The _Cygnet_ and a bark sail from Cape Corrientes for the Ladrones--
Short allowance of food--The crew threaten to mutiny--Narrow escape from
shipwreck--Guam reached--Friendly intercourse with the Governor--
Provisions obtained--A friar kept as hostage--A Manilla ship appears and
escapes--Quit Guam and reach Mindanao, one of the Philippines--Visit
from Rajah Laut--The Viceroy--An officer visits the Sultan--Friendly
reception--Entertainments on shore--Rajah Laut's treachery--The crew
become discontented--Run off with the _Cygnet_ leaving Captain Swan and
portion of the crew on shore--Many die poisoned by the natives--The
_Cygnet_ lays in wait for the Manilla ship--Reed chosen as captain--Put
into a harbour--Refit the ship and cut down the quarter-deck--Nearly
wrecked--Anchor off Mindano--Go to Polo Condore--Refit the ship--Live on
friendly terms with the natives--Again sail--Some of a boat's crew
killed by Malays--Proceed to the west of China--Remarks on the natives--
Come off the Pescadores--Obtain provisions from the natives--The Bashee
Islands visited--Leave Luconia--Dampier desires to return for Captain
Swan--Hears of his death--Waterspouts--Anchor off Callasunguny--Visits
exchanged with the Sultan--Sail for the coast of New Holland--
Intercourse with the natives--Sail for the Nicobar Islands--A canoe with
natives captured--Dampier set on shore--Brought off again--Again set on
shore with several companions--They obtain a canoe, and set sail for
Achin--Perilous voyage--Reach Achin--Sufferings of the voyagers--Dampier
makes several voyages, and becomes gunner at Boncoulin--Plan of trading
to Meangis--The Painted Prince--He escapes privately to Boncoulin on
board the _Defence_--Reaches England after twelve years absence--Death
of the Painted Prince-Dampier publishes his adventures.
On the 31st of March, 1686, the _Cygnet_, with a hundred men on board,
commanded by Captain Swan, and a bark, commanded by Captain Tait, with
whom went fifty men besides slaves, made sail from Cape Corrientes with
a fresh breeze of north-north-east. The only provisions they had been
able to obtain were some Jew-fish, caught by the Mosquito men, and
salted, and a store of maize. They now steered due west for the
Ladrones. As they might possibly be fifty or sixty days before making
Guam, the crews were at once put on short allowance, having only one
meal a day. In three days they had consumed their salted Jew-fish, and
had now nothing but the maize on which to subsist. However, they made
good runs every day before the fresh trade winds, and in about twenty
days the crews, expecting to get soon in, insisted on having a larger
allowance.
With some reluctance the captain allowed them ten spoonfuls of maize a
day each man, instead of eight. Dampier declares that he benefited by
this meagre fare, and drank about three times every twenty-four hours,
but some men drank only once in nine or ten days, and one did not
swallow any liquid for seventeen days, and asserted that he did not feel
at all thirsty. They ran on for nearly five thousand miles without
seeing a flying-fish or fowl of any sort, but then they fell in with a
number of boobies, which they supposed came from some rocks not far off.
As they approached Guam some rain fell, a sign that they were in the
neighbourhood of land. Many of the crew were in a state of mutiny, and
had formed a plot to kill Captain Swan and eat him should their
provisions fail, and they had now only meal sufficient for three days
more.
He was a stout, lusty man, and when the danger was past he remarked,
laughing, "Ah, Dampier, you would have made them but a poor meal!" for
the latter was as lean as the captain was fat.
The bark being ahead, passed over a shoal with only four fathoms of
water on it, on which Captain Tait hauled his wind and waited for the
_Cygnet_. He then came on board and described what he had seen. At
first they were very doubtful where they had got to, as no shoal was
marked on the Spanish charts; but by keeping northward, at four o'clock
that evening, the 20th of May, the island of Guam was sighted. On the
following day the two vessels came to an anchor on the western side of
Guam, about a mile from shore, after a run of seven thousand three
hundred and two miles. The Spaniards had here a port and a garrison of
thirty men. Having been unable to distinguish the vessels as they
approached after dark, supposing that they belonged to their own nation,
a priest came off with two boats, and was greatly surprised to find that
they were English. He was, however, well treated, although detained as
a hostage. He agreed to obtain the necessary provisions, and to arrange
for a fair exchange of commodities. He accordingly wrote to the
Governor of the fort, who willingly agreed to the proposed terms. Next
day the natives brought off rice, pineapples, melons, oranges, limes,
cocoa-nuts, and a sort of fruit called by the English bread-fruit, which
proved of the greatest value to the half-starved seamen. The fruit was
baked on shore, and brought off hot ready to be eaten. Besides the
garrison there were only two or three Spanish priests on the island; the
rest of the inhabitants consisting of about one hundred natives. It had
but shortly before been thickly populated, but the natives, attempting
to capture the fort and turn out their tyrants, were, with the help of
Captain Eaton, who put in there at this juncture, either killed or
compelled to fly the island.
