Squadron at Port Saint Julien--Attacked by the natives--Captain Winter,
and Oliver the gunner, killed--Doughty's conspiracy--Trial--Execution--
Squadron sails--Enters the Straits of Magellan--Name of the _Dolphin_
changed to the _Golden Hind_--Passage through the Straits--Elizabeth
Island--Meets natives--Enters the Southern Ocean--Ships driven before a
northerly gale--The _Marigold_ lost sight of--After a month's buffeting,
the two ships gain a harbour--The _Hind_ again driven to sea--The
_Elizabeth_ deserts her--A pinnace lately set up remains, but is finally
lost--The _Hind_ alone regains a harbour--Sails north--Calls off Mucho
Island--Boat treacherously attacked by natives--Drake wounded--Refuses
to retaliate--Reaches the mainland--Search for provisions--Meets an
Indian--Treats him kindly--His friends bring off provisions--He pilots
the _Hind_ to Valparaiso--Capture of a richly-laden vessel, and sack of
the town--Sail northward--Put into a bay--Boat's crew attacked by
Spaniards--Minjoy killed--The pinnace set up--Drake sails in her--Driven
back by foul winds--Booty obtained from an Indian asleep and from a
train of llamas--Indians come off on balsas--Two Spaniards, through
fear, bring off provisions--Llamas described--Vessels at Arica and
Arequipa plundered--A vessel laden with linen captured--Callao reached--
Drake hears of the _Cacafuego_--Plunders several vessels--Sails in
pursuit of the _Cacafuego_--Pursued.
The squadron came to an anchor in Port Saint Julien on the 20th of June,
and, having arranged various matters, the next day but one the Admiral,
accompanied by his brother, John Thomas, Robert Winter, Oliver the
master gunner, John Brewer, and Thomas Hood, rowed up along the shore in
search of a good place for watering.
Not far off on the shore was seen the remains of a gibbet, supposed to
be that set up by Magalhaens for the execution of one of his rebellious
captains. On landing, two huge natives, called by that navigator
Patagons, came down and appeared to be friendly, being ready to receive
whatever was offered to them. They took especial pleasure at seeing Mr
Oliver, the master gunner, shoot with his bow, till they were joined by
an ill-tempered-looking savage, who tried to draw them away. At this
juncture a number more of big fellows, armed with bows, who had hitherto
been concealed, crept up towards the English. While Mr Winter was also
shooting with his bow, thinking to amuse them as Mr Oliver had done,
the string broke. Not liking their gestures, the Admiral ordered his
party to retreat, covering themselves with their targets, and
remembering, probably, how Magalhaens had been slain, ordering them to
break all the arrows aimed at them.
While Mr Winter was trying to repair his string, an arrow shot by one
of the savages pierced his lungs, but he did not fall. On this the
master gunner levelled his caliver--a sort of blunderbuss--but it missed
fire, and before he could shoot it off two savages, taking sure aim at
him, killed him on the spot.
Many other natives had by this time made their appearance, and were
coming on with threatening gestures, when the Admiral, taking the
gunner's piece, fired it at the native who had killed him, and as it had
been loaded with bullets and small shot, it tore open his belly. The
tremendous roars he uttered, equalling that of ten bulls together, so
appalled his companions that they took to flight.
Drake, unwilling further to injure them, allowed them to escape, and had
Captain Winter, to whom he was greatly attached, conveyed down to the
boat, leaving the body of the gunner behind. Mr Winter, however, was
too severely injured to recover, and died the following day on board his
ship. That night a boat was again sent on shore with a number of men
well armed. Here they discovered the body of the gunner lying where he
had fallen, with his coat wrapped up to form a pillow, and an English
arrow stuck in his right eye, showing, as it was conjectured, that the
natives had no wish to be on hostile terms with their visitors. He and
Mr Winter were buried together, close to the spot where the Spanish
captain was supposed to have died.
