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diff --git a/37116-h/37116-h.htm b/37116-h/37116-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fa49f07 --- /dev/null +++ b/37116-h/37116-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11315 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of History of The Buccaneers of America, by James Burney. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 15%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +h1 {letter-spacing: 0.4em} + +h3 {letter-spacing: 0.4em; padding-top: 0.5em;} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-indent: 2em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +sup {padding-left: 0.1em; vertical-align: text-top; line-height: 50%; font-size: small;} +sub {padding-left: 0.1em; vertical-align: text-bottom; line-height: 50%; font-size: small;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + right: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: gray; + padding-top: 0.8em; +} + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 5%; + text-indent: -1em; + padding-left: 1em; +} + +.sidenote { position: absolute; + left: 87%; + font-size: smaller; + text-indent: 0; + text-align: left; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +hr.Chapter {width: 70%;} +.ChapDescr {text-align: center; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's History of the Buccaneers of America, by James Burney + +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: History of the Buccaneers of America + +Author: James Burney + +Release Date: August 17, 2011 [EBook #37116] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA *** + + + + +Produced by Julia Miller, Henry Gardiner and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<hr style="width: 90%;" /> + +<div class="center" style="width: 25em; margin: auto; border: solid 1px; +padding: 1em;"> Transcriber's Note: The original publication has been +replicated faithfully except as listed <a href="#Changes" name="Start" + id="Start">here</a>.</div> + +<!--001.png--> +<hr style="width: 90%;" /> + + + + +<h1>HISTORY</h1> +<h4>OF</h4> +<h1>THE BUCCANEERS</h1> +<h4>OF</h4> +<h1>AMERICA.</h1> + +<hr style="width: 10em; height: 4px; background-color: gray;" /> + +<h2><span class="smcap" style="padding-top: 2em;">By JAMES BURNEY, F.R.S.</span></h2> +<h4>CAPTAIN IN THE ROYAL NAVY.</h4> + +<hr style="width: 10em; height: 4px; background-color: gray;" /> + +<h3 style="font-weight: bold;">London:</h3> +<div class="center"><i>Printed by Luke Hansard & Sons, near Lincoln's-Inn Fields;</i></div> +<div class="center" style="padding-top: 1em; letter-spacing: 0.5em">FOR PAYNE AND FOSS, PALL-MALL.</div> + +<hr style="width: 3em; height: 2px; background-color: gray;" /> +<div class="center" style="padding-bottom: 2em;">1816.</div> + +<!--003.png--><hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h2 style="letter-spacing: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 1em;">CONTENTS.</h2> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>Considerations on the Rights acquired by the Discovery of +Unknown Lands, and on the Claims advanced by the </i>Spaniards<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td></td><td></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_II">CHAP. II.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>Review of the Dominion of the </i>Spaniards<i> in </i>Hayti<i> or +</i>Hispaniola<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td></td><td>Page</td></tr> +<tr><td>Hayti, or Hispaniola, the Land on which the Spaniards first settled in America</td><td><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Government of Columbus</td><td><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Dogs made use of against the Indians</td><td><a href="#Page_10">10</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Massacre of the Natives, and Subjugation of the Island</td><td><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Heavy Tribute imposed</td><td><a href="#Page_12">12</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>City of Nueva Ysabel, or Santo Domingo</td><td><a href="#Page_14">14</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Beginning of the Repartimientos</td><td><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Government of Bovadilla</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Natives compelled to work the Mines</td><td><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Nicolas Ovando, Governor</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Working the Mines discontinued</td><td><a href="#Page_18">18</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Natives again forced to the Mines</td><td><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Insurrection in Higuey</td><td><a href="#Page_20">20</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Encomiendas established</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Africans carried to the West Indies</td><td><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Massacre of the People of Xaragua</td><td><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Death of Queen Ysabel</td><td><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Desperate condition of the Natives</td><td><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Grand Antilles</td><td><a href="#Page_26">26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Small Antilles, or Caribbee Islands</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Lucayas, or Bahama Islands</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Natives of the Lucayas betrayed to the Mines</td><td><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Fate of the Natives of Porto Rico</td><td><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>D. Diego Columbus, Governor</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Increase of Cattle in Hayti. Cuba</td><td><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>De las Casas and Cardinal Ximenes endeavour to serve the Indians</td><td><a href="#Page_30">30</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Cacique Henriquez</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#FOOTNOTES">Footnotes</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_III">CHAP. III.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>Ships of different European Nations frequent the </i>West Indies<i>. +Opposition experienced by them from the </i>Spaniards<i>. Hunting of +Cattle in </i>Hispaniola<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Adventure of an English Ship</td><td><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>The French and other Europeans resort to the West Indies</td><td><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Regulation proposed in Hispaniola, for protection against Pirates</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Hunting of Cattle in Hispaniola</td><td><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Matadores</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Guarda Costas</td><td><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Brethren of the Coast</td><td><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td></tr> +</table></div> +<!--004.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[p. iv]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_IV">CHAP. IV.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>Iniquitous Settlement of the Island </i>Saint Christopher<i> by the +</i>English<i> and </i>French<i>. </i>Tortuga<i> seized by the Hunters. Origin of the +name </i>Buccaneer<i>. The name </i>Flibustier<i>. Customs attributed to the +</i>Buccaneers<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>The English and French settle on Saint Christopher</td><td><a href="#Page_38">38</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Are driven away by the Spaniards</td><td><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>They return</td><td><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Tortuga seized by the Hunters</td><td><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Whence the Name Buccaneer</td><td><a href="#Page_42">42</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span style="text-indent: 2em;">the Name Flibustier</span></td><td><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Customs attributed to the Buccaneers</td><td><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_V">CHAP. V.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>Treaty made by the Spaniards with Don </i>Henriquez<i>. Increase of +English and French in the </i>West Indies<i>. </i>Tortuga<i> surprised by the +Spaniards. Policy of the English and French Governments with +respect to the Buccaneers. </i>Mansvelt<i>, his attempt to form an +independent Buccaneer Establishment. French West-India Company. +</i>Morgan<i> succeeds </i>Mansvelt<i> as Chief of the Buccaneers.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Cultivation in Tortuga</td><td><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Increase of the English and French Settlements in the West Indies</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Tortuga surprised by the Spaniards</td><td><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Is taken possession of for the Crown of France</td><td><a href="#Page_51">51</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Policy of the English and French Governments with respect to the Buccaneers</td><td><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Buccaneers plunder New Segovia</td><td><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Spaniards retake Tortuga</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>With the assistance of the Buccaneers the English take Jamaica</td><td><a href="#Page_54">54</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>The French retake Tortuga</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Pierre le Grand, a French Buccaneer</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Alexandre</td><td><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Montbars, surnamed the Exterminator</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Bartolomeo Portuguez</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>L'Olonnois, and Michel le Basque, take Maracaibo and Gibraltar</td><td><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Outrages committed by L'Olonnois</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Mansvelt, a Buccaneer Chief, attempts to form a Buccaneer Establishment</td><td><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Island S<sup>ta</sup> Katalina, or Providence; since named Old Providence</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Death of Mansvelt</td><td><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>French West-India Company</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>The French Settlers dispute their authority</td><td><a href="#Page_58">58</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Morgan succeeds Mansvelt; plunders Puerto del Principe</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Maracaibo again pillaged</td><td><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Morgan takes Porto Bello: his Cruelty</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>He plunders Maracaibo and Gibraltar</td><td><a href="#Page_60">60</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>His Contrivances to effect his Retreat</td><td><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<!--005.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[p. v]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_VI">CHAP. VI.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>Treaty of </i>America<i>. Expedition of the Buccaneers against </i>Panama<i>. +Exquemelin's History of the American Sea Rovers. Misconduct of +the European Governors in the </i>West Indies<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Treaty between Great Britain and Spain</td><td><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Expedition of the Buccaneers against Panama</td><td><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>They take the Island S<sup>ta</sup>. Katalina</td><td><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Attack of the Castle at the River Chagre</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Their March across the Isthmus</td><td><a href="#Page_66">66</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>The City of Panama taken</td><td><a href="#Page_67">67</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>And burnt</td><td><a href="#Page_68">68</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Buccaneers depart from Panama</td><td><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Exquemelin's History of the Buccaneers of America</td><td><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Flibustiers shipwrecked at Porto Rico; and put to death by the Spaniards</td><td><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_VII">CHAP. VII.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption>Thomas Peche.<i> Attempt of </i>La Sound<i> to cross the </i>Isthmus of +America<i>. Voyage of </i>Antonio de Vea<i> to the </i>Strait of Magalhanes<i>. +Various Adventures of the Buccaneers, in the </i>West Indies<i>, to the +year 1679.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Thomas Peche</td><td><a href="#Page_75">75</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>La Sound attempts to cross the Isthmus</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Voyage of Ant. de Vea</td><td><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Massacre of the French in Samana</td><td><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>French Fleet wrecked on Aves</td><td><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Granmont</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Darien Indians</td><td><a href="#Page_79">79</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Porto Bello surprised by the Buccaneers</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_VIII">CHAP. VIII.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>Meeting of Buccaneers at the </i>Samballas<i>, and </i>Golden Island<i>. +Party formed by the English Buccaneers to cross the </i>Isthmus<i>. +Some Account of the Native Inhabitants of the </i>Mosquito Shore<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Golden Island</td><td><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Account of the Mosquito Indians</td><td><a href="#Page_82">82</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_IX">CHAP. IX.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>Journey of the Buccaneers across the </i>Isthmus of America<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Buccaneers commence their March</td><td><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Fort of S<sup>ta</sup> Maria taken</td><td><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>John Coxon chosen Commander</td><td><a href="#Page_96">96</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>They arrive at the South Sea</td><td><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<!--006.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[p. vi]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_X">CHAP. X.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>First Buccaneer Expedition in the </i>South Sea<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>In the Bay of Panama</td><td><a href="#Page_98">98</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Island Chepillo</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Battle with a small Spanish Armament</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Richard Sawkins</td><td><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Panama, the new City</td><td><a href="#Page_100">100</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Coxon returns to the West Indies</td><td><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Richard Sawkins chosen Commander</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Taboga; Otoque</td><td><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Attack of Pueblo Nuevo</td><td><a href="#Page_103">103</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Captain Sawkins is killed</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Imposition practised by Sharp</td><td><a href="#Page_104">104</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Sharp chosen Commander</td><td><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Some return to the West Indies</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Anchorage at Quibo</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Island Gorgona</td><td><a href="#Page_106">106</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Island Plata</td><td><a href="#Page_107">107</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Adventure of Seven Buccaneers</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Ilo</td><td><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Shoals of Anchovies</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>La Serena plundered and burnt</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Attempt of the Spaniards to burn the Ship of the Buccaneers</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Island Juan Fernandez</td><td><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Sharp deposed from the Command</td><td><a href="#Page_111">111</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Watling elected Commander</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>William, a Mosquito Indian, left on the Island Juan Fernandez</td><td><a href="#Page_112">112</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Island Yqueque; Rio de Camarones</td><td><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>They attack Arica</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Are repulsed; Watling killed</td><td><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Sharp again chosen Commander</td><td><a href="#Page_115">115</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Huasco; Ylo</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Buccaneers separate</td><td><a href="#Page_116">116</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Proceedings of Sharp and his Followers</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>They enter a Gulf</td><td><a href="#Page_118">118</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Shergall's Harbour</td><td><a href="#Page_119">119</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Another Harbour</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Gulf is named the English Gulf</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Duke of York's Islands</td><td><a href="#Page_120">120</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>A Native killed by the Buccaneers</td><td><a href="#Page_121">121</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Native of Patagonia carried away</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Passage round Cape Horn</td><td><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Appearance like Land, in 57° 50′ S.</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Ice Islands</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Arrive in the West Indies</td><td><a href="#Page_123">123</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Sharp, and others, tried for Piracy</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_XI">CHAP. XI.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>Disputes between the French Government and their West-India +Colonies. </i>Morgan<i> becomes Deputy Governor of </i>Jamaica<i>. </i>La Vera +Cruz<i> surprised by the Flibustiers. Other of their Enterprises.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Prohibitions against Piracy disregarded by the French Buccaneers</td><td><a href="#Page_125">125</a>-6</td></tr> +<tr><td>Sir Henry Morgan, Deputy Governor of Jamaica</td><td><a href="#Page_126">126</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>His Severity to the Buccaneers</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Van Horn, Granmont, and De Graaf, go against La Vera Cruz</td><td><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>They surprise the Town by Stratagem</td><td><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Story of Granmont and an English Ship</td><td><a href="#Page_128">128</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Disputes of the French Governors with the Flibustiers of Saint Domingo</td><td><a href="#Page_130">130</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<!--007.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[p. vii]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_XII">CHAP. XII.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>Circumstances which preceded the Second Irruption of the +Buccaneers into the </i>South Sea<i>. Buccaneers under </i>John Cook<i> sail +from </i>Virginia<i>; stop at the </i>Cape de Verde Islands<i>; at </i>Sierra +Leone<i>. Origin and History of the Report concerning the supposed +Discovery of </i>Pepys Island<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Circumstances preceding the Second Irruption of the Buccaneers into the South Sea</td><td><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Buccaneers under John Cook</td><td><a href="#Page_134">134</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Cape de Verde Islands</td><td><a href="#Page_135">135</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Ambergris; The Flamingo</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Coast of Guinea</td><td><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Sherborough River</td><td><a href="#Page_137">137</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>John Davis's Islands</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>History of the Report of a Discovery named Pepys Island</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Shoals of small red Lobsters</td><td><a href="#Page_140">140</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Passage round Cape Horne</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_XIII">CHAP. XIII.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>Buccaneers under </i>John Cook<i> arrive at </i>Juan Fernandez<i>. Account of +</i>William<i>, a Mosquito Indian, who had lived there three years. +They sail to the </i>Galapagos Islands<i>; thence to the Coast of </i>New +Spain<i>. </i>John Cook<i> dies. </i>Edward Davis<i> chosen Commander.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>The Buccaneers under Cook joined by the Nicholas of London, John Eaton</td><td><a href="#Page_141">141</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>At Juan Fernandez</td><td><a href="#Page_142">142</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>William the Mosquito Indian</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Juan Fernandez first stocked with Goats by its Discoverer</td><td><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Appearance of the Andes</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Islands Lobos de la Mar</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>At the Galapagos Islands</td><td><a href="#Page_145">145</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Duke of Norfolk's Island</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Cowley's Chart of the Galapagos</td><td><a href="#Page_146">146</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>King James's Island</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Mistake by the Editor of Dampier</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Concerning Fresh Water and Herbage at the Galapagos</td><td><i>ib.</i> & 147</td></tr> +<tr><td>Land and Sea Turtle</td><td><a href="#Page_148">148</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Mammee Tree</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Coast of New Spain; Cape Blanco</td><td><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>John Cook, Buccaneer Commander, dies</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Edward Davis chosen Commander</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_XIV">CHAP. XIV.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption>Edward Davis<i> Commander. On the Coast of </i>New Spain<i> and </i>Peru<i>. +Algatrane, a bituminous earth. </i>Davis<i> is joined by other +Buccaneers. </i>Eaton<i> sails to the </i>East Indies<i>. </i>Guayaquil<i> attempted. +</i>Rivers of St. Jago<i>, and </i>Tomaco<i>. In the Bay of </i>Panama<i>. Arrivals +of numerous parties of Buccaneers across the </i>Isthmus<i> from the +</i>West Indies<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Caldera Bay</td><td><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Volcan Viejo</td><td><a href="#Page_151">151</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Ria-lexa Harbour</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Bay of Amapalla</td><td><a href="#Page_152">152</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Davis and Eaton part company</td><td><a href="#Page_154">154</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Tornadoes near the Coast of New Spain</td><td><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Cape San Francisco</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Eaton's Description of Cocos Island</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Point S<sup>ta</sup> Elena</td><td><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Algatrane, a bituminous Earth</td><td><i>ib.</i><!--008.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[p. viii]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td>Rich Ship wrecked on Point S<sup>ta</sup> Elena</td><td><a href="#Page_157">157</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Manta; Rocks near it, and Shoal</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Davis is joined by other Buccaneers</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Cygnet, Captain Swan</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>At Isle de la Plata</td><td><a href="#Page_159">159</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Cape Blanco, near Guayaquil; difficult to weather</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Payta burnt</td><td><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Part of the Peruvian Coast where it never rains</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Lobos de Tierra, and Lobos de la Mar</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Eaton at the Ladrones</td><td><a href="#Page_161">161</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Nutmeg Island, North of Luconia</td><td><a href="#Page_163">163</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Davis on the Coast of Peru</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Slave Ships captured</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Harbour of Guayaquil</td><td><a href="#Page_164">164</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Island S<sup>ta</sup> Clara: Shoals near it</td><td><a href="#Page_164">164</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Cat Fish</td><td><a href="#Page_165">165</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Cotton Tree and Cabbage Tree</td><td><a href="#Page_166">166</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>River of St. Jago</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Island Gallo; River Tomaco</td><td><a href="#Page_167">167</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Island Gorgona</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Pearl Oysters</td><td><a href="#Page_168">168</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Galera Isle</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Pearl Islands</td><td><a href="#Page_169">169</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Arrival of fresh bodies of Buccaneers from the West Indies</td><td><a href="#Page_170">170</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Grogniet and L'Escuyer</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Townley and his Crew</td><td><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Pisco Wine</td><td><a href="#Page_172">172</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Port de Pinas; Taboga</td><td><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chepo</td><td><a href="#Page_174">174</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_XV">CHAP. XV.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption>Edward Davis<i> Commander. Meeting of the Spanish and Buccaneer +Fleets in the </i>Bay of Panama<i>. They separate without fighting. The +Buccaneers sail to the Island </i>Quibo<i>. The English and French +separate. Expedition against the City of </i>Leon<i>. That City and </i>Ria +Lexa<i> burnt. Farther dispersion of the Buccaneers.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>The Lima Fleet arrives at Panama</td><td><a href="#Page_176">176</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Meeting of the two Fleets</td><td><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>They separate</td><td><a href="#Page_180">180</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Keys of Quibo: The Island Quibo</td><td><a href="#Page_181">181</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Rock near the Anchorage</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Serpents; The Serpent Berry</td><td><a href="#Page_182">182</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Disagreements among the Buccaneers</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>The French separate from the English</td><td><a href="#Page_183">183</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Knight, a Buccaneer, joins Davis</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Expedition against the City of Leon</td><td><a href="#Page_184">184</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Leon burnt by the Buccaneers</td><td><a href="#Page_186">186</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Town of Ria Lexa burnt</td><td><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Farther Separation of the Buccaneers</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_XVI">CHAP. XVI.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>Buccaneers under </i>Edward Davis<i>. At </i>Amapalla<i> Bay; </i>Cocos Island<i>; +The </i>Galapagos<i> Islands; Coast of </i>Peru<i>. Peruvian Wine. </i>Knight<i> +quits the </i>South Sea<i>. Bezoar Stones. Marine Productions on +Mountains. </i>Vermejo<i>. </i>Davis<i> joins the French Buccaneers at +</i>Guayaquil<i>. Long Sea Engagement.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Amapalla Bay</td><td><a href="#Page_188">188</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>A hot River</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Cocos Island</td><td><a href="#Page_189">189</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Effect of Excess in drinking the Milk of the Cocoa-nut</td><td><a href="#Page_190">190</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>At the Galapagos Islands</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>On the Coast of Peru</td><td>191<!--009.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[p. ix]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td>Peruvian Wine like Madeira</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>At Juan Fernandez</td><td><a href="#Page_192">192</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Knight quits the South Sea</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Davis returns to the Coast of Peru</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Bezoar Stones</td><td><a href="#Page_193">193</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Marine Productions found on Mountains; Vermejo</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Davis joins the French Buccaneers at Guayaquil</td><td><a href="#Page_195">195</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>They meet Spanish Ships of War</td><td><a href="#Page_196">196</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>A Sea Engagement of seven days</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>At the Island de la Plata</td><td><a href="#Page_198">198</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Division of Plunder</td><td><a href="#Page_199">199</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>They separate, to return home by different Routes</td><td><a href="#Page_200">200</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_XVII">CHAP. XVII.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption>Edward Davis<i>; his Third visit to the </i>Galapagos<i>. One of those +Islands, named </i>Santa Maria de l'Aguada<i> by the Spaniards, a +Careening Place of the Buccaneers. Sailing thence Southward they +discover Land. Question, whether Edward Davis's Discovery is the +Land which was afterwards named </i>Easter Island<i>? </i>Davis<i> and his +Crew arrive in the </i>West Indies<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Davis sails to the Galapagos Islands</td><td><a href="#Page_201">201</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>King James's Island</td><td><a href="#Page_202">202</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Island S<sup>ta</sup> Maria de l'Aguada</td><td><a href="#Page_203">203</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Davis sails from the Galapagos to the Southward</td><td><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Island discovered by Edward Davis</td><td><a href="#Page_206">206</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Question whether Edward Davis's Land and Easter Island are the same Land</td><td><a href="#Page_207">207</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>At the Island Juan Fernandez</td><td><a href="#Page_210">210</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Davis sails to the West Indies</td><td><a href="#Page_211">211</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_XVIII">CHAP. XVIII.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>Adventures of </i>Swan<i> and </i>Townley<i> on the Coast of </i>New Spain<i>, until +their Separation.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Bad Water, and unhealthiness of Ria Lexa</td><td><a href="#Page_213">213</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Island Tangola</td><td><a href="#Page_214">214</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Guatulco; El Buffadore</td><td><a href="#Page_215">215</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Vinello, or Vanilla, a Plant</td><td><a href="#Page_216">216</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Island Sacrificio</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Port de Angeles</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Adventure in a Lagune</td><td><a href="#Page_217">217</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Alcatraz Rock; White Cliffs</td><td><a href="#Page_218">218</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>River to the West of the Cliffs</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Snook, a Fish</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>High Land of Acapulco</td><td><a href="#Page_219">219</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Sandy Beach, West of Acapulco</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Hill of Petaplan</td><td><a href="#Page_220">220</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chequetan</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Estapa</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Hill of Thelupan</td><td><a href="#Page_221">221</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Volcano and Valley of Colima</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Salagua</td><td><a href="#Page_222">222</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Report of a great City named Oarrah</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Coronada Hills</td><td><a href="#Page_223">223</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Cape Corrientes</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Keys or Islands of Chametly form a convenient Port</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Bay and Valley de Vanderas</td><td><a href="#Page_225">225</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Swan and Townley part company</td><td><a href="#Page_226">226</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<!--010.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[p. x]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_XIX">CHAP. XIX.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>The </i>Cygnet<i> and her Crew on the Coast of </i>Nueva Galicia<i>, and at +the </i>Tres Marias Islands<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Coast of Nueva Galicia</td><td><a href="#Page_227">227</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Point Ponteque</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>White Rock, 21° 51′ N</td><td><a href="#Page_228">228</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chametlan Isles, 23° 11′ N</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Penguin Fruit</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Rio de Sal, and Salt-water Lagune</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Mexican, a copious Language</td><td><a href="#Page_229">229</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Mazatlan</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Rosario, an Indian Town; River Rosario; Sugar-loaf Hill; Caput Cavalli; Maxentelbo Rock; Hill of Xalisco</td><td><a href="#Page_230">230</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>River of Santiago</td><td><a href="#Page_230">230</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Town of S<sup>ta</sup> Pecaque</td><td><a href="#Page_231">231</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Buccaneers defeated and slain by the Spaniards</td><td><a href="#Page_233">233</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>At the Tres Marias</td><td><a href="#Page_234">234</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>A Root used as Food</td><td><a href="#Page_235">235</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>A Dropsy cured by a Sand Bath</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Bay of Vanderas</td><td><a href="#Page_236">236</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_XX">CHAP. XX.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>The </i>Cygnet<i>. Her Passage across the </i>Pacific Ocean<i>. At the +</i>Ladrones<i>. At </i>Mindanao<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>The Cygnet quits the American Coast</td><td><a href="#Page_237">237</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Large flight of Birds</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Shoals and Breakers near Guahan</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Bank de Santa Rosa</td><td><a href="#Page_238">238</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>At Guahan</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Flying Proe, or Sailing Canoe</td><td><a href="#Page_239">239</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Bread Fruit</td><td><a href="#Page_241">241</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Eastern side of Mindanao, and the Island St. John</td><td><a href="#Page_241">241</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Sarangan and Candigar</td><td><a href="#Page_243">243</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Harbour or Sound on the South Coast of Mindanao</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>River of Mindanao</td><td><a href="#Page_244">244</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>City of Mindanao</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_XXI">CHAP. XXI.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>The </i>Cygnet<i> departs from </i>Mindanao<i>. At the </i>Ponghou Isles<i>. At the +</i>Five Islands<i>. </i>Dampier's<i> Account of the </i>Five Islands<i>. They are +named the </i>Bashee Islands<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>South Coast of Mindanao</td><td><a href="#Page_249">249</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Among the Philippine Islands</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Pulo Condore</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>In the China Seas</td><td><a href="#Page_250">250</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Ponghou Isles</td><td><a href="#Page_250">250</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Five Islands</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Dampier's Description of them</td><td><a href="#Page_250">250</a>-256</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<!--011.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[p. xi]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_XXII">CHAP. XXII.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>The </i>Cygnet<i>. At the </i>Philippines<i>, </i>Celebes<i>, and </i>Timor<i>. On the +Coast of </i>New Holland<i>. End of the </i>Cygnet<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Island near the SE end of Mindanao</td><td><a href="#Page_257">257</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Candigar, a convenient Cove there</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Low Island and Shoal, SbW from the West end of Timor</td><td><a href="#Page_258">258</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>NW Coast of New Holland</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Bay on the Coast of New Holland</td><td><a href="#Page_258">258</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Natives</td><td><a href="#Page_259">259</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>An Island in Latitude 10° 20′ S</td><td><a href="#Page_261">261</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>End of the Cygnet</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_XXIII">CHAP. XXIII.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>French Buccaneers under </i>François Grogniet<i> and </i>Le Picard<i>, to the +Death of </i>Grogniet<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Point de Burica; Chiriquita</td><td><a href="#Page_263">263</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Unsuccessful attempt at Pueblo Nuevo</td><td><a href="#Page_265">265</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Grogniet is joined by Townley</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Expedition against the City of Granada</td><td><a href="#Page_266">266</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>At Ria Lexa</td><td><a href="#Page_269">269</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Grogniet and Townley part company</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Buccaneers under Townley</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Lavelia taken, and set on fire</td><td><a href="#Page_270">270</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Battle with Spanish armed Ships</td><td><a href="#Page_274">274</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Death of Townley</td><td><a href="#Page_277">277</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Grogniet rejoins company</td><td><a href="#Page_278">278</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>They divide, meet again, and reunite</td><td><a href="#Page_279">279</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Attack on Guayaquil</td><td><a href="#Page_280">280</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>At the Island Puna</td><td><a href="#Page_282">282</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Grogniet dies</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Edward Davis joins Le Picard</td><td><a href="#Page_283">283</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_XXIV">CHAP. XXIV.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>Retreat of the </i>French Buccaneers<i> across </i>New Spain<i> to the </i>West Indies<i>. All +the </i>Buccaneers<i> quit the </i>South Sea<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>In Amapalla Bay</td><td><a href="#Page_286">286</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chiloteca; Massacre of Prisoners</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>The Buccaneers burn their Vessels</td><td><a href="#Page_287">287</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>They begin their march over land</td><td><a href="#Page_288">288</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Town of New Segovia</td><td><a href="#Page_289">289</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Rio de Yare, or Cape River</td><td><a href="#Page_291">291</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>La Pava; Straiton; Le Sage</td><td><a href="#Page_294">294</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Small Crew of Buccaneers at the Tres Marias. Their Adventures</td><td><a href="#Page_295">295</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Story related by Le Sieur Froger</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Buccaneers who lived three years on the Island Juan Fernandez</td><td><a href="#Page_296">296</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<!--012.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[p. xii]</a></span></p> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_XXV">CHAP. XXV.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>Steps taken towards reducing the </i>Buccaneers<i> and </i>Flibustiers<i> +under subordination to the regular Governments. War of the Grand +Alliance against </i>France<i>. Neutrality of the </i>Island St. +Christopher<i> broken.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Reform attempted in the West Indies</td><td><a href="#Page_298">298</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Campeachy burnt</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Danish Factory robbed</td><td><a href="#Page_300">300</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>The English driven from St. Christopher</td><td><a href="#Page_301">301</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>The English retake St. Christopher</td><td><a href="#Page_302">302</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_XXVI">CHAP. XXVI.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>Siege and Plunder of the City of </i>Carthagena<i> on the </i>Terra Firma<i>, +by an Armament from </i>France<i> in conjunction with the </i>Flibustiers<i> +of </i>Saint Domingo<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Armament under M. de Pointis</td><td><a href="#Page_303">303</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>His Character of the Buccaneers</td><td><a href="#Page_304">304</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Siege of Carthagena by the French</td><td><a href="#Page_307">307</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>The City capitulates</td><td><a href="#Page_309">309</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Value of the Plunder</td><td><a href="#Page_313">313</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h3><a href="#CHAP_XXVII">CHAP. XXVII.</a></h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="500"> +<caption><i>Second Plunder of </i>Carthagena<i>. Peace of </i>Ryswick<i>, in 1697. Entire +Suppression of the </i>Buccaneers<i> and </i>Flibustiers<i>.</i></caption> +<colgroup><col align="left" class="blockquot" /><col align="right" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>The Buccaneers return to Carthagena</td><td><a href="#Page_316">316</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Meet an English and Dutch Squadron</td><td><a href="#Page_319">319</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Peace of Ryswick</td><td><a href="#Page_320">320</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Causes which led to the Suppression of the Buccaneers</td><td><i>ib.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td>Providence Island</td><td><a href="#Page_322">322</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Conclusion</span></td><td><a href="#Page_323">323</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<!--013.png--> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h1>HISTORY</h1> +<h4>OF</h4> +<h1>THE BUCCANEERS</h1> +<h4>OF</h4> +<h1>AMERICA.</h1> + + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>Considerations on the Rights acquired by the Discovery of +Unknown Lands, and on the Claims advanced by the </i>Spaniards<i>.</i></div> + + +<p>The accounts given by the Buccaneers who extended their enterprises to the +<i>Pacific Ocean</i>, are the best authenticated of any which have been +published by that class of Adventurers. They are interspersed with +nautical and geographical descriptions, corroborative of the events +related, and more worth being preserved than the memory of what was +performed. The materials for this portion of Buccaneer history, which it +was necessary should be included in a History of South Sea Navigations, +could not be collected without bringing other parts into view; whence it +appeared, that with a moderate increase of labour, and without much +enlarging the bulk of narrative, a regular history might be formed of +their career, from their first rise, to their suppression; and that such a +work would not be without its use.<!--014.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[p. 2]</a></span></p> + +<p>No practice is more common in literature, than for an author to endeavour +to clear the ground before him, by mowing down the labours of his +predecessors on the same subject. To do this, where the labour they have +bestowed is of good tendency, or even to treat with harshness the +commission of error where no bad intention is manifest, is in no small +degree illiberal. But all the Buccaneer histories that hitherto have +appeared, and the number is not small, are boastful compositions, which +have delighted in exaggeration: and, what is most mischievous, they have +lavished commendation on acts which demanded reprobation, and have +endeavoured to raise miscreants, notorious for their want of humanity, to +the rank of heroes, lessening thereby the stain upon robbery, and the +abhorrence naturally conceived against cruelty.</p> + +<p>There is some excuse for the Buccaneer, who tells his own story. Vanity, +and his prejudices, without any intention to deceive, lead him to magnify +his own exploits; and the reader naturally makes allowances.</p> + +<p>The men whose enterprises are to be related, were natives of different +European nations, but chiefly of <i>Great Britain</i> and <i>France</i>, and most of +them seafaring people, who being disappointed, by accidents or the enmity +of the Spaniards, in their more sober pursuits in the <i>West Indies</i>, and +also instigated by thirst for plunder as much as by desire for vengeance, +embodied themselves, under different leaders of their own choosing, to +make predatory war upon the Spaniards. These men the Spaniards naturally +treated as pirates; but some peculiar circumstances which provoked their +first enterprises, and a general feeling of enmity against that nation on +account of their American conquests, procured them the connivance of the +rest of the maritime states of <i>Europe</i>, and to be distinguished first by +the softened appellations of Freebooters and Adventurers, and afterwards +by that of Buccaneers.<!--015.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[p. 3]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Spain</i>, or, more strictly speaking, <i>Castile</i>, on the merit of a first +discovery, claimed an exclusive right to the possession of the whole of +<i>America</i>, with the exception of the <i>Brasils</i>, which were conceded to the +Portuguese. These claims, and this division, the Pope sanctioned by an +instrument, entitled a Bull of Donation, which was granted at a time when +all the maritime powers of <i>Europe</i> were under the spiritual dominion of +the See of <i>Rome</i>. The Spaniards, however, did not flatter themselves that +they should be left in the sole and undisputed enjoyment of so large a +portion of the newly-discovered countries; but they were principally +anxious to preserve wholly to themselves the <i>West Indies</i>: and, such was +the monopolising spirit of the Castilians, that during the life of the +Queen Ysabel of <i>Castile</i>, who was regarded as the patroness of Columbus's +discovery, it was difficult even for Spaniards, not subjects born of the +crown of <i>Castile</i>, to gain access to this <i>New World</i>, prohibitions being +repeatedly published against the admission of all other persons into the +ships bound thither. Ferdinand, King of <i>Arragon</i>, the husband of Ysabel, +had refused to contribute towards the outfit of Columbus's first voyage, +having no opinion of the probability that it would produce him an adequate +return; and the undertaking being at the expence of <i>Castile</i>, the +countries discovered were considered as appendages to the crown of +<i>Castile</i>.</p> + +<p>If such jealousy was entertained by the Spaniards of each other, what must +not have been their feelings respecting other European nations? 'Whoever,' +says Hakluyt, 'is conversant with the Portugal and Spanish writers, shall +find that they account all other nations for pirates, rovers, and thieves, +which visit any heathen coast that they have sailed by or looked on.'</p> + +<p><i>Spain</i> considered the <i>New World</i> as what in our law books <!--016.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[p. 4]</a></span>is called +Treasure-trove, of which she became lawfully and exclusively entitled to +take possession, as fully as if it had been found without any owner or +proprietor. <i>Spain</i> has not been singular in her maxims respecting the +rights of discoverers. Our books of Voyages abound in instances of the +same disregard shewn to the rights of the native inhabitants, the only +rightful proprietors, by the navigators of other European nations, who, +with a solemnity due only to offices of a religious nature, have +continually put in practice the form of taking possession of Countries +which to them were new discoveries, their being inhabited or desert making +no difference. Not unfrequently has the ceremony been performed in the +presence, but not within the understanding, of the wondering natives; and +on this formality is grounded a claim to usurp the actual possession, in +preference to other Europeans.</p> + +<p>Nothing can be more opposed to common sense, than that strangers should +pretend to acquire by discovery, a title to countries they find with +inhabitants; as if in those very inhabitants the right of prior discovery +was not inherent. On some occasions, however, Europeans have thought it +expedient to acknowledge the rights of the natives, as when, in disputing +each other's claims, a title by gift from the natives has been pretended.</p> + +<p>In uninhabited lands, a right of occupancy results from the discovery; but +actual and <i>bonâ fide</i> possession is requisite to perfect appropriation. +If real possession be not taken, or if taken shall not be retained, the +right acquired by the mere discovery is not indefinite and a perpetual bar +of exclusion to all others; for that would amount to discovery giving a +right equivalent to annihilation. Moveable effects may be hoarded and kept +out of use, or be destroyed, and it will not always be easy to prove +whether with injury or benefit to mankind: but <!--017.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[p. 5]</a></span>the necessities of human +life will not admit, unless under the strong hand of power, that a right +should be pretended to keep extensive and fertile countries waste and +secluded from their use, without other reason than the will of a +proprietor or claimant.</p> + +<p>Particular local circumstances have created objections to the occupancy of +territory: for instance, between the confines of the Russian and Chinese +Empires, large tracts of country are left waste, it being held, that their +being occupied by the subjects of either Empire would affect the security +of the other. Several similar instances might be mentioned.</p> + +<p>There is in many cases difficulty to settle what constitutes occupancy. On +a small Island, any first settlement is acknowledged an occupancy of the +whole; and sometimes, the occupancy of a single Island of a group is +supposed to comprehend an exclusive title to the possession of the +remainder of the group. In the <i>West Indies</i>, the Spaniards regarded their +making settlements on a few Islands, to be an actual taking possession of +the whole, as far as European pretensions were concerned.</p> + +<p>The first discovery of Columbus set in activity the curiosity and +speculative dispositions of all the European maritime Powers. King Henry +the VIIth, of <i>England</i>, as soon as he was certified of the existence of +countries in the Western hemisphere, sent ships thither, whereby +<i>Newfoundland</i>, and parts of the continent of <i>North America</i>, were first +discovered. <i>South America</i> was also visited very early, both by the +English and the French; 'which nations,' the Historian of <i>Brasil</i> +remarks, 'had neglected to ask a share of the undiscovered World, when +Pope Alexander the VIth partitioned it, who would as willingly have drawn +two lines as one; and, because they derived no advantage from that +partition, refused to <!--018.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[p. 6]</a></span>admit its validity.' The <i>West Indies</i>, however, +which doubtless was the part most coveted by all, seem to have been +considered as more particularly the discovery and right of the Spaniards; +and, either from respect to their pretensions, or from the opinion +entertained of their force in those parts, they remained many years +undisturbed by intruders in the <i>West Indian Seas</i>. But their +homeward-bound ships, and also those of the Portuguese from the <i>East +Indies</i>, did not escape being molested by pirates; sometimes by those of +their own, as well as of other nations.<!--019.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[p. 7]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_II" id="CHAP_II"></a>CHAP. II.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>Review of the Dominion of the </i>Spaniards<i> in </i>Hayti<i> or +</i>Hispaniola<i>.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1492-3. Hayti, or Hispaniola, the first Settlement +of the Spaniards in America.</span> The first settlement formed by the +Castilians in their newly discovered world, was on the Island by the +native inhabitants named <i>Hayti</i>; but to which the Spaniards gave the name +of <i>Española</i> or <i>Hispaniola</i>. And in process of time it came to pass, +that this same Island became the great place of resort, and nursery, of +the European adventurers, who have been so conspicuous under the +denomination of the Buccaneers of <i>America</i>.</p> + +<p>The native inhabitants found in <i>Hayti</i>, have been described a people of +gentle, compassionate dispositions, of too frail a constitution, both of +body and mind, either to resist oppression, or to support themselves under +its weight; and to the indolence, luxury, and avarice of the discoverers, +their freedom and happiness in the first instance, and finally their +existence, fell a sacrifice.</p> + +<p>Queen Ysabel, the patroness of the discovery, believed it her duty, and +was earnestly disposed, to be their protectress; but she wanted resolution +to second her inclination. The Island abounded in gold mines. The natives +were tasked to work them, heavier and heavier by degrees; and it was the +great misfortune of Columbus, after achieving an enterprise, the glory of +which was not exceeded by any action of his contemporaries, to make an +ungrateful use of the success Heaven had favoured him with, and to be the +foremost in the destruction of the nations his discovery first made known +to <i>Europe</i>.<!--020.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[p. 8]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Review of the Dominion of the Spaniards in Hispaniola.</span> The +population of <i>Hayti</i>, according to the lowest estimation made, amounted +to a million of souls. The first visit of Columbus was passed in a +continual reciprocation of kind offices between them and the Spaniards. +One of the Spanish ships was wrecked upon the coast, and the natives gave +every assistance in their power towards saving the crew, and their effects +to them. When Columbus departed to return to <i>Europe</i>, he left behind him +thirty-eight Spaniards, with the consent of the Chief or Sovereign of the +part of the Island where he had been so hospitably received. He had +erected a fort for their security, and the declared purpose of their +remaining was to protect the Chief against all his enemies. Several of the +native Islanders voluntarily embarked in the ships to go to <i>Spain</i>, among +whom was a relation of the <i>Hayti</i> Chief; and with them were taken gold, +and various samples of the productions of the <i>New World</i>.</p> + +<p>Columbus, on his return, was received by the Court of <i>Spain</i> with the +honours due to his heroic achievement, indeed with honours little short of +adoration: he was declared Admiral, Governor, and Viceroy of the Countries +that he had discovered, and also of those which he should afterwards +discover; he was ordered to assume the style and title of nobility; and +was furnished with a larger fleet to prosecute farther the discovery, and +to make conquest of the new lands. The Instructions for his second +expedition contained the following direction: 'Forasmuch as you, +Christopher Columbus, are going by our command, with our vessels and our +men, to discover and subdue certain Islands and Continent, our will is, +that you shall be our Admiral, Viceroy, and Governor in them.' This was +the first step in the iniquitous usurpations which the more cultivated +nations of the world have practised upon their weaker brethren, the +natives of <i>America</i>.<!--021.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[p. 9]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1493. Government of Columbus.</span> Thus provided and +instructed, Columbus sailed on his second voyage. On arriving at <i>Hayti</i>, +the first news he learnt was, that the natives had demolished the fort +which he had built, and destroyed the garrison, who, it appeared, had +given great provocation, by their rapacity and licentious conduct. War did +not immediately follow. Columbus accepted presents of gold from the Chief; +he landed a number of colonists, and built a town on the North side of +<i>Hayti</i>, which he named after the patroness, <i>Ysabel</i>, and fortified. +<span class="sidenote">1494.</span> A second fort was soon built; new Spaniards arrived; and +the natives began to understand that it was the intention of their +visitors to stay, and be lords of the country. The Chiefs held meetings, +to confer on the means to rid themselves of such unwelcome guests, and +there was appearance of preparation making to that end. The Spaniards had +as yet no farther asserted dominion, than in taking land for their town +and forts, and helping themselves to provisions when the natives neglected +to bring supplies voluntarily. The histories of these transactions affect +a tone of apprehension on account of the extreme danger in which the +Spaniards were, from the multitude of the heathen inhabitants; but all the +facts shew that they perfectly understood the helpless character of the +natives. A Spanish officer, named Pedro Margarit, was blamed, not +altogether reasonably, for disorderly conduct to the natives, which +happened in the following manner. He was ordered, with a large body of +troops, to make a progress through the Island in different parts, and was +strictly enjoined to restrain his men from committing any violence against +the natives, or from giving them any cause for complaint. But the troops +were sent on their journey without provisions, and the natives were not +disposed to furnish them. The troops recurred to violence, which they did +not limit to the obtaining food. If Columbus could spare a detachment +strong enough to make <!--022.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[p. 10]</a></span>such a visitation through the land, he could have +entertained no doubt of his ability to subdue it. But before he risked +engaging in open war with the natives, he thought it prudent to weaken +their means of resisting by what he called stratagem. <i>Hayti</i> was divided +into five provinces, or small kingdoms, under the separate dominion of as +many Princes or Caciques. One of these, Coanabo, the Cacique of <i>Maguana</i>, +Columbus believed to be more resolute, and more dangerous to his purpose, +than any other of the chiefs. To Coanabo, therefore, he sent an Officer, +to propose an accommodation on terms which appeared so reasonable, that +the Indian Chief assented to them. Afterwards, relying on the good faith +of the Spaniards, not, as some authors have meanly represented, through +credulous and childish simplicity, but with the natural confidence which +generally prevails, and which ought to prevail, among mankind in their +mutual engagements, he gave opportunity for Columbus to get possession of +his person, who caused him to be seized, and embarked in a ship then ready +to sail for <i>Spain</i>. The ship foundered in the passage. <span class="sidenote">1495.</span> +The story of Coanabo, and the contempt with which he treated Columbus for +his treachery, form one of the most striking circumstances in the history +of the perfidious dealings of the Spaniards in <i>America</i>. <span class="sidenote">Dogs +used in Battle against the Indians.</span> On the seizure of this Chief, the +Islanders rose in arms. Columbus took the field with two hundred foot +armed with musketry and cross-bows, with twenty troopers mounted on +horses, and with twenty large dogs<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a>!</p> + +<p>It is not to be urged in exculpation of the Spaniards, that the natives +were the aggressors, by their killing the garrison left at <i>Hayti</i>. +Columbus had terminated his first visit in friendship; and, without the +knowledge that any breach had happened between the Spaniards left behind, +and the natives, sentence <!--023.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[p. 11]</a></span>of subjugation had been pronounced against +them. This was not to avenge injury, for the Spaniards knew not of any +committed. Columbus was commissioned to execute this sentence, and for +that end, besides a force of armed men, he took with him from <i>Spain</i> a +number of blood-hounds, to prosecute a most unrighteous purpose by the +most inhuman means.</p> + +<p>Many things are justifiable in defence, which in offensive war are +regarded by the generality of mankind with detestation. All are agreed in +the use of dogs, as faithful guards to our persons as well as to our +dwellings; but to hunt men with dogs seems to have been till then unheard +of, and is nothing less offensive to humanity than cannibalism or feasting +on our enemies. Neither jagged shot, poisoned darts, springing of mines, +nor any species of destruction, can be objected to, if this is allowed in +honourable war, or admitted not to be a disgraceful practice in any war.</p> + +<p>It was scarcely possible for the Indians, or indeed for any people naked +and undisciplined, however numerous, to stand their ground against a force +so calculated to excite dread. The Islanders were naturally a timid +people, and they regarded fire-arms as engines of more than mortal +contrivance. Don Ferdinand, the son of Columbus, who wrote a History of +his father's actions, relates an instance, which happened before the war, +of above 400 Indians running away from a single Spanish horseman. +<span class="sidenote">Massacre of the Natives, and Subjugation of the Island.</span> So +little was attack, or valiant opposition, apprehended from the natives, +that Columbus divided his force into several squadrons, to charge them at +different points. 'These faint-hearted creatures,' says Don Ferdinand, +'fled at the first onset; and our men, pursuing and killing them, made +such havock, that in a short time they obtained a complete victory.' The +policy adopted by Columbus was, to confirm the natives in their dread of +European arms, by a terrible <!--024.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[p. 12]</a></span>execution. The victors, both dogs and men, +used their ascendancy like furies. The dogs flew at the throats of the +Indians, and strangled or tore them in pieces; whilst the Spaniards, with +the eagerness of hunters, pursued and mowed down the unresisting +fugitives. Some thousands of the Islanders were slaughtered, and those +taken prisoners were consigned to servitude. If the fact were not extant, +it would not be conceivable that any one could be so blind to the infamy +of such a proceeding, as to extol the courage of the Spaniards on this +occasion, instead of execrating their cruelty. Three hundred of the +natives were shipped for <i>Spain</i> as slaves, and the whole Island, with the +exception of a small part towards the Western coast, which has since been +named the <i>Cul de Sac</i>, was subdued. <span class="sidenote">Tribute imposed.</span> Columbus +made a leisurely progress through the Island, which occupied him nine or +ten months, and imposed a tribute generally upon all the natives above the +age of fourteen, requiring each of them to pay quarterly a certain +quantity of gold, or 25 lbs. of cotton. Those natives who were discovered +to have been active against the Spaniards, were taxed higher. To prevent +evasion, rings or tokens, to be produced in the nature of receipts, were +given to the Islanders on their paying the tribute, and any Islander found +without such a mark in his possession, was deemed not to have paid, and +proceeded against.</p> + +<p>Queen Ysabel shewed her disapprobation of Columbus's proceedings, by +liberating and sending back the captive Islanders to their own country; +and she moreover added her positive commands, that none of the natives +should be made slaves. This order was accompanied with others intended for +their protection; but the Spanish Colonists, following the example of +their Governor, contrived means to evade them.</p> + +<p>In the mean time, the Islanders could not furnish the tribute, and +Columbus was rigorous in the collection. It is <!--025.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[p. 13]</a></span>said in palliation, that +he was embarrassed in consequence of the magnificent descriptions he had +given to Ferdinand and Ysabel, of the riches of <i>Hispaniola</i>, by which he +had taught them to expect much; and that the fear of disappointing them +and losing their favour, prompted him to act more oppressively to the +Indians than his disposition otherwise inclined him to do. Distresses of +this kind press upon all men; but only in very ordinary minds do they +outweigh solemn considerations. Setting aside the dictates of religion and +moral duty, as doubtless was done, and looking only to worldly advantages, +if Columbus had properly estimated his situation, he would have been +resolute not to descend from the eminence he had attained. The dilemma in +which he was placed, was simply, whether he would risk some diminution of +the favour he was in at Court, by being the protector of these Islanders, +who, by circumstances peculiarly calculated to engage his interest, were +entitled in an especial manner to have been regarded as his clients; or, +to preserve that favour, would oppress them to their destruction, and to +the ruin of his own fame.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Despair of the Natives.</span> The Islanders, finding their inability +to oppose the invaders, took the desperate resolution to desist from the +cultivation of their lands, to abandon their houses, and to withdraw +themselves to the mountains; hoping thereby that want of subsistence would +force their oppressors to quit the Island. The Spaniards had many +resources; the sea-coast supplied them with fish, and their vessels +brought provisions from other islands. As to the natives of <i>Hayti</i>, one +third part of them, it is said, perished in the course of a few months, by +famine and by suicide. The rest returned to their dwellings, and +submitted. All these events took place within three years after the +discovery; so active is rapacity.</p> + +<p>Some among the Spaniards (authors of that time say, the <!--026.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[p. 14]</a></span>enemies of +Columbus, as if sentiments of humanity were not capable of such an effort) +wrote Memorials to their Catholic Majesties, representing the disastrous +condition to which the natives were reduced. <span class="sidenote">1496.</span> +Commissioners were sent to examine into the fact, and Columbus found it +necessary to go to <i>Spain</i> to defend his administration.</p> + +<p>So great was the veneration and respect entertained for him, that on his +arrival at Court, accusation was not allowed to be produced against him: +and, without instituting enquiry, it was arranged, that he should return +to his government with a large reinforcement of Spaniards, and with +authority to grant lands to whomsoever he chose to think capable of +cultivating them. Various accidents delayed his departure from <i>Spain</i> on +his third voyage, till 1498.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">City of Nueva Ysabel founded, 1496.</span> He had left two of his +brothers to govern in <i>Hispaniola</i> during his absence; the eldest, +Bartolomé, with the title of Adelantado; in whose time (<span class="smcap">A. D.</span> 1496) was +traced, on the South side of the Island, the plan of a new town intended +for the capital, the land in the neighbourhood of the town of <i>Ysabel</i>, +before built, being poor and little productive. <span class="sidenote">Its name +changed to Santo Domingo.</span> The name first given to the new town was <i>Nueva +Ysabel</i>; this in a short time gave place to that of <i>Santo Domingo</i>, a +name which was not imposed by authority, but adopted and became in time +established by common usage, of which the original cause is not now +known<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a>.</p> + +<p>Under the Adelantado's government, the parts of the Island which till then +had held out in their refusal to receive the Spanish yoke, were reduced to +subjection; and the conqueror gratified his vanity with the public +execution of one of the Hayti Kings.<!--027.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[p. 15]</a></span></p> + +<p>Columbus whilst he was in <i>Spain</i> received mortification in two instances, +of neither of which he had any right to complain. In October 1496, three +hundred natives of <i>Hayti</i> (made prisoners by the Adelantado) were landed +at <i>Cadiz</i>, being sent to <i>Spain</i> as slaves. At this act of disobedience, +the King and Queen strongly expressed their displeasure, and said, if the +Islanders made war against the Castilians, they must have been constrained +to do it by hard treatment. Columbus thought proper to blame, and to +disavow what his brother had done. The other instance of his receiving +mortification, was an act of kindness done him, and so intended; and it +was the only shadow of any thing like reproof offered to him. In the +instructions which he now received, it was earnestly recommended to him to +prefer conciliation to severity on all occasions which would admit it +without prejudice to justice or to his honour.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1498.</span> It was in the third voyage of Columbus that he first saw +the Continent of <i>South America</i>, in August 1498, which he then took to be +an Island, and named <i>Isla Santa</i>. He arrived on the 22d of the same month +at the City of <i>San Domingo</i>.</p> + +<p>The short remainder of Columbus's government in <i>Hayti</i> was occupied with +disputes among the Spaniards themselves. A strong party was in a state of +revolt against the government of the Columbuses, and accommodation was +kept at a distance, by neither party daring to place trust in the other. +<span class="sidenote">1498-9.</span> Columbus would have had recourse to arms to recover +his authority, but some of his troops deserted to the disaffected, and +others refused to be employed against their countrymen. In this state, the +parties engaged in a treaty on some points, and each sent Memorials to the +Court. The Admiral in his dispatches represented, that necessity had made +him consent to certain conditions, to avoid endangering the Colony; but +that it would <!--028.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[p. 16]</a></span>be highly prejudicial to the interests of their Majesties +to ratify the treaty he had been forced to subscribe.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Beginning of the Repartimientos.</span> The Admiral now made grants +of lands to Spanish colonists, and accompanied them with requisitions to +the neighbouring Caciques, to furnish the new proprietors with labourers +to cultivate the soil. This was the beginning of the <i>Repartimientos</i>, or +distributions of the Indians, which confirmed them slaves, and +contributed, more than all former oppressions, to their extermination. +Notwithstanding the earnest and express order of the King and Queen to the +contrary, the practice of transporting the natives of <i>Hayti</i> to <i>Spain</i> +as slaves, was connived at and continued; and this being discovered, lost +Columbus the confidence, but not wholly the support, of Queen Ysabel.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1500. Government of Bovadilla.</span> The dissensions in +the Colony increased, as did the unpopularity of the Admiral; and in the +year 1500, a new Governor General of the <i>Indies</i>, Francisco de Bovadilla, +was sent from <i>Spain</i>, with a commission empowering him to examine into +the accusations against the Admiral; and he was particularly enjoined by +the Queen, to declare all the native inhabitants free, and to take +measures to secure to them that they should be treated as a free people. +How a man so grossly ignorant and intemperate as Bovadilla, should have +been chosen to an office of such high trust, is not a little +extraordinary. His first display of authority was to send the Columbuses +home prisoners, with the indignity to their persons of confining them in +chains. He courted popularity in his government by shewing favour to all +who had been disaffected to the government or measures of the Admiral and +his brothers, the natives excepted, for whose relief he had been +especially appointed Governor. To encourage the Spaniards to work the +mines, he reduced the duties payable to the Crown on the produce, and +trusted to an increase in the quantity of gold extracted, for preserving +the revenue from <!--029.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[p. 17]</a></span>diminution. <span class="sidenote">All the Natives compelled to work +the Mines.</span> This was to be effected by increasing the labour of the +natives; and that these miserable people might not evade their servitude, +he caused muster-rolls to be made of all the inhabitants, divided them +into classes, and made distribution of them according to the value of the +mines, or to his desire to gratify particular persons. The Spanish +Colonists believed that the same facilities to enrich themselves would not +last long, and made all the haste in their power to profit by the present +opportunity.</p> + +<p>By these means, Bovadilla drew from the mines in a few months so great a +quantity of gold, that one fleet which he sent home, carried a freight +more than sufficient to reimburse <i>Spain</i> all the expences which had been +incurred in the discovery and conquest. The procuring these riches was +attended with so great a mortality among the natives as to threaten their +utter extinction.</p> + +<p>Nothing could exceed the surprise and indignation of the Queen, on +receiving information of these proceedings. The bad government of +Bovadilla was a kind of palliation which had the effect of lessening the +reproach upon the preceding government, and, joined to the disgraceful +manner in which Columbus had been sent home, produced a revolution of +sentiment in his favour. The good Queen Ysabel wished to compensate him +for the hard treatment he had received, at the same time that she had the +sincerity to make him understand she would not again commit the Indian +natives to his care. All his other offices and dignities were restored to +him.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1501-2. Nicolas Ovando, Governor.</span> For a successor +to Bovadilla in the office of Governor General, Don Nicolas Ovando, a +Cavalero of the Order of <i>Alcantara</i>, was chosen; a man esteemed capable +and just, and who entered on his government with apparent mildness and +consideration. But in a short time he proved the most execrable <!--030.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[p. 18]</a></span>of all +the tyrants, 'as if,' says an historian, 'tyranny was inherent and +contagious in the office, so as to change good men to bad, for the +destruction of these unfortunate Indians.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Working the Mines discontinued by Orders from Spain.</span> In +obedience to his instructions, Ovando, on arriving at his government, +called a General Assembly of all the Caciques or principal persons among +the natives, to whom he declared, that their Catholic Majesties took the +Islanders under their royal protection; that no exaction should be made on +them, other than the tribute which had been heretofore imposed; and that +no person should be employed to work in the mines, except on the footing +of voluntary labourers for wages.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1502.</span> On the promulgation of the royal pleasure, all working +in the mines immediately ceased. The impression made by their past +sufferings was too strong for any offer of pay or reward to prevail on +them to continue in that work. [The same thing happened, many years +afterwards, between the Chilese and the Spaniards.] A few mines had been +allowed to remain in possession of some of the Caciques of <i>Hayti</i>, on the +condition of rendering up half the produce; but now, instead of working +them, they sold their implements. In consequence of this defection, it was +judged expedient to lower the royal duties on the produce of the mines, +which produced some effect.</p> + +<p>Ovando, however, was intent on procuring the mines to be worked as +heretofore, but proceeded with caution. In his dispatches to the Council +of the <i>Indies</i>, he represented in strong colours the natural levity and +inconstancy of the Indians, and their idle and disorderly manner of +living; on which account, he said, it would be for their improvement and +benefit to find them occupation in moderate labour; that there would be no +injustice in so doing, as they would receive wages for their work, and +they would thereby be enabled to <!--031.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[p. 19]</a></span>pay the tribute, which otherwise, from +their habitual idleness, many would not be able to satisfy. He added +moreover, that the Indians, being left entirely their own masters, kept at +a distance from the Spanish habitations, which rendered it impossible to +instruct them in the principles of Christianity.</p> + +<p>This reasoning, and the proposal to furnish the natives with employment, +were approved by the Council of the <i>Indies</i>; and the Court, from the +opinion entertained of the justice and moderation of Ovando, acquiesced so +far as to trust making the experiment to his discretion. In reply to his +representations, he received instructions recommending, 'That if it was +necessary to oblige the Indians to work, it should be done in the most +gentle and moderate manner; that the Caciques should be invited to send +their people in regular turns; and that the employers should treat them +well, and pay them wages, according to the quality of the person and +nature of the labour; that care should be taken for their regular +attendance at religious service and instruction; and that it should be +remembered they were a free people, to be governed with mildness, and on +no account to be treated as slaves.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1502-3. The Natives again forced to the Mines.</span> +These directions, notwithstanding the expressions of care for the natives +contained in them, released the Governor General from all restriction. +This man had recently been appointed Grand Master of the order of +<i>Calatrava</i>, and thenceforward he was most generally distinguished by the +appellation or title of the Grand Commander.</p> + +<p>A transaction of a shocking nature, which took place during Bovadilla's +government, caused an insurrection of the natives; but which did not break +out till after the removal of Bovadilla. A Spanish vessel had put into a +port of the province of <i>Higuey</i> (the most Eastern part of <i>Hayti</i>) to +procure a lading of <i>cassava</i>, <!--032.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[p. 20]</a></span>a root which is used as bread. The +Spaniards landed, having with them a large dog held by a cord. Whilst the +natives were helping them to what they wanted, one of the Spaniards in +wanton insolence pointed to a Cacique, and called to the dog in manner of +setting him on. The Spaniard who held the cord, it is doubtful whether +purposely or by accident, suffered it to slip out of his hand, and the dog +instantly tore out the unfortunate Cacique's entrails. The people of +<i>Higuey</i> sent a deputation, to complain to Bovadilla; but those who went +could not obtain attention. <span class="sidenote">Severities shewn to the people of +Higuey.</span> In the beginning of Ovando's government, some other Spaniards +landed at the same port of <i>Higuey</i>, and the natives, in revenge for what +had happened, fell upon them, and killed them; after which they took to +arms. This insurrection was quelled with so great a slaughter, that the +province, from having been well peopled, was rendered almost a desert.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1503. Encomiendas established.</span> Ovando, on +obtaining his new instructions, followed the model set by his +predecessors. He enrolled and classed the natives in divisions, called +<i>Repartimientos</i>: from these he assigned to the Spanish proprietors a +specified number of labourers, by grants, which, with most detestable +hypocrisy, were denominated <i>Encomiendas</i>. The word <i>Encomienda</i> signifies +recommendation, and the employer to whom the Indian was consigned, was to +have the reputation of being his patron. The <i>Encomienda</i> was conceived in +the following terms:—'<i>I recommend to </i>A. B.<i> such and such Indians </i>(listed +by name)<i> the subjects of such Cacique; and he is to take care to have them +instructed in the principles of our holy faith.</i>'</p> + +<p>Under the enforcement of the <i>encomiendas</i>, the natives were again dragged +to the mines; and many of these unfortunate wretches were kept by their +hard employers under ground for six months together. With the labour, and +grief at being <!--033.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[p. 21]</a></span>again doomed to slavery, they sunk so rapidly, that it +suggested to the murderous proprietors of the mines the having recourse to +<i>Africa</i> for slaves. <span class="sidenote">African Slaves carried to the West +Indies.</span> Ovando, after small experience of this practice, endeavoured to +oppose it as dangerous, the Africans frequently escaping from their +masters, and finding concealment among the natives, in whom they excited +some spirit of resistance.</p> + +<p>The ill use made by the Grand Commander of the powers with which he had +been trusted, appears to have reached the Court early, for, in 1503, he +received fresh orders, enjoining him not to allow, on any pretext, the +natives to be employed in labour against their own will, either in the +mines or elsewhere. Ovando, however, trusted to being supported by the +Spanish proprietors of the mines within his government, who grew rich by +the <i>encomiendas</i>, and with their assistance he found pretences for not +restraining himself to the orders of the Court.</p> + +<p>In parts of the Island, the Caciques still enjoyed a degree of authority +over the natives, which rested almost wholly on habitual custom and +voluntary attachment. To loosen this band, Ovando, assuming the character +of a protector, published ordonnances to release the lower classes from +the oppressions of the Caciques; but from those of their European +taskmasters he gave them no relief.</p> + +<p>Some of the principal among the native inhabitants of <i>Xaragua</i>, the +South-western province of <i>Hayti</i>, had the hardiness openly to express +their discontent at the tyranny exercised by the Spaniards established in +that province. The person at this time regarded as Cacique or Chief of +<i>Xaragua</i> was a female, sister to the last Cacique, who had died without +issue. The Spanish histories call her Queen of <i>Xaragua</i>. This Princess +had shewn symptoms of something like abhorrence of the Spaniards near her, +and they did not fail to send representations <!--034.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[p. 22]</a></span>to the Grand Commander, +with the addition, that there appeared indications of an intention in the +Xaraguans to revolt. On receiving this notice, Ovando determined that +<i>Xaragua</i>, as <i>Higuey</i> had before, should feel the weight of his +displeasure. Putting himself at the head of 370 Spanish troops, part of +them cavalry, he departed from the city of <i>San Domingo</i> for the devoted +province, giving out publicly, that his intention was to make a progress +into the West, to collect the tribute, and to visit the Queen of +<i>Xaragua</i>. He was received by the Princess and her people with honours, +feastings, and all the demonstrations of joy usually acted by terrified +people with the hopes of soothing tyranny; and the troops were regaled +with profusion of victuals, with dancing, and shows. <span class="sidenote">1503-4.</span> +After some days thus spent, Ovando invited the Princess, her friends and +attendants, to an entertainment which he promised them, after the manner +of <i>Spain</i>. A large open public building was the chosen place for holding +this festival, and all the Spanish settlers in the province were required +to attend. A great concourse of Indians, besides the bidden guests, +crowded round, to enjoy the spectacle. <span class="sidenote">Massacre of the people +of Xaragua.</span> As the appointed time approached, the Spanish infantry +gradually appeared, and took possession of all the avenues; which being +secured, this Grand Commander himself appeared, mounted at the head of his +cavalry; and on his making a signal, which had been previously concerted, +which was laying his hand on the Cross of his Order, the whole of these +diabolical conquerors fell upon the defenceless multitude, who were so +hemmed in, that thousands were slaughtered, and it was scarcely possible +for any to escape unwounded. Some of the principal Indians or Caciques, it +is said, were by the Commander's order fastened to the pillars of the +building, where they were questioned, and made to confess themselves in a +conspiracy against the Spanish government; after which <!