Besides the fruit, the Governor sent every day one or two canoes laden
with hogs and various delicacies. While the vessels lay here, a Manilla
ship appeared in the offing, and, unseen by the English, the Governor
made her a signal that the buccaneers were there, and she stood away
from the shore. Running to the southward, however, she got on the shoal
from which Captain Tait had so narrowly escaped, and was very nearly
lost. The pirate crews, hearing of this, were eager to go and capture
her. Captain Swan, however, being sick or ashamed of robbing, and
perhaps suspecting that she would prove a tough customer, persuaded them
to abandon their design.
On the 30th of May the Governor sent off a last present, including six
or seven bags of rice; he also hinted that the west monsoon was at hand,
and that therefore it behoved his visitors to be jogging, unless they
desired to return to America. The same day the friar who had remained
as a hostage was sent on shore with various presents, including a brass
clock, an astrolabe, and a telescope. Grateful for these, he made a
return present of six hogs and a roasting pig, three or four bushels of
potatoes, and fifty pounds of Manilla tobacco.
Besides minor articles they had as many cocoa-nuts as could be stowed, a
good stock of rice, and fifty hogs in salt. This store, they hoped, was
amply sufficient to carry them on to Mindanao, one of the Philippine
Islands, where they had resolved to go.
The two largest of these islands are Luconia and Mindanao, on the former
of which Magalhaens was killed in his mad attempt to conquer the
natives. The whole of the group was then subject to the Spaniards, with
the exception of the islands of Mindanao and Saint John's.
The passage to Mindanao occupied nineteen days, during which the
_Cygnet_ and her consort met with a heavy gale which compelled them to
remain at anchor. On approaching they hoisted their colours and fired a
salute of seven guns, which was returned from the shore by three. The
town stood on the banks of the river about two miles from the sea. The
houses were built upon piles from fourteen to twenty feet in height, and
as this was the rainy season, were completely surrounded by water, so
that they appeared as if standing in a lake, many of the inhabitants
going from house to house in their canoes. The island was at this time
governed by rival Rajahs, the Rajah of Mindanao being the chief.
Captain Swan's object was to gain his friendship, especially as he was
supposed to be hostile to the Spaniards. As soon as the _Cygnet_ and
her consort dropped their anchors, a canoe, paddled by ten paddlers,
came off, carrying a man of consequence, who introduced himself as Rajah
Laut, the brother and prime minister of the Sultan. He was attended by
one of his nephews, who spoke Spanish fluently, and a conversation was
thus carried on through Mr Smith, who had been made prisoner at Rio
Lexa.
When he understood that the strangers were English, he welcomed them
cordially, but evidently seemed disappointed on being told by Captain
Swan that he had come merely to obtain provisions, and not to establish
a factory.
The Rajah had been informed by a Captain Goodlad, who had touched there
some time before, that he would induce the East India merchants to form
one on the island to carry on a trade with him.
Rajah Laut and his nephew remained all the time in their canoe, saying
that they had no authority from the Sultan to go on board the ship.
Captain Swan, believing that he should have to remain some time at the
island, was anxious to consult the Sultan, and accordingly sent a Mr
More on shore with a present of scarlet cloth, three yards of broad gold
lace, a Turkish scimitar, and a pair of pistols. Mr More was well
received, and many questions were asked him through an interpreter in
Spanish.
On being dismissed he found a supper prepared for him and his boat's
crew at Rajah Laut's house, after partaking of which he returned on
board. The inhabitants behaved to their visitors in the most friendly
way, insisting on their coming into their houses to be treated, although
their treats were but mean, consisting of tobacco and betel-nut and a
little sweet spiced water.
Rajah Laut, seeing so many of the men in fine clothes, asked who they
were, when he was told, as a joke, that they were noblemen, who had come
aboard to see the world, but that the rest, who had shabby garments,
were only common seamen.
After this he showed much respect to those who had good clothes, and
especially to one John Thacker, who, having husbanded his share of the
spoil, had plenty of gold in his pocket, which he liberally spent,
besides which he was a good dancer.
Captain Swan discovering this, undeceived the Rajah, and gave a drubbing
to the unfortunate nobleman, against whom he was so much incensed that
he could never afterwards bear to see him.
At this time Captain Swan had his men in such perfect subjection, that
he could punish whom he chose, and he might, had he wished, have induced
them to form a settlement on the island. During the Ramadan no
amusement of any sort took place on shore; but as soon as the feast was
over, Rajah Laut entertained Captain Swan and his officers with
performances of dancing women, such as are common over India. The
females of the place were especially addicted to dancing. Forty or
fifty would form a ring, joined hand in hand, and sing a chorus while
keeping time; though they never moved from the same spot, they would
make various gestures, now throwing forward one leg, now another, while
they shouted loudly and clapped their hands while the chorus was sung.
Much of the night was spent in this way. Many of the seamen who had
money lived on shore among the inhabitants, spending it in the too usual
profligate manner. Christmas Day was spent on board, and it was
expected that Captain Swan would then announce his intentions for the
future; but he kept them to himself, and no one could tell what he
intended to do.
He now received a secret visit from the nephew of a Sultan of one of the
Spice Islands, who came to invite him to form a settlement on shore,
provided he would defend the island from the Dutch. He, however, had
not the resolution to engage in the undertaking.
