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
30th we had misty weather We made a W.S. W. way and by it five leagues and one third In the afternoon of this day the wind freshned again having been but little before and we stood E.S.E. The last day of August we had very fair weather I believed now that the wind was setled at S. E. and S. S. E. We made a S. S. W. way and twenty one leagues and two thirds September the First The night past was very cloudy but withal we had a fresh gale Our reckoning was a S. W by S. way and that we had made sixteen leagues and two thirds September the 2d we reckoned a S. W. way and by it twenty six leagues and two thirds This day we had an observation and found Lat. 7 D. 40 S. September the 3d brought us both cloudy and misty weather We made a W.S.W. way and fourteen leagues September the 4th This day the wind was at E. S. E. and sometimes E. coming in many flaws We had a S. W. by S. way and reckoned twenty three leagues and two thirds We had a great Sea from the South Munday September the 5th we had great winds and a high and short Sea Our way was S. S. W. and half W. by which we reckoned twenty eight leagues and two thirds of a league September the 6th we had a very fresh wind at S. E. by E. with an indifferent smooth Sea By observation we found this day Latitude 12 d. 00 South We made a S.W. by S. way and twenty eight leagues and one third Wednesday September the seventh we had a very fresh wind We reckoned a S.W. by S. way and thirty six leagues We observed Latitude 13 d. 24 South We make now each mess a plumb Pudding of Salt-water and wine-Lees On the eighth we enjoyed a fresh gale of wind though with hasey weather Our reckoning was a S.W. by S. way and hereby twenty five leagues and one third of a league September the 9th we made a S.W. by S. way and twenty one leagues and a third In the afternoon the wind came about something more Southerly allowing us a S. W. course Saturday September the 10th all the night past and this morning the wind was very fresh at East Our way was S.S.W. and by our reckoning thirty five leagues and one third The weather now was warm An observation this day gave us Lat. 16 d. 40. South September 11 we had whiffling winds A South-west half South way and thereby twelve leagues and two thirds By an observation made we found 17 d. 10 South Now we had a very great Sea so that we took in our sprit-sail September the 12th all the night before this day we were under a pair of courses Yet this morning we heaved out main top-sail We made a W. S. W. way and seventeen leagues and one third By observation we found Lat. 17 d. 30 South The 13th in the night past we had huge and great storms of wind In the morning our Goose-head gave way so that about noon we were forced to lye by till four in the afternoon to mend it Our course was S. W. half W. and our reckoning twenty nine leagues and two thirds of a league Latitude by observation 18 d. 12 South Wednesday September the 14th this day we had very hasey weather We made a S.S.W. way and twenty leagues September the 15th this day likewise we had a S.S.W. way and reckoned twenty three leagues and one half Our observation taken this day gave us 20 d. 09. South On September the 16th we had a clear day a S. W. half South way and made sixteen leagues and two thirds We found by observation Lat. 20 d. 48 South The 17th last night was very calm Also this day it being a full Moon We reckoned a S.W. way and only by reason of the calmness of the weather nine leagues and one third of a league We had an observation which afforded us 21 d. 08 S. Latitude Sunday September the 18th in the night last past a wind sprang up at S.S.E. which the morning of this day freshned at S. E. We made a W. S. W. way and by it eighteen leagues Moreover this day we had a clear observation that shewed us Lat. 21 d. 30 S. September the 19th all the night past we had a very fresh wind But this morning it came about to E. by S. and E.S.E. with hasey weather I reckoned a S.W. by S. way and twenty two leagues September the 20th this day gave us a fresh wind hasey weather a S. by W. way and hereupon twenty three leagues and one third September the 21 this day also the fresh gale continued with cloudy and sometimes misty weather Our reckoning shewed us a S. by W. way as the day before and by it twenty eight leagues and one third By an observation made we found Lat. 25 d. 15 South Thursday September the 22 this day we had a very fresh wind We reckoned a South half West way and by that twenty nine leagues and two thirds An observation taken gave us Lat. 26 d. 42 South We observed this day a North East Sea A North East Sea which seemed very strange unto us The next day we had several showers of small rain My reckoning was a S. by W. way and thereupon twenty six leagues We found by observation Lat. 27. d. 57 South September the 24th we had hasey weather and the wind not so fresh at E. S. E. with a smooth Sea We made a S. S. W. way half westerly and twenty three leagues and two thirds This day also an observation gave us Lat. 28 d. 57 South I reckoned now that we were distant from Paita 302 leagues and two thirds Sunday September the 25th this day we had not much wind and withal hasey weather At noon the wind came East then E.N.E. and then again N.E. by E. We reckoned a S. by E. way half Easterly and 55. Munday the 26th we had hasey weather and a fresh wind at N. East We reckon a S.E. half South way and twenty four leagues In the afternoon we experimented a N.N.E. Sea and then soon after a N.N.E. wind After this a North wind and that but very little September the 27th all the night before this day we had a fresh wind at N.N.E. About eight this morning it came about again to N.N.W. We made a S.E. by S. way and thirty eight leagues By observation I found Lat. 32 d. 30 South Now we enjoyed a very smooth sea and fair weather Wednesday September the 28th in the night past a very fresh wind at N.N.W. and N.W. At break of day we had a wind at .... heaving us a back at once At noon again the wind was at S.W. our course being S.E. This morning we took down our top gallant-masts We made a S.E. by E. way and on this road twenty seven leagues and two thirds We found by an observation made Lat. 33 d. 16 South a South
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
They alter their course the wind was at S.E. and S.S.E. We now lay E.N.E. I reckoned a N.E. by E. way and twenty three leagues About four in the afternoon two of our fore-shrouds bolts broke but withal were presently mended This afternoon also we saw a very large Whale In the evening we handed in our fore-top sail A Whale seen and lay under our pair of Courses and Sprit-sail the evening being very clear November the 17th in the night past there was a very hard frost Great Islands of Ice At four this morning we saw two or three Islands of Ice the distance of two or three leagues to the Southward of us Soon after this we saw several others the biggest of them being at least two leagues round By an observation made this day we found Lat. 58 d. 23 South We had now a vehement current to the Southward At noon I saw many others of these Islands of Ice afore-mentioned of which some were so long that we could scarce see the end of them and were extant about ten or twelve fathom above water The weather in the mean while was very clear and the wind cold I found variation of the Needle eighteen degrees to the North East Variation of the Needle November the 18th all the night past was very fair I must call it night No night hereabouts for otherwise it was not dark at all The Sea was very smooth and the wind at N. and N.N.W. I reckoned a N.E. by N. way and by the same twenty two leagues At ten it grew stark calme which held all the afternoon of this day But at night we had a wind again at N. and N. by E. November the 19th this day was cloudy with snow and a frosty night preceeding it The wind now was so fresh at North that we were forced to take in our top-sails and lye all day under our Courses and Sprit-sail We made by an E.S.E. way eighteen leagues and two thirds November the twentieth we had a cloudy night the last past A great fog together with misâ—ing rain and snow This morning fell so great a fog that we could not see from stem to stern of our ship From ten of the clock last night we had also a calm and very cold weather But what was worse than all this A short allowance we were now kept to a very short allowance of our sorry victuals our Provisions growing very scanty with us About ten this morning we had a very small breeze at North. Extremity of cold Several of our men were not able to endure the cold so fierce it was whereby they were forced to lye and keep themselves as close as they could We made an East way and by the same sixteen leagues This day at noon I reckoned my self to be East from the Gulf from whence we last departed two hundred and five leagues and two thirds of a league Munday November the 21 Land Fowles seen yet no Land last evening we caught a small and white land fowl and saw two or three more and also this morning This sight afforded us good hopes we were not far distant from some Coast or other yet none we could see in all this long and tedious voyage In the night past we had a calme and all this morning a great fog with much snow and rain We reckoned an E. by N. way and ten leagues At one in the afternoon we had a fresh gale that sprang up at East and at E. by N. November the 22 most part of this day was calme In the mean while we could observe our ship to drive East My reckoning was an E. N. E. way and thereby thirteen leagues and one third At one in the afternoon we had a small gale at W. S. W. our course being N. N. E. and N. E. by N. November the 23 this day we had a gale at N.W. and freshning still more and more so that we were forced to take in our top-sails and sprit-sail The wind was not a setled gale but often varied from point to point At noon it came at N. E. and our course was then N. N. W. By a North way we reckoned sixteen leagues November the 24th both the night past and this morning was foggy weather with some calmes between times But at eight in the morning the Sun brake out though notwithstanding the day was not clear By a N.N.E. way we reckoned fifteen leagues This morning the wind came about to East and by noon it was again at N.E. We had a clear evening and a fresh gale November the 25th all the night past we had a fresh wind at E. and E.N.E. Insomuch that at eight in the morning we took in our top-sails But at noon the wind was not so fresh as it had been before I reckoned a N.N.W. half West way and by the same twenty leagues November the 26th last night the wind was not altogether so fresh as before but this morning it was again very high The weather was both dark and cloudy and brought now and then rain and snow We made a N.N.E. way and hereby thirty leagues The wind all along E. by S. and E. S. E. In the evening we had fair weather again We experimented for the ten days last past a great Western Sea and saw in the same time several Seals Sunday November the 27th all the night past we enjoyed a fresh gale and clear weather I reckoned thirty six leagues by a N. E. by N. way By an observation made we now found Lat. 52 d. 48 South 30 d. variation of the Needâ—â— And I judged my self to be East from the Gulf two hundred eighty five leagues In the evening of this day we had a very exact sight of the Sun and found above 30 d. variation of the Needle From whence ought to be concluded that it is very difficult to direct a course of Navigation in these parts Observation For in the space of only twenty five leagues sailing we have experimented eight or nine degrees difference of variation by a good Dutch Azimouth Compass November the 28th all last night we had a fresh wind at E.S.E. More land Fowles seen but no land Towards morning we had but little wind all the day being hasey weather This day we saw a whole flight of such Land-fowles of which sort we killed one before as was mentioned above This sight gave us occasion to believe that neither then nor at this present we were not far distant from land and yet we descryed none in the residue of this whole voyage We made by a N. N. E. way thirty three leagues Yesterday in the evening we set a new sprit-sail and about three this morning we also set our main-sail At one after-noon the wind came about N. E. and N. N. E. which in the evening blew very fresh with cloudy weather November the 29th The night proved very cloudy and the wind blew
each mess. That night the wind encreased December the 8th The night past was both cloudy and windy the wind often varying between the N. W. and S. W. points This morning it varyed between W. and N. W. by W. About noon this day we brought a new main-sail to the yard but did not set it then by reason there blowed too much wind I reckoned a N. E. half N. way and by the same thirty leagues By observation made we found Lat. 38 D. 29 S. In the afternoon we had one or two squalls of wind and rain but the violence of both fell at stern of us In the evening it blew again very hard I observed this day the rising and setting of the Sun The variation and found the exact variation to be 12 D. 15 N. E. December the 9th The night was starry-light but withal very windy About the break of day the wind came to N. W. and at seven we set our fore-top-sail and stood N. N. E. with not much wind We made since our last reckoning a N. E. quarter E. way and twenty nine leagues We found by observation Lat. 37 D. 30 S. The sea was much fallen Their Vessel is leaky but our ship now began to complain of several leakes through our tedious and long Voyage This afternoon we hoysted up our main-yard and set up back-stays and main-swifter whose ring-bolt gave way but was mended In the evening of this day we had but little wind December the 10th The night was very clear but till ten of the clock this forenoon we had no wind Then a small breeze sprang up at N. and N. by E. We made an E N. E. one third N. way and hereby twenty one leagues An observation gave us Lat. 37 D. 01 S. In the afternoon of this day our chief Surgeon cut off the foot of a Negro boy which was perished with cold The foot of a Negro cut off Now it was like to be bad weather again Hereupon we furled our top-sails and lay under a pair of courses But in the evening we lay under a fore-sail and mizen with misty weather Sunday December the 11th All the night past we had a fresh wind at N. and sometimes at N. N. W. The weather was very cloudy with drizling rain We made an E. way and thereby twenty five leagues This day brought a great sea About ten in the morning one of our main shrouds gave way In the evening fell some small rain December the 12th All the night past we had misty rain and but little wind yea in the morning a perfect calm At noon came up a small gale at E. S. E. and S. E. bringing with it cloudy weather We reckoned a N. E. by E. way and by the same eighteen leagues Yesterday dyed the Negro boy whose leg was cut off by our Surgeon Two Negro's dye as was mentioned the day before This afternoon also dyed another Negro something bigger than the former named Chepillo The boy's name was Beafero All this evening but small wind December the 13th All night the wind was at E. S. E. our course being N. N. E. At three in the morning it came about at S. S. W. and at nine at E. by N. I reckoned a N. E. by N. way and fifteen leagues The weather was hasey In the afternoon the wind was at N. E. our course being N. N. W. We enjoyed now a very smooth sea and saw multitudes of Grampusses Whales Grampusses VVhales and Porpusses and Porpusses every day as we sailed along December the 14th The evening past was cloudy as also the night foggy Hereupon we took in our top-sails At half an hour after three this morning we stood N. E. the wind being then at N. N. W. At five we put out our top-sails again At seven of the morning we saw a Turtle floating upon the sea We reckoned a N. N. E. way This days observation