Lolonois makes new preparations to take the city of St. James
de Leon; as also that of Nicaragua; where he miserably
perishes.
Lolonois had got great repute at Tortuga by this last voyage, because
he brought home such considerable profit; and now he need take no
great care to gather men to serve under him, more coming in
voluntarily than he could employ; every one reposing such confidence
in his conduct that they judged it very safe to expose themselves, in
his company, to the greatest dangers. He resolved therefore a second
voyage to the parts of Nicaragua, to pillage there as many towns as he
could.
Having published his new preparations, he had all his men together at
the time, being about seven hundred. Of these he put three hundred
aboard the ship he took at Maracaibo, and the rest in five other
vessels of lesser burthen; so that they were in all six ships. The
first port they went to was Bayaha in Hispaniola, to victual the
fleet, and take in provisions; which done, they steered their course
to a port called Matamana, on the south side of Cuba, intending to
take here all the canoes they could; these coasts being frequented by
the fishers of tortoises, who carry them hence to the Havannah. They
took as many of them, to the great grief of those miserable people, as
they thought necessary; for they had great use for these small
bottoms, by reason the port they designed for had not depth enough for
ships of any burthen. Hence they took their course towards the cape
Gracias à Dios on the continent, in latitude 15 deg. north, one
hundred leagues from the Island de los Pinos. Being at sea, they were
taken with a sad and tedious calm, and, by the agitation of the waves
alone, were thrown into the gulf of Honduras: here they laboured hard
in vain to regain what they had lost, both the waters and the winds
being contrary; besides, the ship wherein Lolonois was embarked could
not follow the rest; and what was worse, they wanted provisions.
Hereupon, they were forced to put into the first port they could
reach, to revictual: so they entered with their canoes into the river
Xagua, inhabited by Indians, whom they totally destroyed, finding
great quantities of millet, and many hogs and hens: not contented with
which, they determined to remain there till the bad weather was over,
and to pillage all the towns and villages along the coast of the gulf.
Thus they passed from one place to another, seeking still more
provisions, with which they were not sufficiently supplied. Having
searched and rifled many villages, where they found no great matter,
they came at last to Puerto Cavallo: here the Spaniards have two
storehouses to keep the merchandises that are brought from the inner
parts of the country, till the arrival of the ships. There was then in
the port a Spanish ship of twenty-four guns, and sixteen pedreros or
mortar-pieces: this ship was immediately seized by the pirates, and
then drawing nigh the shore, they landed, and burnt the two
storehouses, with all the rest of the houses there. Many inhabitants
likewise they took prisoners, and committed upon them the most inhuman
cruelties that ever heathens invented; putting them to the cruellest
tortures they could devise. It was the custom of Lolonois, that having
tormented persons not confessing, he would instantly cut them in
pieces with his hanger, and pull out their tongues, desiring to do so,
if possible, to every Spaniard in the world. It often happened that
some of these miserable prisoners, being forced by the rack, would
promise to discover the places where the fugitive Spaniards lay hid,
which not being able afterwards to perform, they were put to more
cruel deaths than they who were dead before.
The prisoners being all dead but two (whom they reserved to show them
what they desired), they marched hence to the town of San Pedro, or
St. Peter, ten or twelve leagues from Puerto Cavallo, being three
hundred men, whom Lolonois led, leaving behind him Moses van Vin his
lieutenant, to govern the rest in his absence. Being come three
leagues on their way, they met with a troop of Spaniards, who lay in
ambuscade for their coming: these they set upon, with all the courage
imaginable, and at last totally defeated. Howbeit, they behaved
themselves very manfully at first; but not being able to resist the
fury of the pirates, they were forced to give way, and save themselves
by flight, leaving many pirates dead in the place, some wounded, and
some of their own party maimed, by the way. These Lolonois put to
death without mercy, having asked them what questions he thought fit
for his purpose.
