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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16611-h.zip b/16611-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..411a3c7 --- /dev/null +++ b/16611-h.zip diff --git a/16611-h/16611-h.htm b/16611-h/16611-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2c7f18a --- /dev/null +++ b/16611-h/16611-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7014 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>ANSON'S VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +body {background: #ffffcc; margin: 10% 15% 10% 15%; text-align:justify} +/* top margin 1em, +right margin 2em, +bottom margin 3em, +left margin 4em */ + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {color:green; text-align:center} +blockquote {font-size: .9em} +p.poem {text-align:center} + +p.external {font-weight: bold} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Anson's Voyage Round the World, by Richard Walter + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Anson's Voyage Round the World + The Text Reduced + +Author: Richard Walter + +Commentator: H. W. Household + +Release Date: August 28, 2005 [EBook #16611] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANSON'S VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD *** + + + + +Produced by Amy Zelmer and Sue Asscher + + + + + +</pre> + +<p><a name="home"></a></p> +<br /> + + +<h2>ANSON'S VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD.</h2> + +<h4>THE TEXT REDUCED.</h4> + +<h3>WITH INTRODUCTION, NOTES AND GLOSSARY</h3> + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h3>H.W. HOUSEHOLD, M.A.</h3> + +<h4>FORMERLY ASSISTANT MASTER AT CLIFTON COLLEGE.</h4> + +<p align="center"><b>RIVINGTONS<br> +34, KING STREET, COVENT GARDEN,<br> +LONDON.</b></p> + +<p align="center"><b>1901.</b></p> + +<hr align="center" width="50%"> +<p><a name="anson-maps"></a></p> + +<center> +<p><img alt="" src="images/anson-01.jpg"></p> + +<p>MAP OF SOUTH AMERICA.</p> +</center> + +<center> +<p><img alt="" src="images/anson-02.jpg"></p> + +<p>MAP OF THE CHINA SEA.</p> +</center> + +<hr align="center" width="50%"> +<p><b>CONTENTS.</b></p> + +<p><a href="#anson-intro">INTRODUCTION BY THE EDITOR.</a></p> + +<p><a href="#anson-01">CHAPTER 1.</a><br> +PURPOSE OF THE VOYAGE. COMPOSITION OF THE SQUADRON. ARRIVAL AT +MADEIRA.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-02">CHAPTER 2.</a><br> +SPANISH PREPARATIONS. FATE OF PIZARRO'S SQUADRON.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-03">CHAPTER 3.</a><br> +FROM MADEIRA TO ST. CATHERINE'S. UNHEALTHINESS OF THE +SQUADRON.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-04">CHAPTER 4.</a><br> +THE COMMODORE'S INSTRUCTIONS. BAD WEATHER. NARROW ESCAPE OF THE +PEARL. ST JULIAN.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-05">CHAPTER 5.</a><br> +FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. TIERRA DEL FUEGO. THE STRAITS OF LE +MAIRE.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-06">CHAPTER 6.</a><br> +HEAVY GALES. A LONG BATTLE WITH WIND AND SEA. THE CENTURION LOSES +HER CONSORTS.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-07">CHAPTER 7.</a><br> +OUTBREAK OF SCURVY. DANGER OF SHIPWRECK.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-08">CHAPTER 8.</a><br> +ARRIVAL AT JUAN FERNANDEZ. THE TRIAL REJOINS.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-09">CHAPTER 9.</a><br> +THE SICK LANDED. ALEXANDER SELKIRK. SEALS AND SEA-LIONS.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-10">CHAPTER 10.</a><br> +REAPPEARANCE OF THE GLOUCESTER. DISTRESS ON BOARD. HER EFFORTS TO +ENTER THE BAY.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-11">CHAPTER 11.</a><br> +TRACES OF SPANISH CRUISERS. ARRIVAL OF THE ANNA PINK.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-12">CHAPTER 12.</a><br> +THE WRECK OF THE WAGER. A MUTINY.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-13">CHAPTER 13.</a><br> +THE WRECK OF THE WAGER (CONTINUED). THE ADVENTURES OF THE +CAPTAIN'S PARTY.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-14">CHAPTER 14.</a><br> +THE LOSSES FROM SCURVY. STATE AND PROSPECTS OF THE +SQUADRON.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-15">CHAPTER 15.</a><br> +A PRIZE. SPANISH PREPARATIONS. A NARROW ESCAPE.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-16">CHAPTER 16.</a><br> +THE COMMODORE'S PLANS. ANOTHER PRIZE. THE TRIAL DESTROYED.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-17">CHAPTER 17.</a><br> +MORE CAPTURES. ALARM OF THE COAST. PAITA.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-18">CHAPTER 18.</a><br> +THE ATTACK ON PAITA.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-19">CHAPTER 19.</a><br> +THE ATTACK ON PAITA (CONTINUED). KIND TREATMENT AND RELEASE OF +THE PRISONERS. THEIR GRATITUDE.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-20">CHAPTER 20.</a><br> +A CLEVER TRICK. WATERING AT QUIBO. CATCHING THE TURTLE.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-21">CHAPTER 21.</a><br> +DELAY AND DISAPPOINTMENT. CHASING A HEATH FIRE. ACAPULCO. THE +MANILA GALLEON. FRESH HOPES.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-22">CHAPTER 22.</a><br> +THE MANILA TRADE.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-23">CHAPTER 23.</a><br> +WAITING FOR THE GALLEON. DISAPPOINTMENT. CHEQUETAN.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-24">CHAPTER 24.</a><br> +THE PRIZES SCUTTLED. NEWS OF THE SQUADRON REACHES ENGLAND. BOUND +FOR CHINA.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-25">CHAPTER 25.</a><br> +DELAYS AND ACCIDENTS. SCURVY AGAIN. A LEAK. THE GLOUCESTER +ABANDONED.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-26">CHAPTER 26.</a><br> +THE LADRONES SIGHTED. TINIAN.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-27">CHAPTER 27.</a><br> +LANDING THE SICK. CENTURION DRIVEN TO SEA.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-28">CHAPTER 28.</a><br> +ANSON CHEERS HIS MEN. PLANS FOR ESCAPE. RETURN OF THE +CENTURION.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-29">CHAPTER 29.</a><br> +THE CENTURION AGAIN DRIVEN TO SEA. HER RETURN. DEPARTURE FROM +TINIAN.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-30">CHAPTER 30.</a><br> +CHINESE FISHING FLEETS. ARRIVAL AT MACAO.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-31">CHAPTER 31.</a><br> +MACAO. INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNOR. A VISIT TO CANTON.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-32">CHAPTER 32.</a><br> +A LETTER TO THE VICEROY. A CHINESE MANDARIN. THE CENTURION IS +REFITTED AND PUTS TO SEA.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-33">CHAPTER 33.</a><br> +WAITING FOR THE MANILA GALLEON.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-34">CHAPTER 34.</a><br> +THE CAPTURE OF THE GALLEON.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-35">CHAPTER 35.</a><br> +SECURING THE PRISONERS. MACAO AGAIN. AMOUNT OF THE TREASURE.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-36">CHAPTER 36.</a><br> +THE CANTON RIVER. NEGOTIATING WITH THE CHINESE. PRISONERS +RELEASED.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-37">CHAPTER 37.</a><br> +CHINESE TRICKERY.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-38">CHAPTER 38.</a><br> +PREPARATIONS FOR A VISIT TO CANTON.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-39">CHAPTER 39.</a><br> +STORES AND PROVISIONS. A FIRE IN CANTON. SAILORS AS FIREMEN. THE +VICEROY'S GRATITUDE.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-40">CHAPTER 40.</a><br> +ANSON RECEIVED BY THE VICEROY. CENTURION SETS SAIL. TABLE BAY. +SPITHEAD.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-maps">MAPS.</a><br> +1. MAP OF SOUTH AMERICA.<br> +2. MAP OF THE CHINA SEA.</p> + +<p><a href="#anson-glossary">GLOSSARY.</a></p> + +<hr align="center" width="50%"> +<p><a name="anson-intro"></a></p> + +<h2>INTRODUCTION.</h2> + +<p>It was in the reign of Elizabeth that England first became the +enemy of Spain. Rivals as yet Spain had none, whether in Europe +or beyond the seas. There was only one great military monarchy +in Europe, only one great colonising power in the New World, and +that was Spain. While England was still slowly recovering from +the prostration consequent upon the Wars of the Roses, and nearly +a century had to run before she established her earliest colony +in Newfoundland, the enterprise and disciplined courage of the +Spaniards had added an enormous empire across the Atlantic to the +already great dominions of the Spanish crown. In 1520 Magellan, +whose ship was the first to circumnavigate the globe, pushed his +way into the Pacific and reached the Philippines. In 1521 Cortez +completed the conquest of Mexico. Pizarro in 1532 added Peru, and +shortly afterwards Chile to the Spanish Empire.</p> + +<p>From the gold mines of Chile and the silver mines of Peru a +wealth of bullion hitherto undreamed of poured into the +treasuries of Spain. But no treasuries, however full, could meet +the demands of Phillip II. His fanatical ambition had thought to +dominate Europe and root out the newly reformed religion which +had already established itself in the greater part of the north +and west, and nowhere more firmly than among his subjects in the +Netherlands and among the English. England for years he had +seemed to hold in the hollow of his hand. The Dutch, at the +beginning of their great struggle for freedom, appeared even to +themselves to be embarking upon a hopeless task. Yet from their +desperate struggle England and Holland rose up two mighty nations +full of genius for commerce and for war, while Spain had already +advanced far along that path of decline which led rapidly to the +extinction of her preeminence in Europe and the loss of her +colonies beyond the seas.</p> + +<p>By the daring genius of Drake and the great English seamen of +the age of Elizabeth the field of operations was transferred from +the Channel to the American coast. The sack of Spanish towns and +the spoil of treasure ships enriched the adventurers, whose +methods were closely akin to piracy, and who rarely paused to ask +whether the two countries were formally at war. "No peace beyond +the line" was a rule of action that scarcely served to cloak +successful piracy. In Spanish eyes it was, not without reason, +wholly unjustifiable.</p> + +<p>The colonial policy of Spain was calculated to raise up +everywhere a host of enemies. In her mistaken anxiety to keep all +the wealth of her colonies to herself she prohibited the rest of +the world from engaging in trade with them. Only with her might +they buy and sell. The result was that a great smuggling trade +sprang up. No watchfulness could defeat the daring and ingenuity +of the English, Dutch, and French sailors who frequented the +Caribbean Sea. No threats could prevent the colonists from +attempting to buy and sell in the market that paid them best. The +ferocious vengeance of the Spaniards, which in some cases almost +exterminated the population of their own colonies, converted the +traders into the Buccaneers, an association of sailors of all +nations who established themselves in one of the islands of the +Caribbean Sea, and who for three-quarters of a century were the +scourge of the Spanish trade and dominions. Their cruelty was as +remarkable as their skill and daring. They spared neither man, +nor woman, nor child. Even half a century after their association +had been broken up the memory of their inhuman barbarity was so +vivid that no Spanish prisoner ever mounted Anson's deck without +a lively dread, which was only equalled by the general surprise +at his kindly and courteous treatment. The sight of an English +sailor woke terror in every heart.</p> + +<p>At last, in 1713, by the Treaty of Utrecht, that closed the +famous War of the Spanish Succession, in which Marlborough gained +his wonderful victories, Spain consented to resign her claim to a +monopoly of trade with her colonies so far as to permit one +English ship a year to visit the American coasts. But the +concession was unavailing. It granted too little to satisfy the +traders. The one ship was sent, but as soon as her cargo had been +cleared she was reloaded from others which lay in the offing, and +the Spanish colonists, only too glad to enrich themselves, +actively connived at the irregularity. The Spanish cruisers +endeavoured to enforce respect for the treaty. They claimed, not +without justice, to search English vessels seen in American +waters and to confiscate forbidden cargoes. English pride +rebelled, and English sailors resisted. Violent affrays took +place. The story of Jenkins' ear kindled a wild, unreasoning +blaze of popular resentment, and by 1739 the two countries were +on the verge of war. In the temper of the English people Walpole +dared not admit the Spanish right of search, and he was compelled +by popular feeling to begin a war for which he was not prepared, +in a cause in which he did not believe.</p> + +<p>It was at this point that Anson's expedition was fitted +out.</p> + +<p>George Anson was born in 1697. He came of a lawyer stock in +Staffordshire. In 1712 he entered the navy as a volunteer on +board the Ruby. His promotion was rapid, owing partly to his own +merit, partly to the influence of his relations. By 1724 he was +captain of the Scarborough frigate, and was sent out to South +Carolina to protect the coast and the trading ships against +pirates, and also against the Spanish cruisers, which were +already exercising that right of searching English vessels that +finally provoked the war of 1739. There he remained till 1730. He +was again on the same station from 1732 to 1735. In 1737 he was +appointed to the Centurion, a small ship of the line carrying +sixty guns, and was sent first to the West Coast of Africa and +then to the West Indies. In 1739 he was recalled to conduct the +expedition which has made his name so famous.</p> + +<p>In the account of that voyage, which his Chaplain, Mr. Walter, +wrote under his supervision, everything is told so +straightforwardly, and seems so reasonable and simple, that one +is apt to underestimate the difficulties which he had to face, +and the courage and skill which alone enabled him to overcome +them. Seldom has an undertaking been more remorselessly dogged by +an adverse fate than that of Anson. Seldom have plain common +sense, professional knowledge, and unflinching resolution +achieved a more memorable triumph.</p> + +<p>On his return from the great voyage he was promoted +rear-admiral, and in 1746 he was given command of the Channel +fleet. In 1747 he engaged and utterly overwhelmed an inferior +French fleet, captured several vessels, and took treasure +amounting to 300,000 pounds. For this achievement he was made a +peer. In 1751 he became First Lord of the Admiralty, and to his +untiring efforts in the preparation of squadrons and the training +of seamen is due some part, at any rate, of the glory won by +English sailors during the famous days of Pitt's great ministry. +He died in 1762.</p> + +<p>No finer testimony to his skill in choosing and in training +his subordinates can be found than in the list of men who served +under him in the Centurion and afterwards rose to fame. "In the +whole history of our Navy," it has been said, "there is not +another instance of so many juniors from one ship rising to +distinction, men like Saunders, Suamarez, Peircy Brett, Keppel, +Hyde Parker, John Campbell."</p> + +<p>He was a man who had a thorough knowledge of his profession. +No details were beneath him. His preparations were always +thorough and admirably adapted to the purpose in view. Always +cool, wary, resourceful, and brave, he was ready to do the right +thing, whether he had to capture a town, delude his enemies, +cheer his disheartened crew, or frustrate the wiliness of a +Chinese viceroy.</p> + +<p>Though without anything of the heroic genius of a Nelson, he +is still one of the finest of those great sailors who have done +so much for England; one of whom she will ever be proud, and one +whose life and deeds will always afford an example for posterity +to follow.</p> + +<hr align="center" width="50%"> +<h1>ANSON'S VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD.</h1> + +<a name="anson-01"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER 1.<br> +PURPOSE OF THE VOYAGE.--COMPOSITION OF THE +SQUADRON--MADEIRA.</h2> + +<p>THE SQUADRON SAILS.</p> + +<p>When, in the latter end of the summer of the year 1739, it was +foreseen that a war with Spain was inevitable, it was the opinion +of several considerable persons, then trusted with the +administration of affairs, that the most prudent step the nation +could take, on the breaking out of the war, was attacking that +Crown in her distant settlements. It was from the first +determined that George Anson, Esquire, then captain of the +"Centurion", should be employed as commander-in-chief of an +expedition of this kind. The squadron, under Mr. Anson, was +intended to pass round Cape Horn into the South Seas, and there +to range along the coast, cruising upon the enemy in those parts, +and attempting their settlements. On the 28th of June, 1740, the +Duke of Newcastle, Principal Secretary of State, delivered to him +His Majesty's instructions. On the receipt of these, Mr. Anson +immediately repaired to Spithead, with a resolution to sail with +the first fair wind, flattering himself that all his delays were +now at an end. For though he knew by the musters that his +squadron wanted 300 seamen of their complement, yet as Sir +Charles Wager* informed him that an order from the Board of +Admiralty was despatched to Sir John Norris to spare him the +numbers which he wanted, he doubted not of his complying +therewith. But on his arrival at Portsmouth he found himself +greatly mistaken and disappointed in this persuasion, for Admiral +Balchen, who succeeded to the command at Spithead after Sir John +Norris had sailed to the westward, instead of 300 able sailors, +which Mr. Anson wanted of his complement, ordered on board the +squadron 170 men only, of which 32 were from the hospital and +sick quarters, 37 from the Salisbury, with officers of Colonel +Lowther's regiment, and 98 marines; and these were all that were +ever granted to make up the forementioned deficiency.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Sir Charles Wager was at that time First Lord +of the Admiralty in Walpole's Ministry.)</blockquote> + +<p>But the Commodore's mortification did not end here. It was at +first intended that Colonel Bland's regiment, and three +independent companies of 100 men each, should embark as land +forces on board the squadron. But this disposition was now +changed, and all the land forces that were to be allowed were 500 +invalids, to be collected from the out-pensioners of Chelsea +College.* As these out-pensioners consist of soldiers, who, from +their age, wounds, or other infirmities, are incapable of service +in marching regiments, Mr. Anson was greatly chagrined at having +such a decrepit detachment allotted to him; for he was fully +persuaded that the greatest part of them would perish long before +they arrived at the scene of action, since the delays he had +already encountered necessarily confined his passage round Cape +Horn to the most vigorous season of the year.** They were ordered +on board the squadron on the 5th of August; but instead of 500 +there came on board no more than 259; for all those who had limbs +and strength to walk out of Portsmouth deserted, leaving behind +them only such as were literally invalids, most of them being +sixty years of age, and some of them upwards of seventy.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. A local name for Chelsea Hospital, a home for +old and disabled soldiers. It was founded by Charles II and the +buildings were designed by Wren.)</blockquote> + +<blockquote>(**Note. The squadron did not reach the neighbourhood +of Cape Horn until March when the autumn of the Southern +Hemisphere had begun and with it the stormy season.)</blockquote> + +<p>To supply the place of the 240 invalids which had deserted +there were ordered on board 210 marines detached from different +regiments. These were raw and undisciplined men, for they were +just raised, and had scarcely anything more of the soldier than +their regimentals, none of them having been so far trained as to +be permitted to fire. The last detachment of these marines came +on board the 8th of August, and on the 10th the squadron sailed +from Spithead to St. Helens, there to wait for a wind to proceed +on the expedition.</p> + +<p>But the diminishing the strength of the squadron was not the +greatest inconvenience which attended these alterations, for the +contests, representations, and difficulties which they +continually produced occasioned a delay and waste of time which +in its consequences was the source of all the disasters to which +this enterprise was afterwards exposed. For by this means we were +obliged to make our passage round Cape Horn in the most +tempestuous season of the year, whence proceeded the separation +of our squadron, the loss of numbers of our men, and the imminent +hazard of our total destruction. And by this delay, too, the +enemy had been so well informed of our designs that a person who +had been employed in the South Sea Company's* service, and +arrived from Panama three or four days before we left Portsmouth, +was able to relate to Mr. Anson most of the particulars of the +destination and strength of our squadron from what he had learned +among the Spaniards before he left them. And this was afterwards +confirmed by a more extraordinary circumstance; for we shall find +that when the Spaniards (fully satisfied that our expedition was +intended for the South Seas) had fitted out a squadron to oppose +us, which had so far got the start of us as to arrive before us +off the island of Madeira, the Commander of this squadron was so +well instructed in the form and make of Mr. Anson's broad +pennant, and had imitated it so exactly that he thereby decoyed +the "Pearl", one of our squadron, within gunshot of him before +the captain of the Pearl was able to discover his mistake.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. The South Sea Company was formed in 1711 on +the model of the East India Company to trade in the Pacific; and +on the conclusion of the Treaty of Utrecht it was given the +monopoly of the English trade with the Spanish coasts of America. +The grant of certain privileges by Government led to wild +speculation in its shares which gave rise to the famous South Sea +Bubble of 1720.)</blockquote> + +<p>On the 18th of September, 1740, the squadron weighed from St. +Helens with a contrary wind. It consisted of five men-of-war, a +sloop-of-war, and two victualling ships. They were the Centurion, +of 60 guns, 400 men, George Anson, Esquire, commander; the +"Gloucester", of 50 guns, 300 men, Richard Norris, commander; the +"Severn", of 50 guns, 300 men, the Honourable Edward Legg, +commander; the Pearl, of 40 guns, 250 men, Matthew Mitchel, +commander; the "Wager", of 28 guns, 160 men, Dandy Kidd, +commander; and the "Trial", sloop, of 8 guns, 100 men, the +Honourable John Murray, commander. The two victuallers were +pinks, the largest about 400 and the other about 200 tons +burthen; these were to attend us till the provisions we had taken +on board were so far consumed as to make room for the additional +quantity they carried with them, which when we had taken into our +ships they were to be discharged. Besides the complement of men +borne by the above-mentioned ships as their crews, there were +embarked on board the squadron about 470 invalids and marines, +under the denomination of land forces, which were commanded by +Lieutenant-Colonel Cracherode.</p> + +<p>The winds were so contrary that we had the mortification to be +forty days in our passage from St. Helens to the island of +Madeira, though it is known to be often done in ten or twelve. +However, at last, on Monday, October the 25th, at five in the +morning, we, to our great joy, made the land, and in the +afternoon came to an anchor in Madeira Road.</p> + +<p>We continued about a week at this island, watering our ships +and providing the squadron with wine and other refreshments.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Anson visited the Governor of Madeira* he received +information from him that for three or four days in the latter +end of October there had appeared, to the westward of that +island, seven or eight ships of the line. The Governor assured +the Commodore, upon his honour, that none upon the island had +either given them intelligence or had in any sort communicated +with them, but that he believed them to be either French or +Spanish, but was rather inclined to think them Spanish. On this +intelligence Mr. Anson sent an officer in a clean sloop eight +leagues to the westward to reconnoitre them, and, if possible, to +discover what they were. But the officer returned without being +able to get a sight of them, so that we still remained in +uncertainty. However, we could not but conjecture that this fleet +was intended to put a stop to our expedition. Afterwards, in the +course of our expedition, we were many of us persuaded that this +was the Spanish squadron commanded by Don Joseph Pizarro, which +was sent out purposely to traverse the views and enterprises of +our squadron, to which in strength they were greatly +superior.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Madeira then as now belonged to Portugal--a +neutral power at that time usually jealous of +Spain.)</blockquote> + +<a name="anson-02"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER 2.<br> +SPANISH PREPARATIONS--FATE OF PIZARRO'S SQUADRON.</h2> + +<p>DON JOSEPH PIZARRO.</p> + +<p>When the squadron fitted out by the Court of Spain to attend +our motions had cruised for some days to the leeward of Madeira +they left that station in the beginning of November and steered +for the River of Plate, where they arrived the 5th of January, +Old Style,* and coming to an anchor in the bay of Maldonado at +the mouth of that river their admiral, Pizarro, sent immediately +to Buenos Ayres for a supply of provisions for they had departed +from Spain with only four months' provisions on board. While they +lay here expecting this supply they received intelligence by the +treachery of the Portuguese Governor of St. Catherine's, of Mr. +Anson's having arrived at that island on the 21st of December +preceding, and of his preparing to put to sea again with the +utmost expedition. Pizarro, notwithstanding his superior force, +had his reasons (and as some say, his orders likewise) for +avoiding our squadron anywhere short of the South Seas. He was +besides extremely desirous of getting round Cape Horn before us, +as he imagined that step alone would effectually baffle all our +designs, and therefore, on hearing that we were in his +neighbourhood** and that we should soon be ready to proceed for +Cape Horn he weighed anchor*** after a stay of seventeen days +only and got under sail without his provisions, which arrived at +Maldonado within a day or two after his departure. But +notwithstanding the precipitation with which he departed we put +to sea from St. Catherine's four days before him and in some part +of our passage to Cape Horn the two squadrons were so near +together that the Pearl, one of our ships, being separated from +the rest, fell in with the Spanish fleet, and mistaking the Asia +for the Centurion had got within gunshot of Pizarro before she +discovered her error, and narrowly escaped being taken.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. The calendar as regulated by Julius Caesar in +46 BC assumed the length of the solar year to be exactly 365 1/2 +days, whereas it is eleven minutes and a few with seconds less. +By 1582 the error had become considerable for the calendar was +ten days behind the sun. Pope Gregory XIII therefore ordained +that ten days in that year should be dropped and October 5th +reckoned as October 15th. In order to avoid error in the future +it was settled that three of the leap years that occur in 400 +years should be considered common years. So 1600 was and 2000 +will be a leap year but 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not. The New +Style (NS.) was adopted by Catholic countries. Protestant +countries as a rule rejected it and adhered to the old Style +(OS.). The result was a considerable confusion in dates as will +be plain in the course of the book. The New Style was adopted by +England in 1751, when eleven days had to be omitted, and +September 3rd was reckoned as September 14th. Ignorant people +thought that they were defrauded of eleven days wages. "Give us +back our eleven days" became a popular cry against the Minister +of the time. Russia and other countries under the Greek Church +still adhere to the old Style and are now thirteen days +behind.)</blockquote> + +<blockquote>(**Note. Anson's squadron was then at St. Catherine's +in Brazil. See below, Chapter 3.)</blockquote> + +<blockquote>(***Note. The Spanish squadron when it sailed from +Maldonado consisted of the following ships: "Asia", 66 guns, flag +ship; "Guipuscoa", 74; "Hermiona", 54; "Esperanza", 50; "St. +Estevan", 40. The Asia was the only ship that ever returned to +Spain.)</blockquote> + +<p>Pizarro with his squadron having, towards the latter end of +February, run the length of Cape Horn, he then stood to the +westward in order to double it; but in the night of the last day +of February, OS. while, with this view, they were turned to +windward the Guipuscoa, the Hermiona, and the Esperanza were +separated from the Admiral. On the 6th of March following the +Guipuscoa was separated from the other two, and on the 7th (being +the day after we had passed straits le Maire) there came on a +most furious storm at north-west, which, in despite of all their +efforts, drove the whole squadron to the eastward, and obliged +them, after several fruitless attempts, to bear away for the +River of Plate, where Pizarro in the Asia arrived about the +middle of May and a few days after him the Esperanza and the St. +Estevan. The Hermiona was supposed to founder at sea for she was +never heard of more and the Guipuscoa was run ashore and sunk on +the coast of Brazil. The calamities of all kinds which this +squadron underwentin this unsuccessful navigation can only be +paralleled by what we ourselves experienced in the same climate +when buffeted by the same storms. There was indeed some diversity +in our distresses which rendered it difficult to decide whose +situation was most worthy of commiseration; for to all the +misfortunes we had in common with each other as shattered +rigging, leaky ships, and the fatigues and despondency which +necessarily attend these disasters, there was superadded on board +our squadron the ravage of a most destructive and incurable +disease* and on board the Spanish squadron the devastation of +famine.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Scurvy.)</blockquote> + +<p>FAMINE.</p> + +<p>For this squadron departed from Spain as has been already +observed with no more than four months' provision and even that, +as it is said, at short allowance only, so that, when by the +storms they met with off Cape Horn their continuance at sea was +prolonged a month or more beyond their expectation they were +thereby reduced to such infinite distress that rats, when they +could be caught, were sold for four dollars a piece and a sailor +who died on board had his death concealed for some days by his +brother who during that time lay in the same hammock with the +corpse only to receive the dead man's allowance of +provisions.</p> + +<p>By the complicated distress of fatigue, sickness, and hunger, +the three ships which escaped lost the greatest part of their +men. The Asia, their Admiral's ship, arrived at Monte Video in +the River of Plate with half her crew only; the St. Estevan had +lost in like manner half her hands when she anchored in the Bay +of Barragan. The Esperanza, a 50-gun ship, was still more +unfortunate, for of 450 hands which she brought from Spain only +55 remained alive.</p> + +<p>By removing the masts of the Esperanza into the Asia, and +making use of what spare masts and yards they had on board, they +made a shift to refit the Asia and the St. Estevan, and in the +October following Pizarro was preparing to put to sea with these +two ships in order to attempt the passage round Cape Horn a +second time, but the St. Estevan, in coming down the River of +Plate, ran on a shoal and beat off her rudder, on which, and +other damages she received, she was condemned and broke up, and +Pizarro in the Asia proceeded to sea without her. Having now the +summer before him and the winds favourable, no doubt was made of +his having a fortunate and speedy passage; but being off Cape +Horn and going right before the wind in very moderate weather, +though in a swelling sea by some misconduct of the officer of the +watch the ship rolled away her masts and was a second time +obliged to put back to the River of Plate in great distress.</p> + +<p>The Asia having considerably suffered in this second +unfortunate expedition the Esperanza which had been left behind +at Monte Video, was ordered to be refitted, the command of her +being given to Mindinuetta, who was captain of the Guipuscoa when +she was lost. He, in the November of the succeeding year that is, +in November, 1742, sailed from the River of Plate for the South +Seas and arrived safe on the coast of Chile where his Commodore, +Pizarro, passing overland from Buenos Ayres met him. There were +great animosities and contests between these two gentlemen at +their meeting occasioned principally by the claim of Pizarro to +command the Esperanza, which Mindinuetta had brought round, for +Mindinuetta refused to deliver her up to him, insisting that as +he came into the South Seas alone, and under no superior, it was +not now in the power of Pizarro to resume that authority which he +had once parted with. However the President of Chile interposing, +and declaring for Pizarro, Mindinuetta after a long and obstinate +struggle, was obliged to submit.</p> + +<p>But Pizarro had not yet completed the series of his +adventures, for when he and Mindinuetta came back by land from +Chile to Buenos Ayres in the year 1745 they found at Monte Video +the Asia, which near three years before they had left there. This +ship they resolved, if possible, to carry to Europe, and with +this view they refitted her in the best manner they could; but +their great difficulty was to procure a sufficient number of +hands to navigate her, for all the remaining sailors of the +squadron to be met with in the neighbourhood of Buenos Ayres did +not amount to a hundred men. They endeavoured to supply this +defect by pressing many of the inhabitants of Buenos Ayres, and +putting on board besides all the English prisoners then in their +custody, together with a number of Portuguese smugglers whom they +had taken at different times, and some of the Indians of the +country. Among these last there was a chief and ten of his +followers who had been surprised by a party of Spanish soldiers +about three months before. The name of this chief was Orellana; +he belonged to a very powerful tribe which had committed great +ravages in the neighbourhood of Buenos Ayres. With this motley +crew (all of them except the European Spaniards extremely averse +to the voyage) Pizarro set sail from Monte Video, in the River of +Plate about the beginning of November, 1745, and the native +Spaniards, being no strangers to the dissatisfaction of their +forced men treated both the English prisoners and the Indians +with great insolence and barbarity, but more particularly the +Indians; for it was common for the meanest officers in the ship +to beat them most cruelly on the slightest pretences, and often +times only to exert their superiority. Orellana and his +followers, though in appearance sufficiently patient and +submissive, meditated a severe revenge for all these +inhumanities. Having agreed on the measures necessary to be +taken, they first furnished themselves with Dutch knives sharp at +the point, which, being the common knives used in the ship, they +found no difficulty in procuring. Besides this they employed +their leisure in secretly cutting out thongs from raw hides, of +which there were great numbers on board, and in fixing to each +end of these thongs the double-headed shot of the small +quarter-deck guns; this, when swung round their heads according +to the practice of their country was a most mischievous weapon* +in the use of which the Indians about Buenos Ayres are trained +from their infancy, and consequently are extremely expert.</p> + +<p>SPANISH CRUELTY.</p> + +<p>These particulars being in good forwardness, the execution of +their scheme was perhaps precipitated by a particular outrage +committed on Orellana himself; for one of the officers, who was a +very brutal fellow, ordered Orellana aloft, which being what he +was incapable of performing, the officer, under pretence of his +disobedience, beat him with such violence that he left him +bleeding on the deck and stupefied for some time with his bruises +and wounds. This usage undoubtedly heightened his thirst for +revenge, and made him eager and impatient till the means of +executing it were in his power, so that within a day or two after +this incident he and his followers opened their desperate +resolves in the ensuing manner.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. It is called a bola.)</blockquote> + +<p>A DARING ADVENTURE.</p> + +<p>It was about nine in the evening, when many of the principal +officers were on the quarter-deck indulging in the freshness of +the night air; the waist of the ship was filled with live cattle, +and the forecastle was manned with its customary watch. Orellana +and his companions under cover of the night, having prepared +their weapons and thrown off their trousers and the more cumbrous +part of their dress, came altogether on the quarter-deck and drew +towards the door of the great cabin. The boatswain immediately +reprimanded them and ordered them to be gone. On this Orellana +spoke to his followers in his native language when four of them +drew off, two towards each gangway, and the chief and the six +remaining Indians seemed to be slowly quitting the quarter-deck. +When the detached Indians had taken possession of the gangways, +Orellana placed his hands hollow to his mouth and bellowed out +the war-cry used by those savages, which is said to be the +harshest and most terrifying sound known in nature. This hideous +yell was the signal for beginning the massacre, for on this the +Indians all drew their knives and brandished their prepared +double-headed shot, and the six, with their chief, who remained +on the quarter-deck, immediately fell on the Spaniards who were +intermingled with them, and laid near forty of them at their +feet, of whom above twenty were killed on the spot, and the rest +disabled. Many of the officers, in the beginning of the tumult, +pushed into the great cabin, where they put out the lights and +barricaded the door. And of the others, who had avoided the first +fury of the Indians, some endeavoured to escape along the +gangways into the forecastle, but the Indians placed there on +purpose stabbed the greatest part of them as they attempted to +pass by, or forced them off the gangways into the waist. Others +threw themselves voluntarily over the barricades into the waist, +and thought themselves happy to lie concealed amongst the cattle; +but the greatest part escaped up the main-shrouds and sheltered +themselves either in the tops or rigging; and though the Indians +attacked only the quarter-deck, yet the watch in the forecastle, +finding their communication cut off, and being terrified by the +wounds of the few who, not being killed on the spot, had strength +sufficient to force their passage along the gangways, and not +knowing either who their enemies were or what were their numbers, +they likewise gave all over for lost, and in great confusion ran +up into the rigging of the foremast and bowsprit.</p> + +<p>Thus these eleven Indians, with a resolution perhaps without +example, possessed themselves almost in an instant of the +quarter-deck of a ship mounting sixty-six guns, with a crew of +nearly five hundred men, and continued in peaceable possession of +this post a considerable time; for the officers in the great +cabin (amongst whom were Pizarro and Mindinuetta), the crew +between decks, and those who had escaped into the tops and +rigging, were only anxious for their own safety, and were for a +long time incapable of forming any project for suppressing the +insurrection and recovering the possession of the ship. It is +true, the yells of the Indians, the groans of the wounded and the +confused clamours of the crew, all heightened by the obscurity of +the night, had at first greatly magnified their danger, and had +filled them with the imaginary terrors which darkness, disorder, +and an ignorance of the real strength of an enemy never fail to +produce. For as the Spaniards were sensible of the disaffection +of their pressed hands, and were also conscious of their +barbarity to their prisoners, they imagined the conspiracy was +general, and considered their own destruction as infallible; so +that, it is said, some of them had once taken the resolution of +leaping into the sea, but were prevented by their companions.</p> + +<p>However, when the Indians had entirely cleared the +quarter-deck, the tumult in a great measure subsided; for those +who had escaped were kept silent by their fears, and the Indians +were incapable of pursuing them to renew the disorder. Orellana, +when he saw himself master of the quarter-deck, broke open the +arm chest, which, on a slight suspicion of mutiny, had been +ordered there a few days before, as to a place of the greatest +security. Here, he took it for granted, he should find cutlasses +sufficient for himself and his companions, in the use of which +weapon they were all extremely skilful, and with these, it was +imagined, they proposed to have forced the great cabin; but on +opening the chest there appeared nothing but firearms, which to +them were of no use. There were indeed cutlasses in the chest, +but they were hid by the firearms being laid over them. This was +a sensible disappointment to them, and by this time Pizarro and +his companions in the great cabin were capable of conversing +aloud, through the cabin windows and port-holes, with those in +the gun-room and between decks; and from hence they learned that +the English (whom they principally suspected) were all safe +below, and had not intermeddled in this mutiny; and by other +particulars they at last discovered that none were concerned in +it but Orellana and his people. On this Pizarro and the officers +resolved to attack them on the quarter-deck, before any of the +discontented on board should so far recover their first surprise +as to reflect on the facility and certainty of seizing the ship +by a junction with the Indians in the present emergency. With +this view Pizarro got together what arms were in the cabin, and +distributed them to those who were with him; but there were no +other firearms to be met with but pistols, and for these they had +neither powder nor ball. However, having now settled a +correspondence with the gun room, they lowered down a bucket out +of the cabin window, into which the gunner, out of one of the +gun-room ports, put a quantity of pistol cartridges. When they +had thus procured ammunition, and had loaded their pistols, they +set the cabin door partly open, and fired some shot amongst the +Indians on the quarter-deck, at first without effect. But at last +Mindinuetta had the good fortune to shoot Orellana dead on the +spot; on which his faithful companions, abandoning all thoughts +of further resistance, instantly leaped into the sea, where they +every man perished. Thus was this insurrection quelled, and the +possession of the quarter-deck regained, after it had been full +two hours in the power of this great and daring chief and his +gallant and unhappy countrymen.</p> + +<p>Pizarro, having escaped this imminent peril, steered for +Europe, and arrived safe on the coast of Galicia* in the +beginning of the year 1746, after having been absent between four +and five years.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Galicia is the north-western province of +Spain.)</blockquote> + +<a name="anson-03"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER 3.<br> +FROM MADEIRA TO ST. CATHERINE'S--UNHEALTHINESS OF THE +SQUADRON.</h2> + +<p>On the 3rd of November we weighed from Madeira.</p> + +<p>On the 20th the captains of the squadron represented to the +Commodore that their ships' companies were very sickly, and that +it was their own opinion as well as their surgeons' that it would +tend to the preservation of the men to let in more air between +decks; but that their ships were so deep they could not possibly +open their lower ports. On this representation the Commodore +ordered six air-scuttles to be cut in each ship, in such places +where they would least weaken it.</p> + +<p>We crossed the Equinoctial, with a fine fresh gale at +south-east on Friday, the 28th of November, at four in the +morning, being then in the longitude of 27 degrees 59 minutes +west from London.</p> + +<p>On the 12th of December we spoke with a Portuguese brigantine +from Rio de Janeiro, who informed us that we were sixty-four +leagues from Cape St. Thomas, and forty leagues from Cape +Frio.</p> + +<p>DISEASE.</p> + +<p>We now began to grow impatient for a sight of land, both for +the recovery of our sick and for the refreshment and security of +those who as yet continued healthier. When we departed from St. +Helens, we were in so good a condition that we lost but two men +on board the Centurion in our long passage to Madeira. But in +this present run between Madeira and St. Catherine's we had been +very sickly, so that many died, and great numbers were confined +to their hammocks, both in our own ship and in the rest of the +squadron; and several of these past all hopes of recovery. By our +continuance at sea all our complaints were every day increasing, +so that it was with great joy that we discovered the coast of +Brazil on the 18th of December, at seven in the morning.</p> + +<p>We moored at the island of St. Catherine's on Sunday, the 21st +of December, the whole squadron being sickly and in great want of +refreshments: both which inconveniences we hoped to have soon +removed at this settlement, celebrated by former navigators for +its healthiness and its provisions, and for the freedom, +indulgence, and friendly assistance there given to the ships of +all European nations in amity with the Crown of Portugal.</p> + +<p>Our first care, after having moored our ships, was to send our +sick men on shore. We sent about eighty sick from the Centurion, +and the other ships I believe, sent nearly as many in proportion +to the number of their hands. As soon as we had performed this +necessary duty, we scraped our decks, and gave our ship a +thorough cleansing; then smoked it between decks, and after all +washed every part well with vinegar. Our next employment was +wooding and watering our squadron, caulking our ships' sides and +decks, overhauling our rigging, and securing our masts against +the tempestuous weather we were, in all probability, to meet with +in our passage round Cape Horn in so advanced and inconvenient a +season.</p> + +<p>In order to render the ships stiffer, and to enable them to +carry more sail abroad, and to prevent their labouring in hard +gales of wind, each captain had orders given him to strike down +some of their great guns into the hold. These precautions being +complied with, and each ship having taken in as much wood and +water as there was room for, the whole squadron was ready for the +sea; on which the tents on shore were struck, and all the sick +were received on board. And here we had a melancholy proof how +much the healthiness of this place had been overrated by former +writers, for we found that though the Centurion alone had buried +no less than twenty-eight men since our arrival, yet the number +of our sick was in the same interval increased from eighty to +ninety-six.</p> + +<p>And now our crews being embarked, and everything prepared for +our departure, the Commodore made a signal for all captains, and +delivered them their orders, containing the successive places of +rendezvous from hence to the coast of China. And then on the next +day, being the 18th of January, 1741, the signal was made for +weighing, and the squadron put to sea. <a name= +"anson-04"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 4.<br> +THE COMMODORE'S INSTRUCTIONS--BAD WEATHER--NARROW ESCAPE OF THE +PEARL--ST JULIAN.</h2> + +<p>THE LAST AMICABLE PORT.</p> + +<p>In leaving St. Catherine's, we left the last amicable port we +proposed to touch at, and were now proceeding to a hostile, or at +best a desert and inhospitable coast. And as we were to expect a +more boisterous climate to the southward than any we had yet +experienced, not only our danger of separation would by this +means be much greater than it had been hitherto, but other +accidents of a more pernicious nature were likewise to be +apprehended, and as much as possible to be provided against. And +therefore Mr. Anson, in appointing the various stations at which +the ships of the squadron were to rendezvous, had considered that +it was possible his own ship might be disabled from getting round +Cape Horn, or might be lost; and had given proper directions that +even in that case the expedition should not be abandoned. For the +orders delivered to the captains the day before we sailed for St. +Catherine's were that in case of separation--which they were with +the utmost care to endeavour to avoid--the first place of +rendezvous should be the Bay of Port St. Julian. If after a stay +there 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 island of Nuestra Senora del Socoro.* They were to bring this +island to bear east-north-east, and to cruise from five to twelve +leagues' distance from it, as long as their store of wood and +water would permit, both which they were to expend with the +utmost frugality. And when they were under an absolute necessity +of a fresh supply, they were to stand in, and endeavour to find +out an anchoring-place; and in case they could not, and the +weather made it dangerous to supply their ships by standing off +and on, they were then to make the best of their way to the +island of Juan Fernandez. And as soon as they had recruited their +wood and water, they were to continue cruising off the +anchoring-place of that island for fifty-six days, in which time, +if they were not joined by the Commodore, they might conclude +that some accident had befallen him; and they were forthwith to +put themselves under the command of the senior officer, who was +to use his utmost endeavours to annoy the enemy both by sea and +land. With these views their new Commodore was to continue in +those seas as long as his provisions lasted, or as long as they +were recruited by what he should take from the enemy, reserving +only a sufficient quantity to carry him and the ships under his +command to Macao at the entrance of the River Tigris, near +Canton, on the coast of China, where, having supplied himself +with a new stock of provisions he was thence without delay to +make the best of his way to England.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Nuestra Senora del Socoro is one of the +smaller outer islands of the Chonos Archipelago on the western +coast of Patagonia.)</blockquote> + +<p>The next day we had very squally weather, attended with rain, +lightning, and thunder; but it soon became fair again, with light +breezes, and continued thus till Wednesday evening, when it blew +fresh again; and increasing all night, by eight the next morning +it became a most violent storm, and we had with it so thick a fog +that it was impossible to see at the distance of two ships' +lengths, so that the whole squadron disappeared.* On this a +signal was made by firing guns, to bring to with the larboard +tacks, the wind being then due east. We ourselves lay to under a +reefed mizzen till noon, when the fog dispersed; and we soon +discovered all the ships of the squadron, except the Pearl, which +did not join us till near a month afterwards. The Trial sloop was +a great way to leeward, having lost her mainmast in this squall, +and having been obliged, for fear of bilging, to cut away the +wreck. We bore down with the squadron to her relief, and the +Gloucester was ordered to take her in tow, for the weather did +not entirely abate until the day after, and even then a great +swell continued from the eastward in consequence of the preceding +storm.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. i.e. from the sight of those on board the +Centurion.)</blockquote> + +<p>A RUSE DE GUERRE.</p> + +<p>On the 17th of February at five in the afternoon, we came to +an anchor in the latitude of 48 degrees 58 minutes. Weighing +again at five the next morning, we an hour afterwards discovered +a sail upon which the Severn and Gloucester were both directed to +give chase; but we soon perceived it to be the Pearl, which +separated from us a few days after we left St. Catherine's; and +on this we made a signal for the Severn to rejoin the squadron, +leaving the Gloucester alone in the pursuit. And now we were +surprised to see that, on the Gloucester's approach, the people +on board the Pearl increased their sail and stood from her. +However, the Gloucester came up with them, but found them with +their hammocks in their nettings and everything ready for an +engagement. At two in the afternoon the Pearl joined us, and +running up under our stern, Lieutenant Salt hailed the Commodore, +and acquainted him that Captain Kidd* died on the 31st of +January. He likewise informed him that he had seen five large +ships on the 10th instant, which he for some time imagined to be +our squadron; that he suffered the commanding ship, which wore a +red broad pennant exactly resembling that of the Commodore, at +the main top-mast head, to come within gun-shot of him before he +discovered his mistake; but then, finding it not to be the +Centurion, he hauled close upon the wind, and crowded from them +with all his sail, and standing across a rippling, where they +hesitated to follow him, he happily escaped. He made them out to +be five Spanish men-of-war, one of them exceedingly like the +Gloucester, which was the occasion of his apprehensions when the +Gloucester chased him. By their appearance he thought they +consisted of two ships of 70 guns, two of 50, and one of 40 guns. +The whole squadron continued in chase of him all that day, but at +night, finding they could not get near him, they gave over the +chase, and directed their course to the southward.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Captain Mitchel commanded the Pearl when the +squadron started; but Captain Norris of the Gloucester had gone +home sick from Madeira and several changes had taken place in the +commands. The death of Captain Kidd caused fresh promotions. +Captain Mitchel now commanded the Gloucester and Captain Murray +the Pearl; while Lieutenants Cheap and Saunders had been promoted +captains of the Wager and Trial.)</blockquote> + +<p>And now, had it not been for the necessity we were under of +refitting the Trial, this piece of intelligence would have +prevented our making any stay at St. Julian; but as it was +impossible for that sloop to proceed round the Cape in the +present condition, some stay there was inevitable; and, +therefore, we sent the two cutters belonging to the Centurion and +Severn in shore to discover the harbour of St. Julian, while the +ships kept standing along the coast at about the distance of a +league from the land. At six o'clock we anchored in the Bay of +St. Julian. Soon after the cutters returned on board, having +discovered the harbour, which did not appear to us in our +situation, the northernmost point shutting in upon the +southernmost, and in appearance closing the entrance.</p> + +<p>Being come to an anchor in this Bay of St. Julian, principally +with a view of refitting the Trial, the carpenters were +immediately employed in that business, and continued so during +our whole stay at the place. Here the Commodore, too, in order to +ease the expedition of all unnecessary expense, held a +consultation with his captains about unloading and discharging +the Anna pink;* but they represented to him that they were so far +from being in a condition of taking any part of her loading on +board that they had still great quantities of provisions in the +way of their guns between decks, and that their ships were withal +so very deep that they were not fit for action without being +cleared. This put the Commodore under the necessity of retaining +the pink in the service; and as it was apprehended we should +certainly meet with the Spanish squadron in passing the Cape, Mr. +Anson thought it advisable to give orders to the captains to put +all their provisions which were in the way of their guns on board +the Anna pink, and to remount such of their guns as had formerly +for the ease of their ships been ordered into the hold.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. The Industry pink had been unloaded and +discharged on November 19th.)</blockquote> + +<a name="anson-05"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER 5.<br> +FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS--TIERRA DEL FUEGO--THE STRAITS OF LE +MAIRE.</h2> + +<p>A COUNCIL OF WAR.</p> + +<p>The Trial being nearly refitted, which was our principal +occupation at this Bay of St. Julian, and the sole occasion of +our stay, the Commodore thought it necessary, as we were now +directly bound for the South Seas and the enemy's coasts, to +regulate the plan of his future operations. And therefore, on the +24th of February, a signal was made for all captains, and a +council of war was held on board the Centurion. At this council +Mr. Anson proposed that their first attempt, after their arrival +in the South Seas, should be the attack of the town and harbour +of Baldivia, the principal frontier place of the district of +Chile. To this proposition made by the Commodore the council +unanimously and readily agreed; and in consequence of this +resolution instructions were given to the captains of the +squadron, by which they were directed in case of separation to +make the best of their way to the island of Nuestra Senora del +Socoro, and to cruise off that island ten days; from whence, if +not joined by the Commodore, they were to proceed and cruise off +the harbour of Baldivia, making the land between the latitudes of +40 degrees and 40 degrees 30 minutes, and taking care to keep to +the southward of the port; and if in fourteen days they were not +joined by the rest of the squadron, they were then to quit this +station, and to direct their course to the island of Juan +Fernandez, after which they were to regulate their further +proceedings by their former orders. And as separation of the +squadron might prove of the utmost prejudice to His Majesty's +service, each captain was ordered to give it in charge to the +respective officers of the watch not to keep their ship at a +greater distance from the Centurion than two miles, as they would +answer it at their peril; and if any captain should find his ship +beyond the distance specified, he was to acquaint the Commodore +with the name of the officer who had thus neglected his duty.</p> + +<p>These necessary regulations being established, and the Trial +sloop completed, the squadron weighed on Friday, the 27th of +February, at seven in the morning, and stood to sea.</p> + +<p>From our departure from St. Julian to the 4th of March we had +little wind, with thick, hazy weather and some rain. On the 4th +of March we were in sight of Cape Virgin Mary,* and not more than +six or seven leagues distant from it. The afternoon of this day +was very bright and clear, with small breezes of wind, inclinable +to a calm; and most of the captains took the opportunity of this +favourable weather to pay a visit to the Commodore.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Cape de las Virgenes, the south-eastern +extremity of Patagonia at the entrance to the straits of +Magellan.)</blockquote> + +<p>We here found, what was constantly verified by all our +observations in these high latitudes,* that fair weather was +always of an exceeding short duration, and that when it was +remarkably fine it was a certain presage of a succeeding storm; +for the calm and sunshine of our afternoon ended in a most +turbulent night, the wind freshening from the south-west as the +night came on, and increasing its violence continually till nine +in the morning the next day, when it blew so hard that we were +obliged to bring to with the squadron, and to continue under a +reefed mizzen till eleven at night. Towards midnight, the wind +abating, we made sail again; and steering south, we discovered in +the morning for the first time the land called Tierra del Fuego. +This indeed afforded us but a very uncomfortable prospect, it +appearing of a stupendous height, covered everywhere with snow. +As we intended to pass through Straits le Maire next day, we lay +to at night that we might not over shoot them, and took this +opportunity to prepare ourselves for the tempestuous climate we +were soon to be engaged in; with which view we employed ourselves +good part of the night in bending an entire new suit of sails to +the yards. At four the next morning, being the 7th of March, we +made sail, and at eight saw the land, and soon after we began to +open the Straits.</p> + +<p>THE EVE OF DISASTER.</p> + +<p>About ten o'clock, the Pearl and the Trial being ordered to +keep ahead of the squadron, we entered them with fair weather and +a brisk gale, and were hurried through by the rapidity of the +tide in about two hours, though they are between seven and eight +leagues in length. As these Straits are often considered as the +boundary between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and as we +presumed we had nothing now before us but an open sea till we +arrived on those opulent coasts where all our hopes and wishes +centred, we could not help flattering ourselves that the greatest +difficulty of our passage was now at an end, and that our most +sanguine dreams were upon the point of being realised, and hence +we indulged our imaginations in those romantic schemes which the +fancied possession of the Chilean gold and Peruvian silver might +be conceived to inspire. These joyous ideas were heightened by +the brightness of the sky and the serenity of the weather, which +was indeed most remarkably pleasing; for though the winter was +now advancing apace, yet the morning of this day, in its +brilliancy and mildness, gave place to none we had seen since our +departure from England. Thus animated by these delusions, we +traversed these memorable Straits, ignorant of the dreadful +calamities that were then impending, and just ready to break upon +us; ignorant that the time drew near when the squadron would be +separated never to unite again, and that this day of our passage +was the last cheerful day that the greatest part of us would ever +live to enjoy.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. The Equator is the zero (0 degrees) of +latitude. The latitude becomes higher as one proceeds to the +poles (90 degrees).)</blockquote> + +<a name="anson-06"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER 6.<br> +HEAVY GALES--A LONG BATTLE WITH WIND AND SEA--THE CENTURION LOSES +HER CONSORTS.</h2> + +<p>We had scarcely reached the southern extremity of the straits +of le Maire, when our flattering hopes were instantly lost in the +apprehensions of immediate destruction. For before the sternmost +ships of the squadron were clear of the Straits, the serenity of +the sky was suddenly changed, and gave us all the presages of an +impending storm; and immediately the wind shifted to the +southward, and blew in such violent squalls that we were obliged +to hand our topsails and reef our mainsail. The tide, too, which +had hitherto favoured us, now turned against us and drove us to +the eastward with prodigious rapidity, so that we were in great +anxiety for the Wager and the Anna pink, the two sternmost +vessels, fearing they would be dashed to pieces against the shore +of Staten Land. Nor were our apprehensions without foundation, +for it was with the utmost difficulty they escaped. And now the +whole squadron, instead of pursuing their intended course to the +south-west, were driven to the eastward by the united force of +the storm and of the currents; so that next day in the morning we +found ourselves near seven leagues to the eastward of Staten +Land. The violence of the current, which had set us with so much +precipitation to the eastward, together with the force and +constancy of the westerly winds, soon taught us to consider the +doubling of Cape Horn as an enterprise that might prove too +mighty for our efforts, though some amongst us had lately treated +the difficulties which former voyagers were said to have met with +in this undertaking as little better than chimerical, and had +supposed them to arise rather from timidity and unskilfulness +than from the real embarrassments of the winds and seas. But we +were severely convinced that these censures were rash and +ill-grounded, for the distresses with which we struggled during +the three succeeding months will not easily be paralleled in the +relation of any former naval expedition.</p> + +<p>From the storm which came on before we had well got clear of +Straits le Maire, we had a continual succession of such +tempestuous weather as surprised the oldest and most experienced +mariners on board, and obliged them to confess that what they had +hitherto called storms were inconsiderable gales compared with +the violence of these winds, which raised such short and at the +same time such mountainous waves as greatly surpassed in danger +all seas known in any other part of the globe. And it was not +without great reason that this unusual appearance filled us with +continual terror, for had any one of these waves broke fairly +over us, it must in all probability have sent us to the +bottom.</p> + +<p>SEAS MOUNTAINS HIGH.</p> + +<p>It was on the 7th of March, as has been already observed, that +we passed Straits le Maire, and were immediately afterwards +driven to the eastward by a violent storm and the force of the +current which set that way. For the four or five succeeding days +we had hard gales of wind from the same quarter, with a most +prodigious swell; so that though we stood, during all that time, +towards the south-west, yet we had no reason to imagine we had +made any way to the westward. In this interval we had frequent +squalls of rain and snow, and shipped great quantities of water; +after which for three or four days, though the seas ran mountains +high, yet the weather was rather more moderate. But on the 18th +we had again strong gales of wind with extreme cold. From hence +to the 23rd the weather was more favourable, though often +intermixed with rain and sleet, and some hard gales; but as the +waves did not subside, the ship, by labouring in this lofty sea, +was now grown so loose in her upper works that she let in the +water at every seam; so that every part within board was +constantly exposed to the sea-water, and scarcely any of the +officers ever lay in dry beds. Indeed, it was very rare that two +nights ever passed without many of them being driven from their +beds by the deluge of water that came upon them.</p> + +<p>On the 23rd we had a most violent storm of wind, hail, and +rain, with a very great sea; and though we handed the +main-topsail before the height of the squall, yet we found the +yard sprung; and soon after, the foot-rope of the mainsail +breaking, the mainsail itself split instantly to rags, and in +spite of our endeavours to save it, much the greater part of it +was blown overboard. On this the Commodore made the signal for +the squadron to bring to; and, the storm at length flattening to +a calm, we had an opportunity of getting down our main-topsail +yard to put the carpenters at work upon it, and of repairing our +rigging; after which, having bent a new mainsail, we got under +sail again with a moderate breeze. But in less than twenty-four +hours we were attacked by another storm still more furious than +the former; for it proved a perfect hurricane, and reduced us to +the necessity of lying to under our bare poles.</p> + +<p>As our ship kept the wind better any of the rest, we were +obliged in the afternoon to wear ship, in order to join the +squadron to the leeward, which otherwise we should have been in +danger of losing in the night; and as we dared not venture any +sail abroad, we were obliged to make use of an expedient which +answered our purpose; this was putting the helm a-weather and +manning the fore-shrouds. But though this method proved +successful for the end intended, yet in the execution of it one +of our ablest seaman was canted overboard; and notwithstanding +the prodigious agitation of the waves, we perceived that he swam +very strong, and it was with the utmost concern that we found +ourselves incapable of assisting him; and we were the more +grieved at his unhappy fate, since we lost sight of him +struggling with the waves, and conceived from the manner in which +he swam that he might continue sensible for a considerable time +longer of the horror attending his irretrievable situation.</p> + +<p>It was this incident that inspired Cowper's 'Castaway,' and +called forth the touching verse given below--a verse so eloquent +in its testimony to that gentler side of Anson's nature, which +won for him the affection and regard not only of his own sailors, +but even of his Spanish prisoners.</p> + +<p>Of this poor sailor, and of the page in the ship's books that +bore his name, Cowper wrote:</p> + +<p>No poet wept him; but the page<br> +Of narrative sincere,<br> +That tells his name, his worth, his age,<br> +Is wet with Anson's tear.<br> +And tears by bards or heroes shed<br> +Alike immortalise the dead.</p> + +<p>From hence we had an interval of three or four days less +tempestuous than usual, but accompanied with a thick fog, in +which we were obliged to fire guns almost every half-hour to keep +our squadron together.</p> + +<p>On the first of April the weather returned again to its +customary bias, the sky looked dark and gloomy, and the wind +began to freshen and to blow in squalls; however, it was not yet +so boisterous as to prevent our carrying our topsails close +reefed; but its appearance was such as plainly prognosticated +that a still severer tempest was at hand. And accordingly, on the +3rd of April, there came on a storm which both in its violence +and continuation (for it lasted three days) exceeded all that we +had hitherto encountered. In its first onset we received a +furious shock from the sea which broke upon our larboard quarter, +where it stove in the quarter gallery, and rushed into the ship +like a deluge; our rigging, too, suffered extremely, so that to +ease the stress upon the masts and shrouds we lowered both our +main and fore yards, and furled all our sails, and in this +posture we lay to for three days, when, the storm somewhat +abating, we ventured to make sail under our courses only. But +even this we could not do long, for the next day, which was the +7th, we had another hard gale of wind, with lightning and rain, +which obliged us to lie to again all night.</p> + +<p>And now, after all our solicitude, and the numerous ills of +every kind to which we had been incessantly exposed for near +forty days, we had great consolation in the flattering hopes we +entertained, that our fatigues were drawing to a period, and that +we should soon arrive in a more hospitable climate, where we +should be amply repaid for all our past sufferings. For, towards +the latter end of March, we were advanced by our reckoning near +10 degrees to the westward of the westernmost point of Tierra del +Fuego, and this allowance being double what former navigators +have thought necessary to be taken in order to compensate the +drift of the eastern current, we esteemed ourselves to be well +advanced within the limits of the southern ocean, and had +therefore been ever since standing to the northward with as much +expedition as the turbulence of the weather and our frequent +disasters permitted. And, on the 13th of April, we were but a +degree in latitude to the southward of the west entrance of the +straits of Magellan, so that we fully expected, in a very few +days, to have experienced the celebrated tranquillity of the +Pacific Ocean.</p> + +<p>AN UNEXPECTED DANGER.</p> + +<p>But these were delusions which only served to render our +disappointment more terrible; for the next morning, between one +and two, as we were standing to the northward, and the weather, +which had till then been hazy, accidentally cleared up, the pink +made a signal for seeing land right ahead and it being but two +miles distant, we were all under the most dreadful apprehensions +of running on shore; which, had either the wind blown from its +usual quarter with its wonted vigour, or had not the moon +suddenly shone out, not a ship amongst us could possibly have +avoided. But the wind, which some few hours before blew in +squalls from the south-west, having fortunately shifted to +west-north-west, we were enabled to stand to the southward, and +to clear ourselves of this unexpected danger; so that by noon we +had gained an offing of near twenty leagues.</p> + +<p>By the latitude of this land we fell in with, it was agreed to +be a part of Tierra del Fuego, near the southern outlet of the +Straits of Magellan. It was indeed most wonderful that the +currents should have driven us to the eastward with such +strength; for the whole squadron esteemed themselves upwards of +ten degrees more westerly than this land. And now, instead of +having our labours and anxieties relieved by approaching a warmer +climate and more tranquil seas, we were to steer again to the +southward, and again to combat those western blasts which had so +often terrified us; and this, too, when we were weakened by our +men falling sick and dying apace, and when our spirits, dejected +by a long continuance at sea, and by our late disappointment, +were much less capable of supporting us in the various +difficulties which we could not but expect in this new +undertaking. Add to all this, too, the discouragement we received +by the diminution of the strength of the squadron; for three days +before this we lost sight of the Severn and the Pearl in the +morning; and though we spread our ships, and beat about for some +time, yet we never saw them more; whence we had apprehensions +that they too might have fallen in with this land in the night, +and, being less favoured by the wind and the moon than we were, +might have run on shore and have perished.</p> + +<p>After the mortifying disappointment of falling in with the +coast of Tierra del Fuego, when we esteemed ourselves 10 degrees +to the westward of it, we stood away to the south-west till the +22nd of April, when we were in upwards of 60 degrees south, and +by our account near 6 degrees to the westward of Cape Noir.* And +in this run we had a series of as favourable weather as could +well be expected in that part of the world, even in a better +season; so that this interval, setting the inquietude of our +thoughts aside, was by far the most eligible of any we enjoyed +from Straits le Maire to the west coast of America. This moderate +weather continued with little variation till the 24th; but on the +24th in the evening the wind began to blow fresh, and soon +increased to a prodigious storm; and the weather being extremely +thick, about midnight we lost sight of the other ships of the +squadron, which, notwithstanding the violence of the preceding +storms, had hitherto kept in company with us.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Part of Tierra del Fuego near the southern +outlet of the Straits of Magellan.)</blockquote> + +<p>On the 25th, about noon, the weather became more moderate, but +still we had no sight of the rest of the squadron, nor indeed +were we joined by any of them again till after our arrival at +Juan Fernandez, nor did any two of them, as we have since +learned, continue in company together.</p> + +<p>The remaining part of this month of April we had generally +hard gales, although we had been every day since the 22nd edging +to the northward. However, on the last day of the month we +flattered ourselves with the hopes of soon terminating all our +sufferings, for we that day found ourselves in the latitude of 52 +degrees 13 minutes, which, being to the northward of the Straits +of Magellan we were assured that we had completed our passage, +and had arrived in the confines of the Southern Ocean; and this +ocean being nominated Pacific,* from the equability of the +seasons which are said to prevail there, and the facility and +security with which navigation is there carried on, we doubted +not but we should be speedily cheered with the moderate gales, +the smooth water, and the temperate air, for which that tract of +the globe has been so renowned. And under the influence of these +pleasing circumstances we hoped to experience some kind of +compensation for the complicated miseries which had so constantly +attended us for the last eight weeks. But here we were again +disappointed; for in the succeeding month of May our sufferings +rose to a much higher pitch than they had ever yet done, whether +we consider the violence of the storms, the shattering of our +sails and rigging, or the diminishing and weakening of our crew +by deaths and sickness, and the probable prospect of our total +destruction.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Peace-making. So named by Magellan from the +fine weather he experienced there in 1520 and 1521. He was the +first European to enter that ocean. The name was scarcely +deserved.)</blockquote> + +<a name="anson-07"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER 7.<br> +OUTBREAK OF SCURVY*--DANGER OF SHIPWRECK.</h2> + +<blockquote>(*Note. 'Scurvy.' The nature of the disease and the +proper method of treatment were not fully understood in Anson's +day. It is caused by improper diet and particularly by the want +of fresh vegetables. Lemon and lime juice are the best +protectives against it and they were made an essential element in +nautical diet in 1795. The disease which used to cause dreadful +mortality on long voyages has since that time gradually +disappeared and is now very rarely met with.)</blockquote> + +<p>THE PACIFIC.</p> + +<p>Soon after our passing Straits le Maire the scurvy began to +make its appearance amongst us; and our long continuance at sea, +the fatigue we underwent, and the various disappointments we met +with, had occasion its spreading to such a degree, that at the +latter end of April there were but few on board who were not in +some degree afflicted with it; and in that month no less than +forty-three died of it on board the Centurion. But though we +thought that the distemper had then risen to an extraordinary +height, and were willing to hope that as we advanced to the +northward its malignant would abate, yet we found, on the +contrary, that in the month of May we lost nearly double that +number. And as we did not get to land till the middle of June, +the mortality went on increasing, and the disease extended itself +so prodigiously that after the loss of above two hundred men we +could not at last muster more than six foremast men in a watch +capable of duty.</p> + +<p>This disease, so frequently attending all long voyages, and so +particularly destructive to us, is usually attended with a +strange dejection of the spirits, and with shiverings, +tremblings, and a disposition to be seized with the most dreadful +terrors on the slightest accident. Indeed, it was most +remarkable, in all our reiterated experience of this malady, that +whatever discouraged our people, or at any time damped their +hopes, never failed to add new vigour to the distemper, for it +usually killed those who were in the last stage of it, and +confined those to their hammocks who were before capable of some +kind of duty; so that it seemed as if alacrity of mind and +sanguine thoughts were no contemptible preservatives from its +fatal malignity.</p> + +<p>A most extraordinary circumstance, and what would be scarcely +credible upon any single evidence, is, that the scars of wounds +which had been for many years healed were forced open again by +this virulent distemper. Of this there was a remarkable instance +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 soon after, and had continued well for a +great number of years past, yet, on his being attacked by the +scurvy, his wounds, in the progress of his disease, broke out +afresh, and appeared as if they had never been healed. Nay, what +is still more astonishing, the callous of a broken bone, which +had been completely formed for a long time, was found to be +hereby dissolved, and the fracture seemed as if it had never been +consolidated. Indeed, the effects of this disease were in almost +every instance wonderful; for many of our people, though confined +to their hammocks, appeared to have no inconsiderable share of +health, for they ate and drank heartily, were cheerful, and +talked with much seeming vigour, and with a loud, strong tone of +voice; and yet on their being the least moved, though it was only +from one part of the ship to the other, and that in their +hammocks, they have immediately expired; and others who have +confided in their seeming strength, and have resolved to get out +of their hammocks, have died before they could well reach the +deck. And it was no uncommon thing for those who were able to +walk the deck, and to do some kind of duty, to drop down dead in +an instant, on any endeavours to act with their utmost vigour, +many of our people having perished in this manner during the +course of this voyage.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. William III defeated James II and his army of +Irish and French troops July 12th, 1690.)</blockquote> + +<p>THE ISLAND OF SOCORO.</p> + +<p>With this terrible disease we struggled the greatest part of +the time of our beating round Cape Horn. We entertained hopes +that when we should have once secured our passage round the Cape, +we should put a period to this and all the other evils which had +so constantly pursued us. But it was our misfortune to find that +the Pacific Ocean was to us less hospitable than the turbulent +neighbourhood of Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn; for being +arrived, on the 8th of May, off the island of Socoro, which was +the first rendezvous appointed for the squadron, and where we +hoped to have met with some of our companions, we cruised for +them in that station several days. And here we were not only +disappointed in our hopes of being joined by our friends, and +thereby induced to favour the gloomy suggestions of their having +all perished, but we were likewise perpetually alarmed with the +fears of being driven on shore upon this coast, which appeared +too craggy and irregular to give us the least hopes that in such +a case any of us could possibly escape immediate destruction. For +the land had indeed a most tremendous aspect; the most distant +part of it, and which appeared far within the country, being the +mountains usually called the Andes or Cordilleras, was extremely +high, and covered with snow; and the coast itself seemed quite +rocky and barren, and the water's edge skirted with precipices. +As we were utterly ignorant of the coast, had we been driven +ashore by the western winds, which blew almost constantly there, +we did not expect to have avoided the loss of our ship and of our +lives.</p> + +<p>And this continued peril, which lasted for about a fortnight, +was greatly aggravated by the difficulties we found in working +the ship; as the scurvy had by this time destroyed so great a +part of our hands, and had in some degree affected almost the +whole crew. Nor did we, as we hoped, find the winds less violent +as we advanced to the northward; for we had often prodigious +squalls, which split our sails, greatly damaged our rigging, and +endangered our masts. <a name="anson-08"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 8.<br> +JUAN FERNANDEZ--THE TRIAL REJOINS.</h2> + +<p>THE SEARCH FOR JUAN FERNANDEZ.</p> + +<p>It were endless to recite minutely the various disasters, +fatigues, and terrors which we encountered on this coast; all +these went on increasing till the 22nd of May, at which time the +fury of all the storms which we had hitherto encountered seemed +to be combined, and to have conspired our destruction. In this +hurricane almost all our sails were split, and great part of our +standing rigging broken; and, about eight in the evening, a +mountainous overgrown sea took us upon our starboard quarter, and +gave us so prodigious a shock that several of our shrouds broke +with the jerk, by which our masts were greatly endangered. Our +ballast and stores, too, were so strangely shifted that the ship +heeled afterwards two streaks to port. Indeed, it was a most +tremendous blow, and we were thrown into the utmost consternation +from the apprehension of instantly foundering. This was the last +effort of that stormy climate, for in a day or two we found the +weather more moderate than we had yet experienced since our +passing Straits le Maire. And now having cruised in vain for more +than a fortnight in quest of the other ships of the squadron, it +was resolved to take advantage of the present favourable season +and the offing we had made from this terrible coast, and to make +the best of our way for the island of Juan Fernandez.* For though +our next rendezvous was appointed off the harbour of Baldivia, +yet as we had hitherto seen none of our companions at this first +rendezvous, it was not to be supposed that any of them would be +found at the second; indeed, we had the greatest reason to +suspect that all but ourselves had perished. Besides, we were by +this time reduced to so low a condition that, instead of +attempting to attack the places of the enemy, our utmost hopes +could only suggest to us the possibility of saving the ship, and +some part of the remaining enfeebled crew, by our speedy arrival +at Juan Fernandez; for this was the only road in that part of the +world where there was any probability of our recovering our sick +or refitting our vessel, and consequently our getting thither was +the only chance we had left to avoid perishing at sea.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. 'Juan Fernandez.' This island which is 13 +miles long by 4 miles broad, now belongs to Chili. It was +discovered in 1563 by Juan Fernandez. As it was unoccupied it was +a favourite resort of the buccaneers throughout the seventeenth +century, as well as of English squadrons despatched like those of +Dampier and Anson, to prey on Spanish commerce, and needing to +refit and water after the long voyage round Cape Horn. The +Spaniards at last occupied it in 1750, in self-defence. It was +here that Alexander Selkirk was put ashore in 1704.)</blockquote> + +<p>Our deplorable situation, then, allowing no room for +deliberation, we stood for the island of Juan Fernandez. On the +28th of May, being nearly in the parallel upon which it is laid +down, we had great expectations of seeing it; but not finding it +in the position in which the charts had taught us to expect it, +we began to fear that we had got too far to the westward; and +therefore, though the Commodore himself was strongly persuaded +that he saw it on the morning of the 28th, yet his officers +believing it to be only a cloud, to which opinion the haziness of +the weather gave some kind of countenance, it was on a +consultation resolved to stand to the eastward in the parallel of +the island; as it was certain that by this course we should +either fall in with the island, if we were already to the +westward of it, or should at least make the mainland of Chili, +whence we might take a new departure, and assure ourselves, by +running to the westward afterwards, of not missing the island a +second time.</p> + +<p>On the 30th of May we had a view of the continent of Chili, +distant about twelve or thirteen leagues. It gave us great +uneasiness to find that we had so needlessly altered our course +when we were, in all probability, just upon the point of making +the island; for the mortality amongst us was now increased to a +most dreadful degree, and those who remained alive were utterly +dispirited by this new disappointment and the prospect of their +longer continuance at sea. Our water, too, began to grow scarce, +so that a general dejection prevailed amongst us, which added +much to the virulence of the disease, and destroyed numbers of +our best men; and to all these calamities there was added this +vexatious circumstance that when, after having got sight of the +main, we tacked and stood to the westward in quest of the island, +we were so much delayed by calms and contrary winds that it cost +us nine days to regain the westing which, when we stood to the +eastward, we ran down in two. In this desponding condition, with +a crazy ship, a great scarcity of water, and a crew so +universally diseased that there were not above ten foremast men +in a watch capable of doing duty, and even some of these lame and +unable to go aloft; under these disheartening circumstances, I +say, we stood to the westward; and on the 9th of June, at +daybreak, we at last discovered the long-wished-for island of +Juan Fernandez.