passed the Duke of York’s Island, the coast of which abounds with
plantain-trees, cocoa-nut, bread-fruit, and apple-trees. On the 28th
they discovered land, which was called SIR CHARLES SAUNDER’S ISLAND. It
had a few inhabitants, who lived in small huts; and the cocoa-nut and
other trees grew on the shore. On the 30th they again made land, which
received the name of LORD HOWE’S ISLAND, on which smoke was seen, but no
inhabitants. Their next discovery was of some dangerous shoals, to which
captain Wallis gave the name of the SCILLY ISLANDS.
They now steered westward till the 13th of August, when they saw two
small islands, one of which was named KEPPEL’S ISLE, and the other
BOSCAWEN’S ISLAND; on the latter of which were several inhabitants; but
they steered for the former, as its appearance promised the most
convenient anchorage. By the help of glasses they now discovered the
natives on the shore; but they did not attempt to anchor that night, on
account of some breakers at a considerable distance from the island.
The boats being dispatched to the island, brought on board some
cocoa-nuts and other fruit, and a couple of fowls. The officer reported,
that the inhabitants were not unlike those of Otaheite; that some few of
them ventured into the boat, but soon jumped out and swam back to the
island. These people were remarkable for having the first joint of their
little fingers cut off; and they were dressed in a sort of matting.
As there was no convenient watering-place at this island, and as the
ship had received some damages that had rendered her unfit to encounter
a rough sea, the Captain determined to sail for Tinian, from thence to
Batavia, and so to England by the Cape of Good Hope. He therefore passed
the island, which is well inhabited, abounds in timber, and is of a
circular form.
On the 16th they again discovered land, to which the officers gave the
name of WALLIS’S ISLAND. The coast of this island is very rocky, and the
trees grow almost to the edge of the water. The inhabitants wore no
covering but a mat round the waist: each man had a very large club, two
of which were purchased by the boat’s crew. These people attempting to
steal the cutter, by hauling her upon the rocks, a gun was fired close
to one of their faces, the report of which so terrified them, that they
decamped with the utmost speed. When the boats were returning to the
ship, they were impeded by the points of rocks, which being observed by
the Indians, they followed in their canoes till they got into deep
water, and then they rowed back.
Captain Wallis remarks, as an extraordinary circumstance, that although
no sort of metal was seen on any of the lately discovered islands, yet
the natives were no sooner possessed of a piece of iron than they began
to sharpen it, but did not treat copper or brass in the same manner.
They now sailed to the north-west, and on the 28th observed a number of
birds flying about the ship, one of which they catched. It was
web-footed, but in all other respects resembled a dove. On the 3d of
September they saw land, which was thought to be two of the Piscadore
Islands; and on this day an Indian Proa (a description of which is given
in Anson’s Voyage) made towards the ship, on which they hoisted Spanish
Colours; but she came no nearer than within about two miles. On the 7th
and 9th they saw several birds, one of which was taken, and judged to be
a land-bird. On the 18th they discovered the island of Saypan, and soon
afterwards that of Tinian, off which they anchored on the day following.
No time was lost in sending the boats on shore, and they returned in a
few hours, with oranges, limes, and cocoa-nuts. Tents were erected for
the sick, who were sent on shore with all expedition. The smith’s forge,
and carpenter’s chest were also landed; and the Captain and first
Lieutenant, who both continued ill, went on shore, with a party of men
to hunt for cattle. A young bull of great weight was soon catched; and
they found plenty of oranges, limes, and bread-fruit. On the 21st they
began the necessary repairs of the ship. The fatigue sustained by those
who went to hunt for cattle was so great, by going many miles thro’
thickets, that one party was ordered to relieve another; and the second
Lieutenant with several of the men, being sent to reside on the north
part of the island, where cattle were most plentiful, a boat was sent
daily to bring in what they catched. In this island they procured beef,
pork, poultry, papaw-apples, and all the other refreshments, of which an
account is given in Anson’s Voyage.
By the 15th of October the fruit and water was carried on board, and all
the sick being recovered, preparations were made for sailing; and on the
next day they left the bay, and sailed to the west.