afforded us 34 D. 32. S. At this time we had very hot weather Very hot weather and great dews in the night My whole Easting I reckoned to be now six hundred seventy seven leagues and one third of a league December the 15th We had a fine night the last past and a great dew The wind in the interim was between N. and N. W. I reckoned a N. E. half E. way and by the same thirty one leagues We had an observation that gave us Lat. 33 D. 46 S. At noon the wind came about at N. N. W. our course being N. E. We had this day a very clear evening and at the same time a fresh wind December the 16th We had a fair night and wind at N. N. W. and N. W. by N. This morning I took the Sun at its rising Variation of the Needle and found N. E. variation 20 D. 30. My reckoning was a N. N. E. way and thirty six leagues and one third of another By observation I found Lat. 32 D. 09 S. At noon this day the wind came about to N. W. December the 17th Most part of the last night the wind was at N. W. as before But towards morning a a fine and easie gale sprang up at W. N. W. This morning we saw several Dolphins playing upon the sea Dolphins seen which made us hope they would at last befriend us and suddainly shew us some land or other We reckoned a N. E. by N. one third N. way and by the same twenty five leagues An observation gave us now Lat. 31 D. 04. A fair evening December the 18th We had a clear night past together with a smooth gale at N. W. which this morning was at W. by S. We had now a smooth sea for several days past Our reckoning was twenty five leagues by a N. E. by N. way By observation we perceive Lat. 29 D. 48 S. December the 19th A clear night the last past and a fresh breeze at S. S. W. and S. W. by E. lasting untill nine in the morning Then sprang up a wind at S. E. by E. I reckoned this day a N. N. E. half E. way and upon the same thirty leagues By observation made we took Lat. 28 D. 29 S. The day was very fair and a smooth sea with weather that was very hot Very hot weather My whole Easting I reckoned now to be seven hundred and sixty leagues This evening I found variation 02 D. 50 N. E. CHAP. XXV The Bucaniers continue their Navigation without seeing any Land till they arrive at the Caribby Islands in the West Indies They give away their Ship to some of their Companions that were poor and disperce for several Countrys The Author of this Journal arriveth in England DEcember the 20th 1681. The night before this day was something cloudy but the weather was fair and the wind but little At noon the wind came about N. by E. our course being W. N. W. We made a N. N. W. way and thereby as I reckoned twenty
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
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
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
there by a general alarm through the whole Country and that they waited onely for our landing with design to make a strong opposition against us They fired a gun at us but we made them no answer but rather returned to our ship giving over this enterprize until a fairer opportunity The hill of Arica is very white being occasioned by the dung of multitudes of Fowls that nest themselves in the hollow thereof Hill of Arica To Leeward of the said Hill lyeth a small Island at the distance of a mile more or less from the shoar About half a league from that Island we could perceive six ships to ride at anchor four of which had their Yards taken down from their Masts but the other two seemed to be ready for sail We asked our Pilot concerning these ships and he told us that one of them was mounted with six guns and the other with onely four Being disappointed of our expectations at Arica we now resolved to bear away from thence to the Village of Hilo They 〈◊〉 away for Hilo there to take in Water and other Provisions as also to learn what intelligence we could obtain All that night we lay under a calm On October the 27th in the morning we found our selves to be about a league to windward of Mora de Sama. Yet notwithstanding the weather was quite calm and we onely drived with the current at Leeward The land between Hilo and Mora de Sama formeth two several Bays and the Coast runneth along N.W. and S.E. as may appear by the following demonstration Over the land we could see from our ship as we drove the coming or rising of a very high land at a great distance far up in the Country October the 28th The night before this day we sent away our four Canoas with fifty men in them to seize and plunder the Town of Hilo All the day was very calm as the day before The next morning about break of day we had a fair breeze sprang up with which we lay right in with the Port. 〈◊〉 price at the Port. About one in the afternoon we anchored and the Port lyeth thus as is here described Port of HILO. We cast anchor at the distance of two miles from the Village and then we perceived two flags which our men had put out â—he Town taken having taken the Town and set up our English Colours The Spaniards were retreated unto the hills and there had done the same Being come to an anchor our Commander Captain Sharp sent a Canoa on board of us and ordered that all the men our ship could spare should come ashoar Withal they told us that those of our party that landed the morning before were met by some horsemen on the shoar who onely exchanged some few volly's of shot with our men but were soon put to slight That hereupon our forces had marched directly to the Town where the Spaniards expecting we would have landed at first made a breast-work thirty paces long of clay and banks of sand Here in a small skirmish we hapned to kill an Indian who told us before he dy'd that they had received news of our coming nine days ago from Lima and but one day before from Arica Having taken the Town we found therein great quantity of Pitch Tar Oyl Wine and Flower with several other sorts of provisions We endeavoured to keep as good a watch as the Spaniards did on the hills fearing lest they should suddainly make any attempt to destroy us On the next day being October the 30th we chose out threescore men of them who were the fittest to march They search the valley among the rest and ordered them to go up and search the valley adjoyning and belonging to the Town We found the said valley to be very pleasant being all over set with Fig-trees Olive-trees Orange Lemmon and Lime-trees with many other fruits agreeable to the Palat. About four miles up within the valley we came to a great Sugar-work or Ingenio de azucar as it is called by the Spaniards where we found great store of Sugar Oyl and Molossus But most of the Sugar the owners had hidden from us in the cane it self As we marched up the vally the Spaniards marched along the hills and observed our motion From the tops of the hills they often tumbled down great stones upon us but with great care we endeavoured to escape those dangers and but the report of one Gun would suddainly cause them all to hide their heads From this house I mean the Sugar-work above-mentioned Mr. Cox my self and one Cannis a Dutchman who was then our Interpreter went unto the Spaniards with a flag of Truce They met us very civilly They agree with the Spaniards and promised to give us fourscore Beeves for the Ransom of the Sugar-work and upon condition that it should not be spoilt nor demolished With them we agreed that they should be delivered unto us at the Port the next day at noon Hereupon Captain Sharp in the evening sent down unto the Port twenty men with strict orders that our forces there should offer no violence in the least unto those that brought down the Beeves Sunday October the 31st This day being employed in casting up some accounts belonging to our Navigation I reckoned that Hilo was to the Eastward of Paita one hundred eighty and seven leagues This morning the Captain of the Spaniards came unto our Commander Captain Sharp with a flag of Truce and told him that sixteen Beeves were already sent down unto the Port and that the rest should certainly be there the next morning Hereupon we were ordered to prepare our selves to retreat and march back unto the Port and there embark our selves on board our ship My advice was to the contrary that we should rather leave twenty men behind to keep the house of the Sugar-work and that others should possess themselves of the Hills thereby to clear them of the Spaniards and their look out But my counsel not being regarded each man took away what burthen of Sugar he pleased and thus we returned unto our vessel 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 double dealing in the enemy Being come there we found no Beeves had been brought down at all which occasioned us much to suspect some double dealing would in the latter end be found in this case The next morning being November the first our Captain went unto the top of the Hills afore-mentioned and spoke with the Spaniards themselves concerning the performance of their agreement The Spaniards made answer that the Cattle would certainly come down this night But in case it did not that the Master or Owner of the Sugar-work was now returned from Potosi and we might go up and treat with him and make if we pleased a new bargain for the preservation of his House and Goods whose interest it was more than theirs to save it from being demolished With this answer our men returned
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
the rest being a very great road which leadeth from the Bay unto the City The Spaniards promised that the Ransom should be collected and paid in by the next day This day also there dyed one of our Negro slaves on board the ship The following day in the morning I returned back unto the Town with the men I had brought down the day before Onely six of them I left behind to look after our Canoa's at the end of the Bay When I came up into the City The Enemy breaketh his promise I found that the Spaniards had broken their promise and had not brought in the Ransom they had agreed for but had begged more time until to morrow at eight in the forenoon This evening another party of our men went down unto the ship to carry goods such as we had pillaged in the Town Moreover that night about nine of the clock An Earthquake hapned an Earthquake the which we were very sensible of as we were all together in the Church of San Juan where our chief rendezvous and Corps du garde was kept In the night the Spaniards opened a sluyce and let the water run in streams about the Town with intent either to overflow it and thereby force us out of the place or at least that they might the easier quench the flame in case we should fire the Town On the next morning we set fire to the Town perceiving it to be overflown They fire the Town and that the Spaniards had not performed or rather that they never designed to perform their promise We fired as nigh as we could every house in the whole Town to the intent it might be totally reduced into ashes Thus we departed from la Serena carrying with us what plunder we could find having sent two parties before loaded with goods unto the ship as was mentioned above As we marched down unto the Bay we beat up an Ambuscade of two hundred and fifty horse An Ambuscade of the Enemy which lay by the way in private with an intent to fall on our men in case we had sent down any other party again with goods unto the ship When we came to the Sea-side being half way unto our ship we received advice that the Spaniards had endeavoured by an unusual stratagem A stratagem discovered to burn our ship and by these means destroy us all They acted thus They up blew a horses hide like unto a bladder and upon this float a man ventured to swim from shoar and come under the stern of our ship Being arrived there he crammed Okeham and Brimstone and other combustible matter between the Rudder and the Stern-post Having done this he fired it with a match so that in a small time our Rudder was on fire and all the ship in a smoak Our men both alarmed and amazed with this smoak ran up and down the ship suspecting the prisoners to have fired the vessel thereby to get their liberty and seek our destruction At last they found it out where the fire was and had the good fortune to quench it before its going too far Assoon as they had put it out they sent the boat ashoar and found both the hide afore-mentioned and the match burning at both ends whereby they came acquainted with the whole matter When we came unto the Store-house on the shoar-side we set at liberty the Fryar our prisoner and another Gentleman who was become our Hostage for the performance of the Ransom Moreover They set at liberty their chief prisoners when we came aboard we sent away and set at liberty Captain Peralta Don Thomas de Argandona Don Baltazar Don Christoval Captain Juan the Pilots Mate the old Moor and several others of our chiefest prisoners Unto this releasment of our prisoners we were moved partly because we knew not well what to do with them and partly because we feared lest by the example of this stratagem they should plot our destruction in earnest and by the help of so many men especially persons of Quality be able to go through it CHAP. XV. The Bucaniers depart from Coquimbo for the Isle of Juan Fernandez Anexact account of this Voyage Misery they endure and great dangers they escape very narrowly there They mutiny among themselves and choose Watling to be their chief Commander Description of the Island Three Spanish Men of War meet with the Bucaniers at the said Island but these outbrave them on the one side and give them the slip on the other BEing all embarked again as was mentioned in the precedent Chapter the next morning which was Tuesday December the 7th twenty of us were sent ashoar to observe the motion of the Enemy We went unto the look-out or watch-hill but from thence could learn nothing Hereupon about noon we returned on board the ship and at two in the afternoon we weighed anchor and set sail diâ—ecting our course for the Isle of Juan Fernandez not far distant from the Coast of Coquimbo At night we were five 〈◊〉 distant from thence at N. W. by N. The Southerâ—â—â—â— Island of those which are called de los Paxaros or the Islands of Birds was then N. N. W. from us Before our departure I took this following draught of the Bay of Coquimbo and City of la Serena Coquimbo Bay described December the 28th we had but very little wind and a leeward current here which we could perceive did heave us to the Northward The afore-mentioned Island de los Paxaros at three in the afternoon bore N. E of us At the distance of three leagues more or less it appeared thus Isla de los PAXAROS It is distant from the main Continent four leagues and from the next Island of the same name about two The Main is extream high and mountainous hereabouts At evening we were West from the said Island five leagues About eight or nine leagues to Windward of Coquimbo are certain white cliffs which appear from the shoar to those that are off at Sea White cliffs On the 9th of December we had likewise but little wind as the day before I supposed my self this day to be about thirteen leagues West from the Island above-mentioned The weather was cloudy with misling rain so that no observation could be taken They are put to an allowance of water However this day it was thought convenient to put us to an allowance of water for we had taken in little or none at Coquimbo The same weather or very like unto it we had the next day being the 10th that is to say stark calm and cloudy On the 11th of December we had some small rain in the forepart of the day Calms But in the afternoon it cleared up so that the weather was very hot We had still but little wind The next day December the 12th we had very fair weather and by a clear observation made this day we found Lat. 30 D. 06 S. December the 13th
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-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
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
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.