</p> + +<p>It appeared to be a mountainous place, extremely ragged and +irregular; yet as it was land and, the land we sought for, it was +to us a most agreeable sight. For at this place only we could +hope to put a period to those terrible calamities we had so long +struggled with, which had already swept away above half our crew, +and which, had we continued a few days longer at sea, would +inevitably have completed our destruction. For we were by this +time reduced to so helpless a condition, that out of two hundred +and odd men who remained alive, we could not, taking all our +watches together, muster hands enough to work the ship on an +emergency, though we included the officers, their servants, and +the boys.</p> + +<p>The wind being northerly when we first made the island, we +kept plying all that day and the next night, in order to get in +with the land; and wearing the ship in the middle watch, we had a +melancholy instance of the most incredible debility of our +people; for the lieutenant could muster no more than two +quarter-masters and six foremast men capable of working; so that +without the assistance of the officers, servants, and boys, it +might have proved impossible for us to have reached the island +after we had got sight of it; and even with this assistance they +were two hours in trimming the sails. To so wretched a condition +was a 60-gun ship reduced, which had passed Straits le Maire but +three months before, with between four hundred and five hundred +men, almost all of them in health and vigour.</p> + +<p>EVEN GRASS A DAINTY.</p> + +<p>However, on the 10th, in the afternoon, we got under the lee +of the island, and kept ranging along it at about two miles' +distance, in order to look out for the proper anchorage, which +was described to be in a bay on the north side. But at last the +night closed upon us before we had satisfied ourselves which was +the proper bay to anchor in, and therefore we resolved to send +our boat next morning to discover the road. At four in the +morning the cutter was despatched with our third lieutenant to +find out the bay we were in search of, who returned again at noon +with the boat laden with seals and grass; for though the island +abounded with better vegetables, yet the boat's crew, in their +short stay, had not met with them; and they well knew that even +grass would prove a dainty, and, indeed, it was all soon and +eagerly devoured. The seals, too, were considered as fresh +provision, but as yet were not much admired, though they grew +afterwards into more repute; for what rendered them less valuable +at this juncture was the prodigious quantity of excellent fish +which the people on board had taken during the absence of the +boat.</p> + +<p>The cutter, in this expedition, had discovered the bay where +we intended to anchor, which we found was to the westward of our +present station; and the next morning we steered along shore till +we came abreast of the point that forms the eastern part of the +bay. On opening the bay, the wind, that had befriended us thus +far, shifted, and blew from thence in squalls; but by means of +the headway we had got, we luffed close in, till the anchor +brought us up in fifty-six fathoms. Soon after we had thus got to +our new berth, we discovered a sail, which we made no doubt was +one of our squadron; and on its nearer approach, we found it to +be the Trial sloop. We immediately sent some of our hands on +board her, by whose assistance she was brought to an anchor +between us and the land. We soon found that the sloop had not +been exempted from those calamities which we had so severely +felt; for her commander, Captain Saunders, waiting on the +Commodore, informed him that out of his small complement he had +buried thirty-four of his men; and those that remained were so +universally afflicted with the scurvy that only himself, his +lieutenant, and three of his men were able to stand by the sails. +<a name="anson-09"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 9.<br> +THE SICK LANDED--ALEXANDER SELKIRK*--SEALS AND SEA-LIONS.</h2> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Alexander Selkirk (1676 to 1721) was an +adventurous sailor who joined Dampier's privateering expedition +to the South Seas in 1703. He quarrelled with his captain, +Stradling, and requested to be landed on the uninhabited island +of Juan Fernandez. He immediately repented of his request, and +begged to be taken off; but his prayers were disregarded, and he +remained on the island from September, 1704, until he was picked +up in 1709 by Dampier's new expedition. An account of his +adventures was published, which apparently gave Defoe his idea of +Robinson Crusoe.)</blockquote> + +<p>We were now extremely occupied in sending on shore materials +to raise tents for the reception of the sick, who died apace on +board. But we had not hands enough to prepare the tents for their +reception before the 16th. On that and the two following days we +sent them all on shore, amounting to a hundred and sixty-seven +persons, besides at least a dozen who died in the boats on their +being exposed to the fresh air. The greatest part of our sick +were so infirm that we were obliged to carry them out of the ship +in their hammocks, and to convey them afterwards in the same +manner from the waterside to their tents, over a stony beach. +This was a work of considerable fatigue to the few who were +healthy; and therefore the Commodore, with his accustomed +humanity, not only assisted herein with his own labour, but +obliged his officers, without distinction, to give their helping +hand.</p> + +<p>The excellence of the climate and the looseness of the soil +render this place extremely proper for all kinds of vegetation; +for if the ground be anywhere accidentally turned up, it is +immediately overgrown with turnips and Sicilian radishes; and +therefore, Mr. Anson having with him garden seeds of all kinds, +and stones of different sorts of fruits, he, for the better +accommodation of his countrymen who should hereafter touch here, +sowed both lettuces, carrots, and other garden plants, and set in +the woods a great variety of plum, apricot, and peach stones. And +these last, he has been informed, have since thriven to a very +remarkable degree; for some gentlemen, who in their passage from +Lima to old Spain were taken and brought to England, having +procured leave to wait upon Mr. Anson to thank him for his +generosity and humanity to his prisoners, some of whom were their +relations, they in casual discourse with him about his +transactions in the South Seas, particularly asked him if he had +not planted a great number of fruit-stones on the island of Juan +Fernandez; for they told him their late navigators had discovered +there numbers of peach trees and apricot trees, which being +fruits before unobserved in that place, they concluded them to be +produced from kernels set by him.</p> + +<p>ALEXANDER SELKIRK.</p> + +<p>Former writers have related that this island abounded with +vast numbers of goats; and their accounts are not to be +questioned, this place being the usual haunt of the buccaneers* +and privateers who formerly frequented those seas. And there are +two instances--one of a Mosquito Indian, and the other of +Alexander Selkirk, a Scotchman, who were left by their respective +ships, and lived alone upon this island for some years, and +consequently were no strangers to its produce. Selkirk, who was +the last, after a stay of between four and five years, was taken +off the place by the Duke and Duchess privateers, of Bristol, as +may be seen at large in the journal of their voyage. His manner +of life during his solitude was in most particulars very +remarkable; but there is one circumstance he relates which was so +strangely verified by our own observation that I cannot help +reciting it. He tells us, among other things, as he often caught +more goats than he wanted, he sometimes marked their ears and let +them go. This was about thirty-two years before our arrival at +the island. Now it happened that the first goat that was killed +by our people at their landing had his ears slit; whence we +concluded that he had doubtless been formerly under the power of +Selkirk. This was indeed an animal of a most venerable aspect, +dignified with an exceeding majestic beard, and with many other +symptoms of antiquity. During our stay on the island we met with +others marked in the same manner, all the males being +distinguished by an exuberance of beard and every other +characteristic of extreme age. But the great numbers of goats, +which former writers described to have been found upon this +island, are at present very much diminished. For the Spaniards +being informed of the advantages which the buccaneers and +privateers drew from the provisions which goats' flesh here +furnished them with, they have endeavoured to extirpate the +breed, thereby to deprive their enemies of this relief. For this +purpose they have put on shore great numbers of large dogs, who +have increased apace, and have destroyed all the goats in the +accessible part of the country; so that there now remain only a +few among the crags and precipices where the dogs cannot follow +them.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. 'The buccaneers.' The name "buccaneer" +originally meant one who dried or smoked flesh on a "boucan," a +kind of hurdle used for this purpose by the natives of Central +and South America. The English, French, and Dutch smugglers who, +in spite of the monopoly so jealously guarded by the Spaniards +(see Introduction above) traded in the Caribbean seas, used to +provision at St. Domingo largely with beef, jerked or sun-dried +on the boucans. These men formed an organised body, under a chief +chosen by themselves, and, under the name of the buccaneers, were +for three-quarters of a century the terror of the Spaniards. In +1655 they were powerful enough to give material assistance to the +English fleet which conquered Jamaica. In 1671 they raised a +force of 2,000 men, marched across the isthmus, and besieged and +took Panama; their success, as usual, being marked by horrible +atrocities. In 1685 a Spanish fleet of fourteen sail, which had +been fitted out to put them down, found ten buccaneer ships in +the bay of Panama, but dared not give them battle. The war +between France and England after 1688 dissolved the alliance +between the French and English buccaneers; and the last +conspicuous event in their history was the capture of Cartagena +in 1697. Soon after this date they disappeared as an organised +body, though for many years members of the band remained as +pirates in the South Seas.)</blockquote> + +<p>Goats' flesh being scarce, we rarely being able to kill above +one a day, and our people growing tired of fish (which abounds at +this place), they at last condescended to eat seals, which by +degrees they came to relish, and called it lamb. But there is +another amphibious creature to be met with here, called a +sea-lion, that bears some resemblance to a seal, though it is +much larger. This, too, we ate, under the denomination of beef. +In general there was no difficulty in killing them, for they were +incapable either of escaping or resisting, their motion being the +most unwieldy that can be conceived, their blubber, all the time +they were moving, being agitated in large waves under their +skins. However, a sailor one day being carelessly employed in +skinning a young sea-lion, the female from which he had taken it +came upon him unperceived, and getting his head in her mouth, she +with her teeth scored his skull in notches in many places, and +thereby wounded him so desperately that though all possible care +was taken of him, he died in a few days. <a name= +"anson-10"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 10.<br> +REAPPEARANCE OF THE GLOUCESTER--DISTRESS ON BOARD--HER EFFORTS TO +ENTER THE BAY.</h2> + +<p>The arrival of the Trial sloop at this island so soon after we +came there ourselves gave us great hopes of being speedily joined +by the rest of the squadron; and we were for some days +continually looking out in expectation of their coming in sight. +But near a fortnight being elapsed without any of them having +appeared, we began to despair of ever meeting them again.</p> + +<p>RETURN OF THE GLOUCESTER.</p> + +<p>But on the 21st of June some of our people, from an eminence +on shore, discerned a ship to leeward, with her courses even with +the horizon. However, after viewing her for a short time, the +weather grew thick and hazy, and they lost sight of her. On the +26th, towards noon, we discerned a sail in the north-east +quarter, which we conceived to be the very same ship that had +been seen before, and our conjectures proved true; and about one +o'clock she approached so near that we could distinguish her to +be the Gloucester. As we had no doubt of her being in great +distress, the Commodore immediately ordered his boat to her +assistance, laden with fresh water, fish, and vegetables, which +was a very seasonable relief to them; for perhaps there never was +a crew in a more distressed situation. They had already thrown +overboard two-thirds of their complement, and of those that +remained alive scarcely any were capable of doing duty except the +officers and their servants. They had been a considerable time at +the small allowance of a pint of fresh water to each man for +twenty-four hours, and yet they had so little left that, had it +not been for the supply we sent them, they must soon have died of +thirst.</p> + +<p>The ship plied in within three miles of the bay, but, the +winds and currents being contrary, she could not reach the road. +However she continued in the offing the next day, but had no +chance of coming to an anchor unless the wind and current +shifted; and therefore the Commodore repeated his assistance, +sending to her the Trial's boat manned with the Centurion's +people, and a further supply of water and other refreshments. +Captain Mitchel, the captain of the Gloucester, was under a +necessity of detaining both this boat and that sent the preceding +day; for without the help of their crews he had no longer +strength enough to navigate the ship. In this tantalising +situation the Gloucester continued for near a fortnight, without +being able to fetch the road, though frequently attempting it, +and at some times bidding very fair for it. On the 9th of July we +observed her stretching away to the eastward at a considerable +distance, which we supposed was with a design to get to the +southward of the island; but as we soon lost sight of her and she +did not appear for near a week, we were prodigiously concerned, +knowing that she must be again in extreme distress for want of +water. After great impatience about her, we discovered her again +on the 16th, endeavouring to come round the eastern point of the +island; but the wind, still blowing directly from the bay, +prevented her getting nearer than within four leagues of the +land. On this captain Mitchel made signals of distress, and our +long-boat was sent to him with a store of water and plenty of +fish and other refreshments; and the long-boat being not to be +spared, the coxswain had positive orders from the Commodore to +return again immediately; but the weather proving stormy the next +day, and the boat not appearing, we much feared she was lost, +which would have proved an irretrievable misfortune to us all. +But the third day after we were relieved from this anxiety by the +joyful sight of the long-boat's sails upon the water, and we sent +the cutter immediately to her assistance, which towed her +alongside in a few hours. The crew of our long-boat had taken in +six of the Gloucester's sick men to bring them on shore, two of +whom had died in the boat. And now we learned that the Gloucester +was in a most dreadful condition, having scarcely a man in health +on board, except those they received from us; and numbers of +their sick dying daily, we found that, had it not been for the +last supply sent by our long-boat, both the healthy and diseased +must have all perished together for want of water. And these +calamities were the more terrifying, as they appeared to be +without remedy, for the Gloucester had already spent a month in +her endeavours to fetch the bay, and she was now no farther +advanced than at the first moment she made the island; on the +contrary, the people on board her had worn out all their hopes of +ever succeeding in it by the many experiments they had made of +its difficulty. Indeed, the same day her situation grew more +desperate than ever, for after she had received our last supply +of refreshments, we again lost sight of her, so that we in +general despaired of her ever coming to an anchor.</p> + +<p>Thus was this unhappy vessel bandied about within a few +leagues of her intended harbour, whilst the neighbourhood of that +place, and of those circumstances which could alone put an end to +the calamities they laboured under, served only to aggravate +their distress by torturing them with a view of the relief it was +not in their power to reach.</p> + +<p>THE GLOUCESTER COMES TO ANCHOR.</p> + +<p>But she was at last delivered from this dreadful situation, at +a time when we least expected it, for, after having lost sight of +her for several days, we were pleasingly surprised, on the +morning of the 23rd of July, to see her open the north-west point +of the bay with a flowing sail; when we immediately despatched +what boats we had to her assistance, and in an hour's time from +our first perceiving her she anchored safe within us in the bay. +<a name="anson-11"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 11.<br> +TRACES OF SPANISH CRUISERS--ARRIVAL OF THE ANNA PINK.</h2> + +<p>During the interval of the Gloucester's frequent and +ineffectual attempts to reach the island, our employment was +cleansing our ship and filling our water. The first of these +measures was indispensably necessary to our future health, as the +numbers of sick and the unavoidable negligence arising from our +deplorable situation at sea, had rendered the decks most +intolerably loathsome; and the filling of our water was a caution +that appeared not less essential to our future security, as we +had reason to apprehend that accidents might oblige us to quit +the island at a very short warning. For some appearances, which +we had discovered on shore upon our first landing, gave us +grounds to believe that there were Spanish cruisers in these +seas, which had left the island but a short time before our +arrival, and might possibly return there again in search of us; +for we knew that this island was the likeliest place, in their +own opinion, to meet with us. The circumstances which gave rise +to these reflections were our finding on shore several pieces of +earthen jars, made use of in those seas for water and other +liquids, which appeared to be fresh broken. We saw, too, many +heaps of ashes, and near them fish-bones and pieces of fish, +besides whole fish scattered here and there, which plainly +appeared to have been but a short time out of the water, as they +were but just beginning to decay. These appearances were certain +indications that there had been ships at this place but a short +time before we came there; and as all Spanish merchantmen are +instructed to avoid the island on account of its being the common +rendezvous of their enemies, we concluded those who had touched +here to be ships of force; and not knowing that Pizarro was +returned to Buenos Ayres, and ignorant what strength might have +been fitted out at Calla, we were under some concern for our +safety, being in so wretched and enfeebled a condition that, +notwithstanding the rank of our ship and the sixty guns she +carried on board, which would only have aggravated our dishonour, +there was scarcely a privateer sent to sea that was not an +overmatch for us. However, our fears on this head proved +imaginary, and we were not exposed to the disgrace which might +have been expected to have befallen us had we been necessitated +to fight our sixty-gun ship with no more than thirty hands.</p> + +<p>After the Gloucester's arrival we were employed in earnest in +examining and repairing our rigging.</p> + +<p>Towards the middle of August our men being indifferently +recovered, they were permitted to quit their sick tents and to +build separate huts for themselves; as it was imagined that by +living apart they would be much cleanlier, and consequently +likely to recover their strength the sooner; but at the same time +particular orders were given that on the firing of a gun from the +ship they should instantly repair to the waterside.</p> + +<p>I should have mentioned that the Trial sloop at her arrival +had informed us that on the 9th of May she had fallen in with our +victualler not far distant 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 gave us some room to hope that she was +safe, and that she might soon join us; but all June and July +being past without any news of her, we suspected she was lost, +and at the end of July the Commodore ordered all the ships to a +short allowance of bread.* And it was not in our bread only that +we feared a deficiency, for since our arrival at this island we +discovered that our former purser had neglected to take on board +large quantities of several kinds of provisions which the +Commodore had expressly ordered him to receive; so that the +supposed loss of our victualler was on all accounts a mortifying +consideration.</p> + +<p>THE ANNA PINK.</p> + +<p>However, on Sunday, the 16th of August, about noon, we espied +a sail in the northern quarter, and a gun was immediately fired +from the Centurion to call off the people from shore, who readily +obeyed the summons and repaired to the beach, where the boats +waited to carry them on board. And now being prepared for the +reception of this ship in view whether friend or enemy, we had +various speculations about her; but about three in the afternoon +our disputes were ended by unanimous persuasion that it was our +victualler, the Anna pink. This ship, though, like the +Gloucester, she had fallen in to the northward of the island, had +yet the good fortune to come to an anchor in the bay at five in +the afternoon. Her arrival gave us all the sincerest joy, for +each ship's company was now restored to its full allowance of +bread, and we were now freed from the apprehensions of our +provisions falling short before we could reach some amicable +port--a calamity which, in these seas, is of all others the most +irretrievable. This was the last ship that joined us.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. The flour was on board the Anna +pink.)</blockquote> + +<a name="anson-12"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER 12.<br> +THE WRECK OF THE WAGER--A MUTINY.</h2> + +<p>The remaining ships of the squadron were the Severn, the +Pearl, and the Wager, store-ship. The Severn and Pearl parted +company with the squadron off Cape Noir and, as we afterwards +learned, put back to the Brazils, so that of all the ships which +came into the South Seas the Wager, Captain Cheap, was the only +one that was missing. This ship had on board some field-pieces +mounted for land service, together with some Cohorn mortars, and +several kinds of artillery, stores, and tools, intended for the +operations on shore; and therefore, as the enterprise on Baldivia +had been resolved on for the first undertaking of the squadron, +Captain Cheap was extremely solicitous that these materials, +which were in his custody, might be ready before Baldivia, that +if the squadron should possibly rendezvous there, no delay nor +disappointment might be imputed to him.</p> + +<p>But whilst the Wager, with these views, was making the best of +her way to her first rendezvous off the island of Socoro, she +made the land on the 14th of May, about the latitude of 47 +degrees south, and the captain, exerting himself on this occasion +in order to get clear of it, he had the misfortune to fall down +the after-ladder, and thereby dislocated his shoulder, which +rendered him incapable of acting. This accident, together with +the crazy condition of the ship, which was little better than a +wreck, prevented her from getting off to sea, and entangled her +more and more with the land, so that the next morning at daybreak +she struck on a sunken rock, and soon after bilged and grounded +between two small islands at about a musket-shot from the +shore.</p> + +<p>DISORDER AND ANARCHY.</p> + +<p>In this situation the ship continued entire a long time, so +that all the crew had it in their power to get safe on shore, but +a general confusion taking place, numbers of them, instead of +consulting their safety or reflecting on their calamitous +condition, fell to pillaging the ship, arming themselves with the +first weapons that came to hand and threatening to murder all who +should oppose them. This frenzy was greatly heightened by the +liquors they found on board, with which they got so extremely +drunk that some of them, tumbling down between decks, were +drowned as the water flowed in, being incapable of getting up and +retreating to other places where the water had not yet entered, +and the captain, having done his utmost to get the whole crew on +shore, was at last obliged to leave these mutineers behind him +and to follow his officers and such as he had been able to +prevail on; but he did not fail to send back the boats to +persuade those who remained to have some regard to their +preservation, though all his efforts were for some time without +success. However the weather next day proving stormy, and there +being great danger of the ship's parting, they began to be +alarmed with the fears of perishing, and were desirous of getting +to land; but it seems their madness had not yet left them, for +the boat not appearing to fetch them off as soon as they +expected, they at last pointed a four-pounder which was on the +quarter-deck against the hut where they knew the captain resided +on shore, and fired two shots, which passed but just over it.</p> + +<p>From this specimen of the behaviour of part of the crew it +will not be difficult to frame some conjecture of the disorder +and anarchy which took place when they at last got all on +shore.</p> + +<p>There was another important point which set the greatest part +of the people at variance with the captain: this was their +differing with him in opinion on the measures to be pursued in +the present exigency, for the captain was determined, if +possible, to fit up the boats in the best manner he could and to +proceed with them to the northward; for having with him above a +hundred men in health, and having got some firearms and +ammunition from the wreck, he did not doubt that they could +master any Spanish vessel they should meet with in those seas, +and he thought he could 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 Fernandez; +and he further insisted, that should they meet with no prize by +the way, yet the boats alone would easily carry them there. But +this was a scheme that, however prudent, was no ways relished by +the generality of his people, for, being quite jaded with the +distresses and dangers they had already run through, they could +not think of prosecuting an enterprise further which had hitherto +proved so disastrous, and, therefore, the common resolution was +to lengthen the long-boat, and with that and the rest of the +boats to steer to the southward, to pass through the Straits of +Magellan, and to range along the east side of South America till +they should arrive at Brazil, where they doubted not to be well +received, and to procure a passage to Great Britain. This project +was at first sight infinitely more hazardous and tedious than +what was proposed 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, this circumstance alone +rendered them inattentive to all its inconveniences, and made +them adhere to it with insurmountable obstinacy, so that the +captain himself, though he never changed his opinion, was yet +obliged to give way to the torrent, and in appearance to +acquiesce in this resolution, whilst he endeavoured underhand to +give it all the obstruction he could, particularly in the +lengthening of the long-boat, which he contrived should be of +such a size that, though it might serve to carry them to Juan +Fernandez, would yet, he hoped, appear incapable of so long a +navigation as that to the coast of Brazil.</p> + +<p>AN UNHAPPY ACCIDENT.</p> + +<p>But the captain, by his steady opposition at first to this +favourite project, had much embittered the people against him, to +which, likewise, the following unhappy accident greatly +contributed. There was a midshipman whose name was Cozens, who +had appeared the foremost in all the refractory proceedings of +the crew. He had involved himself in brawls with most of the +officers who had adhered to the captain's authority, and had even +treated the captain himself with great abuse and insolence. As +his turbulence and brutality grew every day more and more +intolerable, it was not in the least doubted but there were some +violent measures in agitation in which Cozens was engaged as the +ringleader, for which reason the captain and those about him +constantly kept themselves on their guard. But at last the purser +having, by the captain's order, stopped the allowance of a fellow +who would not work, Cozens, though the man did not complain to +him, intermeddled in the affair with great eagerness, and grossly +insulting the purser, who was then delivering our provisions just +by the captain's tent, and was himself sufficiently violent, the +purser, enraged by his scurrility, and perhaps piqued by former +quarrels, cried out--"A mutiny!" adding "that the dog had +pistols," and then himself fired a shot at Cozens, which, +however, missed him. But the captain, on this outcry and the +report of the pistol, rushed out of his tent, and, not doubting +but it had been fired by Cozens as the commencement of a mutiny, +he immediately shot him in the head without further deliberation, +and though he did not kill him on the spot, yet the wound proved +mortal, and he died about fourteen days after.</p> + +<p>This incident, however displeasing to the people, did yet for +a considerable time awe them to their duty, and rendered them +more submissive to the captain's authority. But at last, when +towards the middle of October the long-boat was nearly completed +and they were preparing to put to sea, the additional provocation +he gave them by covertly traversing their project of proceeding +through the Straits of Magellan, and their fears that he might at +length engage a party sufficient to overturn this favourite +measure, made them resolve to make use of the death of Cozens as +a reason for depriving him of his command, under pretence of +carrying him a prisoner 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 return to England if their commander should be +present to confront them, and therefore, when they were just +ready to put to sea, they set him at liberty, leaving him and the +few who chose to take their fortunes with him no other +embarkation but the yawl, to which the barge was afterwards added +by the people on board her being prevailed on to return back. <a +name="anson-13"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 13.<br> +THE WRECK OF THE WAGER (CONTINUED)--THE ADVENTURES OF THE +CAPTAIN'S PARTY.</h2> + +<p>When the ship was wrecked there remained alive on board the +Wager near a hundred and thirty persons; of these, above thirty +died during their stay upon the place, and near eighty went off +in the long-boat and the cutter to the southward; so that there +remained with the captain, after their departure, no more than +nineteen persons, which, however, was as many as the barge and +the yawl--the only embarkations left them--could well carry off. +It was on the 13th of October, five months after the shipwreck, +that the long-boat, converted into a schooner, weighed and stood +to the southward, giving the captain who, with Lieutenant +Hamilton, of the land forces, and the surgeon, was then on the +beach, three cheers at their departure. It was the 29th of +January following before they arrived at Rio Grande, on the coast +of Brazil; and having by various accidents, left about twenty of +their people on shore at the different places they touched at, +and a greater number having perished by hunger during the course +of their navigation, there were no more than thirty of them left +when they arrived in that port. Indeed, the undertaking of itself +was a most extraordinary one, for, not to mention the length of +the run, the vessel was scarcely able to contain the number that +first put to sea in her; and their stock of provisions (being +only what they had saved out of the ship) was extremely slender; +and the cutter, the only boat they had with them, soon broke away +from the stern and was staved to pieces; so that when their +provision and their water failed them, they had frequently no +means of getting on shore to search for a fresh supply.</p> + +<p>When the long-boat and cutter were gone, the captain and those +who were left with him proposed to pass to the northward in the +barge and yawl; but the weather was so bad, and the difficulty of +subsisting so great, that it was two months after the departure +of the long-boat before he was able to put to sea. It seems the +place where the Wager was cast away was not a part of the +continent, as was first imagined, but an island at some distance +from the main, which afforded no other sorts of provision but +shellfish and a few herbs; and as the greatest part of what they +had got from the ship was carried off in the long-boat, the +captain and his people were often in great necessity, especially +as they chose to preserve what little sea-provisions remained for +their store when they should go to the northwards.</p> + +<p>Upon the 14th of December the captain and his people embarked +in the barge and the yawl in order to proceed to the northward, +taking on board with them all the provisions they could amass +from the wreck of a ship; but they had scarcely been an hour at +sea when the wind began to blow hard, and the sea ran so high +that they were obliged to throw the greatest part of their +provisions overboard to avoid immediate destruction.</p> + +<p>STRUGGLING WITH DISASTER.</p> + +<p>This was a terrible misfortune in a part of the world where +food is so difficult to be got; however, they still persisted in +their design, putting on shore as often as they could to seek +subsistence. But, about a fortnight after, another dreadful +accident befell them, for the yawl sank at an anchor, and one of +the men in her was drowned; and as the barge was incapable of +carrying the whole company, they were now reduced to the hard +necessity of leaving four marines behind them on that desolate +shore. But they still kept on their course to the northward, +struggling with their disasters, and greatly delayed by the +perverseness of the winds and frequent interruptions which their +search after food occasioned; till at last, about the end of +January, having made three unsuccessful attempts to double a +headland which they supposed to be what the Spaniards called Cape +Tres Montes, it was unanimously resolved to give over this +expedition, the difficulties of which appeared insuperable, and +to return again to Wager Island, where they got back about the +middle of February, quite disheartened and dejected with their +reiterated disappointments and almost perishing with hunger and +fatigue.</p> + +<p>However, on their return they had the good luck to meet with +several pieces of beef which had been washed out of the ship and +were swimming in the sea. This was a most seasonable relief to +them after the hardships they had endured; and to complete their +good fortune, there came in a short time two canoes of Indians, +amongst whom was a native of Chiloe who spoke a little Spanish; +and the surgeon who was with Captain Cheap understanding that +language, he made a bargain with the Indian, that if he would +carry the captain and his people to Chiloe in the barge, he +should have her and all that belonged to her for his pains. +Accordingly, on the 6th of March, the eleven persons, to which +the company was now reduced, embarked in the barge on this new +expedition; but after having proceeded for a few days, the +captain and four of his principal officers being on shore, the +six, who together with an Indian remained in the barge, put off +with her to sea and did not return.</p> + +<p>By this means there were left on shore Captain Cheap, Mr. +Hamilton, lieutenant of marines; the Honourable Mr. Byron and Mr. +Campbell, midshipman; and Mr. Elliot, the surgeon. One would have +thought their distresses had long before this time been incapable +of augmentation, but they found, on reflection, that their +present situation was much more dismaying than anything they had +yet gone through, being left on a desolate coast without any +provisions or the means of procuring any, for their arms, +ammunition, and every conveniency they were masters of, except +the tattered habits they had on, were all carried away in the +barge. But when they had sufficiently revolved in their own minds +the various circumstances of this unexpected calamity, and were +persuaded that they had no relief to hope for, they perceived a +canoe at a distance, 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, for it +seems he had left Captain Cheap and his people a little before to +go a-fishing, and had in the meantime committed them to the care +of the other Indian, whom the sailors had carried to sea in the +barge. But when he came on shore and found the barge gone and his +companion missing, he was extremely concerned, and could with +difficulty be persuaded that the other Indian was not murdered; +but being at last satisfied with the account that was given him, +he still undertook to carry them to the Spanish settlements, and +(as the Indians are well skilled in fishing and fowling) to +procure them provisions by the way.</p> + +<p>CHILOE.</p> + +<p>About the middle of March, Captain Cheap and the four who were +left with him set out for Chiloe, the Indian having procured a +number of canoes, and got many of his neighbours together for +that purpose. Soon after they embarked, Mr. Elliot, the surgeon, +died, so that there now remained only four of the whole company. +At last, after a very complicated passage by land and water, +Captain Cheap, Mr. Byron, and Mr. Campbell arrived, in the +beginning of June, at the island of Chiloe, where they were +received by the Spaniards with great humanity; but, on account of +some quarrel among the Indians, Mr. Hamilton did not get thither +till two months after. Thus, above a twelvemonth after the loss +of the Wager, ended this fatiguing peregrination, which by a +variety of misfortunes had diminished the company from twenty to +no more than four, and those, too, brought so low that had their +distresses continued but a few days longer, in all probability +none of them would have survived. For the captain himself was +with difficulty recovered and the rest were so reduced by the +severity of the weather, their labour, and their want of all +kinds of necessaries, that it was wonderful how they supported +themselves so long. After some stay at Chiloe, the captain and +the three who were with him were sent to Valparaiso, and thence +to Santiago, the capital of Chile where they continued above a +year; but on the advice of a cartel being settled betwixt Great +Britain and Spain, Captain Cheap, Mr. Byron, and Mr. Hamilton +were permitted to return to Europe on board a French ship. The +other midshipman, Mr. Campbell, having changed his religion +whilst at Santiago, chose to go back overland to Buenos Ayres +with Pizarro and his officers, with whom he went afterwards to +Spain on board the Asia; and there having failed in his +endeavours to procure a commission from the Court of Spain, he +returned to England, and attempted to get reinstated in the +British Navy, and has since published a narration of his +adventures, in which he complains of the injustice that had been +done him and strongly disavows his ever being in the Spanish +service. But as the change of his religion and his offering +himself to the Court of Spain (though not accepted) are matters, +which he is conscious, are capable of being incontestably proved, +on these two heads he has been entirely silent. And now, after +this account of the catastrophe of the Wager, I shall again +resume the thread of our own story. <a name="anson-14"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 14.<br> +THE LOSSES FROM SCURVY--STATE AND PROSPECTS OF THE SQUADRON.</h2> + +<p>EXTRAORDINARY MORTALITY.</p> + +<p>Our people by the beginning of September were so far recovered +of the scurvy that there was little danger of burying any more at +present; and therefore I shall now sum up the total of our loss +since our departure from England, the better to convey some idea +of our past sufferings and of our present strength. We had buried +on board the Centurion since our leaving St. Helens 292, and had +now remaining on board 214. This will doubtless appear a most +extraordinary mortality; but yet on board the Gloucester it had +been much greater, for out of a much smaller crew than ours they +had buried the same number, and had only eighty-two remaining +alive. It might be expected that on board the Trial the slaughter +would have been the most terrible, as her decks were almost +constantly knee-deep in water; but it happened otherwise, for she +escaped more favourably than the rest, since she only buried +forty-two, and had now thirty-nine remaining alive. The havoc of +this disease had fallen still severer on the invalids and marines +than on the sailors; for on board the Centurion, out of fifty +invalids and seventy-nine marines there remained only four +invalids, including officers, and eleven marines; and on board +the Gloucester every invalid perished, and out of forty-eight +marines only two escaped. From this account it appears that the +three ships together departed from England with 961 men on board, +of whom 626 were dead before this time; so that the whole of our +remaining crews, which were now to be distributed among three +ships, amounted to no more than 335 men and boys, a number +greatly insufficient for manning the Centurion alone, and barely +capable of navigating all the three with the utmost exertion of +their strength and vigour. This prodigious reduction of our men +was still the more terrifying as we were hitherto uncertain of +the fate of Pizarro's squadron, and had reason to suppose that +some part of it at least had got round into these seas. Indeed we +were satisfied from our own experience that they must have +suffered greatly in their passage; but then every port in the +South Seas was open to them, and the whole power of Chile and +Peru would doubtless be united in refreshing and refitting them, +and recruiting the numbers they had lost. Besides, we had some +obscure knowledge of a force to be fitted out at Callao; and, +however contemptible the ships and sailors of this part of the +world may have been generally esteemed, it was scarcely possible +for anything bearing the name of a ship of force to be feebler or +less considerable than ourselves. And had there been nothing to +be apprehended from the naval power of the Spaniards in this part +of the world, yet our enfeebled condition would nevertheless give +us the greatest uneasiness, as we were incapable of attempting +any of their considerable places; for the risking of twenty men, +weak as we then were, was risking the safety of the whole. So +that we conceived we should be necessitated to content ourselves +with what few prizes we could pick up at sea before we were +discovered, after which we should in all probability be obliged +to depart with precipitation, and esteem ourselves fortunate to +regain our native country, leaving our enemies to triumph on the +inconsiderable mischief they had received from a squadron whose +equipment had filled them with such dreadful apprehensions. It is +true the final event proved more honourable than we had +foreboded; but the intermediate calamities did likewise greatly +surpass our most gloomy apprehensions, and could they have been +predicted to us at this island of Juan Fernandez, they would +doubtless have appeared insurmountable. <a name= +"anson-15"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 15.<br> +A PRIZE--SPANISH PREPARATIONS--A NARROW ESCAPE.</h2> + +<p>A CHASE.</p> + +<p>In the beginning of September, as has been already mentioned, +our men were tolerably well recovered; and now the time of +navigation in this climate drawing near, we exerted ourselves in +getting our ships in readiness for the sea. On the 8th, about +eleven in the morning, we espied a sail to the north-east, which +continued to approach us till her courses appeared even with the +horizon. In this interval we all had hopes she might prove one of +our own squadron; but at length, finding she steered away to the +eastward without hauling in for the island, we concluded she must +be a Spaniard. It was resolved to pursue her; and the Centurion +being in the greatest forwardness, we immediately got all our +hands on board, set up our rigging, bent our sails, and by five +in the afternoon got under sail. We had at this time very little +wind, so that all the boats were employed to tow us out of the +bay; and even what wind there was lasted only long enough to give +us an offing of two or three leagues, when it flattened to a +calm. The night coming on, we lost sight of the chase, and were +extremely impatient for the return of daylight, in hopes to find +that she had been becalmed as well as we, though I must confess +that her greater distance from the land was a reasonable ground +for suspecting the contrary, as we indeed found in the morning, +to our great mortification; for though the weather continued +perfectly clear, we had no sight of the ship from the mast-head. +But as we were now satisfied that it was an enemy, and the first +we had seen in these seas, we resolved not to give over the +search lightly; and a small breeze springing up from the +west-north-west, we got up our top-gallant masts and yards, set +all the sails, and steered to the south-east, in hopes of +retrieving our chase, which we imagined to be bound to +Valparaiso. We continued on this course all that day and the +next; and then, not getting sight of our chase, we gave over the +pursuit, conceiving that by that time she must in all probability +have reached her port.</p> + +<p>And now we prepared to return to Juan Fernandez, and hauled up +to the south-west with that view, having but very little wind +till the 12th, when, at three in the morning, there sprang up a +fresh gale from the west-south-west, and we tacked and stood to +the north-west; and at daybreak we were agreeably surprised with +the sight of a sail on our weather-bow, between four and five +leagues distant. On this we crowded all the sail we could, and +stood after her, and soon perceived it not to be the same ship we +originally gave chase to. She at first bore down upon us, showing +Spanish colours, and making a signal as to her consort; but +observing that we did not answer her signal, she instantly luffed +close to the wind and stood to the southward. Our people were now +all in spirits, and put the ship about with great alacrity; and +as the chase appeared to be a large ship, and had mistaken us for +her consort, we conceived that she was a man-of-war, and probably +one of Pizarro's squadron. This induced the Commodore to order +all the officers' cabins to be knocked down and thrown overboard, +with several casks of water and provisions which stood between +the guns; so that we had soon a clear ship, ready for an +engagement. About nine o'clock we had thick, hazy weather, and a +shower of rain, during which we lost sight of the chase; and we +were apprehensive, if the weather should continue, that by going +upon the other tack, or by some other artifice, she might escape +us; but it clearing up in less than an hour, we found that we had +both weathered and forereached upon her considerably, and now we +were near enough discover that she was only a merchantman, +without so much as a single tier of guns. About half an hour +after twelve, being then within a reasonable distance of her, we +fired four shot amongst her rigging, on which they lowered their +topsails and bore down to us, but in very great confusion, their +top-gallant-sails and stay-sails all fluttering in the wind. This +was owing to their having let run their sheets and halyards just +as we fired at them, after which not a man amongst them had +courage enough to venture aloft (for there the shot had passed +but just before) to take them in.</p> + +<p>As soon as the vessel came within hail of us, the Commodore +ordered them to bring to under his lee-quarter, and then hoisted +out the boat and sent Mr. Suamarez, his first lieutenant, to take +possession of the prize, with directions to send all the +prisoners on board the Centurion, but first the officers and +passengers.</p> + +<p>A TERRIFIED CREW.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Suamarez came on board them, they received him at the +side with the strongest tokens of the most abject submission, for +they were all of them (especially the passengers, who were +twenty-five in number), extremely terrified and under the +greatest apprehensions of meeting with very severe and cruel +usage. But the lieutenant endeavoured with great courtesy to +dissipate their fright, assuring them that their fears were +altogether groundless, and that they would find a generous enemy +in the Commodore, who was not less remarkable for his lenity and +humanity than for his resolution and courage. The passengers who +were first sent on board the Centurion informed us that our prize +was called "Nuestra Senora del Monte Carmelo", and was commanded +by Don Manuel Zamorra. Her cargo consisted chiefly of sugar, and +great quantities of blue cloth made in the province of Quito, +somewhat resembling our English coarse broad-cloths, but inferior +to them. They had, besides, several bales of a coarser sort of +cloth, of different colours, called by them Pannia da Tierra, +with a few bales of cotton and tobacco, which though strong was +not ill-flavoured. These were the principal goods on board her; +but we found, besides, what was to us much more valuable than the +rest of the cargo. This was some trunks of wrought plate, and +twenty-three serons of dollars, each weighing upwards of 200 +pounds avoirdupois. The ship's burthen was about 450 tons; she +had fifty-three sailors on board, both whites and blacks; she +came from Callao, and had been twenty-seven days at sea before +she fell into our hands. She was bound to the port of Valparaiso, +in the kingdom of Chili, and proposed to have returned thence +loaded with corn and Chili wine, some gold, dried beef, and small +cordage, which at Callao they convert into larger rope. The +prisoners informed us that they left Callao in company with two +other ships, which they had parted with some days before, and +that at first they conceived us to be one of their company; and +by the description we gave them of the ship we had chased from +Juan Fernandez, they assured us she was of their number, but that +the coming in sight of that island was directly repugnant to the +merchants' instructions, who had expressly forbid it, as knowing +that if any English squadron was in those seas, the island of +Fernandez was most probably the place of their rendezvous.</p> + +<p>And now it is necessary that I should relate the important +intelligence which we met with on board her, partly from the +information of the prisoners, and partly from the letters and +papers which fell into our hands. We here first learned with +certainty the force and destination of that squadron which +cruised off Madeira at our arrival there, and afterwards chased +the Pearl in our passage to Port St. Julian. And we had, at the +same time, the satisfaction to find that Pizarro, after his +utmost endeavours to gain his passage into these seas, had been +forced back again into the River of Plate, with the loss of two +of his largest ships; and besides this disappointment of Pizarro, +which considering our great debility, was no unacceptable +intelligence, we further learned that an embargo had been laid +upon all shipping in these seas by the Viceroy of Peru, in the +month of May preceding, on a supposition that about that time we +might arrive upon the coast. But on the account sent overland by +Pizarro of his own distresses, part of which they knew we must +have encountered, as we were at sea during the same time, and on +their having no news of us in eight months after we were known to +set sail from St. Catherine's, they were fully persuaded that we +were either shipwrecked, or had perished at sea, or at least had +been obliged to put back again; for it was conceived impossible +for any ships to continue at sea during so long an interval, and, +therefore, on the application of the merchants and the firm +persuasion of our having miscarried, the embargo had been lately +taken off.</p> + +<p>A NARROW ESCAPE.</p> + +<p>This last article made us flatter ourselves that, as the enemy +was still a stranger to our having got round Cape Horn, and the +navigation of these seas was restored, we might meet with some +considerable captures, and might thereby indemnify ourselves for +the incapacity we were now under of attempting any of their +considerable settlements on shore. And thus much we were certain +of, from the information of our prisoners, that whatever our +success might be as to the prizes we might light on, we had +nothing to fear, weak as we were, from the Spanish force in this +part of the world; though we discovered that we had been in most +imminent peril from the enemy when we least apprehended it, and +when our other distresses were at the greatest height. For we +learned from the letters on board that Pizarro, in the express he +dispatched to the Viceroy of Peru after his return to the River +of Plate, had intimated to him that it was possible some part at +least of the English squadron might get round, but that, as he +was certain from his own experience that if they did arrive in +those seas it must be in a very weak and defenceless condition, +he advised the Viceroy, in order to be secure at all events, to +fit out what ships of force he had, and send them to the +southward, where in all probability they would intercept us +singly and before we had an opportunity of touching anywhere for +refreshment, in which case he doubted not but we should prove an +easy conquest. The Viceroy of Peru approved of this advice, and +immediately fitted out four ships of force from Callao, one of 50 +guns, two of 40 guns, and one of 24 guns. Three of them were +stationed off the port of Concepcion,* and one of them at the +Island of Juan Fernandez; and in these stations they continued +cruising for us till the 6th of June, when, not seeing anything +of us, and conceiving it to be impossible that we could have kept +the seas so long, they quitted their cruise and returned to +Callao, fully satisfied that we had either perished or at least +had been driven back. As the time of their quitting their station +was but a few days before our arrival at the island of Fernandez, +it is evident that had we made that island on our first search +for it on the 28th of May, when we first expected to see it, and +were in reality very near it, we had doubtless fallen in with +some part of the Spanish squadron; and in the distressed +condition we were then in the meeting with a healthy, +well-provided enemy was an incident that could not but have been +perplexing and might perhaps have proved fatal. I shall only add +that these Spanish ships sent out to intercept us had been +greatly shattered by a storm during their cruise, and that, after +their arrival at Callao, they had been laid up. And our prisoners +assured us that whenever intelligence was received at Lima of our +being in these seas, it would be at least two months before this +armament could be again fitted out.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. La Concepcion in Chili, about 270 miles south +of Valparaiso.)</blockquote> + +<p>The whole of this intelligence was as favourable as we in our +reduced circumstances could wish for; and now we were fully +satisfied as to the broken jars, ashes, and fish-bones which we +had observed at our first landing at Juan Fernandez, these things +being doubtless the relics of the cruisers stationed off that +port. Having thus satisfied ourselves in the material articles, +and having got on board the Centurion most of the prisoners and +all the silver, we, at eight in the same evening, made sail to +the northward, in company with our prize, and at six the next +morning discovered the island of Juan Fernandez, where the next +day both we and our prize came to an anchor. And here I cannot +omit one remarkable incident which occurred when the prize and +her crew came into the bay where the rest of the squadron lay. +The Spaniards in the Carmelo had been sufficiently informed of +the distresses we had gone through, and were greatly surprised +that we had ever surmounted them; but when they saw the Trial +sloop at anchor they were still more astonished, and it was with +great difficulty they were prevailed on to believe that she came +from England with the rest of the squadron, they at first +insisting that it was impossible such a bauble as that could pass +round Cape Horn when the best ships of Spain were obliged to put +back. <a name="anson-16"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 16.<br> +THE COMMODORE'S PLANS--ANOTHER PRIZE--THE TRIAL DESTROYED..</h2> + +<p>By the time we arrived at Juan Fernandez the letters found on +board our prize were more minutely examined; and it appearing +from them and from the accounts of our prisoners that several +other merchantmen were bound from Callao to Valparaiso, Mr. Anson +despatched the Trial sloop the very next morning to cruise off +the last-mentioned port, reinforcing her with ten hands from on +board his own ship. Mr. Anson likewise resolved, on the +intelligence recited above, to separate the ships under his +command and employ them in distinct cruises, as he thought that +by this means we should not only increase our chance for prizes, +but that we should likewise run less risk of alarming the coast +and of being discovered.</p> + +<p>THE LAST LEAVE OF JUAN FERNANDEZ.</p> + +<p>And now, the spirits of our people being greatly raised and +their despondency dissipated by this earnest of success, they +forgot all their past distresses and resumed their wonted +alacrity, and laboured indefatigably in completing our water, +receiving our lumber, and preparing to take our farewell of the +island. But as these occupations took us up four or five days, +with all our industry, the Commodore in that interval directed +that the guns belonging to the Anna pink*, being four 6-pounders, +four 4-pounders, and two swivels, should be mounted on board the +Carmelo, our prize; and having sent on board the Gloucester six +passengers and twenty-three seaman to assist in navigating the +ship, he directed Captain Mitchel to leave the island as soon as +possible, the service requiring the utmost despatch, ordering him +to proceed to the latitude of 5 degrees south, and there to +cruise off the high land of Paita, at such a distance from shore +as should prevent his being discovered. On this station he was to +continue till he should be joined by the Commodore, which would +be whenever it should be known that the Viceroy had fitted out +the ships at Callao, or on Mr. Anson's receiving any other +intelligence that should make it necessary to unite our strength. +These orders being delivered to the captain of the Gloucester, +and all our business completed, we on the Saturday following, +being the 19th of September, weighed our anchor in company with +our prize, and got out of the bay, taking our last leave of the +island of Juan Fernandez, and steering to the eastward, with an +intention of joining the Trial sloop in her station off +Valparaiso.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. The Anna pink being no longer seaworthy, was +broken up at Juan Fernandez.)</blockquote> + +<p>On the 24th, a little before sunset, we saw two sail to the +eastward, on which our prize stood directly from us, to avoid +giving any suspicion of our being cruisers; whilst we in the +meantime made ourselves ready for an engagement, and steered +towards the two ships we had discovered with all our canvas. We +soon perceived that one of these which had the appearance of +being a very stout ship made directly for us, whilst the other +kept at a very great distance. By seven o'clock we were within +pistol-shot of the nearest, and had a broadside ready to pour +into her, the gunners having their matches in their hands, and +only waiting for orders to fire; but as we knew it was now +impossible for her to escape us, Mr. Anson, before he permitted +them to fire, ordered the master to hail the ship in Spanish, on +which the commanding officer on board her, who proved to be Mr. +Hughes, lieutenant of the Trial, answered us in English, and +informed us that she was a prize taken by the Trial a few days +before, and that the other sail at a distance was the Trial +herself, disabled in her masts. We were soon after joined by the +Trial and Captain Saunders, her commander, came on board the +Centurion. He informed the Commodore that he had taken this ship +the 18th instant, that she was a prime sailer, and had cost him +thirty-six hours' chase before he could come up with her; that +for some time he gained so little upon her that he began to +despair of taking her; and the Spaniards, though alarmed at first +with seeing nothing but a cloud of sail in pursuit of them, the +Trial's hull being so low in the water that no part of it +appeared, yet knowing the goodness of their ship, and finding how +little the Trial neared them, they at length laid aside their +fears, and recommending themselves to the blessed Virgin for +protection, began to think themselves secure. And indeed, their +success was very near doing honour to their Ave Marias;* for +altering their course in the night and shutting up their windows +to prevent any of their lights from being seen, they had some +chance of escaping. But a small crevice in one of the shutters +rendered all their invocations ineffectual, for through this +crevice the people on board the Trial perceived a light, which +they chased till they arrived within gun shot, and then Captain +Saunders alarmed them unexpectedly with a broadside when they +flattered themselves they were got out of his reach. However, for +some time after, they still kept the same sail abroad, and it was +not observed that this first salute had made any impression on +them; but just as the Trial was preparing to repeat her +broadside, the Spaniards crept from their holes, lowered their +sails, and submitted without any opposition. She was one of the +largest merchantmen employed in those seas, being about six +hundred tons burthen, and was called the "Arranzazu". She was +bound from Callao to Valparaiso, and had much the same cargo with +the Carmelo we had taken before, except that her silver amounted +only to about 5000 pounds sterling.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Ave Maria (Hail Mary!) are the opening words +of a Roman Catholic prayer to the Virgin Mary.)</blockquote> + +<p>THE TRIAL DISABLED.</p> + +<p>But to balance this success we had the misfortune to find that +the Trial had sprung her mainmast, and that her maintopmast had +come by the board; and as we were all of us standing to the +eastward the next morning, with a fresh gale at south, she had +the additional ill-luck to spring her foremast; so that now she +had not a mast left on which she could carry sail. These unhappy +incidents were still further aggravated by the impossibility we +were just then under of assisting her; for the wind blew so hard, +and raised such a hollow sea, that we could not venture to hoist +out our boat, and consequently could have no communication with +her; so that we were obliged to lie to for the greatest part of +forty-eight hours to attend her.</p> + +<p>The weather proving somewhat more moderate on the 27th, we +sent our boat for the captain of the Trial, who, when he came on +board us, produced an instrument, signed by himself and all his +officers, representing that the sloop, besides being dismasted, +was so very leaky in her hull that even in moderate weather it +was necessary to keep the pumps constantly at work, and that they +were then scarcely sufficient to keep her free; so that in the +late gale, though they had all been engaged at the pumps by +turns, yet the water had increased upon them; and, upon the +whole, they apprehended her to be at present so very defective +that if they met with much bad weather they must all inevitably +perish, and therefore they petitioned the Commodore to take some +measures for their future safety. But the refitting of the Trial +and the repairing of her defects was an undertaking that in the +present conjuncture greatly exceeded his power; and besides, it +would have been extreme imprudence in so critical a juncture to +have loitered away so much time as would have been necessary for +these operations. The Commodore, therefore, had no choice left +him but that of taking out her people and destroying her; but at +the same time, as he conceived it necessary for His Majesty's +Service to keep up the appearance of our force, he appointed the +Trial's prize (which had been often employed by the Viceroy of +Peru as a man-of-war) to be a frigate in His Majesty's Service, +manning her with the Trial's crew and giving new commissions to +the captain and all the inferior officers accordingly. This new +frigate, when in the Spanish service, had mounted thirty-two +guns, but she was now to have only twenty, which were the twelve +that were on board the Trial, and eight that had belonged to the +Anna pink. When this affair was thus far regulated, Mr. Anson +gave orders to Captain Saunders to put it in execution, directing +him to take out of the sloop the arms, stores, ammunition, and +everything that could be of any use to the other ships, and then +to scuttle her and sink her. And after Captain Saunders had seen +her destroyed he was to proceed with his new frigate (to be +called the Trial's prize) and to cruise off the high land of +Valparaiso, keeping it from him north-north-west, at the distance +of twelve or fourteen leagues. For as all ships bound from +Valparaiso to the northward steer that course, Mr. Anson proposed +by this means to stop any intelligence that might be despatched +to Callao of two of their ships being missing, which might give +them apprehensions of the English squadron being in their +neighbourhood. The Trial's prize was to continue on this station +twenty-four days and if not joined by the Commodore at the +expiration of that term, she was then to proceed down the coast +to Pisco, or Nasca, where she would be certain to meet with Mr. +Anson. The Commodore likewise ordered Lieutenant Suamarez who +commanded the Centurion's prize, to keep company with Captain +Saunders both to assist him in unloading the sloop, and also +that, by spreading in their cruise, there might be less danger of +any of the enemy's ships slipping by unobserved. These orders +being despatched, the Centurion parted from them at eleven in the +evening on the 27th of September, directing her course to the +southward, with a view of cruising for some days to the windward +of Valparaiso. <a name="anson-17"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 17.<br> +MORE CAPTURES--ALARM OF THE COAST--PAITA.</h2> + +<p>DISAPPOINTMENT.</p> + +<p>Though, after leaving Captain Saunders, we were very +expeditious in regaining our station, where we got the 29th at +noon, yet in plying on and off till the 6th of October we had not +the good fortune to discover a sail of any sort, and then, having +lost all hopes of making any advantage by a longer stay, we made +sail to the leeward of the port in order to join our prizes; but +when we arrived on the station appointed for them we did not meet +with them, though we continued there four or five days. We +supposed that some chase had occasioned their leaving the +station, and therefore we proceeded down the coast to the high +land of Nasca, where Captain Saunders was directed to join us. +Here we arrived on the 21st, and were in great expectation of +meeting with some of the enemy's ships on the coast, as both the +accounts of former voyages and the information of our prisoners +assured us that all ships bound to Callao constantly make this +land, to prevent the danger of running to the leeward of the +port. But notwithstanding the advantages of this station we saw +no sail till the 2nd of November, when two ships appeared in +sight together. We immediately gave them chase, but soon +perceived that they were the Trial's and Centurion's prizes. We +found they had not been more fortunate in their cruise than we +were, for they had seen no vessel since they separated from +us.</p> + +<p>We bore away the same afternoon, taking particular care to +keep at such a distance from the shore that there might be no +danger of our being discovered from thence.</p> + +<p>By the 5th of November, at three in the afternoon, we were +advanced within view of the high land of Barranca, and an hour +and a half afterwards we had the satisfaction we had so long +wished for, of seeing a sail. She first appeared to leeward, and +we all immediately gave her chase; but the Centurion so much out +sailed the two prizes that we soon ran them out of sight, and +gained considerably on the chase. However, night coming on before +we came up to her, we about seven o'clock lost sight of her, and +were in some perplexity what course to steer; but at last Mr. +Anson resolved, as we were then before the wind, to keep all his +sails set and not to change his course. For though we had no +doubt but the chase would alter her course in the night, yet, as +it was uncertain what tack she would go upon, it was thought more +prudent to keep on our course, as we must by this means +unavoidably near her, than to change it on conjecture, when, if +we should mistake, we must infallibly lose her. Thus, then, we +continued the chase about an hour and a half in the dark, someone +or other on board us constantly imagining they discerned her +sails right ahead of us; but at last Mr. Brett, then our second +lieutenant, did really discover her about four points on the +larboard-bow, steering off to the seaward. We immediately clapped +the helm a-weather and stood for her, and in less than an hour +came up with her, and having fired fourteen shots at her, she +struck. Our third lieutenant, Mr. Dennis, was sent in the boat +with sixteen men to take possession of the prize and to return +the prisoners to our ship. This ship was named the "Santa Teresa +de Jesus", built at Guayaquil, of about three hundred tons +burthen, and was commanded by Bartolome Urrunaga, a Biscayer. She +was bound from Guayaquil to Callao; her loading consisted of +timber, cacao, cocoa-nuts, tobacco, hides, Pito thread (which is +very strong and is made of a species of grass) Quito cloth, wax, +etc. The specie on board her was inconsiderable, being +principally small silver money and not amounting to more than 170 +pounds sterling. It is true her cargo was of great value, could +we have disposed of it, but the Spaniards having strict orders +never to ransom their ships, all the goods that we took in these +seas, except what little we had occasion for ourselves, were of +no advantage to us. Indeed, though we could make no profit +thereby ourselves, it was some satisfaction to us to consider +that it was so much really lost to the enemy, and that the +despoiling them was no contemptible branch of that service in +which we were now employed by our country.</p> + +<p>I have before observed that at the beginning of this chase the +Centurion ran her two consorts out of sight, for which reason we +lay by all the night, after we had taken the prize, for Captain +Saunders and Lieutenant Suamarez to join us, firing guns and +making false fires every half-hour to prevent their passing us +unobserved; but they were so far astern that they neither heard +nor saw any of our signals and were not able to come up with us +till broad daylight. When they had joined us we proceeded +together to the northward, being now four sail in company.</p> + +<p>DESPOILING THE SPANIARDS.</p> + +<p>On the 10th of November we were three leagues south of the +southernmost island of Lobos, lying in the latitude of 6 degrees +27 minutes south. We were now drawing near to the station +appointed to the Gloucester, for which reason, fearing to miss +her, we made an easy sail all night. The next morning at +daybreak, we saw a ship in shore, and to windward, plying up to +the coast. She had passed by us with the favour of the night, and +we, soon perceiving her not to be the Gloucester, gave her chase; +but it proving very little wind, so that neither of us could make +much way, the Commodore ordered the barge, his pinnace, and the +Trial's pinnace to be manned and armed, and to pursue the chase +and board her. Lieutenant Brett, who commanded the barge, came up +with her first, about nine o'clock, and running alongside of her, +he fired a volley of small shot between the masts, just over the +heads of the people on board, and then instantly entered with the +greatest part of his men; but the enemy made no resistance, being +sufficiently frightened by the dazzling of the cutlasses, and the +volley they had just received. Lieutenant Brett ordered the sails +to be trimmed, and bore down to the Commodore, taking up in his +way the two pinnaces. When he was arrived within about four miles +of us, he put off in the barge, bringing with him a number of +prisoners who had given him some material intelligence, which he +was desirous the Commodore should be acquainted with as soon as +possible. On his arrival we learned that the prize was called +"Nuestra Senora del Carmen", of about two hundred and seventy +tons burthen; she was commanded by Marcos Morena, a native of +Venice, and had on board forty-three mariners. She was deep laden +with steel, iron, wax, pepper, cedar, plank, snuff, rosaries, +European bale goods, powder-blue, cinnamon, Romish indulgences, +and other species of merchandise. And though this cargo, in our +present circumstances was but of little value to us, yet with +respect to the Spaniards it was the most considerable capture +that fell into our hands in this part of the world; for it +amounted to upwards of 400,000 dollars prime cost at Panama. This +ship was bound to Callao, and had stopped at Paita in her passage +to take in a recruit of water and provisions, and had not left +that place above twenty-four hours before she fell into our +hands.</p> + +<p>IMPORTANT INTELLIGENCE.</p> + +<p>I have mentioned that Mr. Brett had received some important +intelligence from the prisoners, which he endeavoured to acquaint +the Commodore with immediately. The first person he received it +from (though upon further examination it was confirmed by the +other prisoners) was one John Williams, an Irishman, whom he +found on board the Spanish vessel. Williams was a Papist, who +worked his passage from Cadiz, and had travelled over all the +kingdom of Mexico as a pedlar. He pretended that by this business +he got 4,000 or 5,000 dollars; but that he was embarrassed by the +priests, who knew he had money, and was at last stripped of all +he had. He was, indeed, at present all in rags, being but just +got out of Paita gaol, where he had been confined for some +misdemeanour; he expressed great joy upon seeing his countrymen, +and immediately informed them that a few days before a vessel +came into Paita, where the master of her informed the Governor +that he had been chased in the offing by a very large ship, +which, from her size and the colour of her sails, he was +persuaded must be one of the English squadron. This we then +conjectured to have been the Gloucester, as we afterwards found +it was. The Governor, upon examining the master, was fully +satisfied of his relation, and immediately sent away an express +to Lima to acquaint the Viceroy therewith; and the royal officer +residing at Paita, being apprehensive of a visit from the +English, was busily employed in removing the King's treasure and +his own to Piura, a town within land about fourteen leagues +distant. We further learned from our prisoners that there was a +very considerable sum of money, belonging to some merchants at +Lima, that was now lodged at the custom-house at Paita; and that +this was intended to be shipped on board a vessel which was then +in the port of Paita, and was preparing to sail with the utmost +expedition, being bound for the Bay of Sonsonnate, on the coast +of Mexico, in order to purchase a part of the cargo of the +Manila ship.* This vessel at Paita was esteemed a prime sailer, +and had just received a new coat of tallow on her bottom; and, in +the opinion of the prisoners, she might be able to sail the +succeeding morning.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. A full account of the Manila ship will be +found in Chapter 22 below.)</blockquote> + +<p>The character they gave us of this vessel, on which the money +was to be shipped, left us little reason to believe that our +ship, which had been in the water near two years, could have any +chance of coming up with her, if we once suffered her to escape +out of the port. And therefore, as we were now discovered, and +the coast would be soon alarmed, and as our cruising in these +parts any longer would answer no purpose, the Commodore resolved +to surprise the place, having first minutely informed himself of +its strength and condition, and being fully satisfied that there +was little danger of losing many of our men in the attempt. <a +name="anson-18"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 18.<br> +THE ATTACK ON PAITA.</h2> + +<p>The town of Paita is situated in the latitude of 5 degrees 12 +minutes south, in a most barren soil, composed only of sand and +slate; the extent of it is but small, containing in all less than +two hundred families. The houses are only ground floors, the +walls built of split cane and mud, and the roofs thatched with +leaves. These edifices, though extremely slight, are abundantly +sufficient for a climate where rain is considered as a prodigy, +and is not seen in many years; so that it is said that a small +quantity of rain falling in this country in the year 1728, it +ruined a great number of buildings, which mouldered away, and, as +it were, melted before it. The inhabitants of Paita are +principally Indians and black slaves, or at least a mixed breed, +the whites being very few. The port of Paita, though in reality +little more than a bay, is esteemed the best on that part of the +coast, and is indeed a very secure and commodious anchorage. It +is greatly frequented by all vessels coming from the north, since +it is here only that the ships from Acapulco, Sonsonnate, Realejo +and Panama can touch and refresh in their passage to Callao; and +the length of these voyages (the wind for the greatest part of +the year being full against them) renders it impossible to +perform them without calling upon the coast for a recruit of +fresh water. It is true, Paita is situated on so parched a spot +that it does not itself furnish a drop of fresh water, or any +kind of greens or provisions, except fish and a few goats; but +there is an Indian town called Colan, about two or three leagues +distant to the northward, whence water, maize, greens, fowls, +etc., are brought to Paita on balsas, or floats, for the +convenience of the ships that touch here; and cattle are +sometimes brought from Piura, a town which lies about fourteen +leagues up in the country. The town of Paita is itself an open +place; its sole protection and defence is a small fort near the +shore of the bay. It was of consequence to us to be well informed +of the fabric and strength of this fort; and by the examination +of our prisoners we found that there were eight pieces of cannon +mounted in it, but that it had neither ditch nor outwork, being +only surrounded by a plain brick wall; and that the garrison +consisted of only one weak company, but the town itself might +possibly arm three hundred men more.</p> + +<p>PREPARING FOR A NIGHT ATTACK.</p> + +<p>Mr. Anson having informed himself of the strength of the +place, resolved to attempt it that very night. We were then about +twelve leagues distant from the shore, far enough to prevent our +being discovered, yet not so far but that, by making all the sail +we could, we might arrive in the bay with our ships in the night. +However, the Commodore prudently considered that this would be an +improper method of proceeding, as our ships, being such large +bodies, might be easily discovered at a distance even in the +night, and might thereby alarm the inhabitants and give them an +opportunity of removing their valuable effects. He therefore, as +the strength of the place did not require our whole force, +resolved to attempt it with our boats only, ordering the +eighteen-oared barge and our own and the Trial's pinnaces on that +service; and having picked out fifty-eight men to man them, well +provided with arms and ammunition, he gave the command of the +expedition to Lieutenant Brett, and gave him his necessary +orders. And the better to prevent the disappointment and +confusion which might arise from the darkness of the night and +the ignorance of the streets and passages of the place, two of +the Spanish pilots were ordered to attend the lieutenant and to +conduct him to the most convenient landing-place, and were +afterwards to be his guides on shore. And that we might have the +greater security for their faithful behaviour on this occasion, +the Commodore took care to assure all our prisoners that if the +pilots acted properly they should all of them be released and set +on shore at this place; but in case of any misconduct or +treachery, he threatened them that the pilots should be instantly +shot and that he would carry all the rest of the Spaniards who +were on board him prisoners to England.</p> + +<p>During our preparations the ships themselves stood towards the +port with all the sail they could make, being secure that we were +yet at too great a distance to be seen. But about ten o'clock at +night, the ships being then within five leagues of the place, +Lieutenant Brett, with the boats under his command, put off, and +arrived at the mouth of the bay without being discovered; but no +sooner had he entered it than some of the people on board a +vessel riding at anchor there perceived him, who instantly put +off in their boat, rowing towards the fort, shouting and crying, +"The English! the English dogs!" by which the whole town was +suddenly alarmed; and our people soon observed several lights +hurrying backwards and forwards in the fort and other marks of +the inhabitants being in great motion. Lieutenant Brett on this +encouraged his men to pull briskly up to the shore, that they +might give the enemy as little time as possible to prepare for +their defence. However, before our boats could reach the shore, +the people in the fort had got ready some of their cannon and +pointed them towards the landing-place; and though in the +darkness of the night it might be well supposed that chance had a +greater share than skill in their direction, yet the first shot +passed extremely near one of the boats, whistling just over the +heads of the crew. This made our people redouble their efforts, +so that they had reached the shore, and were in part disembarked +by the time the second gun fired. As soon as our men landed they +were conducted by one of the Spanish pilots to the entrance of a +narrow street, not above fifty yards distant from the beach, +where they were covered from the fire of the fort; and being +formed in the best manner the shortness of the time would allow, +they immediately marched for the parade, which was a large square +at the end of this street, the fort being one side of the square +and the Governor's house another. In this march (though performed +with tolerable regularity) the shouts and clamours of three-score +sailors who had been confined so long on ship-board, and were now +for the first time on shore in an enemy's country--joyous as they +always are when they land, and animated besides in the present +case with the hopes of an immense pillage--the huzzahs, I say, of +this spirited detachment, joined with the noise of their drums +and favoured by the night, had augmented their numbers, in the +opinion of the enemy, to at least three hundred; by which +persuasion the inhabitants were so greatly intimidated that they +were much more solicitous about the means of their flight than of +their resistance. So that though upon entering the parade our +people received a volley from the merchants who owned the +treasure then in the town, and who, with a few others, had ranged +themselves in a gallery that ran round the Governor's house, yet +that post was immediately abandoned upon the first fire made by +our people, who were thereby left in quiet possession of the +parade.</p> + +<p>A SMART PIECE OF WORK.</p> + +<p>On this success Lieutenant Brett divided his men into two +parties, ordering one of them to surround the Governor's house, +and, if possible, to secure the Governor, whilst he himself with +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, abandoned it, and made their +escape over the walls. By this means the whole place was mastered +in less than a quarter of an hour's time from the first landing, +with no other loss than that of one man killed on the spot and +two wounded, one of whom was the Spanish pilot of the Teresa, who +received a slight bruise by a ball which grazed on his wrist. +Indeed, another of the company, the Honourable Mr. Keppel, son to +the Earl of Albemarle, had a very narrow escape; for having on a +jockey cap, one side of the peak was shaved off close to his +temple by a ball, which, however, did him no other injury. And +now Lieutenant Brett, after this success, placed a guard at the +fort, and another at the Governor's house, and appointed +sentinels at all the avenues of the town, both to prevent any +surprise from the enemy, and to secure the effects in the place +from being embezzled. And this being done, his next care was to +seize on the custom-house where the treasure lay, and to examine +if any of the inhabitants remained in the town, that he might +know what further precautions it was necessary to take. But he +soon found that the numbers left behind were no ways formidable; +for the greatest part of them (being in bed when the place was +surprised) had run away with so much precipitation that they had +not given themselves time to put on their clothes. And in this +precipitate rout the Governor was not the last to secure himself +for he fled betimes, half-naked. The few inhabitants who remained +were confined in one of the churches under a guard, except some +stout Negroes who were found in the place. These, instead of +being shut up, were employed the remaining part of the night to +assist in carrying the treasure from the custom-house and other +places to the fort. However, there was care taken that they +should be always attended by a file of musketeers.</p> + +<p>The transporting the treasure from the custom-house to the +fort was the principal occupation of Mr. Brett's people after he +had got possession of the place. But the sailors, while they were +thus employed, could not be prevented from entering the houses +which lay near them in search of private pillage. And the first +things which occurred to them being the clothes which the +Spaniards in their flight had left behind them, and which, +according to the custom of the country, were most of them either +embroidered or laced, our people eagerly seized these glittering +habits, and put them on over their own dirty trousers and +jackets; not forgetting, at the same time, the tie or bag-wig, +and laced hat, which were generally found with the clothes. When +this practice was once begun there was no preventing the whole +detachment from imitating it; and those who came latest into the +fashion, not finding men's clothes sufficient to equip +themselves, were obliged to take up with women's gowns and +petticoats, which (provided there was finery enough) they made no +scruple of putting on and blending with their own greasy dress. +So that, when a party of them thus ridiculously metamorphosed +first appeared before Mr. Brett, he was extremely surprised at +their appearance and could not immediately be satisfied they were +his own people. <a name="anson-19"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 19.