_First Buccaneer Expedition in the =South Sea=._
[Sidenote: 1680. April 19th. In the Bay of Panama. 22d. Island Chepillo.]
On the 19th of April, the Buccaneers, under the command of John Coxon,
entered the _Bay of Panama_; and the same day, at one of the Islands in
the _Bay_, they captured a Spanish vessel of 30 tons, on board of which
130 of the Buccaneers immediately placed themselves, glad to be relieved
from the cramped and crowded state they had endured in the canoes. The
next day another small bark was taken. The pursuit of these vessels, and
seeking among the Islands for provisions, had separated the Buccaneers;
but they had agreed to rendezvous at the Island _Chepillo_, near the
entrance of the River _Cheapo_. Sharp, however, and some others, wanting
fresh water, went to the _Pearl Islands_. The rest got to _Chepillo_ on
the 22d, where they found good provision of plantains, fresh water, and
hogs; and at four o'clock that same afternoon, they rowed from the Island
towards _Panama_.
By this time, intelligence of their being in the _Bay_ had reached the
city. Eight vessels were lying in the road, three of which the Spaniards
hastily equipped, manning them with the crews of all the vessels, and the
addition of men from the shore; the whole, according to the Buccaneer
accounts, not exceeding 230 men, and not more than one-third of them being
Europeans; the rest were mulattoes and negroes.
[Sidenote: 23d. Battle with a small Spanish Armament. The Buccaneers
victorious.] On the 23d, before sunrise, the Buccaneers came in sight of
the city; and as soon as they were descried, the three armed Spanish ships
got under sail, and stood towards them. The conflict was severe, and
lasted the greater part of the day, when it terminated in the defeat of
the Spaniards, two of their vessels being carried by boarding, and the
third obliged to save herself by flight. The Spanish Commander fell, with
many of his people. Of the Buccaneers, 18 were killed, and above 30
wounded. Peter Harris, one of their Captains, was among the wounded, and
died two days after.
One Buccaneer account says, 'we were in all 68 men that were engaged in
the fight of that day.' Another Buccaneer relates, 'we had sent away the
Spanish bark to seek fresh water, and had put on board her above one
hundred of our best men; so that we had only canoes for this fight, and in
them not above 200 fighting men.' The Spanish ships fought with great
bravery, but were overmatched, being manned with motley and untaught
crews; whereas the Buccaneers had been in constant training to the use of
their arms; and their being in canoes was no great disadvantage, as they
had a smooth sea to fight in. [Sidenote: Richard Sawkins.] The valour of
Richard Sawkins, who, after being three times repulsed, succeeded in
boarding and capturing one of the Spanish ships, was principally
instrumental in gaining the victory to the Buccaneers. It gained him also
their confidence, and the more fully as some among them were thought to
have shewn backwardness, of which number John Coxon, their elected
Commander, appears to have been. The Darien Chiefs were in the heat of the
battle.
[Sidenote: The New City of Panama, four miles Westward of the Old City.
The Buccaneers take several Prizes.] Immediately after the victory, the
Buccaneers stood towards _Panama_, then a new city, and on a different
site from the old, being four miles Westward of the ruins of the city
burnt by Morgan. The old city had yet some inhabitants. The present
adventurers did not judge their strength sufficient for landing, and they
contented themselves with capturing the vessels that were at anchor near
the small Islands of _Perico_, in the road before the city. One of these
vessels was a ship named the Trinidad, of 400 tons burthen, in good
condition, a fast sailer, and had on board a cargo principally consisting
of wine, sugar, and sweetmeats; and moreover a considerable sum of money.
The Spanish crew, before they left her, had both scuttled and set her on
fire, but the Buccaneers took possession in time to extinguish the flames,
and to stop the leaks. In the other prizes they found flour and
ammunition; and two of them, besides the Trinidad, they fitted up for
cruising. Two prize vessels, and a quantity of goods which were of no use
to them, as iron, skins, and soap, which the Spaniards at _Panama_ refused
to ransom, they destroyed. Besides these, they captured among the Islands
some small vessels laden with poultry. Thus in less than a week after
their arrival across the _Isthmus_ to the coast of the _South Sea_, they
were provided with a small fleet, not ill equipped; and with which they
now formed an actual and close blockade by sea, of _Panama_, stationing
themselves at anchor in front of the city.
[Sidenote: Panama, the new City.] This new city was already considerably
larger than old _Panama_ had ever been, its extent being in length full a
mile and a half, and in breadth above a mile. The churches (eight in
number) were not yet finished. The cathedral church at the Old Town was
still in use, 'the beautiful building whereof,' says Ringrose, 'maketh a
fair show at a distance, like unto the church of St. Paul's at _London_.
Round the city for the space of seven leagues, more or less, all the
adjacent country is what they call in the Spanish language, _Savana_, that
is to say, plain and level ground, as smooth as a sheet; only here and
there is to be seen a small spot of woody land. And every where, this
level ground is full of _vacadas_, where whole droves of cows and oxen are
kept. But the ground whereon the city standeth, is damp and moist, and of
bad repute for health. The sea is also very full of worms, much
prejudicial to shipping, for which reason the king's ships are always
kept near _Lima_. We found here in one night after our arrival, worms of
three quarters of an inch in length, both in our bed-cloaths and other
apparel.'
[Sidenote: Coxon and his Men return to the West Indies.] Within two or
three days after the battle with the Spanish Armadilla, discord broke out
among the Buccaneers. The reflections made upon the behaviour of Coxon and
some of his followers, determined him and seventy men to return by the
River of _S^{ta} Maria_ over the _Isthmus_ to the _North Sea_. Two of the
small prize vessels were given them for this purpose, and at the same
time, the Darien Chiefs, Captain Andreas and Captain Antonio, with most of
their people, departed to return to their homes. Andreas shewed his
goodwill towards the Buccaneers who remained in the _South Sea_, by
leaving with them a son and one of his nephews.
