seeing a vessel riding close under point Arena, fired two swivel guns at
her; but found nobody on board. She was a new Spanish bark going to load
salt, and had nothing in her but a few jars of water. At five in the
afternoon the transports rowed for the town of Guayaquil, and at eleven
at night were so near as to hear one centinel call to another for fire
to be brought. Perceiving we were discovered, we rowed over to the other
side, and saw a fire made where the centinels talked, and soon after
many lights all over the town. We heard them likewise ring the
alarm-bell, and fire several volleys; and we observed them to light a
fire on the hill to give the town notice of our being come up the river.
Hereupon the boats came to a grappling, when such a hot dispute arose
among some of our chief officers, that they were heard ashore; the
officers differing in their opinions, whether to land immediately, or
stay till morning; however, at last it was agreed, that, since we did
not know the ground, it was best to stay till day-light.
Friday 22. Our forces being all joined, we sent a flag of truce, with
the Captain of the French-built ship, and another prisoner, to the
Corregidor, who asked him our number, which the Captain magnified. The
Corregidor suggested that we were mere boys; but the Captain replied, he
would find we were men, for we had fought him bravely in our open boats,
though he had killed one of the Commander’s brothers, and wounded and
killed others; and therefore advised him to agree for the ransom of the
town.
Saturday 23. The pinnace went up the river after some vessels, and
brought six of them to anchor by our barks; and we also took possession
of two new ships, of about 400 tons each. We then went ashore with a
flag of truce, and the Governor came on board to agree about the ransom
of the town and ships; but this not being then concluded, he promised to
meet the Captain at seven in the evening, but was not so good as his
word.
Sunday 24. The Governor came off again to treat, and our Captains would
have seized him for having forfeited his word; but he alledging that it
was incompatible with his coming with a flag of truce, was set ashore
again, and all things were made ready for the attack. Accordingly the
men landed, and, being commanded to proceed, they went on with so much
bravery, that the Spaniards fired only their first volley and fled, our
people pressing and pursuing them to their cannon, which they soon
deserted, the gunner only, who was an Irishman, standing by them till he
was wounded in four places, of which wounds he soon after died. Our men
then marched in a body through both towns, drove out the enemy, and,
placing three guards in the three churches, set fire to five or six
houses adjoining to the wood, lest the enemy should annoy our guard,
which was within pistol-shot. All this night they kept firing out of the
woods at our centinels, but did them no harm. In the mean time, the
Dutchess’s pinnace, commanded by Lieutenant Connely, went up the river,
landed at every house, took the plate and what else of value they found,
and had some skirmishes with the enemy, in which one of our men was
wounded.
Monday 25. In the night one of our centinels shot another belonging to
us, who was going from his post, and did not answer when challenged
three times; our first Lieutenant’s pistol went off by his side, and
wounded him in the leg; and another of our men was also shot through the
foot by one of our own people: moreover, our surgeon cut off a man’s arm
who had been hurt by one of our grenadoe-shells, which broke in the bark
when fired out of the cohorne. The afternoon was spent in shipping off
provisions from the town, and disposing all things in case of an attack
in the night.
Tuesday 26. A flag of truce came to treat concerning ransoming the town,
which was at last agreed on for 30,000 dollars. We were to have three
hostages, and to stay at Puna till they could raise the money.
Wednesday 27. The hostages came on board; and we took down our Union
flag, and hoisted a flag of truce, firing a gun for a signal that the
Spaniards might come into the town, and that no farther hostilities
should be committed on either side.
Thursday 28. Our barks weighed with the beginning of the ebb, the Duke’s
pinnace making the best of her way down to the ships; and the float,
after going ashore to fetch off the great guns, weighed also, and fell
down the river.
Friday 29. Captain Rogers came aboard, and gave us an account that they
had taken, plundered, and ransomed the town of Guayaquil; that three of
our men had been killed, two by our own people, and one by the
Spaniards, and four wounded; that the inhabitants, whilst treating, had
carried off their money and plate, retiring to the woods, and leaving
their guns, four whereof were taken, with a considerable quantity of
meal, pease, sugar, brandy, and wine, all which was coming down in the
barks. This day Hugh Tidcomb, who was shot by his fellow-centinel, died.
