Their coasting along the Isle of Mindanao, from a Bay on
the East-side to another, at the S.E. end. Tornadoes and
boisterous Weather. The S.E. Coast, and its Savannah and
plenty of Deer. They coast along the South-side to the River
of Mindanao City, and anchor there. The Sultan's Brother and
Son come aboard them, and invite them to settle there. Of
the Feasibleness and probable Advantage of such a Settlement,
from the neighboring Gold and Spice Islands. Of the best way
to Mindanao by the South Sea and Terra Australis; and of an
accidental Discovery there by Captain Davis, and a probability
of a greater. The Capacity they were in to settle here. The
Mindanayans measure their Ship. Captain Swan's Present to the
Sultan: his Reception of it, and Audience given to Captain
Swan, with Raja Laut, the Sultans Brother's Entertainment of
him. The Contents of two English Letters shewn them by the
Sultan of Mindanao. Of the Commodities, and the Punishments
there. The General's Caution how to demean themselves: at
his Persuasion they lay up their Ships in the River. The
Mindanaians Caresses. The great Rains and Floods at the
City. The Mindanaians have Chinese Accomptants. How their
Women dance. A Story of one John Thacker. Their Bark eaten
up, and their Ship endangered by the Worm. Of the Worms here
and elsewhere. Of Captain Swan. Raja Laut, the General's
Deceitfulness. Hunting wild Kine. The Prodigality of some
of the English. Captain Swan treats with a Young Indian of a
Spice-Island. A Hunting Voyage with the General. His punishing
a Servant of his. Of his Wives and Women. A sort of strong
Rice-drink. The General's foul Dealing and Exactions. Captain
Swan's Uneasiness and indiscreet Management. His Men Mutiny. Of
a Snake twisting about on their Necks. The main part of the
Crew go away with the Ship, leaving Captain Swan and some of
his Men: Several others poisoned there.
Having in the two last Chapters given some Account of the Natural,
Civil, and Religious State of Mindanao, I shall now go on with the
prosecution of our Affairs during our stay there.
'Twas in a Bay on the N. East-side of the Island that we came to an
Anchor, as hath been said. We lay in this Bay but one Night, and part
of the next Day. Yet there we got Speech with some of the Natives,
who by signs made us to understand, that the City Mindanao was on
the West-side of the Island. We endeavored to persuade one of them,
to go with us to be our Pilot, but he would not: Therefore in the
Afternoon we loosed from hence, steering again to the South East,
having the Wind at S.W. When we came to the S.E. end of the Island
Mindanao, we saw two small Islands [7] about three Leagues distant
from it. We might have passed between them and the main Island,
as we learnt since, but not knowing them, nor what dangers we might
encounter there, we chose rather to Sail to the Eastward of them. But
meeting very strong Westerly Winds, we got nothing forward in many
Days. In this time we first saw the Islands Meangis, [8] which are
about 16 Leagues distant from the Mindanao, bearing S.E. I shall have
occasion to speak more of them hereafter.
The 4th Day of July we got into a deep Bay, four Leagues N.W. from
the two small Islands before mentioned. But the Night before, in a
violent Tornado, our Bark being unable to beat any longer, bore away,
which put us in some pain for fear she was overset, as we had like to
have been our selves. We anchored on the South West side of the Bay,
in fifteen fathom Water, about a Cables length from the shore. Here we
were forced to shelter our selves from the violence of the Weather,
which was so boisterous with Rains, and Tornadoes, and a strong
Westerly Wind, that we were very glad to find this place to Anchor in,
being the only shelter on this side from the West Winds.
This Bay is not above two Mile wide at the Mouth, but farther in it
is three Leagues wide, and seven fathom deep, running in N.N.W. There
is a good depth of Water about four or five Leagues in, but Rocky
foul Ground for about two Leagues in, from the Mouth on both sides of
the Bay, except only in that place where we lay. About three Leagues
in from the mouth, on the Eastern side, there are fair sandy Bays,
and very good anchoring in four, five, and six fathom. The Land on
the East side is high, Mountainous, and Woody, yet very well watered
with small Brooks, and there is one River large enough for Canoes
to enter. On the West side of the Bay, the Land is of a mean height
with a large Savannah, bordering on the Sea, and stretching from the
mouth of the Bay, a great way to the Westward.
This Savannah abounds with long Grass, and it is plentifully stock'd
with Deer. The adjacent Woods are a covert for them in the heat of
the Day: but Mornings and Evenings they feed in the open Plains, as
thick as in our Parks in England. I never saw any where such plenty
of wild Deer, tho' I have met with them in several parts of America,
both in the North and South Seas.
The Deer live here pretty peaceably and unmolested, for there are no
Inhabitants on that side of the Bay. We visited this Savannah every
Morning, and killed as many Deer as we pleased, sometimes 16 or 18 in
a Day; and we did eat nothing but Venison all the time we staid here.
We saw a great many Plantations by the sides of the Mountains, on
the East side of the Bay, and we went to one of them, in hopes to
learn of the Inhabitants whereabouts the City was, that we might not
over-sail it in the Night; but they fled from us.
We lay here till the 12th Day before the Winds abated of their fury,
and then we sailed from hence, directing our course to the Westward. In
the Morning we had a Land Wind at North. At 11 a Clock the Sea breeze
came at West, just in our Teeth, but it being fair Weather, we kept
on our way, turning and taking the advantage of the Land breezes by
Night, and the Sea breezes by Day.
Being now past the S.E. part of the Island, we coasted down on the
South side, and we saw abundance of Canoas a fishing, and now and
then a small Village. Neither were these Inhabitants afraid of us
(as the former) but came aboard; yet we could not understand them,
nor they us, but by signs: and when we mentioned the word Mindanao,
they would point towards it.