There were still remaining some few prisoners not wounded; these were
asked by Lolonois, if any more Spaniards did lie farther on in
ambuscade? They answered, there were. Then being brought before him,
one by one, he asked if there was no other way to the town but that.
This he did to avoid if possible those ambuscades. But they all
constantly answered him they knew none. Having asked them all, and
finding they could show him no other way, Lolonois grew outrageously
passionate; so that he drew his cutlass, and with it cut open the
breast of one of those poor Spaniards, and pulling out his heart began
to bite and gnaw it with his teeth, like a ravenous wolf, saying to
the rest, “I will serve you all alike, if you show me not another
way.”
Hereupon, those miserable wretches promised to show him another way,
but withal, they told him, it was extremely difficult, and laborious.
Thus to satisfy that cruel tyrant, they began to lead him and his
army; but finding it not for his purpose as they had told him, he was
forced to return to the former way, swearing with great choler and
indignation, “Mort Dieu, les Espagnols me le payeront. By God’s death,
the Spaniards shall pay me for this.”
Next day he fell into another ambuscade, which he assaulted with such
horrible fury, that in less than an hour’s time he routed the
Spaniards, and killed the greatest part of them. The Spaniards thought
by these ambuscades better to destroy the pirates, assaulting them by
degrees, and for this reason had posted themselves in several places.
At last he met with a third ambuscade, where was placed a party
stronger, and more advantageously, than the former: yet
notwithstanding, the pirates, by continually throwing little
fire-balls in great numbers, for some time, forced this party, as well
as the former, to flee, and this with so great loss of men, that
before they could reach the town, the greatest part of the Spaniards
were either killed or wounded. There was but one path which led to the
town, very well barricaded with good defences; and the rest of the
town round was planted with shrubs called raqueltes, full of thorns
very sharp pointed. This sort of fortification seemed stronger than
the triangles used in Europe, when an army is of necessity to pass by
the place of an enemy; it being almost impossible for the pirates to
traverse those shrubs. The Spaniards posted behind the said defences,
seeing the pirates come, began to ply them with their great guns; but
these perceiving them ready to fire, used to stoop down, and when the
shot was made, to fall upon the defendants with fire-balls and naked
swords, killing many of the town: yet notwithstanding, not being able
to advance any farther, they retired, for the present: then they
renewed the attack with fewer men than before, and observing not to
shoot till they were very nigh, they gave the Spaniards a charge so
dextrously, that with every shot they killed an enemy.
The attack continuing thus eager on both sides till night, the
Spaniards were compelled to hang forth a white flag, and desired to
come to a parley: the only conditions they required were, “that the
pirates should give the inhabitants quarter for two hours.” This
little time they demanded with intent to carry away and hide as much
of their goods and riches as they could, and to fly to some other
neighbouring town. Granting this article, they entered the town, and
continued there the two hours, without committing the least hostility
on the inhabitants; but no sooner was that time past, than Lolonois
ordered that the inhabitants should be followed, and robbed of all
they had carried away; and not only their goods, but their persons
likewise to be made prisoners; though the greatest part of their
merchandise and goods were so hid, as the pirates could not find them,
except a few leathern sacks, filled with anil, or indigo.
Having stayed here a few days, and, according to their custom,
committed most horrid insolences, they at last quitted the place,
carrying away all they possibly could, and reducing the town to ashes.
Being come to the sea-side, where they left a party of their own, they
found these had been cruising upon the fishermen thereabouts, or who
came that way from the river of Guatemala: in this river was also
expected a ship from Spain. Finally, they resolved to go toward the
islands on the other side of the gulf, there to cleanse and careen
their vessels; but they left two canoes before the coast, or rather
the mouth of the river of Guatemala, in order to take the ship, which,
as I said, was expected from Spain.
But their chief intent in going hither was to seek provisions, knowing
the tortoises of those places are excellent food. Being arrived, they
divided themselves, each party choosing a fit post for that fishery.