So satisfied was Captain Swan of the good intentions of the natives,
that he carried his vessel over the bar into the river. She had not
been there long when it was discovered that her bottom was perforated by
the teredo, and it appeared a short time before that a Dutch vessel had
been entirely destroyed by them in less than two months.
Rajah Laut, who had become heir to her great guns, no doubt hoped to
obtain those of the _Cygnet_, as well as her stores and cargo, in the
same manner.
The evil having been discovered in time, the crew set to work to rip off
the worm-eaten planks, and put on new, and to sheathe and tallow the
ship's bottom. They also took on board her cargo, consisting of iron
and lead, as also rice for the voyage, and filled the water-casks.
Rajah Laut had long promised to supply her with beef, and he invited
Dampier and a party of others to accompany him on a hunting expedition;
but only a few cows were seen, and none were shot. It now became
evident that he was playing false with the voyagers, and that his great
object was to detain them until their ship was destroyed. Suspecting
this, they got her over the bar. On a second expedition, when Rajah
Laut carried his wives and family with him, Dampier had an opportunity
of seeing much of the manners and customs of the people.
As soon as the Rajah was out of the house the ladies came to the
quarters of the English, and talked freely with them. They were much
surprised on hearing that the King of England had only one wife. Some
approved of the custom, but others considered it a very bad one.
Though the party were several days out in the country, the cows were so
wild that only three heifers were killed. With these Dampier and his
men returned on board.
Rajah Laut now showed his true character. He first borrowed twenty
ounces of gold from Captain Swan, who very unwillingly lent them to him,
and could not afterwards get them back. He also demanded payment for
the food the captain and his men had eaten at his house.
These matters greatly annoyed the captain, who was a man of bad temper.
His own ship's company were every day pressing him to be gone. Some of
them ran away, assisted by Rajah Laut; the whole crew, indeed, became
disaffected. Those who had no money lived on board and wished to be
off, while those who had still some cash remaining were content to stay.
The former stole some of the cargo, which they sent on shore to
purchase arrack and honey to make punch, with which they became drunk
and quarrelsome.
Captain Swan might at once have put a stop to these disorders, had he
exerted his authority; but, as he and the supercargo were always living
on shore, nothing was done. The mutiny was brought to a head by the
discovery of the captain's journal, in which he inveighed against the
crew, and especially a man named Reed.
Captain Tait, who had before behaved ill and been punished by Captain
Swan, took advantage of this state of discontent to advise the men to
turn him out, hoping to be chosen in his stead to command the ship.
They would have sailed at once, had not the surgeon and his mate been on
shore. To get them off, the mutineers dispatched John Cookworthy, a
follower of their party, who was directed to say that one of the men had
broken his leg, and required their assistance. The surgeon replied that
he intended to return next day, but sent his mate, Herman Coppinger.
Dampier, who had been on shore, accompanied Coppinger off to the ship,
and then discovered the trick that had been played, and the treacherous
projects of the crew. He immediately on this sent to the captain, who,
however, not believing that his men would run away, remained on shore.
The next day he did not appear, and on the morning of the 13th the
mutineers, firing a gun, weighed anchor, and were standing out to sea,
when Mr Nelly, the chief mate, pulled after them and got on board. He
advised them again to anchor, which they did; but Captain Swan, either
from cowardice or reluctance to leave the island, still refused to
return on board.
The mutineers would allow no one to visit on shore, so Dampier and
Coppinger were kept prisoners. Losing patience, they once more weighed
and steered for Mindanao, leaving the captain and thirty-six men on
shore, besides those who had run off. Sixteen had been buried there,
most of whom had died from the effects of poison administered to them by
the natives. Several others succumbed from the same cause, after they
had been some weeks at sea, the surgeon being unable to counteract the
effects of the noxious drugs they had swallowed.
The _Cygnet_ left Mindanao on the 14th of January, 1687, directing her
course to Manilla, in the neighbourhood of which place it was intended
to cruise, in the hopes of capturing the galleon. On the 3rd of
February they came to an anchor off an island well suited for beaching
the ship.
Before this Reed had been chosen as captain, Tait as master, and More as
quartermaster. The quarter-deck was here cut down, to make the ship the
better for sailing, and her bottom was scrubbed and tallowed.
In the island were seen vast numbers of large bats, their bodies as big
as ducks, with wings from seven to eight feet from tip to top. The
ground in many places was covered with vines, which ran over it until
they met a tree, when they climbed up it to its topmost branches. They
were of the thickness of walking-canes, the joints being between a
couple and three feet apart.
Again sailing, on the 10th of February they coasted along the shore, but
had not long been out of port when the ship struck on a rock.
Fortunately, the water was smooth and the tide at flood; but, as it was,
they lost a large piece of their rudder, and the ship narrowly escaped
being wrecked.
By the fires they saw burning on the shore, they supposed the country
was thickly inhabited by Spaniards. On the 18th the ship brought up off
the island of Mindano. While she lay there, a canoe with four Indians
came from Manilla. At first they were shy, but, hearing the pirates
speak Spanish, they came alongside, and informed them that the harbour
of Manilla was seldom or never without twenty or thirty sail of vessels,
a few Spaniards and Portuguese, but mostly Chinese.