west sea On the 29th we had very windy and hasey weather with some rain now and then All last night we handed our main top-sail We made a S.E. by E. way and thirty two leagues and two thirds We had a South west sea and wind Friday September the 30th this day we had fresh winds between S. W. and W. We reckoned a S. E. half South way and thereupon forty four leagues By observation we found Lat. 35 d. 54 South October the first the wind this day was not very fresh but varying My reckoning was a S. E. half South way and twenty four leagues An observation gave us 36 d. 50 South Another Quadrant made by the Author This day I finished another Quadrant being the third I finished in this Voyage We had a South west sea with showers of rain and gusts of wind Sunday October the second the wind this day was hanging between W.N.W. ' and N.W. by N. We made a S.E. by S. way and thirty three leagues and two thirds By observation we found 38 d. 14 South About noon we had a fresh wind at N.W. and S.W. October the third the last night in the forepart thereof was clear but the latter was rainy The wind very fresh at N.W. by N. But this day we had little wind and cloudy weather A S. W. by W. wind and a S.E. by S. way by which we reckoned thirty three leagues and one third of a league October the fourth we had a clear night and a very fresh wind We reckoned a S. E. by S. way and thereby forty three leagues An observation taken shewed us that we were in Lat. 41 d. 34 South This day also fell several showers of rain October the fifth we had a windy night the last past and a clear day We reckoned a S.S.E. half E. way and forty four leagues and two thirds By an observation made we found Lat. 43 d. 26 South The weather now was very windy causing a huge tempestuous sea The wind at N.W. and N.W. by N. blowing very high October the sixth this day the wind was still at N.W. and yet not so fresh as it was yesterday the weather very foggy and misty As for the wind it came in gusts so that we were forced to hand our top-sails and sprit-sail We reckoned a S. E. half S. way and thereby forty three leagues and one third of a league The Seas now were not so high as for some days past In the evening we scudded away under our fore course Friday October the 7th Last night was very cloudy and this day both dark and foggy weather with small rain We made a S. E. way and thirty leagues and two thirds A fresh wind at N. N. W. and N. W. We keep still under a fore course not so much for the freshness of the wind as the closeness of the weather October the 8th we had a clear night the night before this day and withal a strong gale A great storm insomuch that this day we were forced to take in our fore-sail and loosen our Mizen which was soon blown to pieces Our eldest Seamen said that they were never in the like storm of wind before The Sea was all in a foam In the evening it dulled a little We made a S. E. half E. way and eighteen leagues with very dark weather Sunday October the 9th All the night past we had a furious W. N. W. wind We set our sail a drough They drive at a great rate and so drove to the Southward very much and almost incredibly if an observation had not hapned which gave us Lat. 48 15 S. We had a very stiff gale at W. N. W. with a great Sea from W. which met with a S. S. W. Sea as great as it Now the weather was very cold and we had one or two frosty mornings Yesterday in the afternoon we had a very great storm of hail At noon we bent another Mizen Monday Octob. the 10th This day brought us a freshwind at N. W. and N. N. W We made a S. E. half E. way and by it forty four leagues By observation we found Lat. 49 D. 41 S. I reckoned my self now to be East from Paita sixty nine leagues and an half Tuesday October the 11th Last night we had a small time calm This day was both cloudy and rainy weather The wind at S. W. and S. S. W. so furious that at ten of the clock this morning we scudded under a main sail At noon we lower'd our fore-yard while we sailed We made a S. E. by E. way and thirty leagues CHAP. XXIII The Bucaniers arrive at a place incognito unto which they give the name of the Duke of Yorks Islands A description of the said Islands and of the Gulf or Lagoon wherein they lie so far as it was searched They remain there many days by stress of weather not without great dangers of being lost An account of some other things remarkable that hapned there WEdnesday October the 12th All the night before this day we had many high winds I reckoned an E. S. E. way and twenty leagues for our vessel drove at a great rate Moreover that we were in Lat. 50 D. 50 S. So that our Easting from Paita by my account ought to be one hundred and one leagues or thereabouts This morning about two hours before day we hapned by great accident to espie land They see land before day and are miraculously preserved It was the great mercy of God which had always attended us in this Voyage that saved us from perishing at this time for we were close ashoar before we saw it and our fore-yard which we most needed in this occasion was taken down The land we had seen was very high and towering and here appeared to be many Islands scattered up and down We steered in with what caution we could between them and the Main and at last God be praised arrived at a place or rather Bay where we perceived our selves to be land-lockt and as we thought pretty safe from the danger of those tempestuous Seas From hence we sent away our Canoa to sound and search the fâ—ttest place for anchoring At this time one of our men One of their meâ— drowned named Henry Shergall as he was going into our sprit-sail top hapned to fall into the water and was drowned before any help could be had unto him though we endeavoured it as much as we possibly could This accident several of our company did interpret as a bad Omen of the place which proved not so through the providence of the Almighty though many dangers were not wanting here unto us as I shall relate We came to an anchor in the depth of forty fathom Water more or less They came to an anchor and yet at no greater distance than a stones cast from shoar The water where we anchored was very smooth and the high lands round about all covered with snow
Our men in pursuing them did unadvisedly shoot one of them dead A second being a woman escaped their hands But the third who was a lusty boy about eighteen years of age was taken and him they brought on board the ship He was covered onely with a Seals skin having no other cloathing about him His eyes were squinted and his hair was cut pretty short In the middle of the Doree they had a fire burning either for dressing of victuals or some other use The Doree it self was built sharp at both ends and flat bottom'd They had a net to catch Penguins and a club like unto our bandies called by them a Tomahunks His Language we could not understand but withal he pointed up the Lagoon giving us to understand that there were more people thereabouts This was confirmed by our men who also said they had seen more They had Darts to throw against an Eenemy pointed with wood On the next day being October the 28th in the evening our Canoa went from the ship again to seek for more Indians They went into several Lagoons They search for more people but find none and searched them narrowly But they could find nothing else than two or three Huts all the Natives being fled before our arrival In the evening they returned unto the ship bringing with them very large Lamperts and also Mussels which were six inches and an half long Huge Mussels Our Indian prisoner could open Mussels these with his fingers which our men could not so hreadily do with their knives Both the night past and this day we ad very fair weather On the 29th we had in like manner a very fair day and also a smooth wind at S. S. E. Our Indian this day pointed unto us that there were men in this Country or not far off from hence with great beards He appeared unto us by his actions to be very innocent and foolish But by his carriage I was also perswaded that he was a Man-eater This day likewise we caught Lamperts enough to suffice us for the morrow Sunday October the 30th This day was fair and there blew a small S. S. E. wind They can find neither provisions nor Indians In the morning we sent a Canoa over to the Eastward-shore to seek either for provisions or Indians I my self could not go as I desired being with two or three more at that time very much tormented with the Gripes I am perswaded that this place where we now were is not so great an Island as some Hydrographers do lay it down but rather an Archipelago of smaller Islands We saw this day many Penguins but they were so shie that we could not come near them Penguins They pad on the water with their wings very fast but their bodies are too heavy to be carried by the said wings The Sun now made the weather very warm Warm weather insomuch that the snow melted apace October the 31st Both last night and this day were very fair At noon our Canoa returned from the Eastern shoar bringing word they had found several good Bays and Harbours that were deep even close unto the shoar Onely that there lay in them several suncken Rocks the which we had also where we were But these Rocks are not dangerous to shipping by reason they have weeds which lye two fathoms in circumference about them This morning blew a small wind at N.N.E. November the first this day was also fair and we had a small wind as before at N.N.E. November the second last night I took the Polar distance of the South star of the Cocks foot and found it to be 28 d. 25. I observed also the two Magallan Clouds of which I made mention in this Journal before and found them to be as followeth viz. the lesser 14 d. 05. and the greater 14 d. 25. The morning of this day we hoysted an end our top-masts and also brought too a Main-top-sail and Fore-sail and finished our filling all the water we needed At the same time the wind hung Easterly and I was still much tormented with the Gripes as before November the third this morning we hanged our Rudder They make ready to depart the greatest piece of work we had to do after those violent storms above-mentioned In the afternoon we halled in our two biggest Harsers and also our biggest Cable from the shoar For the three days last past we had a very great and dark fog between us and the Eastward shoar We had now very little wind in the Cove where we were but abroad at sea there blew at the same time a stiff gale at S.S.E. Moreover we could perceive now the stormy weather being blown over much small fry of fish about the ship whereof we could see none as was mentioned before This day we had a very clear and calme evening November the fourth both all last night and this day we had very calme weather Calme weather again And this morning a small breeze sprang up at N. and N.N.E. which afterwards wheeled about unto S. and S.S.E. This morning we hoisted our Main and Fore-yards and likewise fetcht off from the shoar our other harser and Cable into the depth of eleven fathom water Our resolutions were now changed for a departure in order to seek the mouth of the Straights of Magallanes seeing that we could not winter here for want of Provisions which we could not find either on the Continent or about these Islands afore-mentioned The weather now was very warm or rather hot and the Birds did sing as sweetly as those in England We saw here both Thrushes and Black birds and many other sorts of those that are usually seen in our own Country Saturday November the fifth this morning brought us a wind at N.N.E. hereupon we warped unto a rocky point They sail away thereby to get out of the Cove where we lay For our anchor came home unto us as we were carrying our Warp out At this time a second breeze came up very fresh in our stern so that we took the opportunity thereof and went away before it By noon this day we hoisted in our Canoas and also turned away loose unto the sea our Indian Doree As for the Indian boy whom we had taken in said Doree we kept him still prisoner and called him Orson Our Cove at our departure from this place looked thus as I took then the description thereof When we were come out into the Channel the weather grew stark calme Only now and then we had a small breeze sometimes from one quarter and then from another By this slackness of wind we observed that the Current hoisted us to the Southward On the East-side of this Lagoon we perceived the Indians to make a great smoak at our departure A description of his Royal Highnesses Isles We had a very fair day till six in the evening when we got without the mouth of the Gulf it blew so hard that in
an hour it forced us to hand our top-sails Having now a fit gale at N. W. and N. N W. we stood S. W. by W. to clear our selves of some breaks which lye four Leagues from the Gulfs mouth at S. and S. S. E. Hereabouts we saw many riffs and rocks which occasioned us to stand close halled I have drawn here and given unto my Reader so much as I have seen of the Gulf it self the rest must be compleated in due time by them that have greater opportunities of making a farther search into it then I had at the time of our stay here under such tempestuous weather as I have described and the distemper which hung upon me at the same time A description of the English Gulfe Lying a litle to the Northward of Magallanes Straights CHAP. XXIV They depart from the English Gulf in quest of the Straight of Magallanes which they cannot find They return home by an unknown way never Navigated before SUnday November the sixth this morning we had lost the sight of land so that we could see it no more All the night last past and this day we were under our two Courses and Sprit-sail The weather this day was hasey My reckoning was a S.W. half South way and by it twenty one Leagues We had now an indifferent high Sea and a fresh wind at N.N.W. November the seventh Variation of the Needle found here last night was both rainy and foggey but in the morning it cleared up The wind for the most part was at W. and W. N. W. But at noon it came about at W. S. W. Our reckoning was a S. W. by S. way and by it twenty Leagues We found by observation Lat. 52 d. 03. We now steered away S.S.E. the wind being at that time at W.S.W. In the evening of this day I found a variation of the Needle to N.E. to the number of 15 d. or better I was still troubled with the Gripes as I had been before November the eighth we had a fair night the last past About midnight the wind came to N.N.W. This day early at the break of day we all were perswaded that we had seen Land but at noon we saw that it was none but only a Cloud The wind was now at North. My reckoning was a S.E. half East way and thirty two leagues and one third of a league We had an observation that gave us 53 d. 27 South The whole day was very fine and warm and we saw great numbers of Fowles and Seales November the ninth yesterday in the evening the weather was cloudy