They undertook to knit nets with the rinds of certain trees called
macoa, whereof they make also ropes and cables; so that no vessel can
be in need of such things, if they can but find the said trees. There
are also many places where they find pitch in so great abundance, that
running down the sea-coasts, being melted by the sun, it congeals in
the water in great heaps, like small islands. This pitch is not like
that of Europe, but resembles, both in colour and shape, that froth of
the sea called bitumen; but, in my judgment, this matter is nothing
but wax mixed with sand, which stormy weather, and the rolling waves
of great rivers hath cast into the sea; for in those parts are great
quantities of bees who make their honey in trees, to the bodies of
which the honeycomb being fixed, when tempests arise, they are torn
away, and by the fury of the winds carried into the sea, as is said.
Some naturalists say, that the honey and the wax are separated by the
salt water; whence proceeds the good amber. This opinion seems the
more probable, because the said amber tastes as wax doth.
But to return to my discourse. The pirates made in those islands all
the haste they possibly could to equip their vessels, hearing that the
Spanish ship was come which they expected. They spent some time
cruising on the coasts of Jucatan, where inhabit many Indians, who
seek for the said amber in those seas. And I shall here, by the by,
make some short remarks on the manner of living of the Indians, and
their religion.
They have now been above a hundred years under the Spaniards, to whom
they performed all manner of services; for whensoever any of them
needed a slave or servant, they sent for these to serve them as long
as they pleased. By the Spaniards they were initiated in the
principles of the Christian faith and religion, and they sent them
every Sunday and holiday a priest to perform divine service among
them; afterwards, for reasons not known, but certainly through
temptations of the father of idolatry, the devil, they suddenly cast
off the Christian religion, abusing the priest that was sent them:
this provoked the Spaniards to punish them, by casting many of the
chief into prison. Every one of those barbarians had, and hath still,
a god to himself, whom he serves and worships. It is a matter of
admiration, how they use a child newly born: as soon as it comes into
the world, they carry it to the temple; here they make a hole, which
they fill with ashes only, on which they place the child naked,
leaving it there a whole night alone, not without great danger, nobody
daring to come near it; meanwhile the temple is open on all sides,
that all sorts of beasts may freely come in and out. Next day, the
father, and relations of the infant, return to see if the track or
step of any animal appears in the ashes: not finding any, they leave
the child there till some beast has approached the infant, and left
behind him the marks of his feet: to this animal, whatsoever it be,
they consecrate the creature newly born, as to its god, which he is
bound to worship all his life, esteeming the said beast his patron and
protector. They offer to their gods sacrifices of fire, wherein they
burn a certain gum called by them copal, whose smoke smells very
deliciously. When the infant is grown up, the parents thereof tell him
who he ought to worship, serve, and honour as his own proper god. Then
he goes to the temple, where he makes offerings to the said beast.
Afterwards, if in the course of his life, any one injure him, or any
evil happen to him, he complains to that beast, and sacrifices to it
for revenge. Hence it often comes, that those who have done the injury
of which he complains are bitten, killed, or otherwise hurt by such
animals.
After this superstitious and idolatrous manner live those miserable
and ignorant Indians that inhabit the islands of the gulf of Honduras;
as also many of them on the continent of Jucatan, in the territories
whereof are most excellent ports, where those Indians most commonly
build their houses. These people are not very faithful to one another,
and use strange ceremonies at their marriages. Whensoever any one
pretends to marry a young damsel, he first applies himself to her
father or nearest relation: he examines him nicely about the manner of
cultivating their plantations, and other things at his pleasure.
Having satisfied the questions of his father-in-law, he gives the
young man a bow and arrow, with which he repairs to the young maid,
and presents her with a garland of green leaves and sweet-smelling
flowers; this she is obliged to put on her head, and lay aside that
which she wore before, it being the custom for virgins to go
perpetually crowned with flowers. This garland being received, and put
on her head, every one of the relations and friends go to advise with
others, whether that marriage will be like to be happy or not; then
they meet at the house of the damsel’s father, where they drink of a
liquor made of maize, or Indian wheat; and here, before the whole
company, the father gives his daughter in marriage to the bridegroom.