<br> +THE ATTACK ON PAITA (CONTINUED)--KIND TREATMENT AND RELEASE OF +THE PRISONERS--THEIR GRATITUDE.</h2> + +<p>These were the transactions of our detachment on shore at +Paita the first night; and now to return to what was done on +board the Centurion in that interval. I must observe that after +the boats were gone off we lay by till one o'clock in the +morning, and then, supposing our detachment to be near landing, +we made an easy sail for the bay. About seven in the morning we +began to open the bay, and soon after we had a view of the town; +and though we had no reason to doubt of the success of the +enterprise, yet it was with great joy that we first discovered an +infallible signal of the certainty of our hopes: this was by +means of our perspectives, for through them we saw an English +flag hoisted on the flagstaff of the fort, which to us was an +incontestable proof that our people had got possession of the +town. We plied into the bay with as much expedition as the wind, +which then blew off shore, would permit us, and at eleven the +Trial's boat came on board us, laden with dollars and +church-plate; and the officer who commanded her informed us of +the preceding night's transactions, such as we have already +related them. About two in the afternoon we came to an anchor in +ten fathoms and a half, at a mile and a half distance from the +town, and were consequently near enough to have a more immediate +intercourse with those on shore.</p> + +<p>COLLECTING THE TREASURE.</p> + +<p>And now we found that Mr. Brett had hitherto gone on in +collecting and removing the treasure without interruption; but +that the enemy had rendezvoused from all parts of the country on +a hill at the back of the town, where they made no inconsiderable +appearance; for, amongst the rest of their force, there were two +hundred horse, seemingly very well armed and mounted, and, as we +conceived, properly trained and regimented, being furnished with +trumpets, drums, and standards. These troops paraded about the +hill with great ostentation, sounding their military music and +practising every art to intimidate us (as our numbers on shore +were by this time not unknown to them), in hopes that we might be +induced by our fears to abandon the place before the pillage was +completed. But we were not so ignorant as to believe that this +body of horse, which seemed to be what the enemy principally +depended on, would dare to venture in streets and among houses, +even had their numbers been three times as great; and therefore, +notwithstanding their menaces, we went on, as long as the +daylight lasted, calmly, in sending off the treasure and in +employing the boats to carry on board the refreshments such as +hogs, fowls, etc., which we found here in great abundance. But at +night, to prevent any surprise, the Commodore sent on shore a +reinforcement, who posted themselves in all the streets leading +to the parade; and for their greater security they traversed the +streets with barricades six feet high; and the enemy continuing +quiet all night, we at daybreak returned again to our labour of +loading the boats and sending them off.</p> + +<p>On the second day of our being in possession of the place, +several negro slaves deserted from the enemy on the hill, and +coming into the town, voluntarily entered into our service. One +of these was well known to a gentleman on board, who remembered +him formerly at Panama. And the Spaniards without the town being +in extreme want of water, many of their slaves crept into the +place by stealth and carried away several jars of water to their +masters on the hill; and though some of them were seized by our +men in the attempt, yet the thirst amongst the enemy was so +pressing that they continued this practice till we left the +place. And now, on this second day, we were assured, both by the +deserters and by these prisoners we took, that the Spaniards on +the hill, who were by this time increased to a formidable number, +had resolved to storm the town and fort the succeeding night, and +that one Gordon, a Scotch Papist and captain of a ship in those +seas, was to have the command of this enterprise. But we, +notwithstanding, continued sending off our boats, and prosecuted +our work without the least hurry or precipitation till the +evening; and then a reinforcement was again sent on shore by the +Commodore, and Lieutenant Brett doubled his guards at each of the +barricades; and our posts being connected by means of sentinels +placed within call of each other, and the whole being visited by +frequent rounds, attended with a drum, these marks of our +vigilance cooled their resolution and made them forget the vaunts +of the preceding day; so that we passed the second night with as +little molestation as we had done the first.</p> + +<p>We had finished sending the treasure on board the Centurion +the evening before, so that the third morning, being the 15th of +November, the boats were employed in carrying off the most +valuable part of the effects that remained in the town. And the +Commodore intending to sail this day, he about ten o'clock, +pursuant to his promise, sent all his prisoners, amounting to +eighty-eight, on shore, giving orders to Lieutenant Brett to +secure them in one of the churches under a strict guard till he +was ready to embark his men.</p> + +<p>THE BURNING OF PAITA.</p> + +<p>Mr. Brett was at the same time ordered to set the whole town +on fire, except the two churches (which by good fortune stood at +some distance from the other houses), and then he was to abandon +the place and to come on board. These orders were punctually +complied with, for Mr. Brett immediately set his men to work to +distribute pitch, tar, and other combustibles (of which great +quantities were found here) into houses situated in different +streets of the town, so that, the place being fired in many +quarters at the same time, the destruction might be more violent +and sudden, and the enemy, after our departure, might not be able +to extinguish it. These preparations being made, he in the next +place ordered the cannon which he found in the fort to be nailed +up; and then, setting fire to those houses which were most +windward, he collected his men and marched towards the beach, +where the boats waited to carry them off. And the part of the +beach where he intended to embark being an open place without the +town, the Spaniards on the hill, perceiving he was retreating, +resolved to try if they could not precipitate his departure. For +this purpose a small squadron of their horse, consisting of about +sixty, picked out as I suppose for this service, marched down the +hill with much seeming resolution; so that, had we not been +prepossessed with a juster opinion of their prowess, we might +have suspected that, now we were on the open beach with no +advantage of situation, they would certainly have charged us. But +we presumed (and we were not mistaken) that this was mere +ostentation; for, notwithstanding the pomp and parade they +advanced with, Mr. Brett had no sooner ordered his men to halt +and face about, but the enemy stopped their career and never +dared to advance a step farther.</p> + +<p>Our detachment under Lieutenant Brett having safely joined the +squadron, the Commodore prepared to leave the place the same +evening.</p> + +<p>ENGLISH HUMANITY.</p> + +<p>There remains, before I take leave of this place, another +particularity to be mentioned, which, on account of the great +honour which our national character in those parts has thence +received, and the reputation which our Commodore in particular +has thereby acquired, merits a distinct and circumstantial +discussion. It has been already related that all the prisoners +taken by us in our preceding prizes were put on shore and +discharged at this place; amongst which there were some persons +of considerable distinction, particularly a youth of about +seventeen years of age, son of the Vice-President of the Council +of Chili. As the barbarity of the buccaneers, and the artful use +the ecclesiastics had made of it, had filled the natives of those +countries with the most terrible ideas of the English cruelty, we +always found our prisoners at their first coming on board us, to +be extremely dejected and under great horror and anxiety. In +particular, this youth whom I last mentioned, having never been +from home before, lamented his captivity in the most moving +manner, regretting in very plaintive terms his parents, his +brothers, his sisters, and his native country, of all which he +was fully persuaded he had taken his last farewell, believing +that he was now devoted for the remaining part of his life to an +abject and cruel servitude; nore was he singular in his fears, +for his companions on board, and indeed all the Spaniards that +came into our power, had the same desponding opinion of their +situation. Mr. Anson constantly exerted his utmost endeavours to +efface these inhuman impressions they had received of us, always +taking care that as many of the principal people among them as +there was room for should dine at his table by turns, and giving +the strictest orders, too, that they should at all times and in +every circumstance be treated with the utmost decency and +humanity. But, notwithstanding this precaution, it was generally +observed that for the first day or two they did not quit their +fears, but suspected the gentleness of their usage to be only +preparatory to some unthought-of calamity. However, being +confirmed by time, they grew perfectly easy in their situation +and remarkably cheerful, so that it was often disputable whether +or no they considered their being detained by us as a misfortune. +For the youth I have above mentioned, who was near two months on +board us, had at last so far conquered his melancholy surmises, +and had taken such an affection to Mr. Anson, and seemed so much +pleased with the manner of life, totally different from all he +had ever seen before, that it is doubtful to me whether if his +opinion had been taken, he would not have preferred a voyage to +England in the Centurion to the being set on shore at Paita, +where he was at liberty to return to his country and his +friends.</p> + +<p>This conduct of the Commodore to his prisoners, which was +continued without interruption or deviation, gave them all the +highest idea of his humanity and benevolence, and induced them +likewise (as mankind are fond of forming general opinions) to +entertain very favourable thoughts of the whole English +nation.</p> + +<p>All the prisoners left us with the strongest assurances of +their grateful remembrance of his uncommon treatment. A Jesuit, +in particular, whom the Commodore had taken, and who was an +ecclesiastic of some distinction, could not help expressing +himself with great thankfulness for the civilities he and his +countrymen had found on board, declaring that he should consider +it as his duty to do Mr. Anson justice at all times. <a name= +"anson-20"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 20.<br> +A CLEVER TRICK. WATERING AT QUIBO. CATCHING THE TURTLE.</h2> + +<p>When we got under sail from the road of Paita we stood to the +westward, and in the morning the Commodore gave orders that the +whole squadron should spread themselves, in order to look out for +the Gloucester; for we now drew near to the station where Captain +Mitchel had been directed to cruise, and hourly expected to get +sight of him, but the whole day passed without seeing him.</p> + +<p>DOLLARS AMONGST THE COTTON.</p> + +<p>At night having no sight of the Gloucester, the Commodore +ordered the squadron to bring to, that we might not pass her in +the dark. The next morning we again looked out for her, and at +ten we saw a sail, to which we gave chase, and at two in the +afternoon we came near enough her to discover her to be the +Gloucester, with a small vessel in tow. About an hour after we +were joined by them, and then we learned that Captain Mitchel in +the whole time of his cruise, had only taken two prizes, one of +them being a small snow, whose cargo consisted chiefly of wine, +brandy, and olives in jars, with about 7,000 pounds in specie; +and the other a large boat or launch which the Gloucester's barge +came up with near the shore. The prisoners on board this vessel +alleged that they were very poor and that their loading consisted +only of cotton, though the circumstances in which the barge +surprised them seemed to insinuate that they were more opulent +than they pretended to be, for the Gloucester's people found them +at dinner upon pigeon-pie served up in silver dishes. However, +the officer who commanded the barge having opened several of the +jars on board to satisfy his curiosity, and finding nothing in +them but cotton, he was inclined to believe the account the +prisoners gave him; but the cargo being taken into the +Gloucester, and there examined more strictly, they were agreeably +surprised to find that the whole was a very extraordinary piece +of false package, and that there was concealed amongst the +cotton, in every jar, a considerable quantity of double doubloons +and dollars to the amount, in the whole, of near 12,000 pounds. +This treasure was going to Paita, and belonged to the same +merchants who were the proprietors of the greatest part of the +money we had taken there; so that, had this boat escaped the +Gloucester, it is probable her cargo would have fallen into our +hands. Besides these two prizes which we have mentioned, the +Gloucester's people told us that they had been in sight of two or +three other ships of the enemy, which had escaped them; and one +of them, we had reason to believe from some of our intelligence, +was of an immense value.</p> + +<p>Being now joined by the Gloucester and her prize, it was +resolved that we should stand to the northwards, and get as soon +as possible to the southern parts of California, or to the +adjacent coast of Mexico, there to cruise for the Manila +galleon, which we knew was now at sea, bound to the port of +Acapulco. And we doubted not to get on that station time enough +to intercept her, for this ship does not usually arrive at +Acapulco till towards the middle of January, and we were now but +in the middle of November, and did not conceive that our passage +thither would cost us above a month or five weeks; so that we +imagined we had near twice as much time as was necessary for our +purpose. Indeed there was a business which we foresaw would +occasions some delay, but we flattered ourselves that it would be +despatched in four or five days, and therefore could not +interrupt our project. This was the recruiting of our water. It +was for some time a matter of deliberation where we should take +in this necessary article, but by consulting the accounts of +former navigators, and examining our prisoners, we at last +resolved for the island of Quibo, situated at the mouth of the +Bay of Panama.</p> + +<p>Having determined, therefore, to go to Quibo, we directed our +course to the northward.</p> + +<p>On the 25th we had a sight of the island of Gallo, and hence +we crossed the Bay of Panama. Being now in a rainy climate, which +we had been long disused to, we found it necessary to caulk the +sides of the Centurion, to prevent the rain-water from running +into her. On the 3rd of December we had a view of the island of +Quibo, and at seven in the evening of the 5th we came to an +anchor in thirty-three fathoms.</p> + +<p>The next morning, after our coming to an anchor, an officer +was despatched on shore to discover the watering-place, who +having found it, returned before noon; and then we sent the +long-boat for a load of water. This island of Quibo is extremely +convenient for wooding and watering; for the trees grow close to +the high-water mark and a large rapid stream of fresh water runs +over the sandy beach into the sea, so that we were little more +than two days in laying in all the wood and water we wanted.</p> + +<p>CATCHING THE TURTLE.</p> + +<p>The sea at this place furnished us with turtle in the greatest +plenty and perfection. The green turtle is generally esteemed, by +the greatest part of those who are acquainted with its taste, to +be the most delicious of all eatables; and that it is a most +wholesome food we are amply convinced by our own experience. For +we fed on it for near four months, and consequently, had it been +in any degree noxious, its ill effects could not possibly have +escaped us.</p> + +<p>At this island we took what quantity we pleased with great +facility; for as they are an amphibious animal, and get on shore +to lay their eggs, which they generally deposit in a large hole +in the sand, just above the high-water mark, covering them up and +leaving them to be hatched by the heat of the sun, we usually +dispersed several of our men along the beach, whose business it +was to turn them on their backs when they came to land; and the +turtle being thereby prevented from getting away, we carried them +off at our leisure. By this means we not only secured a +sufficient stock for the time we stayed on the island, but we +took a number of them with us to sea, which proved of great +service both in lengthening out our store of provision, and in +heartening the whole crew with an almost constant supply of fresh +and palatable food. For the turtle being large, they generally +weighing about 200 pounds weight each, those we took with us +lasted us near a month, and by that time we met with a fresh +recruit on the coast of Mexico, where we often saw them in the +heat of the day floating in great numbers on the surface of the +water fast asleep. When we discovered them, we usually sent out +our boat with a man in the bow, who was a dexterous diver, and +when the boat came within a few yards of the turtle, the diver +plunged into the water, and took care to rise close upon it, +seizing the shell near the tail, and pressing down the hinder +parts. The turtle, when awakened, began to strike with its claws, +which motion supported both it and the diver, till the boat came +up and took them in. By this management we never wanted turtle +for the succeeding four months in which we continued at sea. <a +name="anson-21"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 21.<br> +DELAY AND DISAPPOINTMENT--CHASING A HEATH FIRE--ACAPULCO--THE +Manila GALLEON--FRESH HOPES.</h2> + +<p>On the 12th of December we stood from Quibo to the westward. +We had little doubt of arriving soon upon our intended station,* +as we expected, upon increasing 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 with tempestuous weather +from the western quarter, or with dead calms and heavy rains, +attended with a sultry air. As our hopes were so long baffled, +and our patience quite exhausted, we began at length to despair +of succeeding in the great purpose we had in view, that of +intercepting the Manila galleon; and this produced a general +dejection amongst us, as we had at first considered this project +as almost infallible, and had indulged ourselves in the most +boundless hopes of the advantages we should thence receive. +However, our despondency was at last somewhat alleviated by a +favourable change of the wind; for on the 9th of January a gale +for the first time sprang up from the north-east. As we advanced +apace towards our station our hopes began to revive, for though +the customary season of the arrival of the galleon at Acapulco +was already elapsed, yet we were by this time unreasonable enough +to flatter ourselves that some accidental delay might, for our +advantage, lengthen out her passage beyond its usual limits. On +the 26th of January, being then to the northward of Acapulco, we +tacked and stood to the eastward, with a view of making the +land.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Off Cape Corrientes (20 degrees 20 minutes +north). Anson hoped to intercept the Manila galleon +here.)</blockquote> + +<p>A MORTIFYING DELUSION.</p> + +<p>We expected by our reckonings to have fallen in with it on the +28th; but though the weather was perfectly clear, we had no sight +of it at sunset, and therefore we continued on our course, not +doubting but we should see it by the next morning. About ten at +night we discovered a light on the larboard-bow, bearing from us +north-north-east. The Trial's prize, too, which was about a mile +ahead of us, made a signal at the same time for seeing a sail; +and as we had none of us any doubt but what we saw was a ship's +light, we were all extremely animated with a firm persuasion that +it was the Manila galleon, which had been so long the object of +our wishes. And what added to our alacrity was our expectation of +meeting with two of them instead of one, for we took it for +granted that the light in view was carried in the top of one ship +for a direction to her consort. We chased the light, keeping all +our hands at their respective quarters, under an expectation of +engaging in the next half-hour, as we sometimes conceived the +chase to be about a mile distant, and at other times to be within +reach of our guns; and some on board us positively averred that +besides the light they could plainly discern her sails. The +Commodore himself was so fully persuaded that we should be soon +alongside of her, that he sent for his first Lieutenant, who +commanded between decks, and directed him to see all the great +guns loaded with two round-shot for the first broadside, and +after that with one round-shot and one grape, strictly charging +him at the same time not to suffer a gun to be fired till he, the +Commodore, should give orders, which he informed the Lieutenant +would not be till we arrived within pistol-shot of the enemy. In +this constant and eager attention we continued all night, always +presuming that another quarter of an hour would bring us up with +this Manila ship, whose wealth, with that of her supposed +consort, we now estimated by round millions. But when the morning +broke and daylight came on, we were most strangely and +vexatiously disappointed by finding that the light which had +occasioned all this bustle and expectancy was only a fire on the +shore. And yet I believe there was no person on board who doubted +of its being a ship's light, or of its being near at hand. It +was, indeed, upon a very high mountain, and continued burning for +several days afterwards. It was not a volcano, but, rather, as I +suppose, stubble or heath set on fire for some purpose of +agriculture.</p> + +<p>At sun-rising, after this mortifying delusion, we found +ourselves about nine leagues off the land. On this land we +observed two remarkable hummocks, such as are usually called +paps; these a Spanish pilot and two Indians, who were the only +persons amongst 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 knowledge of the coast, for we found +these paps to be in the latitude of 17 degrees 56 minutes, +whereas those over Acapulco are said to be in 17 degrees only, +and we afterwards found our suspicions of their skill to be well +grounded.</p> + +<p>And now, being in the track of the Manila galleon, it was a +great doubt with us (as it was near the end of January) whether +she was or was not arrived. And as we now began to want a harbour +to refresh our people, the uncertainty of our present situation +gave us great uneasiness, and we were very solicitous to get some +positive intelligence, which might either set us at liberty to +consult our necessities, if the galleon was arrived, or might +animate us to continue on our present cruise with cheerfulness if +she was not. With this view the Commodore, after examining our +prisoners very particularly, resolved to send a boat, under +colour of the night, into the harbour of Acapulco to see if the +Manila ship was there or not. To execute this project, the barge +was despatched the 6th of February. She did not return to us +again till the 11th, when the officers acquainted Mr. Anson, +that, agreeable to our suspicion, there was nothing like a +harbour in the place where the Spanish pilots had at first +asserted Acapulco to lie; that, when they had satisfied +themselves in this particular, they steered to the eastward in +hopes of discovering it, and had coasted along shore thirty-two +leagues; that in this whole range they met chiefly with sandy +beaches of a great length, over which the sea broke with so much +violence that it was impossible for a boat to land; that at the +end of their run they could just discover two paps at a very +great distance to the eastward, which from their appearance and +their latitude they concluded to be those in the neighbourhood of +Acapulco, but that, not having a sufficient quantity of fresh +water and provision for their passage thither and back again, +they were obliged to return to the Commodore to acquaint him with +their disappointment. On this intelligence we all made sail to +the eastward, in order to get into the neighbourhood of that +port, the Commodore resolving to send the barge a second time +upon the same enterprise when we were arrived within a moderate +distance. And the next day, which was the 12th of February, we +being by that time considerably advanced, the barge was again +despatched, and particular instructions given to the officers to +preserve themselves from being seen from the shore. On the 19th +of February she returned, and we found that we were indeed +disappointed in our expectation of intercepting the galleon +before her arrival at Acapulco; but we learned other +circumstances which still revived our hopes, and which, we then +conceived, would more than balance the opportunity we had already +lost. For though our negro prisoners* informed us that the +galleon arrived at Acapulco on our 9th of January, which was +about twenty days before we fell in with this coast, yet they at +the same time told us that the galleon had delivered her cargo +and was taking in water and provisions for her return, and that +the Viceroy of Mexico had by proclamation fixed her departure +from Acapulco to the 14th of March, New Style.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Three negroes in a fishing canoe had been +captured by the Centurion's barge off Acapulco +harbour.)</blockquote> + +<p>This last news was most joyfully received by us, as we had no +doubt but she must certainly fall into our hands, and as it was +much more eligible to seize her on her return than it would have +been to have taken her before her arrival, as the specie for +which she had sold her cargo, and which she would now have on +board, would be prodigiously more to be esteemed by us than the +cargo itself, great part of which would have perished on our +hands, and no part of it could have been disposed of by us at so +advantageous a mart as Acapulco.</p> + +<p>Thus we were a second time engaged in an eager expectation of +meeting with this Manila ship, which, by the fame of its wealth, +we had been taught to consider as the most desirable prize that +was to be met with in any part of the globe. <a name= +"anson-22"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 22.<br> +THE Manila* TRADE.</h2> + +<blockquote>(*Note. The capital of Luzon, the chief island of the +Philippine group. The Philippines were discovered in 1521 by +Magellan, who was killed there by the natives. They were annexed +by Spain in 1571 and were ceded to the United States of America +in 1898, together with Cuba, after the brave but futile attempt +of the Spaniards to preserve what were almost the last relics of +their colonial dominions.)</blockquote> + +<p>The trade carried on from Manila to China, and different +parts of India, is principally for such commodities as are +intended to supply the kingdoms of Mexico and Peru. These are +spices; all sorts of Chinese silks and manufactures, particularly +silk stockings, of which I have heard that no less than 50,000 +pairs were the usual number shipped on board the annual ship; +vast quantities of Indian stuffs--as calicoes and chintzes, which +are much worn in America; together with other minuter +articles--as goldsmith's work, etc., which is principally done at +the city of Manila itself by the Chinese, for it is said there +are at least 20,000 Chinese who constantly reside there, either +as servants, manufacturers, or brokers. All these different +commodities are collected at Manila, thence to be transported +annually in one or more ships to the port of Acapulco.</p> + +<p>THE Manila SHIP.</p> + +<p>This trade from Manila to Acapulco and back again is usually +carried on in one or at most two annual ships, which set sail +from Manila about July, arrive at Acapulco in the December, +January, or February following, and, having there disposed of +their effects, return for Manila some time in March, where they +generally arrive in June, so that the whole voyage takes up very +near an entire year. For this reason, though there is often no +more than one ship employed at a time, yet there is always one +ready for the sea when the other arrives, and therefore the +commerce at Manila are provided with three or four stout ships +that, in case of any accident, the trade may not be suspended. +The largest of these ships, whose name I have not learned, is +described as little less than one of our first-rate men-of-war, +and indeed she must be of an enormous size, for it is known that +when she was employed with other ships from the same port to +cruise for our China trade, she had no less than 1,200 men on +board. Their other ships, though far inferior in bulk to this, +are yet stout, large vessels, of the burthen of 1,200 tons and +upwards, and usually carry from 350 to 600 hands, passengers +included, with fifty odd guns. As these are all King's ships, +commissioned and paid by him, there is usually one of the +captains who is styled the "General," and who carries the royal +standard of Spain at the main-topgallant masthead.</p> + +<p>The ship having received her cargo on board and being fitted +for the sea, generally weighs from the mole of Cabite about the +middle of July, taking advantage of the westerly monsoon which +then sets in to carry them to sea. When they are clear of the +islands they stand to the northward of the east, in order to get +into the latitude of thirty odd degrees, when they expect to meet +with westerly winds, before which they run away for the coast of +California. It is most remarkable that, by the concurrent +testimony of all the Spanish navigators, there is not one port, +nor even a tolerable road, as yet found out betwixt the +Philippine Islands and the coast of California and Mexico,* so +that from the time the Manila ship first loses sight of land she +never lets go her anchor till she arrives on the coast of +California, and very often not till she gets to its southernmost +extremity.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. The Sandwich Islands were discovered by +Captain Cook in 1779. The Spanish ships had usually crossed the +Pacific 9 or 10 degrees south of them.)</blockquote> + +<p>ACAPULCO.</p> + +<p>The most usual time of the arrival of the galleon at Acapulco +is towards the middle of January, but this navigation is so +uncertain that she sometimes gets in a month sooner, and at other +times has been detained at sea above a month longer. The port of +Acapulco is by much the securest and finest in all the northern +parts of the Pacific Ocean, being as it were, a basin surrounded +with very high mountains, but the town is a most wretched place +and extremely unhealthy, for the air about it is so pent up by +the hills that it has scarcely any circulation. The place is, +besides, destitute of fresh water, except what is brought from a +considerable distance, and is in all respects so inconvenient +that except at the time of the mart, whilst the Manila galleon +is in the port, it is almost deserted. When the galleon arrives +in this port she is generally moored on its western side, and her +cargo is delivered with all possible expedition; and now the town +of Acapulco, from almost a solitude, is immediately thronged with +merchants from all parts of the kingdom of Mexico. The cargo +being landed and disposed of, the silver and the goods intended +for Manila are taken on board, together with provisions and +water, and the ship prepares to put to sea with the utmost +expedition. There is indeed no time to be lost, for it is an +express order to the captain to be out of the port of Acapulco on +his return before the first day of April, New Style.</p> + +<p>And having mentioned the goods intended for Manila, I must +observe that the principal return is always made in silver, and +consequently the rest of the cargo is but of little account; the +other articles, besides the silver, being some cochineal and a +few sweetmeats, the produce of the American settlements, together +with European millinery ware for the women at Manila, and some +Spanish wines. And this difference in the cargo of the ship to +and from Manila occasions a very remarkable variety in the +manner of equipping the ship for these two different voyages. For +the galleon, when she sets sail from Manila, being deep laden +with a variety of bulky goods, has not the conveniency of +mounting her lower tier of guns, but carries them in her hold +till she draws near Cape St. Lucas and is apprehensive of an +enemy. Her hands, too, are as few as is consistent with the +safety of the ship, that she may be less pestered with the +stowage of provisions. But on her return from Acapulco, as her +cargo lies in less room, her lower tier is, or ought to be, +always mounted before she leaves the port, and her crew is +augmented with a supply of sailors and with one or two companies +of foot, which are intended to reinforce the garrison at Manila. +And there being, besides, many merchants who take their passage +to Manila on board the galleon, her whole number of hands on her +return is usually little short of six hundred, all which are +easily provided for by reason of the small stowage necessary for +the silver.</p> + +<p>The galleon being thus fitted for her return, the captain, on +leaving the port of Acapulco, steers for the latitude of 13 or 14 +degrees, and runs on that parallel till he gets sight of the +island of Guam, one of the Ladrones. The captain is told in his +instructions that, to prevent his passing the Ladrones in the +dark, there are orders given that thorough all the month of June +fires shall be lighted every night on the highest part of Guam +and Rota, and kept in till the morning. At Guam there is a small +Spanish garrison, purposely intended to secure that place for the +refreshment of the galleon and to yield her all the assistance in +their power. However, the danger of the road at Guam is so great, +that though the galleon is ordered to call there, yet she rarely +stays above a day or two, but getting her water and refreshments +on board as soon as possible, she steers away directly for Cape +Espiritu Santo, on the island of Samal.*</p> + +<p>TELEGRAPHY BY BEACON.</p> + +<p>Here the captain is again ordered to look out for signals, and +he is told that sentinels will be posted, not only on that cape, +but likewise in Catanduanas, Butusan, Birriborongo, and on the +island of Batan. These sentinels are instructed to make a fire +when they discover the ship, which the captain is carefully to +observe; for if after this first fire is extinguished he +perceives that four or more are lighted up again, he is then to +conclude that there are enemies on the coast, and on this he is +immediately to endeavour to speak with the sentinel on shore, and +to procure from him more particular intelligence of their force +and of the station they cruise in, pursuant to which he is to +regulate his conduct, and to endeavour to gain some secure port +amongst those islands without coming in sight of the enemy; and +in case he should be discovered when in port, and should be +apprehensive of an attack, he is then to land his treasure and to +take some of his artillery on shore for its defence, not +neglecting to send frequent and particular accounts to the city +of Manila of all that passes. But if after the first fire on +shore the captain observes that two others only are made by the +sentinels, he is then to conclude that there is nothing to fear, +and he is to pursue his course without interruption, and to make +the best of his way to the port of Cabite, which is the port to +the city of Manila, and the constant station for all the ships +employed in this commerce to Acapulco.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Samal or Samar is an island about the centre +of the Philippines, north of Mindanao.)</blockquote> + +<a name="anson-23"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER 23.<br> +WAITING FOR THE GALLEON--DISAPPOINTMENT--CHEQUETAN.</h2> + +<p>On the 1st of March we made the highlands over Acapulco, and +got with all possible expedition into the situation prescribed by +the Commodore's orders.*</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. The two men-of-war and the three prizes were +arranged out of sight of the land in "a circular line," the two +extremities of which were thirty-six miles apart. Within this +line, and much nearer to the port, especially at night, were two +cutters, whose duty it was to watch the mouth of the harbour and +signal to the ships outside them.)</blockquote> + +<p>And now we expected with the utmost impatience the 3rd of +March, the day fixed for her departure. And on that day we were +all of us most eagerly engaged in looking out towards Acapulco; +and we were so strangely prepossessed with the certainty of our +intelligence, and with an assurance of her coming out of port, +that some or other on board us were constantly imagining that +they discovered one of our cutters returning with a signal. But +to our extreme vexation, both this day and the succeeding night +passed over without any news of the galleon. However, we did not +yet despair, but were all heartily disposed to flatter ourselves +that some unforeseen accident had intervened which might have put +off her departure for a few days; and suggestions of this kind +occurred in plenty, as we knew that the time fixed by the Viceroy +for her sailing was often prolonged on the petition of the +merchants of Mexico. Thus we kept up our hopes, and did not abate +of our vigilance; and as the 7th of March was Sunday, the +beginning of Passion Week, which is observed by the Papists with +great strictness and a total cessation from all kinds of labour, +so that no ship is permitted to stir out of port during the whole +week, this quieted our apprehensions for some days, and disposed +us not to expect the galleon till the week following. On the +Friday in this week our cutters returned to us, and the officers +on board them were very confident that the galleon was still in +port, for that she could not possibly have come out but they must +have seen her. On the Monday morning succeeding Passion +Week--that is, on the 15th of March--the cutters were again +despatched to their old station, and our hopes were once more +indulged in as sanguine prepossessions as before; but in a week's +time our eagerness was greatly abated, and a general dejection +and despondency took place in its room. For we were persuaded +that the enemy had by some accident discovered our being upon the +coast, and had therefore laid an embargo on the galleon till the +next year. And indeed this persuasion was but too well founded; +for we afterwards learned that our barge, when sent on the +discovery of the port of Acapulco, had been seen from the shore, +and that this circumstance (no embarkations but canoes ever +frequenting that coast) was to them a sufficient proof of the +neighbourhood of our squadron, on which they stopped the galleon +till the succeeding year.</p> + +<p>SHORT OF WATER.</p> + +<p>When we had taken up the cutters, all the ships being joined, +the Commodore made a signal to speak with their commanders, and +upon enquiry into the stock of fresh water remaining on board the +squadron, it was found to be so very slender that we were under +necessity of quitting our station to procure a fresh supply. And +consulting what place was the properest for this purpose, it was +agreed that the harbour of Seguataneo, or Chequetan, being the +nearest to us, was on that account the most eligible, and it was +therefore immediately resolved to make the best of our way +thither. By the 1st of April we were so far advanced towards +Seguataneo that we thought it expedient to send out two boats, +that they might range along the coast and discover the +watering-place. They were gone some days, and our water being now +very short, it was a particular felicity to us that we met with +daily supplies of turtle; for had we been entirely confined to +salt provisions, we must have suffered extremely in so warm a +climate. Indeed, our present circumstances were sufficiently +alarming, and gave the most considerate amongst us as much +concern as any of the numerous perils we had hitherto +encountered; for our boats, as we conceived by their not +returning, had not as yet discovered a place proper to water at, +and by the leakage of our casks and other accidents we had not +ten days' water on board the whole squadron; so that, from the +known difficulty of procuring water on this coast, and the little +reliance we had on the buccaneer writers (the only guides we had +to trust to), we were apprehensive of being soon exposed to a +calamity, the most terrible of any in the long, disheartening +catalogue of the distresses of a seafaring life.</p> + +<p>But these gloomy suggestions were soon happily ended, for our +boats returned on the 5th of April, having discovered a place +proper for our purpose about seven miles to the westward of the +rocks of Seguataneo, which by the description they gave of it, +appeared to be the port called by Dampier* the harbour of +Chequetan. On the 7th we stood in, and that evening came to an +anchor in eleven fathoms. Thus, after a four months' continuance +at sea from the leaving of Quibo, and having but six days' water +on board, we arrived in the harbour of Chequetan.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Dampier (1652 to 1715), the son of a tenant +farmer, near Yeovil, played many parts in his time. He was a +buccaneer, a pirate, a circumnavigator, an author, a captain in +the navy and an hydrographer. His 'Voyage Round the World', +published in 1697, procured him a command in the navy; but though +an excellent seaman, he proved an incapable commander, as his +buccaneer comrades had doubtless foreseen, for he had never been +entrusted with any command among them.)</blockquote> + +<a name="anson-24"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER 24.<br> +THE PRIZES SCUTTLED--NEWS OF THE SQUADRON REACHES ENGLAND--BOUND +FOR CHINA.</h2> + +<p>The next morning after our coming to an anchor in the harbour +of Chequetan, we sent about ninety of our men well armed on +shore, forty of whom were ordered to march into the country, and +the remaining fifty were employed to cover the watering-place and +to prevent any interruption from the natives. Here it was agreed +after a mature consultation to destroy the Trial's prize, as well +as the Carmelo and Carmen, whose fate had been before resolved +on. Indeed, the ship was in good repair and fit for the sea; but +as the whole number on board our squadron did not amount to the +complement of a fourth-rate man-of-war, we found it was +impossible to divide them into three ships without rendering them +incapable of navigating in safety in the tempestuous weather we +had reason to expect on the coast of China, where we supposed we +should arrive about the time of the change of the monsoons. These +considerations determined the Commodore to destroy the Trial's +prize and to reinforce the Gloucester with the greatest part of +her crew. And in consequence of this resolve, all the stores on +board the Trial's prize were removed into the other ships, and +the prize herself, with the Carmelo and Carmen, were prepared for +scuttling with all the expedition we were masters of. But the +great difficulties we were under in laying in a store of water, +together with the necessary repairs of our rigging and other +unavoidable occupations, took us up so much time, and found us +such unexpected employment, that it was near the end of April +before we were in a condition to leave the place.</p> + +<p>During our stay here there happened an incident which proved +the means of convincing our friends in England of our safety, +which for some time they had despaired of and were then in doubt +about. From this harbour of Chequetan there was but one pathway, +which led through the woods into the country. This we found much +beaten, and were thence convinced that it was well known to the +inhabitants. As it passed by the spring-head, and was the only +avenue by which the Spaniards could approach us, we, at some +distance beyond the spring-head, felled several large trees and +laid them one upon the other across the path, and at this +barricade we constantly kept a guard, and we, besides, ordered +our men employed in watering to have their arms ready and, in +case of any alarm, to march instantly to this spot; and though +our principal intention was to prevent our being disturbed by any +sudden attack of the enemy's horse, yet it answered another +purpose which was not in itself less important, this was to +hinder our own people from straggling singly into the country, +where we had reason to believe they would be surprised by the +Spaniards, who would doubtless be extremely solicitous to pick up +some of them in hopes of getting intelligence of our future +designs. To avoid this inconvenience, the strictest orders were +given to the sentinels to let no person whatever pass beyond +their post.</p> + +<p>THE COMMODORE'S COOK.</p> + +<p>But, notwithstanding this precaution, we missed one Lewis +Leger, who was the Commodore's cook, and as he was a Frenchman, +and suspected to be a Papist, it was by some imagined that he had +deserted with a view of betraying all that he knew to the enemy; +but this appeared by the event to be an ill-grounded surmise, for +it was afterwards known that he had been taken by some Indians, +who carried him prisoner to Acapulco, whence he was transferred +to Mexico and then to Vera Cruz, where he was shipped on board a +vessel bound to Old Spain; and the vessel being obliged by some +accident to put into Lisbon, Leger escaped on shore, and was by +the British consul sent thence to England, where he brought the +first authentic account of the safety of the Commodore, and of +what he had done in the South Seas. The relation he gave of his +own seizure was that he had rambled into the woods at some +distance from the barricade, where he had first attempted to +pass, but had been stopped and threatened to be punished; that +his principal view was to get a quantity of limes for his +master's store, and that in this occupation he was surprised +unawares by four Indians, who stripped him naked and carried him +in that condition to Acapulco, exposed to the scorching heat of +the sun, which at that time of the year shone with its greatest +violence. And afterwards at Mexico his treatment in prison was +sufficiently severe, and the whole course of his captivity was a +continued instance of the hatred which the Spaniards bear to all +those who endeavour to disturb them in the peaceable possession +of the coasts of the South Seas. Indeed, Leger's fortune was, +upon the whole, extremely singular, for after the hazards he had +run in the Commodore's squadron, and the severities he had +suffered in his long confinement amongst the enemy, a more fatal +disaster attended him on his return to England; for though, when +he arrived in London, some of Mr. Anson's friends interested +themselves in relieving him from the poverty to which his +captivity had reduced him, yet he did not long enjoy the benefit +of their humanity, for he was killed in an insignificant night +brawl, the cause of which could scarcely be discovered.</p> + +<p>On the 28th of April the Centurion and the Gloucester weighed +anchor. Being now in the offing of Chequetan, bound across the +vast Pacific Ocean in our way to China, we were impatient to run +off the coast as soon as possible, as the stormy season was +approaching apace, and we had no further views in the American +seas.</p> + +<p>The sending away our prisoners* was our last transaction on +the American coast, for no sooner had we parted with them than we +and the Gloucester made sail to the south-west, proposing to get +a good offing from the land, where we hoped in a few days to meet +with the regular trade-wind. It has been esteemed no uncommon +passage to run from hence to the easternmost parts of Asia in two +months, and we flattered ourselves that we were as capable of +making an expeditious passage as any ship that had ever run this +course before us; so that we hoped soon to gain the coast of +China. On the 6th of May we for the last time lost sight of the +mountains of Mexico, persuaded that in a few weeks we should +arrive at the river of Canton in China, where we expected to meet +with many English ships, and numbers of our countrymen, and hoped +to enjoy the advantages of an amicable, well-frequented spot, +inhabited by a polished people, and abounding with the +conveniences and indulgences of a civilised life--blessings which +now for nearly twenty months had never been once in our +power.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Before leaving the American coast for China, +Anson released fifty-seven of his prisoners, including all the +Spaniards, and sent them to Acapulco. A certain number of natives +were retained to assist in working the ships. There had been some +previous attempt at correspondence between Anson and the Spanish +governor of Acapulco. The latter, with Spanish courtesy, when +answering Anson's letter, despatched with his answer "a present +of two boats laden with the choicest refreshments and provisions +which were to be found in Acapulco." Unfortunately the boats were +unable to find Anson, and he never received either the letter or +the present.)</blockquote> + +<a name="anson-25"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER 25.<br> +DELAYS AND ACCIDENTS--SCURVY AGAIN--A LEAK--THE GLOUCESTER +ABANDONED.</h2> + +<p>When on the 6th of May, 1742, we left the coast of America, we +stood to the south-west with a view of meeting with the +north-east trade wind, which the accounts of former writers made +us expect at seventy or eighty leagues distance from the land. We +had, besides, another reason for standing to the southward, which +was the getting into the latitude of 13 or 14 degrees north, that +being the parallel where the Pacific Ocean is most usually +crossed, and consequently where the navigation is esteemed the +safest. This last purpose we had soon answered, being in a day or +two sufficiently advanced to the south. At the same time we were +also farther from the shore than we had presumed was necessary +for falling in with the tradewind; but in this particular we were +most grievously disappointed, for the wind still continued to the +westward, or at best variable. As the getting into the north-east +trade was to us a matter of the last consequence, we stood more +to the southward, and made many experiments to meet with it, but +all our efforts were for a long time unsuccessful, so that it was +seven weeks from our leaving the coast before we got into the +true trade wind.</p> + +<p>CONTRARY AND VARIABLE WINDS.</p> + +<p>This was an interval in which we believed we should well-nigh +have reached the easternmost parts of Asia, but we were so +baffled with the contrary and variable winds which for all that +time perplexed us, that we were not as yet advanced above a +fourth part of the way. The delay alone would have been a +sufficient mortification, but there were other circumstances +attending it which rendered this situation not less terrible, and +our apprehensions perhaps still greater, than in any of our past +distresses, for our two ships were by this time extremely crazy, +and many days had not passed before we discovered a spring in the +foremast of the Centurion, which rounded about twenty-six inches +of its circumference, and which was judged to be at least four +inches deep; and no sooner had our carpenters secured this with +fishing it but the Gloucester made a signal of distress, and we +learned that she had a dangerous spring in her mainmast, so that +she could not carry any sail upon it. Our carpenters, on a strict +examination of this mast, found it so very rotten and decayed +that they judged it necessary to cut it down as low as it +appeared to have been injured, and by this it was reduced to +nothing but a stump, which served only as a step to the topmast. +These accidents augmented our delay and occasioned us great +anxiety about our future security, for on our leaving the coast +of Mexico the scurvy had begun to make its appearance again +amongst our people, though from our departure from Juan Fernandez +we had till then enjoyed a most uninterrupted state of health. We +too well knew the effects of this disease from our former fatal +experience to suppose that anything but a speedy passage could +secure the greater part of our crew from perishing by it, and as, +after being seven weeks at sea, there did not appear any reasons +that could persuade us we were nearer the trade wind than when we +first set out, there was no ground for us to suppose but our +passage would prove at least three times as long as we at first +expected, and consequently we had the melancholy prospect either +of dying by the scurvy or perishing with the ship for want of +hands to navigate her.</p> + +<p>SLOW PROGRESS.</p> + +<p>When we reached the trade wind, and it settled between the +north and the east, yet it seldom blew with so much strength but +the Centurion might have carried all her small sails abroad with +the greatest safety, so that now, had we been a single ship, we +might have run down our longitude apace, and have reached the +Ladrones soon enough to have recovered great numbers of our men +who afterwards perished. But the Gloucester, by the loss of her +mainmast, sailed so very heavily that we had seldom any more than +our topsails set, and yet were frequently obliged to lie to for +her, and I conceive that in the whole we lost little less than a +month by our attendance upon her, in consequence of the various +mischances she encountered. In all this run it was remarkable +that we were rarely many days together without seeing great +numbers of birds, which is a proof that there are many islands, +or at least rocks, scattered all along at no very considerable +distance from our track. Some indeed there are marked in Spanish +charts, but the frequency of the birds seems to evince that there +are many more than have been hitherto discovered, for the +greatest part of the birds, we observed, were such as are known +to roost on shore, and the manner of their appearance +sufficiently made out that they came from some distant haunt +every morning, and returned thither again in the evening, for we +never saw them early or late, and the hour of their arrival and +departure gradually varied, which we supposed was occasioned by +our running nearer their haunts or getting farther from them.</p> + +<p>The trade wind continued to favour us without any fluctuation +from the end of June till towards the end of July, but on the +26th of July, being then, as we esteemed, about three hundred +leagues distant from the Ladrones, we met with a westerly wind, +which did not come about again to the eastward in four days' +time. This was a most dispiriting incident, as it at once damped +all our hopes of speedy relief, especially, too, as it was +attended with a vexatious accident to the Gloucester, for in one +part of those four days the wind flattened to a calm, and the +ships rolled very deep, by which means the Gloucester's forecap +split and her topmast came by the board and broke her foreyard +directly in the slings. As she was hereby rendered incapable of +making any sail for some time, we were obliged, as soon as a gale +sprung up, to take her in tow, and near twenty of the healthiest +and ablest of our seaman were taken from the business of our own +ship and were employed for eight or ten days together on board +the Gloucester in repairing her damages. But these things, +mortifying as we thought them, were but the beginning of our +disasters, for scarce had our people finished their business in +the Gloucester before we met with a most violent storm in the +western board, which obliged us to lie to. In the beginning of +this storm our ship sprung a leak, and let in so much water that +all our people, officers included, were employed continually in +working the pumps, and the next day we had the vexation to see +the Gloucester with her topmast once more by the board, and +whilst we were viewing her with great concern for this new +distress we saw her main-topmast, which had hitherto served as a +jury mainmast, share the same fate. This completed our +misfortunes and rendered them without resource, for we knew the +Gloucester's crew were so few and feeble that without our +assistance they could not be relieved, and our sick were now so +far increased, and those that remained in health so continually +fatigued with the additional duty of our pumps, that it was +impossible for us to lend them any aid. Indeed, we were not as +yet fully apprised of the deplorable situation of the +Gloucester's crew, for when the storm abated (which during its +continuance prevented all communication with them) the Gloucester +bore up under our stern, and Captain Mitchel informed the +Commodore that besides the loss of his masts, which was all that +had appeared to us, the ship had then no less than seven feet of +water in her hold, although his officers and men had been kept +constantly at the pump for the last twenty-four hours, and that +her crew was greatly reduced, for there remained alive on board +her no more than seventy-seven men, eighteen boys, and two +prisoners, officers included, and that of this whole number only +sixteen men and eleven boys were capable of keeping the deck, and +several of these very infirm.</p> + +<p>THUS PERISHED H.M.S. GLOUCESTER.</p> + +<p>It plainly appeared that there was no possibility of +preserving the Gloucester any longer, as her leaks were +irreparable, and the united hands on board both ships capable of +working would not be able to free her, even if our own ship +should not employ any part of them. The only step to be taken was +the saving the lives of the few that remained on board the +Gloucester, and getting out of her as much as was possible before +she was destroyed; and therefore the Commodore immediately sent +an order to Captain Mitchel, as the weather was now calm and +favourable, to send his people on board the Centurion as +expeditiously as he could and to take out such stores as he could +get at whilst the ship could be kept above water. And as our leak +required less attention whilst the present easy weather +continued, we sent our boats, with as many men as we could spare, +to Captain Mitchel's assistance.</p> + +<p>It was the 15th of August, in the evening, before the +Gloucester was cleared of everything that was proposed to be +removed; and though the hold was now almost full of water, yet as +the carpenters were of opinion that she might still swim for some +time if the calm should continue and the water become smooth, she +was set on fire; for we knew not how near we might now be to the +island of Guam, which was in the possession of our enemies, and +the wreck of such a ship would have been to them no contemptible +acquisition. When she was set on fire Captain Mitchel and his +officers left her and came on board the Centurion, and we +immediately stood from the wreck, not without some apprehensions +(as we had now only a light breeze) that, if she blew up soon, +the concussion of the air might damage our rigging; but she +fortunately burned, though very fierce, the whole night, her +guns firing successively as the flames reached them. And it was +six in the morning, when we were about four leagues distant, +before she blew up. The report she made upon this occasion was +but a small one, but there was an exceeding black pillar of +smoke, which shot up into the air to a very considerable height. +Thus perished His Majesty's ship the Gloucester. <a name= +"anson-26"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 26.<br> +THE LADRONES SIGHTED--TINIAN.</h2> + +<p>The 23rd, at daybreak, we were cheered with the discovery of +two islands in the western board. This gave us all great joy, and +raised our drooping spirits, for before this a universal +dejection had seized us, and we almost despaired of ever seeing +land again. The nearest of these islands we afterwards found to +be Anatacan. The other was the island of Serigan, and had rather +the appearance of a high rock than a place we could hope to +anchor at. We were extremely impatient to get in with the nearest +island, where we expected to meet with anchoring ground and an +opportunity of refreshing our sick; but the wind proved so +variable all day, and there was so little of it, that we advanced +towards it but slowly. However, by the next morning we were got +so far to the westward that we were in view of a third island, +which was that of Paxaros, though marked in the chart only as a +rock. This was small and very low land, and we had passed within +less than a mile of it in the night without seeing it. And now at +noon, being within four miles of the island of Anatacan, the boat +was sent away to examine the anchoring ground and the produce of +the place, and we were not a little solicitous for her return, as +we then conceived our fate to depend upon the report we should +receive; for the other two islands were obviously enough +incapable of furnishing us with any assistance, and we knew not +then that there were any others which we could reach. In the +evening the boat came back, and the crew informed us that there +was no place for a ship to anchor.</p> + +<p>This account of the impossibility of anchoring at this island +occasioned a general melancholy on board, for we considered it as +little less than the prelude to our destruction; and now the only +possible circumstance that could secure the few that remained +alive from perishing was the accidental falling in with some +other of the Ladrone Islands better prepared for our +accommodation, and as our knowledge of these islands was +extremely imperfect, we were to trust entirely to chance for our +guidance; only, as they are all of them usually laid down near +the same meridian, and we had conceived those we had already seen +to be part of them, we concluded to stand to the southward as the +most probable means of falling in with the next. Thus, with the +most gloomy persuasion of our approaching destruction, we stood +from the island of Anatacan, having all of us the strongest +apprehensions either of dying of the scurvy or perishing with the +ship, which, for want of hands to work her pumps, might in a +short time be expected to founder.</p> + +<p>TINIAN.</p> + +<p>It was the 26th of August, 1742, in the morning, when we lost +sight of Anatacan. The next morning we discovered three other +islands to the eastward, which were from ten to fourteen leagues +from us. These were, as we afterwards learned, the islands of +Saypan, Tinian and Aguigan. We immediately steered towards +Tinian, which was the middle-most of the three, but had so much +of calms and light airs, that though we were helped forwards by +the currents, yet next day at daybreak we were at least five +leagues distant from it. However, we kept on our course, and +about ten in the morning we perceived a proa under sail to the +southward, between Tinian and Aguigan. As we imagined from hence +that these islands were inhabited, and knew that the Spaniards +had always a force at Guam, we took the necessary precautions for +our own security and for preventing the enemy from taking +advantage of our present wretched circumstances, of which they +would be sufficiently informed by the manner of our working the +ship. We therefore mustered all our hands who were capable of +standing to their arms and loaded our upper and quarter-deck guns +with grapeshot, and that we might the more readily procure some +intelligence of the state of these islands, we showed Spanish +colours and hoisted a red flag at the foretop masthead, to give +our ship the appearance of the Manila galleon, hoping thereby to +decoy some of the inhabitants on board us. Thus preparing +ourselves, and standing towards the land, we were near enough at +three in the afternoon to send the cutter in shore to find out a +proper berth for the ship, and we soon perceived that a proa came +off the shore to meet the cutter, fully persuaded, as we +afterwards found, that we were the Manila ship. As we saw the +cutter returning back with the proa in tow, we immediately sent +the pinnace to receive the proa and the prisoners, and to bring +them on board that the cutter might proceed on her errand. The +pinnace came back with a Spaniard and four Indians, who were the +people taken in the proa. The Spaniard was immediately examined +as to the produce and circumstances of this island of Tinian, and +his account of it surpassed even our most sanguine hopes, for he +informed us that it was uninhabited, which, in our present +defenceless condition, was an advantage not to be despised, +especially as it wanted but few of the conveniences that could be +expected in the most cultivated country; for he assured us that +there was great plenty of very good water, and that there were an +incredible number of cattle, hogs, and poultry, running wild on +the island, all of them excellent in their kind; that the woods +produced sweet and sour oranges, limes, lemons, and cocoa-nuts in +great plenty, besides a fruit peculiar to these islands (called +by Dampier breadfruit); that, from the quantity and goodness of +the provisions produced here, the Spaniards at Guam made use of +it as a store for supplying the garrison; that he himself was a +sergeant of that garrison, and was sent here with twenty-two +Indians to jerk beef, which he was to load for Guam on board a +small bark of about fifteen tons which lay at anchor near the +shore.</p> + +<p>PLEASING SCENES.</p> + +<p>This account was received by us with inexpressible joy. Part +of it we were ourselves able to verify on the spot, as we were by +this time near enough to discover several numerous herds of +cattle feeding in different places of the island, and we did not +anyways doubt the rest of his relation, as the appearance of the +shore prejudiced us greatly in its favour, and made us hope that +not only our necessities might be there fully relieved and our +diseased recovered, but that amidst those pleasing scenes which +were then in view, we might procure ourselves some amusement and +relaxation after the numerous fatigues we had undergone.</p> + +<p>The Spanish sergeant, from whom we received the account of the +island, having informed us that there were some Indians on shore +under his command employed in jerking beef, and that there was a +bark at anchor to take it on board, we were desirous, if +possible, to prevent the Indians from escaping, who doubtless +would have given the Governor of Guam intelligence of our +arrival, and we therefore immediately despatched the pinnace to +secure the bark, which the sergeant told us was the only +embarkation on the place. And then, about eight in the evening, +we let go our anchor in twenty-two fathoms. <a name= +"anson-27"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 27.<br> +LANDING THE SICK. CENTURION DRIVEN TO SEA.</h2> + +<p>When we had furled our sails, the remaining part of the night +was allowed to our people for their repose, to recover them from +the fatigue they had undergone, and in the morning a party was +sent on shore well armed, of which I myself was one, to make +ourselves masters of the landing-place, as we were not certain +what opposition might be made by the Indians on the island. We +landed without difficulty, for the Indians having perceived by +our seizure of the bark the night before, that we were enemies, +they immediately fled into the woody parts of the island. We +found on shore many huts which they had inhabited, and which +saved us both the time and trouble of erecting tents. One of +these huts, which the Indians made use of for a storehouse, was +very large, being twenty yards long and fifteen broad; this we +immediately cleared of some bales of jerked beef which we found +in it, and converted it into an hospital for our sick, who, as +soon as the place was ready to receive them, were brought on +shore, being in all one hundred and twenty-eight. Numbers of +these were so very helpless that we were obliged to carry them +from the boats to the hospital upon our shoulders, in which +humane employment (as before at Juan Fernandez) the Commodore +himself and every one of his officers were engaged without +distinction; and notwithstanding the great debility of the +greatest part of our sick, it is almost incredible how soon they +began to feel the salutary influence of the land. For though we +buried twenty-one men on this and the preceding day, yet we did +not lose above ten men more during our whole two months' stay +here; and in general our diseased received so much benefit from +the fruits of the island, particularly the fruits of the acid +kind, that in a week's time there were but few who were not so +far recovered as to be able to move about without help; and on +the 12th of September all those who were so far relieved as to be +capable of doing duty were sent on board the ship. And then the +Commodore, who was himself ill of the scurvy, had a tent erected +for him on shore, where he went with the view of staying a few +days for the recovery of his health, being convinced, by the +general experience of his people, that no other method but living +on the land was to be trusted to for the removal of this dreadful +malady. As the crew on board were now reinforced by the recovered +hands returned from the island, we began to send our casks on +shore to be fitted up, which till now could not be done, for the +coopers were not well enough to work. We likewise weighed our +anchors that we might examine our cables, which we suspected had +by this time received considerable damage. And as the new moon +was now approaching, when we apprehended violent gales, the +Commodore, for our greater security, ordered that part of the +cables next to the anchors to be armed with the chains of the +fire-grapnels, and they were besides cackled twenty fathoms from +the anchors and seven fathoms from the service, with a good +rounding of a 4 1/2 inch hawser, and to all these precautions we +added that of lowering the main and fore yards close down, that +in case of blowing weather the wind might have less power upon +the ship to make her ride a-strain.</p> + +<p>A FURIOUS STORM.</p> + +<p>Thus effectually prepared, as we conceived, we expected the +new moon, which was the 18th of September; and riding safe that +and the three succeeding days (though the weather proved very +squally and uncertain), we flattered ourselves (for I was then on +board) that the prudence of our measures had secured us from all +accidents. But on the 22nd the wind blew from the eastward with +such fury that we soon despaired of riding out the storm; and +therefore we should have been extremely glad that the Commodore +and the rest of our people on shore, which were the greatest of +our hands, had been on board with us, since our only hopes of +safety seemed to depend on our putting immediately to sea. But +all communication with the shore was now effectually cut off, for +there was no possibility that a boat could live so that we were +necessitated to ride it out till our cables parted. Indeed, it +was not long before this happened, for the small bower parted at +five in the afternoon, and the ship swung off to the best bower; +and as the night came on the violence of the wind still +increased. But, notwithstanding its inexpressible fury, the tide +ran with so much rapidity as to prevail over it; for the tide, +having set to the northward in the beginning of the storm, turned +suddenly to the southward about six in the evening, and forced +the ship before it in despite of the storm, which blew upon the +beam. And now the sea broke most surprisingly all round us, and a +large tumbling swell threatened to poop us; the long-boat, which +was at this time moored astern, was on a sudden canted so high +that it broke the transom of the Commodore's gallery, and would +doubtless have risen as high as the taffrail had it not been for +this stroke which stove the boat all to pieces; but the poor +boat-keeper, though extremely bruised, was saved almost by +miracle. About eight the tide slackened, but the wind did not +abate; so that at eleven the best bower cable, by which alone we +rode, parted. Our sheet anchor, which was the only one we had +left, was instantly cut from the bow; but before it could reach +the bottom we were driven from twenty-two into thirty-five +fathoms; and after we had veered away one whole cable and +two-thirds of another, we could not find ground with sixty +fathoms of line. This was a plain indication that the anchor lay +near the edge of the bank, and could not hold us long.</p> + +<p>In this pressing danger Mr. Suamarez, our first lieutenant, +who now commanded on board, ordered several guns to be fired and +lights to be shown, as a signal to the Commodore of our distress; +and in a short time after, it being then about one o'clock, and +the night excessively dark, a strong gust, attended with rain and +lightning, drove us off the bank and forced us out to sea, +leaving behind us on the island Mr. Anson, with many more of our +officers, and great part of our crew, amounting in the whole to +one hundred and thirteen persons. Thus were we all, both at sea +and on shore, reduced to the utmost despair by this catastrophe; +those on shore conceiving they had no means left them ever to +leave the island, and we on board utterly unprepared to struggle +with the fury of the seas and winds we were now exposed to, and +expecting each moment to be our last. <a name="anson-28"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 28.<br> +ANSON CHEERS HIS MEN--PLANS FOR ESCAPE--RETURN OF THE +CENTURION.</h2> + +<p>The storm which drove the Centurion to sea blew with too much +turbulence to permit of either the Commodore or any of the people +on shore hearing the guns which she fired as signals of distress, +and the frequent glare of the lightning had prevented the +explosions from being observed; so that when at daybreak it was +perceived from the shore that the ship was missing, there was the +utmost consternation amongst them. For much the greatest part of +them immediately concluded that she was lost, and entreated the +Commodore that the boat might be sent round the island to look +for the wreck; and those who believed her safe had scarcely any +expectation that she would ever be able to make the island again; +for the wind continued to blow strong at east, and they knew how +poorly she was manned and provided for struggling with so +tempestuous a gale. And if the Centurion was lost, or should be +incapable of returning, there appeared in either case no +possibility of their ever getting off the island, for they were +at least six hundred leagues from Macao, which was their nearest +port; and they were masters of no other vessel than the small +Spanish bark, of about fifteen tons, which they seized at their +first arrival, and which would not even hold a fourth part of +their number. And the chance of their being taken off the island +by the casual arrival of any other ship was altogether desperate, +as perhaps no European ship had ever anchored here before, and it +were madness to expect that like incidents should send another +here in a hundred ages to come; so that their desponding thoughts +could only suggest to them the melancholy prospect of spending +the remainder of their days on this island, and bidding adieu +forever to their country, their friends, their families, and all +their domestic endearments.</p> + +<p>A MELANCHOLY PROSPECT.</p> + +<p>Nor was this the worst they had to fear: for they had reason +to expect that the Governor of Guam, when he should be informed +of their situation, might send a force sufficient to overpower +them and to remove them to that island; and then the most +favourable treatment they could hope for would be to be detained +prisoners for life; since, from the known policy and cruelty of +the Spaniards in their distant settlements, it was rather to be +expected that the Governor, if he once had them in his power, +would make their want of commissions (all of them being on board +the Centurion) a pretext for treating them as pirates, and for +depriving them of their lives with infamy.</p> + +<p>In the midst of these gloomy reflections Mr. Anson had +doubtless his share of disquietude, but he always kept up his +usual composure and steadiness; and having soon projected a +scheme for extricating himself and his men from their present +anxious situation, he first communicated it to some of the most +intelligent persons about him; and having satisfied himself that +it was practicable, he then endeavoured to animate his people to +a speedy and vigorous prosecution of it. With this view he +represented to them how little foundation there was for their +apprehensions of the Centurion's being lost; that he was not +without hopes that she might return in a few days, but if she did +not, the worst that could be supposed was that she was driven so +far to the leeward of the island that she could not regain it, +and that she would consequently be obliged to bear away for +Macao, on the coast of China; that, as it was necessary to be +prepared against all events, he had, in this case, considered of +a method of carrying them off the island and joining their old +ship the Centurion again at Macao; that this method was to haul +the Spanish bark on shore, to saw her asunder, and to lengthen +her twelve feet, which would enlarge her to near forty tons +burthen, and would enable her to carry them all to China. He +added that for his own part he would share the fatigue and labour +with them, and would expect no more from any man than what he, +the Commodore himself, was ready to submit to, and concluded with +representing to them the importance of saving time, and that, in +order to be the better prepared for all events, it was necessary +to set to work immediately and to take it for granted that the +Centurion would not be able to put back (which was indeed the +Commodore's secret opinion); since, if she did return, they +should only throw away a few days' application, but, if she did +not, their situation and the season of the year required their +utmost despatch.</p> + +<p>These remonstrances, though not without effect, did not +immediately operate so powerfully as Mr. Anson could have wished. +It was some days before they were all of them heartily engaged in +the project; but at last, being in general convinced of the +impossibility of the ship's return, they set themselves zealously +to the different tasks allotted them, and were as industrious and +as eager as their commander could desire, punctually assembling +at daybreak at the rendezvous, whence they were distributed to +their different employments, which they followed with unusual +vigour till night came on.</p> + +<p>And now the work proceeded very successfully. The necessary +ironwork was in great forwardness, and the timbers and planks +(which, though not the most exquisite performances of the +sawyer's art, were yet sufficient for the purpose) were all +prepared; so that on the 6th of October, being the fourteenth day +from the departure of the ship, they hauled the bark on shore, +and on the two succeeding days she was sawn asunder (though with +great care not to cut her planks), and her two parts were +separated the proper distance from each other; and, the materials +being all ready beforehand, they the next day, being the 9th of +October, went on with great despatch in their proposed +enlargement of her. And by this time they had all their future +operations so fairly in view, and were so much masters of them, +that they were able to determine when the whole would be +finished, and had accordingly fixed the 5th of November for the +day of their putting to sea.</p> + +<p>THE CENTURION RETURNS.</p> + +<p>But their projects and labours were now drawing to a speedier +and happier conclusion, for on the 11th of October, in the +afternoon, one of the Gloucester's men, being upon a hill in the +middle of the island, perceived the Centurion at a distance, and +running down with his utmost speed towards the landing-place, he +in the way saw some of his comrades, to whom he hallooed out with +great ecstasy, "That ship! The ship!" This being heard by Mr. +Gordon, a lieutenant of marines, who was convinced by the +fellow's transport that his report was true, Mr. Gordon ran +towards the place where the Commodore and his people were at +work, and being fresh and in breath easily out stripped the +Gloucester's man, and got before him to the Commodore, who, on +hearing this happy and unexpected news, threw down his axe with +which he was then at work, and by his joy broke through for the +first time the equable and unvaried character which he had +hitherto preserved. The others who were with him instantly ran +down to the seaside in a kind of frenzy, eager to feast +themselves with a sight they had so ardently wished for and of +which they had now for a considerable time despaired. By five in +the evening the Centurion was visible in the offing to them all; +and, a boat being sent off with eighteen men to reinforce her, +and with fresh meat and fruits for the refreshment of her crew, +she the next afternoon happily came to an anchor in the road, +where the Commodore immediately came on board her, and was +received by us with the sincerest and heartiest acclamations. <a +name="anson-29"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 29.<br> +THE CENTURION AGAIN DRIVEN TO SEA--HER RETURN--DEPARTURE FROM +TINIAN.</h2> + +<p>When the Commodore came on board the Centurion on her return +to Tinian as already mentioned, he resolved to stay no longer at +the island than was absolutely necessary to complete our stock of +water, a work which we immediately set ourselves about. But on +the 14th of October, being but the third day after our arrival, a +sudden gust of wind brought home our anchor, forced us off the +bank and drove the ship out to sea a second time. However, as the +weather was favourable, and our crew was now stronger than when +we were first driven out, we in about five days' time returned +again to an anchor at Tinian and relieved those we had left +behind us from their second fears of being deserted by their +ship.</p> + +<p>On our arrival we found that the Spanish bark, the old object +of their hopes, had undergone a new metamorphosis, for those we +had left on shore began to despair of our return, and conceiving +that the lengthening the bark as formerly proposed was both a +toilsome and unnecessary measure, considering the small number +they consisted of, they had resolved to join her again and to +restore her to her first state; and in this scheme they had made +some progress for they had brought the two parts together, and +would have soon completed her had not our coming back put a +period to their labours and disquietude.</p> + +<p>On our coming to an anchor again after our second driving off +to sea, we laboured indefatigably in getting in our water; and +having by the 20th of October completed it to fifty tuns, which +we supposed would be sufficient for our passage to Macao, we on +the next day sent one of each mess on shore to gather as large a +quantity of oranges, lemons, cocoa-nuts, and other fruits of the +island as they possibly could, for the use of themselves and +messmates when at sea. And these purveyors returning on board us +on the evening of the same day, we then set fire to the bark and +proa, hoisted in our boats, and got under sail, steering away for +the south end of the island of Formosa and taking our leave for +the third and last time of the island of Tinian. <a name= +"anson-30"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 30.<br> +CHINESE FISHING FLEETS--ARRIVAL AT MACAO.</h2> + +<p>The eastern monsoon was now, we reckoned, fairly settled, and +we had a constant gale blowing right upon our stern, so that we +generally ran from forty to fifty leagues a day. But we had a +large hollow sea pursuing us, which occasioned the ship to labour +much, whence we received great damage in our rigging, which was +grown very rotten, and our leak was augmented; but happily for us +our people were now in full health, so that there were no +complaints of fatigue, but all went through their attendance on +the pumps, and every other duty of the ship, with ease and +cheerfulness.</p> + +<p>FORMOSA.</p> + +<p>The 3rd of November, about four in the afternoon, we saw the +island of Botel Tobago Xima, and by eleven the next morning got a +sight of the southern part of the island of Formosa. In the +evening we were surprised with a view of what we at first sight +conceived to have been breakers, but on a stricter examination we +found them to be only a great number of fires on the island of +Formosa. These, we imagined, were intended by the inhabitants of +that island as signals for us to touch there; but that suited not +our views, we being impatient to reach the port of Macao as soon +as possible. From Formosa we steered west-north-west, and +sometimes still more northerly, and on the 5th of November we at +last about midnight, got sight of the mainland of China, bearing +north by west, four leagues distant.</p> + +<p>We then brought the ship to, with her head to the sea, +proposing to wait for the morning; and before sunrise we were +surprised to find ourselves in the midst of an incredible number +of fishing-boats, which seemed to cover the surface of the sea as +far as the eye could reach. I may well style their number +incredible, since I cannot believe, upon the lowest estimate, +that there were so few as 6,000 most of them manned with five +hands, and none with less than three. Nor was this swarm of +fishing vessels peculiar to this spot, for, as we ran onto the +westward, we found them as abundant on every part of the coast. +We at first doubted not but we should procure a pilot from them +to carry us to Macao; but though many of them came close to the +ship and we endeavoured to tempt them by showing them a number of +dollars--a most alluring bait for Chinese of all ranks and +professions--yet we could not entice them on board us; though I +presume the only difficulty was their not comprehending what we +wanted them to do, for we could have no communication with them +but by signs. Indeed we often pronounced the word Macao, but this +we had reason to suppose they understood in a different sense, +for in return they sometimes held up fish to us, and we +afterwards learned that the Chinese name for fish is of a +somewhat similar sound. But what surprised us most was the +inattention and want of curiosity which we observed in this herd +of fishermen. A ship like ours had doubtless never been in those +seas before; perhaps there might not be one amongst all the +Chinese employed in this fishery who had ever seen any European +vessel; so that we might reasonably have expected to have been +considered by them as a very uncommon and extraordinary +object.</p> + +<p>CHINESE INDIFFERENCE.</p> + +<p>But though many of their vessels came close to the ship, yet +they did not appear to be at all interested about us. Nor did +they deviate in the least from their course to regard us; which +insensibility, especially of maritime persons about a matter in +their own profession, is scarcely to be credited, did not the +general behaviour of the Chinese in other instances furnish us +with continual proof of a similar turn of mind.