The 18th Day of July we arrived before the River of Mindanao; the
mouth of which lies in lat. 6 d. 22 m. N. and is laid in 231 d. 12
m. Longitude West, from the Lizard in England [9]. We anchored right
against the River in 15 fathom Water, clear hard Sand; about 2 Miles
from the shore, and 3 or 4 Miles from a small Island, that lay without
us to the Southward. We fired 7 or 9 Guns, I remember not well which,
and were answered again with 3 from the shore; for which we gave one
again. Immediately after our coming to an Anchor Raja Laut, and one of
the Sultan's Sons came off in a Canoa, being rowed with 10 Oars, and
demanded in Spanish what we were? and from whence we came? Mr. Smith
(he who was taken Prisoner at Leon in Mexico) answered in the same
Language, that we were English, and that we had been a great while
out of England. They told us that we were welcome, and asked us
a great many questions about England; especially concerning our
East India Merchants; and whether we were sent by them to settle a
Factory here? Mr. Smith told them that we came hither only to buy
Provision. They seemed a little discontented when they understood
that we were not come to settle among them: for they had heard of
our arrival on the East-side of the Island a great while before,
and entertained hopes that we were sent purposely out of England
hither to settle a Trade with them; which it would seem they are very
desirous of. For Capt. Goodlud had been here not long before to treat
with them about it; and when he went away told them (as they said)
that in a short time they might expect an Ambassador from England,
to make a full bargain with them.
Indeed upon mature thoughts, I should think we could not have done
better, than to have complied with the desire they seemed to have of
our settling here; and to have taken up our quarters among them. For as
thereby we might better have consulted our own profit and satisfaction,
than by the other loose roving way of life; so it might probably
have proved of publick benefit to our Nation, and been a means of
introducing an English Settlement and Trade, not only here, but
through several of the Spice-Islands, which lie in its neighborhood.
For the Islands Meangis, which I mentioned in the beginning of this
Chapter, lye within twenty Leagues of Mindanao. These are three small
Islands that abound with Gold and Cloves, if I may credit my Author
Prince Jeoly, [10] who was born on one of them, and was at that time a
Slave in the City of Mindanao. He might have been purchased by us of
his Master for a small matter, as he was afte[r]wards by Mr. Moody,
(who came hither to trade, and laded a Ship with Clove-Bark) and
by transporting him home to his own Country, we might have gotten a
Trade there. But of Prince Jeoly I shall speak more hereafter. These
Islands are as yet probably unknown to the Dutch, who as I said before,
indeavor to ingross all the Spice into their own Hands.
There was another opportunity offered us here of settling on another
Spice-Island that was very well inhabited: for the Inhabitants
fearing the Dutch, and understanding that the English were settling
at Mindanao, their Sultan sent his Nephew to Mindanao while we were
there to invite us thither: Captain Swan conferr'd with him about it
divers times, and I do believe he had some Inclination to accept the
offer; and I am sure most of the Men were for it: but this never came
to a head, for want of a true understanding between Captain Swan and
his Men, as may be declared hereafter.
Beside the benefit that might accrue from this Trade with Meangis,
and other the Spice Islands, the Philippine Islands themselves, by a
little care and industry, might have afforded us a very beneficial
Trade, and all these Trades might have been managed from Mindanao,
by settling there first. For that Island lyeth very convenient for
Trading either to the Spice-Islands, or to the rest of the Philippine
Islands: since as its Soil is much of the same nature with either of
them, so it lies as it were in the Center of the Gold and Spice Trade
in these parts; the Islands North of Mindanao abounding most in Gold,
and those South of Meangis in Spice.
As the Island Mindanao lies very convenient for Trade, so considering
its distance, the way thither may not be over-long and tiresome. The
Course that I would choose should be to set out of England about
the latter end of August, and to pass round Terra del Fuego, and
so stretching over towards New Holland, coast it along that Shore
till I came near to Mindanao; or first I would coast down near the
American Shore, as far as I found convenient, and then direct my Course
accordingly for the Island. By this I should avoid coming near any of
the Dutch Settlements, and be sure to meet always with a constant brisk
Easterly Trade Wind, after I was once past Terra del Fuego. Whereas
in passing about the Cape of Good Hope, after you are shot over the
East-Indian Ocean, and are come to the Islands, you must pass through
the Streights of Malacca or Sundy, or else some other Streights East
from Java, where you will be sure to meet with Country [i.e., contrary]
-winds, go on which side of the Equator you please; and this would
require ordinarily 7 or 8 Months for the Voyage, but the other I should
hope to perform in 6 or 7 at most. In your return from thence also you
must observe the same Rule as the Spaniards do in going from Manila to
Acapulco; [11] only as they run towards the North-Pole for variable
Winds, so you must run to the Southward, till you meet with a Wind
that will carry you over to Terra del Fuego. There are places enough
to touch at for Refreshment, either going or coming. You may touch
going thither on either side of Terra Patagonica, or, if you please,
at the Gallapagoes Islands, [12] where there is Refreshment enough;
and returning you may probably touch somewhere on New Holland, and
so make some profitable discovery in these Places without going out
of your way. And to speak my Thoughts freely, I believe 'tis owing
to the neglect of this easie way that all that vast Tract of Terra
Australis which bounds the South Sea is yet undiscovered: those that
cross that Sea seeming to design some Business on the Peruvian or
Mexican Coast, and so leaving that at a distance. To confirm which,
I shall add what Captain Davis [13] told me lately, That after his
departure from us at the Haven of Ria Lexa [14] (as is mentioned in
the 8th Chap.) he went after several Traverses, to the Gallapagoes
and that standing thus Southward for Wind, to bring him about Terra
del Fuego, in the Lat. of 27 South, about 500 Leagues from Copayapo,
[15] on the Coast of Chili, he saw a small sandy Island just by him;
and that they saw to the Westward of it a long Tract of pretty high
Land, tending away toward the North West out of sight. This might
probably be the Coast of Terra Australis Incognita.
