HOME VOYAGE AND LOSS OF SHIP.
THE AUTHOR CONTINUES IN BATAVIA ROAD TO REFIT, TO GET PROVISIONS.
We found in Batavia Road a great many ships at anchor, most Dutch, and
but one English ship named the Fleet frigate, commanded by one Merry. We
rode a little without them all. Near the shore lay a stout China junk,
and a great many small vessels, namely brigantines, sloops and Malayan
proas in abundance. As soon as I anchored I sent my boat aboard the Fleet
frigate with orders to make them strike their pennant, which was done
soon after the boat went aboard. Then my clerk, whom I sent in the boat,
went for the shore, as I had directed him, to see if the government would
answer my salute: but it was now near night, and he had only time to
speak with the ship-bander, who told him that the government would have
answered my salute with the same number of guns if I had fired as soon as
I anchored; but that now it was too late. In the evening my boat came
aboard and the next morning I myself went ashore, visited the Dutch
general, and desired the privilege of buying such provision and stores as
I now wanted; which he granted me.
I lay here till the 17th of October following, all which time we had very
fair weather, some tornadoes excepted. In the meantime I supplied the
carpenter with such stores as were necessary for refitting the ship;
which proved more leaky after he had caulked her than she was before: so
that I was obliged to careen her, for which purpose I hired vessels to
take in our guns, ballast, provision and stores.
ENGLISH SHIPS THEN IN THE ROAD.
The English ships that arrived here from England were first the Liampo,
commanded by Captain Monk, bound for China; next the Panther commanded by
Captain Robinson; then the Mancel frigate, commanded by Captain Clerk.
All these brought good tidings from England. Most of them had been
unfortunate in their officers; especially Captain Robinson, who said that
some of them had been conspiring to ruin him and his voyage. There came
in also several English country vessels; first a sloop from Benjarr,
commanded by one Russel, bound to Bengal, next the Monsoon, belonging to
Bengal: she had been at Malacca at the same time that His Majesty's ship
the Harwich was there: afterwards came in also another small ship from
Bengal.
While we stayed here all the forenamed English ships sailed hence; the 2
Bengal ships excepted. Many Dutch ships also came in here, and departed
again before us. We had several reports concerning our men-of-war in
India, and much talk concerning rovers who had committed several spoils
upon the coast and in the Straits of Malacca. I did not hear of any ships
sent out to quash them. At my first coming in I was told that 2 ships had
been sent from Amboina in quest of me; which was lately confirmed by one
of the skippers, whom I by accident met with here. He told me they had 3
protests against me; that they came to Pulo Sabuda on the coast of New
Guinea 28 days after my departure thence, and went as far as Schouten's
Island and, hearing no further news of me, returned. Something likewise
to this purpose Mr. Merry, commander of the Fleet frigate, told me at my
first arrival here; and that the general at Batavia had a copy of my
commission and instructions; but I looked upon it as a very improbable
thing.
While we lay here the Dutch held several consultations about sending some
ships for Europe sooner than ordinary: at last the 16th of October was
agreed upon for the day of sailing, which is 2 months sooner than usual.
They lay ready 2 or 3 days before, and went out on the 10th. Their names
were the Ostresteen, bound to Zealand; the Vanheusen, for Enchiehoust;
and the 3 Crowns, for Amsterdam, commanded by skipper Jacob Uncright, who
was commodore over all the rest. I had by this time finished my business
here, namely fitted the ship, recruited myself with provision, filled all
my water; and, the time of the year to be going for Europe being now at
hand, I prepared to be gone also.
DEPARTURE FROM BATAVIA.
Accordingly on the 17th of October, at half an hour after 6 in the
morning, I weighed anchor from Batavia, having a good land-wind at south,
and fair weather: and by the 19th at noon came up with the 3 Dutch ships
before mentioned. The 29th of November in the morning we saw a small hawk
flying about the ship till she was quite tired. Then she rested on the
mizzen-topsail-yard, where we caught her. It is probable she was blown
off from Madagascar by the violent northerly winds; that being the
nighest land to us, though distance near 150 leagues.
