_Retreat of the =French Buccaneers= across =New Spain= to the
=West Indies=. All the =Buccaneers= quit the =South Sea=._
[Sidenote: 1687. June. Le Picard and Hout.] The party left by Davis
consisted of 250 Buccaneers, the greater number of whom were French, the
rest were English, and their leaders Le Picard and George Hout. They had
determined to quit the _South Sea_, and with that view to sail to the
coast of _New Spain_, whence they proposed to march over land to the shore
of the _Caribbean Sea_.
[Sidenote: July. On the Coast of New Spain.] About the end of July, they
anchored in the _Bay of Amapalla_, and were joined there by thirty French
Buccaneers. These thirty were part of a crew which had formerly quitted
Grogniet to cruise towards _California_. Others of that party were still
on the coast to the North-West, and the Buccaneers in _Amapalla Bay_ put
to sea in search of them, that all of their fraternity in the _South Sea_
might be collected, and depart together.
In the search after their former companions, they landed at different
places on the coast of _New Spain_. Among their adventures here,
they took, and remained four days in possession of, the Town of
_Tecoantepeque_, but without any profit to themselves. At _Guatulco_, they
plundered some plantations, and obtained provisions in ransom for
prisoners. Whilst they lay there at anchor, they saw a vessel in the
offing, which from her appearance, and manner of working her sails, they
believed to contain the people they were seeking; but the wind and sea set
so strong on the shore at the time, that neither their vessels nor boats
could go out to ascertain what she was; and after that day, they did not
see her again.
[Sidenote: December. In Amapalla Bay.] In the middle of December they
returned to the _Bay of Amapalla_, which they had fixed upon for the place
of their departure from the shores of the _South Sea_. Their plan was, to
march by the town of _Nueva Segovia_, which had before been visited by
Buccaneers, and they now expected would furnish them with provisions.
According to Lussan's information, the distance they would have to travel
by land from _Amapalla Bay_, was about 60 leagues, when they would come to
the source of a river, by which they could descend to the _Caribbean Sea_,
near to _Cape Gracias a Dios_.
Whilst they made preparation for their march, they were anxious to obtain
intelligence what force the Spaniards had in their proposed route, but the
natives kept at a distance. On the 18th, seventy Buccaneers landed and
marched into the country, of which adventure Lussan gives the account
following. They travelled the whole day without meeting an inhabitant.
They rested for the night, and next morning proceeded in their journey,
but all seemed a desert, and about noon, the majority were dissatisfied
and turned back. Twenty went on; and soon after came to a beaten road, on
which they perceived three horsemen riding towards them, whom they
way-laid so effectually as to take them all. [Sidenote: Chiloteca.] By
these men they learnt the way to a small town named _Chiloteca_, to which
they went and there made fifty of the inhabitants prisoners. [Sidenote:
Massacre of Prisoners.] They took up their quarters in the church, where
they also lodged their prisoners, and intended to have rested during the
night; but after dark, they heard much bustle in the town, which made them
apprehensive the Spaniards were preparing to attack them, and the noise
caused in the prisoners the appearance of a disposition to rise; upon
which, the Buccaneers slew them all except four, whom they carried away
with them, and reached the vessels without being molested in their
retreat.
The prisoners were interrogated; and the accounts they gave confirmed the
Buccaneers in the opinion that they had no better chance of transporting
themselves and their plunder to the _North Sea_, than by immediately
setting about the execution of the plan they had formed. [Sidenote: The
Buccaneers burn their Vessels.] To settle the order of the march, they
landed their riches and the stores necessary for their journey, on one of
the Islands in the Bay; and that their number might not suffer diminution
by the defection of any, it was agreed to destroy the vessels, which was
executed forthwith, with the reserve of one galley and the canoes, which
were necessary for the transport of themselves and their effects to the
main land. They made a muster of their force, which they divided into four
companies, each consisting of seventy men, and every man having his arms
and accoutrements. Whilst these matters were arranging, a detachment of
100 men were sent to the main land to endeavour to get horses.