But to return to Mindanao; as to the capacity we were then in, of
settling our selves at Mindanao, although we were not sent out of
any such design of settling, yet we were as well provided, or better,
considering all Circumstances, than if we had. For there was scarce any
useful Trade, but some or other of us understood it. We had Sawyers,
Carpenters, Joyners, Brickmakers, Bricklayers, Shoemakers, Taylors,
&c. we only wanted a good Smith for great Work; which we might have
had at Mindanao. We were very well provided with Iron, Lead, and all
sorts of Tools, as Saws, Axes, Hammers, &c. We had powder and Shot
enough, and very good small Arms. If we had designed to build a Fort,
we could have spared 8 or 10 Guns out of our Ship, and Men enough to
have managed it, and any Affair of Trade beside. We had also a great
Advantage above raw Men that are sent out of England into these places,
who proceed usually too cautiously, coldly and formally, to compass
any considerable design, which Experience better teaches than any
Rules whatsoever; besides the danger of their Lives in so great and
sudden a change of Air: whereas we were all inured to hot Climates,
hardened by many Fatigues, and, in general, daring Men, and such
as would not be easily baffled. To add one thing more, our Men were
almost tired, and began to desire a quietus est; and therefore they
would gladly have seated themselves any where. We had a good Ship
too, and enough of us (beside what might have been spared to manage
our new Settlement) to bring the News with the Effects to the Owners
in England: for Captain Swan had already 5000 l. in Gold, which he
and his Merchants received for Goods sold mostly to Captain Harris
[16] and his Men: which if he had laid but part of it out in Spice,
as probably he might have done, would have satisfy'd the Merchants
to their Hearts content. So much by way of digression.
To proceed therefore with our first Reception at Mindanao, Raja
Laut and his Nephew sat still in their Canoa, and would not come
aboard us; because, as they said, they had no Orders for it from the
Sultan. After about half an Hour's Discourse, they took their leaves,
first inviting Captain Swan ashore, and promising him to assist him
in getting Provision; which they said at present was scarce, but in
three or four Month's time the Rice would be gathered in, and then he
might have as much as he pleased: and that in the mean time he might
secure his Ship in some convenient place, for fear of the Westerly
winds, which they said would be very violent at the latter end of
this Month, and all the next, as we found them.
We did not know the quality of these two Persons till after they
were gone; else we should have fir'd some Guns at their Departure:
When they were gone, a certain Officer under the Sultan came aboard
and measured our Ship. A custom derived from the Chinese, who always
measure the length and breadth, and the depth of the Hold of all Ships
that come to load there; by which means they know how much each Ship
will carry. But for what reason this Custom is used either by the
Chinese, or Mindanao Men, I could never learn; unless the Mindanaians
design by this means to improve their skill in Shipping, against they
have a Trade.
Captain Swan, considering that the Season of the Year would oblige
us to spend some time at this Island, thought it convenient to
make what interest he could with the Sultan; who might afterwards
either obstruct, or advance his designs. He therefore immediately
provided a Present to send ashore to the Sultan, viz. 3 Yards of
Scarlet Cloth, 3 Yards of broad Gold Lace, a Turkish Scimiter and a
Pair of Pistols: and to Raja Laut he sent 3 Yards of Scarlet Cloth,
and 3 Yards of Silver Lace. This Present was carried by Mr. Henry
More in the Evening. He was first conducted to Raja Laut's House;
where he remained till report thereof was made to the Sultan, who
immediately gave order for all things to be made ready to receive him.
About Nine a Clock at Night, a Messenger came from the Sultan to bring
the Present away. Then Mr. More was conducted all the way with Torches
and armed Men, till he came to the House where the Sultan was. The
Sultan with eight or ten Men of his Council were seated on Carpets,
waiting his coming. The Present that Mr. More brought was laid down
before them, and was very kindly accepted by the Sultan, who caused
Mr. More to sit down by them, and asked a great many questions of
him. The discourse was in Spanish by an Interpreter. This Conference
lasted about an Hour, and then he was dismist, and returned again
to Raja Laut's House. There was a Supper provided for him, and the
Boats Crew; after which he returned aboard.
The next Day the Sultan sent for Capt. Swan: He immediately went
ashore with a Flag flying in the Boats Head, and two Trumpets sounding
all the way. When he came ashore, he was met at his Landing by two
principal Officers, guarded along with Soldiers, and abundance of
People gazing to see him. The Sultan waited for him in his Chamber
of Audience, where Captain Swan was treated with Tobacco and Betel,
which was all his Entertainment.
The Sultan sent for two English Letters for Captain Swan to read,
purposely to let him know, that our East-India Merchants did design
to settle here, and that they had already sent a Ship hither. One of
these Letters was sent to the Sultan from England, by the East-India
Merchants. The chiefest things contained in it, as I remember, for I
saw it afterwards in the Secretaries Hand, who was very proud to shew
it to us, was to desire some privileges, in order to the building of a
Fort there. This Letter was written in a very fair Hand; and between
each Line, there was a Gold Line drawn. The other Letter was left
by Captain Goodlud, directed to any English Men who should happen
to come thither. This related wholly to Trade, giving an account,
at what rate he had agreed with them for Goods of the Island, and
how European Goods should be sold to them; with an account of their
Weight and Measures, and their difference from ours.