On the 21st and 22d they saw several gannets, and other birds; and on
the 23d and two following days it blew a violent storm, the effects of
which were the more dreaded, as the ship admitted more water than she
had done at any time during the voyage. The bad weather continued on the
26th, when they saw several land-birds. They had now to encounter the
united horrors of thunder, lightning, rain, darkness, and such a violent
sea, as broke even the iron work on the gun-whale, and washed over-board
many heavy things. On the 27th they were blest with a sight of the sun,
and the day following the weather became more temperate. In the middle
of the night one Morgan, a taylor, was suddenly missed, and it was
thought he fell over-board in a fit of intoxication.
On the 3d of November they discovered three islands, which were named
SANDY ISLE, SMALL KEY, and LONG ISLAND; and on the day following they
saw another, to which captain Wallis gave the name of NEW ISLAND; all of
which islands are in ten degrees odd minutes north-latitude, and 247
degrees odd minutes west-longitude. The ship held her course till the
8th, on which day the log and journal-books of the voyage were taken
from the inferior officers and foremast-men.
They now altered their course, and on the 13th saw the islands of
Timoun, Aros and Pesang. On the 16th they crossed the equinoctial line,
and came again into south-latitude. The next day they saw the islands of
Pulo Toté, and Pulo Weste; soon after which they had sight of the seven
islands. A singular incident happened in the succeeding night, which was
very tempestuous, and so dark, that they could not see across the ship.
During the full violence of the wind, a flash of lightning afforded them
light enough to see a ship of considerable size, which was so near, that
it was with difficulty they steered clear of her; but they could not get
information to what nation she belonged, as the wind was too loud for
them to hear each other. This was the first ship they had seen since
they parted from the Swallow. In the morning they saw the Island of Pulo
Taya, near which they came to an anchor in the evening; and the next
morning sailed again, and saw two ships a-head of them, but the current
was so strong that they lost ground, and therefore they again anchored
in the evening. The next day they lost an anchor, the cable of which was
cut away by the rocks. On the 22d they saw the coast of Sumatra, and
came to an anchor in the road of Batavia, on the 30th of November 1767.
On the following day captain Wallis saluted the Dutch governor with 13
guns, and the compliment was returned from the fort with one additional
gun. Permission having been obtained to purchase necessaries, they were
soon supplied with beef and vegetables. The crew were now threatened
with punishment, if any attempt should be made to bring liquor aboard;
and no man was permitted to leave the ship, but those who were called by
duty; and even those were not suffered to go into the town.--The
intemperate use of arrack is highly pernicious to strangers who visit
Batavia.
His Majesty’s ship the Falmouth was at this time laying in the road, but
in so shattered a condition, that it was thought she could not hold
together during the next monsoon; nor were the few of her crew which
remained alive in any better condition than the vessel. On the 5th of
December captain Wallis received a petition from the warrant officers of
the Falmouth, setting forth, that their powder had been thrown into the
sea, by order of the Dutch, and that the gunner was dead; that their
misfortunes had deprived the boatswain of his senses, and that he was
then a lunatic in the Dutch hospital; that his stores were all spoiled;
that the cook had been wounded, and remained a cripple; and that the
carpenter was near death.--They therefore petitioned that the Captain
would carry them to England, or, at all adventures; dismiss them from
the ship, as there was now nothing left for them to take charge of.
Captain Wallis was obliged to refuse their request, however reasonable,
and informed them, that as they had taken charge of stores, they must
wait for orders from England. To this they answered, that they had not
received a single order since they were left in the road of Batavia:
that they had ten years pay due, and would rather go home sweepers, than
remain in their present wretched situation. That they were never
permitted to sleep on shore, and when sick, no person had the humanity
to visit them: that the Malays frequently robbed them, and that they
expected destruction at the hands of those people, as they had burnt the
Siam Prize not long before the arrival of the Dolphin. They entreated
the Captain to make their case known in England, which he readily
promised to do.