Drake was greatly grieved at the loss of his friend Winter and his
gunner, but he had a still greater anxiety on his mind from the reports
he received of the conduct of one whom he had considered his friend, Mr
Thomas Doughty. His conduct in appropriating the gifts made to him by
the Portuguese prisoners was reprehensible, but it was now found that he
was plotting a mutiny to kill the Admiral or to supersede him in the
command, intending to carry off some of the squadron, and to sail on a
different venture.
So strong was the evidence brought of the nefarious designs of Doughty,
that the Admiral was compelled to summon together forty of the principal
officers. By these, he sitting as president, Doughty was found guilty,
and was condemned either to suffer death, to be left on shore among the
savages, or to be sent home as a prisoner in one of the vessels, with a
full statement of his trial, to be dealt with as her Majesty the Queen
might think proper: the choice of which punishment he would suffer was
offered him.
Rather than undergo the shame of being sent home, or to endure the
wretched fate which would have been his lot among the savages--some days
being allowed him to decide--he resolved, after fully acknowledging his
guilt, notwithstanding the persuasions of his friends to the contrary,
to select the first alternative offered, desiring only that he might
take the communion with the Admiral, as a token that he died at peace
with him and all men.
Strange as it may seem, the sacred ordinance having been celebrated by
Mr Francis Fletcher, the preacher and pastor of the fleet, he dined at
the same table as the Admiral, both appearing cheerful and drinking to
each other as if only some journey had been in contemplation.
After dinner he was led forth, and entreating those around to pray for
him, he kneeled down and bade the executioner perform his office.
The stern justice meted out on a gentlemen and an officer who had
hitherto been highly esteemed, had no doubt a great effect in deterring
others who might have contemplated any mutinous proceedings. He was
taken on shore and buried where Don Luis de Mendoza was supposed to
lie--in a grave close to those of Mr Winter and the gunner.
This painful duty performed, and other matters arranged, the _Mary_, the
Portuguese prize, being in a leaky state, she was run on shore near the
island on which, for the two months of their stay, their tents had been
pitched.
Here her planks were stripped off, and divided amongst the other three
ships, which now constituted the whole squadron, besides the pinnaces
which were still on board.
Having wooded, watered, and thoroughly repaired their vessels, the
explorers sailed from this "Port Accursed," as some of the seamen called
it, on the 17th of August, and again steered southward.
On the 20th they came off the Cabo de las Virgines, as the Spaniards
called the entrance to the Magellan Straits. About four leagues off it
had the appearance of black rocks full of grey stars, against which the
sea beat like the spouting of whales. At this cape the Admiral ordered
the ships to lower their topsails on the bunt, in homage to the Queen's
Majesty; and he here changed the name of his ship, the _Pelican_, to
that of the _Golden Hind_, in compliment to his patron Sir Christopher
Hatton, whose coat of arms bore a golden hind. A sermon being preached
by the chaplain, Master Fletcher, and prayer being offered up, the
squadron entered the straits, passing along which, with land in sight on
both sides, they in a short time made their way through a narrow
channel, with a strong wind blowing astern. They then passed through a
broad expanse. The following night they saw a lofty island to the
southward, which appeared to burn like that of the island of Fogo. The
tides as they passed on rose and fell regularly, the difference between
high and low water being upwards of five fathoms.
On the 24th of August they came off a large and fruitful island, on
which, the weather being fine, the Admiral and some of his officers
landed, taking possession of it in the name of her Majesty, and calling
it Elizabeth Island. Some other islands close to it abounded with
strange--looking birds, somewhat in size less than a goose, and although
they could not fly, ran at a great rate. They were in reality penguins,
which abounded in those regions. In one day they killed no less than
three thousand. On another island they found the body of a man who had
been long dead. From these islands onwards the passage was so crooked
and narrow that they very frequently had to come to an anchor. They
found numerous harbours and abundance of fresh water. The mountains
here rose to a great height, their tops apparently lost in the sky, and
covered with ice and snow. On the low grounds many fine trees were
seen, with green grass and herbs, the temperature being very similar to
that of England.
