrecap fplitting, her
fore-top maft came by the board, and broke her fore-
yard dire&ly in the flings. As (he was hereby ren-
dered incapable of making any fail for fome time, we
were under a neceffity to take her in tow ; and near
twenty of the healthieft and ableft of our feamen were
continued eight or ten days together on board the
Glouceller to affift in repairing her damages: but
thefe things, mortifying as we thought them, were
only the commencement of our difafters; for fcarcc
had our people riniihed their bufinefs in the Glouces-
ter before we met with a mott violent ftorm from the
weftern board, which obliged us to lie to. At the
beginning of this ftorm our (hip fprung :'. leak, and
let in lb much water that all our people, officers in-
cluded, were conftantly employed about the pumps :
and the next day we had the vexation to fee the main-
top maft of the Gloucertcr, which lately had hitherto
lerved her as a jury main maft, come by the board.
Indeed we were not as yet fully apprized of the de-
plorable fituation of the Glouccfter's crew -, for when
the ftorm abated, which, during its continuance,
prevented all communication with them, the Glou-
cester bore up under our ftcrn i and captain Mitclicl
informed the commodore, that befide the lofs of his
mafts, which was all that was vifible to us, the Ihip
had then no lefs than feven feet of water in her hold,
although his officers and men had been conftantly at
the pumps for the laft twenty-four hours.
This new circumftance was indeed a moft terrible
atcumukttion to the other ftxenordinary difowfles ot
the
M
44* ANSON'5 VOTAGE
the Gloueefter, and required, if poffible/ the moft
fpeedy and vigorous affiftance; which captain Mitchd
begged the commodore to afford him : but the debi-
lity of our people, and oar own immediate preferva-
tion, rendered it impracticable for the commodore to
comply with his requeft. All that could be done,
was to lend our boat on board for a more particular
account of the fhip*s condition"; as it was foon fu£
pected that the taking her people on board us, and
then deftroying her, was the only meafure that could
be profecuted in the prefent emergency, both for the
fecurity of their lives and of our men.
Our boat foon returned with areprefentation of the
Rate of the Gloueefter, and of her feveral defects,
figned by captain Mitchel and all his officers. The
commodore, on the perufal of this melancholy repre-
fentation, prefently ordered them a fupply of water
and provifions, of which they feemed to be in the
mod prefling want: and at the fame time lent his
own carpenter on board them, to examine into the
truth of every particular, and it was found, on the
ftricteft enquiry, that the account was in no inftance
exaggerated. Indeed there was no room for delibe-
ration; the only ftep to be taken, was the laving
the lives of the few that remained on board the Glou-
cester, and the getting out of her as much as we
could before (he was deltroyed. The commodore
■wherefore immediately fent an order to capt. Mitchel
to put his people on board the Centurion, as cx-
peditioufly as he could, now the weather was calm
and favourable; and to take out fuch ftores as he
could get at whilft the fhip could be kept above
water.
Mr. Anfon was extremely defirous to have faved
two of her cables and an anchor, but the fhip roll-
ed fo much, and the men were fo exceffivefy fa-
tigued, that they were incapable of effecting it ;
nay, it was even with the greateft difficulty that
the prize money, which the Gloueefter had taken
5 in
round the world. 449
iii the South Seas, was fecured and fent on board
the Centurion.
When (he was fet on fire, captain Mitchel and
his officers left her, and came on board the Cen-
turion : and we immediately flood from the wreck,
not without foine apprehenfions (as we had only a
light breeze) that if (he blew up foori, the concuf-
ilon of the air might damage our rigging ; but (he
fortunately continued burning the whole night, fo
that though her guns fired lucceflively, as the flames
reached them ; yet it was fix in the morning, when
we were about four leagues diftant, before (he blew
"P- . .
Thus perifhed his majeity's fliip die Gloucefter.
And now it might have been expected, that being
freed from the embarraflments which her frequent
difafters had involved us in, we mould have pro-
ceeded on our way much brifker than we had Hitherto
done, by the taking on board the Gloucefter's crew.
However we were loon taught that our anxieties were
not yet to be relieved; and that, notwithstanding all
we had already fufFered, there remained much greater
diftreftes, which we were (till to ftruggle with. For
the late (form, which had proved fatal to the Glou-
cefter, had driven us to the northward of our intend-
ed courfe i and the current fetting the fame way,
after the weather abated, had forced us yet a degree
or two farther, fo that we were now in 17°^ of north
latitude, inftead of being in 13" £, which was the
parallel wc propofed to keep, in Order to reach the
ifland of Guam. As it had been a perfect calm for
fome days fincc the cefTation of the (torm, and we
were ignorant how near we were to the meridian of
the Ladrones, though we luppofed ourfelves not to
be far from it; we apprehended that we might be
driven to the leeward of them by the current, with-
out difcovering them. But when a gale fprung up, our
condition was ftill worfe ; for it blew from the ibuth
weft, and confequently was directly oppofite to the
Vol. UI, G g ' courft
45o ANSON'a VOYAGE
co'urfc we wanted to fteer. However, on the 2 2d of
Auguft we had the Satisfaction to find that the current
was Ihifted -, and had fet us to the fouth ward. And
the 23d, at day-break, we were cheered with the dif-
covefy of two ifkmds on the weftern board j which
proved to be Anatacan and Serigan. This gave us
all great joy, and raifed our drooping fpirits -, for till
then an univerfal dejcftion had feized us, and we al-
rhoft defpaired of ever feeing land again. By the next
ifiorning we were got fo far to the weftward, that we
were in fight of a third ifland, which was that of
Paxaros. This was very fmall, and the land low,
fo that we had paSTed within lefs than a mile of it, in
the night, without obferving it. At noon, being
then not four miles from the ifland of Anatacan, the
boat was fent away to examine the anchoring ground
and the produce of the place ; and we were not a
little felicitous for her return. In the evening the
boat came back, and the crew informed us that there
was no road for a lhip to anchor in, the bottom be-
ing every where foul ground. They further told
us, that when they had landed on the ifland, they met
with no water, and did not believe the place to be
inhabited -, though the foil was good, and abounded
with groves of coco-nut trees.
The account of the impoflibility of anchoring at,
this iiland occasioned a general melancholy on board -,
for we confidered it as little lefs than' the prelude
to our deftruction : and our delpondency was in-
creafed by a difappointment we met with the fucceed-
ing nighty When, as we were plying under top- fails,
with an intention of getting nearer-to the ifland, and
of fending our boat on (hore to load with coco-nuts
for the refreshment of our fick; the wind proved
fqually, and blew fo Strong off fhore, that we were
driven too far to the lbuthward, to venture to fend
off our boat. And now the only poffible circum-
ftance that could fecure the few which remained alive
from periShing, was the accidental falling in with
ibme
ROUND THE WORLD.
45 1
fume other of the Ladrone iflands, better prepared
for our accommodation -t but as our knowlege of
theft islands was extremely imperfect, we were fa
trull entirely to chance for our guidance.
It was on the 2 6th of Auguft, 1 742, in the morn-
ing, when we loft fight of the ifland of Anatacan,
dreading that it was the laft land we mould ever fix our
eyes on. But the next morning we dicovered three
other iflands to the eaftward, which were between teri
and fourteen leagues diftant from us. Thcfe were^
as we afterwards learnt, the iflands of Saypan, Ti-
niari, and Agtiigan. We immediately fleered to-
ward Tinian, which was the middlemoft of the three;
but we had fo much of calms, that though we were
helped forward by the currents, yet on the morrow,
at day-break, we had not advanced nearer than with-
in five leagues of it. However, we kept on our
courfe, and about ten o'clock we perceived a proa
under fail to the fouthward between Tinian and
Aguigan. As we imagined from hence that thefc
iflands were inhabited, and knew that the Spaniards
had always a force at Guam, we took the necefTary
precautions for our own fecurity : and endeavoured
to prevent the enemy as much as poflible from
making an advantage of our prefent wretched cir-
cumftances, of which we feared they would be
fufficiently informed by the manner of our working
the Ihip. We fhewed Spanifh colours, and ftanding
toward the land, we were near enough, at three in
the afternoon, to fend the cutter in Ihore, to find out
a proper birth for the (hip ; and we focn perceived
that a proa put off from the ifland to meet the cut-
ter, fully pertuaded, as we afterward found, that we
were the Manilla (hip. As we faw the cutter re-
turning with the proa in tow, we inflantly lent the
pinnace to receive the proa and the prifoners, and
to bring them on board, that the cutter might
proceed on her errand. The pinnace came back
with a Spaniard and four Indians, which were the
+52 ANSON's VOYAGE
people taken in the proa : and the Spaniard being
immediately examined as to the produce and cir-
cumftances of this illand of Tinian, his account of
it furpafled even our moft fanguine hopes. For he
informed us, that though it was uninhabited, (which
in'itfelf, confidering our prefent dcfencelcfs condi-
tion, was a convenience not to be defpued) yet it
wanted but few of the accommodations that could be
expected in the moft cultivated country : and that
from the quantity and goodnefs of the provifions
produced here, the Spaniards at Guam made ufc
of it as a ftore for fupplying the garrifon.
This relation was received by us with inexpreflible
joy : par? of it we were ourfelves able to verify on
the fpot, as we were by this time near enough, to
difcover feveral numerous herds of cattle feeding in
different places of the ifland; and we did not any
way doubt the reft of his narration i fince the ap-
pearance of the (hore prejudiced us greatly in its fa-
vour.
The Spanilh ferjeant, from whom we received the
account of the ifland, having informed us that there
were fome Indians on Ihore under his command, cm-
ployed in jerking beef, and that there was a bark
at anchor to take it on board; we were defirous, if
pofliblc, to prevent the Indians from efcaping, fince
they would certainly have given the governor of
Guam intelligence of our arrival. We.therefore im-
mediately difpatched the pinnace to fecure the bark,
as the ferjeant told us that was the only embarkation
on the place j and then, about eight in the evening,
we let go our anchor in twenty-two fathom. But
though it was almoft calm, and whatever vigour and
fpirit was to be found on board was doubtlefs exert-
ed to the utmoft on this pleafing occafron, when,
after having kept the fea for fome months, we were
going to take pofielfion of this little paradife ; yet
we were full five hours " in furling our fails. It is
true, we were fomewhar, weakened by.the crews of
. . .-: V". the
ROUND THE WORLD. 453
the cutter and pinnace which were fent on fhore ;
but it is not lels true, that, including thofe abfent
with the boats and fome negroe and Indian pri-
ibners, all the hands we could mufter capable of
Handing at a gun amounted to no more than feventy-
one, moftof which too were incapable of duty, ex-
cept on the grcateft emergencies.
In the morning aparty was lent on fhore well armed,
of which I myfelf was one, to make ourfelves mailers
of the landing-place, fince we were not certain what
oppofition might be made by the Indians on the
ifland : we landed however without difficulty i for
the Indians fled into the woody parts of the ifland.
We found on fhore many huts which they had in-
habited, and which laved us both the time and
trouble of ercfting tents ; one of theie huts which
the Indians made ui'e of for a (tore-houfe was very
large, being twenty yards long, and fifteen broad :
this we immediately cleared of fome bales of jerked
beef, which had been left in it, and converted it into
an hofpital for our fick, who were brought on fhore,
being in all a hundred and twenty-eight ; and it is
almoft incredible how foon they began to feel the
falutary influence of the land.
This ifland lies in the latitude of 15* : 8' north,
and longitude from Acapulco 1140: 50' well. Its
length is about twelve miles, and its breadth about
half as muchi it extending from the fouth fouth
weft to the north north eaft. The foil is every where
dry and healthy, and being withal fomewhat fandy,
it is thereby the lefs difpofed to a rank and over
luxuriant vegetation: and hence the meadows and
the bottoms of the woods are much neater and
fmoother than is cuftomary in hot climates. The
land rofe in gentle flopes from the very bt-ach where
we watered, to the middle of the ifland, though the
general courfe of its afcent was often interrupted by
vallies of an eafy defcent, many of which wind ir-
regularly through the country. The woods confifled
Gg j of
454 ANSON'a VOYAGE
pf tall and well fpread trees ; the lawns were ufually
of a confiderable breadth, their turf quite clean and
uniform, being comppfed of a very fine trefoil, inter,
mixed with a variety of flowers. The woods too were
in many places open, and free from all bulhes and un-
derwood, fo that the neatnefs of the adjacent turf was
frequently extended to a confiderable dilbmce, un-
der'the hollow ftiade formed by the trees. Hence
arofe a great number of the moft. elegant and en-
tertaining pfofpetts, according to the different Mend-
ings of thefc woods and lawns, and their various
intersections with each, other. Nor were the allure-
ments of Tinian confined to the excellency of its
landfkips only; fince the fortunate animals, which dur-
ing the greattft part of the year are the fole lords of
this happy foil, partake in fome meafure of the ro-
mantic caff of the ifiand, and are no fmall addition
to its wonderful fcenery : for the catde, of which it
is not uncommon to fee herds of fome thoufands feed-
ing together, are certainly the moft remarkable in the
world ; as they are all of them milk-white, except
their ears, which are generally brown or black. And
though there are no inhabitants here, yet the cla-
mour of dpmeftie poultry, which range the woods
jn great numbers, perpetually excite the idea of the
neighbourhood of farms and villages-, -and greatly con-
tribute to the chearfulnefs and beauty of the place.
This place was not only extremely grateful to
us, from the plenty and excellency of its frefh pro-
yifions, but was as much perhaps to be admired on
account of its fruits and vegetable productions;
which were moft fortunately adapted to the cure of
the fea fcurvy, the difeafe which had fo terribly redu-
ced us. In the woods there were inconceivable
quantities of coco-nuts, with the cabbages growing
pn the fame tree : there were befides, guavas, limes,
fweet and four oranges and a kind of fruit peculiar
to thefe iflands, called by the Indians Khymay, but
py us the Bread Fruit, for it was conftantly eaten by
ROUND THE WORLD.
455
us during our flay upon the ifland inftead of bread,
and lb univerfally preferred to it that no Ihip's bread
was expended in that whole interval. The fruit is
found indifferently on all parts of the branches ■„ it
is in flupe rather elliptical than round; is covered
with a rough rind, and is ufually feven or eight
inches Ion:; each of them _rows fingly, and not in
elufiera. This fruit is fitted to be ufed when it is
fu!! g own, but Hill green, in which ftate, after it is
properly prepared by being mailed in the embers,
its tafte has fome dirlant relemblance to that of an
artichoke's bottom, and its texture is not very dif-
ferent, for it is foft and Ipongy. As it ripens it be-
comes ibftir and of a yellow colour, when it con-
tracts a lufcious talte and an agreeable fmell, not
unlike a ripe peach ; but then it is efteemed unwhole-
fome, and is laid to produce fluxes : it is defcribed
in Ray's hiftory of plants. ,
It will eafily be conceived from what has been al-
ready laid, that our cheer upon this ifland was in
fome degree luxurious ; but 1 have not yet recited all
the varieties of provifion which we here indulged
in. Indeed we thought it prudent totally to abftain
from fifli, the few we caught at our firit arrival hav-
ing furfcited thofe who eat of them ; but confidering
how much we had been inured to that ipecies of
food, we did not regard this circumftance as a dis-
advantage, efpecially as the defeft was fo amply
fupplied by the beer, pork, and fowls already men-
tioned, and by grct plenty of wild fowl.
It may now perhaps be wondered at, that an ifland
fo exquifitely turnithed with the conveniences of life,
fliould be entirely deiiitute of inhabitants ; efpecially
as it is in the neighbourhood of other iflands. which
in fome meafure depend upon this for their fupport.
To obviate this difficulty, I mud obferve, mat it
is not fifty years fince the ifland was depopulated.