--035.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[p. 23]</a></span>confession the +building was set on fire, and they perished in the flames. The massacre +did not stop here. Detachments of troops, with dogs, were sent to hunt and +destroy the natives in different parts of the province, and some were +pursued over to the Island <i>Gonave</i>. The Princess was carried bound to the +city of <i>San Domingo</i>, and with the forms of law was tried, condemned, and +put to death.</p> + +<p>The purposes, besides that of gratifying his revenge for the hatred shewn +to his government, which were sufficient to move Ovando to this bloody +act, were, the plunder of the province, and the reduction of the Islanders +to a more manageable number, and to the most unlimited submission. +<span class="sidenote">1504.</span> Some of the Indians fled to the mountains. 'But,' say +the Spanish Chronicles of these events, 'in a short time their Chiefs were +taken and punished, and at the end of six months there was not a native +living on the Island who had not submitted to the dominion of the +Spaniards.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Death of Queen Ysabel.</span> Queen Ysabel died in November 1504, +much and universally lamented. This Princess bore a large share in the +usurpations practised in the New World; but it is evident she was carried +away, contrary to her real principles and disposition, which were just and +benevolent, and to her own happiness, by the powerful stream of general +opinion.</p> + +<p>In <i>Europe</i>, political principles, or maxims of policy, have been in +continual change, fashioned by the nature of the passing events, no less +than dress has been by caprice; causes which have led one to deviate from +plain rectitude, as the other from convenience. One principle, +covetousness of the attainment of power, has nevertheless constantly +predominated, and has derided and endeavoured to stigmatize as weakness +and imbecility, the stopping short of great acquisitions, territorial +especially, for moral considerations. Queen Ysabel lived surrounded by a +<!--036.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[p. 24]</a></span>world of such politicians, who were moreover stimulated to avarice by the +prospect of American gold; a passion which yet more than ambition is apt +to steel the heart of man against the calls of justice and the distresses +of his fellow creatures. If Ysabel had been endued with more than mortal +fortitude, she might have refused her sanction to the usurpations, but +could not have prevented them. On her death bed she earnestly recommended +to King Ferdinand to recall Ovando. Ovando, however, sent home much gold, +and Ferdinand referred to a distant time the fulfilment of her dying +request.</p> + +<p>Upon news of the death of Queen Ysabel, the small wages which had been +paid the Indians for their labour, amounting to about half a piastre <i>per</i> +month, were withheld, as being too grievous a burthen on the Spanish +Colonists; and the hours of labour were no longer limited. <span class="sidenote"> +1506.</span> In the province of <i>Higuey</i>, the tyranny and licentiousness of the +military again threw the poor natives into a frenzy of rage and despair, +and they once more revolted, burnt the fort, and killed the soldiers. +Ovando resolved to put it out of the power of the people of <i>Higuey</i> ever +again to be troublesome. A strong body of troops was marched into the +province, the Cacique of <i>Higuey</i> (the last of the <i>Hayti</i> Kings) was +taken prisoner and executed, and the province pacified.</p> + +<p>The pecuniary value of grants of land in <i>Hayti</i> with <i>encomiendas</i>, +became so considerable as to cause them to be coveted and solicited for by +many of the grandees and favourites of the Court in <i>Spain</i>, who, on +obtaining them, sent out agents to turn them to account. <span class="sidenote"> +Desperate condition of the Natives.</span> The agent was to make his own fortune +by his employment, and to satisfy his principal. In no instance were the +natives spared through any interference of the Grand Commander. It was a +maxim with this bad man, always to keep well with the powerful; and every +<!--037.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[p. 25]</a></span>thing respecting the natives was yielded to their accommodation. Care, +however, was taken that the Indians should be baptised, and that a head +tax should be paid to the Crown; and these particulars being complied +with, the rest was left to the patron of the <i>encomienda</i>. Punishments and +tortures of every kind were practised, to wring labour out of men who were +dying through despair. Some of the accounts, which are corroborated by +circumstances, relate, that the natives were frequently coupled and +harnessed like cattle, and driven with whips. If they fell under their +load, they were flogged up. To prevent their taking refuge in the woods or +mountains, an officer, under the title of <i>Alguazil del Campo</i>, was +constantly on the watch with a pack of hounds; and many Indians, in +endeavouring to escape, were torn in pieces. The settlers on the Island, +the great men at home, their agents, and the royal revenue, were all to be +enriched at the expence of the destruction of the natives. It was as if +the discovery of <i>America</i> had changed the religion of the Spaniards from +Christianity to the worship of gold with human sacrifices. If power were +entitled to dominion between man and man, as between man and other +animals, the Spaniards would remain chargeable with the most outrageous +abuse of their advantages. In enslaving the inhabitants of <i>Hayti</i>, if +they had been satisfied with reducing them to the state of cattle, it +would have been merciful, comparatively with what was done. The labour +imposed by mankind upon their cattle, is in general so regulated as not to +exceed what is compatible with their full enjoyment of health; but the +main consideration with the Spanish proprietors was, by what means they +should obtain the greatest quantity of gold from the labour of the natives +in the shortest time. By an enumeration made in the year 1507, the number +of the natives in the whole Island <i>Hayti</i> was reckoned at <!--038.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[p. 26]</a></span>60,000, the +remains of a population which fifteen years before exceeded a million. The +insatiate colonists did not stop: many of the mines lay unproductive for +want of labourers, and they bent their efforts to the supplying this +defect.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">The Grand Antilles.</span> The Islands of the <i>West Indies</i> have been +classed into three divisions, which chiefly regard their situations; but +they are distinguished also by other peculiar circumstances. The four +largest Islands, <i>Cuba</i>, <i>Hayti</i>, <i>Jamaica</i>, and <i>Porto Rico</i>, have been +called the <i>Grand Antilles</i>. When first discovered by Europeans, they were +inhabited by people whose similarity of language, of customs, and +character, bespoke them the offspring of one common stock. <span class="sidenote"> +Small Antilles, or Caribbee Islands.</span> The second division is a chain of +small Islands Eastward of these, and extending South to the coast of +<i>Paria</i> on the Continent of <i>South America</i>. They have been called +sometimes the <i>Small Antilles</i>; sometimes after the native inhabitants, +the <i>Caribbee Islands</i>; and not less frequently by a subdivision, the +Windward and Leeward Islands. The inhabitants on these Islands were a +different race from the inhabitants of the <i>Grand Antilles</i>. They spoke a +different language, were robust in person; and in disposition fierce, +active, and warlike. Some have conjectured them to be of Tartar +extraction, which corresponds with the belief that they emigrated from +<i>North America</i> to the <i>West Indies</i>. It is supposed they drove out the +original inhabitants from the <i>Small Antilles</i>, to establish themselves +there; but they had not gained footing in the large Islands. <span class="sidenote"> +Lucayas, or Bahama Islands.</span> The third division of the Islands is the +cluster which are situated to the North of <i>Cuba</i>, and near <i>East +Florida</i>, and are called the <i>Lucayas</i>, of whose inhabitants mention will +shortly be made.</p> + +<p>The Spanish Government participated largely in the wickedness practised to +procure labourers for the mines of <i>Hispaniola</i>. Pretending great concern +for the cause of humanity, they <!--039.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[p. 27]</a></span>declared it legal, and gave general +license, for any individual to make war against, and enslave, people who +were cannibals; under which pretext every nation, both of the American +Continent and of the Islands, was exposed to their enterprises. Spanish +adventurers made attempts to take people from the small <i>Antilles</i>, +sometimes with success; but they were not obtained without danger, and in +several expeditions of the kind, the Spaniards were repulsed with loss. +This made them turn their attention to the <i>Lucayas Islands</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1508.</span> The inhabitants of the <i>Lucayas</i>, an unsuspicious and +credulous people, did not escape the snares laid for them. Ovando, in his +dispatches to <i>Spain</i>, represented the benefit it would be to the holy +faith, to have the inhabitants of the <i>Lucayas</i> instructed in the +Christian religion; for which purpose, he said, 'it would be necessary +they should be transported to <i>Hispaniola</i>, as Missionaries could not be +spared to every place, and there was no other way in which this abandoned +people could be converted.' <span class="sidenote">The Natives of the Lucayas betrayed +to the Mines;</span> King Ferdinand and the Council of the Indies were +themselves so abandoned and destitute of all goodness, as to pretend to +give credit to Ovando's representation, and lent him their authority to +sacrifice the Lucayans, under the pretext of advancing religion. Spanish +ships were sent to the Islands on this business, and the natives were at +first inveigled on board by the foulest hypocrisy and treachery. Among the +artifices used by the Spaniards, they pretended that they came from a +delicious country, where rested the souls of the deceased fathers, +kinsmen, and friends, of the Lucayans, who had sent to invite them. +<span class="sidenote">and the Islands wholly unpeopled.</span> The innocent Islanders so +seduced to follow the Spaniards, when, on arriving at <i>Hispaniola</i>, they +found how much they had been abused, died in great numbers of chagrin and +grief. Afterwards, when these impious pretences of the Spaniards were no +longer believed, they dragged away the <!--040.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[p. 28]</a></span>natives by force, as long as any +could be found, till they wholly unpeopled the <i>Lucayas Islands</i>. The +Buccaneers of <i>America</i>, whose adventures and misdeeds are about to be +related, may be esteemed saints in comparison with the men whose names +have been celebrated as the Conquerors of the <span class="smcap">New World</span>.</p> + +<p>In the same manner as at the <i>Lucayas</i>, other Islands of the <i>West +Indies</i>, and different parts of the Continent, were resorted to for +recruits. A pearl fishery was established, in which the Indians were not +more spared as divers, than on the land as miners.</p> + +<p><i>Porto Rico</i> was conquered at this time. <span class="sidenote">Fate of the native +Inhabitants of Porto Rico.</span> Ore had been brought thence, which was not so +pure as that of <i>Hayti</i>; but it was of sufficient value to determine +Ovando to the conquest of the Island. The Islanders were terrified by the +carnage which the Spaniards with their dogs made in the commencement of +the war, and, from the fear of irritating them by further resistance, they +yielded wholly at discretion, and were immediately sent to the mines, +where in a short time they all perished. In the same year with <i>Porto +Rico</i>, the Island of <i>Jamaica</i> was taken possession of by the Spaniards.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1509. D. Diego Columbus, Governor of Hispaniola.</span> +Ovando was at length recalled, and was succeeded in the government of +<i>Hispaniola</i> by Don Diego Columbus, the eldest son and inheritor of the +rights and titles of the Admiral Christopher. To conclude with Ovando, it +is related that he was regretted by his countrymen in the <i>Indies</i>, and +was well received at Court.</p> + +<p>Don Diego did not make any alteration in the <i>repartimientos</i>, except that +some of them changed hands in favour of his own adherents. During his +government, some fathers of the Dominican Order had the courage to inveigh +from the pulpit against the enormity of the <i>repartimientos</i>, and were so +persevering in their representations, that the Court of <!--041.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[p. 29]</a></span><i>Spain</i> found it +necessary, to avoid scandal, to order an enquiry into the condition of the +Indians. In this enquiry it was seriously disputed, whether it was just or +unjust to make them slaves.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1511. Increase of Cattle in Hayti.</span> The Histories +of <i>Hispaniola</i> first notice about this time a great increase in the +number of cattle in the Island. As the human race disappeared, less and +less land was occupied in husbandry, till almost the whole country became +pasturage for cattle, by far the greater part of which were wild. An +ordonnance, issued in the year 1511, specified, that as beasts of burthen +were so much multiplied, the Indians should not be made to carry or drag +heavy loads.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Cuba.</span> In 1511, the conquest of <i>Cuba</i> was undertaken and +completed. The terror conceived of the Spaniards is not to be expressed. +The story of the conquest is related in a Spanish history in the following +terms: 'A leader was chosen, who had acquitted himself in high employments +with fortune and good conduct. He had in other respects amiable qualities, +and was esteemed a man of honour and rectitude. He went from <i>S. Domingo</i> +with regular troops and above 300 volunteers. He landed in <i>Cuba</i>, not +without opposition from the natives. In a few days, he surprised and took +the principal Cacique, named Hatuey, prisoner, and <i>made him expiate in +the flames the fault he had been guilty of in not submitting with a good +grace to the conqueror</i>.' This Cacique, when at the stake, being +importuned by a Spanish priest to become a Christian, that he might go to +Heaven, replied, that if any Spaniard was to be met in Heaven, he hoped +not to go there.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1514.</span> The Reader will be detained a very little longer with +these irksome scenes. In 1514, the number of the inhabitants of <i>Hayti</i> +was reckoned 14,000. A distributor of Indians was <!--042.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[p. 30]</a></span>appointed, with powers +independent of the Governor, with intention to save the few remaining +natives of <i>Hayti</i>. The new distributor began the exercise of his office +by a general revocation of all the <i>encomiendas</i>, except those which had +been granted by the King; and almost immediately afterwards, in the most +open and shameless manner, he made new grants, and sold them to the +highest bidder. <span class="sidenote">1515.</span> He was speedily recalled; and another +(the Licentiate Ybarra) was sent to supply his place, who had a high +character for probity and resolution; but he died immediately on his +arrival at <i>Santo Domingo</i>, and not without suspicion that he was +poisoned.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Bart. de las Casas, and Cardinal Ximenes; their endeavours to +serve the Indians. The Cardinal dies.</span> The endeavours of the +Dominican Friars in behalf of the natives were seconded by the Licentiate +Bartolomeo de las Casas, and by Cardinal Ximenes when he became Prime +Minister of <i>Spain</i>; and, to their great honour, they were both resolute +to exert all their power to preserve the natives of <i>America</i>. The +Cardinal sent Commissioners, and with them las Casas, with the title of +Protector of the Indians. But the Cardinal died in 1517; after which all +the exertions of las Casas and the Dominicans could not shake the +<i>repartimientos</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1519.</span> At length, among the native Islanders there sprung up +one who had the courage to put himself at the head of a number of his +countrymen, and the address to withdraw with them from the gripe of the +Spaniards, and to find refuge among the mountains. <span class="sidenote">Cacique +Henriquez.</span> This man was the son, and, according to the laws of +inheritance, should have been the successor, of one of the principal +Caciques. He had been christened by the name of Henriquez, and, in +consequence of a regulation made by the late Queen Ysabel of <i>Castile</i>, he +had been educated, on account of his former rank, in a Convent of the +Franciscans. He defended his retreat in the mountains by skilful +management and resolute conduct, and had the good fortune in the +commencement <!--043.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[p. 31]</a></span>to defeat some parties of Spanish troops sent against him, +which encouraged more of his countrymen, and as many of the Africans as +could escape, to flock to him; and under his government, as of a sovereign +prince, they withstood the attempts of the Spaniards to subdue them. +Fortunately for Henriquez and his followers, the conquest and settlement +of <i>Cuba</i>, and the invasion of <i>Mexico</i>, which was begun at this time, +lessened the strength of the Spaniards in <i>Hispaniola</i>, and enabled the +insurgents for many years to keep all the Spanish settlements in the +Island in continual alarm, and to maintain their own independence.</p> + +<p>During this time, the question of the propriety of keeping the Islanders +in slavery, underwent grave examinations. It is related that the +experiment was tried, of allowing a number of the natives to build +themselves two villages, to live in them according to their own customs +and liking; and that the result was, they were found to be so improvident, +and so utterly unable to take care of themselves, that the <i>encomiendas</i> +were pronounced to be necessary for their preservation. Such an experiment +is a mockery. Before the conquest, and now under Don Henriquez, the people +of <i>Hayti</i> shewed they wanted not the Spaniards to take care of them.<!--044.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[p. 32]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_III" id="CHAP_III"></a>CHAP. III.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>Ships of different European Nations frequent the </i>West Indies<i>. +Opposition experienced by them from the </i>Spaniards<i>. Hunting of +Cattle in </i>Hispaniola<i>.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1518. Adventure of an English Ship.</span> In the year +1517 or 1518, some Spaniards in a caravela going from <i>St. Domingo</i> to the +Island <i>Porto Rico</i>, to take in a lading of cassava, were surprised at +seeing a ship there of about 250 tons, armed with cannon, which did not +appear to belong to the Spanish nation; and on sending a boat to make +enquiry, she was found to be English. The account given by the English +Commander was, that two ships had sailed from <i>England</i> in company, with +the intention to discover the country of the Great Cham; that they were +soon separated from each other by a tempest, and that this ship was +afterwards in a sea almost covered with ice; that thence she had sailed +southward to <i>Brasil</i>, and, after various adventures, had found the way to +<i>Porto Rico</i>. This same English ship, being provided with merchandise, +went afterwards to <i>Hispaniola</i>, and anchored near the entrance of the +port of <i>San Domingo</i>, where the Captain sent on shore to demand leave to +sell their goods. The demand was forwarded to the <i>Audiencia</i>, or superior +court in <i>San Domingo</i>; but the Castellana, or Governor of the Castle, +Francisco de Tapia, could not endure with patience to see a ship of +another nation in that part of the world, and, without waiting for the +determination of the <i>Audiencia</i>, ordered the cannon of the fort to be +fired against her; on which she took up her anchor and returned to <i>Porto +Rico</i>, where she purchased provisions, paying for what she got with +wrought <!--045.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[p. 33]</a></span>iron, and afterwards departed for <i>Europe</i><a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a>. When this visit of +an English ship to the <i>West Indies</i> was known in <i>Spain</i>, it caused there +great inquietude; and the Governor of the Castle of <i>San Domingo</i>, it is +said, was much blamed, because he had not, instead of forcing the ship to +depart by firing his cannon, contrived to seize her, so that no one might +have returned to teach others of their nation the route to the Spanish +Indies.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">The French and other Europeans resort to the West Indies;</span> The English were +not the only people of whom the Spaniards had cause to be jealous, nor +those from whom the most mischief was to be apprehended. The French, as +already noticed, had very early made expeditions to <i>Brasil</i>, and they now +began to look at the <i>West Indies</i>; so that in a short time the sight of +other European ships than those of <i>Spain</i> became no novelty there. +Hakluyt mentions a Thomas Tyson, an Englishman, who went to the <i>West +Indies</i> in 1526, as factor to some English merchants. <span class="sidenote">Are regarded as +Interlopers by the Spaniards. 1529. Regulation proposed by the +Government in Hispaniola, for protection against Pirates.</span> When the +Spaniards met any of these intruders, if able to master them, they made +prisoners of them, and many they treated as pirates. The new comers soon +began to retaliate. In 1529, the Governor and Council at <i>San Domingo</i> +drew up the plan of a regulation for the security +of their ships against the increasing dangers from pirates in the <i>West +Indies</i>. In this, they recommended, that a central port of commerce should +be established in the <i>West Indies</i>, to which every ship from <i>Spain</i> +should be obliged to go first, as to a general rendezvous, and thence be +dispatched, as might suit circumstances, to her farther destination; also, +that all their ships homeward bound, from whatsoever part of the <i>West +Indies</i>, should first rendezvous at the same port; by which regulation +their ships, both outward <!--046.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[p. 34]</a></span>and homeward bound, would form escorts to each +other, and have the benefit of mutual support; and they proposed that some +port in <i>Hispaniola</i> should be appointed for the purpose, as most +conveniently situated. This plan appears to have been approved by the +Council of the <i>Indies</i>; but, from indolence, or some other cause, no +farther measures were taken for its adoption.</p> + +<p>The attention of the Spaniards was at this time almost wholly engrossed by +the conquest and plunder of the American Continent, which it might have +been supposed would have sufficed them, according to the opinion of +Francisco Preciado, a Spanish discoverer, who observed, that <i>there was +country enough to conquer for a thousand years</i>. The continental pursuits +caused much diminution in the importance of the <i>West India Islands</i> to +the Spaniards. The mines of the Islands were not comparable in richness +with those of the Continent, and, for want of labourers, many were left +unworked. <span class="sidenote">Hunting of Cattle in Hispaniola.</span> The colonists in +<i>Hispaniola</i>, however, had applied themselves to the cultivation of the +sugar-cane, and to manufacture sugar; also to hunting cattle, which was +found a profitable employment, the skins and the suet turning to good +account. <span class="sidenote">Matadores.</span> The Spaniards denominated their hunters +Matadores, which in the Spanish language signifies killers or +slaughterers.</p> + +<p>That the English, French, and Hollanders, in their early voyages to the +<i>West Indies</i>, went in expectation of meeting hostility from the +Spaniards, and with a determination therefore to commit hostility if they +could with advantage, appears by an ingenious phrase of the French +adventurers, who, if the first opportunity was in their favour, termed +their profiting by it '<i>se dedomager par avance</i>.'</p> + +<p>Much of <i>Hispaniola</i> had become desert. There were long ranges of coast, +with good ports, that were unfrequented by <!--047.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[p. 35]</a></span>any inhabitant whatever, and +the land in every part abounded with cattle. These were such great +conveniencies to the ships of the interlopers, that the Western coast, +which was the most distant part from the Spanish capital, became a place +of common resort to them when in want of provisions. Another great +attraction to them was the encouragement they received from Spanish +settlers along the coast; who, from the contracted and monopolizing spirit +of their government in the management of their colonies, have at all times +been eager to have communication with foreigners, that they might obtain +supplies of European goods on terms less exorbitant than those which the +royal regulations of <i>Spain</i> imposed. <span class="sidenote">Guarda-Costas.</span> The +government at <i>San Domingo</i> employed armed ships to prevent clandestine +trade, and to clear the coasts of <i>Hispaniola</i> of interlopers, which ships +were called <i>guarda costas</i>; and it is said their commanders were +instructed not to take prisoners. On the other hand, the intruders formed +combinations, came in collected numbers, and made descents on different +parts of the coast, ravaging the Spanish towns and settlements.</p> + +<p>In the customary course, such transactions would have come under the +cognizance of the governments in <i>Europe</i>; but matters here took a +different turn. The Spaniards, when they had the upper hand, did not fail +to deal out their own pleasure for law; and in like manner, the English, +French, and Dutch, when masters, determined their own measure of +retaliation. The different European governments were glad to avoid being +involved in the settlement of disorders they had no inclination to +repress. In answer to representations made by <i>Spain</i>, they said, 'that +the people complained against had acted entirely on their own authority, +not as the subjects of any prince, and that the King of <i>Spain</i> was at +liberty to proceed against them according to his own pleasure.' Queen +<!--048.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[p. 36]</a></span>Elizabeth of <i>England</i>, with more open asperity answered a complaint made +by the Spanish ambassador, of Spanish ships being plundered by the English +in the <i>West Indies</i>, 'That the Spaniards had drawn these inconveniencies +upon themselves, by their severe and unjust dealings in their American +commerce; for she did not understand why either her subjects, or those of +any other European prince, should be debarred from traffic in the +<i>Indies</i>. That as she did not acknowledge the Spaniards to have any title +by the donation of the Bishop of <i>Rome</i>, so she knew no right they had to +any places other than those they were in actual possession of; for that +their having touched only here and there upon a coast, and given names to +a few rivers or capes, were such insignificant things as could no ways +entitle them to a propriety further than in the parts where they actually +settled, and continued to inhabit<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a>.' A warfare was thus established +between Europeans in the <i>West Indies</i>, local and confined, which had no +dependence upon transactions in <i>Europe</i>. <span class="sidenote">Brethren of the +Coast.</span> All Europeans not Spaniards, whether it was war or peace between +their nations in <i>Europe</i>, on their meeting in the <i>West Indies</i>, regarded +each other as friends and allies, knowing then no other enemy than the +Spaniards; and, as a kind of public avowal of this confederation, they +called themselves <i>Brethren of the Coast</i>.</p> + +<p>The first European intruders upon the Spaniards in the <i>West Indies</i> were +accordingly mariners, the greater number of whom, it is supposed, were +French, and next to them the English. Their first hunting of cattle in +<i>Hayti</i>, was for provisioning their ships. The time they began to form +factories or establishments, to hunt cattle for the skins, and to cure the +flesh as an article of traffic, is not certain; but it may be <!--049.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[p. 37]</a></span>concluded +that these occupations were began by the crews of wrecked vessels, or by +seamen who had disagreed with their commander; and that the ease, plenty, +and freedom from all command and subordination, enjoyed in such a life, +soon drew others to quit their ships, and join in the same occupations. +The ships that touched on the coast supplied the hunters with European +commodities, for which they received in return hides, tallow, and cured +meat. The appellation of <i>Boucanier</i> or <i>Buccaneer</i> was not invented, or +at least not applied to these adventurers, till long after their first +footing in <i>Hayti</i>. At the time of Oxnam's expedition across the <i>Isthmus +of America</i> to the <i>South Sea</i>, <span class="smcap">A. D.</span> 1575, it does not appear to have +been known.</p> + +<p>There is no particular account of the events which took place on the +coasts of <i>Hispaniola</i> in the early part of the contest between the +Spaniards and the new settlers. It is however certain, that it was a war +of the severest retaliation; and in this disorderly state was continued +the intercourse of the English, French, and Dutch with the <i>West Indies</i>, +carried on by individuals neither authorized nor controlled by their +governments, for more than a century.</p> + +<p>In 1586, the English Captain, Francis Drake, plundered the city of <i>San +Domingo</i>; and the numbers of the English and French in the <i>West Indies</i> +increased so much, that shortly afterwards the Spaniards found themselves +necessitated to abandon all the Western and North-western parts of +<i>Hispaniola</i>.<!--050.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[p. 38]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_IV" id="CHAP_IV"></a>CHAP. IV.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>Iniquitous Settlement of the Island </i>Saint Christopher<i> by the +</i>English<i> and </i>French<i>. </i>Tortuga<i> seized by the Hunters. Origin of the +name </i>Buccaneer<i>. The name </i>Flibustier<i>. Customs attributed to the +</i>Buccaneers<i>.</i></div> + + +<p>The increase of trade of the English and French to the <i>West Indies</i>, and +the growing importance of the freebooters or adventurers concerned in it, +who, unassisted but by each other, had begun to acquire territory and to +form establishments in spite of all opposition from the Spaniards, +attracted the attention of the British and French governments, and +suggested to them a scheme of confederacy, in which some of the principal +adventurers were consulted. The project adopted by them was, to plant a +royal colony of each nation, on some one island, and at the same time; by +which a constant mutual support would be secured. In as far as regarded +the concerns of Europeans with each other, this plan was unimpeachable.</p> + +<p>The Island chosen by the projectors, as the best suited to their purpose, +was one of the <i>Small Antilles</i> or <i>Caribbee Islands</i>, known by the name +of <i>St. Christopher</i>, which is in length about seven leagues, and in +breadth two and a half.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1625. The Island Saint Christopher settled by the +English and French.</span> Thus the governments of <i>Great Britain</i> and <i>France</i>, +like friendly fellow-travellers, and not like rivals who were to contend +in a race, began their West-Indian career by joint consent at the same +point both in time and place. In the year 1625, and on the same day, a +colony of British and a colony of French, in the names and on the behalf +of their <!--051.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[p. 39]</a></span>respective nations, landed on this small island, the division of +which had been settled by previous agreement.</p> + +<p>The Island <i>St. Christopher</i> was at that time inhabited by Caribbe +Indians. The Spaniards had never possessed a settlement on it, but their +ships had been accustomed to stop there, to traffic for provisions and +refreshments. The French and English who came to take possession, landed +without obtaining the consent of the native Caribbe inhabitants; and, +because danger was apprehended from their discontent, under pretence that +the Caribbs were friends to the Spaniards, these new colonists fell upon +them by surprise in the night, killed their principal leaders, and forced +the rest to quit the Island and seek another home. De Rochefort, in his +<i>Histoire Morale des Isles Antilles</i> (p. 284.) mentions the English and +French killing the Caribb Chiefs, in the following terms: '<i>Ils se +defirent en une nuit de tous les plus factieux de cette nation!</i>' Thus in +usurpation and barbarity was founded the first colony established under +the authority of the British and French governments in the <i>West Indies</i>; +which colony was the parent of our African slave trade. When accounts of +the conquest and of the proceedings at <i>Saint Christopher</i> were +transmitted to <i>Europe</i>, they were approved; West-India companies were +established, and licences granted to take out colonists. De Rochefort has +oddly enough remarked, that the French, English, and Dutch, in their first +establishments in the <i>West Indies</i>, did not follow the cruel maxims of +the Spaniards. True it is, however, that they only copied in part. In +their usurpations their aim went no farther than to dispossess, and they +did not seek to make slaves of the people whom they deprived of their +land.</p> + +<p>The English and French in a short time had disagreements, and began to +make complaints of each other. The English took possession of the small +Island <i>Nevis</i>, which is separated <!--052.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[p. 40]</a></span>only by a narrow channel from the +South end of <i>St. Christopher</i>. P. Charlevoix says, 'the ambition of the +English disturbed the good understanding between the colonists of the two +nations; but M. de Cusac arriving with a squadron of the French King's +ships, by taking and sinking some British ships lying there, brought the +English Governor to reason, and to confine himself to the treaty of +Partition.' <span class="sidenote">1629. The English and French driven +from Saint Christopher by the Spaniards.</span> After effecting this amicable +adjustment, De Cusac sailed from <i>St. Christopher</i>; and was scarcely clear +of the Island when a powerful fleet, consisting of thirty-nine large +ships, arrived from <i>Spain</i>, and anchored in the Road. Almost without +opposition the Spaniards became masters of the Island, although the +English and French, if they had cordially joined, could have mustered a +force of twelve hundred men. Intelligence that the Spaniards intended this +attack, had been timely received in <i>France</i>; and M. de Cusac's squadron +had in consequence been dispatched to assist in the defence of <i>St. +Christopher</i>; but the Spaniards being slow in their preparations, their +fleet did not arrive at the time expected, and De Cusac, hearing no news +of them, presumed that they had given up their design against <i>St. +Christopher</i>. Without strengthening the joint colony, he gave the English +a lesson on moderation, little calculated to incline them to co-operate +heartily with the French in defence of the Island, and sailed on a cruise +to the <i>Gulf of Mexico</i>. Shortly after his departure, towards the end of +the year 1629, the Spanish fleet arrived. The colonists almost immediately +despaired of being able to oppose so great a force. Many of the French +embarked in their ships in time to effect their escape, and to take refuge +among the islands northward. The remainder, with the English, lay at the +disposal of the Spanish commander, Don Frederic de <i>Toledo</i>. At this time +<i>Spain</i> was at war with <i>England</i>, <i>France</i>, and <i>Holland</i>; and this +armament was designed ultimately to act against the Hollanders <!--053.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[p. 41]</a></span>in +<i>Brasil</i>, but was ordered by the way to drive the English and the French +from the Island of <i>Saint Christopher</i>. Don Frederic would not weaken his +force by leaving a garrison there, and was in haste to prosecute his +voyage to <i>Brasil</i>. As the settlement of <i>Saint Christopher</i> had been +established on regular government authorities, the settlers were treated +as prisoners of war. To clear the Island in the most speedy manner, Don +Frederic took many of the English on board his own fleet, and made as many +of the other colonists embark as could be crowded in any vessels which +could be found for them. He saw them get under sail, and leave the Island; +and from those who remained, he required their parole, that they would +depart by the earliest opportunity which should present itself, warning +them, at the same time, that if, on his return from <i>Brasil</i>, he found any +Englishmen or Frenchmen at <i>Saint Christopher</i>, they should be put to the +sword. <span class="sidenote">1630. They return.</span> After this, he sailed +for <i>Brasil</i>. As soon, however, as it was known that the Spanish fleet had +left the West-Indian sea, the colonists, both English and French, returned +to <i>Saint Christopher</i>, and repossessed themselves of their old quarters.</p> + +<p>The settlement of the Island <i>Saint Christopher</i> gave great encouragement +to the hunters on the West coast of <i>Hispaniola</i>. Their manufactories for +the curing of meat, and for drying the skins, multiplied; and as the value +of them increased, they began to think it of consequence to provide for +their security. <span class="sidenote">The Island Tortuga seized by the English and +French Hunters.</span> To this end they took possession of the small Island +<i>Tortuga</i>, near the North-west end of <i>Hispaniola</i>, where the Spaniards +had placed a garrison, but which was too small to make opposition. There +was a road for shipping, with good anchorage, at <i>Tortuga</i>; and its +separation from the main land of <i>Hispaniola</i> seemed to be a good +guarantee from sudden and unexpected attack. They built magazines there, +for the lodgement of their goods, and <!--054.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[p. 42]</a></span>regarded this Island as their head +quarters, or place of general rendezvous to which to repair in times of +danger. They elected no chief, erected no fortification, set up no +authorities, nor fettered themselves by any engagement. All was voluntary; +and they were negligently contented at having done so much towards their +security.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Whence the Name Buccaneer.</span> About the time of their taking +possession of <i>Tortuga</i>, they began to be known by the name of Buccaneers, +of which appellation it will be proper to speak at some length.</p> + +<p>The flesh of the cattle killed by the hunters, was cured to keep good for +use, after a manner learnt from the Caribbe Indians, which was as follows: +The meat was laid to be dried upon a wooden grate or hurdle (<i>grille de +bois</i>) which the Indians called <i>barbecu</i>, placed at a good distance over +a slow fire. The meat when cured was called <i>boucan</i>, and the same name +was given to the place of their cookery. Père Labat describes <i>Viande +boucannée</i> to be, <i>Viande seché a petit feu et a la fumée</i>. The Caribbes +are said to have sometimes served their prisoners after this fashion, +'<i>Ils les mangent après les avoir bien boucannée, c'est a dire, rotis bien +sec</i><a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a>.' The boucan was a very favourite method of cooking among these +Indians. A Caribbe has been known, on returning home from fishing, +fatigued and pressed with hunger, to have had the patience to wait the +roasting of a fish on a wooden grate fixed two feet above the ground, over +a fire so small as sometimes to require the whole day to dress it<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a>.</p> + +<p>The flesh of the cattle was in general dried in the smoke, without being +salted. The <i>Dictionnaire de Trevoux</i> explains <i>Boucaner</i> to be '<i>faire +sorer sans sel</i>,' to dry red without salt. But the flesh of wild hogs, and +also of the beeves when intended <!--055.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[p. 43]</a></span>for keeping a length of time, was first +salted. The same thing was practised among the Brasilians. It was remarked +in one of the earliest visits of the Portuguese to <i>Brasil</i>, that the +natives (who were cannibals) kept human flesh salted and smoked, hanging +up in their houses<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a>. The meat cured by the Buccaneers to sell to +shipping for sea-store, it is probable was all salted. The process is thus +described: 'The bones being taken out, the flesh was cut into convenient +pieces and salted, and the next day was taken to the <i>boucan</i>.' Sometimes, +to give a peculiar relish to the meat, the skin of the animal was cast +into the fire under it. The meat thus cured was of a fine red colour, and +of excellent flavour; but in six months after it was boucanned, it had +little taste left, except of salt. The boucanned hog's flesh continued +good a much longer time than the flesh of the beeves, if kept in dry +places.</p> + +<p>From adopting the boucan of the Caribbes, the hunters in <i>Hispaniola</i>, the +Spaniards excepted, came to be called Boucaniers, but afterwards, +according to a pronunciation more in favour with the English, +Buccaneers<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a>. Many of the French hunters were natives of <i>Normandy</i>; +whence it became proverbial in some of the sea-ports of <i>Normandy</i> to say +of a smoky house, <i>c'est un vrai Boucan</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">The name Flibustier.</span> The French Buccaneers and Adventurers +were also called Flibustiers, and more frequently by that than by any +other name. The word Flibustier is merely the French mariner's mode of +pronouncing the English word Freebooter, a name which long preceded that +of Boucanier or Buccaneer, as <!--056.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[p. 44]</a></span>the occupation of cruising against the +Spaniards preceded that of hunting and curing meat. Some authors have +given a derivation to the name <i>Flibustier</i> from the word Flyboat, +because, say they, the French hunters in <i>Hispaniola</i> bought vessels of +the Dutch, called Flyboats, to cruise upon the Spaniards. There are two +objections to this derivation. First, the word <i>flyboat</i>, is only an +English translation of the Dutch word <i>fluyt</i>, which is the proper +denomination of the vessel intended by it. Secondly, it would not very +readily occur to any one to purchase Dutch fluyts, or flyboats, for +chasing vessels.</p> + +<p>Some have understood the Boucanier and Flibustier to be distinct both in +person and character<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a>. This was probably the case with a few, after the +settlement of <i>Tortuga</i>; but before, and very generally afterwards, the +occupations were joined, making one of amphibious character. Ships from +all parts of the <i>West Indies</i> frequented <i>Tortuga</i>, and it continually +happened that some among the crews quitted their ships to turn Buccaneers; +whilst among the Buccaneers some would be desirous to quit their hunting +employment, to go on a cruise, to make a voyage, or to return to <i>Europe</i>. +The two occupations of hunting and cruising being so common to the same +person, caused the names Flibustier and Buccaneer to be esteemed +synonimous, signifying always and principally the being at war with the +Spaniards. The Buccaneer and Flibustier therefore, as long as they +continued in a state of independence, are to be considered as the same +character, exercising sometimes one, sometimes <!--057.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[p. 45]</a></span>the other employment; and +either name was taken by them indifferently, whether they were employed on +the sea or on the land. But a fanciful kind of inversion took place, +through the different caprices of the French and English adventurers. The +greater part of the first cattle hunters were French, and the greater +number of the first cruisers against the Spaniards were English. The +French adventurers, nevertheless, had a partiality for the name of +Flibustier; whilst the English shewed a like preference for the name of +Buccaneer, which, as will be seen, was assumed by many hundred seamen of +their nation, who were never employed either in hunting or in the boucan.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Customs attributed to the Buccaneers.</span> A propensity to make +things which are extraordinary appear more so, has caused many peculiar +customs to be attributed to the Buccaneers, which, it is pretended, were +observed as strictly as if they had been established laws. It is said that +every Buccaneer had his chosen and declared comrade, between whom property +was in common, and if one died, the survivor was inheritor of the whole. +This was called by the French <i>Matelotage</i>. It is however acknowledged +that the <i>Matelotage</i> was not a compulsatory regulation; and that the +Buccaneers sometimes bequeathed by will. A general right of participation +in some things, among which was meat for present consumption, was +acknowledged among them; and it is said, that bolts, locks, and every +species of fastening, were prohibited, it being held that the use of such +securities would have impeached the honour of their vocation. Yet on +commencing Buccaneer, it was customary with those who were of respectable +lineage, to relinquish their family name, and assume some other, as a <i>nom +de guerre</i>. Their dress, which was uniformly slovenly when engaged in the +business of hunting or of the boucan, is mentioned as a prescribed +<i>costume</i>, but which doubtless <!--058.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[p. 46]</a></span>was prescribed only by their own +negligence and indolence; in particular, that they wore an unwashed shirt +and pantaloons dyed in the blood of the animals they had killed. Other +distinctions, equally capricious, and to little purpose, are related, +which have no connexion with their history. Some curious anecdotes are +produced, to shew the great respect some among them entertained for +religion and for morality. A certain Flibustier captain, named Daniel, +shot one of his crew in the church, for behaving irreverently during the +performance of mass. Raveneau de Lussan (whose adventures will be +frequently mentioned) took the occupation of a Buccaneer, because he was +in debt, and wished, as every honest man should do, to have wherewithal to +satisfy his creditors.</p> + +<p>In their sea enterprises, they followed most of the customs which are +generally observed in private ships of war; and sometimes were held +together by a subscribed written agreement, by the English called +Charter-party; by the French <i>Chasse-partie</i>, which might in this case be +construed a Chasing agreement. Whenever it happened that <i>Spain</i> was at +open and declared war with any of the maritime nations of <i>Europe</i>, the +Buccaneers who were natives of the country at war with her, obtained +commissions, which rendered the vessels in which they cruised, regular +privateers.</p> + +<p>The English adventurers sometimes, as is seen in Dampier, called +themselves Privateers, applying the term to persons in the same manner we +now apply it to private ships of war. The Dutch, whose terms are generally +faithful to the meaning intended, called the adventurers <i>Zee Roovers</i>; +the word <i>roover</i> in the Dutch language comprising the joint sense of the +two English words rover and robber.<!--059.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[p. 47]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_V" id="CHAP_V"></a>CHAP. V.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>Treaty made by the Spaniards with Don </i>Henriquez<i>. Increase of +English and French in the </i>West Indies<i>. </i>Tortuga<i> surprised by the +Spaniards. Policy of the English and French Governments with +respect to the Buccaneers. </i>Mansvelt<i>, his attempt to form an +independent Buccaneer Establishment. French West-India Company. +</i>Morgan<i> succeeds </i>Mansvelt<i> as Chief of the Buccaneers.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1630.</span> The Spanish Government at length began to think it +necessary to relax from their large pretensions, and in the year 1630 +entered into treaties with other European nations, for mutual security of +their West-India possessions. In a Treaty concluded that year with <i>Great +Britain</i>, it was declared, that peace, amity, and friendship, should be +observed between their respective subjects, in all parts of the world. But +this general specification was not sufficient to produce effect in the +<i>West Indies</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1633.</span> In <i>Hispaniola</i>, in the year 1633, the Government at +<i>San Domingo</i> concluded a treaty with Don Henriquez; which was the more +readily accorded to him, because it was apprehended the revolted natives +would league with the Brethren of the Coast. By this treaty all the +followers of Don Henriquez who could claim descent from the original +natives, in number four thousand persons, were declared free and under his +protection, and lands were marked out for them. But, what is revolting to +all generous hopes of human nature, the negroes were abandoned to the +Spaniards. Magnanimity was not to be expected of the <!--060.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[p. 48]</a></span>natives of <i>Hayti</i>; +yet they had shewn themselves capable of exertion for their own relief; +and a small degree more of firmness would have included these, their most +able champions, in the treaty. This weak and wicked defection from +friends, confederated with them in one common and righteous cause, seems +to have wrought its own punishment. The vigilance and vigour of mind of +the negro might have guarded against encroachments upon the independence +obtained; instead of which, the wretched Haytians in a short time fell +again wholly into the grinding hands of the Spaniards: and in the early +part of the eighteenth century, it was reckoned that the whole number +living, of the descendants of the party of Don Henriquez, did not quite +amount to one hundred persons.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Cultivation in Tortuga.</span> The settlement of the Buccaneers at +<i>Tortuga</i> drew many Europeans there, as well settlers as others, to join +in their adventures and occupations. They began to clear and cultivate the +grounds, which were before overgrown with woods, and made plantations of +tobacco, which proved to be of extraordinary good quality.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Increase of the English and French Settlements in the West +Indies.</span> More Europeans, not Spaniards, consequently allies of the +Buccaneers, continued to pour into the <i>West Indies</i>, and formed +settlements on their own accounts, on some of the islands of the small +<i>Antilles</i>. These settlements were not composed of mixtures of different +people, but were most of them all English or all French; and as they grew +into prosperity, they were taken possession of for the crowns of <i>England</i> +or of <i>France</i> by the respective governments. Under the government +authorities new colonists were sent out, royal governors were appointed, +and codes of law established, which combined, with the security of the +colony, the interests of the mother-country. But at the same time these +benefits were conferred, grants of lands were made under royal authority, +which dispossessed many persons, who, by <!--061.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[p. 49]</a></span>labour and perilous adventure, +and some who at considerable expence, had achieved establishments for +themselves, in favour of men till then no way concerned in any of the +undertakings. In some cases, grants of whole islands were obtained, by +purchase or favour; and the first settlers, who had long before gained +possession, and who had cleared and brought the ground into a state for +cultivation, were rendered dependent upon the new proprietary governors, +to whose terms they were obliged to submit, or to relinquish their tenure. +Such were the hard accompaniments to the protection afforded by the +governments of <i>France</i> and <i>Great Britain</i> to colonies, which, before +they were acknowledged legitimate offsprings of the mother-country, had +grown into consideration through their own exertions; and only because +they were found worth adopting, were now received into the parent family. +The discontents created by this rapacious conduct of the governments, and +the disregard shewn to the claims of the first settlers, instigated some +to resistance and rebellion, and caused many to join the Buccaneers. The +Caribbe inhabitants were driven from their lands also with as little +ceremony.</p> + +<p>The Buccaneer colony at <i>Tortuga</i> had not been beheld with indifference by +the Spaniards. <span class="sidenote">1638.</span> The Buccaneers, with the carelessness +natural to men in their loose condition of life, under neither command nor +guidance, continued to trust to the supineness of the enemy for their +safety, and neglected all precaution. <span class="sidenote">Tortuga surprised by the +Spaniards.</span> In the year 1638, the Spaniards with a large force fell +unexpectedly upon <i>Tortuga</i>, at a time when the greater number of the +settlers were absent in <i>Hispaniola</i> on the chace; and those who were on +the Island, having neither fortress nor government, became an easy prey to +the Spaniards, who made a general massacre of all who fell into their +hands, not only of those they surprised in the beginning, but many who +afterwards <!--062.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[p. 50]</a></span>came in from the woods to implore their lives on condition of +returning to <i>Europe</i>, they hanged. A few kept themselves concealed, till +they found an opportunity to cross over to their brethren in <i>Hispaniola</i>.</p> + +<p>It happened not to suit the convenience of the Spaniards to keep a +garrison at <i>Tortuga</i>, and they were persuaded the Buccaneers would not +speedily again expose themselves to a repetition of such treatment as they +had just experienced; therefore they contented themselves with destroying +the buildings, and as much as they could of the plantations; after which +they returned to <i>San Domingo</i>. In a short time after their departure, the +remnant of the Hunters collected to the number of three hundred, again +fixed themselves at <i>Tortuga</i>, and, for the first time, elected a +commander.</p> + +<p>As the hostility of the Buccaneers had constantly and solely been directed +against the Spaniards, all other Europeans in the <i>West Indies</i> regarded +them as champions in the common cause, and the severities which had been +exercised against them created less of dread than of a spirit of +vengeance. The numbers of the Buccaneers were quickly recruited by +volunteers of English, French, and Dutch, from all parts; and both the +occupations of hunting and cruising were pursued with more than usual +eagerness. The French and English Governors in the <i>West Indies</i>, +influenced by the like feelings, either openly, or by connivance, gave +constant encouragement to the Buccaneers. The French Governor at <i>St. +Christopher</i>, who was also Governor General for the French West-India +Islands, was most ready to send assistance to the Buccaneers. This +Governor, Monsieur de Poincy, an enterprising and capable man, had formed +a design to take possession of the Island <i>Tortuga</i> for the crown of +<i>France</i>; which he managed to put in execution three years after, having +by that time predisposed <!--063.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[p. 51]</a></span>some of the principal French Buccaneers to +receive a garrison of the French king's troops. <span class="sidenote">Tortuga taken +possession of for the Crown of France.</span> This appropriation was made in +1641; and De Poincy, thinking his acquisition would be more secure to +<i>France</i> by the absence of the English, forced all the English Buccaneers +to quit the Island. The French writers say, that before the interposition +of the French Governor, the English Buccaneers took advantage of their +numbers, and domineered in <i>Tortuga</i>. The English Governors in the <i>West +Indies</i> could not at this time shew the same tender regard for the English +Buccaneers, as the support they received from home was very precarious, +owing to the disputes which then subsisted in <i>England</i> between King +Charles and the English Parliament, which engrossed so much of the public +attention as to leave little to colonial concerns.</p> + +<p>The French Commander de Poincy pushed his success. In his appointment of a +Governor to <i>Tortuga</i>, he added the title of Governor of the West coast of +<i>Hispaniola</i>, and by degrees he introduced French garrisons. This was the +first footing obtained by the Government of <i>France</i> in <i>Hispaniola</i>. The +same policy was observed there respecting the English as at <i>Tortuga</i>, by +which means was effected a separation of the English Buccaneers from the +French. After this time, it was only occasionally, and from accidental +circumstances, or by special agreement, that they acted in concert. The +English adventurers, thus elbowed out of <i>Hispaniola</i> and <i>Tortuga</i>, lost +the occupation of hunting cattle and of the boucan, but they continued to +be distinguished by the appellation of Buccaneers, and, when not cruising, +most generally harboured at the Islands possessed by the British.</p> + +<p>Hitherto, it had rested in the power of the Buccaneers to have formed +themselves into an independent state. Being composed of people of +different nations, the admission of a Governor <!--064.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[p. 52]</a></span>from any one, might easily +have been resisted. Now, they were considered in a kind of middle state, +between that of Buccaneers and of men returned to their native allegiance. +It seemed now in the power of the English and French Governments to put a +stop to their cruisings, and to furnish them with more honest employment; +but politics of a different cast prevailed. The Buccaneers were regarded +as profitable to the Colonies, on account of the prizes they brought in; +and even vanity had a share in their being countenanced. <span class="sidenote">Policy +of the English and French Governments with respect to the Buccaneers.</span> The +French authors call them <i>nos braves</i>, and the English speak of their +'unparalleled exploits.' The policy both of <i>England</i> and of <i>France</i> with +respect to the Buccaneers, seems to have been well described in the +following sentence: <i>On laissoit faire des Avanturiers, qu'on pouvoit +toujours desavouer, mais dont les succes pouvoient etre utiles</i>: <i>i. e.</i> +'they connived at the actions of these Adventurers, which could always be +disavowed, and whose successes might be serviceable.' This was not +esteemed <i>friponnerie</i>, but a maxim of sound state policy. In the +character given of a good French West-India governor, he is praised, for +that, 'besides encouraging the cultivation of lands, he never neglected to +encourage the <i>Flibustiers</i>. It was a certain means of improving the +Colony, by attracting thither the young and enterprising. He would +scarcely receive a slight portion of what he was entitled to from his +right of bestowing commissions in time of war<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a>. And when we were at +peace, and our Flibustiers, for want of other employment, would go +cruising, and would carry their prizes to the English Islands, he was at +the pains of procuring them commissions from <i>Portugal</i>, which country was +then at war with <i>Spain</i>; in virtue of which our <i>Flibustiers</i> continued +to <!--065.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[p. 53]</a></span>make themselves redoubtable to the Spaniards, and to spread riches and +abundance in our Colonies.' This panegyric was bestowed by Père Labat; who +seems to have had more of national than of moral or religious feeling on +this head.</p> + +<p>It was a powerful consideration with the French and English Governments, +to have at their occasional disposal, without trouble or expence, a well +trained military force, always at hand, and willing to be employed upon +emergency; who required no pay nor other recompense for their services and +constant readiness, than their share of plunder, and that their piracies +upon the Spaniards should pass unnoticed.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1644.</span> Towards the end of 1644, a new Governor General for the +French West-India possessions was appointed by the French Regency (during +the minority of Louis <span class="smcap">XIV</span>.); but the Commander de Poincy did not choose to +resign, and the colonists were inclined to support him. Great discontents +prevailed in the French Colonies, which rendered them liable to being +shaken by civil wars; and the apprehensions of the Regency on this head +enabled De Poincy to stand his ground. He remained Governor General over +the French Colonies not only for the time, but was continued in that +office, by succeeding administrations, many years.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1654. The Buccaneers plunder New Segovia.</span> About +the year 1654, a large party of Buccaneers, French and English, joined in +an expedition on the Continent. They ascended a river of the <i>Mosquito +shore</i>, a small distance on the South side of <i>Cape Gracias a Dios</i>, in +canoes; and after labouring nearly a month against a strong stream and +waterfalls, they left their canoes, and marched to the town of <i>Nueva +Segovia</i>, which they plundered, and then returned down the river.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">The Spaniards retake Tortuga. 1655. With the assistance of the +Buccaneers, the English take Jamaica: 1660; And the French retake +Tortuga.</span> In the same year, the Spaniards took <i>Tortuga</i> from the +French.<!--066.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[p. 54]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the year following, 1655, <i>England</i> being at war +with <i>Spain</i>, a large force was sent from <i>England</i> to attempt the +conquest of the Island <i>Hispaniola</i>. In this attempt they failed; but +afterwards fell upon <i>Jamaica</i>, of which Island they made themselves +masters, and kept possession. In the conquest of <i>Jamaica</i>, the English were greatly +assisted by the Buccaneers; and a few years after, with their assistance +also, the French regained possession of <i>Tortuga</i>.</p> + +<p>On the recovery of <i>Tortuga</i>, the French Buccaneers greatly increased in +the Northern and Western parts of <i>Hispaniola</i>. <i>Spain</i> also sent large +reinforcements from <i>Europe</i>; and for some years war was carried on with +great spirit and animosity on both sides. During the heat of this contest, +the French Buccaneers followed more the occupation of hunting, and less +that of cruising, than at any other period of their history.</p> + +<p>The Spaniards finding they could not expel the French from <i>Hispaniola</i>, +determined to join their efforts to those of the French hunters, for the +destruction of the cattle and wild hogs on the Island, so as to render the +business of hunting unproductive. But the French had begun to plant; and +the depriving them of the employment of hunting, drove them to other +occupations not less contrary to the interest and wishes of the Spaniards. +The less profit they found in the chase, the more they became cultivators +and cruisers.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Pierre le Grand, a French Buccaneer.</span> The Buccaneer Histories +of this period abound with relations: of daring actions performed by them; +but many of which are chiefly remarkable for the ferocious cruelty of the +leaders by whom they were conducted. Pierre, a native of <i>Dieppe</i>, for his +success received to his name the addition of <i>le grand</i>, and is mentioned +as one of the first Flibustiers who obtained much notoriety. In a boat, +with a crew of twenty-eight men, he <!--067.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[p. 55]</a></span>surprised and took the Ship of the +Vice-Admiral of the Spanish galeons, as she was sailing homeward-bound +with a rich freight. He set the Spanish crew on shore at <i>Cape Tiburon</i>, +the West end of <i>Hispaniola</i>, and sailed in his prize to <i>France</i>. +<span class="sidenote">Alexandre.</span> A Frenchman, named Alexandre, also in a small +vessel, took a Spanish ship of war.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Montbars, surnamed the Exterminator.</span> It is related of another +Frenchman, a native of <i>Languedoc</i>, named Montbars, that on reading a +history of the cruelty of the Spaniards to the Americans, he conceived +such an implacable hatred against the Spaniards, that he determined on +going to the <i>West Indies</i> to join the Buccaneers; and that he there +pursued his vengeance with so much ardour as to acquire the surname of the +Exterminator.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Bartolomeo Portuguez.</span> One Buccaneer of some note was a native +of <i>Portugal</i>, known by the name of Bartolomeo Portuguez; who, however, +was more renowned for his wonderful escapes, both in battle, and from the +gallows, than for his other actions.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">L'Olonnois, a French Buccaneer, and Michel le +Basque, take Maracaibo and Gibraltar.</span> But no one of the Buccaneers +hitherto named, arrived at so great a degree of notoriety, as a Frenchman, +called François L'Olonnois, a native of part of the French coast which is +near the sands of <i>Olonne</i>, but whose real name is not known. This man, +and Michel le Basque, both Buccaneer commanders, at the head of 650 men, +took the towns of <i>Maracaibo</i> and <i>Gibraltar</i> in the <i>Gulf of Venezuela</i>, +on the <i>Tierra Firma</i>. The booty they obtained by the plunder and ransom +of these places, was estimated at 400,000 crowns. The barbarities +practised on the prisoners could not be exceeded. <span class="sidenote">Outrages +committed by L'Olonnois.</span> Olonnois was possessed with an ambition to make +himself renowned for being terrible. At one time, it is said, he put the +whole crew of a Spanish ship, ninety men, to death, performing himself the +office of executioner, by beheading them. He caused the crews of four +other vessels to be thrown into the sea; and more <!--068.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[p. 56]</a></span>than once, in his +frenzies, he tore out the hearts of his victims, and devoured them. Yet +this man had his encomiasts; so much will loose notions concerning glory, +aided by a little partiality, mislead even sensible men. Père Charlevoix +says, <i>Celui de tous, dont les grandes actions illustrerent davantage les +premieres années du gouvernement de M. d'Ogeron, fut l'Olonnois. Ses +premiers succès furent suivis de quelques malheurs, qui ne servirent qu'à +donner un nouveau lustre à sa gloire.</i> The career of this savage was +terminated by the Indians of the coast of <i>Darien</i>, on which he had +landed.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Mansvelt, a Buccaneer Chief; his Plan for forming a Buccaneer +Establishment. 1664.</span> The Buccaneers now went in such formidable numbers, +that several Spanish towns, both on the Continent and among the Islands of +the <i>West Indies</i>, submitted to pay them contribution. And at this time, a +Buccaneer commander, named Mansvelt, more provident and more ambitious in +his views than any who preceded him, formed a project for founding an +independent Buccaneer establishment. Of what country Mansvelt was native, +does not appear; but he was so popular among the Buccaneers, that both +French and English were glad to have him for their leader. The greater +number of his followers in his attempt to form a settlement were probably +English, as he fitted out in <i>Jamaica</i>. A Welshman, named Henry Morgan, +who had made some successful cruises as a Buccaneer, went with him as +second in command. <span class="sidenote">Island S<sup>ta</sup> Katalina, or Providence; since +named Old Providence.</span> The place designed by them for their establishment, +was an Island named <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Katalina</i>, or <i>Providence</i>, situated in +latitude 13° 24′ N, about 40 leagues to the Eastward of the <i>Mosquito +shore</i>. This Island is scarcely more than two leagues in its greatest +extent, but has a harbour capable of being easily fortified against an +enemy; and very near to its North end is a much smaller Island. The late +Charts assign the name of <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Katalina</i> to the small Island, and give +to the larger Island that of <i>Old Providence</i>, the epithet <i>Old</i> having +<!--069.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[p. 57]</a></span>been added to distinguish this from the <i>Providence</i> of the <i>Bahama +Islands</i>. At the time Mansvelt undertook his scheme of settlement, this +<i>S<sup>ta</sup> Katalina</i>, or <i>Providence Island</i>, was occupied by the Spaniards, +who had a fort and good garrison there. Some time in or near the year +1664, Mansvelt sailed thither from <i>Jamaica</i>, with fifteen vessels and 500 +men. He assaulted and took the fort, which he garrisoned with one hundred +Buccaneers and all the slaves he had taken, and left the command to a +Frenchman, named Le Sieur Simon. At the end of his cruise, he returned to +<i>Jamaica</i>, intending to procure there recruits for his Settlement of +<i>S<sup>ta</sup> Katalina</i>; but the Governor of <i>Jamaica</i>, however friendly to the +Buccaneers whilst they made <i>Jamaica</i> their home, saw many reasons for +disliking Mansvelt's plan, and would not consent to his raising men.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Death of Mansvelt.</span> Not being able to overcome the Governor's +unwillingness, Mansvelt sailed for <i>Tortuga</i>, to try what assistance he +could procure there; but in the passage he was suddenly taken ill, and +died. For a length of time after, Simon remained at <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Katalina</i> with +his garrison, in continual expectation of seeing or hearing from Mansvelt; +instead of which, a large Spanish force arrived and besieged his fort, +when, learning of Mansvelt's death, and seeing no prospect of receiving +reinforcement or relief, he found himself obliged to surrender.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">French West-India Company.</span> The government in <i>France</i> had +appointed commissioners on behalf of the French West-India Company, to +take all the Islands called the <i>French Antilles</i>, out of the hands of +individuals, subjects of <i>France</i>, who had before obtained possession, and +to put them into the possession of the said Company, to be governed +according to such provisions as they should think proper. <span class="sidenote"> +1665.</span> In February 1665, M. d'Ogeron was appointed Governor of <i>Tortuga</i>, +and of the French settlements in <i>Hispaniola</i>, or <i>St. Domingo</i>, as the +Island was now more commonly called. <span class="sidenote">The French settlers +dispute their authority.</span> On <!--070.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[p. 58]</a></span>his arrival at <i>Tortuga</i>, the French +adventurers, both there and in <i>Hispaniola</i>, declared that if he came to +govern in the name of the King of <i>France</i>, he should find faithful and +obedient subjects; but they would not submit themselves to any Company; +and in no case would they consent to the prohibiting their trade with the +Hollanders, 'with whom,' said the Buccaneers, 'we have been in the +constant habit of trading, and were so before it was known in <i>France</i> +that there was a single Frenchman in <i>Tortuga</i>, or on the coast of <i>St. +Domingo</i>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1665-7.</span> M. d'Ogeron had recourse to dissimulation to allay +these discontents. He yielded consent to the condition respecting the +commerce with the Dutch, fully resolved not to observe it longer than till +his authority should be sufficiently established for him to break it with +safety; and to secure the commerce within his government exclusively to +the French West-India Company, who, when rid of all competitors, would be +able to fix their own prices. It was not long before M. d'Ogeron judged +the opportunity was arrived for effecting this revocation without danger; +but it caused a revolt of the French settlers in <i>St. Domingo</i>, which did +not terminate without bloodshed and an execution; and so partial as well +as defective in principle were the historians who have related the fact, +that they have at the same time commended M. d'Ogeron for his probity and +simple manners. In the end, he prevailed in establishing a monopoly for +the Company, to the injury of his old companions the French Buccaneers, +with whom he had at a former period associated, and who had been his +benefactors in a time of his distress.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Morgan succeeds Mansvelt; plunders Puerto del Principe.</span> On the +death of Mansvelt, Morgan was regarded as the most capable and most +fortunate leader of any of the <i>Jamaica</i> Buccaneers. With a body of +several hundred men, who placed themselves under his command, he took and +plundered the town of <i>Puerto del Principe</i> in <i>Cuba</i>. A quarrel happened +at <!--071.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[p. 59]</a></span>this place among the Buccaneers, in which a Frenchman was +treacherously slain by an Englishman. The French took to arms, to revenge +the death of their countryman; but Morgan pacified them by putting the +murderer in irons, and promising he should be delivered up to justice on +their return to <i>Jamaica</i>; which was done, and the criminal was hanged. +But in some other respects, the French were not so well satisfied with +Morgan for their commander, as they had been with Mansvelt. Morgan was a +great rogue, and little respected the old proverb of, Honour among +Thieves: this had been made manifest to the French, and almost all of them +separated from him.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1667. Maracaibo again pillaged. 1668. Morgan takes Porto Bello: +Exercises great Cruelty.</span> <i>Maracaibo</i> was now a second time pillaged by the +French Buccaneers, under Michel le Basque.</p> + +<p>Morgan's next +undertaking was against <i>Porto Bello</i>, one of the principal and best +fortified ports belonging to the Spaniards in the <i>West Indies</i>. He had +under his command only 460 men; but not having revealed his design to any +person, he came on the town by surprise, and found it unprepared. Shocking +cruelties are related to have been committed in this expedition. Among +many others, that a castle having made more resistance than had been +expected, Morgan, after its surrendering, shut up the garrison in it, and +caused fire to be set to the magazine, destroying thereby the castle and +the garrison together. In the attack of another fort, he compelled a +number of religious persons, both male and female, whom he had taken +prisoners, to carry and plant scaling ladders against the walls; and many +of them were killed by those who defended the fort. The Buccaneers in the +end became masters of the place, and the use they made of their victory +corresponded with their actions in obtaining it. Many prisoners died under +tortures inflicted on them to make them discover concealed treasures, +whether they knew of any or not. A +large ransom was also extorted for the town and prisoners.<!--072.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[p. 60]</a></span></p> + +<p>This success attracted other Buccaneers, among them the French again, to +join Morgan; and by a kind of circular notice they rendezvoused in large +force under his command at the <i>Isla de la Vaca</i> (by the French called +<i>Isle Avache</i>) near the SW part of <i>Hispaniola</i>.</p> + +<p>A large French Buccaneer ship was lying at <i>la Vaca</i>, which was not of +this combination, the commander and crew of which refused to join with +Morgan, though much solicited. Morgan was angry, but dissembled, and with +a show of cordiality invited the French captain and his officers to an +entertainment on board his own ship. When they were his guests, they found +themselves his prisoners; and their ship, being left without officers, was +taken without resistance. The men put by Morgan in charge of the ship, +fell to drinking; and, whether from their drunkenness and negligence, or +from the revenge of any of the prisoners, cannot be known, she suddenly +blew up, by which 350 English Buccaneers, and all the Frenchmen on board +her, perished. <i>The History of the Buccaneers of America</i>, in which the +event is related, adds by way of remark, 'Thus was this unjust action of +Captain Morgan's soon followed by divine justice; for this ship, the +largest in his fleet, was blown up in the air, with 350 Englishmen and all +the French prisoners.' This comment seems to have suggested to Voltaire +the ridicule he has thrown on the indiscriminate manner in which men +sometimes pronounce misfortune to be a peculiar judgment of God, in the +dialogue he put into the mouths of Candide and Martin, on the wicked Dutch +skipper being drowned.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1669. Maracaibo and Gibraltar plundered by Morgan.</span> +From <i>Isla de la Vaca</i> Morgan sailed with his fleet to <i>Maracaibo</i> and +<i>Gibraltar</i>; which unfortunate towns were again sacked. It was a frequent +practice with these desperadoes to secure their prisoners by shutting them +up in churches, where it was easy to keep guard over them. This was done +by Morgan at <!--073.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[p. 61]</a></span><i>Maracaibo</i> and <i>Gibraltar</i>, and with so little care for +their subsistence, that many of the prisoners were actually starved to +death, whilst their merciless victors were rioting in the plunder of their +houses.</p> + +<p>Morgan remained so long at <i>Gibraltar</i>, that the Spaniards had time to +repair and put in order a castle at the entrance of the <i>Lagune of +Maracaibo</i>; and three large Spanish ships of war arrived and took stations +near the castle, by which they hoped to cut off the retreat of the +pirates. <span class="sidenote">His Contrivances in effecting his Retreat.</span> The +Buccaneer Histories give Morgan much credit here, for his management in +extricating his fleet and prizes from their difficult situation, which is +related to have been in the following manner. He converted one of his +vessels into a fire-ship, but so fitted up as to preserve the appearance +of a ship intended for fighting, and clumps of wood were stuck up in her, +dressed with hats on, to resemble men. By means of this ship, the rest of +his fleet following close at hand, he took one of the Spanish ships, and +destroyed the two others. Still there remained the castle to be passed; +which he effected without loss, by a stratagem which deceived the +Spaniards from their guard. During the day, and in sight of the castle, he +filled his boats with armed men, and they rowed from the ships to a part +of the shore which was well concealed by thickets. After waiting as long +as might be supposed to be occupied in the landing, all the men lay down +close in the bottom of the boats, except two in each, who rowed them back, +going to the sides of the ships which were farthest from the castle. This +being repeated several times, caused the Spaniards to believe that the +Buccaneers intended an assault by land with their whole force; and they +made disposition with their cannon accordingly, leaving the side of the +castle towards the sea unprovided. When it was night, and the ebb tide +began to make, Morgan's fleet took up their anchors, and, <!--074.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[p. 62]</a></span>without setting +sail, it being moonlight, they fell down the river, unperceived, till they +were nigh the castle. They then set their sails, and fired upon the +castle, and before the Spaniards could bring their guns back to return the +fire, the ships were past. The value of the booty made in this expedition +was 250,000 pieces of eight.</p> + +<p>Some minor actions of the Buccaneers are omitted here, not being of +sufficient consequence to excuse detaining the Reader, to whom will next +be related one of their most remarkable exploits.<!--075.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[p. 63]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_VI" id="CHAP_VI"></a>CHAP. VI.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>Treaty of </i>America<i>. Expedition of the Buccaneers against </i>Panama<i>. +Exquemelin's History of the American Sea Rovers. Misconduct of +the European Governors in the </i>West Indies<i>.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1670.</span> In July 1670, was concluded a Treaty between <i>Great +Britain</i> and <i>Spain</i>, made expressly with the intention of terminating the +Buccaneer war, and of settling all disputes between the subjects of the +two countries in <i>America</i>. It has been with this especial signification +entitled the Treaty of <i>America</i>, and is the first which appears to have +been dictated by a mutual disposition to establish peace in the <i>West +Indies</i>. The articles particularly directed to this end are the +following:—</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Treaty between Great Britain and Spain, called the Treaty of +America.</span> Art. II. There shall be an universal peace and sincere +friendship, as well in <i>America</i>, as in other parts, between the Kings of +<i>Great Britain</i> and <i>Spain</i>, their heirs and successors, their kingdoms, +plantations, &c.</p> + +<p>III. That all hostilities, depredations, &c. shall cease between the +subjects of the said Kings.</p> + +<p>IV. The two Kings shall take care that their subjects forbear all acts of +hostility, and shall call in all commissions, letters of marque and +reprisals, and punish all offenders, obliging them to make reparation.</p> + +<p>VII. All past injuries, on both sides, shall be buried in oblivion.</p> + +<p>VIII. The King of <i>Great Britain</i> shall hold and enjoy all the lands, +countries, &c. he is now possessed of in <i>America</i>.</p> + +<p>IX. The subjects on each side shall forbear trading or sailing to any +places whatsoever under the dominion of the other, without particular +licence.<!--076.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[p. 64]</a></span></p> + +<p>XIV. Particular offences shall be repaired in the common course of +justice, and no reprisals made unless justice be denied, or unreasonably +retarded.</p> + +<p>When notice of this Treaty was received in the <i>West Indies</i>, the +Buccaneers, immediately as of one accord, resolved to undertake some grand +expedition. Many occurrences had given rise to jealousies between the +English and the French in the <i>West Indies</i>; but Morgan's reputation as a +commander was so high, that adventurers from all parts signified their +readiness to join him, and he appointed <i>Cape Tiburon</i> on the West of +<i>Hispaniola</i> for the place of general rendezvous. In consequence of this +summons, in the beginning of December 1670, a fleet was there collected +under his command, consisting of no less than thirty-seven vessels of +different sizes, and above 2000 men. Having so large a force, he held +council with the principal commanders, and proposed for their +determination, which they should attempt of the three places, +<i>Carthagena</i>, <i>Vera Cruz</i>, and <i>Panama</i>. <i>Panama</i> was believed to be the +richest, and on that City the lot fell.</p> + +<p>A century before, when the name of Buccaneer was not known, roving +adventurers had crossed the <i>Isthmus of America</i> from the <i>West Indies</i> to +the <i>South Sea</i>; but the fate of Oxnam and his companions deterred others +from the like attempt, until the time of the Buccaneers, who, as they +increased in numbers, extended their enterprises, urged by a kind of +necessity, the <i>West Indies</i> not furnishing plunder sufficient to satisfy +so many men, whose modes of expenditure were not less profligate than +their means of obtaining were violent and iniquitous.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Expedition of the Buccaneers against Panama.</span> The rendezvous +appointed by Morgan for meeting his confederates was distant from any +authority which could prevent or impede their operations; and whilst they +remained on the coast of <i>Hispaniola</i>, he employed men to hunt cattle, and +cure meat. <!--077.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[p. 65]</a></span>He also sent vessels to collect maize, at the settlements on +the <i>Tierra Firma</i>. Specific articles of agreement were drawn up and +subscribed to, for the distribution of plunder. Morgan, as commander in +chief, was to receive one hundredth part; each captain was to have eight +shares; provision was stipulated for the maimed and wounded, and rewards +for those who should particularly distinguish themselves. <span class="sidenote"> +December. They take the Island S<sup>ta</sup> Katalina.</span> These matters +being settled, on December the 16th, the whole fleet sailed, from <i>Cape +Tiburon</i>; on the 20th, they arrived at the Island <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Katalina</i>, then +occupied by the Spaniards, who had garrisoned it chiefly with criminals +sentenced to serve there by way of punishment. Morgan had fully entered +into the project of Mansvelt for forming an establishment at <i>S<sup>ta</sup> +Katalina</i>, and he was not the less inclined to it now that he considered +himself as the head of the Buccaneers. The Island surrendered upon +summons. It is related, that at the request of the Governor, in which +Morgan indulged him, a military farce was performed; Morgan causing cannon +charged only with powder to be fired at the fort, which returned the like +fire for a decent time, and then lowered their flag.</p> + +<p>Morgan judged it would contribute to the success of the proposed +expedition against <i>Panama</i>, to make himself master of the fort or castle +of <i>San Lorenzo</i> at the entrance of the <i>River Chagre</i>. For this purpose +he sent a detachment of 400 men under the command of an old Buccaneer +named Brodely, and in the mean time remained himself with the main body of +his forces at <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Katalina</i>, to avoid giving the Spaniards cause to +suspect his further designs.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Attack of the Castle at the River Chagre.</span> The Castle of +<i>Chagre</i> was strong, both in its works and in situation, being built on +the summit of a steep hill. It was valiantly assaulted, and no less +valiantly defended. The Buccaneers were once forced to retreat. They +returned to the attack, and were nearly a second time driven back, when a +<!--078.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[p. 66]</a></span>powder magazine in the fort blew up, and the mischief and confusion +thereby occasioned gave the Buccaneers opportunity to force entrance +through the breaches they had made. The Governor of the castle refused to +take quarter which was offered him by the Buccaneers, as did also some of +the Spanish soldiers. More than 200 men of 314 which composed the garrison +were killed. The loss on the side of the Buccaneers was above 100 men +killed outright, and 70 wounded.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1671. January. March of the Buccaneers +across the Isthmus.</span> On receiving intelligence of the castle being taken, +Morgan repaired with the rest of his men from <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Katalina</i>. He set +the prisoners to work to repair the Castle of <i>San Lorenzo</i>, in which he +stationed a garrison of 500 men; he also appointed 150 men to take care of +the ships; and on the 18th of January 1671<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a>, he set forward at the head +of 1200 men for <i>Panama</i>. One party with artillery and stores embarked in +canoes, to mount the <i>River Chagre</i>, the course of which is extremely +serpentine. At the end of the second day, however, they quitted the +canoes, on account of the many obstructions from trees which had fallen in +the river, and because the river was at this time in many places almost +dry; but the way by land was also found so difficult for the carriage of +stores, that the canoes were again resorted to. On the sixth day, when +they had expended great part of their travelling store of provisions, they +had the good fortune to discover a barn full of maize. They saw many +native Indians, who all kept at a distance, and it was in vain endeavoured +to overtake some.</p> + +<p>On the seventh day they came to a village called <i>Cruz</i>, the inhabitants +of which had set fire to their houses, and fled. <!--079.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[p. 67]</a></span>They found there, +however, fifteen jars of Peruvian wine, and a sack of bread. The village +of <i>Cruz</i> is at the highest part of the <i>River Chagre</i> to which boats or +canoes, can arrive. It was reckoned to be eight leagues distant from +<i>Panama</i>.