At four in the afternoon, spied a sail standing up the river with the
tide of flood: we sent both ship’s boats after her, and before night
they brought her in. She was a small Spanish bark from Cheripe, having
on board 330 bags of meal, 35 hundred weight of sugar, some onions,
quinces, and pomegranates. This, with the six barks, and two great ships
ransomed by the town of Guayaquil, made fourteen prizes taken in those
seas.
Sunday 30. Captain Rogers went aboard the French-built ship to carry her
up to Puna, in hopes of disposing of her cargo and some of the blacks,
who only served to eat up our provisions; as also to bring down what
water and provisions could be got; Captain Courtney being gone there
before on the same account.
Monday, May 1. A boat came down from the town with part of the ransom,
whereupon most of the prisoners were set on shore.
Thursday 5. Captain Rogers returned with the French-built ship, the
Spaniards having bought none of her cargo; but they had paid 24,000
dollars, part of the 30,000 ransom; upon which, the Governor of Puna,
one of the hostages, was discharged, but the others kept.
Friday 6. In the afternoon the Duke and the prizes joined us, when we
were seven sail in all. A boat came down with about 3000 dollars more,
in money and plate; and the men told us, that the other 3000 dollars
would soon come, and 12,000 more to purchase goods: but this we supposed
to be a trick, to keep us till the men-of-war could come from Lima;
whereupon we made all possible dispatch to get out of the bay, kept
three of the hostages, and sent the prisoners ashore. The Beginning,
being of no other use, since we had better vessels, we sold to the
Spaniards for the value of 50l. in pearl, gold chains, &c. and put the
prisoners aboard, but kept pilots, and a man that could speak English,
the President of Panama’s son, and the hostages. The weather being very
hot, some of our men fell into fevers; and in a few days we had near 100
sick, and among the number Capt. Courtney.
Sunday 8. Sailed with a small breeze at N. W. At noon it began to blow
fresh; but nothing material happened till the 13th, when, believing
ourselves near the longitude of the Gallapagoes, where we designed to
water, fit our ships, and refresh our men, we lay by from six in the
evening till four the next morning, for fear of running by those islands
in the night.
Monday 16. Mr. Hopkins, Lieutenant of the marines, and one of the
doctors of the Duke, died.
Tuesday 17. Saw land, being one of the Gallapagoe islands. Next day the
Duke’s boat went on shore to seek for water, but could find none in any
of them, though Captain Cowley, in his voyage round the world, says
there is good water in one of them; but we missed the place.
The 20th, 21st, and 22d, we spent in plying among the islands, where the
boats found abundance of turtle, large rock-fish, and guanos. These
last-named creatures are larger here than those in other parts of the
West Indies, and are of several colours and sizes. They are eaten by the
seamen, and reckoned good meat, though their deformity made me loath
them.
Thursday 26. Captain Rogers and Captain Dover came aboard the Dutchess,
and, after holding a council, it was resolved to run in for the island
of Plata to water, and so come off again, for fear of meeting with two
French ships, one of 60, and the other of 46 guns, and the Spanish
men-of-war, which, we were told, would be shortly in search of us. Some
days before this we lost Mr. Hatley, who was in one of the prizes, with
five or six white men, four blacks, and an Indian, having on board
little or no provisions or water, and no boat; and we never more heard
of them.
Monday 30. The officers of the Duke came aboard, to consult about the
properest place to careen and water at; and ’twas agreed to go to the
island Gorgona, to see whether any Spanish ships were there, and from
thence to Mangla, where are some Indians, enemies to the Spaniards, who,
it was said, would supply us with swine and fowls, good water, turtle,
plantains, and other refreshments.
Wednesday, June 1. Some of our men were told, that a conspiracy was
forming on board the galleon among the prisoners and blacks. We examined
the Spaniards, who protested they knew nothing of it then put matches
between the fingers of two blacks, making them believe we would burn
them to the bone if they would not confess. They owned there had been a
talk of killing the English among the Indians and blacks, but they
believed it was not in earnest; however, they were dispersed into
several ships to break the combination.
Sunday 5. Saw a sail right-a-head of us, chaced, and at eight in the
evening came up with her, fired a chace-gun, and she struck. The vessel
was of about 80 tons burden, bound from Panama for Guayaquil, was laden
with iron and other merchandize, and had two women, and several
passengers of note on board, one of whom was going Governor to Baldivia,
whose name was Don Juan Cardoso, and who had been not long before taken
on the other side by the Jamaica cruisers.