The pirates told them that they had come to trade with the Spaniards,
and requested them to carry a letter to the merchants there. This was
only a pretence, as their business was only to pillage. A fair
opportunity to trade would have been afforded them, had they really
desired it.
Shortly after sailing, they saw a vessel coming from the northward, and,
making chase, captured her. She was a Spanish bark, bound to Manilla,
but as she had no goods on board they let her go. Two days afterwards
they took another vessel laden with rice and cotton cloth, also bound
for Manilla. The goods were for the Acapulco ship which had escaped
them at Guam, and was now at Manilla.
They now resolved to go to Pulo Condore, which, being out of the way,
they hoped there to remain concealed, and to clean their ship, until the
latter end of May, when they intended to look out for the Acapulco ship,
which was expected to come by about that time. They anchored off Pulo
Condore on the 14th, and found it to be the largest and only inhabited
one of a group of islands. The people were from Cochin, and, as several
of the seamen could speak Malay, it was easy to carry on a conversation
with them.
The pirates lived here in the most intimate way with the natives, whose
chief employment was making tar from the sap of trees. Others employed
themselves in catching turtle and boiling the fat into oil, which, with
the tar, they sent to their native country.
The island abounded in birds, such as parrots, doves, pigeons, and wild
cocks and hens. The country people supplied them with hogs and turtle,
and other provisions.
A convenient spot being found, the ship was careened and the men
employed in felling trees, sawing them into planks, and making a house
to store their goods. A new suit of sails was also made from the cloth
taken out of the Manilla ship. Here two of the men died who had been
poisoned. At their request their livers were taken out by the doctor,
and found to be black, light, and dry, like pieces of cork. Having
spent a month at this place, they sailed on the 21st of April, and after
touching at a number of places, on their way they overtook a Chinese
junk, which came from Sumatra, fully laden with pepper. From her crew
the pirates learned that the English were settled on the island, at a
place called Sillabar.
On anchoring they saw a small bark at anchor near the shore. Captain
Reed ordered a boat's crew to go and ascertain what she was, charging
the men on no account to venture on board. Neglecting his advice, they
pulled alongside, and several of them, leaping up, were stabbed by the
Malays who manned her, supposing that they had come with hostile intent.
The rest quickly leapt overboard, some into the boat, and others into
the sea. Among them was Daniel Wallis, who had never swum before, but
who now swam lustily until he was taken on board. Captain Reed
immediately shoved off in another boat to punish the Malays, but they
seeing him coming, they scuttled their vessel and made for the shore,
where they hid themselves. Here Dampier and Coppinger resolved to leave
the pirates, it having been against their will that Captain Swan had
been deserted, and they having become ashamed of the proceedings of
their companions. Coppinger managed to land, but Captain Reed sent
after him and brought him back, and they had to put off their design
until a more favourable opportunity.
Finding the sea where they intended to cruise for the Manilla ship
dangerous on account of numberless reefs, on which many Spanish vessels,
with their cargoes, had been lost, the pirates abandoned their design
and sailed for the island of Saint John, lying on the south coast of the
province of Canton, in China. The inhabitants were Chinese. There were
here plenty of hogs, goats, buffaloes, and bullocks to be seen. Dampier
describes the way the feet of the women were bound up so that they lose
the use of them, and instead of walking they only stumble about their
houses, and then squat down again. They seldom stir abroad, and one
would be apt to think their retaining this fashion were a stratagem of
the men to confine them at home, to keep them from gadding and gossiping
with their friends. The poorer sort trudge about the streets without
shoes or stockings, and these cannot afford to have little feet, having
to get their living with them. There being signs of a coming storm, in
order to have sea-room the ship made sail away from the land.
The hurricane burst on them as they expected. Their safety depended on
their being able to scud under bare poles, which they did during the
whole night; and Dampier and his shipmates averred that they had never
been in so violent a storm before.
Fearing that another tempest might come on, they resolved to run for the
Pescadores, lying between the island of Formosa and the coast of China.
Making the group on the 20th of July, they found themselves before a
large town, with a number of junks going in and out of the harbour.
Though they would have preferred anchoring in some uninhabited spot,
they had no remedy but to run boldly in. The quartermaster was at once
sent on shore to go to the Governor and inform him that they were bound
for Amoy, and as they had suffered some damage by the late storm, they
wished to remain there until finer weather.
The Governor received the quartermaster civilly, and told him that they
could refit the ship better at Amoy or Macao, and dismissed him with a
present of flour, cakes, and pineapples. Officers afterwards came on
board, but did not appear to suspect the character of their visitors.
In a short time the ship was surrounded by native boats, each having
three or four men, who soon crowded the decks, and began to steal all
the iron on which they could lay hands. One of them being found
carrying off a linchpin, a seaman took hold of the fellow, who
immediately bawled out, when the rest leapt overboard. The thief,
however, not being ill-treated, and receiving a piece of iron, swam to
his friends, who had hovered about the ship to see the issue. After
this the people were honest and civil, and brought off goats and roots,
which were purchased for iron.