The Indians we had in our cuftody allured us, that
formerly the three iflands of Tiiiiaii, Rota, and
G g 4 Guam,
$3$ ANSON's VOYAGE
Guam, were all full of inhabitants -, and that TU
nian alone contained thirty thoufand fouls : but a,
ficknefs raging amongft thefe iflands which deftroyed
multitudes of the people, the Spaniards, to recruit
their numbers at Guam, which were extremely dimi-
nilhed by the mortality, ordered all the inhabitants
of Tinian thither ; where, languifhing for their
former habitations and their cuftomary method of
life, the greatcft part of them in a few years died
of grief. *
It may perhaps be doubted, if the number of the
inhabitants of Tinian, who were banifhed to Guam,
and who died there pining for their native home,
was fo confiderable as what wc have related above j
but, not to menuon the concurrent aficrtion of our
prisoners, the commodioufnefs of the ifland, and
Its great fertility, there are ftill remains to be met
with on the place, which fhew it to have been once
extremely populous. For there are, in all parts of
the ifland, many ruins of a particular kind : thefe
ufually confift of two rows of fquare pyramidical
pillars, each pillar being about fix feet from the next,
and the diftance between the rows being abou t twelve
feet. The pillars themfelves are about five feet fquare
at the bafe, and about thirteen feet high -, and on the
top of each of them there is a femi-globe, with the
flat furface upwards : the whole of the pillars and
femi-globe is folid, being compofed offand and ftone
cemented together, and plaiftered over. If the ac-
count our prifoners gave us of thefe ftructures was
true, the ifland muft indeed have been mod extra-
ordinary well peopled ; fince they afTured us, that
they were the foundations of particular buildings fct
apart for thofe Indians only, who had engaged in
fome religious vow ■> monaftic institutions being often
to be met with in many pagan nations. However, if
thefe ruins were originally the bafis of the common
dwelling- houles of the natives, their numbers mull
have
ROUND THE WORLD.
457
have been conftderable ; for in many parts of the
ifland they are extremely thick planted.
Having briefly recounted the conveniences of this
place, the excellency and quantity of its fruits and
provifions, the neamefs of its lawns, the ftatelinefs,
frefhnefs, and fragrance of its wood1;, and the variety
and elegance of the views it afforded; I muff now
obferve that all thefe advantages were greatly en-
hanced by the healthtm-fs of its climate, by the al-
moft conllant breezes which prevail, and by the fre-
quent Ihowers which fell there : for thefe, inftead of
the heavy continued rains which in fome countries
render a great part of the year fo unpicaling, were
ufually or a very fhort and almoit momentary dura-
tion. Hence they were extremely grateful and re-
frefhing, and were perhaps one caule of the falubrity
of the air, and of the extraordinary influence it was
obferved to have upon us, in increafing and invi-
gorating our appetites and digeftion. This effect
was indeed remarkable, fince thole amongft our of-
ficers, who were at all other times fpare and tem-
perate eaters, were here, in appearance, transformed
into gluttons : for inftead of one renfonable flefh-
meal, they were now fcarcely fatisfied with three,
each of them too lb prodigious in quantity, as would
at another time have produced a fever or a furfeit.
And yet our digeftion fo well correfponded to the
keennefs of our appetites, that we were neither dis-
ordered nor even loaded by this uncommon reple-
tion.
As to the refidence upon the ifiand, the principal
inconvenience attending it is the vaft numbers of
mufcatos, and various other fpecies of flies, together
with an infect called a tick : this, though principally
attached to the cattle, would yet frequently faften
upon our limbs and bodies, and mile a painful in-
flammation. We found here too centipedes and fcor-
pions, which we fuppofed were venomous, though
none of us ever received any injury from them.
458 ANSON's VOYAGE
But the moft important and formidable exception
to this place remains ftill to be told. This is the
inconvcn.eiice of the road, and the little fecurky
there is in lbme feafons for a thip at anchor. The
only proper ant.horing-place for lhips of burthen is at
the ibuth-weft end of the ifland. Here the "Centu-
rion anchored in twenty and twenty-two fathom wa-
ter, about a mile and a half diftant from the fliore,
oppofite to a fandy bay. , The bottom of this road is
full of (harp-pointed coral rocks, which, during four
months of the year, that is, from the middle of June
to the middle of 0&ober, render it a very unlafe an-
chorage. This is the feafon of the weftcrn monlbons,
when near the full and change of the moon, but
more particularly at the change, the wind is ui'ually
variable all round the corneals, and ii-ldom fails to
blow with fuch fury, that the rtouteft cables are
not to be contided in. In the remaining eight months
pf the year, that is, from the middle of October to
the middle or June, there is a conftant feafon of
fettled weather; when, if the cables are but well
armed, there is fcarcely any danger of their being
even rubbed -, fo that during all that interval it is as
fecure a road as could be wiflicd for.
Our firft undertaking, after our arrival, was the
removal of our Cck on ihore, as ,harh been related.
"Whilft we were thus employed, four of the Indians
on the ifland, being part ot the Spanifli ferjeant's
detachment* came and lurrendered themft Ives to us -t
fo that with thofe we took in the proa, we had now
eight of them in our cuftody. One of the four who
fubmitted, undertook to Ihew us the moft convenient
places for killing cattle, and two of our men were or-
dered to attend him on that fervice : but one of
fhem unwarily milling the Indian with his firelock
and piftol, the Indian efcaped with them into the
woods. His countrymen, who remained behind,
were apprehenfive of fuffering for this perfidy of
their comrade ; and therefore begged leave to fend
ROUND THE WORLD.
459
one of their own party into the country, who, they
engaged, fhould both bring back the arms, and per-
fuade the whole detachment from Guam to fubmit to
us. The commodore granted their requeft ; and one
of them was dilparched on this errand, who returned
next day, and brought back the firelock and piltol,
but allured us, he had found them in a path-way in
the wuod, and protefted that he had not been able
to meet with any one of his countrymen : this re-
port had lb little the air of truth, that we fufpec~ted
there was lbine treachery carrying on ; and therefore,
to prevent any future communication amongttthem,
we immediately ordered all the Indians who were in
our power on board the (hip, and did not permit
them to go any more on more.
When our fick were well fettled on the ifland, we
employed all the hands that could be lpared from
attending them, in arming the cables with a good
rounding, leveral fathom from the anchor, to fecure
them from bring rubbed by the coral rocks which
here abounded. This being compleated, our next
occupation was our leak, and in order to raiie it out
of water, we on the tit of September, began to get
the guns art to bring the fhip by the item*, and
now the carpenters, being able to come at it on the
outfidr, they ripped off what was left of the old
fheathing, caulked all the fearas on both fides the
cut-water, and leaded them over, and then new-
iheathed the bows to the furface of the water. But
this and fome farther attempts at lecuring it proved
unavailable j for the water, notwithltanding all their
care, continued to force its way in. We, on this, de-
fifted from all farther efforts, being at hit well affured
that the defedt was in the item itfelf, and that it was
not to be remedied till we (hould have an opportu-
nity of heaving down.
In the firlt part of the month of September, leveral
of our fick were tolerably recovered by their refi-
denceon more; and, on the 12th of September, all
thofe
A6o ANSON'S VOYAGE
thofe who were fo far relieved fmce their arrival, as
to be capable of doing duty, were fent on board the
(hip: and then the commodore, who was himfelf ill
of the fcurvy, had a tent erefted for him on more,'
where he went with the view of ftaying a few days
to cftablilh his health.
As the crew on board were now reinforced by the
recovered hands returned from theifland; we began
to fend our cafks on fliore to be fitted up, which till
this time could not be done, for the coopers were
not well enough to work. We likewife weighed our
anchors, that we might examine our cables, which
vc fufpected had by this time received confiderable
damage. And as the new moon was now approach-
ing, when we apprehended violent gales, the com-
modore, for our greater fecurity, ordered that part
of the cables next to the anchors to be armed with
the chains of the fire-grapnels •, befide which they
were cackled twenty fathom from the anchors, and
fcven fathom from the fervice, with a good round-
ing of a four one half inch halfer : and, being per-
fuaded that the dangers of this road demanded our
utmoft foreGghr, we, to all thefe precautions, added
that of lowering the main and fore-yard clofe down,
that in cafe of blowing weather, the wind might have
lefs power upon the (hip, to make her ride a ftrain.
Thus, effectually prepared, as we conceived, we
waited till the new moon, which was the 18th of Sep-
tember, when riding fafc that and the three fucceed-
ing days, (though the weather proved very fqually
and uncertain) we flattered ourielves (for 1 was then
on board) that the prudence of our meaiures had fe-
cured us from all accidents; but on the 2 id, the
wind blew from the eaftward with fuch fury, that we
foon defpaired of riding out the itorm. All commu-
nication with the (hore wjs now abfolutely cut ofF-,
for there was no poffibility that a boat could live,
fo that we were necefiitated to ride it out till our
cables parted. Indeed we were not long expecting
this
ROUND THE WORLD,
rJiis dreadful event, for the fmall bower parted at
five in the afternoon, and the (hip fwing off to the
belt bower ; and as the night came <;n, the violence
of the wind ftill iucreafed, though, notwithstanding its
inexpreflible fury, the tide ran with fo much rapidity
as to prevail over it. About eight the tid- flackened,
but the wind not abating, the belt bow.r cable, by
which alone we rode, parted at eleven. Ojrflieet-
anchor, which was the only one we had left, was in-
fantry cut from the bow ; . but before it could reach
the bottom, wc were driven from twenty-two into
thirty-five fathom j and after we had veered away
one whole cable, and two thirds of another, we could
not find ground with fixty fathom of line : this was
a plain indication, that the anchor lay near the edge
of the bank, and could not hold us long. In this
prefling danger, Mr. Saumarez, our lirft lieutenant,
who now commanded on board, ordered feveral guns
to be tired, 3nd lights to be Ihewn, as fignals to the
commodore of our diftrefs; and in a Irion time af-
ter, it being then about one o'clock, and the night
exceffively dark, a ftrong gult, attended with rain
and lightening, drove us off the bank, and forced
us out to fea, leaving behind us, on the ifland, Mr.
Anion, with many more of our officers, and great
part of our crew, amounting in the whole to a hun-
dred and thirteen perfons.
The ftorm which drove the Centurion to fea, blew
with too much turbulence to permit either the com-
modore or any of the people on (hore to hear the
suns, which (he fired as finals of diftrefs j and the
frequent glare of the lightening had prevented the
explofions from being obferved : (o that, when at
day-break, it was perceived from the ihore that the
fhip was miffing, there was the utmoft confternation
amongft them . for much the greater! part of them
immediately concluded that (lie was k>ft| and en-
treated the commodore that the boat might be fent
round die ifland to look after the wreck : and thofe
who
46a ANSON'S VOYAGE
who believed her fafe, had fcarcely any otpeftatlon
that flic would e?er be able to make the ffland again :
finer the wind continued to blow ftrong at eaft, and
they well knew how poorly (he was manned, or
provided for ftruggling with fo tempeftuous a gale.
In either of thefe views, their fituation was indeed
molt deplorable : for if the Centurion was loft, or
Ihould be mcapable of returning, there appeared no
poflibility of their ever getting off the ifland ; as they
were at leaft fix hundred leagues from Macao, which
was their nearcft port ; and they were matters of no
other veflel than the fmall Spanifh bark of about fif-
teen ton, feized at their firft arrival, which would not
even hold a fourth part of their number. And the
chance of their being taken off the ifland by the ca-
fual arrival of any other (hip, was altogether defpe-
rate. Nor was this the worft they had to fear ; for
they had reafon to apprehend that the governor of
Guam, when he fhould be informed of their circum-
ftances, might fend a force fufficient to overpower
them, and to remove them to that ifland : where if he '
once had them in his power, he would make their
want of commifiions (all of them being on board the
Centurion) a pretext for treating them as pyrates,
and for depriving them of their lives with infamy.
In the midft of thefe gloomy reflections, Mr.
Anion, though he always kept up his ufual com-
pofure and fteadinefs, had doubtlefs his (hare of dif-
quietude. However, he foon projected a fcheme for
extricating himfelf and his men from their prefent
anxious fituation : this was to hale the Spanifh bark
on Ihore, to faw her afunder, and to lengthen her
twelve feet, which would enlarge her to near forty
ton burthen ; and would enable her to carry them all
to China.
This indeed raifed their fpirits, by fhewing them
the poflibility of their getting away, of which they
had before defpairedj but then, from their confi-
dence in this reiburce, they grew lefs apprehenfive
ROUND THE WORLD. 463
d~ their fituation, gave a greater ["cop? to their hopes,
and flattered themlelves that the Centurion would be
able to regain the ifland, and prevent the execution
of a fcheme, which they c juld eafily forefee would
be a work of confiderable labour. Hence it was
fome days before they were all of them heartily en-
gaged in the project; but at lafr, being convinced
of the impoffibiiity of the (hip's return, they betook
rhemfelves zealoufjy to the different talks allotted
them, and were as industrious and as eager as their
commander could defirc.
If we examine how they were prepared for going
through with this undertaking, we mall find, that,
independent of other makers which were of as much
confequence, the lengthening of the bark alone was
attended with great difficulty. Some of the tools
were to be made, many of the materials were want-
ing, and it required no fmall degree of invention to
fupply all thefe deficiencies. Nay, when the hull of
the bark (hould be compleaced, this was but one ar-
ticle; and their were others of equal weight which
were to be well confidered : thefe were the rigging
it, the victualling ir, and iaftly, the navigating it,
for the fpace of fix or feven hundred leagues, through
unknown feas, where no one of the company had
ever palled before: and in thefe particulars fuch ob-
ftacles occurred, that, without the intervention of
very extraordinary and unexpected accidents, the
whole enrerprize would have fallen to the ground.
It fortunately happened that the carpenters, both
of the Gloucefter and of the TryaL with their cherts
of tools, were on fhore when the (hip drove out to
fta ; the fmith too was on fhore, and had with him
his forge and feveral of his tools, but unhappily his*
bellows had not been brought from on board ; ib-
that he was incapable of working. The firft atten-
tion therefore was to nuke him a pair of bellows ;
but in this they were for lome time puzzled by
want of leather : however, as they had hides in fuf-
.
+&|. ANSON's VOYAGE ,y
ficicnt plenty, and they had found, a hogftieaw
lime, which the Indians or Spaniards had proffered?
their own ufe ; they tanned a few hides with tng?&&
and the leather they thus procured anfwered ' the '
irttention tolerably well, ahd the bellows was cotn-
pleated, a gun- barrel ferving for a pipe. •
Whilft the fmith was preparing the neceffary iron-
work, others were employed in cutting down trees,
and fawing them into planks •, and this being the
moft laborious taflc, the commodore wrought at it
himfelf for the encouragement of his people. But
there being neither blocks nor cordage fufficient for
tackles to haul the bark on (hore, this occafioned a
ilew difficulty ; however, it was at length refolved
to get her up on rollers, fince for thefe the body of
the cocoa-nut tree was extremely well fitted ; as its
fmoothnefs and circular turn fuited it to the purpofe
with very little workmanfhip. A number of thefe
trees were therefore felled, and the ends of them pro-
perly opened for the infertion of the hand-fpikes :
in the mean time a dry dock was dug to receive the
bark, and ways were laid from thence quite into
the fea to facilitate the bringing her up. Neither
were thefe the whole of their occupations, fince*
befide thofe who were thus bufied in preparing mea-
sures toward the future enlargement of the bark, a
party was conftantly ordered to kill and provide pro-
vifions for the reft. And though in thefe various:
employments, fome of which demanded confiderable
dexterity, it might have been expedted there would
have been great confufion and delay ; yet good or-
der being once eftablifhed, and all hands engaged,
their preparations advanced apace. Indeed, the
common men might not be the lefs traftable for their
want of fpirituous liquors : for, there being neither
wine nor brandy on fhore, the juice of the cocoa-nut
was their conftant drink •, and this, though extremely
pleafant, was not at all intoxicating, but kept then*
very temperate and orderly,
Ths
ROUND THE WORLD.