[Sidenote: Richard Sawkins chosen Commander.] On the departure of Coxon,
Richard Sawkins was chosen General or Chief Commander. They continued ten
days in the road before _Panama_, at the end of which they retired to an
Island named _Taboga_, more distant, but whence they could see vessels
going to, or coming from, _Panama_. At _Taboga_ they stopped nearly a
fortnight, having had notice that a rich ship from _Lima_ was shortly
expected; but she came not within that time. Some other vessels however
fell into their hands, by which they obtained in specie between fifty and
sixty thousand dollars, 1200 packs of flour, 2000 jars of wine, a quantity
of brandy, sugar, sweetmeats, poultry, and other provisions, some
gunpowder and shot, besides various other articles of merchandise. Among
their prisoners, were a number of negro slaves, which was a temptation to
the merchants of _Panama_, to go to the ships whilst they lay at _Taboga_,
who purchased part of the prize goods, and as many of the negroes as the
Buccaneers would part with, giving for a negro two hundred pieces of
eight; and they also sold to the Buccaneers such stores and commodities
as they were in need of. [Sidenote: May.] Ringrose relates, that in the
course of this communication, a message was delivered to their Chief from
the Governor of _Panama_, demanding, "why, during a time of peace between
_England_ and _Spain_, Englishmen should come into those seas, to commit
injury? and from whom they had their commission so to do?" To which
message, Sawkins returned answer, 'that he and his companions came to
assist their friend the King of _Darien_, who was the rightful Lord of
_Panama_, and all the country thereabouts. That as they had come so far,
it was reasonable they should receive some satisfaction for their trouble;
and if the Governor would send to them 500 pieces of eight for each man,
and 1000 for each commander, and would promise not any farther to annoy
the Darien Indians, their allies, that then the Buccaneers would desist
from hostilities, and go quietly about their business.'
By the Spaniards who traded with them, Sawkins learnt that the Bishop of
_Panama_ was a person whom he had formerly taken prisoner in the _West
Indies_, and sent him a small present as a token of regard; the Bishop
sent a gold ring in return.
[Sidenote: Island Taboga.] Sawkins would have waited longer for the rich
ship expected from _Peru_; but all the live stock within reach had been
consumed, and his men became impatient for fresh provisions. 'This
_Taboga_,' says Sharp, 'is an exceeding pleasant island, abounding in
fruits, such as pine-apples, oranges, lemons, pears, mammees, cocoa-nuts,
and others; with a small, but brave commodious fresh river running in it.
The anchorage is also clear and good.'
[Sidenote: 15th. Island Otoque.] On the 15th of May, they sailed to the
Island _Otoque_, at which place they found hogs and poultry; and, the same
day, or the day following, they departed with three ships and two small
barks, from the Bay of _Panama_, steering Westward for a Spanish town
named _Pueblo Nuevo_.
In this short distance they had much blowing weather and contrary winds,
by which both the small barks, one with fifteen men, the other with seven
men, were separated from the ships, and did not join them again. The crew
of one of these barks returned over the _Isthmus_ with Coxon's party. The
other bark was taken by the Spaniards.
[Sidenote: At Quibo.] About the 21st, the ships anchored near the _Island
Quibo_; from the North part of which, to the town of _Pueblo Nuevo_ on the
main land, was reckoned eight leagues. [Sidenote: Attack of Pueblo Nuevo.]
Sawkins, with sixty men, embarked on board the smallest ship, and sailed
to the entrance of a river which leads to the town. He there left the ship
with a few men to follow him, and proceeded with the rest in canoes up the
river by night, having a negro prisoner for pilot. Those left with the
care of the ship, 'entered the river, keeping close by the East shore, on
which there is a round hill. Within two stones cast of the shore there was
four fathoms depth; and within the point a very fine and large river
opens. But being strangers to the place, the ship was run aground nigh a
rock which lieth by the Westward shore; for the true channel of this river
is nearer to the East than to the West shore. The Island _Quibo_ is SSE
from the mouth of this river[22].'
[Sidenote: Captain Sawkins is killed, and the Buccaneers retreat.] The
canoes met with much obstruction from trees which the Spaniards had felled
across the river; but they arrived before the town during the night. The
Spaniards had erected some works, on which account the Buccaneers waited
in their canoes till daylight, and then landed; when Richard Sawkins,
advancing with the foremost of his men towards a breastwork, was killed,
as were two of his followers. Sharp was the next in command, but he was
disheartened by so unfortunate a beginning, and ordered a retreat. Three
Buccaneers were wounded in the re-embarkation.
In the narrative which Sharp himself published, he says, 'we landed at a
_stockado_ built by the Spaniards, where we had a small rencounter with
the enemy, who killed us three men, whereof the brave Captain Sawkins was
one, and wounded four or five more; besides which we got nothing, so that
we found it our best way to retreat down the river again.'
The death of Sawkins was a great misfortune to the Buccaneers, and was
felt by them as such. One Buccaneer relates, 'Captain Sawkins landing at
_Pueblo Nuevo_ before the rest, as being a man of undaunted courage, and
running up with a small party to a breastwork, was unfortunately killed.
And this disaster occasioned a mutiny amongst our men; for our Commanders
were not thought to be leaders fit for such hard enterprises. Now Captain
Sharp was left in chief, and he was censured by many, and the contest grew
to that degree that they divided into parties, and about 70 of our men
fell off from us.'