</p> + +<p>The next day, about two o'clock, as we were standing to the +westward within two leagues of the coast, and still surrounded by +fishing vessels in as great numbers as at first, we perceived +that a boat ahead of us waved a red flag and blew a horn. This we +considered as a signal made to us either to warn us of some shoal +or to inform us that they would supply us with a pilot, and in +this belief we immediately sent our cutter to the boat to know +their intentions; but we were soon made sensible of our mistake, +and found that this boat was the Commodore of the whole fishery, +and that the signal she had made was to order them all to leave +off fishing and to return in shore, which we saw them instantly +obey. On this disappointment we kept on our course to the +westward, and the next day being the 7th, we were abreast of a +chain of islands which stretched from east to west. These, as we +afterwards found, were called the islands of Lema. These islands +we left on the starboard side, passing within four miles of them, +where we had twenty-four fathoms water. We were still surrounded +by fishing-boats, and we once more sent the cutter on board one +of them to endeavour to procure a pilot, but could not prevail. +However, one of the Chinese directed us by signs to sail round +the westernmost of the islands or rocks of Lema, and then to haul +up. We followed this direction, and in the evening came to anchor +in eighteen fathoms.</p> + +<p>After having continued at anchor all night, we on the 9th, at +four in the morning, sent our cutter to sound the channel where +we proposed to pass; but before the return of the cutter a +Chinese pilot put on board us, and told us in broken Portuguese +he would carry us to Macao for thirty dollars. These were +immediately paid him, and we then weighed and made sail, and soon +after several other pilots came on board us, who, to recommend +themselves, produced certificates from the captains of several +ships they had piloted in; but we continued the ship under the +management of the Chinese who came first on board. By this time +we learned that we were not far distant from Macao, and that +there were in the river of Canton, at the mouth of which Macao +lies, eleven European ships, of which four were English. Our +pilot carried us between the islands of Bamboo and Cabouce, but +the winds hanging in the northern board, and the tides often +setting strongly against us, we were obliged to come frequently +to an anchor, so that we did not get through between the two +islands till the 12th of November at two in the morning. At ten +o'clock we happily anchored in Macao road. Thus, after a +fatiguing cruise of above two years' continuance, we once more +arrived in an amicable port in a civilised country, where the +conveniences of life were in great plenty; where the naval +stores, which we now extremely wanted, could be in some degree +procured; where we expected the inexpressible satisfaction of +receiving letters from our relations and friends; and where our +countrymen who were lately arrived from England would be capable +of answering the numerous enquiries we were prepared to make both +about public and private occurrences, and to relate to us many +particulars which, whether of importance or not, would be +listened to by us with the utmost attention, after the long +suspension of our correspondence with our country to which the +nature of our undertaking had hitherto subjected us. <a name= +"anson-31"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 31.<br> +MACAO--INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNOR--A VISIT TO CANTON.</h2> + +<p>The city of Macao is a Portuguese settlement situated in an +island at the mouth of the river of Canton. It was formerly a +very rich and populous city, and capable of defending itself +against the power of the adjacent Chinese governors, but at +present it is much fallen from its ancient splendour; for though +it is inhabited by the Portuguese and has a governor nominated by +the King of Portugal, yet it subsists merely by the sufferance of +the Chinese, who can starve the place and dispossess the +Portuguese whenever they please. This obliges the Governor of +Macao to behave with great circumspection, and carefully to avoid +every circumstance that may give offence to the Chinese. The +river of Canton, at the mouth of which this city lies, is the +only Chinese port frequented by European ships, and this river is +indeed a more commodious harbour on many accounts than Macao. But +the peculiar customs of the Chinese, only adapted to the +entertainment of trading ships, and the apprehensions of the +Commodore lest he should embroil the East India Company with the +Regency of Canton if he should insist on being treated upon a +different footing than the merchantmen, made him resolve to go +first to Macao before he ventured into the port of Canton. +Indeed, had not this reason prevailed with him, he himself had +nothing to fear, for it is certain that he might have entered the +port of Canton, and might have continued there as long as he +pleased, and afterwards have left it again, although the whole +power of the Chinese Empire had been brought together to oppose +him.</p> + +<p>The Commodore, not to depart from his usual prudence, no +sooner came to an anchor in Macao road than he despatched an +officer with his compliments to the Portuguese Governor of Macao, +requesting His Excellency by the same officer to advise him in +what manner it would be proper to act to avoid offending the +Chinese, which, as there were four of our ships in their power at +Canton, was a matter worthy of attention. The difficulty which +the Commodore principally apprehended related to the duty usually +paid by all ships 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 his country to submit to this duty +in China; and therefore he desired the advice of the Governor of +Macao, who, being a European, could not be ignorant of the +privileges claimed by a British man-of-war, and consequently +might be expected to give us the best lights for avoiding this +perplexity. Our boat returned in the evening with two officers +sent by the Governor, who informed the Commodore that it was the +Governor's opinion that if the Centurion ventured into the river +of Canton, the duty would certainly be demanded; and therefore, +if the Commodore approved of it, he would send him a pilot who +should conduct us into another safe harbour, called the Typa, +which was every way commodious for careening the ship (an +operation which we were resolved to begin upon as soon as +possible), and where the above-mentioned duty would in all +probability be never asked for.</p> + +<p>This proposal the Commodore agreed to, and in the morning we +weighed anchor, and, under the direction of the Portuguese pilot, +steered for the intended harbour, where we moored in about five +fathoms water. This harbour of the Typa is formed by a number of +islands, and is about six miles distant from Macao. Here we +saluted the Castle of Macao with eleven guns, which were returned +by an equal number.</p> + +<p>The next day the Commodore paid a visit in person to the +Governor, and was saluted at his landing by eleven guns, which +were returned by the Centurion. Mr. Anson's business in this +visit was to solicit the Governor to grant us a supply of +provisions, and to furnish us with such stores as were necessary +to refit the ship. The Governor seemed really inclined to do us +all the service he could, and assured the Commodore, in a +friendly manner, that he would privately give us all the +assistance in his power; but he, at the same time, frankly owned +that he dared not openly furnish us with anything we demanded, +unless we first procured an order for it from the Viceroy of +Canton, for that he neither received provisions for his garrison, +nor any other necessaries, but by permission from the Chinese +Government; and as they took care only to furnish him from day to +day, he was indeed no other than their vassal, whom they could at +all times compel to submit to their own terms, only by laying an +embargo on his provisions.</p> + +<p>On this declaration of the Governor, Mr. Anson resolved +himself to go to Canton to procure a license from the Viceroy, +and he accordingly hired a Chinese boat for himself and his +attendants. On his arrival there he consulted with the super +cargoes and officers of the English ships how to procure an order +from the Viceroy for the necessaries he wanted. As it is the +custom with these gentlemen never to apply to the supreme +magistrate himself, whatever difficulties they labour under, but +to transact all matters relating to the Government by the +mediation of the principal Chinese merchants, Mr. Anson was +advised to follow the same method upon this occasion, the English +promising to exert all their interest to engage the merchants in +his favour.</p> + +<p>CHINESE PROMISES.</p> + +<p>And when the Chinese merchants were applied to, they readily +undertook the management of it, and promised to answer for its +success; but after near a month's delay and reiterated excuses, +during which interval they pretended to be often upon the point +of completing the business, they at last threw off the mask, and +declared they neither had applied to the Viceroy, nor could they, +for he was too great a man, they said, for them to approach on +any occasion. <a name="anson-32"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 32.<br> +A LETTER TO THE VICEROY--A CHINESE MANDARIN--THE CENTURION IS +REFITTED AND PUTS TO SEA.</h2> + +<p>Mr. Anson now saw clearly that if he had at first carried his +ship into the river of Canton and had immediately applied himself +to the mandarins, who are the chief officers of State, instead of +employing the merchants to apply for him, he would in all +probability have had all his requests granted, and would have +been soon despatched. He had already lost a month by the wrong +measures he had been put upon, but he resolved to lose as little +more time as possible; and therefore, the 17th of December, being +the next day after his return from Canton, he wrote a letter to +the Viceroy of that place acquainting him that he was +commander-in-chief of a squadron of his Britannic Majesty's ships +of war, which had been cruising for two years past in the South +Seas against the Spaniards, who were at war with the King his +master; that, in his way back to England, he had put into the +port of Macao, having a considerable leak in his ship, and being +in great want of provisions, so that it was impossible for him to +proceed on his voyage till his ship was repaired, and he was +supplied with the necessaries he wanted; that he had been at +Canton in hopes of being admitted to a personal audience of His +Excellency, but being a stranger to the customs of the country, +he had not been able to inform himself what steps were necessary +to be taken to procure such an audience, and therefore was +obliged to apply to him in this manner, to desire His Excellency +to give orders for his being permitted to employ carpenters and +proper workmen to refit his ship, and to furnish himself with +provisions and stores, thereby to enable him to pursue his voyage +to Great Britain with this monsoon;* hoping at the same time that +these orders would be issued with as little delay as possible, +lest it might occasion his loss of the season, and he might be +prevented from departing till the next winter.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Anson, of course, had no intention of sailing +for England. His reason for the deception is given in chapter +33.)</blockquote> + +<p>A MANDARIN COMES ON BOARD.</p> + +<p>This letter was written on the 17th of December, and on the +19th in the morning a mandarin of the first rank, who was +Governor of the city of Janson, together with two mandarins of an +inferior class, and a great retinue of officers and servants, +having with them eighteen half-galleys decorated with a great +number of streamers, and furnished with music, and full of men, +came to grapnel ahead of the Centurion; whence the mandarin sent +a message to the Commodore, telling him that he (the mandarin) +was ordered by the Viceroy of Canton to examine the condition of +the ship, and desiring the ship's boat might be sent to fetch him +on board. The Centurion's boat was immediately despatched, and +preparations were made for receiving him; for a hundred of the +most sightly of the crew were uniformly dressed in the +regimentals of the marines, and were drawn up under arms on the +main-deck, against his arrival. When he entered the ship he was +saluted by the drums and what other military music there was on +board; and passing by the new-formed guard, he was met by the +Commodore on the quarter-deck, who conducted him to the great +cabin. Here the mandarin explained his commission, declaring that +his business was to examine all the particulars mentioned in the +Commodore's letter to the Viceroy; that he was particularly +instructed to inspect the leak, and had for that purpose brought +with him two Chinese carpenters.</p> + +<p>This mandarin appeared to be a person of very considerable +parts, and endowed with more frankness and honesty than is to be +found in the generality of the Chinese. After the proper +inquiries had been made, particularly about the leak, which the +Chinese carpenters reported to be as dangerous as it had been +represented, and consequently that it was impossible for the +Centurion to proceed to sea without being refitted, the mandarin +expressed himself satisfied with the account given in the +Commodore's letter. And this magistrate, as he was more +intelligent than any other person of his nation that came to our +knowledge, so likewise was he more curious and inquisitive, +viewing each part of the ship with particular attention, and +appearing greatly surprised at the largeness of the lower-deck +guns, and at the weight and size of the shot. The Commodore +observing his astonishment thought this a proper opportunity to +convince the Chinese of the prudence of granting him a speedy and +ample supply of all he wanted. With this view he told the +mandarin and those who were with him, that besides the demands he +made for a general supply, he had a particular complaint against +the proceedings of the custom-house of Macao; that at his first +arrival the Chinese boats had brought on board plenty of greens +and variety of fresh provisions for daily use, for which they had +always been paid to their full satisfaction, but that the +custom-house officers at Macao had soon forbid them, by which +means he was deprived of those refreshments which were of the +utmost consequence to the health of his men after their long and +sickly voyage; that as they, the mandarins, had informed +themselves of his wants, and were eye-witnesses of the force and +strength of his ship, they might be satisfied it was not for want +of power to supply himself that he desired the permission of the +Government to purchase what provisions he stood in need of; that +they must be convinced that the Centurion alone was capable of +destroying the whole navigation of the port of Canton, or of any +other port in China, without running the least risk from all the +force the Chinese could collect; that it was true this was not +the manner of proceeding between nations in friendship with each +other, but it was likewise true that it was not customary for any +nation to permit the ships of their friends to starve and sink in +their ports, when those friends had money to supply their wants +and only desired liberty to lay it out; that they must confess he +and his people had hitherto behaved with great modesty and +reserve, but that as his wants were each day increasing, hunger +would at last prove too strong for any restraint, and necessity +was acknowledged in all countries to be superior to every other +law, and therefore it could not be expected that his crew would +long continue to starve in the midst of that plenty to which +their eyes were every day witnesses. To this the Commodore added +(though perhaps with a less serious air) that if by the delay of +supplying him with fresh provisions his men should be reduced to +the necessity of turning cannibals, and preying upon their own +species, it was easy to be foreseen that, independent of their +friendship to their comrades, they would in point of luxury +prefer the plump, well-fed Chinese to their own emaciated +shipmates. The first mandarin acquiesced in the justness of this +reasoning, and told the Commodore that he should that night +proceed for Canton; that on his arrival a council of mandarins +would be summoned, of which he himself was a member, and that all +that was demanded would be amply and speedily granted. And with +regard to the Commodore's complaint of the custom-house of Macao, +he undertook to rectify that immediately by his own authority; +for, desiring a list to be given him of the quantity of provision +necessary for the expense of the ship for a day, he wrote a +permit under it, and delivered it to one of his attendants, +directing him to see that quantity sent on board early every +morning; and this order from that time forward was punctually +complied with.</p> + +<p>A DINNER PARTY.</p> + +<p>When this weighty affair was thus in some degree regulated, +the Commodore invited him and his two attendant mandarins to +dinner, telling them at the same time that if his provision, +either in kind or quantity, was not what they might expect, they +must thank themselves for having confined him to so hard an +allowance. One of his dishes was beef, which the Chinese all +dislike, though Mr. Anson was not apprised of it; this seems to +be derived from the Indian superstition,* which for some ages +past has made a great progress in China. However, his guests did +not entirely fast, for the three mandarins completely finished +the white part of four large fowls. But they were extremely +embarrassed with their knives and forks, and were quite incapable +of making use of them, so that, after some fruitless attempts to +help themselves, which were sufficiently awkward, one of the +attendants was obliged to cut their meat in small pieces for +them. But whatever difficulty they might have in complying with +the European manner of eating, they seemed not to be novices in +drinking. The Commodore excused himself in this part of the +entertainment, under the pretence of illness; but there being +another gentleman present, of a florid and jovial complexion, the +chief mandarin clapped him on the shoulder, and told him by the +interpreter that certainly he could not plead sickness, and +therefore insisted on his bearing him company; and that gentleman +perceiving that after they had despatched four or five bottles of +Frontiniac, the mandarin still continued unruffled, he ordered a +bottle of citron-water to be brought up, which the Chinese seemed +much to relish; and this being near finished they arose from +table, in appearance cool and uninfluenced by what they had +drunk. And the Commodore, having, according to custom, made the +mandarin a present, they all departed in the same vessels that +brought them.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. The cow has been held in high honour in India +from early times. The slaughtering and eating the flesh of kine +is considered an abominable crime. The connection between India +and Chinese has always been close. The Buddhist religion was +introduced from India during the first century of the Christian +era, and with it no doubt the veneration of the +cow.)</blockquote> + +<p>After their departure the Commodore with great impatience +expected the resolution of the council, and the necessary +licences for his refitment. For it must be observed that he could +neither purchase stores nor necessaries with his money, nor did +any kind of workman dare to engage themselves to work for him, +without the permission of the Government first obtained.</p> + +<p>Some time before this Captain Saunders took his passage to +England on board a Swedish ship, and was charged with despatches +from the Commodore; and soon after, in the month of December, +Captain Mitchel and Colonel Cracherode embarked on board one of +our company's ships; and I, having obtained the Commodore's leave +to return home, embarked with them. I must observe, too (having +omitted it before), that whilst we lay here at Macao we were +informed by some of the officers of our Indiamen that the Severn +and the Pearl, the two ships of our squadron which had separated +from us off Cape Noir, were safely arrived at Rio Janeiro, on the +coast of Brazil; and it was with great joy we received the news, +after the strong persuasion, which had so long prevailed amongst +us, of their having both perished.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the favourable disposition of the mandarin +Governor of Janson at his leaving Mr. Anson, several days had +elapsed before he had any advice from him, and Mr. Anson was +privately informed there were great debates in council upon his +affair. However, it should seem that the representation of the +Commodore to the mandarins of the facility with which he could +right himself, if justice were denied him, had at last its +effect; for on the 6th of January, in the morning, the Governor +of Janson, the Commodore's advocate, sent down the Viceroy of +Canton's warrant for the refitment of the Centurion, and for +supplying her people with all they wanted; and next day a number +of Chinese smiths and carpenters went on board.</p> + +<p>It was the beginning of April before they had new-rigged the +ship, stowed their provisions and water on board, and fitted her +for the sea; and before this time the Chinese grew very uneasy +and extremely desirous that she should be gone, either not +knowing, or pretending not to believe, that this was a point the +Commodore was as eagerly set on as they could be. On the 3rd of +April two mandarin boats came on board from Macao to urge his +departure; and this having been often done before, though there +had been no pretence to suspect Mr. Anson of any affected delays, +he at this last message answered them in a determined tone, +desiring them to give him no further trouble, for he would go +when he thought proper and not before. On this rebuke the Chinese +(though it was not in their power to compel him to be gone) +immediately prohibited all provisions from being carried on board +him, and took such care that their injunctions should be complied +with, that from that time forwards nothing could be purchased at +any rate whatever.</p> + +<p>AT SEA AGAIN.</p> + +<p>On the 6th of April the Centurion weighed from the Typa, and +warped to the southward, and by the 15th she was got into Macao +road, completing her water as she passed along, so that there +remained now very few articles more to attend to; and her whole +business being finished by the 19th, she, at three in the +afternoon of that day, weighed and made sail, and stood to sea. +<a name="anson-33"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 33.<br> +WAITING FOR THE Manila GALLEON.</h2> + +<p>The Commodore was now got to sea, with his ship very well +refitted, his stores replenished, and an additional stock of +provisions on board. His crew, too, was somewhat reinforced, for +he had entered twenty-three men during his stay at Macao, the +greatest part of which were Lascars or Indian sailors, and some +few Dutch. He gave out at Macao that he was bound to Batavia, and +thence to England; and though the western monsoon was now set in, +when that passage is considered as impracticable, yet by the +confidence he had expressed in the strength of his ship and the +dexterity of his people he had persuaded not only his own crew, +but the people at Macao likewise, that he proposed to try this +unusual experiment; so that there were many letters put on board +him by the inhabitants of Canton and Macao for their friends at +Batavia.</p> + +<p>But his real design was of a very different nature, for he +knew that instead of one annual ship from Acapulco to Manila +there would be this year, in all probability, two, since by being +before Acapulco he had prevented one of them from putting to sea +the preceding season. He therefore resolved to cruise for these +returning vessels off Cape Espiritu Santo, on the island of +Samal, which is the first land they always make in the Philippine +islands. And as June is generally the month in which they arrive +there, he doubted not but he should get to his intended station +in time enough to intercept them. It is true they were said to be +stout vessels, mounting forty-four guns apiece, and carrying +above 500 hands, and might be expected to return in company; and +he himself had but 227 hands on board, of which near thirty were +boys. But this disproportion of strength did not deter him, as he +knew his ship to be much better fitted for a sea engagement than +theirs, and as he had reason to expect that his men would exert +themselves in the most extraordinary manner when they had in view +the immense wealth of these Manila galleons.</p> + +<p>This project the Commodore had resolved on in his own thoughts +ever since his leaving the coast of Mexico, and the greatest +mortification which he received from the various delays he had +met with in China was his apprehension lest he might be thereby +so long retarded as to let the galleons escape him. Indeed, at +Macao, it was incumbent on him to keep these views extremely +secret, for there being a great intercourse and a mutual +connection of interests between that port and Manila, he had +reason to fear that, if his designs were discovered, intelligence +would be immediately sent to Manila and measures would be taken +to prevent the galleons from falling into his hands. But being +now at sea, and entirely clear of the coast, he summoned all his +people on the quarter-deck, and informed them of his resolution +to cruise for the two Manila ships, of whose wealth they were +not ignorant. He told them he should choose a station where he +could not fail of meeting with them; and though they were stout +ships and full-manned, yet, if his own people behaved with their +accustomed spirit, he was certain he should prove too hard for +them both, and that one of them at least could not fail of +becoming his prize. He further added that many ridiculous tales +had been propagated about the strength of the sides of these +ships, and their being impenetrable to cannon-shot; that these +fictions had been principally invented to palliate the cowardice +of those who had formerly engaged them; but he hoped they were +none of those present weak enough to give credit to so absurd a +story. For his own part he did assure them upon his word that, +whenever he met with them, he would fight them so near that they +should find his bullets, instead of being stopped by one of their +sides, should go through them both.</p> + +<p>CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS.</p> + +<p>This speech of the Commodore's was received by his people with +great joy, for no sooner had he ended than they expressed their +approbation, according to naval custom, by three strenuous +cheers, and all declared their determination to succeed or perish +whenever the opportunity presented itself. And now their hopes, +which since their departure from the coast of Mexico had entirely +subsided, were again revived; and they all persuaded themselves +that, notwithstanding the various casualties and disappointments +they had hitherto met with, they should yet be repaid the price +of their fatigues, and should at last return home enriched with +the spoils of the enemy. For, firmly relying on the assurances of +the Commodore that they should certainly meet with the vessels, +they were all of them too sanguine to doubt a moment of mastering +them; so that they considered themselves as having them already +in their possession. And this confidence was so universally +spread through the whole ship's company that, the Commodore +having taken some Chinese sheep to sea with him for his own +provision, and one day enquiring of his butcher why for some time +past he had seen no mutton at his table, asking him if all the +sheep were killed, the butcher very seriously replied that there +were indeed two sheep left, but that if his honour would give him +leave, he proposed to keep those for the entertainment of the +General of the galleons.</p> + +<p>When the Centurion left the port of Macao she stood for some +days to the westward, and on the 1st of May they saw part of the +island of Formosa, and standing thence to the southward, they, on +the 4th of May about seven in the evening, discovered from the +masthead five small islands, which were judged to be the Bashees, +and they had afterwards a sight of Botel Tobago Xima. After +getting a sight of the Bashee Islands, they stood between the +south and south-west for Cape Espiritu Santo, and the 20th of May +at noon they first discovered that cape, which about four o'clock +they brought to bear south-south-west, about eleven leagues +distant. It appeared to be of a moderate height, with several +round hummocks on it. As it was known that there were sentinels +placed upon this cape to make signals to the Acapulco ship when +she first falls in with the land, the Commodore immediately +tacked, and ordered the top-gallant sails to be taken in to +prevent being discovered; and this being the station in which it +was resolved to cruise for the galleons, they kept the cape +between the south and west, and endeavoured to confine themselves +between the latitude of 12 degrees 50 minutes and 13 degrees 5 +minutes.</p> + +<p>It was the last of May, by the foreign style, when they +arrived off this cape; and the month of June, by the same style, +being that in which the Manila ships are usually expected, the +Centurion's people were now waiting each hour with the utmost +impatience for the happy crisis which was to balance the account +of all their past calamities. As from this time there was but +small employment for the crew, the Commodore ordered them almost +every day to be exercised in the management of the great guns and +in the use of their small arms. This had been his practice, more +or less, at all convenient seasons during the whole course of his +voyage, and the advantages which he received from it in his +engagement with the galleon were an ample recompense for all his +care and attention. The men were taught the shortest method of +loading with cartridges, and were constantly trained to fire at a +mark, which was usually hung at the yard-arm, and some little +reward was given to the most expert. The whole crew, by this +management, were rendered extremely skilful, quick in loading, +all of them good marksmen, and some of them most extraordinary +ones, so that I doubt not but, in the use of small arms, they +were more than a match for double their number who had not been +habituated to the same kind of exercise.</p> + +<p>AN ILL-TIMED DISAGREEMENT.</p> + +<p>It was the last of May, New Style, as has been already said, +when the Centurion arrived off Cape Espiritu Santo, and +consequently the next day began the month in which the galleons +were to be expected. The Commodore therefore made all necessary +preparations for receiving them. All this time, too, he was very +solicitous to keep at such a distance from the cape as not to be +discovered; but it has been since learned that notwithstanding +his care, he was seen from the land, and advice of him was sent +to Manila, where it was at first disbelieved; but on reiterated +intelligence (for it seems he was seen more than once) the +merchants were alarmed, and the Governor was applied to, who +undertook (the commerce supplying the necessary sums) to fit out +a force consisting of two ships of 32 guns, one of 20 guns, and +two sloops of 10 guns each, to attack the Centurion on her +station. And some of these vessels did actually weigh with this +view, but the principal ship not being ready, and the monsoon +being against them, the commerce and the Government disagreed, +and the enterprise was laid aside. This frequent discovery of the +Centurion from the shore was somewhat extraordinary, for the +pitch of the cape is not high, and she usually kept from ten to +fifteen leagues distant, though once, indeed, by an indraught of +the tide, as was supposed, they found themselves in the morning +within seven leagues of the land. <a name="anson-34"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 34.<br> +THE CAPTURE OF THE GALLEON.</h2> + +<p>As the month of June advanced, the expectancy and impatience +of the Commodore's people each day increased, and I think no +better idea can be given of their great eagerness on this +occasion than by copying a few paragraphs from the journal of an +officer who was then on board, as it will, I presume, be a more +natural picture of the full attachment of their thoughts to the +business of their cruise than can be given by any other means. +The paragraphs I have selected, as they occur in order of time +are as follows:</p> + +<p>May 31. Exercising our men at their quarters, in great +expectation of meeting with the galleons very soon, this being +the 11th of June, their style.</p> + +<p>June 3. Keeping in our stations and looking out for the +galleons.</p> + +<p>June 5. Begin now to be in great expectations, this being the +middle of June, their style.</p> + +<p>June 11. Begin to grow impatient at not seeing the +galleons.</p> + +<p>June 13. The wind having blown fresh easterly for the +forty-eight hours past, gives us great expectations of seeing the +galleons soon.</p> + +<p>June 15. Cruising on and off and looking out strictly.</p> + +<p>June 19. This being the last day of June, New Style, the +galleons, if they arrive at all, must appear soon.</p> + +<hr align="center" width="50%"> +<p>From these samples it is sufficiently evident how completely +the treasure of the galleons had engrossed their imagination, and +how anxiously they passed the latter part of their cruise, when +the certainty of the arrival of these vessels was dwindled down +to probability only, and that probability became each hour more +and more doubtful.</p> + +<p>THE GALLEON SIGHTED.</p> + +<p>However, on the 20th of June, Old Style, being just a month +from their arrival on their station, they were relieved from this +state of uncertainty when, at sunrise, they discovered a sail +from the masthead in the south-east quarter. On this a general +joy spread through the whole ship, for they had no doubt but this +was one of the galleons, and they expected soon to see the other. +The Commodore instantly stood towards her, and at half an hour +after seven they were near enough to see her from the Centurion's +deck, at which time the galleon fired a gun and took in her +top-gallant sails, which was supposed to be a signal to her +consort to hasten her up; and therefore the Centurion fired a gun +to leeward,* to amuse her. The Commodore was surprised to find +that in all this time the galleon did not change her course, but +continued to bear down upon him, for he hardly believed, what +afterwards appeared to be the case, that she knew his ship to be +the Centurion and resolved to fight him.</p> + +<blockquote>(*Note. Probably as a pretended signal to a consort. +The two ships were endeavouring to deceive each +other.)</blockquote> + +<p>About noon the Commodore was little more than a league distant +from the galleon, and could fetch her wake, so that she could not +now escape, and no second ship appearing, it was concluded that +she had been separated from her consort. Soon after the galleon +hauled up her foresail and brought to under topsails, with her +head to the northward, hoisting Spanish colours and having the +standard of Spain flying at the topgallant masthead. Mr. Anson in +the meantime had prepared all things for an engagement on board +the Centurion, and had taken all possible care both for the most +effectual exertion of his small strength, and for avoiding the +confusion and tumult too frequent in actions of this kind. He +picked out about thirty of his choicest hands and best marksmen, +whom he distributed into his tops, and who fully answered his +expectation by the signal services they performed. As he had not +hands enough remaining to quarter a sufficient number to each +great gun in the customary manner, he therefore, on his lower +tier, fixed only two men to each gun, who were to be solely +employed in loading it, whilst the rest of his people were +divided into different gangs of ten or twelve men each, who were +constantly moving about the decks to run out and fire such guns +as were loaded. By this management he was enabled to make use of +all his guns, and, instead of firing broad sides with intervals +between them, he kept up a constant fire without intermission, +whence he doubted not to procure very signal advantages; for it +is common with the Spaniards to fall down upon the decks when +they see a broadside preparing and to continue in that posture +till it is given; after which they rise again and, presuming the +danger to be for some time over, work their guns, and fire with +great briskness till another broadside is ready; but the firing +gun by gun in the manner directed by the Commodore rendered this +practice of theirs impossible.</p> + +<p>A GALLANT FIGHT.</p> + +<p>The Centurion being thus prepared, and nearing the galleon +apace, there happened, a little after noon, several squalls of +wind and rain, which often obscured the galleon from their sight; +but whenever it cleared up they observed her resolutely lying to, +and towards one o'clock the Centurion hoisted her broad pendant +and colours, she being then within gun shot of the enemy; and the +Commodore, observing the Spaniards to have neglected clearing +their ship till that time, as he then saw them throwing over +board cattle and lumber, he gave orders to fire upon them with +the chase guns to embarrass them in their work, and prevent them +from completing it, though his general directions had been not to +engage till they were within pistol-shot. The galleon returned +the fire with two of her stern-chasers, and the Centurion getting +her sprit sail-yard fore and aft, that if necessary she might be +ready for boarding, the Spaniards in a bravado rigged their +spritsail-yard fore and aft likewise. Soon after the Centurion +came abreast of the enemy within pistol-shot, keeping to the +leeward with a view of preventing them from putting before the +wind and gaining the port of Jalapay, from which they were about +seven leagues distant. And now the engagement began in earnest, +and for the first half-hour Mr. Anson overreached the galleon and +lay on her bow, where by the great wideness of his ports he could +traverse almost all his guns upon the enemy, whilst the galleon +could only bring a part of hers to bear. Immediately on the +commencement of the action the mats with which the galleon had +stuffed her netting took fire and burned violently, blazing up +half as high as the mizzen top. This accident (supposed to be +caused by the Centurion's wads) threw the enemy into great +confusion, and at the same time alarmed the Commodore, for he +feared lest the galleon should be burned, and lest he himself too +might suffer by her driving on board him. But the Spaniards at +last freed themselves from the fire by cutting away the netting, +and tumbling the whole mass which was in flames into the sea. But +still the Centurion kept her first advantageous position, firing +her cannon with great regularity and briskness, whilst at the +same time the galleon's decks lay open to her topmen, who having +at their first volley driven the Spaniards from their tops, made +prodigious havoc with their small arms, killing or wounding every +officer but one that ever appeared on the quarter-deck, and +wounding in particular the General of the galleon himself; and +though the Centurion, after the first half-hour, lost her +original situation and was close alongside the galleon, and the +enemy continued to fire briskly for near an hour longer, yet at +last the Commodore's grape-shot swept their decks so effectually, +and the number of their slain and wounded was so considerable, +that they began to fall into great disorder, especially as the +General, who was the life of the action, was no longer capable of +exerting himself. Their embarrassment was visible from on board +the Commodore, for the ships were so near that some of the +Spanish officers were seen running about with great assiduity to +prevent the desertion of their men from their quarters. But all +their endeavours were in vain, for after having, as a last +effort, fired five or six guns with more judgment than usual, +they gave up the contest, and the galleon's colours being singed +off the ensign staff in the beginning of the engagement, she +struck the standard at her main top-gallant masthead, the person +who was employed to do it having been in imminent peril of being +killed, had not the Commodore, who perceived what he was about, +given express orders to his people to desist from firing.</p> + +<p>Thus was the Centurion possessed of this rich prize, amounting +in value to near a million and a half of dollars. She was called +the "Nuestra Senora de Cabadonga", and was commanded by the +General Don Jeronimo de Montero, a Portuguese by birth, and the +most approved officer for skill and courage of any employed in +that service. The galleon was much larger than the Centurion, and +had five hundred and fifty men and thirty-six guns mounted for +action, besides twenty-eight pidreroes in her gunwale, quarters, +and tops, each of which carried a four-pound ball. She was very +well furnished with small arms, and was particularly provided +against boarding, both by her close quarters and by a strong +network of 2-inch rope, which was laced over her waist and was +defended by half-pikes. She had sixty-seven killed in the action +and eighty-four wounded, whilst the Centurion had only two killed +and a lieutenant and sixteen wounded, all of whom but one +recovered; of so little consequence are the most destructive arms +in untutored and unpractised hands.</p> + +<p>The treasure thus taken by the Centurion having been for at +least eighteen months the great object of their hopes, it is +impossible to describe the transport on board when, after all +their reiterated disappointments, they at last saw their wishes +accomplished. But their joy was near being suddenly damped by a +most tremendous incident, for no sooner had the galleon struck +than one of the lieutenants, coming to Mr. Anson to congratulate +him on his prize, whispered him at the same time that the +Centurion was dangerously 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 +necessary orders for extinguishing it, which was happily done in +a short time, though its appearance at first was extremely +terrible. It seems some cartridges had been blown up by accident +between decks, whereby a quantity of oakum in the after hatchway +near the after powder-room was set on fire, and the great smother +and smoke of the oakum occasioned the apprehension of a more +extended and mischievous fire. At the same instant, too, the +galleon fell on board the Centurion on the starboard quarter, but +she was cleared without doing or receiving any considerable +damage.</p> + +<p>The Commodore made his first lieutenant, Mr. Suamarez, captain +of this prize, appointing her a post-ship in His Majesty's +service. Captain Suamarez, before night, sent on board the +Centurion all the Spanish prisoners but such as were thought the +most proper to be retained to assist in navigating the +galleon.</p> + +<p>WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.</p> + +<p>And now the Commodore learned from some of these prisoners +that the other ship, which he had kept in the port of Acapulco +the preceding year, instead of returning in company with the +present prize, as was expected, had set sail from Acapulco alone +much sooner than usual, and had in all probability got into the +port of Manila long before the Centurion arrived off Cape +Espiritu Santo, so that Mr. Anson, notwithstanding his present +success, had great reason to regret his loss of time at Macao, +which prevented him from taking two rich prizes instead of one. +<a name="anson-35"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 35.<br> +SECURING THE PRISONERS--MACAO AGAIN--AMOUNT OF THE TREASURE.</h2> + +<p>The Commodore, when the action was ended, resolved to make the +best of his way with his prize for the river of Canton, being in +the meantime fully employed in securing his prisoners, and in +removing the treasure from on board the galleon into the +Centurion. The last of these operations was too important to be +postponed, for as the navigation to Canton was through seas but +little known, and where, from the season of the year, much bad +weather might be expected, it was of great consequence that the +treasure should be sent on board the Centurion, which ship, by +the presence of the Commander-in-chief, the greater number of her +hands, and her other advantages, was doubtless much safer against +all the casualties of winds and seas than the galleon; and the +securing the prisoners was a matter of still more consequence, as +not only the possession of the treasure, but the lives of the +captors depended thereon. This was indeed an article which gave +the Commodore much trouble and disquietude, for they were above +double the number of his own people, and some of them, when they +were brought on board the Centurion and had observed how +slenderly she was manned, and the large proportion which the +striplings bore to the rest, could not help expressing themselves +with great indignation to be thus beaten by a handful of +boys.</p> + +<p>THE SUFFERINGS OF THE PRISONERS.</p> + +<p>The method which was taken to hinder them from rising was by +placing all but the officers and the wounded in the hold, where +to give them as much air as possible, two hatchways were left +open; but then (to avoid all danger whilst the Centurion's people +should be employed upon the deck) there was a square partition of +thick planks, made in the shape of a funnel, which enclosed each +hatchway on the lower deck and reached to that directly over it +on the upper deck. These funnels served to communicate the air to +the hold better than could have been done without them, and at +the same time added greatly to the security of the ship, for they +being seven or eight feet high, it would have been extremely +difficult for the Spaniards to have clambered up, and, still to +augment that difficulty, four swivel-guns loaded with musket +bullets were planted at the mouth of each funnel, and a sentinel +with lighted match constantly attended, prepared to fire into the +hold amongst them in case of any disturbance. Their officers, who +amounted to seventeen or eighteen, were all lodged in the first +lieutenant's cabin, under a constant guard of six men, and the +General, as he was wounded, lay in the Commodore's cabin with a +sentinel always with him, and they were all informed that any +violence or disturbance would be punished with instant death; and +that the Centurion's people might be at all times prepared, if +notwithstanding these regulations any tumult should arise, the +small arms were constantly kept loaded in a proper place, whilst +all the men went armed with cutlasses and pistols, and no officer +ever pulled off his clothes, and when he slept had always his +arms lying ready by him.</p> + +<p>These measures were obviously necessary, considering the +hazards to which the Commodore and his people would have been +exposed had they been less careful. Indeed, the sufferings of the +poor prisoners though impossible to be alleviated, were much to +be commiserated, for the weather was extremely hot, the stench of +the hold loathsome beyond all conception, and their allowance of +water but just sufficient to keep them alive, it not being +practicable to spare them more than at the rate of a pint a day +for each, the crew themselves having only an allowance of a pint +and a half. All this considered, it was wonderful that not a man +of them died during their long confinement, except three of the +wounded, who died the same night they were taken; though it must +be confessed that the greatest part of them were strangely +metamorphosed by the heat of the hold, for when they were first +taken they were sightly, robust fellows, but when, after above a +month's imprisonment, they were discharged in the river of +Canton, they were reduced to mere skeletons, and their air and +looks corresponded much more to the conception formed of ghosts +and spectres than to the figure and appearance of real men.</p> + +<p>Thus employed in securing the treasure and the prisoners, the +Commodore, as has been said, stood for the river of Canton, and +on the 30th of June, at six in the evening, got sight of Cape +Delangano, which then bore west ten leagues distant, and the next +day he made the Bashee Islands, and the wind being so far to the +northward that it was difficult to weather them, it was resolved +to stand through between Grafton and Monmouth Islands, where the +passage seemed to be clear; but in getting through the sea had a +very dangerous aspect, for it rippled and foamed as if it had +been full of breakers, which was still more terrible as it was +then night. But the ships got through very safe, the prize always +keeping ahead, and it was found that the appearance which had +alarmed them had been occasioned only by a strong tide, and on +the 11th of July, having taken on board two Chinese pilots, one +for the Centurion and the other for the prize, they came to an +anchor off the city of Macao.</p> + +<p>By this time the particulars of the cargo of the galleon were +well ascertained, and it was found that she had on board +1,313,843 pieces of eight and 35,682 ounces of virgin silver, +besides some cochineal and a few other commodities, which, +however, were but of small account in comparison of the specie. +And this being the Commodore's last prize, it hence appears that +all the treasure taken by the Centurion was not much short of +400,000 pounds independent of the ships and merchandise which she +either burnt or destroyed, and which by the most reasonable +estimation could not amount to so little as 600,000 more; so that +the whole loss of the enemy by our squadron did doubtless exceed +a million sterling. To which, if there be added the great expense +of the court of Spain in fitting out Pizarro, and in paying the +additional charges in America incurred on our account, together +with the loss of their men-of-war, the total of all these +articles will be a most exorbitant sum, and is the strongest +conviction of the utility of this expedition, which, with all its +numerous disadvantages, did yet prove so extremely prejudicial to +the enemy. <a name="anson-36"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 36.<br> +THE CANTON RIVER--NEGOTIATING WITH THE CHINESE--PRISONERS +RELEASED.</h2> + +<p>The Commodore, having taken pilots on board, proceeded with +his prize for the river of Canton, and on the 14th of July came +to an anchor short of the Bocca Tigris, which is a narrow passage +forming the mouth of that river. This entrance he proposed to +stand through the next day, and to run up as far as Tiger Island, +which is a very safe road, secured from all winds.</p> + +<p>CHINESE INQUIRIES.</p> + +<p>But whilst the Centurion and her prize were thus at anchor, a +boat with an officer came off from the mandarin commanding the +forts at Bocca Tigris to examine what the ships were and whence +they came. Mr. Anson informed the officer that his ship was a +ship of war, belonging to the King of Great Britain, and that the +other in company with him was a prize he had taken; that he was +going into Canton River to shelter himself against the hurricanes +which were then coming on; and that as soon as the monsoon +shifted he should proceed for England. The officer then desired +an account of what men, guns, and ammunition were on board, a +list of all which, he said, was to be sent to the Government of +Canton. But when these articles were repeated to him, +particularly when he was told that there were in the Centurion +four hundred fire locks and between three hundred and four +hundred barrels of powder, he shrugged up his shoulders and +seemed to be terrified with the bare recital, saying that no +ships ever came into Canton River armed in that manner; adding +that he durst not set down the whole of this force, lest it +should too much alarm the Regency. After he had finished his +enquiries, and was preparing to depart, he desired to leave the +two custom-house officers behind him, on which the Commodore told +him that though as a man-of-war he was prohibited from trading, +and had nothing to do with customs or duties of any kind, yet for +the satisfaction of the Chinese he would permit two of their +people to be left on board, who might themselves be witnesses how +punctually he should comply with his instructions. The officer +seemed amazed when Mr. Anson mentioned being exempted from all +duties, and told him that the Emperor's duty must be paid by all +ships that came into his ports.</p> + +<p>On the 16th of July the Commodore sent his second lieutenant +to Canton with a letter to the Viceroy, informing him of the +reason of the Centurion's putting into that port, and that the +Commodore himself soon proposed to repair to Canton to pay a +visit to the Viceroy. The lieutenant was very civilly received, +and was promised that an answer should be sent to the Commodore +the next day. In the meantime Mr. Anson gave leave to several of +the officers of the galleon to go to Canton, they engaging their +parole to return in two days. When these prisoners got to Canton +the Regency sent for them and examined them, enquiring +particularly by what means they had fallen into Mr. Anson's +power. And on this occasion the prisoners were honest enough to +declare that as the Kings of Great Britain and Spain were at war, +they had proposed to themselves the taking of the Centurion, and +had bore down upon her with that view, but that the event had +been contrary to their hopes. However, they acknowledged that +they had been treated by the Commodore much better than they +believed they should have treated him had he fallen into their +hands. This confession from an enemy had great weight with the +Chinese, who till then, though they had revered the Commodore's +power, had yet suspected his morals, and had considered him +rather as a lawless free booter than as one commissioned by the +State for revenge of public injuries. But they now changed their +opinion, and regarded him as a more important person, to which +perhaps the vast treasure of his prize might not a little +contribute, the acquisition of wealth being a matter greatly +adapted to the estimation and reverence of the Chinese +nation.</p> + +<p>In this examination of the Spanish prisoners, though the +Chinese had no reason in the main to doubt the account which was +given them, yet there were two circumstances which appeared to +them so singular as to deserve a more ample explanation. One of +them was the great disproportion of men between the Centurion and +the galleon, the other was the humanity with which the people of +the galleon were treated after they were taken. The mandarins +therefore asked the Spaniards how they came to be overpowered by +so inferior a force, and how it happened, since the two nations +were at war, that they were not put to death when they came into +the hands of the English. To the first of these enquiries the +Spanish replied that though they had more hands than the +Centurion, yet she, being intended solely for war, had a great +superiority in the size of her guns, and in many other articles, +over the galleon, which was a vessel fitted out principally for +traffic. And as to the second question, they told the Chinese +that amongst the nations of Europe it was not customary to put to +death those who submitted, though they readily owned that the +Commodore, from the natural bias of his temper, had treated both +them and their countrymen, who had formerly been in his power, +with very unusual courtesy, much beyond what they could have +expected, or than was required by the customs established between +nations at war with each other. These replies fully satisfied the +Chinese, and at the same time wrought very powerfully in the +Commodore's favour.</p> + +<p>A MESSAGE FROM THE VICEROY.</p> + +<p>On the 20th of July, in the morning, three mandarins, with a +great number of boats and a vast retinue, came on board the +Centurion and delivered to the Commodore the Viceroy of Canton's +order for a daily supply of provisions, and for pilots to carry +the ships up the river as far as the second bar; and at the same +time they delivered him a message from the Viceroy in answer to +the letter sent to Canton. The substance of the message was that +the Viceroy desired to be excused from receiving the Commodore's +visit during the then excessive hot weather, because the +assembling the mandarins and soldiers necessary to that ceremony +would prove extremely inconvenient and fatiguing; but that in +September, when the weather would be more temperate, he should be +glad to see both the Commodore himself and the English captain of +the other ship that was with him. As Mr. Anson knew that an +express had been dispatched to the court at Peking with an +account of the Centurion and her prize being arrived in the river +of Canton, he had no doubt but the principal motive for putting +off this visit was that the regency at Canton might gain time to +receive the Emperor's instructions about their behaviour on this +unusual affair.</p> + +<p>When the mandarins had delivered their message they began to +talk to the Commodore about the duties to be paid by his ships, +but he immediately told them that he would never submit to any +demand of that kind, adding that no duties were ever demanded of +men-of-war by nations accustomed to their reception, and that his +master's orders expressly forbade him from paying any +acknowledgment for his ships anchoring in any port whatever. The +mandarins being thus cut short on the subject of the duty, they +said they had another matter to mention, which was the only +remaining one they had in charge. This was a request to the +Commodore that he would release the prisoners he had taken on +board the galleon, for that the Viceroy of Canton apprehended the +Emperor, his master, might be displeased if he should be informed +that persons who were his allies, and carried on a great commerce +with his subjects, were under confinement in his dominions. Mr. +Anson was himself extremely desirous to get rid of the Spaniards, +having on his first arrival sent about one hundred of them to +Macao, and those who remained, which were near four hundred more, +were on many accounts a great encumbrance to him. However, to +enhance the favour, he at first raised some difficulties; but, +permitting himself to be prevailed on, he at last told the +mandarins that to show his readiness to oblige the Viceroy he +would release the prisoners whenever they (the Chinese) would +send boats to fetch them off. This matter being adjusted, the +mandarins departed; and on the 28th of July two Chinese junks +were sent from Canton to take on board the prisoners, and to +carry them to Macao. And the Commodore, agreeable to his promise, +dismissed them all, and ordered his purser to send with them +eight days' provision for their subsistence during their sailing +down the river. This being despatched, the Centurion and her +prize came to her moorings above the second bar, where they +proposed to continue till the monsoon shifted. <a name= +"anson-37"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 37.<br> +CHINESE TRICKERY.</h2> + +<p>Though the ships, in consequence of the Viceroy's permit, +found no difficulty in purchasing provisions for their daily +consumption, yet it was impossible for the Commodore to proceed +to England without laying in a large quantity both of provisions +and stores for his use during the voyage. The procuring this +supply was attended with much embarrassment, for there were +people at Canton who had undertaken to furnish him with biscuit +and whatever else he wanted, and his linguist, towards the middle +of September, had assured him from day to day that all was ready +and would be sent on board him immediately. But a fortnight being +elapsed, and nothing being brought, the Commodore sent to Canton +to enquire more particularly into the reasons of this +disappointment, and he had soon the vexation to be informed that +the whole was an illusion; that no order had been procured from +the Viceroy to furnish him with his sea stores, as had been +pretended; that there was no biscuit baked, nor any one of the +articles in readiness which had been promised him; nor did it +appear that the contractors had taken the least step to comply +with their agreement. This was most disagreeable news, and made +it suspected that the furnishing the Centurion for her return to +Great Britain might prove a more troublesome matter than had been +hitherto imagined; especially, too, as the month of September was +nearly elapsed without Mr. Anson's having received any message +from the Viceroy of Canton.</p> + +<p>It were endless to recount all the artifices, extortions, and +frauds, which were practised on the Commodore and his people by +the Chinese. The method of buying all things in China being by +weight, the tricks made use of by them to increase the weight of +the provision they sold to the Centurion were almost incredible. +One time, a large quantity of fowls and ducks being brought for +the ship's use, the greatest part of them presently died. This +alarmed the people on board with the apprehension that they had +been killed by poison, but on examination it appeared that it was +only owing to their being crammed with stones and gravel to +increase their weight, the quantity thus forced into most of the +ducks being found to amount to ten ounces in each. The hogs, too, +which were bought ready killed of the Chinese butchers, had water +injected into them for the same purpose, so that a carcase hung +up all night for the water to drain from it has lost above a +stone of its weight, and when, to avoid this cheat, the hogs were +bought alive, it was found that the Chinese gave them salt to +increase their thirst, and having by this means excited them to +drink great quantities of water, they then took measures to +prevent them from discharging it again, and sold the tortured +animal in this inflated state. When the Commodore first put to +sea from Macao, they practised an artifice of another kind, for +as the Chinese never object to the eating of any food that dies +of itself, they took care, by some secret practises, that great +part of his live sea-store should die in a short time after it +was put on board, hoping to make a second profit of the dead +carcases which they expected would be thrown overboard, and +two-thirds of the hogs dying before the Centurion was out of +sight of land, many of the Chinese boats followed her only to +pick up the carrion. These instances may serve as a specimen of +the manners of this celebrated nation, which is often recommended +to the rest of the world as a pattern of all kinds of laudable +qualities. <a name="anson-38"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 38.<br> +PREPARATIONS FOR A VISIT TO CANTON.</h2> + +<p>The Commodore, towards the end of September, having found out +(as has been said) that those who had contracted to supply him +with sea provisions and stores had deceived him, and that the +Viceroy had not sent to him according to his promise, he saw it +would be impossible for him to surmount the embarrassment he was +under without going himself to Canton, and visiting the Viceroy. +And therefore, on the 27th of September, he sent a message to the +mandarin who attended the Centurion to inform him that he, the +Commodore, intended on the 1st of October to proceed in his boat +to Canton, adding that the day after he got there he should +notify his arrival to the Viceroy, and should desire him to fix a +time for his audience; to which the mandarin returned no other +answer than that he would acquaint the Viceroy with the +Commodore's intentions. In the meantime all things were prepared +for this expedition, and the boat's crew in particular which Mr. +Anson proposed to take with him, were clothed in a uniform dress +resembling that of the watermen on the Thames. They were in +number eighteen and a coxswain. They had scarlet jackets and blue +silk waistcoats, the whole trimmed with silver buttons, and with +silver badges on their jackets and caps.</p> + +<p>A WISE PRECAUTION.</p> + +<p>As it was apprehended, and even asserted, that the payment of +the customary duties for the Centurion and her prize would be +demanded by the Regency of Canton, and would be insisted on +previous to the granting a permission for victualling the ship +for her future voyage, the Commodore, who was resolved never to +establish so dishonourable a precedent, took all possible +precautions to prevent the Chinese from facilitating the success +of their unreasonable pretentions by having him in their power at +Canton. And, therefore, for the security of his ship and the +great treasure on board her, he appointed his first lieutenant, +Mr. Brett, to be captain of the Centurion under him, giving him +proper instructions for his conduct, directing him particularly, +if he, the Commodore, should be detained at Canton on account of +the duties in dispute, to take out the men from the Centurion's +prize and to destroy her, and then to proceed down the river +through the Bocca Tigris with the Centurion alone, and to remain +without that entrance till he received further orders from Mr. +Anson.</p> + +<p>These necessary steps being taken, which were not unknown to +the Chinese, it should seem as if their deliberations were in +some sort embarrassed thereby. It is reasonable to imagine that +they were in general very desirous of getting the duties to be +paid them, not perhaps solely in consideration of the amount of +those dues, but to keep up their reputation for address and +subtlety, and to avoid the imputation of receding from claims on +which they had already so frequently insisted. However, as they +now foresaw that they had no other method of succeeding than by +violence, and that even against this the Commodore was prepared, +they were at last disposed, I conceive, to let the affair drop, +rather than entangle themselves in a hostile measure which they +found would only expose them to the risk of having the whole +navigation of their port destroyed, without any certain prospect +of gaining their favourite point thereby. <a name= +"anson-39"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 39.<br> +STORES AND PROVISIONS--A FIRE IN CANTON--SAILORS AS FIREMEN--THE +VICEROY'S GRATITUDE.</h2> + +<p>BARGAINING.</p> + +<p>When the Commodore arrived at Canton he was visited by the +principal Chinese merchants, who affected to appear very much +pleased that he had met with no obstruction in getting thither. +They added that, as soon as the Viceroy should be informed that +Mr. Anson was at Canton, they were persuaded a day would be +immediately appointed for the visit, which was the principal +business that had brought the Commodore thither.</p> + +<p>The next day the merchants returned to Mr. Anson, and told him +that the Viceroy was then so fully employed in preparing his +despatches for Pekin, that there was no getting admittance to him +for some days; but that they had engaged one of the officers of +his court to give them information as soon as he should be at +leisure when they proposed to notify Mr. Anson's arrival, and to +endeavour to fix the day of audience. The Commodore was by this +time too well acquainted with their artifices not to perceive +that this was a falsehood, and had he consulted only his own +judgment he would have applied directly to the Viceroy by other +hands. But the Chinese merchants had so far prepossessed the +supercargoes of our ships with chimerical fears, that they were +extremely apprehensive of being embroiled with the government and +of suffering in their interest, if those measures were taken +which appeared to Mr. Anson at that time to be the most +prudential; and therefore, lest the malice and double-dealing of +the Chinese might have given rise to some sinister incident which +would be afterwards laid at his door, he resolved to continue +passive as long as it should appear that he lost no time by thus +suspending his own opinion. With this view he promised not to +take any immediate step himself for getting admittance to the +Viceroy, provided the Chinese with whom he contracted for +provisions would let him see that his bread was baked, his meat +salted, and his stores prepared with the utmost despatch. But if, +by the time when all was in readiness to be shipped off (which it +was supposed would be in about forty days), the merchants should +not have procured the Viceroy's permission, then the Commodore +proposed to apply for it himself. These were the terms Mr. Anson +thought proper to offer to quiet the uneasiness of the +supercargoes; and notwithstanding the apparent equity of the +conditions, many difficulties and objections were urged, nor +would the Chinese agree to them till the Commodore had consented +to pay for every article he bespoke before it was put in hand. +However, at last the contract being passed, it was some +satisfaction to the Commodore to be certain that his preparations +were now going on, and being himself on the spot, he took care to +hasten them as much as possible.</p> + +<p>During this interval, in which the stores and provisions were +getting ready, the merchants continually entertained Mr. Anson +with accounts of their various endeavours to get a licence from +the Viceroy, and their frequent disappointments, which to him was +now a matter of amusement, as he was fully satisfied there was +not one word of truth in anything they said. But when all was +completed, and wanted only to be shipped, which was about the +24th of November, at which time, too, the north-east monsoon was +set in, he then resolved to apply himself to the Viceroy to +demand an audience, as he was persuaded that without this +ceremony the procuring a permission to send his stores on board +would meet with great difficulty. On the 24th of November, +therefore, Mr. Anson sent one of his officers to the mandarin who +commanded the guard of the principal gate of the city of Canton +with a letter directed to the Viceroy. When this letter was +delivered to the mandarin, he received the officer who brought it +very civilly, and took down the contents of it in Chinese, and +promised that the Viceroy should be immediately acquainted with +it, but told the officer it was not necessary for him to wait for +an answer, because a message would be sent to the Commodore +himself.</p> + +<p>A FIRE AT CANTON.</p> + +<p>Two days after the sending the above-mentioned letter a fire +broke out in the suburbs of Canton. On the first alarm Mr. Anson +went thither with his officers and his boat's crew to assist the +Chinese. When he came there he found that it had begun in a +sailor's shed, and that by the slightness of the buildings and +the awkwardness of the Chinese it was getting head apace. But he +perceived that by pulling down some of the adjacent sheds it +might easily be extinguished; and particularly observing that it +was running along a wooden cornice which would soon communicate +it to a great distance, he ordered his people to begin with +tearing away that cornice. This was presently attempted, and +would have been soon executed, but in the meantime he was told +that, as there was no mandarin there to direct what was to be +done, the Chinese would make him (the Commodore) answerable for +whatever should be pulled down by his orders. On this his people +desisted, and he sent them to the English factory to assist in +securing the Company's treasure and effects, as it was easy to +foresee that no distance was a protection against the rage of +such a fire, where so little was done to put a stop to it; for +all this time the Chinese contented themselves with viewing it +and now and then holding one of their idols near it, which they +seemed to expect should check its progress. However, at last a +mandarin came out of the city, attended by four or five hundred +firemen. These made some feeble efforts to pull down the +neighbouring houses, but by this time the fire had greatly +extended itself, and was got amongst the merchants' warehouses, +and the Chinese firemen, wanting both skill and spirit, were +incapable of checking its violence, so that its fury increased +upon them, and it was feared the whole city would be destroyed. +In this general confusion the Viceroy himself came thither, and +the Commodore was sent to and was entreated to afford his +assistance, being told that he might take any measures he should +think most prudent in the present emergency. And now he went +thither a second time, carrying with him about forty of his +people, who upon this occasion exerted themselves in such a +manner as in that country was altogether without example. For +they were rather animated than deterred by the flames and falling +buildings amongst which they wrought, so that it was not uncommon +to see the most forward of them tumble to the ground on the roofs +and amidst the ruins of houses which their own efforts brought +down with them. By their boldness and activity the fire was soon +extinguished, to the amazement of the Chinese, and the building +being all on one floor, and the materials slight, the seamen, +notwithstanding their daring behaviour, happily escaped with no +other injuries than some considerable bruises. The fire, though +at last thus luckily extinguished, did great mischief during the +time it continued, for it consumed an hundred shops and eleven +streets full of warehouses, so that the damage amounted to an +immense sum. It raged, indeed, with unusual violence, for in many +of the warehouses there were large quantities of camphor, which +greatly added to its fury, and produced a column of exceeding +white flame, which shot up into the air to such a prodigious +height that the flame itself was plainly seen on board the +Centurion, though she was thirty miles distant.</p> + +<p>Whilst the Commodore and his people were labouring at the +fire, and the terror of its becoming general still possessed the +whole city, several of the most considerable Chinese merchants +came to Mr. Anson to desire that he would let each of them have +one of his soldiers (for such they styled his boat's crew from +the uniformity of their dress) to guard their warehouses and +dwelling-houses, which, from the known dishonesty of the +populace, they feared would be pillaged in the tumult. Mr. Anson +granted them this request, and all the men that he thus furnished +to the Chinese behaved greatly to the satisfaction of their +employers, who afterwards highly applauded their great diligence +and fidelity. By this means the resolution of the English at the +fire, and their trustiness and punctuality elsewhere, was the +subject of general conversation amongst the Chinese, and the next +morning many of the principal inhabitants waited on the Commodore +to thank him for his assistance, frankly owning to him that they +could never have extinguished the fire of themselves, and that he +had saved their city from being totally consumed. And soon after +a message came to the Commodore from the Viceroy, appointing the +30th of November for his audience, which sudden resolution of the +Viceroy, in a matter that had been so long agitated in vain, was +also owing to the signal services performed by Mr. Anson and his +people at the fire, of which the Viceroy himself had been in some +measure an eye-witness. The fixing this business of the audience +was, on all accounts, a circumstance which Mr. Anson was much +pleased with, as he was satisfied that the Chinese Government +would not have determined this point without having agreed among +themselves to give up their pretensions to the duties they +claimed, and to grant him all he could reasonably ask; for, as +they well knew the Commodore's sentiments, it would have been a +piece of imprudence not consistent with the refined cunning of +the Chinese to have admitted him to an audience only to have +contested with him. <a name="anson-40"></a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER 40.<br> +ANSON RECEIVED BY THE VICEROY--CENTURION SETS SAIL--TABLE +BAY--SPITHEAD.</h2> + +<p>THE VICEROY.</p> + +<p>At ten o'clock in the morning, on the day appointed, a +mandarin came to the Commodore to let him know that the Viceroy +was ready to receive him, on which the Commodore and his retinue +immediately set out. And as soon as he entered the outer gate of +the city, he found a guard of two hundred soldiers drawn up ready +to attend him; these conducted him to the great parade before the +Emperor's palace, where the Viceroy then resided. In this parade +a body of troops, to the number of ten thousand, were drawn up +under arms, and made a very fine appearance, being all of them +new clothed for this ceremony, and Mr. Anson and his retinue +having passed through the middle of them, he was then conducted +to the great hall of audience, where he found the Viceroy seated +under a rich canopy in the Emperor's chair of state, with all his +Council of Mandarins attending. Here there was a vacant seat +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 only the head of the law and of the treasury, who +in the Chinese Government take place of all military officers. +When the Commodore was seated he addressed himself to the Viceroy +by his interpreter, 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 insincerity of those he had +employed, and that he had therefore no other means left than to +send, as he had done, his own officer with a letter to the gate. +On the mention of this the Viceroy stopped the interpreter, and +bid him assure Mr. Anson that the first knowledge they had of his +being at Canton was from the letter. Mr. Anson then proceeded, +acquainting the Viceroy that the proper season was now set in for +returning to Europe, and that he waited only for a license to +ship off his provisions and stores, which were all ready, and +that, as soon as this should be granted to him, and he should +have got his necessaries on board, he intended to leave the river +of Canton and to make the best of his way to England. The Viceroy +replied to this that the license should be immediately issued, +and that everything should be ordered on board the following day. +The Viceroy continued the conversation for some time, +acknowledging in very civil terms how much the Chinese were +obliged to him for his signal services at the fire, and owning +that he had saved the city from being destroyed; and then, +observing that the Centurion had been a good while on their +coast, he closed his discourse by wishing the Commodore a good +voyage to Europe. After which, the Commodore thanking him for his +civility and assistance, took his leave.</p> + +<p>Thus the Commodore, to his great joy, at last finished this +troublesome affair, which for the preceding four months had given +him great disquietude. Indeed, he was highly pleased with +procuring a licence for the shipping his stores and provisions; +for thereby he was enabled to return to Great Britain with the +first of the monsoon, and to prevent all intelligence of his +being expected. But this, though a very important point, was not +the circumstance which gave him the greatest satisfaction, for he +was more particularly attentive to the authentic precedent +established on this occasion, by which His Majesty's ships of war +are for the future exempted from all demands of duty in any of +the ports of China.</p> + +<p>HOMEWARD BOUND.</p> + +<p>In pursuance of the promises of the Viceroy, the provisions +were begun to be sent on board the day after the audience, and +four days after the Commodore embarked at Canton for the +Centurion, and on the 7th of December the Centurion and her prize +unmoored and stood down the river, passing through the Bocca +Tigris on the 10th. And on this occasion I must observe that the +Chinese had taken care to man the two forts on each side of that +passage with as many men as they could well contain, the greatest +part of them armed with pikes and matchlock muskets. These +garrisons affected to show themselves as much as possible to the +ships, and were doubtless intended to induce Mr. Anson to think +more reverently than he had hitherto done of the Chinese military +power. For this purpose they were equipped with much parade, +having a great number of colours exposed to view, and on the +castle in particular there were laid considerable heaps of large +stones, and a soldier of unusual size, dressed in very sightly +armour, stalked about on the parapet with a battleaxe in his hand +endeavouring to put on as important and martial an air as +possible, though some of the observers on board the Centurion +shrewdly suspected, from the appearance of his armour, that +instead of steel, it was composed only of a particular kind of +glittering paper.</p> + +<p>The Commodore, on the 12th of December, anchored before the +town of Macao. Whilst the ships lay here the merchants of Macao +finished their agreement for the galleon, for which they had +offered 6,000 dollars; this was much short of her value, but the +impatience of the Commodore to get to sea, to which the merchants +were no strangers, prompted them to insist on so unequal a +bargain. Mr. Anson had learnt enough from the English at Canton +to conjecture that the war betwixt Great Britain and Spain was +still continued, and that probably the French might engage in the +assistance of Spain before he could arrive in Great Britain; and +therefore, knowing that no intelligence could get to Europe of +the prize he had taken, and the treasure he had on board, till +the return of the merchantmen from Canton, he was resolved to +make all possible expedition in getting back, that he might be +himself the first messenger of his own good fortune, and might +thereby prevent the enemy from forming any projects to intercept +him. For these reasons he, to avoid all delay, accepted the sum +offered for the galleon, and she being delivered to the +merchants, the 15th of December 1743, the Centurion the same day +got under sail on her return to England. And on the 3rd of +January she came to an anchor at Prince's Island, in the Straits +of Sunda, and continued there wooding and watering till the 8th, +when she weighed and stood for the Cape of Good Hope, where on +the 11th of March she anchored in Table Bay.</p> + +<p>Here the Commodore continued till the beginning of April, +highly delighted with the place, which by its extraordinary +accommodations, the healthiness of its air, and the picturesque +appearance of the country, all enlivened by the addition of a +civilised colony, was not disgraced in an imaginary comparison +with the valleys of Juan Fernandez and the lawns of Tinian. +During his stay he entered about forty new men, and having by the +3rd of April, 1744, completed his water and provision, he on that +day weighed and put to sea. The 19th of the same month they saw +the island of St. Helena, which, however, they did not touch at, +but stood on their way; and on the 10th of June, being then in +soundings, they spoke with an English ship from Amsterdam bound +for Philadelphia, whence they received the first intelligence of +a French war. The 12th they got sight of the Lizard, and the +15th, in the evening, to their infinite joy, they came safe to an +anchor at Spithead. But that the signal perils which had so often +threatened them in the preceding part of the enterprise might +pursue them to the very last, Mr. Anson learned on his arrival +that there was a French fleet of considerable force cruising in +the chops of the Channel, which, by the account of their +position, he found the Centurion had run through and had been all +the time concealed by a fog. Thus was this expedition finished, +when it had lasted three years and nine months, after having, by +its event, strongly evinced this important truth: That though +prudence, intrepidity, and perseverance united are not exempted +from the blows of adverse fortune, yet in a long series of +transactions they usually rise superior to its power, and in the +end rarely fail of proving successful. <a name= +"anson-glossary"></a></p> + +<h2>GLOSSARY</h2> + +<p>Anchors:</p> + +<p>Bower anchors (the best bower and the small bower). The +anchors carried at the bows of a vessel.</p> + +<p>The sheet anchor (= shoot anchor). An anchor to be shot out or +lowered in case of a great danger, carried abaft the forerigging; +formerly the largest anchor.</p> + +<p>Bag-wig. See Wig.</p> + +<p>Barge. See Boats.</p> + +<p>Bilging. To bilge = to be stove in, or suffer serious injury +in the bilge, which is the bottom part of a ship's hull.</p> + +<p>Boats:</p> + +<p>Barge. The second boat of a man-of-war; a long narrow boat, +generally with not less than ten oars, for the use of the chief +officers.</p> + +<p>Cutter. A boat belonging to a ship of war, shorter and in +proportion broader than the barge or pinnace, fitted for rowing +and sailing, and used for carrying light stores, passengers, +etc.</p> + +<p>Longboat. The principal boat of the old man-of-war. Now +replaced by steam launches.</p> + +<p>Pinnace. A boat for the accommodation of the inferior officers +of a man-of-war, resembling the barge.</p> + +<p>Yawl. A small boat used for much the same purposes as the +cutter.</p> + +<p>Bow-chasers. See Chasers.</p> + +<p>Bower. See Anchor.</p> + +<p>Bring to. To bring a vessel's head up to the wind so that the +wind blows from bow to stern.</p> + +<p>Broad pennant. See Commodore.</p> + +<p>Cacao. Chocolate nuts.</p> + +<p>Cackle. To cover a cable spirally with old three-inch rope to +protect it from chafing.</p> + +<p>Callous (of a broken bone). The new bony tissue formed between +and around the fractured ends of a broken bone in the process of +reuniting.</p> + +<p>Careening is the operation of heaving down a ship on one side, +in order to expose the other side for cleaning.</p> + +<p>Cartel. A written agreement between belligerents for an +exchange of prisoners.</p> + +<p>Caulk. To make a ship's seams watertight by plugging the +crevices with oakum (i.e. old untwisted rope).</p> + +<p>Chasers. Bow-chasers were two long chase-guns placed forward +in the bow ports to fire directly ahead. Stern-chasers were +similar guns mounted astern.</p> + +<p>Clean. A clean ship is one whose bottom is free from barnacles +and weed that check the pace.</p> + +<p>Clearing for action. To get ready for battle by clearing the +decks from encumbrances and anything unnecessary or dangerous, +such as wooden partitions between cabins, etc.</p> + +<p>Cochineal. A dye stuff consisting of female cochineal insects +killed and dried by heat. They yield a brilliant scarlet dye.</p> + +<p>Cohorn mortars. See Mortar.</p> + +<p>The commerce. Used several times in the sense of "the +traders."</p> + +<p>Commodore. A naval officer ranking above a captain and below a +rear-admiral. In the British Navy the rank is a temporary one, +given to senior officers in command of detached squadrons. The +broad pennant (chapter 4) is the flag that marks the presence of +a commodore on board.</p> + +<p>Courses. The sails below the topsails and next to the +deck.</p> + +<p>Cutter. See Boats.</p> + +<p>Dollar. A corruption of the German "thaler," a name for a +silver coin worth about four shillings. The name was extended in +the form "dollar" to other coins of similar size, notably the old +Spanish "piece of eight." See Pieces of eight.</p> + +<p>Doubloon. A former Spanish gold coin worth about eight +dollars.</p> + +<p>Eight. See Pieces of.</p> + +<p>Embargo. A temporary order from Government to prevent the +arrival or departure of ships.</p> + +<p>Fetch (the wake of). To reach the track left by a ship.</p> + +<p>File (of musketeers). Latin filum, French file = a row. The +word is used to signify any line of men standing directly behind +one another. In ordinary two-deep formations a file consists of +two men, one in the front rank and one in the rear rank.</p> + +<p>Fishing (a mast). To strengthen or mend a mast by fastening +strips of wood or iron along a weak or broken place.</p> + +<p>Foot-rope. A rope stretched under a yard arm for sailors to +stand on while reefing or furling sails.</p> + +<p>Fore-cap. The cap is a stout block joining the bottom of one +mast to the top of another; as where the foretopmast joins the +foremast.</p> + +<p>Foremast, foretopmast, etc. See Mast.</p> + +<p>Fore-reach. To gain upon or pass; to beat in sailing.</p> + +<p>Foreyard. The lowest yard on the foremast of a square-rigged +vessel.</p> + +<p>Grapnel. A boat's anchor having more than two flukes. Come to +grapnel, cf. Come to anchor.</p> + +<p>Half-galleys. A galley is a low, flat-built sea-going vessel +with one deck, propelled by sails and oars. A half-galley is a +similar vessel, but much shorter.</p> + +<p>Half-pike. See Pike.</p> + +<p>Hand (the sails). To furl.</p> + +<p>Hawser. A large rope or small cable.</p> + +<p>Indulgences. The remission by authorised priests of the +punishment due to sin. The sale of indulgences was one of the +abuses that provoked the Reformation.</p> + +<p>Jerk. To cure meat, especially beef, by cutting it into long +thin slices and drying it in the sun.</p> + +<p>Jury-mast. A small temporary mast often made of a yard; set up +instead of a mast that is broken down.</p> + +<p>Larboard (or port). The left side of a ship looking towards +the bow.