spit of sand which stretcheth it self the space of a quarter of a League into the Sea Here therefore just within this shoal we anchored in the depth of fourteen fathom water The Island on this side thereof maketh two great Bays in the first of which we watered at a certain pond not distant above the cast of a stone up from the Bay In this pond as I was washing my self and standing under a Manzanilla-tree a small shower of rain hapned to fall on the tree and from thence dropped on my skin These drops caused me to break out all over my body into red spots of which I was not well for the space of a week after Here I eat very large Oysters the biggest that ever â—eat in my life insomuch that I was forced to cut them into four pieces each quarter of them being a good mouthful Three days after the departure of the Mutineers Captain Sharp ordered us to burn the ship that hitherto had sailed in only out of design to make use of the Iron-work belonging to said Vessel Withal we put all the Flour that was her lading into the last Prize taken in the River of Puebla Nova 〈…〉 against Captain Cook and Captain Cook as was said before was ordered to command her But the men belonging to his company would not sail any longer under his command Hereupon he quitted his vessel and came on board our Admiral the great Ship above-mentioned called La Trinidad determining to rule over such unruly company no longer In his place was put one whose name was John Cox an Inhabitant of New-England who forced Kindred as was thought upon Captain Sharp out of old acquaintance in this conjuncture of time only to advance himself Thus he was made as it were Vice-Admiral unto Captain Sharp The next day three of our Prisoners viz. an Indian who was Captain of a ship and two Mulatos ran away from us and made their escape After this it was thought convenient to send Captain Peralta prisoner in the Admiral Captain Peralta removed on board the Ship of Mr. Cox This was done to the intent he might not hinder the endeavours of Captain Juan who was Commander of the Money-ship we took as was mentioned at the Island of Tavoga For this man had now promised to do great things for us by Piloting and conducting us unto several places of great Riches But more especially to Guayaquil where he said we might lay down our Silver and lade our vessels with Gold This design was undertaken by Captain Sawkins and had not the head-strongness of his men brought him to the Island of Cayboa where he lost his life he had certainly effected it before now That night we had such thunder and lightning Great thunder as I never had heard before in all my life Our Prisoners told us that in these parts it very often causeth great damages both by Sea and Land And my opinion gave me to believe that our Main-mast received some damage in this occasion The rainy season being now entred the wind for the most part was at N. W. though not without some calms CHAP. X. They depart from the Island of Cayboa unto the Isle of Gorgona where they Careen their Vessels Description of this Isle They resolve to go and plunder Arica leaving their design of Guayaquil HAving got in all things necessary for Navigation They set sail from Cayboa we were now in a readiness to depart on Sunday June the 6th 1680. That day we had some rain fell which now was very frequent in all places About five of the clock in the evening we set sail from the Island of Cayboa with a small breez the wind being at S. S. W. Our course was E. S. by E and S. E. having all night a very small or little wind The same calmness of weather continued all the next day insomuch that we lay and drove only as the current horsed us to N. W. Little better then a calm we had also the third day of our Navigation Mean while a current drove us to the Westward About Sun-rising we descryed Quicara which at that time bore N.W. by W. from us at the distance of five Leagues more or less With the rising of the Sun an easie gale of wind sprung up so that at noon we had altered our bearing which was then N. by E. being six Leagues distant and appearing thus as is underneath demonstrated QVICARA Lat. 7 Deg. 40. N. These are two several Islands whereof the least is to the Southward of the other Quicara 〈◊〉 The Land is a low table Land these Islands being more than three Leagues in length About six of the clock that evening we were nigh ten Leagues distant W.S.W. from them Much like unto the former weather we had the fourth day of our Sailing with little wind in the forenoon and rather less than more in the afternoon I judged about the middle of the day we were at the distance of twenty Leagues S. S. W. from the said Islands Thursday June the Tenth we had very small and variable winds This day I reckoned that we had made hitherto a S. by E. way and a S. by W. from our departure being driven by a current according to the observation I made into the Latitude of six degrees and thirty minutes This day we saw much Tortoise floating upon the Sea Much Tortoise and other fish Hereupon we hoisted out our Boat and came to one of them who offered not to stir until she was struck and even then not to sink to the bottom but rather to swim away The sea hereabouts is very full of several sorts of Fish as Dolphins Bonitos Albicores Mullets and Old Wives c. which came swimming about our ship in whole shoals The next day which was Friday we had likewise very little wind which was no more than we had all Thursday night with some showers of rain That day we had an observation which was six deg N. latitude In the evening a fresh wind came up at S. W. our course being S. S. E. On Saturday we had in like manner about seven in the morning a fresh breeze at South So we stood W. S. W. with cloudy weather and several showers of rain This day our Spanish prisoners informed us we must not expect any setled wind Inconstancy of winâ—â— until we came within the Latitude of three degrees For all along the Western shoar of these seas there is little wind which is the cause that those ships that go from Acapulco unto the Islands called de las Philippinas do coast along the shoar of California How the Spaniards go to Philippinas until they get into the heighth of forty five degrees yea sometimes of fifty degrees latitude As the wind varyed so we tacked several times thereby to make the best of our way that was possible to the Southward As our Prisoners had informed us Great calme
the South side of this Island where we Ankored as was said above we could see the low-land of the main at least a point thereof which lyeth nearest unto the Island The appearance it maketh is as it were of Trees growing out of the water Friday July the second as we were heaving down our ship our Main-mast hapned to crack Hereupon our Carpenters were constrained to cut out large fishes and fish it as the usual terms of that art do name the thing On the next day after the mischance of our Main-mast we killed a Snake which had fourteen inches in circumference A 〈◊〉 Snake and was eleven foot in length About the distance of a League from this Island runneth a ledge of Rocks over which the water continually breaketh the ledge being about two miles more or less in length Had we anchoâ—'d but half a mile more Northerly we had rid in much smoother water for here where we were the wind came â—n upon us in violent gusts Mean while we were there from June the thirtieâ—h to July the third we had dry weather which was esteemed as a rarity by the Spaniards our prisoners And every day we saw Whales and Grampusses Whales and Grampussâ—â— at Gorgona who would often come and drive under our ship We fired at them several times but our Bullets rebounded from their bodies Our choice and best provisions here were Indian Conies Monkeys Snakes Oysters Cunks Periwinkles and a few small Turtle with some other sorts of good fish Here in like manner we caught a Sloath A Sloath taken a beast well deserving that name given it by the Spaniards by whom it is called Pereza from the Latin word Pigritia At this Island dyed Josephe Gabriel a Spaniard Deatâ— of a Spanish prisoner born in Chile who was to have been our Pilot unto Panama He was the same man who had stolen and married the Indian Kings Daughter as was mentioned above He had all along been very true and faithful unto us in discovering several Plots and Conspiracies of our prisoners either to get away or destroy us His death was occasioned by a Calenture or Malignant Feaver which killed him after three days sickness having lain two days senceless During the time of our stay at this Island we lengthned our top-sail-yards and got up top gallant masts we made two stay-sails and refitted our ship very well But we wanted Provisions extreamly as having nothing considerable of any sort but flower and water Being almost ready to depart Captain Sharp our Commander gave us to understand They change resolution he had changed his resolution concerning the design of going to Guayaquil for he thought it would be in vain to go thither considering that in all this time we must of necessity be descried before now Yet notwithstanding he himself before had perswaded us to stay Being very doubtful among our selves what course we should take a certain old man who had long time sailed among the Spaniards told us he could carry us to a place called Arica Unto which Town he said all the Plate was brought down from Potosi Chuquisaca and several other places within the Land They dâ—sign for Arica where it was dâ—gged out of the Mountains and Mines And that he doubted not but that we might get there of purchase at least two thousand pound every man For all the Plate of the South Sea lay there as it were in store being deposited at the said place until such time as the ships did fetch it away Being moved with these reasons and having deliberated thereupon we resolved in the end to go unto the said place At this Island of Gorgona afore-mentioned we likewise took down our Round-house coach and all the high carved work belonging to the stern of the ship For when we took her from the Spaniards before Panama she was high as any Third-Rate ship in England CHAP. XI The Bucaniers depart from the Isle of Gorgona with design to plunder Arica They loose one another by the way They touch at the Isle of Plate or Drakes Isle where they meet again Description of this Isle Some Memoirs of Sir Francis Drake An account of this Voyage and the Coasts all along They sail as far in a fort-night as the Spaniards usually do in three months 〈…〉 Gorgona ON Sunday July the 25th in the afternoon all things being now in a readiness for our departure we set sail and stood away from the Island of Gorgona or Sharps Iâ—â—e with a small breez which served us at N. W. But as the Sâ—n went down that day so our breez dyed away by degrees Yet already we could begin to experiment that our ship sailed much better since the taking down her round house and the other alterations which we made in 〈◊〉 The next day about two of the clock in the morning we had a land breez to help us which lasted for the space of six hours more or less So that at noon we found our selves to be five Leagues and a half distant to the South West from Gorgona This day the Spaniards our prisoners told us in common discourse A deep Coast. that in most part of this low-land Coast they find threescore fathom water In the afternoon we had from land a very strong breez mean while we continued making short trips off and in That night we had much rain for the greatest part of the night which occasioned the next morning being the third day of our Navigation to be very cloudy until ten of the clock About that hour it cleared up and then we saw the Island of Gorgona at E. N. E. being distant about twelve Leagues more or less from us We had the wind all this day at S.W. where it continued seldom varying above two points of the Compass to the Westwards Night being come about ten of the clock Captain Sharp ordered me to speak unto Captain Cox and bid him go about and stand off from the shoar for he feared least Cox should come too nigh unto it But he replyed he knew well that he might stand in until two of the clock They loose one another The next day very early in the morning we saw him not the morning being cloudy and stark calm Yet notwithstanding at eight of the clock it cleared up and neither then could we see him From hence we concluded and so it proved that we had lost him in the obscurity of the night through his obstinacy in standing in too long and not coming about when we spoke unto him Thus our Admirals ship was left alone and we had not the company of Captain Cox any longer in this Voyage till we arrived at the Isle of Plate where we had the good fortune to find him again as shall be mentioned hereafter The weather being clear this morning we could see Gorgona at the distance of at least fifteen or sixteen Leagues to the E. N. E. All this day it
Plate was sent as a present unto our King being then in his troubles by the worthy Merchants of Lima. The Rock afore-mentioned lyeth about two Leagues distant from the Main August the 29th this day our Pilot told us that since we were to windward A great 〈◊〉 vessel cast away a certain ship that was coming from Lima bound for Guayaquil ran ashoar on Santa Clara loosing there in money to the value of one hundred thousand pieces of Eight which otherwise peradventure we might very fortunately have met withal Moreover that the Viceroy of Peru had Beheaded their great Admiral Ponce for not coming to fight and destroy us mean while we were at Gorgona This evening we saw the Point of Santa Helena at the distance of ten leagues to S.S.E. from us August the 20th Point St. Helen this day we had both misty and cold weather In the afternoon we saw la Punta de Santa Helena at N. E. by N. and at seven leagues distance more or less On Sunday August the 21st we had a fair and clear day I reckoned my self this day to be about twenty five leagues to the Southward of Santa Helena August the 22d This morning about two of the clock we came close in with the shoar We found our selves to be Leeward of a certain Point called Punta de Mero Punta de Mero which is nothing else than a barren and rocky Point Here runneth an eddy current under the shoar Tuesday August the 23d This day in the morning we had but little wind At noon it blew fresh again We made all day but short trips and riffed top-sails Wednesday August the 24th This morning a great dew fell At noon we were West from Cape Blanco We found by observation Lat. 4 D. 13 S. We resolved now to bear up for Paita They resolve for Paita and take it by surprizal if possible thereby to provide our selves with many necessaries that we wanted CHAP. XXII They arrive at Paita where they are disappointed of their expectations as not daring to land seeing all the Country alarmed before them They bear away for the Straight of Magallanes Description of the Bay and Port of Paita and Colan An account of their Sailings towards the Streight aforementioned THursday August the 25th The night before this day They descry the land of Paita we stood off to Sea for fear of the shoar and lest we should be descryed from the Coast of Paita unto which we were now pretty nigh About noon this day we began to stand in again and saw the homing of land though with hasey weather The next day being August the 26th we had cold winds great dews and dry weather Saturday August the 27th All this day La Silla de Paita but more especially in the morning we had many fogs In the afternoon we saw la Silla de Paita at W. S. W. being about five leagues distant from it Sunday August the 28th last night about ten of the clock we were close in with land at the distance of half a league more or less to leeward of the Island of Lobos Isle of Lobos We continued our course all that night and about break of day found our selves to be close under Pena Horadada a high and steep rock so called Pena Horadada From hence we sailed with a land-wind and sent away from the ship two Canoas well Manned and Armed They endeavou◠to land with good hopes that we had conceived in our mind to have taken the Town of Paita undiscryed But as it should seem they had already received news of our coming or being upon that Coast and also supplies of Forces that were sent them from the City of Piura distant from thence twelve leagues up within the Country These supplys consisted chiefly of three Companies of Horse and Foot all of them being armed with fire-arms Besides this they had made for the defence of the Town a breast-work along the sea-side and the great Church which lyeth at the outermost part of the Town From these places as also from a hill that covereth the Town they fired at our men who were innocently rowing towards shoar with their Canoas This preposterous firing was the preservation of our people For had the Spaniards permitted our men to come ashoar they had assuredly destroyed them every man But fear always hindreth that Nation of Victory at least in most of our attempts Our men perceiving themselves to be discovered and the enemy prepared for their reception hereupon retreated They dare not to land and came on board the ship again without attempting to land or do any thing else in relation to the taking of the place We judged there could not be less then one hundred and fifty fire-arms and four times as many Lances upon the shoar all in a readiness to hinder our people from landing Within the Town our Pilot told us there might be to the number of one hundred and fifty Families more or less Being disappointed of our expectations at Paita we stood down the Bay towards Colan A description of Colan This is another Town so called and which exceedeth three times the bigness of Paita It is chiefly inhabited by Fishermen and from hence they send fish unto most inland Towns of Peru and also serve Paita with water from the River Colan not far distant from the Town It is the space of two leagues more or less from the Town of Paita afore-mentioned to Colan and from thence unto the River one league although the Houses of Colan do reach almost unto the River The Town it self of Colan is only inhabited by Indians and these are all rich for as much as that they will be paid in ready money for every thing they do for the Spaniards But the Town of Paita is chiefly inhabited by Spaniards though there be also some Indians but the Spaniards do not suffer the Indians to be any great gainers or grow rich under them About ten of the clock a young breeze sprang up and with that They stand away for the Straight of Magallanes we stood away West and W. by S. Within a little while it blew so fresh that we were forced to riff our top-sails the weather being very dark and hasey I took the Port of Paita and Bay of Colan as they lay exactly situated thus A Description of Paita and Colan Munday August the 29th All our hopes of doing any farther good upon the Coasts of the South Sea being now frustrated seeing we were descryed before our arrival where-ever we came we resolved unanimously to quit all other attempts and bear away for the Straight of Magallanes in order to our return homewards either for England or some of our Plantations in the West-Indies This day we had a great dew and I reckoned my self W. S. W. from Paita thirteen leagues and an half with very little wind So we stood East The next day August the