Next day the bride comes to her mother, and in her presence pulls off
the garland, and tears it in pieces, with great cries and
lamentations. Many other things I could relate of the manner of living
and customs of those Indians, but I shall follow my discourse.
Our pirates therefore had many canoes of the Indians in the isle of
Sambale, five leagues from the coasts of Jucatan. Here is great
quantity of amber, but especially when any storm arises from towards
the east; whence the waves bring many things, and very different.
Through this sea no vessels can pass, unless very small, it being too
shallow. In the lands that are surrounded by this sea, is found much
Campechy wood, and other things that serve for dyeing, much esteemed
in Europe, and would be more, if we had the skill of the Indians, who
make a dye or tincture that never fades.
The pirates having been in that gulf three months, and receiving
advice that the Spanish ship was come, hastened to the port where the
ship lay at anchor unlading her merchandise, with design to assault
her as soon as possible; but first they thought convenient to send
away some of their boats to seek for a small vessel also expected very
richly laden with plate, indigo, and cochineal. Meanwhile, the ship’s
crew having notice that the pirates designed upon them, prepared all
things for a good defence, being mounted with forty-two guns, well
furnished with arms and other necessaries, and one hundred and thirty
fighting men. To Lolonois all this seemed but little, for he assaulted
her with great courage, his own ship carrying but twenty-two guns, and
having no more than a small saety or fly-boat for help: but the
Spaniards defended themselves so well, as they forced the pirates to
retire; but the smoke of the powder continuing thick, as a dark fog or
mist, with four canoes well manned, they boarded the ship with great
agility, and forced the Spaniards to surrender.
The ship being taken, they found not in her what they thought, being
already almost unladen. All they got was only fifty bars of iron, a
small parcel of paper, some earthen jars of wine, and other things of
small importance.
Then Lolonois called a council of war, and told them, he intended for
Guatemala: hereupon they divided into several sentiments, some liking
the proposal, and others disliking it, especially a party of them who
were but raw in those exercises, and who imagined at their setting
forth from Tortuga that pieces of eight were gathered as easy as pears
from a tree; but finding most things contrary to their expectation,
they quitted the fleet, and returned; others affirmed they had rather
starve than return home without a great deal of money.
But the major part judging the propounded voyage little to their
purpose, separated from Lolonois and the rest: of these one Moses
Vanclein was ringleader, captain of the ship taken at Puerto Cavallo:
this fellow steered for Tortuga, to cruise to and fro in these seas.
With him joined another comrade of his, by name Pierre le Picard, who
seeing the rest leave Lolonois, thought fit to do the same. These
runaways having thus parted company, steered homewards, coasting along
the continent till they came to Costa Rica; here they landed a strong
party nigh the river Veraguas, and marched in good order to the town
of the same name: this they took and totally pillaged, though the
Spaniards made a strong resistance. They brought away some of the
inhabitants as prisoners, with all they had, which was of no great
importance, by reason of the poverty of the place, which exerciseth no
other trade than working in the mines, where some of the inhabitants
constantly attend, while none seek for gold, but only slaves. These
they compel to dig and wash the earth in the neighbouring rivers,
where often they find pieces of gold as big as peas. The pirates
gaining in this adventure but seven or eight pounds weight of gold,
they returned, giving over the design to go to the town of Nata,
situate on the coasts of the South Sea, whose inhabitants are rich
merchants, and their slaves work in the mines of Veraguas; being
deterred by the multitudes of Spaniards gathered on all sides to fall
upon them, whereof they had timely advice.
Lolonois, thus left by his companions, remained alone in the gulf of
Honduras. His ship being too great to get out at the reflux of those
seas, there he sustained great want of provisions, so as they were
constrained to go ashore every day to seek sustenance, and not finding
anything else, they were forced to kill and eat monkeys, and other
animals, such as they could find.