On the 5th the Captain went on shore, to buy such stores as he thought
necessary to carry the ship home with safety. He visited the different
store-houses and arsenals; but the demands of the Dutch were so
exorbitant, that he determined to make shift with such materials as he
had, rather than be imposed on by people who wished to take every
advantage of his necessity. Accordingly, he sailed on the 8th of
December, without losing a single man, and having only two on the sick
list.
On the 11th the crew began to be afflicted with colds and fluxes; and
the following night they saw the Coast of Java, on which was placed an
amazing number of lights, intended, as they imagined, to entice the fish
near the beach.--They anchored off Princes Island on the 14th, and began
to take in wood and water; at which place they remained till the 20th,
during which time they purchased turtle, poultry, and other
refreshments.
While they lay here one of the seamen fell from the main-yard into the
barge, which was a-longside the ship, and struck down two other men, one
of whom was bruised so much that he died in four days; but the other
escaped with a broken toe: the man who fell had several bones broken,
and was otherwise shockingly bruised. They buried three men here, and
many others were seized with fluxes, and putrid fevers; the contagion of
which last disorder constantly attacked, in a day or two, those who
attended the sick. At this time too the ship made above three feet water
in four hours.
They struggled with these accumulated misfortunes till the 10th of
January, when the sickness began to abate.--On the 24th they encountered
a dreadful storm, which tore the sails to pieces, broke a rudder-chain,
and carried several of the booms over-board: yet, during this storm,
they observed a number of birds and butterflies.--On the 30th they saw
land, and came to an anchor in Table Bay, at the Cape of Good Hope, on
the 4th of February.
Captain Wallis having saluted the Governor, and the Commanders of some
vessels in the harbour, and they having fired guns of salute in return,
he lost no time in procuring fresh meat and vegetables for the use of
the crew. The surgeon was sent on shore to hire lodgings for the sick;
but as the rate demanded was very high, and as the small-pox (which many
of the seamen had not had) raged prodigiously, the Captain obtained the
Governor’s permission to erect tents on a plain about two miles from the
town.
This being done, the sick were sent on shore; positive orders being
given that no liquor should be brought to the tents; that no one should
be permitted to go into the town; and that extra provisions should be
procured for those who were most reduced by sickness. The Captain was so
very ill, that, as long as the ship lay here, he was at a country-house
several miles distant.
Every man who was able to do any kind of work, was now employed in the
necessary repairs of the ship, which being nearly compleated by the 10th
of February, several of the men, who had had the small-pox, were
permitted to visit the town; and those who had not had that distemper,
were allowed to take daily walks in the country; and as they did not
abuse this liberty, it was continued to them as long as the ship
remained there.
The necessaries which could not be purchased of the Dutch at Batavia,
were bought reasonably at this place; and fresh water was procured by
distillation, with a view to convince the commanders of the Indiamen
that lay here, how easily wholesome water might be procured at sea. This
method of distillation is as follows: 56 gallons of salt water being put
into the still at five in the morning, thirty-six gallons of fresh water
was obtained by about a quarter after ten; thirteen gallons and a half
remaining in the still. This fresh water was procured at the expence of
sixty-nine pounds of coals, and nine pounds of wood.
On the 25th all hands were ordered on board, when it was found that
every man, except three, was able to do duty. A number of sheep were
purchased for sea stores; and the ship sailed on the third of March.
On the 17th they anchored in the bay of St. Helena, and sent persons on
shore to get water, and others to gather purslain, of which there is
great plenty. The Captain going on shore, was saluted by the guns of the
fort; and requested to make that place his residence during his stay on
the island: but their water-casks being soon filled, and the wind
serving the next day, they then sailed for England.
On the 28th they crossed the equinoctial line, getting once more into
north-latitude. On the 24th they saw the Cape of Pico.--On the 11th of
May they had sight of the Savage sloop of war, captain Hammond, in chace
of a sloop, at which he fired several guns. On this captain Wallis
fired, and brought the vessel to, which proved to be laden with brandy,
tea, &c. from Roscoe in France; she was of Liverpool, and was commanded
by Robert Christian. Captain Wallis detained her, in order to her being
sent to England; as she was judged to be a smuggler, pretending to be
bound to Bergen, in Norway, tho’ she was sailing to the south-west.