[Sidenote: Imposition practised by Sharp.] Ringrose was not in _England_
when his Narrative was published; and advantage was taken of his absence,
to interpolate in it some impudent passages in commendation of Sharp's,
valour. In the printed Narrative attributed to Ringrose, he is made to
say, 'Captain Sawkins in running up to the breastwork at the head of a few
men was killed; a man as valiant and courageous as any could be, and, next
unto Captain Sharp, the best beloved of all our company, or the most part
thereof.'
Ringrose's manuscript Journal has been preserved in the Sloane Collection,
at the _British Museum_ (No. 3820[23] of Ayscough's Catalogue) wherein,
with natural expression of affection and regard, he says, 'Captain Sawkins
was a valiant and generous spirited man, and beloved above any other we
ever had among us, which he well deserved.'
[Sidenote: May. Sharp chosen Commander.] In their retreat down the river
of _Pueblo Nuevo_, the Buccaneers took a ship laden with indigo, butter,
and pitch; and burnt two other vessels. When returned to _Quibo_, they
could not agree in the choice of a commander. Bartholomew Sharp had a
greater number of voices than any other pretender, which he obtained by
boasting that he would take them a cruise whereby he did not at all doubt
they would return home with not less than a thousand pounds to each man.
Sharp was elected by but a small majority. [Sidenote: Some separate, and
return to the West Indies.] Between 60 and 70 men who had remained after
Coxon quitted the command, from attachment to Captain Sawkins, would not
stay to be commanded by Sharp, and departed from _Quibo_ in one of the
prize vessels to return over the _Isthmus_ to the _West Indies_; where
they safely arrived. All the Darien Indians also returned to the
_Isthmus_. One hundred and forty-six Buccaneers remained with Bartholomew
Sharp.
[Sidenote: The Anchorage at Quibo.] 'On the SE side of the Island _Quibo_
is a shoal, or spit of sand, which stretches out a quarter of a league
into the sea[24].' Just within this shoal, in 14 fathoms depth, the
Buccaneer ships lay at anchor. The Island abounded in fresh rivers, this
being the rainy season. They caught red deer, turtle, and oysters.
Ringrose says, 'here were oysters so large that we were forced to cut them
into four pieces, each quarter being a good mouthful.' Here were also
oysters of a smaller kind, from which the Spaniards collected pearls. They
killed alligators at _Quibo_, some above 20 feet in length; 'they were
very fearful, and tried to escape from those who hunted them.' Ringrose
relates, that he stood under a manchineal tree to shelter himself from the
rain, but some drops fell on his skin from the tree, which caused him to
break out all over in red spots, and he was not well for a week
afterwards.
[Sidenote: June.] June the 6th, Sharp and his followers, in two ships,
sailed from _Quibo_ Southward for the coast of _Peru_, intending to stop
by the way at the _Galapagos Islands_; but the winds prevented them.
[Sidenote: Island Gorgona.] On the 17th, they anchored on the South side
of the _Island Gorgona_, near the mouth of a river. '_Gorgona_ is a high
mountainous Island, about four leagues in circuit, and is distant about
four leagues from the Continent. The anchorage is within a pistol-shot of
the shore, in depth from 15 to 20 fathoms. At the SW of _Gorgona_ is a
smaller Island, and without the same stands a small rock[25].' There were
at this time streams of fresh water on every side of the Island.
_Gorgona_ being uninhabited, was thought to be a good place of
concealment. The Island supplied rabbits, monkeys, turtle, oysters, and
birds; which provision was inducement to the Buccaneers, notwithstanding
the rains, to remain there, indulging in idleness, till near the end of
July, when the weather began to be dry. They killed a snake at _Gorgona_,
eleven feet long, and fourteen inches in circumference.
[Sidenote: July.] July the 25th, they put to sea. Sharp had expressed an
intention to attack _Guayaquil_; but he was now of opinion that their long
stay at _Gorgona_ must have occasioned their being discovered by the
Spaniards, 'notwithstanding that he himself had persuaded them to stay;'
their plan was therefore changed for the attack of places more Southward,
where they would be less expected. [Sidenote: Island Plata.] The winds
were from the Southward, and it was not till August the 13th, that they
got as far as the _Island Plata_.
[Sidenote: August.] The only landing at _Plata_ at this time, was on the
NE side, near a deep valley, where the ships anchored in 12 fathoms. Goats
were on this Island in such numbers, that they killed above a hundred in a
day with little labour, and salted what they did not want for present use.
Turtle and fish were in plenty. They found only one small spring of fresh
water, which was near the landing place, and did not yield them more than
20 gallons in the 24 hours. There were no trees on any part of the Island.
[Sidenote: On the Coast of Peru.] From _Plata_ they proceeded Southward.
The 25th, near _Cape St. Elena_, they met a Spanish ship from _Guayaquil_
bound to _Panama_, which they took after a short action in which one
Buccaneer was killed, and two others were wounded. In this prize they
found 3000 dollars. They learnt from their prisoners, that one of the
small buccaneer tenders, which had been separated from Sawkins in sailing
from the _Bay of Panama_, had been taken by the Spaniards, after losing
six men out of seven which composed her crew. [Sidenote: Adventure of a
small Crew of Buccaneers.] Their adventure was as follows. Not being able
to join their Commander Sawkins at _Quibo_, they sailed to the Island
_Gallo_ near the Continent (in about 2 deg. N.) where they found a party of
Spaniards, from whom they took three white women. A few days afterwards,
they put in at another small Island, four leagues distant from _Gallo_,
where they proposed to remain on the lookout, in hopes of seeing some of
their friends come that way, as Sawkins had declared it his intention to
go to the coast of _Peru_. Whilst they were waiting in this expectation, a
Spaniard whom they had kept prisoner, made his escape from them, and got
over to the main land. This small buccaneer crew had the imprudence
nevertheless to remain in the same quarters long enough to give time for a
party of Spaniards to pass over from the main land, which they did
without being perceived, and placed themselves in ambuscade with so much
advantage, that at one volley they killed six Buccaneers out of the seven:
the one remaining became their prisoner.