At last in the altitude of the cape of Gracias a Dios, near a certain
little island called De las Pertas, his ship struck on a bank of sand,
where it stuck so fast, as no art could get her off again, though they
unladed all the guns, iron, and other weighty things as much as they
could. Hereupon they were forced to break the ship in pieces, and with
planks and nails build themselves a boat to get away; and while they
are busy about it, I shall describe the said isles and their
inhabitants.
The islands De las Pertas are inhabited by savage Indians, not having
known or conversed with civil people: they are tall and very nimble,
running almost as fast as horses; at diving also they are very
dextrous and hardy. From the bottom of the sea I saw them take up an
anchor of six hundredweight, tying a cable to it with great dexterity,
and pulling it from a rock. Their arms are made of wood, without any
iron point; but some instead thereof use a crocodile’s tooth. They
have no bows nor arrows, as the other Indians have, but their common
weapon is a sort of lance a fathom and a half long. Here are many
plantations surrounded with woods, whence they gather abundance of
fruits, as potatoes, bananas, racoven, ananas, and many others. They
have no houses to dwell in, as at other places in the Indies. Some say
they eat human flesh, which is confirmed by what happened when
Lolonois was there. Two of his companions, one a Frenchman and the
other a Spaniard, went into the woods, where having straggled awhile,
a troop of Indians pursued them. They defended themselves as well as
they could with their swords, but at last were forced to flee. The
nimble Frenchman escaped; but the Spaniard being not so swift, was
taken and heard of no more. Some days after, twelve pirates set forth
well armed to seek their companion, among whom was the Frenchman, who
conducted them, and showed them the place where he left him; here they
found that the Indians had kindled a fire, and at a small distance
they found a man’s bones well roasted, with some pieces of flesh ill
scraped off the bones, and one hand, which had only two fingers
remaining, whence they concluded they had roasted the poor Spaniard.
They marched on, seeking for Indians, and found a great number
together, who endeavoured to escape, but they overtook some of them,
and brought aboard their ships five men and four women; with these
they took much pains to make themselves be understood, and to gain
their affections, giving them trifles, as knives, beads, and the like;
they gave them also victuals and drink, but nothing would they taste.
It was also observable, that while they were prisoners, they spoke not
one word to each other; so that seeing these poor Indians were much
afraid, they presented them again with some small things, and let them
go. When they parted, they made signs they would come again, but they
soon forgot their benefactors, and were never heard of more; neither
could any notice afterwards be had of these Indians, nor any others in
the whole island, which made the pirates suspect that both those that
were taken, and all the rest of the islanders, swam away by night to
some little neighbouring islands, especially considering they could
never set eyes on any Indian more, nor any boat or other vessel.
Meanwhile the pirates were very desirous to see their long-boat
finished out of the timber that struck on the sands; yet considering
their work would be long, they began to cultivate some pieces of
ground; here they sowed French beans, which ripened in six weeks, and
many other fruits. They had good provision of Spanish wheat, bananas,
racoven, and other things; with the wheat they made bread, and baked
it in portable ovens, brought with them. Thus they feared not hunger
in those desert places, employing themselves thus for five or six
months; which past, and the long-boat finished, they resolved for the
river of Nicaragua, to see if they could take some canoes, and return
to the said islands for their companions that remained behind, by
reason the boat could not hold so many men together; hereupon, to
avoid disputes, they cast lots, determining who should go or stay.