Sailing thence, the _Cygnet_ touched at one of the Bashee Islands, and
soon afterwards encountered another storm, which so disheartened the
pirate crew that they wished themselves at home again. But Captain Reed
and Captain Tait persuaded them to go towards Cape Comorin, intending to
cruise in the Red Sea, where they expected to pick up some rich prizes.
Fearing to go through the Straits of Malacca, they agreed to sail round
the eastern side of the Philippine Islands, and keep south towards the
Spice Islands, so as to pass into the East Indian Ocean, about the
island of Timor.
Leaving the island of Luconia with all their golden prospects
disappointed, they steered for Mindanao. Here they received a visit
from the young prince, who had been sent by his uncle. He informed them
he had lately seen Captain Swan, who with his men had been assisting
Rajah Laut in fighting against the hill tribes, and were held in high
estimation.
Here Dampier endeavoured to persuade some of the crew to return for
Captain Swan to Mindanao, but his plan being betrayed to Captain Reed
and Captain Tait, they made haste to be gone. Dampier afterwards heard
that some of the people had got away to Batavia, and from thence to
Europe; that some had died; and that Captain Swan and his surgeon, in
attempting to get on board a Dutch ship, had been upset by the natives
and drowned.
Dampier being here unable to make his escape, was carried on to the
island of Celebes. As they were coasting along during the night, the
sound of numerous oars was heard, and, supposing they were about to be
attacked, they got up their arms and stood ready to defend themselves.
As soon as it was day they saw a large proa, with about sixty men in
her, and six smaller proas. These lay to about a mile to windward to
view the stranger, probably intending to make a prey of her.
At last the _Cygnet_ hoisted Dutch colours, hoping to allure them
nearer, but they pulled away, and were soon out of sight. Standing into
this bay, they came to an anchor near a spot where a vast number of
trees grew, and one especially of great size. This Captain Reed ordered
to be cut down to form into a canoe, as all their boats had been lost
during the storm. Dampier and many others, who had been logwood-cutters
in the Bay of Campeachy and Honduras, were expert at this work. They
took their turns, cutting together, but were one whole day and a half
before they got it down. This tree was eighteen feet in circumference,
and forty-four clear trunk, without knot or branch. Great was their
disappointment on examining it to find that it was rotten at heart, and
would not serve their purpose.
Soon after sailing, while becalmed, two or three waterspouts were seen,
which seemed terrible, as it was impossible to get out of their way.
The waterspout Dampier describes as the small ragged part of a cloud,
hanging down from the blackest part. It generally slopes, appearing as
if it had a small elbow in the middle. It is smaller at the lower end,
not bigger than one's arm, and no bigger towards the cloud whence it
proceeds. Though he had seen many, he observed that the fright is
always the greatest of the harm it does.
During a calm, which came on while the ship was off Bouton, the Mosquito
men were employed in striking turtle with their harpoons. They returned
on board with a native, who spoke the Malay language, and told them that
farther on was a good anchoring-place in the neighbourhood of a large
town called Calla-sus-ung. Here they brought up on the 15th of
December. Soon after the Sultan sent a messenger to inquire their
business, and, being satisfied with their report, promised to come on
board. Meantime a number of boats brought off provisions. The ship was
made ready to receive the Sultan, who soon came off in a handsome proa,
with a large white silk flag at the head of the mast, edged round with
red. In the middle was a green griffin trampling on a winged serpent,
which threatened its adversary with open mouth. At the head of the proa
sat the Sultan, with three of his sons and several of his nobles, while
ten ministers as guards were standing on each side of him. Other guards
were arranged about the vessel.
The Sultan was handsomely dressed in a silken turban, a sky-coloured
silk pair of breeches, and a piece of red silk thrown across his
shoulders, the greater part of his back and waist appearing naked. He
had neither stockings nor shoes. As he was conducted by the captain
into his cabin, five guns were fired in his honour. After remaining on
board a couple of hours he returned on shore.
The next day the captain, by the Sultan's invitation, returned the
visit, accompanied by eight men, and Dampier went with them. The Sultan
received them in a neat house, near which forty naked soldiers with
muskets were drawn up. They were entertained with tobacco and betel-nut
and young cocoa-nuts.
While they were seated on their mats, the women and children thronged
near the windows to look at them. The next day the Sultan again came on
board, bringing a little slave boy as a present. The captain said he
was too young to be at sea, and the Sultan exchanged him for a bigger
boy. The men purchased a number of parrots and cockatoos, as white as
milk, with bunches of feathers on their heads. The captain also
purchased a canoe, which the carpenters altered by sawing off one end
and making it flat, when she rowed and sailed admirably.
From this place the _Cygnet_ steered across for New Holland, as the crew
wished to ascertain what that country would afford them. On the 4th of
January, 1688, they fell in with the land of New Holland, and then
coasted along some distance.
At that time it was not known whether it was an island or a continent,
but Dampier affirms that it joins neither to Asia, Africa, nor America.
The land was low and sandy, and destitute of water.
Dampier describes the inhabitants as the "miserablest people in the
world. The Hodmadods of Monomatapa (that is, the Hottentots of the
Cape), though nasty people, yet, for wealth, are gentlemen to these,
and, setting aside their human shape, they differ little from the
brutes."