Sharp and his men divided the small sum of money taken in their last
prize, and sunk her. Ringrose relates, 'we also punished a Friar and shot
him upon the deck, casting him overboard while he was yet alive. I
abhorred such cruelties, yet was forced to hold my tongue.' It is not said
in what manner the Friar had offended, and Sharp does not mention the
circumstance in his Journal.
One of the two vessels in which the Buccaneers cruised, sailed badly, on
which account she was abandoned, and they all embarked in the ship named
the Trinidad.
[Sidenote: September.] On the 4th of September they took a vessel from
_Guayaquil_ bound for _Lima_, with a lading of timber, chocolate, raw
silk, Indian cloth, and thread stockings. It appears here to have been a
custom among the Buccaneers, for the first who boarded an enemy, or
captured vessel, to be allowed some extra privilege of plunder. Ringrose
says, 'we cast dice for the first entrance, and the lot fell to the
larboard watch, so twenty men belonging to that watch, entered her.' They
took out of this vessel as much of the cargo as they chose, and put some
of their prisoners in her; after which they dismissed her with only one
mast standing and one sail, that she should not be able to prosecute her
voyage Southward. [Sidenote: October.] Sharp passed _Callao_ at a distance
from land, being apprehensive there might be ships of war in the road.
October the 26th, he was near the town of _Arica_, when the boats manned
with a large party of Buccaneers departed from the ship with intention to
attack the town; but, on coming near the shore, they found the surf high,
and the whole country appeared to be in arms. [Sidenote: 28th. Ilo.] They
returned to the ship, and it was agreed to bear away for _Ilo_, a small
town on the coast, in latitude about 17 deg. 40' S. Their stock of fresh water
was by this time so reduced, that they had come to an allowance of only
half a pint for a man for the day; and it is related that a pint of water
was sold in the ship for 30 dollars. They succeeded however in landing at
_Ilo_, and obtained there fresh water, wine, fruits, flour, oil,
chocolate, sugar, and other provisions. The Spaniards would give neither
money nor cattle to have their buildings and plantations spared, and the
Buccaneers committed all the mischief they could.
[Sidenote: December. Shoals of Anchovies.] From _Ilo_ they proceeded
Southward. December the 1st, in the night, being in latitude about 31 deg.,
they found themselves in white water, like banks or breakers, which
extended a mile or more in length; but they were relieved from their alarm
by discovering that what they had apprehended to be rocks and breakers was
a large shoal of anchovies.
[Sidenote: On the Coast of Peru. La Serena plundered and burnt.] December
the 3d, they landed at the town of _La Serena_, which they entered without
opposition. Some Spaniards came to negociate with them to ransom the town
from being burnt, for which they agreed to pay 95,000 pieces of eight; but
the money came not at the time appointed, and the Buccaneers had reason to
suspect the Spaniards intended to deceive them. [Sidenote: Attempt of the
Spaniards to burn the Ship.] Ringrose relates, that a man ventured to come
in the night from the shore, on a float made of a horse's hide blown up
like a bladder. 'He being arrived at the ship, went under the stern and
crammed oakum and brimstone and other combustible matter between the
rudder and the stern-post. Having done this, he fired it with a match, so
that in a small time our rudder was on fire, and all the ship in a smoke.
Our men, both alarmed and amazed with this smoke, ran up and down the
ship, suspecting the prisoners to have fired the vessel, thereby to get
their liberty and seek our destruction. At last they found out where the
fire was, and had the good fortune to quench it before its going too far.
After which we sent the boat ashore, and found both the hide
afore-mentioned, and the match burning at both ends, whereby we became
acquainted with the whole matter.'
By the _La Serena_ expedition they obtained five hundred pounds weight of
silver. One of the crew died in consequence of hard drinking whilst on
shore. They released all their prisoners here, except a pilot; after
which, they stood from the Continent for _Juan Fernandez_. In their
approach to that Island, it is remarked by Ringrose, that they saw neither
bird, nor fish; and this being noticed to the pilot, he made answer, that
he had many times sailed by _Juan Fernandez_, and had never seen either
fish or fowl whilst at sea in sight of the Island.
[Sidenote: Island Juan Fernandez.] On Christmas day, they anchored in a
Bay at the South part of _Juan Fernandez_; but finding the winds SE and
Southerly, they quitted that anchorage, and went to a Bay on the North
side of the Island, where they cast anchor in 14 fathoms, so near to the
shore that they fastened the end of another cable from the ship to the
trees; being sheltered by the land from ESE round by the South and West,
and as far as NbW[26]. Their fastenings, however, did not hold the ship
against the strong flurries that blew from the land, and she was twice
forced to sea; but each time recovered the anchorage without much
difficulty.
[Sidenote: 1681. January.] The shore of this bay was covered with seals
and sea lions, whose noise and company were very troublesome to the men
employed in filling fresh water. The seals coveted to lie where streams of
fresh water ran into the sea, which made it necessary to keep people
constantly employed to beat them off. Fish were in the greatest plenty;
and innumerable sea birds had their nests near the shore, which makes the
remark of Ringrose on approaching the Island the more extraordinary.
Craw-fish and lobsters were in abundance; and on the Island itself goats
were in such plenty, that, besides what they eat during their stay, they
killed about a hundred for salting, and took away as many alive.
[Sidenote: Sharp deposed from the Command. Watling elected Commander.]