continued calm till about four in the afternoon at which time we had a W. S. W. wind which continued to blow all that night 〈◊〉 del Gall◠Thursday July the 29th 1680. This day the wind continued pretty fresh all day long About four in the afternoon we came within sight of the Island del Gallo which I guessed to be nigh twenty eight Leagues distant from that of Gorgona the place of our departure S. W. It is about nine Leagues distant to East from the Main So that the Island with the Main Land S.W. from it appeareth thus GALLO Lat. 2.12 N. All this day the weather continued clear and the wind W. S. W. The next day being July the 30th the wind blew very fresh and brisk insomuch that we were in some fear for the heads of our low Masts as being very sensible that they were but weak About three or four in the afternoon we saw another Island six or seven Leagues distant from Gallo called Gorgonilla At E. by S. from us it made the appearance which I have here adjoyned All the Main-Land hereabouts lyeth very low and flat and is in very many places overflown and drowned every high-water GORGONILLA On Saturday July the thirty first in the morning the Island del Gallo at E.N.E. being distant about eight Leagues gave us this appearance GALLO Another Prospect thereof The point of Mangroves is a low and level point running out S. S. W. This day and the night before it we lost by our computation three Leagues of our way They loose wa◠Which I believe hapned by reason we stood out too far from the Land as having stood off all night long August the first which was Sunday we had a very fresh wind at W. S. W. This was joyned also with several small showers of rain which fell that day In the mean while we got pretty well to windward with it by making small trips to and fro which we performed most commonly by standing in three glasses and as many out The next day August the second in the morning Land of San Tiago we came up unto the high-land of San Tiago where beginneth the high-land of this Coast. We kept at the distance of ten Leagues from it and making continual short trips as was mentioned before The next day likewise we continued to do the same But the weather was cloudy and for the most part full of rain Wednesday August the fourth Land of San Matteo we continued still turning in the winds eye as we had done for two days before This day in the afternoon we discovered three Hills at E. N. E. of our ship These Hills make the Land of San Matteo which giveth this following appearance San MATTEO Cape St. Francis All the Coast along hereabouts is high land That evening also we saw the Cape of San Francisco At first this Cape appeared like unto two several Islands But two hours after at the distance of twelve Leagues at S. by W. it looked thus Cape of San FRANCISCO Thursday August the fifth we being then about the Cape it looked very like unto Beachy-head in England It is full of white Cliffs on all sides The land turneth off here to the Eastward of the South and maketh a large and deep Bay the circumference whereof is full of pleasant Hills In the bite of the Bay are two high and rocky Islands the which represent exactly two ships with their Sails full We were now come out of the rainy Countreys into a pleasant and fair Region where we had for the most part a clear sky and dry weather Only now and then we could here find a small mist which soon would vanish away In the mean while every night a great dew used to fall which supplied the defect of rain The two next days following we continued plying to windward with fair weather nothing else remarkable hapning in them which might deserve any notice to be taken thereof On Sunday August the eighth we came close under a wild and mountainous Country This day likewise we saw Cape Passao Cabo Passao at the distance of ten Leagues more or less to windward of us Ever since we came on this side Mangrove point we observed a windward Current did run all along as we sailed Under shoar the Land is full of white Cliffs and Groves lower towards the pitch of the Cape The next day we had both a fair day and a fresh wind to help us on our Voyage We observed that Cape Passao maketh three points between which are two Bays The Leeward-most of the two is of the length of three Leagues and the other of four Adjoyning to the Bays is seen a pleasant valley Our prisoners informed us that Northward of these Capes live certain Indians who sell Maiz and other Provisions to any ships that happen to come in there The Cape it self is a continued Cliff covered with several sorts of shrubs and low bushes Under these Cliffs lyeth a sandy Bay of the depth of forty feet The Spaniards say that the wind is always here between the S.S.W. and W.S.W. The Cape representeth with much likelyness the brow of an Alligator or Cayman At South Cape Passao appeareth thus Cape PASSAO Lat. 1.30 S. Tuesday August the Tenth This morning the sky was so thick and hasey that we could not see the high-land though it were just before us and not altogether two Leagues distant from us But as soon as it cleared up we stood in towards the Land until we came within a mile of the shoar Here having sounded we found seven fathom and a half water under which was a light and clayey ground The Coast all along is very mountainous and likewise full of high and towring Cliffs When we sounded the Tyde was almost at low-water Here it ebbeth and floweth nigh four fathom perpendicular From this Cape the land runneth along S. E. for the space of three or four Leagues with huge high-land Cliffs like unto those of Callis over against England Being past this Cape high-land South from us is Cape St. Lawrence August the 11th we found our selves N. N. W. from Monte de Christo Monte de Christo. being a very high and round hill From thence to windward is seen a very pleasant Country with spots here and there of woody land which causeth the Country all over to look like so many enclosures of ripe Corn fields To Leeward of the said Hill the Land is all high and hilly with white Cliffs at the sea-side The Coast runneth S. W. till it reacheth unto a point of Land within which is the Port of Manta as it is called This Port of Manta Port of Manta is nothing else than a settlement of Spaniards and Indians together where ships that want Provisions do call in and are furnished with several necessaries About six or seven Leagues to windward of this Port is Cape St. Lawrence butting out into the Sea being
a windward Current which runneth under the shoar hereabouts it were totally impossible for any ships to get about this Cape there being such a great current to Leeward in the offing In the last Bark which we took of which we spoke in this Chapter we made Prisoner one Nicolas Moreno a Spaniard by Nation and who was esteemed to be a very good Pilot of the South Sea This man did not cease continually to praise our ship for her sailing and especially for the alterations we had made in her As we went along we observed many Bays to lye between this Cape and Point Parina of which we shall soon make mention hereafter In the night the wind came about to S. S.E. and we had a very stiff gale of it Point Parina So that by break of day the next morning we found our selves to be about five Leagues distance to windward of the Cape afore mentioned The Land hereabouts maketh three or four several Bays and groweth lower and lower by how much the nigher we come unto Punta Parina This Point sheweth it self at first sight thereof like unto two Islands Between four and five of the clock that evening we were West from the said Point The next day likewise being the last day of August the wind still continued S. S. E. as it had done the whole day before This day we thought it convenient to stand farther out to sea for fear of being descryed at Paita Paita which now was not very far distant fromus The morning proved to be hasey But about eleven we espied a Sail which stood then just as we did E. by S. Coming nearer unto it by degrees we found her to be nothing else than a pair of Bark-logs under a sail which were going that way Our Pilot advised us not to meddle with those Logs nor mind them in the least for it was very doubtful whether we should be able to come up with them or not and then by giving chace unto them we should easily be descryed and known to be the English Pirates as they called us These Bark-logs sail excellently well for the most part and some of them are of such a bigness that they will carry two hundred and fifty packs of Meal from the Valleys unto Panama without wetting any of it This day by an observation made we found our selves to be in four degrees fifty five Latitude South Point Parina at N.E. by E. and at the distance of six Leagues more or less giveth this following appearance Punta PARINA At the same time la Silla de Paita bore from us S.E. by E. being distant only seven or eight Leagues It had the form of a high Mountain and appeared thus unto us La Silla de PAITA The Town of Paita it self is situated in a deep Bay about two Leagues to Leeward of this Hill It serveth for an Embarcadero or Port Town unto another great place which is distant from thence about thirteen Leagues higher in the Country and is called Piura being seated in a very barren Country Piura On Wednesday the first of September our course was S. by W. The midnight before this day we had a land-wind that sprung up In the afternoon La Silla de Paita at the distance of seven Leagues at E. by N. appeareth thus La Silla de PAITA All along hereabouts is nothing but barren land as was said before Hereabouts likewise for three or four days last past we observed along the Coasts many Seales That night as we sailed we saw something that appeared unto us to be as it were a light And the next morning we espyed a sail A Priâ—e 〈◊〉 from whence we judged the light had come The vessel was at the distance of six Leagues from us in the winds eye and thereupon we gave her chace She stood to windward as we did This day we had an observation which gave us the Lat. 5 d. 30 S. At night we were about four Leagues to Leeward of her but so great a Mist fell that we suddainly lost sight of her At this time the weather was as cold with us as in England in November Every time we went about with our ship the other did the like Our Pilot told us that this ship set forth from Guayaquil eleven days before they were taken And that she was laden with Rigging Woollen and Cotton Cloath and other Manufactures made at Quito Moreover that he had heard that they had spent a Mast and had put into Paita to resit it The night following they shewed us several lights through their negligence which they ought not to have done for by that means we steered directly after them The next morning she was more than three Leagues in the winds eye distant from us Had they suspected us it could not be doubted but they would have made away towards the Land but they seemed not to fly nor stir for our chace The Land here all along is level and not very high The weather was hasey so that about eleven of the clock that morning we lost sight of her At this time we had been for the space of a whole week at an allowance of only two draughts of water each day so scarce were Provisions with us That afternoon we saw the vessel again and at night we were not full two Leagues distant from her and not more than half a League to Leeward We made short trips all the night long On Saturday September the Fourth about break of day we saw the ship again at the distance of a League more or less and not above a mile to windward of us They stood out assoon as they espied us and we stood directly after them Having pursued them for several hours about four of the clock in the Afternoon we came up within the distance of half our small Arms shot to windward of them Hereupon they perceiving who we were presently lower'd all their Sails at once and we cast dice among our selves for the first entrance The lot sell to larboard so that twenty men belonging to that watch entred her In the Vessel were found Fifty packs of Cacao-nut such as Chocolate is made of many packs of Raw-silk Indian cloth The Prize taken and Thred-stockings these things being the principal part of her Cargo We stood out S. W. by S. all the night following The next day being come we transported on board our ship the chiefest part of her lading In her hold we found some Rigging as had been told us by Nicholas Moreno our Pilot taken in the former Vessel off of Guayaquil but the greatest part of the Hold was full of Timber We took out of her also some Osenbriggs of which we made Top-gallant sails as shall be said hereafter It was now nineteen days as they told us since they set sail from Guyaquil and then they had onely heard there of our Exploits before Panama but did not so much as think of our coming
so far to the Southward which did not give them the least suspicion of us though they had seen us for the space of two or three days before at Sea and always steering after them otherwise they had made for the land and endeavoured to escape our hands The next morning likewise we continued to take in the remaining part of what goods we desired out of our Prize They turn away many prisoners When we had done we sent most of our Prisoners on board the said vessel and left only their sore-mast standing all the rest being cut down by the board We gave them a fore-sail to sail withal all their own water and some of our flour to serve them for Provisions and thus we turned them away as not caring to be troubled or encumbred with too many of their company Notwithstanding we detained still several of the chiefest of our prisoners Such were Don Thomas de Argandona who was Commander of the vessel taken before Guayaquil Don Christoval and Don Baltazar both Gentlemen of Quality taken with him Captain Peralta Captain Juan Moreno the Pilot and twelve slaves of whom we intended to make good use to do the drudgery of our ship At this time I reckoned that we were about the distance of thirty five Leagues little more or less from Land Moreover by an observation made this day we found Lat. 7. d. 1. S. Our plunder being over and our Prize turned away we sold both Chests Boxes and several other things at the Mast by the voice of a Cryer On the following day we stood S. S. W. and S. W. by S. all day long One of their company dyeth That day one of our company dyed named Robert Montgomery being the same man who was shot by the negligence of one of our own men with a Pistol through the leg at the taking of the vessel before Guayaquil as was mentioned above We had an observation also this day by which we now found Lat. 7. d. 26. S. On the same day likewise we made a dividend and shared all the booty taken in the last Prize They make a â—iâ—idend This being done we hoisted into our ship the Lanch which we had taken in her as being useful unto us All these days last past it was observed An observatioâ— of these Sâ—as that we had every morning a dark cloud in the sky the which in the North Sea would certainly foretell a storm but here it always blew over Wednesday September the eighth in the morning we threw our dead man above-mentioned into the Sea They 〈…〉 at Sea and gave him three French Volleys for his Funeral-Ceremony In the night before this day we saw a light belonging to some vessel at sea But we stood away from it as not desiring to see any more sails to hinder us in our voyage towards Arica whither now we were designed This Light was undoubtedly from some ship to Leeward of us but on the next morning we could descry no sail Here I judged we had made a S. W. by S. way from Paita and by an observation found 8. d. 00 S. CHAP. XIII A continuation of their long and tedious Voyage to Arica with a description of the Coasts and Sailings thereunto Great hardship they endured for want of Water and other Provisions They are descryed at Arica and dare not land there the Country being all in Arms before them They retire from thence and go unto Puerto de Hilo close by Arica Here they land take the Town with little or no loss on their side refresh themselves with Provisions but in the end are cheated by the Spaniards and forced shamefully to retreat from thence ON September the Ninth we continued still to make a S. W. by S. way as we had done the day before By a clear and exact observation taken the same day we found now Lat. 8. d. 12 S. All the twenty four hours last past afforded us but little wind Calms so that we advanced but as little on our Voyage and were forced to tack about every four or five hours The next day by another observation taken we found then Lat. 9 d. 00. Now the weather was much warmer than before Warm weather again and with this warmth we had small and misty rains that frequently fell That evening a strong breeze came up at S. E. by E. The night following likewise we had a very great dew that fell and a fresh wind continued to blow At this time we were all hard at work to make small sails of the Osenbrigs we had taken in the last Prize They make sailâ— at Sea as being much more convenient for its lightness The next morning being Saturday September the 11th we lay by to mend our rigging These last twenty four hours we had made a S. by W. way And now we had an observation that gave us Lat. 10. D. 9. S. I supposed this day that we were West from Cosmey about the distance of eighty nine leagues and an half September the 12th This day we reckoned a S. S. W. way and that we had made thirty four leagues and three quarters or thereabouts Also that all our Westing from Paâ—â—a was eighty four leagues We supposed our selves now to be in Lat. 11. D. â—0 S. But the weather being hasey no observation could be made September the 13th yesterday in the Afternoon we had a great Eclipse of the Sun A great Eclipse of the Sun which lasted from one of the clock till three after dinner From this Eclipse I then took the true judgment of our longitude from the Canary Islands and found my self to be 285 D. 35. in Lat. 11 D. 45 S. The wind was now so fresh that we took in our Top sails making a great way under our Courses and Sprit-sail September the 14th we had a cloudy morning which continued so all the first part thereof About eight it cleared up and then we set our fore-top-sail and about noon our main-top-sail likewise This was observable that all this great wind precedent did not make any thing of a great Sea We reckoned this day that we had run by a S. W. by W. way twenty six Leagues and two thirds The next day in like manner we had close weather such as the former morning Our reckoning was Twenty four Leagues and two thirds by a S. W. by W. way But by observation made I found my self to be 23 D. Southward of my reckoning as being in the Lat. of 15 D. 17 South On the 16th we had but small and variable winds For the twenty four hours last past we reckoned twenty four leagues and two thirds by a S. W. by S. way By observation we had Lat. 16. D. 41. That evening we had a gale at E. S. E. which forced us to hand our top-sails The 17th likewise we had many gusts of wind at several times forcing us to hand our top-sails often But in the forenoon we