After some trouble, the English induced some of these natives to
approach them, and gave them some old clothes, intending to make them
carry their casks of water to the boat; but all the signs they could
make would not induce the natives to touch the barrels; instead, they
stood, like statues, without motion, grinning as so many monkeys would
have done, and staring one upon another!
The seamen were therefore compelled to carry the water themselves, but
the natives very formally put the clothes off again, and laid them down,
as if they were only to work in. They did not appear, indeed, to have
any great fancy for them at first, neither did they look surprised at
anything they saw. On another occasion, when the boat approached the
shore, a number of them appeared, threatening the strangers with their
clubs and lances. At last the captain ordered a drum to be beaten. No
sooner did they hear the noise than they ran away as fast as they could,
crying out, "Gurry, gurry!"
At spring-tide the ship was hauled into a sandy bay, and all the
neap-tides she lay wholly aground, so that there was ample time to clean
her bottom. Dampier again attempted to persuade the men to take the
ship to some English factory and deliver her up; but he was threatened,
should he say anything more on the subject, to be left behind. He
accordingly desisted, hoping to find some better opportunity for making
his escape.
From the coast of New Holland the _Cygnet_ stood for the island of
Cocoas. Here fresh water was obtained, and one of the canoes brought on
board as many boobies and man-of-war birds as was sufficient for all the
ship's company. They caught also a land animal resembling a large
crawfish without its great claws. Their flesh was very good, and they
were so large that no man could eat two of them at a meal.
Again, at the little island of Triste, Dampier attempted to make his
escape, but abandoned his intention for the present, finding it
impossible to run off with the boat. Sailing on the 29th, they chased
and captured a proa, with four men, belonging to Achin. She was laden
with cocoa-nuts and cocoa-nut oil. The ship was filled up with as many
of these commodities as could be stowed away, when a hole was made in
the bottom of the proa, and she was sunk, while her crew were detained
on board.
Captain Reed did this under the belief that Dampier and others who
wanted to make their escape would be afraid to go on shore, lest the
natives should kill them.
Passing the north-west end of Sumatra, the pirates steered for the
Nicobar Islands, to the south of the Andamans. Here the ship was again
careened, in order that she might be thoroughly cleaned, and thus sail
faster.
The natives were a well-looking people, of a dark colour, the men being
almost naked, but the women wore a short petticoat. After the ship was
again floated, Dampier, finding that he could not get off by stealth,
insisted on being landed. At last the captain agreed, and, getting up
his chest and bedding, he induced some of his shipmates to row him on
shore. One of them gave him an axe, which he had secreted.
Near the shore where he landed were two houses deserted by the
inhabitants. The natives, who had been concealed, observing the boat
pulling away, came out and made signs to the crew to take off their
companion. When they saw that this did not succeed, the principal man
came up to Dampier and offered to take him off in his own canoe. On
this being declined, he invited him into his house with his chest and
clothes.
He had not, however, been on shore an hour, when Captain Tait, with
several armed men, came to take him back. He assured them that he had
no intention to resist by force and accordingly accompanied them. On
arriving on board the ship, he found her in an uproar, and three other
persons demanded to be set on shore. These were Mr Coppinger, the
surgeon, Mr Hall, and a man named Ambrose. Captain Reed offered no
opposition to the departure of the two last, but would not part with the
unfortunate surgeon. At last, Mr Coppinger, leaping into the canoe,
swore that go he would, and that he would shoot any man who tried to
prevent him. On this, Oliver, the quartermaster, following him into the
canoe, took away his gun, and he was dragged back into the ship.
Dampier, Mr Hall, Ambrose, and a Portuguese were then set on shore.
Soon afterwards, the four Malays belonging to Achin were also landed.
The party now felt strong enough to defend themselves against the
natives. Dampier's intention was to get into their good graces, and to
obtain whatever he wanted by fair means. He would have preferred, for
some reasons, having been left by himself, for he felt sure he should
succeed in winning over the islanders.
The natives, on seeing so many visitors, kept at a distance, but did not
attempt to molest them. Next morning, the owner of the house came to
see them, and from him they obtained a canoe in exchange for an axe.
They at once, being anxious to be off, embarked in her, but had got a
short distance only from the shore, when she was overturned. They
succeeded, however, in towing their chests and other property to the
beach, and immediately lighted some fires to dry the contents, some
books and sketches of maps having alone suffered. The Achinese in the
meantime fitted their canoe with outriggers on each side, and made a
mast and a substantial sail with mats. As soon as all was ready, they
put off again in their frail bark, the islanders accompanying them in
their canoes. Mr Hall, to frighten them away, fired a gun over their
heads. On hearing it, they jumped overboard, and that fatal shot made
all the natives their enemies.
They had great difficulty in procuring cocoa-nuts, and on going to the
farther end of the island, they found a large number of people, who made
signs for them to be off. On this Dampier presented his gun at them.
On seeing it, they all fell flat down on their faces, but he turned
round and fired it towards the sea, to show the savages that no harm was
intended them.
As soon as he had reloaded, they pulled gently in. Again the savages
made signs of their hatred, on which Dampier again fired off his gun,
when the greater number sneaked away, leaving only five or six men on
the beach. On this, Mr Hall landed, the only weapon he carried being
his sword. The natives did not stir, so he took one of them by the
hand, and making signs of friendship, a peace was concluded.