</p> + +<p>Lay to (lie to). To reduce sail to the lowest limits, so as to +become nearly stationary.</p> + +<p>Lee. The side or direction opposite to that from which the +wind comes.</p> + +<p>Line, ship of the. A ship of sufficient size and armament to +take a place in the line of battle.</p> + +<p>Linguist. Interpreter.</p> + +<p>Longboat. See Boats.</p> + +<p>Lumber. Sawn timber.</p> + +<p>Masts: The masts of a full-rigged three-masted ship are the +following: Fore-mast, topmast, topgallant-mast, royal mast. +Main-mast, topmast, topgallant-mast, royal mast. Mizzen-mast, +topmast, topgallant-mast, royal mast.</p> + +<p>Monsoon. See Winds.</p> + +<p>Mortar. A kind of gun with a very short bore. It throws its +projectile at a great elevation.</p> + +<p>Mortar, Cohorn (see chapter 7). Cohorn was a famous Dutch +engineer and artillerist in the service of William III.</p> + +<p>Nailed up. Spiked. To spike a gun is to render it useless for +the time by inserting into the vent a steel pin with side +springs, which when inserted open outwards to the shape of an +arrowhead so that it cannot be released.</p> + +<p>Offing: 1. The most distant part of the sea visible from the +shore. 2. A still greater distance, sufficient to avoid the +dangers of shipwreck, as "a good offing."</p> + +<p>Overreach. To pass.</p> + +<p>Parallel, i.e. of latitude or longitude as the case may +be.</p> + +<p>Pennant, Broad. See Commodore.</p> + +<p>Pidreroes. Light Spanish cannon.</p> + +<p>Pieces of eight. Old Spanish coins worth about four shillings +each. The piece of eight was divided into eight silver reals. +Hence the name which was applied to it in the Spanish Main. It +was also frequently called a dollar.</p> + +<p>Pike. A long shaft or pole, having an iron or steel point, +used in medieval warfare, now replaced by the bayonet. A +half-pike was a similar weapon having a staff about half the +length.</p> + +<p>Pink. An obsolete name for a small sailing ship.</p> + +<p>Pinnace. See Boats.</p> + +<p>Port (or larboard). The left side of a ship looking towards +the bow.</p> + +<p>Post-captain. An obsolete title for a captain of three years' +standing.</p> + +<p>Proa. A small Malay vessel.</p> + +<p>Quarter. The upper part of a vessel's side from abaft the main +mast to the stern.</p> + +<p>Quarter gallery. A gallery is a balcony built outside the body +of a ship: at the stern (stern gallery) or at the quarters +(quarter gallery).</p> + +<p>Reef. A portion of a sail that can be drawn close +together.</p> + +<p>Rosaries. Strings of beads used by Roman Catholics in praying. +Each bead told (or counted) represents a prayer.</p> + +<p>Scuttle. To make a hole in the bottom of a ship in order to +sink it.</p> + +<p>Serons (of dollars). A seron or seroon is a kind of small +trunk made in Spanish America out of a piece of raw bullock's +hide.</p> + +<p>Service (of a cable). The part next the anchor secured by +cordage wrapped round it.</p> + +<p>Ship of the line. See Line.</p> + +<p>Shrouds. The stout ropes that are stretched from a masthead of +a vessel to the sides or to the rims of a top, serving as a means +of ascent and as a lateral strengthening stays to the masts.</p> + +<p>Sling. A rope or chain by which a lower yard is suspended.</p> + +<p>Sprit-sail. A quadrangular sail stretched from the mast by the +help, not of a gaff along its top, but of a sprit (or yard) +extending from the mast diagonally to the upper aftmost corner of +the sail, as in the case of a London barge.</p> + +<p>Sprit-sail yard. Another name for the sprit.</p> + +<p>Standing rigging. The parts of a vessel's rigging that are +practically permanent.</p> + +<p>Starboard. The right side of a ship looking towards the +bow.</p> + +<p>Stern-chasers. See Chasers.</p> + +<p>Streaks (or strakes). Lines of planking.</p> + +<p>Supercargo. A person employed by the owners of a ship to go a +voyage and to oversee the cargo.</p> + +<p>Tacks ("got our tacks on board," chapter 17). Ropes for +hauling down and fastening the corners of certain sails.</p> + +<p>Taffrail. The upper part of the stern of a ship.</p> + +<p>Tie-wig. See Wig.</p> + +<p>Tradewind. See Winds.</p> + +<p>Transom. A beam across the stern-post to strengthen the after +part of the ship.</p> + +<p>Traverse. To turn guns to the right or left in aiming.</p> + +<p>Wake. The track left by a ship.</p> + +<p>Warp. To move a vessel into another position by hauling upon a +hawser attached usually to the heads of piles or posts of a +wharf.</p> + +<p>Wear (a ship). To bring a ship about by putting the helm up. +The vessel is first run off before the wind and then brought to +on the new tack.</p> + +<p>Weather: 1. The windward side. 2. To go to windward of.</p> + +<p>Wig. A bag-wig is a wig with a bag to hold the back hair. It +was fashionable in the seventeenth century. A tie-wig is a court +wig tied with ribbon at the bag.</p> + +<p>Winds. The tradewinds are winds which blow all the year +through on the open ocean in and near the torrid zone. In the +northern hemisphere they blow from the north-east, in the +southern from the south-east. The regularity of the tradewind is +interfered with by the neighbourhood of large land masses. Their +temperature varies much more with the change of seasons than that +of the ocean; and this variation produces a change in the +direction of the tradewind in the hot season, corresponding +distantly to a phenomenon which may be observed, daily instead of +half-yearly, on the English coast in hot summer weather, when a +sea breeze blows during the day and a land breeze at night. In +the northern hemisphere the monsoon--as this periodic wind is +called--blows from the south-west (i.e. towards the heated +continent of South Asia) from April to October, and from the +north-east, as the ordinary trade wind, during the rest of the +year.</p> + +<p>Works, upper. The sides of a vessel's hull from the water-line +to the covering board.</p> + +<p>THE END</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Anson's Voyage Round the World, by Richard Walter + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANSON'S VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD *** + +***** This file should be named 16611-h.htm or 16611-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1/16611/ + +Produced by Amy Zelmer and Sue Asscher + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Anson's Voyage Round the World + The Text Reduced + +Author: Richard Walter + +Commentator: H. W. Household + +Release Date: August 28, 2005 [EBook #16611] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANSON'S VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD *** + + + + +Produced by Amy Zelmer and Sue Asscher + + + + + +ANSON'S VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. + + +THE TEXT REDUCED. + + + +WITH INTRODUCTION, NOTES AND GLOSSARY + +BY + +H.W. HOUSEHOLD, M.A. +FORMERLY ASSISTANT MASTER AT CLIFTON COLLEGE. + + + +RIVINGTONS +34, KING STREET, COVENT GARDEN, +LONDON. + +1901. + + + +CONTENTS. + + +INTRODUCTION BY THE EDITOR. + + +CHAPTER 1. PURPOSE OF THE VOYAGE. COMPOSITION OF THE SQUADRON. ARRIVAL AT + MADEIRA. + + +CHAPTER 2. SPANISH PREPARATIONS. FATE OF PIZARRO'S SQUADRON. + + +CHAPTER 3. FROM MADEIRA TO ST. CATHERINE'S. UNHEALTHINESS OF THE + SQUADRON. + + +CHAPTER 4. THE COMMODORE'S INSTRUCTIONS. BAD WEATHER. NARROW ESCAPE OF + THE PEARL. ST JULIAN. + + +CHAPTER 5. FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. TIERRA DEL FUEGO. THE STRAITS OF LE + MAIRE. + + +CHAPTER 6. HEAVY GALES. A LONG BATTLE WITH WIND AND SEA. THE CENTURION + LOSES HER CONSORTS. + + +CHAPTER 7. OUTBREAK OF SCURVY. DANGER OF SHIPWRECK. + + +CHAPTER 8. ARRIVAL AT JUAN FERNANDEZ. THE TRIAL REJOINS. + + +CHAPTER 9. THE SICK LANDED. ALEXANDER SELKIRK. SEALS AND SEA-LIONS. + + +CHAPTER 10. REAPPEARANCE OF THE GLOUCESTER. DISTRESS ON BOARD. HER + EFFORTS TO ENTER THE BAY. + + +CHAPTER 11. TRACES OF SPANISH CRUISERS. ARRIVAL OF THE ANNA PINK. + + +CHAPTER 12. THE WRECK OF THE WAGER. A MUTINY. + + +CHAPTER 13. THE WRECK OF THE WAGER (CONTINUED). THE ADVENTURES OF THE + CAPTAIN'S PARTY. + + +CHAPTER 14. THE LOSSES FROM SCURVY. STATE AND PROSPECTS OF THE SQUADRON. + + +CHAPTER 15. A PRIZE. SPANISH PREPARATIONS. A NARROW ESCAPE. + + +CHAPTER 16. THE COMMODORE'S PLANS. ANOTHER PRIZE. THE TRIAL DESTROYED. + + +CHAPTER 17. MORE CAPTURES. ALARM OF THE COAST. PAITA. + + +CHAPTER 18. THE ATTACK ON PAITA. + + +CHAPTER 19. THE ATTACK ON PAITA (CONTINUED). KIND TREATMENT AND RELEASE + OF THE PRISONERS. THEIR GRATITUDE. + + +CHAPTER 20. A CLEVER TRICK. WATERING AT QUIBO. CATCHING THE TURTLE. + + +CHAPTER 21. DELAY AND DISAPPOINTMENT. CHASING A HEATH FIRE. ACAPULCO. THE + MANILA GALLEON. FRESH HOPES. + + +CHAPTER 22. THE MANILA TRADE. + + +CHAPTER 23. WAITING FOR THE GALLEON. DISAPPOINTMENT. CHEQUETAN. + + +CHAPTER 24. THE PRIZES SCUTTLED. NEWS OF THE SQUADRON REACHES ENGLAND. + BOUND FOR CHINA. + + +CHAPTER 25. DELAYS AND ACCIDENTS. SCURVY AGAIN. A LEAK. THE GLOUCESTER + ABANDONED. + + +CHAPTER 26. THE LADRONES SIGHTED. TINIAN. + + +CHAPTER 27. LANDING THE SICK. CENTURION DRIVEN TO SEA. + + +CHAPTER 28. ANSON CHEERS HIS MEN. PLANS FOR ESCAPE. RETURN OF THE + CENTURION. + + +CHAPTER 29. THE CENTURION AGAIN DRIVEN TO SEA. HER RETURN. DEPARTURE FROM + TINIAN. + + +CHAPTER 30. CHINESE FISHING FLEETS. ARRIVAL AT MACAO. + + +CHAPTER 31. MACAO. INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNOR. A VISIT TO CANTON. + + +CHAPTER 32. A LETTER TO THE VICEROY. A CHINESE MANDARIN. THE CENTURION IS + REFITTED AND PUTS TO SEA. + + +CHAPTER 33. WAITING FOR THE MANILA GALLEON. + + +CHAPTER 34. THE CAPTURE OF THE GALLEON. + + +CHAPTER 35. SECURING THE PRISONERS. MACAO AGAIN. AMOUNT OF THE TREASURE. + + +CHAPTER 36. THE CANTON RIVER. NEGOTIATING WITH THE CHINESE. PRISONERS + RELEASED. + + +CHAPTER 37. CHINESE TRICKERY. + + +CHAPTER 38. PREPARATIONS FOR A VISIT TO CANTON. + + +CHAPTER 39. STORES AND PROVISIONS. A FIRE IN CANTON. SAILORS AS FIREMEN. + THE VICEROY'S GRATITUDE. + + +CHAPTER 40. ANSON RECEIVED BY THE VICEROY. CENTURION SETS SAIL. TABLE + BAY. SPITHEAD. + + +MAPS. +1. MAP OF SOUTH AMERICA. +2. MAP OF THE CHINA SEA. + + +NOTES. + + +GLOSSARY. + +... + + + +INTRODUCTION. + +It was in the reign of Elizabeth that England first became the enemy of +Spain. Rivals as yet Spain had none, whether in Europe or beyond the +seas. There was only one great military monarchy in Europe, only one +great colonising power in the New World, and that was Spain. While +England was still slowly recovering from the prostration consequent upon +the Wars of the Roses, and nearly a century had to run before she +established her earliest colony in Newfoundland, the enterprise and +disciplined courage of the Spaniards had added an enormous empire across +the Atlantic to the already great dominions of the Spanish crown. In 1520 +Magellan, whose ship was the first to circumnavigate the globe, pushed +his way into the Pacific and reached the Philippines. In 1521 Cortez +completed the conquest of Mexico. Pizarro in 1532 added Peru, and shortly +afterwards Chile to the Spanish Empire. + +From the gold mines of Chile and the silver mines of Peru a wealth of +bullion hitherto undreamed of poured into the treasuries of Spain. But no +treasuries, however full, could meet the demands of Phillip II. His +fanatical ambition had thought to dominate Europe and root out the newly +reformed religion which had already established itself in the greater +part of the north and west, and nowhere more firmly than among his +subjects in the Netherlands and among the English. England for years he +had seemed to hold in the hollow of his hand. The Dutch, at the beginning +of their great struggle for freedom, appeared even to themselves to be +embarking upon a hopeless task. Yet from their desperate struggle England +and Holland rose up two mighty nations full of genius for commerce and +for war, while Spain had already advanced far along that path of decline +which led rapidly to the extinction of her preeminence in Europe and the +loss of her colonies beyond the seas. + +By the daring genius of Drake and the great English seamen of the age of +Elizabeth the field of operations was transferred from the Channel to the +American coast. The sack of Spanish towns and the spoil of treasure ships +enriched the adventurers, whose methods were closely akin to piracy, and +who rarely paused to ask whether the two countries were formally at war. +"No peace beyond the line" was a rule of action that scarcely served to +cloak successful piracy. In Spanish eyes it was, not without reason, +wholly unjustifiable. + +The colonial policy of Spain was calculated to raise up everywhere a host +of enemies. In her mistaken anxiety to keep all the wealth of her +colonies to herself she prohibited the rest of the world from engaging in +trade with them. Only with her might they buy and sell. The result was +that a great smuggling trade sprang up. No watchfulness could defeat the +daring and ingenuity of the English, Dutch, and French sailors who +frequented the Caribbean Sea. No threats could prevent the colonists from +attempting to buy and sell in the market that paid them best. The +ferocious vengeance of the Spaniards, which in some cases almost +exterminated the population of their own colonies, converted the traders +into the Buccaneers, an association of sailors of all nations who +established themselves in one of the islands of the Caribbean Sea, and +who for three-quarters of a century were the scourge of the Spanish trade +and dominions. Their cruelty was as remarkable as their skill and daring. +They spared neither man, nor woman, nor child. Even half a century after +their association had been broken up the memory of their inhuman +barbarity was so vivid that no Spanish prisoner ever mounted Anson's deck +without a lively dread, which was only equalled by the general surprise +at his kindly and courteous treatment. The sight of an English sailor +woke terror in every heart. + +At last, in 1713, by the Treaty of Utrecht, that closed the famous War of +the Spanish Succession, in which Marlborough gained his wonderful +victories, Spain consented to resign her claim to a monopoly of trade +with her colonies so far as to permit one English ship a year to visit +the American coasts. But the concession was unavailing. It granted too +little to satisfy the traders. The one ship was sent, but as soon as her +cargo had been cleared she was reloaded from others which lay in the +offing, and the Spanish colonists, only too glad to enrich themselves, +actively connived at the irregularity. The Spanish cruisers endeavoured +to enforce respect for the treaty. They claimed, not without justice, to +search English vessels seen in American waters and to confiscate +forbidden cargoes. English pride rebelled, and English sailors resisted. +Violent affrays took place. The story of Jenkins' ear kindled a wild, +unreasoning blaze of popular resentment, and by 1739 the two countries +were on the verge of war. In the temper of the English people Walpole +dared not admit the Spanish right of search, and he was compelled by +popular feeling to begin a war for which he was not prepared, in a cause +in which he did not believe. + +It was at this point that Anson's expedition was fitted out. + +George Anson was born in 1697. He came of a lawyer stock in +Staffordshire. In 1712 he entered the navy as a volunteer on board the +Ruby. His promotion was rapid, owing partly to his own merit, partly to +the influence of his relations. By 1724 he was captain of the Scarborough +frigate, and was sent out to South Carolina to protect the coast and the +trading ships against pirates, and also against the Spanish cruisers, +which were already exercising that right of searching English vessels +that finally provoked the war of 1739. There he remained till 1730. He +was again on the same station from 1732 to 1735. In 1737 he was appointed +to the Centurion, a small ship of the line carrying sixty guns, and was +sent first to the West Coast of Africa and then to the West Indies. In +1739 he was recalled to conduct the expedition which has made his name so +famous. + +In the account of that voyage, which his Chaplain, Mr. Walter, wrote +under his supervision, everything is told so straightforwardly, and seems +so reasonable and simple, that one is apt to underestimate the +difficulties which he had to face, and the courage and skill which alone +enabled him to overcome them. Seldom has an undertaking been more +remorselessly dogged by an adverse fate than that of Anson. Seldom have +plain common sense, professional knowledge, and unflinching resolution +achieved a more memorable triumph. + +On his return from the great voyage he was promoted rear-admiral, and in +1746 he was given command of the Channel fleet. In 1747 he engaged and +utterly overwhelmed an inferior French fleet, captured several vessels, +and took treasure amounting to 300,000 pounds. For this achievement he +was made a peer. In 1751 he became First Lord of the Admiralty, and to +his untiring efforts in the preparation of squadrons and the training of +seamen is due some part, at any rate, of the glory won by English sailors +during the famous days of Pitt's great ministry. He died in 1762. + +No finer testimony to his skill in choosing and in training his +subordinates can be found than in the list of men who served under him in +the Centurion and afterwards rose to fame. "In the whole history of our +Navy," it has been said, "there is not another instance of so many +juniors from one ship rising to distinction, men like Saunders, Suamarez, +Peircy Brett, Keppel, Hyde Parker, John Campbell." + +He was a man who had a thorough knowledge of his profession. No details +were beneath him. His preparations were always thorough and admirably +adapted to the purpose in view. Always cool, wary, resourceful, and +brave, he was ready to do the right thing, whether he had to capture a +town, delude his enemies, cheer his disheartened crew, or frustrate the +wiliness of a Chinese viceroy. + +Though without anything of the heroic genius of a Nelson, he is still one +of the finest of those great sailors who have done so much for England; +one of whom she will ever be proud, and one whose life and deeds will +always afford an example for posterity to follow. + +... + + +ANSON'S VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. + + +CHAPTER 1. +PURPOSE OF THE VOYAGE.--COMPOSITION OF THE SQUADRON--MADEIRA. + +THE SQUADRON SAILS. + +When, in the latter end of the summer of the year 1739, it was foreseen +that a war with Spain was inevitable, it was the opinion of several +considerable persons, then trusted with the administration of affairs, +that the most prudent step the nation could take, on the breaking out of +the war, was attacking that Crown in her distant settlements. It was from +the first determined that George Anson, Esquire, then captain of the +"Centurion", should be employed as commander-in-chief of an expedition of +this kind. The squadron, under Mr. Anson, was intended to pass round Cape +Horn into the South Seas, and there to range along the coast, cruising +upon the enemy in those parts, and attempting their settlements. On the +28th of June, 1740, the Duke of Newcastle, Principal Secretary of State, +delivered to him His Majesty's instructions. On the receipt of these, Mr. +Anson immediately repaired to Spithead, with a resolution to sail with +the first fair wind, flattering himself that all his delays were now at +an end. For though he knew by the musters that his squadron wanted 300 +seamen of their complement, yet as Sir Charles Wager* informed him that +an order from the Board of Admiralty was despatched to Sir John Norris to +spare him the numbers which he wanted, he doubted not of his complying +therewith. But on his arrival at Portsmouth he found himself greatly +mistaken and disappointed in this persuasion, for Admiral Balchen, who +succeeded to the command at Spithead after Sir John Norris had sailed to +the westward, instead of 300 able sailors, which Mr. Anson wanted of his +complement, ordered on board the squadron 170 men only, of which 32 were +from the hospital and sick quarters, 37 from the Salisbury, with officers +of Colonel Lowther's regiment, and 98 marines; and these were all that +were ever granted to make up the forementioned deficiency. + +(*Note. Sir Charles Wager was at that time First Lord of the Admiralty in +Walpole's Ministry.) + +But the Commodore's mortification did not end here. It was at first +intended that Colonel Bland's regiment, and three independent companies +of 100 men each, should embark as land forces on board the squadron. But +this disposition was now changed, and all the land forces that were to be +allowed were 500 invalids, to be collected from the out-pensioners of +Chelsea College.* As these out-pensioners consist of soldiers, who, from +their age, wounds, or other infirmities, are incapable of service in +marching regiments, Mr. Anson was greatly chagrined at having such a +decrepit detachment allotted to him; for he was fully persuaded that the +greatest part of them would perish long before they arrived at the scene +of action, since the delays he had already encountered necessarily +confined his passage round Cape Horn to the most vigorous season of the +year.** They were ordered on board the squadron on the 5th of August; but +instead of 500 there came on board no more than 259; for all those who +had limbs and strength to walk out of Portsmouth deserted, leaving behind +them only such as were literally invalids, most of them being sixty years +of age, and some of them upwards of seventy. + +(*Note. A local name for Chelsea Hospital, a home for old and disabled +soldiers. It was founded by Charles II and the buildings were designed by +Wren.) + +(**Note. The squadron did not reach the neighbourhood of Cape Horn until +March when the autumn of the Southern Hemisphere had begun and with it +the stormy season.) + +To supply the place of the 240 invalids which had deserted there were +ordered on board 210 marines detached from different regiments. These +were raw and undisciplined men, for they were just raised, and had +scarcely anything more of the soldier than their regimentals, none of +them having been so far trained as to be permitted to fire. The last +detachment of these marines came on board the 8th of August, and on the +10th the squadron sailed from Spithead to St. Helens, there to wait for a +wind to proceed on the expedition. + +But the diminishing the strength of the squadron was not the greatest +inconvenience which attended these alterations, for the contests, +representations, and difficulties which they continually produced +occasioned a delay and waste of time which in its consequences was the +source of all the disasters to which this enterprise was afterwards +exposed. For by this means we were obliged to make our passage round Cape +Horn in the most tempestuous season of the year, whence proceeded the +separation of our squadron, the loss of numbers of our men, and the +imminent hazard of our total destruction. And by this delay, too, the +enemy had been so well informed of our designs that a person who had been +employed in the South Sea Company's* service, and arrived from Panama +three or four days before we left Portsmouth, was able to relate to Mr. +Anson most of the particulars of the destination and strength of our +squadron from what he had learned among the Spaniards before he left +them. And this was afterwards confirmed by a more extraordinary +circumstance; for we shall find that when the Spaniards (fully satisfied +that our expedition was intended for the South Seas) had fitted out a +squadron to oppose us, which had so far got the start of us as to arrive +before us off the island of Madeira, the Commander of this squadron was +so well instructed in the form and make of Mr. Anson's broad pennant, and +had imitated it so exactly that he thereby decoyed the "Pearl", one of +our squadron, within gunshot of him before the captain of the Pearl was +able to discover his mistake. + +(*Note. The South Sea Company was formed in 1711 on the model of the East +India Company to trade in the Pacific; and on the conclusion of the +Treaty of Utrecht it was given the monopoly of the English trade with the +Spanish coasts of America. The grant of certain privileges by Government +led to wild speculation in its shares which gave rise to the famous South +Sea Bubble of 1720.) + +On the 18th of September, 1740, the squadron weighed from St. Helens with +a contrary wind. It consisted of five men-of-war, a sloop-of-war, and two +victualling ships. They were the Centurion, of 60 guns, 400 men, George +Anson, Esquire, commander; the "Gloucester", of 50 guns, 300 men, Richard +Norris, commander; the "Severn", of 50 guns, 300 men, the Honourable +Edward Legg, commander; the Pearl, of 40 guns, 250 men, Matthew Mitchel, +commander; the "Wager", of 28 guns, 160 men, Dandy Kidd, commander; and +the "Trial", sloop, of 8 guns, 100 men, the Honourable John Murray, +commander. The two victuallers were pinks, the largest about 400 and the +other about 200 tons burthen; these were to attend us till the provisions +we had taken on board were so far consumed as to make room for the +additional quantity they carried with them, which when we had taken into +our ships they were to be discharged. Besides the complement of men borne +by the above-mentioned ships as their crews, there were embarked on board +the squadron about 470 invalids and marines, under the denomination of +land forces, which were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Cracherode. + +The winds were so contrary that we had the mortification to be forty days +in our passage from St. Helens to the island of Madeira, though it is +known to be often done in ten or twelve. However, at last, on Monday, +October the 25th, at five in the morning, we, to our great joy, made the +land, and in the afternoon came to an anchor in Madeira Road. + +We continued about a week at this island, watering our ships and +providing the squadron with wine and other refreshments. + +When Mr. Anson visited the Governor of Madeira* he received information +from him that for three or four days in the latter end of October there +had appeared, to the westward of that island, seven or eight ships of the +line. The Governor assured the Commodore, upon his honour, that none upon +the island had either given them intelligence or had in any sort +communicated with them, but that he believed them to be either French or +Spanish, but was rather inclined to think them Spanish. On this +intelligence Mr. Anson sent an officer in a clean sloop eight leagues to +the westward to reconnoitre them, and, if possible, to discover what they +were. But the officer returned without being able to get a sight of them, +so that we still remained in uncertainty. However, we could not but +conjecture that this fleet was intended to put a stop to our expedition. +Afterwards, in the course of our expedition, we were many of us persuaded +that this was the Spanish squadron commanded by Don Joseph Pizarro, which +was sent out purposely to traverse the views and enterprises of our +squadron, to which in strength they were greatly superior. + +(*Note. Madeira then as now belonged to Portugal--a neutral power at that +time usually jealous of Spain.) + + +CHAPTER 2. +SPANISH PREPARATIONS--FATE OF PIZARRO'S SQUADRON. + +DON JOSEPH PIZARRO. + +When the squadron fitted out by the Court of Spain to attend our motions +had cruised for some days to the leeward of Madeira they left that +station in the beginning of November and steered for the River of Plate, +where they arrived the 5th of January, Old Style,* and coming to an +anchor in the bay of Maldonado at the mouth of that river their admiral, +Pizarro, sent immediately to Buenos Ayres for a supply of provisions for +they had departed from Spain with only four months' provisions on board. +While they lay here expecting this supply they received intelligence by +the treachery of the Portuguese Governor of St. Catherine's, of Mr. +Anson's having arrived at that island on the 21st of December preceding, +and of his preparing to put to sea again with the utmost expedition. +Pizarro, notwithstanding his superior force, had his reasons (and as some +say, his orders likewise) for avoiding our squadron anywhere short of the +South Seas. He was besides extremely desirous of getting round Cape Horn +before us, as he imagined that step alone would effectually baffle all +our designs, and therefore, on hearing that we were in his +neighbourhood** and that we should soon be ready to proceed for Cape Horn +he weighed anchor*** after a stay of seventeen days only and got under +sail without his provisions, which arrived at Maldonado within a day or +two after his departure. But notwithstanding the precipitation with which +he departed we put to sea from St. Catherine's four days before him and +in some part of our passage to Cape Horn the two squadrons were so near +together that the Pearl, one of our ships, being separated from the rest, +fell in with the Spanish fleet, and mistaking the Asia for the Centurion +had got within gunshot of Pizarro before she discovered her error, and +narrowly escaped being taken. + +(*Note. The calendar as regulated by Julius Caesar in 46 BC assumed the +length of the solar year to be exactly 365 1/2 days, whereas it is eleven +minutes and a few with seconds less. By 1582 the error had become +considerable for the calendar was ten days behind the sun. Pope Gregory +XIII therefore ordained that ten days in that year should be dropped and +October 5th reckoned as October 15th. In order to avoid error in the +future it was settled that three of the leap years that occur in 400 +years should be considered common years. So 1600 was and 2000 will be a +leap year but 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not. The New Style (NS.) was +adopted by Catholic countries. Protestant countries as a rule rejected it +and adhered to the old Style (OS.). The result was a considerable +confusion in dates as will be plain in the course of the book. The New +Style was adopted by England in 1751, when eleven days had to be omitted, +and September 3rd was reckoned as September 14th. Ignorant people thought +that they were defrauded of eleven days wages. "Give us back our eleven +days" became a popular cry against the Minister of the time. Russia and +other countries under the Greek Church still adhere to the old Style and +are now thirteen days behind.) + +(**Note. Anson's squadron was then at St. Catherine's in Brazil. See +below, Chapter 3.) + +(***Note. The Spanish squadron when it sailed from Maldonado consisted of +the following ships: "Asia", 66 guns, flag ship; "Guipuscoa", 74; +"Hermiona", 54; "Esperanza", 50; "St. Estevan", 40. The Asia was the only +ship that ever returned to Spain.) + +Pizarro with his squadron having, towards the latter end of February, run +the length of Cape Horn, he then stood to the westward in order to double +it; but in the night of the last day of February, OS. while, with this +view, they were turned to windward the Guipuscoa, the Hermiona, and the +Esperanza were separated from the Admiral. On the 6th of March following +the Guipuscoa was separated from the other two, and on the 7th (being the +day after we had passed straits le Maire) there came on a most furious +storm at north-west, which, in despite of all their efforts, drove the +whole squadron to the eastward, and obliged them, after several fruitless +attempts, to bear away for the River of Plate, where Pizarro in the Asia +arrived about the middle of May and a few days after him the Esperanza +and the St. Estevan. The Hermiona was supposed to founder at sea for she +was never heard of more and the Guipuscoa was run ashore and sunk on the +coast of Brazil. The calamities of all kinds which this squadron +underwentin this unsuccessful navigation can only be paralleled by what +we ourselves experienced in the same climate when buffeted by the same +storms. There was indeed some diversity in our distresses which rendered +it difficult to decide whose situation was most worthy of commiseration; +for to all the misfortunes we had in common with each other as shattered +rigging, leaky ships, and the fatigues and despondency which necessarily +attend these disasters, there was superadded on board our squadron the +ravage of a most destructive and incurable disease* and on board the +Spanish squadron the devastation of famine. + +(*Note. Scurvy.) + +FAMINE. + +For this squadron departed from Spain as has been already observed with +no more than four months' provision and even that, as it is said, at +short allowance only, so that, when by the storms they met with off Cape +Horn their continuance at sea was prolonged a month or more beyond their +expectation they were thereby reduced to such infinite distress that +rats, when they could be caught, were sold for four dollars a piece and a +sailor who died on board had his death concealed for some days by his +brother who during that time lay in the same hammock with the corpse only +to receive the dead man's allowance of provisions. + +By the complicated distress of fatigue, sickness, and hunger, the three +ships which escaped lost the greatest part of their men. The Asia, their +Admiral's ship, arrived at Monte Video in the River of Plate with half +her crew only; the St. Estevan had lost in like manner half her hands +when she anchored in the Bay of Barragan. The Esperanza, a 50-gun ship, +was still more unfortunate, for of 450 hands which she brought from Spain +only 55 remained alive. + +By removing the masts of the Esperanza into the Asia, and making use of +what spare masts and yards they had on board, they made a shift to refit +the Asia and the St. Estevan, and in the October following Pizarro was +preparing to put to sea with these two ships in order to attempt the +passage round Cape Horn a second time, but the St. Estevan, in coming +down the River of Plate, ran on a shoal and beat off her rudder, on +which, and other damages she received, she was condemned and broke up, +and Pizarro in the Asia proceeded to sea without her. Having now the +summer before him and the winds favourable, no doubt was made of his +having a fortunate and speedy passage; but being off Cape Horn and going +right before the wind in very moderate weather, though in a swelling sea +by some misconduct of the officer of the watch the ship rolled away her +masts and was a second time obliged to put back to the River of Plate in +great distress. + +The Asia having considerably suffered in this second unfortunate +expedition the Esperanza which had been left behind at Monte Video, was +ordered to be refitted, the command of her being given to Mindinuetta, +who was captain of the Guipuscoa when she was lost. He, in the November +of the succeeding year that is, in November, 1742, sailed from the River +of Plate for the South Seas and arrived safe on the coast of Chile where +his Commodore, Pizarro, passing overland from Buenos Ayres met him. There +were great animosities and contests between these two gentlemen at their +meeting occasioned principally by the claim of Pizarro to command the +Esperanza, which Mindinuetta had brought round, for Mindinuetta refused +to deliver her up to him, insisting that as he came into the South Seas +alone, and under no superior, it was not now in the power of Pizarro to +resume that authority which he had once parted with. However the +President of Chile interposing, and declaring for Pizarro, Mindinuetta +after a long and obstinate struggle, was obliged to submit. + +But Pizarro had not yet completed the series of his adventures, for when +he and Mindinuetta came back by land from Chile to Buenos Ayres in the +year 1745 they found at Monte Video the Asia, which near three years +before they had left there. This ship they resolved, if possible, to +carry to Europe, and with this view they refitted her in the best manner +they could; but their great difficulty was to procure a sufficient number +of hands to navigate her, for all the remaining sailors of the squadron +to be met with in the neighbourhood of Buenos Ayres did not amount to a +hundred men. They endeavoured to supply this defect by pressing many of +the inhabitants of Buenos Ayres, and putting on board besides all the +English prisoners then in their custody, together with a number of +Portuguese smugglers whom they had taken at different times, and some of +the Indians of the country. Among these last there was a chief and ten of +his followers who had been surprised by a party of Spanish soldiers about +three months before. The name of this chief was Orellana; he belonged to +a very powerful tribe which had committed great ravages in the +neighbourhood of Buenos Ayres. With this motley crew (all of them except +the European Spaniards extremely averse to the voyage) Pizarro set sail +from Monte Video, in the River of Plate about the beginning of November, +1745, and the native Spaniards, being no strangers to the dissatisfaction +of their forced men treated both the English prisoners and the Indians +with great insolence and barbarity, but more particularly the Indians; +for it was common for the meanest officers in the ship to beat them most +cruelly on the slightest pretences, and often times only to exert their +superiority. Orellana and his followers, though in appearance +sufficiently patient and submissive, meditated a severe revenge for all +these inhumanities. Having agreed on the measures necessary to be taken, +they first furnished themselves with Dutch knives sharp at the point, +which, being the common knives used in the ship, they found no difficulty +in procuring. Besides this they employed their leisure in secretly +cutting out thongs from raw hides, of which there were great numbers on +board, and in fixing to each end of these thongs the double-headed shot +of the small quarter-deck guns; this, when swung round their heads +according to the practice of their country was a most mischievous weapon* +in the use of which the Indians about Buenos Ayres are trained from their +infancy, and consequently are extremely expert. + +SPANISH CRUELTY. + +These particulars being in good forwardness, the execution of their +scheme was perhaps precipitated by a particular outrage committed on +Orellana himself; for one of the officers, who was a very brutal fellow, +ordered Orellana aloft, which being what he was incapable of performing, +the officer, under pretence of his disobedience, beat him with such +violence that he left him bleeding on the deck and stupefied for some +time with his bruises and wounds. This usage undoubtedly heightened his +thirst for revenge, and made him eager and impatient till the means of +executing it were in his power, so that within a day or two after this +incident he and his followers opened their desperate resolves in the +ensuing manner. + +(*Note. It is called a bola.) + +A DARING ADVENTURE. + +It was about nine in the evening, when many of the principal officers +were on the quarter-deck indulging in the freshness of the night air; the +waist of the ship was filled with live cattle, and the forecastle was +manned with its customary watch. Orellana and his companions under cover +of the night, having prepared their weapons and thrown off their trousers +and the more cumbrous part of their dress, came altogether on the +quarter-deck and drew towards the door of the great cabin. The boatswain +immediately reprimanded them and ordered them to be gone. On this +Orellana spoke to his followers in his native language when four of them +drew off, two towards each gangway, and the chief and the six remaining +Indians seemed to be slowly quitting the quarter-deck. When the detached +Indians had taken possession of the gangways, Orellana placed his hands +hollow to his mouth and bellowed out the war-cry used by those savages, +which is said to be the harshest and most terrifying sound known in +nature. This hideous yell was the signal for beginning the massacre, for +on this the Indians all drew their knives and brandished their prepared +double-headed shot, and the six, with their chief, who remained on the +quarter-deck, immediately fell on the Spaniards who were intermingled +with them, and laid near forty of them at their feet, of whom above +twenty were killed on the spot, and the rest disabled. Many of the +officers, in the beginning of the tumult, pushed into the great cabin, +where they put out the lights and barricaded the door. And of the others, +who had avoided the first fury of the Indians, some endeavoured to escape +along the gangways into the forecastle, but the Indians placed there on +purpose stabbed the greatest part of them as they attempted to pass by, +or forced them off the gangways into the waist. Others threw themselves +voluntarily over the barricades into the waist, and thought themselves +happy to lie concealed amongst the cattle; but the greatest part escaped +up the main-shrouds and sheltered themselves either in the tops or +rigging; and though the Indians attacked only the quarter-deck, yet the +watch in the forecastle, finding their communication cut off, and being +terrified by the wounds of the few who, not being killed on the spot, had +strength sufficient to force their passage along the gangways, and not +knowing either who their enemies were or what were their numbers, they +likewise gave all over for lost, and in great confusion ran up into the +rigging of the foremast and bowsprit. + +Thus these eleven Indians, with a resolution perhaps without example, +possessed themselves almost in an instant of the quarter-deck of a ship +mounting sixty-six guns, with a crew of nearly five hundred men, and +continued in peaceable possession of this post a considerable time; for +the officers in the great cabin (amongst whom were Pizarro and +Mindinuetta), the crew between decks, and those who had escaped into the +tops and rigging, were only anxious for their own safety, and were for a +long time incapable of forming any project for suppressing the +insurrection and recovering the possession of the ship. It is true, the +yells of the Indians, the groans of the wounded and the confused clamours +of the crew, all heightened by the obscurity of the night, had at first +greatly magnified their danger, and had filled them with the imaginary +terrors which darkness, disorder, and an ignorance of the real strength +of an enemy never fail to produce. For as the Spaniards were sensible of +the disaffection of their pressed hands, and were also conscious of their +barbarity to their prisoners, they imagined the conspiracy was general, +and considered their own destruction as infallible; so that, it is said, +some of them had once taken the resolution of leaping into the sea, but +were prevented by their companions. + +However, when the Indians had entirely cleared the quarter-deck, the +tumult in a great measure subsided; for those who had escaped were kept +silent by their fears, and the Indians were incapable of pursuing them to +renew the disorder. Orellana, when he saw himself master of the +quarter-deck, broke open the arm chest, which, on a slight suspicion of +mutiny, had been ordered there a few days before, as to a place of the +greatest security. Here, he took it for granted, he should find cutlasses +sufficient for himself and his companions, in the use of which weapon +they were all extremely skilful, and with these, it was imagined, they +proposed to have forced the great cabin; but on opening the chest there +appeared nothing but firearms, which to them were of no use. There were +indeed cutlasses in the chest, but they were hid by the firearms being +laid over them. This was a sensible disappointment to them, and by this +time Pizarro and his companions in the great cabin were capable of +conversing aloud, through the cabin windows and port-holes, with those in +the gun-room and between decks; and from hence they learned that the +English (whom they principally suspected) were all safe below, and had +not intermeddled in this mutiny; and by other particulars they at last +discovered that none were concerned in it but Orellana and his people. On +this Pizarro and the officers resolved to attack them on the +quarter-deck, before any of the discontented on board should so far +recover their first surprise as to reflect on the facility and certainty +of seizing the ship by a junction with the Indians in the present +emergency. With this view Pizarro got together what arms were in the +cabin, and distributed them to those who were with him; but there were no +other firearms to be met with but pistols, and for these they had neither +powder nor ball. However, having now settled a correspondence with the +gun room, they lowered down a bucket out of the cabin window, into which +the gunner, out of one of the gun-room ports, put a quantity of pistol +cartridges. When they had thus procured ammunition, and had loaded their +pistols, they set the cabin door partly open, and fired some shot amongst +the Indians on the quarter-deck, at first without effect. But at last +Mindinuetta had the good fortune to shoot Orellana dead on the spot; on +which his faithful companions, abandoning all thoughts of further +resistance, instantly leaped into the sea, where they every man perished. +Thus was this insurrection quelled, and the possession of the +quarter-deck regained, after it had been full two hours in the power of +this great and daring chief and his gallant and unhappy countrymen. + +Pizarro, having escaped this imminent peril, steered for Europe, and +arrived safe on the coast of Galicia* in the beginning of the year 1746, +after having been absent between four and five years. + +(*Note. Galicia is the north-western province of Spain.) + + +CHAPTER 3. +FROM MADEIRA TO ST. CATHERINE'S--UNHEALTHINESS OF THE SQUADRON. + +On the 3rd of November we weighed from Madeira. + +On the 20th the captains of the squadron represented to the Commodore +that their ships' companies were very sickly, and that it was their own +opinion as well as their surgeons' that it would tend to the preservation +of the men to let in more air between decks; but that their ships were so +deep they could not possibly open their lower ports. On this +representation the Commodore ordered six air-scuttles to be cut in each +ship, in such places where they would least weaken it. + +We crossed the Equinoctial, with a fine fresh gale at south-east on +Friday, the 28th of November, at four in the morning, being then in the +longitude of 27 degrees 59 minutes west from London. + +On the 12th of December we spoke with a Portuguese brigantine from Rio de +Janeiro, who informed us that we were sixty-four leagues from Cape St. +Thomas, and forty leagues from Cape Frio. + +DISEASE. + +We now began to grow impatient for a sight of land, both for the recovery +of our sick and for the refreshment and security of those who as yet +continued healthier. When we departed from St. Helens, we were in so good +a condition that we lost but two men on board the Centurion in our long +passage to Madeira. But in this present run between Madeira and St. +Catherine's we had been very sickly, so that many died, and great numbers +were confined to their hammocks, both in our own ship and in the rest of +the squadron; and several of these past all hopes of recovery. By our +continuance at sea all our complaints were every day increasing, so that +it was with great joy that we discovered the coast of Brazil on the 18th +of December, at seven in the morning. + +We moored at the island of St. Catherine's on Sunday, the 21st of +December, the whole squadron being sickly and in great want of +refreshments: both which inconveniences we hoped to have soon removed at +this settlement, celebrated by former navigators for its healthiness and +its provisions, and for the freedom, indulgence, and friendly assistance +there given to the ships of all European nations in amity with the Crown +of Portugal. + +Our first care, after having moored our ships, was to send our sick men +on shore. We sent about eighty sick from the Centurion, and the other +ships I believe, sent nearly as many in proportion to the number of their +hands. As soon as we had performed this necessary duty, we scraped our +decks, and gave our ship a thorough cleansing; then smoked it between +decks, and after all washed every part well with vinegar. Our next +employment was wooding and watering our squadron, caulking our ships' +sides and decks, overhauling our rigging, and securing our masts against +the tempestuous weather we were, in all probability, to meet with in our +passage round Cape Horn in so advanced and inconvenient a season. + +In order to render the ships stiffer, and to enable them to carry more +sail abroad, and to prevent their labouring in hard gales of wind, each +captain had orders given him to strike down some of their great guns into +the hold. These precautions being complied with, and each ship having +taken in as much wood and water as there was room for, the whole squadron +was ready for the sea; on which the tents on shore were struck, and all +the sick were received on board. And here we had a melancholy proof how +much the healthiness of this place had been overrated by former writers, +for we found that though the Centurion alone had buried no less than +twenty-eight men since our arrival, yet the number of our sick was in the +same interval increased from eighty to ninety-six. + +And now our crews being embarked, and everything prepared for our +departure, the Commodore made a signal for all captains, and delivered +them their orders, containing the successive places of rendezvous from +hence to the coast of China. And then on the next day, being the 18th of +January, 1741, the signal was made for weighing, and the squadron put to +sea. + + +CHAPTER 4. +THE COMMODORE'S INSTRUCTIONS--BAD WEATHER--NARROW ESCAPE OF THE + PEARL--ST JULIAN. + +THE LAST AMICABLE PORT. + +In leaving St. Catherine's, we left the last amicable port we proposed to +touch at, and were now proceeding to a hostile, or at best a desert and +inhospitable coast. And as we were to expect a more boisterous climate to +the southward than any we had yet experienced, not only our danger of +separation would by this means be much greater than it had been hitherto, +but other accidents of a more pernicious nature were likewise to be +apprehended, and as much as possible to be provided against. And +therefore Mr. Anson, in appointing the various stations at which the +ships of the squadron were to rendezvous, had considered that it was +possible his own ship might be disabled from getting round Cape Horn, or +might be lost; and had given proper directions that even in that case the +expedition should not be abandoned. For the orders delivered to the +captains the day before we sailed for St. Catherine's were that in case +of separation--which they were with the utmost care to endeavour to +avoid--the first place of rendezvous should be the Bay of Port St. +Julian. If after a stay there 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 island of Nuestra Senora del Socoro.* They were to bring this island +to bear east-north-east, and to cruise from five to twelve leagues' +distance from it, as long as their store of wood and water would permit, +both which they were to expend with the utmost frugality. And when they +were under an absolute necessity of a fresh supply, they were to stand +in, and endeavour to find out an anchoring-place; and in case they could +not, and the weather made it dangerous to supply their ships by standing +off and on, they were then to make the best of their way to the island of +Juan Fernandez. And as soon as they had recruited their wood and water, +they were to continue cruising off the anchoring-place of that island for +fifty-six days, in which time, if they were not joined by the Commodore, +they might conclude that some accident had befallen him; and they were +forthwith to put themselves under the command of the senior officer, who +was to use his utmost endeavours to annoy the enemy both by sea and land. +With these views their new Commodore was to continue in those seas as +long as his provisions lasted, or as long as they were recruited by what +he should take from the enemy, reserving only a sufficient quantity to +carry him and the ships under his command to Macao at the entrance of the +River Tigris, near Canton, on the coast of China, where, having supplied +himself with a new stock of provisions he was thence without delay to +make the best of his way to England. + +(*Note. Nuestra Senora del Socoro is one of the smaller outer islands of +the Chonos Archipelago on the western coast of Patagonia.) + +The next day we had very squally weather, attended with rain, lightning, +and thunder; but it soon became fair again, with light breezes, and +continued thus till Wednesday evening, when it blew fresh again; and +increasing all night, by eight the next morning it became a most violent +storm, and we had with it so thick a fog that it was impossible to see at +the distance of two ships' lengths, so that the whole squadron +disappeared.* On this a signal was made by firing guns, to bring to with +the larboard tacks, the wind being then due east. We ourselves lay to +under a reefed mizzen till noon, when the fog dispersed; and we soon +discovered all the ships of the squadron, except the Pearl, which did not +join us till near a month afterwards. The Trial sloop was a great way to +leeward, having lost her mainmast in this squall, and having been +obliged, for fear of bilging, to cut away the wreck. We bore down with +the squadron to her relief, and the Gloucester was ordered to take her in +tow, for the weather did not entirely abate until the day after, and even +then a great swell continued from the eastward in consequence of the +preceding storm. + +(*Note. i.e. from the sight of those on board the Centurion.) + +A RUSE DE GUERRE. + +On the 17th of February at five in the afternoon, we came to an anchor in +the latitude of 48 degrees 58 minutes. Weighing again at five the next +morning, we an hour afterwards discovered a sail upon which the Severn +and Gloucester were both directed to give chase; but we soon perceived it +to be the Pearl, which separated from us a few days after we left St. +Catherine's; and on this we made a signal for the Severn to rejoin the +squadron, leaving the Gloucester alone in the pursuit. And now we were +surprised to see that, on the Gloucester's approach, the people on board +the Pearl increased their sail and stood from her. However, the +Gloucester came up with them, but found them with their hammocks in their +nettings and everything ready for an engagement. At two in the afternoon +the Pearl joined us, and running up under our stern, Lieutenant Salt +hailed the Commodore, and acquainted him that Captain Kidd* died on the +31st of January. He likewise informed him that he had seen five large +ships on the 10th instant, which he for some time imagined to be our +squadron; that he suffered the commanding ship, which wore a red broad +pennant exactly resembling that of the Commodore, at the main top-mast +head, to come within gun-shot of him before he discovered his mistake; +but then, finding it not to be the Centurion, he hauled close upon the +wind, and crowded from them with all his sail, and standing across a +rippling, where they hesitated to follow him, he happily escaped. He made +them out to be five Spanish men-of-war, one of them exceedingly like the +Gloucester, which was the occasion of his apprehensions when the +Gloucester chased him. By their appearance he thought they consisted of +two ships of 70 guns, two of 50, and one of 40 guns. The whole squadron +continued in chase of him all that day, but at night, finding they could +not get near him, they gave over the chase, and directed their course to +the southward. + +(*Note. Captain Mitchel commanded the Pearl when the squadron started; +but Captain Norris of the Gloucester had gone home sick from Madeira and +several changes had taken place in the commands. The death of Captain +Kidd caused fresh promotions. Captain Mitchel now commanded the +Gloucester and Captain Murray the Pearl; while Lieutenants Cheap and +Saunders had been promoted captains of the Wager and Trial.) + +And now, had it not been for the necessity we were under of refitting the +Trial, this piece of intelligence would have prevented our making any +stay at St. Julian; but as it was impossible for that sloop to proceed +round the Cape in the present condition, some stay there was inevitable; +and, therefore, we sent the two cutters belonging to the Centurion and +Severn in shore to discover the harbour of St. Julian, while the ships +kept standing along the coast at about the distance of a league from the +land. At six o'clock we anchored in the Bay of St. Julian. Soon after the +cutters returned on board, having discovered the harbour, which did not +appear to us in our situation, the northernmost point shutting in upon +the southernmost, and in appearance closing the entrance. + +Being come to an anchor in this Bay of St. Julian, principally with a +view of refitting the Trial, the carpenters were immediately employed in +that business, and continued so during our whole stay at the place. Here +the Commodore, too, in order to ease the expedition of all unnecessary +expense, held a consultation with his captains about unloading and +discharging the Anna pink;* but they represented to him that they were so +far from being in a condition of taking any part of her loading on board +that they had still great quantities of provisions in the way of their +guns between decks, and that their ships were withal so very deep that +they were not fit for action without being cleared. This put the +Commodore under the necessity of retaining the pink in the service; and +as it was apprehended we should certainly meet with the Spanish squadron +in passing the Cape, Mr. Anson thought it advisable to give orders to the +captains to put all their provisions which were in the way of their guns +on board the Anna pink, and to remount such of their guns as had formerly +for the ease of their ships been ordered into the hold. + +(*Note. The Industry pink had been unloaded and discharged on November +19th.) + + +CHAPTER 5. +FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS--TIERRA DEL FUEGO--THE STRAITS OF LE MAIRE. + +A COUNCIL OF WAR. + +The Trial being nearly refitted, which was our principal occupation at +this Bay of St. Julian, and the sole occasion of our stay, the Commodore +thought it necessary, as we were now directly bound for the South Seas +and the enemy's coasts, to regulate the plan of his future operations. +And therefore, on the 24th of February, a signal was made for all +captains, and a council of war was held on board the Centurion. At this +council Mr. Anson proposed that their first attempt, after their arrival +in the South Seas, should be the attack of the town and harbour of +Baldivia, the principal frontier place of the district of Chile. To this +proposition made by the Commodore the council unanimously and readily +agreed; and in consequence of this resolution instructions were given to +the captains of the squadron, by which they were directed in case of +separation to make the best of their way to the island of Nuestra Senora +del Socoro, and to cruise off that island ten days; from whence, if not +joined by the Commodore, they were to proceed and cruise off the harbour +of Baldivia, making the land between the latitudes of 40 degrees and 40 +degrees 30 minutes, and taking care to keep to the southward of the port; +and if in fourteen days they were not joined by the rest of the squadron, +they were then to quit this station, and to direct their course to the +island of Juan Fernandez, after which they were to regulate their further +proceedings by their former orders. And as separation of the squadron +might prove of the utmost prejudice to His Majesty's service, each +captain was ordered to give it in charge to the respective officers of +the watch not to keep their ship at a greater distance from the Centurion +than two miles, as they would answer it at their peril; and if any +captain should find his ship beyond the distance specified, he was to +acquaint the Commodore with the name of the officer who had thus +neglected his duty. + +These necessary regulations being established, and the Trial sloop +completed, the squadron weighed on Friday, the 27th of February, at seven +in the morning, and stood to sea. + +From our departure from St. Julian to the 4th of March we had little +wind, with thick, hazy weather and some rain. On the 4th of March we were +in sight of Cape Virgin Mary,* and not more than six or seven leagues +distant from it. The afternoon of this day was very bright and clear, +with small breezes of wind, inclinable to a calm; and most of the +captains took the opportunity of this favourable weather to pay a visit +to the Commodore. + +(*Note. Cape de las Virgenes, the south-eastern extremity of Patagonia at +the entrance to the straits of Magellan.) + +We here found, what was constantly verified by all our observations in +these high latitudes,* that fair weather was always of an exceeding short +duration, and that when it was remarkably fine it was a certain presage +of a succeeding storm; for the calm and sunshine of our afternoon ended +in a most turbulent night, the wind freshening from the south-west as the +night came on, and increasing its violence continually till nine in the +morning the next day, when it blew so hard that we were obliged to bring +to with the squadron, and to continue under a reefed mizzen till eleven +at night. Towards midnight, the wind abating, we made sail again; and +steering south, we discovered in the morning for the first time the land +called Tierra del Fuego. This indeed afforded us but a very uncomfortable +prospect, it appearing of a stupendous height, covered everywhere with +snow. As we intended to pass through Straits le Maire next day, we lay to +at night that we might not over shoot them, and took this opportunity to +prepare ourselves for the tempestuous climate we were soon to be engaged +in; with which view we employed ourselves good part of the night in +bending an entire new suit of sails to the yards. At four the next +morning, being the 7th of March, we made sail, and at eight saw the land, +and soon after we began to open the Straits. + +THE EVE OF DISASTER. + +About ten o'clock, the Pearl and the Trial being ordered to keep ahead of +the squadron, we entered them with fair weather and a brisk gale, and +were hurried through by the rapidity of the tide in about two hours, +though they are between seven and eight leagues in length. As these +Straits are often considered as the boundary between the Atlantic and +Pacific Oceans, and as we presumed we had nothing now before us but an +open sea till we arrived on those opulent coasts where all our hopes and +wishes centred, we could not help flattering ourselves that the greatest +difficulty of our passage was now at an end, and that our most sanguine +dreams were upon the point of being realised, and hence we indulged our +imaginations in those romantic schemes which the fancied possession of +the Chilean gold and Peruvian silver might be conceived to inspire. These +joyous ideas were heightened by the brightness of the sky and the +serenity of the weather, which was indeed most remarkably pleasing; for +though the winter was now advancing apace, yet the morning of this day, +in its brilliancy and mildness, gave place to none we had seen since our +departure from England. Thus animated by these delusions, we traversed +these memorable Straits, ignorant of the dreadful calamities that were +then impending, and just ready to break upon us; ignorant that the time +drew near when the squadron would be separated never to unite again, and +that this day of our passage was the last cheerful day that the greatest +part of us would ever live to enjoy. + +(*Note. The Equator is the zero (0 degrees) of latitude. The latitude +becomes higher as one proceeds to the poles (90 degrees).) + + +CHAPTER 6. +HEAVY GALES--A LONG BATTLE WITH WIND AND SEA--THE CENTURION LOSES HER CONSORTS. + +We had scarcely reached the southern extremity of the straits of le +Maire, when our flattering hopes were instantly lost in the apprehensions +of immediate destruction. For before the sternmost ships of the squadron +were clear of the Straits, the serenity of the sky was suddenly changed, +and gave us all the presages of an impending storm; and immediately the +wind shifted to the southward, and blew in such violent squalls that we +were obliged to hand our topsails and reef our mainsail. The tide, too, +which had hitherto favoured us, now turned against us and drove us to the +eastward with prodigious rapidity, so that we were in great anxiety for +the Wager and the Anna pink, the two sternmost vessels, fearing they +would be dashed to pieces against the shore of Staten Land. Nor were our +apprehensions without foundation, for it was with the utmost difficulty +they escaped. And now the whole squadron, instead of pursuing their +intended course to the south-west, were driven to the eastward by the +united force of the storm and of the currents; so that next day in the +morning we found ourselves near seven leagues to the eastward of Staten +Land. The violence of the current, which had set us with so much +precipitation to the eastward, together with the force and constancy of +the westerly winds, soon taught us to consider the doubling of Cape Horn +as an enterprise that might prove too mighty for our efforts, though some +amongst us had lately treated the difficulties which former voyagers were +said to have met with in this undertaking as little better than +chimerical, and had supposed them to arise rather from timidity and +unskilfulness than from the real embarrassments of the winds and seas. +But we were severely convinced that these censures were rash and +ill-grounded, for the distresses with which we struggled during the three +succeeding months will not easily be paralleled in the relation of any +former naval expedition. + +From the storm which came on before we had well got clear of Straits le +Maire, we had a continual succession of such tempestuous weather as +surprised the oldest and most experienced mariners on board, and obliged +them to confess that what they had hitherto called storms were +inconsiderable gales compared with the violence of these winds, which +raised such short and at the same time such mountainous waves as greatly +surpassed in danger all seas known in any other part of the globe. And it +was not without great reason that this unusual appearance filled us with +continual terror, for had any one of these waves broke fairly over us, it +must in all probability have sent us to the bottom. + +SEAS MOUNTAINS HIGH. + +It was on the 7th of March, as has been already observed, that we passed +Straits le Maire, and were immediately afterwards driven to the eastward +by a violent storm and the force of the current which set that way. For +the four or five succeeding days we had hard gales of wind from the same +quarter, with a most prodigious swell; so that though we stood, during +all that time, towards the south-west, yet we had no reason to imagine we +had made any way to the westward. In this interval we had frequent +squalls of rain and snow, and shipped great quantities of water; after +which for three or four days, though the seas ran mountains high, yet the +weather was rather more moderate. But on the 18th we had again strong +gales of wind with extreme cold. From hence to the 23rd the weather was +more favourable, though often intermixed with rain and sleet, and some +hard gales; but as the waves did not subside, the ship, by labouring in +this lofty sea, was now grown so loose in her upper works that she let in +the water at every seam; so that every part within board was constantly +exposed to the sea-water, and scarcely any of the officers ever lay in +dry beds. Indeed, it was very rare that two nights ever passed without +many of them being driven from their beds by the deluge of water that +came upon them. + +On the 23rd we had a most violent storm of wind, hail, and rain, with a +very great sea; and though we handed the main-topsail before the height +of the squall, yet we found the yard sprung; and soon after, the +foot-rope of the mainsail breaking, the mainsail itself split instantly +to rags, and in spite of our endeavours to save it, much the greater part +of it was blown overboard. On this the Commodore made the signal for the +squadron to bring to; and, the storm at length flattening to a calm, we +had an opportunity of getting down our main-topsail yard to put the +carpenters at work upon it, and of repairing our rigging; after which, +having bent a new mainsail, we got under sail again with a moderate +breeze. But in less than twenty-four hours we were attacked by another +storm still more furious than the former; for it proved a perfect +hurricane, and reduced us to the necessity of lying to under our bare +poles. + + +As our ship kept the wind better any of the rest, we were obliged in the +afternoon to wear ship, in order to join the squadron to the leeward, +which otherwise we should have been in danger of losing in the night; +and as we dared not venture any sail abroad, we were obliged to make use +of an expedient which answered our purpose; this was putting the helm +a-weather and manning the fore-shrouds. But though this method proved +successful for the end intended, yet in the execution of it one of our +ablest seaman was canted overboard; and notwithstanding the prodigious +agitation of the waves, we perceived that he swam very strong, and it was +with the utmost concern that we found ourselves incapable of assisting +him; and we were the more grieved at his unhappy fate, since we lost +sight of him struggling with the waves, and conceived from the manner in +which he swam that he might continue sensible for a considerable time +longer of the horror attending his irretrievable situation. + +It was this incident that inspired Cowper's 'Castaway,' and called forth +the touching verse given below--a verse so eloquent in its testimony to +that gentler side of Anson's nature, which won for him the affection and +regard not only of his own sailors, but even of his Spanish prisoners. + +Of this poor sailor, and of the page in the ship's books that bore his +name, Cowper wrote: + +No poet wept him; but the page +Of narrative sincere, +That tells his name, his worth, his age, +Is wet with Anson's tear. +And tears by bards or heroes shed +Alike immortalise the dead. + +From hence we had an interval of three or four days less tempestuous than +usual, but accompanied with a thick fog, in which we were obliged to fire +guns almost every half-hour to keep our squadron together. + +On the first of April the weather returned again to its customary bias, +the sky looked dark and gloomy, and the wind began to freshen and to blow +in squalls; however, it was not yet so boisterous as to prevent our +carrying our topsails close reefed; but its appearance was such as +plainly prognosticated that a still severer tempest was at hand. And +accordingly, on the 3rd of April, there came on a storm which both in its +violence and continuation (for it lasted three days) exceeded all that we +had hitherto encountered. In its first onset we received a furious shock +from the sea which broke upon our larboard quarter, where it stove in the +quarter gallery, and rushed into the ship like a deluge; our rigging, +too, suffered extremely, so that to ease the stress upon the masts and +shrouds we lowered both our main and fore yards, and furled all our +sails, and in this posture we lay to for three days, when, the storm +somewhat abating, we ventured to make sail under our courses only. But +even this we could not do long, for the next day, which was the 7th, we +had another hard gale of wind, with lightning and rain, which obliged us +to lie to again all night. + +And now, after all our solicitude, and the numerous ills of every kind to +which we had been incessantly exposed for near forty days, we had great +consolation in the flattering hopes we entertained, that our fatigues +were drawing to a period, and that we should soon arrive in a more +hospitable climate, where we should be amply repaid for all our past +sufferings. For, towards the latter end of March, we were advanced by our +reckoning near 10 degrees to the westward of the westernmost point of +Tierra del Fuego, and this allowance being double what former navigators +have thought necessary to be taken in order to compensate the drift of +the eastern current, we esteemed ourselves to be well advanced within the +limits of the southern ocean, and had therefore been ever since standing +to the northward with as much expedition as the turbulence of the weather +and our frequent disasters permitted. And, on the 13th of April, we were +but a degree in latitude to the southward of the west entrance of the +straits of Magellan, so that we fully expected, in a very few days, to +have experienced the celebrated tranquillity of the Pacific Ocean. + +AN UNEXPECTED DANGER. + +But these were delusions which only served to render our disappointment +more terrible; for the next morning, between one and two, as we were +standing to the northward, and the weather, which had till then been +hazy, accidentally cleared up, the pink made a signal for seeing land +right ahead and it being but two miles distant, we were all under the +most dreadful apprehensions of running on shore; which, had either the +wind blown from its usual quarter with its wonted vigour, or had not the +moon suddenly shone out, not a ship amongst us could possibly have +avoided. But the wind, which some few hours before blew in squalls from +the south-west, having fortunately shifted to west-north-west, we were +enabled to stand to the southward, and to clear ourselves of this +unexpected danger; so that by noon we had 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 Tierra del Fuego, near the southern outlet of the Straits of Magellan. +It was indeed most wonderful that the currents should have driven us to +the eastward with such strength; for the whole squadron esteemed +themselves upwards of ten degrees more westerly than this land. And now, +instead of having our labours and anxieties relieved by approaching a +warmer climate and more tranquil seas, we were to steer again to the +southward, and again to combat those western blasts which had so often +terrified us; and this, too, when we were weakened by our men falling +sick and dying apace, and when our spirits, dejected by a long +continuance at sea, and by our late disappointment, were much less +capable of supporting us in the various difficulties which we could not +but expect in this new undertaking. Add to all this, too, the +discouragement we received by the diminution of the strength of the +squadron; for three days before this we lost sight of the Severn and the +Pearl in the morning; and though we spread our ships, and beat about for +some time, yet we never saw them more; whence we had apprehensions that +they too might have fallen in with this land in the night, and, being +less favoured by the wind and the moon than we were, might have run on +shore and have perished. + +After the mortifying disappointment of falling in with the coast of +Tierra del Fuego, when we esteemed ourselves 10 degrees to the westward +of it, we stood away to the south-west till the 22nd of April, when we +were in upwards of 60 degrees south, and by our account near 6 degrees to +the westward of Cape Noir.* And in this run we had a series of as +favourable weather as could well be expected in that part of the world, +even in a better season; so that this interval, setting the inquietude of +our thoughts aside, was by far the most eligible of any we enjoyed from +Straits le Maire to the west coast of America. This moderate weather +continued with little variation till the 24th; but on the 24th in the +evening the wind began to blow fresh, and soon increased to a prodigious +storm; and the weather being extremely thick, about midnight we lost +sight of the other ships of the squadron, which, notwithstanding the +violence of the preceding storms, had hitherto kept in company with us. + +(*Note. Part of Tierra del Fuego near the southern outlet of the Straits +of Magellan.) + +On the 25th, about noon, the weather became more moderate, but still we +had no sight of the rest of the squadron, nor indeed were we joined by +any of them again till after our arrival at Juan Fernandez, nor did any +two of them, as we have since learned, continue in company together. + +The remaining part of this month of April we had generally hard gales, +although we had been every day since the 22nd edging to the northward. +However, on the last day of the month we flattered ourselves with the +hopes of soon terminating all our sufferings, for we that day found +ourselves in the latitude of 52 degrees 13 minutes, which, being to the +northward of the Straits of Magellan we were assured that we had +completed our passage, and had arrived in the confines of the Southern +Ocean; and this ocean being nominated Pacific,* from the equability of +the seasons which are said to prevail there, and the facility and +security with which navigation is there carried on, we doubted not but we +should be speedily cheered with the moderate gales, the smooth water, and +the temperate air, for which that tract of the globe has been so +renowned. And under the influence of these pleasing circumstances we +hoped to experience some kind of compensation for the complicated +miseries which had so constantly attended us for the last eight weeks. +But here we were again disappointed; for in the succeeding month of May +our sufferings rose to a much higher pitch than they had ever yet done, +whether we consider the violence of the storms, the shattering of our +sails and rigging, or the diminishing and weakening of our crew by deaths +and sickness, and the probable prospect of our total destruction. + +(*Note. Peace-making. So named by Magellan from the fine weather he +experienced there in 1520 and 1521. He was the first European to enter +that ocean. The name was scarcely deserved.) + + +CHAPTER 7. +OUTBREAK OF SCURVY*--DANGER OF SHIPWRECK. + +(*Note. 'Scurvy.' The nature of the disease and the proper method of +treatment were not fully understood in Anson's day. It is caused by +improper diet and particularly by the want of fresh vegetables. Lemon and +lime juice are the best protectives against it and they were made an +essential element in nautical diet in 1795. The disease which used to +cause dreadful mortality on long voyages has since that time gradually +disappeared and is now very rarely met with.) + +THE PACIFIC. + +Soon after our passing Straits le Maire the scurvy began to make its +appearance amongst us; and our long continuance at sea, the fatigue we +underwent, and the various disappointments we met with, had occasion its +spreading to such a degree, that at the latter end of April there were +but few on board who were not in some degree afflicted with it; and in +that month no less than forty-three died of it on board the Centurion. +But though we thought that the distemper had then risen to an +extraordinary height, and were willing to hope that as we advanced to the +northward its malignant would abate, yet we found, on the contrary, that +in the month of May we lost nearly double that number. And as we did not +get to land till the middle of June, the mortality went on increasing, +and the disease extended itself so prodigiously that after the loss of +above two hundred men we could not at last muster more than six foremast +men in a watch capable of duty. + +This disease, so frequently attending all long voyages, and so +particularly destructive to us, is usually attended with a strange +dejection of the spirits, and with shiverings, tremblings, and a +disposition to be seized with the most dreadful terrors on the slightest +accident. Indeed, it was most remarkable, in all our reiterated +experience of this malady, that whatever discouraged our people, or at +any time damped their hopes, never failed to add new vigour to the +distemper, for it usually killed those who were in the last stage of it, +and confined those to their hammocks who were before capable of some kind +of duty; so that it seemed as if alacrity of mind and sanguine thoughts +were no contemptible preservatives from its fatal malignity. + +A most extraordinary circumstance, and what would be scarcely credible +upon any single evidence, is, that the scars of wounds which had been for +many years healed were forced open again by this virulent distemper. Of +this there was a remarkable instance 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 soon after, and had continued well +for a great number of years past, yet, on his being attacked by the +scurvy, his wounds, in the progress of his disease, broke out afresh, and +appeared as if they had never been healed. Nay, what is still more +astonishing, the callous of a broken bone, which had been completely +formed for a long time, was found to be hereby dissolved, and the +fracture seemed as if it had never been consolidated. Indeed, the effects +of this disease were in almost every instance wonderful; for many of our +people, though confined to their hammocks, appeared to have no +inconsiderable share of health, for they ate and drank heartily, were +cheerful, and talked with much seeming vigour, and with a loud, strong +tone of voice; and yet on their being the least moved, though it was only +from one part of the ship to the other, and that in their hammocks, they +have immediately expired; and others who have confided in their seeming +strength, and have resolved to get out of their hammocks, have died +before they could well reach the deck. And it was no uncommon thing for +those who were able to walk the deck, and to do some kind of duty, to +drop down dead in an instant, on any endeavours to act with their utmost +vigour, many of our people having perished in this manner during the +course of this voyage. + +(*Note. William III defeated James II and his army of Irish and French +troops July 12th, 1690.) + +THE ISLAND OF SOCORO. + +With this terrible disease we struggled the greatest part of the time of +our beating round Cape Horn. We entertained hopes that when we should +have once secured our passage round the Cape, we should put a period to +this and all the other evils which had so constantly pursued us. But it +was our misfortune to find that the Pacific Ocean was to us less +hospitable than the turbulent neighbourhood of Tierra del Fuego and Cape +Horn; for being arrived, on the 8th of May, off the island of Socoro, +which was the first rendezvous appointed for the squadron, and where we +hoped to have met with some of our companions, we cruised for them in +that station several days. And here we were not only disappointed in our +hopes of being joined by our friends, and thereby induced to favour the +gloomy suggestions of their having all perished, but we were likewise +perpetually alarmed with the fears of being driven on shore upon this +coast, which appeared too craggy and irregular to give us the least hopes +that in such a case any of us could possibly escape immediate +destruction. For the land had indeed a most tremendous aspect; the most +distant part of it, and which appeared far within the country, being the +mountains usually called the Andes or Cordilleras, was extremely high, +and covered with snow; and the coast itself seemed quite rocky and +barren, and the water's edge skirted with precipices. As we were utterly +ignorant of the coast, had we been driven ashore by the western winds, +which blew almost constantly there, we did not expect to have avoided the +loss of our ship and of our lives. + +And this continued peril, which lasted for about a fortnight, was greatly +aggravated by the difficulties we found in working the ship; as the +scurvy had by this time destroyed so great a part of our hands, and had +in some degree affected almost the whole crew. Nor did we, as we hoped, +find the winds less violent as we advanced to the northward; for we had +often prodigious squalls, which split our sails, greatly damaged our +rigging, and endangered our masts. + + +CHAPTER 8. +JUAN FERNANDEZ--THE TRIAL REJOINS. + +THE SEARCH FOR JUAN FERNANDEZ. + +It were endless to recite minutely the various disasters, fatigues, and +terrors which we encountered on this coast; all these went on increasing +till the 22nd of May, at which time the fury of all the storms which we +had hitherto encountered seemed to be combined, and to have conspired our +destruction. In this hurricane almost all our sails were split, and great +part of our standing rigging broken; and, about eight in the evening, a +mountainous overgrown sea took us upon our starboard quarter, and gave us +so prodigious a shock that several of our shrouds broke with the jerk, by +which our masts were greatly endangered. Our ballast and stores, too, +were so strangely shifted that the ship heeled afterwards two streaks to +port. Indeed, it was a most tremendous blow, and we were thrown into the +utmost consternation from the apprehension of instantly foundering. This +was the last effort of that stormy climate, for in a day or two we found +the weather more moderate than we had yet experienced since our passing +Straits le Maire. And now having cruised in vain for more than a +fortnight in quest of the other ships of the squadron, it was resolved to +take advantage of the present favourable season and the offing we had +made from this terrible coast, and to make the best of our way for the +island of Juan Fernandez.* For though our next rendezvous was appointed +off the harbour of Baldivia, yet as we had hitherto seen none of our +companions at this first rendezvous, it was not to be supposed that any +of them would be found at the second; indeed, we had the greatest reason +to suspect that all but ourselves had perished. Besides, we were by this +time reduced to so low a condition that, instead of attempting to attack +the places of the enemy, our utmost hopes could only suggest to us the +possibility of saving the ship, and some part of the remaining enfeebled +crew, by our speedy arrival at Juan Fernandez; for this was the only road +in that part of the world where there was any probability of our +recovering our sick or refitting our vessel, and consequently our getting +thither was the only chance we had left to avoid perishing at sea. + +(*Note. 