set them with a fresh gale at E. S. E. My reckoning this day was thirty one leagues by a S.S. W. way All day long we stood by our top-sails On the 18th we made a S. by W. way We reckoned our selves to be in Lat. 19. D. 33. S. The weather was hasey and the wind began to dye this day by degrees The next day being the 19th we had very small wind I reckoned thirteen leagues and an half by a S. W. by S. way and our whole Westing from Paita to be 164 leagues in Lat. 20. D. 06. S. All the afternoon we had a calm with drizling rain Monday September the 20th Last night we saw the Magallan Clouds Magallan Clouds which are so famous among the Mariners of these Southern Seas The least of these clouds was about the bigness of a mans hat After this sight the morning was very clear We had run at noon at E. S. E thirteen leagues and an half and by an observation then made we found Lat. 20. D. 15. S. This day the wind began to freshen at W. by S. Yet notwithstanding we had a very smooth Sea But on the next morning the wind came about to S.W. and yet slacken by degrees At four this morning it came to S. by E. And at ten the same day to S. E. by S. We had this day a clear observation and by it Lat. 20. D. 25. S. We stood now E by N. with the wind at S. E. September the 22d This morning the wind was at E. S. E. By a clear observation we found Lat 19. D. 30 S. Likewise on a N. E. by E. way and two leagues and two thirds September the 23d we had a fresh wind and a high 〈◊〉 This morning early the wind was at E. and about 〈◊〉 E. N. E. From a clear observation we found our latitude to be 20 D. 35 S. The way we made was S. by W. That morning we hapned to split our Sprit-sail Next morning the wind was variable and inconstant and the weather but hasey We reckoned a S. by E. way this day we bent a new main-top-sail the old one serving for a fore-top-sail In the afternoon we had but little wind whereupon we lowered our top-sails having in like manner a very smooth sea The following day likewise brought us calm and warm weather which occasioned us to set up our shrouds both fore and aft An observation taken this day afforded us Lat. 21. D. 57. That evening we bent a sprit-sail On September the 26th an observation gave us Lat. 22. D. 05. S. At noon we had a breez at N. N. E. our course being E. S. E. In the afternoon we set up a larboard top-sail studden-sail In the evening the wind came about at North pretty fresh The next day we had a smooth sea and took in four studden-sails For yesterday in the afternoon we had put out besides that above-mentioned another studden-sail and two main studden-sails more This day we had by observation 22 D. 45 S. having made by an E. S. E. way thirty five leagues and an half Our whole Merid. differ sixty eight leagues and an half September the 28th all the forenoon we had very little wind and yet withal a great Southern sea By observation we had Lat. 22 D. 40 S. September the 29th All the night past we had much wind with three or four fierce showres of rain This was the first that we could call rain Much rain ever since that we left Cape Francisco above-mentioned This day our allowance was shortned and reduced unto three pints and a half of water and one cake of boyled bread to each man for a day Their allowance shotned again An observation this day gave us Lat. 21 D. 59 S. by a N. E. by E. way On September the 30th we had a cloudy day and the wind very variable the morning being fresh Our way was N. E. half N. wherein we made eighteen leagues October the First All the night past and this day we had a cloudy sky and not much wind We made a N. E. by E. way and by it seventeen leagues and two miles Their allowance still shortens This day we began at two pints and a half of water for a day The Second we made a E.N. E. way and by it twenty six leagues more or less Our observation this day gave us Lat. 20 D. 29 S. I reckoned now that we were ten leagues and an half to East of our Meridian the Port of Paita so that henceforward our departure was Eastward The wind was this day at S. E. by S. On the Third we had both a cloudy morning a high sea and drizling weather An observation which we had this day gave us Lat. 19 D. 45 S. In the afternoon the wind blew so fresh as that we were forced to hand our top-sails and sprit-sail The 4th likewise we had a high sea and a cold wind At break of day we set our top-sails An observation made afforded us Lat. 19 D. 8 S. Here we supposed our selves fifty nine leagues D. M. The 5th we had still a great sea and sharp and cold winds forcing us to our low sails By a N. E. by E way we reckoned this day twenty six leagues and an half But on the 6th we had great gusts of wind Insomuch that this morning our ring-bolts gave way which held our Main-stay and had like to have brought our Main-mast by the board Their Main-mast in danger Hereupon we ran three or four glasses West before the wind By an observation we found Lat. 19 D. 4 S. On the 7th of October the wind was something fallen We had both a cloudy day and variable winds The 8th of the said Month we had again a smooth sea and small whistling winds Water-snakes and Seals This morning we saw a huge shoal of fish two or three Water-snakes and several Seals On the next day we had in like manner a very smooth sea and withal a cloudy day Our course was East October the Tenth we had likewise a cloudy day with small and variable winds and what is consequent unto these a smooth Sea Our way was S. by E. This day we espied sloating upon the Sea 〈◊〉 of sea-grass several Tufts of Sea-grass which gave us good hopes that we were not far from shoar In the afternoon we had a N. E. by E. wind that sprang up the night was very cold and cloudy On the eleventh we had a fresh wind at S. E. and E. S.E. together with a cloudy day such as we had experimented for several days before We reckoned this day thirty two Leagues by a N. E. by E. way Here our Pilot told us that the sky is always hasey nigh the shoar upon these Coasts where we now were A 〈◊〉 sky 〈…〉 On October the 12th we had a clear day and a North-East way The 13th we had but little wind This day we saw a
Whale which we took for an infallible token that we were not far distant from Land which now we hoped to see in a few days We made an E.S.E. way and by it we reckoned nineteen Leagues All the evening was very calm Thursday October the 14th we had both a calm and close day until the afternoon Then the weather became very hot and clear This day we saw several land-Fowls being but small Birds Concerning which our Pilot said that they use to appear about one or two days sail from the Land Our reckoning was eleven Leagues by an E.S.E. way In the evening of this day we thought that we had seen Land but it proved to be nothing else than a foggy bank October the 15th both the night past and this day was very clear We made an observation this day which gave us Lat. 18 d. 00 South The 16th last night and this day were contrary to the former both cloudy Our way was N.E. by E. whereof we reckoned thirteen Leagues Sunday October the 17th the wind blew very fresh our course being E. N. E. About five that morning we saw Land but the weather was so hasey that at first we could scarce perceive whether it was Land or not It was distant from us about eight Leagues and appeared as a high and round hill being in form like unto a Sugar-loaf We saw Land afterwards all along to the S. E. by E. from it In the evening we being then within five Leagues of the shoar the Land appeared very high and steep October the 18th all the night last past we stood off to sea with a fresh wind This morning we could just see Land at N. N. E. We reckoned a S. E. by E. way and by observation we found Lat. 17 d. 17 South Tuesday October the 19th we had very cloudy weather finding what our Pilot had told us to be very true High-lands 〈◊〉 Arica concerning the haseyness of this shoar We saw all along as we went very high Land covered with Clouds insomuch that we could not see its top On Wednesday the next day we had likewise cloudy weather and for the most part calm The same weather being very cloudy as before continued in like manner on Thursday Friday October 22. this morning we saw the Land plain before us Our Pilot being asked what Land that was Punta de Hilo answered it was the Point of Hilo At N.N.E. and about six or seven Leagues distance it appeared thus unto us Punta de HILO. Lat. 18. d. 4. S. There is every morning and evening a brightness over the Point which lasteth for two or three hours being caused by the reflection of the Sun on the barren land as it is supposed This day we had but little wind and the huge want of water we were now under Great want of water occasioned much disturbance among our men As for my part I must acknowledge I could not sleep all night long through the greatness of my drougth We could willingly have landed here to seek for water but the fear of being discovered and making our selves known hindred us from so doing Thus we unanimously resolved to endure our thirst for a little longer space of time Hereabouts is a small Current that runneth under the shoar This morning we had but little wind at South our course being E S. E. The Point at the distance of five leagues N. E. looketh on the following side thus Punta de HILO. Our wind continued to blow not above six hours each day We reckoned the difference of our Meridian to be this day one hundred and eighty leagues Very great was our affliction now for want of water Halâ— a pâ—nt a day we having but half a pint a day to our allowance October the 23 d. This day we were forced to spare one measure of water thereby to make it hold out the longer so scarce it became with us At three this afternoon the Point looked thus Punta de HILO. Mora de SAMA Here the Point looketh like unto an Island And Mora de Sama to the Southward thereof giveth this appearance Mora de SAMA About nine of the clock at night we had a land wind and with it we stood S. E. by S. But all the night after we had but little wind October the 24th All the night past we had very cloudy and dark weather with mizling rain The morning being come it cleared up but all the land appeared covered with clouds Yet notwithstanding in the afternoon it gave us again this appearance Mora de SAMA Lat. 18 d. 29 S. Under the Hill of Mora de Sama are eighteen or nineteen white cliffs which appear in the form above described This day we resolved that One hundred and twelve men should go ashoar And about eight this evening we sent our Lanch and four Canoas with fourscore men to take three or four Fisher-men at a certain River close by Mora de Sama called el Rio de Juan Diaz with intent to gain what intelligence we could how affairs stood at present on the Coast and Country thereabouts Munday October the 25th Last night being about the distance of one league and an half from shoar we sounded and found forty five fathom water with an hard ground at the bottom This morning our people and Canoas that were sent to take the Fishermen returned not being able to find either their houses or the River They reported withal they had had a very fresh wind all the night long under shoar whereas we had not one breath of wind all night on board Tuesday October the 26th Last night being the night before this day about six of the clock we departed from the ship to go to take Arica resolving to land about the distance of a league to windward of the Town We were about six leagues distant from the Town when we left our ship whereby we were forced to row all night that we might reach before day the place of our landing Towards morning the Canoaâ—s lâ—â—t the Lanch which they had had all night in a Tow and wherein I was and made all the speed they possibly could for the shoar with design to land before the Lanch could arrive But being come nigh the place where we designed to land they found to our great sorrow and vexation that we were descryed and that all along the shoar and through the Country they had certain news of our arrival Yet notwithstanding our discovery we would have landed if we could by any means have found a place to do it in But the sea ran so high and with such a force against the rocks that our boats must needs have been staved each in one thousand pieces and we in great danger of wetting our arms if we should adventure to go on shoar The Bay all round was possessed by several parties of horse and likewise the tops of the hills which seemed to be gathered
unto us and we concluded to expect until the next day for the delivery of the Beeves On the following day about eight in the morning there came in unto us a Flag of Truce from the enemy telling us that the winds were so high that they could not drive the Cattle otherwise they had been delivered before now But withal that by noon we should in no manner â—ail to have them brought unto us Noon being come and no Cattle appearing we now having filled our water and finished other concerns resolved to be revenged on the Enemy and do them what mischief we could at least by setting fire on the Sugar-work Hereupon threescore men of us marched up the valley They burn the sugar-work and burnt both the House the Canes and the Mill belonging to the Ingenio We broke likewise the Coppers Coggs and multitudes of great Jars of Oyl that we found in the house This being done we brought away more Sugar and returned unto the Port over the Hills or Mountains the which we sound to be very pleasant smooth and level after once we had ascended them It fell out very fortunately unto us that we returned back this way we did for otherwise our men at the Sea-side had inevitably been cut off and torn in pieces by the enemy they being at that time dispersed and stragling up and down by two and three in a Party For from the Hills we espied coming from the Northward of the Bay above three hundred horsemen Three hundred Horse coming against theâ— all riding at full speed towards our men who had not as yet descryed them and little thought of any such danger from the enemy so nigh at hand Being alarumed with this sight we threw down what Sugar we had and ran incontinently to meet them thereby to give our other men time to rally and put themselves into a posture of defence We being in good rank and order fairly proffered them Battle upon the Bay but as we advanced to meet them they retired and rid towards the Mountains to surround us and take the Rocks from us if possibly they could Hereupon perceiving their intentions we returned back and possest our selves of the said Rocks and also the lower Town as the Spaniards themselves did of the upper Town at the distance of half a mile from the lower the Hills and the Woods adjoyning thereunto The Horsemen being now in possession of these Quarters we could perceive as far as we could see more and more men resort unto them so that their Forces encreased hourly to considerable numbers We fired one at another as long as we could reach and the day would permit But in the mean while we observed that several of them rid unto the Watch-hill and looked out often to the Sea-board This gave us occasion to fear that they had more strength and Forces coming that way which they expected every minute Hereupon least we should speed worse than we had done before we resolved to imbark silently in the dark of the night and go off from that Coast where we had been so early descryed and the enemy was so much prepared against us We carryed off a great Chest of Sugar whereof we shared seven pound weight and a half each man What they got at Hilo thirty Jars of Oyl and great plenty of all sorts of Garden Herbs Roots and most excellent Fruit. CHAP. XIV The Bucaniers depart from the Port of Hilo and sail unto that of Coquimbo They are descryed before their arrival Notwithstanding they land are encountred by the Spaniards and put them to flight They take plunder and fire the City of la Serena A description thereof A Stratagem of the Spaniards in endeavouring to fire their ship discovered and prevented They are deceived again by the Spaniards and forced to retire from Coquimbo without any Ransom for the City or considerable pillage They release several of their chiefest Prisoners A Description of Hilo November the fourth in the morning we saw the Port of Hilo at E.N.E. at the distance of nine Leagues A great reflection more or less from the Land The white sand giveth a bright reflection over the land the which we could see after we had lost the sight of the land it self The next day unto this we had an indifferent fresh wind at S.S.E. We reckoned a S. W. half west way and by it that we had made twenty Leagues The day was very fair and sun-shiny and the sea very smooth November the 6th we had a clear night the last past and the day proved very fair and clear like unto the former We reckoned by a S. W. by W. way about twenty one leagues In the afternoon it was almost stark calme On the following day we had in like manner very little wind no more than the last twenty four hours They are troubled with the Survey We were now about this time many of us very much troubled and diseased with the Survey It proceeded as we judged from the great hardship and want of Provisions which we had endured for several Months past as having had only bread and water as was mentioned above Only at Hilo we killed a Mule At Hilo they eat a Mule which gave unto those who would eat of the flesh a very good meal as we esteemed it the Spaniards having swept away with them all other provisions of flesh But there we had plundered some small quantity of good Chocolate Chocolate whereof the Spaniards make infinite use So that now we had each morning a dish of that pleasant liquor containing almost a pint Next day likewise we had very little wind as before We made an observation this day and found Lat. 20. d. 05. South November the Ninth we had still very little wind and that variable We took almost every hour an observation and found our selves to be in the Lat. of 20 d. 18. South The 10th we had in like manner but little wind as for so many days before We observed an E.S.E. current or nearest unto it to run hereabouts This day we saw the homing of a very high land which much admired us for at this time I conceived we could not be less than thirty five or forty leagues distant from land They descry land We supposed it to be Mora Tarapaca That day we set up our shrouds Upon the 11th an indifferent gale of wind sprang up at S. W. by S. by which we made twenty five Leagues Bâ—t are dâ—câ—iâ—ed and one third We had now a great S.S.W. sea In the night the wind as we experimented came one or two points from the land This morning we saw the like homing of land whereby we were made sensible it was no land that which we had seen the day before On the 12th we had several mists of rain with windy weather We made by a S. S. W. half S. way twenty five leagues and one third We had