This evidently gave the greatest satisfaction to all the inhabitants,
who now brought down melory, a sort of cake, made from a fruit
resembling the bread-fruit. This they exchanged for old rags and strips
of cloth.
Going to the south of the island, Dampier and his party provided
themselves with more melory and a dozen large cocoa-nuts filled with
water, containing in all about three gallons and a half. They also
obtained three bamboos, which held three gallons more. This served for
their sea store. Their intention was to go to Achin, on the north-west
end of the island of Sumatra, from which they were about forty leagues
distant. It bore south-south-east.
On the 15th of May, 1688, the _Nicobar_ canoe commenced her perilous
voyage with her company of eight persons, viz., three Englishmen, four
Malays, and the Portuguese. She was about the burden of a London wherry
below bridge, built sharp at both ends. She was deeper than a wherry,
but not so broad, and so thin and light that when empty four men could
launch her or haul her ashore on a sandy bay. She had a substantial
mast and a mat sail, and good outriggers lashed very fast and firm on
each side. Without them she would easily have been upset, and even with
them, had not they been made very strong.
The Achinese placed such confidence in the Englishmen, that they would
do nothing which Dampier and Mr Hall did not approve of. Dampier had
made a sketch in his pocket-book from the chart on board the ship, and
as he had also brought off a small compass, he was thus able to steer a
right course. All night long they rowed on, relieving each other, while
Dampier and Mr Hall steered by turns. After rowing twenty leagues, as
soon as the morning of the 17th broke, they looked out for the island of
Sumatra. It was nowhere to be seen; and glancing back, to their
disappointment they observed the Nicobar Islands not more than eight
leagues distant, showing that they had been pulling against a strong
current. The wind again freshening on the 18th, they made better way.
Dampier observed, however, a large circle round the sun, which caused
him much anxiety, as it was the indication of a coming gale; yet he made
no remark, lest he should discourage his companions. He observed, too,
that should the wind, which was already strong, become more violent,
they must steer away before it, and probably be driven sixty or seventy
leagues to the coast of Queda, on the Malayan peninsula.
The wind came as expected. At first, by decreasing the sail, they
attempted to keep to the wind, but the outriggers bent so fearfully that
there was a fear of their breaking, in which case the canoe must have
been overturned, and all on board have perished. They were, therefore,
compelled, about one o'clock in the afternoon, to put right before the
wind and sea. The wind continued increasing; the sea still swelled
higher, and often broke, but striking the back of the helmsman, it was
prevented from coming on board in sufficient quantities to endanger the
vessel, but they were compelled to keep baling continually.
The evening of the 18th was very dismal: the sky looked black, being
covered with dark clouds; the wind blew hard, and the seas ran high,
roaring loudly, and covered with white foam. A dark night was coming
on, no land in sight to cheer them, and the little bark in danger of
being swallowed up by every wave; and what was worse than all, was, as
Dampier confesses, none of them thought themselves prepared for another
world. "I had been in many imminent dangers before now, but the worst
of them all was but a plaything in comparison with this. Other dangers
came not upon me with such a leisurely and dreadful solemnity. The
sudden skirmish or engagement, also, was nothing when once blood was up,
and pushed forward with eager expectations. But here I had a lingering
view of approaching death, and little or no hopes of escaping it. My
courage, which I had hitherto kept up, failed me. I made many sad
reflections on my former life, and looked back with horror and
detestation to actions which before I disliked, but now I trembled at
the remembrance of. I had long before this repented me of that roving
course of life, but never with such concern as now. I did also call to
mind the many miraculous acts of God's providence towards me in the
whole course of my life. For all these I returned thanks, and once more
desired God's assistance, and composed my mind as well as I could in the
hopes of it."
These hopes were not disappointed. He and Mr Hall taking it in turns
to steer, while the rest hove out the water, they prepared, as Dampier
writes, "to spend the most doleful night I ever was in. About ten
o'clock it began to thunder, lighten, and rain; but the rain was very
welcome to us, having drank up all the water we brought from the
island."
At first the wind blew harder than ever. In half an hour it moderated,
and by a lighted match they looked at their compass to see how they
steered, and found their course to be still east, and thus they steered
for several hours. For a short time they were able to haul up, but
again had to put before the wind. During this period they were soaked
through and through by the rain, which chilled them extremely. At eight
o'clock on the morning of the 19th one of the Malays exclaimed that he
saw land, and that it was Pulo Way, at the north-west end of Sumatra.
Trimming the smallest amount of sail they could venture to hoist, they
steered with it, their outriggers doing them good service, for the wind
pressed down the boat's side, and would have overturned her had it not
been for them. As they approached the land, they saw that it was not
Pulo Way they had at first observed, but the Golden Mountain in Sumatra,
so-called by the English.
At ten o'clock it fell perfectly calm, and they took to their oars. In
the morning they saw land about eight leagues off. With a fresh breeze,
they steered for the river Jonca, about thirty-four leagues to the
eastward of Achin. Entering it, the Malays, who were well acquainted
with the people, carried them to a small fishing village, where they
found accommodation in a hut.