The lot fell on one half of the people of the lost vessel, who
embarked in the long-boat, and on the skiff which they had before, the
other half remaining ashore. Lolonois having set sail, arrived in a
few days at the river of Nicaragua: here that ill-fortune assailed him
which of long time had been reserved for him, as a punishment due to
the multitude of horrible crimes committed in his licentious and
wicked life. Here he met with both Spaniards and Indians, who jointly
setting upon him and his companions, the greatest part of the pirates
were killed on the place. Lolonois, with those that remained alive,
had much ado to escape aboard their boats: yet notwithstanding this
great loss, he resolved not to return to those he had left at the isle
of Pertas, without taking some boats, such as he looked for. To this
effect he determined to go on to the coasts of Carthagena; but God
Almighty, the time of His Divine justice being now come, had appointed
the Indians of Darien to be the instruments and executioners thereof.
These Indians of Darien are esteemed as bravoes, or wild savage
Indians, by the neighbouring Spaniards, who never could civilize them.
Hither Lolonois came (brought by his evil conscience that cried for
punishment), thinking to act his cruelties; but the Indians within a
few days after his arrival took him prisoner, and tore him in pieces
alive, throwing his body limb by limb into the fire, and his ashes
into the air, that no trace or memory might remain of such an
infamous, inhuman creature. One of his companions gave me an exact
account of this tragedy, affirming that himself had escaped the same
punishment with the greatest difficulty; he believed also that many of
his comrades, who were taken in that encounter by those Indians, were,
as their cruel captain, torn in pieces and burnt alive. Thus ends the
history, the life, and miserable death of that infernal wretch
Lolonois, who full of horrid, execrable, and enormous deeds, and
debtor to so much innocent blood, died by cruel and butcherly hands,
such as his own were in the course of his life.
Those that remained in the island De las Pertas, waiting for the
return of them who got away only to their great misfortune, hearing no
news of their captain nor companions, at last embarked on the ship of
a certain pirate, who happened to pass that way. This fellow came from
Jamaica, with intent to land at Gracias a Dios, and from thence to
enter the river with his canoes, and take the city of Carthagena.
These two crews of pirates being now joined, were infinitely glad at
the presence and society of one another. Those, because they found
themselves delivered from their miseries, poverty, and necessities,
wherein they had lived ten entire months. These, because they were now
considerably strengthened, to effect with greater satisfaction their
designs. Hereupon, as soon as they were arrived at Gracias a Dios,
they all put themselves into canoes, and entered the river, being five
hundred men, leaving only five or six persons in each ship to keep
them. They took no provisions, being persuaded they should find
everywhere sufficient; but these their hopes were found totally vain,
not being grounded on Almighty God; for He ordained it so, that the
Indians, aware of their coming, all fled, not leaving in their houses
or plantations, which for the most part border on the sides of rivers,
any necessary provisions or victuals: hereby, in a few days after they
had quitted their ships, they were reduced to most extreme necessity
and hunger; but their hopes of making their fortunes very soon,
animating them for the present, they contented themselves with a few
green herbs, such as they could gather on the banks of the river.
Yet all this courage and vigour lasted but a fortnight, when their
hearts, as well as bodies, began to fail for hunger; insomuch as they
were forced to quit the river, and betake themselves to the woods,
seeking out some villages where they might find relief, but all in
vain; for having ranged up and down the woods for some days, without
finding the least comfort, they were forced to return to the river,
where being come, they thought convenient to descend to the sea-coast
where they had left their ships, not having been able to find what
they sought for. In this laborious journey they were reduced to such
extremity, that many of them devoured their own shoes, the sheaths of
their swords, knives, and other such things, being almost ravenous,
and eager to meet some Indians, intending to sacrifice them to their
teeth. At last they arrived at the sea-coast, where they found some
comfort and relief to their former miseries, and also means to seek
more: yet the greatest part perished through faintness and other
diseases contracted by hunger, which also caused the remaining part to
disperse, till at last, by degrees, many or most of them fell into the
same pit that Lolonois did; of whom, and of whose companions, having
given a compendious narrative, I shall continue with the actions and
exploits of Captain Henry Morgan, who may deservedly be called the
second Lolonois, not being unlike or inferior to him, either in
achievements against the Spaniards, or in robberies of many innocent
people.