likewise a great and rowling S. S. W. sea as the day before The 13th of the said Month we had both cloudy and misty weather We made a S. S. W. and one quarter S. way by which we ran fifty leagues But the next day fair and clear weather came about again We had likewise an â—â—sie gale of wind by which we made a S. W. way and advanced twenty two leagues and an half On the 15th of November we had also clear weather and an indifferent gale of wind Our way was S. W. by W. by which we reckoned eighteen leagues Likewise that our Westing from Hilo from whence we set forth was one hundred and fourteen leagues and one third Our latitude by observation we found to be 23 D. 25 S. The Table of Lima used by the Author I toâ—k now the Declination-Table used and made by the Cosmographer of Lima. Tuesday November the 16th In the night last past we had a shower or two of rain This day we made an observation by which we found Lat. 23 D. 35 S. The 17th we made a S. W. by W. half S. way By observation we found Lat. 23 D. 46 S. with very little wind The 18th upon a S. W. by W. way we made twenty one leagues By observation we found Lat. 24 D. 20 South Friday Nov. the 19th 1680. This morning about an hour before day we observ'd a Comet to appear A Comet seen a degree N. from the bright in Libra The body thereof seemed dull and its tail extended it self eighteen or twenty degrees in length being of a pale colour and pointing directly N. N. W. Our prisoners hereupon reported unto us Strange sights seen in the Aâ— that the Spaniards had seen very strange sights both at Lima the capital City of Peru Guayaquil and other places much about the time of â—ur coming into the South Seas I reckoned this day we had ran twenty leagues by a S. W. way The following day unto the appearance of the Comet we had many storms of wind at S.S.E. and at E. S. E. What followed the Comet Our reckoning by a S. W. by W. way was twenty two leagues Sunday November the 21th we had likewise many gusts of wind such as the day before with frequent showers of rain The wind varyed to and fro according as the Clouds drew it here and there We reckoned a S. S. W. way and by it twenty one leagues and a half In all West from Hilo we judged our selves to be one hundred seventy eight leagues and two thirds We had this day a great S. W. Sea and cloudy weather I supposed our Latitude to be 26 D. 53 S. November the 22d we had in like manner cloudy weather and now but little wind We reckoned a S. way and fifty one leagues The 23d we had very little wind all the storm after the appearance of the Comet being now quite allayed We reckoned we had made a S. E. by E. way and found our latitude by observation to bare 27 D. 46 S. Wednesday November the 24th All the twenty four hours last past we had a N. W. wind Our way was S E. half S. by which we reckoned thirty one leagues and one third The 25th Last night the wind blew at W. S. W. but this morning it came about again at N. W. as the day before Our reckoning this day was a S. E. and one quarter E. way twenty nine leagues and one third Our Latitude now by observation made this day was 39 D. 57 S. Our difference of Merid. 13 5â…“ November the 26th In the night the wind started to S. S. W. But this day at noon we had little better than a calm I reckoned an E.S.E. half E. way and by it twenty three leagues Saturday the 27th Yesterday in the evening the wind came to S. I reckoned an East and something Southerly way and by that twenty three leagues as the day before this November the 28th All the twenty four hours last past we enjoyed a fresh wind at S. S E. having a high S. W. sea Our reckoning was an E. by N. and half N. way and withal twenty four leagues By observation we found Lat. 30 D. 16 S. and Meridian distance eighty eight leagues At noon the wind came at S. half E. On the 29th we had a very great S. W. sea and withal cloudy weather My reckoning was by an E. one third S. way twenty leagues and one third This day we hapned to see two or three great fowls flying in the air Great fowls Concerning which our Pilot told us that they used to appear seventy or eighty leagues off from the Island called of Juan Fernandez The day before this Captain Peralta our prisoner was taken very much frantick Captain Peralta taken frantick his distemper being occasioned as we thought through too much hardship and melancholy Notwithstanding this present day he became indifferent well again The following day we had likewise cloudy weather We made according to our account an E. half N. way and by it sixteen leagues and two thirds Our Meridian difference fifty two leagues The first of December we had hasey weather and withal an indifferent good wind at S. yea sometimes S. by W. Our way was E. by S. by which we reckoned twenty two leagues The night before this day we sailed over white water like banks of a mile in length or more But these banks upon examination Huge shoals of Anchovas we found to be onely great shoals of Anchovas On December the second very early in the morning we espied Land They sâ—e land the which appeared to be very high About noon this day we were at six leagues distance from it All the preceding night we had so much wind that we were forced to make use only of a pair of courses By an observation made this day we found Lat. 30. d. 35. South We went away largely driving better than nine leagues every watch With this wind we made all the Sail we possibly could designing by this means to get into Coquimbo Bay of Coquimbo upon which Coast we now were before night But the wind was so high that sometimes we were forced to lower all our sail it blowing now a meer fret of wind Towards the evening it abated by degrees insomuch that at midnight it was stark calme agâ—â—â— At that time we hoisted out our Lanch and Canoas and putting into them one hundred men we rowed away from the ship with design to take by surprizal a considerable City situated nigh unto the Coast called by the Spaniards la Ciudad de la Serena Friday December the third 1680. when we departed from the ship They land and take the City of la Serena we had above two leagues more or less to row unto the shoar But as it hapned the Lanch wherein I was rowed so heavy in comparison to the Canoas that we could not keep pace with the
By a W. S. W. way we made forty two leagues By observation we found Lat. 30 D. 45 S. D. M. four leagues and two thirds On the 14th in the morning we had a handsom shower of rain which continued for some while Then about eight of the clock there sprang up a S. S. W. breeze My reckoning was by an E. S. E. way fourteen leagues And by observation we found this day 30 D. 30 S. One of their company dyeth In the afternoon of this day dyed one of our men whose name was William Cammock His disease was occasioned by a furfeit gained by too much drinking on shoar at la Serena the which produced in him a Calenture or Malignant Feaver and an Hicup Thus in the evening we buryed him in the Sea according to the usual custom of Mariners giving him three French Vollies for his Funeral The following day we had an indifferent fresh wind on both tacks Our way was W. S. W. and by it we reckoned thirty four leagues So likewise by an observation we had Lat. 30 D. 42 S. All the afternoon blew a S. by W. wind very fresh with a short topping S. W. Sea But on the next ensuing day we had no small breez but rather hard gusts of wind These grew so high that they forced us to take in our top-sails We made a S. W. half S. way and forty five leagues On the 17th we had likewise high winds and withal a S. W. sea Our way W. by S. By observation taken this day we found Lat. 30 D. 51 S. In the afternoon we had a S. S. E. wind our course being S. W. December the 18th This day we had the same high winds as before at S. S. E. We reckoned by a W. S. W. way forty five leagues At noon the wind was something fallen and then we had some rain The 19th we had both cloudy and windy weather My reckoning was a S. W. by S. way and here upon fifty eight miles Yesterday we were assured by our Pilot that we were now in the Meridian of the Island of Juan Fernandez whither our course was directed for that present What occasioned him to be so positive in his assertion was the seeing of those great birds Great birds seen again of which we made mention in the foregoing Chapter On the 20th we had cloudy weather in the morning on both tacks We made a S. W. and half S. way and by it fifty two leagues By observation we found this day Lat. 32 D. 20 S. Difference of Meridian was now one hundred and twenty three leagues The next day likewise we had cloudy weather yet by observation we found a W. way On the 22d by observation we found and E. way proved Thursday December the 23d All the night past we had a fresh wind But in the morning from top-mast head They descry land we descryed a hammock of land In the evening we saw it again We found afterwards that what we had seen was the Westermost Island of Juan Fernandez which is nothing else but a meer rock there being no riding nor scarce landing near unto it Fryday December the 24th This morning we could descry the Island it self They see the lâ—st of Juan Fernandez of Juan Fernandez S. by E. it being at sixteen leagues distance when we saw it yesterday At seven this morning the Island stood E. the wind being at N. W. by N. At eight the same morning the Island at the distance of five leagues little more or less appeared thus Isla de JUAN FERNANDEZ Here my observation was that I could see neither fowl nor fish nigh unto this Island A particular observation both which things are usually to be seen about other Islands Having told my observation unto our Pilot he gave me for answer that he had made many Voyages by this Island and yet never saw any either fowl or fish more than I. Our reckoning this day was an E. S. E. way and hereby thirty six leagues Our latitude by observation was found to be 33 D. 30 S. Saturday December the 25th Yesterday in the afternoon at three of the clock we saw the other Island making two or three hammocks of land This morning we were about eight leagues distant from it the Island bearing E. S. E. from us At eight the same morning we were right at breast with it Here therefore are two Islands together the biggest whereof is three leagues and an half in length Bigness of these Isles nearest N. W. and S.E. the other and lesser is almost one league and no more in circumference At ten of the clock we sent off from the ship one of our Canoa's to seek for the best landing and anchoring for our Vessel As we approached both Islands seemed unto us nothing but one entire heap of rocks That which lyeth more unto the N. is the highest though we could not now see the tops thereof for the clouds which covered it In most places it is so steep that it becometh almost perpendicular This day being Christmas-day we gave in the morning early three Vollies of shot Christmas-day for solemnization of that great Festival I reckoned an E. by S. way By a clear observation from the middle of the Island I found here Lat. 33 D. 45 S. and M. D. to be ninty nine leagues In the evening of this day we came to an anchor at the South end of the Island in a stately Bay that we found there but which lyeth open from the South to the South-East winds We anchored in the depth of eleven fathom water and at the distance of onely one furlong from the shoar Here we saw multitudes of Seals covering the Bay every where insomuch that we were forced to kill them Many Seals to set our feet on shoar Sunday December the 26th This day we sent a Canoa to see if we could find any riding secure from the Southerly winds these being the most constant winds that blow on these Coasts The Canoa being gone our Commander sent likewise what men we could spare on shoar to drive Goats They kill Goats whereof there is great plenty in this Island They caught and killed that day to the number of threescore or thereabouts The Canoa returning unto the ship made report that there was good riding in another Bay situate on the North side of the Island in fourteen fathom water and not above one quarter of a mile from the shoar Moreover that there was much wood to be had whereas in the place where we had first anchored not one stick of wood nor tuft of grass was to be found The next day being the 27th between two and four of the clock in the morning A great storm we had a tempest of violent winds and fierce showers of rain The same day we got in two hundred jars of water bringing them the full distance of a league from the place of our riding They
us by reason we lay by several times but undoubtedly they were cowardly given and peradventure as unwilling to engage us as we were to engage them The following day being January the thirteenth in the morning we could descry one of the fore-mentioned men of war under the Leeward side of the Island and we believed that the rest were at Anchor thereabouts At W. by S. and at the distance of seven Leagues the Island appeareth thus Isle of Juan Fernandez Lat. 33 d. 40 South At noon that day we stood in towards the Island They gave them the 〈◊〉 making as if that we intended to be in with them But in the afternoon our Commander propounded the question unto us whether we were willing now that the Fleet was to windward to bare away from them Unto this we all agreed with one consent And hereupon night being come with a fresh wind at S.S.E. we stood away N.E. by N. and thus gave them handsomly the slip after having out braved them that day and the day before Isla de Juan Fernandez CHAP. XVI The Bucaniers depart from the Isle of Juan Fernandez unto that of Yqueque Here they take several Prisoners and learn intelligence of the posture of affairs at Arica Cruelty committed upon one of the said prisoners who had rightly informed them They attempt Arica the second time and take the Town but are beaten out of it again before they could plunder with great loss of men many of them being killed wounded and made Prisoners Captain Watling their chief Commander is killed in this Attacque and Captain Sharp presently chosen again who leadeth them off and through Mountains of difficulties maketh a bold Retreat unto the ship HAving bid our enemies adieu after the manner as was said in the precedent Chapter They leave the Isle of J. Fernandez the next morning being January the 14th we bore N. E. We reckoned this day a N.N.E. one quarter South way and by it thirty Leagues We were four Leagues Eastward from the Isle of Juan Fernandez when I took our departure Saturday January the 15th we had hasey weather This day we made by a N. E. by N. way eleven Leagues The same hasey weather continued in like manner the 16th But about ten that morning the wind dyed away Our reckoning was a N.E. by N. way and thirty six Leagues On the 17th we had a soft gale and a clear observation We found by it Lat. 28 d. 47 S. Easting seventy Leagues The next day we had likewise a clear day and we reckoned by a N· E. by N. way thirty one leagues By observation Lat. 27 d. 29 South Wednesday January the 19th we had a clear day as before They resolâ—e for Arica and reckoned a N. E. by N. way and thirty five Leagues and two thirds By observation we took Lat. 25 d. 00. South This day we put up our top-gallant masts and sails the which we had taken down at the Island of Juan Fernandez when we thought to have gone directly from thence for the Straights of Magallanes But now our resolutions were changed and our course was bent for Arica that rich place the second time to try what good we could do upon it by another attempt in order to the making all our fortunes there In the evening of this day we saw Land at a great distance January the 20th about midnight past we had a small Land-wind that sprang up and reached us At break of day we could descry Land again at the distance of nine or ten Leagues more or less This day was very hot and calme Easting ninety two Leagues On the 21. we had very little wind and all along as we went we could descry high land and that barren We sailed N. by E. and N.N.E. along the Coast of the Continent The next day being Saturday the 22 of January we had very hot weather 〈◊〉 look out for Yqueque This day we sailed N. and N. by E. and looked out continually for the Island of Yqueque which our Pilot told us was hereabouts We kept at a just distance from Land for fear of being descryed by the enemy On the following day Sunday the 23. we sailed in like manner N.N.E. along the Coast which seemeth to be very full of Bays hereabouts By observation this day we took Lat. 21 d. 49. South Munday January the 24th this day we had an indifferent gale of wind and we stood N. and by E. the wind being S.S.E. We found Latitude by observation 21 d. 02 South Our whole Easting I reckoned to be ninety two leagues and an half In the afternoon of this day Captain Watling our Commander and twenty five men more departed from the ship in two Canoas with design to seek for and take the Island of Yqueque and there to gain intelligence of the posture of affairs at Arica We were at the distance of twelve leagues from shoar when they went away from the ship The next day by a clear observation They find it not we found Lat. 20 d. 40 South At four in the afternoon this day returned one of our Canoas bringing word that they could not find the Island though they had searched for it very diligently At night came the other being brought back by a wrong sign given us by the first Canoa This second Canoa had landed upon the Continent and there found a track the which they followed for some little space Here they met a dead Whale with whose bones the Spaniards had built a Hut and set up a Cross. There lay also many pieces of broken Jars They observed likewise that hereabouts upon the Coast were many Bays good landing and anchoring for ships That evening about seven of the clock a fresh gang departed from the ship to seek for the same Island mean while we lay becalmed all night driving about a league to leeward Wednesday January the 26th Rich Mines on the Continent we had extream hot weather This day the Spanish Pilot told us that on the Continent over against us and at the distance of a very little way within the Land are many rich Mines of Silver but that the Spaniards dared not to open them for fear of an Invasion from some Forreign enemy or other We sailed North at the distance of about two leagues from shoar At noon we had an observation and found Lat. 20 d. 21 S. At four of the clock we saw a smoak made by our men The Island iâ— â—ound close by a white clift which proved to be the Island Hereupon we immediately sent away another Canoa with more men to supply them in their attempts But in the mean while the first Canoa which had departed the evening before this day came aboard bringing with them four prisoners two old white men and two Indians An account of the Island The other Canoa which set out last brought back Molossus Fish and two Jars of wine To windward of
the rest of the company and a departure from us Hereupon this day they departed from the ship to the number of forty seven men all in company together Forty seven return home with design to go over land by the same way they came into those Seas The rest who remained behind did fully resolve and faithfully promise to each other they would stick close together They took five slaves in their company to guide and do them other service in that Journey This day we had 1 d. 30 minutes Southern Latitude We sailed N. N. W. before the wind The next day after their departure being April the 18th we began to go to work about taking down one of our upper decks Teâ—y begin to take down the decks thereby to cause our ship still to mend her sailing We now made a N. W. by N. way and had Latitude by observation 25 North the wind being at S. W. On April the 19th we made a N. W. by N. way This day our observation was Lat. 2 d. 45 North. In the afternoon we had cloudy weather The following day likewise we made the same way and by it seventy miles according to my reckoning On the twenty first in the morning we had some small showers of rain and but little wind We saw some Turtle upon the surface of the water and great quantity of fish We caught twenty six small Dolphins By a N. W. by N. way we reckoned this day forty miles April the 22. this day we caught seven large Dolphins Dolphins caught and one Bonito We saw likewise whole multitudes of Turtle swimming upon the water and took five of them We had an observation that gave us Lat. 5 d. 28 North. Hereabouts runneth a great and strong current This day we lowered the quarter deck of our ship and made it even unto the upper deck They save water from the rain that fell The following day we had but small wind and yet great showers of rain Hereupon every man saved water for himself and a great quantity was saved for the whole company In the morning of this day we caught eight Bonitos and in the evening ten more On April the 24th we had both cloudy and rainy weather By an observation we had Lat. 7 d. 37 North. Meridian difference was ninety two Leagues This morning we caught forty Bonitos and in the evening thirty more In the afternoon we stood North the wind being at S. W. by S. Isla del Cano. Munday April the 25th all the night before this day we had huge gusts of wind and rain At break of day we were close in with Land which upon examination proved to be the Island of Cano. To westward thereof is very high land About noon this day it cleared up and we had Lat. 8 d. 34 N. In the evening we sent a Canoa to search the Island In it they found good water and even ground but withal an open road At night we stood off the first watch and the last we had a land wind They anchor â—ere The next day following at day light we stood in and about noon we came to an anchor at the East side of the Island afore-mentioned which is not in breadth above one league over In the afternoon we removed from our former anchoring place and anchored again within shot of the N. E. point of the Island In this place groweth great number of Cacao trees Cacao-trees all over the greatest part of the Isle On the North side thereof are many Rivulets of good water to be found in sandy bays What else they 〈◊〉 We saw moreover some good Hogs on shoar whereof we killed one and two pigs Here are great numbers of Turtle-doves and huge store of fish but withal very shye to be caught To Northward of the Island it looketh thus Isla del Cano. Lat. 8 d. 45 N. April the 27th we had some rain and wind the forepart of the day but the afternoon was fair They depart from the Isle of Cano. The next day in like manner we had great quantity of rain On Saturday the 30th about seven of the clock in the morning we weighed from the aforesaid Island with little wind and stood N. W. That day fell much rain with great thunder and lightning Munday May the 2d This day we observed and found Lat. 9 D. N. The Coast all along appeared to us very high and mountainous and scarce six hours did pass Much thunder and rain but we had thunder lightning and rain The like continued for the two days following wherein we had nothing but almost continual thunder and rain On May the 5th we had an indifferent fair day And that evening we were right off of the Gulf of Nicoya Gulf of Nicoya Friday May the 6th This morning we saw the Cape very plain before us N. by E. from it are certain keys at eight leagues distance close under the Main We steered N. N. W. towards the biggest of them at whose E. S. E. side are two or three small rocks The Main Eastward is fine Savana or plain and even land through which goeth a very great road which is to be seen from off at Sea At noon the Port of Caldero Puerto Caldero commonly called Puerto Caldero bore N. from us At which time the Ebb forced us to sound in the middle of the Gulf where we found fourteen fathom water After this we anchored nearer unto the Eastern keys in the depth of nineteen fathom where we had oosey ground Saturday May the 7th The night before this day was very fair all night long In the morning we went in a Canoa being several in company to seek for a place to lay our ship in Amongst the Islands along the shoar we found many brave holes but little or no water in them which caused us to dislike what we had found On one of the said Islands we hapned to find a hat and many empty jarrs of water which shewed us that some people had been lately there About eight in the evening our ship weighed anchor at young flood and about three after noon we anchored again in six fathom water Sunday May the 8th 1681. The night before this day we had much rain with thunder and lightning The morning being come our Commander Captain Sharp departed from the ship in two Canoas with twenty two men in his company out of design to surprize any vessels or people they could meet hereabouts In the mean while i' th' evening we drove up with the tide there being no wind in the ship They take some prisoners and two barks for the space of two or three leagues higher till that we found but three fathom high water Here we back't a stern At this time we saw one of our Canoas coming off from the Island that was at head of us which was named Chira calling for more men and arms and saying there was two sail of