4$5
The main work now proceeding fuccefsfully, the
officers began to confider of all the articles which
would be neceffary to the fitting out the bark for
jhe fea : on this confutation it was found, that the
tents on more, and the fpare cordage accidentally
left there by the Centurion, together with the fails
and rigging already belonging to the bark, would
lerve to rig her indifferently well when ihe was
lengthened. And as they had tallow in plenty, they
propoied to pay her bottom with a mixture of tal-
low and lime, which was known not to be ill ad-
apted to that purpofe: fo that, with refpect to her
equipment, fhe would not have been very defective.
There was, however, one exception, which was her
fize: for as they could not make her quite forty ton
burthen, lhe would have been incapable of contain-
ing half the crew below the deck, and if they were
all at the fame time ordered upon deck, there would
be no fmall hazard of her overfetting : but this was
a difficulty not to be removed, as they could not aug-
ment her beyond the fize already propofed. After
the manner of rigging and fitting up the bark was
conlidered and regulated, the next effential point to
be thought on was a fufficient ftock of provifions
for their voyage ■, and here they were greatly at a
lots what expedient to have recourfe to, as they had
jieiihcf grain nor bread of any kind on fhorei their
bread-fruit, which would not keep at fea, having all
along fupplied its place-, and though they had live
cattle enough, yet they had no fait to cure beef for
a fca-ftore, nof would meat take fait in that climate.
Indeed, they had prelerved a fmall quantity of jerked
beef which they found upon the place at their land-
ing i but this was greatly di (proportioned to the run
ot' near fix hundred leagues, which they were to en-
gage in. It was at laft, however, refolved to put on
board as many cocoa-nuts as they pofTibly could, to
prolong to the utnioft their jerked beef, and to en-
deavour to lupply [heir want of bread by rice. To
Vol, III. H fa (urpUh
466 ANSON's VOYAGE
funiifh themftrlves with this, it was propofed, wheat
the baric was fined up, to make an expedition to
the ifland of Rota, where they were told that the
Spaniards had large plantations of rice under the
care of the Indian inhabitants : but as this laft mea-
fure was to be executed by force, it became neceflary
to examine what ammunition had been left on fliorc,
and to preferve it carefully *, and on this inquiry,
they had the mortification to find that all the powder
that could be collected, by the ftricteft fearch, did
not amount to more than ninety charges, which was
confiderably fhort of one a-piece to each of the com-
pany, and was indeed a very Gender ftock of ammu-
. nition for fuch as were to eat no grain or bread dur-
ing a whole month, except what they were to procure
by force of arms.
But the mod alarming circumftance, and which,
without the providential interpofltion of very impro-
bable events, would have rendered all their Ichemes
abortive, remains yet to be related: this was, that
there was neither compafs nor quadrant on the ifland.
At lad, after eight days perplexity, in rumaging a
cheft belonging to the Spanilh bark, they difcovercd
a fmall compafs, which, though little better than
the toys ufually made for the amufement of fchool-
boys, was to them an invaluable treafure : and a few
days after, by a fimilar piece of good fortune, they
met with a quadrant on the fea-fhore, which had been
thrown over-board amongft other lumber belonging
to the dead. The quadrant was eagerly feized ; but
on examination it unluckily wanted vanes, and there-
fore, in its prefent ftate, was altogether ufelefs j how-
ever, fortune dill continuing in a favourable mood,
it was not long before a perfon, through curiofity,
pulling out the drawer of an old table which had been
driven on Ihore, found therein fome vanes which
fitted the quadrant very well -, and it being thus com-
plcated, it was examined by the known latitude of
the
ROUND THE WORLD. 467
the place, and upon trial anfwered to a diffident de-
gree of exactnefs.
When now all thefe obftacles were in fome degree
removed, the bufinels proceeded very vigoroufly :
the neceflary iron-work was in great forwardnefs ;
and ihc timber and planks which, though not the
molt exquilite performances of ihe fawyer's art, were
yet fufficient for the purpofe, were all prepared;
fo that, on the 6th of October, being the 14th day
from the departure of the (hip, they hauled the
bark on more, and on thi/ two lucceeding days ilie
was fawn afunder, with the caution not to cut her
planks : and her two parts being feparated the pro-
per diflance from each other, and the materials be-
ing all ready beforehand, they, the next day, being
the gth of October, went on with no fmall difpatcli
In their propofed enlargement of her ; whence by
this rime they had all their future operations fo fairly
in view, and were fo much mailers of them, that
they were able to determine when the whole woukl
be finimed, and had accordingly fixed the 5th of
November for the day of their putting to fea. But
their projects and labours were now drawing to a
fpeedier and happier conclofion ; for on the 1 ith of
October, in the afternoon, one of the Gloucester's
men being on a hill in the middle of the ifland, per-
ceived the Centurion at a distance, and running down
with his utmoft fpeed towards the landing-place,' he,
in the way, faw fome of his comrades, to whom he
hallooed out with great extafy, The Ihip, the (hip !
By five in the evening the Centurion was vitible in
the offing to them all ; and, a boat being f-nt oft"
with eighteen men to reinforce her, and with frelh
meat and fruits, (he, the next afternoon, happily
caft anchor in the road, where the commodore im-
mediately came on board her, and was received with
the fincereft and heartieft acclamations.
The Centurion being now once more I'afely arrived
at Tinian, to the mutual refpite of the labours of
H h 2 our
46i ANSON** VOYAGE
our divided crew ; the reader, after the relation al-
ready given of the proje&s and employment of thole
left on fhore, fhould be apprized of the fatigues and
diftrefles to which we, whom the Centurion carried
off to fca, were cxpoled, during the long interval of
nineteen days that we were ablent from the ifland.
It has been already mentioned, that it was the 2 ad
of September, about one o'clock, in an extreme dark
night, when, by the united violence of a prodigious
ftorm, and an exceeding rapid tide, we were driven
from our anchors, and forced to lea. Our condition
then was truly deplorable ; we were in a leaky lhip,
with three cables in our hawfes, to one of which hung
our only remaining anchor 1 we had not a gun on
board lathed, nor a port barred in 1 our fhrouds were
Joofe, and our top-mails unrigged, and we had
ftruck our fore and main-yards clofc down, before
the hurricane came on, lb that there were no fails
we could fet, except our mlzen. In this dreadful
extremity we could mufter no more Itrcngth on board
to navigate the lhip than a hundred and eight hands,
fcveral negroes and Indians included : this was fcarce-
ly the fourth part of our complement j and of tliefc
the greater number were either boys, or fuch as,
being but lately recovered from the icurvy, had not
yet arrived at half their former vigour. No fboner
were we at fca, but by the violence of the ftorm, and
the working of the lhip, we made a great quantity of
water through our hawie-holes, ports, and icuppers,
which, added to the cpnftant effect of our leak, ren-
dered our pumps alone a fafficicne employment for us
all : yet we had other dangers then hanging over us,
which occafioned this to be regarded as a fecondary
confideration only. For we all imagined, that we
were driving directly on the neighbouring ifland of
Aguiguan, which was about two leagues dillant -, and
as we had lowered our main and fore-yards clofc
down, we had no fails we could fee but the mtzen,
which
ROUND THE WORLD.
469
which was altogether infufficient to carry us clear of
this imminent peril. Urged therefore by this prefl"-
ing emergency, we immediately applied ourlelves to
work, endeavouring with the utmoft of our efforts
to heave up the main and fore-ynrds; in hopes that,
if we could but be enabled to make ufe of our lower
canvas, we might poflibly weather the ifland, and
thereby lave ourlelves from this impending fhipwreck.
But after full three hours ineffedhul labour, the jeers
broke; and the men being quite jaded, we were ob-
liged, by mere debility, to deli ft, and quietly to ex-
pect our fate, which we then conceived to be un-
avoidable. Nor did the terrors of inltantly ftrikmg
and finking, end but with the day- break ; when we
with great tranfport perceived, that the ifland we
had thus dreaded was at a confiderable diftance, and
that a ftrong northern current had been the caufe of
our prefervation.
The turbulent weather which forced us from Ti-
nian, did not abate till three days after, and then we
fwayed up the fore-yard, and began 10 heave up the
main-yard ; but the jeers broke again, and killed
one of our people, and prevented us at that time from
proceeding. The next day, being the 26th of Sep-
tember, was a day of moft fevere fatigue to us all ;
the bufmefs of this day was no lefs than an endeavour
to heave up the flieet-anchor, which we had hitherto
dragged at our bows with two cables an end. This
was a work of great importance to our future pre-
fervation -, for we laboured at it with the fevereft ap-
plication for full twelve hours, when we had indeed
made a confiderable progrefs, having brought the
anchor in fight : but it growing dark, and we being
excelfively fatigued, we were obliged to defilt, and
to leave our work unfinifhed till the next morning j
and then, refrefhed by the benefit of a night's reft,
we compleated it, and hung the anchor at our bow.
The feme day we got up our main-yard ; fo that
having now conquered, in fome degree, the diftreflfes
H h 3 and
47o ANSON'S VOYAGE
and diforder which we were neceflarily involved in at
our firtt driving out to fea, and being enabled to
make ufe of our canvas, we let our courfes, and for
the firft time ftood to the eaftward, in hopes of re-=
gaining the ifland of Tinian ; fince, by our accounts,
we were only forty-feven leagues diftant to the fouth-
weft. Hence, on the ift day of October, having then
run the diftance neceflary for making the ifland ac-
cording to our reckoning, we were in full expectation
of feeing it: but here we were, unhappily difap-
pointrd, and were convinced, diat a current had
. driven us confiderably to the weftward. However,
we were delivered from our uncertainty the next
day, having then a fight of the ifland of Guam j and,
hence we computed that the currents had driven us
forty-four leagues to the weftward of our accounts.
Being now fatished of our filiation, by this fight of
land, we kept plying to the eaftward, though with
oxceffive labour ■, for the wind continuing fixed in the
eaftern board, we were obliged to tack often. Tnis
fcvere employment lafted tuj the nth of October,
being the nineteenth day from our departure ; when
arriving in the offing of Tinian, we Were reinforced
fiom the Ihore, as hath been already related.
When the commodore came on board the Centu-
rion, after her return to Tinian, he refolved to flay
no longer at the ifland than was abfolutely neceflary
to compleat our ftock of water. But the lofs of our
long-boat, which was ftaved againft our poop, be-
fore we were driven out to fea, put us to great in-
conveniencies in getting our water on board. Nor
was this our only misfortune -, for, on the 1 4th of
October, being but the third day after our arrival,
a fudderi guft of wind brought home our anchor,
forced us off the bank, and drove the fhip out to fea
a fecond time. The commodore, it is true, and the
principal officers, were now on board % but we had
near feventy men on Ihore. Thefe had with them
our two cutters ; but as they were too many for the
ROUND THE WORLD.
47*
cutters to bring off at once, we fent the eighteen-
oared barge to affift them -, and at the lame time made
a fignal for all that could embark. The two cutters
foon came off to us full of men ; but forty of the
company, who were bulled in killing cattle in the
woods, and in bringing them down to the landing-
place, remained behind. However, as the weadier
was favourable, and our crew was now ftronger than
when we were firft driven out, we, in about five
days time, returned again to an anchor at Tinian,
and relieved thole we had left behind us from their
fccond fears of being deferred by their (hip.
On our arrival, we found that the Spaniih bark,
the old object of their hopes, had undergone a new
meramorphofis : for thole on more, defpairingof our
return, and conceiving that the lengthening the bark,
as formerly propoled, was both a toilfome and unne-
cessary meafure, confidering the (mall number they
confuted of, they had refolved to join her again, and
to reftore her to her firft irate-, and in this fcheme
they had made fame progrefs.
Thefe people we had left behind informed us, that,
juft before we were feen in the offing, two proas had
flood in very near the fttore, and had continued there
for fome time ; but, on the appearance of our (hip,
they crowded away, and were prelently out of fight.
And, on this occafion, I mult mention an incidenr,
which, though it happened during the firft abfence of
the (hip, was then omitted, to avoid interrupting
the courfe of the narration.
It hath been already obferved, that a part of the
detachment lent to this ifiand under the command of
the Spaniih ferjeant, lay concealed in the woods : in-
deed we were the lefs folickous to find them out, as
our prifoners all afiured us, that it was impoflible
for them to get off", and confequently that it was im-
poflible for them to fend any intelligence about us to
Guam. But when the Centurion drove out to fca,
and left die commodore on fhore, he one day, at-
H h 4 tended
'4ft ANSott's VOYAGE
tended by fome of his officers* endeavoured to make"
the tour of the ifland : in this expedition,, being oil
a rifing ground, they obferved in the valley beneath
them the- appearance' of a fmall thicket, which, by
attending- to more nicely, they found, had a progref-
fivc motion : this at firft furprifed them -, but they
; foon perceived that it was no more than feveral large
';.' cocoa bufhes, which were dragged along the ground
by perfons concealed beneath them. They imme-
diately concluded that thefe were fame of the fer-
jeant's party -, and therefore the commodore and his
people made after them, in hopes of tracing out
<heir retreat. The Indians, remarking that they
were difcovered, hurried away with precipitation ;
but Mr, Anfon was fo near them, that he did not lofe
fight of them till they arrived at their cell, which he
and his officers entering, found to be abandoned,
there being a paffage from it, which had been con-
trived for the conveniency of Bight, and which led
down a precipice* They here met with an old fire-
lock or two, but no other arms. However, there
was a great quantity of provisions* particularly felted
fparibs of pork, which were excellent j and it being
about noon, the Indians had laid out a very plenti-
ful' repaft, confidering their numbers, and had their
bread-fruit and cocoa-nuts prepared ready for eating
in a manner too which plainly evinced, that with
them a good meal was neither an uncommon nor an
unheeded article. The commodore having in vain
fearched after the path by which the Indians had ef-
cflped, he and his officers contented themfelves with
fitting down to the dinner, which was thus luckily
fitted to their prefent hunger ; after which they re-
turned back to their old habitation.
On our coming to an anchor again, after our fe-
ctmd driving off to fea* we laboured indefarjgably
at getting in our water ; and having, by the' 20th
«f October, compleared it to fifty tons, which we fup-
pofed would be fufficient during our paffage to Ma-
cao,
ROUND THE WORLD. 473
cao, we, on the next day, fent one of each mefs on
fhore 10 gather as large a quantity of oranges, le-
mons, cocoa-nuts, and other fruits of the ifland, as
they poffibly could, for the ufe of themfelves and
their mefimates when at fea. And thefe purveyors
returning on the evening of the fame day, we then
fet fire to the bark and proa, hoifted in our boats,
and got under fail, fleering away toward the fouth
end of the ifland of Formofa, and taking our leaves,
for the third and lalt time, of the ifland of Tinian.
And now, poftponing for a Ihort time our run to
Formofa, and thence to Canton, I ihall interrupt the
narration with a defcription of that range of iflands,
ufually called the Ladrones, or Marian iilands, of
which this of Tinian is one.
Thefe iilands were difcovered by Magellan in the
year 1521-, and from the account given of 1 he two
he firft fell in with, it mould feem that they were
thofe of Saypan and Tinian ; for they are defcribed
as very beautiful iQands, and as lying between 15 and
16 degrees of north latitude. Thefe charafteriftics
are particularly applicable to the two above-men-
tioned places-, for the pleafing appearance of Tinian
hath occafioned the Spaniards to give it the additional
fiame of Buenavifta j and Saypan, which is in the lati-
tude of 150 2/ north, affords no contemptible pro-
fpccTt when feen at fea.