The inhabitants made fires as they passed along, but did not come off to
them. As they drew near the western entrance of the straits, the
passage appeared so narrow, with so many broad channels opening to the
southward, that the Admiral doubted which to select. He, therefore,
ordering the squadron to anchor, put off himself in a boat, and rowed
forwards to survey the passage. Having found one of sufficient width,
he turned back to rejoin the fleet. On his way he fell in with a canoe
made of bark, and full of people. It was of a peculiarly elegant form,
turning up both at the stem and stern in a semicircle, the workmanship
being also excellent in the extreme. The people in it were of low
stature, but of compact form, and had their faces painted. They were on
their way to the island off which the ships lay at anchor. A visit was
afterwards paid to them on shore. Their dwellings were of framework,
covered with the skins of beasts. Their food appeared to be mussels and
other shell-fish. All their houses were of bark neatly sewn together.
Their knives were formed of mussel-shells of great size, and were so
sharp that they could cut the hardest wood with them, as well as bone,
out of which they made the fizgigs they used for killing fish.
On the 6th of September, to the joy of all on board, the three ships
sailed proudly into the South Sea, having accomplished the whole passage
in about a fortnight, which had occupied their predecessors--Magalhaens,
Loyasa, and Juan de Ladrilleros, who had come from the Pacific side--
several months.
The land to the south had been found to consist, not of a mainland, or
even of one large island, but of numerous islands, with broad passages
between them. In consequence of the cold weather which now came on, the
Admiral intended to sail northward, to get as soon as possible into a
warmer latitude; but, a furious north wind arising, the ships could in
no way make head against it, and were driven farther and farther south
and east.
Instead of finding it the Pacific Ocean, they, from their experience,
considered that it should be called the Stormy Sea. Day after day the
tempest blew with extraordinary violence. During that period, on the
15th of September, an eclipse of the moon occurred, which lasted for a
considerable time, adding to the horrors of the storm. For many days
they ran on under bare poles, being unable to face it. On the 30th of
the same month, the _Marigold_, commanded by Captain John Thomas, who
had rendered such service to the Admiral, and having many other of his
friends on board, was separated from her consorts. It was hoped,
however, that she might be able to rejoin them at their place of
rendezvous, about the thirtieth degree of south latitude, on the coast
of Peru.
For a whole month the two remaining ships, sorely battered by the
tempest, were out of sight of land, which at length regaining, on the
night of the 7th of October, they ran into a harbour to the southward.
They had not, however, long dropped their anchors before both ships were
again driven out to sea, and that of the Admiral left an anchor behind
her, but a sloop which had been put up at the entrance of the straits
soon regained the harbour. The _Elizabeth_ was lost sight of, while the
_Golden Hind_ was driven far away to the southward, where she lay
helplessly tossed about by the fury of the waves. Again, the storm
abating, she made sail, and sighted the utmost cape or headland of those
islands, about the fifty-sixth degree of south latitude, and since known
as Cape Horn.
On the 28th of October the _Golden Hind_ anchored within a creek of the
same island. Though people were seen on shore, no communication was
held with them. On the 30th of October, with a fair wind, Drake steered
to the north-west, and then north, in order not to lose sight of the
continent. The following day the explorers came off an island covered
so thickly with birds that they were able to obtain a plentiful supply;
indeed, the whole fleet might have been equally well furnished.
Coasting along in sight of land, they observed a lofty range of
mountains, but the country appeared barren, without water or wood,
except here and there, where Spanish settlements had been formed. There
being no possibility of obtaining information of the missing ships, they
again ran off towards an island called Mucho, on account of its large
size. Here they came to an anchor on the 25th, and found it a fertile
place, with an abundance of sheep, cattle, Indian corn, and potatoes.
The inhabitants were Indians, who had been driven off by the cruelty of
the Spaniards, and had here fortified themselves. On ascertaining that
the visitors were English, they came with great courtesy, bringing with
them various fruits and two fat sheep, which they presented to the
Admiral. He, in return, gave them a variety of useful articles, at
which they seemed greatly pleased, and signified that they would return
with further provisions.