ships that were seen higher up the Gulf. Hereupon eight of us went away with them ashoar whereof two joyned the party aforementioned and the six remaining were appointed to guard the prisoners they had taken Unto these we shewed our selves very kind as finding that they were very sensible of the cruelties oâ— the Spaniards towards them and their whole Nation Here we found to the number of eight or nine houses and a small Chappel standing These people have been in former times a considerable and great Nation but are now almost destroyed and extinguished by the Spaniards We ascended a creek of the Sea for the space of a league or thereabouts and took there by surprisal two Barks which were the two sail they had told us of before On of these Barks was the same we had taken before at Panama of which I made mention at the beginning of this History On Munday following this day we weighed anchor with our barks and drove down the creek with the tide at ebb towards our ship They learn intelligence and get some Spanish Carpenters The prisoners that we had taken here informed us that when we were to Westward in these Seas before there lay one hundred men at the Port of Santa Maria. That our men who left us at the Island of Cayboa as was mentioned above met the other Bark that we lost at Sea as we were sailing thither and thus all went over land together That in the North Seas near Puerto Velo they had taken a good ship and that for this cause ever since the Spaniards had kept at the mouth of the river of Santa Maria three Armadilla-barks to stop and hinder others from going that way On Munday night our Captain with twenty four men went from the ship into another creek and there took several prisoners among whom was a Shipwright and his men who were judged able to do us good service in the altering of our ship those Carpenters being there actually building two great ships for the Spaniards Having taken these men they made a float of timber to bring down the Tools and Instruments they were working withal Here it hapned that they put several tools and some quantity of iron-work into a Doree to be conveyed down the river with the float But this Doree sank by the way as being over-laden with iron and one of our company A Scotchman drownâ—d by name John Alexander a Scotchman was unfortunately drowned by this means On Thursday following May the 12th we sent a Canoa from the ship and found the Doree that was drowned That evening likewise drove down the body of our drowned man aforementioned Hereupon we took him up He is found and buryed and on Friday morning following threw him over-board giving him three French vollies for his customary Ceremony Both this day and the day before we fetched water from a Point near the houses on the Island of Chira aforementioned From the ship also we sent away a Spanish Merchant A Merchant sent to seek a ransom whom we had taken among the prisoners to fetch a certain number of Beeves that might serve for a ransom of the new bark taken here This day the weather was fair but on Sunday following it rained from morning until night On Munday May the 16th we began to work all hands together on our ship On Tuesday an Indian boy named Peter ran away from us A boy runneth away He belonged unto Captain Sawkins and waited upon him as his Servant On Wednesday died an Indian slave A slave dyeth whose name was Salvador On Thursday we heard thirty or forty guns fired on the Main which caused us to think that these would also turn to Hilo Beeves On Friday we caught cockles which were as large as both our fists At night there fell such dreadful rain with thunder Much thunder and rain lightning and wind that for the space of two hours the air was as light as day the thunder not ceasing all the while On Sunday we continued to work the night before which day we had more thunder lightning and rain Wednesday May the 25th This day we finished our great piece of work They finish their work viz. the taking down the deck of our ship Besides which the length of every mast was shortned and all was now serv'd and rigg'd Insomuch that it would seem incredible unto strangers could they but see how much work we performed in the space of a fortnight or less They set at 〈…〉 The same day likewise we set at liberty our Spanish Carpenters who had been very serviceable to us all this while the old Pilot the old Spaniard taken at the Isle of Yqueque and several others of our Spanish prisoners and slaves Unto these people but chiefly unto the Spanish Carpenters as a reward of their good service we gave the new Bark which we had taken at this place But the old Bark we thought fit to keep They 〈◊〉 men into the other Bark and sail her in our company as we did putting into her for this purpose six of our own men and two slaves The next day we fell down as low as Vanero a place so called hereabouts and would have sailed away again that very evening Vanero but that our tackle gave way in hoisting our anchor whereby we lay still In the Gulf of Nicoya we experimented most commonly a fresh breeze and at night a land wind Friday May the 27th This day likewise we drove down with the tide as low as Cavallo another place so named in the Gulf. Here we stayed and watered that day and here one Cannis Marcy our Interpreter Their Interpreâ— runneth away ran away from us On May the 28th in the morning we sailed from thence and came within twenty nine leagues of that rich and rocky shore Yet notwithstanding we had but seven fathom water Here I saw this day a white Porpus A white Porpus Behind this Island is a Town called New Cape Blanco At Puerto Caldero above-mentioned is but one Store-house to be seen We came to an anchor in the depth of seven fathom water at the distance of a league from shoar and caught five Turtle May the 29th This day we saw Cape Blanco Both this day and the day following we continued turning it out of the Gulf against a South wind Here I took the ensuing demonstration of the Gulf of Nicoya which for the use of the Reader I have hereunto annexed Gulf of Nicoya described CHAP. XIX They depart from the Gulf of Nicoya unto Golfo Dulce where they careen their Vessel An account of their sailings along the Coast. Also a description of Golfo Dulce The Spaniards force the Indians of Darien unto a Peace by a stratagem contrived in the name of the English WEdnesday June the first 1681. They leave the Gulf. This day we had very fair weather and yet withal but little wind Hereupon the Tide
or Current drove us to the Westward of Cabo Blanco Off of this Cape and at the distance of two miles within the Sea is situate a naked and nothing but barren Key At E. by N. and at four leagues distance Cape Blanco gave us this appearance Cabo BLANCO Lat. 9 D. 30 N. The Coast here along runneth N. W half W. and groweth lower and lower towards Cape Guyones This Cape now mentioned at seven leagues distance and at N. W. by N. appeared thus unto us Cabo de Guyones Lat. 10 D. 00 N. At first sight the Cape appeared very like unto two Islands The latter part of this day was cloudy which hindred much our prospect June the 2d This morning we saw land which appeapeared like several Keys to us at N. W. by N. and at seven leagues distance It was the land of Puerto de Velas and appeared thus Puerto de VELAS They resolve to careen and then cruize This evening our Captain called us together and asked our opinions concerning the course we ought to steer Having discussed the points by him proposed amongst us we all resolved to bear up for Golfo Dulce and there to careen our Vessels This being done we concluded to go from thence unto the Cape and cruize thereabouts under the Equinoctial We observed this day that our Bark taken at the Gulf of Nicoya sailed much better than our ship Friday June the 3d. The night before this day was very fair and we had a fresh wind our course being S. E. This morning we saw no land In the evening the wind came about at S. S. W. and S. W. by S. June the 4th This day we stood E. and E. by N. the wind being W. and W. by N. In the evening we stood N. E. and descryed land at the distance of twenty four leagues more or less from Cabo Blanco Sunday June the 5th Last night we lay by for all or the greatest part thereof This morning we saw the Island of Cano above described which bore E. S. E. from us We saw likewise multitudes of fish but they would not bite Also Water-snakes of divers colours June the 6th All the night past we had rain and with it but little wind Yea scarce enough to carry us clear off from the Island afore-mentioned Towards morning we had a fresh wind at N. N. W. So then we stood out S. until morning and this being come we stood N. E. by E. The land runneth from Punta Mala to Golfo Dulce and Punta Borrica E. S. E. half S. At nine leagues distance we laid the Island of Cano. And Punta Borrica at the same distance or thereabouts looketh thus Punta Borrica Lat. 8 D. 00 N. The West-end of Golfo Dulce is very high land and a high rock lye close off it Besides which two other rocks lyeth farther out the outermost of which is a mile distant from the shoar The East-side is also high but breaketh into small points and bays growing lower and lower to Punta Borrica We came within the mouth of the Gulf about the space of a mile They anchor Then we anchored in eight fathom and a half water The mouth of the Gulf is almost three leagues over The next day being June the 7th we weighed anchor again at young flood and got about two leagues higher At evening we came again to an anchor in the depth of seven fathom and a half water It rained this day until eight of the clock Much rain more like the pouring down of water from the clouds than the usual falling of drops Wednesday June the 8th at day break we weighed anchor again with a fresh Sea-breeze The higher up we went the deeper we found the Gulf and at last no ground even with thirty fathom of line This day we sent our Canoa away to seek water and a good place to lay our ship in Having landed they found one Indian and two boys all which they made prisoners and brought aboard They take three prisoners Here we used them very kindly giving them victuals and cloaths for they had no other than the bark of a tree to cover their nakedness withal Being examined they informed us that a Spanish Priest had been amongst them and had made Peace with their Nation ordering them strictly not to come near any ship nor vessel that had red Colours forasmuch as that they were English-men and would certainly kill them Being asked where now the Priest was they answered he was gone to a great Spanish Town which was distant from thence four sleeps up in the Country After this the Indian left the two boys which were his children with us and went to fetch more Indians unto us from a Plantane-walk or grove situate by a river a league off or thereabouts We came to an anchor in a Bay close by one of the Indian Keys where two fresh Rivers were within a stones throw of each other in twenty seven fathom and a half water and at a cables length from the mark of low water The Indians whom our prisoner went to seek came to us several times selling unto us Honey Plantanes and other necessaries that we usually bought of them or truckt for with other things We also made use of their bark-logs in tallowing our ship in which concern they did us good service Their Darts are headed with iron as sharp as any razor Here one of the prisoners which we took at the Gulf of Nicoya informed us by what means A peace forced upon the Indians of Darien or rather stratagem of War the Spaniards had forced a peace upon the Indians of the Province of Darien since our departure from thence The manner was as followeth A certain Frenchman who ran from us at the Island of Taboga unto the Spaniards was sent by them in a ship to the Rivers mouth which disembogueth from that Province into the South-Sea Being arrived there he went ashoar by himself in a Canoa and told the Indians that the English who had passed that way were come back from their adventures in the South-Sea Withal he asked them if they would not be so kind and friendly unto the English men as to come aboard and conduct them on shoar The poor deceived Indians were very joyful to understand this good news and thus forty of the chiefest men amongst them went on board the Spanish vessel and were immediately carryed prisoners at War to Panama Here they were forced to conclude a peace though upon terms very disadvantageous unto them before they could obtain their liberty These poor and miserable Indians of Golfo dulce would come every day into our company They 〈◊〉 their vessel and eat and drink very familiarly with us all the time we were there We laid our ship on ground but the water did not ebb low enough to see her keel Mean while we were careening our vessel we built a house upon the shoar both to lodge and eat in and
Having considered the time of the year and all other circumstances we resolved that in case we could find a sufficient stock of provisions here They resolve to stay here we would stay the longer that is until Summer came or something more before we prosecuted our intended Voyage homewards through the Straights of Magallanes which now we began to be careful how to find That day of our anchoring in this Bay we shot six or eight brave Geese They kill Geese and Fowls and some smaller fowl besides Here we found also many hundreds of Mussel-banks all which were very plentifully stockt with that kind of fish We buryed our dead man on the shoar giving him several Volleys for his Funeral-Rites according to the custom In the night of this day our anchor came home so that we were forced to let go a grapling to secure our selves But still every flaw of wind drove us Hereupon we set our sprit-sail They are in danger and ran about a mile into another Bay where we let go another anchor and thus anchored again The first anchor which was also the biggest in our ship we lost by this accident the cable being cut by the rocks Unto these Islands afore-mentioned our Captain gave the name of His Royal Highness the Duke of Yorks Islands Thursday October the 13th This day we began to moor our ship They moor their vessel she driving as we easily could perceive with every flaw of wind that blew The tide sloweth here full seven foot up and down We moored our Vessell into a rockey point being a key whereof there be many in the circumference of this Bay The ground of the bottom of the said Bay we found was hard and sandy being here and there rockey This evening we brought on board great store of Lamperts of which we made a kettle of broath that contained more than all our company could eat On Friday October the 14th we killed several Geese As also many of another sort of Fowl like unto an Eagle but having a bigger beak A strange sea-fowl with their nostrils rising from the top of the middle of their beak by a hand trunk This Fowl liveth on Fish but we saw none Yesterday in the evening there fell a great fleet of snow on the hills round about the Bay but none where we were at anchor Moreover this day in the evening we caught Lamperts in great quantity Multitudes of Lamperts and Mussels being three times as many as we could eat Our men in ranging the Keys for Game found grass plaited above a fathom long and a knot tyed at the end thereof In like manner on other Keys they found Mussels and Lampert shells From these things we presently concluded They find tokens of the Inhabitants· that these Countries were inhabited and that some Indians or others were to be found hereabouts Saturday October the 15th in the night last past we had much rain Another storm with large hail-stones About midnight the wind came to North with such great fury that the Tree unto which our Cable was fastned on shoar gave way and came up by the Roots All those gusts of wind were mixt with violent storms of rain and hail Thus we fastned again unto other trees But here it hapned that our ship coming up to the shoar our Rudder toucht and thereupon broke our Goose-neck Great was now our extremity and greater it will be They are in great danger if God send not better weather Scarce a minute now passed without flaws of wind and rain Sunday October the 16th all the night past was rainy as before Much rain About nine of the clock our biggest harser gave way and brake All this day likewise we had rain with several showers of hail and but little wind to westward of the North. Munday October the 17th all last night until five this morning it ceased not to rain Then until ten it snowed On the hills it snowed all the night long Tracts of people This day we hanted on the shoar many tracts of people hereabouts but could find none hitherto they having fled and concealed themselves for fear of us as we supposed October the 18th In the night past we had much rain and hail But the day was very clear Hereupon we made an observation which gave us Lat. 50 D. 40 S. Moreover this day we had pretty warm weather October the 19th Both a clear and frosty night the last past This day was hasey and something windy from the North quarter Every day we had plenty of Lamperts and Mussels of a very large size October the 20th The night past was rainy Another storm and this day windy with very great gusts of wind at N.N.W. until the afternoon Then we had wind at N. W. being very fresh and in gusts October the 21st All the night past was tempestuous Which continueth with huge gusts of wind and showers of hail Yesterday in the evening we carried a cable ashoar and fastned it unto a tree This being done at midnight our biggest cable broke in the middle New dangers Towards morning we had much snow In the day great gusts of wind with large hail stones and also great plenty of Lamperts October the 22d Last night we had strange gusts of wind from N. W. together with much hail and rain This day we killed a Penguin and also began to carry water on board Penguin October the 23d Much rain still All the twenty four hours last past we had much rain The wind was but little at W. and W. S. W. October the 24th All this time until noon nothing but rain At that time it held up fair for the space of half an hour or thereabouts and then it rained again all the rest of the day October the 25th All this while we had not one minute fair Towards evening it held up from raining but the weather was cloudy and withal much warmer than when we came hither at first 〈◊〉 wâ—athâ—r Wednesday October the 26th All the night past and this forenoon we had fair weather But after noon it rained again We found Cockles like unto those we have in England 〈◊〉 Thursday October the 27th In the night past we had much rain A nâ—w storm with very grâ—at gusts of wind lasting for the whole space thereof Yet notwithstanding this day proved to be the fairest that we ever had since we came into this place In the evening of this day our Canoa which was gone to search the adjacent places for Indians or what else they could find returned unto the ship with a Doree at her stern They had gone as it should seem beyond the old Bay where we first anchored and thereabouts hapned to meet with this Doree In it were three Indians who perceiving themselves nigh being taken They take a Doree and one prisoner Hâ—â— habit leapt over-board to make their escape