</p> + +<p>On the ninth day of their journey, they came in sight of the <i>South Sea</i>; +and here they were among fields in which cattle grazed. Towards evening, +they had sight of the steeples of <i>Panama</i>. In the course of their march +thus far from the Castle of <i>Chagre</i>, they lost, by being fired at from +concealed places, ten men killed; and as many more were wounded.</p> + +<p><i>Panama</i> had not the defence of regular fortifications. Some works had +been raised, but in parts the city lay open, and was to be won or defended +by plain fighting. According to the Buccaneer account, the Spaniards had +about 2000 infantry and 400 horse; which force, it is to be supposed, was +in part composed of inhabitants and slaves.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">27th. The City of Panama taken.</span> January the 27th, +early in the morning, the Buccaneers resumed their march towards the city. +The Spaniards came out to meet them. In this battle, the Spaniards made +use of wild bulls, which they drove upon the Buccaneers to disorder their +ranks; but it does not appear to have had much effect. In the end, the +Spaniards gave way, and before night, the Buccaneers were masters of the +city. All that day, the Buccaneers gave no quarter, either during the +battle, or afterwards. Six hundred Spaniards fell. The Buccaneers lost +many men, but the number is not specified.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">The City burnt.</span> One of the first precautions taken by Morgan +after his victory, was to prevent drunkenness among his men: to which end, +he procured to have it reported to him that all the wine in the city had +been poisoned by the inhabitants; and on the ground of this intelligence, +he strictly prohibited every one, under severe penalties, from tasting +wine. Before they had well <!--080.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[p. 68]</a></span>fixed their quarters in <i>Panama</i>, several +parts of the city burst out in flames, which spread so rapidly, that in a +short time many magnificent edifices built with cedar, and a great part of +the city, were burnt to the ground. Whether this was done designedly, or +happened accidentally, owing to the consternation of the inhabitants +during the assault, has been disputed. Morgan is accused of having +directed some of his people to commit this mischief, but no motive is +assigned that could induce him to an act which cut off his future prospect +of ransom. Morgan charged it upon the Spaniards; and it is acknowledged +the Buccaneers gave all the assistance they were able to those of the +inhabitants who endeavoured to stop the progress of the fire, which +nevertheless continued to burn near four weeks before it was quite +extinguished. Among the buildings destroyed, was a factory-house belonging +to the Genoese, who then carried on the trade of supplying the Spaniards +with slaves from <i>Africa</i>.</p> + +<p>The rapacity, licentiousness, and cruelty, of the Buccaneers, in their +pillage of <i>Panama</i>, had no bounds. 'They spared,' says the narrative of a +Buccaneer named Exquemelin, 'in these their cruelties no sex nor condition +whatsoever. As to religious persons and priests, they granted them less +quarter than others, unless they procured a considerable sum of money for +their ransom.' Morgan sent detachments to scour the country for plunder, +and to bring in prisoners from whom ransom might be extorted. Many of the +inhabitants escaped with their effects by sea, and went for shelter to the +Islands in the <i>Bay of Panama</i>. Morgan found a large boat lying aground in +the Port, which he caused to be lanched, and manned with a numerous crew, +and sent her to cruise among the Islands. A galeon, on board which the +women of a convent had taken refuge, and in which money, plate, and other +valuable effects, <!--081.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[p. 69]</a></span>had been lodged, very narrowly escaped falling into +their hands. They made prize of several vessels, one of which was well +adapted for cruising. This opened a new prospect; and some of the +Buccaneers began to consult how they might quit Morgan, and seek their +fortunes on the <i>South Sea</i>, whence they proposed to sail, with the +plunder they should obtain, by the <i>East Indies</i> to <i>Europe</i>. But Morgan +received notice of their design before it could be put in execution, and +to prevent such a diminution of his force, he ordered the masts of the +ship to be cut away, and all the boats or vessels lying at <i>Panama</i> which +could suit their purpose, to be burnt.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Feb. 24th. The Buccaneers depart from Panama.</span> The +old city of <i>Panama</i> is said to have contained 7000 houses, many of which +were magnificent edifices built with cedar. On the 24th of February, +Morgan and his men departed from its ruins, taking with them 175 mules +laden with spoil, and 600 prisoners, some of them carrying burthens, and +others for whose release ransom was expected. Among the latter were many +women and children. These poor creatures were designedly caused to suffer +extreme hunger and thirst, and kept under apprehensions of being carried +to <i>Jamaica</i> to be sold as slaves, that they might the more earnestly +endeavour to procure money to be brought for their ransom. When some of +the women, upon their knees and in tears, begged of Morgan to let them +return to their families, his answer to them was, that 'he came not there +to listen to cries and lamentations, but to seek money,' Morgan's thirst +for money was not restrained to seeking it among his foes. He had a hand +equally ready for that of his friends. Neither did he think his friends +people to be trusted; for in the middle of the march back to <i>Chagre</i>, he +drew up his men and caused them to be sworn, that they had not reserved or +concealed any plunder, but had delivered all fairly into the common stock. +<!--082.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[p. 70]</a></span>This ceremony, it seems, was not uncustomary. 'But Captain Morgan having +had experience that those loose fellows would not much stickle to swear +falsely in such a case, he commanded every one to be searched; and that it +might not be esteemed an affront, he permitted himself to be first +searched, even to the very soles of his shoes. The French Buccaneers who +had engaged on this expedition with Morgan, were not well satisfied with +this new custom of searching; but their number being less than that of the +English, they were forced to submit.' On arriving at <i>Chagre</i>, a division +was made. The narrative says, 'every person received his portion, or +rather what part thereof Captain Morgan was pleased to give him. For so it +was, that his companions, even those of his own nation, complained of his +proceedings; for they judged it impossible that, of so many valuable +robberies, no greater share should belong to them than 200 pieces of eight +<i>per</i> head. But Captain Morgan was deaf to these, and to many other +complaints of the same kind.'</p> + +<p>As Morgan was not disposed to allay the discontents of his men by coming +to a more open reckoning with them, to avoid having the matter pressed +upon him, he determined to withdraw from his command, 'which he did +without calling any council, or bidding any one adieu; but went secretly +on board his own ship, and put out to sea without giving notice, being +followed only by three or four vessels of the whole fleet, who it is +believed went shares with him in the greatest part of the spoil.'</p> + +<p>The rest of the Buccaneer vessels soon separated. Morgan went to +<i>Jamaica</i>, and had begun to levy men to go with him to the Island <i>S<sup>ta</sup> +Katalina</i>, which he purposed to hold as his own, and to make it a common +place of refuge for pirates; when the arrival of a new Governor at +<i>Jamaica</i>, Lord John Vaughan, with <!--083.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[p. 71]</a></span>orders to enforce the late treaty with +<i>Spain</i>, obliged him to relinquish his plan.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Exquemelin's History of the Buccaneers of America.</span> The +foregoing account of the destruction of <i>Panama</i> by Morgan, is taken from +a History of the Buccaneers of America, written originally in the Dutch +language by a Buccaneer named Exquemelin, and published at Amsterdam in +1678, with the title of <i>De Americaensche Zee Roovers</i>. Exquemelin's book +contains only partial accounts of the actions of some of the principal +among the Buccaneers. He has set forth the valour displayed by them in the +most advantageous light; but generally, what he has related is credible. +His history has been translated into all the European languages, but with +various additions and alterations by the translators, each of whom has +inclined to maintain the military reputation of his own nation. The +Spanish translation is entitled <i>Piratas</i>, and has the following short +complimentary Poem prefixed, addressed to the Spanish editor and +emendator:—</p> + +<div class="center" style="margin: auto;"> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">De Agamenôn cantó la vida Homero<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Y Virgilio de Eneas lo piadoso<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Camoēs de Gama el curso presurosso<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gongora el brio de Colon Velero.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Tu, O Alonso! mas docto y verdadoro,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Descrives del America ingenioso<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lo que assalta el Pirata codicioso:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lo que defiende el Español Guerrero.<br /></span> +</div></div> +</div> + +<p>The French translation is entitled <i>Les Avanturiers qui se sont signalez +dans les Indes</i>, and contains actions of the French Flibustiers which are +not in Exquemelin. The like has been done in the English translation, +which has for title <i>The Bucaniers of America</i>. The English translator, +speaking of the sacking of <i>Panama</i>, has expressed himself with a strange +mixture of boasting and compunctious feeling. This account, he says, +contains the unparalleled and bold exploits of Sir Henry <!--084.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[p. 72]</a></span>Morgan, written +by one of the Buccaneers who was present at those tragedies.</p> + +<p>It has been remarked, that the treaty of <i>America</i> furnishes an apology +for the enterprises of the Buccaneers previous to its notification; it +being so worded as to admit an inference that the English and Spaniards +were antecedently engaged in a continual war in <i>America</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1671.</span> The new Governor of <i>Jamaica</i> was authorized and +instructed to proclaim a general pardon, and indemnity from prosecution, +for all piratical offences committed to that time; and to grant 35 acres +of land to every Buccaneer who should claim the benefit of the +proclamation, and would promise to apply himself to planting; a measure +from which the most beneficial effects might have been expected, not to +the British colonists only, but to all around, in turning a number of able +men from destructive occupations to useful and productive pursuits, if it +had not been made subservient to sordid views. The author of the <i>History +of Jamaica</i> says, 'This offer was intended as a lure to engage the +Buccaneers to come into port with their effects, that the Governor might, +and which he was directed to do, take from them the tenths and fifteenths +of their booty as the dues of the Crown [and of the Colonial Government] +for granting them commissions.' Those who had neglected to obtain +commissions would of course have to make their peace by an increased +composition. In consequence of this scandalous procedure, the Jamaica +Buccaneers, to avoid being so taxed, kept aloof from <i>Jamaica</i>, and were +provoked to continue their old occupations. Most of them joined the French +Flibustiers at <i>Tortuga</i>. Some were afterwards apprehended at <i>Jamaica</i>, +where they were brought to trial, condemned as pirates, and executed.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1672.</span> A war which was entered into by <i>Great Britain</i> and +<i>France</i> <!--085.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[p. 73]</a></span>against <i>Holland</i>, furnished for a time employment for the +Buccaneers and Flibustiers, and procured the Spaniards a short respite.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1673. Flibustiers shipwrecked at Porto Rico;</span> In +1673, the French made an attempt to take the Island of <i>Curaçao</i> from the +Dutch, and failed. M. d'Ogeron, the Governor of <i>Tortuga</i>, intended to +have joined in this expedition, for which purpose he sailed in a ship +named l'Ecueil, manned with 300 Flibustiers; but in the night of the 25th +of February, she ran aground among some small islands and rocks, near the +North side of the Island <i>Porto Rico</i>. The people got safe to land, but +were made close prisoners by the Spaniards. After some months +imprisonment, M. d'Ogeron, with three others, made their escape in a +canoe, and got back to <i>Tortuga</i>. The Governor General over the French +West-India Islands at that time, was a M. de Baas, who sent to <i>Porto +Rico</i> to demand the deliverance of the French detained there prisoners. +The Spanish Governor of <i>Porto Rico</i> required 3000 pieces of eight to be +paid for expences incurred. De Baas was unwilling to comply with the +demand, and sent an agent to negociate for an abatement in the sum; but +they came to no agreement. M. d'Ogeron in the mean time collected five +hundred men in <i>Tortuga</i> and <i>Hispaniola</i>, with whom he embarked in a +number of small vessels to pass over to <i>Porto Rico</i>, to endeavour the +release of his shipwrecked companions; but by repeated tempests, several +of his flotilla were forced back, and he reached <i>Porto Rico</i> with only +three hundred men.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">And put to death by the Spaniards.</span> On their landing, the +Spanish Governor put to death all his French prisoners, except seventeen +of the officers. Afterwards in an engagement with the Spaniards, D'Ogeron +lost seventeen men, and found his strength not sufficient to force the +Spaniards to terms; upon which he withdrew from <i>Porto Rico</i>, and returned +to <i>Tortuga</i>. The seventeen French officers that were spared in <!--086.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[p. 74]</a></span>the +massacre of the prisoners, the Governor of <i>Porto Rico</i> put on board a +vessel bound for the <i>Tierra Firma</i>, with the intention of transporting +them to <i>Peru</i>; but from that fate they were delivered by meeting at sea +with an English Buccaneer cruiser. Thus, by the French Governor General +disputing about a trifling balance, three hundred of the French +Buccaneers, whilst employed for the French king's service under one of his +officers, were sacrificed.<!--087.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[p. 75]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_VII" id="CHAP_VII"></a>CHAP. VII.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr">Thomas Peche. <i>Attempt of </i>La Sound<i> to cross the </i>Isthmus of +America<i>. Voyage of </i>Antonio de Vea<i> to the </i>Strait of Magalhanes<i>. +Various Adventures of the Buccaneers, in the </i>West Indies<i>, to the +year 1679.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1673. Thomas Peche.</span> In 1673, Thomas Peche, an +Englishman, fitted out a ship in <i>England</i> for a piratical voyage to the +<i>South Sea</i> against the Spaniards. Previous to this, Peche had been many +years a Buccaneer in the <i>West Indies</i>, and therefore his voyage to the +<i>South Sea</i> is mentioned as a Buccaneer expedition; but it was in no +manner connected with any enterprise in or from the <i>West Indies</i>. The +only information we have of Peche's voyage is from a Spanish author, +<i>Seixas y Lovera</i>; and by that it may be conjectured that Peche sailed to +the <i>Aleutian Isles</i>.<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a></p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1675.</span> About this time the French West-India Company was +suppressed; but another Company was at the same time erected in its stead, +and under the unpromising title of <i>Compagnie des Fermiers du domaine +d'Occident</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">La Sound attempts to cross the Isthmus.</span> Since the plundering +of <i>Panama</i>, the imaginations of the Buccaneers had been continually +running on expeditions to the <i>South Sea</i>. This was well known to the +Spaniards, and produced many forebodings and prophecies, in <i>Spain</i> as +well as in <i>Peru</i>, of great invasions both by sea and land. The alarm was +increased by an attempt of a French Buccaneer, named La Sound, with a +small body of men, to cross over land to the <i>South Sea</i>. <!--088.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[p. 76]</a></span>La Sound got no +farther than the town of <i>Cheapo</i>, and was driven back. Dampier relates, +'Before my going to the <i>South Seas</i>, I being then on board a privateer +off <i>Portobel</i>, we took a packet from <i>Carthagena</i>. We opened a great many +of the merchants' letters, several of which informed their correspondents +of a certain prophecy that went about <i>Spain</i> that year, the tenor of +which was, <i>That the English privateers in the West Indies would that year +open a door into the South Seas</i>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Voyage of Ant. de Vea to the Strait of Magalhanes.</span> In 1675, it +was reported and believed in <i>Peru</i>, that strange ships, supposed to be +Pirates, had been seen on the coast of <i>Chili</i>, and it was apprehended +that they designed to form an establishment there. In consequence of this +information or rumour, the Viceroy sent a ship from <i>Peru</i>, under the +command of Don Antonio de Vea, accompanied with small barks as tenders, to +reconnoitre the <i>Gulf de la Santissima Trinidada</i>, and to proceed thence +to the West entrance of the <i>Strait of Magalhanes</i>. De Vea made +examination at those places, and was convinced, from the poverty of the +land, that no settlement of Europeans could be maintained there. One of +the Spanish barks, with a crew of sixteen men, was wrecked on the small +Islands called <i>Evangelists</i>, at the West entrance of the <i>Strait</i>. De Vea +returned to <i>Callao</i> in April 1676<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1676.</span> The cattle in <i>Hispaniola</i> had again multiplied so much +as to revive the business of hunting and the <i>boucan</i>. In 1676, some +French who had habitations in the <i>Peninsula of Samana</i> (the NE part of +<i>Hispaniola</i>) made incursions on the Spaniards, and plundered one of their +villages. Not long afterwards, the Spaniards learnt that in <i>Samana</i> there +were only women and children, the men being all absent on the chace; and +that it would be easy to surprise not only the habitations, but the +hunters also, who had a boucan at a place called the <i>Round Mountain</i>. +<!--089.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[p. 77]</a></span><span class="sidenote">Massacre of the French in Samana.</span> This the Spaniards +executed, and with such full indulgence to their wish to extirpate the +French in <i>Hispaniola</i>, that they put to the sword every one they found at +both the places. The French, in consequence of this misfortune, +strengthened their fortifications at <i>Cape François</i>, and made it their +principal establishment in the Island.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1678. French Fleet wrecked on the Isles de Aves.</span> +In 1678, the French again undertook an expedition against the Dutch Island +<i>Curaçao</i>, with a large fleet of the French king's ships, under the +command of Admiral the Count d'Etrées. The French Court were so earnest +for the conquest of <i>Curaçao</i>, to wipe off the disgrace of the former +failure, that the Governor of <i>Tortuga</i> was ordered to raise 1200 men to +join the Admiral d'Etrées. The king's troops within his government did not +exceed 300 men; nevertheless, the Governor collected the number required, +the Flibustiers willingly engaging in the expedition. Part of them +embarked on board the king's ships, and part in their own cruising +vessels. By mistake in the navigation, d'Etrées ran ashore in the middle +of the night on some small Isles to the East of <i>Curaçao</i>, called <i>de +Aves</i>, which are surrounded with breakers, and eighteen of his ships, +besides some of the Flibustier vessels, were wrecked. The crews were +saved, excepting about 300 men.</p> + +<p>The <i>Curaçao</i> expedition being thus terminated, the Flibustiers who had +engaged in it, after saving as much as they could of the wrecks, went on +expeditions of their own planning, to seek compensation for their +disappointment and loss. <span class="sidenote">Granmont.</span> Some landed on <i>Cuba</i>, and +pillaged <i>Puerto del Principe</i>. One party, under Granmont, a leader noted +for the success of his enterprises, went to the Gulf of <i>Venezuela</i>, and +the ill-fated towns <i>Maracaibo</i> and <i>Gibraltar</i> were again plundered; but +what the Buccaneers obtained was not of much value. In August this year, +<i>France</i> concluded a treaty of peace with <i>Spain</i> and <i>Holland</i>.<!--090.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[p. 78]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Government in <i>Jamaica</i> had by this time relapsed to its former +propensities, and again encouraged the Buccaneers, and shared in their +gains. One crew of Buccaneers carried there a vessel taken from the +Spaniards, the cargo of which produced for each man's share to the value +of 400<i>l.</i> After disposing of the cargo, they burnt the vessel; and +'having paid the Governor his duties, they embarked for <i>England</i>, where,' +added the author, 'some of them live in good reputation to this day<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a>.'</p> + +<p>As long as the war had lasted between <i>France</i> and <i>Spain</i>, the French +Buccaneers had the advantage of being lawful privateers. An English +Buccaneer relates, 'We met a French private ship of war, mounting eight +guns, who kept in our company some days. Her commission was only for three +months. We shewed him our commission, which was for three years to come. +This we had purchased at a cheap rate, having given for it only ten pieces +of eight; but the truth of the thing was, that our commission was made out +at first only for three months, the same date as the Frenchman's, whereas +among ourselves we contrived to make it that it should serve for three +years, for with this we were resolved to seek our fortunes.' Whenever +<i>Spain</i> was at war with another European Power, adventurers of any country +found no difficulty in the <i>West Indies</i> in procuring commissions to war +against the Spaniards; with which commission, and carrying aloft the flag +of the nation hostile to <i>Spain</i>, they assumed that they were lawful +enemies. Such pretensions did them small service if they fell into the +hands of the Spaniards; but they were allowed in the ports of neutral +nations, which benefited by being made the mart of the Buccaneer prize +goods; and the Buccaneers thought themselves well recompensed in having a +ready market, and the security of the port.<!--091.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[p. 79]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1678. Darien Indians.</span> The enterprises of the +Buccaneers on the <i>Tierra Firma</i> and other parts of the American +Continent, brought them into frequent intercourse with the natives of +those parts, and produced friendships, and sometimes alliances against the +Spaniards, with whom each were alike at constant enmity. But there +sometimes happened disagreements between them and the natives. The +Buccaneers, if they wanted provisions or assistance from the Indians, had +no objection to pay for it when they had the means; nor had the natives +objection to supply them on that condition, and occasionally out of pure +good will. The Buccaneers nevertheless, did not always refrain from +helping themselves, with no other leave than their own. Sometime before +Morgan's expedition to <i>Panama</i>, they had given the Indians of <i>Darien</i> +much offence; but shortly after that expedition, they were reconciled, in +consequence of which, the Darien Indians had assisted La Sound. In 1678, +they gave assistance to another party of Flibustiers which went against +<i>Cheapo</i>, under a French Captain named Bournano, and offered to conduct +them to a place called <i>Tocamoro</i>, where they said the Spaniards had much +gold. Bournano did not think his force sufficient to take advantage of +their offer, but promised he would come again and be better provided.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1679. Porto Bello surprised by the Buccaneers.</span> In +1679, three Buccaneer vessels (two of them English, and one French) joined +in an attempt to plunder <i>Porto Bello</i>. They landed 200 men at such a +distance from the town, that it occupied them three nights in travelling, +for during the day they lay concealed in the woods, before they reached +it. Just as they came to the town, they were discovered by a negro, who +ran before to give intelligence of their coming; but the Buccaneers were +so quickly after him, that they got possession of the town before the +inhabitants could take any step for their defence, <!--092.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[p. 80]</a></span>and, being +unacquainted with the strength of the enemy, they all fled. The Buccaneers +remained in the town collecting plunder two days and two nights, all the +time in apprehension that the Spaniards would; 'pour in the country' upon +their small force, or intercept their retreat. They got back however to +their ships unmolested, and, on a division of the booty, shared 160 pieces +of eight to each man.<!--093.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[p. 81]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_VIII" id="CHAP_VIII"></a>CHAP. VIII.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>Meeting of Buccaneers at the </i>Samballas<i>, and </i>Golden Island<i>. +Party formed by the English Buccaneers to cross the </i>Isthmus<i>. +Some account of the Native Inhabitants of the </i>Mosquito Shore<i>.</i></div> + + +<p>Immediately after the plundering of <i>Porto Bello</i>, a number of Buccaneer +vessels, both English and French, on the report which had been made by +Captain Bournano, assembled at the <i>Samballas</i>, or <i>Isles of San Blas</i>, +near the coast of <i>Darien</i>. One of these vessels was commanded by +Bournano. The Indians of <i>Darien</i> received them as friends and allies, but +they now disapproved the project of going to <i>Tocamoro</i>. The way thither, +they said, was mountainous, and through a long tract of uninhabited +country, in which it would be difficult to find subsistence; and instead +of <i>Tocamoro</i>, they advised going against the city of <i>Panama</i>. <span class="sidenote"> +1680. Golden Island.</span> Their representation caused the design upon <i>Tocamoro</i> to be given +up. The English Buccaneers were for attacking +<i>Panama</i>; but the French objected to the length of the march; and on this +difference, the English and French separated, the English Buccaneers going +to an Island called by them <i>Golden Island</i>, which is the most eastern of +the <i>Samballas</i>, if not more properly to be said to the eastward of all +the <i>Samballas</i>.</p> + +<p>Without the assistance of the French, <i>Panama</i> was too great an +undertaking. They were bent, however, on crossing the <i>Isthmus</i>; and at +the recommendation of their Darien friends, they determined to visit a +Spanish town named <i>Santa Maria</i>, situated on the banks of a river that +ran into the <i>South Sea</i>. The Spaniards kept a good garrison at <i>Santa +Maria</i>, on account of gold which was collected from mountains in its +neighbourhood.<!--094.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[p. 82]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Buccaneers who engaged in this expedition were the crews of seven +vessels, of force as in the following list:</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td> </td><td>Guns</td><td> </td><td>Men</td><td> </td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>A vessel of</td><td>8</td><td>and</td><td>97</td><td>commanded by</td><td>John Coxon.</td></tr> +<tr><td>"</td><td>25</td><td>"</td><td>107</td><td>"</td><td>Peter Harris.</td></tr> +<tr><td>"</td><td>1</td><td>"</td><td>35</td><td>"</td><td>Richard Sawkins.</td></tr> +<tr><td>"</td><td>2</td><td>"</td><td>40</td><td>"</td><td>Bart. Sharp.</td></tr> +<tr><td>"</td><td>0</td><td>"</td><td>43</td><td>"</td><td>Edmond Cook.</td></tr> +<tr><td>"</td><td>0</td><td>"</td><td>24</td><td>"</td><td>Robert Alleston.</td></tr> +<tr><td>"</td><td>0</td><td>"</td><td>20</td><td>"</td><td>Macket.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>It was settled that Alleston and Macket, with 35 men, themselves included, +should be left to guard the vessels during the absence of those who went +on the expedition, which was not expected to be of long continuance. These +matters were arranged at <i>Golden Island</i>, and agreement made with the +Darien Indians to furnish them with subsistence during the march.</p> + +<p>William Dampier, a seaman at that time of no celebrity, but of good +observation and experience, was among these Buccaneers, and of the party +to cross the <i>Isthmus</i>; as was Lionel Wafer, since well known for his +<i>Description of the Isthmus of Darien</i>, who had engaged with them as +surgeon.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Account of the Mosquito Indians.</span> In this party of Buccaneers +were also some native Americans, of a small tribe called Mosquito Indians, +who inhabited the sea coast on each side of <i>Cape Gracias a Dios</i>, one way +towards the river <i>San Juan de Nicaragua</i>, the other towards the <i>Gulf of +Honduras</i>, which is called the <i>Mosquito Shore</i>. If Europeans had any plea +in justification of their hostility against the Spaniards in the <i>West +Indies</i>, much more had the native Americans. The Mosquito Indians, +moreover, had long been, and were at the time of these occurrences, in an +extraordinary degree attached to the English, insomuch that voluntarily of +their own choice they acknowledged the King of <i>Great Britain</i> for their +sovereign. They were an extremely ingenious people, and were greatly +esteemed by the European seamen in the <i>West Indies</i>, on account of their +great <!--095.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[p. 83]</a></span>expertness in the use of the harpoon, and in taking turtle. The +following character of them is given by Dampier: 'These Mosquito Indians,' +he says; 'are tall, well made, strong, and nimble of foot; long visaged, +lank black hair, look stern, and are of a dark copper complexion. They are +but a small nation or family. They are very ingenious in throwing the +lance, or harpoon. They have extraordinary good eyes, and will descry a +sail at sea, farther than we. For these things, they are esteemed and +coveted by all privateers; for one or two of them in a ship, will +sometimes maintain a hundred men. When they come among privateers, they +learn the use of guns, and prove very good marksmen. They behave +themselves bold in fight, and are never seen to flinch, or hang back; for +they think that the white men with whom they are, always know better than +they do, when it is best to fight; and be the disadvantage never so great, +they do not give back while any of their party stand. These Mosquito men +are in general very kind to the English, of whom they receive a great deal +of respect, both on board their ships, and on shore, either in <i>Jamaica</i>, +or elsewhere. We always humour them, letting them go any where as they +will, and return to their country in any vessel bound that way, if they +please. They will have the management of themselves in their striking +fish, and will go in their own little canoe, nor will they then let any +white man come in their canoe; all which we allow them. For should we +cross them, though they should see shoals of fish, or turtle, or the like, +they will purposely strike their harpoons and turtle-irons aside, or so +glance them as to kill nothing. They acknowledge the King of England for +their sovereign, learn our language, and take the Governor of <i>Jamaica</i> to +be one of the greatest princes in the world. While they are among the +English, they wear good cloaths, and take delight to go neat and tight; +but when they return to their own country, they <!--096.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[p. 84]</a></span>put by all their cloaths, +and go after their own country fashion.'</p> + +<p>In Dampier's time, it was the custom among the Mosquito Indians, when +their Chief died, for his successor to obtain a commission, appointing him +Chief, from the Governor of <i>Jamaica</i>; and till he received his commission +he was not acknowledged in form by his countrymen<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a>.</p> + +<p>How would Dampier have been grieved, if he could have foreseen that this +simple and honest people, whilst their attachment to the English had +suffered no diminution, would be delivered by the British Government into +the hands of the Spaniards; which, from all experience of what had +happened, was delivering them to certain destruction.</p> + +<p>Before this unhappy transaction took place, and after the time Dampier +wrote, the British Government took actual possession of the Mosquito +Country, by erecting a fort, and stationing there a garrison of British +troops. British merchants settled among the Mosquito natives, and +magistrates were appointed with authority to administer justice. Mosquito +men were taken into British pay to serve as soldiers, of which the +following story is related in Long's History of <i>Jamaica</i>; 'In the year +1738, the Government of <i>Jamaica</i> took into their pay two hundred Mosquito +Indians, to assist in the suppression of the Maroons or Wild Negroes. +During a march on this service, <!--097.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[p. 85]</a></span>one of their white conductors shot a wild +hog. The Mosquito men told him, that was not the way to surprise the +negroes, but to put them on their guard; and if he wanted provisions, they +would kill the game equally well with their arrows. They effected +considerable service on this occasion, and were well rewarded for their +good conduct; and when a pacification took place with the Maroons, they +were sent well satisfied to their own country.'</p> + +<p>In the year 1770, there resided in the <i>Mosquito Country</i> of British +settlers, between two and three hundred whites, as many of mixed blood, +and 900 slaves. On the breaking out of the war between <i>Great Britain</i> and +<i>Spain</i>, in 1779, when the Spaniards drove the British logwood cutters +from their settlements in the <i>Bay of Honduras</i>, the Mosquito men armed +and assisted the British troops of the line in the recovery of the logwood +settlements. They behaved on that occasion, and on others in which they +served against the Spaniards, with their accustomed fidelity. An English +officer, who was in the <i>West Indies</i> during that war, has given a +description of the Mosquito men, which exactly agrees with what Dampier +has said; and all that is related of them whilst with the Buccaneers, +gives the most favourable impression of their dispositions and character. +It was natural to the Spaniards to be eagerly desirous to get the Mosquito +Country and people into their power; but it was not natural that such a +proposition should be listened to by the British. Nevertheless, the matter +did so happen.</p> + +<p>When notice was received in the <i>West Indies</i>, that a negociation was on +foot for the delivery of the <i>Mosquito Shore</i> to <i>Spain</i>, the Council at +<i>Jamaica</i> drew up a Report and Remonstrance against it; in which was +stated, that 'the number of the Mosquito Indians, so justly remarkable for +their fixed hereditary hatred to the Spaniards, and attachment to us, were +from seven to ten thousand.' Afterwards, in continuation, the <!--098.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[p. 86]</a></span>Memorial +says, 'We beg leave to state the nature of His Majesty's territorial +right, perceiving with alarm, from papers submitted to our inspection, +that endeavours have been made to create doubts as to His Majesty's just +claims to the sovereignty of this valuable and delightful country. The +native Indians of this country have never submitted to the Spanish +Government. The Spaniards never had any settlement amongst them. During +the course of 150 years they have maintained a strict and uninterrupted +alliance with the subjects of <i>Great Britain</i>. They made a free and formal +cession of the dominion of their country to His Majesty's predecessors, +acknowledging the King of <i>Great Britain</i> for their sovereign, long before +the American Treaty concluded at <i>Madrid</i> in 1670; and consequently, by +the eighth Article of that Treaty, our right was declared<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a>.' In one +Memorial and Remonstrance which was presented to the British Ministry on +the final ratification (in 1786) of the Treaty, it is complained, that +thereby his Majesty had given up to the King of <i>Spain</i> 'the Indian +people, and country of the <i>Mosquito Shore</i>, which formed the most secure +West-Indian Province possessed by <i>Great Britain</i>, and which we held by +the most pure and perfect title of sovereignty.' Much of this is +digression; but the subject unavoidably came into notice, and could not be +hastily quitted.</p> + +<p>Some mercantile arrangement, said to be advantageous to <i>Great Britain</i>, +but which has been disputed, was the publicly assigned motive to this act. +It has been conjectured that a desire to shew civility to the Prime +Minister of <i>Spain</i> was the real motive. Only blindness or want of +information could give either of these considerations such fatal +influence.</p> + +<p>The making over, or transferring, inhabited territory from <!--099.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[p. 87]</a></span>the dominion +and jurisdiction of one state to that of another, has been practised not +always with regard for propriety. It has been done sometimes unavoidably, +sometimes justly, and sometimes inexecusably. Unavoidably, when a weaker +state is necessitated to submit to the exactions of a stronger. Justly, +when the inhabitants of the territory it is proposed to transfer, are +consulted, and give their consent. Also it may be reckoned just to +exercise the power of transferring a conquered territory, the inhabitants +of which have not been received and adopted as fellow subjects with the +subjects of the state under whose power it had fallen.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants of a territory who with their lands are transferred to the +dominion of a new state without their inclinations being consulted, are +placed in the condition of a conquered people.</p> + +<p>The connexion of the Mosquito people with <i>Great Britain</i> was formed in +friendship, and was on each side a voluntary engagement. That it was an +engagement, should be no question. In equity and honour, whoever permits +it to be believed that he has entered into an engagement, thereby becomes +engaged. The Mosquito people were known to believe, and had been allowed +to continue in the belief, that they were permanently united to the +British. The Governors of <i>Jamaica</i> giving commissions for the instalment +of their chief, the building a fort, and placing a garrison in the +country, shew both acceptance of their submission and exercise of +sovereignty.</p> + +<p>Vattel has described this case. He says, 'When a nation has not sufficient +strength of itself, and is not in a condition to resist its enemies, it +may lawfully submit to a more powerful nation on certain conditions upon +which they shall come to an agreement; and the pact or treaty of +submission will be afterwards the measure and rule of the rights of each. +For <!--100.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[p. 88]</a></span>that which submits, resigning a right it possessed, and conveying it +to another, has an absolute power to make this conveyance upon what +conditions it pleases; and the other, by accepting the submission on this +footing, engages to observe religiously all the clauses in the treaty.</p> + +<p>When a nation has placed itself under the protection of another that is +more powerful, or has submitted to it with a view of protection; if this +last does not effectually grant its protection when wanted, it is manifest +that by failing in its engagements it loses the rights it had acquired.'</p> + +<p>The rights lost or relinquished by <i>Great Britain</i> might possibly be of +small import to her; but the loss of our protection was of infinite +consequence to the Mosquito people. Advantages supposed or real gained to +<i>Great Britain</i>, is not to be pleaded in excuse or palliation for +withdrawing her protection; for that would seem to imply that an +engagement is more or less binding according to the greater or less +interest there may be in observing it. But if there had been no +engagement, the length and steadiness of their attachment to <i>Great +Britain</i> would have entitled them to her protection, and the nature of the +case rendered the obligation sacred; for be it repeated, that experience +had shewn the delivering them up to the dominion of the Spaniards, was +delivering them to certain slavery and death. These considerations +possibly might not occur, for there seems to have been a want of +information on the subject in the British Ministry, and also a want of +attention to the remonstrances made. The Mosquito Country, and the native +inhabitants, the best affected and most constant of all the friends the +British ever had, were abandoned in the summer of 1787, to the Spaniards, +the known exterminators of millions of the native Americans, and who were +moreover incensed against the Mosquito men, for the part they had <!--101.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[p. 89]</a></span>always +taken with the British, by whom they were thus forsaken. The British +settlers in that country found it necessary, to withdraw as speedily as +they had opportunity, with their effects.</p> + +<p>If the business had been fully understood, and the safety of <i>Great +Britain</i> had depended upon abandoning the Mosquito people to their +merciless enemies, it would have been thought disgraceful by the nation to +have done it; but the national interest being trivial, and the public in +general being uninformed in the matter, the transaction took place without +attracting much notice. A motion, however, was made in the British House +of Lords, 'that the terms of the Convention with <i>Spain</i>, signed in July +1786, did not meet the favourable opinion of this House;' and the noble +Mover objected to that part of the Convention which related to the +surrender of the British possessions on the <i>Mosquito Shore</i>, that it was +a humiliation, and derogating from the rights of <i>Great Britain</i>. The +first Article of the Treaty of 1786 says, 'His Britannic Majesty's +subjects, and the other Colonists, who have hitherto enjoyed the +protection of <i>England</i>, shall evacuate the Country of the Mosquitos, as +well as the Continent in general, and the Islands adjacent, without +exception, situated beyond the line hereafter described, as what ought to +be the extent of territory granted by his Catholic Majesty to the +English.'</p> + +<p>In the debate, rights were asserted for <i>Spain</i>, not only to what she then +possessed on the Continent of <i>America</i>, but to parts she had never +possessed. Was this want of information, or want of consideration? The +word 'granted' was improperly introduced. In truth and justice, the claims +of <i>Spain</i> to <i>America</i> are not to be acknowledged rights. They were +founded in usurpation, and prosecuted by the extermination of the lawful +and natural proprietors. It is an offence to morality and to <!--102.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[p. 90]</a></span>humanity to +pretend that <i>Spain</i> had so clear and just a title to any part of her +possessions on the Continent of <i>America</i>, as <i>Great Britain</i> had to the +<i>Mosquito</i> Country. The rights of the Mosquito people, and their claims to +the friendship of <i>Great Britain</i>, were not sufficiently made known; and +the motion was negatived. It might have been of service in this debate to +have quoted Dampier.</p> + +<p>In conclusion, the case of the Mosquito people deserves, and demands the +reconsideration of <i>Great Britain</i>. If, on examination, it shall be proved +that they have been ungenerously and unjustly treated, it may not be too +late to seek to make reparation, which ought to be done as far as +circumstances will yet admit. The first step towards this would be, to +institute enquiry if there are living any of our forsaken friends, or of +their posterity, and what is their present condition. If the Mosquito +people have been humanely and justly governed since their separation from +<i>Great Britain</i>, the enquiry will give the Spaniards cause for triumph, +and the British cause to rejoice that evil has not resulted from their +act. On the other hand, should it be found that they have shared in the +common calamities heaped upon the natives of <i>America</i> by the Spaniards, +then, if there yet exist enough of their tribe to form a nation, it would +be right to restore them, if practicable, to the country and situation of +which their fathers were deprived, or to find them an equivalent; and at +any price or pains, to deliver them from oppression. If only few remain, +those few should be freed from their bondage, and be liberally provided +with lands and maintenance in our own <i>West-India Islands</i>.<!--103.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[p. 91]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_IX" id="CHAP_IX"></a>CHAP. IX.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>Journey of the Buccaneers across the</i> Isthmus of America.</div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1680. April 5th, Buccaneers land on the Isthmus.</span> +On the 5th of April, 1680, three hundred and thirty-one Buccaneers, most +of them English, passed over from <i>Golden Island</i>, and landed in <i>Darien</i>, +'each man provided with four cakes of bread called dough-boys, with a +fusil, a pistol, and a hanger.' They began their journey marshalled in +divisions, with distinguishing flags, under their several commanders, +Bartholomew Sharp and his men taking the lead. Many Darien Indians kept +them company as their confederates, and supplied them with plantains, +fruit, and venison, for which payment was made in axes, hatchets, knives, +needles, beads, and trinkets; all which the Buccaneers had taken care to +come well provided with. Among the Darien Indians in company were two +Chiefs, who went by the names of Captain Andreas and Captain Antonio.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">The First Day's March.</span> The commencement of their march was +through the skirt of a wood, which having passed, they proceeded about a +league by the side of a bay, and afterwards about two leagues directly up +a woody valley, where was an Indian house and plantation by the side of a +river. Here they took up their lodging for the night, those who could not +be received in the house, building huts. The Indians were earnest in +cautioning them against sleeping in the grass, on account of adders. This +first day's journey discouraged four of the Buccaneers, and they returned +to the ships. Stones were found in the river, which on being broken, shone +with sparks of gold. These stones, they were told, were driven <!--104.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[p. 92]</a></span>down from +the neighbouring mountains by torrents during the rainy season<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Second Day's Journey.</span> The next morning, at sunrise, they +proceeded in their journey, labouring up a steep hill, which they +surmounted about three in the afternoon; and at the foot on the other +side, they rested on the bank of a river, which Captain Andreas told them +ran into the <i>South Sea</i>, and was the same by which the town of <i>Santa +Maria</i> was situated. They marched afterwards about six miles farther, over +another steep hill, where the path was so narrow that seldom more than one +man could pass at a time. At night, they took up their lodging by the side +of the river, having marched this day, according to their computation, +eighteen miles.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">7th. Third Day's Journey.</span> The next day, April the 7th, the +march was continued by the river, the course of which was so serpentine, +that they had to cross it almost at every half mile, sometimes up to their +knees, sometimes to their middle, and running with a very swift current. +About noon they arrived at some large Indian houses, neatly built, the +sides of wood of the cabbage-tree, and the roofs of cane thatched over +with palmito leaves. The interior had divisions into rooms, but no upper +story; and before each house was a large plantain walk. Continuing their +journey, at five in the afternoon, they came to a house belonging to a son +of Captain Andreas, who wore a wreath of gold about his head, for which he +was honoured by the Buccaneers with the title of King Golden Cap. +<span class="sidenote">8th.</span> They found their entertainment at King Golden Cap's house +so good, that they rested there the whole of the following day. +Bartholomew Sharp, who published a Journal of his expedition, says here, +'The inhabitants of <i>Darien</i> are for the most part very handsome, +especially the female sex, who are also exceeding <!--105.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[p. 93]</a></span>loving and free to the +embraces of strangers.' This was calumny. Basil Ringrose, another +Buccaneer, whose Journal has been published, and who is more entitled to +credit than Sharp, as will be seen, says of the Darien women, 'they are +generally well featured, very free, airy, and brisk; yet withal very +modest.' Lionel Wafer also, who lived many months among the Indians of the +<i>Isthmus</i>, speaks highly of the modesty, kindness of disposition, and +innocency, of the Darien women.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">9th. Fourth Day's Journey.</span> On the 9th, after +breakfast, they pursued their journey, accompanied by the Darien Chiefs, +and about 200 Indians, who were armed with bows and lances. They descended +along the river, which they had to wade through between fifty and sixty +times, and they came to a house 'only here and there.' At most of these +houses, the owner, who had been apprised of the march of the Buccaneers, +stood at the door, and as they passed, gave to each man a ripe plantain, +or some sweet cassava root. If the Buccaneer desired more, he was expected +to purchase. Some of the Indians, to count the number of the Buccaneers, +for every man that went by dropped a grain of corn. That night they lodged +at three large houses, where they found entertainment provided, and also +canoes for them to descend the river, which began here to be navigable.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">10th. Fifth Day's Journey.</span> The next morning, as +they were preparing to depart, two of the Buccaneer Commanders, John Coxon +and Peter Harris, had some disagreement, and Coxon fired his musket at +Harris, who was about to fire in return, but other Buccaneers interposed, +and effected a reconciliation. Seventy of the Buccaneers embarked in +fourteen canoes, in each of which two Indians also went, who best knew how +to manage and guide them down the stream: the rest prosecuted their march +by <!--106.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[p. 94]</a></span>land. The men in the canoes found that mode of travelling quite as +wearisome as marching, for at almost every furlong they were constrained +to quit their boats to lanch them over rocks, or over trees that had +fallen athwart the river, and sometimes over necks of land. At night, they +stopped and made themselves huts on a green bank by the river's side. Here +they shot wild-fowl.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">11th. Sixth Day's Journey.</span> The next day, the +canoes continued to descend the river, having the same kind of impediments +to overcome as on the preceding day; and at night, they lodged again on +the green bank of the river. The land party had not kept up with them. +Bartholomew Sharp says, 'Our supper entertainment was a very good sort of +a wild beast called a <i>Warre</i>, which is much like to our English hog, and +altogether as good. There are store of them in this part of the world: I +observed that the navels of these animals grew upon their backs.' Wafer +calls this species of the wild hog, <i>Pecary</i><a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a>. In the night a small +tiger came, and after looking at them some time, went away. The Buccaneers +did not fire at him, lest the noise of their muskets should give alarm to +the Spaniards at <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Maria</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">12th. Seventh Day's Journey.</span> The next day, the +water party again embarked, but under some anxiety at being so long +without having any communication with the party marching by land. Captain +Andreas perceiving their uneasiness, sent a canoe back up the river, which +returned before sunset with some of the land party, and intelligence that +the rest were near at hand.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">13th.</span> Tuesday the 13th, early in the day, the Buccaneers +arrived at a beachy point of land, where another stream from the uplands +joined the river. This place had sometimes been the rendezvous of the +Darien Indians, when they collected for <!--107.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[p. 95]</a></span>attack or defence against the +Spaniards; and here the whole party now made a halt, to rest themselves, +and to clean and prepare their arms. They also made paddles and oars to +row with; for thus far down the river, the canoes had been carried by the +stream, and guided with poles: but here the river was broad and deep.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">14th.</span> On the 14th, the whole party, Buccaneers and Indians, +making nearly 600 men, embarked in 68 canoes, which the Indians had +provided. At midnight, they put to land, within half a mile of the town of +<i>S<sup>ta</sup> Maria</i>. <span class="sidenote">15th.</span> In the morning at the break of day, they +heard muskets fired by the guard in the town, and a 'drum beating <i>à +travailler</i><a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a>.' <span class="sidenote">Fort of S<sup>ta</sup> Maria taken.</span> The Buccaneers +put themselves in motion, and by seven in the morning came to the open +ground before the Fort, when the Spaniards began firing upon them. The +Fort was formed simply with palisadoes, without brickwork, so that after +pulling down two or three of the palisadoes, the Buccaneers entered +without farther opposition, and without the loss of a man; nevertheless, +they acted with so little moderation or mercy, that twenty-six Spaniards +were killed, and sixteen wounded. After the surrender, the Indians took +many of the Spaniards into the adjoining woods, where they killed them +with lances; and if they had not been discovered in their amusement, and +prevented, not a Spaniard would have been left alive. It is said in a +Buccaneer account, that they found here the eldest daughter of the King of +<i>Darien</i>, Captain Andreas, who had been forced from her father's house by +one of the garrison, and was with child by him; which greatly incensed the +father against the Spaniards.<!--108.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[p. 96]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Buccaneers were much disappointed in their expectations of plunder, +for the Spaniards had by some means received notice of their intended +visit in time to send away almost all that was of value. A Buccaneer says, +'though we examined our prisoners severely, the whole that we could +pillage, either in the town or fort, amounted only to twenty pounds weight +of gold, and a small quantity of silver; whereas three days sooner, we +should have found three hundred pounds weight in gold in the Fort.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">John Coxon chosen Commander.</span> The majority of the Buccaneers +were desirous to proceed in their canoes to the <i>South Sea</i>, to seek +compensation for their disappointment at <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Maria</i>. John Coxon and +his followers were for returning; on which account, and not from an +opinion of his capability, those who were for the <i>South Sea</i>, offered +Coxon the post of General, provided he and his men would join in their +scheme, which offer was accepted.</p> + +<p>It was then determined to descend with the stream of the river to the +<i>Gulf de San Miguel</i>, which is on the East side of the <i>Bay of Panama</i>. +The greater part of the Darien Indians, however, separated from them at +<i>S<sup>ta</sup> Maria</i>, and returned to their homes. The Darien Chief Andreas, and +his son Golden Cap, with some followers, continued with the Buccaneers.</p> + +<p>Among the people of <i>Darien</i> were remarked some white, 'fairer than any +people in Europe, who had hair like unto the finest flax; and it was +reported of them that they could see farther in the dark than in the +light<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a>.'</p> + +<p>The River of <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Maria</i> is the largest of several rivers which fall +into the <i>Gulf de San Miguel</i>. Abreast where the town stood, it was +reckoned to be twice as broad as the <i>River Thames</i> is at <i>London</i>. The +rise and fall of the tide there was two fathoms and a half<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a>.<!--109.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[p. 97]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">April 17th.</span> April the 17th, the Buccaneers and their remaining +allies embarked from <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Maria</i>, in canoes and a small bark which was +found at anchor before the town. About thirty Spaniards who had been made +prisoners, earnestly entreated that they should not be left behind to fall +into the hands of the Indians. 'We had much ado,' say the Buccaneers, 'to +find boats enough for ourselves: the Spaniards, however, found or made +bark logs, and it being for their lives, made shift to come along with +us.' <span class="sidenote">18th, They arrive at the South Sea.</span> At ten that night it +was low water, and they stopped on account of the flood tide. The next +morning they pursued their course to the sea.<!--110.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[p. 98]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_X" id="CHAP_X"></a>CHAP. X.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>First Buccaneer Expedition in the</i> South Sea.</div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1680. April 19th. In the Bay of Panama. + 22d. Island Chepillo.</span> On the 19th of April, the Buccaneers, under the command of John +Coxon, entered the <i>Bay of Panama</i>; and the same day, at one of the +Islands in the <i>Bay</i>, they captured a Spanish vessel of 30 tons, on board +of which 130 of the Buccaneers immediately placed themselves, glad to be +relieved from the cramped and crowded state they had endured in the +canoes. The next day another +small bark was taken. The pursuit of these vessels, and seeking among the +Islands for provisions, had separated the Buccaneers; but they had agreed +to rendezvous at the Island <i>Chepillo</i>, near the entrance of the River +<i>Cheapo</i>. Sharp, however, and some others, wanting fresh water, went to +the <i>Pearl Islands</i>. The rest got to <i>Chepillo</i> on the 22d, where they +found good provision of plantains, fresh water, and hogs; and at four +o'clock that same afternoon, they rowed from the Island towards <i>Panama</i>.</p> + +<p>By this time, intelligence of their being in the <i>Bay</i> had reached the +city. Eight vessels were lying in the road, three of which the Spaniards +hastily equipped, manning them with the crews of all the vessels, and the +addition of men from the shore; the whole, according to the Buccaneer +accounts, not exceeding 230 men, and not more than one-third of them being +Europeans; the rest were mulattoes and negroes.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">23d. Battle with a small Spanish Armament. + The Buccaneers victorious.</span> On +the 23d, before sunrise, the Buccaneers came in sight of the city; and as +soon as they were descried, the three armed Spanish ships got under sail, +and stood towards them. The conflict was severe, and lasted the greater +part of the day, when <!--111.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[p. 99]</a></span>it terminated in the defeat of the Spaniards, +two of their vessels being carried by boarding, and the third obliged to +save herself by flight. The Spanish Commander fell, with many of his +people. Of the Buccaneers, 18 were killed, and above 30 wounded. Peter +Harris, one of their Captains, was among the wounded, and died two days +after.</p> + +<p>One Buccaneer account says, 'we were in all 68 men that were engaged in +the fight of that day.' Another Buccaneer relates, 'we had sent away the +Spanish bark to seek fresh water, and had put on board her above one +hundred of our best men; so that we had only canoes for this fight, and in +them not above 200 fighting men.' The Spanish ships fought with great +bravery, but were overmatched, being manned with motley and untaught +crews; whereas the Buccaneers had been in constant training to the use of +their arms; and their being in canoes was no great disadvantage, as they +had a smooth sea to fight in. <span class="sidenote">Richard Sawkins.</span> The valour of +Richard Sawkins, who, after being three times repulsed, succeeded in +boarding and capturing one of the Spanish ships, was principally +instrumental in gaining the victory to the Buccaneers. It gained him also +their confidence, and the more fully as some among them were thought to +have shewn backwardness, of which number John Coxon, their elected +Commander, appears to have been. The Darien Chiefs were in the heat of the +battle.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">The New City of Panama, four miles Westward of the Old City. + The Buccaneers take several Prizes.</span> +Immediately after the victory, the Buccaneers stood towards <i>Panama</i>, then +a new city, and on a different site from the old, being four miles +Westward of the ruins of the city burnt by Morgan. The old city had yet +some inhabitants. The +present adventurers did not judge their strength sufficient for landing, +and they contented themselves with capturing the vessels that were at +anchor near the small Islands of <i>Perico</i>, in the road before the city. +One of these vessels was a ship named the <!--112.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[p. 100]</a></span>Trinidad, of 400 tons burthen, +in good condition, a fast sailer, and had on board a cargo principally +consisting of wine, sugar, and sweetmeats; and moreover a considerable sum +of money. The Spanish crew, before they left her, had both scuttled and +set her on fire, but the Buccaneers took possession in time to extinguish +the flames, and to stop the leaks. In the other prizes they found flour +and ammunition; and two of them, besides the Trinidad, they fitted up for +cruising. Two prize vessels, and a quantity of goods which were of no use +to them, as iron, skins, and soap, which the Spaniards at <i>Panama</i> refused +to ransom, they destroyed. Besides these, they captured among the Islands +some small vessels laden with poultry. Thus in less than a week after +their arrival across the <i>Isthmus</i> to the coast of the <i>South Sea</i>, they +were provided with a small fleet, not ill equipped; and with which they +now formed an actual and close blockade by sea, of <i>Panama</i>, stationing +themselves at anchor in front of the city.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Panama, the new City.</span> This new city was already considerably +larger than old <i>Panama</i> had ever been, its extent being in length full a +mile and a half, and in breadth above a mile. The churches (eight in +number) were not yet finished. The cathedral church at the Old Town was +still in use, 'the beautiful building whereof,' says Ringrose, 'maketh a +fair show at a distance, like unto the church of St. Paul's at <i>London</i>. +Round the city for the space of seven leagues, more or less, all the +adjacent country is what they call in the Spanish language, <i>Savana</i>, that +is to say, plain and level ground, as smooth as a sheet; only here and +there is to be seen a small spot of woody land. And every where, this +level ground is full of <i>vacadas</i>, where whole droves of cows and oxen are +kept. But the ground whereon the city standeth, is damp and moist, and of +bad repute for health. The sea is also very full of worms, much +prejudicial <!--113.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[p. 101]</a></span>to shipping, for which reason the king's ships are always +kept near <i>Lima</i>. We found here in one night after our arrival, worms of +three quarters of an inch in length, both in our bed-cloaths and other +apparel.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Coxon and his Men return to the West Indies.</span> Within two or +three days after the battle with the Spanish Armadilla, discord broke out +among the Buccaneers. The reflections made upon the behaviour of Coxon and +some of his followers, determined him and seventy men to return by the +River of <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Maria</i> over the <i>Isthmus</i> to the <i>North Sea</i>. Two of the +small prize vessels were given them for this purpose, and at the same +time, the Darien Chiefs, Captain Andreas and Captain Antonio, with most of +their people, departed to return to their homes. Andreas shewed his +goodwill towards the Buccaneers who remained in the <i>South Sea</i>, by +leaving with them a son and one of his nephews.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Richard Sawkins chosen Commander.</span> On the departure of Coxon, +Richard Sawkins was chosen General or Chief Commander. They continued ten +days in the road before <i>Panama</i>, at the end of which they retired to an +Island named <i>Taboga</i>, more distant, but whence they could see vessels +going to, or coming from, <i>Panama</i>. At <i>Taboga</i> they +stopped nearly a fortnight, having had notice that a rich ship from <i>Lima</i> +was shortly expected; but she came not within that time. Some other +vessels however fell into their hands, by which they obtained in specie +between fifty and sixty thousand dollars, 1200 packs of flour, 2000 jars +of wine, a quantity of brandy, sugar, sweetmeats, poultry, and other +provisions, some gunpowder and shot, besides various other articles of +merchandise. Among their prisoners, were a number of negro slaves, which +was a temptation to the merchants of <i>Panama</i>, to go to the ships whilst +they lay at <i>Taboga</i>, who purchased part of the prize goods, and as many +of the negroes as the Buccaneers would part with, giving for a negro two +hundred pieces of eight; and they also sold <!--114.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[p. 102]</a></span>to the Buccaneers such stores +and commodities as they were in need of. <span class="sidenote">May.</span> Ringrose +relates, that in the course of this communication, a message was delivered +to their Chief from the Governor of <i>Panama</i>, demanding, "why, during a +time of peace between <i>England</i> and <i>Spain</i>, Englishmen should come into +those seas, to commit injury? and from whom they had their commission so +to do?" To which message, Sawkins returned answer, 'that he and his +companions came to assist their friend the King of <i>Darien</i>, who was the +rightful Lord of <i>Panama</i>, and all the country thereabouts. That as they +had come so far, it was reasonable they should receive some satisfaction +for their trouble; and if the Governor would send to them 500 pieces of +eight for each man, and 1000 for each commander, and would promise not any +farther to annoy the Darien Indians, their allies, that then the +Buccaneers would desist from hostilities, and go quietly about their +business.'</p> + +<p>By the Spaniards who traded with them, Sawkins learnt that the Bishop of +<i>Panama</i> was a person whom he had formerly taken prisoner in the <i>West +Indies</i>, and sent him a small present as a token of regard; the Bishop +sent a gold ring in return.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Island Taboga.</span> Sawkins would have waited longer for the rich +ship expected from <i>Peru</i>; but all the live stock within reach had been +consumed, and his men became impatient for fresh provisions. 'This +<i>Taboga</i>,' says Sharp, 'is an exceeding pleasant island, abounding in +fruits, such as pine-apples, oranges, lemons, pears, mammees, cocoa-nuts, +and others; with a small, but brave commodious fresh river running in it. +The anchorage is also clear and good.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">15th. Island Otoque.</span> On the 15th of May, they +sailed to the Island <i>Otoque</i>, at which place they found hogs and poultry; +and, the same day, or the day following, they departed with three ships +and two small barks, from the Bay of <i>Panama</i>, steering Westward for a +Spanish town named <i>Pueblo Nuevo</i>.<!--115.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[p. 103]</a></span></p> + +<p>In this short distance they had much blowing weather and contrary winds, +by which both the small barks, one with fifteen men, the other with seven +men, were separated from the ships, and did not join them again. The crew +of one of these barks returned over the <i>Isthmus</i> with Coxon's party. The +other bark was taken by the Spaniards.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">At Quibo.</span> About the 21st, the ships anchored near the <i>Island +Quibo</i>; from the North part of which, to the town of <i>Pueblo Nuevo</i> on the +main land, was reckoned eight leagues. <span class="sidenote">Attack of Pueblo Nuevo.</span> +Sawkins, with sixty men, embarked on board the smallest ship, and sailed +to the entrance of a river which leads to the town. He there left the ship +with a few men to follow him, and proceeded with the rest in canoes up the +river by night, having a negro prisoner for pilot. Those left with the +care of the ship, 'entered the river, keeping close by the East shore, on +which there is a round hill. Within two stones cast of the shore there was +four fathoms depth; and within the point a very fine and large river +opens. But being strangers to the place, the ship was run aground nigh a +rock which lieth by the Westward shore; for the true channel of this river +is nearer to the East than to the West shore. The Island <i>Quibo</i> is SSE +from the mouth of this river<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Captain Sawkins is killed, and the Buccaneers retreat.</span> The +canoes met with much obstruction from trees which the Spaniards had felled +across the river; but they arrived before the town during the night. The +Spaniards had erected some works, on which account the Buccaneers waited +in their canoes till daylight, and then landed; when Richard Sawkins, +advancing with the foremost of his men towards a breastwork, was killed, +as were two of his followers. Sharp was the next in command, but he was +disheartened by so unfortunate a <!--116.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[p. 104]</a></span>beginning, and ordered a retreat. Three +Buccaneers were wounded in the re-embarkation.</p> + +<p>In the narrative which Sharp himself published, he says, 'we landed at a +<i>stockado</i> built by the Spaniards, where we had a small rencounter with +the enemy, who killed us three men, whereof the brave Captain Sawkins was +one, and wounded four or five more; besides which we got nothing, so that +we found it our best way to retreat down the river again.'</p> + +<p>The death of Sawkins was a great misfortune to the Buccaneers, and was +felt by them as such. One Buccaneer relates, 'Captain Sawkins landing at +<i>Pueblo Nuevo</i> before the rest, as being a man of undaunted courage, and +running up with a small party to a breastwork, was unfortunately killed. +And this disaster occasioned a mutiny amongst our men; for our Commanders +were not thought to be leaders fit for such hard enterprises. Now Captain +Sharp was left in chief, and he was censured by many, and the contest grew +to that degree that they divided into parties, and about 70 of our men +fell off from us.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Imposition practised by Sharp.</span> Ringrose was not in <i>England</i> +when his Narrative was published; and advantage was taken of his absence, +to interpolate in it some impudent passages in commendation of Sharp's, +valour. In the printed Narrative attributed to Ringrose, he is made to +say, 'Captain Sawkins in running up to the breastwork at the head of a few +men was killed; a man as valiant and courageous as any could be, and, next +unto Captain Sharp, the best beloved of all our company, or the most part +thereof.'</p> + +<p>Ringrose's manuscript Journal has been preserved in the Sloane Collection, +at the <i>British Museum</i> (No. 3820<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> of +<!--117.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[p. 105]</a></span>Ayscough's Catalogue) wherein, +with natural expression of affection and regard, he says, 'Captain Sawkins +was a valiant and generous spirited man, and beloved above any other we +ever had among us, which he well deserved.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">May. Sharp chosen Commander.</span> In their retreat down the river of <i>Pueblo Nuevo</i>, the +Buccaneers took a ship laden with indigo, butter, and pitch; and burnt two +other vessels. When returned to +<i>Quibo</i>, they could not agree in the choice of a commander. Bartholomew +Sharp had a greater number of voices than any other pretender, which he +obtained by boasting that he would take them a cruise whereby he did not +at all doubt they would return home with not less than a thousand pounds +to each man. Sharp was elected by but a small majority. <span class="sidenote">Some +separate, and return to the West Indies.</span> Between 60 and 70 men who had +remained after Coxon quitted the command, from attachment to Captain +Sawkins, would not stay to be commanded by Sharp, and departed from +<i>Quibo</i> in one of the prize vessels to return over the <i>Isthmus</i> to the +<i>West Indies</i>; where they safely arrived. All the Darien Indians also +returned to the <i>Isthmus</i>. One hundred and forty-six Buccaneers remained +with Bartholomew Sharp.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">The Anchorage at Quibo.</span> 'On the SE side of the Island <i>Quibo</i> +is a shoal, or spit of sand, which stretches out a quarter of a league +into the sea<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a>.' Just within this shoal, in 14 fathoms depth, the +Buccaneer ships lay at anchor. The Island abounded in fresh rivers, this +being the rainy season. They caught red deer, turtle, and oysters. +Ringrose says, 'here were oysters so large that we were forced to cut them +into four pieces, each quarter being a good mouthful.' Here were also +oysters of a smaller kind, from which the Spaniards collected pearls. They +killed alligators at <i>Quibo</i>, some above 20 feet in length; 'they were +very fearful, <!--118.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[p. 106]</a></span>and tried to escape from those who hunted them.' Ringrose +relates, that he stood under a manchineal tree to shelter himself from the +rain, but some drops fell on his skin from the tree, which caused him to +break out all over in red spots, and he was not well for a week +afterwards.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">June.</span> June the 6th, Sharp and his followers, in two ships, +sailed from <i>Quibo</i> Southward for the coast of <i>Peru</i>, intending to stop +by the way at the <i>Galapagos Islands</i>; but the winds prevented them. +<span class="sidenote">Island Gorgona.</span> On the 17th, they anchored on the South side +of the <i>Island Gorgona</i>, near the mouth of a river. '<i>Gorgona</i> is a high +mountainous Island, about four leagues in circuit, and is distant about +four leagues from the Continent. The anchorage is within a pistol-shot of +the shore, in depth from 15 to 20 fathoms. At the SW of <i>Gorgona</i> is a +smaller Island, and without the same stands a small rock<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a>.' There were +at this time streams of fresh water on every side of the Island.</p> + +<p><i>Gorgona</i> being uninhabited, was thought to be a good place of +concealment. The Island supplied rabbits, monkeys, turtle, oysters, and +birds; which provision was inducement to the Buccaneers, notwithstanding +the rains, to remain there, indulging in idleness, till near the end of +July, when the weather began to be dry. They killed a snake at <i>Gorgona</i>, +eleven feet long, and fourteen inches in circumference.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">July.</span> July the 25th, they put to sea. Sharp had expressed an +intention to attack <i>Guayaquil</i>; but he was now of opinion that their long +stay at <i>Gorgona</i> must have occasioned their being discovered by the +Spaniards, 'notwithstanding that he himself had persuaded them to stay;' +their plan was therefore changed for the attack of places more Southward, +where they would be less expected. <span class="sidenote">Island Plata.</span> The winds +were from the <!--119.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[p. 107]</a></span>Southward, and it was not till August the 13th, that they +got as far as the <i>Island Plata</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">August.</span> The only landing at <i>Plata</i> at this time, was on the +NE side, near a deep valley, where the ships anchored in 12 fathoms. Goats +were on this Island in such numbers, that they killed above a hundred in a +day with little labour, and salted what they did not want for present use. +Turtle and fish were in plenty. They found only one small spring of fresh +water, which was near the landing place, and did not yield them more than +20 gallons in the 24 hours. There were no trees on any part of the Island.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">On the Coast of Peru.</span> From <i>Plata</i> they proceeded Southward. +The 25th, near <i>Cape St. Elena</i>, they met a Spanish ship from <i>Guayaquil</i> +bound to <i>Panama</i>, which they took after a short action in which one +Buccaneer was killed, and two others were wounded. In this prize they +found 3000 dollars. They learnt from their prisoners, that one of the +small buccaneer tenders, which had been separated from Sawkins in sailing +from the <i>Bay of Panama</i>, had been taken by the Spaniards, after losing +six men out of seven which composed her crew. <span class="sidenote">Adventure of a +small Crew of Buccaneers.</span> Their adventure was as follows. Not being able +to join their Commander Sawkins at <i>Quibo</i>, they sailed to the Island +<i>Gallo</i> near the Continent (in about 2° N.) where they found a party of +Spaniards, from whom they took three white women. A few days afterwards, +they put in at another small Island, four leagues distant from <i>Gallo</i>, +where they proposed to remain on the lookout, in hopes of seeing some of +their friends come that way, as Sawkins had declared it his intention to +go to the coast of <i>Peru</i>. Whilst they were waiting in this expectation, a +Spaniard whom they had kept prisoner, made his escape from them, and got +over to the main land. This small buccaneer crew had the imprudence +nevertheless to remain in the same quarters long enough to give time for a +party of Spaniards to pass over from the main land, which <!--120.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[p. 108]</a></span>they did +without being perceived, and placed themselves in ambuscade with so much +advantage, that at one volley they killed six Buccaneers out of the seven: +the one remaining became their prisoner.</p> + +<p>Sharp and his men divided the small sum of money taken in their last +prize, and sunk her. Ringrose relates, 'we also punished a Friar and shot +him upon the deck, casting him overboard while he was yet alive. I +abhorred such cruelties, yet was forced to hold my tongue.' It is not said +in what manner the Friar had offended, and Sharp does not mention the +circumstance in his Journal.</p> + +<p>One of the two vessels in which the Buccaneers cruised, sailed badly, on +which account she was abandoned, and they all embarked in the ship named +the Trinidad.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">September.</span> On the 4th of September they took a vessel from +<i>Guayaquil</i> bound for <i>Lima</i>, with a lading of timber, chocolate, raw +silk, Indian cloth, and thread stockings. It appears here to have been a +custom among the Buccaneers, for the first who boarded an enemy, or +captured vessel, to be allowed some extra privilege of plunder. Ringrose +says, 'we cast dice for the first entrance, and the lot fell to the +larboard watch, so twenty men belonging to that watch, entered her.' They +took out of this vessel as much of the cargo as they chose, and put some +of their prisoners in her; after which they dismissed her with only one +mast standing and one sail, that she should not be able to prosecute her +voyage Southward. <span class="sidenote">October.</span> Sharp passed <i>Callao</i> at a distance +from land, being apprehensive there might be ships of war in the road. +October the 26th, he was near the town of <i>Arica</i>, when the boats manned +with a large party of Buccaneers departed from the ship with intention to +attack the town; but, on coming near the shore, they found the surf high, +and the whole country appeared to be in arms. <!--121.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[p. 109]</a></span><span class="sidenote">28th. Ilo.</span> They returned to the ship, and it was agreed to bear away +for <i>Ilo</i>, a small town on the coast, in latitude about 17° 40′ S. Their +stock of fresh water was by this time so reduced, that they had come to an +allowance of only half a pint for a man for the day; and it is related +that a pint of water was sold in the ship for 30 dollars. They succeeded +however in landing at <i>Ilo</i>, and obtained there fresh water, wine, fruits, +flour, oil, chocolate, sugar, and other provisions. The Spaniards would +give neither money nor cattle to have their buildings and plantations +spared, and the Buccaneers committed all the mischief they could.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">December. Shoals of Anchovies.</span> From <i>Ilo</i> they +proceeded Southward. December the 1st, in the night, being in latitude +about 31°, they found themselves in white water, like banks or breakers, +which extended a mile or more in length; but they were relieved from their +alarm by discovering that what they had apprehended to be rocks and +breakers was a large shoal of anchovies.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">On the Coast of Peru. La Serena plundered and burnt.</span> December the 3d, they +landed at the town of <i>La Serena</i>, which they entered without opposition. +Some Spaniards came to negociate with them to ransom the town from being +burnt, for which they agreed to pay 95,000 pieces of eight; but the money +came not at the time appointed, and the Buccaneers had reason to suspect +the Spaniards intended to deceive them. <span class="sidenote">Attempt of the Spaniards to burn +the Ship.</span> Ringrose relates, that a man ventured to come in the night from +the shore, on a float made of a horse's hide blown up like a bladder. 'He +being arrived at the ship, went under the stern and crammed oakum and +brimstone and other combustible matter between the rudder and the +stern-post. Having done this, he fired it with a match, so that in a small +time our rudder was on fire, and all the ship in a smoke. Our men, both +alarmed and amazed with this smoke, ran up and down the ship, suspecting +the prisoners to have fired the vessel, thereby to get +<!--122.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[p. 110]</a></span>their +liberty and seek our destruction. At last they found out where the fire +was, and had the good fortune to quench it before its going too far. After +which we sent the boat ashore, and found both the hide afore-mentioned, +and the match burning at both ends, whereby we became acquainted with the +whole matter.'</p> + +<p>By the <i>La Serena</i> expedition they obtained five hundred pounds weight of +silver. One of the crew died in consequence of hard drinking whilst on +shore. They released all their prisoners here, except a pilot; after +which, they stood from the Continent for <i>Juan Fernandez</i>. In their +approach to that Island, it is remarked by Ringrose, that they saw neither +bird, nor fish; and this being noticed to the pilot, he made answer, that +he had many times sailed by <i>Juan Fernandez</i>, and had never seen either +fish or fowl whilst at sea in sight of the Island.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Island Juan Fernandez.</span> On Christmas day, they anchored in a +Bay at the South part of <i>Juan Fernandez</i>; but finding the winds SE and +Southerly, they quitted that anchorage, and went to a Bay on the North +side of the Island, where they cast anchor in 14 fathoms, so near to the +shore that they fastened the end of another cable from the ship to the +trees; being sheltered by the land from ESE round by the South and West, +and as far as NbW<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a>. Their fastenings, however, did not hold the ship +against the strong flurries that blew from the land, and she was twice +forced to sea; but each time recovered the anchorage without much +difficulty.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1681. January.</span> The shore of this bay was covered +with seals and sea lions, whose noise and company were very troublesome to +the men employed in filling fresh water. The seals coveted to lie where +streams of fresh water ran into the sea, which made it necessary to keep +people constantly employed to beat them off. Fish <!--123.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[p. 111]</a></span>were in the greatest +plenty; and innumerable sea birds had their nests near the shore, which +makes the remark of Ringrose on approaching the Island the more +extraordinary. Craw-fish and lobsters were in abundance; and on the Island +itself goats were in such plenty, that, besides what they eat during their +stay, they killed about a hundred for salting, and took away as many +alive.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Sharp deposed from the Command. Watling elected Commander.</span> Here new +disagreements broke out among the Buccaneers. Some wished to sail +immediately homeward by the <i>Strait of Magalhanes</i>; others desired to try +their fortune longer in the <i>South Sea</i>. Sharp was of the party for +returning home; but in the end the majority deposed him from the command, +and elected for his successor John Watling, 'an old privateer, and +esteemed a stout seaman.' Articles were drawn up in writing between +Watling and the crew, and subscribed.</p> + +<p>One Narrative says, 'the true occasion of the grudge against Sharp was, +that he had got by these adventures almost a thousand pounds, whereas many +of our men were scarce worth a groat; and good reason there was for their +poverty, for at the <i>Isle of Plate</i> and other places, they had lost all +their money to their fellow Buccaneers at dice; so that some had a great +deal, and others, just nothing. Those who were thrifty sided with Captain +Sharp, but the others, being the greatest number, turned Sharp out of his +command; and Sharp's party were persuaded to have patience, seeing they +were the fewest, and had money to lose, which the other party had not.' +Dampier says Sharp was displaced by general consent, the company not being +satisfied either with his courage or his conduct.</p> + +<p>Watling began his command by ordering the observance of the Sabbath. 'This +day, January the 9th,' says Ringrose, 'was the first Sunday that ever we +kept by command since the loss <!--124.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[p. 112]</a></span> +and death of our valiant Commander +Captain Sawkins, who once threw the dice overboard, finding them in use +on the said day.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">11th. 12th. They sail from Juan +Fernandez.</span> The 11th, two boats were sent from the ship to a distant part +of the Island to catch goats. On the following morning, the boats were +seen returning in great haste, and firing muskets to give alarm. When +arrived on board, they gave information that three sail, which they +believed to be Spanish ships of war, were in sight of the Island, and were +making for the anchorage. In half an hour after this notice, the strange +ships were seen from the Bay; upon which, all the men employed on shore in +watering, hunting, and other occupations, were called on board with the +utmost speed; and not to lose time, the cable was slipped, and the ship +put to sea. <span class="sidenote">William, a Mosquito Indian, left on the island.</span> It +happened in this hurry of quitting the Island, that one of the Mosquito +Indians who had come with the Buccaneers, and was by them called William, +was absent in the woods hunting goats, and heard nothing of the alarm. No +time could be spared for search, and the ship sailed without him. This it +seems was not the first instance of a solitary individual being left to +inhabit <i>Juan Fernandez</i>. Their Spanish pilot affirmed to them, that 'many +years before, a ship had been cast away there, and only one man saved, who +lived alone upon the Island five years, when another ship coming that way, +took him off.'