Next day, therefore, at an early hour, the Admiral, with a number of
men, repaired to the beach, carrying articles for barter. He first put
two men ashore, with casks to obtain water at a place which had been
pointed out, but scarcely had they landed when they were treacherously
set upon and killed. Shortly afterwards, five hundred savages, armed
with bows and darts, springing up from behind the rocks where they had
been concealed, let fly a shower of arrows. The boat being driven in by
the force of the sea towards the beach, the crew had great difficulty in
pulling off. The Admiral received two wounds, one under his right eye,
and one on his head, nearly penetrating to the bone; the rest of the
party being also severely injured in different parts of their bodies.
Had they not succeeded in getting the boat off, the whole might have
been massacred. The arrows were long reeds, with heads of stone, and
their darts were of great length, with iron or bone tips.
Serious as were the wounds, none proved mortal, and although the chief
surgeon was dead, and the other had gone off in the _Elizabeth_, so that
they had only a lad, whose anxiety to do right was far greater than his
skill, they all in a short time recovered. Drake, though he might have
revenged himself on the ignorant savages for their unwarrantable attack,
convinced that they were influenced from their hatred of the Spaniards,
who had so cruelly ill-treated them, refrained from retaliating.
In the afternoon the _Golden Hind_ again set sail, Drake being anxious
to fall in with the missing ships as soon as possible, and to find some
convenient harbour where fresh provisions and needed repose for the
wounded men could be obtained.
On the 30th of November the Admiral put into a bay at about the
thirty-second degree of south latitude, and forthwith sent a boat to
discover what likelihood there was that the place would afford the
things they stood in need of. After a long search, neither fresh
provisions nor water could be found; but they saw on shore huge herds of
buffalo, though no signs of inhabitants. On their return they fell in
with an Indian canoe, which, with the person in it, they brought
alongside. He was a fine-looking man, dressed in a white shirt reaching
to his knees. His hair was long, but he had no beard; he appeared to be
of a mild and amiable disposition, and very grateful for the things the
Admiral gave him. He was a fair specimen of the gentle and harmless
people whom the Spaniards were treating so barbarously.
The native's confidence having been thoroughly won, he was sent away in
the _Hind's_ boat, accompanied by his own canoe, that he might be landed
wherever he chose. Being put on shore, he met several of his friends,
to whom he described the kind treatment he had received, and they,
accompanied by their chief or head man, in a short time came off to the
ship, bringing hens, eggs, a fat hog, and other provisions. The Indian
gave them to understand that they could not obtain a sufficient supply
of necessaries at that place, but offered to pilot them to a harbour a
short way to the southward, where they might procure all they required.
Instead, therefore, of landing and going in chase of the buffaloes, as
they had proposed doing, they set sail under their new pilot, and in a
short time came to an anchor in the harbour of Valparaiso, not far from
the town of Santiago.
None of the missing ships were here to be seen, nor could tidings be
obtained of them. They found, however, a large ship, which, as they
sailed in, welcomed them by beat of drum, supposing that they were
Spaniards. At once, therefore, pulling on board, they rudely undeceived
the crew by clapping them all down below, with the exception of one man.
He, managing to jump overboard, swam to shore and alarmed the
inhabitants, who speedily took refuge inland, carrying all they had time
to snatch up.
On examining their prize, the _Grand Captain_, they found that she was
laden with eighteen hundred jars of wine, upwards of twenty five
thousand pesos of gold, and a crucifix of gold set with emeralds. Going
on shore, they found a further quantity of wine, and supplied themselves
with bread and all other necessaries in great abundance of which they
stood in need. They also plundered a church of its ornaments and
relics, among which were two cruets, a silver chalice, and an
altar-cloth. All these, according to the curious notions which governed
the rovers, were bestowed, as his share of the booty, on Master Fletcher
the chaplain, who did not consider that he was in any way bound to
decline them.
Having carried off the pilot of the _Grand Captain_, who, being a Greek,
was called Juan Greigo, as well as the ship herself, they set sail, and,
piloted by the friendly native, steered northward, until they reached
the place where they had taken him on board. He was here, being loaded
with presents, set on shore, seeming very grateful for the way he had
been treated.