No material incident happened from this time to the end of the voyage,
which was happily compleated by the Dolphin coming to an anchor in the
Downs on the 20th of May 1768.
CAPTAIN CARTERET’S
VOYAGE
ROUND THE WORLD,
In 1766, 1767, 1768 and 1769.
Mr. Carteret having already circumnavigated the globe with Commodore
Byron, was appointed to the command of the Swallow sloop, soon after his
return to England; and, on the 22d of August 1766, sailed from Plymouth,
in company with his Majesty’s ship the Dolphin, and the Prince Frederick
store-ship.
Nothing material happened till the morning of the 9th of September,
(when the ship lay in the road of Madeira) at which time nine prime
seamen left the vessel privately, and swam on shore naked, having only
their money tied in handkerchiefs round their bodies. While Captain
Carteret was writing to the Consul to assist him in the recovery of
these brave, but imprudent fellows, he received a message, that they had
been found naked on the shore. A boat was instantly dispatched to bring
them on board, where they cut a most ridiculous figure, and seemed
heartily ashamed of what they had done: it appeared, however, that they
had ran this risk only to get a skinful of liquor (as they said) knowing
they were bound on a long voyage, and it being uncertain who might live
or die. Captain Carteret endeared himself very much to the crew by
pardoning these men, whose future services amply repaid this well-timed
lenity.
It will be needless to recite any particulars which happened till the
11th of April, when the Swallow parted company with the Dolphin and
Prince Frederick, as already related in the account of Captain Wallis’s
Voyage. At nine o’clock on this day the Swallow had totally lost sight
of the Dolphin, which Captain Carteret judged to be then clear of the
mouth of the Streights; and as the Swallow was then under land, where
she had not the advantage of any considerable breeze, they entertained
no hope of seeing their consort during the remainder of the voyage.
At this time all the cloth, linen, cutlery wares and trinkets were on
board the Dolphin; a circumstance which aggravated Captain Carteret’s
distress, as he had not any thing proper to barter with the Indians; yet
he encouraged the crew not to despair; and was happy to find that they
were in high spirits for the voyage.
A few hours after the ships parted company, the Swallow encountered a
violent storm, during which there was so thick a fog, that they could
not see mountainous land which they were within half a mile of. At this
time the boat was out in search of an anchoring-place; and when night
came on, it was so dark, that they could not see half the length of the
ship: they therefore hoisted lights, and fired a gun every half hour;
and at length the boat reached the ship in safety. The next morning the
boat was again sent in search of a place to anchor in, and in the
afternoon, when the Captain despaired of her returning in time, he saw
her sounding a bay, and instantly making towards her, came to anchor in
safety.
The Captain now retired to rest, but he was disturbed in a few minutes
by the shouting of the crew upon the deck, and the noise of those below
running to join them. His fears brought him instantly on the deck, where
he heard the universal cry of the Dolphin! the Dolphin! but this
flattering appearance soon vanished, and proved to be only water forced
up, and whirled in the air by a gust of wind from the mountains. Mr.
Carteret says, that as the current sets continually into the harbour
where they lay, he has no doubt but it has another communication with
the sea to the south of Deseada. The borders of the bay abound with
muscles and wild geese, and afford plenty of wood and water.
They sailed from this place early in the morning of the 15th of April,
and soon afterwards, by the sudden shifting of the wind, they
encountered so violent a storm, that they were in danger of sinking; yet
they did not dare to take in any sails, for fear of running foul of some
rocky islands, which in Narborough’s Voyage are called the Islands of
Direction; nor could they go back into the Streight, without the danger
of running foul of a lee-shore; yet, notwithstanding their best
endeavours, the ship made hastily towards this lee-shore. Thus
circumstanced, they were compelled to stave the water-casks on and
between the decks, that she might carry better sail; and by this
expedient they at length escaped the threatened destruction. They now
got into the open sea, after a very providential deliverance, for, had
the wind again shifted, the ship must have been unavoidably lost.