</p> + +<p>The three vessels whose appearance caused them in such haste to quit their +anchorage, were armed Spanish ships. They remained in sight of the +Buccaneer ship two days, but no inclination appeared on either side to try +the event of a battle. The Buccaneers had not a single great gun in their +ship, and must have trusted to their musketry and to boarding.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">13th.</span> On the evening of the 13th after dark, they resigned the +honour of the field to the Spaniards, and made sail Eastward <!--125.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[p. 113]</a></span>for the +American coast, with design to attack <i>Arica</i>, which place they had been +informed contained great riches.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">January 26th. Island Yqueque. River de +Camarones.</span> The 26th, they were +close to the small Island named <i>Yqueque</i>, about 25 leagues to the South +of <i>Arica</i>, where they plundered a small Indian village of provisions, and +took two old Spaniards and two Indians prisoners. This Island was destitute of fresh water, and the inhabitants +were obliged to supply themselves from the Continent, at a river named <i>De +Camarones</i>, 11 Spanish leagues to the North of <i>Yqueque</i>. The people on +<i>Yqueque</i> were the servants and slaves of the Governor of <i>Arica</i>, and +were employed by him to catch and dry fish, which were disposed of to +great profit among the inland towns of the Continent. The Indians here eat +much and often of certain leaves 'which were in taste much like to the bay +leaves in England, by the continual use of which their teeth were dyed of +a green colour.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">27th.</span> The 27th, Watling examined one of the old Spaniards +concerning the force at <i>Arica</i>; and being offended at his answers, +ordered him to be shot, which was done. The same morning they took a small +bark from the River <i>Camarones</i>, laden with fresh water.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">On the Coast of Peru.</span> In the night of the 28th, Watling with +one hundred men departed from the ship in the small prize bark and boats +for <i>Arica</i>. They put ashore on the mainland about five leagues to the +South of <i>Arica</i>, before it was light, and remained concealed among rocks +all day. <span class="sidenote">30th. They attack Arica.</span> At night, they again +proceeded, and at daylight (on the 30th) Watling landed with 92 men, four +miles from the town, to which they marched, and gained entrance, with the +loss of three men killed, and two wounded. There was a castle or fort, +which for their own security they ought immediately to have attacked; but +Watling was only intent on making prisoners, until he was incommoded, with +more than could be well guarded. This gave the inhabitants who had <!--126.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[p. 114]</a></span>fled, +time to recover from their alarm, and they collected in the Fort. To +complete the mistake, Watling at length advanced to attack the fort, where +he found resistance more than he expected. <span class="sidenote">Are Repulsed.</span> +Watling put in practice the expedient of placing his prisoners in front of +his own men; but the defenders of the fort were not a whit deterred +thereby from firing on the Buccaneers, who were twice repulsed. The +Spaniards without, in the mean time, began to make head from all parts; +and in a little time the Buccaneers, from being the assailants, found +themselves obliged to look to their defence. <span class="sidenote">Watling killed.</span> +Watling their chief was killed, as were two quarter-masters, the +boatswain, and some others of their best men; and the rest thought it +necessary to retreat to their boats, which, though harassed the whole way +by a distant firing from the Spaniards, they effected in tolerable order, +and embarked.</p> + +<p>In this attack, the Buccaneers lost in killed, and taken prisoners by the +Spaniards, 28 men; and of those who got back to the ship, eighteen were +wounded. Among the men taken by the Spaniards were two surgeons, to whose +care the wounded had been committed. 'We could have brought off our +doctors,' says Ringrose, 'but they got to drinking whilst we were +assaulting the fort, and when we called to them, they would not come with +us.' The Spaniards gave quarter to the surgeons, 'they being able to do +them good service in that country: but as to the wounded men taken +prisoners, they were all knocked on the head.'</p> + +<p>The whole party that landed at <i>Arica</i> narrowly escaped destruction; for +the Spaniards learnt from the prisoners they took, the signals which had +been agreed upon with the men left in charge of the boats; of which +information they made such use, that the boats had quitted their station, +and set sail to run down to the town; but some Buccaneers who had been +most <!--127.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[p. 115]</a></span>speedy in the retreat, arrived at the sea side just in time to call +them back.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Sharp again chosen Commander.</span> This miscarriage so much +disheartened the whole Buccaneer crew, that they made no attempt to take +three ships which were at anchor in the road before <i>Arica</i>. Sharp was +reinstated in the command, because he was esteemed a leader of safer +conduct than any other; and every one was willing to quit the <i>South Sea</i>, +but which it was now proposed they should do by re-crossing the <i>Isthmus</i>. +<span class="sidenote">March. Huasco.</span> They did not, however, immediately steer +Northward; but continued to beat up against the wind to the Southward, +till the 10th of March, when they landed at <i>Guasco</i> or <i>Huasco</i> (in lat. +about 28½°) from which place they carried off 120 sheep, 80 goats, 200 +bushels of corn, and filled their jars with fresh water.</p> + +<p>From <i>Huasco</i> they stood to the North. On the 27th, they passed <i>Arica</i>. +The Narrative remarks, 'our former entertainment had been so very bad, +that we were no ways encouraged to stop there again.' <span class="sidenote">Ylo.</span> +They landed at <i>Ylo</i>, of which Wafer says, 'the <i>River Ylo</i> is situated in +a valley which is the finest I have seen in all the coast of <i>Peru</i>, and +furnished with a multitude of vegetables. A great dew falls here every +night.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">April.</span> April the 16th, they were near the Island <i>Plata</i>. By +this time new opinions and new projects had been formed. Many of the crew +were again willing to try their fortune longer in the <i>South Sea</i>; but one +party would not continue under the command of Sharp, and others would not +consent to choosing a new commander. As neither party would yield, it was +determined to separate, and agreed upon by all hands, 'that which party +soever upon polling should be found to have the majority, should keep the +ship.' The other party was to have the long-boat and the canoes. On coming +to a division, Sharp's party proved the most numerous. The minority +consisted of forty-four Europeans, <!--128.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[p. 116]</a></span>two Mosquito Indians, and a Spanish +Indian. <span class="sidenote">Another Party of the Buccaneers return across the +Isthmus.</span> On the forenoon of the 17th, the party in the boats separated +from the ship, and proceeded for the <i>Gulf de San Miguel</i>, where they +landed, and returned over the <i>Isthmus</i> back to the <i>West Indies</i>. In this +party were William Dampier, and Lionel Wafer the surgeon. Dampier +afterwards published a brief sketch of the expedition, and an account of +his return across the <i>Isthmus</i>, both of which are in the 1st volume of +his Voyages. Wafer met with an accidental hurt whilst on the <i>Isthmus</i>, +which disabled him from travelling with his countrymen, and he remained +some months living with the Darien Indians, of whom he afterwards +published an entertaining description, with a Narrative of his own +adventures among them.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Further Proceedings of Sharp and his Followers.</span> Sharp and his +diminished crew sailed in their ship from the Island <i>Plata</i> Northward to +the <i>Gulf of Nicoya</i>, where they met with no booty, nor with any adventure +worth mentioning.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">July.</span> They returned Southward to the Island <i>Plata</i>, and in +the way took three prizes: the first, a ship named the San Pedro, from +<i>Guayaquil</i> bound for <i>Panama</i>, with a lading of cocoa-nuts, and 21,000 +pieces of eight in chests, and 16,000 in bags, besides plate. The money in +bags and all the loose plunder was divided, each man receiving for his +share 234 pieces of eight; whence it may be inferred that their number was +reduced to about 70 men. The rest of the money was reserved for a future +division. Their second prize was a packet from <i>Panama</i> bound for +<i>Callao</i>, by which they learnt that in <i>Panama</i> it was believed all the +Buccaneers had returned overland to the <i>West Indies</i>. The third was a +ship named the <i>San Rosario</i>, which did not submit to them without +resistance, nor till her Captain was killed. She was from <i>Callao</i>, laden +with wine, brandy, oil, and fruit, and had in her as much money as yielded +to each Buccaneer 94 dollars. One Narrative says a much greater booty <!--129.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[p. 117]</a></span>was +missed through ignorance. 'Besides the lading already mentioned, we found +in the San Rosario 700 pigs of plate, which we supposed to be tin, and +under this mistake, they were slighted by us all, especially by the +Captain, who would not by persuasions used by some few be induced to take +them into our ship, as we did most of the other things. Thus we left them +in the <i>Rosario</i>, which we turned away loose into the sea. This, it should +seem, was plate, not thoroughly refined and fitted for coin, which +occasioned our being deceived. We took only one pig of the seven hundred +into our ship, thinking to make bullets of it; and to this effect, or what +else our seamen pleased, the greatest part of it was melted and squandered +away. Afterwards, when we arrived at <i>Antigua</i>, we gave the remaining part +(which was about one-third thereof) to a <i>Bristol</i> man, who knew presently +what it was; who brought it to <i>England</i>, and sold it there for 75<i>l.</i> +sterling. Thus we parted with the richest booty we got in the whole +voyage, through our own ignorance and laziness<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a>.'</p> + +<p>The same Narrative relates, that they took out of the Rosario 'a great +book full of sea charts and maps, containing an accurate and exact +description of all the ports, soundings, rivers, capes, and coasts, of the +<i>South Sea</i>, and all the navigation usually performed by the Spaniards in +that ocean. This book was for its novelty and curiosity presented unto His +Majesty on the return of some of the Buccaneers to <i>England</i>, and was +translated into English by His Majesty's order<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a>.'<!--130.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[p. 118]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">August.</span> August the 12th, they anchored at the Island <i>Plata</i>, +whence they departed on the 16th, bound Southward, intending to return by +the <i>Strait of Magalhanes</i> or <i>Strait le Maire</i>, to the <i>West Indies</i>.</p> + +<p>The 28th, they looked in at <i>Paita</i>; but finding the place prepared for +defence, they stood off from the coast, and pursued their course +Southward, without again coming in sight of land, and without the +occurrence of any thing remarkable, till they passed the 50th degree of +latitude.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">October 12th. By the Western Coast of America, in 50° 50′ S.</span> +October the 11th, they were in latitude 49° 54′ S, and estimated their +distance from the American coast to be 120 leagues. The wind blew strong +from the SW, and they stood to the South East. On the morning of the 12th, +two hours before day, being in latitude by account 50° 50′ S, they +suddenly found themselves close to land. The ship was ill prepared for +such an event, the fore yard having been lowered to ease her, on account +of the strength of the wind. 'The land was high and towering; and here +appeared many Islands scattered up and down.' They were so near, and so +entangled, that there was no possibility of standing off to sea, and, with +such light as they had, they steered, as cautiously as they could, in +between some Islands, and along an extensive coast, which, whether it was +a larger Island, or part of the Continent, they could not know. <span class="sidenote"> +They enter a Gulf.</span> As the day advanced, the land was seen to be +mountainous and craggy, and the tops covered with snow. Sharp says, 'we +bore up for a harbour, and steered in Northward about five leagues. On the +North side there are plenty of +harbours<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a>.' +<span class="sidenote">Shergall's +Harbour.</span> At 11 in the forenoon they came to an anchor 'in a harbour, in +45 fathoms, within a stone's cast of the shore, <!--131.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[p. 119]</a></span>where the ship was +landlocked, and in smooth water. As the ship went in, one of the crew, +named Henry Shergall, fell overboard as he was going into the spritsail +top, and was drowned; on which account this was named <i>Shergall's +Harbour</i>.'</p> + +<p>The bottom was rocky where the ship had anchored; a boat was therefore +sent to look for better anchorage. They did not however shift their birth +that day; and during the night, strong flurries of wind from the hills, +joined with the sharpness of the rocks at the bottom, cut their cable in +two, and they were obliged to set sail. <span class="sidenote">Another Harbour.</span> They +ran about a mile to another bay, where they let go another anchor, and +moored the ship with a fastening to a tree on shore.</p> + +<p>They shot geese, and other wild-fowl. On the shores they found large +muscles, cockles like those in <i>England</i>, and limpets: here were also +penguins, which were shy and not taken without pursuit; 'they padded on +the water with their wings very fast, but their bodies were too heavy to +be carried by the said wings.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">15th.</span> The first part of the time they lay in this harbour, +they had almost continual rain. On the night of the 15th, in a high North +wind, the tree to which their cable was fastened gave way, and came up by +the root, in consequence of which, the stern of the ship took the ground +and damaged the rudder. They secured the ship afresh by fastening the +cable to other trees; but were obliged to unhang the rudder to repair.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">18th.</span> The 18th was a day of clear weather. The latitude was +observed 50° 40′ S. The difference of the rise and fall of the tide was +seven feet perpendicular: the time of high water is not noted. <span class="sidenote"> +The Gulf is named the English Gulf. Duke of York's Islands.</span> +The arm of the sea, or gulf, in which they were, they named the <i>English +Gulf</i>; and the land forming the harbour, the <i>Duke of York's Island</i>; +'more by guess than any thing else; <!--132.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[p. 120]</a></span>for whether it were an Island or +Continent was not discovered,' Ringrose says, 'I am persuaded that the +place where we now are, is not so great an Island as some Hydrographers do +lay it down, but rather an archipelago of smaller Islands. Our Captain +gave to them the name of the <i>Duke of York's Islands</i>. Our boat which went +Eastward, found several good bays and harbours, with deep water close to +the shore; but there lay in them several sunken rocks, as there did also +in the harbour where the ship lay. These rocks are less dangerous to +shipping, by reason they have weeds lying about them.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Sharp's English Gulf, the Brazo de la Conçepçion of Sarmiento.</span> +From all the preceding description, it appears, that they were at the +South part of the Island named <i>Madre de Dios</i> in the Spanish Atlas, which +Island is South of the Channel, or Arm of the Sea, named the <i>Gulf de la +S<sup>ma</sup> Trinidada</i>; and that Sharp's <i>English Gulf</i> is the <i>Brazo de la +Conçepçion</i> of Sarmiento.</p> + +<p>Ringrose has drawn a sketch of the <i>Duke of York's Islands</i>, and one of +the <i>English Gulf</i>; but which are not worth copying, as they have neither +compass, meridian line, scale, nor soundings. He has given other plan's in +the same defective manner, on which account they can be of little use. It +is necessary however to remark a difference in the plan which has been +printed of the <i>English Gulf</i>, from the plan in the manuscript. In the +printed copy, the shore of the <i>Gulf</i> is drawn as one continued line, +admitting no thoroughfare; whereas, in the manuscript plan, there are +clear openings leaving a prospect of channels through.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Natives.</span> Towards the end of October, the weather settled fair. +Hitherto they had seen no inhabitants; but on the 27th, a party went from +the ship in a boat, on an excursion in search of provisions, and unhappily +caught sight of a small boat belonging to the natives of the land. +<span class="sidenote">One of them killed by the Buccaneers.</span> The ship's boat rowed in +pursuit, and the natives, a man, a woman, and a boy, finding their boat +would be overtaken, <!--133.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[p. 121]</a></span>all leapt overboard and swam towards shore. This +villainous crew of Buccaneers had the barbarity to shoot at them in the +water, and they shot the man dead; the woman made her escape to land; the +boy, a stout lad about eighteen years of age, was taken, and with the +Indian boat, was carried to the ship.</p> + +<p>The poor lad thus made prisoner had only a small covering of seal skin. +'He was squint-eyed, and his hair was cut short. The <i>doree</i>, or boat, in +which he and the other Indians were, was built sharp at each end and flat +bottomed: in the middle they had a fire burning for dressing victuals, or +other use. They had a net to catch penguins, a club like to our bandies, +and wooden darts. This young Indian appeared by his actions to be very +innocent and foolish. He could open large muscles with his fingers, which +our Buccaneers could scarcely manage with their knives. He was very wild, +and would eat raw flesh.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">November.</span> By the beginning of November the rudder was repaired +and hung. Ringrose says, 'we could perceive, now the stormy weather was +blown over, much small fry of fish about the ship, whereof before we saw +none. The weather began to be warm, or rather hot, and the birds, as +thrushes and blackbirds, to sing as sweetly as those in England.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Native of Patagonia carried away.</span> On the 5th of November, they +sailed out of the <i>English Gulf</i>, taking with them their young Indian +prisoner, to whom they gave the name of Orson. As they departed, the +natives on some of the lands to the Eastward made great fires. At six in +the evening the ship was without the mouth of the <i>Gulf</i>: the wind blew +fresh from NW, and they stood out SWbW, to keep clear of breakers which +lie four leagues without the entrance of the <i>Gulf</i> to the South and SSE. +Many reefs and rocks were seen hereabouts, on account of which, they kept +close to the wind till they were a good distance clear of the land.<!--134.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[p. 122]</a></span></p> + +<p>Their navigation from here to the <i>Atlantic</i> was, more than could have +been imagined, like the journey of travellers by night in a strange +country without a guide. The weather was stormy, and they would not +venture to steer in for the <i>Strait of Magalhanes</i>, which they had +purposed to do for the benefit of the provision which the shores of the +<i>Strait</i> afford of fresh water, fish, vegetables, and wood. They ran to +the South to go round the <i>Tierra del Fuego</i>, having the wind from the NW, +which was the most favourable for this navigation; but they frequently lay +to, because the weather was thick. <span class="sidenote">Passage round Cape Horn.</span> On +the 12th, they had not passed the <i>Tierra del Fuego</i>. The latitude +according to observation that day was 55° 25′, and the course they steered +was SSE. <span class="sidenote">14th. Appearance like Land. Latitude +observed, 57° 50′ S.</span> On the 14th, Ringrose says, 'the latitude was +observed 57° 50′ S, and on this day we could perceive land, from which at +noon we were due West.' They steered EbS, and expected that at daylight +the next morning they should be close in with the land; but the weather +became cloudy with much fall of snow, and nothing more of it was seen. No +longitude or meridian distance is noticed, and it must remain doubtful +whether what they took for land was floating ice; or their observation for +the latitude erroneous, and that they saw the <i>Isles of Diego Ramirez</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Ice Islands.</span> Three days afterwards, in latitude 58° 30′ S, +they fell in with Ice Islands, one of which they reckoned to be two +leagues in circumference. A strong current set here Southward. They held +on their course Eastward so far that when at length they did sail +Northward, they saw neither the <i>Tierra del Fuego</i> nor <i>Staten Island</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">December.</span> December the 5th, they divided the plunder which had +been reserved, each man's share of which amounted to 328 pieces of eight. +Their course was now bent for the <i>West Indies</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1682. January.</span> January the 15th, died William Stephens, a +seaman, whose death was attributed to his having eaten three manchineal +<!--135.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[p. 123]</a></span>apples six months before, when on the coast of <i>New Spain</i>, 'from which +time he wasted away till he became a perfect skeleton.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Arrive in the West Indies.</span> January the 28th, 1682, they made +the Island of <i>Barbadoes</i>, but learnt that the Richmond, a British +frigate, was lying in the road. Ringrose and his fellow journalists say, +'we having acted in all our voyage without a commission, dared not be so +bold as to put in, lest the said frigate should seize us for pyrateering, +and strip us of all we had got in the whole voyage.' They next sailed to +<i>Antigua</i>; but the Governor at that Island, Colonel Codrington, would not +give them leave to enter the harbour, though they endeavoured to soften +him by sending a present of jewels to his lady, which, however, were not +accepted. Sharp and his crew grew impatient at their uneasy situation, and +came to a determination to separate. Some of them landed at <i>Antigua</i>; +Sharp and others landed at <i>Nevis</i>, whence they got passage to <i>England</i>. +Their ship, which was the Trinidad captured in the <i>Bay of Panama</i>, was +left to seven men of the company who had lost their money by gaming. The +Buccaneer journals say nothing of their Patagonian captive Orson after the +ship sailed from his country; and what became of the ship after Sharp +quitted her does not appear.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Bart. Sharp and some of his men tried for Piracy.</span> Bartholomew +Sharp, and a few others, on their arrival in <i>England</i>, were apprehended, +and a Court of Admiralty was held at the <i>Marshalsea</i> in <i>Southwark</i>, +where, at the instance of the Spanish Ambassador, they were tried for +committing acts of piracy in the <i>South Sea</i>; but from the defectiveness +of the evidence produced, they escaped conviction. One of the principal +charges against them was for taking the Spanish ship Rosario, and killing +the Captain and another man belonging to her; 'but it was proved,' says +the author of the anonymous Narrative, who was one of the men brought to +trial, 'that the <!--136.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[p. 124]</a></span>Spaniards fired at us first and it was judged that we +ought to defend ourselves.' Three Buccaneers of Sharp's crew were also +tried at <i>Jamaica</i>, one of whom was condemned and hanged, 'who,' the +narrator says, 'was wheedled into an open confession: the other two stood +it out, and escaped for want of witnesses to prove the fact against them.' +Thus terminated what may be called the First Expedition of the Buccaneers +in the <i>South Sea</i>; the boat excursion by Morgan's men in the <i>Bay of +Panama</i> being of too little consequence to be so reckoned. They had now +made successful experiment of the route both by sea and land; and the +Spaniards in the <i>South Sea</i> had reason to apprehend a speedy renewal of +their visits.</p> + +<p>Carlos Enriquez Clerck, who went from <i>England</i> with Captain Narbrough, +was at this time executed at <i>Lima</i>, on a charge of holding correspondence +with the English of <i>Jamaica</i>; which act of severity probably is +attributable more to the alarm which prevailed in the Government of +<i>Peru</i>, than to any guilty practices of Clerck.<!--137.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[p. 125]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_XI" id="CHAP_XI"></a>CHAP. XI.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>Disputes between the French Government and their West-India Colonies. +</i>Morgan<i> becomes Deputy Governor of </i>Jamaica<i>. </i>La Vera Cruz<i> surprised by the +Flibustiers. Other of their Enterprises.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1680. Proceedings of the Buccaneers in the West +Indies. Prohibitions against Piracy by the French Government;</span> +Whilst so many of the English Buccaneers were seeking plunder in the +<i>South Sea</i>, the French Flibustiers had not been inactive in the <i>West +Indies</i>, notwithstanding that the French government, after the conclusion +of the war with <i>Spain</i>, issued orders prohibiting the subjects of +<i>France</i> in the <i>West Indies</i> from cruising against the Spaniards. A short +time before this order arrived, a cruising commission had been given to +Granmont, who had thereupon collected men, and made preparation for an +expedition to the <i>Tierra Firma</i>; and they did not choose that so much +pains should be taken to no purpose. The French settlers generally, were +at this time much dissatisfied on account of some regulations imposed upon +them by the Company of Farmers, whose privileges and authority extended to +fixing the price upon growth, the produce of the soil; and which they +exercised upon tobacco, the article then most cultivated by the French in +<i>Hispaniola</i>, rigorously requiring the planters to deliver it to the +Company at the price so prescribed. Many of the inhabitants, ill brooking +to live under such a system of robbery, made preparations to withdraw to +the English and Dutch settlements; but their discontent on this account +was much allayed by the Governor writing a remonstrance to the French +Minister, and promising them his influence towards obtaining a suppression +of the farming tobacco. Fresh cause of discontent soon occurred, by a +monopoly of the French <!--138.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[p. 126]</a></span>African Slave Trade being put into the hands of a +new company, which was named the <i>Senegal</i> Company.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Disregarded by the French Buccaneers.</span> Granmont and the +Flibustiers engaged with him, went to the coast of <i>Cumana</i>, where they +did considerable mischief to the Spaniards, with some loss, and little +profit, to themselves.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1680-1. Sir Henry Morgan, Deputy Governor of Jamaica. His Severity to +the Buccaneers.</span> In the autumn of this same year, the Earl of Carlisle, who +was Governor of <i>Jamaica</i>, finding the climate did not agree with his +constitution, returned to <i>England</i>, and left as his Deputy to govern in +<i>Jamaica</i>, Morgan, the plunderer of <i>Panama</i>, but who was now Sir Henry +Morgan. This man had found favour with King Charles <span class="smcap">II.</span> or with his +Ministers, had been knighted, and appointed a Commissioner of the +Admiralty Court in <i>Jamaica</i>. On becoming Deputy Governor, his +administration was far from being favourable to his old associates, some +of whom suffered the extreme hardship of being tried and hanged under his +authority; and one crew of Buccaneers, most of them Englishmen, who fell +into his hands, he sent to be delivered up (it may be presumed that he +sold them) to the Spaniards at <i>Carthagena</i>. Morgan's authority as +Governor was terminated the following year, by the arrival of a Governor +from <i>England</i><a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a>.</p> + +<p>The impositions on planting and commerce in the French settlements, in the +same degree that they discouraged cultivation, encouraged cruising, and +the Flibustier party so much increased, as to have little danger to +apprehend from any Governor's authority. <span class="sidenote">1683.</span> The matter +however did not come to issue, for in 1683, war again broke out between +<i>France</i> and <i>Spain</i>. But before the intelligence arrived in the <i>West +Indies</i>, 1200 French Flibustiers had assembled under Van Horn (a native +<!--139.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[p. 127]</a></span>of <i>Ostend</i>), Granmont, and another noted Flibustier named Laurent de +Graaf, to make an expedition against the Spaniards.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Van Horn, Granmont, and de Graaf, go against La Vera Cruz.</span> Van +Horn had been a notorious pirate, and for a number of years had plundered +generally, without shewing partiality or favour to ships of one nation +more than to those of another. After amassing great riches, he began to +think plain piracy too dangerous an occupation, and determined to reform, +which he did by making his peace with the French Governor in <i>Hispaniola</i>, +and turning Buccaneer or Flibustier, into which fraternity he was admitted +on paying entrance.</p> + +<p>The expedition which he undertook in conjunction with Granmont and de +Graaf, was against <i>La Vera Cruz</i> in the <i>Gulf of Mexico</i>, a town which +might be considered as the magazine for all the merchandise which passed +between <i>New Spain</i> and <i>Old Spain</i>, and was defended by a fort, said to +be impregnable. The Flibustiers sailed for this place with a fleet of ten +ships. They had information that two large Spanish ships, with cargoes of +cacao, were expected at <i>La Vera Cruz</i> from the <i>Caraccas</i>; and upon this +intelligence, they put in practice the following expedient. <span class="sidenote"> +They surprise the Town by Stratagem.</span> They embarked the greater number of +their men on board two of their largest ships, which, on arriving near <i>La +Vera Cruz</i>, put aloft Spanish colours, and ran, with all sail set, +directly for the port like ships chased, the rest of the Buccaneer ships +appearing at a distance behind, crowding sail after them. The inhabitants +of <i>La Vera Cruz</i> believed the two headmost ships to be those which were +expected from the <i>Caraccas</i>; and, as the Flibustiers had contrived that +they should not reach the port till after dark, suffered them to enter +without offering them molestation, and to anchor close to the town, which +they did without being suspected to be enemies. In the middle of the +night, the Flibustiers landed, and surprised the fort, which made them +<!--140.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[p. 128]</a></span>masters of the town. The Spaniards of the garrison, and all the +inhabitants who fell into their hands, they shut up in the churches, where +they were kept three days, and with so little care for their subsistence +that several died from thirst, and some by drinking immoderately when +water was at length given to them. With the plunder, and what was obtained +for ransom of the town, it is said the Flibustiers carried away a million +of piastres, besides a number of slaves and prisoners.</p> + +<p>Van Horn shorty after died of a wound received in a quarrel with De Graaf. +The ship he had commanded, which mounted fifty guns, was bequeathed by him +to Granmont, who a short time before had lost a ship of nearly the same +force in a gale of wind.</p> + +<p>Some quarrels happened at this time between the French Flibustiers and the +English Buccaneers, which are differently related by the English and the +French writers. The French account says, that in a Spanish ship captured +by the Flibustiers, was found a letter from the Governor of <i>Jamaica</i> +addressed to the Governor of the <i>Havannah</i>, proposing a union of their +force to drive the French from <i>Hispaniola</i>. <span class="sidenote">Story of Granmont +and an English Ship.</span> Also, that an English ship of 30 guns came cruising +near <i>Tortuga</i>, and when the Governor of <i>Tortuga</i> sent a sloop to demand +of the English Captain his business there, the Englishman insolently +replied, that the sea was alike free to all, and he had no account to +render to any one. For this answer, the Governor sent out a ship to take +the English ship, but the Governor's ship was roughly treated, and obliged +to retire into port. Granmont had just returned from the <i>La Vera Cruz</i> +expedition, and the Governor applied to him, to go with his fifty gun ship +to revenge the affront put upon their nation. 'Granmont,' says the +Narrator, 'accepted the commission joyfully. Three hundred Flibustiers +embarked with him in his ship; he found the Englishman proud of his late +victory; <!--141.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[p. 129]</a></span>he immediately grappled with him and put all the English crew to +the sword, saving only the Captain, who he carried prisoner to <i>Cape +François</i>.' On the merit of this service, his disobedience to the royal +prohibitory order in attacking <i>La Vera Cruz</i> was to pass with impunity. +The English were not yet sufficiently punished; the account proceeds, 'Our +Flibustiers would no longer receive them as partakers in their +enterprises, and even confiscated the share they were entitled to receive +for the <i>La Vera Cruz</i> expedition.' Thus the French account.</p> + +<p>If the story of demolishing the English crew is true, the fact is not more +absurd than the being vain of such an exploit. If a fifty gun ship will +determine to sink a thirty gun ship, the thirty gun ship must in all +probability be sunk. The affront given, if it deserves to be called an +affront, was not worthy being revenged with a massacre. The story is found +only in the French histories, the writers of which it may be suspected +were moved to make Granmont deal so unmercifully with the English crew, by +the kind of feeling which so generally prevails between nations who are +near neighbours. To this it may be attributed that Père Charlevoix, both a +good historian and good critic, has adopted the story; but had it been +believed by him, he would have related it in a more rational manner, and +not with exultation.</p> + +<p>English writers mention a disagreement which happened about this time +between Granmont and the English Buccaneers, on account of his taking a +sloop belonging to <i>Jamaica</i>, and forcing the crew to serve under him; but +which crew found opportunity to take advantage of some disorder in his +ship, and to escape in the night<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a>. This seems to have been the whole +fact; for an outrage such as is affirmed by the French <!--142.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[p. 130]</a></span>writers, could not +have been committed and have been boasted of by one side, without +incurring reproach from the other.</p> + +<p>The French Government was highly offended at the insubordination and +unmanageableness of the Flibustiers in <i>Hispaniola</i>, and no one was more +so than the French King, Louis <span class="smcap">XIV</span>. Towards reducing them to a more +orderly state, instructions were sent to the Governors in the <i>West +Indies</i> to be strict in making them observe Port regulations; the +principal of which were, that all vessels should register their crew and +lading before their departure, and also at their return into port; that +they should abstain from cruising in times of peace, and should take out +regular commissions in times of war; and that they should pay the dues of +the crown, one <i>item</i> of which was a tenth of all prizes and plunder.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Disputes of the French Governors with the Flibustiers of Saint +Domingo.</span> The number of the French Flibustiers in 1684, was estimated to +be 3000. The French Government desired to convert them into settlers. A +letter written in that year from the French Minister to the Governor +General of the French West-India Islands, has this remarkable expression: +'His Majesty esteems nothing more important than to render these vagabonds +good inhabitants of <i>Saint Domingo</i>.' Such being the disposition of the +French Government, it was an oversight that they did not contribute +towards so desirable a purpose by making some abatement in the impositions +which oppressed and retarded cultivation, which would have conciliated the +Colonists, and have been encouragement to the Flibustiers to become +planters. But the Colonists still had to struggle against farming the +tobacco, which they had in vain attempted to get commuted for some other +burthen, and many cultivators of that plant were reduced to indigence. The +greediness of the French chartered companies appears in the <i>Senegal</i> +Company making it a subject of complaint, that the Flibustiers sold the +negroes <!--143.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[p. 131]</a></span>they took from the Spaniards to whomsoever they pleased, to the +prejudice of the interest of the Company. It was unreasonable to expect +the Flibustiers would give up their long accustomed modes of gain, +sanctioned as they had hitherto been by the acquiescence and countenance +of the French Government, and turn planters, under circumstances +discouraging to industry. Their number likewise rendered it necessary to +observe mildness and forbearance in the endeavour to reform them; but both +the encouragement and the forbearance were neglected; and in consequence +of their being made to apprehend rigorous treatment in their own +settlements, many removed to the British and Dutch Islands.</p> + +<p>The French Flibustiers were unsuccessful at this time in some enterprises +they undertook in the <i>Bay of Campeachy</i>, where they lost many men: on the +other hand, three of their ships, commanded by De Graaf, Michel le Basque, +and another Flibustier named Jonqué, engaged and took three Spanish ships +which were sent purposely against them out of <i>Carthagena</i>.<!--144.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[p. 132]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_XII" id="CHAP_XII"></a>CHAP. XII.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>Circumstances which preceded the Second Irruption of the +Buccaneers into the</i> South Sea. <i>Buccaneers under</i> John Cook +<i>sail from</i> Virginia; <i>stop at the</i> Cape de Verde Islands; <i>at</i> +Sierra Leone. <i>Origin and History of the Report concerning the +supposed Discovery of</i> Pepys Island.</div> + + +<p>The Prohibitions being enforced, determined many, both of the English +Buccaneers and of the French Flibustiers, to seek their fortunes in the +<i>South Sea</i>, where they would be at a distance from the control of any +established authority. This determination was not a matter generally +concerted. The first example was speedily followed, and a trip to the +<i>South Sea</i> in a short time became a prevailing fashion among them. +Expeditions were undertaken by different bodies of men unconnected with +each other, except when accident, or the similarity of their pursuits, +brought them together.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Circumstances preceding the Second Irruption of the Buccaneers +into the South Sea.</span> Among the Buccaneers in the expedition of 1680 to the +<i>South Sea</i>, who from dislike to Sharp's command returned across the +<i>Isthmus of Darien</i> at the same time with Dampier, was one John Cook, who +on arriving again in the <i>West Indies</i>, entered on board a vessel +commanded by a Dutchman of the name of Yanky, which was fitted up as a +privateer, and provided with a French commission to cruise against the +Spaniards. Cook, being esteemed a capable seaman, was made Quarter-Master, +by which title, in privateers as well as in buccaneer vessels, the officer +next in command to the Captain was called. Cook continued Quarter-Master +with Yanky till they took a Spanish ship which was thought well adapted +for a cruiser. Cook <!--145.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[p. 133]</a></span>claimed to have the command of this ship, and, +according to the usage among privateers in such cases, she was allotted to +him, with a crew composed of men who volunteered to sail with him. Dampier +was of the number, as were several others who had returned from the <i>South +Sea</i>; division was made of the prize goods, and Cook entered on his new +command.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1683.</span> This arrangement took place at <i>Isla Vaca</i>, or <i>Isle a +Vache</i>, a small Island near the South coast of <i>Hispaniola</i>, which was +then much resorted to by both privateers and Buccaneers. It happened at +this time, that besides Yanky's ship, some French privateers having legal +commissions, were lying at <i>Avache</i>, and their Commanders did not +contentedly behold men without a commission, and who were but Buccaneers, +in the possession of a finer ship than any belonging to themselves who +cruised under lawful authority. The occasion being so fair, and +remembering what Morgan had done in a case something similar, after short +counsel, they joined together, and seized the buccaneer ship, goods, and +arms, and turned the crew ashore. A fellow-feeling that still existed +between the privateers and Buccaneers, and probably a want of hands, +induced a Captain Tristian, who commanded one of the privateers, to +receive into his ship ten of the Buccaneers to be part of his crew. Among +these were Cook, and a Buccaneer afterwards of greater note, named Edward +Davis. Tristian sailed to <i>Petit Guaves</i>, where the ship had not been long +at anchor, before himself and the greatest part of his men went on shore. +Cook and his companions thought this also a fair occasion, and accordingly +they made themselves masters of the ship. Those of Tristian's men who were +on board, they turned ashore, and immediately taking up the anchors, +sailed back close in to the <i>Isle a Vache</i>, where, before notice of their +exploit reached the Governor, they collected and took on board the +remainder of their old company, <!--146.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[p. 134]</a></span>and sailed away. They had scarcely left +the <i>Isle a Vache</i>, when they met and captured two vessels, one of which +was a ship from <i>France</i> laden with wines. Thinking it unsafe to continue +longer in the <i>West Indies</i>, they directed their course for <i>Virginia</i>, +where they arrived with their prizes in April 1683.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">August, 1683. Buccaneers under John Cook sail for +the South Sea.</span> In <i>Virginia</i> they disposed of their prize goods, and two +vessels, keeping one with which they proposed to make a voyage to the +<i>South Sea</i>, and which they named the Revenge. She mounted 18 guns, and +the number of adventurers who embarked in her, were about seventy, the +major part of them old Buccaneers, some of whose names have since been +much noted, as William Dampier, Edward Davis, Lionel Wafer, Ambrose +Cowley, and John Cook their Captain. August the 23d, 1683, they sailed +from the <i>Chesapeak</i>.</p> + +<p>Dampier and Cowley have both related their piratical adventures, but with +some degree of caution, to prevent bringing upon themselves a charge of +piracy. Cowley pretended that he was engaged to sail in the Revenge to +navigate her, but was kept in ignorance of the design of the voyage, and +made to believe they were bound for the <i>Island Hispaniola</i>; and that it +was not revealed to him till after they got out to sea, that instead of to +the <i>West Indies</i>, they were bound to the coast of <i>Guinea</i>, there to seek +for a better ship, in which they might sail to the <i>Great South Sea</i>. +William Dampier, who always shews respect for truth, would not stoop to +dissimulation; but he forbears being circumstantial concerning the outset +of this voyage, and the particulars of their proceedings whilst in the +<i>Atlantic</i>; supplying the chasm in the following general terms; "August +the 23d, 1683, we sailed from <i>Virginia</i> under the command of Captain +Cook, bound for the <i>South Seas</i>. I shall not trouble the reader with an +account of every day's run, but hasten to the less known parts of the +world."<!--147.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[p. 135]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Cape de Verde Islands.</span> Whilst near the coast of <i>Virginia</i> +they met a Dutch ship, out of which they took six casks of wine; and other +provisions; also two Dutch seamen, who voluntarily entered with them. +<span class="sidenote">September.</span> Some time in September they anchored at the <i>Isle +of Sal</i>, where they procured fish and a few goats, but neither fruits nor +good fresh water. Only five men lived on the Island, who were all black; +but they called themselves Portuguese, and one was styled the Governor. +<span class="sidenote">Ambergris.</span> These Portuguese exchanged a lump of ambergris, or +what was supposed to be ambergris, for old clothes. Dampier says, 'not a +man in the ship knew ambergris, but I have since seen it in other places, +and am certain this was not the right; it was of a dark colour, like +sheep's dung, very soft, but of no smell; and possibly was goat's dung. +Some I afterwards saw sold at the <i>Nicobars</i> in the <i>East Indies</i>, was of +lighter colour, and very hard, neither had that any smell, and I suppose +was also a cheat. Mr. Hill, a surgeon, once shewed me a piece of +ambergris, and related to me, that one Mr. Benjamin Barker, a man I have +been long well acquainted with, and know to be a very sober and credible +person, told this Mr. Hill, that being in the <i>Bay of Honduras</i>, he found +in a sandy bay upon the shore of an Island, a lump of ambergris so large, +that when carried to <i>Jamaica</i>, it was found to weigh upwards of 100 +<i>lbs.</i> When he found it, it lay dry above the mark of the sea at high +water, and in it were a great multitude of beetles. It was of a dusky +colour, towards black, about the hardness of mellow cheese, and of a very +fragrant smell. What Mr. Hill shewed me was some of it, which Mr. Barker +had given him<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">The Flamingo.</span> There were wild-fowl at <i>Sal</i>; and Flamingos, of +which, and their manner of building their nests, Dampier has given a +description. The flesh of the Flamingo is lean and black, yet <!--148.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[p. 136]</a></span>good meat, +'tasting neither fishy nor any way unsavory. A dish of Flamingos' tongues +is fit for a Prince's table: they are large, and have a knob of fat at the +root which is an excellent bit. When many of them stand together, at a +distance they appear like a brick wall; for their feathers are of the +colour of new red brick, and, except when feeding, they commonly stand +upright, exactly in a row close by each other.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Cape de Verde Islands.</span> From the Isle of <i>Sal</i> they went to +other of the <i>Cape de Verde Islands</i>. At <i>St. Nicholas</i> they watered the +ship by digging wells, and at <i>Mayo</i> they procured some provisions. They +afterwards sailed to the Island <i>St. Jago</i>, but a Dutch ship was lying at +anchor in <i>Port Praya</i>, which fired her guns at them as soon as they came +within reach of shot, and the Buccaneers thought it prudent to stand out +again to sea.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">November. Coast of Guinea.</span> They next sailed to the +coast of <i>Guinea</i>, which they made in the beginning of November, near +<i>Sierra Leone</i>. A large ship was at anchor in the road, which proved to be +a Dane. On sight of her, and all the time they were standing into the +road, all the Buccaneer crew, except a few men to manage the sails, kept +under deck; which gave their ship the appearance of being a weakly manned +merchant-vessel. When they drew near the Danish ship, which they did with +intention to board her, the Buccaneer Commander, to prevent suspicion, +gave direction in a loud voice to the steersman to put the helm one way; +and, according to the plan preconcerted, the steersman put it the +contrary, so that their vessel seemed to fall on board the Dane through +mistake. By this stratagem, they surprised, and, with the loss of five +men, became masters of a ship mounting 36 guns, which was victualled and +stored for a long voyage. This achievement is related circumstantially in +Cowley's manuscript Journal<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a>; but in his published account he <!--149.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[p. 137]</a></span>only +says, 'near Cape <i>Sierra Leone</i>, we alighted on a new ship of 40 guns, +which we boarded and carried her away.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Sherborough River.</span> They went with their prize to a river South +of the <i>Sierra Leone</i>, called the <i>Sherborough</i>, to which they were safely +piloted through channels among shoals, by one of the crew who had been +there before. At the River <i>Sherborough</i> there was then an English +factory, but distant from where they anchored. Near them was a large town +inhabited by negroes, who traded freely, selling them rice, fowls, +plantains, sugar-canes, palm-wine, and honey. The town was skreened from +shipping by a grove of trees.</p> + +<p>The Buccaneers embarked here all in their new ship, and named her the +Batchelor's Delight. Their old ship they burnt, 'that she might tell no +tales,' and set their prisoners on shore, to shift as well as they could +for themselves.</p> + +<p>They sailed from the coast of Guinea in the middle of November, directing +their course across the <i>Atlantic</i> towards the <i>Strait of Magalhanes</i>. +<span class="sidenote">January, 1684.</span> On January the 28th, 1684, they had sight of +the Northernmost of the Islands discovered by Captain John Davis in 1592, +(since, among other appellations, called the <i>Sebald de Weert Islands</i>.) +From the circumstance of their falling in with this land, originated the +extraordinary report of an Island being discovered in the <i>Southern +Atlantic Ocean</i> in lat. 47° S, and by Cowley named <i>Pepys Island</i>; which +was long believed to exist, and has been sought after by navigators of +different European nations, even within our own time. The following are +the particulars which caused so great a deception.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">History of the Report of a Discovery named Pepys Island.</span> +Cowley says, in his manuscript Journal, 'January 1683: This month we were +in latitude 47° 40′, where we espied an Island bearing West of us, and +bore away for it, but being too late we lay by all night. The Island +seemed very pleasant to the eye, with many woods. I may say the whole +Island was <!--150.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[p. 138]</a></span>woods, there being a rock above water to the Eastward of it +with innumerable fowls. I sailed along that Island to the Southward, and +about the SW side of the Island there seemed to me to be a good place for +ships to ride. The wind blew fresh, and they would not put the boat out. +Sailing a little further, having 26 and 27 fathoms water, we came to a +place where we saw the weeds ride, and found only seven fathoms water and +all rocky ground, therefore we put the ship about: but the harbour seemed +a good place for ships to ride in. There seemed to me harbour for 500 sail +of shipping, the going in but narrow, and the North side of the entrance +shallow that I could see: but I think there is water enough on the South +side. I would have had them stand upon a wind all night; but they told me +they did not come out to go upon discovery. We saw likewise another Island +by this, which made me to think them the <i>Sibble D'wards</i><a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a>.'</p> + +<p>The latitude given by Cowley is to be attributed to his ignorance, and to +this part of his narrative being composed from memory, which he +acknowledges, though it is not so stated in the printed Narrative. His +describing the land to be covered with wood, is sufficiently accounted for +by the appearance it makes at a distance, which in the same manner has +deceived other voyagers. Pernety, in his Introduction to M. de +Bougainville's Voyage to the <i>Malouines</i> (by which name the French +Voyagers have chosen to call <i>John Davis's Islands</i>) says, 'As to wood, we +were deceived by appearances in running along the coast of the +<i>Malouines</i>: we thought we saw some, but on landing, these appearances +were discovered to be only tall bulrushes with large flat leaves, such as +are called corn flags<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a>.'</p> + +<p>The Editor of Cowley's Journal, William Hack, might <!--151.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[p. 139]</a></span>possibly believe from +the latitude mentioned by Cowley, that the land seen by him was a new +discovery. To give it a less doubtful appearance, he dropped the 40 +minutes of latitude, and also Cowley's conjecture that the land was the +<i>Sebald de Weerts</i>; and with this falsification of the Journal, he took +occasion to compliment the Honourable Mr. Pepys, who was then Secretary of +the Admiralty, by putting his name to the land, giving as Cowley's words, +'In the latitude of 47°, we saw land, the same being an Island not before +known. I gave it the name of <i>Pepys Island</i>.' Hack embellished this +account with a drawing of <i>Pepys Island</i>, in which is introduced an +<i>Admiralty Bay</i>, and <i>Secretary's Point</i>.</p> + +<p>The account which Dampier has given of their falling in with this land, +would have cleared up the whole matter, but for a circumstance which is +far more extraordinary than any yet mentioned, which is, that it long +escaped notice, and seems never to have been generally understood, that +Dampier and Cowley were at this time in the same ship, and their voyage +thus far the same.</p> + +<p>Dampier says, 'January the 28th (1683-4) we made the <i>Sebald de Weerts</i>. +They are three rocky barren Islands without any tree, only some bushes +growing on them. The two Northernmost lie in 51° S, the other in 51° 20′ +S. We could not come near the two Northern Islands, but we came close by +the Southern; but we could not obtain soundings till within two cables' +length of the shore, and there found the bottom to be foul rocky +ground<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a>.' In consequence of the inattention, or oversight, in not +perceiving that Dampier and Cowley were speaking of the same land, Hack's +ingenious adulation of the Secretary of the Admiralty flourished a full +century undetected; a <i>Pepys Island</i> being all the time admitted in the +charts.<!--152.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[p. 140]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Shoals of small red Lobsters.</span> Near these Islands the variation +was observed 23° 10′ Easterly. They passed through great shoals of small +red lobsters, 'no bigger than the top of a man's little finger, yet all +their claws, both great and small, were like a lobster. I never saw,' says +Dampier, 'any of this sort of fish naturally red, except here.'</p> + +<p>The winds blew hard from the Westward, and they could not fetch the +<i>Strait of Magalhanes</i>. <span class="sidenote">February.</span> On February the 6th, they +were at the entrance of <i>Strait le Maire</i>, when it fell calm, and a strong +tide set out of the <i>Strait</i> Northward, which made a short irregular sea, +as in a race, or place where two tides meet, and broke over the waist of +the ship, 'which was tossed about like an egg-shell.' <span class="sidenote">They sail +by the East end of Staten Island; and enter the South Sea.</span> A breeze +springing up from the WNW, they bore away Eastward, and passed round the +East end of <i>Staten Island</i>; after which they saw no other land till they +came into the <i>South Sea</i>. They had much rain, and took advantage of it to +fill 23 casks with fresh water.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">March.</span> March the 17th, they were in latitude 36° S, standing +for the <i>Island Juan Fernandez</i>. Variation 8° East.<!--153.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[p. 141]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_XIII" id="CHAP_XIII"></a>CHAP. XIII.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>Buccaneers under </i>John Cook<i> arrive at </i>Juan Fernandez<i>. Account of +</i>William<i>, a Mosquito Indian, who had lived there three years. +They sail to the </i>Galapagos Islands<i>; thence to the Coast of </i>New +Spain<i>. </i>John Cook<i> dies. </i>Edward Davis<i> chosen Commander.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1684. March 19th.</span> Continuing their course for +<i>Juan Fernandez</i>, on the 19th in the morning, a strange ship was seen to +the Southward, standing after them under all her sail. The Buccaneers were +in hopes she would prove to be a Spaniard, and brought to, to wait her +coming up. The people on board the strange vessel entertained similar +expectations, for they also were English, and were come to the <i>South Sea</i> +to pick up what they could. This ship was named the Nicholas; her +Commander John Eaton; she fitted out in the River <i>Thames</i> under pretence +of a trading, but in reality with the intention of making a piratical +voyage.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Joined by the Nicholas of London, John Eaton Commander.</span> The +two ships soon joined, and on its being found that they had come on the +same errand to the <i>South Sea</i>, Cook and Eaton and their men agreed to +keep company together.</p> + +<p>It was learnt from Eaton that another English ship, named the Cygnet, +commanded by a Captain Swan, had sailed from <i>London</i> for the <i>South Sea</i>; +but fitted out by reputable merchants, and provided with a cargo for a +trading voyage, having a licence from the Duke of York, then Lord High +Admiral of <i>England</i>. The Cygnet and the Nicholas had met at the entrance +of the <i>Strait of Magalhanes</i>, and they entered the <i>South Sea</i> in +company, but had since been separated by bad weather.<!--154.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[p. 142]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">March 22d.</span> March the 22d, the Batchelor's Delight and the +Nicholas came in sight of the Island <i>Juan Fernandez</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">At Juan Fernandez. William the Mosquito Indian.</span> +The reader may remember that when the Buccaneers under Watling were at +<i>Juan Fernandez</i> in January 1681, the appearance of three Spanish ships +made them quit the Island in great haste, and they left behind a Mosquito +Indian named William, who was in the woods hunting for goats. Several of +the Buccaneers who were then with Watling were now with Cook, and, eager +to discover if any traces could be found which would enable them to +conjecture what was become of their former companion, but with small hope +of finding him still here, as soon as they were near enough for a boat to +be sent from the ship, they hastened to the shore. Dampier was in this +first boat, as was also a Mosquito Indian named Robin; and as they drew +near the land, they had the satisfaction to see William at the sea-side +waiting to receive them. Dampier has given the following affecting account +of their meeting: 'Robin, his countryman, was the first who leaped ashore +from the boats, and running to his brother <i>Moskito</i> man, threw himself +flat on his face at his feet, who helping him up and embracing him, fell +flat with his face on the ground at Robin's feet, and was by him taken up +also. We stood with pleasure to behold the surprise, tenderness, and +solemnity of this interview, which was exceedingly affectionate on both +sides: and when their ceremonies were over, we also that stood gazing at +them, drew near, each of us embracing him we had found here, who was +overjoyed to see so many of his old friends, come hither as he thought +purposely to fetch him. He was named Will, as the other was Robin; which +names were given them by the English, for they have no names among +themselves, and they take it as a favour to be named by us, and will +complain if we do not appoint them some name when they are with us.'<!--155.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[p. 143]</a></span></p> + +<p>William had lived in solitude on <i>Juan Fernandez</i> above three years. The +Spaniards knew of his being on the Island, and Spanish ships had stopped +there, the people belonging to which had made keen search after him; but +he kept himself concealed, and they could never discover his retreat. At +the time Watling sailed from the Island, he had a musket, a knife, a small +horn of powder, and a few shot. 'When his ammunition was expended, he +contrived by notching his knife, to saw the barrel of his gun into small +pieces, wherewith he made harpoons, lances, hooks, and a long knife, +heating the pieces of iron first in the fire, and then hammering them out +as he pleased with stones. This may seem strange to those not acquainted +with the sagacity of the Indians; but it is no more than what the Moskito +men were accustomed to in their own country.' He had worn out the clothes +with which he landed, and was not otherwise clad than with a skin about +his waist. He made fishing lines of the skins of seals cut into thongs. +'He had built himself a hut, half a mile from the sea-shore, which he +lined with goats' skins, and slept on his couch or <i>barbecu</i> of sticks +raised about two feet from the ground, and spread with goats' skins.' He +saw the two ships commanded by Cook and Eaton the day before they +anchored, and from their manœuvring believing them to be English, he +killed three goats, which he drest with vegetables; thus preparing a treat +for his friends on their landing; and there has seldom been a more fair +and joyful occasion for festivity.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Stocked with Goats by its Discoverer.</span> Dampier reckoned two +bays in <i>Juan Fernandez</i> proper for ships to anchor in; 'both at the East +end, and in each there is a rivulet of good fresh water.' He mentions (it +may be supposed on the authority of Spanish information) that this Island +was stocked with goats by Juan Fernandez, its discoverer, who, in a second +voyage to it, landed three or four of these animals, <!--156.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[p. 144]</a></span>and they quickly +multiplied. Also, that Juan Fernandez had formed a plan of settling here, +if he could have obtained a patent or royal grant of the Island; which was +refused him<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a>.</p> + +<p>The Buccaneers found here a good supply of provisions in goats, wild +vegetables, seals, sea-lions, and fish. Dampier says, 'the seals at <i>Juan +Fernandez</i> are as big as calves, and have a fine thick short fur, the like +I have not taken notice of any where but in these seas. The teeth of the +sea-lion are the bigness of a man's thumb: in Captain Sharp's time, some +of the Buccaneers made dice of them. Both the sea-lion and the seal eat +fish, which I believe is their common food.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Coast of Peru.</span> April the 8th, the Batchelor's Delight and +Nicholas sailed from <i>Juan Fernandez</i> for the American coast, which they +made in latitude 24° S, and sailed Northward, keeping sight of the land, +but at a good distance. <span class="sidenote">May.</span> On May the 3d, in latitude 9° 40′ +S, they took a Spanish ship laden with timber.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Appearance of the Andes.</span> Dampier remarks that 'from the +latitude of 24° S to 17°, and from 14° to 10° S, the land within the coast +is of a prodigious height. It lies generally in ridges parallel to the +shore, one within another, each surpassing the other in height, those +inland being the highest. They always appear blue when seen from sea, and +are seldom obscured by clouds or fogs. These mountains far surpass the +<i>Peak of Teneriffe</i>, or the land of <i>Santa Martha</i>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Islands Lobos de la Mar.</span> On the 9th, they anchored at the +Islands <i>Lobos de la Mar</i>. 'This <i>Lobos</i> consists of two little Islands +each about a mile round, of indifferent height, with a channel between fit +only for boats. Several rocks lie on the North side of the Islands. There +is a small cove, or sandy bay, sheltered from the winds, at the West end +of the Easternmost Island, where ships may <!--157.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[p. 145]</a></span>careen. There is good riding +between the Easternmost Island and the rocks, in 10, 12, or 14 fathoms; +for the wind is commonly at S, or SSE, and the Easternmost Island lying +East and West, shelters that road. Both the Islands are barren, without +fresh water, tree, shrub, grass, or herb; but sea-fowls, seals, and +sea-lions were here in multitudes<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a>.'</p> + +<p>On a review of their strength, they mustered in the two ships 108 men fit +for service, besides their sick. They remained at the <i>Lobos de la Mar</i> +Isles till the 17th, when three vessels coming in sight, they took up +their anchors and gave chace. They captured all the three, which were +laden with provisions, principally flour, and bound for <i>Panama</i>. They +learnt from the prisoners that the English ship Cygnet had been at +<i>Baldivia</i>, and that the Viceroy on information of strange ships having +entered the <i>South Sea</i>, had ordered treasure which had been shipped for +<i>Panama</i> to be re-landed. <span class="sidenote">They sail to the Galapagos Islands.</span> +The Buccaneers, finding they were expected on the coast, determined to go +with their prizes first to the <i>Galapagos Islands</i>, and afterwards to the +coast of <i>New Spain</i>.</p> + +<p>They arrived in sight of the <i>Galapagos</i> on the 31st; but were not enough +to the Southward to fetch the Southern Islands, the wind being from SbE, +which Dampier remarks is the common trade-wind in this part of the +<i>Pacific</i>. Many instances occur in <i>South Sea</i> navigations which shew the +disadvantage of not keeping well to the South in going to the <i>Galapagos</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Duke of Norfolk's Island.</span> The two ships anchored near the +North East part of one of the Easternmost Islands, in 16 fathoms, the +bottom white hard sand, a mile distant from the shore.</p> + +<p>It was during this visit of the Buccaneers to the <i>Galapagos</i>, that the +chart of these Islands which was published with +<!--158.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[p. 146]</a></span>Cowley's voyage was made. +Considering the small opportunity for surveying which was afforded by +their track, it may be reckoned a good <a href="#Gallapagos_Islands">chart</a>, and has the merit both of +being the earliest survey known of these Islands, and of having continued +in use to this day; the latest charts we have of the <i>Galapagos</i> being +founded upon this original, and (setting aside the additions) varying +little from it in the general outlines.</p> + +<p>Where Cook and Eaton first anchored, appears to be the <i>Duke of Norfolk's +Island</i> of Cowley's chart. They found there sea turtle and land turtle, +but could stop only one night, on account of two of their prizes, which +being deeply laden had fallen too far to leeward to fetch the same +anchorage.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">June. King James's Island.</span> The day following, they +sailed on to the next Island Westward (marked <i>King James's Island</i> in the +chart) and anchored at its North end, a quarter of a mile distant from the +shore, in 15 fathoms. Dampier observed the latitude of the North part of +this second Island, 0° 28′ N, which is considerably more North than it is +placed in Cowley's chart. The riding here was very uncertain, 'the bottom +being so steep that if an anchor starts, it never holds again.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Mistake made by the Editor of Dampier's Voyages.</span> An error has +been committed in the printed Narrative of Dampier, which it may be useful +to notice. It is there said, 'The Island at which we first anchored hath +water on the North end, falling down in a stream from high steep rocks +upon the sandy bay, where it may be taken up.' Concerning so essential an +article to mariners as fresh water, no information can be too minute to +deserve attention. <span class="sidenote">Concerning Fresh Water at King James's +Island.</span> In the manuscript Journal, Dampier says of the first Island at +which they anchored, 'we found there the largest land turtle I ever saw; +but the Island is rocky and barren, without wood or water.' At the next +Island at which they anchored, both Dampier and Cowley mention fresh water +being found. Cowley says, 'this <!--159.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[p. 147]</a></span>Bay I called <i>Albany Bay</i>, and another +place <i>York Road</i>. Here is excellent sweet water.' Dampier also in the +margin of his written Journal where the second anchorage is mentioned, has +inserted the note following: 'At the North end of the Island we saw water +running down from the rocks.' The editor or corrector of the press has +mistakenly applied this to the first anchorage.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Herbage on the North end of Albemarle Island.</span> Cowley, after +assigning names to the different Islands, adds, 'We could find no good +water on any of these places, save on the <i>Duke of York's</i> [<i>i. e. King +James's</i>] <i>Island</i>. But at the North end of <i>Albemarle Island</i> there were +green leaves of a thick substance which we chewed to quench our thirst: +and there were abundance of fowls in this Island which could not live +without water, though we could not find it<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a>.'</p> + +<p>Animal food was furnished by the <i>Galapagos Islands</i> in profusion, and of +the most delicate kind; of vegetables nothing of use was found except the +mammee, the leaves just noticed and berries. The name <i>Galapagos</i> which +has been assigned to these Islands, signifies Turtle in the Spanish +language, and was given to them on account of the great numbers of those +animals, both of the sea and land kind, found there. Guanoes, an +amphibious animal well known in the <i>West Indies</i>, fish, flamingoes, and +turtle-doves so tame that they would alight upon the <!--160.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[p. 148]</a></span>men's heads, were +all in great abundance; and convenient for preserving meat, salt was +plentiful at the <i>Galapagos</i>. Some green snakes were the only other +animals seen there.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Land Turtle.</span> The full-grown land turtle were from 150 to 200 +<i>lbs.</i> in weight. Dampier says, 'so sweet that no pullet can eat more +pleasantly. They are very fat; the oil saved from them was kept in jars, +and used instead of butter to eat with dough-boys or dumplings.'—'We lay +here feeding sometimes on land turtle, sometimes on sea turtle, there +being plenty of either sort; but the land turtle, as they exceed in +sweetness, so do they in numbers: it is incredible to report how numerous +they are.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Sea Turtle.</span> The sea turtle at the <i>Galapagos</i> are of the +larger kind of those called the Green Turtle. Dampier thought their flesh +not so good as the green turtle of the <i>West Indies</i>.</p> + +<p>Dampier describes the <i>Galapagos Isles</i> to be generally of good height: +'four or five of the Easternmost Islands are rocky, hilly, and barren, +producing neither tree, herb, nor grass; but only a green prickly shrub +that grows 10 or 12 feet high, as big as a man's leg, and is full of sharp +prickles in thick rows from top to bottom, without leaf or fruit. In some +places by the sea side grow bushes of Burton wood (a sort of wood which +grows in the <i>West Indies</i>) which is good firing. <span class="sidenote">Mammee Tree.</span> +Some of the Westernmost of these Islands are nine or ten leagues long, +have fertile land with mold deep and black; and these produce trees of +various kinds, some of great and tall bodies, especially the Mammee. The +heat is not so violent here as in many other places under the Equator. The +time of year for the rains, is in November, December, and January.'</p> + +<p>At <i>Albany Bay</i>, and at other of the Islands, the Buccaneers built +storehouses, in which they lodged 5000 packs of their prize flour, and a +quantity of sweetmeats, to remain as a reserved store to which they might +have recourse on any future occasion. Part of this provision was landed at +the <!--161.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[p. 149]</a></span>Islands Northward of <i>King James's Island</i>, to which they went in +search of fresh water, but did not find any. They endeavoured to sail back +to the <i>Duke of York's Island</i>, Cowley says, 'there to have watered,' but +a current setting Northward prevented them.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">12th. They sail from the Galapagos.</span> On June the 12th, they +sailed from the <i>Galapagos Islands</i> for the Island <i>Cocos</i>, where they +proposed to water. The wind at this time was South; but they expected they +should find, as they went Northward, the general trade-wind blowing from +the East; and in that persuasion they steered more Easterly than the line +of direction in which <i>Cocos</i> lay from them, imagining that when they came +to the latitude of the Island, they would have to bear down upon it before +the wind. Contrary however to this expectation, as they advanced Northward +they found the wind more Westerly, till it settled at SWbS, and they got +so far Eastward, that they crossed the parallel of <i>Cocos</i> without being +able to come in sight of it.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">July. Coast of New Spain. Cape Blanco.</span> Missing +<i>Cocos</i>, they sailed on Northward for the coast of <i>New Spain</i>. In the +beginning of July, they made the West Cape of the <i>Gulf of Nicoya</i>. 'This +Cape is about the height of <i>Beachy Head</i>, and was named <i>Blanco</i>, on +account of two white rocks lying about half a mile from it, which to those +who are far off at sea, appear as part of the mainland; but on coming +nearer, they appear like two ships under sail<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">John Cook, Buccaneer Commander, dies. Edward Davis +chosen Commander.</span> The day on which they made this land, the Buccaneer +Commander, John Cook, who had been some time ill, died. Edward Davis, the +Quarter-Master, was unanimously elected by the company to succeed in the +command.<!--162.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[p. 150]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_XIV" id="CHAP_XIV"></a>CHAP. XIV.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr">Edward Davis <i>Commander</i>. <i>On the coast of</i> New Spain <i>and</i> +Peru. <i>Algatrane, a bituminous earth.</i> Davis <i>is joined by other +Buccaneers</i>. Eaton <i>sails to the</i> East Indies. Guayaquil +<i>attempted</i>. Rivers of St. Jago, <i>and</i> Tomaco. <i>In the Bay of</i> +Panama. <i>Arrivals of numerous parties of Buccaneers across the</i> +Isthmus <i>from the</i> West Indies.</div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1684. July. Coast of New Spain. Caldera +Bay.</span> Dampier describes the coast of <i>New Spain</i> immediately westward of +the <i>Cape Blanco</i> last mentioned, to fall in to the NE about four leagues, +making a small bay, which is by the Spaniards called <i>Caldera</i><a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a>. Within +the entrance of this bay, a league from <i>Cape Blanco</i>, was a small brook +of very good water running into the sea. The land here is low, making a +saddle between two small hills. The ships anchored near the brook, in good +depth, on a bottom of clean hard sand; and at this place, their deceased +Commander was taken on shore and buried.</p> + +<p>The country appeared thin of inhabitants, and the few seen were shy of +coming near strangers. Two Indians however were caught. Some cattle were +seen grazing near the shore, at a Beef <i>Estançian</i> or Farm, three miles +distant from where the ships lay. Two boats were sent thither to bring +cattle, having with them one of the Indians for a guide. They arrived at +the farm towards evening, and some of the Buccaneers proposed that they +should remain quiet till daylight next morning, when they might surround +the cattle and drive a number of them <!--163.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[p. 151]</a></span>into a pen or inclosure; others of +the party disliked this plan, and one of the boats returned to the ships. +Twelve men, with the other boat, remained, who hauled their boat dry up on +the beach, and went and took their lodgings for the night by the farm. +When the morning arrived, they found the people of the country had +collected, and saw about 40 armed men preparing to attack them. The +Buccaneers hastened as speedily as they could to the sea-side where they +had left their boat, and found her in flames. 'The Spaniards now thought +they had them secure, and some called to them to ask if they would be +pleased to walk to their plantations; to which never a word was answered.' +Fortunately for the Buccaneers, a rock appeared just above water at some +distance from the shore, and the way to it being fordable, they waded +thither. This served as a place of protection against the enemy, 'who only +now and then whistled a shot among them.' It was at about half ebb tide +when they took to the rock for refuge; on the return of the flood, the +rock became gradually covered. They had been in this situation seven +hours, when a boat arrived, sent from the ships in search of them. The +rise and fall of the tide here was eight feet perpendicular, and the tide +was still rising at the time the boat came to their relief; so that their +peril from the sea when on the rock was not less than it had been from the +Spaniards when they were on shore.</p> + +<p>From <i>Caldera Bay</i>, they sailed for <i>Ria-lexa</i>. <span class="sidenote">Volcan Viejo. Ria-lexa Harbour.</span> The coast near <i>Ria-lexa</i> is rendered +remarkable by a high peaked mountain called <i>Volcan Viejo</i> (the Old +Volcano.) 'When the mountain bears NE, ships may steer directly in for it, +which course will bring them to the harbour. Those that go thither must +take the sea wind, which is from the SSW, for there is no going in with +the land wind. The harbour is made by a low flat Island about a mile long +and a quarter of a mile broad, which <!--164.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[p. 152]</a></span>lies about a mile and a half from +the main-land. There is a channel at each end of the Island: the West +channel is the widest and safest, yet at the NW point of the Island there +is a shoal of which ships must take heed, and when past the shoal must +keep close to the Island on account of a sandy point which strikes over +from the main-land. This harbour is capable of receiving 200 sail of +ships. The best riding is near the main-land, where the depth is seven or +eight fathoms, clean hard sand. Two creeks lead up to the town of +<i>Ria-lexa</i>, which is two leagues distant from the harbour<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a>.'</p> + +<p>The Spaniards had erected breastworks and made other preparation in +expectation of such a visit as the present. The Buccaneers therefore +changed their intention, which had been to attack the town; and sailed on +for the <i>Gulf of Amapalla</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Bay of Amapalla.</span> 'The Bay or Gulf of <i>Amapalla</i> runs eight or +ten leagues into the country. On the South side of its entrance is <i>Point +Casivina</i>, in latitude 12° 40′ N; and on the NW side is <i>Mount San +Miguel</i>. There are many Islands in this Gulf, all low except two, named +<i>Amapalla</i> and <i>Mangera</i>, which are both high land. These are two miles +asunder, and between them is the best channel into the Gulf<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a>.'</p> + +<p>The ships sailed into the <i>Gulf</i> through the channel between <i>Point +Casivina</i> and the Island <i>Mangera</i>. Davis went with two canoes before the +ships, and landed at a village on the Island <i>Mangera</i>. The inhabitants +kept at a distance, but a Spanish Friar and some Indians were taken, from +whom the Buccaneers learnt that there were two Indian towns or villages on +the <i>Island Amapalla</i>; upon which information they hastened to their +canoes, and made for that Island. On coming near, some among the +inhabitants called out to demand who they were, and what they came for. +Davis answered by an interpreter, that <!--165.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[p. 153]</a></span>he and his men were Biscayners +sent by the King of <i>Spain</i> to clear the sea of Pirates; and that their +business in <i>Amapalla Bay</i>, was to careen. No other Spaniard than the +Padre dwelt among these Indians, and only one among the Indians could +speak the Spanish language, who served as a kind of Secretary to the +Padre. The account the Buccaneers gave of themselves satisfied the +natives, and the Secretary said they were welcome. The principal town or +village of the Island <i>Amapalla</i> stood on the top of a hill, and Davis and +his men, with the Friar at their head, marched thither.</p> + +<p>At each of the towns on <i>Amapalla</i>, and also on <i>Mangera</i>, was a handsome +built church. The Spanish Padre officiated at all three, and gave +religious instruction to the natives in their own language. The Islands +were within the jurisdiction of the Governor of the Town of <i>San Miguel</i>, +which was at the foot of the <i>Mount</i>. 'I observed,' says Dampier, 'in all +the Indian towns under the Spanish Government, that the Images of the +Virgin Mary, and of other Saints with which all their churches are filled, +are painted of an Indian complexion, and partly in an Indian dress: but in +the towns which are inhabited chiefly by Spaniards, the Saints conform to +the Spanish garb and complexion.'</p> + +<p>The ships anchored near the East side of the <i>Island Amapalla</i>, which is +the largest of the Islands, in 10 fathoms depth, clean hard sand. On other +Islands in the Bay were plantations of maize, with cattle, fowls, +plantains, and abundance of a plum-tree common in <i>Jamaica</i>, the fruit of +which Dampier calls the large hog plum. This fruit is oval, with a large +stone and little substance about it; pleasant enough in taste, but he says +he never saw one of these plums ripe that had not a maggot or two in it.</p> + +<p>The Buccaneers helped themselves to cattle from an Island in the Bay which +was largely stocked, and which they were <!--166.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[p. 154]</a></span>informed belonged to a Nunnery. +The natives willingly assisted them to take the cattle, and were content +on receiving small presents for their labour. The Buccaneers had no other +service to desire of these natives, and therefore it must have been from +levity and an ambition to give a specimen of their vocation, more than for +any advantage expected, that they planned to take the opportunity when the +inhabitants should be assembled in their church, to shut the church doors +upon them, the Buccaneers themselves say, 'to let the Indians know who we +were, and to make a bargain with them.' In executing this project, one of +the buccaneers being impatient at the leisurely movements of the +inhabitants, pushed one of them rather rudely, to hasten him into the +church; but the contrary effect was produced, for the native being +frightened, ran away, and all the rest taking alarm 'sprang out of the +church like deer.' As they fled, some of Davis's men fired at them as at +an enemy, and among other injury committed, the Indian Secretary was +killed.</p> + +<p>Cowley relates their exploits here very briefly, but in the style of an +accomplished Gazette writer. He says, 'We set sail from <i>Realejo</i> to the +<i>Gulf of St. Miguel</i>, where we took two Islands; one was inhabited by +Indians, and the other was well stored with cattle.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">September. Davis and Eaton part Company.</span> Davis and +Eaton here broke off consortship. The cause of their separating was an +unreasonable claim of Davis's crew, who having the stouter and better +ship, would not agree that Eaton's men should share equally with +themselves in the prizes taken. Cowley at this time quitted Davis's ship, +and entered with Eaton, who sailed from the <i>Bay of Amapalla</i> for the +Peruvian coast. Davis also sailed the same way on the day following +(September the 3d), first releasing the Priest of <i>Amapalla</i>; and with a +feeling of remorse something foreign to his profession, by way of +atonement to the inhabitants for the annoyance and <!--167.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[p. 155]</a></span>mischief they had +sustained from the Buccaneers, he left them one of the prize vessels, with +half a cargo of flour.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Tornadoes near the Coast of New Spain.</span> Davis sailed out of the +Gulf by the passage between the Islands <i>Amapalla</i> and <i>Mangera</i>. In the +navigation towards the coast of <i>Peru</i>, they had the wind from the NNW and +West, except during tornadoes, of which they had one or more every day, +and whilst they lasted the wind generally blew from the South East; but as +soon as they were over, the wind settled again, in the NW. Tornadoes are +common near the <i>Bay of Panama</i> from June to November, and at this time +were accompanied with much thunder, lightning, and rain.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Cape San Francisco.</span> When they came to <i>Cape San Francisco</i>, +they found settled fair weather, and the wind at South. On the 20th, they +anchored by the East side of the <i>Island Plata</i>. The 21st, Eaton's ship +anchored near them. Eaton had been at the <i>Island Cocos</i>, and had lodged +on shore there 200 packages of flour.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Eaton's Description of Cocos Island.</span> According to Eaton's +description, <i>Cocos Island</i> is encompassed with rocks, 'which make it +almost inaccessible except at the NE end, where there is a small but +secure harbour; and a fine brook of fresh water runs there into the sea. +The middle of the Island is pretty high, and destitute of trees, but looks +green and pleasant with an herb by the Spaniards called <i>Gramadiel</i>. All +round the Island by the sea, the land is low, and there cocoa-nut trees +grow in great groves.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Coast of Peru.</span> At <i>La Plata</i> they found only one small run of +fresh water, which was on the East side of the Island, and trickled slowly +down from the rocks. The Spaniards had recently destroyed the goats here, +that they might not serve as provision for the pirates. Small sea turtle +however were plentiful, as were men-of-war birds and boobies. The tide was +remarked to run strong at this part of the coast, the flood to the South.</p> + +<p>Eaton and his crew would willingly have joined company again with Davis, +but Davis's men persisted in their unsociable <!--168.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[p. 156]</a></span>claim to larger shares: the +two ships therefore, though designing alike to cruise on the coast of +<i>Peru</i>, sailed singly and separately, Eaton on the 22d, and Davis on the +day following.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Point S<sup>ta</sup> Elena.</span> Davis went to <i>Point S<sup>ta</sup> Elena</i>. On its +West side is deep water and no anchorage. In the bay on the North side of +the Point is good anchorage, and about a mile within the Point was a small +Indian village, the inhabitants of which carried on a trade with pitch, +and salt made there. The <i>Point S<sup>ta</sup> Elena</i> is tolerably high, and +overgrown with thistles; but the land near it is sandy, low, and in parts +overflowed, without tree or grass, and without fresh water; but +water-melons grew there, large and very sweet. When the inhabitants of the +village wanted fresh water, they were obliged to fetch it from a river +called the <i>Colanche</i>, which is at the innermost part of the bay, four +leagues distant from their habitations. The buccaneers landed, and took +some natives prisoners. A small bark was lying in the bay at anchor, the +crew of which set fire to and abandoned her; but the buccaneers boarded +her in time to extinguish the fire. A general order had been given by the +Viceroy of <i>Peru</i> to all ship-masters, that if they should be in danger of +being taken by pirates, they should set fire to their vessels and betake +themselves to their boats.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Algatrane, a bituminous Earth.