The rate agreed on for Mindanao Gold, was 14 Spanish Dollars,
(which is a current Coin all over India) the English Ounce, and 18
Dollars the Mindanao Ounce. But for Bees-wax and Clove-bark, I do
not remember the rate neither do I well remember the rates of Europe
Commodities; but I think the rate of Iron was not above four Dollars
a Hundred. Captain Goodlud's Letter concluded thus, Trust none of
them, for they are all Thieves, but Tace is Latin for a Candle. We
understood afterwards that Captain Goodlud was robb'd of some Goods
by one of the General's Men, and that he that robb'd him was fled
into the Mountains, and could not be found while Captain Goodlud was
here. But the Fellow returning back to the City some time after our
arrival here, Raja Laut brought him bound to Captain Swan, and told
him what he had done, desiring him to punish him for it as he pleased;
but Captain Swan excused himself; and said it did not belong to him,
therefore he would have nothing to do with it. However, the General
Raja Laut, would not pardon him, but punished him according to their
own Custom, which I did never see but at this time.
He was stript stark naked in the Morning at Sunrising, and bound
to a Post, so that he could not stir Hand nor Foot, but as he was
mov'd; and was placed with his Face Eastward against the Sun. In the
Afternoon they turned his Face toward the West, that the Sun might
still be in his Face; and thus he stood all Day, parcht in the Sun
(which shines here excessively hot) and tormented with the Moskitos
or Gnats: After this the General would have kill'd him, if Captain
Swan had consented to it. I did never see any put to Death; but I
believe they are barbarous enough in it: The General told us himself
that he put two Men to Death in a Town where some of us were with him;
but I heard not the manner of it. Their common way of punishing is to
strip them in this manner, and place them in the Sun; but sometimes
they lay them flat on their Backs on the Sand, which is very hot;
where they remain a whole Day in the scorching Sun, with the Moskito's
biting them all the time.
This action of the General in offering Captain Swan the punishment of
the Thief, caus'd Captain Swan afterwards to make him the same offer
of his Men, when any had offended the Mindanao Men: but the General
left such Offenders to be punished by Captain Swan, as he thought
convenient. So that for the least Offence Captain Swan punished his
Men, and that in the sight of the Mindanaians; and I think sometimes
only for revenge; as he did once punish his Chief Mate Mr. Teat,
he that came Captain of the Bark to Mindanao. Indeed at that time
Captain Swan had his Men as much under command as if he had been in
a King's Ship; and had he known how to use his Authority, he might
have led them to any Settlement, and have brought them to assist him
in any design he had pleased.
Captain Swan being dismist from the Sultan, with abundance of
civility, after about two Hours Discourse with him, went thence to Raja
Laut's House. Raja Laut had then some difference with the Sultan, and
therefore he was not present at the Sultan's reception of our Captain,
but waited his return, and treated him and all his Men with boiled Rice
and Fowls. He then told Captain Swan again, and urged it to him, that
it would be best to get his Ship into the River as soon as he could,
because of the usual tempestuous Weather at this time of the Year;
and that he should want no assistance to further him in any thing. He
told him also, that as we must of necessity stay here some time, so
our Men would often come ashore; and he therefore desired him to warn
his Men to be careful to give no afront to the Natives; who, he said,
were very revengeful. That their Customs being different from ours, he
feared that Captain Swan's Men might some time or other offend them,
though ignorantly; that therefore he gave him this friendly warning,
to prevent it: that his House should always be open to receive him
or any of his Men, and that he knowing our Customs, would never be
offended at any thing. After a great deal of such Discourse he dismist
the Captain and his Company, who took their leave and came aboard.
Captain Swan having seen the two Letters, did not doubt but that the
English did design to settle a Factory here: therefore he did not much
scruple the honesty of these People, but immediately ordered us to get
the Ship into the River. The River upon which the City of Mindanao
stands is but small, and hath not above 10 or 11 Foot Water on the
Bar at a Spring-tide: therefore we lightened our Ship, and the Spring
coming on, we with much ado got her into the River, being assisted by
50 or 60 Mindanaian Fishermen, who liv'd at the Mouth of the River;
Raja Laut himself being aboard our Ship to direct them. We carried
her about a quarter of a Mile up, within the Mouth of the River,
and there moored her, Head and Stern in a hole, where we always rode
afloat. After this the Citizens of Mindanao came frequently aboard, to
invite our Men to their Houses, and to offer us Pagallies. 'Twas a long
time since any of us had received such Friendship, and therefore we
were the more easily drawn to accept of their kindnesses; and in a very
short time most of our Men got a Comrade or two, and as many Pagallies;
especially such of us as had good Cloths, and store of Gold, as many
had, who were of the number of those, that accompanied Captain Harris
over the Isthmus of Darien, the rest of us being Poor enough. Nay,
the very Poorest and Meanest of us could hardly pass the Streets, but
we were even hal'd by Force into their Houses, to be treated by them;
altho' their Treats were but mean, viz. Tobacco, or Betel-Nut, or a
little sweet spiced Water. Yet their seeming Sincerity, Simplicity, and
the manner of bestowing these Gifts, made them very acceptable. When
we came to their Houses, they would always be praising the English,
as declaring that the English and Mindanaians were all one. This they
exprest by putting their two Fore-fingers close together, and saying,
that the English and Mindanaians were samo, samo, [17] that is, all
one. Then they would draw their Fore-fingers half a Foot asunder,
and say the Dutch and they were Bugeto, which signifies so, that they
were at such distance in point of Friendship: And for the Spaniards,
they would make a greater Representation of distance than for the
Dutch: Fearing these, but having felt, and smarted from the Spaniards,
who had once almost brought them under.