As the _Golden Hind_ sailed towards the Line, a sharp look-out was kept
for the missing vessels, while at the same time a search was made for a
convenient harbour into which they could run and refit the ship, as
likewise set up one of the pinnaces. The Admiral was anxious to do
this, as the boat was too small to carry sufficient men should they
encounter any Spaniards, and the ship was too large to put into small
harbours.
As soon as the pinnace was completed, he intended to sail to the
southward and examine every creek and small bay on the way, so that
should either of the missing vessels have run in for shelter, she might
be discovered.
With this object, on the 19th of December the _Golden Hind_ entered a
bay not far from the southward of Coquimbo, then called Cyppo, and
inhabited by Spaniards. Fourteen of the seamen having landed, they were
observed by the people of the town, who speedily, to the number of three
hundred--of whom a hundred were mounted Spaniards, the others naked
Indians, running like dogs at their heels, showing the miserable
condition to which they were reduced--came out to attack them.
They were descried in time by the English seamen, who, scrambling round
the rocks, gained their boats. One man, however, Richard Minjoy, vowing
that he would not be put to flight by a hundred despicable Spaniards,
remained on the rocks, daring them to come on; but he had not long thus
stood when an arrow pierced him, and the Indians being sent to drag him
up to the beach, he was there cruelly beheaded by the Spaniards, who cut
off his right hand and plucked out his heart, then setting up the body,
made the Indians shoot at it. All this was done in the sight of the
crew.
After this exhibition of their cruel vengeance the Spaniards retired,
leaving the body to be devoured by the beasts of the field and fowls of
the air; but the seamen, in spite of the risk they ran, went on shore
and buried it.
This not being the sort of place the English were in search of, nor the
treatment they desired, they speedily got under weigh, and came on the
following day to a convenient harbour some distance to the northward of
Cyppo. Here some time was spent in refitting the ship, and bringing her
into better sailing trim, as also in building the pinnace.
As soon as the latter was finished, the Admiral, with a party of picked
men, set sail to proceed to the southward; but a contrary wind springing
up, he was compelled to return. In this bay vast quantities of fish
resembling the gurnard were found, so that in two or three hours, with
only four or five hooks and lines, sometimes four hundred were taken.
Sailing on the 19th, two days afterwards they reached an island off a
high cape, where they found four Indians fishing from their canoes.
These men undertook to pilot them to a place where fresh water was to be
found.
The natives fulfilled their promise, but the amount of water was very
insufficient for the requirements of the ship. While constantly looking
out for fresh water, they discovered a Spaniard lying asleep, probably
drunk, with a bag containing four thousand Spanish ducats. Without
disturbing the poor man's slumbers, they relieved him of his charge,
which they carried off.
Again landing, they met another Spaniard with an Indian boy, driving
eight llamas, each laden with two leathern bags, and in each bag was
found fifty pounds weight of refined silver. Unable to endure the
thoughts of a Spanish gentleman turning carrier, they relieved him of
his charge, themselves becoming drivers, but directing the animals
towards their boats. The entire weight of the booty thus acquired was
eight hundred pounds.
Proceeding northwards, they saw several Indian towns, the people from
which came off in a curious kind of boat, bringing various sorts of
fish, wishing to exchange them for knives, beads, and looking-glasses.
Even the old men were as willing to accept such trifles as the young.
They, like the rest of their countrymen, appeared to be of a mild and
agreeable disposition.
The boats, if they could be so-called, were perfect novelties to the
voyagers. They consisted of two large inflated skins fixed side by
side, with a board on the top of them, on which the paddler sat,
carrying his merchandise. They are known as _balsas_.
The _Hind_ next came off the town of Normarena, governed by two
Spaniards. Drake, wishing to obtain further refreshments, sent on shore
to invite them to traffic. Rather from fear than love they consented,
and among other things sent off several llamas, which were in height and
length about the size of a small cow; but they must have been of great
strength, for three full-grown men and a boy were seen seated on the
back of one of them, their feet not reaching the ground. The sheep, as
they were called, had necks like camels, but their heads much resembled
those of ordinary sheep. Their wool was exceedingly fine. The
Spaniards employed them to carry loads of silver from the mines. The
voyagers heard that, throughout the province of Cuzco, so rich was the
soil that every hundred pounds of earth yielded twenty-five pounds of
pure silver. This, of course, was an absurdity; but so inflamed were
their minds with ideas respecting the wealth of the country, that they
were ready to believe anything told them.