They had destroyed their vessels, and had not removed from the Island,
when a large Spanish armed ship anchored in _Amapalla Bay_; but she was
not able to give them annoyance, nor in the least to impede their
operations. [Sidenote: 1688. January.] On the 1st of January, 1688, they
passed over, with their effects, to the main land, and the same day, the
party which had gone in search of horses, returned, bringing with them
sixty-eight, which were divided equally among the four companies, to be
employed in carrying stores and provisions, as were eighty prisoners, who
besides being carriers of stores, were made to carry the sick and wounded.
Every Buccaneer had his particular sack, or package, which it was required
should contain his ammunition; what else, was at his own discretion.
Many of these Buccaneers had more silver than themselves were able to
carry. There were also many who had neither silver nor gold, and were
little encumbered with effects of their own: these light freighted gentry
were glad to be hired as porters to the rich, and the contract for
carrying silver, on this occasion, was one half; that is to say, that on
arriving at the _North Sea_, there should be an equal division between the
employer and the carrier. Carriage of gold or other valuables was
according to particular agreement. Lussan, who no doubt was as sharp a
rogue as any among his companions, relates of himself, that he had been
fortunate at play, and that his winnings added to his share of plunder,
amounted to 30,000 pieces of eight, the whole of which he had converted
into gold and jewels; and that whilst they were making ready for their
march, he received warning from a friend that a gang had been formed by
about twenty of the poorer Buccaneers, with the intention to waylay and
strip those of their brethren, who had been most fortunate. On considering
the danger and great difficulty of having to guard against the
machinations of hungry conspirators who were to be his fellow-travellers
in a long journey, and might have opportunities to perpetrate their
mischievous intentions during any fight with the Spaniards, Lussan came to
the resolution of making a sacrifice of part of his riches to insure the
remaining part, and to lessen the temptation to any individual to seek his
death. To this end he divided his treasure into a number of small parcels,
which he confided to the care of so many of his companions, making
agreement with each for the carriage.
[Sidenote: Retreat of the Buccaneers over land to the West Indian Sea.]
January the 2d, in the morning, they began their march, an advanced guard
being established to consist of ten men from each company, who were to be
relieved every morning by ten others. At night they rested at four leagues
distance, according to their estimation, from the border of the sea.
The first part of Lussan's account of this journey has little of adventure
or description. The difficulties experienced were what had been foreseen,
such as the inhabitants driving away cattle and removing provisions,
setting fire to the dry grass when it could annoy them in their march; and
sometimes the Buccaneers were fired at by unseen shooters. They rested at
villages and farms when they found any in their route, where, and also by
making prisoners, they obtained provisions. When no habitations or
buildings were at hand, they generally encamped at night on a hill, or in
open ground. Very early in their march they were attended by a body of
Spanish troops at a small distance, the music of whose trumpets afforded
them entertainment every morning and evening; 'but,' says Lussan, 'it was
like the music of the enchanted palace of Psyche, which was heard without
the musicians being visible.'
On the forenoon of the 9th, notwithstanding their vigilance, the
Buccaneers were saluted with an unexpected volley of musketry which killed
two men; and this was the only mischance that befel them in their march
from the Western Sea to _Segovia_, which town they entered on the 11th of
January, without hindrance, and found it without inhabitants, and cleared
of every kind of provisions.
[Sidenote: Town of New Segovia.] 'The town of _Segovia_ is situated in a
vale, and is so surrounded with mountains that it seems to be a prisoner
there. The churches are ill built. The place of arms, or parade, is large
and handsome, as are many of the houses. It is distant from the shore of
the _South Sea_ forty leagues: The road is difficult, the country being
extremely mountainous.'
On the 12th, they left _Segovia_ and without injuring the houses, a
forbearance to which they had little accustomed themselves; but present
circumstances brought to their consideration that if it should be their
evil fortune to be called to account, it might be quite as well for them
not to add the burning of _Segovia_ to the reckoning.