There arc ufually reckoned twelve of thefe iilands ;
but if the fmall iflets and rocks are counted, their
whole number will amount to above twenty. They
were formerly, moll: of them, well-inhabited ; but
now Guam alone can properly be laid to be inha-
bited This ifland of Guam is the only fettlement of
the Spaniards •, here they keep a governor and garti-
fon, and here the Manila fliip generally touches for
refremment, in her paflagc from Acapulco to the
Philippines. The Spaniih troops employed at this
ifland confift of three companies of foot, betwixt
forty and fifty men each; and this is the principal
ftrengtk
474 ANSON's VOYAGE
flxeogth the governor has to depend on ; for he can*
pot rely on any afliftance from the Indian Inhabitants,
being generally upon ill terms with them, and fo ap-
prehenfive of them, that he has debarred them tie
ufe of both fire-arms and lances.
The reft of thefe iflands, though not inhabited, do
yet abound with many kinds of rcjrelhment and pro-
vifion ; but here is no good harbour, or road amoneft
them all : of that of Tinian we have treated largely
already i nor is the road of Guam much better j Unce
it is not uncommon for the Manila fhip, though (he
propofes to ftay there but twenty-four hours, to be
forced to fea, and to leave her boat behind her,
From what has been {aid it appears, that the Spa-
niards on the ifland of Guam are extremely few, com-
pared to the Indian inhabitants -, and formerly the
difproportion was ftill greater, as may be eafily con-
ceived from the account given of the numbers here-
tofore on Tinian alone. Thefe Indians are a bold,
ftrong, well-limbed people ; and, as it (houhi feem
from fome of their practices, are n,o ways defective
in understanding i for their flying proas in particular,
which, during ages paft, have been the only vefiels
employed by them, are fo Angular and extraordi-
nary an invention, that it would do honour to any
nation, however dextrous and acute. As former na-
vigators, though they have mentioned thefe vefiels,
have yet treated of them imperfectly, and as, befide
their curiofity, they may furnifli both the Qupi-wrtght
and feaman with no contemptible obfervations ; I
mall here infert a defcription of the built, rigging,
and working of thefe vefiels, which I am the better
enabled to perform, as one of them fell into our
hands on our firft arrival at Tinian, and Mr. Brett
took it to pieces, that he might delineate its fabric
and dimenfions with greater accuracy.
The name of flying proa, appropriated to thefe
vefiels, is owing to the fwiftnefs wit,h which they fait.
Of this the Spaniards aficrt fuch ftories, as muft ap-
6 pwt
ROUND THE WORLD.
475
pear altogether incredible to one who has never feen
thefe veffels move ; nor are they the only people who
recount thefe extraordinary tales of their celerity.
For thofe who mail have the curiofity to enquire at
Portfmouth dock, about an experiment tried there
lbme years fince, with a very imperfect one built at
that place, will meet with accounts not lefs wonder-
ful than any the Spaniards have related. However,
from fome rude cftimations made by us, of the ve-
locity with which they croiTed the horizon at a
diftance, while we lay at Tinianj with a brilk trade-
wind they will run near twenty miles an hour.
The conftrudtion of this proa is a direct contra-
diction to the practice of all the reft of mankind.
For as it is cuftomary to make the head of the vefiel
different from the ftern, but the two fides alike; the
proa, on the contrary, has her head and ftern exactly
alike, but her two fides very different: the fide, in-
tended to be always on the lee-fide, being flat ; whilft:
the windward is built rounding, in the manner of
other veflels: and, to prevent her overfetting, which
from her final 1 breadth, and the ftraight run of her
leeward fide, would, without this precaution, infalli-
bly happen, there is a frame laid out from her to
windward, 10 the end of which is faftentrd a log,
fafhioned into the ihape of a fmall boat, and made
hollow : the weight of the frame Is intended to ba-
lance the proa, and the fmall boat is by its buoyancy
(as it is always in the water) to prevent her overfetting
to windward j and this frame Is ufually called an out-
rigger. The body of the proa (at leaft of that we
took) is formed of two pieces joined end-ways, and
fewed together with bark, for there is no iron ufed
in her conftruction : (he is about two inches thick at
the bottom, which at the gunwale is reduced to lefs
than one. On the middle outrigger the mad is fix«d ;
and is fupported by a fhroud, and by two ftays.
The tail is of matting, and the maft, yard, boom,
and outriggers, are all made of bamboo ; the heel of
the
'476 ANSdN's V6YACE
the yard is always lodged in a focket, according ict
the tack the proa goes on; and when (he alters her
tack, they bear away a little to bring her ftern up to
the wind, then by eaGng the halyard, and railing die
yard, carrying the heel of it along the lee-Gde or the
proa, they fix it in the oppoflte focket *, whilft the
boom at the fame time, is fhifred into a contrary fitu-
atton to What it had before, and that which was the
ftern of the proa, now becomes the head, and flic
is trimmed ori the other tack. When it is fteceffary
to reef or furl the fail, this is done by rolling it
round the boom. The proa generally carries fix or
feven Indians ; two of which are placed in the head
and ftern, who fteer the veflel alternately with a piaddte
according to the tack (he goes on ; he in the fteVn be-
ing the ftetrfman ; the other Indians are employed
either in bailing out the water which (he accidentally
(hips, or in fetting and trimming the fail. From the
defcription of thefe veflels it is fufficiently obvious,
how dextroufly they are fitted for ranging this col-
lection of iflands called the Ladrones: fince as thefe
iflands bear nearly north and fouth of each other,
and are all within the limits of the trade-wind; the
proas, by failing moft excellently on a wind, and
with either end foremoft, can run from one of thefe
iflands to the other and back again, only by fhift-
ing the fail, without ever putting about; and, by
the flatnefs of their lee fide, and their fmall breadth,
they are capable of lying much nearer the wind than
any other veflel hitherto known, and thereby have
an advantage, which no veflels that go large can ever
pretend to; that of running with a velocity nearly
as great, and perhaps fometimes greater than what
the wind blows with. This, however paradoxical it
may appear, is evident enough in fimilar inftanccs
on Jhore: iince it is well known, that the fails of a
wind-mill often move fader than the wind -, and one
great fuperiority of common wind-mills over all
others, that ever were, or ever will be contrived to
ROUND THE WORLD. 477
move with an horizontal motion, is analogous to the
cafe we have mentioned of a vefiel upon a wind and
before the wind : for the fails of an horizontal wind-
mill, the fafter they move, the more they detract
from the impulfe of the wind upon them; whereas
the common wind-mills, by moving perpendicular
to the torrent of air, are nearly as forcibly a&ed
on by the wind, when they a,re in motion, as when
they are at reft.
Some obfcure refemblance to thefe vefTels are to be
met with in various parts of the Eaft Indies, but none
of them to be compared with thofe of the Ladrones,
cither for conftrucf ion or celerity.
On the 21ft of October, in the evening, wc took
our leave of the ifland of Tinian, (leering the proper
courfe for Macao in China. The eaftern monibon
was now, we reckoned, faitly fettled; and we had a
conttaat gale blowing right a-ftern : fo that we ge-
nerally ran from forty to fifty leagues a day. But
we had a large hollow fea purfuing us, which oc-
cafioned the ftiip to labour much : whence our leak
was augmented, and we received great damage in
our rigging, which by this time was grown very
rotten : however, our people were now happily in
full health ; fo that all went through their atten-
dance on every duty of the ihip, with eafe and chear-
fulneis.
Before we left Tinian we fwept for our befl and
fmall bower, and employed the Indians to dive in
fcarchof them ; but all to no purpofe : hence except
our prize-anchors, which were too light to be de-
pended on, we had only our meet-anchor left. How-
ever, two of our largeit prize-anchors being fixed
into one flock, placing between their fhanks two four
pounders, ferved as a bed bowe/: and a third prize-
anchor being in like manner joined to our dream-
anchor, with gun& between them, made us a fmall
bower.; fo that, belide our meet-anchor, we had
47$ AWSON's VOfAGE
again two otfhe« at our 'bows, one of which weighed
3900, and che other 2900 -pounds.
The 3d of Nawember, about three in the after-
noon, we&w an ifland, which at firft we imagined
to be Botel Tobago Xima : but on our nearer
■approach we found k to be much fmiller than that
isufuitUyfepvefentedi and about an hour after we faw
another ifland, five or fix miles farther to the weft-
ward. The next morning, by eleven, we got a
fight "of the fouthern part of the ifland of Formofa.
ITnis Satisfied us that the fecond ifland we faw was
Botel Tobago Xima, and the firft a fmall iflet or
rock, lying five or fix miles due eaft of it, not
mentioned in any of our books or charts.
When we had made the ifland of Formofa, we
fleered weft by fouth, in order to double its extre-
inity, and kept a good look-out for the rocks of
•Vele Rete, which we did not difcorer till two in the
afternoon. To give thefe rocks a good birth, we
immediately haled up fouth by weft, and fo left them
between us and the land. Indeed we had reafon,to
be careful of them; for though they appeared as
high out of rhewater as a fhip'a hull, yet they are
environed with breakers on all fides, and there is a
fhoal ftretching from them at leaft a mile and a half
10 the fouthward, -whence they may be truly called
dangerous. The fouth end of Formofa, off which
they lie, is in the latitude of 2t° : 50' north, and,.
according to our moft approved reckonings, in 23*
50' weft longitude from Tinian. From Formofa we
fleered weft north weft, and fometimes ftlU more
northerly, propofing to fall in with the coafl of China,
to the eaftward of Pedro Blanco; as the rock fo call-
ed is ufually efteemed an excellent direction for fhips
bound to Macaa: but it was the 5th of November,
at nine in the morning, before we ftruck ground, and
then we had forty-two fathom and a bottom of gray
land mixed with fhells. About midnight we got
fight
ROUND THE WORLD. 479
fight of the main land of China, bearing north by
weft four leagues diftant. We then brought the (hip
to, with her head to the fea, propofing to wait for
the morning ; and before funrife we were furprifed
to find ourfelves in the midft of an incredible num-
ber of fiftiing- boats, which feemed to cover the fur-
face of the fea as far as the eye could reach, moll
of them manned with five hands, and none of thole
we faw with lefs than three. Nor was this fwarm
of timing vefTels peculiar to that fpot; for as we ran
on to the weftward, we found them as abundant on
every part of the coaft. We at firft doubted not
but we mould procure a pilot from them to carry
us to Macao ; but though many of them came clofe
to the (hip, and we endeavoured to tempt them by
Ihewing them a number of dollars, a mod alluring
bait for Chinefe of all ranks and profeffions, yet we
could not entice them on board us, nor procure any
directions from them ; though, I prefume, the only
difficulty was their not comprehending what we
wanted. But what furprifed us moft was the inat-
tention and want of curiofity, which we obferved in
this herd of fifhermen. A (hip like ours had doubt-
lefs never been in thofe feas before ; and perhaps
there might not be one, amongft all the Chinele,
employed in that fifhery, who had ever fcen any Eu-
ropean veffel ; fo that we might reafonably have
expefted to have been confidered by them as a very
uncommon and extraordinary objeft. But though
many of their boats came clofe to us, yet they did
not appear to be at all interefled about us, nor did
they deviate in the leaft from their courfe to regard
us. Which infenfibility, efpecially of maritime pcr-
fons, in a matter relating to their own profeftion,
is fcarcely to be credited, did not the general beha-
viour of the Chinefe, in other inftances, furniili us
with continual proofs of a fimilar turn of mind.
Not being able to procure any information from
the Chinefe fifhermen about our proper courfe to
Macao,
4*o ANSON'a VOYAGE
Macao, it was neccffary for us to rely entirelyon pur
own judgment. And for the auKtance of future navi-
gators, it may be obferved, that betide the latitude of
i*edro Blanco, which is 22 " 18', and the depth of wa-
ter, which to the weftward of that -rock is almoft every
where twenty fathoms, there is another circumftance
which will be greatly affiftant in judging of the po-
fition of the fhip : this is the kind of ground 1 for,
till we came within thirty miles of Pedro Blanco, we
had conftantly a fandy bottom ; but there the bottom
changed to foft and muddy, and continued fo quite
to the ifland of Macao ; only while we were in fight
of Pedro Blanco, and very near it, we had for a
fhort fpace a bottom of grecnifh mud, intermixed
with fand.
Pedro Blanco is a rock of a fmall circumference,
but of a moderate height, refembling a fugar loaf,
both in fliape and colour, arid is about feven or eight
miles diftant from the more. We palled within a
mile and a half of it, and left it between us and the
land, ftill keeping on to the weftward ; and the next
day, being the 7th, we were a-breaft of a chain of
iflands, which ftretched from eaft to weft. Thefe,
as we afterwards found, were called the iflands of
Lema ; they are rocky and barren, and are, in all,
fmall and great, fifteen or fucteen j but there are, be-
jfidc, many more between them and the main land
of China. Being ftill furrounded by fiihing boats,
we once more fent the cutter on board fome of them,
to endeavour to procure a pilot, but we could not
prevail -, however, one of the Chinefc directed us by
iigns to fail round the weftermoft of the iflands or
rocks of Lema, and then to hale up. We followed
this direction, and in the evening came to an anchor
in eighteen fathom.
After having continued at anchor all night, we,
on the 9th, at four in the morning, fent our cutter
to found the channel, but before the return of the
cutter, a Chinefe pilut put on board the Centurion,
and
ROUND THE WORLD. 4S1
snd told us in broken Portuguefe, he would carry
the Ihip to Macao for thirty dollars : thefe were im-
mediately paid him, and wc then weighed and made
fail. Soon after, leveral other pilots came on board,
who, to recommend themfelves, produced certificates
from the captains of many European Ihips they had
piloted in, but we ft ill continued under the manage-
ment of the Chinefe whom we at firft engaged. By
this time we learnt, that we were nor far dlftant from
Macao, and that there were in the river of Canton,
at the mouth of which Macao lies, eleven European
Ihips, of which four were Englifh. Our pilot car-
ried us between the iflands of Bamboo and Cabouce-,
but the winds hanging in the northern board, and
the tides often fetting ftrongly againit u8, we were
obliged to come frequently to an anchor ; fo that we
did not get through between, the two iflands till the
1 2th of November, at two in the morning. On the
13th, at ten o'clock, we happily anchored in Macao
road, in five fathom water, the city of Macao bear-
ing weft by north, three leagues diftant; the peak
of Lantoon eaft by north, and the grand Ladrone
fouth by eaft, each of them about five leagues dif-
tant. Thus, after a fatiguing cruife of above two
years continuance, we once more arrived at an ami-
cable port, and a civilized country •, where the con-
veniences of life were in great plenty ; where the
naval (lores, which we now extremely wanted, could
be in fome degree procured ; where we expected the
inexpreffible fattsfaction of receiving letters from our
relations and friends; and where our countrymen,
who were lately arrived from England, would be
capable of anfwering the numerous enquiries we
were prepared to make, after the long fufpenfion of
our correfpondence with our country.
The city of Macao, in the road of which we came
to an anchor on the 12th of November, is a Portu-
guefe fettlement, fituated in an ifland at the entrance
of the river of Canton. It was formerly very rich
Vol. III. I i and
48i ANSON's VOYAGE
and populous, and capable of defending itfclf againft
the power of the adjacent Chinefe governors : but at
E relent, though it is inhabited by Portuguefe, and
ath a governor nominated by the king of Portugal,
yet it fubfifts merely by the fuffrance of the Chinefe,
who can ftarve the place, and difpoffefs the Portu-
guefe whenever they pleafe. The river of Canton,
off the mouth of which this city lies, is the only
Chinefe port frequented by European Snips; and is,
on many accounts, a more commodious harbour
than Macao: but the peculiar cuftoms of the Chi-
nefe, folely adapted to the entertainment of trading
mips, and the apprehenfions of the commodore, left
he fliould embroil the Eaft India company with the
regency of Canton, if he fhould infill on being
- treated upon a different footing than the merchant-
men, made him refolve rather to go to Macao, than
to venture into the river of Canton. Indeed, had
not this reafon prevailed with him, he himfelf had
nothing to fear. For it is certain that he might have
entered the port of Canton, and might have continu-
ed there as long as he pleafed, and afterward have left
it again, although the whole power, of the Chinefe
empire had been brought together to oppofe him.