</span> The pitch, which was the +principal commodity produced at <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Elena</i>, was supplied from a hot +spring, of which Dampier gives the following account. 'Not far from the +Indian village, and about five paces within high-water mark, a bituminous +matter boils out of a little hole in the earth. It is like thin tar; the +Spaniards call it <i>Algatrane</i>. By much boiling, it becomes hard like +pitch, and is used by the Spaniards instead of pitch. It boils up most at +high water, and the inhabitants save it in jars<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">A rich Ship formerly wrecked on Point S<sup>ta</sup> Elena.</span> A report +was current here among the Spaniards, 'that many <!--169.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[p. 157]</a></span>years before, a rich +Spanish ship was driven ashore at <i>Point S<sup>ta</sup> Elena</i>, for want of wind +to work her; that immediately after she struck, she heeled off to seaward, +and sunk in seven or eight fathoms water; and that no one ever attempted +to fish for her, because there falls in here a great high sea<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Manta.</span> Davis landed at a village named <i>Manta</i>, on the +main-land about three leagues Eastward of <i>Cape San Lorenzo</i>, and due +North of a high conical mountain called <i>Monte Christo</i>. The village was +on a small ascent, and between it and the sea was a spring of good water. +<span class="sidenote">Sunken Rocks near it.</span> 'About a mile and a half from the shore, +right opposite the village, is a rock which is very dangerous, because it +never appears above water, neither does the sea break upon it. A mile +within the rock is good anchorage in six, eight or ten fathoms, hard sand +and clear ground. <span class="sidenote">And Shoal.</span> A mile from the road on the West +side is a shoal which runs out a mile into the sea<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a>.'</p> + +<p>The only booty made by landing at <i>Manta</i>, was the taking two old women +prisoners. From them however, the Buccaneers obtained intelligence that +many of their fraternity had lately crossed the <i>Isthmus</i> from the <i>West +Indies</i>, and were at this time on the <i>South Sea</i>, without ships, cruising +about in canoes; and that it was on this account the Viceroy had given +orders for the destruction of the goats at the Island <i>Plata</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">October. Davis is joined by other Buccaneers.</span> +Whilst Davis and his men, in the Batchelor's Delight, were lying at the +Island <i>Plata</i>, unsettled in their plans by the news they had received, +they were, on October the 2d, joined by the Cygnet, Captain Swan, and by a +small bark manned with a crew of buccaneers, both of which anchored in the +road.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">The Cygnet, Captain Swan.</span> The Cygnet, as before noticed, was +fitted out from <i>London</i> for the purpose of trade. She had put in at +<i>Baldivia</i>, where <!--170.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[p. 158]</a></span>Swan, seeing the Spaniards suspicious of the visits of +strangers, gave out that he was bound to the <i>East Indies</i>, and that he +had endeavoured to go by the <i>Cape of Good Hope</i>; but that meeting there +with storms and unfavourable winds, and not being able to beat round that +<i>Cape</i>, he had changed his course and ran for the <i>Strait of Magalhanes</i>, +to sail by the <i>Pacific Ocean</i> to <i>India</i>. This story was too improbable +to gain credit. Instead of finding a market at <i>Baldivia</i>, the Spaniards +there treated him and his people as enemies, by which he lost two men and +had several wounded. He afterwards tried the disposition of the Spaniards +to trade with him at other places, both in <i>Chili</i> and <i>Peru</i>, but no +where met encouragement. He proceeded Northward for <i>New Spain</i> still with +the same view; but near the <i>Gulf of Nicoya</i> he fell in with some +buccaneers who had come over the <i>Isthmus</i> and were in canoes; and his men +(Dampier says) forced him to receive them into his ship, and he was +afterwards prevailed on to join in their pursuits. Swan had to plead in +his excuse, the hostility of the Spaniards towards him at <i>Baldivia</i>. +These buccaneers with whom Swan associated, had for their commander Peter +Harris, a nephew of the Peter Harris who was killed in battle with the +Spaniards in the <i>Bay of Panama</i>, in 1680, when the Buccaneers were +commanded by Sawkins and Coxon. Swan stipulated with them that ten shares +of every prize should be set apart for the benefit of his owners, and +articles to that purport were drawn up and signed. Swan retained the +command of the Cygnet, with a crew increased by a number of the new +comers, for whose accommodation a large quantity of bulky goods belonging +to the merchants was thrown into the sea. Harris with others of the +buccaneers established themselves in a small bark they had taken.</p> + +<p>On their meeting with Davis, there was much joy and congratulation on all +sides. They immediately agreed to keep <!--171.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[p. 159]</a></span>together, and the separation of +Eaton's ship was now much regretted. They were still incommoded in Swan's +ship for want of room, therefore (the supercargoes giving consent) +whatever part of the cargo any of the crews desired to purchase, it was +sold to them upon trust; and more bulky goods were thrown overboard. Iron, +of which there was a large quantity, was kept for ballast; and the finer +goods, as silks, muslins, stockings, &c. were saved. <span class="sidenote">At Isle de +la Plata.</span> Whilst they continued at <i>La Plata</i>, Davis kept a small bark +out cruising, which brought in a ship from <i>Guayaquil</i>, laden with timber, +the master of which reported that great preparations were making at +<i>Callao</i> to attack the pirates. This information made a re-union with +Eaton more earnestly desired, and a small bark manned with 20 men was +dispatched to search along the coast Southward as far as to the <i>Lobos +Isles</i>, with an invitation to him to join them again. The ships in the +mean time followed leisurely in the same direction.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Cape Blanco, near Guayaquil; difficult to weather.</span> On the +30th, they were off the <i>Cape Blanco</i> which is between <i>Payta</i> and the +<i>Bay of Guayaquil</i>. Southerly winds prevail along the coast of <i>Peru</i> and +<i>Chili</i> much the greater part of the year; and Dampier remarks of this +<i>Cape Blanco</i>, that it was reckoned the most difficult to weather of any +headland along the coast, the wind generally blowing strong from SSW or +SbW, without being altered, as at other parts of the coast, by the land +winds. Yet it was held necessary here to beat up close in with the shore, +because (according to the accounts of Spanish seamen) 'on standing out to +sea, a current is found setting NW, which will carry a ship farther off +shore in two hours, than she can run in again in five.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">November. Payta burnt.</span> November the 3d, the +Buccaneers landed at <i>Payta</i> without opposition, the town being abandoned +to them. They found nothing of value, 'not so much as a meal of victuals +being <!--172.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[p. 160]</a></span>left them.' The Governor would not pay ransom for the town, though +he fed the Buccaneers with hopes till the sixth day, when they set it on +fire.</p> + +<p>At most of the towns on the coast of <i>Peru</i>, the houses are built with +bricks made of earth and straw kneaded together and dried in the sun; many +houses have no roof other than mats laid upon rafters, for it never rains, +and they endeavour to fence only from the sun. From the want of moisture, +great part of the country near the coast will not produce timber, and most +of the stone they have, 'is so brittle that any one may rub it into sand +with their finger.'</p> + +<p><i>Payta</i> had neither wood nor water, except what was carried thither. The +water was procured from a river about two leagues NNE of the town, where +was a small Indian village called <i>Colan</i>. <span class="sidenote">Part of the Peruvian +Coast where it never rains.</span> Dampier says, 'this dry country commences +Northward about <i>Cape Blanco</i> (in about 4° S latitude) whence it reaches +to latitude 30° S, in which extent they have no rain that I could ever +observe or hear of.' In the Southern part of this tract however (according +to Wafer) they have great dews in the night, by which the vallies are +rendered fertile, and are well furnished with vegetables.</p> + +<p>Eaton had been at <i>Payta</i>, where he burnt a large ship in the road, but +did not land. He put on shore there all his prisoners; from which +circumstance it was conjectured that he purposed to sail immediately for +the <i>East Indies</i>; and such proved to be the fact.</p> + +<p>The vessel commanded by Harris, sailed badly, and was therefore quitted +and burnt. <span class="sidenote">Lobos de Tierra. Lobos de la Mar.</span> On the 14th, the other +Buccaneer vessels, under Davis, anchored near the NE end of <i>Lobos de +Tierra</i>, in four fathoms depth. They took here penguins, boobies, and +seals. On the 19th, they were at <i>Lobos de la Mar</i>, where they found a +letter left by the bark sent in search of <!--173.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[p. 161]</a></span>Eaton, which gave +information that he had entirely departed from the American coast. The +bark had sailed for the Island <i>Plata</i> expecting to rejoin the ships +there.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Eaton sails for the East Indies; Stops at the Ladrones.</span> Eaton +in his route to the <i>East Indies</i> stopped at <i>Guahan</i>, one of the <i>Ladrone +Islands</i>, where himself and his crew acted towards the native Islanders +with the utmost barbarity, which Cowley relates as a subject of merriment.</p> + +<p>On their first arrival at <i>Guahan</i>, Eaton sent a boat on shore to procure +refreshments; but the natives kept at a distance, believing his ship to be +one of the Manila galeons, and his people Spaniards. Eaton's men served +themselves with cocoa-nuts, but finding difficulty in climbing, they cut +the trees down to get at the fruit. The next time their boat went to the +shore, the Islanders attacked her, but were easily repulsed; and a number +of them killed. By this time the Spanish Governor was arrived at the part +of the Island near which the ship had anchored, and sent a letter +addressed to her Commander, written in four different languages, to wit, +in Spanish, French, Dutch, and Latin, to demand of what country she was, +and whence she came. Cowley says, 'Our Captain, thinking the French would +be welcomer than the English, returned answer we were French, fitted out +by private merchants to make fuller discovery of the world. The Governor +on this, invited the Captain to the shore, and at their first conference, +the Captain told him that the Indians had fallen upon his men, and that we +had killed some of them. He wished we had killed them all, and told us of +their rebellion, that they had killed eight Fathers, of sixteen which were +in a convent. He gave us leave to kill and take whatever we could find on +one half of the Island where the rebels lived. We then made wars with +these infidels, and went on shore every day, fetching provisions, and +firing upon them wherever we saw them, so that <!--174.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[p. 162]</a></span>the greatest part of them +left the Island. The Indians sent two of their captains to us to treat of +peace, but we would not treat with them<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a>.'—'The whole land is a +garden. The Governor was the same man who detained Sir John Narbrough's +Lieutenant at <i>Baldivia</i>. Our Captain supplied him with four barrels of +gunpowder, and arms.'</p> + +<p>Josef de Quiroga was at this time Governor at <i>Guahan</i>, who afterwards +conquered and unpeopled all the Northern Islands of the <i>Ladrones</i>. +Eaton's crew took some of the Islanders prisoners: three of them jumped +overboard to endeavour to escape. It was easy to retake them, as they had +been bound with their hands behind them; but Eaton's men pursued them with +the determined purpose to kill them, which they did in mere wantonness of +sport<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a>. At another time, when they had so far come to an accommodation +with the Islanders as to admit of their approach, the ship's boat being on +shore fishing with the seine, some natives in canoes near her were +suspected of intending mischief. Cowley relates, 'our people that were in +the boat let go in amongst the thickest of them, and killed a great many +of their number.' It is possible that thus much might have been necessary +for safety; but Cowley proceeds, 'the others, seeing their mates fall, ran +away. Our other men which were on shore, meeting them, saluted them also +by making holes in their hides.'</p> + +<p>From the <i>Ladrones</i> Eaton sailed to the North of <i>Luconia</i>, and passed +through among the Islands which were afterwards named by Dampier the +<i>Bashee Islands</i>. The account given by Cowley is as follows: 'There being +half a point East variation, till we came to latitude 20° 30′ N, where we +fell in with a parcel of Islands lying to the Northward of <i>Luconia</i>. On +the 23d day <!--175.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[p. 163]</a></span>of April, we sailed through between the second and third of +the Northernmost of them. We met with a very strong current, like the +<i>Race of Portland</i>. <span class="sidenote">Nutmeg Island, North of Luconia.</span> At the +third of the Northernmost Islands, we sent our boat on shore, where they +found abundance of nutmegs growing, but no people. They observed abundance +of rocks and foul ground near the shore, and saw many goats upon the +Island.'</p> + +<p>Cowley concludes the narrative of his voyage with saying that he arrived +home safe to <i>England</i> through the infinite mercy of God.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Coast of Peru. Davis attempts Guayaquil. Slave Ships captured.</span> To return +to Edward Davis: At <i>Lobos de la Mar</i>, the Mosquito Indians struck as much +turtle as served all the crews. Shortly after, Davis made an attempt to +surprise <i>Guayaquil</i>, which miscarried through the cowardice of one of his +men, and the coldness of Swan to the enterprise. In the <i>Bay of Guayaquil</i> +they captured four vessels; one of them laden with woollen cloth of +<i>Quito</i> manufacture; the other three were ships coming out of the <i>River +of Guayaquil</i> with cargoes of Negroes.</p> + +<p>The number of Negroes in these vessels was a thousand, from among which +Davis and Swan chose each about fifteen, and let the vessels go. Dampier +entertained on this occasion different views from his companions. 'Never,' +says he, 'was put into the hands of men a greater opportunity to enrich +themselves. We had 1000 Negroes, all lusty young men and women, and we had +200 tons of flour stored up at the <i>Galapagos Islands</i>. With these Negroes +we might have gone and settled at <i>Santa Maria</i> on the <i>Isthmus of +Darien</i>, and have employed them in getting gold out of the mines there. +All the Indians living in that neighbourhood were mortal enemies to the +Spaniards, were flushed by successes against them, and for several years +had been the fast friends of the privateers. Add to which, we should have +had the <i>North Sea</i> <!--176.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[p. 164]</a></span>open to us, and in a short time should have received +assistance from all parts of the <i>West Indies</i>. Many thousands of +Buccaneers from <i>Jamaica</i> and the French Islands would have flocked to us; +and we should have been an overmatch for all the force the Spaniards could +have brought out of <i>Peru</i> against us.'</p> + +<p>The proposal to employ slaves in the mines leaves no cause to regret that +Dampier's plan was not adopted; but that was probably not an objection +with his companions. They naturally shrunk from an attempt which in the +execution would have required a regularity and order to which they were +unaccustomed, and not at all affected.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Description of the Harbour of Guayaquil.</span> The Harbour of +<i>Guayaquil</i> is the best formed port in <i>Peru</i>. In the river, three or four +miles short of the town, stands a low Island about a mile long, on either +side of which is a fair channel to pass up or down. The Western Channel is +the wildest: the other is as deep. 'From the upper part of the Island to +the town is about a league, and it is near as much from one side of the +river to the other. In that spacious place ships of the greatest burthen +may ride afloat; but the best place for ships is near that part of the +land on which the town stands. The country here is subject to great rains +and thick fogs, which render it very unwholesome and sickly, in the +vallies especially; <i>Guayaquil</i> however is not so unhealthy as <i>Quito</i> and +other towns inland; but the Northern part of Peru pays for the dry weather +which they have about <i>Lima</i> and to the Southward.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Island S<sup>ta</sup> Clara. Shoals near its North Side.</span> 'Ships bound +into the river of <i>Guayaquil</i> pass on the South side of the Island <i>Santa +Clara</i> to avoid shoals which are on the North side, whereon formerly ships +have been wrecked. A rich wreck lay on the North side of <i>Santa Clara</i> not +far from the Island, and some plate which was in her was taken up: <!--177.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[p. 165]</a></span>more +might have been saved but for the cat-fish which swarm hereabouts.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Cat Fish.</span> 'The Cat-fish is much like a whiting; but the head +is flatter and bigger. It has a wide mouth, and certain small strings +pointing out on each side of it like cats' whiskers. It hath three fins; +one on the back, and one on either side. Each of these fins hath a sharp +bone which is very venemous if it strikes into a man's flesh. Some of the +Indians that adventured to search this wreck lost their lives, and others +the use of their limbs, by these fins. Some of the cat-fish weigh seven or +eight pounds; and in some places there are cat-fish which are none of them +bigger than a man's thumb; but their fins are all alike venemous. They are +most generally at the mouths of rivers (in the hot latitudes) or where +there is much mud and ooze. The bones in their bodies are not venemous, +and we never perceived any bad effect in eating the fish, which is very +sweet and wholesome meat<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a>.'</p> + +<p>The 13th, Davis and Swan with their prizes sailed from the <i>Bay of +Guayaquil</i> to the Island <i>Plata</i>, and found there the bark which had been +in quest of Eaton's ship.</p> + +<p>From <i>Plata</i>, they sailed Northward towards the <i>Bay of Panama</i>, landing +at the villages along the coast to seek provisions. They were ill provided +with boats, which exposed them to danger in making descents, by their not +being able to land or bring off many men at one time; and they judged that +the best places for getting their wants in this respect supplied would be +in rivers of the Continent, in which the Spaniards had no settlement, +where from the native inhabitants they might obtain canoes by traffic or +purchase, if not otherwise. Dampier remarks that there were many such +unfrequented rivers in the Continent to the Northward of the <i>Isle de la +Plata</i>; and that <!--178.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[p. 166]</a></span>from the Equinoctial to the <i>Gulf de San Miguel</i> in the +<i>Bay of Panama</i>, which is above eight degrees of latitude, the coast was +not inhabited by the Spaniards, nor were the Indians who lived there in +any manner under their subjection, except at one part near the Island +<i>Gallo</i>, 'where on the banks of a Gold River or two, some Spaniards had +settled to find gold.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">The Land Northward of Cape San Francisco. The Cotton Tree and +Cabbage Tree.</span> The land by the +sea-coast to the North of <i>Cape San Francisco</i> is low and extremely woody; +the trees are of extraordinary height and bigness; and in this part of the +coast are large and navigable rivers. The white cotton-tree, which bears a very fine sort of +cotton, called silk cotton, is the largest tree in these woods; and the +cabbage-tree is the tallest. Dampier has given full descriptions of both. +He measured a cabbage-tree 120 feet in length, and some were longer. 'It +has no limbs nor boughs except at the head, where there are branches +something bigger than a man's arm. The cabbage-fruit shoots out in the +midst of these branches, invested or folded in leaves; and is as big as +the small of a man's leg, and a foot long. It is white as milk, and sweet +as a nut if eaten raw, and is very sweet and wholesome if boiled.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">River of St. Jago.</span> The Buccaneers entered a river with their +boats, in or near latitude 2° N, which Dampier, from some Spanish +pilot-book, calls the <i>River of St. Jago</i>. It was navigable some leagues +within the entrance, and seems to be the river marked with the name +<i>Patia</i> in the late Spanish charts, a name which has allusion to spreading +branches.</p> + +<p>Davis's men went six leagues up the river without seeing habitation or +people. They then came in sight of two small huts, the inhabitants of +which hurried into canoes with their household-stuff, and paddled upwards +against the stream faster than they could be pursued. More houses were +seen higher up; but the stream ran here so swift, that the Buccaneers +would not <!--179.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[p. 167]</a></span>be at the labour of proceeding. <span class="sidenote">Island Gallo.</span> They +found in the two deserted huts, a hog, some fowls and plantains, which +they dressed on the spot, and after their meal returned to the ships, +which were at the <i>Island Gallo</i>.</p> + +<p>'The Island <i>Gallo</i> is clothed with timber, and here was a spring of good +water at the NE end, with good landing in a small sandy bay, and secure +riding in six or seven fathoms depth<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">River Tomaco.</span> They entered with their boats another large +river, called the <i>Tomaco</i>, the entrance of which is but three leagues +from the <i>Island Gallo</i>. This river was shoal at the mouth, and navigable +for small vessels only. A little within, was a village called <i>Tomaco</i>, +some of the inhabitants of which they took prisoners, and carried off a +dozen jars of good wine.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1685. January.</span> On the 1st of January, they took a packet-boat +bound for <i>Lima</i>, which the President of <i>Panama</i> had dispatched to hasten +the sailing of the Plate Fleet from <i>Callao</i>; the treasure sent from +<i>Peru</i> and <i>Chili</i> to <i>Old Spain</i> being usually first collected at +<i>Panama</i>, and thence transported on mules to <i>Portobello</i>. The Buccaneers +judged that the <i>Pearl Islands</i> in the <i>Bay of Panama</i> would be the best +station they could occupy for intercepting ships from <i>Lima</i>.</p> + +<p>On the 7th, they left <i>Gallo</i>, and pursued their course Northward. An +example occurs here of Buccaneer order and discipline. 'We weighed,' says +Dampier, 'before day, and all got out of the road except Captain Swan's +tender, which never budged; for the men were all asleep when we went out, +and the tide of flood coming on before they awoke, we were forced to stay +for them till the following tide.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Island Gorgona.</span> On the 8th, they took a vessel laden with +flour. The next day they anchored on the West side of the <i>Island +Gorgona</i>, in <!--180.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[p. 168]</a></span>38 fathoms depth clear ground, a quarter of a mile from the +shore. <i>Gorgona</i> was uninhabited; and like <i>Gallo</i> covered with trees. It +is pretty high, and remarkable by two saddles, or risings and fallings on +the top. It is about two leagues long, one broad, and is four leagues +distant from the mainland. It was well watered at this time with small +brooks issuing from the high land. At its West end is another small +Island. The tide rises and falls seven or eight feet; and at low water +shell-fish, as periwinkles, muscles, and oysters, may be taken. At +<i>Gorgona</i> were small black monkeys. 'When the tide was out, the monkeys +would come down to the sea-shore for shell-fish. Their way was to take up +an oyster and lay it upon a stone, and with another stone to keep beating +of it till they broke the shell<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a>.' <span class="sidenote">Pearl Oysters.</span> The pearl +oyster was here in great plenty: they are flatter than other oysters, are +slimy, and taste copperish if eaten raw, but were thought good when +boiled. The Indians and Spaniards hang the meat of them on strings to dry. +'The pearl is found at the head of the oyster, between the meat and the +shell. Some have 20 or 30 small seed-pearl, some none at all, and some one +or two pretty large pearls. The inside of the shell is more glorious than +the pearl itself<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Bay of Panama. Galera Isle.</span> They put some of their prisoners +on shore at <i>Gorgona</i>, and sailed thence on the 13th, being six sail in +company; that is to say, Davis's ship, Swan's ship, three tenders, and +their last prize. The 21st, they arrived in the <i>Bay of Panama</i>, and +anchored at a small low and barren Island named <i>Galera</i>.</p> + +<p>On the 25th, they went from <i>Galera</i> to one of the Southern <i>Pearl +Islands</i>, where they lay the ships aground to clean, the rise and fall of +the sea at the spring tides being ten feet perpendicular. The small barks +were kept out cruising, and on <!--181.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[p. 169]</a></span>the 31st, they brought in a vessel bound +for <i>Panama</i> from <i>Lavelia</i>, a town on the West side of the <i>Bay</i>, laden +with Indian corn, salt beef, and fowls.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding it had been long reported that a fleet was fitting out in +<i>Peru</i> to clear the <i>South Sea</i> of pirates, the small force under Davis, +Swan, and Harris, amounting to little more than 250 men, remained several +weeks in uninterrupted possession of the <i>Bay of Panama</i>, blocking up +access to the city by sea, supplying themselves with provisions from the +Islands, and plundering whatsoever came in their way.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">The Pearl Islands.</span> The <i>Pearl Islands</i> are woody, and the soil +rich. They are cultivated with plantations of rice, plantains, and +bananas, for the support of the City of <i>Panama</i>. Dampier says, 'Why they +are called the <i>Pearl Islands</i> I cannot imagine, for I did never see one +pearl oyster about them, but of other oysters many. It is very pleasant +sailing here, having the mainland on one side, which appears in divers +forms, beautified with small hills clothed with woods always green and +flourishing; and on the other side, the <i>Pearl Islands</i>, which also make a +lovely prospect as you sail by them.'</p> + +<p>The Buccaneers went daily in their canoes among the different Islands, to +fish, fowl, or hunt for guanoes. One man so employed and straggling from +his party, was surprised by the Spaniards, and carried to <i>Panama</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">February.</span> In the middle of February, Davis, who appears to +have always directed their movements as the chief in command, went with +his ships and anchored near the City of <i>Panama</i>. He negociated with the +Governor an exchange of prisoners, and was glad by the release of forty +Spaniards to obtain the deliverance of two Buccaneers; one of them the +straggler just mentioned; the other, one of Harris's men.</p> + +<p>A short time after this exchange, as the Buccaneer ships <!--182.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[p. 170]</a></span>were at anchor +near the Island <i>Taboga</i>, which is about four leagues to the South of +<i>Panama</i>, they were visited by a Spaniard in a canoe, who pretended he was +a merchant and wanted to traffic with them privately. He proposed to come +off to the ships in the night with a small vessel laden with such goods as +the Buccaneers desired to purchase. This was agreed to, and he came with +his vessel when it was dark; but instead of a cargo of goods, she was +fitted up as a fire-ship with combustibles. The Buccaneers had suspected +his intention and were on their guard; but to ward off the mischief, were +obliged to cut from their anchors and set sail.</p> + +<p>In the morning they returned to their anchorage, which they had scarcely +regained when a fresh cause of alarm occurred. Dampier relates, <span class="sidenote"> +Arrival of fresh bodies of Buccaneers from the West Indies.</span> 'We were +striving to recover the anchors we had parted from, but the buoy-ropes, +being rotten, broke, and whilst we were puzzling about our anchors, we saw +a great many canoes full of men pass between the Island <i>Taboga</i> and +another Island, which at first put us into a new consternation. We lay +still some time, till we saw they made directly towards us; upon which we +weighed and stood towards them. When we came within hail, we found that +they were English and French privateers just come from the <i>North Sea</i> +over the <i>Isthmus of Darien</i>. We presently came to an anchor again, and +all the canoes came on board.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Grogniet and L'Escuyer.</span> This new arrival of Buccaneers to the +<i>South Sea</i> consisted of 200 Frenchmen and 80 Englishmen, commanded by two +Frenchmen named Grogniet and L'Escuyer. Grogniet had a commission to war +on the Spaniards from a French West-India Governor. The Englishmen of this +party upon joining Davis, were received into the ships of their +countrymen, and the largest of the prize vessels, which was a ship named +the San Rosario, was given to the Frenchmen.<!--183.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[p. 171]</a></span></p> + +<p>From these new confederates it was learnt, that another party, consisting +of 180 Buccaneers, commanded by an Englishman named Townley, had crossed +the <i>Isthmus</i>, and were building canoes in the <i>Gulf de San Miguel</i>; on +which intelligence, it was determined to sail to that Gulf, that the whole +buccaneer force in this sea might be joined. Grogniet in return for the +ship given to the French Buccaneers, offered to Davis and Swan new +commissions from the Governor of <i>Petit Goave</i>, by whom he had been +furnished with spare commissions with blanks, to be filled up and disposed +of at his own discretion. Davis accepted Grogniet's present, 'having +before only an old commission which had belonged to Captain Tristian, and +which, being found in Tristian's ship when she was carried off by Cook, +had devolved as an inheritance to Davis.' The commissions which, by +whatever means, the Buccaneers procured, were not much protection in the +event of their falling into the hands of the Spaniards, unless the nation +of which the Buccaneer was a native happened to be then at war with +<i>Spain</i>. Instances were not uncommon in the <i>West Indies</i> of the Spaniards +hanging up their buccaneer prisoners with their commissions about their +necks. But the commissions were allowed to be valid in the ports of other +powers. Swan however refused the one offered him, and rested his +justification on the orders he had received from the Duke of York; in +which he was directed, neither to give offence to the Spaniards, nor to +submit to receive affront from them: they had done him injury in killing +his men at <i>Baldivia</i>, and he held his orders to be a lawful commission to +do himself right.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">March. Townley and his Crew.</span> On the 3d of March, as they +approached the <i>Gulf de San Miguel</i> to meet the Buccaneers under Townley, +they were again surprised by seeing two ships standing towards them. These +proved to be Townley and his men, in two prizes <!--184.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[p. 172]</a></span>they had already taken, +one laden with flour, the other with wine, brandy, and sugar; both +designed for <i>Panama</i>. <span class="sidenote">Pisco Wine.</span> The wine came from <i>Pisco</i>, +'which place is famous for wine, and was contained in jars of seven or +eight gallons each. Ships which lade at <i>Pisco</i> stow the jars one tier on +the top of another, so artificially that we could hardly do the like +without breaking them: yet they often carry in this manner 1500 or 2000, +or more, in a ship, and seldom break one.'</p> + +<p>On this junction of the Buccaneers, they went altogether to the <i>Pearl +Islands</i> to make arrangements, and to fit their prize vessels as well as +circumstances would admit, for their new occupation. Among the +preparations necessary to their equipment, it was not the last which +occurred, that the jars from <i>Pisco</i> were wanted to contain their sea +stock of fresh water; for which service they were in a short time rendered +competent.</p> + +<p>The 10th, they took a small bark in ballast, from <i>Guayaquil</i>. On the +12th, some Indians in a canoe came out of the River <i>Santa Maria</i>, +purposely to inform them that a large body of English and French +Buccaneers were then on their march over the <i>Isthmus</i> from the <i>North +Sea</i>. This was not all; for on the 15th, one of the small barks which were +kept out cruising, fell in with a vessel in which were six Englishmen, who +were part of a crew of Buccaneers that had been six months in the <i>South +Sea</i>, under the command of a William Knight. These six men had been sent +in a canoe in chase of a vessel, which they came up with and took; but +they had chased out of sight of their own ship, and could not afterwards +find her. Davis gave the command of this vessel to Harris, who took +possession of her with a crew of his own followers, and he was sent to the +River <i>Santa Maria</i> to look for the buccaneers, of whose coming the +Indians had given information.</p> + +<p>This was the latter part of the dry season in the <i>Bay of Panama</i>. +<!--185.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[p. 173]</a></span>Hitherto fresh water had been found in plenty at the <i>Pearl Islands</i>; but +the springs and rivulets were now dried up. The Buccaneers examined within +<i>Point Garachina</i>, but found no fresh water. <span class="sidenote">Port de Pinas. 25th. Taboga Isle.</span> They searched along the coast Southward, +and on the 25th, at a narrow opening in the mainland with two small rocky +Islands before it, about seven leagues distant from <i>Point Garachina</i>, +which Dampier supposed to be <i>Port de Pinas</i>, they found a stream of good +water which ran into the sea; but the harbour was open to the SW, and a +swell set in, which rendered watering there difficult and hazardous: the +fleet (for they were nine sail in company) therefore stood for the Island +<i>Taboga</i>, 'where,' says Dampier, 'we were sure to find a supply.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">April.</span> Their boats being sent before the ships, came +unexpectedly upon some of the inhabitants of <i>Panama</i> who were loading a +canoe with plantains, and took them prisoners. One among these, a Mulatto, +had the imprudence to say he was in the fire-ship which had been sent in +the night to burn the Buccaneer ships; upon which, the Buccaneers +immediately hanged him.</p> + +<p>They had chocolate, but no sugar; and all the kettles they possessed, +constantly kept boiling, were not sufficient to dress victuals for so many +men. Whilst the ships lay at <i>Taboga</i>, a detachment was sent to a +sugar-work on the mainland, from which they returned with sugar and three +coppers.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">More Buccaneers arrive.</span> On the 11th of April, they went from +<i>Tabogo</i> to the <i>Pearl Islands</i>, and were there joined by the Flibustiers +and Buccaneers of whose coming they had been last apprised, consisting of +264 men, commanded by Frenchmen named Rose, Le Picard, and Des-marais. Le +Picard was a veteran who had served under Lolonois and Morgan. In this +party came Raveneau de Lussan, whose Journal is said to be the only one +kept by any of the French who were in this expedition.<!--186.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[p. 174]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lussan's Narrative is written with much misplaced gaiety, which comes +early into notice, and shews him to have been, even whilst young and +unpractised in the occupation of a Buccaneer, of a disposition delighting +in cruelty. In the account of his journey overland from the <i>West Indies</i>, +he relates instances which he witnessed of the great dexterity of the +monkeys which inhabited the forests, and among others the following: '<i>Je +ne puis me souvenir sans rire de l'action que je vis faire a un de ces +animaux, auquel apres avoir tiré plusieurs coups de fusil qui lui +emportoient une partie du ventre, en sorte que toutes ses tripes +sortoient; je le vis se tenir d'une de ses pates, ou mains si l'on veut, a +une branche d'arbre, tandis que de l'autre il ramassoit ses intestins +qu'il se refouroit dans ce qui lui restoit de ventre<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a>.</i>'</p> + +<p>Ambrose Cowley and Raveneau de Lussan are well matched for comparison, +alike not only in their dispositions, but in their conceptions, which made +them imagine the recital of such actions would be read with delight.</p> + +<p>The Buccaneers in the <i>Bay of Panama</i> were now nearly a thousand strong, +and they held a consultation whether or not they should attack the city. +They had just before learnt from an intercepted packet that the Lima Fleet +was at sea, richly charged with treasure; and that it was composed of all +the naval force the Spaniards in <i>Peru</i> had been able to collect: it was +therefore agreed not to attempt the city at the present, but to wait +patiently the arrival of the Spanish fleet, and give it battle. <span class="sidenote"> +Chepo.</span> The only enterprise they undertook on the main-land in the mean +time, was against the town of <i>Chepo</i>, where they found neither opposition +nor plunder.</p> + +<p>The small Island <i>Chepillo</i> near the mouth of the river which leads to +<i>Chepo</i>, Dampier reckoned the most pleasant of all the <!--187.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[p. 175]</a></span>Islands in the +<i>Bay of Panama</i>. 'It is low on the North side, and rises by a small ascent +towards the South side. The soil is yellow, a kind of clay. The low land +is planted with all sorts of delicate fruits.' The Islands in the Bay +being occupied by the Buccaneers, caused great scarcity of provision and +distress at <i>Panama</i>, much of the consumption in that city having usually +been supplied from the Islands, which on that account and for their +pleasantness were called the Gardens of <i>Panama</i>.</p> + +<p>In this situation things remained till near the end of May, the Buccaneers +in daily expectation of seeing the fleet from <i>Lima</i>, of which it is now +time to speak.<!--188.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[p. 176]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_XV" id="CHAP_XV"></a>CHAP. XV.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr">Edward Davis<i> Commander. Meeting of the Spanish and Buccaneer +Fleets in the </i>Bay of Panama<i>. They separate without fighting. The +Buccaneers sail to the Island </i>Quibo<i>. The English and French +separate. Expedition against the City of </i>Leon<i>. That City and </i>Ria +Lexa<i> burnt. Farther dispersion of the Buccaneers.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1685. May. Bay of Panama.</span> The Viceroy of <i>Peru</i> judged the +Fleet he had collected, to be strong enough to encounter the Buccaneers, +and did not fear to trust the treasure to its protection; but he gave +directions to the Commander of the Fleet to endeavour to avoid a meeting +with them until after the treasure should be safely landed. In pursuance +of this plan, the Spanish Admiral, as he drew near the <i>Bay of Panama</i>, +kept more Westward than the usual course, and fell in with the coast of +<i>Veragua</i> to the West of the <i>Punta Mala</i>. Afterwards, he entered the +<i>Bay</i> with his fleet keeping close to the West shore; and to place the +treasure out of danger as soon as possible, he landed it at <i>Lavelia</i>, +thinking it most probable his fleet would be descried by the enemy before +he could reach <i>Panama</i>, which must have happened if the weather had not +been thick, or if the Buccaneers had kept a sharper look-out by stationing +tenders across the entrance of the <i>Bay</i>. <span class="sidenote">The Lima Fleet +arrives at Panama.</span> In consequence of this being neglected, the Spanish +fleet arrived and anchored before the city of <i>Panama</i> without having been +perceived by them, and immediately on their arrival, the crews of the +ships were reinforced with a number of European seamen who had purposely +been sent over land from <i>Porto Bello</i>. Thus strengthened, and the +<!--189.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[p. 177]</a></span>treasure being placed out of danger, the Spanish Admiral took up his +anchors, and stood from the road before <i>Panama</i> towards the middle of the +Bay, in quest of the Buccaneers.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">28th.</span> May the 28th, the morning was rainy: the Buccaneer fleet +was lying at anchor near the Island <i>Pacheca</i>, the Northernmost of the +<i>Pearl Islands</i>. At eleven o'clock in the forenoon, the weather cleared +up, when the Spanish fleet appeared in sight about three leagues distant +from them to the WNW. The wind was light from the Southward, and they were +standing sharp trimmed towards the Buccaneers.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Meeting of the two Fleets.</span> Lussan dates this their meeting +with the Spanish Fleet, to be on June the 7th. Ten days alteration of the +style had taken place in <i>France</i> three years before, and no alteration of +style had yet been adopted in <i>England</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Force of the Buccaneer.</span> The Buccaneer fleet was composed of +ten sail of vessels, of different sizes, manned with 960 men, almost all +Europeans; but, excepting the Batchelor's Delight and the Cygnet, none of +their vessels had cannon. Edward Davis was regarded as the Admiral. His +ship mounted 36 guns, and had a crew of 156 men, most of them English; but +as he was furnished with a French commission, and <i>France</i> was still at +war with <i>Spain</i>, he carried aloft a white flag, in which was painted a +hand and sword. Swan's ship had 16 guns, with a crew of 140 men, all +English, and carried a Saint George's flag at her main-topmast head. The +rest of their fleet was well provided with small-arms, and the crews were +dexterous in the use of them. Grogniet's ship was the most powerful, +except in cannon, her crew consisting of 308 men.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Force of the Spanish Fleet.</span> The Spanish fleet numbered +fourteen sail, six of which were provided with cannon; six others with +musketry only, and two were fitted up as fire-ships. The buccaneer +accounts say the Spanish Admiral had 48 guns mounted, and 450 men; the +Vice-Admiral <!--190.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[p. 178]</a></span>40 guns, and men in proportion; the Rear-Admiral 36 guns, +one of the other ships 24, one 18, and one 8 guns; and that the number of +men in their fleet was above 2500; but more than one half of them Indians +or slaves.</p> + +<p>When the two fleets first had sight of each other, Grogniet's ship lay at +anchor a mile to leeward of his confederates, on which account he weighed +anchor, and stood close upon a wind to the Eastward, intending to turn up +to the other ships; but in endeavouring to tack, he missed stays twice, +which kept him at a distance all the fore part of the day. From the +superiority of the Spaniards in cannon, and of the buccaneer crews in +musketry, it was evident that distant fighting was most to the advantage +of the Spaniards; and that the Buccaneers had to rest their hopes of +success on close fighting and boarding. Davis was fully of this opinion, +and at three o'clock in the afternoon, the enemy's fleet being directly to +leeward and not far distant, he got his vessels under sail and bore right +down upon them, making a signal at the same time to Grogniet to board the +Spanish Vice-Admiral, who was some distance separate from the other ships +of his fleet.</p> + +<p>Here may be contemplated the Buccaneers at the highest pitch of elevation +to which they at any time attained. If they obtained the victory, it would +give them the sole dominion of the <i>South Sea</i>; and Davis, the buccaneer +Commander, aimed at no less; but he was ill seconded, and was not +possessed of authority to enforce obedience to his commands.</p> + +<p>The order given to Grogniet was not put in execution, and when Davis had +arrived with his ship within cannon-shot of the Spaniards, Swan shortened +sail and lowered his ensign, to signify he was of opinion that it would be +best to postpone fighting till the next day. Davis wanting the support of +two of the most able ships of his fleet, was obliged to forego his +<!--191.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[p. 179]</a></span>intention, and no act of hostility passed during the afternoon and +evening except the exchange of some shot between his own ship and that of +the Spanish Vice-Admiral.</p> + +<p>When it was dark, the Spanish fleet anchored, and at the same time, the +Spanish Admiral took in his light, and ordered a light to be shewn from +one of his small vessels, which he sent to leeward. The Buccaneers were +deceived by this artifice, believing the light they saw to be that of the +Spanish Admiral, and they continued under sail, thinking themselves secure +of the weather-gage. <span class="sidenote">29th.</span> At daylight the next morning the +Spaniards were seen well collected, whilst the buccaneer vessels were much +dispersed. Grogniet and Townley were to windward of the Spaniards; but all +the rest, contrary to what they had expected, were to leeward. At sunrise, +the Spanish fleet got under sail and bore down towards the leeward +buccaneer ships. The Buccaneers thought it not prudent to fight under such +disadvantages, and did not wait to receive them. They were near the small +Island <i>Pacheca</i>, on the South side of which are some Islands yet smaller. +Among these Islands, Dampier says, is a narrow channel in one part not +forty feet wide. Townley, being pressed by the Spaniards and in danger of +being intercepted, pushed for this passage without any previous +examination of the depth of water, and got safe through. Davis and Swan, +whose ships were the fastest sailing in either fleet, had the credit of +affording protection to their flying companions, by waiting to repulse the +most advanced of the Spaniards. Dampier, who was in Davis's ship, says, +she was pressed upon by the whole Spanish force. 'The Spanish Admiral and +the rest of his squadron began to play at us and we at them as fast as we +could: yet they kept at distant cannonading. They might have laid us +aboard if they would, but they came not within small-arms shot, intending +to maul <!--192.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[p. 180]</a></span>us in pieces with their great guns.' After a circuitous chace and +running fight, which lasted till the evening, the Buccaneers, Harris's +ship excepted, which had been forced to make off in a different direction, +anchored by the Island <i>Pacheca</i>, nearly in the same spot whence they had +set out in the morning.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">30th.</span> On the 30th, at daylight, the Spanish fleet was seen at +anchor three leagues to leeward. The breeze was faint, and both fleets lay +quiet till ten o'clock in the forenoon. The wind then freshened a little +from the South, and the Spaniards took up their anchors; but instead of +making towards the Buccaneers, they sailed away in a disgraceful manner +for <i>Panama</i>. Whether they sustained any loss in this skirmishing does not +appear. The Buccaneer's had only one man killed outright. In Davis's ship, +six men were wounded, and half of her rudder was shot away.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">The two Fleets separate.</span> It might seem to those little +acquainted with the management of ships that it could make no material +difference whether the Spaniards bore down to engage the Buccaneers, or +the Buccaneers bore down to engage the Spaniards; for that in either case +when the fleets were closed, the Buccaneers might have tried the event of +boarding. But the difference here was, that if the Buccaneers had the +weather-gage, it enabled them to close with the enemy in the most speedy +manner, which was of much consequence where the disparity in the number of +cannon was so great. When the Spaniards had the weather-gage, they would +press the approach only near enough to give effect to their cannon, and +not near enough for musketry to do them mischief. With this view, they +could choose their distance when to stop and bring their broadsides to +bear, and leave to the Buccaneers the trouble of making nearer approach, +against the wind and a heavy cannonade. Dampier, who has related the +transactions of the 28th and 29th very briefly, speaks of the weather-gage +here as a decisive advantage. He says, <!--193.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[p. 181]</a></span>"In the morning (of the 29th) +therefore, when we found the enemy had got the weather-gage of us, and +were coming upon us with full sail, we ran for it."</p> + +<p>On this occasion there is no room for commendation on the valour of either +party. The Buccaneers, however, knew, by the Spanish fleet coming to them +from <i>Panama</i>, that the treasure must have been landed, and therefore they +could have had little motive for enterprise. The meeting was faintly +sought by both sides, and no battle was fought, except a little +cannonading during the retreat of the Buccaneers, which on their side was +almost wholly confined to the ship of their Commander. Both Dampier and +Lussan acknowledge that Edward Davis brought the whole of the buccaneer +fleet off safe from the Spaniards by his courage and good management.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">June.</span> On June the 1st, the Buccaneers sailed out of the <i>Bay +of Panama</i> for the Island <i>Quibo</i>. They had to beat up against SW winds, +and had much wet weather. In the middle of June, they anchored on the East +side of <i>Quibo</i>, where they were joined by Harris.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Keys of Quibo. The Island Quibo.</span> <i>Quibo</i> and the smaller +Islands near it, Dampier calls collectively, the Keys of <i>Quibo</i>. They are +all woody. Good fresh water was found on the great Island, which would +naturally be the case with the wet weather; and here were deer, guanoes, +and large black monkeys, whose flesh was esteemed by the Buccaneers to be +sweet and wholesome food.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Rock near the Anchorage.</span> A shoal which runs out from the SE +point of <i>Quibo</i> half a mile into the sea, has been already noticed: a +league to the North of this shoal, and a mile distant from the shore, is a +rock which appears above water only at the last quarter ebb. Except the +shoal, and this rock, there is no other danger; and ships may anchor +within a quarter of a mile of the shore, in from six to twelve fathoms +clear sand and ooze<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a>. +<!--194.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[p. 182]</a></span></p> + +<p>They stopped at <i>Quibo</i> to make themselves canoes, the trees there being +well suited for the purpose, and some so large that a single trunk +hollowed and wrought into shape, would carry forty or fifty men. Whilst +this work was performing, a strong party was sent to the main-land against +<i>Pueblo Nuevo</i>, which town was now entered without opposition; but no +plunder was obtained.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Serpents. The Serpent Berry.</span> Lussan relates that two of the +Buccaneers were killed by serpents at <i>Quibo</i>. He says, 'here are serpents +whose bite is so venemous that speedy death inevitably ensues, unless the +patient can have immediate recourse to a certain fruit, which must be +chewed and applied to the part bitten. The tree which bears this fruit +grows here, and in other parts of <i>America</i>. It resembles the almond-tree +in <i>France</i> in height and in its leaves. The fruit is like the sea +chestnut (<i>Chataines de Mer</i>) but is of a grey colour, rather bitter in +taste, and contains in its middle a whitish almond. The whole is to be +chewed together before it is applied. It is called (<i>Graine à Serpent</i>) +the Serpent Berry.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">July. Disagreements among the Buccaneers.</span> The +dissatisfaction caused by their being foiled in the <i>Bay of Panama</i>, broke +out in reproaches, and produced great disagreements among the Buccaneers. +Many blamed Grogniet for not coming into battle the first day. On the +other hand, Lussan blames the behaviour of the English, who, he says, +being the greater number, lorded it over the French; that Townley, liking +Grogniet's ship better than his own, would have insisted on a change, if +the French had not shewn a determination to resist such an imposition. +Another cause of complaint against the English was, the indecent and +irreverent manner in which they shewed their hatred to the Roman Catholic +religion. Lussan says, 'When they entered the Spanish churches, it was +their diversion to hack and mutilate every thing with their cutlasses, and +to fire their muskets and pistols at the images <!--195.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[p. 183]</a></span>of the Saints.' +<span class="sidenote">The French separate from the English.</span> In consequence of these +disagreements, 330 of the French joined together under Grogniet, and +separated from the English.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Knight, a Buccaneer Commander, joins Davis.</span> Before either of +the parties had left <i>Quibo</i>, William Knight, a Buccaneer already +mentioned, arrived there in a ship manned with 40 Englishmen and 11 +Frenchmen. This small crew of Buccaneers had crossed the <i>Isthmus</i> about +nine months before; they had been cruising both on the coast of <i>New +Spain</i> and on the coast of <i>Peru</i>; and the sum of their successes amounted +to their being provided with a good vessel and a good stock of provisions. +They had latterly been to the Southward, where they learnt that the <i>Lima</i> +fleet had sailed against the Buccaneers before <i>Panama</i>, which was the +first notice they received of other Buccaneers than themselves being in +the <i>South Sea</i>. On the intelligence, they immediately sailed for the <i>Bay +of Panama</i>, that they might be present and share in the capture of the +Spaniards, which they believed would inevitably be the result of a +meeting. On arriving in the <i>Bay of Panama</i>, they learnt what really had +happened: nevertheless, they proceeded to <i>Quibo</i> in search of their +friends. The Frenchmen in Knight's ship left her to join their countrymen: +Knight and the rest of the crew, put themselves under the command of +Davis.</p> + +<p>The ship commanded by Harris, was found to be in a decayed state and +untenantable. Another vessel was given to him and his crew; but the whole +company were so much crowded for want of ship room, that a number remained +constantly in canoes. One of the canoes which they built at <i>Quibo</i> +measured 36 feet in length, and between 5 and 6 feet in width.</p> + +<p>Davis and the English party, having determined to attack the city of +<i>Leon</i> in the province of <i>Nicaragua</i>, sent an invitation to the French +Buccaneers to rejoin them. The French <!--196.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[p. 184]</a></span>had only one ship, which was far +from sufficient to contain their whole number, and they demanded, as a +condition of their uniting again with the English, that another vessel +should be given to themselves. The English could ill spare a ship, and +would not agree to the proposition; the separation therefore was final. +Jean Rose, a Frenchman, with fourteen of his countrymen, in a new canoe +they had built for themselves, left Grogniet to try their fortunes under +Davis.</p> + +<p>In this, and in other separations which subsequently took place among the +Buccaneers, it has been thought the most clear and convenient arrangement +of narrative, to follow the fortunes of the buccaneer Commander Edward +Davis and his adherents, without interruption, to the conclusion of their +adventures in the <i>South Sea</i>; and afterwards, to resume the proceedings +of the other adventurers.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Proceedings of Edward Davis. August. Expedition against the +City of Leon.</span> On the 20th of July, Davis with eight vessels and 640 men, +departed from the Island <i>Quibo</i> for <i>Ria Lexa</i>, sailing through the +channel between <i>Quibo</i> and the main-land, and along the coast of the +latter, which was low and overgrown with thick woods, and appeared thin of +inhabitants. August the 9th, at eight in the morning, the ships being then +so far out in the offing that they could not be descried from the shore, +Davis with 520 men went away in 31 canoes for the harbour of <i>Ria Lexa</i>. +They set out with fair weather; but at two in the afternoon, a tornado +came from the land, with thunder, lightning, and rain, and with such +violent gusts of wind that the canoes were all obliged to put right before +it, to avoid being overwhelmed by the billows. Dampier remarks generally +of the hot latitudes, as Lussan does of the <i>Pacific Ocean</i>, that the sea +there is soon raised by the wind, and when the wind abates is soon down +again. <i>Up Wind Up Sea, Down Wind Down Sea</i>, is proverbial between the +tropics among seamen. The fierceness of the <!--197.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[p. 185]</a></span>tornado continued about half +an hour, after which the wind gradually abated, and the canoes again made +towards the land. At seven in the evening it was calm, and the sea quite +smooth. During the night, the Buccaneers, having the direction of a +Spanish pilot, entered a narrow creek which led towards <i>Leon</i>; but the +pilot could not undertake to proceed up till daylight, lest he should +mistake, there being several creeks communicating with each other.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Leon.</span> The city of <i>Leon</i> bordered on the Lake of <i>Nicaragua</i>, +and was reckoned twenty miles within the sea coast. They went only a part +of this distance by the river, when Davis, leaving sixty men to guard the +canoes, landed with the rest and marched towards the city, two miles short +of which they passed through an Indian town. <i>Leon</i> had a cathedral and +three other churches. It was not fortified, and the Spaniards, though they +drew up their force in the Great Square or Parade, did not think +themselves strong enough to defend the place. About three in the +afternoon, the Buccaneers entered, and the Spaniards retired.</p> + +<p>All the Buccaneers who landed did not arrive at <i>Leon</i> that same day. +According to their ability for the march, Davis had disposed his men into +divisions. The foremost was composed of all the most active, who marched +without delay for the town, the other divisions following as speedily as +they were able. The rear division being of course composed of the worst +travellers, some of them could not keep pace even with their own division. +They all came in afterwards except two, one of whom was killed, and the +other taken prisoner. The man killed was a stout grey-headed old man of +the name of Swan, aged about 84 years, who had served under Cromwell, and +had ever since made privateering or buccaneering his occupation. This +veteran would not be dissuaded from going on the enterprise against +<!--198.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[p. 186]</a></span><i>Leon</i>; but his strength failed in the march; and after being left in the +road, he was found by the Spaniards, who endeavoured to make him their +prisoner; but he refused to surrender, and fired his musket amongst them, +having in reserve a pistol still charged; on which he was shot dead.</p> + +<p>The houses in <i>Leon</i> were large, built of stone, but not high, with +gardens about them. 'Some have recommended <i>Leon</i> as the most pleasant +place in all <i>America</i>; and for health and pleasure it does surpass most +places. The country round is of a sandy soil, which soon drinks up the +rains to which these parts are much subject<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Leon burnt by the Buccaneers.</span> The Buccaneers being masters of +the city, the Governor sent a flag of truce to treat for its ransom. They +demanded 300,000 dollars, and as much provision as would subsist 1000 men +four months: also that the Buccaneer taken prisoner should be exchanged. +These demands it is probable the Spaniards never intended to comply with; +however they prolonged the negociation, till the Buccaneers suspected it +was for the purpose of collecting force. Therefore, on the 14th, they set +fire to the city, and returned to the coast. The town of <i>Ria Lexa</i> +underwent a similar fate, contrary to the intention of the Buccaneer +Commander.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Ria Lexa. Town of Ria Lexa burnt.</span> <i>Ria Lexa</i> is unwholesomely +situated in a plain among creeks and swamps, 'and is never free from a +noisome smell.' The soil is a strong yellow clay; in the neighbourhood of +the town were many sugar-works and beef-farms; pitch, tar, and cordage +were made here; with all which commodities the inhabitants carried on a +good trade. The Buccaneers supplied themselves with as much as they wanted +of these articles, besides which, they received at <i>Ria Lexa</i> 150 head of +cattle from a Spanish gentleman, who had been released upon his parole, +and promise <!--199.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[p. 187]</a></span>of making such payment for his ransom; their own man who had +been made prisoner was redeemed in exchange for a Spanish lady, and they +found in the town 500 packs of flour; which circumstances might have put +the Buccaneers in good temper and have induced them to spare the town; +'but,' says Dampier, 'some of our destructive crew, I know not by whose +order, set fire to the houses, and we marched away and left them burning.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Farther Separation of the Buccaneers.</span> After the <i>Leon</i> +expedition, no object of enterprise occurred to them of sufficient +magnitude to induce or to enable them to keep together in such large +force. Dispersed in small bodies, they expected a better chance of +procuring both subsistence and plunder. By general consent therefore, the +confederacy which had been preserved of the English Buccaneers was +relinquished, and they formed into new parties according to their several +inclinations. Swan proposed to cruise along the coast of <i>New Spain</i>, and +NW-ward, as far as to the entrance of the <i>Gulf of California</i>, and thence +to take his departure for the <i>East Indies</i>. Townley and his followers +agreed to try their fortunes with Swan as long as he remained on the coast +of New <i>Spain</i>; after which they proposed to return to the <i>Isthmus</i>. In +the course of settling these arrangements, William Dampier, being desirous +of going to the <i>East Indies</i>, took leave of his commander, Edward Davis, +and embarked with Swan. Of these, an account will be given hereafter.<!--200.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[p. 188]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_XVI" id="CHAP_XVI"></a>CHAP. XVI.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>Buccaneers under </i>Edward Davis<i>. At </i>Amapalla<i> Bay; </i>Cocos<i> Island; +The </i>Galapagos<i> Islands; Coast of </i>Peru<i>. Peruvian Wine. </i>Knight<i> +quits the </i>South Sea<i>. Bezoar Stones. Marine productions on +Mountains. </i>Vermejo. Davis<i> joins the French Buccaneers at +</i>Guayaquil<i>. Long Sea Engagement.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1685. August.</span> With Davis there remained the vessels of Knight +and Harris, with a tender, making in all four sail. August the 27th, they +sailed from the harbour of <i>Ria Lexa</i>, and as they departed Swan saluted +them with fifteen guns, to which Davis returned eleven.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Proceedings of the Buccaneers under Edw. Davis. Amapalla Bay.</span> A sickness +had broken out among Davis's people, which was attributed to the +unwholesomeness of the air, or the bad water, at <i>Ria Lexa</i>. After leaving +the place, the disorder increased, on which account Davis sailed to the +<i>Bay of Amapalla</i>, where on his arrival he built huts on one of the +Islands in the Bay for the accommodation of his sick men, and landed them. +Above 130 of the Buccaneers were ill with a spotted fever, and several +died.</p> + +<p>Lionel Wafer was surgeon with Davis, and has given a brief account of his +proceedings. Wafer, with some others, went on shore to the main land on +the South side of <i>Amapalla Bay</i>, to seek for provisions. They walked to a +beef farm which was about three miles from their landing. <span class="sidenote">A hot +River.</span> In the way they crossed a hot river in an open savannah, or plain, +which they forded with some difficulty on account of its heat. This river +issued from under a hill which was not a volcano, though along the coast +there were several. 'I had the curiosity,' says Wafer, 'to <!--201.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[p. 189]</a></span>wade up the +stream as far as I had daylight to guide me. The water was clear and +shallow, but the steams were like those of a boiling pot, and my hair was +wet with them. The river reeked without the hill a great way. Some of our +men who had the itch, bathed themselves here, and growing well soon after, +their cure was imputed to the sulphureousness or other virtue of this +water.' Here were many wolves, who approached so near and so boldly to +some who had straggled from the rest of their party, as to give them great +alarm, and they did not dare to fire, lest the noise of their guns should +bring more wolves about them.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Cocos Island.</span> Davis remained some weeks at <i>Amapalla Bay</i>, and +departed thence for the Peruvian coast, with the crews of his ships +recovered. In their way Southward they made <i>Cocos Island</i>, and anchored +in the harbour at the NE part, where they supplied themselves with +excellent fresh water and cocoa-nuts. Wafer has given the description +following: 'The middle of <i>Cocos Island</i> is a steep hill, surrounded with +a plain declining to the sea. This plain is thick set with cocoa-nut +trees: but what contributes greatly to the pleasure of the place is, that +a great many springs of clear and sweet water rising to the top of the +hill, are there gathered as in a deep large bason or pond, and the water +having no channel, it overflows the verge of its bason in several places, +and runs trickling down in pleasant streams. In some places of its +overflowing, the rocky side of the hill being more than perpendicular, and +hanging over the plain beneath, the water pours down in a cataract, so as +to leave a dry space under the spout, and form a kind of arch of water. +The freshness which the falling water gives the air in this hot climate +makes this a delightful place. <span class="sidenote">Effect of Excess in drinking the +Milk of the Cocoa-nut.</span> We did not spare the cocoa-nuts. One day, some of +our men being minded to make themselves <!--202.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[p. 190]</a></span>merry, went ashore and cut down a +great many cocoa-nut trees; from which they gathered the fruit, and drew +about twenty gallons of the milk. They then sat down and drank healths to +the King and Queen, and drank an excessive quantity; yet it did not end in +drunkenness: but this liquor so chilled and benumbed their nerves that +they could neither go nor stand. Nor could they return on board without +the help of those who had not been partakers of the frolick, nor did they +recover under four or five days' time<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a>.'</p> + +<p>Here Peter Harris broke off consortship, and departed for the <i>East +Indies</i>. The tender sailed at the same time, probably following the same +route.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">At the Galapagos Islands.</span> Davis and Knight continued to +associate, and sailed together from <i>Cocos Island</i> to the <i>Galapagos</i>. At +one of these Islands they found fresh water; the buccaneer Journals do not +specify which Island, nor any thing that can be depended upon as certain +of its situation. Wafer only says, 'From <i>Cocos</i> we came to one of the +<i>Galapagos Islands</i>. At this Island there was but one watering-place, and +there we careened our ship.' Dampier was not with them at this time; but +in describing the <i>Galapagos</i> Isles, he makes the following mention of +Davis's careening place. 'Part of what I say of these Islands I had from +Captain Davis, who was there afterwards, and careened his ship at neither +of the Islands that we were at in 1684, but went to other Islands more to +the Westward, which he found to be good habitable Islands, having a deep +fat soil capable of producing any thing that grows in those climates: they +are well watered, and have plenty of good timber. Captain Harris came +hither likewise, and found some Islands that had plenty of mammee-trees, +and pretty large rivers. They have good anchoring in many places, so that +take the <i>Galapagos Islands by and large</i>, <!--203.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[p. 191]</a></span>they are extraordinary good +places for ships in distress to seek relief at<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a>.'</p> + +<p>Wafer has not given the date of this visit, which was the second made by +Davis to the <i>Galapagos</i>; but as he stopped several weeks in the <i>Gulf of +Amapalla</i> for the recovery of his sick, and afterwards made some stay at +<i>Cocos Island</i>, it must have been late in the year, if not after the end, +when he arrived at the <i>Galapagos</i>, and it is probable, during, or +immediately after, a rainy season.</p> + +<p>The account published by Wafer, excepting what relates to the <i>Isthmus</i> of +<i>Darien</i>, consists of short notices set down from recollection, and +occupying in the whole not above fifty duodecimo pages. He mentions a tree +at the Island of the <i>Galapagos</i> where they careened, like a pear-tree, +'low and not shrubby, very sweet in smell, and full of very sweet gum.'</p> + +<p>Davis and Knight took on board their ships 500 packs or sacks of flour +from the stores which had formerly been deposited at the <i>Galapagos</i>. The +birds had devoured some, in consequence of the bags having been left +exposed.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1686. On the Coast of Peru.</span> From the <i>Galapagos</i>, +they sailed to the coast of <i>Peru</i>, and cruised in company till near the +end of 1686. They captured many vessels, which they released after +plundering; and attacked several towns along the coast. They had sharp +engagements with the Spaniards at <i>Guasco</i>, and at <i>Pisco</i>, the +particulars of which are not related; but they plundered both the towns. +<span class="sidenote">Peruvian Wine like Madeira.</span> They landed also at <i>La Nasca</i>, a +small port on the coast of <i>Peru</i> in latitude about 15° S, at which place +they furnished themselves with a stock of wine. Wafer says, 'This is a +rich strong wine, in taste much like Madeira. It is brought down out of +the country to be shipped for <i>Lima</i> and <i>Panama</i>. Sometimes it is kept +here many years stopped up in jars, of about eight gallons each: the jars +were under no shelter, but <!--204.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[p. 192]</a></span>exposed to the scorching sun, being placed +along the bay and between the rocks, every merchant having his own wine +marked.' It could not well have been placed more conveniently for the +Buccaneers.</p> + +<p>They landed at <i>Coquimbo</i>, which Wafer describes 'a large town with nine +churches.' What they did there is not said. Wafer mentions a small river +that emptied itself in a bay, three miles from the town, in which, up the +country, the Spaniards get gold. 'The sands of the river by the sea, and +round the whole Bay, are all bespangled with particles of gold; insomuch +that in travelling along the sandy bays, our people were covered with a +fine gold-dust, but too fine for any profit, for it would be an endless +work to pick it up.'</p> + +<p>Statistical accounts of the Viceroyalty of <i>Peru</i>, which during a +succession of years were printed annually at the end of the <i>Lima</i> +Almanack, notice the towns of <i>Santa Maria de la Perilla</i>, <i>Guasca</i>, +<i>Santiago de Miraflores</i>, <i>Cañete</i>, <i>Pisco</i>, <i>Huara</i>, and <i>Guayaquil</i>, +being sacked and in part destroyed by pirates, in the years 1685, 1686, +and 1687.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">At Juan Fernandez.</span> Davis and Knight having made much booty +(Lussan says so much that the share of each man amounted to 5000 pieces of +eight), they went to the Island <i>Juan Fernandez</i> to refit, intending to +sail thence for the <i>West Indies</i>: but before they had recruited and +prepared the ships for the voyage round the South of <i>America</i>, Fortune +made a new distribution of their plunder. Many lost all their money at +play, and they could not endure, after so much peril, to quit the <i>South +Sea</i> empty handed, but resolved to revisit the coast of <i>Peru</i>. <span class="sidenote"> +Knight quits the South Sea.</span> The more fortunate party embarked with Knight +for the <i>West Indies</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Davis returns to the Coast of Peru.</span> The luckless residue, +consisting of sixty Englishmen, and twenty Frenchmen, with Edward Davis at +their head, remained with the Batchelor's Delight to begin their work +afresh. They sailed from <i>Juan Fernandez</i> for the American coast, which +they <!--205.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[p. 193]</a></span>made as far South as the Island <i>Mocha</i>. By traffic with the +inhabitants, they procured among other provisions, a number of the Llama +or Peruvian sheep. <span class="sidenote">Bezoar Stones.</span> Wafer relates, that out of +the stomach of one of these sheep he took thirteen Bezoar stones of +several forms, 'some resembling coral, some round, and all green when +first taken out; but by long keeping they turned of an ash colour.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Marine Productions found on Mountains.</span> In latitude 26° S, +wanting fresh water, they made search for the River <i>Copiapo</i>. They landed +and ascended the hills in hopes of discovering it. According to Wafer's +computation they went eight miles within the coast, ascending mountain +beyond mountain till they were a full mile in perpendicular height above +the level of the sea. They found the ground there covered with sand and +sea-shells, 'which,' says Wafer, 'I the more wondered at, because there +were no shell-fish, nor could I ever find any shells, on any part of the +sea-coast hereabouts, though I have looked for them in many places.' They +did not discover the river they were in search of; but shortly afterwards, +they landed at <i>Arica</i>, which they plundered; and at the River <i>Ylo</i>, +where they took in fresh water. At <i>Arica</i> was a house full of Jesuits' +bark. <span class="sidenote">Vermejo.</span> Wafer relates, 'We also put ashore at +<i>Vermejo</i>, in 10° S latitude. I was one of those who landed to see for +water. We marched about four miles up a sandy bay, which we found covered +with the bodies of men, women, and children. These bodies to appearance, +seemed as if they had not been above a week dead; but if touched, they +proved dry and light as a sponge or piece of cork. We were told by an old +Spanish Indian whom we met, that in his father's time, the soil there, +which now yielded nothing, was well cultivated and fruitful: that the city +of <i>Wormia</i> had been so numerously inhabited with Indians, that they could +have handed a fish from hand to hand until it had come to the Inca's hand. +But that <!--206.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[p. 194]</a></span>when the Spaniards came and laid siege to their city, the +Indians, rather than yield to their mercy, dug holes in the sand and +buried themselves alive. The men as they now lie, have by them their +broken bows; and the women their spinning-wheels and distaffs with cotton +yarn upon them. Of these dead bodies I brought on board a boy of about ten +years of age with an intent to bring him to <i>England</i>; but was frustrated +of my purpose by the sailors, who had a foolish conceit that the compass +would not traverse right whilst there was a dead body on board, so they +threw him overboard to my great vexation<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">April.</span> Near this part of the coast of <i>Peru</i>, in April 1687, +Davis had a severe action with a Spanish frigate, named the Katalina, in +which the drunkenness of his crew gave opportunity to the Spanish +Commander, who had made a stout defence, to run his ship ashore upon the +coast. They fell in with many other Spanish vessels, which, after +plundering, they dismissed.</p> + +<p>Shortly after the engagement with the Spanish frigate Katalina, Davis made +a descent at <i>Payta</i>, to seek refreshments for his wounded men, and +surprised there a courier with dispatches from the Spanish Commander at +<i>Guayaquil</i> to the Viceroy at <i>Lima</i>, by which he learnt that a large body +of English and French Buccaneers had attacked, and were then in possession +of, the town of <i>Guayaquil</i>. <span class="sidenote">May.</span> The Governor had been taken +prisoner by the Buccaneers, and the Deputy or next in authority, made +pressing instances for speedy succour, in his letter to the Viceroy, +which, according to Lussan, contained the following passage: '<i>The time +has expired some days which was appointed for the ransom of our prisoners. +I amuse the enemy with the hopes of some thousands of pieces of eight, and +they have sent me the heads of four of our prisoners: but if they <!--207.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[p. 195]</a></span>send me +fifty, I should esteem it less prejudicial than our suffering these +ruffians to live. If your Excellency will hasten the armament to our +assistance, here will be a fair opportunity to rid ourselves of them.</i>'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Davis joins other Buccaneers at Guayaquil.</span> Upon this news, and +the farther intelligence that Spanish ships of war had been dispatched +from <i>Callao</i> to the relief of <i>Guayaquil</i>, Davis sailed for that place, +and, on May the 14th, arrived in the <i>Bay of Guayaquil</i>, where he found +many of his old confederates; for these were the French Buccaneers who had +separated from him under Grogniet, and the English who had gone with +Townley. Those two leaders had been overtaken by the perils of their +vocation, and were no more. But whilst in their mortal career, and after +their separation from Davis, though they had at one time been adverse +almost to hostility against each other, they had met, been reconciled, and +had associated together. Townley died first, of a wound he received in +battle, and was succeeded in the command of the English by a Buccaneer +named George Hout or Hutt. At the attack of <i>Guayaquil</i>, Grogniet was +mortally wounded; and Le Picard was chosen by the French to succeed him in +the command. <i>Guayaquil</i> was taken on the 20th of April; the plunder and a +number of prisoners had been conveyed by the Buccaneers to their ships, +which were at anchor by the Island <i>Puna</i>, when their unwearied good +fortune brought Davis to join them.</p> + +<p>The taking of <i>Guayaquil</i> by the Buccaneers under Grogniet and Hutt will +be more circumstantially noticed in the sequel, with other proceedings of +the same crews. When Davis joined them, they were waiting with hopes, +nearly worn out, of obtaining a large ransom which had been promised them +for the town of <i>Guayaquil</i>, and for their prisoners.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Near the Island Puna.</span> The information Davis had received made +him deem it <!--208.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[p. 196]</a></span>prudent, instead of going to anchor at <i>Puna</i>, to remain with +his ship on the look-out in the offing; he therefore sent a prize-vessel +into the road to acquaint the Buccaneers there of his being near at hand, +and that the Spaniards were to be expected shortly.</p> + +<p>The captors of <i>Guayaquil</i> continued many days after this to wait for +ransom. They had some hundreds of prisoners, for whose sakes the Spaniards +sent daily to the Buccaneers large supplies of provisions, of which the +prisoners could expect to receive only the surplus after the Buccaneers +should be satisfied. At length, the Spaniards sent 42,000 pieces of eight, +the most part in gold, and eighty packages of flour. The sum was far short +of the first agreement, and the Buccaneers at <i>Puna</i>, to make suitable +return, released only a part of the prisoners, reserving for a subsequent +settlement those of the most consideration.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">26th. Meeting between Spanish Ships of War and the +Buccaneers.</span> On the 26th, they quitted the road of <i>Puna</i>, and joined +Davis. In the evening of the same day, two large Spanish ships came in +sight. Davis's ship mounted 36 guns; and her crew, which had been much +diminished by different engagements, was immediately reinforced with 80 +men from Le Picard's party. Besides Davis's ship, the Buccaneers had only +a small ship and a <i>barca-longa</i> fit to come into action. Their prize +vessels which could do no service, were sent for security into shallow +water.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">A Sea Engagement of seven days.</span> On the morning of the 27th, +the Buccaneers and Spaniards were both without the Island <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Clara</i>. +The Spaniards were the farthest out at sea, and had the sea-breeze first, +with which they bore down till about noon, when being just within the +reach of cannon-shot, they hauled upon a wind, and began a distant +cannonade, which was continued till evening: the two <!--209.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[p. 197]</a></span>parties then drew +off to about a league asunder, and anchored for the night. On the morning +of the 28th, they took up their anchors, and the day was spent in distant +firing, and in endeavours to gain or to keep the wind of each other. The +same kind of manœuvring and distant firing was put in practice on each +succeeding day, till the evening of the 2d of June, which completed the +seventh day of this obstinate engagement. The Spanish Commander, being +then satisfied that he had fought long enough, and hopeless of prevailing +on the enemy to yield, withdrew in the night. <span class="sidenote">June. +The Spaniards retire.</span> On the morning of the 3d, the Buccaneers were +surprised, and not displeased, at finding no enemy in sight.</p> + +<p>During all this fighting, the Buccaneers indulged their vanity by keeping +the Governor of <i>Guayaquil</i>, and other prisoners of distinction, upon +deck, to witness the superiority of their management over that of the +Spaniards. It was not indeed a post of much danger, for in the whole seven +days battle, not one Buccaneer was killed, and only two or three were +wounded.</p> + +<p>It may be some apology for the Spanish Commander, that in consequence of +Davis's junction with the captors of <i>Guayaquil</i>, he found a much greater +force to contend with than he had been taught to expect. Fortune had been +peculiarly unfavourable to the Spaniards on this occasion. Three ships of +force had been equipped and sent in company against the Buccaneers at +<i>Guayaquil</i>. One of them, the Katalina, by accident was separated from the +others, and fell in with Davis, by whom she was driven on the coast, where +she stranded. The Spanish armament thus weakened one-third, on arriving in +the <i>Bay of Guayaquil</i>, found the buccaneer force there increased, by this +same Davis, in a proportion greater than their own had been <!--210.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[p. 198]</a></span>diminished. +<span class="sidenote">At the Island De la Plata.</span> Davis and Le Picard left the choice +of distance to the Spaniards in this meeting, not considering it their +business to come to serious battle unless forced. They had reason to be +satisfied with having defended themselves and their plunder; and after the +enemy disappeared, finding the coast clear, they sailed to the Island <i>De +la Plata</i>, where they stopped to repair damages, and to hold council.</p> + +<p>They all now inclined homewards. The booty they had made, if it fell short +of the expectations of some, was sufficient to make them eager to be where +they could use or expend it; but they were not alike provided with the +means of returning to the <i>North Sea</i>. Davis had a stout ship, and he +proposed to go the Southern passage by the <i>Strait of Magalhanes</i>, or +round <i>Cape Horne</i>. No other of the vessels in the possession of the +Buccaneers was strong enough for such a voyage. All the French therefore, +and many of the English Buccaneers, bent their thoughts on returning +overland, an undertaking that would inevitably be attended with much +difficulty, encumbered as they were with their plunder, and the Darien +Indians having become hostile to them.</p> + +<p>Almost all the Frenchmen in Davis's ship, left her to join their +countrymen, and many of the English from their party embarked with Davis. +All thoughts of farther negociation with the Spaniards for the ransom of +prisoners, were relinquished. Le Picard had given notice on quitting the +<i>Bay of Guayaquil</i>, that payment would be expected for the release of the +remaining prisoners, and that the Buccaneers would wait for it at <i>Cape +Santa Elena</i>; but they had passed that <i>Cape</i>, and it was apprehended that +if they returned thither, instead of receiving ransom, they might find the +Spanish ships of war, come to renew the attack on them under other +Commanders. <!--211.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[p. 199]</a></span>On the 10th, they landed their prisoners on the Continent.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Division of Plunder.</span> The next day they shared the plunder +taken at <i>Guayaquil</i>. The jewels and ornaments could not well be divided, +nor could their value be estimated to general satisfaction: neither could +they agree upon a standard proportion between the value of gold and +silver. Every man was desirous to receive for his share such parts of the +spoil as were most portable, and this was more especially of importance to +those who intended to march overland. The value of gold was so much +enhanced that an ounce of gold was received in lieu of eighty dollars, and +a Spanish pistole went for fifteen dollars; but these instances probably +took place in settling their gaming accounts. In the division of the +plunder these difficulties were obviated by a very ingenious and +unobjectionable mode of distribution. The silver was first divided: the +other articles were then put up to auction, and bid for in pieces of +eight; and when all were so disposed of, a second division was made of the +silver produced by the sale.</p> + +<p>Davis and his company were not present at the taking of <i>Guayaquil</i>, but +the services they had rendered, had saved both the plunder and the +plunderers, and gave them a fair claim to share. Neither Wafer nor Lussan +speak to this point, from which it may be inferred that every thing +relating to the division was settled among them amicably, and that Davis +and his men had no reason to be dissatisfied. Lussan gives a loose +statement of the sum total and of the single shares. 'Notwithstanding that +these things were sold so dearly, we shared for the taking of <i>Guayaquil</i> +only 400 pieces of eight to each man, which would make in the whole about +fifteen hundred thousand <i>livres</i>.' The number of Buccaneers with Grogniet +<!--212.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[p. 200]</a></span>and Hutt immediately previous to the attack of <i>Guayaquil</i>, was 304. +Davis's crew at the time he separated from Knight, consisted of eighty +men. He had afterwards lost men in several encounters, and it is probable +the whole number present at the sharing of the plunder of <i>Guayaquil</i> was +short of three hundred and fifty. Allowing the extra shares to officers to +have been 150, making the whole number of shares 500, the amount of the +plunder will fall short of Lussan's estimate.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">They separate to return home by different Routes.</span> On the 12th, +the two parties finally took leave of each other and separated, bound by +different routes for the <i>Atlantic</i>.<!--213.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[p. 201]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_XVII" id="CHAP_XVII"></a>CHAP. XVII.