They now steered a northward course along the Coast of Chili; but as the
water on board was deemed insufficient for the length of the voyage, the
Captain proposed touching at the Island of Juan Fernandes, or Masafuero,
to take in a proper quantity. On the 18th the wind, which had hitherto
been favourable for their sailing northward, and consequently getting
into a more temperate climate, suddenly shifted, and continued contrary
till the 18th of April, blowing violently all the time, accompanied at
intervals with dreadful thunder, lightning, rain and hail.
During this time they saw abundance of sea-birds, among which were two
sorts, one like a pigeon, which the seamen called the Cape of Good Hope
Hen; and the other Mother Carey’s Chickens; but the true name of these
latter is the Peterel.
From the 27th of this month till the 1st of May they had continual
storms; and on this day a prodigious sea laid the whole ship under water
for some time, while the wind blew a hurricane, and the rain poured down
in torrents. The wind now shifted, so that the head of the vessel came
right against a mountainous sea, which repeatedly broke over the
forecastle as far as the main-mast, so that it was almost a miracle that
she was not sunk.
When the weather became something more moderate, they repaired in some
degree the damage the ship had sustained during the storm; but they had
much bad weather afterwards till the 9th of May, when they were in sight
of the Island of Masafuero: and on the 10th they saw Juan Fernandes, and
sailed round to Cumberland Bay, on the east-side of it.
The Spaniards having fortified this island (a circumstance till then
unknown to Captain Carteret) a number of men were seen on the shore, and
two large boats lying on the beach. A house and four pieces of cannon
were observed near the sea side, and on the brow of a hill, at a small
distance, was a fort with Spanish colours flying on it. Many cattle were
seen on the hills, and above 20 houses on different parts of the island.
The wind blew so strong out of the bay, that it was impossible to get
very near it: they therefore sailed westward, and were followed by one
of the Spanish boats; but she soon returned, on observing that the wind
kept them out of the harbour. On the eastern side of the west bay they
saw a kind of guard-house, with two pieces of cannon, on carriages, near
it. They now returned towards Cumberland Bay, when the boat again put
after them; but night coming on, they lost sight of her. As Captain
Carteret had only English colours on board, he did not hoist any during
all this time.
Thus disappointed of the refreshments they so very much wanted, they
sailed for Masafuero, where they anchored on the 12th, but were unable
to land, as the beach was full of rocks, and the surf ran so violently,
that the best swimmers could not get through the breakers: the next
morning, however, the boats landed, and filled some water-casks.
On the 15th they anchored on the east-side of the island; but were
driven from their moorings, and kept out at sea all night. In the
morning the cutter was sent for water, and the ship got near the shore,
where she soon received several casks, and sent the cutter back for
more. The long-boat was likewise dispatched on this service, as well as
to carry provisions to those on shore. In the afternoon the boats being
observed running along the shore, the ship followed and took them in,
but not without their sustaining so much damage by the violence of the
sea, that the carpenters were obliged to work all night in repairing
them.
On the 17th the cutter was again sent for water; and, when she returned,
the Lieutenant reported, that the violent rains which had fallen in the
night, had brought down such a deluge of water, that the people on shore
narrowly escaped drowning, after losing several of the casks. Mr. Gower,
the Lieutenant, having seen many rivulets of water produced by the rain
which had fallen in the night, proposed to go and fill the casks; but he
had not been long gone, before the weather began to wear a very
threatening appearance, and it thundered and lightned to a degree beyond
description. The ship now kept as near the shore as possible, and as it
was grown quite dark, they were very apprehensive that the long-boat was
lost, but she happily came a-longside just in time to prevent the
destruction of her whole crew; for she had scarce been hoisted over the
ship’s side a moment, before such a violent squall came on, as must
inevitably have sunk her. Mr. Gower reported, that three of the sailors
having swam on shore with the casks, just before the storm began, he was
under a necessity, however unwilling, of leaving them behind, exposed,
naked as they were, to thunder, lightning, rain and hunger.