The commodore, not to depart from his ufual
prudence, no fooner came to an anchor in Macao
road, than he difpatched an officer with his com-
pliments to the Portuguefe governor of Macao, re-
queuing his excellency, by the fame officer, to ad-
vife him in what manner it would be proper to aft,
to avoid offending the Chinefe; which, as there
were then four of our (hips in their power at Canton,
was a matter worthy of attention. The difficulty,
which the commodore principally apprehended, re-
lated to the duty ufualiy paid by fhips in the river
of Canton, according to their tonnage. For, as men
of war are exempted in every foreign harbour from
all manner of port charges, the commodore thought
it would be derogatory to the honour of bis coun-
ty
ROUND THE WORLD. 483
try to fubmit to this duty in China : and therefore
he defired the advice of the governor of Macao, who,
being an European, could not be ignorant of the
privileges claimed by a Britiih mm of wan Our
boat returned in the evening with two oirl en lent by
the governor, who informed the commodore, that
it was the governor's opinion, that ir the Centurion
ventured into the river of Canton, the duty would
certainly be expected ; and therefore, if the commo-
dore approved of it, he would fend him a pilot, who
fhould conduct us into anothe* fafe harbour called
the Typa, and where, in all probability, the above-
mentioned duty would never be demanded.
This propofal the commodore agreed to, and in
the morning weighed anchor, under the direction of
the Portuguele pilot, and (leered for the intended
harbour; where we moored in about five fathom wa-
ter. This harbour of the Typa is formed by a num-
ber of iflands, and is about fix miles dittant from
Macao. Here we faluted the cattle of Macao with
eleven guns, which was returned by an equal number.
The next day the commodore paid a vifit in pcrlon
to the governor, and was faluted at his landing by
eleven guns, which were returned by the Centurion.
Mr. Anfon's bu finds in this vifit was to folicit the
governor to grant us a fupply bottj of proviftons and
of fuch naval ftores as were necefiary to refit the
fhip. The governor feemed really inclined to do us
all the fervice he could -, bur he, at the fame time,
frankly owned, that he dared not openly to furnifh
us with any thing we demanded, unlcfs we firlt pro-
duced an order tor it from the vxcroy of Canton :
fince he himfelf neither received provifuns for his
garrifon, nor any other neceiTaries, but by purmiffion
from the Chinefe government; and they took care
only to victual him from day 10 Amp,
On this declaration of the governor, Mr Anfbn
refolved himfelf to go to Canton, to procure a li-
cence from the viceroy, and he accordingly hired a
1 i 1 Chinefe
48* ANSON's VOYAGE
Chinefe boat for himfelf and his attendants ■, bul
juft as he was ready to embark, the Hoppo, or
Chinefe cuftom-houfe officer of Macao, refuted to
grant a permit to the boat, and ordered the water-
men not to proceed at their peril. The commodore
at firft endeavoured to prevail with the Hoppo to
withdraw his injunction, and to grant a permit ;. and
the governor of Macao employed his intcreft to the
fame purpofe. But the officer continuing inflexible,
Mr. Anfon fold him, the next day, that if the per-
mit was any longer refufed, he would man and arm
the Centurion's boats -, afking him, at the fame time,
who he imagined would dare to oppofe them in their
paflage. This threat immediately brought about what
his entreaties had endeavoured at in vain : the permit
was granted, and Mr. Anfon went to Canto»- On
his arrival there, he confulted with the fuper-cargoes
and officers of the Englifh mips, how to procure an
order from the viceroy for the necefiaries he wanted :
but in this he had reafon to fuppofe, that the advice
they gave him, though well intended, was yet not the
mo.t prudent: for as it is the cuftom with thele gentle-
men, never to apply to the fupreme magiftrate him-
felf, but to tranfact all matters relating to the govern-
ment, by the mediation of the Chinefe merchants;
Mr. Anion was perfuaded to follow the fame method
upon this occalion. Indeed, when the Chinele mer-
chants were fpoke to, they readily undertook the
management of this bufinefs, and promifed to an-
fwer for its fuccefs ; but after near a month's delay,
during which interval they pretended to be often
upon the point of completing it, they at laft, when
they were prefled, and meafures were taken for deli-
vering a letter to the viceroy, threw off the mafic,
and declared they neither had made application to the
viceroy, nor coujd they ; as he was too great a man,
for them to approach on any occafion: and not con-
tented with having themfelves thus grofsly deceived
the commodore, they now ufed alt their perfuafion
5 with
ROUND THE WORLD. 485
■with the Englilh at Canton, to prevent them from in-
termeddling with any thing that regarded him; re-
pretenting to them, that it would in all probability
embroil them with the government, and occafion them
a great deal of trouble.
Mr. Anfon then told them, that he would proceed
to Batavia, and refit his fhip there ; but informed
them, at the fame time, that this was impoflible to
be done, unlefs he was fu,;plied with a ftock of pro-
vifions fufficient for his paffjge. The merchants, on
this, undertook, to procure him provifions, though
they allured him, that it was what they durft not en-
gage in openly, but propofed to manage it by putting
a quantity of bread, flour, and other provifion, on
board the Englifh mips, which were now ready to fail;
and thefe were to ftop at the mouth of the Typa, where
the Centurion's boats were to receive them. This
article, which the merchants reprefented as a matter
of great favour, being fettled, the commodore, on
the 16th of December, came back from Canton to
the fhip.
But Mr. Anfon (who never intended going to Ba-
tavia) found, on his return to the Centurion, that
her main-mail: was fprung in two places, and that the
leak was confiderabiy increafed; fo that, upon the
whole, he was fully fatisfied, that though he Ihould
lay in a fufficient Hock of provifions, yet it would be
impoflible for him to put to fca without refitting :
and thereforc,-notwithftanding the difficulties he had
met wirh, he refolded at all events to have her hove
down, before he departed from Macao. He was
fully convinced, by what he had obferved at Canton,
that his great caution not to injure the halt India
company's affairs had occafioned all his perplexity.
For he now law clearly, that if he had at firft carried
his fhip into the river of Canton, and addrefled him-
felf to the Mandarines, who arc the chief officers of
ftate; he would, in all probability, have had all Km
rcquefts granted. He had already lolt a month by
(he wrong nieafurcs he had purfucd, but he refolved
1 i 3 to
486 ANSON'S VOYAGE
to lofe as little more time as poffible ; therefore, the
1 7th of December, being the next day after his re-
turn from Canton, he wrote a letter to the viceroy of
that place, acquainting -him that he was commander
in chief of a fquadron of his Britannic majefty's fhipa
of war, which had been cruifing for two years paft
in the South Seas againft the. Spaniards, who were
at enmity with the king his matter; that on his way
back to England he had put into the port of Macao,
having a confiderablc leak in his fliip, and being
in great want of provisions, fo that it was impoffible
for him to proceed on his voyage till his fnip was
repaired, and he was fuppfied with the neceffanes he
wanted : that he had been at Canton, in hopes of
being admitted to a perfonal audience of his excel-
lency ; but being a ftranget to the cuftoms of the
country, he had not been able to inform himfelf
what fteps were necdTary to be taken to procure fuch
an audience: that therefore he was obliged to apply
in this manner, to deiire his excellency to give orders
for his being p rmitted to employ carpenters and
proper workmen to refit his (hip, and to furniih him-
felf with provifions and fVores, that he might be
enabled to purfue his voyage to Great Britain. Hop-
ing, at the fame time, that thefc orders would be
ifiued with as l'ttle delay as poffible, left it might 00
cafion his lofs of the fejfon, and he might be pre-
vented from departing till the next winter.
This letter w s tranQated into the Chinefe lan-
guage, and the commodore delivered it himfelf to the
Hoppo, or chief officer of the emperor's cuftoms at
Macao, defiring him to forward it to the viceroy of
Canton, with as much expedition as he could. The
officer at firfl feemed unwilling to take charge of it,
and raifed many difficulties about it; therefore the
commodore, not without fome refentment, took back
his letter, and told him. he would immediately fend
it to Canton in his own boat, and would give his of-
ficer pofuive orders not to return without an anfwer
% from
ROUND THE WORLD,
from the viceroy. The Hoppo perceiving the com-
modore to be in eamelt, and fearing to be called te
an account for his refufal, begged to be entmfted
with the letter, and promifed to deliver it, and to
procure an anlwer as foon as polTible.
And now it was prefently feen how juftly Mr. An-
fon had at laft judged of the proper manner of deal-
ing with the Chinefc, for this letter was writcen but
the 17th of December, as hath been already obferv-
ed; and on the 19th in the morning, a Manda-
rine of the firft rank, who was governor of the city
of Janfon, together with two Mandarines of ah in-
ferior clafs, anJ a confiderable retinue of officers and
fervants, having with them eighteen half gallies
furnilhed with mufic, and decorated with a great
number of dreamers, and full of men, came to
grapnel a-head of the Centurion; whence the Man-
darine fent a mefiage to the commodore, telling him
that he was ordered by the viceroy of Canton, to
examine the condition of the (hip. The Centurion's
boat was immediately difpatched, and preparations
were made for receiving him-, in particular a hun-
dred of the moft Tightly of the crew were uniformly
drefied in the regimentals of the marines, and were
drawn up under arms on the main-deck, againft his
arrival. When he entered the fliip he wasfaluted by
the military mufic there was on board ; and pafling
the new formed guard, he was met by the com-
modore on the quarter-deck, who conducted him
to the great cabbin. Here the Mandarine explained
his commiflion, declaring, that he was directed to
examine all the articles mentioned in the commo-
dore's letter to the viceroy j that he had every head
of enquiry feparately wrote down on a meet of paper,
with a void fpace oppofite to it, where he was to in-
fcrt fuch information as he could procure by his own
obfervation.
This Mandarine appeared to be a perfon of confi-
derable parts, and endowed with more franknefs and
I i 4 honeftjr
485 ANSON's VOYAGE
bonsfty than is to be found In the generality of the
Cftincfe. After the neceflary iqlpeftions had been
made, particularly about the leak, which the Chinefe
carpenters reported to be to the full as dangerous as,
it had been defcribed ; the Mandarine expreficd him
fclf fatisfied with the account given in the commo-
dore's letter. And this magiftrate, as he was mote
Intelligent than any other perfon of his nation that
came to our knowlege, fp likewjfe was he more
curious and inquifitive j viewing each part of the {hip
with extraordinary attention, and appearing greatly
furprifed at the largenefi of the lower deck guns, and
at the weight and fize of the mot. The commo-
dore, obierving his aftonUhment, thought this a pro-
per opportunity to convince the Chinefe of the pru-
dence pf granting him all his demands in the molt
fpeedy and ample manner. He therefore told the
Mandarine, and thpfe who were with him, that, be-
fide the requeft he made for a general licence, to.
furnilh himfelf with whatever his pttfent fituation re-
3uired ; he had a particular complaint to prefer againft
le proceedings of the cuftom-houfe of Macao. That
at his firft arrival the Chinefe boats had brought on
board him plenty of frelh provifions for daily ufc ;
that though they had always been paid to their full
fetisfaftion, yet the cuftom-houfe officers at Macao.
had loon forbid them ; that as they, the Mandarines,
had informed themfelves of his want;, and were eye-
wjtndTes of the force and ftrength of his ftiip, they
might be fatisfied it was not becaufe he had no
ppwer to fupply himfelf, that he defired the perauT-
fion of the government to purchafe what provifions,
he flood in need of; fince tie prefumed they were
convinced that the Centurion alone was capable of
cleftrpying the whole navigation of the port of Can*
foil) or of any other port in China : that it was.
true, this was not the manner of proceeding between
nations in fnendfhip with each other; but it was
jikewife true, that it was not cuftomary for any nation
' "" " ■" '" "' W
ROUND THE WORLD. 489
to permit the Chips of their friends to ftarve and fink
in their ports-, when thole friends had money to pur-
chafe neceflaries, and only defired liberty to lay it out :
that they mull confefs, he and his people had hitherto
behaved with great modefty and referve-, but that
necelfity was fuperior to every other law ; and there-
fore it could not be expected that his crew would
long continue to ftarve in the midft of that plenty to
which their eyes were every day witnefles. The firft
Mandarine acquiefced in the juftnefs of this reafon-
ing, and told the commodore, that he ftiould that
night proceed for Canton ; that on his arrival a coun-
cil of Mandarines would be fummoned, of which he
was a member, and that, by being employed in the
prefent commimon, he was of courle the commodore's
advocate. That with regard to the commodore's
complaint of the cuftom-houfe of Macao, this he
would undertake to rectify immediately by his own
authority. Then defiring a lift to be given him
of the quantity of provifioli neccflary for the ex-
pence of the ihip during one day, he wrote a permit
under it, and delivered it to one of his attendants,
directing him to fee that quantity fent on board early
every morning; which order, from that time for-
ward, was punctually complied with,
"When this weighty affair was thus in fome degree
regulated, the commodore invited him, and his two
attendant Mandarines, to dinner, telling them at the
fame time, that if his provifion, either in kind or'
quantity, was not what they might expect, they mult
thank themfelves for having confined him to fo hard
an allowance. One of his difhes was beef, which
t!ie Chinefe all diflike, though Mr. Anfon was not
apprized of it: this feems to be derived from the
Indian fuperftition, which for fome ages part has
made a great progrefs in China. However, his guefts
did not entirely faft ; for the three Mandarines com-
pletely finifhed the white part of tour large fowls.
J'hey were indeed extremely embar/afied with the
knives
490 ANSON's VOYAGE
knives and forks, and were quite incapable of making
ufe of them. But whatever difficulty they might
have in complying with the European manner of eat-
ing, they feemed not to be novices at drinking. In
this part of the entertainment the commodore excus-
ed himftlf, under the pretence of illnefs ; but there
being another gentleman prefent, of a florid and jo.
vial complexion, the chief Mandarine clapped him
on the moulder, and told him by the interpreter, that
certainly he could not plead ficknefs, and therefore
inufted on his bearing him company : and that gen-
tleman perceiving, that after they had difpatched four
or five bottles ofFrontiniac, the Mandarine dill con-
tinued unruffled, he ordered a bottle of citron water
to be brought up, which the Chinefe leemed much to
relifh; and this being near nnifhed, they arofefrom
table, in appearance cool and uninfluenced by what
they had drank.
After their departure, the commodore with great
impatience expected the refolution of council, and
the proper licences to enable lum to refit the (hip:
for he could neither purchafe ftores nor neceflaries,
nor did any kind of workmen dare to engage them-
felves in his lervice, until the pcrmiflion of the go-
vernment was firft obtained. And in the execution
of thefe particular injunctions, the magiftrates never
failed of excrcifwg great fevcrity.
A fliort time before this, captain Saunders took his
paflage to England on board a Swedifh (hip, and
was charged with difpatches from the commodore j
and in the month of December, captain MitcheL
colonel Cracherode, and Mr. Tafwe), one of the
agent victuallers, with his nephew Mr. Charles Har-
riot, embarked on board fome of our company's
(hips ; and I, having obtained the commodore's leave
to return home, embarked with them. I muft ob-
ferve too, that whilft we lay at Macao, we were
informed by >the officers of our Indiamen, chat the
Severn and Pearl, the two fliips of our fquadron
which
ROUND THE WORLD
which had feparated from us off Cape Noir, were fafe-
ly arrived ar Rio Janeiro on the coart of Brafil : it
was with great joy we received the news of their fafe-
ty, after the ftrong perfuafion, which had fo long
prevailed amongft us, of their having both perilhed.
Notwithstanding the favourable difpofition of the
Mandarine governor of Janlbn, at his leaving Mr.
