Having assisted in bringing Rowan’s affairs into such a train
as promised a speedy and satisfactory adjustment, there existed
no farther inducement to remain longer in port. Accordingly,
having settled our various accounts of disbursements, Mr. Shaler,
accompanied by Mr. Rouissillon, waited on the Governor to notify him
of his intention to proceed to sea next morning, and to take leave.
He received them with great cordiality, expressed much regret at what
had occurred, promised to remedy the mischief as far as he was able,
offered us every facility in his power to insure our departure at the
time appointed, and, though it would not have been surprising if he
had wished us to the devil, on the contrary, wished us a good voyage.
There was a number of our unfortunate countrymen in port, principally
the crews of the condemned vessels, who had lost their little all,
and whose situation excited commiseration. We knew that if they
could get to Masafuera with the provisions they could obtain here,
they would, by pursuing their vocation, soon bring up arrears.
We determined, therefore, to go so far out of our way as to give
them all passages thither. They all very gratefully accepted our
invitation. Being ready on the 21st of April, and on the point of
leaving the port, a message was brought from the Governor, requesting
to see Mr. Shaler. He went immediately to him, and found, to his
astonishment, that he wanted him to defer his departure a few days.
It appeared that some suspicious or malicious person had suggested to
this silly governor that our object in taking so many men on board
was to capture the large ship, then on the point of sailing for Lima.
To guard against this, he begged Mr. Shaler to defer sailing till
forty-eight hours after that ship had sailed, and, moreover, hoped we
would not revenge ourselves on any unarmed Spanish vessel we might
chance to meet....