Monday 6. Made the best of our way for Gorgona; and at three in the
afternoon next day, the Duke with the galleon came to an anchor in that
harbour. Same day saw a sail bearing down towards the island, till
spying the galleon in the offing, she stood to the westward. I went out
in the pinnace well-manned, and at noon took and brought her to an
anchor. She was a bark of 50 tons, called El Soldado, came out of a
small port the night before, and was bound for Guayaquil, to load salt,
brandy, &c. She had in her in gold chains and money to the value of 5 or
6 hundred pounds, designed to purchase her cargo.
Monday 13. Held a full council on board the Duke, and resolved to careen
our ships here as soon as possible. Here we continued till Sunday,
August the 7th; and in the mean time plundered a settlement on the main,
right opposite the island, set most of our prisoners on shore on the
continent, and brought seven beeves, 14 hogs, some poultry, about 50
bushels of Indian wheat, and a few goats on board: at the same time a
black born in Jamaica, who spoke very good English, and had been taken
with some Jamaica-men eight years before, came over to us in a canoe.
Captain Morel, too, formerly commander of the galleon, brought some
money and fruit, and a merchant or two, who bought some of our blacks.
During our stay at this island, Captain Rogers, Captain Courtney,
myself, and some other officers, underwent much fatigue in fitting up
the Marquis, for which ship we were forced to get entirely new masts and
yards, make most of the sails, and a great deal of new cordage. The
smith also made much new work; as did the carpenters, sail-makers,
riggers, and rope-makers, who all came to help us from each ship.
The 6th of August, I received my orders to command the Marquis, carrying
20 guns, 60 white men, and 16 blacks; and, the ships having taken in
their loading from the prizes, and all our business being over at the
island of Gorgona, we weighed anchor at 10 in the morning, and ran to
the north of the island: but the masts of the Marquis being new and
heavy, and a great weight of goods between decks, I found she proved
crank, and sailed dull upon the wind; so that the Duke and Dutchess were
fain to spare a great deal of sail for me to keep up with them.
Friday 12. Held a consultation about sending the Marquis and a bark
laden with bale-goods directly for India, to save provisions and gain
time; but this was opposed by Captain Courtney, and others, in regard to
the Marquis, which being a good vessel, might be of great use in case we
should meet with the Manilla ship, or the men-of-war we supposed were
looking for us.
Thursday, August 18. At six in the morning saw a sail a-head, gave
chace, and the Dutchess soon coming up with her, and firing a few guns,
she struck, being a bark of about 70 tons, bound from Panama to
Troxillo, with merchants goods, passengers, and blacks, on board. The
master told us, he had been detained three months at Panama by an
embargo, which being taken off upon advice that we were going to the
island of Juan Fernandez, he had set sail. Enquiring what ships were out
in quest of us, the prisoners said, they had advice at Panama of five or
six ships being ordered after us, two of them French, of 48 guns each,
and some Spanish, of the like force, and good sailors. They could tell
no other news, than that the whole coast was alarmed.
August 19. The Duke and Dutchess fired some vollies to exercise their
men. Next day we fell in with land about a league to the leeward of
Tacames, ran within a league of the shore, and on the 24th cast anchor
in the bay, from whence the Dutchess sent her pinnace ashore for water,
but could get none. Tacames is a village of only seven houses and a
church, standing in a bay, about seven leagues to the northward of Cape
Francisco. The houses are built of split bamboes, and covered with
Palmeto-leaves, standing on stilts or posts; and, instead of stairs,
they have a piece of timber cut in notches to ascend by. The men employ
themselves in killing wild swine with bows and arrows, and striking fish
with their lances, at both which they are very dexterous. The women have
only a piece of baize tied about their middle, and carry their children
at their backs. They are under the authority of the Spanish priests, and
are not permitted to trade without their licence.
On the 27th. They received a letter of leave, and our boats went ashore
to the houses for cattle; and on the 28th and 29th continued trading and
watering till we had sufficiently supplied the ships. In return for the
civility of these Fathers, I sent as a present to the church at Tacames
four large images, one of which was the Virgin Mary with our Lord and
Saviour in her arms; and I believe Captain Rogers and Captain Courtney
also gave something to adorn their church. On Wednesday the 31st of
August we set sail, the wind being at S. W.
Thursday, Sept. 1. Saw abundance of water-snakes, one of which was
coming up the side of our ship, and our men beat it off. The Spaniards
say, there is no cure for such as are bit by them; and one of our blacks
happened to fall under that misfortune, and died, notwithstanding the
utmost care was taken by our surgeons to recover him.