From this place no harbour in which the missing vessels could have taken
refuge was found, until the _Golden Hind_ arrived off the town of Arica,
on the 7th of February. The country around it appeared rich and
fertile; the port was frequented by vessels from Lima and other parts of
Peru, and was inhabited by Spaniards.
Here two vessels were found at anchor, the crews of which were on shore,
and the voyagers visiting them discovered upwards of forty bars of
silver, each weighing about twenty pounds. These they carried off, and,
without communicating with the people on shore, proceeded on to Ylo.
From thence, on their way to Lima, they met another bark at Arequipa,
which had begun to load with gold and silver; but, hearing of their
proceedings, the crew had re-landed her cargo.
Shortly afterwards they met another vessel laden with linen, and,
thinking that it might be useful, they took her with them. As the
Admiral was now preparing for more active proceedings, collecting the
prizes, he hoisted their canvas, lashed their helms, and, the wind being
off shore, sent them sailing away across the Pacific. Great must have
been the astonishment of the natives of some distant islands, when these
tenantless barks arrived off their shores. So rapid had been the
progress of the _Golden Hind_, that on the 15th of February she entered
Callao, the port of Lima, before news of her being on the coast had
reached those who resided there.
They here found a fleet of thirty ships, among which the _Golden Hind_
brought up, no one suspecting her character. Had they not been anxious
about their missing vessels, they would have been tempted to take
possession of the unarmed merchantmen.
Before their character was discovered, they visited several of the
vessels in search of information, but they could hear nothing of their
friends. They were told, however, that on the 3rd of February a large
ship, called the _Cacafuego_, laden with a rich cargo of gold and
silver, had sailed for Panama, from which point all goods were carried
across the isthmus to the Atlantic shore, to be transmitted to Spain.
Having obtained all the information he required, Drake pulled round in a
boat to the different ships, on board one of which, belonging to a
certain Michael Angelo, one thousand five hundred bars of plate, besides
a chest of silver royals, and silk, linen, and other things, were found.
Of these the owners were quickly relieved. Several other ships were
visited, and whatever articles of value were found on hoard them taken,
though the whole did not amount to much. The crews being mostly on
shore, no resistance was offered.
While thus employed they saw a stranger entering the port, but she got
timely notice of how the English were engaged, and, nutting about, made
her escape to sea. Not knowing, however, the direction they intended to
sail, she stood northward, and only deferred for a time falling into the
hands of her enemies, for she was soon afterwards captured.
The two largest ships were carried out of the harbour, where their
mainmasts were cut away, while the cables of the smaller vessels were
chopped through, so that they might drift wherever the tide might carry
them.
These precautions were not unnecessary. Drake at once made chase after
the rich prize he had heard of, but there was still the risk of his
being overtaken. While yet in sight of the port, the _Golden Hind_ lay
becalmed, and from her deck two large vessels were seen standing off the
land to attack her. The boats were lowered, and the crews pulled with
might and main to keep ahead.
Nearer and nearer their enemies approached. The odds were fearfully
against them. The English well knew that the Spanish ships would be
crowded with men, who would, in overwhelming numbers, should they get
alongside, endeavour to crush them. But their hearts did not fail.
Cheering each other they rowed on, resolved if overtaken to fight to the
last. Drake, however, had no idea of risking an action, for even though
he might gain the victory, his ship and many of his people would be
injured, and he would probably be compelled to abandon his undertaking.
As the voyagers watched the approaching foe, to their great joy they saw
cats'-paws playing over the ocean; then their sails were filled by a
breeze, which increased to a fresh gale, and away they flew on their
desired course.
Still the Spanish ships followed, and the next morning appeared to be
gaining on the _Golden Hind_. By noon, however, they were seen to haul
their wind and turn back, the reason being that the Spaniards, in their
hurry to get on board, had forgotten to bring with them any provisions,
and, like other men, had no desire to fight on empty stomachs.