Here new disagreements broke out among the Buccaneers. Some wished to sail
immediately homeward by the _Strait of Magalhanes_; others desired to try
their fortune longer in the _South Sea_. Sharp was of the party for
returning home; but in the end the majority deposed him from the command,
and elected for his successor John Watling, 'an old privateer, and
esteemed a stout seaman.' Articles were drawn up in writing between
Watling and the crew, and subscribed.
One Narrative says, 'the true occasion of the grudge against Sharp was,
that he had got by these adventures almost a thousand pounds, whereas many
of our men were scarce worth a groat; and good reason there was for their
poverty, for at the _Isle of Plate_ and other places, they had lost all
their money to their fellow Buccaneers at dice; so that some had a great
deal, and others, just nothing. Those who were thrifty sided with Captain
Sharp, but the others, being the greatest number, turned Sharp out of his
command; and Sharp's party were persuaded to have patience, seeing they
were the fewest, and had money to lose, which the other party had not.'
Dampier says Sharp was displaced by general consent, the company not being
satisfied either with his courage or his conduct.
Watling began his command by ordering the observance of the Sabbath. 'This
day, January the 9th,' says Ringrose, 'was the first Sunday that ever we
kept by command since the loss and death of our valiant Commander Captain
Sawkins, who once threw the dice overboard, finding them in use on the
said day.'
[Sidenote: 11th. 12th. They sail from Juan Fernandez.] The 11th, two boats
were sent from the ship to a distant part of the Island to catch goats. On
the following morning, the boats were seen returning in great haste, and
firing muskets to give alarm. When arrived on board, they gave information
that three sail, which they believed to be Spanish ships of war, were in
sight of the Island, and were making for the anchorage. In half an hour
after this notice, the strange ships were seen from the Bay; upon which,
all the men employed on shore in watering, hunting, and other occupations,
were called on board with the utmost speed; and not to lose time, the
cable was slipped, and the ship put to sea. [Sidenote: William, a Mosquito
Indian, left on the island.] It happened in this hurry of quitting the
Island, that one of the Mosquito Indians who had come with the Buccaneers,
and was by them called William, was absent in the woods hunting goats, and
heard nothing of the alarm. No time could be spared for search, and the
ship sailed without him. This it seems was not the first instance of a
solitary individual being left to inhabit _Juan Fernandez_. Their Spanish
pilot affirmed to them, that 'many years before, a ship had been cast away
there, and only one man saved, who lived alone upon the Island five years,
when another ship coming that way, took him off.'
The three vessels whose appearance caused them in such haste to quit their
anchorage, were armed Spanish ships. They remained in sight of the
Buccaneer ship two days, but no inclination appeared on either side to try
the event of a battle. The Buccaneers had not a single great gun in their
ship, and must have trusted to their musketry and to boarding.
[Sidenote: 13th.] On the evening of the 13th after dark, they resigned the
honour of the field to the Spaniards, and made sail Eastward for the
American coast, with design to attack _Arica_, which place they had been
informed contained great riches.
[Sidenote: January 26th. Island Yqueque. River de Camarones.] The 26th,
they were close to the small Island named _Yqueque_, about 25 leagues to
the South of _Arica_, where they plundered a small Indian village of
provisions, and took two old Spaniards and two Indians prisoners. This
Island was destitute of fresh water, and the inhabitants were obliged to
supply themselves from the Continent, at a river named _De Camarones_, 11
Spanish leagues to the North of _Yqueque_. The people on _Yqueque_ were
the servants and slaves of the Governor of _Arica_, and were employed by
him to catch and dry fish, which were disposed of to great profit among
the inland towns of the Continent. The Indians here eat much and often of
certain leaves 'which were in taste much like to the bay leaves in
England, by the continual use of which their teeth were dyed of a green
colour.'
[Sidenote: 27th.] The 27th, Watling examined one of the old Spaniards
concerning the force at _Arica_; and being offended at his answers,
ordered him to be shot, which was done. The same morning they took a small
bark from the River _Camarones_, laden with fresh water.
[Sidenote: On the Coast of Peru.] In the night of the 28th, Watling with
one hundred men departed from the ship in the small prize bark and boats
for _Arica_. They put ashore on the mainland about five leagues to the
South of _Arica_, before it was light, and remained concealed among rocks
all day. [Sidenote: 30th. They attack Arica.] At night, they again
proceeded, and at daylight (on the 30th) Watling landed with 92 men, four
miles from the town, to which they marched, and gained entrance, with the
loss of three men killed, and two wounded. There was a castle or fort,
which for their own security they ought immediately to have attacked; but
Watling was only intent on making prisoners, until he was incommoded, with
more than could be well guarded. This gave the inhabitants who had fled,
time to recover from their alarm, and they collected in the Fort. To
complete the mistake, Watling at length advanced to attack the fort, where
he found resistance more than he expected. [Sidenote: Are Repulsed.]
Watling put in practice the expedient of placing his prisoners in front of
his own men; but the defenders of the fort were not a whit deterred
thereby from firing on the Buccaneers, who were twice repulsed. The
Spaniards without, in the mean time, began to make head from all parts;
and in a little time the Buccaneers, from being the assailants, found
themselves obliged to look to their defence. [Sidenote: Watling killed.]
Watling their chief was killed, as were two quarter-masters, the
boatswain, and some others of their best men; and the rest thought it
necessary to retreat to their boats, which, though harassed the whole way
by a distant firing from the Spaniards, they effected in tolerable order,
and embarked.
In this attack, the Buccaneers lost in killed, and taken prisoners by the
Spaniards, 28 men; and of those who got back to the ship, eighteen were
wounded. Among the men taken by the Spaniards were two surgeons, to whose
care the wounded had been committed. 'We could have brought off our
doctors,' says Ringrose, 'but they got to drinking whilst we were
assaulting the fort, and when we called to them, they would not come with
us.' The Spaniards gave quarter to the surgeons, 'they being able to do
them good service in that country: but as to the wounded men taken
prisoners, they were all knocked on the head.'