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr">Edward Davis<i>; his Third visit to the </i>Galapagos<i>. One of those +Islands, named </i>Santa Maria de l'Aguada<i> by the Spaniards, a +Careening Place of the Buccaneers. Sailing thence Southward they +discover Land. Question, whether Edward Davis's Discovery is the +Land which was afterwards named </i>Easter Island<i>? </i>Davis<i> and his +Crew arrive in the </i>West Indies<i>.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1687. Davis sails to the Galapagos Islands.</span> Davis +again sailed to the <i>Galapagos Islands</i>, to victual and refit his ship. +Lionel Wafer was still with him, and appears to have been one of those to +whom fortune had been most unpropitious. Wafer does not mention either the +joining company with the French Buccaneers, or the plunder of <i>Guayaquil</i>; +and particularises few of his adventures. He says, 'I shall not pursue all +my coasting along the shore of <i>Peru</i> with Captain Davis. We continued +rambling about to little purpose, sometimes at sea, sometimes ashore, till +having spent much time and visited many places, we were got again to the +<i>Galapagos</i>; from whence we were determined to make the best of our way +out of these seas.'</p> + +<p>At the <i>Galapagos</i> they again careened; and there they victualled the +ship, taking on board a large supply of flour, curing fish, salting flesh +of the land turtle for sea store; and they saved as much of the oil of the +land turtle as filled sixty jars (of eight gallons each) which proved +excellent, and was thought not inferior to fresh butter.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">King James's Island.</span> Captain Colnet was at the <i>Galapagos +Isles</i> in the years 1793 and 1794, and found traces, still fresh, which +marked the haunts of the Buccaneers. He says, 'At every place where we +landed <!--214.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[p. 202]</a></span>on the Western side of <i>King James's Isle</i>, we might have walked +for miles through long grass and beneath groves of trees. It only wanted a +stream to compose a very charming landscape. This Isle appears to have +been a favourite resort of the Buccaneers, as we found seats made by them +of earth and stone, and a considerable number of broken jars scattered +about, and some whole, in which the Peruvian wine and liquors of the +country are preserved. We also found daggers, nails, and other implements. +The watering-place of the Buccaneers was at this time (the latter part of +April or beginning of May) entirely dried up, and there was only found a +small rivulet between two hills running into the sea; the Northernmost of +which hills forms the South point of <i>Fresh Water Bay</i>. There is plenty of +wood, but that near the shore is not large enough for other use than +fire-wood. In the mountains the trees may be larger, as they grow to the +summits. I do not think the watering-place we saw is the only one on the +Island, and I have no doubt, if wells were dug any where beneath the +hills, and not near the lagoon behind the sandy beach, that fresh water +would be found in great plenty<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a>.'</p> + +<p>Since Captain Colnet's Voyage, Captain David Porter of the American United +States' frigate Essex, has seen and given descriptions of the <i>Galapagos</i> +Islands. He relates an anecdote which accords with Captain Colnet's +opinion of there being fresh water at <i>King James's Island</i>. He landed, on +its West side, four goats (one male and three female) and some sheep, to +graze. As they were tame and of their own accord kept near the +landing-place, they were left every night without a keeper, and water was +carried to them in the morning. 'But one morning, after they had been on +the Island several days and nights, <!--215.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[p. 203]</a></span>the person who attended them went on +shore as usual to give them water, but no goats were to be found: they had +all as with one accord disappeared. Several persons were sent to search +after them for two or three days, but without success.' Captain Porter +concluded that they had found fresh water in the interior of the Island, +and chose to remain near it. 'One fact,' he says, 'was noticed by myself +and many others, the day preceding their departure, which must lead us to +believe that something more than chance directed their movements, which +is, that they all drank an unusual quantity of water on that day, as +though they had determined to provide themselves with a supply to enable +them to reach the mountains<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a>.'</p> + +<p>Davis and his men had leisure for search and to make every kind of +experiment; but no one of his party has given any description or account +of what was transacted at the <i>Galapagos</i> in this his third visit. Light, +however, has been derived from late voyages.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">The Island S<sup>ta</sup> Maria de l'Aguada, a Careening Place of the +Buccaneers.</span> It has been generally believed, but not till lately +ascertained, that Davis passed most of the time he was amongst the +<i>Galapagos</i>, at an Island which the Spaniards have designated by the name +of <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Maria de l'Aguada</i>, concerning the situation of which the +Spaniards as well as geographers of other countries have disagreed. A +Spanish pilot reported to Captain Woodes Rogers that <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Maria de +l'Aguada</i> lay by itself, (i. e. was not one of a groupe of Islands) in +latitude 1° 20′ or 1° 30′ S, was a pleasant Island, well stocked with +wood, and with plenty of fresh water<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a>. Moll, DeVaugondy, and others, +combining the accounts <!--216.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[p. 204]</a></span>given + by Dampier and Woodes Rogers, have placed a +<i>S<sup>ta</sup> Maria de l'Aguada</i> several degrees to the Westward of the whole of +Cowley's groupe. Don Antonio de Ulloa, on the contrary, has laid it down +as one of the <i>Galapagos Isles</i>, but among the most South-eastern of the +whole groupe. More consonant with recent information, Pascoe Thomas, who +sailed round the world with Commodore Anson, has given from a Spanish +manuscript the situations of different Islands of the <i>Galapagos</i>, and +among them that of <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Maria de l'Aguada</i>. The most Western in the +Spanish list published by Thomas is named <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Margarita</i>, and is the +same with the <i>Albemarle Island</i> in Cowley's <a href="#Gallapagos_Islands">chart</a>. The <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Maria de +l'Aguada</i> is set down in the same Spanish list in latitude 1° 10′ S, and +19 minutes in longitude more East than the longitude given of <i>S<sup>ta</sup> +Margarita</i>, which situation is due South of Cowley's <i>King James's +Island</i>.</p> + +<p>Captain Colnet saw land due South of <i>King James's Island</i>, which he did +not anchor at or examine, and appears to have mistaken for the <i>King +Charles's Island</i> of Cowley's chart. On comparing Captain Colnet's chart +with Cowley's, it is evident that Captain Colnet has given the name of +<i>Lord Chatham's Isle</i> to Cowley's <i>King Charles's Island</i>, the bearings +and distance from the South end of <i>Albemarle Island</i> being the same in +both, i. e. due East about 20 leagues. It follows that the <i>Charles +Island</i> of Colnet's chart was not seen by Cowley, and that it is the +<i>S<sup>ta</sup> Maria de l'Aguada</i> of the Spaniards. It has lately been frequented +by English and by American vessels employed in the South Sea Whale +Fishery, who have found a good harbour on its North side, with wood and +fresh water; and marks are yet discoverable that it was formerly a +careening place of the buccaneers. Mr. Arrowsmith has added this harbour +to Captain Colnet's chart, on the authority of information communicated by +the master of a South Sea whaler.<!--217.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[p. 205]</a></span></p> + +<p>From Captain David Porter's Journal, it appears that the watering-place at +<i>S<sup>ta</sup> Maria de l'Aguada</i> is three miles distant from any part of the +sea-shore; and that the supply it yields is not constant. On arriving a +second time at the <i>Galapagos</i>, in the latter part of August, Captain +Porter sent a boat on shore to this Island. Captain Porter relates, 'I +gave directions that our former watering-places there should be examined, +but was informed that they were entirely dried up.'</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 330px;"><a name="Gallapagos_Islands" id="Gallapagos_Islands"></a> +<img src="images/i327t.jpg" width="330" height="400" alt="Map of Gallapagos Islands." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Gallapagos Islands</span>, Described by Ambrose Cowley in +1684.</span> +<a href="images/i327.jpg" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>Cowley's chart, being original, a buccaneer performance, and not wholly +out of use, is annexed to this account; with the insertion, in unshaded +outline, of the <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Maria de l'Aguada</i>, according to its situation +with respect to <i>Albemarle Island</i>, as laid down in the last edition of +Captain Colnet's chart, published by Mr. Arrowsmith. This unavoidably +makes a difference in the latitude equal to the difference between +Cowley's and Captain Colnet's latitude of the South end of <i>Albemarle +Island</i>. In Captain Colnet's chart, the North end of <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Maria de +l'Aguada</i> is laid down in 1° 15′ S.</p> + +<p>The voyage of the Essex gives reasonable expectation of an improved chart +of the <i>Galapagos Isles</i>, the Rev. Mr. Adams, who sailed as Chaplain in +that expedition, having employed himself actively in surveying them.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1687. Davis sails from the Galapagos to the +Southward.</span> When the season approached for making the passage round <i>Cape +Horne</i>, Davis and his company quitted their retreat. The date of their +sailing is not given. Wafer relates, 'From the <i>Galapagos Islands</i> we went +again for the Southward, intending to touch no where till we came to the +Island <i>Juan Fernandez</i>. In our way thither, being in the latitude of 12° +30′ S, and about 150 leagues from the main of <i>America</i>, about four +o'clock in the morning, our ship felt a terrible shock, so sudden and +violent that we took it for granted she had struck upon a rock. When the +amazement was a little over, we <!--218.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[p. 206]</a></span>cast the lead and sounded, but found no +ground, so we concluded it must certainly be some earthquake. The sea, +which ordinarily looks green, seemed then of a whitish colour; and the +water which we took up in the buckets for the ship's use, we found to be a +little mixed with sand. Some time after, we heard that at that very time, +there was an earthquake at <i>Callao</i>, which did mischief both there and at +<i>Lima</i>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Island discovered by Edw. Davis.</span> 'Having recovered our fright, +we kept on to the Southward. We steered SbE ½ Easterly, until we came +to the latitude of 27° 20′ S, when about two hours before day, we fell in +with a small low sandy Island, and heard a great roaring noise, like that +of the sea beating upon the shore, right ahead of the ship. Whereupon, +fearing to fall foul upon the shore before day, the ship was put about. So +we plied off till day, and then stood in again with the land, which proved +to be a small flat Island, without the guard of any rocks. We stood in +within a quarter of a mile of the shore, and could see it plainly, for it +was a clear morning. To the Westward, about twelve leagues by judgement, +we saw a range of high land, which we took to be Islands, for there were +several partitions in the prospect. This land seemed to reach about 14 or +16 leagues in a range, and there came thence great flocks of fowls. I, and +many of our men would have made this land, and have gone ashore at it, but +the Captain would not permit us. The small Island bears from <i>Copiapo</i> +almost due East [West was intended] 500 leagues, and from the <i>Galapagos</i> +under the line is distant 600 leagues<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a>.'</p> + +<p>Dampier was not present at this discovery; but he met his old Commander +afterwards, and relates information he received concerning it in the +following words. 'Captain Davis told me lately, that after his departing +from us at <i>Ria Lexa</i>, he went, <!--219.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[p. 207]</a></span>after several traverses, to the +<i>Galapagos</i>, and that standing thence Southward for wind to bring him +about the <i>Tierra del Fuego</i>, in the latitude of 27° S, about 500 leagues +from <i>Copayapo</i> on the coast of <i>Chili</i>, he saw a small sandy Island just +by him; and that they saw to the Westward of it a long tract of pretty +high land, tending away toward the NW out of sight<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Question whether Edward Davis's Land and Easter Island are the +same Land, or different.</span> The two preceding paragraphs contain the whole +which either in Wafer or Dampier is said concerning this land. The +apprehension of being late in the season for the passage round <i>Cape +Horne</i> seems to have deterred Davis from making examination of his +discovery. The latitude and specified distance from <i>Copiapo</i> were +particulars sufficient to direct future search; and twenty-five years +afterwards, Jacob Roggewein, a Dutch navigator, guided by those marks, +found land; but it being more distant from the American Continent than +stated by Davis or Wafer, Roggewein claimed it as a new discovery. A more +convenient place for discussing this point, which has been a lasting +subject of dispute among geographers, would be in an account of +Roggewein's voyage; but a few remarks here may be satisfactory.</p> + +<p>Wafer kept neither journal nor reckoning, his profession not being that of +a mariner; and from circumstances which occur in Davis's navigation to the +<i>Atlantic</i>, it may reasonably be doubted whether a regular reckoning or +journal was kept by any person on board; and whether the 500 leagues +distance of the small Island from the American coast mentioned by Davis +and Wafer, was other than a conjectured distance. They had no superior by +whom a journal of their proceedings would be required or expected. If a +regular journal had really been kept, it would most probably have found +its way to the press.<!--220.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[p. 208]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jacob Roggewein, the Dutch Admiral, was more than any other navigator, +willing to give himself the credit of making new discoveries, as the +following extracts from the Journal of his expedition will evince. 'We +looked for <i>Hawkins's Maiden Land</i>, but could not find it; but we +discovered an Island 200 leagues in circuit, in latitude 52° S, about 200 +leagues distant to the East of the coast of <i>South America</i>, which we +named <i>Belgia Austral</i>.' That is as much as to say, Admiral Roggewein +could not find <i>Hawkins's Maiden Land</i>; but he discovered land on the same +spot, which he named <i>Belgia Austral</i>. Afterwards, proceeding in the same +disposition, the Journal relates, 'We directed our course from <i>Juan +Fernandez</i> towards <i>Davis's Land</i>, but to the great astonishment of the +Admiral (Roggewein) it was not seen. I think we either missed it, or that +there is no such land. We went on towards the West, and on the anniversary +of the Resurrection of our Saviour, we came in sight of an Island. We +named it <i>Paaschen</i> or <i>Oster Eylandt</i> (i. e. Easter Island).'</p> + +<p><i>Paaschen</i> or <i>Easter Island</i> according to modern charts and observations, +is nearly 690 leagues distant from <i>Copiapo</i>, which is in the same +parallel on the Continent of <i>America</i>. The statement of Davis and Wafer +makes the distance only 512 leagues, which is a difference of 178 leagues. +It is not probable that Davis could have had good information of the +longitudes of the <i>Galapagos Islands</i> and <i>Copiapo</i>; but with every +allowance, so large an error as 178 leagues in a run of 600 leagues might +be thought incredible, if its possibility had not been demonstrated by a +much greater being made by the same persons in this same homeward passage; +as will be related. In the latitude and appearance of the land, the +descriptions of Davis and Wafer are correct, <i>Easter Island</i> being a +mountainous land, which will make partitions in the distant prospect and +appear like a number of Islands.<!--221.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[p. 209]</a></span></p> + +<p>Roggewein's claim to <i>Paaschen</i> or <i>Easter Island</i> as a new discovery has +had countenance and support from geographers, some of the first eminence, +but has been made a subject of jealous contest, and not of impartial +investigation. If Roggewein discovered an Island farther to the West of +the American coast than <i>Davis's Land</i>, it must follow that Davis's land +lies between his discovery and the Continent; but that part of the <i>South +Sea</i> has been so much explored, that if any high land had existed between +<i>Easter Island</i> and the American coast, it could not have escaped being +known. There is not the least improbability that ships, in making a +passage from the <i>Galapagos Isles</i> through the South East trade-wind, +shall come into the neighbourhood of <i>Easter Island</i>.</p> + +<p>Edward Davis has generally been thought a native of <i>England</i>, but +according to Lussan, and nothing appears to the contrary, he was a native +of <i>Holland</i>. The majority of the Buccaneers in the ship, however, were +British. How far to that source may be traced the disposition to refuse +the Buccaneers the credit of the discovery, and how much national +partialities have contributed to the dispute, may be judged from this +circumstance, that <i>Easter Island</i> being <i>Davis's Land</i> has never been +doubted by British geographers, and has been questioned only by those of +other nations.</p> + +<p>The merit of the discovery is nothing, for the Buccaneers were not in +search of land, but came without design in sight of it, and would not look +at what they had accidentally found. And whether the discovery is to be +attributed to Edward Davis or to his crew, ought to be esteemed of little +concern to the nations of which they were natives, seeing the discoverers +were men outlawed, and whose acts were disowned by the governments of +their countries.<!--222.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[p. 210]</a></span></p> + +<p>Passing from considerations of claims to consideration of the fact;—there +is not the smallest plea for questioning, nor has any one questioned the +truth of the Buccaneers having discovered a high Island West of the +American coast, in or near the latitude of 27° S. If different from +<i>Easter Island</i>, it must be supposed to be situated between that and the +Continent. But however much it has been insisted or argued that <i>Easter +Island</i> is not <i>Davis's Land</i>, no chart has yet pretended to shew two +separate Islands, one for Edward Davis's discovery, and one for +Roggewein's. The one Island known has been in constant requisition for +double duty; and must continue so until another Island of the same +description shall be found.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1687. At the Island Juan Fernandez.</span> Davis arrived +at <i>Juan Fernandez</i> 'at the latter end of the year,' and careened there. +Since the Buccaneers were last at the Island, the Spaniards had put dogs +on shore, for the purpose of killing the goats. Many, however, found +places among precipices, where the dogs could not get at them, and the +Buccaneers shot as many as served for their daily consumption. Here again, +five men of Davis's crew, who had gamed away their money, 'and were +unwilling to return out of these seas as poor as they came in,' determined +on staying at <i>Juan Fernandez</i>, to take the chance of some other buccaneer +ship, or privateer, touching at the Island. A canoe, arms, ammunition, and +various implements were given to them, with a stock of maize for planting, +and some for their immediate subsistence; and each of these gentlemen had +a negro attendant landed with him.</p> + +<p>From <i>Juan Fernandez</i>, Davis sailed to the Islands <i>Mocha</i> and <i>Santa +Maria</i>, near the Continent, where he expected to have procured provisions, +but he found both those Islands deserted and laid waste, the Spaniards +having obliged the inhabitants to remove, that the Buccaneers might not +obtain supply there. <!--223.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[p. 211]</a></span>The season was advanced, therefore without expending +more time in searching for provisions, they bent their course Southward. +They passed round <i>Cape Horne</i> without seeing land, but fell in with many +Islands of ice, and ran so far Eastward before they ventured to steer a +Northerly course, that afterwards, when, in the parallel of the <i>River de +la Plata</i>, they steered Westward to make the American coast, which they +believed to be only one hundred leagues distant, they sailed 'four hundred +and fifty leagues to the West in the same latitude,' before they came in +sight of land; whence many began to apprehend they were still in the +<i>South Sea</i><a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a>, and this belief would have gained ground, if a flight of +locusts had not alighted on the ship, which a strong flurry of wind had +blown off from the American coast.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1688. Davis sails to the West Indies.</span> They arrived +in the <i>West Indies</i> in the spring of the year 1688, at a time when a +proclamation had recently been issued, offering the King's pardon to all +Buccaneers who would quit that way of life, and claim the benefit of the +proclamation.</p> + +<p>It was not the least of fortune's favours to this crew of Buccaneers, that +they should find it in their power, without any care or forethought of +their own, to terminate a long course of piratical adventures in quietness +and security. Edward Davis was afterwards in <i>England</i>, as appears by the +notice given of his discovery by William Dampier, who mentions him always +with peculiar respect. Though a Buccaneer, he was a man of much sterling +worth; being an excellent Commander, courageous, never rash, and endued in +a superior degree with prudence, moderation, and steadiness; qualities in +which the Buccaneers generally have been most deficient. His character is +not stained with acts of cruelty; on the contrary, wherever he commanded, +he restrained the ferocity of his companions. It is <!--224.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[p. 212]</a></span>no small testimony of +his abilities that the whole of the Buccaneers in the <i>South Sea</i> during +his time, in every enterprise wherein he bore part, voluntarily placed +themselves under his guidance, and paid him obedience as their leader; and +no symptom occurs of their having at any time wavered in this respect, or +shewn inclination to set up a rival authority. It may almost be said, that +the only matter in which they were not capricious was their confidence in +his management; and in it they found their advantage, if not their +preservation.<!--225.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[p. 213]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_XVIII" id="CHAP_XVIII"></a>CHAP. XVIII.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>Adventures of </i>Swan<i> and </i>Townley<i> on the Coast of </i>New Spain<i>, until +their Separation.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">Swan and Townley.</span> The South Sea adventures of the buccaneer +Chief Davis being brought to a conclusion, the next related will be those +of Swan and his crew in the Cygnet, they being the first of the Buccaneers +who after the battle in the <i>Bay of Panama</i> left the <i>South Sea</i>. William +Dampier who was in Swan's ship, kept a Journal of their proceedings, which +is published, and the manuscript also has been preserved.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1685. August.</span> Swan and Townley, the reader may +recollect, were left by Edward Davis in the harbour of <i>Ria Lexa</i>, in the +latter part of August 1685, and had agreed to keep company together +Westward towards the entrance of the <i>Gulf of California</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Bad Water, and Unhealthiness of Ria Lexa.</span> They remained at +<i>Ria Lexa</i> some days longer to take in fresh water, 'such as it was,' and +they experienced from it the same bad effects which it had on Davis's men; +for, joined to the unwholesomeness of the place, it produced a malignant +fever, by which several were carried off.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">September. On the Coast of New Spain.</span> On September the 3d, +they put to sea, four sail in company, i. e. the Cygnet, Townley's ship, +and two tenders; the total of the crews being 340 men.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Tornadoes.</span> The season was not favourable for getting Westward +along this coast. Westerly winds were prevalent, and scarcely a day passed +without one or two violent tornadoes, which were accompanied with +frightful flashes of lightning, and claps of thunder, 'the like,' says +Dampier, 'I did never meet with before nor since.' These tornadoes +generally came out of <!--226.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[p. 214]</a></span>the NE, very fierce, and did not last long. When +the tornado was passed, the wind again settled Westward. On account of +these storms, Swan and Townley kept a large offing; but towards the end of +the month, the weather became settled. On the 24th, Townley, and 106 men +in nine canoes, went on Westward, whilst the ships lay by two days with +furled sails, to give them time to get well forward, by which they would +come the more unexpectedly upon any place along the coast.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">October.</span> Townley proceeded, without finding harbour or inlet, +to the Bay of <i>Tecuantepeque</i>, where putting ashore at a sandy beach, the +canoes were all overset by the surf, one man drowned, and some muskets +lost. Townley however drew the canoes up dry, and marched into the +country; but notwithstanding that they had not discovered any inlet on the +coast, they found the country intersected with great creeks not fordable, +and were forced to return to their canoes. A body of Spaniards and Indians +came to reconnoitre them, from the town of <i>Tecuantepeque</i>, to seek which +place was the chief purpose of the Buccaneers when they landed. 'The +Spanish books,' says Dampier, 'mention a large river there, but whether it +was run away at this time, or rather that Captain Townley and his men were +shortsighted, I know not; but they did not find it.'</p> + +<p>October the 2d, the canoes returned to the ships. The wind was fresh and +fair from the ENE, and they sailed Westward, keeping within short distance +of the shore, but found neither harbour nor opening. They had soundings +all the way, the depth being 21 fathoms, a coarse sandy bottom, at eight +miles distance from the land. <span class="sidenote">Island Tangola.</span> Having run about 20 leagues +along the coast, they came to a small high Island called <i>Tangola</i>, on +which they found wood and water; and near it, good anchorage. 'This Island +is about a league distant from the main, which is pretty high, and +savannah land by the sea; but within land <!--227.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[p. 215]</a></span>it is higher and +woody.'—— <span class="sidenote">Guatulco. El Buffadore, a spouting Rock.</span> 'We +coasted a league farther, and came to <i>Guatulco</i>, in latitude 15° 30′, +which is one of the best ports in this Kingdom of <i>Mexico</i>. Near a mile +from the mouth of the harbour, on the East side, is a little Island close +by the main-land. On the West side of the mouth of the harbour, is a great +hollow rock, which by the continual working of the sea in and out, makes a +great noise, and may be heard a great way; every surge that comes in, +forces the water out at a little hole at the top, as out of a pipe, from +whence it flies out just like the blowing of a whale, to which the +Spaniards liken it, and call it <i>El Buffadore</i>. Even at the calmest +seasons, the beating of the sea makes the waterspout out at the hole, so +that this is always a good mark to find the harbour of <i>Guatulco</i> by. +<span class="sidenote">The Harbour of Guatulco.</span> The harbour runs in NW, is about three miles +deep, and one mile broad. The West side of the harbour is the best for +small ships to ride in: any where else you are open to SW winds, which +often blow here. There is clean ground any where, and good gradual +soundings from 16 to 6 fathoms: it is bounded by a smooth sandy shore, +good for landing; and at the bottom of the harbour is a fine brook of +fresh water running into the sea. The country is extraordinary pleasant +and delightful to behold at a distance<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a>.'</p> + +<p>There appeared to be so few inhabitants at this part of the coast, that +the Buccaneers were not afraid to land their sick. A party of men went +Eastward to seek for houses and inhabitants, and at a league distance from +<i>Guatulco</i> they found a river, named by the Spaniards <i>El Capalita</i>, which +had a swift current, and was deep at the entrance. They took a few Indians +prisoners, but learnt nothing of the country from them. <span class="sidenote"> +Vinello, or Vanilla, a Plant.</span> On the 6th, Townley with 140 men marched +fourteen miles inland, and in all that way <!--228.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[p. 216]</a></span>found only one small Indian +village, the inhabitants of which cultivated and cured a plant called +<i>Vinello</i>, which grows on a vine, and is used to perfume chocolate, and +sometimes tobacco.</p> + +<p>The 10th, the canoes were sent Westward; and on the 12th, the ships +followed, the crews being well recovered of the <i>Ria Lexa</i> fever. 'The +coast (from <i>Guatulco</i>) lies along West and a little Southerly for 20 or +30 leagues<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a>.' <span class="sidenote">Island Sacrificio.</span> On account of a current +which set Eastward, they anchored near a small green Island named +<i>Sacrificio</i>, about a league to the West of <i>Guatulco</i>, and half a mile +from the main. In the channel between, was five or six fathoms depth, and +the tide ran there very swift.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Port de Angeles.</span> They advanced Westward; but slowly. The +canoes were again overset in attempting to land near <i>Port de Angeles</i>, at +a place where cattle were seen feeding, and another man was drowned. +Dampier says, 'We were at this time abreast of <i>Port de Angeles</i>, but +those who had gone in the canoes did not know it, because the Spaniards +describe it to be as good a harbour as <i>Guatulco</i>. It is a broad open bay +with two or three rocks at the West side. There is good anchorage all over +the bay in depth from 30 to 12 fathoms, but you are open to all winds till +you come into 12 fathoms, and then you are sheltered from the WSW, which +is here the common trade-wind. Here always is a great swell, and landing +is bad. The place of landing is close by the West side, behind a few +rocks. Latitude 15° N. The tide rises about five feet. The land round +<i>Port de Angeles</i> is pretty high, the earth sandy and yellow, in some +places red.' The Buccaneers landed at <i>Port de Angeles</i>, and supplied +themselves with cattle, hogs, poultry, maize, and salt; and a large party +of them remained feasting three days at a farm-house. The 27th, they +sailed on Westward.<!--229.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[p. 217]</a></span></p> + +<p>Some of their canoes in seeking <i>Port de Angeles</i> had been as far Westward +as <i>Acapulco</i>. In their way back, they found a river, into which they +went, and filled fresh water. Afterwards, they entered a <i>lagune</i> or lake +of salt water, where fishermen had cured, and stored up fish, of which the +Buccaneers took away a quantity.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Adventure in a Lagune.</span> On the evening of the 27th, Swan and +Townley anchored in 16 fathoms depth, near a small rocky Island, six +leagues Westward of <i>Port de Angeles</i>, and about half a mile distant from +the main land. The next day they sailed on, and in the night of the 28th, +being abreast the lagune above mentioned, a canoe manned with twelve men +was sent to bring off more of the fish. The entrance into the lagune was +not more than pistol-shot wide, and on each side were rocks, high enough +and convenient to skreen or conceal men. The Spaniards having more +expectation of this second visit than they had of the first, a party of +them, provided with muskets, took station behind these rocks. They waited +patiently till the canoe of the Buccaneers was fairly within the lagune, +and then fired their volley, and wounded five men. The buccaneer crew were +not a little surprised, yet returned the fire; but not daring to repass +the narrow entrance, they rowed to the middle of the lagune, where they +lay out of the reach of shot. There was no other passage out but the one +by which they had entered, which besides being so narrow was a quarter of +a mile in length, and it was too desperate an undertaking to attempt to +repass it. Not knowing what else to do, they lay still two whole days and +three nights in hopes of relief from the ships.</p> + +<p>It was not an uncommon circumstance among the Buccaneers, for parties sent +away on any particular design, to undertake some new adventure; the long +absence of the canoe therefore created little surprise in the ships, which +lay off at sea <!--230.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[p. 218]</a></span>waiting without solicitude for her return; till Townley's +ship happening to stand nearer to the shore than the rest, heard muskets +fired in the lagune. He then sent a strong party in his canoes, which +obliged the Spaniards to retreat from the rocks, and leave the passage +free for the hitherto penned-up Buccaneers. Dampier gives the latitude of +this lagune, 'about 16° 40′ N.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">November. Alcatraz Rock. White +Cliffs. River to the West of the Cliffs.</span> They coasted +on Westward, with fair weather, and a current setting to the West. On November the 2d, they passed a rock called by the Spaniards the +<i>Alcatraz</i> (Pelican.) 'Five or six miles to the West of the rock are seven +or eight white cliffs, which are remarkable, because there are none other +so white and so thick together on all the coast. A dangerous shoal lies +SbW from these cliffs, four or five miles off at sea. Two leagues to the +West of these cliffs is a pretty large river, which forms a small Island +at its mouth. The channel on the East side is shoal and sandy; the West +channel is deep enough for canoes to enter.' The Spaniards had raised a +breastwork on the banks of this channel, and they made a show of resisting +the Buccaneers; but seeing they were determined on landing, they quitted +the place; on which Dampier honestly remarks, 'One chief reason why the +Spaniards are so frequently routed by us, though much our superiors in +number, is, their want of fire-arms; for they have but few unless near +their large garrisons.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Snook, a Fish.</span> A large quantity of salt intended for salting +the fish caught in the lagune, was taken here. Dampier says, 'The fish in +these lagunes were of a kind called Snooks, which are neither sea-fish nor +fresh-water fish; it is about a foot long, round, and as thick as the +small of a man's leg, has a pretty long head, whitish scales, and is good +meat.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">November 7th. High Land of Acapulco.</span> A Mulatto whom they took prisoner +told them that a ship <!--231.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[p. 219]</a></span>of +twenty guns had lately arrived at +<i>Acapulco</i> from <i>Lima</i>. Townley and his crew had long been dissatisfied +with their ship; and in hopes of getting a better, they stood towards the +harbour of <i>Acapulco</i>. On the 7th, they made the high land over +<i>Acapulco</i>, 'which is remarkable by a round hill standing between two +other hills, both higher, the Westernmost of which is the biggest and the +highest, and has two hillocks like two paps at the top.' Dampier gives the +latitude of <i>Acapulco</i> 17° N<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a>.</p> + +<p>This was not near the usual time either of the departure or of the arrival +of the Manila ships, and except at those times, <i>Acapulco</i> is almost +deserted on account of the situation being unhealthy. <i>Acapulco</i> is +described hot, unwholesome, pestered with gnats, and having nothing good +but the harbour. Merchants depart from it as soon as they have transacted +their business. Townley accordingly expected to bring off the <i>Lima</i> ship +quietly, and with little trouble. In the evening of the 7th, the ships +being then so far from land that they could not be descried, Townley with +140 men departed in twelve canoes for the harbour of <i>Acapulco</i>. They did +not reach <i>Port Marques</i> till the second night; and on the third night +they rowed softly and unperceived by the Spaniards into <i>Acapulco +Harbour</i>. They found the <i>Lima</i> ship moored close to the castle, and, +after reconnoitring, thought it would not be in their power to bring her +off; so they paddled back quietly out of the harbour, and returned to +their ships, tired and disappointed.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Sandy Beach, West of Acapulco. Hill of Petaplan.</span> Westward from the Port +of <i>Acapulco</i>, they passed a sandy bay or beach above twenty leagues in +length, the sea all the <!--232.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[p. 220]</a></span>way beating with such force on the shore that +a boat could not approach with safety. 'There was clean anchoring ground +at a mile or two from the shore. At the West end of this Bay, in 17° 30′ +N, is the Hill of <i>Petaplan</i>, which is a round point stretching out into +the sea, and at a distance seems an Island<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a>.' This was reckoned +twenty-five leagues from <i>Acapulco</i>. A little to the West of the hill are +several round white rocks. They sailed within the rocks, having 11 fathoms +depth, and anchored on the NW side of the hill. Their Mosquito men took +here some small turtle and small jew-fish.</p> + +<p>They landed, and at an Indian village took a Mulatto woman and her +children, whom they carried on board. They learnt from her that a caravan +drawn by mules was going with flour and other goods to <i>Acapulco</i>, but +that the carrier had stopped on the road from apprehension of the +Buccaneers.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Chequetan.</span> The ships weighed their anchors, and ran about two +leagues farther Westward, to a place called <i>Chequetan</i>, which Dampier +thus describes: 'A mile and a half from the shore is a small Key (or +Island) and within it is a very good harbour, where ships may careen: here +is also a small river of fresh water, and wood enough.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">14th. Estapa.</span> On the 14th, in the morning, about a hundred Buccaneers +set off in search of the carrier, taking the woman prisoner for a guide. +They landed a league to the West of <i>Chequetan</i>, at a +place called <i>Estapa</i>, and their conductress led them through a wood, by +the side of a river, about a league, which brought them to a savannah full +of cattle; and here at a farm-house the carrier and his mules were lodged. +He had 40 packs of flour, some chocolate, small cheeses, and earthenware. +The eatables, with the addition of eighteen beeves which they <!--233.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[p. 221]</a></span>killed, the +Buccaneers laid on the backs of above fifty mules which were at hand, and +drove them to their boats. A present of clothes was made to the woman, and +she, with two of her children, were set at liberty; but the other child, a +boy seven or eight years old, Swan kept, against the earnest intreaties of +the mother. Dampier says, 'Captain Swan promised her to make much of him, +and was as good as his word. He proved afterwards a fine boy for wit, +courage, and dexterity.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">21st. Hill of Thelupan.</span> They proceeded Westward along the coast, which was high +land full of ragged hills, but with pleasant and fruitful vallies between. +The 25th, they were abreast a hill, 'which +towered above his fellows, and was divided in the top, making two small +parts. It is in latitude 18° 8′ N. The Spaniards mention a town called +<i>Thelupan</i> near this hill.'</p> + +<p>The 26th, the Captains Swan and Townley went in the canoes with 200 men, +to seek the city of <i>Colima</i>, which was reported to be a rich place: but +their search was fruitless. They rowed 20 leagues along shore, and found +no good place for landing; neither did they see house or inhabitant, +although they passed by a fine valley, called the <i>Valley of Maguella</i>, +except that towards the end of their expedition, they saw a horseman, who +they supposed had been stationed as a sentinel, for he rode off +immediately on their appearance. They landed with difficulty, and followed +the track of the horse on the sand, but lost it in the woods.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">28th. Volcano of Colima. Valley of Colima.</span> On the +28th, they saw the Volcano of <i>Colima</i>, which is in about 18° 36′ N +latitude, five or six leagues from the sea, and appears with two sharp +points, from each of which issued flames or smoke. The <i>Valley of Colima</i> +is ten or twelve leagues wide by the sea: it abounds in cacao-gardens, +fields of corn, and plantain walks. The coast is a sandy shore, on which +the waves beat with violence. Eastward of the Valley the land is woody. <!--234.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[p. 222]</a></span>A +river ran here into the sea, with a shoal or bar at its entrance, which +boats could not pass. On the West side of the river was savannah land.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">December. Salagua.</span> December the 1st, they were +near the Port of <i>Salagua</i>, which Dampier reckoned in latitude 18° 52′ N. +He says, 'it is only a pretty deep bay, divided in the middle with a rocky +point, which makes, as it were, two harbours<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a>. Ships may ride secure in +either, but the West harbour is the best: the depth of water is 10 or 12 +fathom, and a brook of fresh water runs into the sea there.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Report of a great City named Oarrah.</span> Two hundred Buccaneers +landed at <i>Salagua</i>, and finding a broad road which led inland, they +followed it about four leagues, over a dry stony country, much overgrown +with short wood, without seeing habitation or inhabitant; but in their +return, they met and took prisoners two Mulattoes, who informed them that +the road they had been travelling led to a great city called <i>Oarrah</i>, +which was distant as far as a horse will travel in four days; and that +there was no place of consequence nearer. The same prisoner said the +<i>Manila</i> ship was daily expected to stop at this part of the coast to land +passengers; for that the arrival of the ships at <i>Acapulco</i> from the +<i>Philippines</i> commonly happened about Christmas, and scarcely ever more +than eight or ten days before or after.</p> + +<p>Swan and Townley sailed on for Cape <i>Corrientes</i>. Many among the crews +were at this time taken ill with a fever and ague, which left the patients +dropsical. Dampier says, the dropsy is a disease very common on this +coast. He was one of the sufferers, and continued ill a long time; and +several died of it.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">The Land near Cape Corrientes. Coronada +Hills. Cape Corrientes.</span> The coast Southward of <i>Cape +Corrientes</i>, is of moderate height, and full of white cliffs. The inland +country is high and barren, with sharp peaked hills. Northward of this rugged land, <!--235.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[p. 223]</a></span>is a chain of mountains which +terminates Eastward with a high steep mountain, which has three sharp +peaks and resembles a crown; and is therefore called by the Spaniards +<i>Coronada</i>. On the 11th they came in sight of +<i>Cape Corrientes</i>. When the <i>Cape</i> bore NbW, the <i>Coronada</i> mountain bore +ENE<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a>.</p> + +<p>On arriving off <i>Cape Corrientes</i>, the buccaneer vessels spread, for the +advantage of enlarging their lookout, the Cygnet taking the outer station +at about ten leagues distance from the <i>Cape</i>. Provisions however soon +became scarce, on which account Townley's tender and some of the canoes +were sent to the land to seek a supply. The canoes rowed up along shore +against a Northerly wind to the <i>Bay de Vanderas</i>; but the bark could not +get round <i>Cape Corrientes</i>. <span class="sidenote">18th.</span> On the 18th, Townley +complained he wanted fresh water, whereupon the ships quitted their +station near the Cape, and sailed to some small Islands called the <i>Keys +of Chametly</i>, which are situated to the SE of <i>Cape Corrientes</i>, to take +in fresh water.</p> + +<p>The descriptions of the coast of <i>New Spain</i> given by Dampier, in his +account of his voyage with the Buccaneers, contain many particulars of +importance which are not to be found in any other publication. Dampier's +manuscript and the printed Narrative frequently differ, and it is +sometimes apparent that the difference is not the effect of inadvertence, +or mistake in the press, but that it was intended as a correction from a +reconsideration of the subject. <span class="sidenote">Keys or Islands of Chametly.</span> +The printed Narrative says at this part, 'These <i>Keys</i> or <i>Islands</i> of +<i>Chametly</i> are about 16 or 18 leagues to the Eastward of <i>Cape +Corrientes</i>. They are small, low, woody, and environed with rocks. There +are five of them lying in the form of a half moon, not a mile from the +shore of the main, and between them and the main land <!--236.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[p. 224]</a></span>is very good riding +secure from any wind<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a>.' In the manuscript it is said, 'the Islands +<i>Chametly</i> make a secure port. They lie eight or nine leagues from <i>Port +Navidad</i>.'</p> + +<p>It is necessary to explain that Dampier, in describing his navigation +along the coast of <i>New Spain</i>, uses the terms Eastward and Westward, not +according to the precise meaning of the words, but to signify being more +or less advanced along the coast from the <i>Bay of Panama</i>. By Westward, he +invariably means more advanced towards the <i>Gulf of California</i>; by +Eastward, the contrary.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Form a convenient Port.</span> The ships entered within the <i>Chametly +Islands</i> by the channel at the SE end, and anchored in five fathoms depth, +on a bottom of clean sand. They found there good fresh water and wood, and +caught plenty of rock-fish with hook and line. No inhabitants were seen, +but there were huts, made for the temporary convenience of fishermen who +occasionally went there to fish for the inhabitants of the city of <i>La +Purificacion</i>. These Islands, forming a commodious port affording fresh +water and other conveniencies, from the smallness of their size are not +made visible in the Spanish charts of the coast of <i>New Spain</i> in present +use<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a>. Whilst the ships watered at the <i>Keys</i> or <i>Isles of Chametly</i>, a +party was sent to forage on the main land, whence they carried off about +40 bushels of maize.</p> + +<p>On the 22d, they left the <i>Keys of Chametly</i>, and returned to their +cruising station off <i>Cape Corrientes</i>, where they were rejoined by the +canoes which had been to the <i>Bay de Vanderas</i>. Thirty-seven men had +landed there from the canoes, who went three miles into the country, where +they encountered a body of Spaniards, consisting both of horse and foot. +The Buccaneers <!--237.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[p. 225]</a></span>took benefit of a small wood for shelter against the +attack of the horse, yet the Spaniards rode in among them; but the Spanish +Captain and some of their foremost men being killed, the rest retreated. +Four of the Buccaneers were killed, and two desperately wounded. The +Spanish infantry were more numerous than the horse, but they did not join +in the attack, because they were armed only with lances and swords; +'nevertheless,' says Dampier, 'if they had come in, they would certainly +have destroyed all our men.' The Buccaneers conveyed their two wounded men +to the water side on horses, one of which, when they arrived at their +canoes, they killed and drest; not daring to venture into the savannah for +a bullock, though they saw many grazing.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1686. January. Bay de Vanderas.</span> Swan and Townley +preserved their station off <i>Cape Corrientes</i> only till the 1st of +January, 1686, when their crews became impatient for fresh meat, and they +stood into the <i>Bay de Vanderas</i>, to hunt for beef. The depth of water in +this Bay is very great, and the ships were obliged to anchor in 60 +fathoms.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Valley of Vanderas.</span> 'The <i>Valley of Vanderas</i> is about three +leagues wide, with a sandy bay against the sea, and smooth landing. In the +midst of this bay (or beach) is a fine river, into which boats may enter; +but it is brackish at the latter part of the dry season, which is in +March, and part of April. The Valley is enriched with fruitful savannahs, +mixed with groves of trees fit for any use; and fruit-trees grow wild in +such plenty as if nature designed this place only for a garden. The +savannahs are full of fat bulls and cows, and horses; but no house was in +sight.'</p> + +<p>Here they remained hunting beeves, till the 7th of the month. Two hundred +and forty men landed every day, sixty of whom were stationed as a guard, +whilst the rest pursued the cattle; the Spaniards all the time appearing +in large companies on <!--238.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[p. 226]</a></span>the nearest hills. The Buccaneers killed and salted +meat sufficient to serve them two months, which expended all their salt. +Whilst they were thus occupied in the pleasant valley of <i>Vanderas</i>, the +galeon from <i>Manila</i> sailed past <i>Cape Corrientes</i>, and pursued her course +in safety to <i>Acapulco</i>. This they learnt afterwards from prisoners; but +it was by no means unexpected: on the contrary, they were in general so +fully persuaded it would be the consequence of their going into the <i>Bay +de Vanderas</i>, that they gave up all intention of cruising for her +afterwards.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Swan and Townley part company.</span> The main object for which +Townley had gone thus far Northward being disposed of, he and his crew +resolved to return Southward. Some Darien Indians had remained to this +time with Swan: they were now committed to the care of Townley, and the +two ships broke off consortship, and parted company.<!--239.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[p. 227]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_XIX" id="CHAP_XIX"></a>CHAP. XIX.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>The </i>Cygnet<i> and her Crew on the Coast of </i>Nueva Galicia<i>, and at +the </i>Tres Marias Islands<i>.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1686. January. Coast of Nuevo Galicia.</span> Swan and +his crew determined before they quitted the American coast, to visit some +Spanish towns farther North, in the neighbourhood of rich mines, where +they hoped to find good plunder, and to increase their stock of provisions +for the passage across the <i>Pacific</i> to <i>India</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Point Ponteque.</span> January the 7th, the Cygnet and her tender +sailed from the <i>Valley of Vanderas</i>, and before night, passed <i>Point +Ponteque</i>, the Northern point of the <i>Vanderas Bay</i>. <i>Point Ponteque</i> is +high, round, rocky, and barren: at a distance it makes like an Island. +Dampier reckoned it 10 leagues distant, in a direction N 20° W, from <i>Cape +Corrientes</i>; the variation of the compass observed near the <i>Cape</i> being +4° 28′ Easterly<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a>.</p> + +<p>A league West from <i>Point Ponteque</i> are two small barren Islands, round +which lie scattered several high, sharp, white rocks. The Cygnet passed on +the East side of the two Islands, the channel between them and <i>Point +Ponteque</i> appearing clear of danger. 'The sea-coast beyond <i>Point +Ponteque</i> runs in NE, all ragged land, and afterwards out again NNW, +making many ragged points, with small sandy bays between. The land by the +sea is low and woody; but the inland country is full of high, sharp, +rugged, and barren hills.'</p> + +<p>Along this coast they had light sea and land breezes, and fair weather. +They anchored every evening, and got under sail <!--240.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[p. 228]</a></span>in the morning with the +land-wind. <span class="sidenote">January 14th. White Rock, 21° 51′ N.</span> On +the 14th, they had sight of a small white rock, which had resemblance to a +ship under sail. Dampier gives its latitude 21° 51′ N, and its distance +from <i>Cape Corrientes</i> 34 leagues. It is three leagues from the main, with +depth in the channel, near the Island, twelve or fourteen fathoms.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">15th. 16th.</span> The 15th, at noon, the latitude was 22° 11′ N. The +coast here lay in a NNW direction. The 16th, they steered 'NNW as the land +runs.' At noon the latitude was 22° 41′ N. The coast was sandy and +shelving, with soundings at six fathoms depth a league distant. The sea +set heavy on the shore. They caught here many cat-fish.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">20th. Chametlan Isles, 23° 11′ N.</span> On the 20th, +they anchored a league to the East of a small groupe of Isles, named the +<i>Chametlan Isles</i>, after the name of the District or Captainship +(<i>Alcaldia mayor</i>) in the province of <i>Culiacan</i>, opposite to which they +are situated. Dampier calls them the <i>Isles of Chametly</i>, 'different from +the <i>Isles</i> or <i>Keys of Chametly</i> at which we had before anchored. These +are six small Islands in latitude 23° 11′ N, about three leagues distant +from the main-land<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a>, where a salt lake has its outlet into the sea. +Their meridian distance from <i>Cape Corrientes</i> is 23 leagues [West.] The +coast here, and for about ten leagues before coming abreast these Islands, +lies NW and SE.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">The Penguin Fruit.</span> On the <i>Chametlan Isles</i> they found +guanoes, and seals; and a fruit of a sharp pleasant taste, by Dampier +called the Penguin fruit, 'of a kind which grows so abundantly in the <i>Bay +of Campeachy</i> that there is no passing for their high prickly leaves.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Rio de Sal, and Salt-water Lagune, 23° 30′ N.</span> In the +main-land, six or seven leagues NNW from the <i>Isles of Chametlan</i>, is a +narrow opening into a <i>lagune</i>, with depth of water sufficient for boats +to enter. This <i>lagune</i> extends along <!--241.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[p. 229]</a></span>the back of the sea-beach about 12 +leagues, and makes many low Mangrove Islands. The latitude given of the +entrance above-mentioned is 23° 30′ N, and it is called by the Spaniards +<i>Rio de Sal</i>.</p> + +<p>Half a degree Northward of <i>Rio de Sal</i> was said to be the River +<i>Culiacan</i>, with a rich Spanish town of the same name. Swan went with the +canoes in search of it, and followed the coast 30 leagues from abreast the +<i>Chametlan Isles</i>, without finding any river to the North of the <i>Rio de +Sal</i>. All the coast was low and sandy, and the sea beat high on the shore. +<span class="sidenote">30th.</span> The ships did not go farther within the <i>Gulf</i> than to +23° 45′ N, in which latitude, on the 30th, they anchored in eight fathoms +depth, three miles distant from the main-land; the meridian distance from +<i>Cape Corrientes</i> being 34 leagues West, by Dampier's reckoning.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">The Mexican, a copious Language.</span> In their return Southward, +Swan with the canoes, entered the <i>Rio de Sal Lagune</i>, and at an +<i>estancian</i> on the Western side, they took the owner prisoner. They found +in his house a few bushels of maize; but the cattle had been driven out of +their reach. Dampier relates, 'The old Spanish gentleman who was taken at +the <i>Estancian</i> near the <i>Rio de Sal</i> was a very intelligent person. He +had been a great traveller in the kingdom of <i>Mexico</i>, and spoke the +Mexican language very well. He said it is a copious language, and much +esteemed by the Spanish gentry in those parts, and of great use all over +the kingdom; and that many Indian languages had some dependency on it.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Mazatlan.</span> The town of <i>Mazatlan</i> was within 5 leagues of the +NE part of the <i>lagune</i>, and Swan with 150 men went thither. The +inhabitants wounded some of the Buccaneers with arrows, but could make no +effectual resistance. There were rich mines near <i>Mazatlan</i>, and the +Spaniards of <i>Compostella</i>, which is the chief town in this <!--242.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[p. 230]</a></span>district, +kept slaves at work in them. The Buccaneers however found no gold here, +but carried off some Indian corn.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">February 2d. Rosario, an Indian Town.</span> February the +2d, the canoes went to an Indian town called <i>Rosario</i>, situated on the +banks of a river and nine miles within its entrance. '<i>Rosario</i> was a fine +little town of 60 or 70 houses, with a good church.' The river produced +gold, and mines were in the neighbourhood; but here, as at <i>Mazatlan</i>, +they got no other booty than Indian corn, of which they conveyed to their +ships between 80 and 90 bushels.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">3d. River Rosario, 22° 51′ N. Sugar-loaf Hill. Caput Cavalli.</span> On the +3d, the ships anchored near the <i>River Rosario</i> in seven fathoms oozy +ground, a league from the shore; the latitude of the entrance of the river +22° 51′ N. A small distance within the coast and bearing NEbN from the +ship, was a round hill like a sugar-loaf; and North Westward of that hill, +was another 'pretty long hill,' called <i>Caput Cavalli</i>, or the <i>Horse's +Head</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">8th.</span> On the 8th, the canoes were sent to search for a river +named the <i>Oleta</i>, which was understood to lie in latitude 22° 27′ N; but +the weather proving foggy they could not find it.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">11th. Maxentelbo Rock. Hill of Xalisco.</span> On the 11th, they +anchored abreast the South point of the entrance of a river called the +<i>River de Santiago</i>, in seven fathoms soft oozy bottom, about two miles +from the shore; a high white rock, called <i>Maxentelbo</i>, bore from their +anchorage WNW, distant about three leagues, and a high hill in the +country, with a saddle or bending, called the <i>Hill Xalisco</i>, bore SE. +<span class="sidenote">River of Santiago, 22° 15′ N.</span> 'The <i>River St. Iago</i> is in +latitude 22° 15′ N, the entrance lies East and West with the <i>Rock +Maxentelbo</i>. It is one of the principal rivers on this coast: there is ten +feet water on the bar at low-water; but how much the tide rises and falls, +was not observed. The mouth of the river is nearly half a mile broad, with +very smooth entering. Within the entrance it widens, for three or four +rivers meet there, and issue all out together. The water is brackish a +great way up; but <!--243.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[p. 231]</a></span>fresh water is to be had by digging two or three feet +deep in a sandy bay just at the mouth of the river. Northward of the +entrance, and NEbE from <i>Maxentelbo</i>, is a round white rock.'</p> + +<p>'Between the latitudes 22° 41′ and 22° 10′ N, which includes the <i>River de +Santiago</i>, the coast lies NNW and SSE<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a>.'</p> + +<p>No inhabitants were seen near the entrance of the <i>River St. Iago</i>, but +the country had a fruitful appearance, and Swan sent seventy men in four +canoes up the river, to seek for some town or village. After two days +spent in examining different creeks and rivers, they came to a field of +maize which was nearly ripe, and immediately began to gather; but whilst +they were loading the canoes, they saw an Indian, whom they caught, and +from him they learnt that at four leagues distance from them was a town +named <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Pecaque</i>. With this information they returned to the ship; +and the same evening, Swan with eight canoes and 140 men, set off for +<i>S<sup>ta</sup> Pecaque</i>, taking the Indian for a guide. This was on the 15th of +the month.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">16th.</span> They rowed during the night about five leagues up the +river, and at six o'clock in the morning, landed at a place where it was +about a pistol-shot wide, with pretty high banks on each side, the country +plain and even. Twenty men were left with the canoes, and Swan with the +rest marched towards the town, by a road which led partly through +woodland, and partly through savannas well stocked with cattle. They +arrived at the town by ten in the forenoon, and entered without +opposition, the inhabitants having quitted it on their approach.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Town of S<sup>ta</sup> Pecaque.</span> The town of <i>Santa Pecaque</i> was small, +regularly built after the Spanish mode, with a Parade in the middle, and +balconies to the houses which fronted the parade. It had two churches. The +inhabitants were mostly Spaniards, and their principal occupation was +husbandry. It is distant from <i>Compostella</i> about 21 leagues. +<i>Compostella</i> itself was at that time reckoned <!--244.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[p. 232]</a></span>not to contain more than +seventy white families, which made about one-eighth part of its +inhabitants.</p> + +<p>There were large storehouses, with maize, salt-fish, salt, and sugar, at +<i>Santa Pecaque</i>, provisions being kept there for the subsistence of some +hundreds of slaves who worked in silver mines not far distant. The chief +purpose for which the Cygnet had come so far North on this coast was to +get provisions, and here was more than sufficient to supply her wants. For +transporting it to their canoes, Swan divided the men into two parties, +which it was agreed should go alternately, one party constantly to remain +to guard the stores in the town. The afternoon of the first day was passed +in taking rest and refreshment, and in collecting horses. <span class="sidenote"> +17th.</span> The next morning, fifty-seven men, with a number of horses laden +with maize, each man also carrying a small quantity, set out for the +canoes, to which they arrived, and safely deposited their burthens. The +Spaniards had given some disturbance to the men who guarded the canoes, +and had wounded one, on which account they were reinforced with seven men +from the carrying party; and in the afternoon, the fifty returned to +<i>Santa Pecaque</i>. Only one trip was made in the course of the day.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">18th.</span> On the morning of the 18th, the party which had guarded +the town the day before, took their turn for carrying. They loaded 24 +horses, and every man had his burthen. This day they took a prisoner, who +told them, that nearly a thousand men, of all colours, Spaniards, Indians, +Negroes, and Mulattoes, were assembled at the town of <i>Santiago</i>, which +was only three leagues distant from <i>Santa Pecaque</i>. This information made +Captain Swan of opinion, that separating his men was attended with much +danger; and he determined that the next morning he would quit the town +with the whole party. In the mean time he employed his men to catch as +many horses as they could, that when they departed they might carry off a +good load.<!--245.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[p. 233]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">February 19th.</span> On the 19th, Swan called his men out early, and +gave order to prepare for marching; but the greater number refused to +alter the mode they had first adopted, and said they would not abandon the +town until all the provision in it was conveyed to the canoes. Swan was +forced to acquiesce, and to allow one-half of the company to go as before. +They had fifty-four horses laden; Swan advised them to tie the horses one +to another, and the men to keep in two bodies, twenty-five before, and the +same number behind. His directions however were not followed: 'the men +would go their own way, every man leading his horse.' The Spaniards had +before observed their careless manner of marching, and had prepared their +plan of attack for this morning, making choice of the ground they thought +most for their advantage, and placing men there in ambush. The Buccaneer +convoy had not been gone above a quarter of an hour when those who kept +guard in the town, heard the report of guns. Captain Swan called on them +to march out to the assistance of their companions; but some even then +opposed him, and spoke with contempt of the danger and their enemies, till +two horses, saddled, with holsters, and without riders, came galloping +into the town frightened, and one had at its side a carabine newly +discharged. <span class="sidenote">Buccaneers defeated and slain by the Spaniards.</span> On +this additional sign that some event had taken place which it imported +them to know, Swan immediately marched out of the town, and all his men +followed him. When they came to the place where the engagement had +happened, they beheld their companions that had gone forth from the town +that morning, every man lying dead in the road, stripped, and so mangled +that scarcely any one could be known. This was the most severe defeat the +Buccaneers suffered in all their <i>South Sea</i> enterprises.</p> + +<p>The party living very little exceeded the number of those <!--246.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[p. 234]</a></span>who lay dead +before them, yet the Spaniards made no endeavour to interrupt their +retreat, either in their march to the canoes, or in their falling down the +river, but kept at a distance. 'It is probable,' says Dampier, 'the +Spaniards did not cut off so many of our men without loss of many of their +own. We lost this day fifty-four Englishmen and nine blacks; and among the +slain was my ingenious friend Mr. Ringrose, who wrote that part of the +<i>History of the Buccaneers</i> which relates to Captain Sharp. He had engaged +in this voyage as supercargo of Captain Swan's ship.'—'Captain Swan had +been forewarned by his astrologer of the great danger they were in; and +several of the men who went in the first party had opposed the division of +their force: some of them foreboded their misfortune, and heard as they +lay down in the church in the night, grievous groanings which kept them +from sleeping<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a>.'</p> + +<p>Swan and his surviving crew were discouraged from attempting any thing +more on the coast of <i>New Galicia</i>, although they had laid up but a small +stock of provisions. On the 21st, they sailed from the <i>River of St. Jago</i> +for the South Cape of <i>California</i>, where it was their intention to careen +the ship; but the wind had settled in the NW quarter, and after struggling +against it a fortnight, on the 7th of March, they anchored in a bay at the +East end of the middle of the <i>Tres Marias Islands</i>, in eight fathoms +clean sand. <span class="sidenote">March. At the Middle Island of the Tres Marias.</span> +The next day, they took a birth within a quarter of a mile of the shore; +the outer points of the bay bearing ENE and SSW.</p> + +<p>None of the <i>Tres Marias Islands</i> were inhabited. Swan named the one at +which he had anchored, <i>Prince George's Island</i>. Dampier describes them of +moderate height, and the Westernmost Island to be the largest of the +three. 'The soil is stony <!--247.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[p. 235]</a></span>and dry, producing much of a shrubby kind of +wood, troublesome to pass; but in some parts grow plenty of straight large +cedars. <span class="sidenote">A Root used as Food.</span> The sea-shore is sandy, and +there, a green prickly plant grows, whose leaves are much like the penguin +leaf; the root is like the root of the <i>Sempervive</i>, but larger, and when +baked in an oven is reckoned good to eat. The Indians of <i>California</i> are +said to have great part of their subsistence from these roots. We baked +some, but none of us greatly cared for them. They taste exactly like the +roots of our English Burdock boiled.'</p> + +<p>At this Island were guanoes, raccoons, rabbits, pigeons, doves, fish, +turtle, and seal. They careened here, and made a division of the store of +provisions, two-thirds to the Cygnet and one-third to the Tender, 'there +being one hundred eaters in the ship, and fifty on board the tender.' The +maize they had saved measured 120 bushels.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">A Dropsy cured by a Sand Bath.</span> Dampier relates the following +anecdote of himself at this place. 'I had been a long time sick of a +dropsy, a distemper whereof many of our men died; so here I was laid and +covered all but my head in the hot sand. I endured it near half an hour, +and then was taken out. I sweated exceedingly while I was in the sand, and +I believe it did me much good, for I grew well soon after.'</p> + +<p>This was the dry season, and they could not find here a sufficient supply +of fresh water, which made it necessary for them to return to the +Continent. Before sailing, Swan landed a number of prisoners, Spaniards +and Indians, which would have been necessary on many accounts besides that +of the scantiness of provisions, if it had been his design to have +proceeded forthwith Westward for the <i>East Indies</i>; but as he was going +again to the American coast, which was close at hand, the turning his +prisoners ashore on a desolate Island, appears to <!--248.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[p. 236]</a></span>have been in revenge +for the disastrous defeat sustained at <i>S<sup>ta</sup> Pecaque</i>, and for the +Spaniards having given no quarter on that occasion.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Bay of Vanderas.</span> They sailed on the 26th, and two days after, +anchored in the <i>Bay of Vanderas</i> near the river at the bottom of the bay; +but the water of this river was now brackish. Search was made along the +South shore of the bay, and two or three leagues towards <i>Cape +Corrientes</i>, a small brook of good fresh water was found; and good +anchorage near to a small round Island which lies half a mile from the +main, and about four leagues NEastward of the Cape. Just within this +Island they brought the ships to anchor, in 25 fathoms depth, the brook +bearing from them E-<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>N half a mile distant, and <i>Point Ponteque</i> NWbN +six leagues.</p> + +<p>The Mosquito men struck here nine or ten jew-fish, the heads and finny +pieces of which served for present consumption, and the rest was salted +for sea-store. The maize and salted fish composed the whole of their stock +of eatables for their passage across the <i>Pacific</i>, and at a very +straitened allowance would scarcely be sufficient to hold out sixty days.<!--249.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[p. 237]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_XX" id="CHAP_XX"></a>CHAP. XX.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>The </i>Cygnet<i>. Her Passage across the </i>Pacific Ocean<i>. At the +</i>Ladrones<i>. At </i>Mindanao<i>.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1686. March. The Cygnet quits the American Coast.</span> +March the 31st, they sailed from the American coast, steering at first SW, +and afterwards more Westerly till they were in latitude 13° N, in which +parallel they kept. 'The kettle was boiled but once a day,' says Dampier, +'and there was no occasion to call the men to victuals. All hands came up +to see the Quarter-master share it, and he had need to be exact. We had +two dogs and two cats on board, and they likewise had a small allowance +given them, and they waited with as much eagerness to see it shared as we +did.' <span class="sidenote">Large flight of Birds. Lat. 13° N. Long. 180°.</span> In this +passage they saw neither fish nor fowl of any kind, except at one time, +when by Dampier's reckoning they were 4975 miles West from <i>Cape +Corrientes</i>, and then, numbers of the sea-birds called boobies were flying +near the ships, which were supposed to come from some rocks not far +distant. Their longitude at this time may be estimated at about 180 +degrees from the meridian of Greenwich<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">May 21st.</span> Fortunately, they had a fresh trade-wind, and made +great runs every day. 'On May the 20th, which,' says Dampier, 'we begin to +call the 21st, we were in latitude 12° 50′ N, and steering West. +<span class="sidenote">Shoals and Breakers SbW-<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>W 10 or 11 leagues from the S end of +Guahan. Bank de Santa Rosa.</span> At two p. m. the bark tender being two leagues ahead of the +Cygnet, came into shoal water, and those on board plainly saw rocks under +her, but no land was in sight. They <!--250.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[p. 238]</a></span>hauled on a wind to the Southward, +and hove the lead, and found but four fathoms water. They saw breakers to +the Westward. They then wore round, and got their starboard tacks on board +and stood Northward. The Cygnet in getting +up to the bark, ran over a shoal bank, where the bottom was seen, and fish +among the rocks; but the ship ran past it before we could heave the lead. +Both vessels stood to the Northward, keeping upon a wind, and sailed +directly North, having the wind at ENE, till five in the afternoon, having +at that time run eight miles and increased our latitude so many minutes. +We then saw the Island <i>Guam</i> [<i>Guahan</i>] bearing NNE, distant from us +about eight leagues, which gives the latitude of the Island (its South +end) 13° 20′ N. We did not observe the variation of the compass at <i>Guam</i>. +At <i>Cape Corrientes</i> we found it 4° 28′ Easterly, and an observation we +made when we had gone about a third of the passage, shewed it to be the +same. I am inclined to think it was less at <i>Guam</i><a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a>.'</p> + +<p>The shoal above mentioned is called by the Spaniards the <i>Banco de Santa +Rosa</i>, and the part over which the Cygnet passed, according to the extract +from Dampier, is about SbW-<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>W from the South end of <i>Guahan</i>, distant +ten or eleven leagues.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">At Guahan.</span> An hour before midnight, they anchored on the West +side of <i>Guahan</i>, a mile from the shore. The Spaniards had here a small +Fort, and a garrison of thirty soldiers; but the Spanish Governor resided +at another part of the Island. As the ships anchored, a Spanish priest in +a canoe went on board, believing them to be Spaniards from <i>Acapulco</i>. He +was treated with civility, but detained as a kind of hostage, to +facilitate any negociation necessary for obtaining provisions; and Swan +sent a present to the Spanish Governor by the Indians of the canoe.<!--251.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[p. 239]</a></span></p> + +<p>No difficulty was experienced on this head. Both Spaniards, and the few +natives seen here, were glad to dispose of their provisions to so good a +market as the buccaneer ships. Dampier conjectured the number of the +natives at this time on <i>Guahan</i> not to exceed a hundred. In the last +insurrection, which was a short time before Eaton stopped at the +<i>Ladrones</i>, the natives, finding they could not prevail against the +Spaniards, destroyed their plantations, and went to other Islands. 'Those +of the natives who remained in <i>Guahan</i>,' says Dampier, 'if they were not +actually concerned in that broil, their hearts were bent against the +Spaniards; for they offered to carry us to the Fort and assist us to +conquer the Island.'</p> + +<p>Whilst Swan lay at <i>Guahan</i>, the Spanish Acapulco ship came in sight of +the Island. The Governor immediately sent off notice to her of the +Buccaneer ships being in the road, on which she altered her course towards +the South, and by so doing got among the shoals, where she struck off her +rudder, and did not get clear for three days. The natives at <i>Guahan</i> told +the Buccaneers that the Acapulco ship was in sight of the Island, 'which,' +says Dampier, 'put our men in a great heat to go out after her, but +Captain Swan persuaded them out of that humour.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Flying Proe, or Sailing Canoe.</span> Dampier praises the ingenuity +of the natives of the <i>Ladrone Islands</i>, and particularly in the +construction of their sailing canoes, or, as they are sometimes called, +their flying proes, of which he has given the following description. +'Their Proe or Sailing Canoe is sharp at both ends; the bottom is of one +piece of good substance neatly hollowed, and is about 28 feet long; the +under, or keel part is made round, but inclining to a wedge; the upper +part is almost flat, having a very gentle hollow, and is about a foot +broad: from hence, both sides of the boat are carried up to about five +feet high with <!--252.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[p. 240]</a></span>narrow plank, and each end of the boat turns up round very +prettily. But what is very singular, one side of the boat is made +perpendicular like a wall, while the other side is rounding as other +vessels are, with a pretty full belly. The dried husks of the cocoa-nuts +serve for oakum. At the middle of the vessel the breadth aloft is four or +five feet, or more, according to the length of the boat. The mast stands +exactly in the middle, with a long yard that peeps up and down like a +ship's mizen yard; one end of it reaches down to the head of the boat, +where it is placed in a notch made purposely to keep it fast: the other +end hangs over the stern. To this yard the sail is fastened, and at the +foot of the sail is another small yard to keep the sail out square, or to +roll the sail upon when it blows hard; for it serves instead of a reef to +take up the sail to what degree they please. Along the belly side of the +boat, parallel with it, at about seven feet distance, lies another boat or +canoe very small, being a log of very light wood, almost as long as the +great boat, but not above a foot and a half wide at the upper part, and +sharp like a wedge at each end. The little boat is fixed firm to the other +by two bamboos placed across the great boat, one near each end, and its +use is to keep the great boat upright from oversetting. They keep the flat +side of the great boat against the wind, and the belly side, consequently, +with its little boat, is upon the lee<a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a>. The vessel has a head at each +end so as to be able to sail with either <!--253.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[p. 241]</a></span>foremost: they need not tack as +our vessels do, but when they ply to windward and are minded to make a +board the other way, they only alter the setting of the sail by shifting +the end of the yard, and they take the broad paddle with which they steer +instead of a rudder, to the other end of the vessel. I have been +particular in describing these their sailing canoes, because I believe +they sail the best of any boats in the world. I tried the swiftness of one +of them with our log: we had twelve knots on our reel, and she ran it all +out before the half-minute glass was half out. I believe she would run 24 +miles in an hour. It was very pleasant to see the little boat running so +swift by the other's side. I was told that one of these proes being sent +express from <i>Guahan</i> to <i>Manila</i>, [a distance above 480 leagues] +performed the voyage in four days.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Bread Fruit.</span> Dampier has described the Bread-fruit, which is +among the productions of the <i>Ladrone Islands</i>. He had never seen nor +heard of it any where but at these Islands. Provisions were obtained in +such plenty at <i>Guahan</i>, that in the two vessels they salted above fifty +hogs for sea use. The friar was released, with presents in return for his +good offices, and to compensate for his confinement.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">June.</span> June the 2d, they sailed from <i>Guahan</i> for the Island +<i>Mindanao</i>. The weather was uncertain: 'the Westerly winds were not as yet +in strength, and the Easterly winds commonly over-mastered them and +brought the ships on their way to <i>Mindanao</i>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Eastern side of Mindanao, and the Island St. John.</span> There is +much difference between the manuscript Journal of Dampier and the +published Narrative, concerning the geography of the East side of +<i>Mindanao</i>. The Manuscript says, 'We arrived off <i>Mindanao</i> the 21st day +of June; but being come in with the land, knew not what part of the Island +the city <!--254.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[p. 242]</a></span>was in, therefore we run down to the Northward, between +<i>Mindanao</i> and <i>St. John</i>, and came to an anchor in a bay which lieth in +six degrees North latitude.'</p> + +<p>In the printed Narrative it is said, 'The 21st day of June, we arrived at +the <i>Island St. John</i>, which is on the East side of <i>Mindanao</i>, and +distant from it 3 or 4 leagues. It is in latitude about 7° or 8° North. +This Island is in length about 38 leagues, stretching NNW and SSE, and is +in breadth about 24 leagues in the middle of the Island. The Northernmost +end is broader, and the Southern narrower. This Island is of good height, +and is full of small hills. The land at the SE end (where I was ashore) is +of a black fat mould; and the whole Island seems to partake of the same, +by the vast number of large trees that it produceth, for it looks all over +like one great grove. As we were passing by the SE end, we saw a canoe of +the natives under the shore, and one of our boats went after to have +spoken with her, but she ran to the shore, and the people leaving her, +fled to the woods. We saw no more people here, nor sign of inhabitant at +this end. When we came aboard our ship again, we steered away for the +Island <i>Mindanao</i>, which was fair in sight of us, it being about 10 +leagues distant from this part of <i>St. John's</i>. The 22d day, we came +within a league of the East side of <i>Mindanao</i>, and having the wind at SE, +we steered towards the North end, keeping on the East side till we came +into the latitude of 7° 40′ N, and there we anchored in a small bay, a +mile from the shore, in 10 fathoms, rocky foul ground; <i>Mindanao</i> being +guarded on the East side by <i>St. John's Island</i>, we might as reasonably +have expected to find the harbour and city on this side as any where else; +but coming into the latitude in which we judged the city might be, we +found no canoes or people that indicated a city or place of trade being +<!--255.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[p. 243]</a></span>near at hand, though we coasted within a league of the shore<a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a>.'</p> + +<p>This difference between the manuscript and printed Journal cannot well be +accounted for. The most remarkable particular of disagreement is in the +latitude of the bay wherein they anchored. At this bay they had +communication with the inhabitants, and learnt that the <i>Mindanao City</i> +was to the Westward. They could not prevail on any Mindanao man to pilot +them; the next day, however, they weighed anchor, and sailed back +Southward, till they came to a part they supposed to be the SE end of +<i>Mindanao</i>, and saw two small Islands about three leagues distant from it.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Sarangan and Candigar.</span> There is reason to believe that the two +small Islands here noticed were <i>Sarangan</i> and <i>Candigar</i>; according to +which, Dampier's <i>Island St. John</i> will be the land named <i>Cape San +Augustin</i> in the present charts. And hence arises a doubt whether the land +of <i>Cape San Augustin</i> is not an Island separate from <i>Mindanao</i>. +Dampier's navigation between them does not appear to have been far enough +to the Northward to ascertain whether he was in a Strait or a Gulf.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">July. Harbour or Sound on the South Coast of +Mindanao.</span> The wind blew constant and fresh from the Westward, and it took +them till the 4th of July to get into a harbour or sound a few leagues to +the NW from the two small Islands. This harbour or sound ran deep into the +land; at the entrance it is only two miles across, but within it is three +leagues wide, with seven fathoms depth, and there is good depth for +shipping four or five leagues up, but with some rocky foul ground. On the +East side of this Bay are small rivers and brooks of fresh water. The +country on the West side was uncultivated land, woody, and well stocked +with wild deer, which had been used to live <!--256.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[p. 244]</a></span>there unmolested, no people +inhabiting on that side of the bay. Near the shore was a border of savanna +or meadow land which abounded in long grass. Dampier says, 'the adjacent +woods are a covert for the deer in the heat of the day; but mornings and +evenings they feed in the open plains, as thick as in our parks in +England. I never saw any where such plenty of wild deer. We found no +hindrance to our killing as many as we pleased, and the crews of both the +ships were fed with venison all the time we remained here.'</p> + +<p>They quitted this commodious Port on the 12th; the weather had become +moderate, and they proceeded Westward for the River and City of +<i>Mindanao</i>. The Southern part of the Island appeared better peopled than +the Eastern part; they passed many fishing boats, 'and now and then a +small village.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">River of Mindanao.</span> On the 18th, they anchored before the +<i>River of Mindanao</i>, in 15 fathoms depth, the bottom hard sand, about two +miles distant from the shore, and three or four miles from a small Island +which was without them to the Southward. The river is small, and had not +more than ten or eleven feet depth over the bar at spring tides. Dampier +gives the latitude of the entrance 6° 22′ N.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">City of Mindanao.</span> The buccaneer ships on anchoring saluted +with seven guns, under English colours, and the salute was returned with +three guns from the shore. 'The City of <i>Mindanao</i> is about two miles from +the sea. It is a mile long, of no great breadth, winding with the banks of +the river, on the right hand going up, yet it has many houses on the +opposite side of the river.' The houses were built upon posts, and at this +time, as also during a great part of the succeeding month, the weather was +rainy, and 'the city seemed to stand as in a pond, so that there was no +passing from one house to another but in canoes.'</p> + +<p>The Island <i>Mindanao</i> was divided into a number of small <!--257.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[p. 245]</a></span>states. The port +at which the Cygnet and her tender now anchored, with a large district of +country adjacent, was under the dominion of a Sultan or Prince, who +appears to have been one of the most powerful in the Island. The Spaniards +had not established their dominion over all the <i>Philippine Islands</i>, and +the inhabitants of this place were more apprehensive of the Hollanders +than of any other Europeans; and on that account expressed some discontent +when they understood the Cygnet was not come for the purpose of making a +settlement. On the afternoon of their arrival, Swan sent an officer with a +present to the Sultan, consisting of scarlet cloth, gold lace, a scymitar, +and a pair of pistols; and likewise a present to another great man who was +called the General, of scarlet cloth and three yards of silver lace. The +next day, Captain Swan went on shore and was admitted to an audience in +form. The Sultan shewed him two letters from English merchants, expressing +their wishes to establish a factory at <i>Mindanao</i>, to do which he said the +English should be welcome. A few days after this audience, the Cygnet and +tender went into the river, the former being lightened first to get her +over the bar. Here, similar to the custom in the ports of <i>China</i>, an +officer belonging to the Sultan went on board and measured the ships.