'Juan Fernandez.' This island which is 13 miles long by 4 miles +broad, now belongs to Chili. It was discovered in 1563 by Juan Fernandez. +As it was unoccupied it was a favourite resort of the buccaneers +throughout the seventeenth century, as well as of English squadrons +despatched like those of Dampier and Anson, to prey on Spanish commerce, +and needing to refit and water after the long voyage round Cape Horn. The +Spaniards at last occupied it in 1750, in self-defence. It was here that +Alexander Selkirk was put ashore in 1704.) + +Our deplorable situation, then, allowing no room for deliberation, we +stood for the island of Juan Fernandez. On the 28th of May, being nearly +in the parallel upon which it is laid down, we had great expectations of +seeing it; but not finding it in the position in which the charts had +taught us to expect it, we began to fear that we had got too far to the +westward; and therefore, though the Commodore himself was strongly +persuaded that he saw it on the morning of the 28th, yet his officers +believing it to be only a cloud, to which opinion the haziness of the +weather gave some kind of countenance, it was on a consultation resolved +to stand to the eastward in the parallel of the island; as it was certain +that by this course we should either fall in with the island, if we were +already to the westward of it, or should at least make the mainland of +Chili, whence we might take a new departure, and assure ourselves, by +running to the westward afterwards, of not missing the island a second +time. + +On the 30th of May we had a view of the continent of Chili, distant +about twelve or thirteen leagues. It gave us great uneasiness to find +that we had so needlessly altered our course when we were, in all +probability, just upon the point of making the island; for the mortality +amongst us was now increased to a most dreadful degree, and those who +remained alive were utterly dispirited by this new disappointment and the +prospect of their longer continuance at sea. Our water, too, began to +grow scarce, so that a general dejection prevailed amongst us, which +added much to the virulence of the disease, and destroyed numbers of our +best men; and to all these calamities there was added this vexatious +circumstance that when, after having got sight of the main, we tacked and +stood to the westward in quest of the island, we were so much delayed by +calms and contrary winds that it cost us nine days to regain the westing +which, when we stood to the eastward, we ran down in two. In this +desponding condition, with a crazy ship, a great scarcity of water, and a +crew so universally diseased that there were not above ten foremast men +in a watch capable of doing duty, and even some of these lame and unable +to go aloft; under these disheartening circumstances, I say, we stood to +the westward; and on the 9th of June, at daybreak, we at last discovered +the long-wished-for island of Juan Fernandez. + +It appeared to be a mountainous place, extremely ragged and irregular; +yet as it was land and, the land we sought for, it was to us a most +agreeable sight. For at this place only we could hope to put a period to +those terrible calamities we had so long struggled with, which had +already swept away above half our crew, and which, had we continued a few +days longer at sea, would inevitably have completed our destruction. For +we were by this time reduced to so helpless a condition, that out of two +hundred and odd men who remained alive, we could not, taking all our +watches together, muster hands enough to work the ship on an emergency, +though we included the officers, their servants, and the boys. + +The wind being northerly when we first made the island, we kept plying +all that day and the next night, in order to get in with the land; and +wearing the ship in the middle watch, we had a melancholy instance of the +most incredible debility of our people; for the lieutenant could muster +no more than two quarter-masters and six foremast men capable of working; +so that without the assistance of the officers, servants, and boys, it +might have proved impossible for us to have reached the island after we +had got sight of it; and even with this assistance they were two hours in +trimming the sails. To so wretched a condition was a 60-gun ship reduced, +which had passed Straits le Maire but three months before, with between +four hundred and five hundred men, almost all of them in health and +vigour. + +EVEN GRASS A DAINTY. + +However, on the 10th, in the afternoon, we got under the lee of the +island, and kept ranging along it at about two miles' distance, in order +to look out for the proper anchorage, which was described to be in a bay +on the north side. But at last the night closed upon us before we had +satisfied ourselves which was the proper bay to anchor in, and therefore +we resolved to send our boat next morning to discover the road. At four +in the morning the cutter was despatched with our third lieutenant to +find out the bay we were in search of, who returned again at noon with +the boat laden with seals and grass; for though the island abounded with +better vegetables, yet the boat's crew, in their short stay, had not met +with them; and they well knew that even grass would prove a dainty, and, +indeed, it was all soon and eagerly devoured. The seals, too, were +considered as fresh provision, but as yet were not much admired, though +they grew afterwards into more repute; for what rendered them less +valuable at this juncture was the prodigious quantity of excellent fish +which the people on board had taken during the absence of the boat. + +The cutter, in this expedition, had discovered the bay where we intended +to anchor, which we found was to the westward of our present station; and +the next morning we steered along shore till we came abreast of the point +that forms the eastern part of the bay. On opening the bay, the wind, +that had befriended us thus far, shifted, and blew from thence in +squalls; but by means of the headway we had got, we luffed close in, till +the anchor brought us up in fifty-six fathoms. Soon after we had thus got +to our new berth, we discovered a sail, which we made no doubt was one of +our squadron; and on its nearer approach, we found it to be the Trial +sloop. We immediately sent some of our hands on board her, by whose +assistance she was brought to an anchor between us and the land. We soon +found that the sloop had not been exempted from those calamities which we +had so severely felt; for her commander, Captain Saunders, waiting on the +Commodore, informed him that out of his small complement he had buried +thirty-four of his men; and those that remained were so universally +afflicted with the scurvy that only himself, his lieutenant, and three of +his men were able to stand by the sails. + + +CHAPTER 9. +THE SICK LANDED--ALEXANDER SELKIRK*--SEALS AND SEA-LIONS. + +(*Note. Alexander Selkirk (1676 to 1721) was an adventurous sailor who +joined Dampier's privateering expedition to the South Seas in 1703. He +quarrelled with his captain, Stradling, and requested to be landed on the +uninhabited island of Juan Fernandez. He immediately repented of his +request, and begged to be taken off; but his prayers were disregarded, +and he remained on the island from September, 1704, until he was picked +up in 1709 by Dampier's new expedition. An account of his adventures was +published, which apparently gave Defoe his idea of Robinson Crusoe.) + +We were now extremely occupied in sending on shore materials to raise +tents for the reception of the sick, who died apace on board. But we had +not hands enough to prepare the tents for their reception before the +16th. On that and the two following days we sent them all on shore, +amounting to a hundred and sixty-seven persons, besides at least a dozen +who died in the boats on their being exposed to the fresh air. The +greatest part of our sick were so infirm that we were obliged to carry +them out of the ship in their hammocks, and to convey them afterwards in +the same manner from the waterside to their tents, over a stony beach. +This was a work of considerable fatigue to the few who were healthy; and +therefore the Commodore, with his accustomed humanity, not only assisted +herein with his own labour, but obliged his officers, without +distinction, to give their helping hand. + +The excellence of the climate and the looseness of the soil render this +place extremely proper for all kinds of vegetation; for if the ground be +anywhere accidentally turned up, it is immediately overgrown with turnips +and Sicilian radishes; and therefore, Mr. Anson having with him garden +seeds of all kinds, and stones of different sorts of fruits, he, for the +better accommodation of his countrymen who should hereafter touch here, +sowed both lettuces, carrots, and other garden plants, and set in the +woods a great variety of plum, apricot, and peach stones. And these last, +he has been informed, have since thriven to a very remarkable degree; for +some gentlemen, who in their passage from Lima to old Spain were taken +and brought to England, having procured leave to wait upon Mr. Anson to +thank him for his generosity and humanity to his prisoners, some of whom +were their relations, they in casual discourse with him about his +transactions in the South Seas, particularly asked him if he had not +planted a great number of fruit-stones on the island of Juan Fernandez; +for they told him their late navigators had discovered there numbers of +peach trees and apricot trees, which being fruits before unobserved in +that place, they concluded them to be produced from kernels set by him. + +ALEXANDER SELKIRK. + +Former writers have related that this island abounded with vast numbers +of goats; and their accounts are not to be questioned, this place being +the usual haunt of the buccaneers* and privateers who formerly frequented +those seas. And there are two instances--one of a Mosquito Indian, and +the other of Alexander Selkirk, a Scotchman, who were left by their +respective ships, and lived alone upon this island for some years, and +consequently were no strangers to its produce. Selkirk, who was the last, +after a stay of between four and five years, was taken off the place by +the Duke and Duchess privateers, of Bristol, as may be seen at large in +the journal of their voyage. His manner of life during his solitude was +in most particulars very remarkable; but there is one circumstance he +relates which was so strangely verified by our own observation that I +cannot help reciting it. He tells us, among other things, as he often +caught more goats than he wanted, he sometimes marked their ears and let +them go. This was about thirty-two years before our arrival at the +island. Now it happened that the first goat that was killed by our people +at their landing had his ears slit; whence we concluded that he had +doubtless been formerly under the power of Selkirk. This was indeed an +animal of a most venerable aspect, dignified with an exceeding majestic +beard, and with many other symptoms of antiquity. During our stay on the +island we met with others marked in the same manner, all the males being +distinguished by an exuberance of beard and every other characteristic of +extreme age. But the great numbers of goats, which former writers +described to have been found upon this island, are at present very much +diminished. For the Spaniards being informed of the advantages which the +buccaneers and privateers drew from the provisions which goats' flesh +here furnished them with, they have endeavoured to extirpate the breed, +thereby to deprive their enemies of this relief. For this purpose they +have put on shore great numbers of large dogs, who have increased apace, +and have destroyed all the goats in the accessible part of the country; +so that there now remain only a few among the crags and precipices where +the dogs cannot follow them. + +(Note. 'The buccaneers.' The name "buccaneer" originally meant one who +dried or smoked flesh on a "boucan," a kind of hurdle used for this +purpose by the natives of Central and South America. The English, French, +and Dutch smugglers who, in spite of the monopoly so jealously guarded by +the Spaniards (see Introduction above) traded in the Caribbean seas, used +to provision at St. Domingo largely with beef, jerked or sun-dried on the +boucans. These men formed an organised body, under a chief chosen by +themselves, and, under the name of the buccaneers, were for +three-quarters of a century the terror of the Spaniards. In 1655 they +were powerful enough to give material assistance to the English fleet +which conquered Jamaica. In 1671 they raised a force of 2,000 men, +marched across the isthmus, and besieged and took Panama; their success, +as usual, being marked by horrible atrocities. In 1685 a Spanish fleet of +fourteen sail, which had been fitted out to put them down, found ten +buccaneer ships in the bay of Panama, but dared not give them battle. The +war between France and England after 1688 dissolved the alliance between +the French and English buccaneers; and the last conspicuous event in +their history was the capture of Cartagena in 1697. Soon after this date +they disappeared as an organised body, though for many years members of +the band remained as pirates in the South Seas.) + +Goats' flesh being scarce, we rarely being able to kill above one a day, +and our people growing tired of fish (which abounds at this place), they +at last condescended to eat seals, which by degrees they came to relish, +and called it lamb. But there is another amphibious creature to be met +with here, called a sea-lion, that bears some resemblance to a seal, +though it is much larger. This, too, we ate, under the denomination of +beef. In general there was no difficulty in killing them, for they were +incapable either of escaping or resisting, their motion being the most +unwieldy that can be conceived, their blubber, all the time they were +moving, being agitated in large waves under their skins. However, a +sailor one day being carelessly employed in skinning a young sea-lion, +the female from which he had taken it came upon him unperceived, and +getting his head in her mouth, she with her teeth scored his skull in +notches in many places, and thereby wounded him so desperately that +though all possible care was taken of him, he died in a few days. + + +CHAPTER 10. +REAPPEARANCE OF THE GLOUCESTER--DISTRESS ON BOARD--HER EFFORTS TO + ENTER THE BAY. + +The arrival of the Trial sloop at this island so soon after we came there +ourselves gave us great hopes of being speedily joined by the rest of the +squadron; and we were for some days continually looking out in +expectation of their coming in sight. But near a fortnight being elapsed +without any of them having appeared, we began to despair of ever meeting +them again. + +RETURN OF THE GLOUCESTER. + +But on the 21st of June some of our people, from an eminence on shore, +discerned a ship to leeward, with her courses even with the horizon. +However, after viewing her for a short time, the weather grew thick and +hazy, and they lost sight of her. On the 26th, towards noon, we discerned +a sail in the north-east quarter, which we conceived to be the very same +ship that had been seen before, and our conjectures proved true; and +about one o'clock she approached so near that we could distinguish her to +be the Gloucester. As we had no doubt of her being in great distress, the +Commodore immediately ordered his boat to her assistance, laden with +fresh water, fish, and vegetables, which was a very seasonable relief to +them; for perhaps there never was a crew in a more distressed situation. +They had already thrown overboard two-thirds of their complement, and of +those that remained alive scarcely any were capable of doing duty except +the officers and their servants. They had been a considerable time at the +small allowance of a pint of fresh water to each man for twenty-four +hours, and yet they had so little left that, had it not been for the +supply we sent them, they must soon have died of thirst. + +The ship plied in within three miles of the bay, but, the winds and +currents being contrary, she could not reach the road. However she +continued in the offing the next day, but had no chance of coming to an +anchor unless the wind and current shifted; and therefore the Commodore +repeated his assistance, sending to her the Trial's boat manned with the +Centurion's people, and a further supply of water and other refreshments. +Captain Mitchel, the captain of the Gloucester, was under a necessity of +detaining both this boat and that sent the preceding day; for without the +help of their crews he had no longer strength enough to navigate the +ship. In this tantalising situation the Gloucester continued for near a +fortnight, without being able to fetch the road, though frequently +attempting it, and at some times bidding very fair for it. On the 9th of +July we observed her stretching away to the eastward at a considerable +distance, which we supposed was with a design to get to the southward of +the island; but as we soon lost sight of her and she did not appear for +near a week, we were prodigiously concerned, knowing that she must be +again in extreme distress for want of water. After great impatience about +her, we discovered her again on the 16th, endeavouring to come round the +eastern point of the island; but the wind, still blowing directly from +the bay, prevented her getting nearer than within four leagues of the +land. On this captain Mitchel made signals of distress, and our long-boat +was sent to him with a store of water and plenty of fish and other +refreshments; and the long-boat being not to be spared, the coxswain had +positive orders from the Commodore to return again immediately; but the +weather proving stormy the next day, and the boat not appearing, we much +feared she was lost, which would have proved an irretrievable misfortune +to us all. But the third day after we were relieved from this anxiety by +the joyful sight of the long-boat's sails upon the water, and we sent the +cutter immediately to her assistance, which towed her alongside in a few +hours. The crew of our long-boat had taken in six of the Gloucester's +sick men to bring them on shore, two of whom had died in the boat. And +now we learned that the Gloucester was in a most dreadful condition, +having scarcely a man in health on board, except those they received from +us; and numbers of their sick dying daily, we found that, had it not been +for the last supply sent by our long-boat, both the healthy and diseased +must have all perished together for want of water. And these calamities +were the more terrifying, as they appeared to be without remedy, for the +Gloucester had already spent a month in her endeavours to fetch the bay, +and she was now no farther advanced than at the first moment she made the +island; on the contrary, the people on board her had worn out all their +hopes of ever succeeding in it by the many experiments they had made of +its difficulty. Indeed, the same day her situation grew more desperate +than ever, for after she had received our last supply of refreshments, we +again lost sight of her, so that we in general despaired of her ever +coming to an anchor. + +Thus was this unhappy vessel bandied about within a few leagues of her +intended harbour, whilst the neighbourhood of that place, and of those +circumstances which could alone put an end to the calamities they +laboured under, served only to aggravate their distress by torturing them +with a view of the relief it was not in their power to reach. + +THE GLOUCESTER COMES TO ANCHOR. + +But she was at last delivered from this dreadful situation, at a time +when we least expected it, for, after having lost sight of her for +several days, we were pleasingly surprised, on the morning of the 23rd of +July, to see her open the north-west point of the bay with a flowing +sail; when we immediately despatched what boats we had to her assistance, +and in an hour's time from our first perceiving her she anchored safe +within us in the bay. + + +CHAPTER 11. +TRACES OF SPANISH CRUISERS--ARRIVAL OF THE ANNA PINK. + +During the interval of the Gloucester's frequent and ineffectual attempts +to reach the island, our employment was cleansing our ship and filling +our water. The first of these measures was indispensably necessary to our +future health, as the numbers of sick and the unavoidable negligence +arising from our deplorable situation at sea, had rendered the decks most +intolerably loathsome; and the filling of our water was a caution that +appeared not less essential to our future security, as we had reason to +apprehend that accidents might oblige us to quit the island at a very +short warning. For some appearances, which we had discovered on shore +upon our first landing, gave us grounds to believe that there were +Spanish cruisers in these seas, which had left the island but a short +time before our arrival, and might possibly return there again in search +of us; for we knew that this island was the likeliest place, in their own +opinion, to meet with us. The circumstances which gave rise to these +reflections were our finding on shore several pieces of earthen jars, +made use of in those seas for water and other liquids, which appeared to +be fresh broken. We saw, too, many heaps of ashes, and near them +fish-bones and pieces of fish, besides whole fish scattered here and +there, which plainly appeared to have been but a short time out of the +water, as they were but just beginning to decay. These appearances were +certain indications that there had been ships at this place but a short +time before we came there; and as all Spanish merchantmen are instructed +to avoid the island on account of its being the common rendezvous of +their enemies, we concluded those who had touched here to be ships of +force; and not knowing that Pizarro was returned to Buenos Ayres, and +ignorant what strength might have been fitted out at Calla, we were under +some concern for our safety, being in so wretched and enfeebled a +condition that, notwithstanding the rank of our ship and the sixty guns +she carried on board, which would only have aggravated our dishonour, +there was scarcely a privateer sent to sea that was not an overmatch for +us. However, our fears on this head proved imaginary, and we were not +exposed to the disgrace which might have been expected to have befallen +us had we been necessitated to fight our sixty-gun ship with no more than +thirty hands. + +After the Gloucester's arrival we were employed in earnest in examining +and repairing our rigging. + +Towards the middle of August our men being indifferently recovered, they +were permitted to quit their sick tents and to build separate huts for +themselves; as it was imagined that by living apart they would be much +cleanlier, and consequently likely to recover their strength the sooner; +but at the same time particular orders were given that on the firing of a +gun from the ship they should instantly repair to the waterside. + +I should have mentioned that the Trial sloop at her arrival had informed +us that on the 9th of May she had fallen in with our victualler not far +distant 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 gave us +some room to hope that she was safe, and that she might soon join us; but +all June and July being past without any news of her, we suspected she +was lost, and at the end of July the Commodore ordered all the ships to a +short allowance of bread.* And it was not in our bread only that we +feared a deficiency, for since our arrival at this island we discovered +that our former purser had neglected to take on board large quantities of +several kinds of provisions which the Commodore had expressly ordered him +to receive; so that the supposed loss of our victualler was on all +accounts a mortifying consideration. + +THE ANNA PINK. + +However, on Sunday, the 16th of August, about noon, we espied a sail in +the northern quarter, and a gun was immediately fired from the Centurion +to call off the people from shore, who readily obeyed the summons and +repaired to the beach, where the boats waited to carry them on board. And +now being prepared for the reception of this ship in view whether friend +or enemy, we had various speculations about her; but about three in the +afternoon our disputes were ended by unanimous persuasion that it was our +victualler, the Anna pink. This ship, though, like the Gloucester, she +had fallen in to the northward of the island, had yet the good fortune to +come to an anchor in the bay at five in the afternoon. Her arrival gave +us all the sincerest joy, for each ship's company was now restored to its +full allowance of bread, and we were now freed from the apprehensions of +our provisions falling short before we could reach some amicable port--a +calamity which, in these seas, is of all others the most irretrievable. +This was the last ship that joined us. + +(*Note. The flour was on board the Anna pink.) + + +CHAPTER 12. +THE WRECK OF THE WAGER--A MUTINY. + +The remaining ships of the squadron were the Severn, the Pearl, and the +Wager, store-ship. The Severn and Pearl parted company with the squadron +off Cape Noir and, as we afterwards learned, put back to the Brazils, so +that of all the ships which came into the South Seas the Wager, Captain +Cheap, was the only one that was missing. This ship had on board some +field-pieces mounted for land service, together with some Cohorn mortars, +and several kinds of artillery, stores, and tools, intended for the +operations on shore; and therefore, as the enterprise on Baldivia had +been resolved on for the first undertaking of the squadron, Captain Cheap +was extremely solicitous that these materials, which were in his custody, +might be ready before Baldivia, that if the squadron should possibly +rendezvous there, no delay nor disappointment might be imputed to him. + +But whilst the Wager, with these views, was making the best of her way to +her first rendezvous off the island of Socoro, she made the land on the +14th of May, about the latitude of 47 degrees south, and the captain, +exerting himself on this occasion in order to get clear of it, he had the +misfortune to fall down the after-ladder, and thereby dislocated his +shoulder, which rendered him incapable of acting. This accident, together +with the crazy condition of the ship, which was little better than a +wreck, prevented her from getting off to sea, and entangled her more and +more with the land, so that the next morning at daybreak she struck on a +sunken rock, and soon after bilged and grounded between two small islands +at about a musket-shot from the shore. + +DISORDER AND ANARCHY. + +In this situation the ship continued entire a long time, so that all the +crew had it in their power to get safe on shore, but a general confusion +taking place, numbers of them, instead of consulting their safety or +reflecting on their calamitous condition, fell to pillaging the ship, +arming themselves with the first weapons that came to hand and +threatening to murder all who should oppose them. This frenzy was greatly +heightened by the liquors they found on board, with which they got so +extremely drunk that some of them, tumbling down between decks, were +drowned as the water flowed in, being incapable of getting up and +retreating to other places where the water had not yet entered, and the +captain, having done his utmost to get the whole crew on shore, was at +last obliged to leave these mutineers behind him and to follow his +officers and such as he had been able to prevail on; but he did not fail +to send back the boats to persuade those who remained to have some regard +to their preservation, though all his efforts were for some time without +success. However the weather next day proving stormy, and there being +great danger of the ship's parting, they began to be alarmed with the +fears of perishing, and were desirous of getting to land; but it seems +their madness had not yet left them, for the boat not appearing to fetch +them off as soon as they expected, they at last pointed a four-pounder +which was on the quarter-deck against the hut where they knew the captain +resided on shore, and fired two shots, which passed but just over it. + +From this specimen of the behaviour of part of the crew it will not be +difficult to frame some conjecture of the disorder and anarchy which took +place when they at last got all on shore. + +There was another important point which set the greatest part of the +people at variance with the captain: this was their differing with him in +opinion on the measures to be pursued in the present exigency, for the +captain was determined, if possible, to fit up the boats in the best +manner he could and to proceed with them to the northward; for having +with him above a hundred men in health, and having got some firearms and +ammunition from the wreck, he did not doubt that they could master any +Spanish vessel they should meet with in those seas, and he thought he +could 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 Fernandez; and he further insisted, that should they +meet with no prize by the way, yet the boats alone would easily carry +them there. But this was a scheme that, however prudent, was no ways +relished by the generality of his people, for, being quite jaded with the +distresses and dangers they had already run through, they could not think +of prosecuting an enterprise further which had hitherto proved so +disastrous, and, therefore, the common resolution was to lengthen the +long-boat, and with that and the rest of the boats to steer to the +southward, to pass through the Straits of Magellan, and to range along +the east side of South America till they should arrive at Brazil, where +they doubted not to be well received, and to procure a passage to Great +Britain. This project was at first sight infinitely more hazardous and +tedious than what was proposed 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, this circumstance alone rendered them +inattentive to all its inconveniences, and made them adhere to it with +insurmountable obstinacy, so that the captain himself, though he never +changed his opinion, was yet obliged to give way to the torrent, and in +appearance to acquiesce in this resolution, whilst he endeavoured +underhand to give it all the obstruction he could, particularly in the +lengthening of the long-boat, which he contrived should be of such a size +that, though it might serve to carry them to Juan Fernandez, would yet, +he hoped, appear incapable of so long a navigation as that to the coast +of Brazil. + +AN UNHAPPY ACCIDENT. + +But the captain, by his steady opposition at first to this favourite +project, had much embittered the people against him, to which, likewise, +the following unhappy accident greatly contributed. There was a +midshipman whose name was Cozens, who had appeared the foremost in all +the refractory proceedings of the crew. He had involved himself in brawls +with most of the officers who had adhered to the captain's authority, and +had even treated the captain himself with great abuse and insolence. As +his turbulence and brutality grew every day more and more intolerable, it +was not in the least doubted but there were some violent measures in +agitation in which Cozens was engaged as the ringleader, for which reason +the captain and those about him constantly kept themselves on their +guard. But at last the purser having, by the captain's order, stopped the +allowance of a fellow who would not work, Cozens, though the man did not +complain to him, intermeddled in the affair with great eagerness, and +grossly insulting the purser, who was then delivering our provisions just +by the captain's tent, and was himself sufficiently violent, the purser, +enraged by his scurrility, and perhaps piqued by former quarrels, cried +out--"A mutiny!" adding "that the dog had pistols," and then himself +fired a shot at Cozens, which, however, missed him. But the captain, on +this outcry and the report of the pistol, rushed out of his tent, and, +not doubting but it had been fired by Cozens as the commencement of a +mutiny, he immediately shot him in the head without further deliberation, +and though he did not kill him on the spot, yet the wound proved mortal, +and he died about fourteen days after. + +This incident, however displeasing to the people, did yet for a +considerable time awe them to their duty, and rendered them more +submissive to the captain's authority. But at last, when towards the +middle of October the long-boat was nearly completed and they were +preparing to put to sea, the additional provocation he gave them by +covertly traversing their project of proceeding through the Straits of +Magellan, and their fears that he might at length engage a party +sufficient to overturn this favourite measure, made them resolve to make +use of the death of Cozens as a reason for depriving him of his command, +under pretence of carrying him a prisoner 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 return to England if their commander should be present +to confront them, and therefore, when they were just ready to put to sea, +they set him at liberty, leaving him and the few who chose to take their +fortunes with him no other embarkation but the yawl, to which the barge +was afterwards added by the people on board her being prevailed on to +return back. + + +CHAPTER 13. +THE WRECK OF THE WAGER (CONTINUED)--THE ADVENTURES OF THE CAPTAIN'S PARTY. + +When the ship was wrecked there remained alive on board the Wager near a +hundred and thirty persons; of these, above thirty died during their stay +upon the place, and near eighty went off in the long-boat and the cutter +to the southward; so that there remained with the captain, after their +departure, no more than nineteen persons, which, however, was as many as +the barge and the yawl--the only embarkations left them--could well carry +off. It was on the 13th of October, five months after the shipwreck, that +the long-boat, converted into a schooner, weighed and stood to the +southward, giving the captain who, with Lieutenant Hamilton, of the land +forces, and the surgeon, was then on the beach, three cheers at their +departure. It was the 29th of January following before they arrived at +Rio Grande, on the coast of Brazil; and having by various accidents, left +about twenty of their people on shore at the different places they +touched at, and a greater number having perished by hunger during the +course of their navigation, there were no more than thirty of them left +when they arrived in that port. Indeed, the undertaking of itself was a +most extraordinary one, for, not to mention the length of the run, the +vessel was scarcely able to contain the number that first put to sea in +her; and their stock of provisions (being only what they had saved out of +the ship) was extremely slender; and the cutter, the only boat they had +with them, soon broke away from the stern and was staved to pieces; so +that when their provision and their water failed them, they had +frequently no means of getting on shore to search for a fresh supply. + +When the long-boat and cutter were gone, the captain and those who were +left with him proposed to pass to the northward in the barge and yawl; +but the weather was so bad, and the difficulty of subsisting so great, +that it was two months after the departure of the long-boat before he was +able to put to sea. It seems the place where the Wager was cast away was +not a part of the continent, as was first imagined, but an island at some +distance from the main, which afforded no other sorts of provision but +shellfish and a few herbs; and as the greatest part of what they had got +from the ship was carried off in the long-boat, the captain and his +people were often in great necessity, especially as they chose to +preserve what little sea-provisions remained for their store when they +should go to the northwards. + +Upon the 14th of December the captain and his people embarked in the +barge and the yawl in order to proceed to the northward, taking on board +with them all the provisions they could amass from the wreck of a ship; +but they had scarcely been an hour at sea when the wind began to blow +hard, and the sea ran so high that they were obliged to throw the +greatest part of their provisions overboard to avoid immediate +destruction. + +STRUGGLING WITH DISASTER. + +This was a terrible misfortune in a part of the world where food is so +difficult to be got; however, they still persisted in their design, +putting on shore as often as they could to seek subsistence. But, about a +fortnight after, another dreadful accident befell them, for the yawl sank +at an anchor, and one of the men in her was drowned; and as the barge was +incapable of carrying the whole company, they were now reduced to the +hard necessity of leaving four marines behind them on that desolate +shore. But they still kept on their course to the northward, struggling +with their disasters, and greatly delayed by the perverseness of the +winds and frequent interruptions which their search after food +occasioned; till at last, about the end of January, having made three +unsuccessful attempts to double a headland which they supposed to be what +the Spaniards called Cape Tres Montes, it was unanimously resolved to +give over this expedition, the difficulties of which appeared +insuperable, and to return again to Wager Island, where they got back +about the middle of February, quite disheartened and dejected with their +reiterated disappointments and almost perishing with hunger and fatigue. + +However, on their return they had the good luck to meet with several +pieces of beef which had been washed out of the ship and were swimming in +the sea. This was a most seasonable relief to them after the hardships +they had endured; and to complete their good fortune, there came in a +short time two canoes of Indians, amongst whom was a native of Chiloe who +spoke a little Spanish; and the surgeon who was with Captain Cheap +understanding that language, he made a bargain with the Indian, that if +he would carry the captain and his people to Chiloe in the barge, he +should have her and all that belonged to her for his pains. Accordingly, +on the 6th of March, the eleven persons, to which the company was now +reduced, embarked in the barge on this new expedition; but after having +proceeded for a few days, the captain and four of his principal officers +being on shore, the six, who together with an Indian remained in the +barge, put off with her to sea and did not return. + +By this means there were left on shore Captain Cheap, Mr. Hamilton, +lieutenant of marines; the Honourable Mr. Byron and Mr. Campbell, +midshipman; and Mr. Elliot, the surgeon. One would have thought their +distresses had long before this time been incapable of augmentation, but +they found, on reflection, that their present situation was much more +dismaying than anything they had yet gone through, being left on a +desolate coast without any provisions or the means of procuring any, for +their arms, ammunition, and every conveniency they were masters of, +except the tattered habits they had on, were all carried away in the +barge. But when they had sufficiently revolved in their own minds the +various circumstances of this unexpected calamity, and were persuaded +that they had no relief to hope for, they perceived a canoe at a +distance, 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, for it seems he had left Captain Cheap +and his people a little before to go a-fishing, and had in the meantime +committed them to the care of the other Indian, whom the sailors had +carried to sea in the barge. But when he came on shore and found the +barge gone and his companion missing, he was extremely concerned, and +could with difficulty be persuaded that the other Indian was not +murdered; but being at last satisfied with the account that was given +him, he still undertook to carry them to the Spanish settlements, and (as +the Indians are well skilled in fishing and fowling) to procure them +provisions by the way. + +CHILOE. + +About the middle of March, Captain Cheap and the four who were left with +him set out for Chiloe, the Indian having procured a number of canoes, +and got many of his neighbours together for that purpose. Soon after they +embarked, Mr. Elliot, the surgeon, died, so that there now remained only +four of the whole company. At last, after a very complicated passage by +land and water, Captain Cheap, Mr. Byron, and Mr. Campbell arrived, in +the beginning of June, at the island of Chiloe, where they were received +by the Spaniards with great humanity; but, on account of some quarrel +among the Indians, Mr. Hamilton did not get thither till two months +after. Thus, above a twelvemonth after the loss of the Wager, ended this +fatiguing peregrination, which by a variety of misfortunes had diminished +the company from twenty to no more than four, and those, too, brought so +low that had their distresses continued but a few days longer, in all +probability none of them would have survived. For the captain himself was +with difficulty recovered and the rest were so reduced by the severity of +the weather, their labour, and their want of all kinds of necessaries, +that it was wonderful how they supported themselves so long. After some +stay at Chiloe, the captain and the three who were with him were sent to +Valparaiso, and thence to Santiago, the capital of Chile where they +continued above a year; but on the advice of a cartel being settled +betwixt Great Britain and Spain, Captain Cheap, Mr. Byron, and Mr. +Hamilton were permitted to return to Europe on board a French ship. The +other midshipman, Mr. Campbell, having changed his religion whilst at +Santiago, chose to go back overland to Buenos Ayres with Pizarro and his +officers, with whom he went afterwards to Spain on board the Asia; and +there having failed in his endeavours to procure a commission from the +Court of Spain, he returned to England, and attempted to get reinstated +in the British Navy, and has since published a narration of his +adventures, in which he complains of the injustice that had been done him +and strongly disavows his ever being in the Spanish service. But as the +change of his religion and his offering himself to the Court of Spain +(though not accepted) are matters, which he is conscious, are capable of +being incontestably proved, on these two heads he has been entirely +silent. And now, after this account of the catastrophe of the Wager, I +shall again resume the thread of our own story. + + +CHAPTER 14. +THE LOSSES FROM SCURVY--STATE AND PROSPECTS OF THE SQUADRON. + +EXTRAORDINARY MORTALITY. + +Our people by the beginning of September were so far recovered of the +scurvy that there was little danger of burying any more at present; and +therefore I shall now sum up the total of our loss since our departure +from England, the better to convey some idea of our past sufferings and +of our present strength. We had buried on board the Centurion since our +leaving St. Helens 292, and had now remaining on board 214. This will +doubtless appear a most extraordinary mortality; but yet on board the +Gloucester it had been much greater, for out of a much smaller crew than +ours they had buried the same number, and had only eighty-two remaining +alive. It might be expected that on board the Trial the slaughter would +have been the most terrible, as her decks were almost constantly +knee-deep in water; but it happened otherwise, for she escaped more +favourably than the rest, since she only buried forty-two, and had now +thirty-nine remaining alive. The havoc of this disease had fallen still +severer on the invalids and marines than on the sailors; for on board the +Centurion, out of fifty invalids and seventy-nine marines there remained +only four invalids, including officers, and eleven marines; and on board +the Gloucester every invalid perished, and out of forty-eight marines +only two escaped. From this account it appears that the three ships +together departed from England with 961 men on board, of whom 626 were +dead before this time; so that the whole of our remaining crews, which +were now to be distributed among three ships, amounted to no more than +335 men and boys, a number greatly insufficient for manning the Centurion +alone, and barely capable of navigating all the three with the utmost +exertion of their strength and vigour. This prodigious reduction of our +men was still the more terrifying as we were hitherto uncertain of the +fate of Pizarro's squadron, and had reason to suppose that some part of +it at least had got round into these seas. Indeed we were satisfied from +our own experience that they must have suffered greatly in their passage; +but then every port in the South Seas was open to them, and the whole +power of Chile and Peru would doubtless be united in refreshing and +refitting them, and recruiting the numbers they had lost. Besides, we had +some obscure knowledge of a force to be fitted out at Callao; and, +however contemptible the ships and sailors of this part of the world may +have been generally esteemed, it was scarcely possible for anything +bearing the name of a ship of force to be feebler or less considerable +than ourselves. And had there been nothing to be apprehended from the +naval power of the Spaniards in this part of the world, yet our enfeebled +condition would nevertheless give us the greatest uneasiness, as we were +incapable of attempting any of their considerable places; for the risking +of twenty men, weak as we then were, was risking the safety of the whole. +So that we conceived we should be necessitated to content ourselves with +what few prizes we could pick up at sea before we were discovered, after +which we should in all probability be obliged to depart with +precipitation, and esteem ourselves fortunate to regain our native +country, leaving our enemies to triumph on the inconsiderable mischief +they had received from a squadron whose equipment had filled them with +such dreadful apprehensions. It is true the final event proved more +honourable than we had foreboded; but the intermediate calamities did +likewise greatly surpass our most gloomy apprehensions, and could they +have been predicted to us at this island of Juan Fernandez, they would +doubtless have appeared insurmountable. + + +CHAPTER 15. +A PRIZE--SPANISH PREPARATIONS--A NARROW ESCAPE. + +A CHASE. + +In the beginning of September, as has been already mentioned, our men +were tolerably well recovered; and now the time of navigation in this +climate drawing near, we exerted ourselves in getting our ships in +readiness for the sea. On the 8th, about eleven in the morning, we espied +a sail to the north-east, which continued to approach us till her courses +appeared even with the horizon. In this interval we all had hopes she +might prove one of our own squadron; but at length, finding she steered +away to the eastward without hauling in for the island, we concluded she +must be a Spaniard. It was resolved to pursue her; and the Centurion +being in the greatest forwardness, we immediately got all our hands on +board, set up our rigging, bent our sails, and by five in the afternoon +got under sail. We had at this time very little wind, so that all the +boats were employed to tow us out of the bay; and even what wind there +was lasted only long enough to give us an offing of two or three leagues, +when it flattened to a calm. The night coming on, we lost sight of the +chase, and were extremely impatient for the return of daylight, in hopes +to find that she had been becalmed as well as we, though I must confess +that her greater distance from the land was a reasonable ground for +suspecting the contrary, as we indeed found in the morning, to our great +mortification; for though the weather continued perfectly clear, we had +no sight of the ship from the mast-head. But as we were now satisfied +that it was an enemy, and the first we had seen in these seas, we +resolved not to give over the search lightly; and a small breeze +springing up from the west-north-west, we got up our top-gallant masts +and yards, set all the sails, and steered to the south-east, in hopes of +retrieving our chase, which we imagined to be bound to Valparaiso. We +continued on this course all that day and the next; and then, not getting +sight of our chase, we gave over the pursuit, conceiving that by that +time she must in all probability have reached her port. + +And now we prepared to return to Juan Fernandez, and hauled up to the +south-west with that view, having but very little wind till the 12th, +when, at three in the morning, there sprang up a fresh gale from the +west-south-west, and we tacked and stood to the north-west; and at +daybreak we were agreeably surprised with the sight of a sail on our +weather-bow, between four and five leagues distant. On this we crowded +all the sail we could, and stood after her, and soon perceived it not to +be the same ship we originally gave chase to. She at first bore down upon +us, showing Spanish colours, and making a signal as to her consort; but +observing that we did not answer her signal, she instantly luffed close +to the wind and stood to the southward. Our people were now all in +spirits, and put the ship about with great alacrity; and as the chase +appeared to be a large ship, and had mistaken us for her consort, we +conceived that she was a man-of-war, and probably one of Pizarro's +squadron. This induced the Commodore to order all the officers' cabins to +be knocked down and thrown overboard, with several casks of water and +provisions which stood between the guns; so that we had soon a clear +ship, ready for an engagement. About nine o'clock we had thick, hazy +weather, and a shower of rain, during which we lost sight of the chase; +and we were apprehensive, if the weather should continue, that by going +upon the other tack, or by some other artifice, she might escape us; but +it clearing up in less than an hour, we found that we had both weathered +and forereached upon her considerably, and now we were near enough +discover that she was only a merchantman, without so much as a single +tier of guns. About half an hour after twelve, being then within a +reasonable distance of her, we fired four shot amongst her rigging, on +which they lowered their topsails and bore down to us, but in very great +confusion, their top-gallant-sails and stay-sails all fluttering in the +wind. This was owing to their having let run their sheets and halyards +just as we fired at them, after which not a man amongst them had courage +enough to venture aloft (for there the shot had passed but just before) +to take them in. + +As soon as the vessel came within hail of us, the Commodore ordered them +to bring to under his lee-quarter, and then hoisted out the boat and sent +Mr. Suamarez, his first lieutenant, to take possession of the prize, with +directions to send all the prisoners on board the Centurion, but first +the officers and passengers. + +A TERRIFIED CREW. + +When Mr. Suamarez came on board them, they received him at the side with +the strongest tokens of the most abject submission, for they were all of +them (especially the passengers, who were twenty-five in number), +extremely terrified and under the greatest apprehensions of meeting with +very severe and cruel usage. But the lieutenant endeavoured with great +courtesy to dissipate their fright, assuring them that their fears were +altogether groundless, and that they would find a generous enemy in the +Commodore, who was not less remarkable for his lenity and humanity than +for his resolution and courage. The passengers who were first sent on +board the Centurion informed us that our prize was called "Nuestra Senora +del Monte Carmelo", and was commanded by Don Manuel Zamorra. Her cargo +consisted chiefly of sugar, and great quantities of blue cloth made in +the province of Quito, somewhat resembling our English coarse +broad-cloths, but inferior to them. They had, besides, several bales of a +coarser sort of cloth, of different colours, called by them Pannia da +Tierra, with a few bales of cotton and tobacco, which though strong was +not ill-flavoured. These were the principal goods on board her; but we +found, besides, what was to us much more valuable than the rest of the +cargo. This was some trunks of wrought plate, and twenty-three serons of +dollars, each weighing upwards of 200 pounds avoirdupois. The ship's +burthen was about 450 tons; she had fifty-three sailors on board, both +whites and blacks; she came from Callao, and had been twenty-seven days +at sea before she fell into our hands. She was bound to the port of +Valparaiso, in the kingdom of Chili, and proposed to have returned thence +loaded with corn and Chili wine, some gold, dried beef, and small +cordage, which at Callao they convert into larger rope. The prisoners +informed us that they left Callao in company with two other ships, which +they had parted with some days before, and that at first they conceived +us to be one of their company; and by the description we gave them of the +ship we had chased from Juan Fernandez, they assured us she was of their +number, but that the coming in sight of that island was directly +repugnant to the merchants' instructions, who had expressly forbid it, as +knowing that if any English squadron was in those seas, the island of +Fernandez was most probably the place of their rendezvous. + +And now it is necessary that I should relate the important intelligence +which we met with on board her, partly from the information of the +prisoners, and partly from the letters and papers which fell into our +hands. We here first learned with certainty the force and destination of +that squadron which cruised off Madeira at our arrival there, and +afterwards chased the Pearl in our passage to Port St. Julian. And we +had, at the same time, the satisfaction to find that Pizarro, after his +utmost endeavours to gain his passage into these seas, had been forced +back again into the River of Plate, with the loss of two of his largest +ships; and besides this disappointment of Pizarro, which considering our +great debility, was no unacceptable intelligence, we further learned that +an embargo had been laid upon all shipping in these seas by the Viceroy +of Peru, in the month of May preceding, on a supposition that about that +time we might arrive upon the coast. But on the account sent overland by +Pizarro of his own distresses, part of which they knew we must have +encountered, as we were at sea during the same time, and on their having +no news of us in eight months after we were known to set sail from St. +Catherine's, they were fully persuaded that we were either shipwrecked, +or had perished at sea, or at least had been obliged to put back again; +for it was conceived impossible for any ships to continue at sea during +so long an interval, and, therefore, on the application of the merchants +and the firm persuasion of our having miscarried, the embargo had been +lately taken off. + +A NARROW ESCAPE. + +This last article made us flatter ourselves that, as the enemy was still +a stranger to our having got round Cape Horn, and the navigation of these +seas was restored, we might meet with some considerable captures, and +might thereby indemnify ourselves for the incapacity we were now under of +attempting any of their considerable settlements on shore. And thus much +we were certain of, from the information of our prisoners, that whatever +our success might be as to the prizes we might light on, we had nothing +to fear, weak as we were, from the Spanish force in this part of the +world; though we discovered that we had been in most imminent peril from +the enemy when we least apprehended it, and when our other distresses +were at the greatest height. For we learned from the letters on board +that Pizarro, in the express he dispatched to the Viceroy of Peru after +his return to the River of Plate, had intimated to him that it was +possible some part at least of the English squadron might get round, but +that, as he was certain from his own experience that if they did arrive +in those seas it must be in a very weak and defenceless condition, he +advised the Viceroy, in order to be secure at all events, to fit out what +ships of force he had, and send them to the southward, where in all +probability they would intercept us singly and before we had an +opportunity of touching anywhere for refreshment, in which case he +doubted not but we should prove an easy conquest. The Viceroy of Peru +approved of this advice, and immediately fitted out four ships of force +from Callao, one of 50 guns, two of 40 guns, and one of 24 guns. Three of +them were stationed off the port of Concepcion,* and one of them at the +Island of Juan Fernandez; and in these stations they continued cruising +for us till the 6th of June, when, not seeing anything of us, and +conceiving it to be impossible that we could have kept the seas so long, +they quitted their cruise and returned to Callao, fully satisfied that we +had either perished or at least had been driven back. As the time of +their quitting their station was but a few days before our arrival at the +island of Fernandez, it is evident that had we made that island on our +first search for it on the 28th of May, when we first expected to see it, +and were in reality very near it, we had doubtless fallen in with some +part of the Spanish squadron; and in the distressed condition we were +then in the meeting with a healthy, well-provided enemy was an incident +that could not but have been perplexing and might perhaps have proved +fatal. I shall only add that these Spanish ships sent out to intercept us +had been greatly shattered by a storm during their cruise, and that, +after their arrival at Callao, they had been laid up. And our prisoners +assured us that whenever intelligence was received at Lima of our being +in these seas, it would be at least two months before this armament could +be again fitted out. + +(*Note. La Concepcion in Chili, about 270 miles south of Valparaiso.) + +The whole of this intelligence was as favourable as we in our reduced +circumstances could wish for; and now we were fully satisfied as to the +broken jars, ashes, and fish-bones which we had observed at our first +landing at Juan Fernandez, these things being doubtless the relics of the +cruisers stationed off that port. Having thus satisfied ourselves in the +material articles, and having got on board the Centurion most of the +prisoners and all the silver, we, at eight in the same evening, made sail +to the northward, in company with our prize, and at six the next morning +discovered the island of Juan Fernandez, where the next day both we and +our prize came to an anchor. And here I cannot omit one remarkable +incident which occurred when the prize and her crew came into the bay +where the rest of the squadron lay. The Spaniards in the Carmelo had been +sufficiently informed of the distresses we had gone through, and were +greatly surprised that we had ever surmounted them; but when they saw the +Trial sloop at anchor they were still more astonished, and it was with +great difficulty they were prevailed on to believe that she came from +England with the rest of the squadron, they at first insisting that it +was impossible such a bauble as that could pass round Cape Horn when the +best ships of Spain were obliged to put back. + + +CHAPTER 16. +THE COMMODORE'S PLANS--ANOTHER PRIZE--THE TRIAL DESTROYED. + +By the time we arrived at Juan Fernandez the letters found on board our +prize were more minutely examined; and it appearing from them and from +the accounts of our prisoners that several other merchantmen were bound +from Callao to Valparaiso, Mr. Anson despatched the Trial sloop the very +next morning to cruise off the last-mentioned port, reinforcing her with +ten hands from on board his own ship. Mr. Anson likewise resolved, on the +intelligence recited above, to separate the ships under his command and +employ them in distinct cruises, as he thought that by this means we +should not only increase our chance for prizes, but that we should +likewise run less risk of alarming the coast and of being discovered. + +THE LAST LEAVE OF JUAN FERNANDEZ. + +And now, the spirits of our people being greatly raised and their +despondency dissipated by this earnest of success, they forgot all their +past distresses and resumed their wonted alacrity, and laboured +indefatigably in completing our water, receiving our lumber, and +preparing to take our farewell of the island. But as these occupations +took us up four or five days, with all our industry, the Commodore in +that interval directed that the guns belonging to the Anna pink*, being +four 6-pounders, four 4-pounders, and two swivels, should be mounted on +board the Carmelo, our prize; and having sent on board the Gloucester six +passengers and twenty-three seaman to assist in navigating the ship, he +directed Captain Mitchel to leave the island as soon as possible, the +service requiring the utmost despatch, ordering him to proceed to the +latitude of 5 degrees south, and there to cruise off the high land of +Paita, at such a distance from shore as should prevent his being +discovered. On this station he was to continue till he should be joined +by the Commodore, which would be whenever it should be known that the +Viceroy had fitted out the ships at Callao, or on Mr. Anson's receiving +any other intelligence that should make it necessary to unite our +strength. These orders being delivered to the captain of the Gloucester, +and all our business completed, we on the Saturday following, being the +19th of September, weighed our anchor in company with our prize, and got +out of the bay, taking our last leave of the island of Juan Fernandez, +and steering to the eastward, with an intention of joining the Trial +sloop in her station off Valparaiso. + +(*Note. The Anna pink being no longer seaworthy, was broken up at Juan +Fernandez.) + +On the 24th, a little before sunset, we saw two sail to the eastward, on +which our prize stood directly from us, to avoid giving any suspicion of +our being cruisers; whilst we in the meantime made ourselves ready for an +engagement, and steered towards the two ships we had discovered with all +our canvas. We soon perceived that one of these which had the appearance +of being a very stout ship made directly for us, whilst the other kept at +a very great distance. By seven o'clock we were within pistol-shot of the +nearest, and had a broadside ready to pour into her, the gunners having +their matches in their hands, and only waiting for orders to fire; but as +we knew it was now impossible for her to escape us, Mr. Anson, before he +permitted them to fire, ordered the master to hail the ship in Spanish, +on which the commanding officer on board her, who proved to be Mr. +Hughes, lieutenant of the Trial, answered us in English, and informed us +that she was a prize taken by the Trial a few days before, and that the +other sail at a distance was the Trial herself, disabled in her masts. We +were soon after joined by the Trial and Captain Saunders, her commander, +came on board the Centurion. He informed the Commodore that he had taken +this ship the 18th instant, that she was a prime sailer, and had cost him +thirty-six hours' chase before he could come up with her; that for some +time he gained so little upon her that he began to despair of taking her; +and the Spaniards, though alarmed at first with seeing nothing but a +cloud of sail in pursuit of them, the Trial's hull being so low in the +water that no part of it appeared, yet knowing the goodness of their +ship, and finding how little the Trial neared them, they at length laid +aside their fears, and recommending themselves to the blessed Virgin for +protection, began to think themselves secure. And indeed, their success +was very near doing honour to their Ave Marias;* for altering their +course in the night and shutting up their windows to prevent any of their +lights from being seen, they had some chance of escaping. But a small +crevice in one of the shutters rendered all their invocations +ineffectual, for through this crevice the people on board the Trial +perceived a light, which they chased till they arrived within gun shot, +and then Captain Saunders alarmed them unexpectedly with a broadside when +they flattered themselves they were got out of his reach. However, for +some time after, they still kept the same sail abroad, and it was not +observed that this first salute had made any impression on them; but just +as the Trial was preparing to repeat her broadside, the Spaniards crept +from their holes, lowered their sails, and submitted without any +opposition. She was one of the largest merchantmen employed in those +seas, being about six hundred tons burthen, and was called the +"Arranzazu". She was bound from Callao to Valparaiso, and had much the +same cargo with the Carmelo we had taken before, except that her silver +amounted only to about 5000 pounds sterling. + +(*Note. Ave Maria (Hail Mary!) are the opening words of a Roman Catholic +prayer to the Virgin Mary.) + +THE TRIAL DISABLED. + +But to balance this success we had the misfortune to find that the Trial +had sprung her mainmast, and that her maintopmast had come by the board; +and as we were all of us standing to the eastward the next morning, with +a fresh gale at south, she had the additional ill-luck to spring her +foremast; so that now she had not a mast left on which she could carry +sail. These unhappy incidents were still further aggravated by the +impossibility we were just then under of assisting her; for the wind blew +so hard, and raised such a hollow sea, that we could not venture to hoist +out our boat, and consequently could have no communication with her; so +that we were obliged to lie to for the greatest part of forty-eight hours +to attend her. + +The weather proving somewhat more moderate on the 27th, we sent our boat +for the captain of the Trial, who, when he came on board us, produced an +instrument, signed by himself and all his officers, representing that the +sloop, besides being dismasted, was so very leaky in her hull that even +in moderate weather it was necessary to keep the pumps constantly at +work, and that they were then scarcely sufficient to keep her free; so +that in the late gale, though they had all been engaged at the pumps by +turns, yet the water had increased upon them; and, upon the whole, they +apprehended her to be at present so very defective that if they met with +much bad weather they must all inevitably perish, and therefore they +petitioned the Commodore to take some measures for their future safety. +But the refitting of the Trial and the repairing of her defects was an +undertaking that in the present conjuncture greatly exceeded his power; +and besides, it would have been extreme imprudence in so critical a +juncture to have loitered away so much time as would have been necessary +for these operations. The Commodore, therefore, had no choice left him +but that of taking out her people and destroying her; but at the same +time, as he conceived it necessary for His Majesty's Service to keep up +the appearance of our force, he appointed the Trial's prize (which had +been often employed by the Viceroy of Peru as a man-of-war) to be a +frigate in His Majesty's Service, manning her with the Trial's crew and +giving new commissions to the captain and all the inferior officers +accordingly. This new frigate, when in the Spanish service, had mounted +thirty-two guns, but she was now to have only twenty, which were the +twelve that were on board the Trial, and eight that had belonged to the +Anna pink. When this affair was thus far regulated, Mr. Anson gave orders +to Captain Saunders to put it in execution, directing him to take out of +the sloop the arms, stores, ammunition, and everything that could be of +any use to the other ships, and then to scuttle her and sink her. And +after Captain Saunders had seen her destroyed he was to proceed with his +new frigate (to be called the Trial's prize) and to cruise off the high +land of Valparaiso, keeping it from him north-north-west, at the distance +of twelve or fourteen leagues. For as all ships bound from Valparaiso to +the northward steer that course, Mr. Anson proposed by this means to stop +any intelligence that might be despatched to Callao of two of their ships +being missing, which might give them apprehensions of the English +squadron being in their neighbourhood. The Trial's prize was to continue +on this station twenty-four days and if not joined by the Commodore at +the expiration of that term, she was then to proceed down the coast to +Pisco, or Nasca, where she would be certain to meet with Mr. Anson. The +Commodore likewise ordered Lieutenant Suamarez who commanded the +Centurion's prize, to keep company with Captain Saunders both to assist +him in unloading the sloop, and also that, by spreading in their cruise, +there might be less danger of any of the enemy's ships slipping by +unobserved. These orders being despatched, the Centurion parted from them +at eleven in the evening on the 27th of September, directing her course +to the southward, with a view of cruising for some days to the windward +of Valparaiso. + + +CHAPTER 17. +MORE CAPTURES--ALARM OF THE COAST--PAITA. + +DISAPPOINTMENT. + +Though, after leaving Captain Saunders, we were very expeditious in +regaining our station, where we got the 29th at noon, yet in plying on +and off till the 6th of October we had not the good fortune to discover a +sail of any sort, and then, having lost all hopes of making any advantage +by a longer stay, we made sail to the leeward of the port in order to +join our prizes; but when we arrived on the station appointed for them we +did not meet with them, though we continued there four or five days. We +supposed that some chase had occasioned their leaving the station, and +therefore we proceeded down the coast to the high land of Nasca, where +Captain Saunders was directed to join us. Here we arrived on the 21st, +and were in great expectation of meeting with some of the enemy's ships +on the coast, as both the accounts of former voyages and the information +of our prisoners assured us that all ships bound to Callao constantly +make this land, to prevent the danger of running to the leeward of the +port. But notwithstanding the advantages of this station we saw no sail +till the 2nd of November, when two ships appeared in sight together. We +immediately gave them chase, but soon perceived that they were the +Trial's and Centurion's prizes. We found they had not been more fortunate +in their cruise than we were, for they had seen no vessel since they +separated from us. + +We bore away the same afternoon, taking particular care to keep at such a +distance from the shore that there might be no danger of our being +discovered from thence. + +By the 5th of November, at three in the afternoon, we were advanced +within view of the high land of Barranca, and an hour and a half +afterwards we had the satisfaction we had so long wished for, of seeing a +sail. She first appeared to leeward, and we all immediately gave her +chase; but the Centurion so much out sailed the two prizes that we soon +ran them out of sight, and gained considerably on the chase. However, +night coming on before we came up to her, we about seven o'clock lost +sight of her, and were in some perplexity what course to steer; but at +last Mr. Anson resolved, as we were then before the wind, to keep all his +sails set and not to change his course. For though we had no doubt but +the chase would alter her course in the night, yet, as it was uncertain +what tack she would go upon, it was thought more prudent to keep on our +course, as we must by this means unavoidably near her, than to change it +on conjecture, when, if we should mistake, we must infallibly lose her. +Thus, then, we continued the chase about an hour and a half in the dark, +someone or other on board us constantly imagining they discerned her +sails right ahead of us; but at last Mr. Brett, then our second +lieutenant, did really discover her about four points on the +larboard-bow, steering off to the seaward. We immediately clapped the +helm a-weather and stood for her, and in less than an hour came up with +her, and having fired fourteen shots at her, she struck. Our third +lieutenant, Mr. Dennis, was sent in the boat with sixteen men to take +possession of the prize and to return the prisoners to our ship. This +ship was named the "Santa Teresa de Jesus", built at Guayaquil, of about +three hundred tons burthen, and was commanded by Bartolome Urrunaga, a +Biscayer. She was bound from Guayaquil to Callao; her loading consisted +of timber, cacao, cocoa-nuts, tobacco, hides, Pito thread (which is very +strong and is made of a species of grass) Quito cloth, wax, etc. The +specie on board her was inconsiderable, being principally small silver +money and not amounting to more than 170 pounds sterling. It is true her +cargo was of great value, could we have disposed of it, but the Spaniards +having strict orders never to ransom their ships, all the goods that we +took in these seas, except what little we had occasion for ourselves, +were of no advantage to us. Indeed, though we could make no profit +thereby ourselves, it was some satisfaction to us to consider that it was +so much really lost to the enemy, and that the despoiling them was no +contemptible branch of that service in which we were now employed by our +country. + +I have before observed that at the beginning of this chase the Centurion +ran her two consorts out of sight, for which reason we lay by all the +night, after we had taken the prize, for Captain Saunders and Lieutenant +Suamarez to join us, firing guns and making false fires every half-hour +to prevent their passing us unobserved; but they were so far astern that +they neither heard nor saw any of our signals and were not able to come +up with us till broad daylight. When they had joined us we proceeded +together to the northward, being now four sail in company. + +DESPOILING THE SPANIARDS. + +On the 10th of November we were three leagues south of the southernmost +island of Lobos, lying in the latitude of 6 degrees 27 minutes south. We +were now drawing near to the station appointed to the Gloucester, for +which reason, fearing to miss her, we made an easy sail all night. The +next morning at daybreak, we saw a ship in shore, and to windward, plying +up to the coast. She had passed by us with the favour of the night, and +we, soon perceiving her not to be the Gloucester, gave her chase; but it +proving very little wind, so that neither of us could make much way, the +Commodore ordered the barge, his pinnace, and the Trial's pinnace to be +manned and armed, and to pursue the chase and board her. Lieutenant +Brett, who commanded the barge, came up with her first, about nine +o'clock, and running alongside of her, he fired a volley of small shot +between the masts, just over the heads of the people on board, and then +instantly entered with the greatest part of his men; but the enemy made +no resistance, being sufficiently frightened by the dazzling of the +cutlasses, and the volley they had just received. Lieutenant Brett +ordered the sails to be trimmed, and bore down to the Commodore, taking +up in his way the two pinnaces. When he was arrived within about four +miles of us, he put off in the barge, bringing with him a number of +prisoners who had given him some material intelligence, which he was +desirous the Commodore should be acquainted with as soon as possible. On +his arrival we learned that the prize was called "Nuestra Senora del +Carmen", of about two hundred and seventy tons burthen; she was commanded +by Marcos Morena, a native of Venice, and had on board forty-three +mariners. She was deep laden with steel, iron, wax, pepper, cedar, plank, +snuff, rosaries, European bale goods, powder-blue, cinnamon, Romish +indulgences, and other species of merchandise. And though this cargo, in +our present circumstances was but of little value to us, yet with respect +to the Spaniards it was the most considerable capture that fell into our +hands in this part of the world; for it amounted to upwards of 400,000 +dollars prime cost at Panama. This ship was bound to Callao, and had +stopped at Paita in her passage to take in a recruit of water and +provisions, and had not left that place above twenty-four hours before +she fell into our hands. + +IMPORTANT INTELLIGENCE. + +I have mentioned that Mr. Brett had received some important intelligence +from the prisoners, which he endeavoured to acquaint the Commodore with +immediately. The first person he received it from (though upon further +examination it was confirmed by the other prisoners) was one John +Williams, an Irishman, whom he found on board the Spanish vessel. +Williams was a Papist, who worked his passage from Cadiz, and had +travelled over all the kingdom of Mexico as a pedlar. He pretended that +by this business he got 4,000 or 5,000 dollars; but that he was +embarrassed by the priests, who knew he had money, and was at last +stripped of all he had. He was, indeed, at present all in rags, being but +just got out of Paita gaol, where he had been confined for some +misdemeanour; he expressed great joy upon seeing his countrymen, and +immediately informed them that a few days before a vessel came into +Paita, where the master of her informed the Governor that he had been +chased in the offing by a very large ship, which, from her size and the +colour of her sails, he was persuaded must be one of the English +squadron. This we then conjectured to have been the Gloucester, as we +afterwards found it was. The Governor, upon examining the master, was +fully satisfied of his relation, and immediately sent away an express to +Lima to acquaint the Viceroy therewith; and the royal officer residing at +Paita, being apprehensive of a visit from the English, was busily +employed in removing the King's treasure and his own to Piura, a town +within land about fourteen leagues distant. We further learned from our +prisoners that there was a very considerable sum of money, belonging to +some merchants at Lima, that was now lodged at the custom-house at Paita; +and that this was intended to be shipped on board a vessel which was then +in the port of Paita, and was preparing to sail with the utmost +expedition, being bound for the Bay of Sonsonnate, on the coast of +Mexico, in order to purchase a part of the cargo of the Manila ship.