Hereupon we lay by under a main-course After midnight we sailed East and E. by N. with a fresh wind at W. N. W. and not any great Sea The day it self was cloudy and toward noon we had some rain So at two in the afternoon we lay by under a Main course the wind being fresh at N. W. I reckoned an E. N. E. way and thereby twenty eight Leagues Thursday November the tenth all the night last past we lay under a Main-course Astorm with a meer fret of wind at N.W. and N.N.W. Day being come the wind did rather encrease insomuch that about noon our sail blew to pieces Hereupon we were forced to lower the yard and unbend the sail lying for a little while under a Mizen But that also soon gave way So that all the rest of this day we lay a hull in very dark weather foggy and windy with a huge sea which often times rowled over us In the afternoon it seemed to abate for some space of time but soon after it blew worse than before which compelled us to lower our Fore-yard November the tenth all the night last past we had furious windy and tempestuous weather from the points of N.W. and N. N. W. together with Seas higher and higher In the evening we set our Mizen At which time the Sun appeared very waterish but the wind now abated by degrees and the Seas also November the twelfth this morning little wind was stiring but only some rain fell About ten it cleared up and by an observation then made we found Lat. 55 d. 25. The Sea was now much fallen and a fresh wind was sprung up at W. and W.S. W. We experimented also a very great current to the S. W. In the afternoon of this day we set our sails again resolving now unanimously together to make for the Straights of St. Vincent otherwise called the Straights of Fernando de Magallanes We had a fresh wind at W.N.W. our course being S.S.E. under our Sprit-sail Fore-â—â—â—l and Fore-top-sail This day we saw many Fishes or rather Fowls who had heads like unto Muscovia Ducks as also two feet like unto them They had two Fins like the fore-fins of Turtles white breasts and bellies their beak and eyes being red They are full of Feathers on their bodies and their hinder parts are like unto those of a Seal wherewith they cut the water The Spaniard calleth these Fowles Paxaros Ninos They weigh most commonly about six or seven pound being about one foot a little more or less in length Our Commander Captain Sharp had so much dexterity as to strike two of them In the evening we set also our Main-sail the wind now coming to the Southward of the West Sunday November the 13th all the night past we had a fresh wind between S.W. and W.N.W. with sometimes mists of small rain In the evening we enjoyed a fine leading gale at W. N. W. together with both clear and wholesome weather We made a S.E. way and by it forty two leagues and two thirds This day an observation gave us Lat. 56 d. 55 South We still experimented a great S. W. current In the afternoon of this day we steered E.S.E. and in the evening had whiffling winds November the 14th both last night and this morning we had cloudy weather About eight it cleared up My reckoning was a S.E. by E. way and by it thirty two leagues Our observation gave us Lat. 57 d. 50. South This day we could perceive land They see Land and at noon were due West from it In the evening we stood E. by S. November the 15th all the night past was very cloudy But lose it again We judged now that we should be close in with the Land we had seen the day before but the morning being come we could see none In the night much snow fell and in the day we had great fleets thereof the weather being very cold and cloudy I reckoned an E.S.E. way and hereby twenty nine leagues and two thirds Moreover that our Latitude was 58 d. 25 S. The wind was now so fresh at North that we were forced to lye under our two Courses and Sprit-sail Novembe the 16th most of this time we had still rain and snow but now no night at all though the weather was dark The wind was various but from midnight before this day
very fresh at E. N. E. and N. E. by E. This morning it was at East both with snow and hail Towards noon the weather cleared up and we found by an observation taken Lat. 49 D 45 S. Our reckoning was a North way and thirty leagues This day we had a short Eastern sea and withal a very cold evening I took the Sun and hereby I found variation 26 D. 30. unto the North East This night the wind came about W. and W. N. W. continuing so all the night November the 30th This day the wind was N. and N. N. E. with some clouds hovering in the sky At this time we had already almost four hours of night Four hours of night The morning of this day was very fair and clear Hereupon for to give my self satisfaction in the point as fearing the truth of Spanish Books I worked the true Amplitude of the Sun and found his variation to be 26 25 to the N. E. being very conformable to what I had both read and experimented before Hereabouts also we experimented a current to the Northward Moreover this day we saw much rock-weed which renewed our hopes Rock-weâ—d once more of seeing land We reckoned a N. E. way and by the same twenty two leagues By an observation made we found Lat. 48 D. 53 S. This day also we saw several of those fowl-fish afore described called Paxaros-ninos Paxaros-ninos and these of a larger size than any we had seen before In the afternoon the wind came about at N. N. E. whereby we stood N. W. by W. with a fresh gale and smooth water The weather now began to grow warmer then hetherto and the evening of this day was clear Tuesday December the first The latter part of the night past was very cloudy and also sometimes rainy About midnight we had a furious and violent Tornado Several Tornados forcing us in a moment to hand in our top-sails At five in the morning we set them again and at eleven we had another Tornado forcing us to hand our top-sails the second time We made a N. N. E. two thirds East way and thereby thirteen leagues and two thirds of a league The afternoon of this stormy day proved very fair and the wind came to W. S. W. our course being N. E. by N. In the evening the wind freshned with cloudy weather Which continue December the second Last night we experimented a very furious whirle-wind which notwithstanding it pleased God did pass about the length of our ship to Westward of us However we handed in our top-sails and halled up our low-sails in the brails After the whirle-wind came a fresh storm of large hail-stones in the night and several Tornados but God be thanked they all came large of our ship We now made a great way under a fore-course and sprit-sail At four of the clock this morning our fore-sail split whereby we were forced to lower our fore-yard At half an hour after ten we hoysted it again with a furious S. W. wind We made a N. E. by E. way and by the same forty seven leagues and an half By observation we now had Lat. 46 D. 54 S. We riffed our fore-sail with respect to the violence of the wind But in the evening this rather increased and we had a very great Sea Our standing rigging through the fury of this gale gave way in several places but was soon mended again Warm weather December the third The wind all the night past was very fresh with several flaws both of wind and rain at S. W. and S. W. by S. We enjoyed now very warm weather This morning we set our fore-top-sail Our reckoning gave us a N. E. half E. way and forty five leagues We found Lat. by observation 45 D. 28 S. This day at noon a large shoal of young Porpusses came about our ship and played up and down Porpusses December the 4th All the night past we had a fresh gale at W. S. W. The night was clear onely that now and then we had a small cloud affording some rain In the morning from four of the clock till eight it rained But then it cleared up again with a S. W. wind and a very smooth sea We made by a N. E. one quarter N. way thirty nine leagues By observation we found Lat. 44 D. 01 S. At noon the wind came to S. S. W. our course then being N. N. E. This day we agreed among our selves having the consent of our commander A dividend made of eight chests of mon to share the eight chests of money which as yet were remaining unshared Yesterday in the evening we let out the reiff of our fore-sail and hoysted up our fore-yard This evening I found variation 17 D. N. E. Munday December the 5th All the night past a clear night and this a fair day with a fresh wind at S.S. W. We reckoned a N. E. 5. D. N. way and by the same forty two leagues An observation gave us Lat. 42 D. 29. S. This afternoon we shared of the chests abovementioned three hundred pieces of eight each man 300 p. 8. to each maâ— I now reckoned my self to be East from my departure four hundred seventy one leagues and one third of a league At night again we shared twenty two pieces of eight more to each December the 6th We had a clear star-light-night the last and a fair morning this day with a fresh gale at S. W. At noon we took in our fore-top-sail We reckoned a N. E. half N. way and hereby fifty leagues and two thirds An observation taken afforded us 40 D. 31 S. This evening was cloudy December the 7th The night was both windy and cloudy At one in the morning we took in our top-sails and at three handed our sprit-sail and so we scudded away before the wind which now was very fresh at West This morning a gust of wind came and tore our main-sail into an hundred pieces which made us put away before the wind till we could provide for that accident My reckoning was a N. E. three quarters E. way and by the same thirty three leagues By observation we found Lat. 39 D. 37 S. We had now a great Sea and a fresh wind At three in the afternoon we set another fore-sail the first being blown to pieces Moreover at the same time we furled our sprit-sail At five the wind came at W. S. W. with very bad weather This day our worthy commander Captain Sharp had very certain intelligence given him that on Christmas-day A plot against Captain Sharp discovered which was now at hand the company or at least a great part thereof had a design to shoot him he having appointed that day some time since to be merry Hereupon he made us share the wine amongst us as being perswaded they would scarce attempt any such thing in their sobriety The wine we shared fell out to three jarrs unto
two leagues By an observation made we took Lat. 27 D. 25 S. The evening of this day was cloudy and now and then there fell a shower of rain December the 21st At eight of the clock last night the wind came N. W. by N. but withal with such dark weather that we were forced to take in our top-sails The night was something rainy and the weather this morning calm and rainy About ten we had a small breeze at N. W. We reckoned a N. by E. way and by the same sixteen leagues The afternoon of this day was calm and still December the 22d We had a fair and clear night the last past which produced this day a smooth sea and extream hot weather and very little wind near the Sun so that no observation was made Extream hot weather December the 23d The night was very fair At midnight or thereabouts a fresh gale sprang up at S. E. and E. S. E. which sometime was E. This freshned by degrees We had in the day very hot and clear weather By a N. way I reckoned fifteen leagues December the 24. Last night we had both a fresh gale and a clear night The wind was at E. by S. We reckoned a N. E. by E. way and by it thirty one leagues Sunday December the 25th This day being Christmas-day Christmas-day for celebration of that great festival we killed yesterday in the evening a sow This sow we had brought from the Gulf of Nicoya being then a sucking pig of three weeks old more or less but now weighed about fourscore and ten pound The weather extream hot With this hogs-flesh we made our Christmas-dinner being the onely flesh we had eaten ever since we turned away our prizes under the Aequinoctial and left the Island of Plata We had this day several flaws of wind and some rain but the weather otherwise was pretty clear I reckoned a N. by E. way and thirty three leagues by the same It was now also extream hot weather as we signified before December the 26th We had this day several gusts of wind which forced us to stand by our top-sails Yet were they but very short and all the rest of the while we enjoyed an indifferent fresh gale at E. and E. by S. We reckoned a N. by E. way and twenty eight leagues December the 27th We had fair weather and a fresh wind at E. and E. by S. I reckoned a N. by E. way and upon the same thirty two leagues The evening of this day was cloudy December the 28. Last night was cloudy with a fresh wâ—nd We reckoned a N. E. way and by the same forty six leagues We found by an observation made Lat. 15 D. 30 S. My whole Easting I reckoned this day to be eight hundred and twenty five leagues Now we saw much flying-fish with some Dolphins Bonito's Much fish seen and Albicores but they will not take the hook December the 29th All last night was cloudy with a fresh wind between E. and E. S. E. The weather all the afternoon was hasey I reckoned a N. by E. way and hereupon forty leagues and one third In the afternoon we had a S. E. by E. wind which blew very fresh The evening was clear Variation At Sunset I found variation to N. W. 04 D. 19. December the 30th The night past was cloudy Towards morning the wind came about at E. At six it came E. S. E. and at ten to S. E. by S. We made a N. by E. way and forty three leagues By observation we found Lat. 11 D. 03 S. The evening of this day was clear December the 31st We had a cloudy night the last past but the morning was hasey We came now to a strict allowance of onely three good pints of water each day We made a N. by E. way and found Lat. by observation 08 D. 55 S. In the afternoon we had an E. S. E. and S. E. by E. wind My whole Easting I reckoned now to be eight hundred eighty four leagues and one third At noon we stood away N. W. Sunday January the first 1681. All the night past was cloudy as this day also with some showers of rain We made a N. W. one eight N. way and forty leagues In the afternoon came about a fresh wind at S. E. and E. S. E. January the 2d The weather this day was both dull and cloudy We reckoned a N. W. one quarter N. way and by the same thirty two leagues By observation we found that our Lat. now was 06 D. 06 S. The wind came pretty fresh at S. E. January the 3d. We had several squalls of wind and some rain But withal a fresh wind at S. E. and E. S. E. Our reckoning was a N. W. one quarter N. way and thirty four leagues The afternoon was clear but the evening cloudy January the 4th All the night past was very cloudy but this forenoon it cleared up Yesterday we put abroad our main-top-sail studden-sails but took them in at night At four this morning we set our larboard studden-sail and before noon fitted up top-gallant masts and yard We made a N. W. way and by it forty leagues and two thirds By observation we had now Lat. 03 D. 09 S. This afternoon also we set our top-gallant-sail being forced to make out all its running rigging The wind was pretty fresh at S. E. and S. E. by E. January the 5th Most part of the night past was clear and star-light though with some rain towards the morning This being come we put out our top-gallant-sail and both our top-sail studden-sails At noon likewise we put up our fore-top-gallant masts and yard We caught an Albicore A 〈◊〉 Albicore taken this day weighing about one hundred and twenty pound weight The wind was at S. E. by S. and S. S. E. We made a N. W. way and reckoned thereby thirty five leagues By observation we found Lat. 02 D. 03 S. We had now mighty hot weather January the 6th Yesterday in the evening we caught another Albicore which weighed onely eight or nine pound weight 〈◊〉 small one We made a N. W. way and reckoned thirty five leagues as before Now by an observation made we could perceive onely Lat. 00 D. 49 S. The evening of this day was very clear January the 7th The wind was variable between S. S. E. and S. S. W. though not altogether so fresh as before Our reckoning was a N. W. one quarter N. way and thirty six leagues by the same This day an observation gave us Lat. 00 D. 32 N. of the Aequinoctial 〈…〉 the Aequinoctial which now we had passed again In the afternoon of this day we caught another Albicore which weighed more than the first we took An Albicore of â—3â— that is between one hundred thirty five and one hundred and forty pound But little wind stirring this afternoon January the 8th This evening last past we had