mouth of the great River of Darien At this Island we met being in all seven Sail on the third of April 1680. Here at the Golden Island the Indians gave us notice of a Town called Sancta Maria 〈◊〉 set forth for Sancta Maria situate on a great River which beareth the same name and which runneth into the South Sea by the Gulf of San Miguèl That in the Town was kept a Garrison of four hundred Souldiers and that from this place much Gold was carried to Panama which was gathered from the Mountains thereabouts That in case we should not find sufficient purchase there we might from thence proceed by Sea to Panama where we could not easily fail of our designs This motion of the Indians we liked so well that we landed three hundred and thirty one men on April the 5th 1680. leaving Captain Alleston and Mackett with a party of Seamen to guard our Ships in our absence with which we intended to return home Their Provision and Colours These men that were landed had each of them three or four Cakes of Bread called by the English Dough-boy's for their provision of Victuals and as for drink the Rivers afforded them enough At that time of our Landing Captain Sharp was very faint and weak as having had a great â—it of sickness lately which he had scarcely recovered Our several Companies that marched were distinguished as followeth First Captain Bartholomew Sharp with his Company had a red Flag with a bunch of white and green Ribbons The second Division led by Captain Richard Sawkins with his men had a red Flag striped with yellow The third and fourth which were led by Captain Peter Harris had two green Flags his Company being divided into two several Divisions The fifth and sixth which being led by Captain John Coxon who had some of Alleston's and Macketts men joyned unto his made two Divisions or Companies had each of them a red Flag The seventh was led by Captain Edmond Cook with red Colours striped with yellow with a Hand and Sword for his devise All or most of them were Armed with Fuzee Pistol and Hanger CHAP. II. They march towards the Town of Santa Maria with design to take it The Indian King of Darien meeteth them by the way Difficulties of this March with other occurrences till they arrive at the place BEing landed on the Coast of Darien First days march and divided into Companies as was mentioned in the preceding Chapter we began our march towards Santa Maria the Indians serving us for guides in that unknown Country Thus we marched at first through a small skirt of a wood and then over a bay almost a League in length After that we went two Leagues directly up a woody valley where we saw here and there an old Plantation and had a very good path to march in There we came to the side of a River which in most places was dry and built us Houses or rather Huts to lodge in Unto this place came unto us another Indian An Indian Commander joyneth them who was a chief Commander and a man of great parts named Captain Antonio This Indian Officer encouraged us very much to undertake the Journey of Santa Maria and promised to be our Leader saying he would go along with us now but that his Child lay very sick However he was assured it would dye by next day and then he would most certainly follow and overtake us Withal he desired we would not lye in the grass for fear of monstrous Adders which are very frequent in those places Breaking some of the stones that lay in the River we found them shine with sparks of Gold These stones are driven down from the neighbouring Mountains in time of floods Four of their number return back This day four of our men tyred and returned back unto the Ships So we remained in all 327 men with six Indians to conduct us That night some showers of rain fell The next day of our march we mounted a very steep hill and on the other side at the foot thereof we rested on the bank of a River which Captain Andraeas told us did run into the South Sea being the same River on which the Town of Santa Maria was situated Hence we continued our march until noon and then ascended another Mountain extreamly higher than the former Here we ran much danger oftentimes and in many places the Mountain being so perpendicular and the path so narrow that but one man at a time could pass We arrived by the dark of the evening to the other side of the Mountain and lodged again by the side of the same River having marched that day according to our reckoning about eighteen miles This night likewise some rain did fall The next morning being April the 7th we marched all along the River aforementioned crossing it often almost at every half mile sometimes up to the knees and at other times up to the middle in a very swift current About noon we came to a place where we found some Indian houses Thâ—se were very large and neat the sides were built wiâ—h Cabbage-trees and the roofs of wild Canes being over them 〈…〉 Darien thatcht with Palmito Royal but far more neater than â—urs at Jamaica They had many divisions into rooms though no ascent by sâ—airs into Chambers At this place were four of these houses together that is within a stones throw one of another each of them having a large Plantane walk before it At the distance of half a mile from this place lived the King or chief Captain of these Indians of Darien who came to visit us in Royal Robes with his Queen and Family His Crown was made of small white 〈◊〉 which were curiously woven having no other top than its lining which was red silk Round about the middle of it was a thin plate of gold more than two inches broad laâ—ed behind from whence did stick two or three Ostrich feathers About this plaâ—e went also a row of golden beads which were bigger than ordinary pease underneath which the red lining of the Crown was seen In his nose he wore a large plate of gold in form of an half Moon and in each ear a great golden ring nigh four inches in diameter with a round thin plate of Gold of the same breadth having a small hole in the center and by that hanging to the ring He was covered with a thin white cotton robe reaching unto the small of his legs and round its bottom a fringe of the same three inches deep So that by the length of this Robe our sight was impeded that we could see no higher than his naked Ankles In his hand he had a long bright Lance as sharp as any knife With him he had three Sons each of them having a white Robe and their Lances in their hands but standing bare-headed before him as also were eight or nine persons more
as to come along with us Before our departure we burnt both the Fort 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 the Church and the Town which was done at the request of the King he being extreamly incensed against it Misfortunes of the Author Among these Canoas it was my misfortune to have one that was very heavy and consequently sluggish By this means we were left behind the rest a little way our number being only four men besides my self that were embarked therein As the Tyde fell it left several shoals of sand naked and hence we not knowing of the true Channel amongst such variety of streams hapned to steer within a shoal above two mile before we perceived our error Hereupon we were forced to lye by until high water came for to row in such heavy boats as those are against the Tide is a thing totally impossible As soon as the Tyde began to turn we rowed away in prosecution of our Voyage and withal made what hast we could but all our endeavours were in vain for we neither could find nor overtake our Companions Thus about ten of the clock at night the Tyde being low water we stuck up an Oar in the River and slept by turns in our Canoa several showers of rain falling all the night long with which we were throughly pierced to the skin But the next morning no sooner day was come when we rowed away down the River as before in pursuit of our people Having gon about the space of two Leagues we were so fortunate as to overtake them For they had lain that night at an Indian Hut or Embarcadero that is to say landing place and had been filling of water till then i' th' morning Being arrived at the place they told us that we must not omit to fill our Jars there with water otherwise we should meet with none in the space of six days time Hereupon we went every one of us the distance of a quarter of a mile from the Embarcadero unto a little Pond to fill our water in Calabazas making withal what hast we could back unto our Canoa But when we returned we found not one of our men they all being departed and already got out of sight Such is the procedure of these wild men that they care not in the least whom they loose of their company or leave behind We were now more troubled in our minds than before fearing lest we should fall into the same misfortune we had so lately overcome Hereupon we rowed after them as fast as we possibly could but all in vain For here are found such huge numbeâ—s of Islands greater and lesser as also Keys about the mouth of the River that it was not difficult for us who were unacquainted with the River to loose our selves a second time amongst them Yet notwithstanding though with much trouble and toil we found at last that mouth of the River that is called by the Spaniards Boca chica or the Little mouth But as it hapned it was now young flood and the stream ran very violent against us So that though we were not above a stones cast from the said mouth and this was within a League broad yet we could not by any means come near it Hence we were forced to put ashoar which we did accordingly until the time of high-water We haled our Canoa close by the bushes and when we got out we fastned our Rope unto a Tree which the Tyde had almost covered for it floweth here nigh four fathom deep As soon as the Tyde began to turn we rowed away from thence unto an Island He is in great dangers in the Gulf. distant about a League and an half from the mouth of the River in the Gulf of San Miguel Here in the Gulf it went very hard with us whensoever any wave dashed against the sides of our Canoa for it was nigh twenty foot in length and yet not quite one foot and a half in breadth where it was at the broadest So that we had just room enough to sit down in her and a little water would easily have both filled and overwhelmed us At the Island aforesaid we took up our resting place for that night though for the loss of our company and the great dangers we were in the sorrowfullest night that until then I ever experimented in my whole life For it rained impetuously all night long insomuch that we were wet from head to foot and had not one dry thred about us neither through the violence of the rain were we able to keep any fire burning wherewith to warm or dry us The Tide ebbeth here a good half mile from the mark of high water and leaveth bare wonderful high and sharp pointed rocks We passed this heavy and tedious night without one sole minute of sleep being all very sorrowful to see our selves so far and remote from the rest of our companions as also totally destitute of all humane comfort For a vast Sea surrounded us on the one side and the mighty power of our Enemies the Spaniards on the other Neither could we descry at any hand the least thing to relieve us all that we could see being the wide sea high Mountains and Rocks mean while our selves were confined to an Egg-shell instead of a Boat without so much as a few cloaths to defend us from the injuries of the weather For at that time none of us had a shooe to our feet We searched the whole Key to see if we could find any water but found none CHAP. V. Shipwrack of Mr. Ringrose the Author of this Narrative He is taken by the Spaniards and miraculously by them preserved Several other accidents and disasters which befel him after the loss of his Companions till he found them again Description of the Gulf of Vallona ON Munday April the Nineteenth at break of day we halled our Canoa into the water again They put out to Sea again in the Canoa and departing from the Island aforementioned both wet and cold as we were we rowed away towards the Punta de San Lorenzo or Point St. Lawrence In our way we met with several Islands which lye stragling thereabouts But now we were again so hard put to it by the smalness of our vessel and being in an open sea that it was become the work of one man yea sometimes of two to cast out the water which came in on all sides of our Canoa After strugling for some while with these difficulties as we came near unto one of those Islands a Sea came and overturned our Boat And are cast away by which means we were all forced to swim for our lives But we soon got unto the Shoar and to the same place our Canoa came tumbling after us Our Arms were very fast lashed unto the inside of the Boat and our Locks as well cased and waxed down as was possible so were also our Catouche Boxes and powder-horns But all our Bread and fresh water was
in striking them he performing it as well as the Tortoise strikers themselves For these creatures here are so little fearful that they offer not to sink from the fishermen but lye still until such time as they are struck But we experimented that the Tortoises on this side were not so large nor so sweet unto the tast as those on the North side of the Island Of Goats we have taken killed and salted above a hundred in a day and that without any labour In the mean while we stayed here we made a square main top-sail yard We cut also six foot of our bolt-sprit and three foot more of our head Most of the time that we remained here we had hasey weather Only now and then the Sun would happen to break out and then to shine so hot that it burnt the skin of the necks of several of our men As for me my lips were burnt in such manner that they were not well in a whole week after CHAP. XII Captain Sharp and his company depart from the Isle of Plate in prosecution of their Voyage towards Arica They take two Spanish Vessels by the way and learn intelligence from the enemy Eight of their company destroyed at the Isle of Gallo Tediousness of this Voyage and great hardship they endured Description of the Coast all along and their sailings HAving taken in at the Isle of Plate They depart from the Isle of Plate what Provisions and other Necessaries we could get we set sail from thence on Tuesday the 17th of August 1680. in prosecution of our Voyage and designs above-mentioned to take and plunder the vastly rich Town of Arica This day we sailed so well and the same we did several others afterwards that we were forced to lye by several times besides reising our top-sails to keep our other ship company least we should loose her again The next morning about break of day They outsail the other Vessel we found our selves to be at the distance of seven or eight Leagues to the Westward of the Island from whence we departed standing W. by S. with a S. by W. wind About noon that day we had laid the land After dinner the wind came at S.S.W. at which time we were forced to stay more than once for the other vessel belonging to our company On the following day we continued in like manner a west course all the day long Sometimes this day the wind would change but then in a quarter of an hour it would return to S.S. W. again as before Hereabouts where we now were we observed great riplings of the Sea August the twentieth yesterday in the afternoon about six of the clock we stood in S. E. But all night and all this day we had very small winds We found still that we gained very much of the small ship which did not a little both perplex and hinder us in our course The next day likewise we stood in S. E. by S. though with very little wind which sometimes varyed as was mentioned above That day I finished two Quadrants each of which were two foot and a half radius Here we had in like manner as hath been mentioned on other days of our sailings very many Dolphins and other sorts of fish swimming about our ship On the morning following we saw again the Island of Plate at NE. of our ship giving us this appearance at that distance of Prospect Isle of PLATE The same day at the distance of six Leagues more or 〈◊〉 from the said Island we saw another Island called 〈◊〉 Thâ—s 〈◊〉 lyeth close in by the Main-land In the 〈◊〉 we observed it to bare E. N. E. from us Our 〈…〉 by S. and had the wind at SW by S. This 〈…〉 we found that our lesser ship was full a great hindrance to our sailing as being forced to lye by and stay for her two or three hours every day We experimented likewise that the farther from shoar we were the less wind we had all along and that under the shoar we were always sure of a 〈◊〉 gale though not so favourable unto us as we could wish it to be Hitherto we had used to stand 〈◊〉 forty Leagues and yet notwithstanding in the sâ—aâ—e of six days we had not got above ten Leagues on our voyage from the place of our departure August the twenty third this day the wind was S. W. by S. and S. S. W. In the morning we stood off The Island Solango at N.E. by N. appeareth thus Isle of SOLANGO At S. by W. and about six Leagues distance from us Point St. Helen we descryed a long and even hill I took it to be an Island and conjectured it might be at least eight Leagues distant from the Continent But afterwards we found it was a point of Land joyning unto the Main and is called Point St. Helena being continued by a piece of Land which lyeth low and in several places is almost drowned from the sight so that it cannot be seen at two Leagues distance In this low-land the Spaniards have convenience for making Pitch Tar Salt and some other things for which purpose they have several houses here and a Fryar who serveth them as their Chaplain From the Island of Solango unto this place are reckoned eleven leagues more or less The Land is hereabouts indifferent high and is likewise full of Bays We had this day very little wind to help us in our Voyage excepting what blasts came now and then in snatches These sometimes would prove pretty fair unto us and allow us for some little while a South course But our chiefest course was S.E. by S. The point of St. Helen at South half East and about six Leagues distance giveth exactly this appearance as followeth Punta de Santa HELENA Here we found no great current of the Sea to move any way At the Isle of Plata afore described the Sea ebbeth and sloweth nigh thirteen foot perpendicular About four Leagues to Leeward of this Point is a deep Bay having a Key at the mouth of it which taketh up the better part of its wideness In the deepest part of the Bay on shoar we saw a great smoak which was at a Village belonging to the Bay unto which place the people were removed from the Point above-mentioned This afternoon we had a small Westerly wind our course being S. S. W. Hereabouts it is all along a very bold shoar At three of the clock after noon we tackt about to clear our selves of the Point â—ark â—â—gs Being now a little way without the Point we espied a sail which we conceived to be a Bark Hereupon we hoisted out our Canoa and sent in pursuit of her which made directly for the shoar But the sail proved to be nothing else then a pair of Bark-Logs which arriving on shoar the men spread their sail on the sand of the Bay to dry At the same time there came down upon the shoar