On Wednesday, Sept. 7. Made one of the Gallapagoe islands. On the 10th,
stood close in for the head-land, sending our boat on shore for water
and turtle. At night our boat came aboard, bringing 13 turtle, some
weighing 200 weight; the other boats got near 50 each; and the
Dutchess’s several land-turtle, but no water. Our men saw several jars,
and some of the wreck and rudder of a vessel, and should have guessed it
to be the prize Captain Hatley lost when here before, but the rudder was
too small for her.
Wednesday 14. The Dutchess, Marquis, and small prize, weighed, ran out,
and lay by for the Duke, which could not get out for want of wind. On
the 15th, set sail in the morning; and, considering the sun was directly
over our heads, the weather was cold, occasioned, as I believe, by the
southerly winds, which are coldest in those parts.
Thursday, Sept. 22. The Marquis kept the pump continually going, having
sprung two leaks, not being well caulked at Gorgona; therefore weared
her on the other tack, and stopt one leak, but could not find the other,
being about the stern. Weared again, and stood to the westward.
Friday 22. At a consultation on board the Duke, it was agreed to steer
to the Islands Marias, for a convenient place to refit, wood, and water;
then to cruise in quest of the Manilla ship, which was large, and of
great value, being reported by the Spaniards to be worth 2,000,000
sterling.
On the 3d of October. Cape Corientes appeared, bearing N. E. 10 leagues;
and on the 4th in the morning we made the islands called Tres Marias, at
the distance of about 16 leagues; but could not fetch them till the 6th,
when we got under the lee of one of them. I lay off with the ship, and
sent the boat ashore for water and turtle; but neither the one nor the
other was to be got, because of the surff.
Before our coming to this place, we discovered the white rock, formerly
mentioned by Dampier, and took it for a ship on the sight of which the
Dutchess let go the bark she had in tow, telling her to make the best of
her way to the middle island; under the lee of which both the Duke and
Dutchess came to an anchor on the 7th and 8th; and I might have been
there as soon, had I not seen the bark six or seven leagues to leeward.
It was fortunate that I came in time to relieve her, otherwise she must
have perished, having neither wood nor water on board, and not being
able to make up against the wind and current to reach the land. I bore
down to her, supplied her wants, and took her in tow till the 20th in
the morning, when the middle island bearing north, distant about seven
leagues, we saw a sail coming from the island before the wind, which
proved the Dutchess, who came in search of us, and was glad to find us
safe; brought us some water and turtle, and told us there was game
enough in the island, if we could bear up to it. Captain Courtney took
us in tow, to help us in the sooner, having cleaned his ship’s bottom
before he set sail to come to our assistance.
On the 11th, I came to an anchor, after much trouble and fatigue in
plying so long against the wind and current. Seven of Captain Rogers’s
best blacks this day left him, and ran away. We continued in this bay
till
Monday the 24th, when a general council was held, at which it was
resolved to cruise off Cape St. Lucas for the Manilla ship, all our
ships being now very well fitted, wooded, watered, and provided with
turtle. Several warm debates happened in council among our chief
officers; and Captain Dover quitted the Duke, and went on board the
Dutchess, by his own free choice. I endeavoured to accommodate these
differences, but to no purpose, which gave several of us great concern.
The islands of Tres Marias, where we anchored, abound with animals of
various kinds, and the shores with fish; among these the sea and land
turtle may be accounted of most use to navigators. Of the sea-turtle
there are various sorts; as the green, which are the sweetest and best;
the hawk’s-bill, which are very good; and the logger-head, which the
sailors never refuse when the others are not to be caught. The method of
taking them is by turning them, and when they are on their backs, they
appear as in the Plate, fig. 1.
[Illustration: Miscellaneous Plate of fish, trees, &c.]
The land-turtle lives constantly ashore, feeds upon grass, moves very
slow, and, when an enemy approaches, covers itself under its shell,
squatting close to the ground, from which it is not easily discernible,
appearing like a bare patch without verdure. The shells of these animals
are so hard, that a man may tread upon them without hurting them. Their
flesh is very good and nourishing. They will live five or six weeks
without food, and appear to be never the worse. They lay round eggs,
about the size of a hen’s, and are very good to eat. Some of the
sea-turtle taken in the bay where we anchored had 200 eggs in them. Our
men lived almost wholly upon turtle, and their eggs, from the time they
went first to the Gallapagoes till their departure for the East Indies,
saving their ship-provisions till their run across the South Seas. For
the land-turtle, see fig. 2.