1701.
TOUCH AT THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
The 30th December we arrived at the Cape of Good Hope and departed again
on the 11th of January, 1701. About the end of the month we saw abundance
of weeds or blubber swim by us, for I cannot determine which. It was all
of one shape and colour. As they floated on the water they seemed to be
of the breadth of the palm of a man's hand, spread out round into many
branches about the bigness of a man's finger. They had in the middle a
little knob, no bigger than the top of a man's thumb. They were of a
smoke-colour; and the branches, by their pliantness in the water, seemed
to be more simple than jellies, I have not seen the like before.
AND AT ST. HELENA.
The 2nd of February we anchored in St. Helena Road and set sail again
from thence on the 13th.
ARRIVAL AT THE ISLAND OF ASCENSION. A LEAK SPRUNG.
On the 21st we made the island of Ascension and stood in towards it. The
22nd between 8 and 9 o'clock we sprung a leak which increased so that the
chain-pump could not keep the ship free. Whereupon I set the hand-pump to
work also, and by 10 o'clock sucked her: then wore the ship, and stood to
the southward to try if that would ease her; and then the chain-pump just
kept her free. At 5 the next morning we made sail and stood in for the
bay; and at 9 anchored in 10 and a half fathom, sandy ground. The south
point bore south-south-west distance 2 miles, and the north point of the
bay north-east half north, distance 2 miles. As soon as we anchored I
ordered the gunner to clear his powder-room that we might there search
for the leak and endeavour to stop it within board if possible; for we
could not heel the ship so low, it being within 4 streaks of the keel;
neither was there any convenient place to haul her ashore. I ordered the
boatswain to assist the gunner; and by 10 o'clock the powder-room was
clear. The carpenter's mate, gunner, and boatswain went down; and soon
after I followed them myself and asked them whether they could come at
the leak: they said they believed they might, but cutting the ceiling; I
told the carpenter's mate (who was the only person in the ship that
understood anything of carpenter's work) that if he thought he could come
at the leak by cutting the ceiling without weakening the ship he might do
it, for he had stopped one leak so before; which though not so big as
this, yet, having seen them both, I thought he might as well do this as
the other. Wherefore I left him to do his best. The ceiling being cut,
they could not come at the leak; for it was against one of the
foot-hook-timbers which the carpenter's mate said he must first cut
before it could be stopped. I went down again to see it, and found the
water to come in very violently. I told them I never had known any such
thing as cutting timbers to stop leaks; but if they who ought to be best
judges in such cases thought they could do any good I bid them use their
utmost care and diligence, promising the carpenter's mate that I would
always be a friend to him if he could and would stop it: he said by 4
o'clock in the afternoon he would make all well, it being then about 11
in the forenoon. In the afternoon my men were all employed, pumping with
both pumps; except such as assisted the carpenter's mate. About one in
the afternoon I went down again and the carpenter's mate was cutting the
after-part of the timber over the leak. Some said it was best to cut the
timber away at once; I bid them hold their tongue and let the carpenter's
mate alone; for he knew best and I hoped he would do his utmost to stop
the leak. I desired him to get everything ready for stopping the violence
of the water, before he cut any further; for fear it should overpower us
at once. I had already ordered the carpenter to bring all the oakum he
had, and the boatswain to bring all the waste cloths to stuff in upon
occasion; and had for the same purpose sent down my own bedclothes. The
carpenter's mate said he should want short stanchions to be placed so
that the upper end should touch the deck, and the under-part rest on what
was laid over the leak; and presently took a length for them. I asked the
master-carpenter what he thought best to be done: he replied till the
leak was all open, he could not tell. Then he went away to make a
stanchion, but it was too long: I ordered him to make many of several
lengths, that we might not want of any size. So once more desiring the
carpenter's mate to use his utmost endeavours I went up, leaving the
boatswain and some others there. About 5 o'clock the boatswain came to me