little better than a calm At nine this morning we had a fresh wind at S. S. E. with dark weather so that we thought it convenient to take in our main-top-sail But at noon we set it again and also our larboard top-studden-sail with both top-gallant sails We made a N. W. way and by it thirty four leagues By an observation made we found Lat. 01 D. 55 N. We had now extream hot weather and a very small allowance of water January the 9th Last night we took in top-sails all night the wind then whiffling between S. and W. points We had nowithstanding for the most part very little wind The morning of this day was rainy and thereupon with good diligence we saved a bompkin of water There was now a great ripling sea rising very high and it is reported that sometimes and somewhere hereabouts is to be seen an enchanted Island which others say and dare assert An enchanted Island that they have sailed over I reckoned a N. W. by N. one quarter N. way and twenty five leagues This afternoon we had very dark and calm weather looking as if we should have much rain Now reckoning up my meridian I found my self E. from my departure seven hundred and two leagues In the evening we had very rainy weather and a cockling sea January the 10th All the night past was cloudy About midnight sprang up a small breeze varying all round the compass At five this morning we had a breeze at S. E. and a very clear sky which afterwards continued to freshen with the same clearness as before We made a N. W. by N. one quarter N. way and by the same two leagues and two thirds By a clear observation we had now Lat. 03 D. 16 N. At four this evening the wind was at E. S. E. the weather being violent hot in so much that our allowance of water was tedious unto us for its shortness At the same time we had an indifferent smooth sea from the E. January the 11th All the night past we had little or no wind But about two in the morning the wind freshned again at E. N. E. and brought both a clear and hot day We made twenty three leagues by a N. W. one quarter W. way This days observation gave us Lat. 04 D. 06. N. In the afternoon we had a shower of rain and afterward a fresh wind at E. N. E. But the evening grew dull January the 12th In the night past we had two or three squalls of wind and some showers of rain In the mean while the wind blew fresh at N. E. and N. E. by E. as it also continued to do in the day I reckoned a N. W. way and forty four leagues and one third Our observation this day gave us 05 D. 49 N. Yesterday and to day we set our main-top-sail Now I could not finde much variation of the needle Little 〈◊〉 no variation January the 13th We had a fresh gale all the last night but more Northerly than before for now it was N. E. by N. We reckoned a W. N. W. way and thereupon leagues and two thirds An observation taken shewed us Lat. 06 D. 41 N. We had a N. N. E. sea and very clear weather January the 14th We had a clear night the last and a fresh wind at E. N. E. We made a N. W. one fifth W. way and thirty eight leagues By observation we found Lat. 07 D. 46 N. We had a smooth sea and now we were come to onely three horns of water a day which made in all but a quart allowance for each man The evening was clear Their allowance shortned and we had a fresh wind Sunday January the 15th The night past was clear and the wind fresh at E.N.E. and again at N.E. by E. very fresh About eleven of the clock at night dyed one of our companions One of their men dyeth named William Stephens It was commonly believed that he poysoned himself with Manzanilla in Golfo dulce for he never had been in health since that time This forenoon was cloudy We reckoned forty four leagues and a N. W. way An observation gave us this day 09 D. 18 N. All the last night we kept out our top-gallant-sailâ— We saw hereabouts many flying-fish being very large in size This morning also we threw over board our dead man and gave him two French volly's and one English one I found now again very small variation January the 16th We had a clear night and a very fresh wind at N. E. and E. N. E. with a long homeing sea My reckoning was a N. W. one seventh W. way and thereby forty eight leagues and one third The observation made this day gave us Lat. 10 D. 48 N. I reckoned my self now East from my departure five hundred fifty three leagues We had a cloudy evening January the 17th All the night past we enjoyed a fresh wind and so this day also at N. E. by N. We made a N. W. half W. way and thereupon forty seven leagues and one third of a league By observation we found Lat. 12 D. 19 N. We had now a long North sea At noon this day we steered away N. N. W. The day was very hot but the night both cool and dewy January the 18th All the night past was both cloudy and windy At six this morning our sprit-sail-top-mast broke I reckoned a W. N. W. way and forty eight leagues by the same We found by observation Lat. 13 D. 12 N. At noon we steered away W. the wind being at N. E. fresh with a clear evening January the 19th We had a clear night the last and a fresh wind at E. N. E. which sometimes came in pushes Our reckoning was a W. half Southerly way and by the same forty six leagues We found by observation Lat. 13 D. 01 N. Yesterday in the evening we put up a new sprit-sail-top-mast with a fine smooth gale at N. E. by E. January the 20th The night past was clear and not very fresh but at day-break it freshened again Last night we saw a great shoal of fish whereof we caught none by reason the Porpusses frightened them from us as they oft-times had done before Yesterday in the evening also we saw a Man of War-Fowl A Man of War-Fowl and that gave us good hopes we should er'e long see land These hopes and the great desires we had to end our voyage gave us occasion this day to put in or stake down each man of our company a piece of eight for a reward unto him A reward to him that first â—â—th land that should first discover land We reckoned a W. one sixth Northerly way and by it thirty eight leagues An observation gave us this day Lat. 13 D. 11 N. The wind was at N. E. and E. N. E. This day we passed over many riplings and also saw many multitudes of fish Porpusses hinder their fishing but the
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
These were Spaniards who had been turned here ashoar by our English party who left them upon this Coast left by carrying them nearer unto Panama any of them should make their escape and discover our march towards that City They had me presently after I was taken into a small Hut which they had built covered with boughs and made there great shouts for joy because they had taken us designing in their minds to use us very severely for coming into those parts and especially for taking and plundering their Town of Santa Maria. But mean while the Captain of those Spaniards was examining me in came the poor Spaniard that was come along with us and reported how kind I had been to him and the rest of his Companions by saving their Lives from the cruelty of the Indians They â—re ciâ—ilâ—y treated and â—et at liberty The Captain having heard him arose from his seat immediately and embraced me saying that we Englishmen were very friendly Enemies and good people but that the Indians were very Rogues and a treacherous Nation Withal he desired me to sit down by him and to eat part of such Victuals as our Companions had left them when they were turned ashoar Then he told me that for the kindness I had shewed unto his Countrymen he gave us all our Lives and Liberties which otherwise he would certainly have taken from us And though he could scarcely be perswaded in his mind to spare the Indians lives yet for my sake he did pardon them all and I should have them with me in case I could find them Thus he bid me likewise take my Canoa and go in Gods name saying withal he wished us as fortunate as we were generous Hereupon I took my leave of him after some little stay though he invited me to tarry all night with him I searched out and at last found my Indians who for fear had hid themselves in the bushes adjoyning to the neighbouring woods where they lay concealed Having found them the Captain led me very civilly down unto the Canoa and bidding my Companions and the Indians get in after me as they at first halled us ashoar so now again they pushed us off to Sea by a suddain and strange vicissitude of fortune All that night it rained very hard as was mentioned above neither durst we put any more ashoar at any place it being all along such as by Mariners is commonly called an Iron Coast. The next morning being come we sailed and padled They overtake the rest of the Fleet. or rowed till about ten of the clock At which time we espied a Canoa making towards us with all speed imaginable Being come up with us and in view it proved to be of our own English Company who mistaking our Canoa for a Spanish Periagua was coming in all hast to attack us We were infinitely gladded to meet them and they presently conducted us to the rest of our Company who were at that instant coming from a deep Bay which lay behind a high point of Rocks where they had lain at Anchor all that night and morning We were all mutually rejoyced to see one another again they having given both me and my Companions for lost CHAP. VI. The Bucaniers prosecute their Voyage till they come within sight of Panama They take several Barks and Prisoners by the way Are descryed by the Spaniards before their arrival They order the Indians to kill the Prisoners FRom the place where we rejoyned our English Forces They arrive at Farol de Plantanos we all made our way towards a high hammock of Land as it appeared at a distance but was nothing else then an Island seven Leagues distant from the Bay aforementioned On the highest part of this Island the Spaniards keep a watch or Look-out for so it is termed by the Sea-men for fear of Pyrates or other Enemies That evening we arrived at the Island and being landed went up a very steep place till we came to a little Hut where the watchman lodged We took by surprizal the old man who watched in the place but hapned to see us not till we were got into his Plantane walk before the Lodge He told us in his examination that we were not as yet descryed by the Spaniards of Panama or any others that he knew which relation of the old fellow much encouraged us to go forwards with our design of surprizing that rich City This place if I took its name rightly is called Farol de Plantanos or in English Plantane-watch The Bucaniers take a Bark of Panama Here not long before it was dark that evening a certain Bark came to an anchor at the outward side of the Island which instantly was descryed by us Hereupon we speedily Manned out two Canoas who went under the shoar and surprized the said Boat Having examined the persons that were on board we found she had been absent the space of eight days from Panama and had landed Soldiers at a point of Land not far distant from this Island with intention to fight and curb certain Indians and Negroes who had done much hurt in the Country thereabouts The Bark being taken most of our men endeavoured to get into her but more especially those who had the lesser Canoas Thus there embarked thereon to the number of one hundred thirty and seven of our company together with that Sea-Artist and valiant Commander Captain Bartholomew Sharp With him went also on board Captain Cook whom we mentioned at the beginning of this History The remaining part of that night we lay at the Key of the said Island expecting to prosecute our Voyage the next day They take another Bark Morning being come I changed my Canoa and embarked my self on another which though it was something lesser than the former yet was furnished with better company Departing from the Island we rowed all day long over shoal water at the distance of about a League from land having sometimes not above four foot water and white ground In the afternoon we descryed a Bark at sea and instantly gave her chace But the Canoa wherein was Captain Harris hapned to come up the first with her who after a sharp dispute took her Being taken we put on board the said Bark thirty men But the wind would not suffer the other Bark in chacing to come up with us This pursuit of the Vessel did so far hinder us in our Voyage and divide us asunder that night coming on presently after we lost one another and could no longer keep in a body together Hereupon we laid our Canoa ashoar to take up our rest for that night at the distance of two miles more or less from high water mark and about four Leagues to Leeward of the Island of Chepillo unto which place our course was then directed The next morning They arrive at the Isle of Chepillo as soon as the water began to float us we rowed away for the fore-mentioned Island