Captain Swan did seldom go into any House at first, but into Raja
Laut's. There he dined commonly every day; and as many of his Men as
were ashore, and had no Money to Entertain themselves, resorted thither
about 12 a Clock, where they had Rice enough boiled and well drest, and
some scraps of Fowls, or bits of Buffaloe, drest very nastily. Captain
Swan was served a little better, and his two trumpeters sounded all
the time that he was at Dinner. After Dinner Raja Laut would sit
and Discourse with him most part of the Afternoon. It was now that
Ramdam time, therefore the General excused himself, that he could not
Entertain our Captain with Dances, and other Pastimes, as he intended
to do when this solemn Time was past; besides, it was the very height
of the wet Season, and therefore not so proper for Pastimes.
We had now very tempestuous Weather, and excessive Rains, which so
swell'd the River, that it overflowed its Banks; so that we had much
ado to keep our Ship safe: For every now and then we should have a
great Tree come floating down the River, and sometimes lodge against
our Bows, to the endangering the breaking our Cables, and either the
driving us in, over the Banks, or carrying us out to Sea; both which
would have been very dangerous to us, especially being without Ballast.
The City is about a Mile long (of no great breadth) winding with
the Banks of the River on the Right Hand going up, tho' it hath many
Houses on the other side too. But at this time it seemed to stand as
in a Pond, and there was no passing from one House to another but in
Canoas. This tempestuous Rainy Weather happened the latter end of July,
and lasted most part of August.
When the bad Weather was a little asswaged, Captain Swan hired a
House to put our Sails and Goods in, while we careen'd our Ship. We
had a great deal of Iron and Lead, which was brought ashore into this
House. Of these Commodities Captain Swan sold to the Sultan or General,
Eight or Ten Tuns, at the Rates agreed on by Captain Goodlud to be
paid in Rice. The Mindanaians are no good Accomptants; therefore the
Chinese that live here, do cast up their Accompts for them. After this
Captain Swan bought Timber-trees of the General, and set some of our
Men to Saw them into Planks, to Sheath the Ship's bottom. He had two
Whip-Saws on Board, which he brought out of England, and four or five
Men that knew the use of them, for they had been Sawyers in Jamaica.
When the Ramdam time was over, and the dry time set in a little,
the General, to oblige Captain Swan, entertained him every Night with
Dances. The dancing Women that are purposely bred up to it, and make
it their Trade, I have already described. But beside them, all the
Women in general are much addicted to Dancing. They Dance 40 or 50 at
once; and that standing all round in a Ring, joined Hand in Hand, and
Singing and keeping time. But they never budge out of their places,
nor make any motion till the Chorus is Sung; then all at once they
throw out one Leg, and bawl out aloud; and sometimes they only Clap
their Hands when the Chorus is Sung. Captain Swan, to retaliate the
General's Favours, sent for his Violins, and some that could Dance
English Dances; wherewith the General was very well pleased. They
commonly spent the biggest part of the Night in these sort of Pastimes.
Among the rest of our Men that did use to Dance thus before the
General, there was one John Thacker, who was a Seaman bred, and
could neither Write nor Read; but had formerly learnt to Dance in
the Musick-Houses about Wapping: This Man came into the South Seas
with Captain Harris, and getting with him a good quantity of Gold,
and being a pretty good Husband of his Share, had still had some
left, besides what he laid out in a very good Suit of Cloaths. The
General supposed by his Garb and his Dancing, that he had been of
noble Extraction; and to be satisfy'd of his Quality, asked of our
Men, if he did not guess aright of him? The Man of whom the General
asked this Question told him, he was much in the right; and that
most of our Ship's Company were of the like Extraction; especially
all those that had fine Cloaths; and that they came aboard only to
see the World, having Money enough to bear their expences where-ever
they came; but that for the rest, those that had but mean Clothes,
they were only common Seamen. After this, the General shew'd a great
deal of Respect to all that had good Clothes, but especially to John
Thacker, till Captain Swan came to know the Business, and marr'd all;
undeceiving the General, and drubbing the Noble-Man: For he was so
much incensed against John Thacker, that he could never indure him
afterwards; tho' the poor Fellow knew nothing of the Matter.
About the middle of November we began to work on our Ship's bottom,
which we found very much eaten with the Worm: For this is a horrid
place for Worms. We did not know this till after we had been in
the River a Month; and then we found our Canoas bottoms eaten like
Honey-combs; our Bark, which was a single bottom, was eaten thro';
so that she could not swim. But our Ship was sheathed, and the Worm
came no farther than the Hair between the sheathing Plank, and the
main Plank. We did not mistrust the General's Knavery till now: for
when he came down to our Ship, and found us ripping off the sheathing
Plank, and saw the firm bottom underneath, he shook his Head, and
seemed to be discontented; saying he did never see a Ship with two
bottoms before. We were told that in this place, where we now lay,
a Dutch Ship was eaten up in two months time, and the General had all
her Guns; and it is probable he did expect to have had Ours: Which I
do believe was the main Reason that made him so forward in assisting
us to get our Ship into the River, for when we went out again we had
no Assistance from him. We had no Worms till we came to this place:
For when we Careen'd at the Marias, the Worm had not touch'd us; nor at
Guam, for there we scrubb'd; nor after we came to the Island Mindanao;
for at the S.E. end of the Island we heel'd and scrubb'd also. The
Mindanaians are so sensible of their destructive Insects, that whenever
they come from Sea, they immediately hale their Ship into a dry Dock,
and burn her bottom, and there let her lye dry till they are ready
to get to Sea again. The Canoas or Proes they hale up dry, and never
suffer them to be long in the Water. It is reported that those Worms
which get into a Ships bottom in the salt Water, will die in the
fresh Water; and that the fresh Water Worms will die in Salt Water:
but in brackish Water both sorts will increase prodigiously. Now this
place where we lay was sometimes brackish Water, yet commonly fresh;
but what sort of Worm this was I know not. Some Men are of Opinion,
that these Worms breed in the Plank; but I am perswaded they breed
in the Sea: For I have seen Millions of them swimming in the Water,
particularly in the Bay of Panama; for there Captain Davis, Captain
Swan and my self, and most of our Men, did take notice of them divers
times, which was the reason of our Cleaning so often while we were
there: and these were the largest Worms that I did ever see. I have
also seen them in Virginia, and in the Bay of Campeachy; in the
latter of which places the Worms eat prodigiously. They are always
in Bays, Creeks, Mouths of Rivers, and such places as are near the
shore; being never found far out at Sea, that I could ever learn:
yet a Ship will bring them lodg'd in its Plank for a great way.