* +This vessel at Paita was esteemed a prime sailer, and had just received a +new coat of tallow on her bottom; and, in the opinion of the prisoners, +she might be able to sail the succeeding morning. + +(*Note. A full account of the Manila ship will be found in Chapter 22 +below.) + +The character they gave us of this vessel, on which the money was to be +shipped, left us little reason to believe that our ship, which had been +in the water near two years, could have any chance of coming up with her, +if we once suffered her to escape out of the port. And therefore, as we +were now discovered, and the coast would be soon alarmed, and as our +cruising in these parts any longer would answer no purpose, the Commodore +resolved to surprise the place, having first minutely informed himself of +its strength and condition, and being fully satisfied that there was +little danger of losing many of our men in the attempt. + + +CHAPTER 18. +THE ATTACK ON PAITA. + +The town of Paita is situated in the latitude of 5 degrees 12 minutes +south, in a most barren soil, composed only of sand and slate; the extent +of it is but small, containing in all less than two hundred families. The +houses are only ground floors, the walls built of split cane and mud, and +the roofs thatched with leaves. These edifices, though extremely slight, +are abundantly sufficient for a climate where rain is considered as a +prodigy, and is not seen in many years; so that it is said that a small +quantity of rain falling in this country in the year 1728, it ruined a +great number of buildings, which mouldered away, and, as it were, melted +before it. The inhabitants of Paita are principally Indians and black +slaves, or at least a mixed breed, the whites being very few. The port of +Paita, though in reality little more than a bay, is esteemed the best on +that part of the coast, and is indeed a very secure and commodious +anchorage. It is greatly frequented by all vessels coming from the north, +since it is here only that the ships from Acapulco, Sonsonnate, Realejo +and Panama can touch and refresh in their passage to Callao; and the +length of these voyages (the wind for the greatest part of the year being +full against them) renders it impossible to perform them without calling +upon the coast for a recruit of fresh water. It is true, Paita is +situated on so parched a spot that it does not itself furnish a drop of +fresh water, or any kind of greens or provisions, except fish and a few +goats; but there is an Indian town called Colan, about two or three +leagues distant to the northward, whence water, maize, greens, fowls, +etc., are brought to Paita on balsas, or floats, for the convenience of +the ships that touch here; and cattle are sometimes brought from Piura, a +town which lies about fourteen leagues up in the country. The town of +Paita is itself an open place; its sole protection and defence is a small +fort near the shore of the bay. It was of consequence to us to be well +informed of the fabric and strength of this fort; and by the examination +of our prisoners we found that there were eight pieces of cannon mounted +in it, but that it had neither ditch nor outwork, being only surrounded +by a plain brick wall; and that the garrison consisted of only one weak +company, but the town itself might possibly arm three hundred men more. + +PREPARING FOR A NIGHT ATTACK. + +Mr. Anson having informed himself of the strength of the place, resolved +to attempt it that very night. We were then about twelve leagues distant +from the shore, far enough to prevent our being discovered, yet not so +far but that, by making all the sail we could, we might arrive in the bay +with our ships in the night. However, the Commodore prudently considered +that this would be an improper method of proceeding, as our ships, being +such large bodies, might be easily discovered at a distance even in the +night, and might thereby alarm the inhabitants and give them an +opportunity of removing their valuable effects. He therefore, as the +strength of the place did not require our whole force, resolved to +attempt it with our boats only, ordering the eighteen-oared barge and our +own and the Trial's pinnaces on that service; and having picked out +fifty-eight men to man them, well provided with arms and ammunition, he +gave the command of the expedition to Lieutenant Brett, and gave him his +necessary orders. And the better to prevent the disappointment and +confusion which might arise from the darkness of the night and the +ignorance of the streets and passages of the place, two of the Spanish +pilots were ordered to attend the lieutenant and to conduct him to the +most convenient landing-place, and were afterwards to be his guides on +shore. And that we might have the greater security for their faithful +behaviour on this occasion, the Commodore took care to assure all our +prisoners that if the pilots acted properly they should all of them be +released and set on shore at this place; but in case of any misconduct or +treachery, he threatened them that the pilots should be instantly shot +and that he would carry all the rest of the Spaniards who were on board +him prisoners to England. + +During our preparations the ships themselves stood towards the port with +all the sail they could make, being secure that we were yet at too great +a distance to be seen. But about ten o'clock at night, the ships being +then within five leagues of the place, Lieutenant Brett, with the boats +under his command, put off, and arrived at the mouth of the bay without +being discovered; but no sooner had he entered it than some of the people +on board a vessel riding at anchor there perceived him, who instantly put +off in their boat, rowing towards the fort, shouting and crying, "The +English! the English dogs!" by which the whole town was suddenly alarmed; +and our people soon observed several lights hurrying backwards and +forwards in the fort and other marks of the inhabitants being in great +motion. Lieutenant Brett on this encouraged his men to pull briskly up to +the shore, that they might give the enemy as little time as possible to +prepare for their defence. However, before our boats could reach the +shore, the people in the fort had got ready some of their cannon and +pointed them towards the landing-place; and though in the darkness of the +night it might be well supposed that chance had a greater share than +skill in their direction, yet the first shot passed extremely near one of +the boats, whistling just over the heads of the crew. This made our +people redouble their efforts, so that they had reached the shore, and +were in part disembarked by the time the second gun fired. As soon as our +men landed they were conducted by one of the Spanish pilots to the +entrance of a narrow street, not above fifty yards distant from the +beach, where they were covered from the fire of the fort; and being +formed in the best manner the shortness of the time would allow, they +immediately marched for the parade, which was a large square at the end +of this street, the fort being one side of the square and the Governor's +house another. In this march (though performed with tolerable regularity) +the shouts and clamours of three-score sailors who had been confined so +long on ship-board, and were now for the first time on shore in an +enemy's country--joyous as they always are when they land, and animated +besides in the present case with the hopes of an immense pillage--the +huzzahs, I say, of this spirited detachment, joined with the noise of +their drums and favoured by the night, had augmented their numbers, in +the opinion of the enemy, to at least three hundred; by which persuasion +the inhabitants were so greatly intimidated that they were much more +solicitous about the means of their flight than of their resistance. So +that though upon entering the parade our people received a volley from +the merchants who owned the treasure then in the town, and who, with a +few others, had ranged themselves in a gallery that ran round the +Governor's house, yet that post was immediately abandoned upon the first +fire made by our people, who were thereby left in quiet possession of the +parade. + +A SMART PIECE OF WORK. + +On this success Lieutenant Brett divided his men into two parties, +ordering one of them to surround the Governor's house, and, if possible, +to secure the Governor, whilst he himself with 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, abandoned +it, and made their escape over the walls. By this means the whole place +was mastered in less than a quarter of an hour's time from the first +landing, with no other loss than that of one man killed on the spot and +two wounded, one of whom was the Spanish pilot of the Teresa, who +received a slight bruise by a ball which grazed on his wrist. Indeed, +another of the company, the Honourable Mr. Keppel, son to the Earl of +Albemarle, had a very narrow escape; for having on a jockey cap, one side +of the peak was shaved off close to his temple by a ball, which, however, +did him no other injury. And now Lieutenant Brett, after this success, +placed a guard at the fort, and another at the Governor's house, and +appointed sentinels at all the avenues of the town, both to prevent any +surprise from the enemy, and to secure the effects in the place from +being embezzled. And this being done, his next care was to seize on the +custom-house where the treasure lay, and to examine if any of the +inhabitants remained in the town, that he might know what further +precautions it was necessary to take. But he soon found that the numbers +left behind were no ways formidable; for the greatest part of them (being +in bed when the place was surprised) had run away with so much +precipitation that they had not given themselves time to put on their +clothes. And in this precipitate rout the Governor was not the last to +secure himself for he fled betimes, half-naked. The few inhabitants who +remained were confined in one of the churches under a guard, except some +stout Negroes who were found in the place. These, instead of being shut +up, were employed the remaining part of the night to assist in carrying +the treasure from the custom-house and other places to the fort. However, +there was care taken that they should be always attended by a file of +musketeers. + +The transporting the treasure from the custom-house to the fort was the +principal occupation of Mr. Brett's people after he had got possession of +the place. But the sailors, while they were thus employed, could not be +prevented from entering the houses which lay near them in search of +private pillage. And the first things which occurred to them being the +clothes which the Spaniards in their flight had left behind them, and +which, according to the custom of the country, were most of them either +embroidered or laced, our people eagerly seized these glittering habits, +and put them on over their own dirty trousers and jackets; not +forgetting, at the same time, the tie or bag-wig, and laced hat, which +were generally found with the clothes. When this practice was once begun +there was no preventing the whole detachment from imitating it; and those +who came latest into the fashion, not finding men's clothes sufficient to +equip themselves, were obliged to take up with women's gowns and +petticoats, which (provided there was finery enough) they made no scruple +of putting on and blending with their own greasy dress. So that, when a +party of them thus ridiculously metamorphosed first appeared before Mr. +Brett, he was extremely surprised at their appearance and could not +immediately be satisfied they were his own people. + + +CHAPTER 19. +THE ATTACK ON PAITA (CONTINUED)--KIND TREATMENT AND RELEASE OF THE + PRISONERS--THEIR GRATITUDE. + +These were the transactions of our detachment on shore at Paita the first +night; and now to return to what was done on board the Centurion in that +interval. I must observe that after the boats were gone off we lay by +till one o'clock in the morning, and then, supposing our detachment to be +near landing, we made an easy sail for the bay. About seven in the +morning we began to open the bay, and soon after we had a view of the +town; and though we had no reason to doubt of the success of the +enterprise, yet it was with great joy that we first discovered an +infallible signal of the certainty of our hopes: this was by means of our +perspectives, for through them we saw an English flag hoisted on the +flagstaff of the fort, which to us was an incontestable proof that our +people had got possession of the town. We plied into the bay with as much +expedition as the wind, which then blew off shore, would permit us, and +at eleven the Trial's boat came on board us, laden with dollars and +church-plate; and the officer who commanded her informed us of the +preceding night's transactions, such as we have already related them. +About two in the afternoon we came to an anchor in ten fathoms and a +half, at a mile and a half distance from the town, and were consequently +near enough to have a more immediate intercourse with those on shore. + +COLLECTING THE TREASURE. + +And now we found that Mr. Brett had hitherto gone on in collecting and +removing the treasure without interruption; but that the enemy had +rendezvoused from all parts of the country on a hill at the back of the +town, where they made no inconsiderable appearance; for, amongst the rest +of their force, there were two hundred horse, seemingly very well armed +and mounted, and, as we conceived, properly trained and regimented, being +furnished with trumpets, drums, and standards. These troops paraded about +the hill with great ostentation, sounding their military music and +practising every art to intimidate us (as our numbers on shore were by +this time not unknown to them), in hopes that we might be induced by our +fears to abandon the place before the pillage was completed. But we were +not so ignorant as to believe that this body of horse, which seemed to be +what the enemy principally depended on, would dare to venture in streets +and among houses, even had their numbers been three times as great; and +therefore, notwithstanding their menaces, we went on, as long as the +daylight lasted, calmly, in sending off the treasure and in employing the +boats to carry on board the refreshments such as hogs, fowls, etc., which +we found here in great abundance. But at night, to prevent any surprise, +the Commodore sent on shore a reinforcement, who posted themselves in all +the streets leading to the parade; and for their greater security they +traversed the streets with barricades six feet high; and the enemy +continuing quiet all night, we at daybreak returned again to our labour +of loading the boats and sending them off. + +On the second day of our being in possession of the place, several negro +slaves deserted from the enemy on the hill, and coming into the town, +voluntarily entered into our service. One of these was well known to a +gentleman on board, who remembered him formerly at Panama. And the +Spaniards without the town being in extreme want of water, many of their +slaves crept into the place by stealth and carried away several jars of +water to their masters on the hill; and though some of them were seized +by our men in the attempt, yet the thirst amongst the enemy was so +pressing that they continued this practice till we left the place. And +now, on this second day, we were assured, both by the deserters and by +these prisoners we took, that the Spaniards on the hill, who were by this +time increased to a formidable number, had resolved to storm the town and +fort the succeeding night, and that one Gordon, a Scotch Papist and +captain of a ship in those seas, was to have the command of this +enterprise. But we, notwithstanding, continued sending off our boats, and +prosecuted our work without the least hurry or precipitation till the +evening; and then a reinforcement was again sent on shore by the +Commodore, and Lieutenant Brett doubled his guards at each of the +barricades; and our posts being connected by means of sentinels placed +within call of each other, and the whole being visited by frequent +rounds, attended with a drum, these marks of our vigilance cooled their +resolution and made them forget the vaunts of the preceding day; so that +we passed the second night with as little molestation as we had done the +first. + +We had finished sending the treasure on board the Centurion the evening +before, so that the third morning, being the 15th of November, the boats +were employed in carrying off the most valuable part of the effects that +remained in the town. And the Commodore intending to sail this day, he +about ten o'clock, pursuant to his promise, sent all his prisoners, +amounting to eighty-eight, on shore, giving orders to Lieutenant Brett to +secure them in one of the churches under a strict guard till he was ready +to embark his men. + +THE BURNING OF PAITA. + +Mr. Brett was at the same time ordered to set the whole town on fire, +except the two churches (which by good fortune stood at some distance +from the other houses), and then he was to abandon the place and to come +on board. These orders were punctually complied with, for Mr. Brett +immediately set his men to work to distribute pitch, tar, and other +combustibles (of which great quantities were found here) into houses +situated in different streets of the town, so that, the place being fired +in many quarters at the same time, the destruction might be more violent +and sudden, and the enemy, after our departure, might not be able to +extinguish it. These preparations being made, he in the next place +ordered the cannon which he found in the fort to be nailed up; and then, +setting fire to those houses which were most windward, he collected his +men and marched towards the beach, where the boats waited to carry them +off. And the part of the beach where he intended to embark being an open +place without the town, the Spaniards on the hill, perceiving he was +retreating, resolved to try if they could not precipitate his departure. +For this purpose a small squadron of their horse, consisting of about +sixty, picked out as I suppose for this service, marched down the hill +with much seeming resolution; so that, had we not been prepossessed with +a juster opinion of their prowess, we might have suspected that, now we +were on the open beach with no advantage of situation, they would +certainly have charged us. But we presumed (and we were not mistaken) +that this was mere ostentation; for, notwithstanding the pomp and parade +they advanced with, Mr. Brett had no sooner ordered his men to halt and +face about, but the enemy stopped their career and never dared to advance +a step farther. + +Our detachment under Lieutenant Brett having safely joined the squadron, +the Commodore prepared to leave the place the same evening. + +ENGLISH HUMANITY. + +There remains, before I take leave of this place, another particularity +to be mentioned, which, on account of the great honour which our national +character in those parts has thence received, and the reputation which +our Commodore in particular has thereby acquired, merits a distinct and +circumstantial discussion. It has been already related that all the +prisoners taken by us in our preceding prizes were put on shore and +discharged at this place; amongst which there were some persons of +considerable distinction, particularly a youth of about seventeen years +of age, son of the Vice-President of the Council of Chili. As the +barbarity of the buccaneers, and the artful use the ecclesiastics had +made of it, had filled the natives of those countries with the most +terrible ideas of the English cruelty, we always found our prisoners at +their first coming on board us, to be extremely dejected and under great +horror and anxiety. In particular, this youth whom I last mentioned, +having never been from home before, lamented his captivity in the most +moving manner, regretting in very plaintive terms his parents, his +brothers, his sisters, and his native country, of all which he was fully +persuaded he had taken his last farewell, believing that he was now +devoted for the remaining part of his life to an abject and cruel +servitude; nore was he singular in his fears, for his companions on +board, and indeed all the Spaniards that came into our power, had the +same desponding opinion of their situation. Mr. Anson constantly exerted +his utmost endeavours to efface these inhuman impressions they had +received of us, always taking care that as many of the principal people +among them as there was room for should dine at his table by turns, and +giving the strictest orders, too, that they should at all times and in +every circumstance be treated with the utmost decency and humanity. But, +notwithstanding this precaution, it was generally observed that for the +first day or two they did not quit their fears, but suspected the +gentleness of their usage to be only preparatory to some unthought-of +calamity. However, being confirmed by time, they grew perfectly easy in +their situation and remarkably cheerful, so that it was often disputable +whether or no they considered their being detained by us as a misfortune. +For the youth I have above mentioned, who was near two months on board +us, had at last so far conquered his melancholy surmises, and had taken +such an affection to Mr. Anson, and seemed so much pleased with the +manner of life, totally different from all he had ever seen before, that +it is doubtful to me whether if his opinion had been taken, he would not +have preferred a voyage to England in the Centurion to the being set on +shore at Paita, where he was at liberty to return to his country and his +friends. + +This conduct of the Commodore to his prisoners, which was continued +without interruption or deviation, gave them all the highest idea of his +humanity and benevolence, and induced them likewise (as mankind are fond +of forming general opinions) to entertain very favourable thoughts of the +whole English nation. + +All the prisoners left us with the strongest assurances of their grateful +remembrance of his uncommon treatment. A Jesuit, in particular, whom the +Commodore had taken, and who was an ecclesiastic of some distinction, +could not help expressing himself with great thankfulness for the +civilities he and his countrymen had found on board, declaring that he +should consider it as his duty to do Mr. Anson justice at all times. + + +CHAPTER 20. +A CLEVER TRICK. WATERING AT QUIBO. CATCHING THE TURTLE. + +When we got under sail from the road of Paita we stood to the westward, +and in the morning the Commodore gave orders that the whole squadron +should spread themselves, in order to look out for the Gloucester; for we +now drew near to the station where Captain Mitchel had been directed to +cruise, and hourly expected to get sight of him, but the whole day passed +without seeing him. + +DOLLARS AMONGST THE COTTON. + +At night having no sight of the Gloucester, the Commodore ordered the +squadron to bring to, that we might not pass her in the dark. The next +morning we again looked out for her, and at ten we saw a sail, to which +we gave chase, and at two in the afternoon we came near enough her to +discover her to be the Gloucester, with a small vessel in tow. About an +hour after we were joined by them, and then we learned that Captain +Mitchel in the whole time of his cruise, had only taken two prizes, one +of them being a small snow, whose cargo consisted chiefly of wine, +brandy, and olives in jars, with about 7,000 pounds in specie; and the +other a large boat or launch which the Gloucester's barge came up with +near the shore. The prisoners on board this vessel alleged that they were +very poor and that their loading consisted only of cotton, though the +circumstances in which the barge surprised them seemed to insinuate that +they were more opulent than they pretended to be, for the Gloucester's +people found them at dinner upon pigeon-pie served up in silver dishes. +However, the officer who commanded the barge having opened several of the +jars on board to satisfy his curiosity, and finding nothing in them but +cotton, he was inclined to believe the account the prisoners gave him; +but the cargo being taken into the Gloucester, and there examined more +strictly, they were agreeably surprised to find that the whole was a very +extraordinary piece of false package, and that there was concealed +amongst the cotton, in every jar, a considerable quantity of double +doubloons and dollars to the amount, in the whole, of near 12,000 pounds. +This treasure was going to Paita, and belonged to the same merchants who +were the proprietors of the greatest part of the money we had taken +there; so that, had this boat escaped the Gloucester, it is probable her +cargo would have fallen into our hands. Besides these two prizes which we +have mentioned, the Gloucester's people told us that they had been in +sight of two or three other ships of the enemy, which had escaped them; +and one of them, we had reason to believe from some of our intelligence, +was of an immense value. + +Being now joined by the Gloucester and her prize, it was resolved that we +should stand to the northwards, and get as soon as possible to the +southern parts of California, or to the adjacent coast of Mexico, there +to cruise for the Manila galleon, which we knew was now at sea, bound to +the port of Acapulco. And we doubted not to get on that station time +enough to intercept her, for this ship does not usually arrive at +Acapulco till towards the middle of January, and we were now but in the +middle of November, and did not conceive that our passage thither would +cost us above a month or five weeks; so that we imagined we had near +twice as much time as was necessary for our purpose. Indeed there was a +business which we foresaw would occasions some delay, but we flattered +ourselves that it would be despatched in four or five days, and therefore +could not interrupt our project. This was the recruiting of our water. It +was for some time a matter of deliberation where we should take in this +necessary article, but by consulting the accounts of former navigators, +and examining our prisoners, we at last resolved for the island of Quibo, +situated at the mouth of the Bay of Panama. + +Having determined, therefore, to go to Quibo, we directed our course to +the northward. + +On the 25th we had a sight of the island of Gallo, and hence we crossed +the Bay of Panama. Being now in a rainy climate, which we had been long +disused to, we found it necessary to caulk the sides of the Centurion, to +prevent the rain-water from running into her. On the 3rd of December we +had a view of the island of Quibo, and at seven in the evening of the 5th +we came to an anchor in thirty-three fathoms. + +The next morning, after our coming to an anchor, an officer was +despatched on shore to discover the watering-place, who having found it, +returned before noon; and then we sent the long-boat for a load of water. +This island of Quibo is extremely convenient for wooding and watering; +for the trees grow close to the high-water mark and a large rapid stream +of fresh water runs over the sandy beach into the sea, so that we were +little more than two days in laying in all the wood and water we wanted. + +CATCHING THE TURTLE. + +The sea at this place furnished us with turtle in the greatest plenty and +perfection. The green turtle is generally esteemed, by the greatest part +of those who are acquainted with its taste, to be the most delicious of +all eatables; and that it is a most wholesome food we are amply convinced +by our own experience. For we fed on it for near four months, and +consequently, had it been in any degree noxious, its ill effects could +not possibly have escaped us. + +At this island we took what quantity we pleased with great facility; for +as they are an amphibious animal, and get on shore to lay their eggs, +which they generally deposit in a large hole in the sand, just above the +high-water mark, covering them up and leaving them to be hatched by the +heat of the sun, we usually dispersed several of our men along the beach, +whose business it was to turn them on their backs when they came to land; +and the turtle being thereby prevented from getting away, we carried them +off at our leisure. By this means we not only secured a sufficient stock +for the time we stayed on the island, but we took a number of them with +us to sea, which proved of great service both in lengthening out our +store of provision, and in heartening the whole crew with an almost +constant supply of fresh and palatable food. For the turtle being large, +they generally weighing about 200 pounds weight each, those we took with +us lasted us near a month, and by that time we met with a fresh recruit +on the coast of Mexico, where we often saw them in the heat of the day +floating in great numbers on the surface of the water fast asleep. When +we discovered them, we usually sent out our boat with a man in the bow, +who was a dexterous diver, and when the boat came within a few yards of +the turtle, the diver plunged into the water, and took care to rise close +upon it, seizing the shell near the tail, and pressing down the hinder +parts. The turtle, when awakened, began to strike with its claws, which +motion supported both it and the diver, till the boat came up and took +them in. By this management we never wanted turtle for the succeeding +four months in which we continued at sea. + + +CHAPTER 21. +DELAY AND DISAPPOINTMENT--CHASING A HEATH FIRE--ACAPULCO--THE Manila +GALLEON--FRESH HOPES. + +On the 12th of December we stood from Quibo to the westward. We had +little doubt of arriving soon upon our intended station,* as we expected, +upon increasing 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 with tempestuous weather from the western quarter, or with dead +calms and heavy rains, attended with a sultry air. As our hopes were so +long baffled, and our patience quite exhausted, we began at length to +despair of succeeding in the great purpose we had in view, that of +intercepting the Manila galleon; and this produced a general dejection +amongst us, as we had at first considered this project as almost +infallible, and had indulged ourselves in the most boundless hopes of the +advantages we should thence receive. However, our despondency was at last +somewhat alleviated by a favourable change of the wind; for on the 9th of +January a gale for the first time sprang up from the north-east. As we +advanced apace towards our station our hopes began to revive, for though +the customary season of the arrival of the galleon at Acapulco was +already elapsed, yet we were by this time unreasonable enough to flatter +ourselves that some accidental delay might, for our advantage, lengthen +out her passage beyond its usual limits. On the 26th of January, being +then to the northward of Acapulco, we tacked and stood to the eastward, +with a view of making the land. + +(*Note. Off Cape Corrientes (20 degrees 20 minutes north). Anson hoped to +intercept the Manila galleon here.) + +A MORTIFYING DELUSION. + +We expected by our reckonings to have fallen in with it on the 28th; but +though the weather was perfectly clear, we had no sight of it at sunset, +and therefore we continued on our course, not doubting but we should see +it by the next morning. About ten at night we discovered a light on the +larboard-bow, bearing from us north-north-east. The Trial's prize, too, +which was about a mile ahead of us, made a signal at the same time for +seeing a sail; and as we had none of us any doubt but what we saw was a +ship's light, we were all extremely animated with a firm persuasion that +it was the Manila galleon, which had been so long the object of our +wishes. And what added to our alacrity was our expectation of meeting +with two of them instead of one, for we took it for granted that the +light in view was carried in the top of one ship for a direction to her +consort. We chased the light, keeping all our hands at their respective +quarters, under an expectation of engaging in the next half-hour, as we +sometimes conceived the chase to be about a mile distant, and at other +times to be within reach of our guns; and some on board us positively +averred that besides the light they could plainly discern her sails. The +Commodore himself was so fully persuaded that we should be soon alongside +of her, that he sent for his first Lieutenant, who commanded between +decks, and directed him to see all the great guns loaded with two +round-shot for the first broadside, and after that with one round-shot +and one grape, strictly charging him at the same time not to suffer a gun +to be fired till he, the Commodore, should give orders, which he informed +the Lieutenant would not be till we arrived within pistol-shot of the +enemy. In this constant and eager attention we continued all night, +always presuming that another quarter of an hour would bring us up with +this Manila ship, whose wealth, with that of her supposed consort, we +now estimated by round millions. But when the morning broke and daylight +came on, we were most strangely and vexatiously disappointed by finding +that the light which had occasioned all this bustle and expectancy was +only a fire on the shore. And yet I believe there was no person on board +who doubted of its being a ship's light, or of its being near at hand. It +was, indeed, upon a very high mountain, and continued burning for several +days afterwards. It was not a volcano, but, rather, as I suppose, stubble +or heath set on fire for some purpose of agriculture. + +At sun-rising, after this mortifying delusion, we found ourselves about +nine leagues off the land. On this land we observed two remarkable +hummocks, such as are usually called paps; these a Spanish pilot and two +Indians, who were the only persons amongst 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 knowledge of the coast, for +we found these paps to be in the latitude of 17 degrees 56 minutes, +whereas those over Acapulco are said to be in 17 degrees only, and we +afterwards found our suspicions of their skill to be well grounded. + +And now, being in the track of the Manila galleon, it was a great doubt +with us (as it was near the end of January) whether she was or was not +arrived. And as we now began to want a harbour to refresh our people, the +uncertainty of our present situation gave us great uneasiness, and we +were very solicitous to get some positive intelligence, which might +either set us at liberty to consult our necessities, if the galleon was +arrived, or might animate us to continue on our present cruise with +cheerfulness if she was not. With this view the Commodore, after +examining our prisoners very particularly, resolved to send a boat, under +colour of the night, into the harbour of Acapulco to see if the Manila +ship was there or not. To execute this project, the barge was despatched +the 6th of February. She did not return to us again till the 11th, when +the officers acquainted Mr. Anson, that, agreeable to our suspicion, +there was nothing like a harbour in the place where the Spanish pilots +had at first asserted Acapulco to lie; that, when they had satisfied +themselves in this particular, they steered to the eastward in hopes of +discovering it, and had coasted along shore thirty-two leagues; that in +this whole range they met chiefly with sandy beaches of a great length, +over which the sea broke with so much violence that it was impossible for +a boat to land; that at the end of their run they could just discover two +paps at a very great distance to the eastward, which from their +appearance and their latitude they concluded to be those in the +neighbourhood of Acapulco, but that, not having a sufficient quantity of +fresh water and provision for their passage thither and back again, they +were obliged to return to the Commodore to acquaint him with their +disappointment. On this intelligence we all made sail to the eastward, in +order to get into the neighbourhood of that port, the Commodore resolving +to send the barge a second time upon the same enterprise when we were +arrived within a moderate distance. And the next day, which was the 12th +of February, we being by that time considerably advanced, the barge was +again despatched, and particular instructions given to the officers to +preserve themselves from being seen from the shore. On the 19th of +February she returned, and we found that we were indeed disappointed in +our expectation of intercepting the galleon before her arrival at +Acapulco; but we learned other circumstances which still revived our +hopes, and which, we then conceived, would more than balance the +opportunity we had already lost. For though our negro prisoners* informed +us that the galleon arrived at Acapulco on our 9th of January, which was +about twenty days before we fell in with this coast, yet they at the same +time told us that the galleon had delivered her cargo and was taking in +water and provisions for her return, and that the Viceroy of Mexico had +by proclamation fixed her departure from Acapulco to the 14th of March, +New Style. + +(*Note. Three negroes in a fishing canoe had been captured by the +Centurion's barge off Acapulco harbour.) + +This last news was most joyfully received by us, as we had no doubt but +she must certainly fall into our hands, and as it was much more eligible +to seize her on her return than it would have been to have taken her +before her arrival, as the specie for which she had sold her cargo, and +which she would now have on board, would be prodigiously more to be +esteemed by us than the cargo itself, great part of which would have +perished on our hands, and no part of it could have been disposed of by +us at so advantageous a mart as Acapulco. + +Thus we were a second time engaged in an eager expectation of meeting +with this Manila ship, which, by the fame of its wealth, we had been +taught to consider as the most desirable prize that was to be met with in +any part of the globe. + + +CHAPTER 22. +THE Manila* TRADE. + +(*Note. The capital of Luzon, the chief island of the Philippine group. +The Philippines were discovered in 1521 by Magellan, who was killed there +by the natives. They were annexed by Spain in 1571 and were ceded to the +United States of America in 1898, together with Cuba, after the brave but +futile attempt of the Spaniards to preserve what were almost the last +relics of their colonial dominions.) + +The trade carried on from Manila to China, and different parts of India, +is principally for such commodities as are intended to supply the +kingdoms of Mexico and Peru. These are spices; all sorts of Chinese silks +and manufactures, particularly silk stockings, of which I have heard that +no less than 50,000 pairs were the usual number shipped on board the +annual ship; vast quantities of Indian stuffs--as calicoes and chintzes, +which are much worn in America; together with other minuter articles--as +goldsmith's work, etc., which is principally done at the city of Manila +itself by the Chinese, for it is said there are at least 20,000 Chinese +who constantly reside there, either as servants, manufacturers, or +brokers. All these different commodities are collected at Manila, thence +to be transported annually in one or more ships to the port of Acapulco. + +THE Manila SHIP. + +This trade from Manila to Acapulco and back again is usually carried on +in one or at most two annual ships, which set sail from Manila about +July, arrive at Acapulco in the December, January, or February following, +and, having there disposed of their effects, return for Manila some time +in March, where they generally arrive in June, so that the whole voyage +takes up very near an entire year. For this reason, though there is often +no more than one ship employed at a time, yet there is always one ready +for the sea when the other arrives, and therefore the commerce at Manila +are provided with three or four stout ships that, in case of any +accident, the trade may not be suspended. The largest of these ships, +whose name I have not learned, is described as little less than one of +our first-rate men-of-war, and indeed she must be of an enormous size, +for it is known that when she was employed with other ships from the same +port to cruise for our China trade, she had no less than 1,200 men on +board. Their other ships, though far inferior in bulk to this, are yet +stout, large vessels, of the burthen of 1,200 tons and upwards, and +usually carry from 350 to 600 hands, passengers included, with fifty odd +guns. As these are all King's ships, commissioned and paid by him, there +is usually one of the captains who is styled the "General," and who +carries the royal standard of Spain at the main-topgallant masthead. + +The ship having received her cargo on board and being fitted for the sea, +generally weighs from the mole of Cabite about the middle of July, taking +advantage of the westerly monsoon which then sets in to carry them to +sea. When they are clear of the islands they stand to the northward of +the east, in order to get into the latitude of thirty odd degrees, when +they expect to meet with westerly winds, before which they run away for +the coast of California. It is most remarkable that, by the concurrent +testimony of all the Spanish navigators, there is not one port, nor even +a tolerable road, as yet found out betwixt the Philippine Islands and the +coast of California and Mexico,* so that from the time the Manila ship +first loses sight of land she never lets go her anchor till she arrives +on the coast of California, and very often not till she gets to its +southernmost extremity. + +(*Note. The Sandwich Islands were discovered by Captain Cook in 1779. The +Spanish ships had usually crossed the Pacific 9 or 10 degrees south of +them.) + +ACAPULCO. + +The most usual time of the arrival of the galleon at Acapulco is towards +the middle of January, but this navigation is so uncertain that she +sometimes gets in a month sooner, and at other times has been detained at +sea above a month longer. The port of Acapulco is by much the securest +and finest in all the northern parts of the Pacific Ocean, being as it +were, a basin surrounded with very high mountains, but the town is a most +wretched place and extremely unhealthy, for the air about it is so pent +up by the hills that it has scarcely any circulation. The place is, +besides, destitute of fresh water, except what is brought from a +considerable distance, and is in all respects so inconvenient that except +at the time of the mart, whilst the Manila galleon is in the port, it is +almost deserted. When the galleon arrives in this port she is generally +moored on its western side, and her cargo is delivered with all possible +expedition; and now the town of Acapulco, from almost a solitude, is +immediately thronged with merchants from all parts of the kingdom of +Mexico. The cargo being landed and disposed of, the silver and the goods +intended for Manila are taken on board, together with provisions and +water, and the ship prepares to put to sea with the utmost expedition. +There is indeed no time to be lost, for it is an express order to the +captain to be out of the port of Acapulco on his return before the first +day of April, New Style. + +And having mentioned the goods intended for Manila, I must observe that +the principal return is always made in silver, and consequently the rest +of the cargo is but of little account; the other articles, besides the +silver, being some cochineal and a few sweetmeats, the produce of the +American settlements, together with European millinery ware for the women +at Manila, and some Spanish wines. And this difference in the cargo of +the ship to and from Manila occasions a very remarkable variety in the +manner of equipping the ship for these two different voyages. For the +galleon, when she sets sail from Manila, being deep laden with a variety +of bulky goods, has not the conveniency of mounting her lower tier of +guns, but carries them in her hold till she draws near Cape St. Lucas and +is apprehensive of an enemy. Her hands, too, are as few as is consistent +with the safety of the ship, that she may be less pestered with the +stowage of provisions. But on her return from Acapulco, as her cargo lies +in less room, her lower tier is, or ought to be, always mounted before +she leaves the port, and her crew is augmented with a supply of sailors +and with one or two companies of foot, which are intended to reinforce +the garrison at Manila. And there being, besides, many merchants who +take their passage to Manila on board the galleon, her whole number of +hands on her return is usually little short of six hundred, all which are +easily provided for by reason of the small stowage necessary for the +silver. + +The galleon being thus fitted for her return, the captain, on leaving the +port of Acapulco, steers for the latitude of 13 or 14 degrees, and runs +on that parallel till he gets sight of the island of Guam, one of the +Ladrones. The captain is told in his instructions that, to prevent his +passing the Ladrones in the dark, there are orders given that thorough +all the month of June fires shall be lighted every night on the highest +part of Guam and Rota, and kept in till the morning. At Guam there is a +small Spanish garrison, purposely intended to secure that place for the +refreshment of the galleon and to yield her all the assistance in their +power. However, the danger of the road at Guam is so great, that though +the galleon is ordered to call there, yet she rarely stays above a day or +two, but getting her water and refreshments on board as soon as possible, +she steers away directly for Cape Espiritu Santo, on the island of +Samal.* + +TELEGRAPHY BY BEACON. + +Here the captain is again ordered to look out for signals, and he is told +that sentinels will be posted, not only on that cape, but likewise in +Catanduanas, Butusan, Birriborongo, and on the island of Batan. These +sentinels are instructed to make a fire when they discover the ship, +which the captain is carefully to observe; for if after this first fire +is extinguished he perceives that four or more are lighted up again, he +is then to conclude that there are enemies on the coast, and on this he +is immediately to endeavour to speak with the sentinel on shore, and to +procure from him more particular intelligence of their force and of the +station they cruise in, pursuant to which he is to regulate his conduct, +and to endeavour to gain some secure port amongst those islands without +coming in sight of the enemy; and in case he should be discovered when in +port, and should be apprehensive of an attack, he is then to land his +treasure and to take some of his artillery on shore for its defence, not +neglecting to send frequent and particular accounts to the city of +Manila of all that passes. But if after the first fire on shore the +captain observes that two others only are made by the sentinels, he is +then to conclude that there is nothing to fear, and he is to pursue his +course without interruption, and to make the best of his way to the port +of Cabite, which is the port to the city of Manila, and the constant +station for all the ships employed in this commerce to Acapulco. + +(*Note. Samal or Samar is an island about the centre of the Philippines, +north of Mindanao.) + + +CHAPTER 23. +WAITING FOR THE GALLEON--DISAPPOINTMENT--CHEQUETAN. + +On the 1st of March we made the highlands over Acapulco, and got with all +possible expedition into the situation prescribed by the Commodore's +orders.* + +(*Note. The two men-of-war and the three prizes were arranged out of +sight of the land in "a circular line," the two extremities of which were +thirty-six miles apart. Within this line, and much nearer to the port, +especially at night, were two cutters, whose duty it was to watch the +mouth of the harbour and signal to the ships outside them.) + +And now we expected with the utmost impatience the 3rd of March, the day +fixed for her departure. And on that day we were all of us most eagerly +engaged in looking out towards Acapulco; and we were so strangely +prepossessed with the certainty of our intelligence, and with an +assurance of her coming out of port, that some or other on board us were +constantly imagining that they discovered one of our cutters returning +with a signal. But to our extreme vexation, both this day and the +succeeding night passed over without any news of the galleon. However, we +did not yet despair, but were all heartily disposed to flatter ourselves +that some unforeseen accident had intervened which might have put off her +departure for a few days; and suggestions of this kind occurred in +plenty, as we knew that the time fixed by the Viceroy for her sailing was +often prolonged on the petition of the merchants of Mexico. Thus we kept +up our hopes, and did not abate of our vigilance; and as the 7th of March +was Sunday, the beginning of Passion Week, which is observed by the +Papists with great strictness and a total cessation from all kinds of +labour, so that no ship is permitted to stir out of port during the whole +week, this quieted our apprehensions for some days, and disposed us not +to expect the galleon till the week following. On the Friday in this week +our cutters returned to us, and the officers on board them were very +confident that the galleon was still in port, for that she could not +possibly have come out but they must have seen her. On the Monday morning +succeeding Passion Week--that is, on the 15th of March--the cutters were +again despatched to their old station, and our hopes were once more +indulged in as sanguine prepossessions as before; but in a week's time +our eagerness was greatly abated, and a general dejection and despondency +took place in its room. For we were persuaded that the enemy had by some +accident discovered our being upon the coast, and had therefore laid an +embargo on the galleon till the next year. And indeed this persuasion was +but too well founded; for we afterwards learned that our barge, when sent +on the discovery of the port of Acapulco, had been seen from the shore, +and that this circumstance (no embarkations but canoes ever frequenting +that coast) was to them a sufficient proof of the neighbourhood of our +squadron, on which they stopped the galleon till the succeeding year. + +SHORT OF WATER. + +When we had taken up the cutters, all the ships being joined, the +Commodore made a signal to speak with their commanders, and upon enquiry +into the stock of fresh water remaining on board the squadron, it was +found to be so very slender that we were under necessity of quitting our +station to procure a fresh supply. And consulting what place was the +properest for this purpose, it was agreed that the harbour of Seguataneo, +or Chequetan, being the nearest to us, was on that account the most +eligible, and it was therefore immediately resolved to make the best of +our way thither. By the 1st of April we were so far advanced towards +Seguataneo that we thought it expedient to send out two boats, that they +might range along the coast and discover the watering-place. They were +gone some days, and our water being now very short, it was a particular +felicity to us that we met with daily supplies of turtle; for had we been +entirely confined to salt provisions, we must have suffered extremely in +so warm a climate. Indeed, our present circumstances were sufficiently +alarming, and gave the most considerate amongst us as much concern as any +of the numerous perils we had hitherto encountered; for our boats, as we +conceived by their not returning, had not as yet discovered a place +proper to water at, and by the leakage of our casks and other accidents +we had not ten days' water on board the whole squadron; so that, from the +known difficulty of procuring water on this coast, and the little +reliance we had on the buccaneer writers (the only guides we had to trust +to), we were apprehensive of being soon exposed to a calamity, the most +terrible of any in the long, disheartening catalogue of the distresses of +a seafaring life. + +But these gloomy suggestions were soon happily ended, for our boats +returned on the 5th of April, having discovered a place proper for our +purpose about seven miles to the westward of the rocks of Seguataneo, +which by the description they gave of it, appeared to be the port called +by Dampier* the harbour of Chequetan. On the 7th we stood in, and that +evening came to an anchor in eleven fathoms. Thus, after a four months' +continuance at sea from the leaving of Quibo, and having but six days' +water on board, we arrived in the harbour of Chequetan. + +(*Note. Dampier (1652 to 1715), the son of a tenant farmer, near Yeovil, +played many parts in his time. He was a buccaneer, a pirate, a +circumnavigator, an author, a captain in the navy and an hydrographer. +His 'Voyage Round the World', published in 1697, procured him a command +in the navy; but though an excellent seaman, he proved an incapable +commander, as his buccaneer comrades had doubtless foreseen, for he had +never been entrusted with any command among them.) + + +CHAPTER 24. +THE PRIZES SCUTTLED--NEWS OF THE SQUADRON REACHES ENGLAND--BOUND FOR CHINA. + +The next morning after our coming to an anchor in the harbour of +Chequetan, we sent about ninety of our men well armed on shore, forty of +whom were ordered to march into the country, and the remaining fifty were +employed to cover the watering-place and to prevent any interruption from +the natives. Here it was agreed after a mature consultation to destroy +the Trial's prize, as well as the Carmelo and Carmen, whose fate had been +before resolved on. Indeed, the ship was in good repair and fit for the +sea; but as the whole number on board our squadron did not amount to the +complement of a fourth-rate man-of-war, we found it was impossible to +divide them into three ships without rendering them incapable of +navigating in safety in the tempestuous weather we had reason to expect +on the coast of China, where we supposed we should arrive about the time +of the change of the monsoons. These considerations determined the +Commodore to destroy the Trial's prize and to reinforce the Gloucester +with the greatest part of her crew. And in consequence of this resolve, +all the stores on board the Trial's prize were removed into the other +ships, and the prize herself, with the Carmelo and Carmen, were prepared +for scuttling with all the expedition we were masters of. But the great +difficulties we were under in laying in a store of water, together with +the necessary repairs of our rigging and other unavoidable occupations, +took us up so much time, and found us such unexpected employment, that it +was near the end of April before we were in a condition to leave the +place. + +During our stay here there happened an incident which proved the means of +convincing our friends in England of our safety, which for some time they +had despaired of and were then in doubt about. From this harbour of +Chequetan there was but one pathway, which led through the woods into the +country. This we found much beaten, and were thence convinced that it was +well known to the inhabitants. As it passed by the spring-head, and was +the only avenue by which the Spaniards could approach us, we, at some +distance beyond the spring-head, felled several large trees and laid them +one upon the other across the path, and at this barricade we constantly +kept a guard, and we, besides, ordered our men employed in watering to +have their arms ready and, in case of any alarm, to march instantly to +this spot; and though our principal intention was to prevent our being +disturbed by any sudden attack of the enemy's horse, yet it answered +another purpose which was not in itself less important, this was to +hinder our own people from straggling singly into the country, where we +had reason to believe they would be surprised by the Spaniards, who would +doubtless be extremely solicitous to pick up some of them in hopes of +getting intelligence of our future designs. To avoid this inconvenience, +the strictest orders were given to the sentinels to let no person +whatever pass beyond their post. + +THE COMMODORE'S COOK. + +But, notwithstanding this precaution, we missed one Lewis Leger, who was +the Commodore's cook, and as he was a Frenchman, and suspected to be a +Papist, it was by some imagined that he had deserted with a view of +betraying all that he knew to the enemy; but this appeared by the event +to be an ill-grounded surmise, for it was afterwards known that he had +been taken by some Indians, who carried him prisoner to Acapulco, whence +he was transferred to Mexico and then to Vera Cruz, where he was shipped +on board a vessel bound to Old Spain; and the vessel being obliged by +some accident to put into Lisbon, Leger escaped on shore, and was by the +British consul sent thence to England, where he brought the first +authentic account of the safety of the Commodore, and of what he had done +in the South Seas. The relation he gave of his own seizure was that he +had rambled into the woods at some distance from the barricade, where he +had first attempted to pass, but had been stopped and threatened to be +punished; that his principal view was to get a quantity of limes for his +master's store, and that in this occupation he was surprised unawares by +four Indians, who stripped him naked and carried him in that condition to +Acapulco, exposed to the scorching heat of the sun, which at that time of +the year shone with its greatest violence. And afterwards at Mexico his +treatment in prison was sufficiently severe, and the whole course of his +captivity was a continued instance of the hatred which the Spaniards bear +to all those who endeavour to disturb them in the peaceable possession of +the coasts of the South Seas. Indeed, Leger's fortune was, upon the +whole, extremely singular, for after the hazards he had run in the +Commodore's squadron, and the severities he had suffered in his long +confinement amongst the enemy, a more fatal disaster attended him on his +return to England; for though, when he arrived in London, some of Mr. +Anson's friends interested themselves in relieving him from the poverty +to which his captivity had reduced him, yet he did not long enjoy the +benefit of their humanity, for he was killed in an insignificant night +brawl, the cause of which could scarcely be discovered. + +On the 28th of April the Centurion and the Gloucester weighed anchor. +Being now in the offing of Chequetan, bound across the vast Pacific Ocean +in our way to China, we were impatient to run off the coast as soon as +possible, as the stormy season was approaching apace, and we had no +further views in the American seas. + +The sending away our prisoners* was our last transaction on the American +coast, for no sooner had we parted with them than we and the Gloucester +made sail to the south-west, proposing to get a good offing from the +land, where we hoped in a few days to meet with the regular trade-wind. +It has been esteemed no uncommon passage to run from hence to the +easternmost parts of Asia in two months, and we flattered ourselves that +we were as capable of making an expeditious passage as any ship that had +ever run this course before us; so that we hoped soon to gain the coast +of China. On the 6th of May we for the last time lost sight of the +mountains of Mexico, persuaded that in a few weeks we should arrive at +the river of Canton in China, where we expected to meet with many English +ships, and numbers of our countrymen, and hoped to enjoy the advantages +of an amicable, well-frequented spot, inhabited by a polished people, and +abounding with the conveniences and indulgences of a civilised +life--blessings which now for nearly twenty months had never been once in +our power. + +(*Note. Before leaving the American coast for China, Anson released +fifty-seven of his prisoners, including all the Spaniards, and sent them +to Acapulco. A certain number of natives were retained to assist in +working the ships. There had been some previous attempt at correspondence +between Anson and the Spanish governor of Acapulco. The latter, with +Spanish courtesy, when answering Anson's letter, despatched with his +answer "a present of two boats laden with the choicest refreshments and +provisions which were to be found in Acapulco." Unfortunately the boats +were unable to find Anson, and he never received either the letter or the +present.) + + +CHAPTER 25. +DELAYS AND ACCIDENTS--SCURVY AGAIN--A LEAK--THE GLOUCESTER ABANDONED. + +When on the 6th of May, 1742, we left the coast of America, we stood to +the south-west with a view of meeting with the north-east trade wind, +which the accounts of former writers made us expect at seventy or eighty +leagues distance from the land. We had, besides, another reason for +standing to the southward, which was the getting into the latitude of 13 +or 14 degrees north, that being the parallel where the Pacific Ocean is +most usually crossed, and consequently where the navigation is esteemed +the safest. This last purpose we had soon answered, being in a day or two +sufficiently advanced to the south. At the same time we were also farther +from the shore than we had presumed was necessary for falling in with the +tradewind; but in this particular we were most grievously disappointed, +for the wind still continued to the westward, or at best variable. As the +getting into the north-east trade was to us a matter of the last +consequence, we stood more to the southward, and made many experiments to +meet with it, but all our efforts were for a long time unsuccessful, so +that it was seven weeks from our leaving the coast before we got into the +true trade wind. + +CONTRARY AND VARIABLE WINDS. + +This was an interval in which we believed we should well-nigh have +reached the easternmost parts of Asia, but we were so baffled with the +contrary and variable winds which for all that time perplexed us, that we +were not as yet advanced above a fourth part of the way. The delay alone +would have been a sufficient mortification, but there were other +circumstances attending it which rendered this situation not less +terrible, and our apprehensions perhaps still greater, than in any of our +past distresses, for our two ships were by this time extremely crazy, and +many days had not passed before we discovered a spring in the foremast of +the Centurion, which rounded about twenty-six inches of its +circumference, and which was judged to be at least four inches deep; and +no sooner had our carpenters secured this with fishing it but the +Gloucester made a signal of distress, and we learned that she had a +dangerous spring in her mainmast, so that she could not carry any sail +upon it. Our carpenters, on a strict examination of this mast, found it +so very rotten and decayed that they judged it necessary to cut it down +as low as it appeared to have been injured, and by this it was reduced to +nothing but a stump, which served only as a step to the topmast. These +accidents augmented our delay and occasioned us great anxiety about our +future security, for on our leaving the coast of Mexico the scurvy had +begun to make its appearance again amongst our people, though from our +departure from Juan Fernandez we had till then enjoyed a most +uninterrupted state of health. We too well knew the effects of this +disease from our former fatal experience to suppose that anything but a +speedy passage could secure the greater part of our crew from perishing +by it, and as, after being seven weeks at sea, there did not appear any +reasons that could persuade us we were nearer the trade wind than when we +first set out, there was no ground for us to suppose but our passage +would prove at least three times as long as we at first expected, and +consequently we had the melancholy prospect either of dying by the scurvy +or perishing with the ship for want of hands to navigate her. + +SLOW PROGRESS. + +When we reached the trade wind, and it settled between the north and the +east, yet it seldom blew with so much strength but the Centurion might +have carried all her small sails abroad with the greatest safety, so that +now, had we been a single ship, we might have run down our longitude +apace, and have reached the Ladrones soon enough to have recovered great +numbers of our men who afterwards perished. But the Gloucester, by the +loss of her mainmast, sailed so very heavily that we had seldom any more +than our topsails set, and yet were frequently obliged to lie to for her, +and I conceive that in the whole we lost little less than a month by our +attendance upon her, in consequence of the various mischances she +encountered. In all this run it was remarkable that we were rarely many +days together without seeing great numbers of birds, which is a proof +that there are many islands, or at least rocks, scattered all along at no +very considerable distance from our track. Some indeed there are marked +in Spanish charts, but the frequency of the birds seems to evince that +there are many more than have been hitherto discovered, for the greatest +part of the birds, we observed, were such as are known to roost on shore, +and the manner of their appearance sufficiently made out that they came +from some distant haunt every morning, and returned thither again in the +evening, for we never saw them early or late, and the hour of their +arrival and departure gradually varied, which we supposed was occasioned +by our running nearer their haunts or getting farther from them. + +The trade wind continued to favour us without any fluctuation from the +end of June till towards the end of July, but on the 26th of July, being +then, as we esteemed, about three hundred leagues distant from the +Ladrones, we met with a westerly wind, which did not come about again to +the eastward in four days' time. This was a most dispiriting incident, as +it at once damped all our hopes of speedy relief, especially, too, as it +was attended with a vexatious accident to the Gloucester, for in one part +of those four days the wind flattened to a calm, and the ships rolled +very deep, by which means the Gloucester's forecap split and her topmast +came by the board and broke her foreyard directly in the slings. As she +was hereby rendered incapable of making any sail for some time, we were +obliged, as soon as a gale sprung up, to take her in tow, and near twenty +of the healthiest and ablest of our seaman were taken from the business +of our own ship and were employed for eight or ten days together on board +the Gloucester in repairing her damages. But these things, mortifying as +we thought them, were but the beginning of our disasters, for scarce had +our people finished their business in the Gloucester before we met with a +most violent storm in the western board, which obliged us to lie to. In +the beginning of this storm our ship sprung a leak, and let in so much +water that all our people, officers included, were employed continually +in working the pumps, and the next day we had the vexation to see the +Gloucester with her topmast once more by the board, and whilst we were +viewing her with great concern for this new distress we saw her +main-topmast, which had hitherto served as a jury mainmast, share the +same fate. This completed our misfortunes and rendered them without +resource, for we knew the Gloucester's crew were so few and feeble that +without our assistance they could not be relieved, and our sick were now +so far increased, and those that remained in health so continually +fatigued with the additional duty of our pumps, that it was impossible +for us to lend them any aid. Indeed, we were not as yet fully apprised of +the deplorable situation of the Gloucester's crew, for when the storm +abated (which during its continuance prevented all communication with +them) the Gloucester bore up under our stern, and Captain Mitchel +informed the Commodore that besides the loss of his masts, which was all +that had appeared to us, the ship had then no less than seven feet of +water in her hold, although his officers and men had been kept constantly +at the pump for the last twenty-four hours, and that her crew was greatly +reduced, for there remained alive on board her no more than seventy-seven +men, eighteen boys, and two prisoners, officers included, and that of +this whole number only sixteen men and eleven boys were capable of +keeping the deck, and several of these very infirm. + +THUS PERISHED H.M.S. GLOUCESTER. + +It plainly appeared that there was no possibility of preserving the +Gloucester any longer, as her leaks were irreparable, and the united +hands on board both ships capable of working would not be able to free +her, even if our own ship should not employ any part of them. The only +step to be taken was the saving the lives of the few that remained on +board the Gloucester, and getting out of her as much as was possible +before she was destroyed; and therefore the Commodore immediately sent an +order to Captain Mitchel, as the weather was now calm and favourable, to +send his people on board the Centurion as expeditiously as he could and +to take out such stores as he could get at whilst the ship could be kept +above water. And as our leak required less attention whilst the present +easy weather continued, we sent our boats, with as many men as we could +spare, to Captain Mitchel's assistance. + +It was the 15th of August, in the evening, before the Gloucester was +cleared of everything that was proposed to be removed; and though the +hold was now almost full of water, yet as the carpenters were of opinion +that she might still swim for some time if the calm should continue and +the water become smooth, she was set on fire; for we knew not how near we +might now be to the island of Guam, which was in the possession of our +enemies, and the wreck of such a ship would have been to them no +contemptible acquisition. When she was set on fire Captain Mitchel and +his officers left her and came on board the Centurion, and we immediately +stood from the wreck, not without some apprehensions (as we had now only +a light breeze) that, if she blew up soon, the concussion of the air +might damage our rigging; but she fortunately burned, though very +fierce, the whole night, her guns firing successively as the flames +reached them. And it was six in the morning, when we were about four +leagues distant, before she blew up. The report she made upon this +occasion was but a small one, but there was an exceeding black pillar of +smoke, which shot up into the air to a very considerable height. Thus +perished His Majesty's ship the Gloucester. + + +CHAPTER 26. +THE LADRONES SIGHTED--TINIAN. + +The 23rd, at daybreak, we were cheered with the discovery of two islands +in the western board. This gave us all great joy, and raised our drooping +spirits, for before this a universal dejection had seized us, and we +almost despaired of ever seeing land again. The nearest of these islands +we afterwards found to be Anatacan. The other was the island of Serigan, +and had rather the appearance of a high rock than a place we could hope +to anchor at. We were extremely impatient to get in with the nearest +island, where we expected to meet with anchoring ground and an +opportunity of refreshing our sick; but the wind proved so variable all +day, and there was so little of it, that we advanced towards it but +slowly. However, by the next morning we were got so far to the westward +that we were in view of a third island, which was that of Paxaros, though +marked in the chart only as a rock. This was small and very low land, and +we had passed within less than a mile of it in the night without seeing +it. And now at noon, being within four miles of the island of Anatacan, +the boat was sent away to examine the anchoring ground and the produce of +the place, and we were not a little solicitous for her return, as we then +conceived our fate to depend upon the report we should receive; for the +other two islands were obviously enough incapable of furnishing us with +any assistance, and we knew not then that there were any others which we +could reach. In the evening the boat came back, and the crew informed us +that there was no place for a ship to anchor. + +This account of the impossibility of anchoring at this island occasioned +a general melancholy on board, for we considered it as little less than +the prelude to our destruction; and now the only possible circumstance +that could secure the few that remained alive from perishing was the +accidental falling in with some other of the Ladrone Islands better +prepared for our accommodation, and as our knowledge of these islands was +extremely imperfect, we were to trust entirely to chance for our +guidance; only, as they are all of them usually laid down near the same +meridian, and we had conceived those we had already seen to be part of +them, we concluded to stand to the southward as the most probable means +of falling in with the next. Thus, with the most gloomy persuasion of our +approaching destruction, we stood from the island of Anatacan, having all +of us the strongest apprehensions either of dying of the scurvy or +perishing with the ship, which, for want of hands to work her pumps, +might in a short time be expected to founder. + +TINIAN. + +It was the 26th of August, 1742, in the morning, when we lost sight of +Anatacan. The next morning we discovered three other islands to the +eastward, which were from ten to fourteen leagues from us. These were, as +we afterwards learned, the islands of Saypan, Tinian and Aguigan. We +immediately steered towards Tinian, which was the middle-most of the +three, but had so much of calms and light airs, that though we were +helped forwards by the currents, yet next day at daybreak we were at +least five leagues distant from it. However, we kept on our course, and +about ten in the morning we perceived a proa under sail to the southward, +between Tinian and Aguigan. As we imagined from hence that these islands +were inhabited, and knew that the Spaniards had always a force at Guam, +we took the necessary precautions for our own security and for preventing +the enemy from taking advantage of our present wretched circumstances, of +which they would be sufficiently informed by the manner of our working +the ship. We therefore mustered all our hands who were capable of +standing to their arms and loaded our upper and quarter-deck guns with +grapeshot, and that we might the more readily procure some intelligence +of the state of these islands, we showed Spanish colours and hoisted a +red flag at the foretop masthead, to give our ship the appearance of the +Manila galleon, hoping thereby to decoy some of the inhabitants on board +us. Thus preparing ourselves, and standing towards the land, we were near +enough at three in the afternoon to send the cutter in shore to find out +a proper berth for the ship, and we soon perceived that a proa came off +the shore to meet the cutter, fully persuaded, as we afterwards found, +that we were the Manila ship. As we saw the cutter returning back with +the proa in tow, we immediately sent the pinnace to receive the proa and +the prisoners, and to bring them on board that the cutter might proceed +on her errand. The pinnace came back with a Spaniard and four Indians, +who were the people taken in the proa. The Spaniard was immediately +examined as to the produce and circumstances of this island of Tinian, +and his account of it surpassed even our most sanguine hopes, for he +informed us that it was uninhabited, which, in our present defenceless +condition, was an advantage not to be despised, especially as it wanted +but few of the conveniences that could be expected in the most cultivated +country; for he assured us that there was great plenty of very good +water, and that there were an incredible number of cattle, hogs, and +poultry, running wild on the island, all of them excellent in their kind; +that the woods produced sweet and sour oranges, limes, lemons, and +cocoa-nuts in great plenty, besides a fruit peculiar to these islands +(called by Dampier breadfruit); that, from the quantity and goodness of +the provisions produced here, the Spaniards at Guam made use of it as a +store for supplying the garrison; that he himself was a sergeant of that +garrison, and was sent here with twenty-two Indians to jerk beef, which +he was to load for Guam on board a small bark of about fifteen tons which +lay at anchor near the shore. + +PLEASING SCENES. + +This account was received by us with inexpressible joy. Part of it we +were ourselves able to verify on the spot, as we were by this time near +enough to discover several numerous herds of cattle feeding in different +places of the island, and we did not anyways doubt the rest of his +relation, as the appearance of the shore prejudiced us greatly in its +favour, and made us hope that not only our necessities might be there +fully relieved and our diseased recovered, but that amidst those pleasing +scenes which were then in view, we might procure ourselves some amusement +and relaxation after the numerous fatigues we had undergone. + +The Spanish sergeant, from whom we received the account of the island, +having informed us that there were some Indians on shore under his +command employed in jerking beef, and that there was a bark at anchor to +take it on board, we were desirous, if possible, to prevent the Indians +from escaping, who doubtless would have given the Governor of Guam +intelligence of our arrival, and we therefore immediately despatched the +pinnace to secure the bark, which the sergeant told us was the only +embarkation on the place. And then, about eight in the evening, we let go +our anchor in twenty-two fathoms. + + +CHAPTER 27. +LANDING THE SICK. CENTURION DRIVEN TO SEA. + +When we had furled our sails, the remaining part of the night was allowed +to our people for their repose, to recover them from the fatigue they had +undergone, and in the morning a party was sent on shore well armed, of +which I myself was one, to make ourselves masters of the landing-place, +as we were not certain what opposition might be made by the Indians on +the island. We landed without difficulty, for the Indians having +perceived by our seizure of the bark the night before, that we were +enemies, they immediately fled into the woody parts of the island. We +found on shore many huts which they had inhabited, and which saved us +both the time and trouble of erecting tents. One of these huts, which the +Indians made use of for a storehouse, was very large, being twenty yards +long and fifteen broad; this we immediately cleared of some bales of +jerked beef which we found in it, and converted it into an hospital for +our sick, who, as soon as the place was ready to receive them, were +brought on shore, being in all one hundred and twenty-eight. Numbers of +these were so very helpless that we were obliged to carry them from the +boats to the hospital upon our shoulders, in which humane employment (as +before at Juan Fernandez) the Commodore himself and every one of his +officers were engaged without distinction; and notwithstanding the great +debility of the greatest part of our sick, it is almost incredible how +soon they began to feel the salutary influence of the land. For though we +buried twenty-one men on this and the preceding day, yet we did not lose +above ten men more during our whole two months' stay here; and in general +our diseased received so much benefit from the fruits of the island, +particularly the fruits of the acid kind, that in a week's time there +were but few who were not so far recovered as to be able to move about +without help; and on the 12th of September all those who were so far +relieved as to be capable of doing duty were sent on board the ship. And +then the Commodore, who was himself ill of the scurvy, had a tent erected +for him on shore, where he went with the view of staying a few days for +the recovery of his health, being convinced, by the general experience of +his people, that no other method but living on the land was to be trusted +to for the removal of this dreadful malady. As the crew on board were now +reinforced by the recovered hands returned from the island, we began to +send our casks on shore to be fitted up, which till now could not be +done, for the coopers were not well enough to work. We likewise weighed +our anchors that we might examine our cables, which we suspected had by +this time received considerable damage. And as the new moon was now +approaching, when we apprehended violent gales, the Commodore, for our +greater security, ordered that part of the cables next to the anchors to +be armed with the chains of the fire-grapnels, and they were besides +cackled twenty fathoms from the anchors and seven fathoms from the +service, with a good rounding of a 4 1/2 inch hawser, and to all these +precautions we added that of lowering the main and fore yards close down, +that in case of blowing weather the wind might have less power upon the +ship to make her ride a-strain. + +A FURIOUS STORM. + +Thus effectually prepared, as we conceived, we expected the new moon, +which was the 18th of September; and riding safe that and the three +succeeding days (though the weather proved very squally and uncertain), +we flattered ourselves (for I was then on board) that the prudence of our +measures had secured us from all accidents. But on the 22nd the wind blew +from the eastward with such fury that we soon despaired of riding out the +storm; and therefore we should have been extremely glad that the +Commodore and the rest of our people on shore, which were the greatest of +our hands, had been on board with us, since our only hopes of safety +seemed to depend on our putting immediately to sea. But all communication +with the shore was now effectually cut off, for there was no possibility +that a boat could live so that we were necessitated to ride it out till +our cables parted. Indeed, it was not long before this happened, for the +small bower parted at five in the afternoon, and the ship swung off to +the best bower; and as the night came on the violence of the wind still +increased. But, notwithstanding its inexpressible fury, the tide ran with +so much rapidity as to prevail over it; for the tide, having set to the +northward in the beginning of the storm, turned suddenly to the southward +about six in the evening, and forced the ship before it in despite of the +storm, which blew upon the beam. And now the sea broke most surprisingly +all round us, and a large tumbling swell threatened to poop us; the +long-boat, which was at this time moored astern, was on a sudden canted +so high that it broke the transom of the Commodore's gallery, and would +doubtless have risen as high as the taffrail had it not been for this +stroke which stove the boat all to pieces; but the poor boat-keeper, +though extremely bruised, was saved almost by miracle. About eight the +tide slackened, but the wind did not abate; so that at eleven the best +bower cable, by which alone we rode, parted. Our sheet anchor, which was +the only one we had left, was instantly cut from the bow; but before it +could reach the bottom we were driven from twenty-two into thirty-five +fathoms; and after we had veered away one whole cable and two-thirds of +another, we could not find ground with sixty fathoms 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 pressing danger Mr. Suamarez, our first lieutenant, who now +commanded on board, ordered several guns to be fired and lights to be +shown, as a signal to the Commodore of our distress; and in a short time +after, it being then about one o'clock, and the night excessively dark, a +strong gust, attended with rain and lightning, drove us off the bank and +forced us out to sea, leaving behind us on the island Mr. Anson, with +many more of our officers, and great part of our crew, amounting in the +whole to one hundred and thirteen persons. Thus were we all, both at sea +and on shore, reduced to the utmost despair by this catastrophe; those on +shore conceiving they had no means left them ever to leave the island, +and we on board utterly unprepared to struggle with the fury of the seas +and winds we were now exposed to, and expecting each moment to be our +last. + + +CHAPTER 28. +ANSON CHEERS HIS MEN--PLANS FOR ESCAPE--RETURN OF THE CENTURION. + +The storm which drove the Centurion to sea blew with too much turbulence +to permit of either the Commodore or any of the people on shore hearing +the guns which she fired as signals of distress, and the frequent glare +of the lightning had prevented the explosions from being observed; so +that when at daybreak it was perceived from the shore that the ship was +missing, there was the utmost consternation amongst them. For much the +greatest part of them immediately concluded that she was lost, and +entreated the Commodore that the boat might be sent round the island to +look for the wreck; and those who believed her safe had scarcely any +expectation that she would ever be able to make the island again; for the +wind continued to blow strong at east, and they knew how poorly she was +manned and provided for struggling with so tempestuous a gale. And if the +Centurion was lost, or should be incapable of returning, there appeared +in either case no possibility of their ever getting off the island, for +they were at least six hundred leagues from Macao, which was their +nearest port; and they were masters of no other vessel than the small +Spanish bark, of about fifteen tons, which they seized at their first +arrival, and which would not even hold a fourth part of their number. And +the chance of their being taken off the island by the casual arrival of +any other ship was altogether desperate, as perhaps no European ship had +ever anchored here before, and it were madness to expect that like +incidents should send another here in a hundred ages to come; so that +their desponding thoughts could only suggest to them the melancholy +prospect of spending the remainder of their days on this island, and +bidding adieu forever to their country, their friends, their families, +and all their domestic endearments. + +A MELANCHOLY PROSPECT. + +Nor was this the worst they had to fear: for they had reason to expect +that the Governor of Guam, when he should be informed of their situation, +might send a force sufficient to overpower them and to remove them to +that island; and then the most favourable treatment they could hope for +would be to be detained prisoners for life; since, from the known policy +and cruelty of the Spaniards in their distant settlements, it was rather +to be expected that the Governor, if he once had them in his power, would +make their want of commissions (all of them being on board the Centurion) +a pretext for treating them as pirates, and for depriving them of their +lives with infamy. + +In the midst of these gloomy reflections Mr. Anson had doubtless his +share of disquietude, but he always kept up his usual composure and +steadiness; and having soon projected a scheme for extricating himself +and his men from their present anxious situation, he first communicated +it to some of the most intelligent persons about him; and having +satisfied himself that it was practicable, he then endeavoured to animate +his people to a speedy and vigorous prosecution of it. With this view he +represented to them how little foundation there was for their +apprehensions of the Centurion's being lost; that he was not without +hopes that she might return in a few days, but if she did not, the worst +that could be supposed was that she was driven so far to the leeward of +the island that she could not regain it, and that she would consequently +be obliged to bear away for Macao, on the coast of China; that, as it was +necessary to be prepared against all events, he had, in this case, +considered of a method of carrying them off the island and joining their +old ship the Centurion again at Macao; that this method was to haul the +Spanish bark on shore, to saw her asunder, and to lengthen her twelve +feet, which would enlarge her to near forty tons burthen, and would +enable her to carry them all to China. He added that for his own part he +would share the fatigue and labour with them, and would expect no more +from any man than what he, the Commodore himself, was ready to submit to, +and concluded with representing to them the importance of saving time, +and that, in order to be the better prepared for all events, it was +necessary to set to work immediately and to take it for granted that the +Centurion would not be able to put back (which was indeed the Commodore's +secret opinion); since, if she did return, they should only throw away a +few days' application, but, if she did not, their situation and the +season of the year required their utmost despatch. + +These remonstrances, though not without effect, did not immediately +operate so powerfully as Mr. Anson could have wished. It was some days +before they were all of them heartily engaged in the project; but at +last, being in general convinced of the impossibility of the ship's +return, they set themselves zealously to the different tasks allotted +them, and were as industrious and as eager as their commander could +desire, punctually assembling at daybreak at the rendezvous, whence they +were distributed to their different employments, which they followed with +unusual vigour till night came on. + +And now the work proceeded very successfully. The necessary ironwork was +in great forwardness, and the timbers and planks (which, though not the +most exquisite performances of the sawyer's art, were yet sufficient for +the purpose) were all prepared; so that on the 6th of October, being the +fourteenth day from the departure of the ship, they hauled the bark on +shore, and on the two succeeding days she was sawn asunder (though with +great care not to cut her planks), and her two parts were separated the +proper distance from each other; and, the materials being all ready +beforehand, they the next day, being the 9th of October, went on with +great despatch in their proposed enlargement of her. And by this time +they had all their future operations so fairly in view, and were so much +masters of them, that they were able to determine when the whole would be +finished, and had accordingly fixed the 5th of November for the day of +their putting to sea. + +THE CENTURION RETURNS. + +But their projects and labours were now drawing to a speedier and happier +conclusion, for on the 11th of October, in the afternoon, one of the +Gloucester's men, being upon a hill in the middle of the island, +perceived the Centurion at a distance, and running down with his utmost +speed towards the landing-place, he in the way saw some of his comrades, +to whom he hallooed out with great ecstasy, "That ship! The ship!" This +being heard by Mr. Gordon, a lieutenant of marines, who was convinced by +the fellow's transport that his report was true, Mr. Gordon ran towards +the place where the Commodore and his people were at work, and being +fresh and in breath easily out stripped the Gloucester's man, and got +before him to the Commodore, who, on hearing this happy and unexpected +news, threw down his axe with which he was then at work, and by his joy +broke through for the first time the equable and unvaried character which +he had hitherto preserved. The others who were with him instantly ran +down to the seaside in a kind of frenzy, eager to feast themselves with a +sight they had so ardently wished for and of which they had now for a +considerable time despaired. By five in the evening the Centurion was +visible in the offing to them all; and, a boat being sent off with +eighteen men to reinforce her, and with fresh meat and fruits for the +refreshment of her crew, she the next afternoon happily came to an anchor +in the road, where the Commodore immediately came on board her, and was +received by us with the sincerest and heartiest acclamations. + + +CHAPTER 29. +THE CENTURION AGAIN DRIVEN TO SEA--HER RETURN--DEPARTURE FROM TINIAN. + +When the Commodore came on board the Centurion on her return to Tinian as +already mentioned, he resolved to stay no longer at the island than was +absolutely necessary to complete our stock of water, a work which we +immediately set ourselves about. But on the 14th of October, being but +the third day after our arrival, a sudden gust of wind brought home our +anchor, forced us off the bank and drove the ship out to sea a second +time. However, as the weather was favourable, and our crew was now +stronger than when we were first driven out, we in about five days' time +returned again to an anchor at Tinian and relieved those we had left +behind us from their second fears of being deserted by their ship. + +On our arrival we found that the Spanish bark, the old object of their +hopes, had undergone a new metamorphosis, for those we had left on shore +began to despair of our return, and conceiving that the lengthening the +bark as formerly proposed was both a toilsome and unnecessary measure, +considering the small number they consisted of, they had resolved to join +her again and to restore her to her first state; and in this scheme they +had made some progress for they had brought the two parts together, and +would have soon completed her had not our coming back put a period to +their labours and disquietude. + +On our coming to an anchor again after our second driving off to sea, we +laboured indefatigably in getting in our water; and having by the 20th of +October completed it to fifty tuns, which we supposed would be sufficient +for our passage to Macao, we on the next day sent one of each mess on +shore to gather as large a quantity of oranges, lemons, cocoa-nuts, and +other fruits of the island as they possibly could, for the use of +themselves and messmates when at sea. And these purveyors returning on +board us on the evening of the same day, we then set fire to the bark and +proa, hoisted in our boats, and got under sail, steering away for the +south end of the island of Formosa and taking our leave for the third and +last time of the island of Tinian. + + +CHAPTER 30. +CHINESE FISHING FLEETS--ARRIVAL AT MACAO. + +The eastern monsoon was now, we reckoned, fairly settled, and we had a +constant gale blowing right upon our stern, so that we generally ran from +forty to fifty leagues a day. But we had a large hollow sea pursuing us, +which occasioned the ship to labour much, whence we received great damage +in our rigging, which was grown very rotten, and our leak was augmented; +but happily for us our people were now in full health, so that there were +no complaints of fatigue, but all went through their attendance on the +pumps, and every other duty of the ship, with ease and cheerfulness. + +FORMOSA. + +The 3rd of November, about four in the afternoon, we saw the island of +Botel Tobago Xima, and by eleven the next morning got a sight of the +southern part of the island of Formosa. In the evening we were surprised +with a view of what we at first sight conceived to have been breakers, +but on a stricter examination we found them to be only a great number of +fires on the island of Formosa. These, we imagined, were intended by the +inhabitants of that island as signals for us to touch there; but that +suited not our views, we being impatient to reach the port of Macao as +soon as possible. From Formosa we steered west-north-west, and sometimes +still more northerly, and on the 5th of November we at last about +midnight, got sight of the mainland of China, bearing north by west, four +leagues distant. + +We then brought the ship to, with her head to the sea, proposing to wait +for the morning; and before sunrise we were surprised to find ourselves +in the midst of an incredible number of fishing-boats, which seemed to +cover the surface of the sea as far as the eye could reach. I may well +style their number incredible, since I cannot believe, upon the lowest +estimate, that there were so few as 6,000 most of them manned with five +hands, and none with less than three. Nor was this swarm of fishing +vessels peculiar to this spot, for, as we ran onto the westward, we found +them as abundant on every part of the coast. We at first doubted not but +we should procure a pilot from them to carry us to Macao; but though many +of them came close to the ship and we endeavoured to tempt them by +showing them a number of dollars--a most alluring bait for Chinese of all +ranks and professions--yet we could not entice them on board us; though I +presume the only difficulty was their not comprehending what we wanted +them to do, for we could have no communication with them but by signs. +Indeed we often pronounced the word Macao, but this we had reason to +suppose they understood in a different sense, for in return they +sometimes held up fish to us, and we afterwards learned that the Chinese +name for fish is of a somewhat similar sound. But what surprised us most +was the inattention and want of curiosity which we observed in this herd +of fishermen. A ship like ours had doubtless never been in those seas +before; perhaps there might not be one amongst all the Chinese employed +in this fishery who had ever seen any European vessel; so that we might +reasonably have expected to have been considered by them as a very +uncommon and extraordinary object. + +CHINESE INDIFFERENCE. + +But though many of their vessels came close to the ship, yet they did not +appear to be at all interested about us. Nor did they deviate in the +least from their course to regard us; which insensibility, especially of +maritime persons about a matter in their own profession, is scarcely to +be credited, did not the general behaviour of the Chinese in other +instances furnish us with continual proof of a similar turn of mind. + +The next day, about two o'clock, as we were standing to the westward +within two leagues of the coast, and still surrounded by fishing vessels +in as great numbers as at first, we perceived that a boat ahead of us +waved a red flag and blew a horn. This we considered as a signal made to +us either to warn us of some shoal or to inform us that they would supply +us with a pilot, and in this belief we immediately sent our cutter to the +boat to know their intentions; but we were soon made sensible of our +mistake, and found that this boat was the Commodore of the whole fishery, +and that the signal she had made was to order them all to leave off +fishing and to return in shore, which we saw them instantly obey. On this +disappointment we kept on our course to the westward, and the next day +being the 7th, we were abreast of a chain of islands which stretched from +east to west. These, as we afterwards found, were called the islands of +Lema. These islands we left on the starboard side, passing within four +miles of them, where we had twenty-four fathoms water. We were still +surrounded by fishing-boats, and we once more sent the cutter on board +one of them to endeavour to procure a pilot, but could not prevail. +However, one of the Chinese directed us by signs to sail round the +westernmost of the islands or rocks of Lema, and then to haul up. We +followed this direction, and in the evening came to anchor in eighteen +fathoms. + +After having continued at anchor all night, we on the 9th, at four in the +morning, sent our cutter to sound the channel where we proposed to pass; +but before the return of the cutter a Chinese pilot put on board us, and +told us in broken Portuguese he would carry us to Macao for thirty +dollars. These were immediately paid him, and we then weighed and made +sail, and soon after several other pilots came on board us, who, to +recommend themselves, produced certificates from the captains of several +ships they had piloted in; but we continued the ship under the management +of the Chinese who came first on board. By this time we learned that we +were not far distant from Macao, and that there were in the river of +Canton, at the mouth of which Macao lies, eleven European ships, of which +four were English. Our pilot carried us between the islands of Bamboo and +Cabouce, but the winds hanging in the northern board, and the tides often +setting strongly against us, we were obliged to come frequently to an +anchor, so that we did not get through between the two islands till the +12th of November at two in the morning. At ten o'clock we happily +anchored in Macao road. Thus, after a fatiguing cruise of above two +years' continuance, we once more arrived in an amicable port in a +civilised country, where the conveniences of life were in great plenty; +where the naval stores, which we now extremely wanted, could be in some +degree procured; where we expected the inexpressible satisfaction of +receiving letters from our relations and friends; and where our +countrymen who were lately arrived from England would be capable of +answering the numerous enquiries we were prepared to make both about +public and private occurrences, and to relate to us many particulars +which, whether of importance or not, would be listened to by us with the +utmost attention, after the long suspension of our correspondence with +our country to which the nature of our undertaking had hitherto subjected +us. + + +CHAPTER 31. +MACAO--INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNOR--A VISIT TO CANTON. + +The city of Macao is a Portuguese settlement situated in an island at the +mouth of the river of Canton. It was formerly a very rich and populous +city, and capable of defending itself against the power of the adjacent +Chinese governors, but at present it is much fallen from its ancient +splendour; for though it is inhabited by the Portuguese and has a +governor nominated by the King of Portugal, yet it subsists merely by the +sufferance of the Chinese, who can starve the place and dispossess the +Portuguese whenever they please. This obliges the Governor of Macao to +behave with great circumspection, and carefully to avoid every +circumstance that may give offence to the Chinese. The river of Canton, +at the mouth of which this city lies, is the only Chinese port frequented +by European ships, and this river is indeed a more commodious harbour on +many accounts than Macao. But the peculiar customs of the Chinese, only +adapted to the entertainment of trading ships, and the apprehensions of +the Commodore lest he should embroil the East India Company with the +Regency of Canton if he should insist on being treated upon a different +footing than the merchantmen, made him resolve to go first to Macao +before he ventured into the port of Canton. Indeed, had not this reason +prevailed with him, he himself had nothing to fear, for it is certain +that he might have entered the port of Canton, and might have continued +there as long as he pleased, and afterwards have left it again, although +the whole power of the Chinese Empire had been brought together to oppose +him. + +The Commodore, not to depart from his usual prudence, no sooner came to +an anchor in Macao road than he despatched an officer with his +compliments to the Portuguese Governor of Macao, requesting His +Excellency by the same officer to advise him in what manner it would be +proper to act to avoid offending the Chinese, which, as there were four +of our ships in their power at Canton, was a matter worthy of attention. +The difficulty which the Commodore principally apprehended related to the +duty usually paid by all ships 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 his country to submit to this duty in China; and therefore +he desired the advice of the Governor of Macao, who, being a European, +could not be ignorant of the privileges claimed by a British man-of-war, +and consequently might be expected to give us the best lights for +avoiding this perplexity. Our boat returned in the evening with two +officers sent by the Governor, who informed the Commodore that it was the +Governor's opinion that if the Centurion ventured into the river of +Canton, the duty would certainly be demanded; and therefore, if the +Commodore approved of it, he would send him a pilot who should conduct us +into another safe harbour, called the Typa, which was every way +commodious for careening the ship (an operation which we were resolved to +begin upon as soon as possible), and where the above-mentioned duty would +in all probability be never asked for. + +This proposal the Commodore agreed to, and in the morning we weighed +anchor, and, under the direction of the Portuguese pilot, steered for the +intended harbour, where we moored in about five fathoms water. This +harbour of the Typa is formed by a number of islands, and is about six +miles distant from Macao. Here we saluted the Castle of Macao with eleven +guns, which were returned by an equal number. + +The next day the Commodore paid a visit in person to the Governor, and +was saluted at his landing by eleven guns, which were returned by the +Centurion. Mr. Anson's business in this visit was to solicit the Governor +to grant us a supply of provisions, and to furnish us with such stores as +were necessary to refit the ship. The Governor seemed really inclined to +do us all the service he could, and assured the Commodore, in a friendly +manner, that he would privately give us all the assistance in his power; +but he, at the same time, frankly owned that he dared not openly furnish +us with anything we demanded, unless we first procured an order for it +from the Viceroy of Canton, for that he neither received provisions for +his garrison, nor any other necessaries, but by permission from the +Chinese Government; and as they took care only to furnish him from day to +day, he was indeed no other than their vassal, whom they could at all +times compel to submit to their own terms, only by laying an embargo on +his provisions. + +On this declaration of the Governor, Mr. Anson resolved himself to go to +Canton to procure a license from the Viceroy, and he accordingly hired a +Chinese boat for himself and his attendants. On his arrival there he +consulted with the super cargoes and officers of the English ships how to +procure an order from the Viceroy for the necessaries he wanted. As it is +the custom with these gentlemen never to apply to the supreme magistrate +himself, whatever difficulties they labour under, but to transact all +matters relating to the Government by the mediation of the principal +Chinese merchants, Mr. Anson was advised to follow the same method upon +this occasion, the English promising to exert all their interest to +engage the merchants in his favour. + +CHINESE PROMISES. + +And when the Chinese merchants were applied to, they readily undertook +the management of it, and promised to answer for its success; but after +near a month's delay and reiterated excuses, during which interval they +pretended to be often upon the point of completing the business, they at +last threw off the mask, and declared they neither had applied to the +Viceroy, nor could they, for he was too great a man, they said, for them +to approach on any occasion. + + +CHAPTER 32. +A LETTER TO THE VICEROY--A CHINESE MANDARIN--THE CENTURION IS REFITTED + AND PUTS TO SEA. + +Mr. Anson now saw clearly that if he had at first carried his ship into +the river of Canton and had immediately applied himself to the mandarins, +who are the chief officers of State, instead of employing the merchants +to apply for him, he would in all probability have had all his requests +granted, and would have been soon despatched. He had already lost a month +by the wrong measures he had been put upon, but he resolved to lose as +little more time as possible; and therefore, the 17th of December, being +the next day after his return from Canton, he wrote a letter to the +Viceroy of that place acquainting him that he was commander-in-chief of a +squadron of his Britannic Majesty's ships of war, which had been cruising +for two years past in the South Seas against the Spaniards, who were at +war with the King his master; that, in his way back to England, he had +put into the port of Macao, having a considerable leak in his ship, and +being in great want of provisions, so that it was impossible for him to +proceed on his voyage till his ship was repaired, and he was supplied +with the necessaries he wanted; that he had been at Canton in hopes of +being admitted to a personal audience of His Excellency, but being a +stranger to the customs of the country, he had not been able to inform +himself what steps were necessary to be taken to procure such an +audience, and therefore was obliged to apply to him in this manner, to +desire His Excellency to give orders for his being permitted to employ +carpenters and proper workmen to refit his ship, and to furnish himself +with provisions and stores, thereby to enable him to pursue his voyage to +Great Britain with this monsoon;* hoping at the same time that these +orders would be issued with as little delay as possible, lest it might +occasion his loss of the season, and he might be prevented from departing +till the next winter. + +(*Note. Anson, of course, had no intention of sailing for England. His +reason for the deception is given in chapter 33.) + +A MANDARIN COMES ON BOARD. + +This letter was written on the 17th of December, and on the 19th in the +morning a mandarin of the first rank, who was Governor of the city of +Janson, together with two mandarins of an inferior class, and a great +retinue of officers and servants, having with them eighteen half-galleys +decorated with a great number of streamers, and furnished with music, and +full of men, came to grapnel ahead of the Centurion; whence the mandarin +sent a message to the Commodore, telling him that he (the mandarin) was +ordered by the Viceroy of Canton to examine the condition of the ship, +and desiring the ship's boat might be sent to fetch him on board. The +Centurion's boat was immediately despatched, and preparations were made +for receiving him; for a hundred of the most sightly of the crew were +uniformly dressed in the regimentals of the marines, and were drawn up +under arms on the main-deck, against his arrival. When he entered the +ship he was saluted by the drums and what other military music there was +on board; and passing by the new-formed guard, he was met by the +Commodore on the quarter-deck, who conducted him to the great cabin. Here +the mandarin explained his commission, declaring that his business was to +examine all the particulars mentioned in the Commodore's letter to the +Viceroy; that he was particularly instructed to inspect the leak, and had +for that purpose brought with him two Chinese carpenters. + +This mandarin appeared to be a person of very considerable parts, and +endowed with more frankness and honesty than is to be found in the +generality of the Chinese. After the proper inquiries had been made, +particularly about the leak, which the Chinese carpenters reported to be +as dangerous as it had been represented, and consequently that it was +impossible for the Centurion to proceed to sea without being refitted, +the mandarin expressed himself satisfied with the account given in the +Commodore's letter. And this magistrate, as he was more intelligent than +any other person of his nation that came to our knowledge, so likewise +was he more curious and inquisitive, viewing each part of the ship with +particular attention, and appearing greatly surprised at the largeness of +the lower-deck guns, and at the weight and size of the shot. The +Commodore observing his astonishment thought this a proper opportunity to +convince the Chinese of the prudence of granting him a speedy and ample +supply of all he wanted. With this view he told the mandarin and those +who were with him, that besides the demands he made for a general supply, +he had a particular complaint against the proceedings of the custom-house +of Macao; that at his first arrival the Chinese boats had brought on +board plenty of greens and variety of fresh provisions for daily use, for +which they had always been paid to their full satisfaction, but that the +custom-house officers at Macao had soon forbid them, by which means he +was deprived of those refreshments which were of the utmost consequence +to the health of his men after their long and sickly voyage; that as +they, the mandarins, had informed themselves of his wants, and were +eye-witnesses of the force and strength of his ship, they might be +satisfied it was not for want of power to supply himself that he desired +the permission of the Government to purchase what provisions he stood in +need of; that they must be convinced that the Centurion alone was capable +of destroying the whole navigation of the port of Canton, or of any other +port in China, without running the least risk from all the force the +Chinese could collect; that it was true this was not the manner of +proceeding between nations in friendship with each other, but it was +likewise true that it was not customary for any nation to permit the +ships of their friends to starve and sink in their ports, when those +friends had money to supply their wants and only desired liberty to lay +it out; that they must confess he and his people had hitherto behaved +with great modesty and reserve, but that as his wants were each day +increasing, hunger would at last prove too strong for any restraint, and +necessity was acknowledged in all countries to be superior to every other +law, and therefore it could not be expected that his crew would long +continue to starve in the midst of that plenty to which their eyes were +every day witnesses. To this the Commodore added (though perhaps with a +less serious air) that if by the delay of supplying him with fresh +provisions his men should be reduced to the necessity of turning +cannibals, and preying upon their own species, it was easy to be foreseen +that, independent of their friendship to their comrades, they would in +point of luxury prefer the plump, well-fed Chinese to their own emaciated +shipmates. The first mandarin acquiesced in the justness of this +reasoning, and told the Commodore that he should that night proceed for +Canton; that on his arrival a council of mandarins would be summoned, of +which he himself was a member, and that all that was demanded would be +amply and speedily granted. And with regard to the Commodore's complaint +of the custom-house of Macao, he undertook to rectify that immediately by +his own authority; for, desiring a list to be given him of the quantity +of provision necessary for the expense of the ship for a day, he wrote a +permit under it, and delivered it to one of his attendants, directing him +to see that quantity sent on board early every morning; and this order +from that time forward was punctually complied with. + +A DINNER PARTY. + +When this weighty affair was thus in some degree regulated, the Commodore +invited him and his two attendant mandarins to dinner, telling them at +the same time that if his provision, either in kind or quantity, was not +what they might expect, they must thank themselves for having confined +him to so hard an allowance. One of his dishes was beef, which the +Chinese all dislike, though Mr. Anson was not apprised of it; this seems +to be derived from the Indian superstition,* which for some ages past has +made a great progress in China. However, his guests did not entirely +fast, for the three mandarins completely finished the white part of four +large fowls. But they were extremely embarrassed with their knives and +forks, and were quite incapable of making use of them, so that, after +some fruitless attempts to help themselves, which were sufficiently +awkward, one of the attendants was obliged to cut their meat in small +pieces for them. But whatever difficulty they might have in complying +with the European manner of eating, they seemed not to be novices in +drinking. The Commodore excused himself in this part of the +entertainment, under the pretence of illness; but there being another +gentleman present, of a florid and jovial complexion, the chief mandarin +clapped him on the shoulder, and told him by the interpreter that +certainly he could not plead sickness, and therefore insisted on his +bearing him company; and that gentleman perceiving that after they had +despatched four or five bottles of Frontiniac, the mandarin still +continued unruffled, he ordered a bottle of citron-water to be brought +up, which the Chinese seemed much to relish; and this being near finished +they arose from table, in appearance cool and uninfluenced by what they +had drunk. And the Commodore, having, according to custom, made the +mandarin a present, they all departed in the same vessels that brought +them. + +(*Note. The cow has been held in high honour in India from early times. +The slaughtering and eating the flesh of kine is considered an abominable +crime. The connection between India and Chinese has always been close. +The Buddhist religion was introduced from India during the first century +of the Christian era, and with it no doubt the veneration of the cow.) + +After their departure the Commodore with great impatience expected the +resolution of the council, and the necessary licences for his refitment. +For it must be observed that he could neither purchase stores nor +necessaries with his money, nor did any kind of workman dare to engage +themselves to work for him, without the permission of the Government +first obtained. + +Some time before this Captain Saunders took his passage to England on +board a Swedish ship, and was charged with despatches from the Commodore; +and soon after, in the month of December, Captain Mitchel and Colonel +Cracherode embarked on board one of our company's ships; and I, having +obtained the Commodore's leave to return home, embarked with them. I must +observe, too (having omitted it before), that whilst we lay here at Macao +we were informed by some of the officers of our Indiamen that the Severn +and the Pearl, the two ships of our squadron which had separated from us +off Cape Noir, were safely arrived at Rio Janeiro, on the coast of +Brazil; and it was with great joy we received the news, after the strong +persuasion, which had so long prevailed amongst us, of their having both +perished. + +Notwithstanding the favourable disposition of the mandarin Governor of +Janson at his leaving Mr. Anson, several days had elapsed before he had +any advice from him, and Mr. Anson was privately informed there were +great debates in council upon his affair. However, it should seem that +the representation of the Commodore to the mandarins of the facility with +which he could right himself, if justice were denied him, had at last its +effect; for on the 6th of January, in the morning, the Governor of +Janson, the Commodore's advocate, sent down the Viceroy of Canton's +warrant for the refitment of the Centurion, and for supplying her people +with all they wanted; and next day a number of Chinese smiths and +carpenters went on board. + +It was the beginning of April before they had new-rigged the ship, stowed +their provisions and water on board, and fitted her for the sea; and +before this time the Chinese grew very uneasy and extremely desirous that +she should be gone, either not knowing, or pretending not to believe, +that this was a point the Commodore was as eagerly set on as they could +be. On the 3rd of April two mandarin boats came on board from Macao to +urge his departure; and this having been often done before, though there +had been no pretence to suspect Mr. Anson of any affected delays, he at +this last message answered them in a determined tone, desiring them to +give him no further trouble, for he would go when he thought proper and +not before. On this rebuke the Chinese (though it was not in their power +to compel him to be gone) immediately prohibited all provisions from +being carried on board him, and took such care that their injunctions +should be complied with, that from that time forwards nothing could be +purchased at any rate whatever. + +AT SEA AGAIN. + +On the 6th of April the Centurion weighed from the Typa, and warped to +the southward, and by the 15th she was got into Macao road, completing +her water as she passed along, so that there remained now very few +articles more to attend to; and her whole business being finished by the +19th, she, at three in the afternoon of that day, weighed and made sail, +and stood to sea. + + +CHAPTER 33. +WAITING FOR THE Manila GALLEON. + +The Commodore was now got to sea, with his ship very well refitted, his +stores replenished, and an additional stock of provisions on board. His +crew, too, was somewhat reinforced, for he had entered twenty-three men +during his stay at Macao, the greatest part of which were Lascars or +Indian sailors, and some few Dutch. He gave out at Macao that he was +bound to Batavia, and thence to England; and though the western monsoon +was now set in, when that passage is considered as impracticable, yet by +the confidence he had expressed in the strength of his ship and the +dexterity of his people he had persuaded not only his own crew, but the +people at Macao likewise, that he proposed to try this unusual +experiment; so that there were many letters put on board him by the +inhabitants of Canton and Macao for their friends at Batavia. + +But his real design was of a very different nature, for he knew that +instead of one annual ship from Acapulco to Manila there would be this +year, in all probability, two, since by being before Acapulco he had +prevented one of them from putting to sea the preceding season. He +therefore resolved to cruise for these returning vessels off Cape +Espiritu Santo, on the island of Samal, which is the first land they +always make in the Philippine islands. And as June is generally the month +in which they arrive there, he doubted not but he should get to his +intended station in time enough to intercept them. It is true they were +said to be stout vessels, mounting forty-four guns apiece, and carrying +above 500 hands, and might be expected to return in company; and he +himself had but 227 hands on board, of which near thirty were boys. But +this disproportion of strength did not deter him, as he knew his ship to +be much better fitted for a sea engagement than theirs, and as he had +reason to expect that his men would exert themselves in the most +extraordinary manner when they had in view the immense wealth of these +Manila galleons. + +This project the Commodore had resolved on in his own thoughts ever since +his leaving the coast of Mexico, and the greatest mortification which he +received from the various delays he had met with in China was his +apprehension lest he might be thereby so long retarded as to let the +galleons escape him. Indeed, at Macao, it was incumbent on him to keep +these views extremely secret, for there being a great intercourse and a +mutual connection of interests between that port and Manila, he had +reason to fear that, if his designs were discovered, intelligence would +be immediately sent to Manila and measures would be taken to prevent the +galleons from falling into his hands. But being now at sea, and entirely +clear of the coast, he summoned all his people on the quarter-deck, and +informed them of his resolution to cruise for the two Manila ships, of +whose wealth they were not ignorant. He told them he should choose a +station where he could not fail of meeting with them; and though they +were stout ships and full-manned, yet, if his own people behaved with +their accustomed spirit, he was certain he should prove too hard for them +both, and that one of them at least could not fail of becoming his prize. +He further added that many ridiculous tales had been propagated about the +strength of the sides of these ships, and their being impenetrable to +cannon-shot; that these fictions had been principally invented to +palliate the cowardice of those who had formerly engaged them; but he +hoped they were none of those present weak enough to give credit to so +absurd a story. For his own part he did assure them upon his word that, +whenever he met with them, he would fight them so near that they should +find his bullets, instead of being stopped by one of their sides, should +go through them both. + +CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS. + +This speech of the Commodore's was received by his people with great joy, +for no sooner had he ended than they expressed their approbation, +according to naval custom, by three strenuous cheers, and all declared +their determination to succeed or perish whenever the opportunity +presented itself. And now their hopes, which since their departure from +the coast of Mexico had entirely subsided, were again revived; and they +all persuaded themselves that, notwithstanding the various casualties and +disappointments they had hitherto met with, they should yet be repaid the +price of their fatigues, and should at last return home enriched with the +spoils of the enemy. For, firmly relying on the assurances of the +Commodore that they should certainly meet with the vessels, they were all +of them too sanguine to doubt a moment of mastering them; so that they +considered themselves as having them already in their possession. And +this confidence was so universally spread through the whole ship's +company that, the Commodore having taken some Chinese sheep to sea with +him for his own provision, and one day enquiring of his butcher why for +some time past he had seen no mutton at his table, asking him if all the +sheep were killed, the butcher very seriously replied that there were +indeed two sheep left, but that if his honour would give him leave, he +proposed to keep those for the entertainment of the General of the +galleons. + +When the Centurion left the port of Macao she stood for some days to the +westward, and on the 1st of May they saw part of the island of Formosa, +and standing thence to the southward, they, on the 4th of May about seven +in the evening, discovered from the masthead five small islands, which +were judged to be the Bashees, and they had afterwards a sight of Botel +Tobago Xima. After getting a sight of the Bashee Islands, they stood +between the south and south-west for Cape Espiritu Santo, and the 20th of +May at noon they first discovered that cape, which about four o'clock +they brought to bear south-south-west, about eleven leagues distant. It +appeared to be of a moderate height, with several round hummocks on it. +As it was known that there were sentinels placed upon this cape to make +signals to the Acapulco ship when she first falls in with the land, the +Commodore immediately tacked, and ordered the top-gallant sails to be +taken in to prevent being discovered; and this being the station in which +it was resolved to cruise for the galleons, they kept the cape between +the south and west, and endeavoured to confine themselves between the +latitude of 12 degrees 50 minutes and 13 degrees 5 minutes. + +It was the last of May, by the foreign style, when they arrived off this +cape; and the month of June, by the same style, being that in which the +Manila ships are usually expected, the Centurion's people were now +waiting each hour with the utmost impatience for the happy crisis which +was to balance the account of all their past calamities. As from this +time there was but small employment for the crew, the Commodore ordered +them almost every day to be exercised in the management of the great guns +and in the use of their small arms. This had been his practice, more or +less, at all convenient seasons during the whole course of his voyage, +and the advantages which he received from it in his engagement with the +galleon were an ample recompense for all his care and attention. The men +were taught the shortest method of loading with cartridges, and were +constantly trained to fire at a mark, which was usually hung at the +yard-arm, and some little reward was given to the most expert. The whole +crew, by this management, were rendered extremely skilful, quick in +loading, all of them good marksmen, and some of them most extraordinary +ones, so that I doubt not but, in the use of small arms, they were more +than a match for double their number who had not been habituated to the +same kind of exercise. + +AN ILL-TIMED DISAGREEMENT. + +It was the last of May, New Style, as has been already said, when the +Centurion arrived off Cape Espiritu Santo, and consequently the next day +began the month in which the galleons were to be expected. The Commodore +therefore made all necessary preparations for receiving them. All this +time, too, he was very solicitous to keep at such a distance from the +cape as not to be discovered; but it has been since learned that +notwithstanding his care, he was seen from the land, and advice of him +was sent to Manila, where it was at first disbelieved; but on reiterated +intelligence (for it seems he was seen more than once) the merchants were +alarmed, and the Governor was applied to, who undertook (the commerce +supplying the necessary sums) to fit out a force consisting of two ships +of 32 guns, one of 20 guns, and two sloops of 10 guns each, to attack the +Centurion on her station. And some of these vessels did actually weigh +with this view, but the principal ship not being ready, and the monsoon +being against them, the commerce and the Government disagreed, and the +enterprise was laid aside. This frequent discovery of the Centurion from +the shore was somewhat extraordinary, for the pitch of the cape is not +high, and she usually kept from ten to fifteen leagues distant, though +once, indeed, by an indraught of the tide, as was supposed, they found +themselves in the morning within seven leagues of the land. + + +CHAPTER 34. +THE CAPTURE OF THE GALLEON. + +As the month of June advanced, the expectancy and impatience of the +Commodore's people each day increased, and I think no better idea can be +given of their great eagerness on this occasion than by copying a few +paragraphs from the journal of an officer who was then on board, as it +will, I presume, be a more natural picture of the full attachment of +their thoughts to the business of their cruise than can be given by any +other means. The paragraphs I have selected, as they occur in order of +time are as follows: + +May 31. Exercising our men at their quarters, in great expectation of +meeting with the galleons very soon, this being the 11th of June, their +style. + +June 3. Keeping in our stations and looking out for the galleons. + +June 5. Begin now to be in great expectations, this being the middle of +June, their style. + +June 11. Begin to grow impatient at not seeing the galleons. + +June 13. The wind having blown fresh easterly for the forty-eight hours +past, gives us great expectations of seeing the galleons soon. + +June 15. Cruising on and off and looking out strictly. + +June 19. This being the last day of June, New Style, the galleons, if +they arrive at all, must appear soon. + + ... + +From these samples it is sufficiently evident how completely the treasure +of the galleons had engrossed their imagination, and how anxiously they +passed the latter part of their cruise, when the certainty of the arrival +of these vessels was dwindled down to probability only, and that +probability became each hour more and more doubtful. + +THE GALLEON SIGHTED. + +However, on the 20th of June, Old Style, being just a month from their +arrival on their station, they were relieved from this state of +uncertainty when, at sunrise, they discovered a sail from the masthead in +the south-east quarter. On this a general joy spread through the whole +ship, for they had no doubt but this was one of the galleons, and they +expected soon to see the other. The Commodore instantly stood towards +her, and at half an hour after seven they were near enough to see her +from the Centurion's deck, at which time the galleon fired a gun and took +in her top-gallant sails, which was supposed to be a signal to her +consort to hasten her up; and therefore the Centurion fired a gun to +leeward,* to amuse her. The Commodore was surprised to find that in all +this time the galleon did not change her course, but continued to bear +down upon him, for he hardly believed, what afterwards appeared to be the +case, that she knew his ship to be the Centurion and resolved to fight +him. + +(*Note. Probably as a pretended signal to a consort. The two ships were +endeavouring to deceive each other.) + +About noon the Commodore was little more than a league distant from the +galleon, and could fetch her wake, so that she could not now escape, and +no second ship appearing, it was concluded that she had been separated +from her consort. Soon after the galleon hauled up her foresail and +brought to under topsails, with her head to the northward, hoisting +Spanish colours and having the standard of Spain flying at the topgallant +masthead. Mr. Anson in the meantime had prepared all things for an +engagement on board the Centurion, and had taken all possible care both +for the most effectual exertion of his small strength, and for avoiding +the confusion and tumult too frequent in actions of this kind. He picked +out about thirty of his choicest hands and best marksmen, whom he +distributed into his tops, and who fully answered his expectation by the +signal services they performed. As he had not hands enough remaining to +quarter a sufficient number to each great gun in the customary manner, he +therefore, on his lower tier, fixed only two men to each gun, who were to +be solely employed in loading it, whilst the rest of his people were +divided into different gangs of ten or twelve men each, who were +constantly moving about the decks to run out and fire such guns as were +loaded. By this management he was enabled to make use of all his guns, +and, instead of firing broad sides with intervals between them, he kept +up a constant fire without intermission, whence he doubted not to procure +very signal advantages; for it is common with the Spaniards to fall down +upon the decks when they see a broadside preparing and to continue in +that posture till it is given; after which they rise again and, presuming +the danger to be for some time over, work their guns, and fire with great +briskness till another broadside is ready; but the firing gun by gun in +the manner directed by the Commodore rendered this practice of theirs +impossible. + +A GALLANT FIGHT. + +The Centurion being thus prepared, and nearing the galleon apace, there +happened, a little after noon, several squalls of wind and rain, which +often obscured the galleon from their sight; but whenever it cleared up +they observed her resolutely lying to, and towards one o'clock the +Centurion hoisted her broad pendant and colours, she being then within +gun shot of the enemy; and the Commodore, observing the Spaniards to have +neglected clearing their ship till that time, as he then saw them +throwing over board cattle and lumber, he gave orders to fire upon them +with the chase guns to embarrass them in their work, and prevent them +from completing it, though his general directions had been not to engage +till they were within pistol-shot. The galleon returned the fire with two +of her stern-chasers, and the Centurion getting her sprit sail-yard fore +and aft, that if necessary she might be ready for boarding, the Spaniards +in a bravado rigged their spritsail-yard fore and aft likewise. Soon +after the Centurion came abreast of the enemy within pistol-shot, keeping +to the leeward with a view of preventing them from putting before the +wind and gaining the port of Jalapay, from which they were about seven +leagues distant. And now the engagement began in earnest, and for the +first half-hour Mr. Anson overreached the galleon and lay on her bow, +where by the great wideness of his ports he could traverse almost all his +guns upon the enemy, whilst the galleon could only bring a part of hers +to bear. Immediately on the commencement of the action the mats with +which the galleon had stuffed her netting took fire and burned violently, +blazing up half as high as the mizzen top. This accident (supposed to be +caused by the Centurion's wads) threw the enemy into great confusion, and +at the same time alarmed the Commodore, for he feared lest the galleon +should be burned, and lest he himself too might suffer by her driving on +board him. But the Spaniards at last freed themselves from the fire by +cutting away the netting, and tumbling the whole mass which was in flames +into the sea. But still the Centurion kept her first advantageous +position, firing her cannon with great regularity and briskness, whilst +at the same time the galleon's decks lay open to her topmen, who having +at their first volley driven the Spaniards from their tops, made +prodigious havoc with their small arms, killing or wounding every officer +but one that ever appeared on the quarter-deck, and wounding in +particular the General of the galleon himself; and though the Centurion, +after the first half-hour, lost her original situation and was close +alongside the galleon, and the enemy continued to fire briskly for near +an hour longer, yet at last the Commodore's grape-shot swept their decks +so effectually, and the number of their slain and wounded was so +considerable, that they began to fall into great disorder, especially as +the General, who was the life of the action, was no longer capable of +exerting himself. Their embarrassment was visible from on board the +Commodore, for the ships were so near that some of the Spanish officers +were seen running about with great assiduity to prevent the desertion of +their men from their quarters. But all their endeavours were in vain, for +after having, as a last effort, fired five or six guns with more judgment +than usual, they gave up the contest, and the galleon's colours being +singed off the ensign staff in the beginning of the engagement, she +struck the standard at her main top-gallant masthead, the person who was +employed to do it having been in imminent peril of being killed, had not +the Commodore, who perceived what he was about, given express orders to +his people to desist from firing. + + +Thus was the Centurion possessed of this rich prize, amounting in value +to near a million and a half of dollars. She was called the "Nuestra +Senora de Cabadonga", and was commanded by the General Don Jeronimo de +Montero, a Portuguese by birth, and the most approved officer for skill +and courage of any employed in that service. The galleon was much larger +than the Centurion, and had five hundred and fifty men and thirty-six +guns mounted for action, besides twenty-eight pidreroes in her gunwale, +quarters, and tops, each of which carried a four-pound ball. She was very +well furnished with small arms, and was particularly provided against +boarding, both by her close quarters and by a strong network of 2-inch +rope, which was laced over her waist and was defended by half-pikes. She +had sixty-seven killed in the action and eighty-four wounded, whilst the +Centurion had only two killed and a lieutenant and sixteen wounded, all +of whom but one recovered; of so little consequence are the most +destructive arms in untutored and unpractised hands. + +The treasure thus taken by the Centurion having been for at least +eighteen months the great object of their hopes, it is impossible to +describe the transport on board when, after all their reiterated +disappointments, they at last saw their wishes accomplished. But their +joy was near being suddenly damped by a most tremendous incident, for no +sooner had the galleon struck than one of the lieutenants, coming to Mr. +Anson to congratulate him on his prize, whispered him at the same time +that the Centurion was dangerously 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 necessary orders for +extinguishing it, which was happily done in a short time, though its +appearance at first was extremely terrible. It seems some cartridges had +been blown up by accident between decks, whereby a quantity of oakum in +the after hatchway near the after powder-room was set on fire, and the +great smother and smoke of the oakum occasioned the apprehension of a +more extended and mischievous fire. At the same instant, too, the galleon +fell on board the Centurion on the starboard quarter, but she was cleared +without doing or receiving any considerable damage. + +The Commodore made his first lieutenant, Mr. Suamarez, captain of this +prize, appointing her a post-ship in His Majesty's service. Captain +Suamarez, before night, sent on board the Centurion all the Spanish +prisoners but such as were thought the most proper to be retained to +assist in navigating the galleon. + +WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. + +And now the Commodore learned from some of these prisoners that the other +ship, which he had kept in the port of Acapulco the preceding year, +instead of returning in company with the present prize, as was expected, +had set sail from Acapulco alone much sooner than usual, and had in all +probability got into the port of Manila long before the Centurion +arrived off Cape Espiritu Santo, so that Mr. Anson, notwithstanding his +present success, had great reason to regret his loss of time at Macao, +which prevented him from taking two rich prizes instead of one. + + +CHAPTER 35. +SECURING THE PRISONERS--MACAO AGAIN--AMOUNT OF THE TREASURE. + +The Commodore, when the action was ended, resolved to make the best of +his way with his prize for the river of Canton, being in the meantime +fully employed in securing his prisoners, and in removing the treasure +from on board the galleon into the Centurion. The last of these +operations was too important to be postponed, for as the navigation to +Canton was through seas but little known, and where, from the season of +the year, much bad weather might be expected, it was of great consequence +that the treasure should be sent on board the Centurion, which ship, by +the presence of the Commander-in-chief, the greater number of her hands, +and her other advantages, was doubtless much safer against all the +casualties of winds and seas than the galleon; and the securing the +prisoners was a matter of still more consequence, as not only the +possession of the treasure, but the lives of the captors depended +thereon. This was indeed an article which gave the Commodore much trouble +and disquietude, for they were above double the number of his own people, +and some of them, when they were brought on board the Centurion and had +observed how slenderly she was manned, and the large proportion which the +striplings bore to the rest, could not help expressing themselves with +great indignation to be thus beaten by a handful of boys. + +THE SUFFERINGS OF THE PRISONERS. + +The method which was taken to hinder them from rising was by placing all +but the officers and the wounded in the hold, where to give them as much +air as possible, two hatchways were left open; but then (to avoid all +danger whilst the Centurion's people should be employed upon the deck) +there was a square partition of thick planks, made in the shape of a +funnel, which enclosed each hatchway on the lower deck and reached to +that directly over it on the upper deck. These funnels served to +communicate the air to the hold better than could have been done without +them, and at the same time added greatly to the security of the ship, for +they being seven or eight feet high, it would have been extremely +difficult for the Spaniards to have clambered up, and, still to augment +that difficulty, four swivel-guns loaded with musket bullets were planted +at the mouth of each funnel, and a sentinel with lighted match constantly +attended, prepared to fire into the hold amongst them in case of any +disturbance. Their officers, who amounted to seventeen or eighteen, were +all lodged in the first lieutenant's cabin, under a constant guard of six +men, and the General, as he was wounded, lay in the Commodore's cabin +with a sentinel always with him, and they were all informed that any +violence or disturbance would be punished with instant death; and that +the Centurion's people might be at all times prepared, if notwithstanding +these regulations any tumult should arise, the small arms were constantly +kept loaded in a proper place, whilst all the men went armed with +cutlasses and pistols, and no officer ever pulled off his clothes, and +when he slept had always his arms lying ready by him. + +These measures were obviously necessary, considering the hazards to which +the Commodore and his people would have been exposed had they been less +careful. Indeed, the sufferings of the poor prisoners though impossible +to be alleviated, were much to be commiserated, for the weather was +extremely hot, the stench of the hold loathsome beyond all conception, +and their allowance of water but just sufficient to keep them alive, it +not being practicable to spare them more than at the rate of a pint a day +for each, the crew themselves having only an allowance of a pint and a +half. All this considered, it was wonderful that not a man of them died +during their long confinement, except three of the wounded, who died the +same night they were taken; though it must be confessed that the greatest +part of them were strangely metamorphosed by the heat of the hold, for +when they were first taken they were sightly, robust fellows, but when, +after above a month's imprisonment, they were discharged in the river of +Canton, they were reduced to mere skeletons, and their air and looks +corresponded much more to the conception formed of ghosts and spectres +than to the figure and appearance of real men. + +Thus employed in securing the treasure and the prisoners, the Commodore, +as has been said, stood for the river of Canton, and on the 30th of June, +at six in the evening, got sight of Cape Delangano, which then bore west +ten leagues distant, and the next day he made the Bashee Islands, and the +wind being so far to the northward that it was difficult to weather them, +it was resolved to stand through between Grafton and Monmouth Islands, +where the passage seemed to be clear; but in getting through the sea had +a very dangerous aspect, for it rippled and foamed as if it had been full +of breakers, which was still more terrible as it was then night. But the +ships got through very safe, the prize always keeping ahead, and it was +found that the appearance which had alarmed them had been occasioned only +by a strong tide, and on the 11th of July, having taken on board two +Chinese pilots, one for the Centurion and the other for the prize, they +came to an anchor off the city of Macao. + +By this time the particulars of the cargo of the galleon were well +ascertained, and it was found that she had on board 1,313,843 pieces of +eight and 35,682 ounces of virgin silver, besides some cochineal and a +few other commodities, which, however, were but of small account in +comparison of the specie. And this being the Commodore's last prize, it +hence appears that all the treasure taken by the Centurion was not much +short of 400,000 pounds independent of the ships and merchandise which +she either burnt or destroyed, and which by the most reasonable +estimation could not amount to so little as 600,000 more; so that the +whole loss of the enemy by our squadron did doubtless exceed a million +sterling. To which, if there be added the great expense of the court of +Spain in fitting out Pizarro, and in paying the additional charges in +America incurred on our account, together with the loss of their +men-of-war, the total of all these articles will be a most exorbitant +sum, and is the strongest conviction of the utility of this expedition, +which, with all its numerous disadvantages, did yet prove so extremely +prejudicial to the enemy. + + +CHAPTER 36. +THE CANTON RIVER--NEGOTIATING WITH THE CHINESE--PRISONERS RELEASED. + +The Commodore, having taken pilots on board, proceeded with his prize for +the river of Canton, and on the 14th of July came to an anchor short of +the Bocca Tigris, which is a narrow passage forming the mouth of that +river. This entrance he proposed to stand through the next day, and to +run up as far as Tiger Island, which is a very safe road, secured from +all winds. + +CHINESE INQUIRIES. + +But whilst the Centurion and her prize were thus at anchor, a boat with +an officer came off from the mandarin commanding the forts at Bocca +Tigris to examine what the ships were and whence they came. Mr. Anson +informed the officer that his ship was a ship of war, belonging to the +King of Great Britain, and that the other in company with him was a prize +he had taken; that he was going into Canton River to shelter himself +against the hurricanes which were then coming on; and that as soon as the +monsoon shifted he should proceed for England. The officer then desired +an account of what men, guns, and ammunition were on board, a list of all +which, he said, was to be sent to the Government of Canton. But when +these articles were repeated to him, particularly when he was told that +there were in the Centurion four hundred fire locks and between three +hundred and four hundred barrels of powder, he shrugged up his shoulders +and seemed to be terrified with the bare recital, saying that no ships +ever came into Canton River armed in that manner; adding that he durst +not set down the whole of this force, lest it should too much alarm the +Regency. After he had finished his enquiries, and was preparing to +depart, he desired to leave the two custom-house officers behind him, on +which the Commodore told him that though as a man-of-war he was +prohibited from trading, and had nothing to do with customs or duties of +any kind, yet for the satisfaction of the Chinese he would permit two of +their people to be left on board, who might themselves be witnesses how +punctually he should comply with his instructions. The officer seemed +amazed when Mr. Anson mentioned being exempted from all duties, and told +him that the Emperor's duty must be paid by all ships that came into his +ports. + +On the 16th of July the Commodore sent his second lieutenant to Canton +with a letter to the Viceroy, informing him of the reason of the +Centurion's putting into that port, and that the Commodore himself soon +proposed to repair to Canton to pay a visit to the Viceroy. The +lieutenant was very civilly received, and was promised that an answer +should be sent to the Commodore the next day. In the meantime Mr. Anson +gave leave to several of the officers of the galleon to go to Canton, +they engaging their parole to return in two days. When these prisoners +got to Canton the Regency sent for them and examined them, enquiring +particularly by what means they had fallen into Mr. Anson's power. And on +this occasion the prisoners were honest enough to declare that as the +Kings of Great Britain and Spain were at war, they had proposed to +themselves the taking of the Centurion, and had bore down upon her with +that view, but that the event had been contrary to their hopes. However, +they acknowledged that they had been treated by the Commodore much better +than they believed they should have treated him had he fallen into their +hands. This confession from an enemy had great weight with the Chinese, +who till then, though they had revered the Commodore's power, had yet +suspected his morals, and had considered him rather as a lawless free +booter than as one commissioned by the State for revenge of public +injuries. But they now changed their opinion, and regarded him as a more +important person, to which perhaps the vast treasure of his prize might +not a little contribute, the acquisition of wealth being a matter greatly +adapted to the estimation and reverence of the Chinese nation. + +In this examination of the Spanish prisoners, though the Chinese had no +reason in the main to doubt the account which was given them, yet there +were two circumstances which appeared to them so singular as to deserve a +more ample explanation. One of them was the great disproportion of men +between the Centurion and the galleon, the other was the humanity with +which the people of the galleon were treated after they were taken. The +mandarins therefore asked the Spaniards how they came to be overpowered +by so inferior a force, and how it happened, since the two nations were +at war, that they were not put to death when they came into the hands of +the English. To the first of these enquiries the Spanish replied that +though they had more hands than the Centurion, yet she, being intended +solely for war, had a great superiority in the size of her guns, and in +many other articles, over the galleon, which was a vessel fitted out +principally for traffic. And as to the second question, they told the +Chinese that amongst the nations of Europe it was not customary to put to +death those who submitted, though they readily owned that the Commodore, +from the natural bias of his temper, had treated both them and their +countrymen, who had formerly been in his power, with very unusual +courtesy, much beyond what they could have expected, or than was required +by the customs established between nations at war with each other. These +replies fully satisfied the Chinese, and at the same time wrought very +powerfully in the Commodore's favour. + +A MESSAGE FROM THE VICEROY. + +On the 20th of July, in the morning, three mandarins, with a great number +of boats and a vast retinue, came on board the Centurion and delivered to +the Commodore the Viceroy of Canton's order for a daily supply of +provisions, and for pilots to carry the ships up the river as far as the +second bar; and at the same time they delivered him a message from the +Viceroy in answer to the letter sent to Canton. The substance of the +message was that the Viceroy desired to be excused from receiving the +Commodore's visit during the then excessive hot weather, because the +assembling the mandarins and soldiers necessary to that ceremony would +prove extremely inconvenient and fatiguing; but that in September, when +the weather would be more temperate, he should be glad to see both the +Commodore himself and the English captain of the other ship that was with +him. As Mr. Anson knew that an express had been dispatched to the court +at Peking with an account of the Centurion and her prize being arrived in +the river of Canton, he had no doubt but the principal motive for putting +off this visit was that the regency at Canton might gain time to receive +the Emperor's instructions about their behaviour on this unusual affair. + +When the mandarins had delivered their message they began to talk to the +Commodore about the duties to be paid by his ships, but he immediately +told them that he would never submit to any demand of that kind, adding +that no duties were ever demanded of men-of-war by nations accustomed to +their reception, and that his master's orders expressly forbade him from +paying any acknowledgment for his ships anchoring in any port whatever. +The mandarins being thus cut short on the subject of the duty, they said +they had another matter to mention, which was the only remaining one they +had in charge. This was a request to the Commodore that he would release +the prisoners he had taken on board the galleon, for that the Viceroy of +Canton apprehended the Emperor, his master, might be displeased if he +should be informed that persons who were his allies, and carried on a +great commerce with his subjects, were under confinement in his +dominions. Mr. Anson was himself extremely desirous to get rid of the +Spaniards, having on his first arrival sent about one hundred of them to +Macao, and those who remained, which were near four hundred more, were on +many accounts a great encumbrance to him. However, to enhance the favour, +he at first raised some difficulties; but, permitting himself to be +prevailed on, he at last told the mandarins that to show his readiness to +oblige the Viceroy he would release the prisoners whenever they (the +Chinese) would send boats to fetch them off. This matter being adjusted, +the mandarins departed; and on the 28th of July two Chinese junks were +sent from Canton to take on board the prisoners, and to carry them to +Macao. And the Commodore, agreeable to his promise, dismissed them all, +and ordered his purser to send with them eight days' provision for their +subsistence during their sailing down the river. This being despatched, +the Centurion and her prize came to her moorings above the second bar, +where they proposed to continue till the monsoon shifted. + + +CHAPTER 37. +CHINESE TRICKERY. + +Though the ships, in consequence of the Viceroy's permit, found no +difficulty in purchasing provisions for their daily consumption, yet it +was impossible for the Commodore to proceed to England without laying in +a large quantity both of provisions and stores for his use during the +voyage. The procuring this supply was attended with much embarrassment, +for there were people at Canton who had undertaken to furnish him with +biscuit and whatever else he wanted, and his linguist, towards the middle +of September, had assured him from day to day that all was ready and +would be sent on board him immediately. But a fortnight being elapsed, +and nothing being brought, the Commodore sent to Canton to enquire more +particularly into the reasons of this disappointment, and he had soon the +vexation to be informed that the whole was an illusion; that no order had +been procured from the Viceroy to furnish him with his sea stores, as had +been pretended; that there was no biscuit baked, nor any one of the +articles in readiness which had been promised him; nor did it appear that +the contractors had taken the least step to comply with their agreement. +This was most disagreeable news, and made it suspected that the +furnishing the Centurion for her return to Great Britain might prove a +more troublesome matter than had been hitherto imagined; especially, too, +as the month of September was nearly elapsed without Mr. Anson's having +received any message from the Viceroy of Canton. + +It were endless to recount all the artifices, extortions, and frauds, +which were practised on the Commodore and his people by the Chinese. The +method of buying all things in China being by weight, the tricks made use +of by them to increase the weight of the provision they sold to the +Centurion were almost incredible. One time, a large quantity of fowls and +ducks being brought for the ship's use, the greatest part of them +presently died. This alarmed the people on board with the apprehension +that they had been killed by poison, but on examination it appeared that +it was only owing to their being crammed with stones and gravel to +increase their weight, the quantity thus forced into most of the ducks +being found to amount to ten ounces in each. The hogs, too, which were +bought ready killed of the Chinese butchers, had water injected into them +for the same purpose, so that a carcase hung up all night for the water +to drain from it has lost above a stone of its weight, and when, to avoid +this cheat, the hogs were bought alive, it was found that the Chinese +gave them salt to increase their thirst, and having by this means excited +them to drink great quantities of water, they then took measures to +prevent them from discharging it again, and sold the tortured animal in +this inflated state. When the Commodore first put to sea from Macao, they +practised an artifice of another kind, for as the Chinese never object to +the eating of any food that dies of itself, they took care, by some +secret practises, that great part of his live sea-store should die in a +short time after it was put on board, hoping to make a second profit of +the dead carcases which they expected would be thrown overboard, and +two-thirds of the hogs dying before the Centurion was out of sight of +land, many of the Chinese boats followed her only to pick up the carrion. +These instances may serve as a specimen of the manners of this celebrated +nation, which is often recommended to the rest of the world as a pattern +of all kinds of laudable qualities. + + +CHAPTER 38. +PREPARATIONS FOR A VISIT TO CANTON. + +The Commodore, towards the end of September, having found out (as has +been said) that those who had contracted to supply him with sea +provisions and stores had deceived him, and that the Viceroy had not sent +to him according to his promise, he saw it would be impossible for him to +surmount the embarrassment he was under without going himself to Canton, +and visiting the Viceroy. And therefore, on the 27th of September, he +sent a message to the mandarin who attended the Centurion to inform him +that he, the Commodore, intended on the 1st of October to proceed in his +boat to Canton, adding that the day after he got there he should notify +his arrival to the Viceroy, and should desire him to fix a time for his +audience; to which the mandarin returned no other answer than that he +would acquaint the Viceroy with the Commodore's intentions. In the +meantime all things were prepared for this expedition, and the boat's +crew in particular which Mr. Anson proposed to take with him, were +clothed in a uniform dress resembling that of the watermen on the Thames. +They were in number eighteen and a coxswain. They had scarlet jackets and +blue silk waistcoats, the whole trimmed with silver buttons, and with +silver badges on their jackets and caps. + +A WISE PRECAUTION. + +As it was apprehended, and even asserted, that the payment of the +customary duties for the Centurion and her prize would be demanded by the +Regency of Canton, and would be insisted on previous to the granting a +permission for victualling the ship for her future voyage, the Commodore, +who was resolved never to establish so dishonourable a precedent, took +all possible precautions to prevent the Chinese from facilitating the +success of their unreasonable pretentions by having him in their power at +Canton. And, therefore, for the security of his ship and the great +treasure on board her, he appointed his first lieutenant, Mr. Brett, to +be captain of the Centurion under him, giving him proper instructions for +his conduct, directing him particularly, if he, the Commodore, should be +detained at Canton on account of the duties in dispute, to take out the +men from the Centurion's prize and to destroy her, and then to proceed +down the river through the Bocca Tigris with the Centurion alone, and to +remain without that entrance till he received further orders from Mr. +Anson. + +These necessary steps being taken, which were not unknown to the Chinese, +it should seem as if their deliberations were in some sort embarrassed +thereby. It is reasonable to imagine that they were in general very +desirous of getting the duties to be paid them, not perhaps solely in +consideration of the amount of those dues, but to keep up their +reputation for address and subtlety, and to avoid the imputation of +receding from claims on which they had already so frequently insisted. +However, as they now foresaw that they had no other method of succeeding +than by violence, and that even against this the Commodore was prepared, +they were at last disposed, I conceive, to let the affair drop, rather +than entangle themselves in a hostile measure which they found would only +expose them to the risk of having the whole navigation of their port +destroyed, without any certain prospect of gaining their favourite point +thereby. + + +CHAPTER 39. +STORES AND PROVISIONS--A FIRE IN CANTON--SAILORS AS FIREMEN--THE VICEROY'S +GRATITUDE. + +BARGAINING. + +When the Commodore arrived at Canton he was visited by the principal +Chinese merchants, who affected to appear very much pleased that he had +met with no obstruction in getting thither. They added that, as soon as +the Viceroy should be informed that Mr. Anson was at Canton, they were +persuaded a day would be immediately appointed for the visit, which was +the principal business that had brought the Commodore thither. + +The next day the merchants returned to Mr. Anson, and told him that the +Viceroy was then so fully employed in preparing his despatches for Pekin, +that there was no getting admittance to him for some days; but that they +had engaged one of the officers of his court to give them information as +soon as he should be at leisure when they proposed to notify Mr. Anson's +arrival, and to endeavour to fix the day of audience. The Commodore was +by this time too well acquainted with their artifices not to perceive +that this was a falsehood, and had he consulted only his own judgment he +would have applied directly to the Viceroy by other hands. But the +Chinese merchants had so far prepossessed the supercargoes of our ships +with chimerical fears, that they were extremely apprehensive of being +embroiled with the government and of suffering in their interest, if +those measures were taken which appeared to Mr. Anson at that time to be +the most prudential; and therefore, lest the malice and double-dealing of +the Chinese might have given rise to some sinister incident which would +be afterwards laid at his door, he resolved to continue passive as long +as it should appear that he lost no time by thus suspending his own +opinion. With this view he promised not to take any immediate step +himself for getting admittance to the Viceroy, provided the Chinese with +whom he contracted for provisions would let him see that his bread was +baked, his meat salted, and his stores prepared with the utmost despatch. +But if, by the time when all was in readiness to be shipped off (which it +was supposed would be in about forty days), the merchants should not have +procured the Viceroy's permission, then the Commodore proposed to apply +for it himself. These were the terms Mr. Anson thought proper to offer to +quiet the uneasiness of the supercargoes; and notwithstanding the +apparent equity of the conditions, many difficulties and objections were +urged, nor would the Chinese agree to them till the Commodore had +consented to pay for every article he bespoke before it was put in hand. +However, at last the contract being passed, it was some satisfaction to +the Commodore to be certain that his preparations were now going on, and +being himself on the spot, he took care to hasten them as much as +possible. + +During this interval, in which the stores and provisions were getting +ready, the merchants continually entertained Mr. Anson with accounts of +their various endeavours to get a licence from the Viceroy, and their +frequent disappointments, which to him was now a matter of amusement, as +he was fully satisfied there was not one word of truth in anything they +said. But when all was completed, and wanted only to be shipped, which +was about the 24th of November, at which time, too, the north-east +monsoon was set in, he then resolved to apply himself to the Viceroy to +demand an audience, as he was persuaded that without this ceremony the +procuring a permission to send his stores on board would meet with great +difficulty. On the 24th of November, therefore, Mr. Anson sent one of his +officers to the mandarin who commanded the guard of the principal gate of +the city of Canton with a letter directed to the Viceroy. When this +letter was delivered to the mandarin, he received the officer who brought +it very civilly, and took down the contents of it in Chinese, and +promised that the Viceroy should be immediately acquainted with it, but +told the officer it was not necessary for him to wait for an answer, +because a message would be sent to the Commodore himself. + +A FIRE AT CANTON. + +Two days after the sending the above-mentioned letter a fire broke out in +the suburbs of Canton. On the first alarm Mr. Anson went thither with his +officers and his boat's crew to assist the Chinese. When he came there he +found that it had begun in a sailor's shed, and that by the slightness of +the buildings and the awkwardness of the Chinese it was getting head +apace. But he perceived that by pulling down some of the adjacent sheds +it might easily be extinguished; and particularly observing that it was +running along a wooden cornice which would soon communicate it to a great +distance, he ordered his people to begin with tearing away that cornice. +This was presently attempted, and would have been soon executed, but in +the meantime he was told that, as there was no mandarin there to direct +what was to be done, the Chinese would make him (the Commodore) +answerable for whatever should be pulled down by his orders. On this his +people desisted, and he sent them to the English factory to assist in +securing the Company's treasure and effects, as it was easy to foresee +that no distance was a protection against the rage of such a fire, where +so little was done to put a stop to it; for all this time the Chinese +contented themselves with viewing it and now and then holding one of +their idols near it, which they seemed to expect should check its +progress. However, at last a mandarin came out of the city, attended by +four or five hundred firemen. These made some feeble efforts to pull down +the neighbouring houses, but by this time the fire had greatly extended +itself, and was got amongst the merchants' warehouses, and the Chinese +firemen, wanting both skill and spirit, were incapable of checking its +violence, so that its fury increased upon them, and it was feared the +whole city would be destroyed. In this general confusion the Viceroy +himself came thither, and the Commodore was sent to and was entreated to +afford his assistance, being told that he might take any measures he +should think most prudent in the present emergency. And now he went +thither a second time, carrying with him about forty of his people, who +upon this occasion exerted themselves in such a manner as in that country +was altogether without example. For they were rather animated than +deterred by the flames and falling buildings amongst which they wrought, +so that it was not uncommon to see the most forward of them tumble to the +ground on the roofs and amidst the ruins of houses which their own +efforts brought down with them. By their boldness and activity the fire +was soon extinguished, to the amazement of the Chinese, and the building +being all on one floor, and the materials slight, the seamen, +notwithstanding their daring behaviour, happily escaped with no other +injuries than some considerable bruises. The fire, though at last thus +luckily extinguished, did great mischief during the time it continued, +for it consumed an hundred shops and eleven streets full of warehouses, +so that the damage amounted to an immense sum. It raged, indeed, with +unusual violence, for in many of the warehouses there were large +quantities of camphor, which greatly added to its fury, and produced a +column of exceeding white flame, which shot up into the air to such a +prodigious height that the flame itself was plainly seen on board the +Centurion, though she was thirty miles distant. + +Whilst the Commodore and his people were labouring at the fire, and the +terror of its becoming general still possessed the whole city, several of +the most considerable Chinese merchants came to Mr. Anson to desire that +he would let each of them have one of his soldiers (for such they styled +his boat's crew from the uniformity of their dress) to guard their +warehouses and dwelling-houses, which, from the known dishonesty of the +populace, they feared would be pillaged in the tumult. Mr. Anson granted +them this request, and all the men that he thus furnished to the Chinese +behaved greatly to the satisfaction of their employers, who afterwards +highly applauded their great diligence and fidelity. By this means the +resolution of the English at the fire, and their trustiness and +punctuality elsewhere, was the subject of general conversation amongst +the Chinese, and the next morning many of the principal inhabitants +waited on the Commodore to thank him for his assistance, frankly owning +to him that they could never have extinguished the fire of themselves, +and that he had saved their city from being totally consumed. And soon +after a message came to the Commodore from the Viceroy, appointing the +30th of November for his audience, which sudden resolution of the +Viceroy, in a matter that had been so long agitated in vain, was also +owing to the signal services performed by Mr. Anson and his people at the +fire, of which the Viceroy himself had been in some measure an +eye-witness. The fixing this business of the audience was, on all +accounts, a circumstance which Mr. Anson was much pleased with, as he was +satisfied that the Chinese Government would not have determined this +point without having agreed among themselves to give up their pretensions +to the duties they claimed, and to grant him all he could reasonably ask; +for, as they well knew the Commodore's sentiments, it would have been a +piece of imprudence not consistent with the refined cunning of the +Chinese to have admitted him to an audience only to have contested with +him. + + +CHAPTER 40. +ANSON RECEIVED BY THE VICEROY--CENTURION SETS SAIL--TABLE BAY--SPITHEAD. + +THE VICEROY. + +At ten o'clock in the morning, on the day appointed, a mandarin came to +the Commodore to let him know that the Viceroy was ready to receive him, +on which the Commodore and his retinue immediately set out. And as soon +as he entered the outer gate of the city, he found a guard of two hundred +soldiers drawn up ready to attend him; these conducted him to the great +parade before the Emperor's palace, where the Viceroy then resided. In +this parade a body of troops, to the number of ten thousand, were drawn +up under arms, and made a very fine appearance, being all of them new +clothed for this ceremony, and Mr. Anson and his retinue having passed +through the middle of them, he was then conducted to the great hall of +audience, where he found the Viceroy seated under a rich canopy in the +Emperor's chair of state, with all his Council of Mandarins attending. +Here there was a vacant seat 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 only the head of the law and of the treasury, who +in the Chinese Government take place of all military officers. When the +Commodore was seated he addressed himself to the Viceroy by his +interpreter, 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 insincerity of those he had employed, and that he had +therefore no other means left than to send, as he had done, his own +officer with a letter to the gate. On the mention of this the Viceroy +stopped the interpreter, and bid him assure Mr. Anson that the first +knowledge they had of his being at Canton was from the letter. Mr. Anson +then proceeded, acquainting the Viceroy that the proper season was now +set in for returning to Europe, and that he waited only for a license to +ship off his provisions and stores, which were all ready, and that, as +soon as this should be granted to him, and he should have got his +necessaries on board, he intended to leave the river of Canton and to +make the best of his way to England. The Viceroy replied to this that the +license should be immediately issued, and that everything should be +ordered on board the following day. The Viceroy continued the +conversation for some time, acknowledging in very civil terms how much +the Chinese were obliged to him for his signal services at the fire, and +owning that he had saved the city from being destroyed; and then, +observing that the Centurion had been a good while on their coast, he +closed his discourse by wishing the Commodore a good voyage to Europe. +After which, the Commodore thanking him for his civility and assistance, +took his leave. + +Thus the Commodore, to his great joy, at last finished this troublesome +affair, which for the preceding four months had given him great +disquietude. Indeed, he was highly pleased with procuring a licence for +the shipping his stores and provisions; for thereby he was enabled to +return to Great Britain with the first of the monsoon, and to prevent all +intelligence of his being expected. But this, though a very important +point, was not the circumstance which gave him the greatest satisfaction, +for he was more particularly attentive to the authentic precedent +established on this occasion, by which His Majesty's ships of war are for +the future exempted from all demands of duty in any of the ports of +China. + +HOMEWARD BOUND. + +In pursuance of the promises of the Viceroy, the provisions were begun to +be sent on board the day after the audience, and four days after the +Commodore embarked at Canton for the Centurion, and on the 7th of +December the Centurion and her prize unmoored and stood down the river, +passing through the Bocca Tigris on the 10th. And on this occasion I must +observe that the Chinese had taken care to man the two forts on each side +of that passage with as many men as they could well contain, the greatest +part of them armed with pikes and matchlock muskets. These garrisons +affected to show themselves as much as possible to the ships, and were +doubtless intended to induce Mr. Anson to think more reverently than he +had hitherto done of the Chinese military power. For this purpose they +were equipped with much parade, having a great number of colours exposed +to view, and on the castle in particular there were laid considerable +heaps of large stones, and a soldier of unusual size, dressed in very +sightly armour, stalked about on the parapet with a battleaxe in his hand +endeavouring to put on as important and martial an air as possible, +though some of the observers on board the Centurion shrewdly suspected, +from the appearance of his armour, that instead of steel, it was composed +only of a particular kind of glittering paper. + +The Commodore, on the 12th of December, anchored before the town of +Macao. Whilst the ships lay here the merchants of Macao finished their +agreement for the galleon, for which they had offered 6,000 dollars; this +was much short of her value, but the impatience of the Commodore to get +to sea, to which the merchants were no strangers, prompted them to insist +on so unequal a bargain. Mr. Anson had learnt enough from the English at +Canton to conjecture that the war betwixt Great Britain and Spain was +still continued, and that probably the French might engage in the +assistance of Spain before he could arrive in Great Britain; and +therefore, knowing that no intelligence could get to Europe of the prize +he had taken, and the treasure he had on board, till the return of the +merchantmen from Canton, he was resolved to make all possible expedition +in getting back, that he might be himself the first messenger of his own +good fortune, and might thereby prevent the enemy from forming any +projects to intercept him. For these reasons he, to avoid all delay, +accepted the sum offered for the galleon, and she being delivered to the +merchants, the 15th of December 1743, the Centurion the same day got +under sail on her return to England. And on the 3rd of January she came +to an anchor at Prince's Island, in the Straits of Sunda, and continued +there wooding and watering till the 8th, when she weighed and stood for +the Cape of Good Hope, where on the 11th of March she anchored in Table +Bay. + +Here the Commodore continued till the beginning of April, highly +delighted with the place, which by its extraordinary accommodations, the +healthiness of its air, and the picturesque appearance of the country, +all enlivened by the addition of a civilised colony, was not disgraced in +an imaginary comparison with the valleys of Juan Fernandez and the lawns +of Tinian. During his stay he entered about forty new men, and having by +the 3rd of April, 1744, completed his water and provision, he on that day +weighed and put to sea. The 19th of the same month they saw the island of +St. Helena, which, however, they did not touch at, but stood on their +way; and on the 10th of June, being then in soundings, they spoke with an +English ship from Amsterdam bound for Philadelphia, whence they received +the first intelligence of a French war. The 12th they got sight of the +Lizard, and the 15th, in the evening, to their infinite joy, they came +safe to an anchor at Spithead. But that the signal perils which had so +often threatened them in the preceding part of the enterprise might +pursue them to the very last, Mr. Anson learned on his arrival that there +was a French fleet of considerable force cruising in the chops of the +Channel, which, by the account of their position, he found the Centurion +had run through and had been all the time concealed by a fog. Thus was +this expedition finished, when it had lasted three years and nine months, +after having, by its event, strongly evinced this important truth: That +though prudence, intrepidity, and perseverance united are not exempted +from the blows of adverse fortune, yet in a long series of transactions +they usually rise superior to its power, and in the end rarely fail of +proving successful. + + +GLOSSARY. + +Anchors: + +Bower anchors (the best bower and the small bower). The anchors carried +at the bows of a vessel. + +The sheet anchor (= shoot anchor). An anchor to be shot out or lowered in +case of a great danger, carried abaft the forerigging; formerly the +largest anchor. + +Bag-wig. See Wig. + +Barge. See Boats. + +Bilging. To bilge = to be stove in, or suffer serious injury in the +bilge, which is the bottom part of a ship's hull. + +Boats: + +Barge. The second boat of a man-of-war; a long narrow boat, generally +with not less than ten oars, for the use of the chief officers. + +Cutter. A boat belonging to a ship of war, shorter and in proportion +broader than the barge or pinnace, fitted for rowing and sailing, and +used for carrying light stores, passengers, etc. + +Longboat. The principal boat of the old man-of-war. Now replaced by steam +launches. + +Pinnace. A boat for the accommodation of the inferior officers of a +man-of-war, resembling the barge. + +Yawl. A small boat used for much the same purposes as the cutter. + +Bow-chasers. See Chasers. + +Bower. See Anchor. + +Bring to. To bring a vessel's head up to the wind so that the wind blows +from bow to stern. + +Broad pennant. See Commodore. + +Cacao. Chocolate nuts. + +Cackle. To cover a cable spirally with old three-inch rope to protect it +from chafing. + +Callous (of a broken bone). The new bony tissue formed between and around +the fractured ends of a broken bone in the process of reuniting. + +Careening is the operation of heaving down a ship on one side, in order +to expose the other side for cleaning. + +Cartel. A written agreement between belligerents for an exchange of +prisoners. + +Caulk. To make a ship's seams watertight by plugging the crevices with +oakum (i.e. old untwisted rope). + +Chasers. Bow-chasers were two long chase-guns placed forward in the bow +ports to fire directly ahead. Stern-chasers were similar guns mounted +astern. + +Clean. A clean ship is one whose bottom is free from barnacles and weed +that check the pace. + +Clearing for action. To get ready for battle by clearing the decks from +encumbrances and anything unnecessary or dangerous, such as wooden +partitions between cabins, etc. + +Cochineal. A dye stuff consisting of female cochineal insects killed and +dried by heat. They yield a brilliant scarlet dye. + +Cohorn mortars. See Mortar. + +The commerce. Used several times in the sense of "the traders." + +Commodore. A naval officer ranking above a captain and below a +rear-admiral. In the British Navy the rank is a temporary one, given to +senior officers in command of detached squadrons. The broad pennant +(chapter 4) is the flag that marks the presence of a commodore on board. + +Courses. The sails below the topsails and next to the deck. + +Cutter. See Boats. + +Dollar. A corruption of the German "thaler," a name for a silver coin +worth about four shillings. The name was extended in the form "dollar" to +other coins of similar size, notably the old Spanish "piece of eight." +See Pieces of eight. + +Doubloon. A former Spanish gold coin worth about eight dollars. + +Eight. See Pieces of. + +Embargo. A temporary order from Government to prevent the arrival or +departure of ships. + +Fetch (the wake of). To reach the track left by a ship. + +File (of musketeers). Latin filum, French file = a row. The word is used +to signify any line of men standing directly behind one another. In +ordinary two-deep formations a file consists of two men, one in the front +rank and one in the rear rank. + +Fishing (a mast). To strengthen or mend a mast by fastening strips of +wood or iron along a weak or broken place. + +Foot-rope. A rope stretched under a yard arm for sailors to stand on +while reefing or furling sails. + +Fore-cap. The cap is a stout block joining the bottom of one mast to the +top of another; as where the foretopmast joins the foremast. + +Foremast, foretopmast, etc. See Mast. + +Fore-reach. To gain upon or pass; to beat in sailing. + +Foreyard. The lowest yard on the foremast of a square-rigged vessel. + +Grapnel. A boat's anchor having more than two flukes. Come to grapnel, +cf. Come to anchor. + +Half-galleys. A galley is a low, flat-built sea-going vessel with one +deck, propelled by sails and oars. A half-galley is a similar vessel, but +much shorter. + +Half-pike. See Pike. + +Hand (the sails). To furl. + +Hawser. A large rope or small cable. + +Indulgences. The remission by authorised priests of the punishment due to +sin. The sale of indulgences was one of the abuses that provoked the +Reformation. + +Jerk. To cure meat, especially beef, by cutting it into long thin slices +and drying it in the sun. + +Jury-mast. A small temporary mast often made of a yard; set up instead of +a mast that is broken down. + +Larboard (or port). The left side of a ship looking towards the bow. + +Lay to (lie to). To reduce sail to the lowest limits, so as to become +nearly stationary. + +Lee. The side or direction opposite to that from which the wind comes. + +Line, ship of the. A ship of sufficient size and armament to take a place +in the line of battle. + +Linguist. Interpreter. + +Longboat. See Boats. + +Lumber. Sawn timber. + +Masts: +The masts of a full-rigged three-masted ship are the following: +Fore-mast, topmast, topgallant-mast, royal mast. +Main-mast, topmast, topgallant-mast, royal mast. +Mizzen-mast, topmast, topgallant-mast, royal mast. + +Monsoon. See Winds. + +Mortar. A kind of gun with a very short bore. It throws its projectile at +a great elevation. + +Mortar, Cohorn (see chapter 7). Cohorn was a famous Dutch engineer and +artillerist in the service of William III. + +Nailed up. Spiked. To spike a gun is to render it useless for the time by +inserting into the vent a steel pin with side springs, which when +inserted open outwards to the shape of an arrowhead so that it cannot be +released. + +Offing: +1. The most distant part of the sea visible from the shore. +2. A still greater distance, sufficient to avoid the dangers of shipwreck, +as "a good offing." + +Overreach. To pass. + +Parallel, i.e. of latitude or longitude as the case may be. + +Pennant, Broad. See Commodore. + +Pidreroes. Light Spanish cannon. + +Pieces of eight. Old Spanish coins worth about four shillings each. The +piece of eight was divided into eight silver reals. Hence the name which +was applied to it in the Spanish Main. It was also frequently called a +dollar. + +Pike. A long shaft or pole, having an iron or steel point, used in +medieval warfare, now replaced by the bayonet. A half-pike was a similar +weapon having a staff about half the length. + +Pink. An obsolete name for a small sailing ship. + +Pinnace. See Boats. + +Port (or larboard). The left side of a ship looking towards the bow. + +Post-captain. An obsolete title for a captain of three years' standing. + +Proa. A small Malay vessel. + +Quarter. The upper part of a vessel's side from abaft the main mast to +the stern. + +Quarter gallery. A gallery is a balcony built outside the body of a ship: +at the stern (stern gallery) or at the quarters (quarter gallery). + +Reef. A portion of a sail that can be drawn close together. + +Rosaries. Strings of beads used by Roman Catholics in praying. Each bead +told (or counted) represents a prayer. + +Scuttle. To make a hole in the bottom of a ship in order to sink it. + +Serons (of dollars). A seron or seroon is a kind of small trunk made in +Spanish America out of a piece of raw bullock's hide. + +Service (of a cable). The part next the anchor secured by cordage wrapped +round it. + +Ship of the line. See Line. + +Shrouds. The stout ropes that are stretched from a masthead of a vessel +to the sides or to the rims of a top, serving as a means of ascent and as +a lateral strengthening stays to the masts. + +Sling. A rope or chain by which a lower yard is suspended. + +Sprit-sail. A quadrangular sail stretched from the mast by the help, not +of a gaff along its top, but of a sprit (or yard) extending from the mast +diagonally to the upper aftmost corner of the sail, as in the case of a +London barge. + +Sprit-sail yard. Another name for the sprit. + +Standing rigging. The parts of a vessel's rigging that are practically +permanent. + +Starboard. The right side of a ship looking towards the bow. + +Stern-chasers. See Chasers. + +Streaks (or strakes). Lines of planking. + +Supercargo. A person employed by the owners of a ship to go a voyage and +to oversee the cargo. + +Tacks ("got our tacks on board," chapter 17). Ropes for hauling down and +fastening the corners of certain sails. + +Taffrail. The upper part of the stern of a ship. + +Tie-wig. See Wig. + +Tradewind. See Winds. + +Transom. A beam across the stern-post to strengthen the after part of the +ship. + +Traverse. To turn guns to the right or left in aiming. + +Wake. The track left by a ship. + +Warp. To move a vessel into another position by hauling upon a hawser +attached usually to the heads of piles or posts of a wharf. + +Wear (a ship). To bring a ship about by putting the helm up. The vessel +is first run off before the wind and then brought to on the new tack. + +Weather: +1. The windward side. +2. To go to windward of. + +Wig. A bag-wig is a wig with a bag to hold the back hair. It was +fashionable in the seventeenth century. A tie-wig is a court wig tied +with ribbon at the bag. + +Winds. The tradewinds are winds which blow all the year through on the +open ocean in and near the torrid zone. In the northern hemisphere they +blow from the north-east, in the southern from the south-east. The +regularity of the tradewind is interfered with by the neighbourhood of +large land masses. Their temperature varies much more with the change of +seasons than that of the ocean; and this variation produces a change in +the direction of the tradewind in the hot season, corresponding distantly +to a phenomenon which may be observed, daily instead of half-yearly, on +the English coast in hot summer weather, when a sea breeze blows during +the day and a land breeze at night. In the northern hemisphere the +monsoon--as this periodic wind is called--blows from the south-west (i.e. +towards the heated continent of South Asia) from April to October, and +from the north-east, as the ordinary trade wind, during the rest of the +year. + +Works, upper. The sides of a vessel's hull from the water-line to the +covering board. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Anson's Voyage Round the World, by Richard Walter + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANSON'S VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD *** + +***** This file should be named 16611.txt or 16611.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1/16611/ + +Produced by Amy Zelmer and Sue Asscher + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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