The 13th, an hour before sunset, they ascended a hill, which appeared a
good station to occupy for the night. When they arrived at the summit,
they perceived on the slope of the next mountain before them, a great
number of horses grazing (Lussan says between twelve and fifteen hundred),
which at the first sight they mistook for horned cattle, and congratulated
each other on the near prospect of a good meal; but it was soon discovered
they were horses, and that a number of them were saddled: intrenchments
also were discerned near the same place, and finally, troops. This part of
the country was a thick forest, with deep gullies, and not intersected
with any path excepting the road they were travelling, which led across
the mountain where the Spaniards were intrenched. On reconnoitring the
position of the Spaniards, the road beyond them was seen to the right of
the intrenchments. The Buccaneers on short consultation, determined that
they would endeavour under cover of the night to penetrate the wood to
their right, so as to arrive at the road beyond the Spanish camp, and come
on it by surprise.
This plan was similar to that which they had projected at _Guayaquil_, and
was a business exactly suited to the habits and inclinations of these
adventurers, who more than any other of their calling, or perhaps than the
native tribes of _North America_, were practised and expert in veiling
their purpose so as not to awaken suspicion; in concealing themselves by
day and making silent advances by night, and in all the arts by which even
the most wary may be ensnared. Here, immediately after fixing their plan,
they began to intrench and fortify the ground they occupied, and made all
the dispositions which troops usually do who halt for the night. This
encampment, besides impressing the Spaniards with the belief that they
intended to pass the night in repose, was necessary to the securing their
baggage and prisoners.
Rest seemed necessary and due to the Buccaneers after a toilsome day's
march, and so it was thought by the Spanish Commander, who seeing them
fortify their quarters, doubted not that they meant to do themselves
justice; but an hour after the close of day, two hundred Buccaneers
departed from their camp. The moon shone out bright, which gave them light
to penetrate the woods, whilst the woods gave them concealment from the
Spaniards, and the Spaniards kept small lookout. Before midnight, they
were near enough to hear the Spaniards chanting Litanies, and long before
daylight were in the road beyond the Spanish encampment. They waited till
the day broke, and then pushed for the camp, which, as had been
conjectured, was entirely open on this side. Two Spanish sentinels
discovered the approach of the enemy, and gave alarm; but the Buccaneers
were immediately after in the camp, and the Spanish troops disturbed from
their sleep had neither time nor recollection for any other measure than
to save themselves by flight. They abandoned all the intrenchments, and
the Buccaneers being masters of the pass, were soon joined by the party
who had charge of the baggage and prisoners. In this affair, the loss of
the Buccaneers was only two men killed, and four wounded.
In the remaining part of their journey, they met no serious obstruction,
and were not at any time distressed by a scarcity of provisions. Lussan
says they led from the Spanish encampment 900 horses, which served them
for carriage, for present food, and to salt for future provision when they
should arrive at the sea shore.
[Sidenote: Rio de Yare, or Cape River.] On the 17th of January, which was
the 16th of their journey, they came to the banks of a river by which they
were to descend to the _Caribbean Sea_. This river has its source among
the mountains of _Nueva Segovia_, and falls into the sea to the South of
_Cape Gracias a Dios_ about 14 leagues, according to D'Anville's Map, in
which it is called _Rio de Yare_. Dampier makes it fall into the sea
something more to the Southward, and names it the _Cape River_.
The country here was not occupied nor frequented by the Spaniards, and was
inhabited only in a few places by small tribes of native Americans. The
Buccaneers cut down trees, and made rafts or catamarans for the conveyance
of themselves and their effects down the stream. On account of the falls,
the rafts were constructed each to carry no more than two persons with
their luggage, and every man went provided with a pole to guide the raft
clear of rocks and shallows.