Having thus ript off all our Worm-eaten Plank, and clapt on new, by
the beginning of December 1686, our Ships bottom was sheathed and
tallowed, and the 10th Day went over the Bar, and took aboard the
Iron and Lead that we could not sell, and began to fill our Water,
and fetch aboard Rice for our Voyage: But C. Swan remain'd ashore
still, and was not yet determin'd when to sail, or whither. But I
am well assured that he did never intend to Cruise about Manila, as
his Crew designed; for I did once ask him, and he told me, That what
he had already done of that kind he was forc'd to; but now being at
Liberty, he would never more Engage in any such Design: For, said he,
there is no Prince on Earth is able to wipe off the Stain of such
Actions. What other Designs he had I know not, for he was commonly
very Cross; yet he did never propose doing any thing else, but only
ordered the Provision to be got Aboard in order to Sail; and I am
confident if he had made a motion to go to any English Factory, most
of his Men would have consented to it, tho' probably some would have
still opposed it. How ever, his Authority might soon have over-sway'd
those that were Refractory; for it was very strange to see the Awe
that these Men were in of him, for he punished the most stubborn and
daring of his Men. Yet when we had brought the Ship out into the Road,
they were not altogether so submissive, as while it lay in the River,
tho' even then it was that he punished Captain Teat.
I was at that time a Hunting with the General for Beef, which he
had a long time promised us. But now I saw that there was no Credit
to be given to his Word; for I was a Week out with him and saw but
four Cows, which were so wild, that we did not get one. There were
five or six more of our Company with me; these who were young Men,
and had Dalilahs there, which made them fond of the Place, all agreed
with the General to tell Captain Swan, that there were Beeves enough,
only they were wild. But I told him the Truth, and advised him not
to be too credulous of the General's Promises. He seemed to be very
angry, and stormed behind the General's Back, but in his Presence
was very mute, being a Man of small Courage.
It was about the 20th Day of December when we returned from Hunting,
and the General designed to go again to another place to Hunt for Beef;
but he stayed till after Christmas-day, because some of us designed
to go with him; and Captain Swan had desired all his Men to be aboard
that Day, that we might keep it solemnly together: And accordingly
he sent aboard a Buffaloe the Day before, that we might have a good
Dinner. So the 25th Day about 10 a Clock, Captain Swan came aboard,
and all his Men who were ashore: For you must understand that near
a third of our Men lived constantly ashore, with their Comrades and
Pagallies, and some with Women servants, whom they hired of their
Masters for Concubines. Some of our Men also had Houses, which
they hired or bought, for Houses are very cheap, for five or six
Dollars. For many of them having more Money than they knew what to do
with, eased themselves here of the trouble of telling it, spending it
very lavishly, their prodigality making the People impose upon them,
to the making the rest of us pay the dearer for what we bought, and
to the endangering the like impositions upon such Englishmen as may
come here hereafter. For the Mindanaians knew how to get our Squires
Gold from them (for we had no Silver,) and when our Men wanted Silver,
they would change now and then an Ounce of Gold, and could get for
it no more than 10 or 11 Dollars for a Mindanao Ounce, which they
would not part with again under 18 Dollars. Yet this, and the great
prices the Mindanaians set on their Goods, were not the only way to
lessen their stocks; for their Pagallies and Comrades would often be
begging somewhat of them, and our Men were generous enough, and would
bestow half an Ounce of Gold at a time, in a Ring for their Pagallies,
or in a Silver Wrist-band, or Hoop to come about their Arms, in hopes
to get a Nights Lodging with them.
When we were all aboard on Christmas-day, Captain Swan and his
two Merchants; I did expect that Captain Swan would have made some
proposals, or have told us his designs; but he only dined and went
ashore again, without speaking any thing of his Mind. Yet even then I
do think that he was driving on a design, of going to one of the Spice
Islands, to load with Spice; for the Young Man before mentioned, who I
said was sent by his Unkle, the Sultan of a Spice Island near Ternate,
to invite the English to their Island, came aboard at this time, and
after some private Discourse with Captain Swan, they both went ashore
together. This Young Man did not care that the Mindanaians should be
privy to what he said. I have heard Captain Swan say that he offered
to load his Ship with Spice, provided he would build a small Fort,
and leave some Men to secure the Island from the Dutch; but I am
since informed, that the Dutch have now got possession of the Island.
The next Day after Christmas the General went away again, and five or
six Englishmen with him, of whom I was one, under pretence of going
a hunting; and we all went together by Water in his Proe, together
with his Women and Servants, to the hunting place. The General always
carried his Wives and Children, his Money and Goods with him: so we
all imbarked in the Morning, and arrived there before Night. I have
already described the fashion of their Proes, and the Rooms made in
them. We were entertained in the General's Room or Cabbin. Our Voyage
was not so far, but that we reached our Port before Night.
At this time one of the General's Servants had offended, and was
punished in this manner: He was bound fast flat on his Belly, on a
Bamboe belonging to the Proe, which was so near the Water, that by
the Vessel's motion, it frequently delved under Water, and the Man
along with it; and sometimes when hoisted up, he had scarce time to
blow before he would be carried under Water again.