so we found it by experience For on the next day which was Sunday June the 13th we had very little wind and most commonly none for the space of twenty four hours 〈…〉 we tryed the current of the sea and found it very strong to the Eastward The same day we had much rain and in the afternoon a small breeze at West and West South West but mostly at West Yet notwithstanding all this calmness of weather the next day in the morning very early by a suddain gale of wind which arose we made shift to split our main top-â—ail We had all the night before and that day continual and incessant showers of rain and made a S. W. and by south way seeing all along as we went a multitude of Dolphins Bonitos and several other sorts of fish floating upon those Seas whereof in the afternoon we caught many the weather being now changed from stormy to calm again insomuch that we could fish as we sailed along or rather as we lay tumbling in the calm Tuesday June the 15th the morning continued calm as the day â—efore and this day also we saw multitudes of fish of several sorts whereof we caught some for our Table as we were wont to do By an observation which was made this day we found our selves to be now in the latitude of four degrees and twenty one minutes At this time the course of our Navigation and our whole design was to go and careen our Vessels at the Islands commonly called by the Spaniards de los Galapagos that is to say of the Tortoises being so denominated from the infinite number of those Animals swarming and breeding thereabouts These Islands are situated under the Aequinoctial Line at the distance of a hundred Leagues more or less from the main Continent of America in the South Sea In the afternoon of this day we had a small breeze to push us forwards June the 16th being Wednesday we made our way this day Gâ—eat rains all 〈…〉 and for the four and twenty hours last past E.S. E. with much rain which ceased not to fall as in all this Voyage since our departure from Cayboa This day likewise we caught several Dolphins and other sorts of fish But in the evening we had again a fresh breeze at S. by W. our course being as was just now said E. S. E. The next day which was June the 17th about five in the morning we descryed Land which appeared all along to be very low and likewise full of Creeks and Bays We instantly asked our Pilot what Land that was before us But he replyed he knew it not Hereupon being doubtful of our condition we called Mr. Cox on board us who brought Captain Peralta with him This Gentleman being asked presently told us the Land we saw was the Land of Barbacoa being almost a wild Country all over Withal he informed us that to Leeward of us at the distance of ten Leagues or thereabouts did lye an Island called by the name of Gorgona the which Island he said The Island of Gorgona and iâ—s qualities the Spaniards did shun and very seldom come nigh unto by reason of the incessant and continual rains there falling scarce one day in the year being dry at that place Captain Sharp having heard this information of Captain Peralta judged the said Island might be the fittest place for our company to careen at considering that if the Spaniards did not frequent it They resolve to careen there we might in all probability lye there undiscryed and our Enemies the Spaniards in the mean time might think that we were gone out of those Seas At this time it was that I seriously repented my staying in the South Seas and that I did not return homewards in company of them that went before us For I knew and could easily perceive that by these delays the Spaniards would gain time and be able to send advice of our coming to every Port all along the Coast so that we should be prevented in all or most of our attempts and designs wheresoever we came But those of our company who had got money by the former Prizes of this Voyage overswayed the others who had lost all their booty at gaming Thus we bore away for the Island aforesaid of Gorgona and at the distance of six Leagues and an half at S.W. I observed it to make the appearance following GORGONA Lat. 1.00 N. On the main Land over against this Island of Gorgona we were told by our prisoners A plaâ—e where Golâ— is gathered that up a great Laguna or Lake is seated an Indian Town where they have great quantity of sand grains of Gold Moreover that five days journey up a River belonging to the said Laguna do dwell four Spanish Superintendents who have each of them the charge of overseeing fifty or sixty Indians who are employed in gathering that Gold which slippeth from the chief Collectors or finders thereof These are at least threescore and ten or fourscore Spaniards with a great number of slaves belonging unto them who dwell higher up then these four Superintendents at the distance of twenty five or thirty days Journey on the said River That once every year at a certain season there cometh a vessel from Lima the Capital City of Peru to fetch the Gold that here is gathered and withal to bring unto these people such Necessaries as they want By Land it is nothing less than six weeks travel from thence to Lima. The main Land to windward of this Island is very low and full of Rivers All along the Coast it raineth most desperately The Island is distant from the Continent â—â—ly the space of four Leagues Mean while we lay at it I took the whole circumference thereof which is according to what is here underneath described Isla de la Gorgôna or Capt Sharpes Isle Captain Sharp gave unto this Island the name of Sharps Isle by reason we careened at this place We anchored on the South side of the Island at the mouth of a very â—ine River which there disgorgeth it self into the Sea There belong unto this Island about thirty Rivers and Rivolets all which fall from the Rocks on the several sides of the Island The whole circumference thereof is about three Lâ—agues and an half round being all high and mountainous land excepting only on that side where we cast Anchor Here therefore we moor'd our ship in the depth of eighteen or twenty fathom water and began to unrig the vessel But we were four or five days space before we could get our Sails dry so as to be able to take them from the yards there falling a shower of rain almost every hour of the day and night The main Land to the East of the Island and so stretching Northward is extream high and towering and withal perpetually clouded excepting only at the rising of the Sun at which time the tops of those hills are clear From
in form like unto the top of a Church Monte de Christo giveth this appearance at Sea Monte de CHRISTO Lat. 50. S. The Cape riseth higher and higher from the Port of Manta Water-Snakes and 〈…〉 As we sailed along we saw multitudes of Grampusses every day as also Water-Snakes of divers colours Both the Spaniards and Indians too are very fearful of these Snakes as believing there is no cure for their bitings At the distance of eight Leagues or thereabouts to Leeward of Cape St. Laurence it appeareth thus Cape St. LAVRENCE Lat. 55. S. This day before night we came within sight of Manta Here we saw the Houses of the Town belonging to the Port which were not above twenty or thirty Indian houses lying under the windward and the Mount We were not willing to be descryed by the Inhabitants of the said place and hereupon we stood off to sea again On Thursday August the 12th in the morning we saw the Island of Plate at S. W. at the distance of five Leagues more or less It appeared unto us to be an even land Isle of Palte Having made this Island we resolved to go thither and resit our rigging and get some Goats which there run wild up and down the Country For as was said before at this time we had no other provision than flour and water The Island it self is indifferent high land and off at sea looketh thus as is here described Isle of PLATE Lat. 2.42 S. But the high-land of Cape Passao of which we have spoken before Cape Passao at the distance of fifteen Leagues to North giveth in several hamocks this appearance High-land of Cape PASSAO C. St. Lawrence The Land of Cape Lorenzo is all white Cliffs the head of the Cape running N. and S. This day several great Whales came up to us and dived under our ship One of these Whales followed our ship from two in the afternoon till dark night 〈…〉 Captain Cox 〈…〉 The next morning very early about six of the clock we came under the aforesaid Isle of Plate and here unexpectedly to our great joy we found at anchor the ship of Captain Cox with his whole company whom we had lost at sea for the space of a whole fortnight before We found they had reached this Island and had been there at an anchor four days before us being now just ready to depart from thâ—nce About seven we came to an anchor and then the other vessel sent us a live Tortoise and a Goat to feast upon that day telling us withal of great store of Tortoise to be found ashoar upon the Bays and of much fish to be caught hereabouts Description of the Isle of Plate The Island is very steep on all sides insomuch that there is no landing but only on the N. E. side thereof where is a Gully nigh unto which we anchored in twelve fathom water Here at the distance of a furlong or little more from the shoar as you go to land you will see on the left side hill a Cross still standing being there erected in former times No Trees are to be found on the whole Island but only low shrubs on which the Goats feed which Cattle is here very numerous The shoar is bold and hard neither is there any water to be found upon it excepting only on the S. W. side of the Island where likewise it cannot be come at as lying so much enclosed by the Rocks and too great a Sea hindring the approach unto it in boats This Island received it's name from Sir Francis Drake Sir Fr. Drake and his famous Actions For here it is reported by tradition that he made the dividend or sharing of that vast quantity of Plate which he took in the Armada of this Sea distributing it unto each man of his company by whole bowles full The Spaniards affirm unto this day he took at that time twelve score Tuns of Plate and sixteen Bowles of Coyned Money a man his number being then forty five men in all Insomuch that they were forced to heave much of it over board because his ship could not carry it all Hence was this Island called by the Spaniards themselves the Isle of Plate from this great Dividend and by us Drakes Isle All along as we sailed Spanish Pilotâ— their ignorance we found the Spanish Pilots to be very ignorant of the Coasts But they plead thus much for their ignorance that the Merchants their employers either of Mexico Lima Panama or other parts will not entrust one penny worth of Goods on that mans Vessel that corketh her for fear lest she should miscarry Here our Prisoners told us likewise that in the time of Oliver Cromwel or the Common-wealth of England A ship with money sent to King Chaâ—â—â— the Second a certain ship was fitted out of Lima with seventy brass Guns having on board her no less thâ—n thirty Millions of Dollers or pieces of Eight All which vast sum of money was given by the Merchants of Lima and sent as a Present unto our gracious King or rather his Father who now reigneth to supply him in his Exile and distress But that this great and rich ship was lost by keeping the shoar along in the Bay of Manta above-mentioned or thereabouts What truth there may be in this History I cannot easily tell At least it seemeth to me as scarce deserving any credit At this Island we took out of Mr. Cox's ship the old Moor for of that Nation he was who pretended he would be our Pilot unto Arica This was done lest we should have the misfortune of loosing the company of Cox's vessel as we had done before our ship being the biggest in burthen and having the greatest number of men Captain Peralta admired oftentimes that we were gotten so far to windward in so little space of time whereas they had been he said many times three or four months in reaching to this distance from our departure But their long and tedious Voyages he added were occasioned by their keeping at too great a distance from the shoar Moreover he told us that had we gone unto the Islands of Galapagos as we were once determined to do we had met in that Voyage with many Calms and such Currents that many ships have by them been lost and never heard of to this day This Island of Plate is about two Leagues in length and very full of both deep and dangerous Bays as also such as we call Gully's in these parts The circumference and description of the said Island is exactly thus S â— Fran Drakes Isle or Isla de la Plata Great number of Tortoises and Gâ—ats We caught at this Island and salted good number of Goats and Tortoises One man standing here on a little Bay in one day turned seventeen Tortoises besides which number our Mosquito strikers brought us in several more Captain Sharp our Commander shewed himself very ingenious
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
of these men of war is equipped with thirty six brass guns and the other with thirty These ships beside their complement of sea-men have four hundred Souldiers added unto them by the Vice-Roy Another man of war belonging to this number and lesser than the afore-mentioned is called the Patache This ship consisteth of twenty four guns and was sent to Arica to fetch the Kings Plate from thence But the Vice-Roy having received intelligence of your exploits at Panama sent for this ship back from thence with such hast that they came away and left the Money behind them Hence the Patache now lyeth at the Port of Callao ready to sail on the first occasion or news of your arrival thereabouts they having for this purpose sent unto all parts very strict orders to keep a good look-out on all sides and all places along the Coasts Since this from Manta they sent us word that they had seen two Ships at sea pass by that place And from the Goat Key also we heard that the Indians had seen you and that they were assured one of your vessels was the ship called la Trinidad which you had taken before Panama as being a ship very well known in these Seas From hence we concluded that your design was to ply and make your Voyage thereabouts Now this Bark wherein you took us prisoners being bound for Panama the Governour of Guayaquil sent us out before her departure if possible to discover you Which if we did we were to run the Bark on shoar and get away or else to fight you with these Souldiers and fire arms that you see As soon as we heard of your being in these Seas we built two Forts the one of six Guns and the other of four for the defence of the Town At the last Muster taken in the Town of Guayaquil we had there eight hundred and fifty men of all colours but when we came out we left only two hundred men that were actually under Arms. Thus ended the Relation of that worthy Gentleman About noon that day we unrigged the Bark which we had taken and after so doing sunk her Then we stood S.S.E. and afterwards S. by W. and S.S.W. That evening we saw Point St. Helena at North half East at the distance of nine Leagues more or less The next day being August the 26th in the morning we stood S. That day we cryed out all our pillage and found that it amounted unto 3276 Pieces of Eight which was accordingly divided by shares amongst us We also punished a Fryar Their cruelty towards a Fryar who was Chaplain to the Bark aforementioned and shot him upon the deck casting him over-board before he was dead Such cruelties though I abhorred very much in my heart yet here was I forced to hold my tongue and contradict them not as having not authority to