The scorching heat of the sun at first starting, and subsequent cold and
rain, threw the whole party into fevers. They were kindly treated by
the inhabitants, who brought them abundance of provisions, and they were
conveyed in a large proa to Achin. Here Dampier was placed under the
charge of Mr Driscoll, a resident in the East Indian Company's factory.
A few days afterwards the Portuguese, and subsequently Ambrose, died of
the fever, and Mr Hall was so ill that it appeared unlikely he would
recover, though Dampier, under the pretty severe treatment of a native
doctor began to regain his strength. The effects of the fever hung
about him until nearly a year afterwards.
He here made the acquaintance of Captain Bowery, who invited him to make
a trip to the Nicobar Islands, but contrary winds compelled the ship to
return.
Notwithstanding Captain Bowery's kind offers, Dampier accepted an
invitation from a Captain Welden to sail to Tonquin. This voyage was
performed, as well as another to Malacca. On his return from the last
voyage, a little before Christmas, 1689, he met a Mr Morgan, one of the
crew of the _Cygnet_. He had become mate of a Danish ship. From this
man he learned the fate of many of his former companions. Some had
taken service with the Great Mogul; others had joined the garrison at
Fort George, having received a pardon for their piratical proceedings.
The remainder of the crew, after committing various piracies, had
entered into the service of one of the princes of Madagascar, in a
harbour of which island their ship had sunk.
After making other trips, Dampier went to Fort Saint George, and from
thence proceeded to Bencoulin, an English factory on the west coast,
where he acted as gunner for five months. He had been persuaded to
leave Madras by a Mr Moody, supercargo of a ship called the _Mindanao
Merchant_, who had promised to buy a vessel and send him in command of
her, to trade with the natives of the small island of Meangis. Mr
Moody had in his possession a son of the King of the island, dubbed
Prince Jeoly, who, with his mother, had been captured by the Malays,
from whom Mr Moody had purchased them. Dampier's idea was that by
treating them kindly he might be able to open up a commerce with the
people, and establish a factory there. The prince was tattooed all down
his breast and between his shoulders, as also on his thighs, while
several broad rings or bracelets were marked round his arms and legs.
The drawings did not represent figures or animals, but were full of
lines, flourishes, chequered work, very skilfully and gracefully marked.
The poor young savage was thus known as the Painted Prince.
Mr Moody, being uncertain about fulfilling his engagement, as a
recompense to Dampier, gave him a half share in the Painted Prince and
his mother. Dampier took the utmost care of them; but, notwithstanding
this, the unfortunate mother soon died, to the great grief of her son,
who wrapped her up in all her clothes, as well as in two new pieces of
chintz which Mr Moody had given her, and she was thus buried.
Growing weary of his life at Bencoulin, and pining to return home, being
also anxious to carry out his project of making a voyage to Meangis,
Dampier requested his discharge.
This was granted by the Governor and Council, and the _Defence_, Captain
Heath, bound for England, coming into the roads, he agreed to ship on
board her. Mr Moody had made over his share of the Painted Prince to
Mr Goddard, her chief mate. When, however, Dampier was about to
embark, the Governor, who was an ill-tempered, tyrannical man, refused
to allow him to go. In vain he pleaded, and at last, having arranged
with Mr Goddard to be received on board at night, leaving all his
property, with the exception of his journals and a few other papers, he
crept through one of the port-holes, and got into the boat which was
waiting for him. He lay concealed until the last boat from the shore
had left the ship, which then set sail for the Cape of Good Hope on the
25th of January, 1691.
Owing to the bad nature of the water, fever, which carried off many of
the men and reduced others to the greatest state of weakness, broke out
on board. To so helpless a condition was the crew reduced that they
were unable to carry the ship into Cape Town Harbour, and would have had
to keep at sea had not a Dutch captain sent a hundred men on board to
take in her sails and bring her to an anchor. Here she remained some
weeks, while the crew regained their strength. On the 23rd of May the
_Defence_ sailed from the Cape, and after touching at Saint Helena,
without further mishap arrived in the Channel. Here, convoyed by some
men-of-war, she got off Plymouth, and thence, parting with several ships
which had kept her company, she ran into the Downs, where she anchored
on the 16th of September, 1691.
Dampier, poor as he had been when he first joined the buccaneers, had to
part with his share in the Painted Prince to obtain the means of
reaching his home. The unfortunate Jeoly, after being carried about for
some time to be shown as a sight, died of small-pox at Oxford.
From the time he left England in 1679, on board the _Loyal Merchant_,
until his return in the _Defence_, upwards of twelve years had elapsed,
during which period he had circumnavigated the globe, and visited more
strange countries and gone through more hazardous adventures than almost
any man who has ever lived, impelled undoubtedly by a roving
disposition, but still more so by his ardent thirst to obtain a
knowledge of natural history.
What became of his poor wife during this time, or how he supported
himself on his return home, we are not told, except that he published
the following year his "New Voyage Round the World," to which he
afterwards added a supplement, entitled "Voyages and Discoveries."
Possibly he obtained a good sum for these works, as from their
excellence they soon brought the author into notice. Weary of
wandering, he probably remained for some time on shore.