and told me the leak was increased, and that it was impossible to keep
the ship above water; when on the contrary I expected to have had the
news of the leak's being stopped. I presently went down and found the
timber cut away, but nothing in readiness to stop the force of the water
from coming in. I asked them why they would cut the timber before they
had got all things in readiness: the carpenter's mate answered they could
do nothing till the timber was cut that he might take the dimensions of
the place; and that there was a caulk which he had lined out, preparing
by the carpenter's boy. I ordered them in the meantime to stop in oakum,
and some pieces of beef; which accordingly was done, but all to little
purpose: for now the water gashed in with such violence, notwithstanding
all our endeavours to check it, that it flew in over the ceiling; and for
want of passage out of the room overflowed it above 2 foot deep. I
ordered the bulkhead be cut open, to give passage to the water that it
might drain out of the room; and withal ordered to clear away abaft the
bulkhead, that we might bail: so now we had both pumps going and as many
bailing as could; and by this means the water began to decrease; which
gave me some hope of saving the ship. I asked the carpenter's mate what
he thought of it; he said "Fear not; for by 10 o'clock at night I'll
engage to stop the leak." I went from him with a heavy heart; but,
putting a good countenance upon the matter, encouraged my men, who pumped
and bailed very briskly; and when I saw occasion I gave them some drams
to comfort them. About 11 o'clock at night the boatswain came to me and
told me that the leak still increased; and that the plank was so rotten
it broke away like dirt; and that now it was impossible to save the ship;
for they could not come at the leak because the water in the room was got
above it. The rest of the night we spent in pumping and bailing. I worked
myself to encourage my men, who were very diligent; but the water still
increased, and we now thought of nothing but saving our lives. Wherefore
I hoisted out the boat that, if the ship should sink, yet we might be
saved: and in the morning we weighed our anchor and warped in nearer the
shore; yet did but little good.
WHICH BEING IMPOSSIBLE TO BE STOPPED, THE SHIP IS LOST, BUT THE MEN
SAVED.
In the afternoon with the help of a seabreeze I ran into 7 fathom and
anchored; then carried a small anchor ashore and warped in till I came
into 3 fathom and a half. Where having fastened her I made a raft to
carry the men's chests and bedding ashore; and before 8 at night most of
them were ashore. In the morning I ordered the sails to be unbent, to
make tents; and then myself and officers went ashore. I had sent ashore a
puncheon and a 36 gallon cask of water with one bag of rice for our
common use: but great part of it was stolen away before I came ashore,
and many of my books and papers lost.
THEY FIND WATER UPON THE ISLAND.
On the 26th following we, to our great comfort, found a spring of fresh
water about 8 miles from our tents, beyond a very high mountain which we
must pass over: so that now we were, by God's Providence, in a condition
of subsisting some time; having plenty of very good turtle by our tents,
and water for the fetching. The next day I went up to see the
watering-place, accompanied with most of my officers. We lay by the way
all night and next morning early got thither; where we found a very fine
spring on the south-east side of the high mountain, about half a mile
from its top: but the continual fogs make it so cold here that it is very
unwholesome living by the water. Near this place are abundance of goats
and land-crabs. About 2 mile south-east from the spring we found 3 or 4
shrubby trees, upon one of which was cut an anchor and cable, and the
year 1642. About half a furlong from these we found a convenient place
for sheltering men in any weather. Hither many of our men resorted; the
hollow rocks affording convenient lodging; the goats, land-crabs,
men-of-war-birds and boobies good food; and the air was here exceeding
wholesome.
AND ARE BROUGHT BACK TO ENGLAND.
About a week after our coming ashore our men that lived at this new
habitation saw two ships making towards the island. Before night they
brought me the news; and I ordered them to turn about a score of turtle
to be in readiness for their ships if they should touch here: but before
morning they were out of sight, and the turtle were released again. Here
we continued without seeing any other ship till the second of April; when
we saw 11 sail to windward of the island: but they likewise passed by.