oversway them About ten of the clock this morning we saw Land again and the Pilot said we were sixteen Leagues to leeward of Cabo Blanco Hereupon we stood off and in close under the shoar the which all appeared to be barren land The morning following we had very little wind Eight of their men destroyed at Gallo so that we advanced but slowly all that day To windward of us we could perceive the Continent to be all high land being whitish clay full of white Cliffts This morning in common discourse our Prisoners confessed unto us and acknowledged the destruction of one of our little Barks which we lost in our way to the Island of Cayboa They stood away as it appeared by their information for the Goat-key thinking to find us there as having heard Captain Sawkins say that he would go thither On their way they hapned to fall in with the Island of Gallo and understanding its weakness by their Indian Pilot they ventured on shoar and took the place carrying away three white women in their company But after a small time of Cruising they returned again to the aforesaid Island where they stayed the space of two or three days after which time they went out to sea again Within three or four days they came to a little Key four Leagues distant from this Isle But mean while they had been out and in thus several times one of their prisoners made his escape unto the Main and brought off from thence fifty men with fire-arms These placing themselves in Ambuscade at the first volly of their shot they killed six of the seven men that belonged unto the Bark The other man that was left took quarter of the enemy and he it was that discovered unto them our design upon the Town of Guayaquil By an observation which we made this day we found our selves to be in the latitude of 3 d. 50. S. An Embargo laid At this time our prisoners told us there was an Embargo laid on all the Spanish ships commanding them not to stir out of the Ports for fear of their falling into our hands at Sea Saturday August the 28th this morning we took out all the water They 〈◊〉 Captain Cox's 〈◊〉 and most part of the flower that was in Captain Cox's vessel The people in like manner came on board our ship Having done this we made a hole in the vessel and left her to sink with a small old Canoa at her stern To Leeward of Manta a League from shoar in eighteen fathom water there runneth a great current outwards About eleven in the forenoon we weighed Anchor with a wind at W.N. W. turning it out Our number now in all being reckoned we found our selves to be one hundred and forty men two boys and fifty five prisoners being all now in one and the same bottom Their whole number This day we got six or seven Leagues in the winds eye All the day following we had a very strong S. S. W. wind The first place setled in these Seas insomuch that we were forced to sail with two riffs in our main-top sail and one also in our fore-top sail Here Captain Peralta told us that the first place which the Spaniards settled in these parts after Panama was Tumbes a place that now was to Leeward of us in this Gulph where we now were A strange story That there a Priest went ashoar with a Cross in his hand while ten thousand Indians stood gazing at him Being landed on the strand there came out of the woods two Lyons that he laid the Cross gently on their backs and they instantly fell down and worshipped it and moreover that two Tigres following them did the same whereby these Animals gave unto the Indians to understand the excellency of the Christian Religion which they soon after embraced About four in the evening we came abreast the Cape which is the highest part of all The Land hereabouts appeareth to be barren and rockâ—y â—aho Blanco At three Leagues distance East from us the Cape shewed thus Cape BLANCO Were it not for
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
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
take in water In the mean while others were employed to catch Goats as they had done the day before On the 28th of the said month in the morning I went with ten more of our company and two Canoas to fetch water from the land Being come thither and having filled our jars we could not get back unto the ship by reason of a Southerly wind that blew from off the Ocean The Author in great danger and hindred our return Thus we were forced to lie still in a water-hole and wait till the wind were over for a safer opportunity Mean while the violence of the wind encreasing our ship was forced to get under sail and make away not without danger of being forced ashoar Hereupon she sailed out of the harbour to seek another place of anchoring At noon I ventured out to try if I could follow the ship but was forced in again by the wind and a raging sea Thus we lay still for some while longer till the evening came on This being come we ventured out again both Canoa's together but the winds were then so high that we were forced to throw all our jarrs of water over-board to lighten our boats otherwise we had inevitably perished I ought to bless and praise God Almighty for this deliverance for in all humane reason the least wave of that tempest must have sunk us Notwithstanding we came that night to our place or harbour where we expected to have found our ship called False wild harbour but found her not Hereupon not knowing what to do we went ashoar and halled up our Canoa's dry Having done this we ascended higher within the Island along a Gulley for the space of half a mile there to clear our selves of the noise and company of the Seals which were very troublesome on the shoar Here we kindled a fire Multitudes of Zeales and dryed our clothes and rested our selves all night though with extream hungry bellies as having eaten very litte or nothing all the day before In the sides of the hill under which we lay we observed many holes like Coney-holes These holes are the nests and roosting-places of multitudes of birds that breed in this Island called by the Spaniards Pardelas One of these birds as we lay drying and warming our selves fell down into our fire Pardelas The next morning being come very early before Sun-rise we went farther to the Northward to seek for our ship which we feared we had lost But we were not gone far when we soon espied her at sea Hereupon we passed a point of land and entered a certain Bay which was about a mile deep and not above half a league over Into this Bay we put and instantly made a fire thereby to shew the ship whereabouts we were Here we found good watering and wooding close unto the shoar In this Bay also we saw another sort of amphibious Animal the which I imagined to be the same that by some Authors is called a Sea-Lyon These Animals are six times bigger than Seals 〈…〉 of â— Sea-Lyon Their heads are like unto that of a Lyon and they have four fins not unlike unto a Tortoise The hinder parts of these Creatures are much like fins but are drawn after them as being useless upon the shoar They roared as if they had been Lyons and were full of a certain short and thick hair which was of a Mouse colour but that of the young ones was something lighter The old ones of these Sea-Lyons are between twelve and fourteen foot long and about eleven or twelve foot in thickness or circumference A Seal is very easily killed as we often experimented but two of our men with great stones could not kill one of these Animals That day in the afternoon there came a Canoa from on board the ship with Provision for us The ship forced to sea twice or tâ—â—ice they fearing least we should be starved In like manner the Lanch came with men to cut wood They told us that the ship came to an Anchor in the other Bay but that within half an hour the Cable broke and they were forced to leave their Anchor behind them and get out to Sea again Night being come we made our beds of Fern whereof there is huge plenty upon this Island together with great multitudes of Trees like unto our English Box the which bore a sort of green Berries smelling like unto Pimiento or Pepper All this day the ship was forced to ply off at Sea not being able to get in December the thirtieth The morning of this day we employed in filling water and cutting down wood But in the afternoon eight of us eleven went aboard the ship all in one and the same Canoa sending her ashoar again with Provisions for the men that were there This day in like manner we could not get into the Harbour for no sooner the ship came within the parts of Land but the wind comeing out of the Bay blew us clear out again Thus we were forced to ply out all that night and great part of the following day On the next day having overcome all difficulties They get the ship in again and many dangers we came to an Anchor in the afternoon in fifteen fathom water at the distance of a Cable length from shoar Here it was observable that we were forced to keep men ashoar on purpose to beat off the Seals mean while our men filled water at the Sea side at high-water mark for as much as that the Seals covet hugely to lye in fresh water About this Island fish is so plentiful that in less then one hours time two men caught enough for all our whole company Saturday January the first 1680. Craw-fish This day we put up a new Main-top larger then the old one and we caught Craw-fish that were bigger than our English Lobsters The next day being January the second dyed a chief man of our company whose name was John Hilliard The death of the Master of the ship This man until our weighing Anchor from the Port of Coquimbo had been our Master all the space of this Voyage But from that time we chose John Cox for the Starboard and John Fall for the Larboard watch The disease whereof he dyed was the Dropsie That evening we buryed our dead Companion and gave him a Volley for his Funeral according to the usual custom On the third of January we had terrible gusts of wind from the shoar every hour A man liveth five years alone This day our Pilot told us that many years ago a certain ship was cast away upon this Island and onely one man saved who lived alone upon the Island five years before any ship came this way to carry him off The Island hath excellent Land in many Valleys belonging thereunto This day likewise we fetched our Anchor which we left in the other Bay when the ship broke her Cable Now dangers of the ship Tuesday
January the fourth 1680. This day we had such terrible flaws of wind that the Cable of our ship brake and we had undoubtedly been on shoar had not the other held us fast At last it came home and we drove outward By the way it caught hold of a Rock and held some time but at last we haled it up and the wind came with so much violence A great storm that the waves slew as high as our Main-top and made all the water of a foam January the fifth the same huge gusts of wind continued all the night last past They 〈◊〉 again which notwithstanding this day at noon it was brave and calme But in the morning the Anchor of our ship gave way again and we drove to the Eastward more than half a mile till at last we hapned to fasten again in the depth of sixty fathom water Here in this Bay where we rid at Anchor did run a violent current sometimes into and at other times out of the Bay so that all was uncertain with us But our greatest discomfort was that our men were all in a mutiny against each other and much divided among themselves The mâ—n begin to mutiny Some of them being for going home towards England or our Forreign Plantations that round about America through the Straights of Magallanes as Captain Sawkins had designed to do others of them being for staying longer and searching farther into those Seas till such time as they had got more Money This day at noon our Anchor drove again whereupon to secure our selves from that dangerous place They remove to another Bay we sailed from thence into the West Bay and anchored there in twenty five fathom water and moored our ship one quarter of a mile from shoar On Thursday January the sixth our dissentions being now grown unto a great heighth The Mutineers make a new Commander the Mutineers made a new Election of another person to be our chief Captain and Commander by vertue whereof they deposed Captain Sharp whom they protested they would obey no longer They chose therefore one of our company whose name was John Watling to command in chief he having been an old Privateer and gained the esteem of being a stout Seaman The election being made all the rest were forced to give their assent unto it and Captain Sharp gave over his command whereupon they immediately made Articles with Watling and signed them The following day being the seventh Cook put iâ— Irons we burnt and tallowed the star-board side of our ship In this Bay where we now anchored we found a Cross cut in the Bark of a Tree and several Letters besides Hereupon in another Tree up the Gulley I engraved the two first Letters of my name with a Cross over them This day likewise William Cook servant unto Captain Edmund Cook confessed that his Master had oft times Buggered him in England leaving his Wife and coming to bed to him the said William That the same crime he had also perpetrated in Jamaica and once in these Seas before Panama Moreover searching his Writings we found a paper with all our names written in it the which it was suspected he designed to have given unto the Spanish prisoners For these reasons this evening our Captain thought it convenient to put him in Irons which was accordingly done The next day unto the above-mentioned in this Paragraph we finished the other side of our ship Sunday January the ninth this day was the first Sunday that ever we kept by command and common consent Sundays ordered to be kept since the loss and death of our valiant Commander Captain Sawkins This generous spirited man threw the dice over board finding them in use on the said day January the Tenth Great plenty of fish this day the weather was very clear and setled again We caught every day in this Bay where we now were great plenty of fish and I saw the same day a shoal of fish a mile and more long On the next day being the eleventh we filled our water and carryed our wood on board the ship Moreover water and wood taken in our two Canoas went to the other side of the Island to catch Goats for on the barren side thereof are found and caught the best and by Land it is impossible to go from one side of the Island to the other They espy three men of war Wednesday January the twelfth this morning our Canoas returned from catching of Goats firing of Guns as they came towards us to give us warning Being come on board they told us they had espied three sail of ships which they conceived to be men of War coming about the Island Within half an hour after this notice given by our Boats the ships came in sight to Leeward of the Island Hereupon we immediately slipt our Cables and put to Sea taking all our men on board that were ashoar at that time Onely one William a Mosquito Indian was then left behind upon the Island because he could not be found at this our suddain departure Upon the Island of Juan Fernandez do grow certain Trees that are called by the name of Bilbytrees 〈◊〉 trees The tops of these trees are excellent Cabbage and of them is made the same use that we do of Cabbage in England Here fish aboundeth in such quantity that on the surface of the water I have taken fish with a bare and naked hook that is to say unbaited Much fish is taken here of the weight of twenty pound the smallest that is taken in the Bay being almost two pound weight Very good Timber for building of Houses and other uses is likewise found upon this Island It is distant from the Main Continent the space of ninety five Leagues or thereabouts being situate in 33 d. 40 South The plats of the Islands lye N.W. and S.E. Being got out of the Bay we stood off to Sea and kept to windward as close as we could The biggest of these Spanish men of War Strength of the men of war for such they proved to be was of the burthen of eight hundred Tuns and was called El Santo Christo being mounted with twelve Guns The second named San Francisco was of the port of six hundred Tuns and had ten guns The third was of the carriage of three hundred and fifty Tuns whose name I have forgot As soon as they saw us they instantly put out their bloody flags and we to shew them that we were not as yet daunted did the same with ours We kept close under the wind and were to confess the truth very unwilling to fight them by reason they kept all in a knot together and we could not single out any one of them or separate him from the rest Especially considering that our present Commander Watling had shewed himself at their appearance to be faint hearted As for the Spaniards themselves they might have easily come unto