At these islands our men caught plenty of the fish called old wives.
They have very small mouths, large eyes, a high fin on the back, and
shaped as you see fig. 3. The colour of the body is a deep blue; the
fins of a lighter colour, tipped with yellow. Others are of an
ash-colour on the back, and white under the belly.
The rock-fish we caught in the island of Tres Marias were large, had
great mottled fins, yellow backs, red bellies, and red and black tails.
See fig. 4.
Another fish our men caught was the cavallo, in shape not much unlike
the dolphin, with a large bright eye, black back, white belly, a long
streak from his gills to the middle of his tail, and is about the size
of a mackarel. See fig. 5.
A small fish we found there, about six inches long, was very delicious;
the back of an indigo-blue, a deep yellow streak running from the gills
to the tail, the belly white, and the tail forked. It seems peculiar to
these islands, and wants a name. See fig. 6.
Of the animals, the racoon was the most plentiful. It has a large black
eye, whiskers and nose like a pig, tail and feet like a rat, a brownish
fur on his back, and a white belly. See fig. 7.
Of the venomous creatures, the scorpion is the most noxious; its tail is
jointed with a small sting at the tip; it has two claws like those of
the lobster; and its head and feet have a near resemblance to those of
the same fish. See fig. 8.
Among the singing-birds found in those islands, the cardinal bird was
seen in greatest abundance. It is a very beautiful bird, with scarlet
feathers, and on its head the male has a tuft of the same colour. They
are of the same kind with those we call the Virginia Nightingale; but
the Spaniards call them cardinal birds, from their scarlet feathers. See
fig. 9.
Among the vegetables we found the magney-plant, or silk-grass, of which
the Indians make ropes, sails, sacks, and all their curious netting. It
also yields a liquor of which they make wine, honey, and a good balsam.
The liquor as it comes from the plant is as sweet as sugar; after
standing it becomes a wine, and will intoxicate powerfully. It has thick
juicy leaves, not unlike those of the houseleek, but grows up to a
considerable height in the form represented by fig. 10; And, when it has
stood about six years, the Indians cut out the middle leaves, leaving
the heart of the plant hollow, which of itself fills with the juice, and
is every morning during the season taken out and preserved. Of this
juice the Spaniards make spirits; and it is so universally used in one
shape or other by the Spaniards and Indians in New Spain, that the duty
arising from it in one year is said to have amounted to 110,000 pieces
of eight at the port of Angels alone.
The prickly tree found on those islands is esteemed a great curiosity.
The trunk of it is angular, and covered with prickles; is of a pale
green, and yields a gum which the druggists call euphorbium, which is
said to be powerful in removing pains in the head. It grows about 12
feet high, in the form represented in the plate, fig. 11.
These were the principal peculiarities observable in the animal and
vegetable tribes at the islands of Tres Marias.
On Tuesday, Oct. 2, at two in the afternoon, we weighed, and set sail
for Cape St. Lucas, where we spread ourselves for fear the Manilla ship
should pass by unseen. The Duke cruised about two leagues to the
southward of the Dutchess, the Dutchess in the middle, and the Marquis
two leagues to the northward of her. Place of rendezvous six or seven
leagues in sight of Cape St. Lucas.
Nov. 1. The Marquis sprang two great leaks, and broke the collar of the
fore-stay, which obliged me to wear the ship to fix the stay, and then
hauled up after the other ships, and stopped the leaks.
Tuesday 2. All the officers and men on board the Marquis signed an
instrument, obliging themselves to stand by the articles agreed to by
the companies of the other ships.
Nov. 4. I spoke with Captain Courtney, and changed stations with him, he
having better boats than mine to send ashore for water and turtle; or,
in case of seeing the Manilla ship, to prevent her sending the
passengers ashore with their wealth. The 10th, the Duke and Dutchess
having spoken with each other, changed stations, the Duke going in for
the shore, and the Dutchess off to the outward station.
Nov. 22. Captain Rogers informed me, that the bark and his boat had been
in with the shore, and had spoken with the natives, who seemed very
civil, and had pearl and some grain to dispose of; and that there was
wood and water enough. Nothing material happened till