In the commencement of this fresh-water navigation, their maritime
experience, with all the pains they could take, did not prevent their
getting into whirlpools, where the rafts were overturned, with danger to
the men and frequently with the loss of part of the lading. When they came
to a fall which appeared more than usually dangerous, they put ashore,
took their rafts to pieces, and carried all below the fall, where they
re-accommodated matters and embarked again. The rapidity of the stream
meeting many obstructions, raised a foam and spray that kept every thing
on the rafts constantly wet; the salted horse flesh was in a short time
entirely spoilt, and their ammunition in a state not to be of service in
supplying them with game. Fortunately for them the banks of the river
abounded in banana-trees, both wild and in plantations.
When they first embarked on the river, the rafts went in close company;
but the irregularity and violence of the stream, continually entangled and
drove them against each other, on which account the method was changed,
and distances preserved. This gave opportunity to the desperadoes who had
conspired against their companions to commence their operations, which
they directed against five Englishmen, whom they killed and despoiled. The
murderers absconded in the woods with their prey, and were not afterwards
seen by the company.
[Sidenote: February, 1688.] The 20th of February they had passed all the
falls, and were at a broad deep and smooth part of the river, where they
found no other obstruction than trees and drift-wood floating. As they
were near the sea, many stopped and began to build canoes. Some English
Buccaneers who went lower down the river, found at anchor an English
vessel belonging to _Jamaica_, from which they learnt that the French
Government had just proclaimed an amnesty in favour of those who since the
Peace made with _Spain_ had committed acts of piracy, upon condition of
their claiming the benefit of the Proclamation within a specified time. A
similar proclamation had been issued in the year 1687 by the English
Government; but as it was not clear from the report made by the crew of
the _Jamaica_ vessel, whether it yet operated, the English Buccaneers
would not embark for _Jamaica_. They sent by two Mosquito Indians, an
account of the news they had heard to the French Buccaneers, with notice
that there was a vessel at the mouth of the river capable of accommodating
not more than forty persons. Immediately on receiving the intelligence,
above a hundred of the French set off in all haste for the vessel, every
one of whom pretended to be of the forty. Those who first arrived on
board, took up the anchor as speedily as they could, and set sail, whilst
those who were behind called loudly for a decision by lot or dice; but the
first comers were content to rest their title on possession.
The English Buccaneers remained for the present with the Mosquito Indians
near _Cape Gracias a Dios_, 'who,' says Lussan, 'have an affection for the
English, on account of the many little commodities which they bring them
from the Island of _Jamaica_.' The greater part of the French Buccaneers
went to the French settlements; but seventy-five of them who went to
_Jamaica_, were apprehended and detained prisoners by the Duke of
Albemarle, who was then Governor, and their effects sequestrated. They
remained in prison until the death of the Duke, which happened in the
following year, when they were released; but neither their arms nor
plunder were returned to them.
The _South Sea_ was now cleared of the main body of the Buccaneers. A few
stragglers remained, concerning whom some scattered notices are found, of
which the following are the heads.
[Sidenote: La Pava.] Seixas mentions an English frigate named _La Pava_,
being wrecked in the _Strait of Magalhanes_ in the year 1687; and that her
loss was occasioned by currents[88]. By the name being Spanish (signifying
the Hen) this vessel must have been a prize to the Buccaneers.
[Sidenote: Captain Straiton.] In the Narrative of the loss of the Wager,
by Bulkeley and Cummins, it is mentioned that they found at _Port Desire_
cut on a brick, in very legible characters, "Captain Straiton, 16 cannon,
1687." Most probably this was meant of a Buccaneer vessel.
[Sidenote: Le Sage.] At the time that the English and French Buccaneers
were crossing the _Isthmus_ in great numbers from the _West Indies_ to the
_South Sea_, two hundred French Buccaneers departed from _Hispaniola_ in a
ship commanded by a Captain Le Sage, intending to go to the _South Sea_ by
the _Strait of Magalhanes_; but having chosen a wrong season of the year
for that passage, and finding the winds unfavourable, they stood over to
the coast of _Africa_, where they continued cruising two years, and
returned to the _West Indies_ with great booty, obtained at the expence
of the Hollanders.