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 said Island is a small village of eighteen or twenty houses having a small Chappel nigh unto it built of stone and for adornment thereof it is stuck full of Hides or the skins of Seals They found about fifty people in this Hamlet but the greatest part of them made their escape at the arrival of the Canoa Unto this Island do frequently come Barks from Arica which City is not far distant from thence to fetch clay and they have already transported away a considerable part thereof The poor Indians Inhabitants or Natives of this Island are forced to bring all the fresh water they use the full distance of eleven leagues from thence that is to say from a River name Camarones which lyeth to Leeward of the Island The Barque wherein they used to bring it was then gone for water when our men landed upon the place The Island all over is white but the bowels thereof are of a reddish sort of earth From the shoar is seen here a great path which leadeth over the Mountains into the Country The Indians of this Island use to eat much and often a sort of Leaves that are of a tast much like unto our Bay-leaves in England Insomuch that their teeth are died of a green colour by the continual use thereof The Inhabitants go stark naked and are very robust and strong people yet notwithstanding they live more like beasts than men Thursday January the 27th this morning on board the ship we examined one of the old men who were taken prisoners upon the Island the day before But finding him in many Lies as we thought concerning Arica our Commander ordered him to be shot to death which was accordingly done Our old Commander Captain Sharp was much troubled in his mind and dissatisfyed at this cruelty and rash proceeding whereupon he opposed it as much as he could But seeing he could not prevail he took water and washed his hands Sharp 〈◊〉 at it saying Gentlemen I am clear of the blâ—od of this old man and I will warrant you a hot day for this piece of cruelty whenever we come to fight at Arica These words were found at the latter end of this expedition of Arica to contain a true and certain prophesie as shall be related hereafter The other old man being under examination informed us that the Island of Yqueque afore-mentioned Another prisoner examined belonged unto the Governour of Arica who was Proprietor thereof and that he allowed unto these men a little wine and other Necessaries to live upon for their sustenance That he himself had the superintendance of forty or fifty of the Governours slaves who caught fish and dryed it for the profit of the said Governour and he sold it afterwards to the inland Towns and reaped a considerable benefit thereby That by a Letter received from Arica eight days ago they understood there was then in the Harbour of Arica three ships from Chile and one Bark That they had raised there a Fortification mounted with Twelve Copper Guns But that when we were there before they had conveyed out of the Town unto the neighbouring stantions all their Plate Gold and Jewels burying it there in the ground and concealing it after several manners and ways The which whether it were now returned or not he could not easily tell That there were two great places the one at ten the other at twenty five leagues distance from Arica at which Towns lay all their strength and treasure That the day before had passed a Post to declare our having been at Coquimbo That the Embargo laid on all vessels going to the Northward was now taken off so that a free passage was allowed them That by Land it was impossible to go from hence unto Arica in less than four or five days for as much as they must carry water for themselves and Horses for the whole journey At last that those Arms that were brought from Lima unto Arica as was mentioned above were now carryed away from thence unto Buenos Ayres All these things pleased us mighty well to hear them But however Captain Sharp was still much dissatisfyed by reason we had shot the old man For he had given us information to the full and with all manner of truth how that Arica was greatly fortified and much more than before but our misfortune was that we took his information to be all contrary to the truth The leaves of which we made mention above are brought down unto this Island in whole Bales They take the Barqâ—e of the Island and then distributed unto the Indians by a short allowance given to each man This day we had very hot weather and a S. W. Sea By observation we found Lat. 20 d. 13 South Besides the things above-mentioned our prisoners informed us that at Arica the Spaniards had built a breast-work round about the Town and one also in every street that in case one end of the Town were taken they might be able to defend the other We stood off and in for the greatest part of this day In the afternoon we were eight leagues and an half distant from shoar with a fresh wind That morning moreover we took the Barque that was at the River of Camarones to fill water for the Island Friday January the 28th last night about midnight we left the ship They embark in the Boats for Arica and embarked our selves in the Barque afore-mentioned the Lanch and four Canoas with design to take Arica by surprizal We rowed and sailed all night making in for the shoar Saturday January the 29th about break of day this day we got under shoar They lye hidden by day and there hid our selves among the Rocks for all the day long fearing lest we should be descryed by the enemy before we came to Arica At this time we were about five leagues to Southward of Arica nigh Quebrada de San Vitor a place so called upon that Coast. Night being come we rowed away from thence Sunday January the 30th 1680. this day being the day that is consecrated in our English Kalendar They land and attaâ—â—e the 〈◊〉 unto the Martyrdom of our glorious King Charles the First in the morning about Sun-rise we landed amongst some Rocks at the distance of four miles more or less to the Southward from Arica We put on shoar ninety two men in all the rest remaining in the Boats to keep and defend them from being surprized by the enemy to the intent we might leave behind us a safe retreat in case of necessity Unto these men we left strict orders that if we made one smoak from the Town or adjoyning fields they should come after us towards the harbour of Arica with one Canoa but in case we made two that they should bring all away leaving only fifteen men in the Boats As we marched from our landing place towards the Town we mounted a very steep hill and saw from thence no men nor
1 ◠20 N. Wednesday July the 13th this day we dared not adventure into the Bay of San Mateo because we saw some Indians who had made a great fire on shoar which as we judged was designedly done to give intelligence of our arrival Hereupon we bore away for the River of San Tiago six leagues more or less distant from the Bay aforementioned to the North East Thursday Friday They rommage the Prize and Saturday of the said week we spent in taking out what parcels of Cacao-nut we thought sit from on board the Prize which was chiefly laden with the said Commodity This being done we cut down the Main-mast by the board And turn 〈◊〉 away and gave them only their Main-sail and thus turning the ship loose sent away in her all our old slaves for the good service they had done us taking new ones from the Prize in their room One only we still detained who was Francisco the Negro that attempted to run away by swimming ashoar as was mentioned above Sunday July the 17th this day we went from the ship and found the River of San Tiago afore-mentioned River of San Tiago At the mouth of this River we stayed Munday and Tuesday following to take in water which we now much wanted On the sides of the River we found good store of Plantans Our fresh water we fetched the distance of four miles up the River We saw several Indians but could not speak with them they were so shy of us being forewarned by the Spaniards not to come near us On wednesday July the 20th we shared our plunder among our selves They make a dividend or rather this day made part of the dividend of what we had taken the rest being reserved to another day Our prisoners being examined informed us that the Spaniards had taken up our Anchors and Cables which we left behind us at the Isle of Juan Fernandez Also that they had surprized the Mosquito Indian that we left behind us there on shoar by the light of a fire which he made in the night upon the Isle Tuesday July the twenty first all the four and twenty hours last past we stood off and in They share the rest of the goods The next day we shared the rest of our things taken in the Prize as also the Money that was in the bags the rest we laid up to divide upon another occasion Especially after such time as we were got through the Straights of Magallanes Our dividend amounted to the sum of 234 Pieces of Eight unto each man Our prisoners informed us this day that a new Vice-roy of Peru was arrived at Panama and that he dared not adventure up to Lima in a ship of twenty five guns that was at Panama for fear of meeting with us at Sea but had chose rather to stay until the Armada came down from Lima to safeguard and conduct him thither July the 23 we had a fresh breeze at S.W. And the next day a clear observation which gave us only Latitude 14. m. North. This day Cape San Francisco at N.E. appeared thus unto us Cabo de San Francisco Munday July the 25th this day we observed Latitude 01 d. 20 S. And we had a South West wind July the 26th this morning we had a very great dew fallen in the night last past The weather in like manner was very close On Wednesday July the 27th Cape Passao at S.S.W. and at six leagues distance appeared thus Cabo Passao The same morning about seven of the clock we espied a sail E.S.E. from us under the shoar They espy another sail at sea We presently gave her close chace as eagerly as we could and about noon came up with her But several of the people belonging to her were already got to shoar whereby they made their escape from being taken our prisoners These were chiefly a Fryar who was either a passenger or Chaplain to the vessel and five Negroes She proved to be a Barco de Aviso VVhich is taken or Pacquet-boat that was going with Letters from Panama to Lima. In this Barque we took among other Prisoners two white women who were passengers to the same place Both these and the rest of the prisoners told us they had heard at Panama that we were all gone out of these Seas homewards over land and that made them adventure now up towards Lima otherwise they had not come This day and Thursday following we spent in taking out of the Pacquet-boat what we could find in her which all were things of no considerable value they having scarce brought any thing with them but the Pacquet They told us moreover that the new Vice-roy of Peru of whom we made mention above was setting forth from Panama under the conduct of three sail of ships the one of sixteen the other of eight and the third of six Guns That a general peace was all over Europe excepting only that the English had wars with the Argerines by Sea and the Spaniards by land Having got what we could out of the prisoners and the vessel we gave them their liberty and sent them away in the same Barque as being desirous not to encumber ourselves with more then we could well manage That night we stood out to Sea all night long most of our men being fudled CHHP. XXI They take another Spanish ship richly laden under the Aequinoctial They make several Dividends of their booty among themselves They arrive at the Isle of Plate where they are in danger of being all Massacred by their Slaves and Prisoners Their departure from thence for the Port and Bay of Paita with design to plunder the said place THe next morning after we had turned away the Pacquet-Boat afore-mentioned 〈…〉 with 〈◊〉 Prize the weather being very close we espied another sail creeping close under our Lee. This vessel looked mighty big so that we thought she had been one of their chiefest men of war who was sent to surprize or destroy us Notwithstanding our brave Commander Captain Sharp resolved to fight her and either to take the said vessel though never so big or that she should take us Unto this effect coming nearer unto her we easily perceived she was a Merchant ship of great bulk as most of your Spanish Vessels are and withal very deeply laden Being up with them those within her fired three or four Guns at us first thinking to make their party good against us But we answered them briskly with a continual volley of small Arms so that they soon ran down into the Hold And take her and surrendred crying aloud for quarter As it should seem we had killed in that Volley their Captain and one Seaman and also wounded their Boat-swain which loss of their Commander daunted them so suddenly he being a man of good repute in those Seas Captain Sharp with twelve more of our Company entered her the first In this Vessel I saw the beautifullest woman that I ever
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
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