an Indian on horseback who hallowed unto our Canoa which had followed the Logs But our men fearing to discover who we were in case they went too near the shoar lâ—â—t the design and returned back unto us In these parts the Indians have no Canoas nor any wood indeed that may be thought fit to make them of Had we been descryed by these poor people they would in all probability have been very fearful of us But they offered not to stir which gave us to understand they knew us not We could perceive from the ship a great path leading unto the Hills So that we believed this place to be a look-out or watch-place for the security of Guayaquil Between four and five we doubled the point and then we descryed the Point Chandy at the distance of six Leagues S. S. E. from this point At first sight it seemed like unto a long Island but withal lower then that of St. Helena Tuesday August the 24th Cox's vessel taken in a Tow. this day at noon we took the other ship wherein Captain Cox sailed into a Tow she being every day a greater hinderance than before unto our Voyage Thus about three in the afternoon we lost sight of land in standing over for Cape Blanco Here we found a strong current to move unto the S. W. The wind was at S.W. by S. our course being S. by E. At the upper end of this Gulf which is framed by the two Capes aforementioned standeth the City of Guayaquil Guayaquil being a very rich place and the Embarcadero or Sea-port unto the great City of Quito Unto this place likewise many of the Merchants of Lima do usually send the Money they design for Old Spain in Barks and by that means save the Custom that otherwise they should pay unto the King by carrying it on board of the Fleet. Hither cometh much Gold from Quito and very good and strong broad-cloath together with Images for the use of the Churches and several other things of considerable value But more especially Cacao-nut whereof Chocolate is made Cacao-nut â—he best sort which is supposed here to be the best in the whole Universe The Town of Guayaquil consisteth of about one hundred and fifty great houses and twice as many little ones This was the Town unto which Captain Sawkins intended to make his Voyage as was mentioned above When ships of greater burthen come into this Gulf they anchor without Lapina and then put their lading into lesser Vessels to carry it unto the Town Towards the evening of this day a small breez sprung up varying from point to point After which about nine of the clock at night we tacked about and stood off to Sea W. by N. A 〈◊〉 taken As soon as we had tackt we hapned to espy a Sail N.N.E. from us Hereupon we instantly cast off our other Vessel which we had in a Tow and stood round about after them We came very near unto the vessel before they saw us by reason of the darkness of the night As soon as they espied us they immediately clapt on a wind and sailed very well before us insomuch that it was a pretty while before we could come up with them and within call We halled them in Spanish by means of an Indian prisoner and commanded them to lower their top-sails They answered they would soon make us to lower our own Hereupon we fired several Guns at them and they as thick at us again with their Harquibusses Thus they fought us for the space of half an hour or more and would have done it longer had we not killed the man at the Helm after whom none of the rest dared to be so hardy as to take his place With another of our shot we cut in pieces and disabled their main-top halliards Hereupon they cryed out for Quarter which we gave them and entred their ship Being possessed of the Vessel we found in her five and thirty men of which number twenty four were Natives of Old Spain They had one and thirty fire arms on board the ship for their defence They had not fought us as they declared afterwards but only out of a bravado having promised on shoar so to do in case they met us at Sea The Captain of this Vessel was a person of Quality and his Brother since the death of Don Jacinto de Barahona killed by us in the Engagement before Panama was now made Admiral of the Sea Armada With him we took also in this Bark five or six other persons of Quality They did us in this fight though short very great damage in our Rigging by cutting it in pieces Besides which they wounded two of our men And a third man was wounded by the negligence of one of our own men occasioned by a Pistol which went off unadvisedly About eleven of the clock this night we stood off to the West The next morning about break of day What information they had from the Prize we hoisted out our Canoa and went aboard the Bark which we had taken the night before We transported on board our own ship more of the Prisoners taken in the said vessel and began to examine them to learn what intelligence we could from them The Captain of the vessel who was a very civil and meek Gentleman satisfyed our desires in this point very exactly saying unto us Gentlemen I am now your prisoner at War by the over-ruling providence of fortune and moreover am very well satisfyed that no money whatsoever can procure my ransom at least for the present at your hands Hence I am perswaded it is not my interest to tell you a Lye which if I do I desire you to punish me as severely as you shall think fit We heard of your taking and destroying our Armadilla and other ships at Panama about six weeks after that Engagement by two several Barks which arrived here from thence But they could not inform us whether you designed to come any farther to the Southward but rather desired we would send them speedily all the help by Sea that we could Hereupon we sent the noise and rumour of your being in these Seas by land unto Lima desiring they would expedite what succours they could send to joyn with ours We had at that time in our Harbour two or three great ships but all of them very unfit to sail For this reason at Lima the Vice-Roy of Peru pressed three great Merchant ships into the biggest of which he put Fourteen brass guns into the second Ten and in the other Six Vnto these he added two Barks and put seven hundred and fifty Souldiers on board them all Of this number of men they landed eightscore at Point St. Helena all the rest being carryed down to Panama with design to fight you there Besides these Forces two other men of War bigger than the afore-mentioned are still lying at Lima and fitting out there in all speed to follow and pursue you One
come at that instant that we did unto the sea-side our Boats had been gone they being already under sail and we had inevitably perished every man Thus we put off from the shoar and got on board about ten of the clock at night having been involved in a continual and bloody fight with the enemy all that day long CHAP. XVII A description of the Bay of Arica They sail from hence unto the Port of Guasco where they get Provisions A draught of the said Port. They land again at Hilo to revenge the former affronts and took what they could find HAving ended our attempt at Arica the next day They depart from Arica being January the last we plyed to and fro in sight of the Port to see if they would send out the three ships we had seen in the Harbour to fight us For upon them we hoped to revenge the defeat and disappointment we had received at the Town the day before But our expectations in this point also were frustrated for not one of those vessels offered to stir The houses of this Town of Arica are not above eleven foot high as being built of earth An account of Arica and not of brick or timber The Town it self is foursquare in figure and at one corner thereof standeth the Castle which may easily be commanded even with small Arms from the hill which lyeth close unto it This place is the Embarcadero or Port-Town of all the Mineral Towns that lye hereabouts and hence is fetched all the Plate that is carryed to Lima the head-City of Peru. I took the Bay of Arica as it appeared to me thus A description of Arica On Tuesday February the first we had a clear observation and by it we found Lat. 19 d. 06. South They make a sâ—all dividend This day we shared the old remains of our Plate taken in some of our former booties Our shares amounted only unto thirty seven pieces of Eight to each man N. B. Here I would have my Reader to take notice that from this day forwards I kept no constant Diary or Journal as I had done before at least for some considerable space of time as you shall see hereafter my disease and sickness at Sea being the occasion of intermitting what I had never failed to do in all the course of this Voyage till now Only some few Memorandums as my weakness gave leave I now and then committed to paper the which I shall give you as I find them towards a continuance of this History Thus Munday February the 14th this night between eleven add twelve of the clock dyed on board our ship William Cook Captain Cooks man dyeth who was the servant afore-mentioned unto Captain Edmund Cook of whom likewise mention hath been often made in this Journal He desisted not in the least even at his last hour to accuse his Master of Baggering him as before was related Moreover that his Master should say It was no sin to steal from us who thought it none to rob the Spaniards February the 16th 1680. this day we found our selves to be in Lat. 27 d. 30 South We had a constant breeze at S. E. and S. S. E. till we got about two hundred Leagues from land Then at the Eclipse of the Moon we had a a calm for two or three days Several calms and then a breeze at North for the space of two days after which we had a calm again for two or three days more March the first we found Latitude by observation 34 d. 01 South Dirty weather At this time beginneth the dirty weather in these Seas We lay under a pair of courses the wind being at S. E. and E. S. E. with a very great Sea at S. S.E March the third all hands were called up and a Councel held wherein considering it was now dirty weather They resolve to go home over land and late in the year we bore up the Helm and resolved to go unto the Main for water and thence to Leeward and so march over land towards home or at least to the North Sea But God directed us from following this resolution as you shall hear hereafter We being thus determined that day we stood N.E. with a strong wind at S.E. and E.S.E. On March the fifth dyed our Coquimbo Indian The seventh we had a west-wind our course being E. by N. The eighth of the said Month we were put to an allowance Are put to an allowance having only one Cake of bread a day March the tenth we had a strong South-wind They descry laâ—d On March the 12th we fell in with the main land something to Leeward of Coquimbo Within the Island of Paxaros are double lands in whose Valleys are fires for the melting of Copper Furnaces of Copper with which Metal these Hills abound Off to sea-board it is a rocky land and within it is sandy About the distance of eight Leagues to Leeward is a rocky point with several Keys or Rocks about it About one half mile to Leeward of this point turneth in the Port of Guasco Point of Guasco Right against the anchoring are three Rocks close under the shoar Being arrived here we landed on shoar threescore men of our company They land with design to get Provisions and any thing else that we could purchase The people of the Country ran all away as soon as they saw us There was building on shoar in this Port a fire-Barque of sixteen or eighteen Tuns burthen with a Cock-boat belonging unto it And get Provisions We took one Indian Prisoner and with him went up the space of six or seven miles into the Country unto an Indian Town of Threescore or Fourscore houses From thence we came back unto the Church which is distant four miles from the Sea-side and lodged there all night Here are multitudes of good Sheep and Goats in the Countrey adjoyning to this Port and it is watered with an excellent fresh-water River but the getting of water is very difficult the banks being very high or otherwise inaccessible However we made a shift to get in five hundred Jars of water Furthermore we brought away one hundred and twenty Sheep and fourscore Goats with which stock we victualled our vessel for a while As for Oxen they had driven them away farther up into the Countrey An account of Guasco The jurisdiction of Guasco it self is governed by a Teniente or Deputy-Governour and a Fryar and is in subjection unto the City of la Serena above-mentioned as being a dependance thereupon Here groweth both Corn Pease Beans and several other sorts of Grain and for Fruits this place is not inferiour unto Coquimbo Here we found likewise a Mill to grind Corn and about two hundred bushels thereof ready ground the which we conveyed on board our ship Every house of any account hath branches of water running through their yards or courts The Inhabitants had hidden their
Wine and other best things as Plate and Jewels having descryed us at sea before our landing They were descryed before landing so that our booty here besides Provisions was inconsiderable However we caught some few Fowls and eat five or six Sheep and likewise a great Hog which tasted very like unto our English Pork The hills are all barren so that the Countrey that beareth Fruit is only an excellent Valley being four times as broad as that of Hilo above-mentioned These people of Guasco serve the Town of Coquimbo with many sorts of Provisions We gave the Indian whom we had taken his liberty and I took the Port of Guasco thus A Description of Guasco Tuesday March the 15th 1680. They depart from Guasco This morning we departed from the Port of Guasco aforementioned with very little wind having done nothing considerable there excepting only the taking in the few Provisions above-related We were bent therefore to seek greater matters having experimented but ill success in most of our attempts hitherto On March the 20th Moro de Horse being high doubled Land and at E. by N. appeared thus unto us in Lat. 24 d. South Moro de Horse Lat. 24 d. S. At North and at the distance of ten Leagues more or less we saw the great and high hill of Morro Moreno being so called from its colour It is a dark hill but much higher and bigger than the other afore-mentioned and appeareth like unto an Island thus Morro Moreno Lat. 23 d. 30 S. We had now very dark weather all along the Coast. On March the 21 we were West from the Bay of Mexillones Bay of Mexillones The point of this Bay one League upwards representeth exactly a Sugar-loaf They seek for the River Loa March the 22. This day our Boat and Canoas went from the ship being well man'd to find the River Loa They went also about two Leagues to Leeward of it But cannot fâ—â—d it unto a fishing village but could find no place fit for landing whereupon they returned without acting any thing The next day another Canoa of our company went out upon the same exploit but found the same success Yet notwithstanding here Sir Francis Drake watered and built a Church as we were told by our Pilot. This Church is now standing on the Sea-side by the River whose mouth is now dry There are several Huts to windward of it and from the said Church or Chappel goeth a great path up the hills which leadeth to Pica On Thursday March the 24th we found Latitude by observation 20 d. 10 South This day also we saw Land at eighteen leagues distance more or less Sunday March the 27th we saw Mora de Sama and La cumba at some distance The same day we had an observation and found by it Lat. 18 d. 17 South That evening we departed from the ship with our Boats and Canoas towards the Coast of Hilo upon which we now were We landed and took the village of Hilo undiscryed They sâ—rprize Hilo they scarce suspecting we could have any design upon that place the second time We caught the Fryar who was Chaplain unto the Town and most of the Inhabitants asleep making them prisoners at war Here we heard a flying report as if five thousand English had lately taken Panama the second time and kept it But this rumour as it should seem proved to be a falsity At this time the River came out and was overflown it being near the time of the freshes Here the prisoners told us 〈…〉 of their Surgeons at Arica that in Arica ten of our men were still alive whereof three were Surgeons all the rest being dead of their wounds The Spaniards sent word unto Hilo that we had killed them seventy men and wounded three times as many of their Forces But here the Inhabitants said that of forty five men sent to the relief of Arica from hence there came home but only two alive We filled what water we pleased here but a small boat that we brought from Guasco broke loose from us and was sâ—aved to pieces on the Rocks Here we took eighteen Jars of wine and good store of new Figs. On Tuesday following we went up to the Sugar-work mentioned in our former expedition against Hilo and found all Fruits just ripe and sit for eating There we laded seven Mules downwards with Molossus and Sugar The Inhabitants told us moreover that those men who came to fight us when we were here the first time were most of them Boys and had only fifty Fire-arms amongst them They being commanded by an English Gentleman who is Married at Arequipa Likewise that the owner of the Sugar-work afore-mentioned was now engaged in a Suit at Law against the Town of Hilo pretending it was not the English who robbed him and spoilt his Ingenio when we were there before but the Townsmen themselves This day in the evening we sailed from Hilo with dark weather and little wind which continued for several days afterwards CHAP. XVIII They depart from the Port of Hilo unto the Gulf of Nicoya where they take down their decks and mend the sailing of their ship Forty seven of their Companions leave them and go home over land A description of the Gulf of Nicoya They take two Barks and some Prisoners there Several other remarques belonging to this Voyage They leave Hilo FRom the time that we set sail from the Port of Hilo until Sunday April the tenth 1681. nothing hapned unto us that might be accounted remarkable neither did I take any notes all this while by reason of my indisposition afore-mentioned This day we could hear distinctly the breaking of the Seas on the shoar but could see no land the weather being extream dark and hasey Notwithstanding about noon it cleared up and we found our selves to be in the Bay called de Malabrigo The land in this Bay runneth due East and West By an observation made we found this day 6 d. 35 South We saw from hence the Leeward Island of Lobos or Seals being nothing else than a rocky and scraggy place On the S.W. side thereof is a red hill which is a place about the said Island where the Indian Fishermen much frequent It is situate in Lat. 6 d. 15 S. This day likewise in the evening we saw the Point called Aguja On Saturday April the 16th we came within a league distance of the West-end of the Island of Plate 〈…〉 Plaâ—e above described 〈…〉 among themselves The next day unto this being Sunday April the 17th 1681. our Mutineers broke out again into an open dissention they having been much dissatisfyed all along the course of this Voyage but more especially since our unfortunate fight at Arica and never entirely reconciled unto us since they chose Captain Watling and deposed Sharp at the Isle of Juan Fernandez as was related above Nothing now could appease them nor serve their turn but a separation from
