Relates how the Captain received reports that there was a plot
to seize the ship, and of the discourses he made and precautions
he took in consequence.
The Captain already had seen that the Chief Pilot altered the course,
and it was intimated he wanted to mutiny with the crew, and that if
there was two days' delay there would be no remedy. One man there
was who said that, with this object, it was determined to stab the
Captain and throw the body overboard. This and other things were
told to the Captain, which he did not believe, except some things
that came to him through base rumours, and that which he himself saw,
that appeared bad. He considered that a mutiny can only begin between
two or three, and that to corrupt the rest there must be sounding of
people, friendships, and much intercourse, and that such things must
be seen. It was observed that the Chief Pilot showed little zeal in
seeking for what was needed; that he wasted the water and provisions
among his particular friends, and others whose friendship he obtained
in that way, and who might well be innocent; that he showed favour
to all. The noise they made together in the ship, the quarrels with
the officers, the consultations continually held by day and night,
were suspicious.
One day the Captain said to the whole crew that the Royal Majesty
despatched those ships at great expense, to see whether there was
in this unknown part of the earth the land which was supposed to
exist. With this object all might be quite sure that they would have
to search for it, ploughing all the ocean with long turns until it was
found, even if it cost all their lives. To the Chief Pilot he said that
he should know his duties, saying much respecting them. But this did
not lead him into better courses, and he sent to say that he wanted
leave to go on board the Almiranta with the Father Commissary. To
this the Captain answered that he might go presently; but he did not
go, nor did he refer to the matter again. There was not wanting one
who said that these invitations were misunderstood by the Captain,
and added that discoveries always cost the finders dear, and that the
Captain could not put down the discontents nor satisfy the others. For
all this, patience and vigilance were two very necessary things.
The Captain, seeing the low latitude they had reached without having
found the mother of those islands we had left behind, hearing the
Chief Pilot shout to the Captain of the launch that winter was near,
and other things that it was not well for the men to hear; that others
said that if the course had been S.S.W. the coast of the land of
which we were in search followed the same course; that now we should
never reach it, but should be engulfed by contrary winds, where it
would be impossible to live, and that in the end all would perish;
that these sayings were witnesses of the little love some had for
the service, and of the great love they had for themselves; and that
they were far from having the valorous minds which ought to animate
the searchers for unknown lands, to uphold the original motives and
perform heroic deeds, or at least make them merit a good name--owing
to these shortcomings and many others, he said in public that they
should know how to value and enjoy having been chosen to the lot of
searching for and discovering the fourth part of the globe which is
yet unknown, and not show themselves ready to turn back and be tired
without occasion. And mark! what services are there without requiring
that men should be ready to suffer all the blows that may come? I
ordered that the course should be N.W. as far as latitude 10° 40', so
as to reach the east of the Island of San Bernardo, which in the other
voyage I helped to discover, although we did not then arrive at it.