Anfon, fevcral days elapled before there was any ad-
vice from him -, and Mr. Anion was privately inform-
ed there were great debates in council upon his affair ;
partly perhaps owing to its being fo unufual a cafe,
and in part to the intrigues of the French at Canton.
Indeed this oppofition of the French was not merely
the effect, of national prejudice, or a contrariety of
political interefts -, but was in a good meafure owing
to vanity. For, the French pretending their India-
men to be men of war, their officers were apprehert-
five, that any diftinclion granted to Mr. Anion, on
■ccount of his bearing the king's commiflion, would
render them lefs conliderable in the eyes of the Chi-
nelc, and would eirablifh a prepofleffion at Canton in
favour of fhips of war, by which they, as trading
veflels, would furter in their importance. And it
would have been well if the fear of finking in the
eftimaiion of the Chinefe, if the Centurion was treat-
ed in a manner different from themfelves, had been
confined to the officers of the French mips only.
However, not^ithftandingall thefe obft-icles, it fliould
feem, that the repreientation of the commodore to the
Mandarines, of the facility with which he could
right himfelf, if juftice were denied him, had at lall
its effect: fince on the 6th of January, in the morn-
ing the governor of Janfon, the commodore's advo-
vate,fent down the viceroy ot Canton's warrant for the
refitment of the Centurion, and tor fupplying her
people with all they wanted Having now the necef-
fary licences, a number of Chinefe fmiths and carpen-
ters went on board the next day to treat about the
work
49z ANSON's VOYAGE
work they were to do -, all which they propoled to
undertake by the great.
The commodore next exerted himfelf to get the
molt important bufinefs of the whole compleated i the
heaving down the Centurion, and examining the Hate
of her bottom. The firft lieutenant therefore was
difpatched to Canton, to hire two junks, one of them
being intended to heave down by, and the other to
ferve as a magazine for the powder and ammunition :
whilft at the fame time, on one of the neighbouring
iflands, a large tent was pitched for lodging the lum-
ber and provifions, and near a hundred Chinefe caulk-
ers ftt to work on the decks and fides of the fhip.
But all thefe preparations took up a great deal of
time*, for the Chinefe caulkers, though they worked
very well, were far from being expediuous. Befide,
the necefiary materials, which were to be purchafed
at Canton, came down very (lowly ; partly from the
distance of the place, and partly from the delays and
backwardnefs of the Chinefe merchants. And in
this interval Mr. Anfon had the additional perplexity
to difcover, that his fore-maft was broken afunder
above the upper-deck partners, and was only kept
together by the fillies which had been formerly clapt
upon it.
However, the Centurion's people made the moft of
their time, and exerted themielves the belt they
could i and as, by clearing the fhip, the carpenters
were enabled to come at the leik, they took care to
fecurc that effe&ually, whilft the other preparations
were going forward. On the lid ofFebruary, in the
morning, thty hove out the firft courfe of the Centu-
' rion's ftar-boird fide, and continued heaving down,
and often righting theihipfromafufpicion of their ca-
reening tackle, till the 3d of March, when, having
compleated the paying and fheathing the bottom,
which proved to be every where found, they, for the
(aft time, righted the fhip, to their great joy n fincc
not
ROUND THE WORLD.
493
not only the fatigue of careening had been confider-
able, but they had been apprehenfive of being attack-
ed by the Spaniards, whilft the fhip was thus inca-
pacitated for defence. Nor were their fears altogether
groundlefs ; for they learnt afterward, by a Portuguefe
veffel, that the Spaniards at Manila had been informed
that the Centurion was in the Typa, and intended
to careen therei and that thereupon the governor
had ("ummoned his council, and had propofed to en-
deavour to burn her, whilft fhe was careening; an
enterprife, which, if properly conducted, might have
put them in great danger. It was further reported,
ihu a captain of a vcflcl had actually undertaken to
perform the bufinefsfor forty thoufand dollars, which
he was not to receive, unlcfs he fucceeded : but the
governor pretending that there was no treafure in the
royal chelt, and infilling that the merchants mould
advance the money, and they refufing to comply with
the demand, the affair was dropped.
It was the beginning of April when they had new
rigged the (hip, flowed their provifions and water on
board, and had fitted her for the lea; and before this
time the Chinefe g ew very uneafy, and extremely
defirous that fhe mould be gone; a point the com-
modore was as eagerly let on as they could be. At
length, about the third of April, two Mandarine ■
boats came on board from Macao, to prefs him to
leave their port ; and this having been often urged
before, Mr. Anfon, at this laft meffage, anfwered
them in a determined tone, defiring them to give hirn
no further trouble, for he would go when he thought
proper, and not fooner. After this rebuke the Chi-
nefe (though it was not in their power to compel him
to depart) immediately prohibited all provifions from
being carried on board him, and took fuch care their
injunctions fliould be complied with, that from
thence forward nothing could be purchafed at any
rate whatever.
The
494 ANSON'S VOYAGE
The 6th of April, the Centurion weighed frorrt
the Typa, and warped to the fouthward ; and, by
the 15th, fhe was got into Macao road, completing
her water as Ihe palTed along : and her whole bufi-
ncfs being fmifhed by the 19th, ihe, at three in the
afternoon of that day, weighed and flood to fea.
The commodore was now got to fea, with his fhip
well refitted, his ftores replenifhed, and an additional
flock of proviGons on board : his crew too was fome-
what reinforced', for he had entered twenty-three
men during his ftay at Macao, the greateft part of
them Lafcars or Indian Tailors, and the reft Dutch.
He gave out at Macao, that he was bound to Bata-
via, and thence to England. But his real defign was
of a very different nature. He fuppofed, that inftead
of one annual fhip from Acapulco to Manila, there
would be this year, in all probability, two -, fince,
by being before Acapulco, he had prevented one of
them from putting to fea the preceding feafon. He
therefore, not difcouraged by his former difafters, re-
folved again to rifque the cafualties of the Pacific
ocean, and to cruife for thefe returning vefiels off
Cape Efpiritu Santo, on the ifland of Samal, which
is the firft land they always make at the Philippine
iflands : and as June is generally the month in which
they arrive there, he doubted not but he fhould
get to his intended ftation rime enough to intercept
them. Indeed, at Macao it was incumbent on him
to keep thefe views fecret ; for there being a great in-
tercourfe and connexion of interefts between that port
and Manilla, he had reafon to fear, that, if his de-
figns were difcovered, intelligence would be imme-
diately fent to Manilla, and meafures would be taken
to prevent the galeons from falling into his hands,
But being now at fea, and entirely clear of the coaft,
he fummoned all his people on the quarter-deck,
and informed them of his refolution to cruife for the
two Manila fhips, of whofe wealth they were not ig-
norant;
ROUND THE WORLD.
495
norant : he told them he fhould choofe a ftation,
where he could not fail of meeting wiih them -t and
though they were (tout (hip?, and full manned, yet,
if his own people behaved with their accuftomed
fpirit, he was certain he fhould prove too hard for
them both, and that one of them at leafl could not
fail of becoming his prize.
The fpeech of the commodore was received by his
people with great joy. Since no fooner he had end-
ed, than they exprefled their approbation, according
to naval cuftom, by three (trenuous cheers: and de-
clared their determination toiucceed, or periih, when-
ever the opportunity prefented itfclf. And this confi-
dence was fo univerlally fpiead through the whole
fliip's company, that the commodore, who had taken
fome Chinefe iheep to fea with him for his own provi-
fion, enquiring one day of his butcher, why he had
lately feen no mutton at his table, and afking him if
all the fheep were killed ; the fellow ferioufly replied,
that there were indeed two fheep left, but that if his
honour would give him leave, lie propofed to keep
thole for the entertainment of the general of the ga-
leons.
When the Centurion left the port of Macao, (he
ftood for fome days to the weftward ; and, on the
firft of May, they faw part of the ifland of Formofa v
and, (leering thence to the fouihwaid, they, on the
4th of May, were in the latitude of the Bafhee iflands,
as laid down by Dampier. After getting fight of
thefe illands, they flood between the lbuth and fouth
weft for Cape Efpiritu Santo ; and, the 20th of May
at noon, they firft difcovcrcd that cape, which about
four o'clock they brought to bear fouth fouth weft,
near eleven leagues diflant. It appeared to be of a
moderate height, with feveral round hummocks on it.
As from this time there was but fmall employment for
the crew, the commodore ordered them almoft every
day to be exercifed in the working of the great guns,
and in the ufe of their fmall arms. Indeed this had
496 Anson's voyage
been his practice, more or lefe, at every convenient
feafon during the whole courfe of his voyage -, and
the advantages which he received from it, in his en-
gagement with the galeon, were an ample recom-
penfe for all his care and attention. They were alio
conftantly trained to fire at a mark, which was ufual-
ly hung at the yard-arm, and where fome little re-
ward was given to the molt expert ; and the whole
crew, by this management, were rendered extremely
(kilfiil.
It was the lad of May, N- S. when the Centurion
arrived off Cape Efpiritu Santo; and confequently
the next day the month began in which the galeons
were to be expected. The commodore therefore
made, all neceflary preparations for receiving them.
All this time too he was very folicitous to keep at
fucli a diftance from the cape, as not to be difcovered.
But it hath been fince learnt, that notwithltanding his
care, he was (een from the land; and advice of him
was fent to Manila, where, though it was at firft dis-
believed, yet, on repeated intelligence, the merchants
were alarmed, and the governor was applied to; who
undercook (the com. lerce fupplying the neceflary
fums) to fit out two diips of thirty-two guns, one of
twenty guns, and two (loops of ten guns each, to at-
tack the Centurion on her ftation. With this view
fome of thefe veflels actually weighed; but the prin-
cipal (hip not being ready, and the monfoon being
againft them, the commerce and the governor dila-
greed, fo that the enterprife was laid afide.
As the month of June advanced, the expectancy and
impatience of the commodore's people were each day
increafed ; and it may eaGly be conceived how anxi-
oufly they pafied the latter part of their cruife, when
the certainty of the arrival of thofe veflels was dwin-
dled down to probability only, and that probability
became each hour more and more doubtful. How-
ever, on the 20th of June O. S. being juft a month
after their gaining their ftation, they were relieved
ROUND THE WORLD.
out of this ftate of uncertainty ; for, at fun-rife, they
difcovered a fail from the malt-heaJ, in the fouth eaft
quarter. On this, a general joy fpread through the
whole ihip-, for they had no doubt but this was one
of the galeons, and they expected foon to defcry the
other! The commodore inltantly ftjod toward her,
and at half an hour after feven they were near enough
to fee her from the Centurion's deck -, at which time
the galeon fired a gun, and took in her top-gallant
fails : this was fuppofed to be a fignal to her conlbrt ;
and therefore the Centurion fired a gun to leeward,
to amufe her. The commodore was furpriled to find,
that during all this interval the galeon did not change
her courfe, but continued to bear down upon himj
for he hardly believed, what afterward appeared to
be the cafe, that fhe knew his (hip to be the Cen-
turion, and refolved to fight him.
About noon the commodore was little more than a
league diftant from the galeon, and could fetch her
wake, lb that fhe could not now efcape. Mr. Anfon,
in the mean time, had prepared all things for an en-
gagement. He picked out above thirty of his choiceft
hands and belt markfmen, whom he diftributed into
his tops, and who fully anfwered his expectations.
And as he had not hands enough remaining to quarter
A fufHcient number to each great gun, in the cuftoma-
ry manner; he therefore, on his lower tire fixed only
two men to each gun, who were to be folely employ-
ed in loading it, whiift the reft of his people, divided
into different gangs of ten or twelve men each, were
continually moving about the decks, to run out and
fire fuch guns as were loaded. By this managemenc
he was enabled to make ufe of all his guns -, and in-
stead of broad-fides, he kept up a conlbnt tire with-
out intermiffion ; whence lie doubted not to procure,
very fignal advantages.
Toward one o'clock, the Centurion hoifted lief
broad pendant and colours, (he being then within
gun-fliot of the enemy ; and the commodore perceiv-
ing' the Spaniards to have neglected clearing their
Vol. III. K k ihip
498 ANSON's VOYAGE
flup till that time, as he faw them throwing overboard
cattle and lumber, he gave orders to fire upon them
with the chace-guns, to difturb them in their work.
Soon after, the Centurion came a-breaftof the enemy
within piftol-lhot, keeping to the leeward of them,
with a view of preventing their putting before the
windy and gaining the port of Jalapay, from which
they were about feven leagues dulant. And now the
engagement began in eameft. On the commencement:
-of the action, the mats, with which the galeon had
fluffed her netting, took fire, and burnt violently*
blazing up half as high as the mizen top. This ac-
cident, fuppofed to be caufed by the Centurion's
wads, threw the enemy into the uuioft terror, and al-
, fo alarmed the commodore, left the galeon mould be
burnt, and he htmfelf too fuffer by her driving on board.
him. However, the Spaniards at laft freed themfelves.
from the fire, by cutting away the netting, and tumb-
ling the whole mafs into the lea. All this interval the
Centurion kept firing her cannon with great regularity,
for at lealt half an hour; but then the Centurion loll
the iuperiority arifing from her original fituation, and
was dole along-fidc the galeon, and the enemy conti-
nued to fire brifkly. for near an hour longer. Yet even,
in this pofture the commodore's grape-mot fwept their
decks lb effectually, that they began to fall into great
dilbrder, cfpecully as the general, who was the life of
the action, being wounded, was no longer capable of
exerting himfcli. Therefore, after having, as a laft
effort, fired five or fix guns with more judgment than
uliial, they yielded up the conteft -, and the galeon's.
colours being finged off the enfign ftaff in the begin-.
ning of the engagement, fhe ilruck the ftandard at
her main -.top- gallant maft-head.
Thus was the Centurion poueflTed of this rich prize,
amounting in value to near a million and a half of
dollars. She was called the Noftra Signora de Caba-
donga, and was commanded by general Don Jero-
nimo de Mentero, a PortuguefV, who was the molt
approved officer for flsill and courage of any employ-
7 ed
ROUND THE WORLD. 499
ed in that fervice. The galeon was much larger than
the Cencurion ; had five hundred and fifty men, and
thirty-fix guns mounted tor action, befide twenty-
eight pedreroes in her gunw.de, quarters, and tops,
each or" which carried a four pound ball. She was
very well furnifhed with fmall arms, and was particu-
larly provided againft boarding, both by h«r dole
quarters, and by a ilrong net-work of two inch-rope,
which was laced over her waiit, and was defended by
half-pikes. She had lixty-il-ven men killed in the ac-
tion,and eighty-four wounded, whilfl: the Centurion had
only two killed, and a lieutenant and fixteen wounded,
all of whom but one recovered: of lo little confe-
quence are the mod deftructive arms in untutored
and unpractiled hands.
The treafure thus taken by the Centurion hav-
ing been, for at lean: eighteen months, the great
object of their hope, it is impoflible to delcribe the
tranfport on board, when, after all their reiterated
di (appointments, they at laft law their wiflies accom-
plifhed. But their joy was near being fuddenly
damped by a moft tremendous incident: for no
fooner had the galeon ftruck, than one of the lieu-
tenants coming to Mr. Anion to congratulate him
on his prize, whilpered him at the fame time, that the
Centurion was on fire near the powder-room. The
commodore received this dreadful news without any
apparent emotion, and taking care not to alarm his
people, gave the necefiary orders for extinguifhing
the fire, which was happily done in a fhort time.
The commodore appointed the Manila veflel to be
a poll ihip in his majetty's fervice, and gave the com-
mand of her to Mr. Sanmirez, hisfirft lieutenant; who,
before night, fent on board the Centurion all the spa-
nifli prilbners, except fucfl as were thought the moft
proper to be retained ro affiir, in navigating the galeon.