When we had rowed about two Leagues, we entered a pretty large
deep River, and rowed up a League further, the Water salt all the
way. There was a pretty large Village, the Houses built after the
Country fashion. We landed at this place, where there was a House
made ready immediately for us. The General and his Women lay at one
end of the House, and we at the other end, and in the Evening all
the Women in the Village danced before the General.
While he staid here, the General with his Men went out every Morning
betimes, and did not return till four or five a Clock in the Afternoon,
and he would often complement us, by telling us what good Trust and
Confidence he had in us, saying that he left his Women and Goods
under our Protection, and that he thought them as secure with us six,
(for we had all our Arms with us) as if he had left 100 of his own
Men to guard them. Yet for all this great Confidence, he always left
one of his principal Men, for fear some of us should be too familiar
with his Women.
They did never stir out of their own Room when the General was at
Home, but as soon as he was gone out, they would presently come into
our Room, and sit with us all Day, and ask a Thousand Questions of us
concerning our English Women, and our Customs. You may imagine that
before this time, some of us had attained so much of their Language
as to understand them, and give them Answers to their Demands. I
remember that one Day they asked how many Wives the King of England
had? We told them but one, and that our English Laws did not allow
of any more. They said it was a strange Custom, that a Man should
be confined to one Woman; some of them said it was a very bad Law,
but others again said it was a good Law; so there was a great Dispute
among them about it. But one of the General's Women said positively,
That our Law was better than theirs, and made them all silent by the
Reason which she gave for it. This was the War Queen, as we called
her, for she did always Accompany the General whenever he was called
out to Engage his Enemies, but the rest did not.
By this Familiarity among the Women, and by often discoursing [with]
them, we came to be acquainted with their Customs and Priviledges. The
General lies with his Wives by turns; but she by whom he had the
first Son, has a double Portion of his Company: For when it comes
to her turn, she has him two Nights, whereas the rest have him but
one. She with whom he is to lye at Night, seems to have a particular
Respect shewn her by the rest all the precedent Day; and for a Mark
of distinction, wears a striped silk Handkerchief about her Neck,
by which we knew who was Queen that Day.
We lay here about five or six Days, but did never in all that time
see the least sign of any Beef, which was the Business we came about;
neither were we suffered to go out with the General to see the wild
Kine, but we wanted for nothing else: However, this did not please us,
and we often importuned him to let go out among the Cattle. At last he
told us, That he had provided a Jar of Rice-drink to be merry with us,
and after that we should go with him.
This Rice-drink is made of Rice boiled and put into a Jar, where it
remains a long time steeping in Water. I know not the manner of making
it, but it is very strong pleasant Drink. The Evening when the General
designed to be merry, he caused a Jar of this Drink to be brought into
our Room, and he began to drink first himself, then afterwards his Men;
so they took turns till they were all as drunk as Swine, before they
suffered us to drink. After they had enough, then we drank, and they
drank no more, for they will not drink after us. The General leapt
about our Room a little while; but having his Load soon went to sleep.
The next Day we went out with the General into the Savannah, where we
had near 100 Men making of a large Pen to drive the Cattle into. For
that is the manner of their Hunting, having no Dogs. But I saw not
above 8 or 10 Cows, and those as wild as Deer so that we got none
this Day: yet the next Day some of his Men brought in 3 Heifers,
which they kill'd in the Savannah. With these we returned aboard,
they being all that we got there.
Captain Swan was much vext at the Generals Actions; for he promised
to supply us with as much Beef as we should want, but now either could
not, or would not make good his promise. Besides, he failed to perform
his Promise in a bargain of Rice, that we were to have for the iron
which he sold him, but he put us off still from time to time, and
would not come to any Account. Neither were these all his Tricks;
for a little before his Son was Circumcised, (of which I spake in
the foregoing Chapter) he pretended a great streight for Money,
to defray the Charges of that Day; and therefore desired Captain
Swan to lend him about 20 Ounces of Gold; for he knew that Captain
Swan had a considerable quantity of Gold in his possession, which
the General thought was his own, but indeed [he] had none but what
belonged to the Merchants. However he lent it the General, but when
he came to an Account with Captain Swan, he told him, that it was
usual at such solemn times to make Presents, and that he received it
as a Gift. He also demanded Payment for the Victuals that our Captain
and his Men did eat at his House. These things startled Captain Swan,
yet how to help himself he knew not. But all this, with other inward
troubles, lay hard on our Captain's Spirits, and put him very much
out of Humour; for his own Company also were pressing him every Day
to be gone, because, now was the heighth of the Easterly Monsoon,
the only Wind to carry us farther into the Indies.
About this time some of our Men, who were weary and tired with
wandring, ran away into the Country and absconded, they being assisted,
as was generally believed, by Raja Laut. There were others also,
who fearing we should not go to an English Port, bought a Canoa,
and designed to go in her to Borneo: For not long before a Mindanao
Vessel came from thence, and brought a Letter directed to the chief
of the English Factory at Mindanao. This Letter the General would
have Captain Swan have opened, but he thought it might come from some
of the East-India Merchants whose Affairs he would not intermeddle
with, and therefore did not open it. I since met Captain Bowry [18]
at Achin, and telling him this Story, he said that he sent that Letter,
supposing that the English were settled there at Mindanao, and by this
Letter we also thought that there was an English Factory at Borneo:
so here was a mistake on both sides. But this Canoa, wherewith some
of them thought to go to Borneo, Captain Swan took from them, and
threatned the Undertakers very hardly. However, this did not so far
discourage them, for they secretly bought another; but their Designs
taking Air, they were again frustrated by Captain Swan.