</p> + +<p>Voyagers or travellers who visit strange countries, generally find, or +think, it necessary to be wary and circumspect: mercantile voyagers are on +the watch for occasions of profit, and the inquisitiveness of men of +observation will be regarded with suspicion; all which, however +familiarity of manners may be assumed, keeps cordiality at a distance, and +causes them to continue strangers. The present visitors were differently +circumstanced and of different character: their pursuits at <i>Mindanao</i> +were neither to profit by trade nor to make observation. Long confined +with pockets full of money which they were impatient <!--258.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[p. 246]</a></span>to exchange for +enjoyment, with minds little troubled by considerations of economy, they +at once entered into familiar intercourse with the natives, who were +gained almost as much by the freedom of their manners as by their +presents, and with whom they immediately became intimates and inmates. The +same happened to Drake and his companions, when, returning enriched with +spoil from the <i>South Sea</i>, they stopped at the Island <i>Java</i>; and we read +no instance of Europeans arriving at such sociable and friendly +intercourse with any of the natives of <i>India</i>, as they became with the +people of <i>Java</i> during the short time they remained there, except in the +similarly circumstanced, instance of the crew of the Cygnet among the +Mindanayans.</p> + +<p>By the length of their stay at <i>Mindanao</i>, Dampier was enabled to enter +largely into descriptions of the natives, and of the country, and he has +related many entertaining particulars concerning them. Those only in which +the Buccaneers were interested will be noticed here.</p> + +<p>The Buccaneers were at first prodigal in their gifts. When any of them +went on shore, they were welcomed and invited to the houses, and were +courted to form particular attachments. Among many nations of the East a +custom has been found to prevail, according to which, a stranger is +expected to choose some individual native to be his friend or comrade; and +a connexion so formed, and confirmed with presents, is regarded, if not as +sacred, with such high respect, that it is held most dishonourable to +break it. The visitor is at all times afterwards welcome to his comrade's +house. The <i>tayoship</i>, with the ceremony of exchanging names, among the +South Sea islanders, is a bond of fellowship of the same nature. The +people of <i>Mindanao</i> enlarged and refined upon this custom, and allowed to +the stranger a <i>pagally</i>, or platonic friend of the other sex. The <!--259.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[p. 247]</a></span>wives +of the richest men may be chosen, and she is permitted to converse with +her pagally in public. 'In a short time,' says Dampier, 'several of our +men, such as had good clothes and store of gold, had a comrade or two, and +as many pagallies.' Some of the crew hired, and some purchased, houses, in +which they lived with their comrades and pagallies, and with a train of +servants, as long as their means held out. 'Many of our Squires,' +continues Dampier, 'were in no long time eased of the trouble of counting +their money. This created a division of the crew into two parties, that is +to say, of those who had money, and those who had none. As the latter +party increased, they became dissatisfied and unruly for want of action, +and continually urged the Captain to go to sea; which not being speedily +complied with, they sold the ship's stores and the merchants' goods to +procure arrack.' Those whose money held out, were not without their +troubles. The Mindanayans were a people deadly in their resentments. +Whilst the Cygnet lay at <i>Mindanao</i>, sixteen Buccaneers were buried, most +of whom, Dampier says, died by poison. 'The people of <i>Mindanao</i> are +expert at poisoning, and will do it upon small occasions. Nor did our men +want for giving offence either by rogueries, or by familiarities with +their women, even before their husbands' faces. They have poisons which +are slow and lingering; for some who were poisoned at <i>Mindanao</i>, did not +die till many months after.'</p> + +<p>Towards the end of the year they began to make preparation for sailing. It +was then discovered that the bottom of the tender was eaten through by +worms in such a manner that she would scarcely swim longer in port, and +could not possibly be made fit for sea. The Cygnet was protected by a +sheathing which covered her bottom, the worms not being <!--260.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[p. 248]</a></span>able to penetrate +farther than to the hair which was between the sheathing and the main +plank.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">January, 1687.</span> In the beginning of January (1687), the Cygnet +was removed to without the bar of the river. Whilst she lay there, and +when Captain Swan was on shore, his Journal was accidentally left out, and +thereby liable to the inspection of the crew, some of whom had the +curiosity to look in it, and found there the misconduct of several +individuals on board, noted down in a manner that seemed to threaten an +after-reckoning. This discovery increased the discontents against Swan to +such a degree, that when he heard of it he did not dare to trust himself +on board, and the discontented party took advantage of his absence and got +the ship under sail. Captain Swan sent on board Mr. Harthope, one of the +Supercargoes, to see if he could effect a reconciliation. The principal +mutineers shewed to Mr. Harthope the Captain's Journal, 'and repeated to +him all his ill actions, and they desired that he would take the command +of the ship; but he refused, and desired them to tarry a little longer +whilst he went on shore and communed with the Captain, and he did not +question but all differences would be reconciled. They said they would +wait till two o'clock; but at four o'clock, Mr. Harthope not having +returned, and no boat being seen coming from the shore, they made sail and +put to sea with the ship, leaving their Commander and 36 of the crew at +<i>Mindanao</i>.' Dampier was among those who went in the ship; but he +disclaims having had any share in the mutiny.<!--261.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[p. 249]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_XXI" id="CHAP_XXI"></a>CHAP. XXI.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>The </i>Cygnet<i> departs from </i>Mindanao<i>. At the </i>Ponghou Isles<i>. At the +</i>Five Islands<i>. </i>Dampier's<i> Account of the </i>Five Islands<i>. They are +named the </i>Bashee Islands<i>.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1687. January. South Coast of Mindanao.</span> It was on +the 14th of January the Cygnet sailed from before the <i>River Mindanao</i>. +The crew chose one John Reed, a Jamaica man, for their Captain. They +steered Westward along the coast of the South side of the Island, 'which +here tends WbS, the land of a good height, with high hills in the +country.' The 15th, they were abreast a town named <i>Chambongo</i> [in the +charts <i>Samboangan</i>] which Dampier reckoned to be 30 leagues distant from +the <i>River of Mindanao</i>. The Spaniards had formerly a fort there, and it +is said to be a good harbour. 'At the distance of two or three leagues +from the coast, are many small low Islands or Keys; and two or three +leagues to the Southward of these Keys is a long Island stretching NE and +SW about twelve leagues<a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Among the Philippine Islands.</span> When they were past the SW part +of <i>Mindanao</i>, they sailed Northward towards <i>Manila</i>, plundering the +country vessels that came in their way. What was seen here of the coasts +is noticed slightly and with uncertainty. They met two Mindanao vessels +laden with silks and calicoes; and near <i>Manila</i> they took some Spanish +vessels, one of which had a cargo of rice.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">March. Pulo Condore.</span> From the <i>Philippine Islands</i> they went to the +Island <i>Pulo</i> <!--262.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[p. 250]</a></span><i>Condore</i>, where two of the men who had been poisoned +at <i>Mindanao</i>, died. 'They were opened by the surgeon, in compliance with +their dying request, and their livers were found black, light, and dry, +like pieces of cork.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">In the China Seas.</span> From <i>Pulo Condore</i> they went cruising to +the <i>Gulf of Siam</i>, and to different parts of the <i>China Seas</i>. What their +success was, Dampier did not think proper to tell, for it would not admit +of being palliated under the term Buccaneering. Among their better +projects and contrivances, one, which could only have been undertaken by +men confident in their own seamanship and dexterity, was to search at the +<i>Prata Island and Shoal</i>, for treasure which had been wrecked there, the +recovery of which no one had ever before ventured to attempt. In pursuit +of this scheme, they unluckily fell too far to leeward, and were unable to +beat up against the wind.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">July. Ponghou Isles. The Five +Islands.</span> In July they went to the +<i>Ponghou Islands</i>, expecting to find there a port which would be a safe +retreat. On the 20th of that month, they anchored at one of the Islands, +where they found a large town, and a Tartar garrison. This was not a place +where they could rest with ease and security. Having the wind at SW, they again got under sail, and directed +their course to look for some Islands which in the charts were laid down +between <i>Formosa</i> and <i>Luconia</i>, without any name, but marked with the +figure 5 to denote their number. These Buccaneers, or rather pirates, had +no other information concerning the <i>Five Islands</i> than seeing them on the +charts, and hoped to find them without inhabitants.</p> + +<p>Dampier's account of the <i>Five Islands</i> would lose in many respects if +given in any other than his own words, which therefore are here +transcribed.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Dampier's Description of the Five Islands.</span> 'August the 6th, We +made the <i>Islands</i>; the wind was at South, and we fetched in with the +Westernmost, which is the <!--263.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[p. 251]</a></span>largest, on which we saw goats, but could not +get anchor-ground, therefore we stood over to others about three leagues +from this, and the next forenoon anchored in a small Bay on the East side +of the Easternmost Island in fifteen fathoms, a cable's length from the +shore; and before our sails were furled we had a hundred small boats +aboard, with three, four, and some with six men in them. <span class="sidenote">August +7th.</span> There were three large towns on the shore within the distance of a +league. Most of our people being aloft (for we had been forced to turn in +close with all sail abroad, and when we anchored, furled all at once) and +our deck being soon full of Indian natives, we were at first alarmed, and +began to get our small-arms ready; but they were very quiet, only they +picked up such old iron as they found upon our deck. At last, one of our +men perceived one of them taking an iron pin out of a gun-carriage, and +laid hold of him, upon which he bawled out, and the rest leaped into their +boats or overboard, and they all made away for the shore. But when we +perceived their fright, we made much of him we had in hold, and gave him a +small piece of iron, with which we let him go, and he immediately leaped +overboard and swam to his consorts, who hovered near the ship to see the +issue. Some of the boats came presently aboard again, and they were always +afterward very honest and civil. We presently after this, sent our canoe +on shore, and they made the crew welcome with a drink they call Bashee, +and they sold us some hogs. We bought a fat goat for an old iron hoop, a +hog of 70 or 80 <i>lbs.</i> weight for two or three pounds of iron, and their +bashee drink and roots for old nails or bullets. Their hogs were very +sweet, but many were meazled. We filled fresh water here at a curious +brook close by the ship.</p> + +<p>'We lay here till the 12th, when we weighed to seek for a <!--264.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[p. 252]</a></span>better +anchoring place. We plied to windward, and passed between the South end of +this Island and the North end of another Island South of this. These +Islands were both full of inhabitants, but there was no good riding. We +stopped a tide under the Southern Island. The tide runs there very strong, +the flood to the North, and it rises and falls eight feet. It was the 15th +day of the month before we found a place we might anchor at and careen, +which was at another Island not so big as either of the former.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"><a name="Bashee_Islands" id="Bashee_Islands"></a> +<img src="images/i252t.png" width="400" height="262" alt="Map of the Bashee Islands." title="" /> +<span class="caption">Map of the <span class="smcap">Bashee</span> Islands.</span> +<a href="images/i252.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>'We anchored near the North East part of this smaller Island, against a +small sandy bay, in seven fathoms clean hard sand, a quarter of a mile +from the shore. We presently set up a tent on shore, and every day some of +us went to the towns of the natives, and were kindly entertained by them. +Their boats also came on board to traffic with us every day; so that +besides provision for present use, we bought and salted 70 or 80 good fat +hogs, and laid up a good stock of potatoes and yams.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Names given to the Islands. Orange Island.</span> 'These Islands lie in 20° 20′ +N.<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> As +they are laid down in <!--265.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[p. 253]</a></span>the +charts marked only with a figure of 5, we gave them what names we pleased. +The Dutchmen who were among us named the Westernmost, which is the +largest, the <i>Prince of Orange's Island</i>. It is seven or eight leagues +long, about two leagues wide, and lies almost North and South. <i>Orange +Island</i> was not inhabited. It is high land, flat and even at the top, with +steep cliffs against the sea; for which reason we could not go ashore +there, as we did on all the rest.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Grafton Island.</span> 'The Island where we first anchored, we called +the <i>Duke of Grafton's Isle</i>, having married my wife out of his Dutchess's +family, and leaving her at Arlington House at my going abroad. <i>Grafton +Isle</i> is about four leagues long, stretching North and South, and one and +a half wide.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Monmouth Island.</span> 'The other great Island our seamen called the +<i>Duke of Monmouth's Island</i>. It is about three leagues long, and a league +wide.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Goat Island. Bashee Island. The Drink called Bashee.</span> 'The +two smaller Islands, which +lie between <i>Monmouth</i>, and the South end of <i>Orange Island</i>; the +Westernmost, which is the smallest, we called <i>Goat Island</i>, from the +number of goats we saw there. The +Easternmost, at which we careened, our men unanimously called <i>Bashee +Island</i>, because of the plentiful quantity of that liquor which we drank +there every day. This drink called Bashee, the natives make with the juice +of the sugar-cane, to which they put some small black berries. It is well +boiled, and then put into great jars, in which it stands three or four +days to ferment. Then it settles clear, and is presently fit to drink. +This is an excellent liquor, strong, and I believe wholesome, and much +like our English beer both in colour and taste. Our men drank briskly of +it during several weeks, and were frequently drunk with it, and never sick +in consequence. <span class="sidenote">The whole group named the Bashee Islands.</span> The +natives sold it to us very cheap, and from the plentiful use of it, our +men called all these Islands the <i>Bashee Islands</i>.<!--266.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[p. 254]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Rocks or small Islands North of the Five Islands.</span> 'To the +Northward of the Five Islands are two high rocks.' [These rocks are not +inserted in Dampier's manuscript Chart, and only one of them in the +published Chart; whence is to be inferred, that the other was beyond the +limit of the Chart.]</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Natives described.</span> 'These Islanders are short, squat, people, +generally round visaged with thick eyebrows; their eyes of a hazel colour, +small, yet bigger than those of the Chinese; they have short low noses, +their teeth white; their hair black, thick, and lank, which they wear +short: their skins are of a dark copper colour. They wear neither hat, +cap, nor turban to keep off the sun. The men had a cloth about their +waist, and the women wore short cotton petticoats which reached below the +knee. These people had iron; but whence it came we knew not. The boats +they build are much after the fashion of our Deal yawls, but smaller, and +every man has a boat, which he builds himself. They have also large boats, +which will carry 40 or 50 men each.</p> + +<p>'They are neat and cleanly in their persons, and are withal the quietest +and civilest people I ever met with. I could never perceive them to be +angry one with another. I have admired to see 20 or 30 boats aboard our +ship at a time, all quiet and endeavouring to help each other on occasion; +and if cross accidents happened, they caused no noise nor appearance of +distaste. When any of us came to their houses, they would entertain us +with such things as their houses or plantations would afford; and if they +had no bashee at home, would buy of their neighbours, and sit down and +drink freely with us; yet neither then nor sober could I ever perceive +them to be out of humour.</p> + +<p>'I never observed them to worship any thing; they had no idols; neither +did I perceive that one man was of greater power than another: they seemed +to be all equal, only every <!--267.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[p. 255]</a></span>man ruling in his own house, and children +respecting and honouring their parents. Yet it is probable they have some +law or custom by which they are governed; for whilst we lay here, we saw a +young man buried alive in the earth, and it was for theft, as far as we +could understand from them. There was a great deep hole dug, and abundance +of people came to the place to take their last farewell of him. One woman +particularly made great lamentations, and took off the condemned person's +ear-rings. We supposed her to be his mother. After he had taken leave of +her, and some others, he was put into the pit, and covered over with +earth. He did not struggle, but yielded very quietly to his punishment, +and they crammed the earth close upon him, and stifled him.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Situations of their Towns.</span> <i>Monmouth</i> and <i>Grafton Isles</i> are +very hilly with steep precipices; and whether from fear of pirates, of +foreign enemies, or factions among their own clans, their towns and +villages are built on the most steep and inaccessible of these precipices, +and on the sides of rocky hills; so that in some of their towns, three or +four rows of houses stand one above another, in places so steep that they +go up to the first row with a ladder, and in the same manner ascend to +every street upwards. <i>Grafton</i> and <i>Monmouth Islands</i> are very thick set +with these hills and towns. <span class="sidenote">Bashee Islands.</span> The two small +Islands are flat and even, except that on <i>Bashee Island</i> there is one +steep craggy hill. The reason why <i>Orange Island</i> has no inhabitants, +though the largest and as fertile as any of these Islands, I take to be, +because it is level and exposed to attack; and for the same reason, <i>Goat +Island</i>, being low and even, hath no inhabitants. We saw no houses built +on any open plain ground. Their houses are but small and low, the roofs +about eight feet high.</p> + +<p>The vallies are well watered with brooks of fresh water. The <!--268.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[p. 256]</a></span>fruits of +these Islands are plantains, bananas, pine-apples, pumpkins, yams and +other roots, and sugar-canes, which last they use mostly for their bashee +drink. Here are plenty of goats, and hogs; and but a few fowls. They had +no grain of any kind.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">September. 26th.</span> 'On the 26th of September, our ship was +driven to sea, by a strong gale at NbW, which made her drag her anchors. +Six of the crew were on shore, who could not get on board. The weather +continued stormy till the 29th. <span class="sidenote">October.</span> The 1st of October, +we recovered the anchorage from which we had been driven, and immediately +the natives brought on board our six seamen, who related that after the +ship was out of sight, the natives were more kind to them than they had +been before, and tried to persuade them to cut their hair short, as was +the custom among themselves, offering to each of them if they would, a +young woman to wife, a piece of land, and utensils fit for a planter. +These offers were declined, but the natives were not the less kind; on +which account we made them a present of three whole bars of iron.'</p> + +<p>Two days after this reciprocation of kindness, the Buccaneers bid farewell +to these friendly Islanders.<!--269.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[p. 257]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_XXII" id="CHAP_XXII"></a>CHAP. XXII.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>The </i>Cygnet<i>. At the </i>Philippines<i>, </i>Celebes<i>, and </i>Timor<i>. On the +Coast of </i>New Holland<i>. End of the </i>Cygnet<i>.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1687. October.</span> From the <i>Bashee Islands</i>, the Cygnet steered +at first SSW, with the wind at West, and on that course passed 'close to +the Eastward of certain small Islands that lie just by the North end of +the Island <i>Luconia</i>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Island near the SE end of Mindanao. Candigar.</span> They went on Southward by +the East of the <i>Philippine Islands</i>. On the 14th, they were near a small +low woody Island, which Dampier reckoned to lie East 20 leagues from the +SE end of <i>Mindanao</i>. The 16th, they anchored +between the small Islands <i>Candigar</i> and <i>Sarangan</i>; but afterwards found +at the NW end of the Eastern of the two Islands, a good and convenient +small cove, into which they went, and careened the ship. They heard here +that Captain Swan and those of the crew left with him, were still at the +<i>City of Mindanao</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">December. 27th. Near the SW end of Timor.</span> The +Cygnet and her restless crew continued wandering about the Eastern Seas, +among the <i>Philippine Islands</i>, to <i>Celebes</i>, and to <i>Timor</i>. December the +27th, steering a Southerly course, they passed by the West side of +<i>Rotte</i>, and by another small Island, near the SW end of <i>Timor</i>. Dampier +says, 'Being now clear of all the Islands, and having the wind at West and +WbN, we steered away SSW,<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> intending to touch at <i>New Holland</i>, to see +what that country would afford us.'</p> + +<p>The wind blew fresh, and kept them under low sail; sometimes with only +their courses set, and sometimes with reefed topsails. <span class="sidenote">31st.</span> +The 31st at noon, their latitude was 13° 20′ S. About ten o'clock at +night, they tacked and stood to the Northward for fear of a shoal, which +their charts laid down <!--270.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[p. 258]</a></span>in +the track they were sailing, and in latitude +13° 50′ S. <span class="sidenote">1688. January. Low Island and Shoal, SbW from the +West end of Timor.</span> At three in the morning, they tacked +again and stood SbW and SSW. As soon as it was light, they perceived a low Island +and shoal right ahead. This shoal, by their reckoning, is in latitude 13° +50′, and lies SbW from the West end of <i>Timor</i>.<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a> 'It is a small spit of +sand appearing just above the water's edge, with several rocks about it +eight or ten feet high above water. It lies in a triangular form, each +side in extent about a league and a half. We could not weather it, so bore +away round the East end, and stood again to the Southward, passing close +by it and sounding, but found no ground. <span class="sidenote">NW Coast of New +Holland.</span> This shoal is laid down in our drafts not above 16 or 20 leagues +from <i>New Holland</i>; but we ran afterwards 60 leagues making a course due +South, before we fell in with the coast of <i>New Holland</i>, which we did on +January the 4th, in latitude 16° 50′ S.' Dampier remarks here, that unless +they were set Westward by a current, the coast of <i>New Holland</i> must have +been laid down too far Westward in the charts; but he thought it not +probable that they were deceived by currents, because the tides on that +part of the coast were found very regular; the flood setting towards the +NE.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">In a Bay on the NW Coast of New Holland.</span> The coast here was +low and level, with sand-banks. The Cygnet sailed along the shore NEbE 12 +leagues, when she came to a point of land, with an Island so near it that +she could not pass between. A league before coming to this point, that is +to say, Westward of the point, was a shoal which ran out from the +main-land a league. Beyond the point, the coast ran East, and East +Southerly, making a deep bay with <!--271.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[p. 259]</a></span>many Islands in it. On the 5th, they +anchored in this bay, about two miles from the shore, in 29 fathoms. The +6th, they ran nearer in and anchored about four miles Eastward of the +point before mentioned, and a mile distant from the nearest shore, in 18 +fathoms depth, the bottom clean sand.</p> + +<p>People were seen on the land, and a boat was sent to endeavour to make +acquaintance with them; but the natives did not wait. Their habitations +were sought for, but none were found. The soil here was dry and sandy, yet +fresh water was found by digging for it. They warped the ship into a small +sandy cove, at a spring tide, as far as she would float, and at low water +she was high aground, the sand being dry without her half a mile; for the +sea rose and fell here about five fathoms perpendicularly. During the neap +tides, the ship lay wholly aground, the sea not approaching nearer than +within a hundred yards of her. Turtle and manatee were struck here, as +much every day as served the whole crew.</p> + +<p>Boats went from the ship to different parts of the bay in search of +provisions. <span class="sidenote">Natives.</span> For a considerable time they met with no +inhabitants; but at length, a party going to one of the Islands, saw there +about forty natives, men, women, and children. 'The Island was too small +for them to conceal themselves. The men at first made threatening motions +with lances and wooden swords, but a musket was fired to scare them, and +they stood still. The women snatched up their infants and ran away +howling, their other children running after squeaking and bawling. Some +invalids who could not get away lay by the fire making a doleful noise; +but after a short time they grew sensible that no mischief was intended +them, and they became quiet.' Those who had fled, soon returned, and some +presents made, succeeded in rendering them familiar. Dampier relates, 'we +filled some of our barrels with water at wells, which had been dug by the +natives, but it <!--272.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[p. 260]</a></span>being troublesome to get to our boats, we thought to have +made these men help us, to which end we put on them some old ragged +clothes, thinking this finery would make them willing to be employed. We +then brought our new servants to the wells, and put a barrel on the +shoulders of each; but all the signs we could make were to no purpose, for +they stood like statues, staring at one another and grinning like so many +monkies. These poor creatures seem not accustomed to carry burthens, and I +believe one of our ship-boys of ten years old would carry as much as one +of their men. So we were forced to carry our water ourselves, and they +very fairly put off the clothes again and laid them down. They had no +great liking to them at first, neither did they seem to admire any thing +that we had.'</p> + +<p>'The inhabitants of this country are the most miserable people in the +world. The Hottentots compared with them are gentlemen. They have no +houses, animals, or poultry. Their persons are tall, straight-bodied, +thin, with long limbs: they have great heads, round foreheads, and great +brows. Their eyelids are always half closed to keep the flies out of their +eyes, for they are so troublesome here that no fanning will keep them from +one's face, so that from their infancy they never open their eyes as other +people do, and therefore they cannot see far, unless they hold up their +heads as if they were looking at something over them. They have great +bottle noses, full lips, wide mouths: the two fore-teeth of their upper +jaw are wanting in all of them: neither have they any beards. Their hair +is black, short, and curled, and their skins coal black like that of the +negroes in <i>Guinea</i>. Their only food is fish, and they constantly search +for them at low water, and they make little weirs or dams with stones +across little coves of the sea. At one time, our boat being among the +Islands seeking for game, espied a drove of these people <!--273.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[p. 261]</a></span>swimming from +one Island to another; for they have neither boats, canoes, nor bark-logs. +We always gave them victuals when we met any of them. But after the first +time of our being among them, they did not stir for our coming.'</p> + +<p>It deserves to be remarked to the credit of human nature, that these poor +people, in description the most wretched of mankind in all respects, that +we read of, stood their ground for the defence of their women and +children, against the shock and first surprise at hearing the report of +fire-arms.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">March.</span> The Cygnet remained at this part of <i>New Holland</i> till +the 12th of March, and then sailed Westward, for the West coast of +<i>Sumatra</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">28th. An Island in Lat. 10° 20′ S.</span> On the 28th, +they fell in with a small woody uninhabited Island, in latitude 10° 20′ S, +and, by Dampier's reckoning, 12° 6′ of longitude from the part of <i>New +Holland</i> at which they had been. There was too great depth of water every +where round the Island for anchorage. A landing-place was found near the +SW point, and on the Island a small brook of fresh water; but the surf +would not admit of any to be taken off to the ship. Large craw-fish, +boobies, and men-of-war birds, were caught, as many as served for a meal +for the whole crew.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">April. End of the Cygnet.</span> April the 7th, they made the coast of +<i>Sumatra</i>. Shortly after, at the <i>Nicobar Islands</i>, Dampier and some +others quitted the Cygnet. Read, the Captain, and those who yet remained +with him, continued their piratical cruising in the Indian Seas, till, +after a variety of adventures, and changes of commanders, they put into +<i>Saint Augustine's</i> Bay in the Island of <i>Madagascar</i>, by which time the +ship was in so crazy a condition, that the crew abandoned her, and she +sunk at her anchors. Some of the men embarked on board European ships, and +some engaged themselves in the service of the petty princes of that +Island.</p> + +<p>Dampier returned to <i>England</i> in 1691.<!--274.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[p. 262]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_XXIII" id="CHAP_XXIII"></a>CHAP. XXIII.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>French Buccaneers under </i>François Grogniet<i> and </i>Le Picard<i>, to the +Death of </i>Grogniet<i>.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">The French Buccaneers, from July 1685.</span> Having accompanied the +Cygnet to her end, the History must again be taken back to the breaking up +of the general confederacy of Buccaneers which took place at the Island +<i>Quibo</i>, to give a connected narrative of the proceedings of the French +adventurers from that period to their quitting the <i>South Sea</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Under Grogniet.</span> Three hundred and forty-one French Buccaneers +(or to give them their due, privateers, war then existing between <i>France</i> +and <i>Spain</i>) separated from Edward Davis in July 1685, choosing for their +leader Captain François Grogniet.</p> + +<p>They had a small ship, two small barks, and some large canoes, which were +insufficient to prevent their being incommoded for want of room, and the +ship was so ill provided with sails as to be disqualified for cruising at +sea. They were likewise scantily furnished with provisions, and necessity +for a long time confined their enterprises to the places on the coast of +<i>New Spain</i> in the neighbourhood of <i>Quibo</i>. The towns of <i>Pueblo Nuevo</i>, +<i>Ria Lexa</i>, <i>Nicoya</i>, and others, were plundered by them, some more than +once, by which they obtained provisions, and little of other plunder, +except prisoners, from whom they extorted ransom either in provisions or +money.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">November.</span> In November, they attacked the town of <i>Ria Lexa</i>. +Whilst in the port, a Spanish Officer delivered to them a letter from the +Vicar-General of the province of <i>Costa Rica</i>, written to inform them that +a truce for twenty years had been concluded <!--275.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[p. 263]</a></span>between <i>France</i> and <i>Spain</i>. +The Vicar-General therefore required of them to forbear committing farther +hostility, and offered to give them safe conduct over land to the <i>North +Sea</i>, and a passage to <i>Europe</i> in the galeons of his Catholic Majesty to +as many as should desire it. This offer not according with the +inclinations of the adventurers, they declined accepting it, and, without +entering into enquiry, professed to disbelieve the intelligence.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Point de Burica.</span> November the 14th, they were near the <i>Point +Burica</i>. Lussan says, 'we admired the pleasant appearance of the land, and +among other things, a walk or avenue, formed by five rows of cocoa-nut +trees, which extended in continuation along the coast 15 leagues, with as +much regularity as if they had been planted by line.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1686. January. Chiriquita.</span> In the beginning of +January 1686, two hundred and thirty of these Buccaneers went in canoes +from <i>Quibo</i> against <i>Chiriquita</i>, a small Spanish town on the Continent, +between <i>Point Burica</i> and the Island <i>Quibo</i>. <i>Chiriquita</i> is situated up +a navigable river, and at some distance from the sea-coast. 'Before this +river are eight or ten Islands, and shoals on which the sea breaks at low +water; but there are channels between them through which ships may +pass<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a>.'</p> + +<p>The Buccaneers arrived in the night at the entrance of the river, +unperceived by the Spaniards; but being without guides, and in the dark, +they mistook and landed on the wrong side of the river. They were two days +occupied in discovering the right way, but were so well concealed by the +woods, that at daylight on the morning of the third day they came upon the +town and surprised the whole of the inhabitants, who, says Lussan, had +been occupied the last two days in disputing which of them should keep +watch, and go the rounds.<!--276.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[p. 264]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lussan relates here, that himself and five others were decoyed to pursue a +few Spaniards to a distance from the town, where they were suddenly +attacked by one hundred and twenty men. He and his companions however, he +says, played their parts an hour and a half '<i>en vrai Flibustiers</i>,' and +laid thirty of the enemy on the ground, by which time they were relieved +by the arrival of some of their friends. They set fire to the town, and +got ransom for their prisoners: in what the ransom consisted, Lussan has +not said.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">At Quibo.</span> Their continuance in one station, at length +prevailed on the Spaniards to collect and send a force against them. They +had taken some pains to instil into the Spaniards a belief that they +intended to erect fortifications and establish themselves at <i>Quibo</i>. +Their view in this it is not easy to conjecture, unless it was to +discourage their prisoners from pleading poverty; for they obliged those +from whom they could not get money, to labour, and to procure bricks and +materials for building to be sent for their ransom. On the 27th of +January, a small fleet of Spanish vessels approached the Island <i>Quibo</i>. +The buccaneer ship was without cannon, and lay near the entrance of a +river which had only depth sufficient for their small vessels. The +Buccaneers therefore took out of the ship all that could be of use, and +ran her aground; and with their small barks and canoes took a station in +the river. <span class="sidenote">February.</span> The Spaniards set fire to the abandoned +ship, and remained by her to collect the iron-work; but they shewed no +disposition to attack the French in the river; and on the 1st of February, +they departed from the Island.</p> + +<p>The Buccaneers having lost their ship, set hard to work to build +themselves small vessels. In this month of February, fourteen of their +number died by sickness and accidents.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">March.</span> They had projected an attack upon <i>Granada</i> but want of +<!--277.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[p. 265]</a></span>present subsistence obliged them to seek supply nearer, and a detachment +was sent with that view to the river of <i>Pueblo Nuevo</i>. Some vessels of +the Spanish flotilla which had lately been at <i>Quibo</i>, were lying at +anchor in the river, which the Flibustiers mistook for a party of the +English Buccaneers. <span class="sidenote">Unsuccessful attempt at Pueblo Nuevo.</span> In +this belief they went within pistol-shot, and hailed, and were then +undeceived by receiving for answer a volley of musketry. They fired on the +Spaniards in return, but were obliged to retreat, and in this affair they +lost four men killed outright, and between 30 and 40 were wounded.</p> + +<p>Preparatory to their intended expedition against <i>Granada</i>, they agreed +upon some regulations for preserving discipline and order, the principal +articles of which were, that cowardice, theft, drunkenness, or +disobedience, should be punished with forfeiture of all share of booty +taken.</p> + +<p>On the evening of the 22d, they were near the entrance of the <i>Gulf of +Nicoya</i>, in a little fleet, consisting of two small barks, a row-galley, +and nine large canoes. A tornado came on in the night which dispersed them +a good deal. At daylight they were surprised at counting thirteen sail in +company, and before they discovered which was the strange vessel, five +more sail came in sight. <span class="sidenote">Grogniet is joined by Townley.</span> They +soon joined each other, and the strangers proved to be a party of the +Buccaneers of whom Townley was the head.</p> + +<p>Townley had parted company from Swan not quite two months before. His +company consisted of 115 men, embarked in a ship and five large canoes. +Townley had advanced with his canoes along the coast before his ship to +seek provisions, he and his men being no better off in that respect than +Grogniet and his followers. On their meeting as above related, the French +did not forget Townley's former overbearing conduct towards them: they, +however, limited their vengeance to a short <!--278.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[p. 266]</a></span>triumph. Lussan says, 'we now +finding ourselves the strongest, called to mind the ill offices he had +done us, and to shew him our resentment, we made him and his men in the +canoes with him our prisoners. We then boarded his ship, of which we made +ourselves masters, and pretended that we would keep her. We let them +remain some time under this apprehension, after which we made them see +that we were more honest and civilized people than they were, and that we +would not profit of our advantage over them to revenge ourselves; for +after keeping possession about four or five hours, we returned to them +their ship and all that had been taken from them.' The English shewed +their sense of this moderation by offering to join in the attack on +<i>Granada</i>, which offer was immediately accepted.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">April. Expedition against the City of Granada.</span> The +city of <i>Granada</i> is situated in a valley bordering on the <i>Lake of +Nicaragua</i>, and is about 16 leagues distant from <i>Leon</i>. The Buccaneers +were provided with guides, and to avoid giving the Spaniards suspicion of +their design, Townley's ship and the two barks were left at anchor near +<i>Cape Blanco</i>, whilst the force destined to be employed against <i>Granada</i> +proceeded in the canoes to the place at which it was proposed to land, +directions being left with the ship and barks to follow in due time.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">7th.</span> The 7th of April, 345 Buccaneers landed from the canoes, +about twenty leagues NW-ward of <i>Cape Blanco</i>, and began their march, +conducted by the guides, who led them through woods and unfrequented ways. +They travelled night and day till the 9th, in hopes to reach the city +before they were discovered by the inhabitants, or their having landed +should be known by the Spaniards.</p> + +<p>The province of <i>Nicaragua</i>, in which <i>Granada</i> stands, is reckoned one of +the most fertile in <i>New Spain</i>. The distance from where the Buccaneers +landed, to the city, may be estimated <!--279.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[p. 267]</a></span>about 60 miles. Yet they expected +to come upon it by surprise; and in fact they did travel the greater part +of the way without being seen by any inhabitant. Such a mark of the state +of the population, corresponds with all the accounts given of the wretched +tyranny exercised by the Spaniards over the nations they have conquered.</p> + +<p>The Buccaneers however were discovered in their second day's march, by +people who were fishing in a river, some of whom immediately posted off +with the intelligence. The Spaniards had some time before been advertised +by a deserter that the Buccaneers designed to attack <i>Granada</i>; but they +were known to entertain designs upon so many places, and to be so +fluctuating in their plans, that the Spaniards could only judge from +certain intelligence where most to guard against their attempts.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">9th.</span> On the night of the 9th, fatigue and hunger obliged the +Buccaneers to halt at a sugar plantation four leagues distant from the +city. One man, unable to keep up with the rest, had been taken prisoner. +<span class="sidenote">10th.</span> The morning of the 10th, they marched on, and from an +eminence over which they passed, had a view of the <i>Lake of Nicaragua</i>, on +which were seen two vessels sailing from the city. These vessels the +Buccaneers afterwards learnt, were freighted with the richest moveables +that at short notice the inhabitants had been able to embark, to be +conveyed for security to an Island in the Lake which was two leagues +distant from the city.</p> + +<p><i>Granada</i> was large and spacious, with magnificent churches and well-built +houses. The ground is destitute of water, and the town is supplied from +the Lake; nevertheless there were many large sugar plantations in the +neighbourhood, some of which were like small towns, and had handsome +churches. <i>Granada</i> was not regularly fortified, but had a place of arms +surrounded with a wall, in the nature of a citadel, and furnished <!--280.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[p. 268]</a></span>with +cannon. The great church was within this inclosed part of the town. +<span class="sidenote">The City of Nueva Granada taken;</span> The Buccaneers arrived about +two o'clock in the afternoon, and immediately assaulted the place of arms, +which they carried with the loss of four men killed, and eight wounded, +most of them mortally. The first act of the victors, according to Lussan, +was to sing <i>Te Deum</i> in the great church; and the next, to plunder. +Provisions, military stores, and a quantity of merchandise, were found in +the town, the latter of which was of little or no value to the captors. +<span class="sidenote">11th.</span> The next day they sent to enquire if the Spaniards would +ransom the town, and the merchandise. It had been rumoured that the +Buccaneers would be unwilling to destroy <i>Granada</i>, because they proposed +at some future period to make it their baiting place, in returning to the +<i>North Sea</i>, and the Spaniards scarcely condescended to make answer to the +demand for ransom. <span class="sidenote">And Burnt.</span> The Buccaneers in revenge set +fire to the houses. 'If we could have found boats,' says Lussan, 'to have +gone on the lake, and could have taken the two vessels laden with the +riches of <i>Granada</i>, we should have thought this a favourable opportunity +for returning to the <i>West Indies</i>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">15th.</span> On the 15th, they left <i>Granada</i>, to return to the +coast, which journey they performed in the most leisurely manner. They +took with them a large cannon, with oxen to draw it, and some smaller guns +which they laid upon mules. The weather was hot and dry, and the road so +clouded with dust, as almost to stifle both men and beasts. Sufficient +provision of water had not been made for the journey, and the oxen all +died. The cannon was of course left on the road. Towards the latter part +of the journey, water and refreshments were procured at some villages and +houses, the inhabitants of which furnished supplies as a condition that +their dwellings should be spared.</p> + +<p>On the 26th, they arrived at the sea and embarked in their vessels, taking +on board with them a Spanish priest whom the <!--281.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[p. 269]</a></span>Spaniards would not redeem +by delivering up their buccaneer prisoner. Most of the men wounded in the +Granada expedition died of cramps.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">28th, At Ria Lexa. May.</span> The 28th, they came upon +<i>Ria Lexa</i> unexpectedly, and made one hundred of the inhabitants +prisoners. By such means, little could be gained more than present +subsistence, and that was rendered very precarious by the Spaniards +removing their cattle from the coast. It was therefore determined to put +an end to their unprofitable continuance in one place; but they could not +agree where next to go. All the English, and one half of the French, were +for sailing to the <i>Bay of Panama</i>. The other half of the French, 148 in +number, with Grogniet at their head, declared for trying their fortunes +North-westward. Division was made of the vessels and provisions. The whole +money which the French had acquired by their depredations amounted to +little more than 7000 dollars, and this sum they generously distributed +among those of their countrymen who had been lamed or disabled.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Grogniet and Townley part Company. Buccaneers under +Townley.</span> May the 19th, they parted company. Those bound for the <i>Bay of +Panama</i>, of whom Townley appears to have been regarded the head, had a +ship, a bark, and some large canoes. Townley proposed an attack on the +town of <i>Lavelia</i> or <i>La Villia</i>, at which place the treasure from the +Lima ships had been landed in the preceding year, and this proposal was +approved.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">June.</span> Tornadoes and heavy rains kept them among the <i>Keys of +Quibo</i> till the middle of June. On the 20th of that month, they arrived +off the <i>Punta Mala</i>, and during the day, they lay at a distance from the +land with sails furled. At night the principal part of their force made +for the land in the canoes; but they had been deceived in the distance. +Finding that they could not reach the river which leads to <i>Lavelia</i> +before day, they took down the sails and masts, and went <!--282.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[p. 270]</a></span>to three leagues +distance from the land, where they lay all the day of the 21st. Lussan, +who was of this party of Buccaneers, says that they were obliged to +practise the same manœuvre on the day following. In the middle of the +night of the 22d, 160 Buccaneers landed from the canoes at the entrance of +the river. <span class="sidenote">23d. Lavelia taken.</span> They were some +hours in marching to <i>Lavelia</i>, yet the town was surprised, and above 300 +of the inhabitants made prisoners. This was in admirable conformity with +the rest of the management of the Spaniards. The fleet from <i>Lima</i>, laden +with treasure intended for <i>Panama</i>, had, more than a year before, landed +the treasure and rich merchandise at <i>Lavelia</i>, as a temporary measure of +security against the Buccaneers, suited to the occasion. The Government at +<i>Panama</i>, and the other proprietors, would not be at the trouble of +getting it removed to <i>Panama</i>, except in such portions as might be +required by some present convenience; and allowed a great part to remain +in <i>Lavelia</i>, a place of no defence, although during the whole time +Buccaneers had been on the coast of <i>Veragua</i>, or <i>Nicaragua</i>, to whom it +now became an easy prey, through indolence and a total want of vigilance, +as well in the proprietors as in those whom they employed to guard it.</p> + +<p>Three Spanish barks were riding in the river, one of which the crews sunk, +and so dismantled the others that no use could be made of them; but the +Buccaneers found two boats in serviceable condition at a landing-place a +quarter of a league below the town. The riches they now saw in their +possession equalled their most sanguine expectations, and if secured, they +thought would compensate for all former disappointments. The merchandise +in <i>Lavelia</i> was estimated in value at a million and a half of piastres. +The gold and silver found there amounted only to 15,000 piastres.</p> + +<p>The first day of being masters of <i>Lavelia</i>, was occupied by <!--283.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[p. 271]</a></span>the +Buccaneers in making assortments of the most valuable articles of the +merchandise. The next morning, they loaded 80 horses with bales, and a +guard of 80 men went with them to the landing-place where the two boats +above mentioned were lying. In the way, one man of this escort was taken +by the Spaniards. The two prize boats were by no means large enough to +carry all the goods which the Buccaneers proposed to take from <i>Lavelia</i>; +and on that account directions had been dispatched to the people in the +canoes at the entrance of the river to advance up towards the town. These +directions they attempted to execute; but the land bordering the river was +woody, which exposed the canoes to the fire of a concealed enemy, and +after losing one man, they desisted from advancing. For the same cause, it +was thought proper not to send off the two loaded boats without a strong +guard, and they did not move during this day. The Buccaneers sent a letter +to the Spanish Alcalde, to demand if he would ransom the town, the +merchandise, and the prisoners; but the Alcalde refused to treat with +them. <span class="sidenote">The Town set on fire.</span> In the afternoon therefore, they +set fire to the town, and marched to the landing-place where the two boats +lay, and there rested for the night.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">River of Lavelia.</span> The river of <i>Lavelia</i> is broad, but +shallow. Vessels of forty tons can go a league and a half within the +entrance. The landing-place is yet a league and a half farther up, and the +town is a quarter of a mile from the landing-place<a name="FNanchor_86_86" id="FNanchor_86_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">25th.</span> On the morning of the 25th, the two boats, laden as deep +as was safe, began to fall down the river, having on board nine men to +conduct them. The main body of the Buccaneers at the same time marched +along the bank on one side of the river for their protection. A body of +Spaniards skreened by the woods, and unseen by the Buccaneers, kept pace +with <!--284.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[p. 272]</a></span>them on the other side of the river, at a small distance within the +bank. The Buccaneers had marched about a league, and the boats had +descended as far, when they came to a point of land on which the trees and +underwood grew so thick as not to be penetrated without some labour and +expence of time, to which they did not choose to submit, but preferred +making a circuit which took them about a quarter of a mile from the river. +The Spaniards on the opposite side were on the watch, and not slow in +taking advantage of their absence. They came to the bank, whence they +fired upon the men in the laden boats, four of whom they killed, and +wounded one; the other four abandoned the boats and escaped into the +thicket. The Spaniards took possession of the boats, and finding there the +wounded Buccaneer, they cut off his head and fixed it on a stake which +they set up by the side of the river at a place by which the rest of the +Buccaneers would necessarily have to pass.</p> + +<p>The main body of the Buccaneers regained the side of the river in +ignorance of what had happened; and not seeing the boats, were for a time +in doubt whether they were gone forward, or were still behind. The first +notice they received of their loss was from the men who had escaped from +the boats, who made their way through the thicket and joined them.</p> + +<p>Thus did this crew of Buccaneers, within a short space of time, win by +circumspection and adroitness, and lose by negligence, the richest booty +they had ever made. If quitting the bank of the river had been a matter of +necessity, and unavoidable, there was nothing but idleness to prevent +their conveying their plunder the remainder of the distance to their boats +by land.</p> + +<p>In making their way through the woods, they found the rudder, sails, and +other furniture of the Spanish barks in the river; the barks themselves +were near at hand, and the <!--285.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[p. 273]</a></span>Buccaneers embarked in them; but the flood +tide making, they came to an anchor, and lay still for the night.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">June 26th.</span> The next morning, as they descended the river, they +saw the boats which they had so richly freighted, now cleared of their +lading and broken to pieces; and near to their wreck, was the head which +the Spaniards had stuck up. This spectacle, added to the mortifying loss +of their booty, threw the Buccaneers into a frenzy, and they forthwith cut +off the heads of four prisoners, and set them on poles in the same place. +In the passage down the river, four more of the Buccaneers were killed by +the firing of the Spaniards from the banks.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">27th.</span> The day after their retreat from the river of <i>Lavelia</i>, +a Spaniard went off to them to treat for the release of the prisoners, and +they came to an agreement that 10,000 pieces of eight should be paid for +their ransom. Some among them who had wives were permitted to go on shore +that they might assist in procuring the money; but on the 29th, the same +messenger again went off and acquainted them that the <i>Alcalde Major</i> +would not only not suffer the relations of the prisoners to send money for +their ransom, but that he had arrested some of those whom the Buccaneers +had allowed to land. On receiving this report, these savages without +hesitation cut off the heads of two of their prisoners, and delivered them +to the messenger, to be carried to the <i>Alcalde</i>, with their assurance +that if the ransom did not speedily arrive, the rest of the prisoners +would be treated in the same manner. The next day the ransom was settled +for the remaining prisoners, and for one of the captured barks; the +Spaniards paying partly with money, partly with provisions and +necessaries, and with the release of the Buccaneer they had taken. In the +agreement for the bark, the Spaniards required a note specifying that if +the Buccaneers again met her, they should make prize only of the cargo, +and not of the vessel.</p> + +<p>After the destruction of <i>Lavelia</i>, it might be supposed that <!--286.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[p. 274]</a></span>the +perpetrators of so much mischief would not be allowed with impunity to +remain in the <i>Bay of Panama</i>; but such was the weakness or negligence of +the Spaniards, that this small body of freebooters continued several +months in this same neighbourhood, and at times under the very walls of +the City. On another point, however, the Spaniards were more active, and +with success; for they concluded a treaty of peace and alliance with the +Indians of the <i>Isthmus</i>, in consequence of which, the passage overland +through the Darien country was no longer open to the Buccaneers; and some +small parties of them who attempted to travel across, were intercepted and +cut off by the Spaniards, with the assistance of the natives.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">July.</span> The Spaniards had at <i>Panama</i> a military corps +distinguished by the appellation of Greeks, which was composed of +Europeans of different nations, not natives of <i>Spain</i>. Among the +atrocities committed by the crew under Townley, they put to death one of +these Greeks, who was also Commander of a Spanish vessel, because on +examining him for intelligence, they thought he endeavoured to deceive +them; and in aggravation of the deed, Lussan relates the circumstance in +the usual manner of his pleasantries, 'we paid him for his treachery by +sending him to the other world.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">August.</span> On the 20th of August, as they were at anchor within +sight of the city of <i>Panama</i>, they observed boats passing and repassing +between some vessels and the shore, and a kind of bustle which had the +appearance of an equipment. <span class="sidenote">Battle with Spanish armed Ships.</span> +The next day, the Buccaneers anchored near the Island <i>Taboga</i>; and there, +on the morning of the 22d, they were attacked by three armed vessels from +<i>Panama</i>. The Spaniards were provided with cannon, and the battle lasted +half the day, when, owing to an explosion of gunpowder in one of the +Spanish vessels, the victory was decided in favour of the Buccaneers. Two +of the three Spanish vessels were taken, as was also one other, which +during the <!--287.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[p. 275]</a></span>fight arrived from <i>Panama</i> as a reinforcement. In the last +mentioned prize, cords were found prepared for binding their prisoners in +the event of their being victorious; and this, the Buccaneers deemed +provocation sufficient for them to slaughter the whole crew. This battle, +so fatal to the Spaniards, cost the Buccaneers only one man killed +outright, and 22 wounded. Townley was among the wounded.</p> + +<p>Two of the prizes were immediately manned from the canoes, the largest +under the command of Le Picard, who was the chief among the French of this +party.</p> + +<p>They had many prisoners; and one was sent with a letter to the President +of <i>Panama</i>, to demand ransom for them; also medicines and dressings for +the wounded, and the release of five Buccaneers who they learnt were +prisoners to the Spaniards. The medicines were sent, but the President +would not treat either of ransom, or of the release of the buccaneer +prisoners. The Buccaneers dispatched a second message to the President, in +which they threatened that if the five Buccaneers were not immediately +delivered to them, the heads of all the Spaniards in their possession, +should be sent to him. The President paid little attention to this +message, not believing that such a threat would be executed; but the +Bishop of <i>Panama</i>, regarding what had recently happened at <i>Lavelia</i> as +an earnest of what the Buccaneers were capable, was seriously alarmed. He +wrote a letter to them which he sent by a special messenger, in which he +exhorted them in the mildest terms not to shed the blood of innocent men, +and promised if they would have patience, to exert his influence to +procure the release of the buccaneer prisoners. His letter concluded with +the following remarkable paragraph, which shews the great hopes +entertained by the Roman Catholics respecting <i>Great Britain</i> during the +Reign of King James the IId. '<i>I have information</i>,' says the Bishop, +<!--288.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[p. 276]</a></span>'<i>to give you, that the English are all become Roman Catholics, and that +there is now a Catholic Church at Jamaica</i>.'</p> + +<p>The good Prelate's letter was pronounced by the Buccaneers to be void of +truth and sincerity, and an insult to their understanding. They had +already received the price of blood, shed not in battle nor in their own +defence; and now, devoting themselves to their thirst for gain, they would +not be diverted from their sanguinary purpose, but came to the resolution +of sending the heads of twenty Spaniards to the President, and with them a +message purporting that if they did not receive a satisfactory answer to +all their demands by the 28th of the month, the heads of the remaining +prisoners should answer for it. Lussan says, 'the President's refusal +obliged us, though with some reluctance, to take the resolution to send +him twenty heads of his people in a canoe. This method was indeed a little +violent, but it was the only way to bring the Spaniards to reason<a name="FNanchor_87_87" id="FNanchor_87_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a>.'</p> + +<p>What they had resolved they put into immediate execution. The President of +<i>Panama</i> was entirely overcome by their inhuman proceedings, and in the +first shock and surprise, he yielded without stipulation to all they had +demanded. On the 28th, the buccaneer prisoners (four Englishmen and one +Frenchman) were delivered to them, with a letter from the President, who +said he left to their own conscience the disposal of the Spanish prisoners +yet remaining in their hands.</p> + +<p>To render the triumph of cruelty and ferocity more complete, the +Buccaneers, in an answer to the President, charged the whole blame of what +they had done to his obstinacy; in exchange for the five Buccaneers, they +sent only twelve of their Spanish prisoners; and they demanded 20,000 +pieces of eight <!--289.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[p. 277]</a></span>as ransom of the remainder, which demand however, they +afterwards mitigated to half that sum and a supply of refreshments. On the +4th of September, the ransom was paid, and the prisoners were released.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">September. Death of Townley.</span> September the 9th, +the buccaneer commander, Townley, died of the wound he received in the +last battle. The English and French Buccaneers were faithful associates, +but did not mix well as comrades. In a short time after Townley's death, +the English desired that a division should be made of the prize vessels, +artillery, and stores, and that those of their nation should keep together +in the same vessels: and this was done, without other separation taking +place at the time.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">November.</span> In November, they left the <i>Bay of Panama</i>, and +sailed Westward to their old station near the <i>Point de Burica</i>, where, by +surprising small towns, villages, and farms, a business at which they had +become extremely expert, they procured provisions; and by the ransom of +prisoners, some money.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1687. January.</span> In January (1687) they intercepted a letter +from the Spanish Commandant at <i>Sonsonnate</i> addressed to the President of +<i>Panama</i>, by which they learnt that Grogniet had been in <i>Amapalla Bay</i>, +and that three of his men had been taken prisoners. The Commandant +remarked in his letter, that the peace made with the <i>Darien</i> Indians, +having cut off the retreat of the Buccaneers, would drive them to +desperation, and render them like so many mad dogs; he advised therefore +that some means should be adopted to facilitate their retreat, that the +Spaniards in the <i>South Sea</i> might again enjoy repose. '<i>They have +landed</i>,' he says, '<i>in these parts ten or twelve times, without knowing +what they were seeking; but wheresoever they come, they spoil and lay +waste every thing</i>.'</p> + +<p>A few days after intercepting this letter, they took prisoner a Spanish +horseman. Lussan says, 'We interrogated him with <!--290.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[p. 278]</a></span>the usual ceremonies, +that is to say, we gave him the torture, to make him tell us what we +wanted to know.'</p> + +<p>Many such villanies were undoubtedly committed by these banditti, more +than appear in their Narratives, or than they dared to make known. Lussan, +who writes a history of his voyage, not before the end of the second year +of his adventures in the <i>South Sea</i>, relates that they put a prisoner to +the torture; and it would have appeared as an individual instance, if he +had not, probably through inadvertence, acknowledged it to have been their +established practice. Lussan on his return to his native land, pretended +to reputation and character; and he found countenance and favour from his +superiors; it is therefore to be presumed, that he would suppress every +transaction in which he was a participator, which he thought of too deep a +nature to be received by his patrons with indulgence. A circumstance which +tended to make this set of Buccaneers worse than any that had preceded +them, was, its being composed of men of two nations between which there +has existed a constant jealousy and emulation. They were each ambitious to +outdo the other in acts of daringness, and were thereby instigated to +every kind of excess.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Grogniet rejoins them.</span> On the 20th, near <i>Caldera Bay</i>, they +met Grogniet with sixty French Buccaneers in three canoes. Grogniet had +parted from Townley at the head of 148 men. They had made several descents +on the coast. At the <i>Bay of Amapalla</i>, they marched 14 leagues within the +coast to a gold-mine, where they took many prisoners, and a small quantity +of gold. Grogniet wished to return overland to the West-Indian Sea, but +the majority of his companions were differently inclined, and 85 quitted +him, and went to try their fortunes towards <i>California</i>. Grogniet +nevertheless persevered in the design with the remainder of his crew, to +seek some part of the coast of <i>New Spain</i>, thin of <!--291.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[p. 279]</a></span>inhabitants, where +they might land unknown to the Spaniards, and march without obstruction +through the country to the shore of the <i>Atlantic</i>, without other guide +than a compass. The party they now met with, prevailed on them to defer +the execution of this project to a season of the year more favourable, and +in the mean time to unite with them.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">February. They divide.</span> In February, they set fire to the town +of <i>Nicoya</i>. Their gains by these descents were so small, that they agreed +to leave the coast of <i>New Spain</i> and to go against <i>Guayaquil</i>; but on +coming to this determination, the English and the French fell into high +dispute for the priority of choice in the prize vessels which they +expected to take, insomuch that upon this difference they broke off +partnership. <span class="sidenote">Both Parties sail for the Coast of Peru.</span> Grogniet +however, and about fifty of the French, remained with the English, which +made the whole number of that party 142 men, and they all embarked in one +ship, the canoes not being safe for an open sea navigation. The other +party numbered 162 men, all French, and embarked in a small ship and a +<i>Barca longa</i>. The most curious circumstance attending this separation +was, that both parties persevered in the design upon <i>Guayaquil</i>, without +any proposal being made by either to act in concert. They sailed from the +coast of <i>New Spain</i> near the end of February, not in company, but each +using all their exertions to arrive first at the place of destination. +<span class="sidenote">They meet again, and reunite.</span> They crossed the Equinoctial +line separately, but afterwards at sea accidentally fell in company with +each other again, and at this meeting they accommodated their differences, +and renewed their partnership.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">April.</span> April the 13th, they were near <i>Point Santa Elena</i>, on +the coast of <i>Peru</i>, and met there a prize vessel belonging to their old +Commander Edward Davis and his Company, but which had been separated from +him. She was laden with corn and wine, and eight of Davis's men had the +care of her. They had <!--292.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[p. 280]</a></span>been directed in case of separation, to rendezvous +at the Island <i>Plata</i>; but the uncertainty of meeting Davis there, and the +danger they should incur if they missed him, made them glad to join in the +expedition against <i>Guayaquil</i>, and the provisions with which the vessel +was laden, made them welcome associates to the Buccaneers engaged in it.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Attack on Guayaquil.</span> Their approach to the City of <i>Guayaquil</i> +was conducted with the most practised circumspection and vigilance. On +first getting sight of <i>Point Santa Elena</i>, they took in their sails and +lay with them furled as long as there was daylight. In the night they +pursued their course, keeping at a good distance from the land, till they +were to the Southward of the <i>Island Santa Clara</i>. <span class="sidenote">15th.</span> Two +hundred and sixty men then (April the 15th) departed from the ships in +canoes. They landed at <i>Santa Clara</i>, which was uninhabited, and at a part +of the <i>Island Puna</i> distant from any habitation, proceeding only during +the night time, and lying in concealment during the day.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">18th.</span> In the night of the 17th, they approached the <i>River +Guayaquil</i>. At daylight, they were perceived by a guard on watch near the +entrance, who lighted a fire as a signal to other guards stationed farther +on; by whom, however, the signal was not observed. The Buccaneers put as +speedily as they could to the nearest land, and a party of the most alert +made a circuit through the woods, and surprised the guard at the first +signal station, before the alarm had spread farther. They stopped near the +entrance till night. <span class="sidenote">19th. 20th.</span> All day of the 19th, they rested at +an Island in the river, and at night advanced again. +Their intention was to have passed the town in their canoes, and to have +landed above it, where they would be the least expected; but the tide of +flood with which they ascended the river did not serve long enough for +their purpose, and on the 20th, two hours before day, they landed a short +distance below <!--293.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[p. 281]</a></span>the town, towards which they began to march; but the +ground was marshy and overgrown with brushwood. Thus far they had +proceeded undiscovered; when one of the Buccaneers left to guard the +canoes struck a light to smoke tobacco, which was perceived by a Spanish +sentinel on the shore opposite, who immediately fired his piece, and gave +alarm to the Fort and Town. This discovery and the badness of the road +caused the Buccaneers to defer the attack till daylight. The town of +<i>Guayaquil</i> is built round a mountain, on which were three forts which +overlooked the town. <span class="sidenote">The City taken.</span> The Spaniards made a +tolerable defence, but by the middle of the day they were driven from all +their forts, and the town was left to the Buccaneers, detachments of whom +were sent to endeavour to bring in prisoners, whilst a chosen party went +to the Great Church to chant <i>Te Deum</i>.</p> + +<p>Nine Buccaneers were killed and twelve wounded in the attack. The booty +found in the town was considerable in jewels, merchandise, and silver, +particularly in church plate, besides 92,000 dollars in money, and they +took seven hundred prisoners, among whom were the Governor and his family. +Fourteen vessels lay at anchor in the Port, and two ships were on the +stocks nearly fit for launching.</p> + +<p>On the evening of the day that the city was taken, the Governor (being a +prisoner) entered into treaty with the Buccaneers, for the City, Fort, +Shipping, himself, and all the prisoners, to be redeemed for a million +pieces of eight, to be paid in gold, and 400 packages of flour; and to +hasten the procurement of the money, which was to be brought from <i>Quito</i>, +the Vicar General of the district, who was also a prisoner, was released.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">21st.</span> The 21st, in the night, by the carelessness of a +Buccaneer, one of the houses took fire, which communicated to other +<!--294.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[p. 282]</a></span>houses with such rapidity, that one third of the city was destroyed +before its progress was stopped. It had been specified in the treaty, that +the Buccaneers should not set fire to the town; 'therefore,' says Lussan, +'lest in consequence of this accident, the Spaniards should refuse to pay +the ransom, we pretended to believe it was their doing.'</p> + +<p>Many bodies of the Spaniards killed in the assault of the town, remained +unburied where they had fallen, and the Buccaneers were apprehensive that +some infectious disorder would thereby be produced. <span class="sidenote">24th. At +the Island Puna.</span> They hastened therefore to embark on board the vessels +in the port, their plunder and 500 of their prisoners, with which, on the +25th, they fell down the River to the <i>Island Puna</i>, where they proposed +to wait for the ransom.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">May. Grogniet dies.</span> On the 2d of May, Captain Grogniet died of +a wound he received at <i>Guayaquil</i>. Le Picard was afterwards the chief +among the French Buccaneers.</p> + +<p>The 5th of May had been named for the payment of the ransom, from which +time the money was daily and with increasing impatience expected by the +Buccaneers. It was known that Spanish ships of war were equipping at +<i>Callao</i> purposely to attack them; and also that their former Commander, +Edward Davis, with a good ship, was near this part of the coast. They were +anxious to have his company, and on the 4th, dispatched a galley to seek +him at the Island <i>Plata</i>, the place of rendezvous he had appointed for +his prize.</p> + +<p>The 5th passed without any appearance of ransom money; as did many +following days. The Spaniards, however, regularly sent provisions to the +ships at <i>Puna</i> every day, otherwise the prisoners would have starved; but +in lieu of money they substituted nothing better than promises. The +Buccaneers would have felt it humiliation to appear less ferocious than on +former <!--295.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[p. 283]</a></span>occasions, and they recurred to their old mode of intimidation. +They made the prisoners throw dice to determine which of them should die, +and the heads of four on whom the lot fell were delivered to a Spanish +officer in answer to excuses for delay which he had brought from the +Lieutenant Governor of <i>Guayaquil</i>, with an intimation that at the end of +four days more five hundred heads should follow, if the ransom did not +arrive.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">14th.</span> On the 14th, their galley which had been sent in search +of Davis returned, not having found him at the Island <i>Plata</i>; but she +brought notice of two strange sail being near the Cape <i>Santa Elena</i>. +<span class="sidenote">Edward Davis joins Le Picard.</span> These proved to be Edward +Davis's ship, and a prize. Davis had received intelligence, as already +mentioned, of the Buccaneers having captured <i>Guayaquil</i>, and was now come +purposely to join them. He sent his prize to the Buccaneers at <i>Puna</i>, and +remained with his own ship in the offing on the look-out.</p> + +<p>The four days allowed for the payment of the ransom expired, and no ransom +was sent; neither did the Buccaneers execute their sanguinary threat. It +is worthy of remark, that intreaty or intercession made to this set of +Buccaneers, so far from obtaining remission or favour, at all times +produced the opposite effect, as if reminding them of their power, +instigated them to an imperious display of it. The Lieutenant Governor of +<i>Guayaquil</i> was in no haste to fulfil the terms of the treaty made by the +Governor, nor did he importune them with solicitations, and the whole +business for a time lay at rest. The forbearance of the Buccaneers may not +unjustly be attributed to Davis having joined them.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">23d.</span> On the 23d, the Spaniards paid to the Buccaneers as much +gold as amounted in value to 20,000 pieces of eight, and eighty packages +of flour, as part of the ransom. The day following, <!--296.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[p. 284]</a></span>the Lieutenant +Governor sent word, that they might receive 22,000 pieces of eight more +for the release of the prisoners, and if that sum would not satisfy them, +they might do their worst, for that no greater would be paid them. Upon +this message, the Buccaneers held a consultation, whether they should cut +off the heads of all the prisoners, or take the 22,000 pieces of eight, +and it was determined, not unanimously, but by a majority of voices, that +it was better to take a little money than to cut off many heads.</p> + +<p>Lussan, his own biographer and a young man, boasts of the pleasant manner +in which he passed his time at <i>Puna</i>. 'We made good cheer, being daily +supplied with refreshments from <i>Guayaquil</i>. We had concerts of music; we +had the best performers of the city among our prisoners. Some among us +engaged in friendships with our women prisoners, who were not hard +hearted.' This is said by way of prelude to a history which he gives of +his own good fortune; all which, whether true or otherwise, serves to +shew, that among this abandoned crew the prisoners of both sexes were +equally unprotected.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">26th.</span> On the 26th, the 22,000 pieces of eight were paid to the +Buccaneers, who selected a hundred prisoners of the most consideration to +retain, and released the rest. The same day, they quitted their anchorage +at <i>Puna</i>, intending to anchor again at Point <i>Santa Elena</i>, and there to +enter afresh into negociation for ransom of prisoners: but in the evening, +two Spanish Ships of War came in sight.</p> + +<p>The engagement which ensued, and other proceedings of the Buccaneers, +until Edward Davis parted company to return homeward by the South of +<i>America</i>, has been related. <span class="sidenote">See pp. <a href="#Page_196">196</a> to 200.</span> It remains to +give an account of the French Buccaneers after the separation, to their +finally quitting the <i>South Sea</i>.<!--297.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[p. 285]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_XXIV" id="CHAP_XXIV"></a>CHAP. XXIV.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>Retreat of the </i>French Buccaneers<i> across </i>New Spain<i> to the </i>West +Indies<i>. All the </i>Buccaneers<i> quit the </i>South Sea<i>.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1687. June. Le Picard and Hout.</span> The party left by +Davis consisted of 250 Buccaneers, the greater number of whom were French, +the rest were English, and their leaders Le Picard and George Hout. They +had determined to quit the <i>South Sea</i>, and with that view to sail to the +coast of <i>New Spain</i>, whence they proposed to march over land to the shore +of the <i>Caribbean Sea</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">July. On the Coast of New Spain.</span> About the end of +July, they anchored in the <i>Bay of Amapalla</i>, and were joined there by +thirty French Buccaneers. These thirty were part of a crew which had +formerly quitted Grogniet to cruise towards <i>California</i>. Others of that +party were still on the coast to the North-West, and the Buccaneers in +<i>Amapalla Bay</i> put to sea in search of them, that all of their fraternity +in the <i>South Sea</i> might be collected, and depart together.</p> + +<p>In the search after their former companions, they landed at different +places on the coast of <i>New Spain</i>. Among their adventures here, they +took, and remained four days in possession of, the Town of +<i>Tecoantepeque</i>, but without any profit to themselves. At <i>Guatulco</i>, they +plundered some plantations, and obtained provisions in ransom for +prisoners. Whilst they lay there at anchor, they saw a vessel in the +offing, which from her appearance, and manner of working her sails, they +believed to contain the people they were seeking; but the wind and sea set +so strong on the shore at the time, that neither their vessels nor boats +could go out to ascertain what she was; and after that day, they did not +see her again.<!--298.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[p. 286]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">December. In Amapalla Bay.</span> In the middle of +December they returned to the <i>Bay of Amapalla</i>, which they had fixed upon +for the place of their departure from the shores of the <i>South Sea</i>. Their +plan was, to march by the town of <i>Nueva Segovia</i>, which had before been +visited by Buccaneers, and they now expected would furnish them with +provisions. According to Lussan's information, the distance they would +have to travel by land from <i>Amapalla Bay</i>, was about 60 leagues, when +they would come to the source of a river, by which they could descend to +the <i>Caribbean Sea</i>, near to <i>Cape Gracias a Dios</i>.</p> + +<p>Whilst they made preparation for their march, they were anxious to obtain +intelligence what force the Spaniards had in their proposed route, but the +natives kept at a distance. On the 18th, seventy Buccaneers landed and +marched into the country, of which adventure Lussan gives the account +following. They travelled the whole day without meeting an inhabitant. +They rested for the night, and next morning proceeded in their journey, +but all seemed a desert, and about noon, the majority were dissatisfied +and turned back. Twenty went on; and soon after came to a beaten road, on +which they perceived three horsemen riding towards them, whom they +way-laid so effectually as to take them all. <span class="sidenote">Chiloteca.</span> By +these men they learnt the way to a small town named <i>Chiloteca</i>, to which +they went and there made fifty of the inhabitants prisoners. <span class="sidenote"> +Massacre of Prisoners.</span> They took up their quarters in the church, where +they also lodged their prisoners, and intended to have rested during the +night; but after dark, they heard much bustle in the town, which made them +apprehensive the Spaniards were preparing to attack them, and the noise +caused in the prisoners the appearance of a disposition to rise; upon +which, the Buccaneers slew them all except four, whom they carried away +with them, and reached the vessels without being molested in their +retreat.<!--299.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[p. 287]</a></span></p> + +<p>The prisoners were interrogated; and the accounts they gave confirmed the +Buccaneers in the opinion that they had no better chance of transporting +themselves and their plunder to the <i>North Sea</i>, than by immediately +setting about the execution of the plan they had formed. <span class="sidenote">The +Buccaneers burn their Vessels.</span> To settle the order of the march, they +landed their riches and the stores necessary for their journey, on one of +the Islands in the Bay; and that their number might not suffer diminution +by the defection of any, it was agreed to destroy the vessels, which was +executed forthwith, with the reserve of one galley and the canoes, which +were necessary for the transport of themselves and their effects to the +main land. They made a muster of their force, which they divided into four +companies, each consisting of seventy men, and every man having his arms +and accoutrements. Whilst these matters were arranging, a detachment of +100 men were sent to the main land to endeavour to get horses.</p> + +<p>They had destroyed their vessels, and had not removed from the Island, +when a large Spanish armed ship anchored in <i>Amapalla Bay</i>; but she was +not able to give them annoyance, nor in the least to impede their +operations. <span class="sidenote">1688. January.</span> On the 1st of January, 1688, they +passed over, with their effects, to the main land, and the same day, the +party which had gone in search of horses, returned, bringing with them +sixty-eight, which were divided equally among the four companies, to be +employed in carrying stores and provisions, as were eighty prisoners, who +besides being carriers of stores, were made to carry the sick and wounded. +Every Buccaneer had his particular sack, or package, which it was required +should contain his ammunition; what else, was at his own discretion.</p> + +<p>Many of these Buccaneers had more silver than themselves were able to +carry. There were also many who had neither silver nor gold, and were +little encumbered with effects of their <!--300.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[p. 288]</a></span>own: these light freighted gentry +were glad to be hired as porters to the rich, and the contract for +carrying silver, on this occasion, was one half; that is to say, that on +arriving at the <i>North Sea</i>, there should be an equal division between the +employer and the carrier. Carriage of gold or other valuables was +according to particular agreement. Lussan, who no doubt was as sharp a +rogue as any among his companions, relates of himself, that he had been +fortunate at play, and that his winnings added to his share of plunder, +amounted to 30,000 pieces of eight, the whole of which he had converted +into gold and jewels; and that whilst they were making ready for their +march, he received warning from a friend that a gang had been formed by +about twenty of the poorer Buccaneers, with the intention to waylay and +strip those of their brethren, who had been most fortunate. On considering +the danger and great difficulty of having to guard against the +machinations of hungry conspirators who were to be his fellow-travellers +in a long journey, and might have opportunities to perpetrate their +mischievous intentions during any fight with the Spaniards, Lussan came to +the resolution of making a sacrifice of part of his riches to insure the +remaining part, and to lessen the temptation to any individual to seek his +death. To this end he divided his treasure into a number of small parcels, +which he confided to the care of so many of his companions, making +agreement with each for the carriage.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Retreat of the Buccaneers over land to the West Indian Sea.</span> +January the 2d, in the morning, they began their march, an advanced guard +being established to consist of ten men from each company, who were to be +relieved every morning by ten others. At night they rested at four leagues +distance, according to their estimation, from the border of the sea.</p> + +<p>The first part of Lussan's account of this journey has little of adventure +or description. The difficulties experienced were <!--301.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[p. 289]</a></span>what had been foreseen, +such as the inhabitants driving away cattle and removing provisions, +setting fire to the dry grass when it could annoy them in their march; and +sometimes the Buccaneers were fired at by unseen shooters. They rested at +villages and farms when they found any in their route, where, and also by +making prisoners, they obtained provisions. When no habitations or +buildings were at hand, they generally encamped at night on a hill, or in +open ground. Very early in their march they were attended by a body of +Spanish troops at a small distance, the music of whose trumpets afforded +them entertainment every morning and evening; 'but,' says Lussan, 'it was +like the music of the enchanted palace of Psyche, which was heard without +the musicians being visible.'</p> + +<p>On the forenoon of the 9th, notwithstanding their vigilance, the +Buccaneers were saluted with an unexpected volley of musketry which killed +two men; and this was the only mischance that befel them in their march +from the Western Sea to <i>Segovia</i>, which town they entered on the 11th of +January, without hindrance, and found it without inhabitants, and cleared +of every kind of provisions.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Town of New Segovia.