And now the commodore learnr, from fome of tlicfc
prifoners, that the other ihip, which he lud kept in
the port of Acapulco the preceding year, ' inllead of
returning in company with the prize, as was expected ;
K k 2 had
5oo ANSON's VOYAGE
had fet fail from Acapulco alone much fooner than
ufual, and had, in all probability, got into the pore of
Manila long before the Centurion arrived off Cape Ef-
piritu Santo.
The commodore, when the action was ended, re-
folved to make the beft of his way with his prize for
the river of Canton, being in the mean time fully
employed in fecuring his prifoners, and in removing
the treafure, from on board the galcon into the Cen-
turion. The lair, of thele operations was too impor-
tant to be poftponed -, tor as the navigation to Can-
ton was through feas but little known, and where,
from the feafon of the year, very tempeftuous wea-
ther might be expected, it was of great confequence
that the treafure Ihould be fent on board the Centu-
rion -, which ihip, by the prefence of the commander
in chief, the larger number of her hands, and her
other advantages, was doubt Ids better provided
againft all the cafualties of winds and leas than the
galcon : and the fecuring the prifoners was a matter
offtill more confequence, as not only the pofleflion
of the treafure, but the lives of the captors depended
thereon. This was indeed an article which gave the
commodore much trouble and dilquietude, for they
were above double the number of his own people ;
and lbme of them, when they were brought on board
the Centurion, and had obferved how flenderly (he
was manned, and the large proportion which the
ftriplings bore to the reft, could not help expreffing
themfelves with great indignation to be thus beaten
by a handful of boys. The method which was taken
to hinder them from riling, was by placing all, but
the officers and the wounded, in the hold, where, to
give them as much air as poilible, two hatch- ways
were left open j but then (to avoid any danger that
might happen, whiiil die Centurion's people might
be employed upon deck) there was a fquare partition
of thick planks, made in the fhape of a funnel, which
enclofed each hatch-way on the lower deck and reach-
ed to that directly over it on the upper deck ; thele
6 funnels
ROUND THE WORLD. 501
funnels ferved to communicate the air to the hold
better than could have been done without them, and,
at the fame time, added greatly to the lecurity of the
iliip; for they being fcven or eight feet high, it
would have been extremely difficult for the Spani-
ards to have clambered up ; and ftill to augment that
difficulty, four iwivel guns, loaded with mufquet-
bullets, were planted at the mouth of each funnel,
and a fentinel with lighted match was potted there
ready to fire into the hold among them, in cafe of
any ditlurbance. Their officers, who amounted to
feventeen or eighteen, were all lodged in the firft
lieutenant's cabbin, under a guard of fix men ; and
the general, as he was wounded, lay in the commo,-
dore's cabbin with a fentinel always over him ; every
prifonertoo was iufficienfiy appriled, that any violenco
or dirturbance would be puniihed with inftant death.
And, that the Centurion's people might be at all
times prepared, if, notwithstanding thefc regulations,
any tumult ihould arife, the fmall arms were con-
stantly kept loaded, wliilft all the men went armed
with cutlaffes and piitols-, and no officer pulled off
his clothes when he llept -, or, when he lay down, omit-
ted to have his arms always ready by him.
Theie meafures were obvioufly neceflary, confider-
ing the hazards to which the commodore and his peor
pic would have been expoled, had they been left
careful. Indeed, the lurrl-rings of the poor prilbners,
though impoflible to be alleviated, were much to be
commiferated; for the weather was extremely hot,
the itench of the hold loathlbme, beyond all concep-
tion, and their allowance of water but juft fufficient
to keep them alive : it not being practicable to lpare
them more than at the rate of a pint a day for each,
the crew themfelves having only an allowance of a
pint and a half. All this conlidcred, it was wonderful
that not a man of them died during their iong con-
finement, except three of the wounded, who expired
the fame night they were taken; though it muft be
f onfelfcd, that the greateft part of them were ltrange-
K k 3 ly
502 ANSON's VOYAGE
ly metamorphofed by the heat of the hold ; for when
they were firlt brought on board, they were fightiy
robuft fellows; but when, after above a month's im-
prisonment, tlicy were djfcharged in the river of
Canton, they were reduced to mere lkeleums.
Thus employed in iccuring the treafure and the
prilbners, the commodore, as hath been fa;d, flood
for the river of Canton ; and, on ihe i ith of July,
having taken on board two Chinele pilots, one for
the Centurion, and the other for the prize, they iame
to an anchor off the city of Macao.
This being the commodore's laft prize, it appears,
that all the treafure taken by the Centurion wa<. not
much fhort of 400,000 1. independent of the fhips
and merchandize, which flic either burnt or deftroy-
ed; and wliich, by the molt reafonable eftimadojQt
could not amount to fo little as 600.000I. more : lb
that the whole damage done the enemy by our fqua-
dron, did doubtlefs exceed a million fisrlirtg. 'lb
which it there be addcu the great expercc of the
court of Spain, in fitting out Pjzarro, and in paying
the additional charges in America, incurred on our
account, together with the lofs of their own men of
war; the total of all thefe articles will be a molt exr
orbitant lum, and is the ftrongelt conviction of the
utility of this expedition, which, with all its nume-
rous difad vantages, did yet prove fo extremely preju-
dicial to the enemy.
Whilll the Centurion and her prize were thus at
anchor, a boat with an officer was fent off from the
Mandarine, commanding the torts at 13oaa Tigris to
examine what the fhips were, and whence they camia,
Mr. Anfon informed the officer (hat his own (hip was
a man of war belonging to the king of Great Britain,
and that the oiher in company with him was a prize
he had taken ; that he was going into Canton river
to (bolter himfelt againft the hurricanes which were
then approaching, and that as foon as the monfoon
ihiftcd he mould let fail for England. The officer
then defired an account of what men, guns, and am-
munition
ROUND THE WORLD.
5°3
munition were on board, a lift of which he faid was
to be fent to the governor of Canton. But when
thefe articles were repeated to him, particularly upon
his being told that there were in the Centurion tour
hundred firelocks, and between three and four hun-
dred barrels of powder, he flirugged up his (boulders,
and feemed to be terrified with the bare recital ;
faying, that no Ihip ever came into Canton river
armed in that manner; adding, that he durir. not fet
down the whole of his force, left it fhould too much
alarm the regency. After he had finifhed his enqui-
ries, and was preparing to depart, he defired to leave
two cuftom-houfe officers behind himj on which the
commodore told him, that though as a man of war
he was prohibited from trading, and had nothing to
do with cuftoms or duties of any kind ; yet for the fa-
tisfaftion of the Chinefe, he would permit two of their
people to be left on board, who might themielves be
witnefies how punctually he (hould comply with his
inftruitions. The officer feemed amazed when Mr.
Anion mentioned being exempted from all duties, and
anfwered, that the emperor's duty mult be paid by
every lhip that came into his ports : and it is fuppol-
ed, that on this occafion, private directions were given
by him to the Chinefe pilot, not to carry the commo-
dore through the Bocca Tigris -, which makes it ne-
ceflary, more particularly, to defcribe that entrance.
The Bocca Tigris is a narrow pailage, little more
than mulquet-fhot over, formed by two pointsof land,
on each of which there is a fort, that on the ftarboard-
fide being a battery on the water's edge, with eigh-
teen embrafures, but where there were no more than
twelve iron cannon mounted, feeming to be four or
fix pounders ; the fort on the larboard fide is a large
caftle, fituated on a high rock, and did not appear
to be furnifhed with more than eight or ten cannon,
none of which were fuppofed to exceed fix-poun-
ders. Thefe are the defences which fecure the ri-
ver of Canton ; and which the Chinefe imagined were
iufEcienc to prevent an enemy from forcing through.
5o4 ANSON's VOYAGE
But it is obvious, from the ddcriptno of thcfc
forts, that they could have given no obftrudion to
Mr. Anfon's paflage, even if they had been well fup-
plied wiih gunners and ftores ; and therefore, though
the pilot, after the Chlnefe officer had been onboard^
refufed at firft to take charge of the (hip till he had
leave from the forts -, yet, as it was neceffary to get
through without any delay, for fear Of the bad wea-
ther which was hourly expected, the commodore
weighed on the 15th, and ordered the pilot to carry
him by the forts, threatening him, that if the Ihip
fran a-ground, he would inftantly hang him up jat the
yard-arm. The pilot, awed by thefe threats, carried
the (hip through fafely, the forts not attempting to
dilpute the paflage. Indeed the poor pilot did not
efcape the refentment of his countrymen; for wheri
he came on flibre he was feized and lent to prifon,
and was rigoroufly difciplined with the bamboo.
However, he found means to get at Mr. Anfon af-
terward, to defire of him fome recompence for the
chaftifement he had undergone, and of -which he then
carried very fignificant marks about him : Mr. An-
fon, in commileration of his fufFerings, gave him fuch
a fum of rnoney, as would at any time have enticed a
Chinefe to have Undergone a dozen baftinadings.
- Nor was the pilot the only pcrfbn that fuffered on
this occafion ; for the commodore foon after feeing
fome royal junks pals by him from Bocca Tigris to-
ward Canton, he learnt, on enquiry, that the Man-
darine commanding the forts was a prifoner on board,
that he was already turned out, and was now carrying
to Canton, where it was expected he would be feverely
punifhed for having permitted the fhips to pafs.
On the 1 6th of July, the commodore fent his fe-
cond lieutenant to Canton, with a letter for the vice-
roy, informing him of the reafon of the Centurion's
putting into that port ; and that the commodore
himfelf fpon propofed to repair to Canton, to pay a
vifit to his excellency. The lieutenant was very ci-
villy received, and waspromifed that an anfwerihould
■;■•■■ r ■ be
ROUND THE WORLD. 505
be fent to the commodore the next day. In the
mean time Mr. Anion gave leave to feveral of the
officers or' the galeon to go to Canton, they enga-
ging their parole to return in two days. When
thele priibners got to Canton, the regency fent for
rhem, and examined them, enquiring particularly,
by what means they came into Mr. Anion's power.
Jt luckily happened, that on this occafion the pri-
soners were honeft enough to declare, that as the
kings of Great Britain and of Spain were at war, they
had propofed to themfelves the taking of the Centu-
rion, and had bore down upon her with that view ^
but that the event had been contrary to their'hopes.
And being queftioned as to their ufage on board, they
frankly acknowleged that they had been treated by the
commodore much better than they believed he would
have been treated by them, had he fallen into their
hands. This cnnfeflion from an enemy had great
weight with the Chinefe, who, till then, though they
revered the commodore's military force, had yet ftrf- _
pofted his morals ; and had confidered him rather as a
iawlefs free-booter, than as one commiflioned by the
ftate for the revenge of public injuries.
On the 20th of July, in the morning, three Man-
darines, with a great number of boats, and a vaft
retinue, came on board the CentuKun, and delivered
to the commodore the viceroy of Canton's order for
a daily fupply of provilions, and for pilots to carry
the mips up the river as far as the fecond bar ; and
at the Lime time they delivered him a mefiage from
the viceroy, in anfwer to the letter fent to Canton.
The fubftance of the melfage was, that the viceroy
detired to be excufed from receiving the commo-
dore's vifit, during the then exceffive hot weather-,
becaufe the aflembling the Mandarines and foldiers,
neceffary to that ceremony, would prove extremely
inconvenient and fatiguing : but that in September,
when the weather would be more temperate, he mould
be glad to fee both the commodore himlelf, and the
tinglilh captain of the other fhip that was with him.
As
506 ANSON's VOYAGE
As Mr. Anfon knew thai an exprefs had been dif-
parched to the court at Pekin, with an account of
the Centurion and her prize being arrived in the ri-
ver of Canton ; he had no doubt but the principal
motive for putting off this vifm was, that the re-
gency at Canton might gain time to receive the em-
peror's in ft ructions, on this unufual affair.
When the Mandarines had delivered their meflage,
they began to talk to the commodore about the du-
ties to be paid by his mips ; but he immediately told
them, that he would never fubmit to any demand
of that kind -, that as he neither brought any mer-
chandize thither, nor intended to carry any away,
-he could not be deemed within the meanirig of the
emperor's orders, which were doubtlefs calculated for
trading veflels only : adding, that no duties were ever
demanded of men of war, by nations accuftomed to
their reception, and that his mailer's orders exprefsly
forbade him from paying any acknowlegment for his
fliip's anchoring in any port whatever.
The Mandarines being thus cut fhort on the fub-
jeft of the duty, they faid they had another matter to
mention, which was the only remaining one they had
m charge; this was a requeft to the commodore,
that he would raleafe the prifoners he had taken on
board the galeon. : for that the viceroy of Canton ap-
prehended the emperor, his mafter, might be dif-
pleafed, if he ihould be informed that perfons, who
were his allies, and carried on a great commerce with
his fubjects, were under confinement in his domi-
nions. Mr. Anfon himfclf was extremely defirous to
get rid of the Spaniards-, however, to enhance the
favour, he at firfl: railed fome difficulties ; but per-
mitting himfelf to be prevailed on, he at laft told
the Mandarines, that to (hew his readinefs to oblige
the viceroy, he would releafe the prifoners whenever
they, the Chinefe, would order boats to fetch them
off. This matter being thus adjufted, the Manda-
rines departed j and on the 28th of July, two Chi-
nefe junks were fait from Canton, to take on board
the
ROUND THE WORLD. 507
the prifoners, and to carry them to Macao ; and the
commodore, agreeable to his promife, difmifled them
all
Though ihe (hips, in coniequence of the viceroy's
permit, found no difficulty in purchasing provifions
for their daily coni'umprion i yet it was iivipoffible
that the commodore could proceed to England,
without laying in a large quantity both of provifions
and naval ttores for .his ufe during the voyage. The
procuring this lupply was attended with much per-
plexity-: for there were people at Canton who had
undertaken tofurnifh him with bifcuit, and whatever
elk he wanted. Buc a fortnight being flat fed, and
nothing brought, the commodore fent to Canton to
enquire more particularly into the reafons of this dis-
appointment : and he had foon the vocation to be in-
iurii.iil that no order had been procured from the
viceroy to furnifh htm with his fea-ltores ; that there
was no bifcuit baited, nor any one of the articles in
readinels which had been promifed him; nor did it
appear that the contractors had taken the leaft llep
to comply with their agreement.
It may perhaps be impofiible for an European,
ignorant of the cuftoms and manners of that nation,
to be fully appiifed of the real incitements to this
behaviour. Indeed, thus much may undoubtedly
be alerted, that in artifice, falfehood, and an attach-
ment to all kinds of lucre, many of the Chineie
are difficult to be paralleled by any other people.
But then, the particular application of thefe talents,
and the manner in which they operate on every
emergency, are often beyond the reach of a foreign-
er's penetration.
It were endlefs to recount all the artifices, extor-
tions, and frauds, which were praftifed on the com-
modore and his people, by this interefted race. The
method of buying provifions in China being by
weight, the tricks the Chinefe made ufe of to aug-
ment the weight of what they fold to the Centurion,
were ainioft incredible. One time a large quantity
6oS AKSOVs VOYAGE
of fowls and ducks being brought for the (hip's (tore,
she greateft part ef them prefendy died : this fpread
a general alarm on bo:r«i, it being apprehended that
they had been killed by poilbn : but on examination
it appeared, that it was only owing to their being
crammed with (tones and gravel to increafe their
weight ; the quantity thus forced into moft of the
ducks being found to amount to ten ounces in each.