The whole Crew were at this time under a general Disaffection, and
full of very different Projects; and all for want of Action. The
main Division was between those that had Money and those that had
none. There was a great Difference in the Humours of these; for they
that had Money liv'd ashore, and did not care for leaving Mindanao;
whilst those that were poor liv'd Aboard, and urg'd Capt. Swan to go
to Sea. These began to be Unruly as well as Dissatisfy'd, and sent
ashore the Merchants Iron to sell for Rack and Honey, to make Punch,
wherewith they grew Drunk and Quarelsome: Which disorderly Actions
deterr'd me from going Aboard; for I did ever abhor Drunkenness,
which now our Men that were Aboard abandon'd themselves wholly to.
Yet these Disorders might have been crusht, if Capt. Swan had used his
Authority to Suppress them: But he with his Merchants living always
ashore, there was no Command; and therefore every Man did what he
pleased and encouraged each other in his Villanies. Now Mr. Harthop,
who was one of Captain Swan's Merchants, did very much importune him
to settle his Resolutions, and declare his Mind to his Men; which at
last he consented to do. Therefore he gave warning to all his Men to
come Aboard the 13th day of January, 1687.
We did all earnestly expect to hear what Captain Swan would propose,
and therefore were very willing to go Aboard. But unluckily for him,
two days before this Meeting was to be, Captain Swan sent Aboard
his Gunner, to fetch something ashore out of his Cabbin. The Gunner
rummaging to find what he was sent for, among other things took out
the Captain's Journal from America to the Island Guam, and laid [it]
down by him. This Journal was taken up by one John Read, a Bristol man,
whom I have mentioned in my 4th Chapter. He was a pretty Ingenious
young Man, and of a very civil carriage and behaviour. He was also
accounted a good Artist, and kept a Journal, and was now prompted
by his curiosity, to peep into Captain Swan's Journal, to see how
it agreed with his own; a thing very usual among Seamen that keep
Journals, when they have an opportunity, and especially young Men, who
have no great experience. At the first opening of the Book, he lights
on a place in which Captain Swan had inveighed bitterly against most
of his Men, especially against another John Reed a Jamaica man. This
was such stuff as he did not seek after: But hitting so pat on this
subject, his curiosity led him to pry farther; and therefore while
the Gunner was busie, he convey'd the Book away, to look over it at
his leisure. The Gunner having dispatch'd his business, lock'd up
the Cabbin-door, not missing the Book, and went ashore. Then John
Reed shewed it to his Namesake, and to the rest that were aboard,
who were by this time the biggest part of them ripe for mischief; only
wanting some fair pretence to set themselves to work upon it. Therefore
looking on what was written in this Journal to be matter sufficient
for them to accomplish their Ends, Captain Teat, who as I said before,
had been abused by Captain Swan, laid hold on this opportunity to be
revenged for his Injuries, and aggravated the matter to the height;
perswading the Men to turn out Captain Swan from being Commander, in
hopes to have commanded the Ship himself. As for the Sea-men they were
easily perswaded to anything; for they were quite tired with this long
and tedious Voyage, and most of them despaired of ever getting home,
and therefore did not care what they did, or whither they went. It was
only want of being busied in some Action that made them so uneasie;
therefore they consented to what Teat proposed, and immediately all
that were aboard bound themselves by Oath to turn Captain Swan out,
and to conceal this design from those that were ashore, until the
Ship was under Sail; which would have been presently, if the Surgeon
or his Mate had been aboard; but they were both ashore, and they
thought it no Prudence to go to Sea without a Surgeon: Therefore
the next Morning they sent ashore one John Cookworthy, to hasten off
either the Surgeon or his Mate, by pretending that one of the Men in
the Night broke his Leg by falling into the Hold. The Surgeon told
him that he intended to come aboard the next Day with the Captain,
and would not come before: but sent his Mate, Herman Coppinger.
This Man sometime before this, was sleeping at his Pegallies, and a
Snake twisted himself about his Neck; but afterwards went away without
hurting him. In this Country it is usual to have the Snakes come into
the Houses, and into the Ships too; for we had several come aboard
our Ship when we lay in the River. But to proceed, Herman Coppinger
provided to go aboard; and the next day, being the time appointed for
Captain Swan and all his Men to meet aboard, I went aboard with him,
neither of us mistrusted what was designing by those aboard, till we
came thither. Then we found it was only a trick to get the Surgeon off;
for now, having obtained their Desires, the Canoa was sent ashore again
immediately, to desire as many as they could meet to come aboard; but
not to tell the Reason, lest Captain Swan should come to hear of it.
The 13th Day in the Morning they weighed, and fired a Gun: Capt. Swan
immediately sent aboard Mr. Nelly, who was now his chief Mate, to
see what the matter was: To him they told all their Grievances, and
shewed him the Journal. He perswaded them to stay till the next day,
for an Answer from Captain Swan and the Merchants. So they came to
an Anchor again, and the next Morning Mr. Harthop came aboard: He
perswaded them to be reconciled again, or at least to stay and get
more Rice: But they were deaf to it, and weighed again while he was
aboard. Yet at Mr. Harthop's Perswasion they promised to stay till 2
a Clock in the Afternoon for Captain Swan, and the rest of the Men,
if they would come aboard; but they suffered no Man to go ashore,
except one William Williams that had a wooden Leg, and another that
was a Sawyer.
If Capt. Swan had yet come aboard, he might have dash'd all their
designs; but he neither came himself, as a Captain of any Prudence
and Courage would have done, nor sent till the time was expired. So
we left Captain Swan and about 36 Men ashore in the City, and 6 or
8 that run away; and about 16 we had buried there, the most of which
died by Poison. The Natives are very expert at Poisoning, and do it
upon small occasions: Nor did our Men want for giving Offence, through
their general Rogueries, and sometimes by dallying too familiarly with
their Women, even before their Faces. Some of their Poisons are slow
and lingering; for we had some now aboard who were Poison'd there;
but died not till some Months after.