The day after appeared 4 sail, which came to anchor in this bay. They
were His Majesty's ships the Anglesey, Hastings and Lizard; and the
Canterbury East India ship. I went on board the Anglesey with about 35 of
my men; and the rest were disposed of into the other 2 men-of-war.
We sailed from Ascension the 8th; and continued aboard till the 8th of
May: at which time the men-of-war, having missed St. Jago, where they
designed to water, bore away for Barbados: but I being desirous to get to
England as soon as possible took my passage in the ship Canterbury,
accompanied with my master, purser, gunner, and 3 of my superior
officers.
...
INDEX.
Anabao Island:
its inhabitants.
Ascension Island:
water found there.
Babao in Timor.
Batavia:
arrival there.
its road.
English ships there.
departure from thence.
Bird Island.
Birds, strange.
Bonao Island.
Bouro Island.
Britain, New.
Bird (strange) killed on the coast of New Guinea.
Burning island.
Burning island, another described.
Calabash-trees.
Calalaloo, herb.
Cana-fistula-tree described.
Cape Orford in New Guinea.
Cape of Good Hope in New Guinea.
Cave's, Anthony, Island.
Cape, King William's.
Cape and Port Gloucester.
Cape Anne.
Ceram Island described.
Channel, a deep one.
Ciccale, Port.
Cockles, very big.
Cockle-merchant, a fish.
Cockle Island on the coast of New Guinea.
Cupang Bay in Timor (see Kupang).
Cross Island, discovered and described.
Currents (see Tides).
Distance between Cape Mabo and Cape St. George computed.
Dutch:
the author's parley with them.
their suspicion of the author.
Charts (Dutch), their falseness.
Dutch fort called Concordia.
Ende Island.
Fetter Island.
Figtrees of Timor described.
Fish, strange.
Fowls, strange.
Gerrit Denis (Garret Dennis) Island, inhabitants described.
Jelly found in the sea.
George, St.:
Cape and Bay in New Guinea.
another bay.
the inhabitants there.
a large account of the author's attempt to trade with them.
New Guinea coast:
inhabitants.
their manner of fishing.
the author departs from New Guinea.
Java Island.
Indian plantation on the island Timor.
Indian proas and their traffic.
John's, St., Island.
King William's Island.
Laphao in Timor.
Laubana Island.
Leak sprung, incurable.
Long Island described.
Lorantuca.
Mabo, Cape.
Man-of-war-birds.
Mansheter's Island.
Matthias Island.
Misacomba Island.
Montague:
Port in New Guinea.
the country thereabouts described and its produce.
New Guinea.
Nova Britannia, (see New Britain).
Omba Island.
Palmtrees:
a new one conjectured.
a new one discovered.
two sorts described.
Parley with the Portuguese at Timor.
Pentare Island.
Pigeons, great numbers of them on the coast of New Guinea.
Porta Nova.
Providence Island.
Princes Isle.
Pulo Subada Isle.
Pulo Baby.
Return (the author's) to England.
Rich's (Sir R.) Island.
Ringing-bird.
Rook's (Sir George) Island.
Roti (Rotee) Island.
Rosemary Island.
Sago, how made.
Sandal-tree.
Schouten's Island.
Sesial Port in Timor.
Shark's Bay.
Ship lost.
Slingers Bay.
Snakes:
land-snakes.
Spout.
Squally Island.
Sunda Straits.
Terra Australis Incognita, what to be expected there.
Thwart-the-way Island.
Tides strange and uncertain, see Currents.
Timor Island:
described.
the Dutch settlement.
the Portuguese settlement.
its inhabitants.
its fruits and animals.
trade.
weather.
the author's departure from it.
Trees full of worms found in the sea.
Tryal Rocks.
Turtle Isles.
Variation.
Volcanoes.
Watersnakes.
Whales.
Whirlpools.
Wishart's Island.