The hogs too, which were bought ready killed of the
Chinefe butchers, had water injected into them for the
fame purpose ; fo that a carcafe, hung up all night
that the water might drain from it, bad loft above
a (lone of its weight. And when, to avoid this
cheat, the hogs were bought alive, it was ducovered.
that the Chinese gave them fait to increafe their third,
and having thus excited them to drink great quan-
tities of water, they then took meafures to prevent
them from difcharging it again by urine, and (bid
the tortured animal in this inflated ftate. When the
commodore firft put to fea from Macao, they prac-
jt'ifed an artifice of another kind ; for as the Chinefe ne-
ver fcruple eating any animal that dies of itfelf, they
contrived, by feme fecret practices, that great pat
of his live fea-ftore mould die in a (hort time after it
was put on board, hoping to make a fecond profit
of the dead carcafes which they expected would be
thrown over-board ; and two third or the hogs dying
before the Centurion was out of fight of land, many
of the Chinefe boats followed her, to pick up the
carrion. Thefe inftances may ferve as a fpecimen of
the manners of this celebrated nation. But to return :
The commodore, toward the end of September,
having found out (as has been faid) that thofe who
had contracted to fupply him with fra-provifions and
4torei, had deceived him, and that the viceroy had
not invited him to an interview, according to his
promife •, he faw it would be impoffible for him to
fur mount the difficulties he was under, without go-
• ing to Canton, and vifiting the viceroy. And there-
fore, on the 2/th of September, he fent a meffage
ROUND THE WORLD. 50$
10 the Mandarine who attended the Centurion, to in-
form him, that he, the commodore, intended, on
the ift of 0<5tober, to proceed in his boat to Can-
ton i adding, that the day after he got there, he
mould notify his arrival to the viceroy, and mould
defiie him to fix a time for his audience. This mef-
fage being delivered to the Mandarine, he returned
no other anfwer, than that he would acquaint the
viceroy with the commodore's intentions. In the
mean time all things were prepared for this expe-
dition : the boat's crew which Mr. Anfon propo-
fed to take with him, were clothed in an uniform-
refembling that of the watermen on the Thames;
they were in number eighteen and a cockfwain ; they
had fcarlet jackets and blue filk waiftcoats, the whole
trimmed with filver buttons, befides filver badges on
their jackets and caps. As it was apprehended, and
even afierted, that the payment of the cuitomary du-
ties for the Centurion and her prize, would be de-
manded by the regency of Canton, and would be
infilled on, previous to their granting a permifliori to
victual the fliip for our future voyage ■, the commo-
dore, who was refolved never to eitablilh fo dilho-
nourable a precedent, took all poliiblc precaution to
prevent the Chinefe from facilitating the faceds t>f
their unfeafonable pretentions, by having him in their
power at Canton. And therefore, the better to !e-
cure his Ihip and the great treature on board her, he
appointed his firil lieutenant Mr. Brett, to be cap-
tain of the Centurion under him, giving him proper
inftruftions for his conduit, if he, the commodore,
fliould be detained at Canton on account of the du-
ties in difput?. Thefe necefiary fteps being taken,
which were not unknown to the Chinefe, it ihould
fecm as if their deliberations were in Ibme fort per-
Iplexed thereby -, and fome dirty cunning arts were
made ufe of to obitruct his going up to Canton.
On the j 3th of October, however, the commo-
dore continuing tirm to Lis reiblurion, all the luper-
cargoes of the EngHJh, Danifli, and SwL-di!h mips
$io ANSON's VOYAGE
came on board the Centurion to accompany him 69
Canton ; for which place he fet out in his barge thto
lame day, attended by bis own boats, and by. thole
of the trading {hips, which, on this occafion, fens
their boats to augment his retinue. As he palled by
Wampo, where the European veffels lay, he was
faluted by all of them but the French, and in the
evening he arrived iafely at Canton.
When the commodore arrived at Canton, he was
vifited by the principal Chinefc merchants, who af-
fected to appear, very much pleated that he had met
with no obftruction in getting thither. In the con-
versation which pafled upon this occafion, they took
care to insinuate, that as toon as the viceroy mould
be informed that Mr. Anfon was at Canton, which
they promifcd mould be done the next morning, they
were perfuaded a time would be immediately ap-
pointed for the vifit, which was the principal bufi-
nefs that had brought the commodore to that city.
The next day the merchants returned to Mr. An-
fon, and told him, that the viceroy was then fo fully
employed in preparing his difpatches for Pckin, that
there was no getting admittance to him at prelent •,
but that they had engaged one of the officers of his
court to give them information, as foon as he Ihould
be at leifure, when they propofed to notify Mr. An-
ton's arrival, and to endeavour to fix the audience.
The commodore was already too well acquainted with
their artifices not to perceive that this was a falfe-
hood ; and had he confulted only his own judgment,
he would have applied directly to the viceroy by
other hands. But the Chinefc merchants had fo far
prepofieiTed the fupcrcargoes of our (hips with chi-
merical fears of being embroiled with the govern-
ment, if thofe mealures were taken, which appeared
to Mr. Anfon at that lime to be the moft pruden-
tial; that he rcfolved to continue paflive as Ions
as it Ihould appear that he loft no time by thus ful-
pending his own opinion. In purfuancc. of this
refolution, lie propofed to the EnglUh, that he
* would
ROUND THE WORLD. 5u
would engage not to take any immediate ftep him-
lelf for getting admittance to the viceroy, provided
the Chinefe, who contracted to furnifh. his provi-
fions, would let him fee that his bread was baked,
his meat falted, and his (lores prepared with the ut-
moft difpatch. But if, by the time when all was in
readinefs to be fhipped off, which it was fuppofed
would be in about forty days, the merchants fhould
not have procured the government's permifiion to
iend it on board, then the commodore was deter-
mined to apply to the viceroy himfelf. However,
at laft, the connect being paft, it was Ibme fatisfac-
tion to the commodore to be certain that his prepa-
rations were now going on ■, and being himlelf on
the fpot, he took care to haften them as much as pof-
fible. But when all was compleated, and wanted
only to be fhipped, which was about the 22d of No-
vember, at which time too the north-eaft monfbon was
let in, he then refolved to demand an audience of
the viceroy, as he was perfuaded that, without this
ceremony, the grant of a permhTton to take his ftores
on board would meet with great difficulty. On the
24th of November, therefore, Mr. Anfon fent one
of his officers to the Mandarine who commanded the
guard of the principal gate of the city of Canton,
with a letter directed to the viceroy. When this let-
ter was delivered 10 the Mandarine, he received the
officer who brought it very civilly, and took down
the contents of it in Chinefe, and promifed that the
viceroy fhould be immediately acquainted with it.
When Mr. Anfon firft determined to write this let-
ter, he was under great difficulties about a proper in-
terpreter, as he was well aware that none of the Chi-
nefe, ufually employed as linguifts, could be relied
on i but he at laft prevailed with Mr. Flint, an Eng-
lifh gentleman belonging to the factory, who fpoke
Chinefe perfectly well, to accompany his officer.
Two days after the fending the abovementioned
letter, a fire broke out in the fuburbs of Canton.
On the firlt alarm, Mr. Anfon went thither with his
officers
5ii ANSO'N's VOYAGE
officers and his boat's crew to aid1 the Chinefe. When
he came there, he found that it had begun in a Tailor's
{bed, and that by pulling down fome of the adjacent;
fheds it rhight ealily be extinguifhed-, and particu-
larly pobferving that it was then running alorif a
wooden cornice, which blazed fiercely, and would
immediately communicate the flame to a great dis-
tance, he ordered his people to begin witli tearino
away that corriice : this was presently attempted, and
would have been loon executed ; butj in the mean
time he was told, that as there was no Mandarine
there, who alone has a power to direct on thefe oc-
cafions, the Chinefe would make him, the commo-
dore, anfwerable for whatever mould bt pulled down
by his command. Hereupon Mr. Anfon and his at-
tendants deiifted ; and he fent them to the Englifh
factory to afllft in fecuring the company's treafure and
effects, as it was eafy to forefee that no diltance was
a protection againft the rage of fuch a fire, where fo
little was done to put a ftop to it; fince all the while
the Chinefe contented themfelves with viewing it, and
now and then holding one of their idols near it, which
they feemed to expect fhould check its progrefs. In-
deed, at laft, a Mandarine came out of the city,
attended by four or five hundred firemen : thefe
made fome feeble efforts to pull down the neighbour-
ing houfes j but by that time the fire had greatly ex-
tended itfelf, and was got amongft the merchants
warehoufes; and the Chinefe firemen, wanting both
Ikill and fpirit, were incapable of checking its vio-
lence. In this general confufion the viceroy himfelf
came thither, and the commodore was fent to, and
was entreated to afford his afiiftance, being told that
he ■ might take any meafures he fliould think moft
prudent in the prefent emergency. Upon this mef-
fige he went thither a fecond time, carrying with him
about forty of his people-, who, in the fight of the
whole city, exerted themfelves after fo extraordinary
a manner, that the fire was foon extinguifhed, to the
amazement of the Chinefe: and it fortunately hap-
pened
ROUND THE WORLD.
5l3
pened too, that the buildings being all on one floor,
and the materials flight, the Teamen, notwithstanding
their daring behaviour, efcaped with no other injuries
than fome bruifes.
Whilft the commodore and his people were la-
bouring at the fire, and the terror of its becoming
general poflefied the whole city, fever.il of the moft
confidcrable Chinefe merchants came to Mr. Anion,
to defire that he would let each of tnem have one
of his ibldiers (for fuch they itiled his boat's crew,
from the uniformity of their drels) to guard their
warehoufes and dwelling houfes, which, from the
known dilhonefly of the populace, they feared would
be pillaged in the tumult. Mr. Anfon gran '
this requeft ; and all the men that he thus furnifhed
behaved much to the fa tis fiction of the merchants.
The refolution of the Englifli in malk-nn^ rlic
fire, and their trufty and pnident conduct: \\',.
were employed as fafeguards, were the general lub-
jects of converfation amcmglt the Chinefe. And,
the next morning, many of the principal inhabitants
waited on the commodore to thank him for his af-
Mance, frankly owning to him, that he had pre-
ferved their city from being totally confumed, as they
could never have extinguished the fire of themfelves.
Soon after too a meflagc came to. the commodore
from the viceroy, appointing *he 30th of No
for his audience -, which Ridden refoluriu.i of the vice-
roy was alio owing to the fignal irviccs performed
by Mr. Anion and his people at the fire.
The fixing this bufioefs of the .ludience was, o'n
every acount, a circiimftance with which Mr. An-
fon was much pleafed ■, fince he was fatished the
Chinefe govcrnn.unt would not have determined this
point, without having agreed among themfelvo to
;ive up their prctenfions to the duties they claimed,
nd to grant him all he could rejfbnably aik. Being
aereforc himk-lf perfedtly eafy about the refult of
is viiit, he nude the neceffary prejiMwbn
the day ; and engaged Mr. Flint to ait as interpre*
Vol. HI. L 1 t«t
5i4 ANSON's VOYAGE
ter in the conference •, and Mr. Flint, in this affair,
as in all others, acquitted himfelf much to the com-
modore's fatisfa&ion j repeating with great boldnefs,
and doubtlefs with exa&nefs, whatever was giveft him
in feharge; a part which no Chinefe iinguift would
have performed with any tolerable fidelity.
At ten o'clock in the morning, on the day appoint-
ed, a Mandarine came to the commodore, to let him
knoty that the viceroy was prepared, and expe&ed
him ; on which the commodore and his retinue im-
mediately fet out. As foon as he entered the outer
gate of the city, he found a guard of two hundred
loldiers ready to receive him •, thefe attended him to
the great parade before the emperor's palace, where
the viceroy then refided. In this parade, a body of
troops, to the number of ten thoufand, were drawn
tip under arms, who made a very fine appearance,
they being all of them new clothed for this ceremo-
ny. Mr. Anfon, with his retinue, having pafled
thro* the middle of them, was conduced to the great
hall of audience, where he found the viceroy feated
under a rich canopy in the emperor's chair of ftate,
with all his council of Mandarines attending. Here
there was a vacant feat prepared for the commodore, in
which he was placed on his arrival. He was ranked
the third in order from the viceroy, there being above
him oiily two chiefs ,of the law, and of the treafucy,
who in the Chinefe government have precedence of
all military officers. When the commodore was feat-
ed, he addrefled himfelf to the viceroy by his inter-
preter, and began with reciting the various methods
he had formerly taken to get an audience; adding,
that he imputed the delays he had met with to the
infincerity of thofe he had employed •, and he had
therefore no other means left, than to fend, as he
had done, his own officer with a letter to the gate.
On the mention of this the viceroy interrupted the
interpreter, and bid him aflure Mr. Anfon, that the
firft knowlege tl.ey had of his being at Canton, was
from that- letter. Mr. Anfon then proceeded, and
told
ROUND THE WORLD. 5r9
with hoops, and when they are lowered dowrt they
fold upon the deck. Thefe traders carry no cannon,
and are utterly incapable of refilling any European
armed veffel. Nor is the (late provided with (hips of
considerable force, or of a better fabric, to protect
their merchantmen: for at Canton, where doubtlefs
their principal naval power is ftationed, we law no
more than four men of war junks, of about three
hundred tons burthen, being of the make already de-
fcribed, and mounted only With eight or ten ^uni,
the largeft of which did not exceed a four-pounder.
But it is time to return to the commodore, who,
with his two fhips, on the 12th of December, an-
chored before the town of MacaO.
While the (hips lay here, the merchants of Macao
finifiied their purchaie of the galeon, for which they
rcfufed to give more than 6000 dollars : this was
greatly fhort of her value, but the impatience of the
commodore to get to fea, to which the merchants
were no ftrangers, prompted th?m to infill on thefe
unequal terms. Mr. Anion had learnt enough from
the Engliih at Canton to conjecture, that the war
with Spain was dill continued -, and that probably the
French might engage in the affilbince or Spain, be-
fore he could arrive in Great Britain : and there-
fore, knowing that no intelligence could come to
Europe of the prize he had taken, and the treafure
he had on board, till the return of the merchantmen
from Canton, he was refolved to make all poffible
expedition in getting back, that he might be himfclf
the firft mefTenger of his own good fortune. For
thefe reafons, he, to avoid ail delay, accepted of the
fum offered for the galeon j and (he being delivered
to the merchants the 15th of December, 1743, the
Centurion, the fame day, got under fail, on her re-
turn to England, On the 3d of January, (he came
to anchor ac Prince's Illand in the ftraits of Sundn,
and continued there wooding and watering till the
8 th ; when (he weighed and ftood for the Cape of
s Good
520 ANSON's VOYAGE.
Good Hope, where, on the nth" of March, Ihe an-
chored in Table-bay.
Here the commodore continued till the beginning
of April, highly delighted with the place, which, by
its extraordinary accommodations, the heakhinefs of
its air, and the picturefque appearance of the coun-
try, the whole enlivened too by the addition of a ci-
vilized colony ; was not difgraced on a comparifon
with the vallies of Juan Fernandes and the lawns of
Tinian *. During his (lay he entered about forty
new men; and having by the 3d of April, 1744,
completed his water and provifion, he, on that day,
weighed and put to fea. The 1 9th of April they faw
the ifland of St. Helena, which however they did
not touch at, but ftood on their way j and arrived in
foundings about the beginning of June. They, on
the 10th of that month, fpoke with an Englilh Ihip
bound for Philadelphia, from whom they received
the firft intelligence of a French war. By the 12th
of June they got fight of the Lizard j and the 15th,
in the evening, to their infinite joy, they came fafe to
an anchor at Spithead. But that the fignal perils
which had fo often threatened them in the preceding
gait of the enterprize, might purfue them to the
very laft, Mr. Anion learnt on his arrival, that there
was a French fleet of confiderable. force cruifing in
the chops of the channel, which, from the account
of their pofition, he found the Centurion had ran
through, and had been all the time concealed by
a fog. Thus was this expedition finished, when it had
lofted three years and nine months, after having, by
its event, ftrongly evinced this important truth, that
though prudence, intrepidity, and perfeverance unit-
ed, are not exempted from the blows of adverle for-
tune ; yet in a long ierics of tranfactions, they ufua'lly
rife fuperior to its power, and in the end rarely fail
of proving fuccefsful.
• See Kolbsln's voyage to the Cape, in vol. 2.
End of the Third Volume;
3 tlOS DOS ttl 1JS
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