</span> 'The town of <i>Segovia</i> is situated in a +vale, and is so surrounded with mountains that it seems to be a prisoner +there. The churches are ill built. The place of arms, or parade, is large +and handsome, as are many of the houses. It is distant from the shore of +the <i>South Sea</i> forty leagues: The road is difficult, the country being +extremely mountainous.'</p> + +<p>On the 12th, they left <i>Segovia</i> and without injuring the houses, a +forbearance to which they had little accustomed themselves; but present +circumstances brought to their consideration that if it should be their +evil fortune to be called to account, it might be quite as well for them +not to add the burning of <i>Segovia</i> to the reckoning.<!--302.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[p. 290]</a></span></p> + +<p>The 13th, an hour before sunset, they ascended a hill, which appeared a +good station to occupy for the night. When they arrived at the summit, +they perceived on the slope of the next mountain before them, a great +number of horses grazing (Lussan says between twelve and fifteen hundred), +which at the first sight they mistook for horned cattle, and congratulated +each other on the near prospect of a good meal; but it was soon discovered +they were horses, and that a number of them were saddled: intrenchments +also were discerned near the same place, and finally, troops. This part of +the country was a thick forest, with deep gullies, and not intersected +with any path excepting the road they were travelling, which led across +the mountain where the Spaniards were intrenched. On reconnoitring the +position of the Spaniards, the road beyond them was seen to the right of +the intrenchments. The Buccaneers on short consultation, determined that +they would endeavour under cover of the night to penetrate the wood to +their right, so as to arrive at the road beyond the Spanish camp, and come +on it by surprise.</p> + +<p>This plan was similar to that which they had projected at <i>Guayaquil</i>, and +was a business exactly suited to the habits and inclinations of these +adventurers, who more than any other of their calling, or perhaps than the +native tribes of <i>North America</i>, were practised and expert in veiling +their purpose so as not to awaken suspicion; in concealing themselves by +day and making silent advances by night, and in all the arts by which even +the most wary may be ensnared. Here, immediately after fixing their plan, +they began to intrench and fortify the ground they occupied, and made all +the dispositions which troops usually do who halt for the night. This +encampment, besides impressing the Spaniards with the belief that they +intended to pass the <!--303.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[p. 291]</a></span>night in repose, was necessary to the securing their +baggage and prisoners.</p> + +<p>Rest seemed necessary and due to the Buccaneers after a toilsome day's +march, and so it was thought by the Spanish Commander, who seeing them +fortify their quarters, doubted not that they meant to do themselves +justice; but an hour after the close of day, two hundred Buccaneers +departed from their camp. The moon shone out bright, which gave them light +to penetrate the woods, whilst the woods gave them concealment from the +Spaniards, and the Spaniards kept small lookout. Before midnight, they +were near enough to hear the Spaniards chanting Litanies, and long before +daylight were in the road beyond the Spanish encampment. They waited till +the day broke, and then pushed for the camp, which, as had been +conjectured, was entirely open on this side. Two Spanish sentinels +discovered the approach of the enemy, and gave alarm; but the Buccaneers +were immediately after in the camp, and the Spanish troops disturbed from +their sleep had neither time nor recollection for any other measure than +to save themselves by flight. They abandoned all the intrenchments, and +the Buccaneers being masters of the pass, were soon joined by the party +who had charge of the baggage and prisoners. In this affair, the loss of +the Buccaneers was only two men killed, and four wounded.</p> + +<p>In the remaining part of their journey, they met no serious obstruction, +and were not at any time distressed by a scarcity of provisions. Lussan +says they led from the Spanish encampment 900 horses, which served them +for carriage, for present food, and to salt for future provision when they +should arrive at the sea shore.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Rio de Yare, or Cape River.</span> On the 17th of January, which was +the 16th of their journey, they came to the banks of a river by which they +were to <!--304.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[p. 292]</a></span>descend to the <i>Caribbean Sea</i>. This river has its source among +the mountains of <i>Nueva Segovia</i>, and falls into the sea to the South of +<i>Cape Gracias a Dios</i> about 14 leagues, according to D'Anville's Map, in +which it is called <i>Rio de Yare</i>. Dampier makes it fall into the sea +something more to the Southward, and names it the <i>Cape River</i>.</p> + +<p>The country here was not occupied nor frequented by the Spaniards, and was +inhabited only in a few places by small tribes of native Americans. The +Buccaneers cut down trees, and made rafts or catamarans for the conveyance +of themselves and their effects down the stream. On account of the falls, +the rafts were constructed each to carry no more than two persons with +their luggage, and every man went provided with a pole to guide the raft +clear of rocks and shallows.</p> + +<p>In the commencement of this fresh-water navigation, their maritime +experience, with all the pains they could take, did not prevent their +getting into whirlpools, where the rafts were overturned, with danger to +the men and frequently with the loss of part of the lading. When they came +to a fall which appeared more than usually dangerous, they put ashore, +took their rafts to pieces, and carried all below the fall, where they +re-accommodated matters and embarked again. The rapidity of the stream +meeting many obstructions, raised a foam and spray that kept every thing +on the rafts constantly wet; the salted horse flesh was in a short time +entirely spoilt, and their ammunition in a state not to be of service in +supplying them with game. Fortunately for them the banks of the river +abounded in banana-trees, both wild and in plantations.</p> + +<p>When they first embarked on the river, the rafts went in close company; +but the irregularity and violence of the stream, continually entangled and +drove them against each other, on which account the method was changed, +and distances <!--305.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[p. 293]</a></span>preserved. This gave opportunity to the desperadoes who had +conspired against their companions to commence their operations, which +they directed against five Englishmen, whom they killed and despoiled. The +murderers absconded in the woods with their prey, and were not afterwards +seen by the company.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">February, 1688.</span> The 20th of February they had passed all the +falls, and were at a broad deep and smooth part of the river, where they +found no other obstruction than trees and drift-wood floating. As they +were near the sea, many stopped and began to build canoes. Some English +Buccaneers who went lower down the river, found at anchor an English +vessel belonging to <i>Jamaica</i>, from which they learnt that the French +Government had just proclaimed an amnesty in favour of those who since the +Peace made with <i>Spain</i> had committed acts of piracy, upon condition of +their claiming the benefit of the Proclamation within a specified time. A +similar proclamation had been issued in the year 1687 by the English +Government; but as it was not clear from the report made by the crew of +the <i>Jamaica</i> vessel, whether it yet operated, the English Buccaneers +would not embark for <i>Jamaica</i>. They sent by two Mosquito Indians, an +account of the news they had heard to the French Buccaneers, with notice +that there was a vessel at the mouth of the river capable of accommodating +not more than forty persons. Immediately on receiving the intelligence, +above a hundred of the French set off in all haste for the vessel, every +one of whom pretended to be of the forty. Those who first arrived on +board, took up the anchor as speedily as they could, and set sail, whilst +those who were behind called loudly for a decision by lot or dice; but the +first comers were content to rest their title on possession.</p> + +<p>The English Buccaneers remained for the present with the Mosquito Indians +near <i>Cape Gracias a Dios</i>, 'who,' says Lussan, 'have an affection for the +English, on account of the <!--306.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[p. 294]</a></span>many little commodities which they bring them +from the Island of <i>Jamaica</i>.' The greater part of the French Buccaneers +went to the French settlements; but seventy-five of them who went to +<i>Jamaica</i>, were apprehended and detained prisoners by the Duke of +Albemarle, who was then Governor, and their effects sequestrated. They +remained in prison until the death of the Duke, which happened in the +following year, when they were released; but neither their arms nor +plunder were returned to them.</p> + +<p>The <i>South Sea</i> was now cleared of the main body of the Buccaneers. A few +stragglers remained, concerning whom some scattered notices are found, of +which the following are the heads.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">La Pava.</span> Seixas mentions an English frigate named <i>La Pava</i>, +being wrecked in the <i>Strait of Magalhanes</i> in the year 1687; and that her +loss was occasioned by currents<a name="FNanchor_88_88" id="FNanchor_88_88"></a><a href="#Footnote_88_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a>. By the name being Spanish (signifying +the Hen) this vessel must have been a prize to the Buccaneers.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Captain Straiton.</span> In the Narrative of the loss of the Wager, +by Bulkeley and Cummins, it is mentioned that they found at <i>Port Desire</i> +cut on a brick, in very legible characters, "Captain Straiton, 16 cannon, +1687." Most probably this was meant of a Buccaneer vessel.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Le Sage.</span> At the time that the English and French Buccaneers +were crossing the <i>Isthmus</i> in great numbers from the <i>West Indies</i> to the +<i>South Sea</i>, two hundred French Buccaneers departed from <i>Hispaniola</i> in a +ship commanded by a Captain Le Sage, intending to go to the <i>South Sea</i> by +the <i>Strait of Magalhanes</i>; but having chosen a wrong season of the year +for that passage, and finding the winds unfavourable, they stood over to +the coast of <i>Africa</i>, where they continued cruising two years, and +returned to the <!--307.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[p. 295]</a></span><i>West Indies</i> with great booty, obtained at the expence +of the Hollanders.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Small Crew of Buccaneers at the Tres Marias.</span> The small crew of +French Buccaneers in the <i>South Sea</i> who were a part of those who had +separated from Grogniet to cruise near <i>California</i>, and for whom Le +Picard had sought in vain on the coast of <i>New Spain</i>, were necessitated +by the smallness of their force, and the bad state of their vessel, to +shelter themselves at the <i>Tres Marias Islands</i> in the entrance of the +<i>Gulf of California</i>. <span class="sidenote">Their Adventures, and Return to the West +Indies.</span> It is said that they remained four years among those Islands, at +the end of which time, they determined, rather than to pass the rest of +their lives in so desolate a place, to sail Southward, though with little +other prospect or hope than that they should meet some of their former +comrades; instead of which, on looking in at <i>Arica</i> on the coast of +<i>Peru</i>, they found at anchor in the road a Spanish ship, which they took, +and in her a large quantity of treasure. The Buccaneers embarked in their +prize, and proceeded Southward for the <i>Atlantic</i>, but were cast ashore in +the <i>Strait of Magalhanes</i>. Part of the treasure, and as much of the wreck +of the vessel as served to construct two sloops, were saved, with which, +after so many perils, they arrived safe in the <i>West Indies</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Story related by Le Sieur Froger.</span> Le Sieur Froger, in his +account of the Voyage of M. de Gennes, has introduced a narrative of a +party of French Buccaneers or Flibustiers going from <i>Saint Domingo</i> to +the <i>South Sea</i>, in the year 1686; which is evidently a romance fabricated +from the descriptions which had been given of their general courses and +habits. These <i>protegés</i> of Le Sieur Froger, like the Buccaneer crew from +the <i>Tres Marias Islands</i> just mentioned, were reduced to great +distress,—took a rich prize afterwards on the coast of <i>Peru</i>,—were +returning to the <i>Atlantic</i>, and lost their ship in the <i>Strait of +Magalhanes</i>. They were ten <!--308.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[p. 296]</a></span>months in the <i>Strait</i> building a bark, which +they loaded with the best of what they had saved of the cargo of their +ship, and in the end arrived safe at <i>Cayenne</i><a name="FNanchor_89_89" id="FNanchor_89_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_89_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a>. Funnel also mentions a +report which he heard, of a small crew of French Buccaneers, not more than +twenty, whose adventures were of the same cast; and who probably were the +<i>Tres Marias</i> Buccaneers.</p> + +<p>It has been related that five Buccaneers who had gamed away their money, +unwilling to return poor out of the <i>South Sea</i>, landed at the Island +<i>Juan Fernandez</i> from Edward Davis's ship, about the end of the year 1687, +and were left there. In 1690, the English ship Welfare, commanded by +Captain John Strong, anchored at <i>Juan Fernandez</i>; of which voyage two +journals have been preserved among the MSS in the Sloane Collection in the +British Museum, from which the following account is taken.</p> + +<p>The Farewell arrived off the Island on the evening of October the 11th, +1690. In the night, those on board were surprised at seeing a fire on an +elevated part of the land. Early next morning, a boat was sent on shore, +which soon returned, bringing off from the Island two Englishmen. These +were part of the five who had landed from Davis's ship. They piloted the +Welfare to a good anchoring place.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Buccaneers who lived three years on the Island Juan Fernandez.</span> +In the three years that they had lived on <i>Juan Fernandez</i>, they had not, +until the arrival of the Welfare, seen any other ships than Spaniards, +which was a great disappointment to them. The Spaniards had landed and had +endeavoured to take them, but they had found concealment in the woods; one +excepted, who deserted from his companions, and delivered himself up to +the Spaniards. The four remaining, when they learnt that the Buccaneers +had entirely quitted the <i>South Sea</i>, willingly <!--309.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[p. 297]</a></span>embarked with Captain +Strong, and with them four servants or slaves. Nothing is said of the +manner in which they employed themselves whilst on the Island, except of +their contriving subterraneous places of concealment that the Spaniards +should not find them, and of their taming a great number of goats, so that +at one time they had a tame stock of 300.<!--310.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[p. 298]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_XXV" id="CHAP_XXV"></a>CHAP. XXV.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>Steps taken towards reducing the </i>Buccaneers<i> and </i>Flibustiers<i> +under subordination to the regular Governments. War of the Grand +Alliance against </i>France<i>. The Neutrality of the </i>Island Saint +Christopher<i> broken.</i></div> + + +<p>Whilst these matters were passing in the <i>Pacific Ocean</i>, small progress +was made in the reform which had been begun in the <i>West Indies</i>. The +English Governors by a few examples of severity restrained the English +Buccaneers from undertaking any enterprise of magnitude. With the French, +the case was different. The number of the Flibustiers who absented +themselves from <i>Hispaniola</i>, to go to the <i>South Sea</i>, alarmed the French +Government for the safety of their colonies, and especially of their +settlements in <i>Hispaniola</i>, the security and defence of which against the +Spaniards they had almost wholly rested on its being the place of +residence and the home of those adventurers. To persist in a rigorous +police against their cruising, it was apprehended would make the rest of +them quit <i>Hispaniola</i>, for which reason it was judged prudent to relax in +the enforcement of the prohibitions; the Flibustiers accordingly continued +their courses as usual.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1686.</span> In 1686, Granmont and De Graaf prepared an armament +against <i>Campeachy</i>. M. de Cussy, who was Governor of <i>Tortuga</i> and the +French part of <i>Hispaniola</i>, applied personally to them to relinquish +their design; but as the force was collected, and all preparation made, +neither the Flibustiers nor their Commanders would be dissuaded from the +undertaking, and De Cussy submitted. <span class="sidenote">Campeachy burnt.</span> +<i>Campeachy</i> was plundered and burnt.<!--311.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[p. 299]</a></span></p> + +<p>A measure was adopted by the French Government which certainly trenched on +the honour of the regular military establishments of <i>France</i>, but was +attended with success in bringing the Flibustiers more under control and +rendering them more manageable. This was, the taking into the King's +service some of the principal leaders of the Flibustiers, and giving them +commissions of advanced rank, either in the land service or in the French +marine. <span class="sidenote">Granmont.</span> A commission was made out for Granmont, +appointing him Commandant on the South coast of <i>Saint Domingo</i>, with the +rank of Lieutenant du Roy. But of Granmont as a Buccaneer, it might be +said in the language of sportsmen, that he was game to the last. Before +the commission arrived, he received information of the honour intended +him, and whilst yet in his state of liberty, was seized with the wish to +make one more cruise. He armed a ship, and, with a crew of 180 Flibustiers +in her, put to sea. This was near the end of the year 1686; and what +afterwards became of him and his followers is not known, for they were not +again seen or heard of.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1687.</span> In the beginning of 1687, a commission arrived from +<i>France</i>, appointing De Graaf Major in the King's army in the <i>West +Indies</i>. He was then with a crew of Flibustiers near <i>Carthagena</i>. In this +cruise, twenty-five of his men who landed in the <i>Gulf of Darien</i>, were +cut off by the Darien Indians. De Graaf on his return into port accepted +his commission, and when transformed to an officer in the King's army, +became, like Morgan, a great scourge to the Flibustiers and <i>Forbans</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Proclamation against Pirates.</span> In consequence of complaints +made by the Spaniards, a Proclamation was issued at this time, by the King +of <i>Great Britain</i>, James the IId, specified in the title to be 'for the +more effectual reducing and suppressing of Pirates and Privateers in +<i>America</i>, as well on the sea as on the land, who in <!--312.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[p. 300]</a></span>great numbers have +committed frequent robberies, which hath occasioned great prejudice and +obstruction to Trade and Commerce.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1688.</span> A twenty years truce had, in the year 1686, been agreed +upon between <i>France</i> and <i>Spain</i>, but scarcely a twentieth part of that +time was suffered to elapse before it was broken in the <i>West Indies</i>. +<span class="sidenote">Danish Factory robbed by the Buccaneers.</span> The Flibustiers of +<i>Hispaniola</i> did not content themselves with their customary practice: in +1688 they plundered the Danish Factory at the Island <i>St. Thomas</i>, which +is one of the small Islands called <i>the Virgins</i>, near the East end of +<i>Porto Rico</i>. This was an aggression beyond the limits which they had +professed to prescribe to their depredatory system, and it is not shewn +that they had received injury at the hands of the Danes. Nevertheless, the +French West-India histories say, 'Our Flibustiers (<i>nos Flibustiers</i>), in +1688, surprised the Danish Factory at <i>St. Thomas</i>. The pillage was +considerable, and would have been more if they had known that the chief +part of the cash was kept in a vault under the hall, which was known to +very few of the house. They forgot on this occasion their ordinary +practice, which is to put their prisoners to the torture to make them +declare where the money is. It is certain that if they had so done, the +hiding-place would have been revealed to them, in which it was believed +there was more than 500,000 livres.' Such remarks shew the strong +prepossession which existed in favour of the Buccaneers, and an eagerness +undistinguishing and determined after the extraordinary. Qualities the +most common to the whole of mankind were received as wonderful when +related of the Buccaneers. One of our Encyclopedias, under the article +Buccaneer, says, 'they were transported with an astonishing degree of +enthusiasm whenever they saw a sail.'</p> + +<p>In this same year, 1688, war broke out in Europe between <!--313.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[p. 301]</a></span>the French and +Spaniards, and in a short time the English joined against the French.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1689. July.</span> <i>England</i> and <i>France</i> had at no period since the +Norman conquest been longer without serious quarrel. On the accession of +William the IIId. to the crowns of <i>Great Britain</i>, it was generally +believed that a war with <i>France</i> would ensue. <span class="sidenote">The English +driven from St. Christopher.</span> The French in the <i>West Indies</i> did not wait +for its being declared, but attacked the English part of <i>St. +Christopher</i>, the Island on which by joint agreement had been made the +original and confederated first settlements of the two Nations in the +<i>West Indies</i>. <span class="sidenote">See p. 38.</span> The English inhabitants were driven +from their possessions and obliged to retire to the Island <i>Nevis</i>, which +terminated the longest preserved union which history can shew between the +English and French as subjects of different nations. In the commencement +it was strongly cemented by the mutual want of support against a powerful +enemy; that motive for their adherence to each other had ceased to exist: +yet in the reigns of Charles the IId. and James the IId. of <i>England</i>, an +agreement had been made between <i>England</i> and <i>France</i>, that if war should +at any time break out between them, a neutrality should be observed by +their subjects in the <i>West Indies</i>.</p> + +<p>This war continued nearly to the end of King William's reign, and during +that time the English and French Buccaneers were engaged on opposite +sides, as auxiliaries to the regular forces of their respective nations, +which completely separated them; and it never afterwards happened that +they again confederated in any buccaneer cause. They became more generally +distinguished by different appellations, not consonant to their present +situations and habits; for the French adventurers, who were frequently +occupied in hunting and at the <i>boucan</i>, were called the Flibustiers of +<i>St. Domingo</i>, and the English adventurers, <!--314.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[p. 302]</a></span>who had nothing to do with +the <i>boucan</i>, were called the Buccaneers of <i>Jamaica</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1690. July. The English retake St. Christopher.</span> +The French had not kept possession of <i>St. Christopher</i> quite a year, when +it was taken from them by the English. This was an unfortunate year for +the French, who in it suffered a great defeat from the Spaniards in +<i>Hispaniola</i>. Their Governor De Cussy, and 500 Frenchmen, fell in battle, +and the Town of <i>Cape François</i> was demolished.</p> + +<p>The French Flibustiers at this time greatly annoyed <i>Jamaica</i>, making +descents, in which they carried off such a number of negroes, that in +derision they nicknamed <i>Jamaica 'Little Guinea</i>.' The principal +transactions in the <i>West Indies</i>, were, the attempts made by each party +on the possessions of the other. In the course of these services, De Graaf +was accused of misconduct, tried, and deprived of his commission in the +army; but though judged unfit for command in land service, out of respect +to his maritime experience he was appointed Captain of a Frigate.</p> + +<p>No one among the Flibustiers was more distinguished for courage and +enterprise in this war than Jean Montauban, who commanded a ship of +between 30 and 40 guns. He sailed from the <i>West Indies</i> to <i>Bourdeaux</i> in +1694. In February of the year following, he departed from <i>Bourdeaux</i> for +the coast of <i>Guinea</i>, where in battle with an English ship of force, both +the ships were blown up. Montauban and a few others escaped with their +lives. This affair is not to be ranked among buccaneer exploits, <i>Great +Britain</i> and <i>France</i> being at open War, and Montauban having a regular +commission.<!--315.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[p. 303]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_XXVI" id="CHAP_XXVI"></a>CHAP. XXVI.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>Seige and Plunder of the City of </i>Carthagena<i> on the </i>Terra Firma<i>, +by an Armament from </i>France<i> in conjunction with the </i>Flibustiers<i> +of </i>Saint Domingo<i>.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1697.</span> In 1697, at the suggestion of M. le Baron de Pointis, an +officer of high rank in the French Marine, a large armament was fitted out +in <i>France</i>, jointly at the expence of the Crown, and of private +contributors, for an expedition against the Spaniards in the <i>West +Indies</i>. The chief command was given to M. de Pointis, and orders were +sent out to the Governor of the French Settlements in <i>Hispaniola</i> (M. du +Casse) to raise 1200 men in <i>Tortuga</i> and <i>Hispaniola</i> to assist in the +expedition. The king's regular force in M. du Casse's government was +small, and the men demanded were to be supplied principally from the +Flibustiers. The dispatches containing the above orders arrived in +January. It was thought necessary to specify to the Flibustiers a +limitation of time; and they were desired to keep from dispersing till the +15th of February, it being calculated that M. de Pointis would then, or +before, certainly be at <i>Hispaniola</i>. <span class="sidenote">March.</span> De Pointis, +however, did not arrive till the beginning of March, when he made <i>Cape +François</i>, but did not anchor there; preferring the Western part of +<i>Hispaniola</i>, 'fresh water being better and more easy to be got at <i>Cape +Tiburon</i> than at any other part.' M. du Casse had, with some difficulty, +kept the Flibustiers together beyond the time specified, and they were +soon dissatisfied with the deportment of the Baron de Pointis, which was +more imperious than they had been accustomed to from any Commander.<!--316.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[p. 304]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Character of the Buccaneers by M. de Pointis.</span> M. de Pointis +published a history of his expedition, in which he relates that at the +first meeting between him and M. du Casse, he expressed himself +dissatisfied at the small number of men provided; 'but,' says he, 'M. du +Casse assured me that the Buccaneers were at this time collected, and +would every man of them perform wonders. It is the good fortune of all the +pirates in these parts to be called Buccaneers. These freebooters are, for +the most part, composed of those that desert from ships that come upon the +coast: the advantage they bring to the Governors, protects them against +the prosecution of the law. All who are apprehended as vagabonds in +<i>France</i>, and can give no account of themselves, are sent to these +Islands, where they are obliged to serve for three years. The first that +gets them, obliges them to work in the plantations; at the end of the term +of servitude, somebody lends them a gun, and to sea they go a +buccaneering.' It is proper to hint here, that when M. de Pointis +published his Narrative, he was at enmity with the Buccaneers, and had a +personal interest in bringing the buccaneer character into disrepute. Many +of his remarks upon them, nevertheless, are not less just than +characteristic. He continues his description; 'They were formerly +altogether independent. Of late years they have been reduced under the +government of the coast of <i>St. Domingo</i>: they have commissions given +them, for which they pay the tenth of all prizes, and are now called the +King's subjects. The Governors of our settlements in <i>Saint Domingo</i> being +enriched by them, do mightily extol them for the damages they do to the +Spaniards. This infamous profession which an impunity for all sorts of +crimes renders so much beloved, has within a few years lost us above six +thousand men, who might have improved and peopled the colony. At present +they are pleased to be called the King's subjects; yet it is with so <!--317.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[p. 305]</a></span>much +arrogance, as obliges all who are desirous to make use of them, to court +them in the most flattering terms. This was not agreeable to my +disposition, and considering them as his Majesty's subjects which the +Governor was ordered to deliver to me, I plainly told them that they +should find me a Commander to lead them on, but not as a companion to +them.'</p> + +<p>The expedition, though it was not yet made known, or even yet pretended to +be determined, against what place it should be directed, was expected to +yield both honour and profit. The Buccaneers would not quarrel with a +promising enterprise under a spirited and experienced commander, for a +little haughtiness in his demeanour towards them; but they demanded to +have clearly specified the share of the prize money and plunder to which +they should be entitled, and it was stipulated by mutual agreement 'that +the Flibustiers and Colonists should, man for man, have the same shares of +booty that were allowed to the men on board the King's ships.' As so many +men were to embark from M. du Casse's government, he proposed to go at +their head, and desired to know of M. de Pointis what rank would be +allowed him. M. du Casse was a mariner by profession, and had the rank of +Captain in the French Navy. De Pointis told him that the highest character +he knew him in, was that which he derived from his commission as +<i>Capitaine de Vaisseau</i>, and that if he embarked in the expedition, he +must be content to serve in that quality according to his seniority.</p> + +<p>M. du Casse nevertheless chose to go, though it was generally thought he +was not allowed the honours and consideration which were his due as +Governor of the French Colonies at <i>St. Domingo</i>, and Commander of so +large a portion of the men engaged in the expedition. It was settled, that +the Flibustiers should embark partly in their own cruising vessels, and +partly on board the <!--318.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[p. 306]</a></span>ships of M. de Pointis' squadron, and should be +furnished with six weeks provisions. A review was made, to prevent any but +able men of the Colony being taken; negroes who served, if free, were to +be allowed shares like other men; if slaves and they were killed, their +masters were to be paid for them.</p> + +<p>Two copies of the agreement respecting the sharing of booty were posted up +in public places at <i>Petit Goave</i>, and a copy was delivered to M. du +Casse, the Governor. M. de Pointis consulted with M. du Casse what +enterprise they should undertake, but the determination wholly rested with +M. de Pointis. 'There was added,' M. de Pointis says, 'without my +knowledge, to the directions sent to Governor du Casse, that he was to +give assistance to our undertaking, without damage to, or endangering, his +Colony. This restriction did in some measure deprive me of the power of +commanding his forces, seeing he had an opportunity of pretending to keep +them for the preservation of the Colony.' M. du Casse made no pretences to +withhold, but gave all the assistance in his power. He was an advocate for +attacking the City of <i>San Domingo</i>. This was the wish of most of the +colonists, and perhaps was what would have been of more advantage to +<i>France</i> than any other expedition they could have undertaken. But the +armament having been prepared principally at private expence, it was +reasonable for the contributors to look to their own reimbursement. To +attack the City of <i>San Domingo</i> was not approved; other plans were +proposed, but <i>Carthagena</i> seems to have been the original object of the +projectors of the expedition, and the attack of that city was determined +upon. Before the Flibustiers and other colonists embarked, a disagreement +happened which had nearly made them refuse altogether to join in the +expedition. The officers of De Pointis' fleet had imbibed <!--319.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[p. 307]</a></span>the sentiments +of their Commander respecting the Flibustiers or Buccaneers, and followed +the example of his manners towards them. The fleet was lying at <i>Petit +Goave</i>, and M. de Pointis, giving to himself the title of General of the +Armies of <i>France</i> by Sea and by Land in <i>America</i>, had placed a guard in +a Fort there. M. du Casse, as he had received no orders from <i>Europe</i> to +acknowledge any superior within his government, might have considered such +an exercise of power to be an encroachment on his authority which it +became him to resist; but he acted in this, and in other instances, like a +man overawed. The officer of M. de Pointis who commanded the guard on +shore, arrested a Flibustier for disorderly behaviour, and held him +prisoner in the fort. The Flibustiers surrounded the fort in a tumultuous +manner to demand his release, and the officer commanded his men to fire +upon them, by which three of the Flibustiers were killed. It required some +address and civility on the part of M. de Pointis himself, as well as the +assistance of M. du Casse, to appease the Flibustiers; and the officer who +had committed the offence was sent on board under arrest.</p> + +<p>The force furnished from M. du Casse's government, consisted of nearly 700 +Flibustiers, 170 soldiers from the garrisons, and as many volunteer +inhabitants and negroes as made up about 1200 men. The whole armament +consisted of seven large ships, and eleven frigates, besides store ships +and smaller vessels; and, reckoning persons of all classes, 6000 men.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">April. Siege of Carthagena by the French.</span> The +Fleet arrived off <i>Carthagena</i> on April the 13th, and the landing was +effected on the 15th. It is not necessary to relate all the particulars of +this siege, in which the Buccaneers bore only a part. That part however +was of essential importance.</p> + +<p>M. de Pointis, in the commencement, appointed the whole of the +Flibustiers, without any mixture of the King's troops, to a service of +great danger, which raised a suspicion, of partiality <!--320.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[p. 308]</a></span>and of an intention +to save the men he brought with him from <i>Europe</i>, as regarding them to be +more peculiarly his own men. An eminence about a mile to the Eastward of +the City of <i>Carthagena</i>, on which was a church named <i>Nuestra Senora de +la Poupa</i>, commands all the avenues and approaches on the land side to the +city. 'I had been assured,' says M. de Pointis, 'that if we did not seize +the hill <i>de la Poupa</i> immediately on our arrival, all the treasure would +be carried off. To get possession of this post, I resolved to land the +Buccaneers in the night of the same day on which we came to anchor, they +being proper for such an attempt, as being accustomed to marching and +subsisting in the woods.' M. de Pointis takes this occasion to accuse the +Buccaneers of behaving less heroically than M. du Casse had boasted they +would, and that it was not without murmuring that they embarked in the +boats in order to their landing. It is however due to them on the score of +courage and exertion, to remark, though in some degree it is anticipation, +that no part of the force under M. de Pointis shewed more readiness or +performed better service in the siege than the Buccaneers.</p> + +<p>There was uncertainty about the most proper place for landing, and M. de +Pointis went himself in a boat to examine near the shore to the North of +the city. The surf rolled in heavy, by which his boat was filled, and was +with difficulty saved from being stranded on a rock. The proposed landing +was given up as impracticable, and M. de Pointis became of opinion that +<i>Carthagena</i> was approachable only by the lake which makes the harbour, +the entrance to which, on account of its narrowness, was called the +<i>Bocca-chica</i>, and was defended by a strong fort.</p> + +<p>The Fleet sailed for the <i>Bocca-chica</i>, and on the 15th some of the ships +began to cannonade the Fort. The first landing was effected at the same +time by a corps of eighty negroes, without <!--321.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[p. 309]</a></span>any mixture of the King's +troops. This was a second marked instance of the Commander's partial +attention to the preservation of the men he brought from <i>France</i>. M. de +Pointis despised the Flibustiers, and probably regarded negroes as next to +nothing. He was glad however to receive them as his companions in arms, +and it was an honour due from him to all under his command, as far as +circumstances would admit without injury to service, to share the dangers +equally, or at least without partiality.</p> + +<p>The 16th, which was the day next after the landing, the Castle of +<i>Bocca-chica</i> surrendered. This was a piece of good fortune much beyond +expectation, and was obtained principally by the dexterous management of a +small party of the Buccaneers; which drew commendation even from M. de +Pointis. 'Among the chiefs of these Buccaneers,' he says, 'there may be +about twenty men who deserve to be distinguished for their courage; it not +being my intention to comprehend them in the descriptions which I make of +the others.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">May. The City capitulates.</span> De Pointis conducted +the siege with diligence and spirit. The <i>Nuestra Senora de la Poupa</i> was +taken possession of on the 17th; and on the 3d of May, the City +capitulated. The terms of the Capitulation were,</p> + +<p>That all public effects and office accounts should be delivered to the +captors.</p> + +<p>That merchants should produce their books of accounts, and deliver up all +money and effects held by them for their correspondents.</p> + +<p>That every inhabitant should be free to leave the city, or to remain in +his dwelling. That those who retired from the city should first deliver up +all their property there to the captors. That those who chose to remain, +should declare faithfully, under penalty of entire confiscation, the gold, +silver, and <!--322.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[p. 310]</a></span>jewels, in their possession; on which condition, and +delivering up one half, they should be permitted to retain the other half, +and afterwards be regarded as subjects of <i>France</i>.</p> + +<p>That the churches and religious houses should be spared and protected.</p> + +<p>The French General on entering the Town with his troops, went first to the +cathedral to attend the <i>Te Deum</i>. He next sent for the Superiors of the +convents and religious houses, to whom he explained the meaning of the +article of the capitulation promising them protection, which was, that +their houses should not be destroyed; but that it had no relation to money +in their possession, which they were required to deliver up. Otherwise, he +observed, it would be in their power to collect in their houses all the +riches of the city. He caused it to be publicly rumoured that he was +directed by the Court to keep possession of <i>Carthagena</i>, and that it +would be made a French Colony. To give colour to this report, he appointed +M. du Casse to be Governor of the City. He strictly prohibited the troops +from entering any house until it had undergone the visitation of officers +appointed by himself, some of which officers it was supposed, embezzled +not less than 100,000 crowns each. A reward was proclaimed for informers +of concealed treasure, of one-tenth of all treasure discovered by them. +'The hope of securing a part, with the fear of bad neighbours and false +friends, induced the inhabitants to be forward in disclosing their riches, +and Tilleul who was charged with receiving the treasure, was not able to +weigh the specie fast enough.'</p> + +<p>M. du Casse, in the exercise of what he conceived to be the duties of his +new office of Governor of <i>Carthagena</i>, had begun to take cognizance of +the money which the inhabitants brought in according to the capitulation; +but M. de Pointis was desirous that he should not be at any trouble on +that head. <!--323.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[p. 311]</a></span>High words passed between them, in consequence of which, Du +Casse declined further interference in what was transacting, and retired +to a house in the suburbs. This was quitting the field to an antagonist +who would not fail to make his advantage of it; whose refusal to admit +other witnesses to the receipt of money than those of his own appointment, +was a strong indication, whatever contempt he might profess or really feel +for the Flibustiers, that he was himself of as stanch Flibustier +principles as any one of the gentry of the coast. Some time afterwards, +however, M. du Casse thought proper to send a formal representation to the +General, that it was nothing more than just that some person of the colony +should be present at the receipt of the money. The General returned +answer, that what M. du Casse proposed, was in itself a matter perfectly +indifferent; but that it would be an insult to his own dignity, and +therefore he could not permit it.</p> + +<p>The public collection of plunder by authority did not save the city from +private pillage. In a short time all the plate disappeared from the +churches. Houses were forcibly entered by the troops, and as much violence +committed as if no capitulation had been granted. M. de Pointis, when +complained to by the aggrieved inhabitants, gave orders for the prevention +of outrage, but was at no pains to make them observed. It appears that the +Flibustiers were most implicated in these disorders. Many of the +inhabitants who had complied with the terms of the capitulation, seeing +the violences every where committed, hired Flibustiers to be guards in +their houses, hoping that by being well paid they would be satisfied and +protect them against others. Some observed this compact and were faithful +guardians; but the greater number robbed those they undertook to defend. +For this among other reasons, De Pointis resolved to rid the city of them. +On a report, <!--324.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[p. 312]</a></span>which it is said himself caused to be spread, that an army +of 10,000 Indians were approaching <i>Carthagena</i>, he ordered the +Flibustiers out to meet them. Without suspecting any deception, they went +forth, and were some days absent seeking the reported enemy. As they were +on the return, a message met them from the General, purporting, that he +apprehended their presence in the city would occasion some disturbance, +and he therefore desired them to stop without the gates. On receiving this +message, they broke out into imprecations, and resolved not to delay their +return to the city, nor to be kept longer in ignorance of what was passing +there. When they arrived at the gates they found them shut and guarded by +the King's troops. Whilst they deliberated on what they should next do, +another message, more conciliating in language than the former, came to +them from M. de Pointis, in which he said that it was by no means his +intention to interdict them from entering <i>Carthagena</i>; that he only +wished they would not enter so soon, nor all at one time, for fear of +frightening the inhabitants, who greatly dreaded their presence. The +Flibustiers knew not how to help themselves, and were necessitated to take +up their quarters without the city walls, where they were kept fifteen +days, by which time the collection of treasure from the inhabitants was +completed, the money weighed, secured in chests, and great part embarked. +De Pointis says, 'as fast as the money was brought in, it was immediately +carried on board the King's ships.' The uneasiness and impatience of the +Flibustiers for distribution of the booty may easily be imagined. On their +re-admission to the city, the merchandise was put up to sale by auction, +and the produce joined to the former collection; but no distribution took +place, and the Flibustiers were loud in their importunities. M. de Pointis +assigned as a reason for the delay, that the clerks employed in the +business had not made <!--325.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[p. 313]</a></span>up the accounts. He says in his Narrative, 'I was +not so ill served by my spies as not to be informed of the seditious +discourses held by some wholly abandoned to their own interest, upon the +money being carried on board the King's ships.' To allay the ferment, he +ordered considerable gratifications to be paid to the Buccaneer captains, +also compensations to the Buccaneers who had been maimed or wounded, and +rewards to be given to some who had most distinguished themselves during +the siege;—and he spoke with so much appearance of frankness of his +intention, as soon as ever he should receive the account of the whole, to +make a division which should be satisfactory to all parties, that the +Buccaneers were persuaded to remain quiet.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Value of the Plunder.</span> The value of the plunder is variously +reported. Much of the riches of the city had been carried away on the +first alarm of the approach of an enemy. De Pointis says 110 mules laden +with gold went out in the course of four days. 'Nevertheless, the honour +acquired to his Majesty's arms, besides near eight or nine millions that +could not escape us, consoled us for the rest.' Whether these eight or +nine millions were crowns or livres M. de Pointis' account does not +specify. It is not improbable he meant it should be understood as livres. +Many were of opinion that the value of the booty was not less than forty +millions of livres; M. du Casse estimated it at above twenty millions, +besides merchandise.</p> + +<p>M. de Pointis now made known that on account of the unhealthiness of the +situation, he had changed his intention of leaving a garrison and keeping +<i>Carthagena</i>, for that already more Frenchmen had died there by sickness +than he had lost in the siege. He ordered the cannon of the <i>Bocca-chica +Castle</i> to be taken on board the ships, and the Castle to be demolished. +On the 25th of May, orders were issued for the <!--326.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[p. 314]</a></span>troops to embark; and at +the same time he embarked himself without having given any previous notice +of his intention so to do to M. du Casse, from whom he had parted but a +few minutes before. The ships of the King's fleet began to take up their +anchors to move towards the entrance of the harbour, and M. de. Pointis +sent an order to M. du Casse for the Buccaneers and the people of the +Colony to embark on board their own vessels.</p> + +<p>M. du Casse sent two of his principal officers to the General to demand +that justice should be done to the Colonists. Still the accounts were said +not to be ready; but on the 29th, the King's fleet being ready for sea, M. +du Pointis sent to M. du Casse the Commissary's account, which stated the +share of the booty due to the Colonists, including the Governor and the +Buccaneers, to be 40,000 crowns.</p> + +<p>What the customary manner of dividing prize money in the French navy was +at that time, is not to be understood from the statement given by De +Pointis, which says, 'that the King had been pleased to allow to the +several ships companies, a tenth of the first million, and a thirtieth +part of all the rest.' Here it is not specified whether the million of +which the ships companies were to be allowed one-tenth, is to be +understood a million of <i>Louis</i>, a million crowns, or a million livres. +The difference of construction in a large capture would be nearly as three +to one. It requires explanation likewise what persons are meant to be +included in the term 'ships companies.' Sometimes it is used to signify +the common seamen, without including the officers; and for them, the +one-tenth is certainly not too large a share. That in any military +service, public or private, one-tenth of captures or of plunder should be +deemed adequate gratification for the services of all the captors, +officers included, seems scarcely credible. In the <i>Carthagena</i> expedition +it is <!--327.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[p. 315]</a></span>also to be observed, that the dues of the crown were in some +measure compromised by the admission of private contributions towards +defraying the expence. The Flibustiers had contributed by furnishing their +own vessels to the service.</p> + +<p>Du Casse when he saw the account, did not immediately communicate it to +his Colonists, deterred at first probably by something like shame, and an +apprehension that they would reproach him with weakness for having yielded +so much as he had all along done to the insulting and imperious +pretensions of De Pointis. Afterwards through discretion, he delayed +making the matter public until the Colonists had all embarked and their +vessels had sailed from the city. He then sent for the Captains, and +acquainted them with the distribution intended by M. de Pointis, and they +informed their crews.<!--328.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[p. 316]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="CHAP_XXVII" id="CHAP_XXVII"></a>CHAP. XXVII.</h3> + +<div class="ChapDescr"><i>Second Plunder of </i>Carthagena<i>. Peace of </i>Ryswick, in 1697<i>. Entire +Suppression of the </i>Buccaneers<i> and </i>Flibustiers<i>.</i></div> + + +<p><span class="sidenote">1697. May.</span> The share which M. de Pointis had allotted of the +plunder of <i>Carthagena</i> to the Buccaneers, fell so short of their +calculations, and was felt as so great an aggravation of the contemptuous +treatment they had before received, that their rage was excessive, and in +their first transports they proposed to board the Sceptre, a ship of 84 +guns, on board which M. de Pointis carried his flag. This was too +desperate a scheme to be persevered in. After much deliberation, one among +them exclaimed, 'It is useless to trouble ourselves any farther about such +a villain as De Pointis; let him go with what he has got; he has left us +our share at <i>Carthagena</i>, and thither we must return to seek it.' The +proposition was received with general applause by these remorseless +robbers, whose desire for vengeance on De Pointis was all at once +obliterated by the mention of an object that awakened their greediness for +plunder. They got their vessels under sail, and stood back to the devoted +city, doomed by them to pay the forfeit for the dishonesty of their +countryman.</p> + +<p>The matter was consulted and determined upon without M. du Casse being +present, and the ship in which he had embarked was left by the rest +without company. When he perceived what they were bent upon, he sent +orders to them to desist, which he accompanied with a promise to demand +redress for them in <i>France</i>; but neither the doubtful prospect of distant +redress held out, nor respect for his orders, <!--329.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[p. 317]</a></span>had any effect in +restraining them. M. du Casse sent an officer to M. de Pointis, who had +not yet sailed from the entrance of <i>Carthagena Harbour</i>, to inform him +that the Buccaneers, in defiance of all order and in breach of the +capitulation which had been granted to the city, were returning thither to +plunder it again; but M. de Pointis in sending the Commissary's account +had closed his intercourse with the Buccaneers and with the Colonists, at +least for the remainder of his expedition. M. du Casse's officer was told +that the General was so ill that he could not be spoken with. The Officer +went to the next senior Captain in command of the fleet, who, on being +informed of the matter, said, 'the Buccaneers were great rogues, and ought +to be hanged;' but as no step could be taken to prevent the mischief, +without delaying the sailing of the fleet, the chief commanders of which +were impatient to see their booty in a place of greater security, none was +taken, and <span class="sidenote">June.</span> on the 1st of June the King's fleet sailed +for <i>France</i>, leaving <i>Carthagena</i> to the discretion of the Buccaneers. M. +de Pointis claims being ignorant of what was transacting. 'On the 30th of +May,' he says, 'I was taken so ill, that all I could do, before I fell +into a condition that deprived me of my intellect, was to acquaint Captain +Levi that I committed the care of the squadron to him.'</p> + +<p>If M. de Pointis acted fairly by the people who came from <i>France</i> and +returned with him, it must be supposed that in his sense of right and +wrong he held the belief, that 'to rob a rogue is no breach of honesty.' +But it was said of him, '<i>Il etoit capable de former un grand dessein, et +de rien epargner pour le faire réussir</i>;' the English phrase for which is, +'he would stick at nothing.'</p> + +<p>On the 1st of June, M. du Casse also sailed from <i>Carthagena</i> to return to +<i>St. Domingo</i>. Thus were the Flibustiers abandoned <!--330.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[p. 318]</a></span>to their own will by +all the authorities whose duty it was to have restrained them.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants of <i>Carthagena</i> seeing the buccaneer ships returning to +the city, waited in the most anxious suspense to learn the cause. The +Flibustiers on landing, seized on all the male inhabitants they could lay +hold of, and shut them up in the great church. They posted up a kind of +manifesto in different parts of the city, setting forth the justice of +their second invasion of <i>Carthagena</i>, which they grounded on the perfidy +of the French General De Pointis ('<i>que nous vous permettons de charger de +toutes les maledictions imaginables</i>,') and on their own necessities. +Finally, they demanded five millions of livres as the price of their +departing again without committing disorder. It seems strange that the +Buccaneers could expect to raise so much money in a place so recently +plundered. Nevertheless, by terrifying their prisoners, putting some to +the torture, ransacking the tombs, and other means equally abhorrent, in +four days time they had nearly made up the proposed sum. It happened that +two Flibustiers killed two women of <i>Carthagena</i> in some manner, or under +some circumstances, that gave general offence, and raised indignation in +the rest of the Flibustiers, who held a kind of trial and condemned them +to be shot, which was done in presence of many of the inhabitants. The +Buccaneer histories praise this as an act of extraordinary justice, and a +set-off against their cruelties and robberies, such as gained them the +esteem even of the Spaniards. The punishment, however merited, was a +matter of caprice. It is no where pretended that they ever made a law to +themselves to forbid their murdering their prisoners; in very many +instances they had not refrained, and in no former instance had it been +attended with punishment. The putting these two murderers to death +therefore, as it related to themselves, <!--331.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[p. 319]</a></span>was an arbitrary and lawless act. +If the women had been murdered for the purpose of coming at their money, +it could not have incurred blame from the rest. These remarks are not +intended in disapprobation of the act, which was very well; but too highly +extolled.</p> + +<p>Having almost completed their collection, they began to dispute about the +division, the Flibustiers pretending that the more regular settlers of the +colony (being but landsmen) were not entitled to an equal share with +themselves, when a bark arrived from <i>Martinico</i> which was sent expressly +to give them notice that a fleet of English and Dutch ships of war had +just arrived in the <i>West Indies</i>. This news made them hasten their +departure, and shortened or put an end to their disputes; for previous to +sailing, they made a division of the gold and silver, in which each man +shared nearly a thousand crowns; the merchandise and negroes being +reserved for future division, and which it was expected would produce much +more.</p> + +<p>The Commanders of the English and Dutch squadrons, on arriving at +<i>Barbadoes</i>, learnt that the French had taken <i>Carthagena</i>. They sailed on +for that place, and had almost reached it, when they got sight of De +Pointis' squadron, to which they gave chase, but which escaped from them +by superior sailing.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">An English and Dutch Squadron fall in with the Buccaneers.</span> On +the 3d or 4th of June, the Flibustiers sailed from <i>Carthagena</i> in nine +vessels, and had proceeded thirty leagues of their route towards +<i>Hispaniola</i>, when they came in sight of the English and Dutch fleet. They +dispersed, every one using his best endeavours to save himself by flight. +The two richest ships were taken; two were driven on shore and wrecked, +one of them near <i>Carthagena</i>, and her crew fell into the hands of the +Spaniards, who would have been justified in treating them as pirates; but +they were only made to work on the fortifications. The five others had the +good fortune to reach <i>Isle Avache</i>.<!--332.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[p. 320]</a></span> +To conclude the history of the Carthagena expedition, a suit was +instituted in <i>France</i> against M. de Pointis and the <i>armateurs</i>, in +behalf of the Colonists and Flibustiers, and a decree was obtained in +their favour for 1,400,000 livres; but the greater part of the sum was +swallowed up by the expenses of the suit, and the embezzlements of agents.</p> + +<p>The Carthagena expedition was the last transaction in which the +Flibustiers or Buccaneers made a conspicuous figure. It turned out to +their disadvantage in many respects; but chiefly in stripping them of +public favour. <span class="sidenote">September. Peace of Ryswick.</span> In September 1697, +an end was put to the war, by a Treaty signed at <i>Ryswick</i>. By this +treaty, the part of the Island <i>St. Christopher</i> which had belonged to the +French was restored to them.</p> + +<p>In earlier times, peace, by releasing the Buccaneers from public demands +on their services, left them free to pursue their own projects, with an +understood license or privilege to cruise or form any other enterprise +against the Spaniards, without danger of being subjected to enquiry; but +the aspect of affairs in this respect was now greatly altered. <span class="sidenote"> +Causes which led to the suppression of the Buccaneers.</span> The Treaty of 1670 +between <i>Great Britain</i> and <i>Spain</i>, with the late alliance of those +powers against <i>France</i>, had put an end to buccaneering in <i>Jamaica</i>; the +scandal of the second plunder of <i>Carthagena</i> lay heavy on the Flibustiers +of <i>St. Domingo</i>; and a circumstance in which both <i>Great Britain</i> and +<i>France</i> were deeply interested, went yet more strongly to the entire +suppression of the cruisings of the Buccaneers, and to the dissolution of +their piratical union; which was, the King of <i>Spain</i>, Charles the IId. +being in a weak state of health, without issue, and the succession to the +crown of <i>Spain</i> believed to depend upon his will. On this last account, +the kings of <i>Great Britain</i> and <i>France</i> were earnest in their endeavours +to give satisfaction to <i>Spain</i>. Louis <span class="smcap">XIV.</span> sent back from <i>France</i> to +<i>Carthagena</i> the silver <!--333.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[p. 321]</a></span>ornaments of which the churches there had been +stripped; and distinction was no longer admitted in the French Settlements +between Flibustier and Pirate. The Flibustiers themselves had grown tired +of preserving the distinction; for after the Peace of <i>Ryswick</i> had been +fully notified in the <i>West Indies</i>, they continued to seize and plunder +the ships of the English and Dutch, till complaint was made to the French +Governor of <i>Saint Domingo</i>, M. du Casse, who thought proper to make +indemnification to the sufferers. Fresh prohibitions and proclamations +were issued, and <i>encouragement</i> was given to the adventurers to become +planters. The French were desirous to obtain permission to trade in the +Spanish ports of the <i>Terra Firma</i>. Charlevoix says, 'the Spaniards were +charmed by the sending back the ornaments taken from the churches at +<i>Carthagena</i>, and it was hoped to gain them entirely by putting a stop to +the cruisings of the Flibustiers. The commands of the King were strict and +precise on this head; that the Governor should persuade the Flibustiers to +make themselves inhabitants, and in default of prevailing by persuasion, +to use force.'</p> + +<p>Many Flibustiers and Buccaneers did turn planters, or followed their +profession of mariner in the ships of merchants. Attachment to old habits, +difficulties in finding employment, and being provided with vessels fit +for cruising, made many persist in their former courses. The evil most +grievously felt by them was their proscribed state, which left them no +place in the <i>West Indies</i> where they might riot with safety and to their +liking, in the expenditure of their booty. Not having the same inducement +as formerly to limit themselves to the plundering one people, they +extended their scope of action, and robbed vessels of all nations. Most of +those who were in good vessels, quitted the West Indian Seas, and went +roving to different parts of the world. Mention is made of pirates or +buccaneers being in the <i>South Sea</i> in the year 1697, but their particular +deeds <!--334.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[p. 322]</a></span>are not related; and Robert Drury, who was shipwrecked at +<i>Madagascar</i> in the year 1702, relates, 'King Samuel's messenger then +desired to know what they demanded for me? To which, Deaan Crindo sent +word that they required two <i>buccaneer</i> guns.'</p> + +<p>At the time of the Peace of <i>Ryswick</i>, the Darien Indians, having +quarrelled with the Spaniards, had become reconciled to the Flibustiers, +and several of the old Flibustiers afterwards settled on the <i>Isthmus</i> and +married Darien women.</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Providence Island.</span> One of the <i>Lucayas</i>, or <i>Bahama Islands</i>, +had been settled by the English, under the name of <i>Providence Island</i>. It +afforded good anchorage, and the strength of the settlement was small, +which were conveniencies to pirates that induced them to frequent it; and, +according to the proverbial effect of evil communication, the inhabitants +were tempted to partake of their plunder, and assist in their robberies, +by purchasing their prize goods, and supplying them with all kinds of +stores and necessaries. This was for several years so gainful a business +to the Settlement, as to cause it to be proverbial in the <i>West Indies</i>; +that 'Shipwrecks and Pirates were the only hopes of the <i>Island +Providence</i>.'</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">1700-1. Accession of Philip Vth. to the Throne of Spain.</span> In +three years after the Peace of <i>Ryswick</i>, Charles the IId of Spain died, +and a Prince of the House of Bourbon mounted the Spanish Throne, which +produced a close union of interests between <i>France</i> and <i>Spain</i>. The +ports of Spanish America, both in the <i>West Indies</i> and in the <i>South +Sea</i>, were laid open to the merchants of <i>France</i>. The <i>Noticia de las +Expediciones al Magalhanes</i> notices the great resort of the French to the +<i>Pacific Ocean</i>, 'who in an extraordinary manner enriched themselves +during the war of the Spanish succession.' In the French Settlements in +the <i>West Indies</i> the name of Flibustier, because it implied enmity to the +Spaniards, was no longer tolerated.</p> + +<p>On the breaking out of the war between <i>Great Britain</i> and <!--335.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[p. 323]</a></span><i>France</i> which +followed the Spanish succession, the English drove the French out of <i>St. +Christopher</i>, and it has since remained wholly to <i>Great Britain</i>. M. le +Comte de Gennes, a Commander in the French Navy, who a few years before +had made an unsuccessful voyage to the <i>Strait of Magalhanes</i>, was the +Governor of the French part of the Island at the time of the +surrender<a name="FNanchor_90_90" id="FNanchor_90_90"></a><a href="#Footnote_90_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a>.</p> + +<p>During this war, the Governors of <i>Providence</i> exercised their authority +in granting commissions, or <i>letters of reprisal</i>; and created Admiralty +Courts, for the <i>condemnation</i> of captured vessels: for under some of the +Governors no vessels brought to the adjudication of the Court escaped that +sentence. These were indirect acts of piracy.</p> + +<p>The last achievement related of the Flibustiers, happened in 1702, when a +party of Englishmen, having commission from the Governor of <i>Jamaica</i>, +landed on the <i>Isthmus</i> near the <i>Samballas Isles</i>, where they were joined +by some of the old Flibustiers who lived among the Darien Indians, and +also by 300 of the Indians. They marched to some mines from which they +drove the Spaniards, and took 70 negroes. They kept the negroes at work in +the mines twenty-one days; but in all this exploit they obtained no more +than about eighty pounds weight of gold.</p> + +<p>Here then terminates the History of the Buccaneers of <i>America</i>. Their +distinctive mark, which they undeviatingly <!--336.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[p. 324]</a></span>preserved nearly two +centuries, was, their waging constant war against the Spaniards, and +against them only. Many peculiarities have been attributed to the +Buccaneers in other respects, some of which can apply only to their +situation as hunters of cattle, and some existed rather in the writer's +fancy than in reality. Mariners are generally credited for being more +eccentric in their caprices than other men; which, if true, is to be +accounted for by the circumstances of their profession; and it happens +that they are most subjected to observation at the times when they are +fresh in the possession of liberty and money, earned by long confinement +and labour.</p> + +<p>It may be said of the Buccaneers that they were, in general, courageous +according to the character of their leader; often rash, alternately +negligent and vigilant, and always addicted to pleasure and idleness. It +will help to illustrate the manners and qualifications of the Buccaneers +in the <i>South Sea</i>, to give an extract from the concluding part of +Dampier's manuscript journal of his Voyage round the World with the +Buccaneers, and will also establish a fact which has been mentioned before +only as a matter surmised<a name="FNanchor_91_91" id="FNanchor_91_91"></a><a href="#Footnote_91_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a>. Dampier says,</p> + +<p><span class="sidenote">Extract from Dampier.</span> 'September the 20th, 1691, arrived in +the <i>Downs</i> to my great joy and satisfaction, having in my voyage ran +clear round the Globe.—I might have been master of the ship we first +sailed in if I would have accepted it, for it was known to most men on +board that I kept a Journal, and all that knew me did ever judge my +accounts were kept as correct as any man's. Besides, that most, if not all +others who kept journals in the voyage, lost them before they got to +<i>Europe</i>, whereas I preserved my writing. Yet I see that some men are not +so well pleased with my account as if it came from any of the Commanders +that were in the <i>South Sea</i>, though <!--337.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[p. 325]</a></span>most of them, I think all but +Captain Swan, were incapable of keeping a sea journal, and took no account +of any action, neither did they make any observations. But I am only to +answer for myself, and if I have not given satisfaction to my friends in +what I have written, the fault is in the meanness of my information, and +not in me who have been faithful as to what came to my knowledge.'</p> + +<p>Countenanced as the Buccaneers were, it is not in the least surprising +that they became so numerous. With the same degree of encouragement at the +present time, the Seas would be filled with such adventurers. It was +fortunate for the Spaniards, and perhaps for the other maritime Nations of +<i>Europe</i>, that the Buccaneers did not make conquest and settlement so much +their object as they did plunder; and that they took no step towards +making themselves independent, whilst it was in their power. Among their +Chiefs were some of good capacity; but only two of them, Mansvelt and +Morgan, appear to have contemplated any scheme of regular settlement +independent of the European Governments, and the time was then gone by. +Before <i>Tortuga</i> was taken possession of for the Crown of <i>France</i>, such a +project might have been undertaken with great advantage. The English and +French Buccaneers were then united; <i>England</i> was deeply engaged and fully +occupied by a civil war; and the jealousy which the Spaniards entertained +of the encroachments of the French in the <i>West Indies</i>, kept at a +distance all probability of their coalescing to suppress the Buccaneers. +If they had chosen at that time to have formed for themselves any regular +mode of government, it appears not very improbable that they might have +become a powerful independent State.</p> + +<p>In the history of so much robbery and outrage, the rapacity shewn in some +instances by the European Governments in their <!--338.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[p. 326]</a></span>West-India transactions, +and by Governors of their appointment, appears in a worse light than that +of the Buccaneers, from whom, they being professed ruffians, nothing +better was expected. The superior attainments of Europeans, though they +have done much towards their own civilization, chiefly in humanising their +institutions, have, in their dealings with the inhabitants of the rest of +the globe, with few exceptions, been made the instruments of usurpation +and extortion.</p> + +<p>After the suppression of the Buccaneers, and partly from their relicks, +arose a race of pirates of a more desperate cast, so rendered by the +increased danger of their occupation, who for a number of years preyed +upon the commerce of all nations, till they were hunted down, and, it may +be said, exterminated. Of one crew of pirates who were brought before a +Court of Justice, fifty-two men were condemned and executed at one time, +in the year 1722.</p> + + +<div class="center">FINIS.</div> + + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + + + + +<h3><a name="FOOTNOTES" id="FOOTNOTES"></a>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> <i>Lebreles de pressa.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> The name <i>Saint Domingo</i> was afterwards applied to the whole +Island by the French, who, whilst they contested the possession with the +Spaniards, were desirous to supersede the use of the name <i>Española</i> or +<i>Hispaniola</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> <i>Historia General de las Indias</i>, por <i>Gonç. Hernandez de +Oviedo</i>, lib. 19. cap. 13. Also <i>Hakluyt</i>, vol. iii. p. 499, edit. 1600.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> <i>Camden's Elizabeth</i>, <span class="smcap">A. D.</span> 1680.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> <i>Hist. des Antilles, par P. du Tertre.</i> Paris, 1667. Tome I. +p. 415.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> <i>La Rochefort, sur le Repas des Carribes.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> <i>History of Brasil, by Robert Southey</i>, p. 17.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> In some of the English accounts the name is written +<i>Bucanier</i>; but uniformity in spelling was not much attended to at that +time. Dampier wrote <i>Buccaneer</i>, which agrees with the present manner of +pronouncing the word, and is to be esteemed the best authority.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> The French account says, that after taking possession of +<i>Tortuga</i>, the Adventurers divided into three classes: that those who +occupied themselves in the chase, took the name of Boucaniers; those who +went on cruises, the name of Flibustiers; and a third class, who +cultivated the soil, called themselves <i>Habitans</i> (Inhabitants.) See +<i>Histoire des Avanturiers qui se sont signalez dans les Indes. Par. Alex. +Ol. Oexmelin</i>. Paris 1688, vol. i. p. 22.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> The Governor or Admiral, who granted the commission, claimed +one tenth of all prizes made under its authority.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> It is proper to mention, that an erroneously printed date, +in the English edition of the <i>Buccaneers of America</i>, occasioned a +mistake to be made in the account given of Narbrough's Voyage, respecting +the time the Buccaneers kept possession of <i>Panama</i>. See Vol. III. of +<i>Voyages and Discoveries in the South Sea</i>, p. 374.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> <i>Theatro Naval Hydrographico.</i> Cap. xi. See also of Peche, +in Vol. III. of <i>South Sea Voyages and Discoveries</i>, p. 392.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> <i>Not. de las Exp. Magal.</i> p. 268, of <i>Ult. Viage al +Estrecho</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> <i>Buccaneers of America</i>, Part III. Ch. xi.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> 'They never forfeit their word. The King has his commission +from the Governor of <i>Jamaica</i>, and at every new Governor's arrival, they +come over to know his pleasure. The King of the Mosquitos was received by +his Grace the Duke of Portland (Governor of <i>Jamaica</i>, <span class="smcap">A. D.</span> 1722-3) with +that courtesy which was natural to him, and with more ceremony than seemed +to be due to a Monarch who held his sovereignty by commission.'—'The +Mosquito Indians had a victory over the Spanish Indians about 30 years +ago, and cut off a number; but gave a Negro who was with them, his life +purely on account of his speaking English.' <i>History of Jamaica.</i> London +1774. Book i. Ch, 12. And <i>British Empire in America</i>, Vol. II. pp. 367 & +371.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> <i>Case of His Majesty's Subjects upon the Mosquito Shore, +most humbly submitted</i>, &c. London, 1789.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> <i>Narrative by Basil Ringrose</i>, p. 5.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> <i>De Rochfort</i> describes this animal under the name +<i>Javaris</i>. <i>Hist. Nat. des Isles Antilles</i>, p. 138, edit. 1665. It is also +described by <i>Pennant</i>, in his <i>Synopsis of Quadrupeds</i>, Art. <i>Mexican +Wild Hog</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> <i>Ringrose.</i> <i>Buccaneers of America</i>, Part IV. p. 10. The +early morning drum has, in our time, been called the <i>Reveiller</i>. Either +that or <i>a travailler</i> seems applicable; for according to <i>Boyer</i>, +<i>travailler</i> signifies to trouble, or disturb, as well as to work; and it +is probable, from the age of the authority above cited, that the original +term was <i>à travailler</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> <i>Narrative by Basil Ringrose</i>, p. 3.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> <i>Ringrose</i>, p. 11.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> <i>Ringrose</i>, Chap. ix.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> No. 48 in the same collection is a manuscript copy of +Ringrose's Journal, but varied in the same manner from the Original as the +printed Narrative.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> <i>Ringrose</i>, p. 44.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> <i>Ringrose</i> and <i>Sharp</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> <i>Sharp's Journal</i>, p. 72.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> <i>Buccaneers of America</i>, Part III, p. 80.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> Nos. 239. and 44. in the <i>Sloane Collection of Manuscripts</i> +in the <i>British Museum</i>, are probably the charts and translation spoken of +above. No. 239. is a book of Spanish charts of the sea-coast of <i>New +Spain</i>, <i>Peru</i>, and <i>Chili</i>, each chart containing a small portion of +coast, on which is drawn a rude likeness of the appearance of the land, +making it at the same time both landscape and chart. They are generally +without compass, latitude, or divisions of any kind by lines, and with no +appearance of correctness, but apparently with knowledge of the +coast.—No. 44. is a copy of the same, or of similar Spanish charts of the +same coast, and is dedicated to King Charles <span class="smcap">II.</span> by Bartholomew Sharp.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> <i>Sharp's Manuscript Journal. Brit. Mus.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> Morgan continued in office at <i>Jamaica</i> during the remainder +of the reign of King Charles the IId.; but was suspected by the Spaniards +of connivance with the Buccaneers, and in the next reign, the Court of +<i>Spain</i> had influence to procure his being sent home prisoner from the +<i>West Indies</i>. He was kept three years in prison; but without charge being +brought forward against him.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> <i>British Empire in America</i>, Vol. II. p. 319.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> <i>Dampier</i>, Vol. I, p. 73.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> In the Sloane Collection, <i>Brit. Mus.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> <i>Cowley's MS. Journal. Sloane Collection</i>, No. 54.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> See also <i>Pernety's Journal</i>, p. 179, English translation.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> <i>Dampier's Manuscript Journal</i>, No. 3236, <i>Sloane +Collection, British Museum</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> The writer of Commodore Anson's Voyage informs us that Juan +Fernandez resided some time on the Island, and afterwards abandoned it.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> <i>Dampier's Voyages</i>, Vol. I, Chap. 5.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> The latter part of the above extract is from Cowley's +Manuscript.—Captain Colnet when at the <i>Galapagos</i> made a similar remark. +He says, 'I was perplexed to form a conjecture how the small birds which +appeared to remain in one spot, supported themselves without water; but +some of our men informed me that as they were reposing beneath a prickly +pear-tree, they observed an old bird in the act of supplying three young +ones with drink, by squeezing the berry of a tree into their mouths. It +was about the size of a pea, and contained a watery juice of an acid and +not unpleasant taste. The bark of the tree yields moisture, and being +eaten allays the thirst. The land tortoise gnaw and suck it. The leaf of +this tree is like that of the bay-tree, the fruit grows like cherries; the +juice of the bark dies the flesh of a deep purple.' <i>Colnet's Voyage to +the South Sea</i>, p. 53.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> <i>Dampier</i>, Vol. I, p. 112.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> <i>Dampier</i>, Vol. I, Chap. 5. This description does not agree +with the Spanish Charts; but no complete regular survey appears yet to +have been made of the Coast of <i>New Spain</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> <i>Dampier</i>, Vol. I, Chap. 5.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> <i>Dampier</i>, Vol. I, Chap. 6.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> <i>Dampier</i>, Vol. I, Chap. 6. To search for this wreck with a +view to recover the treasure in her, was one of the objects of an +expedition from <i>England</i> to the <i>South Sea</i>, which was made a few years +subsequent to this Buccaneer expedition.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> <i>Dampier</i>, Vol. I, Chap. 6.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> <i>Manuscript Journal in the Sloane Collection.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> See <i>Cowley's Voyage</i>, p. 34. Also, Vol. III. of <i>South Sea +Discoveries</i>, p. 305.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> <i>Dampier</i>, Vol. I, Chap. 6.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> Dampier.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> <i>Wafer's Voyages</i>, p. 196.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> <i>Dampier</i>, Vol. I, Chap. 7.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> <i>Journal du Voyage au Mer du Sud, par Rav. de Lussan</i>, p. +25.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> <i>Dampier</i>, Vol. I, Chap. 8.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> <i>Dampier.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> <i>Voyage and Description</i>, &c. <i>by Lionel Wafer</i>, p. 191, and +seq. London, 1699.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> <i>Dampier. Manuscript Journal.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> <i>Wafer's Voyages</i>, p. 208.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> <i>Colnet's Voyage to the Pacific</i>, pp. 156-7.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> <i>Journal of a Cruize to the Pacific Ocean, by Captain David +Porter, in the years 1812-13 & 1814.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> <i>Cruising Voyage round the World, by Captain Woodes Rogers, +in the years 1708 to 1711</i>, pp. 211 and 265, 2d edition. London, 1718.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> <i>Wafer's Voyages</i>, p. 214 & seq.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> <i>Dampier</i>, Vol. I. Chap. 13, p. 352.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> <i>Wafer's Voyages</i>, p. 220.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> <i>Dampier</i>, Vol. I, Chap. 8.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> <i>Dampier</i>, Vol. I, Chap. 9.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> Late Observations place <i>Acapulco</i> in latitude 16° 50′ 41″ +N, and longitude 100° 0′ West of <i>Greenwich</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> <i>Dampier.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> See Chart in Spilbergen's Voyage.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> <i>Dampier's Manuscript Journal.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> <i>Dampier</i>, Vol. I, p. 257.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> In some old manuscript Spanish Charts, the <i>Chametly Isles</i> +are laid down SE-<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>S about 12 leagues distant from <i>Cape Corrientes</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> According to Captain Vancouver, <i>Point Ponteque</i> and <i>Cape +Corrientes</i> are nearly North and South of each other. Dampier was nearest +in-shore.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> The Manuscript says, the farthest of the <i>Chametlan Isles</i> +from the main-land is not more than four miles distant.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> <i>Dampier</i>, Vol. I, Chap. 9.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> <i>Manuscript Journal.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> Dampier's Reckoning made the difference of longitude between +<i>Cape Corrientes</i> and the <i>Island Guahan</i>, 125 degrees; which is 16 +degrees more than it has been found by modern observations.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> <i>Dampier.</i> <i>Manuscript Journal</i>, and Vol. I, Chap. 10. of +his printed Voyages.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> The Ladrone flying proa described in Commodore Anson's +voyage, sailed with the belly or rounded side and its small canoe to +windward; by which it appears that these proas were occasionally managed +either way, probably according to the strength of the wind; the little +parallel boat or canoe preserving the large one upright by its weight when +to windward, and by its buoyancy when to leeward.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> <i>Dampier</i>, Vol. I, Chap. 11.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> <i>Dampier</i>, Vol. I, Chap. 14. The long Island is named +<i>Basseelan</i> in the charts; but the shape there given it does not agree +well with Dampier's description.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> M. de Surville in 1769, and much more lately Captain A. +Murray of the English E. I. Company's Service, found the South end of +<i>Monmouth Island</i> to be in 20° 17′ N.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> <i>Manuscript Journal.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> In the printed Voyage, the shoal is mistakenly said to lie +SbW from the East end of <i>Timor</i>. The Manuscript Journal, and the track of +the ship as marked in the charts to the 1st volume of <i>Dampier's Voyages</i>, +agree in making the place of the shoal SbW from the West end of <i>Timor</i>; +whence they had last taken their departure, and from which their reckoning +was kept.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> <i>A Voyage by Edward Cooke</i>, Vol. I, p. 371. London, 1712.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86_86" id="Footnote_86_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> <i>Raveneau de Lussan</i>, p. 117.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87_87" id="Footnote_87_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> <i>'Ce moyen êtoit a la verité un peu violent, mais c'etoit +l'unique pour mettre les Espagnols à la raison.'</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_88_88" id="Footnote_88_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> <i>Theatro Naval.</i> fol. 61, 1.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_89_89" id="Footnote_89_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> <i>Relation du Voyage de M. de Gennes</i>, p. 106. Paris, 1698.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_90_90" id="Footnote_90_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90_90"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> Père Labat relates a story of a ridiculous effort in +mechanical ingenuity, in which M. de Gennes succeeded whilst he was +Governor at <i>Saint Christopher</i>. 'He made an Automaton in the likeness of +a soldier, which marched and performed sundry actions. It was jocosely +said that M. de Gennes might have defended his government with troops of +his own making. His automaton soldier eat victuals placed before it, which +he digested, by means of a dissolvent,'—<i>P. Labat</i>, Vol. V. p. 349.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_91_91" id="Footnote_91_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91_91"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> See p. <a href="#Page_207">207</a>, near the bottom.</p></div> + +<hr class="Chapter" /> + +<div><a name="Changes" id="Changes"></a>Transcriber's Note: Blank pages have been deleted. Illustrations and +sidenotes may have been moved. Sidenotes may have been merged. The +publisher used the first sidenote at the top of each page as a timeline to +quickly orient the reader. Except for the first one at the beginning of a +chapter, these have been deleted when they duplicated previous sidenotes. +Discovered publisher's punctuation errors have been corrected. In +addition, the following changes were made:</div> + +<pre> + to settle what constitues[constitutes] occupancy. + recommended to King Ferdinand to recal[recall] Ovando. + Pere[Père] Labat describes + first cruisers againt[against] the Spaniards were English + Vattel has decribed[described] this case. + during a time of peace betwen[between] + apppearance[appearance] of the land + and was no[not] otherwise clad than + the rest of his sqadron[squadron] + The fruit is like the sea chesnut[chestnut] + The same kind of maoeuvring[manoeuvring] + of the S[ta] Maria de l'Aguada + and it was in[an] honour due from him + who granted the commisson[commission] + at Saint Christopher. [']He made an Automaton + by means of a dissolvent,[']--P. Labat, +</pre> + +<div><a href="#Start">Start of text.</a></div> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of the Buccaneers of America, by +James Burney + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA *** + +***** This file should be named 37116-h.htm or 37116-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/1/1/37116/ + +Produced by Julia Miller, Henry Gardiner and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +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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