every day we caught plenty of good fish On Sunday June the 12th the work of Careening our ship going on in due order we came to cleanse our hold A strange accident and here on a suddain both my self and several others were strucken totally blind with the filth and nastiness of the said place Yet soon after we recovered our sight again without any other help than the benefit of the fresh and open air which dissipated those malignant vapours that oppressed our eyes On June the 14th we had a great and fierce Tornado with which our Cable broke A great danger and had it not then hapned to be high water at that instant we had been lost inevitably However we had the good fortune to shoar her up again and by that means secure our selves from farther danger On June the 21. we weighed anchor again and went a league higher than the former place Here we watered and in the mean while left men below to cut wood Two Negroes make their escape Thursday June the 23. this day ran away from us two Negroes the name of one of them was Hernando who was taken with Don Thomas de Argandona upon the Coast of Guayaquil as was mentioned above The other was named Silvestre being taken at the Town of Hilo Following the example of these afore-mentioned on Munday June the 27th that is four days after two more of our prisoners endeavoured to make their escape both of them slaves One of these was named Francisco who was a Negro and had been taken in the Cacao-ship mentioned before The name of the other was also Francisco and he was an Indian born Others endeavour it but are taken who was taken before Panama Their attempts to escape succeeded not for we caught them both again before they got on shoar On Tuesday following I went to sail up and down the Gulf in the little Bark belonging to our ship and having viewed all places took this description of Golfo Dulce here inserted Our Captain gave this Gulf the name of King CHARLES his Harbour Adescription of Golfo Dulce CHAP. XX. They depart from Golfo Dulce to go and cruise under the Aequinoctial Here they take a rich Spanish vessel with 37000 Pieces of Eight besides Plate and other Goods They take also a Pacquet-boat bound from Panama to Lima. An account of their Sailings and the Coasts along OUr vessel being now careened and all things in a readiness for our departure They resolve to go and cruise on Tuesday June the 28th in the afternoon we weighed anchor to go to Sea again turning out towards the mouth of Golfo Dulce Our design was to cruise under the Aequinoctial as had been concluded upon before thereby to get what purchase we could by Sea seeing the greatest part of our attempts upon land had proved hitherto very unsuccessful unto us Wednesday June the 29th both the night last past and this day we had rainy weather About three in the afternoon a fresh gale sprang up at S. W. and S.S.W. our course being S. E. and S. E. by S. At five this evening the Gulf bore N. W. by W. being seven leagues distant and Punta Borrica three leagues and an half distant The bark out-saileth the ship Thursday June the 30th all night past we enjoyed a fresh gale at S.S.W. We sailed in the Barque where I was better than the man of war for so we called the Trinity vessel notwithstanding that she was newly cleansed and tallowed This day we had hasey weather and I reckoned my self from Punta Borrica S.S.E. eighteen leagues and an half Tornados July the first 1681 last night we had two or three Tornados I reckoned this day a S.S.E. way and by a clear observation found Lat. 6 d. 10. North. We saw great quantities of fish as we sailed this day July the second we made a S. East way and our reckoning was 64 by it By observation I found Lat. 5 d. 20. North. At noon the same day we had a fresh gale at S.W. with some rain July the third we had hasey weather We made a S.E. by S. way and 37. Munday July the fourth the night past was windy with rain which forced us to hand our top-sails Our reckoning this day was a S. E. way and an hundred miles July the fifth we had a clear night the last past and withal a fresh gale By this we made a S.E. way Our Latitude this day gave us 2 d. 20. North. This morning we saw Land Southward of us lying in low hammocks It was the Point so called of Manglares Wednesday July the 6th we turned up along shoar and by observation took this day Lat. 2 d. 02 N. Hereabouts every new Moon is experimented a windward current In the evening of this day we were close in with low land We had windy weather and a great Sea Thursday July the seventh this day by observation taken we found Lat. 01 d. 48. North. In the evening of the said day we lost sight of the said ship The next day being July the eighth we saw the ship again whose loss began to create some concern in our minds This day we made very high land all along as we went And the Port or rather Bay of San Mateo or St. Matthews appeared unto us like several Islands Saturday July the ninth this morning we stood fair in with the Port of Tucames Off of the highest part of the land seemeth to lye a Key At the North East point of the Port it appeareth exactly thus Puerto de Tucames This day at noon we had a clear observation which gave us Lat. 01 d 22 North. Sunday July the tenth last night past we stood off to Sea thereby to keep clear of the shoar This days observation shewed us Lat. 01 d. 31. North. About noon the same day we hapned to espy a Sail They espy a Sail. unto which immediately we gave chace We bore up one point of the Compass thereby to hinder her lasking away but notwithstanding in the evening lost sight of her again However our great ship got up with her and about eight of the clock at night made her a Prize She proved to be the same ship named San Pedro which we had taken the last year being then bound from Truxillo to Panama and laden with Wine Gunpowder and pieces of Eight whereof mention was made in its due place Thus this same bottom became doubly fortunate unto us being twice taken by us in the space of fourteen Months For she had on board her now twenty one thousand pieces of Eight in eight Chests and in bags sixteen thousand more besides Plate Munday and Tuesday the 11th and 12th of the said Month we made in for the shoar Our Prize was so deeply laden that she seemed clearly to be buryed in the water She had forty men on board her besides some Merchants â—nd Fryars On Tuesday an observation gave us Lat.
did see in all the South Sea The name of the Captain of this Vessel was Don Diego Lopez and the ship was called el Santo Rosario or the Holy Rosary The men we found on board her were about the number of forty more or less Having examined our prisoners they informed us that the day before they set sail from el Callao from which Port they were going towards Panama our men whom they had taken prisoners at Arica were brought in to that place They hear of their Surgeons And that they had been very civilly entertained there by all sorts of people but more especially by the women That one of our Surgeons whom we suspected to be Mr. Bullock was left behind and remained still at Arica We lay at anchor from Friday July the 29th which was the day we took this prize until Wednesday following They rummage the prize at the same place under Cape Passao that we anchored before Here we sunk the Bark that we had taken at the Gulf of Nicoya being willing to make use of what rigging she had They sink their Bark and also to contract our number of men In the mean while we took out of the prize much plate and some money ready coyned besides six hundred and twenty jarrs of wine and brandy and other things Thus leaving onely the fore-mast standing in the said vessel we turned her away as we had done the others before together with all the prisoners in her giving them their liberty not to be encumbred with them and withal being desirous to spare our provisions as much as we could We detained onely one man named Francisco who was a Biscainer by reason he reported himself to be the best Pilot of those Seas This being done we shared all the Plate and Linnen taken in our prize and weighed from thence standing S.S. E. with a fresh wind that sprang up Friday August the 4th This day we shared the ready money taken in the Rosario Another dividend made our last prize Our dividend came unto ninety four pieces of eight each man Cape Passao under which all these prizes were taken at N. E. appeareth thus Cabo Passao The land runneth S. E. and is for five leagues together to windward of this Cape all mountainous and high land The next day being August the 5th we compleated our dividends They compleat their dividends sharing this day all our odd money ready coined and plate with some other things Saturday August the 6th This day perusing some letters taken in the last prize Letters perused I understood by them that the Spaniards had taken prisoner one of the last party of our men that left us Also that they were forced to fight all their way over land as they went both against the Spaniards and the Indians these having made peace with the Spaniards since our departure as was mentioned above That our English-men had killed amongst other Spaniards the brother of Captain Assientos and Captain Alonso an Officer so named Moreover that ten sail of Privateers were coming out of the North Sea with intent to march over-land into the South Sea as we had done before but that they were prevented being forced back by the great rains that fell near the Islands called Zamblas On August the 7th we had very fair weather and notwithstanding sometimes strong winds from shoar A strong Current and also a strong Current to leeward This ran so fierce against us the next day August the 8th that in the space of the last four and twenty hours we lost three leagues Tuesday August the ninth Manta we saw the Port and Town of Manta this being nothing else than sixteen or seventeen stragling houses with a large and high brick Church belonging unto it What we got in the day by the help of the wind we lost in the night by the current The same fortune we had the next day for we still gained no way all this while Thursday August the eleventh all the night last past we had but little wind this day we had a violent current to windward as before with some gusts of wind However by the help of these we made shift to get to windward of the Isle of Plate August the 12th in the morning we came to an anchor at the aforesaid Isle We sent our boat ashoar with men Isle of Plate as we had done formerly to kill Goats but we experimented them to be extreamly shy and fugitive over what they were the last year Here it was that our Quarter-master James Chappel and my self fought a Duel together on shoar The Author fighteth a Duel In the evening of this day our slaves agreed among themselves and plotted to cut us all in pieces not giving quarter to any when we should be buryed in sleep They conceived this night afforded them the fittest opportunity by reason we were all in drink A plot of their slaves But they were discovered unto our Commander by one of their own Companions And one of them named San Tiago whom we brought from Yqueque leapt over-board who notwithstanding was shot in the water by our Captain and thus punished for his Treason The rest laid the fault on that slave and so it passed we being not willing to enquire any farther into the matter having terrifyed them with the death of their companion We lay at this Isle until Tuesday following and in the mean while gave our vessel a pair of boots and tops being very merry all the while with the wine and brandy we had taken in the Prize On Tuesday August the 16th in the afternoon we weighed from thence with a S. W. wind The Island at N. W. from us gave us this following appearance Isla de la Plata Wednesday August the 17th the Island at East this morning and at two leagues and an half distance appeared thus Island of PLATE All the day long until the evening we had a Leeward current but then I could not perceive any Solango Thursday August the 18th this morning we were to windward of the Island of Solango In the night before we had continual misty rain At noon the aforesaid Island bore N. by E. of us and at three Leagues distance appeared thus Isla de Solango About three Leagues from Solango are two Rocks called Los ahorcados They appear both high and black unto the view Besides this N. N. E. from Point St. Helena is a high Rock which to windward thereof runneth shoaling for the space of half a mile under water It is distant about eight leagues more or less from the said Point and is called Chanduy At this place and upon this Rock was lost the ship afore-mentioned that was ordered from these Seas to the aid of our most gracious Soveraign King Charles the First late King of England Said ship had on board as the Spaniards relate to the sum of many millions of pieces of Eight all which quantity of
Porpusses did always hinder us of having any good of them On January the 21st We made a W. way and reckoned forty seven leagues By observation we found Lat. 13 D. 07 N. The wind was at E. N. E. and from thence came a long sea The evening was very clear January the 22d We had a fair and a clear day the wind being at E. We reckoned a W. by N. one third W. way and forty leagues An observation shewed us Lat. 13 D. 17 N. We had a clear evening and a fresh wind at E. N. E. January the 23d This day was both clear and hot with a fresh wind at E. N. E. My reckoning was a W. way and forty six leagues Our observation made this day afforded us Lat. 13 D. 15 N. In the evening we had some rain January the 24th This day brought us likewise clear weather such as the day before I reckoned a W. way and forty leagues and one third By observation we found Lat. 13 D. 12. N. The afternoon was cloudy and had some rain the wind freshning at E.N.E. and at E. by N. I reckoned now that I was East from my departure three hundred and eleven leagues We had a cloudy evening January the 25th Both last night and this morning the weather was cloudy This morning we saw several Tropick-birds of divers sorts Tropick-birds seen Our reckoning was a W. three quarters N. way and forty three leagues We found by observation Lat. 13 D. 29 N. This afternoon we saw a Booby flying close aboard the Horison A Booby seen The weather was hasey They look out sharp for land But now we began to look out sharp on all sides for land expecting to see it every minute I reckoned my self to be Eastward of my departure two hundred sixty eight leagues January the 26th The night last past was indifferent clear Yet notwithstanding this morning we had a smart shower of rain and it was very windy Hereupon we furled our sprit sail the weather being very hasey to the Westward We reckoned a W. way and thereby forty six leagues and one third By observation taken we found Lat. 13 D. 17. N. At noon this day we had a very fierce Tornado and rain together but withal a clear afternoon We had a high E N. E. sea A fierce Tâ—â—nado and saw multitudes of flying-fish also several fowls and amongst these two or three Booby's The evening was hasey January the 27th All night past we had a fresh wind and clear weather This morning our fore-top-mast back-stay gave way and at day-break the star-board-sheet of our fore-top-sail brake We had several Tornado's this day and dark weather Our reckoning was a W. way and forty eight leagues by the same We had a clear evening and a dark night This day also a certain bird called a Noddy came on board us A Noddy cometh aboard which we took for a certain token that we were not now very far from land Saturday January the 28th We had a very clear night the last past About an hour before day one of our company happened to descry land They descry the Island of Barbado's which proved to be the Island of Barbado's at S. S. W. from us and at two leagues and an half distance more or less Hereupon we clapt on a wind N. and by W. At day-break we were onely four leagues distant from Chalky-Mount at which time we stood S. W. by S. As we sailed we saw several ships at anchor in Spikes-Road Soon after a Shalop passed by between us and the shoar but would not come within call of us Hereupon we stood in within a mile of the shore and made a wiff unto a Pinnace which we saw coming out of the road aforementioned She came close aboard us and as it should seem was the Barge of one of his Majesties Frigats They are affraid of the Richmond Frigat the Richmond then lying at the Bridge-town at anchor They told us of a peace at home but would not come on board us though often invited thereunto Neither dared we be so bold as to put in there at Barbado's for hearing of a Frigat lying there we feared least the said Frigat should seize us for Privateers and for having acted in all our voyage without Commission Thus we stood away from thence for the Island of Antego 〈◊〉 bear away 〈◊〉 Antego Here I cannot easily express the infinit joy we were possessed withal this day to see our own country-men again They told us that a ship which we saw in the offing to leward of the Island was a Bristol-man and an Interloper but we feared that same vessel to be the Frigat aforementioned I reckoned a way of twenty five leagues So that I was now by my account to Eastward of my departure one hundred fifty one leagues Now we stood N. by W. and by observation found Lat. 13 D. 17 N. we being then N. W. from the body of the Island of Barbado's between seven and eight leagues This afternoon we freed the Negro who was our shooemaker by his trade They give liberty to a Negro giving him his liberty for the good service he had done us in all the course of this voyage We gave also unto our good commander Captain Sharp a Mulato boy as a free gift of the whole company for to wait upon him in token of the respects we all were owing unto him for the safety of our conduct through so many dangerous adventures This being done we shared some small parcels of money that had not as yet been touched of our former prizes The last dividend maâ—â— and this dividend amounted unto twenty four pieces of eight each man At one of the clock this day from our fore-yard we descryed the Island of Santa Lucia being one of the Western Islands not far distant from that of Barbados I had omitted to tell a passage which happened in our ship on Thursday last which was the 26th day of this Month and just two days before we made the Island aforementioned of Barbados On that day therefore a little Spanish shock-Dog which we had found in our last Wine-prize taken under the Aequinoctial and had kept alive till now was sold at the mast by publick cry for forty pieces of eight his owner saying that all he could get for him should be spent upon the company at a publick merriment Our commander Captain Sharp bought the Dog with intention to eat him in case we did not see land very soon This money therefore with one hundred pieces of eight more which our Boatswain Carpinter and Quartermaster had refused to take at this last dividend for some quarrel they had against the sharers thereof was all laid up in store till we came to land to the intent of spending it ashore at a common feast or drinking bout At Sunset the Island of Santa Lucia bore W. S. W. from us and was at ten