The whole party that landed at _Arica_ narrowly escaped destruction; for
the Spaniards learnt from the prisoners they took, the signals which had
been agreed upon with the men left in charge of the boats; of which
information they made such use, that the boats had quitted their station,
and set sail to run down to the town; but some Buccaneers who had been
most speedy in the retreat, arrived at the sea side just in time to call
them back.
[Sidenote: Sharp again chosen Commander.] This miscarriage so much
disheartened the whole Buccaneer crew, that they made no attempt to take
three ships which were at anchor in the road before _Arica_. Sharp was
reinstated in the command, because he was esteemed a leader of safer
conduct than any other; and every one was willing to quit the _South Sea_,
but which it was now proposed they should do by re-crossing the _Isthmus_.
[Sidenote: March. Huasco.] They did not, however, immediately steer
Northward; but continued to beat up against the wind to the Southward,
till the 10th of March, when they landed at _Guasco_ or _Huasco_ (in lat.
about 28-1/2 deg.) from which place they carried off 120 sheep, 80 goats, 200
bushels of corn, and filled their jars with fresh water.
From _Huasco_ they stood to the North. On the 27th, they passed _Arica_.
The Narrative remarks, 'our former entertainment had been so very bad,
that we were no ways encouraged to stop there again.' [Sidenote: Ylo.]
They landed at _Ylo_, of which Wafer says, 'the _River Ylo_ is situated in
a valley which is the finest I have seen in all the coast of _Peru_, and
furnished with a multitude of vegetables. A great dew falls here every
night.'
[Sidenote: April.] April the 16th, they were near the Island _Plata_. By
this time new opinions and new projects had been formed. Many of the crew
were again willing to try their fortune longer in the _South Sea_; but one
party would not continue under the command of Sharp, and others would not
consent to choosing a new commander. As neither party would yield, it was
determined to separate, and agreed upon by all hands, 'that which party
soever upon polling should be found to have the majority, should keep the
ship.' The other party was to have the long-boat and the canoes. On coming
to a division, Sharp's party proved the most numerous. The minority
consisted of forty-four Europeans, two Mosquito Indians, and a Spanish
Indian. [Sidenote: Another Party of the Buccaneers return across the
Isthmus.] On the forenoon of the 17th, the party in the boats separated
from the ship, and proceeded for the _Gulf de San Miguel_, where they
landed, and returned over the _Isthmus_ back to the _West Indies_. In this
party were William Dampier, and Lionel Wafer the surgeon. Dampier
afterwards published a brief sketch of the expedition, and an account of
his return across the _Isthmus_, both of which are in the 1st volume of
his Voyages. Wafer met with an accidental hurt whilst on the _Isthmus_,
which disabled him from travelling with his countrymen, and he remained
some months living with the Darien Indians, of whom he afterwards
published an entertaining description, with a Narrative of his own
adventures among them.
[Sidenote: Further Proceedings of Sharp and his Followers.] Sharp and his
diminished crew sailed in their ship from the Island _Plata_ Northward to
the _Gulf of Nicoya_, where they met with no booty, nor with any adventure
worth mentioning.
[Sidenote: July.] They returned Southward to the Island _Plata_, and in
the way took three prizes: the first, a ship named the San Pedro, from
_Guayaquil_ bound for _Panama_, with a lading of cocoa-nuts, and 21,000
pieces of eight in chests, and 16,000 in bags, besides plate. The money in
bags and all the loose plunder was divided, each man receiving for his
share 234 pieces of eight; whence it may be inferred that their number was
reduced to about 70 men. The rest of the money was reserved for a future
division. Their second prize was a packet from _Panama_ bound for
_Callao_, by which they learnt that in _Panama_ it was believed all the
Buccaneers had returned overland to the _West Indies_. The third was a
ship named the _San Rosario_, which did not submit to them without
resistance, nor till her Captain was killed. She was from _Callao_, laden
with wine, brandy, oil, and fruit, and had in her as much money as yielded
to each Buccaneer 94 dollars. One Narrative says a much greater booty was
missed through ignorance. 'Besides the lading already mentioned, we found
in the San Rosario 700 pigs of plate, which we supposed to be tin, and
under this mistake, they were slighted by us all, especially by the
Captain, who would not by persuasions used by some few be induced to take
them into our ship, as we did most of the other things. Thus we left them
in the _Rosario_, which we turned away loose into the sea. This, it should
seem, was plate, not thoroughly refined and fitted for coin, which
occasioned our being deceived. We took only one pig of the seven hundred
into our ship, thinking to make bullets of it; and to this effect, or what
else our seamen pleased, the greatest part of it was melted and squandered
away. Afterwards, when we arrived at _Antigua_, we gave the remaining part
(which was about one-third thereof) to a _Bristol_ man, who knew presently
what it was; who brought it to _England_, and sold it there for 75_l._
sterling. Thus we parted with the richest booty we got in the whole
voyage, through our own ignorance and laziness[27].'
The same Narrative relates, that they took out of the Rosario 'a great
book full of sea charts and maps, containing an accurate and exact
description of all the ports, soundings, rivers, capes, and coasts, of the
_South Sea_, and all the navigation usually performed by the Spaniards in
that ocean. This book was for its novelty and curiosity presented unto His
Majesty on the return of some of the Buccaneers to _England_, and was
translated into English by His Majesty's order[28].'
[Sidenote: August.] August the 12th, they anchored at the Island _Plata_,
whence they departed on the 16th, bound Southward, intending to return by
the _Strait of Magalhanes_ or _Strait le Maire_, to the _West Indies_.