[Sidenote: Small Crew of Buccaneers at the Tres Marias.] The small crew of
French Buccaneers in the _South Sea_ who were a part of those who had
separated from Grogniet to cruise near _California_, and for whom Le
Picard had sought in vain on the coast of _New Spain_, were necessitated
by the smallness of their force, and the bad state of their vessel, to
shelter themselves at the _Tres Marias Islands_ in the entrance of the
_Gulf of California_. [Sidenote: Their Adventures, and Return to the West
Indies.] It is said that they remained four years among those Islands, at
the end of which time, they determined, rather than to pass the rest of
their lives in so desolate a place, to sail Southward, though with little
other prospect or hope than that they should meet some of their former
comrades; instead of which, on looking in at _Arica_ on the coast of
_Peru_, they found at anchor in the road a Spanish ship, which they took,
and in her a large quantity of treasure. The Buccaneers embarked in their
prize, and proceeded Southward for the _Atlantic_, but were cast ashore in
the _Strait of Magalhanes_. Part of the treasure, and as much of the wreck
of the vessel as served to construct two sloops, were saved, with which,
after so many perils, they arrived safe in the _West Indies_.
[Sidenote: Story related by Le Sieur Froger.] Le Sieur Froger, in his
account of the Voyage of M. de Gennes, has introduced a narrative of a
party of French Buccaneers or Flibustiers going from _Saint Domingo_ to
the _South Sea_, in the year 1686; which is evidently a romance fabricated
from the descriptions which had been given of their general courses and
habits. These _proteges_ of Le Sieur Froger, like the Buccaneer crew from
the _Tres Marias Islands_ just mentioned, were reduced to great
distress,--took a rich prize afterwards on the coast of _Peru_,--were
returning to the _Atlantic_, and lost their ship in the _Strait of
Magalhanes_. They were ten months in the _Strait_ building a bark, which
they loaded with the best of what they had saved of the cargo of their
ship, and in the end arrived safe at _Cayenne_[89]. Funnel also mentions a
report which he heard, of a small crew of French Buccaneers, not more than
twenty, whose adventures were of the same cast; and who probably were the
_Tres Marias_ Buccaneers.
It has been related that five Buccaneers who had gamed away their money,
unwilling to return poor out of the _South Sea_, landed at the Island
_Juan Fernandez_ from Edward Davis's ship, about the end of the year 1687,
and were left there. In 1690, the English ship Welfare, commanded by
Captain John Strong, anchored at _Juan Fernandez_; of which voyage two
journals have been preserved among the MSS in the Sloane Collection in the
British Museum, from which the following account is taken.
The Farewell arrived off the Island on the evening of October the 11th,
1690. In the night, those on board were surprised at seeing a fire on an
elevated part of the land. Early next morning, a boat was sent on shore,
which soon returned, bringing off from the Island two Englishmen. These
were part of the five who had landed from Davis's ship. They piloted the
Welfare to a good anchoring place.
[Sidenote: Buccaneers who lived three years on the Island Juan Fernandez.]
In the three years that they had lived on _Juan Fernandez_, they had not,
until the arrival of the Welfare, seen any other ships than Spaniards,
which was a great disappointment to them. The Spaniards had landed and had
endeavoured to take them, but they had found concealment in the woods; one
excepted, who deserted from his companions, and delivered himself up to
the Spaniards. The four remaining, when they learnt that the Buccaneers
had entirely quitted the _South Sea_, willingly embarked with Captain
Strong, and with them four servants or slaves. Nothing is said of the
manner in which they employed themselves whilst on the Island, except of
their contriving subterraneous places of concealment that the Spaniards
should not find them, and of their taming a great number of goats, so that
at one time they had a tame stock of 300.