The 28th, they looked in at _Paita_; but finding the place prepared for
defence, they stood off from the coast, and pursued their course
Southward, without again coming in sight of land, and without the
occurrence of any thing remarkable, till they passed the 50th degree of
latitude.
[Sidenote: October 12th. By the Western Coast of America, in 50 deg. 50' S.]
October the 11th, they were in latitude 49 deg. 54' S, and estimated their
distance from the American coast to be 120 leagues. The wind blew strong
from the SW, and they stood to the South East. On the morning of the 12th,
two hours before day, being in latitude by account 50 deg. 50' S, they
suddenly found themselves close to land. The ship was ill prepared for
such an event, the fore yard having been lowered to ease her, on account
of the strength of the wind. 'The land was high and towering; and here
appeared many Islands scattered up and down.' They were so near, and so
entangled, that there was no possibility of standing off to sea, and, with
such light as they had, they steered, as cautiously as they could, in
between some Islands, and along an extensive coast, which, whether it was
a larger Island, or part of the Continent, they could not know. [Sidenote:
They enter a Gulf.] As the day advanced, the land was seen to be
mountainous and craggy, and the tops covered with snow. Sharp says, 'we
bore up for a harbour, and steered in Northward about five leagues. On the
North side there are plenty of harbours[29].' [Sidenote: Shergall's
Harbour.] At 11 in the forenoon they came to an anchor 'in a harbour, in
45 fathoms, within a stone's cast of the shore, where the ship was
landlocked, and in smooth water. As the ship went in, one of the crew,
named Henry Shergall, fell overboard as he was going into the spritsail
top, and was drowned; on which account this was named _Shergall's
Harbour_.'
The bottom was rocky where the ship had anchored; a boat was therefore
sent to look for better anchorage. They did not however shift their birth
that day; and during the night, strong flurries of wind from the hills,
joined with the sharpness of the rocks at the bottom, cut their cable in
two, and they were obliged to set sail. [Sidenote: Another Harbour.] They
ran about a mile to another bay, where they let go another anchor, and
moored the ship with a fastening to a tree on shore.
They shot geese, and other wild-fowl. On the shores they found large
muscles, cockles like those in _England_, and limpets: here were also
penguins, which were shy and not taken without pursuit; 'they padded on
the water with their wings very fast, but their bodies were too heavy to
be carried by the said wings.'
[Sidenote: 15th.] The first part of the time they lay in this harbour,
they had almost continual rain. On the night of the 15th, in a high North
wind, the tree to which their cable was fastened gave way, and came up by
the root, in consequence of which, the stern of the ship took the ground
and damaged the rudder. They secured the ship afresh by fastening the
cable to other trees; but were obliged to unhang the rudder to repair.
[Sidenote: 18th.] The 18th was a day of clear weather. The latitude was
observed 50 deg. 40' S. The difference of the rise and fall of the tide was
seven feet perpendicular: the time of high water is not noted. [Sidenote:
The Gulf is named the English Gulf. Duke of York's Islands.] The arm of
the sea, or gulf, in which they were, they named the _English Gulf_; and
the land forming the harbour, the _Duke of York's Island_; 'more by guess
than any thing else; for whether it were an Island or Continent was not
discovered,' Ringrose says, 'I am persuaded that the place where we now
are, is not so great an Island as some Hydrographers do lay it down, but
rather an archipelago of smaller Islands. Our Captain gave to them the
name of the _Duke of York's Islands_. Our boat which went Eastward, found
several good bays and harbours, with deep water close to the shore; but
there lay in them several sunken rocks, as there did also in the harbour
where the ship lay. These rocks are less dangerous to shipping, by reason
they have weeds lying about them.'
[Sidenote: Sharp's English Gulf, the Brazo de la Concepcion of Sarmiento.]
From all the preceding description, it appears, that they were at the
South part of the Island named _Madre de Dios_ in the Spanish Atlas, which
Island is South of the Channel, or Arm of the Sea, named the _Gulf de la
S^{ma} Trinidada_; and that Sharp's _English Gulf_ is the _Brazo de la
Concepcion_ of Sarmiento.
Ringrose has drawn a sketch of the _Duke of York's Islands_, and one of
the _English Gulf_; but which are not worth copying, as they have neither
compass, meridian line, scale, nor soundings. He has given other plan's in
the same defective manner, on which account they can be of little use. It
is necessary however to remark a difference in the plan which has been
printed of the _English Gulf_, from the plan in the manuscript. In the
printed copy, the shore of the _Gulf_ is drawn as one continued line,
admitting no thoroughfare; whereas, in the manuscript plan, there are
clear openings leaving a prospect of channels through.
[Sidenote: Natives.] Towards the end of October, the weather settled fair.
Hitherto they had seen no inhabitants; but on the 27th, a party went from
the ship in a boat, on an excursion in search of provisions, and unhappily
caught sight of a small boat belonging to the natives of the land.
[Sidenote: One of them killed by the Buccaneers.] The ship's boat rowed in
pursuit, and the natives, a man, a woman, and a boy, finding their boat
would be overtaken, all leapt overboard and swam towards shore. This
villainous crew of Buccaneers had the barbarity to shoot at them in the
water, and they shot the man dead; the woman made her escape to land; the
boy, a stout lad about eighteen years of age, was taken, and with the
Indian boat, was carried to the ship.
The poor lad thus made prisoner had only a small covering of seal skin.
'He was squint-eyed, and his hair was cut short. The _doree_, or boat, in
which he and the other Indians were, was built sharp at each end and flat
bottomed: in the middle they had a fire burning for dressing victuals, or
other use. They had a net to catch penguins, a club like to our bandies,
and wooden darts. This young Indian appeared by his actions to be very
innocent and foolish. He could open large muscles with his fingers, which
our Buccaneers could scarcely manage with their knives. He was very wild,
and would eat raw flesh.'
[Sidenote: November.] By the beginning of November the rudder was repaired
and hung. Ringrose says, 'we could perceive, now the stormy weather was
blown over, much small fry of fish about the ship, whereof before we saw
none. The weather began to be warm, or rather hot, and the birds, as
thrushes and blackbirds, to sing as sweetly as those in England.'
[Sidenote: Native of Patagonia carried away.] On the 5th of November, they
sailed out of the _English Gulf_, taking with them their young Indian
prisoner, to whom they gave the name of Orson. As they departed, the
natives on some of the lands to the Eastward made great fires. At six in
the evening the ship was without the mouth of the _Gulf_: the wind blew
fresh from NW, and they stood out SWbW, to keep clear of breakers which
lie four leagues without the entrance of the _Gulf_ to the South and SSE.
Many reefs and rocks were seen hereabouts, on account of which, they kept
close to the wind till they were a good distance clear of the land.
Their navigation from here to the _Atlantic_ was, more than could have
been imagined, like the journey of travellers by night in a strange
country without a guide. The weather was stormy, and they would not
venture to steer in for the _Strait of Magalhanes_, which they had
purposed to do for the benefit of the provision which the shores of the
_Strait_ afford of fresh water, fish, vegetables, and wood. They ran to
the South to go round the _Tierra del Fuego_, having the wind from the NW,
which was the most favourable for this navigation; but they frequently lay
to, because the weather was thick. [Sidenote: Passage round Cape Horn.] On
the 12th, they had not passed the _Tierra del Fuego_. The latitude
according to observation that day was 55 deg. 25', and the course they steered
was SSE. [Sidenote: 14th. Appearance like Land. Latitude observed, 57 deg. 50'
S.] On the 14th, Ringrose says, 'the latitude was observed 57 deg. 50' S, and
on this day we could perceive land, from which at noon we were due West.'
They steered EbS, and expected that at daylight the next morning they
should be close in with the land; but the weather became cloudy with much
fall of snow, and nothing more of it was seen. No longitude or meridian
distance is noticed, and it must remain doubtful whether what they took
for land was floating ice; or their observation for the latitude
erroneous, and that they saw the _Isles of Diego Ramirez_.
[Sidenote: Ice Islands.] Three days afterwards, in latitude 58 deg. 30' S,
they fell in with Ice Islands, one of which they reckoned to be two
leagues in circumference. A strong current set here Southward. They held
on their course Eastward so far that when at length they did sail
Northward, they saw neither the _Tierra del Fuego_ nor _Staten Island_.
[Sidenote: December.] December the 5th, they divided the plunder which had
been reserved, each man's share of which amounted to 328 pieces of eight.
Their course was now bent for the _West Indies_.
[Sidenote: 1682. January.] January the 15th, died William Stephens, a
seaman, whose death was attributed to his having eaten three manchineal
apples six months before, when on the coast of _New Spain_, 'from which
time he wasted away till he became a perfect skeleton.'
[Sidenote: Arrive in the West Indies.] January the 28th, 1682, they made
the Island of _Barbadoes_, but learnt that the Richmond, a British
frigate, was lying in the road. Ringrose and his fellow journalists say,
'we having acted in all our voyage without a commission, dared not be so
bold as to put in, lest the said frigate should seize us for pyrateering,
and strip us of all we had got in the whole voyage.' They next sailed to
_Antigua_; but the Governor at that Island, Colonel Codrington, would not
give them leave to enter the harbour, though they endeavoured to soften
him by sending a present of jewels to his lady, which, however, were not
accepted. Sharp and his crew grew impatient at their uneasy situation, and
came to a determination to separate. Some of them landed at _Antigua_;
Sharp and others landed at _Nevis_, whence they got passage to _England_.
Their ship, which was the Trinidad captured in the _Bay of Panama_, was
left to seven men of the company who had lost their money by gaming. The
Buccaneer journals say nothing of their Patagonian captive Orson after the
ship sailed from his country; and what became of the ship after Sharp
quitted her does not appear.
[Sidenote: Bart. Sharp and some of his men tried for Piracy.] Bartholomew
Sharp, and a few others, on their arrival in _England_, were apprehended,
and a Court of Admiralty was held at the _Marshalsea_ in _Southwark_,
where, at the instance of the Spanish Ambassador, they were tried for
committing acts of piracy in the _South Sea_; but from the defectiveness
of the evidence produced, they escaped conviction. One of the principal
charges against them was for taking the Spanish ship Rosario, and killing
the Captain and another man belonging to her; 'but it was proved,' says
the author of the anonymous Narrative, who was one of the men brought to
trial, 'that the Spaniards fired at us first and it was judged that we
ought to defend ourselves.' Three Buccaneers of Sharp's crew were also
tried at _Jamaica_, one of whom was condemned and hanged, 'who,' the
narrator says, 'was wheedled into an open confession: the other two stood
it out, and escaped for want of witnesses to prove the fact against them.'
Thus terminated what may be called the First Expedition of the Buccaneers
in the _South Sea_; the boat excursion by Morgan's men in the _Bay of
Panama_ being of too little consequence to be so reckoned. They had now
made successful experiment of the route both by sea and land; and the
Spaniards in the _South Sea_ had reason to apprehend a speedy renewal of
their visits.
Carlos Enriquez Clerck, who went from _England_ with Captain Narbrough,
was at this time executed at _Lima_, on a charge of holding correspondence
with the English of _Jamaica_; which act of severity probably is
attributable more to the alarm which prevailed in the Government of
_Peru_, than to any guilty practices of Clerck.