distant about eight leagues. This day we spied a Sail under our Lee Bow,
between the Islands of Grand Canaries and Forteventura. She showed us a
clean Pair of Heels; but we gave Chase, and after seven hours came up
with her. She proved a Prize, safe enough: a Spanish Bark, about 25
tons, with some 45 Passengers, who rejoiced much when they found we
were English, having fancied that we were Turks or Sallee Rovers.
Amongst our Prisoners were four Friars, and with them the Padre Guardian
of Forteventura, a good, honest old fellow, fat, and given to jollity.
Him we made heartily merry, drinking the Spanish King's Health, for
naught else would he Toast. After we had made all Snug, we stood to the
Westward with our Prize to Teneriffe, to have her ransomed, that is to
say, her Hull; for her Cargo was not worth redeeming, being extremely
shabby,--one or two Butts of Wine, a Hogshead of Brandy, and other small
matters, which we determined to keep for our own use. The Spanish Dons
made a mighty pother about paying, pleading that the Trade of these
Islands enjoyed an immunity from Privateering by arrangement between his
Catholic Majesty and the King of Great Britain, and were even seconded
by some English merchants of Teneriffe that were frightened at the
thought of the cruel Reprisals the Dons might exercise after we went
away, both on their Persons and Properties; for Jack Spaniard is one
that, if he cannot have Meal, will have Malt. But we soon let 'em know
that Possession was Nine Points of the Law, and that we were resolved to
stick to our Prize unless we got Ransom, which they presently agreed to.
At eight o'clock the next morning we stood into the Port, close to the
Town, and spied a Boat coming off, which proved to be the Deputy
Governor, a Spanish Don with as many names as an English pickpocket has
Aliases, and one Mr. Harbottle, that was English Vice-Consul. They
brought us Wine, Figs, Grapes, Hogs, and other Necessaries, as Ransom in
Kind for the Bark; and accordingly we restored her, as also the
Prisoners, with as much as we could find of what belonged to their
Persons; although, Truth to tell, some of our wild Reformadoes had used
them somewhat unhandsomely. All the Books, Crucifixes, Reliques, and
other superstitious things, we carefully gave back to the Friars; to the
Padre a large Cheese, at which he was much delighted; and to another
Religious, who had been stripped nearly as bare as a Robin, a pair of
Breeches and a Red Nightcap. And so stood off, giving Three Cheers for
King George, and one, with better luck next time, for the King of Spain;
and I doubt not that they cursed us heartily that same night in their
Churches, for Heretics. Now we had an indifferent good stock of Liquor,
to be the better able to endure the Cold when we got to the length of
Cape Horn, which, we were informed, had always very Cold Weather near
it.
On the 25th, according to custom, we Ducked those that had never passed
the Tropic before. The manner of doing it was to reeve a Rope in the
Mainyard, to hoist 'em about half-way up to the Yard, and let 'em fall
at once into the Water; they being comfortably Trussed by having a Stick
'cross through their Legs, and well fastened to the Rope, that they
might not be surprised and let go their Hold. This proved of great use
to our Fresh-water Sailors, to recover the Colour of their Skins, which
had grown very Black and Nasty. Those that we Ducked in this manner
Three Times were about 60; and others that would not undergo it could
redeem themselves by a Fine of Half-a-Crown, to be Levied and Spent at a
Public Meeting of all the Ships' Companies when we returned to England.
The Dutchmen we had on board, and some few English, desired to be
Ducked, some six, others eight and ten times, to have the better title
for being Treated when they came home.
On the 1st October we made St. Vincent, where our Water began to smell
insufferably; so had some Coopers from the _Hope_ and _Delight_ to make
us Casks, and take in a fresh Stock.
On the 3d we sent a boat to St. Antonio, with one of our Gunners' Crew
that was a very fair Linguist, to get Truck for our Prize Goods what we
wanted; they having plenty of Cattle, Pigs, Goats, Fowls, Melons,
Potatoes, Limes, and ordinary Brandies, Tobacco, Indian Corn, &c. Our
people were very meanly stocked with Clothes; yet we were forced to
watch our men very narrowly, and Punish some of 'em smartly, to prevent
their selling what Garments they had, for mere Trifles, to the Negroes.
We got all we wanted by the 8th; but our Linguist gave us leg-bail; and
as he was much given to telling of Lies, we did not go to the pains of
sending a party of Marines on shore after him. This is the place whither
the Blacks come from St. Nicholas to make Oil of Turtle for the
anointing of their Nasty Bodies withal. There was much good Green Turtle
at this time of the year, which made me think of my old Jamaica days;
but our men, in a body, refused to eat it, much preferring Salt Junk.
_Item._--Many Flying Fish about here.
Nothing more worthy of note till the 22d October, when Mr. Page, Second
Mate, made an attack on his superior officer, the Doctor of Physic, with
a Marline-spike; and, but for a very large Periwig he wore, which was
accounted odd in one having a Maritime Command, would have finished him.
Mr. Page was had to the Forecastle and clapped in the Bilboes, and
Captain Blokes was for Hanging him off-hand as an Example to the rest;
but I, as Secretary, pointed out to him that there was no Power of Life
and Death in our Instructions, and that it would be folly to run the
risk of a Praemunire when we made Home again. With much trouble I
succeeded in dissuading him from his Design: so that the Mate was only
lashed to the Main-gears and soundly Drubbed. Fair, pleasant Weather,
and a fresh Gale. One that had secreted a Peruke, and a pair of scarlet
Stockings with silver Clocks, out of the plunder of the Spanish Bark,
did also receive Rib-roasting enough (this was on a Sunday, after
Prayers) to last him for a fortnight.
On the 10th of November, after a terrific Tornado and Thunder and
Lightning, that frightened some of our Tailors and Haymakers half into
Fits, we came to an Anchor in 22-fathom water, in a sandy bay off the
land of Brazil. Caught some Tortoises for their Shells, for they have
too strong a taste to be Eatable. A Portugee boat came from a Cove in
the Island of Grande, on our Starboard side, and said they had been
robbed by the French not long since. Captain Blokes, the Doctor, and
Self went ashore to Angre de Keys, as it is called in Sea-Draughts; but,
as the Portugee call it, Nostra Senora de la Concepcion, a small village
about three leagues distant, to wait on the Governor, and make him a
present of Butter and Cheese. As we neared the shore, the People, taking
us for Mounseers, fired a few Musquetoons at us, which did us no Hurt;
and when they found out who we were, they very Humbly Begged our Pardon.
The Friars invited us to their Convent, and told us they had been so
often stripped and abused by King Lewis's frog-eating Subjects, that
they were obliged to take measures to Defend themselves; and, indeed,
'twas these said Padres who had fired at us. The Governor was gone to
Rio Janeiro, a city about twelve leagues distant, but was expected back
next day. We got our empty Casks ashore, and sent our Carpenter, with a
friendly Portugee, to look out Wood for Trustle-trees, both our Main and
Fore being broke; but the Weather was so Wet and violent Sultry, that
we could do nothing. Here are abundant Graves of Dead Men; and the
Portugees told us that two great French ships, homeward bound from the
South Seas, that Watered in this same place about nine months before,
had buried nearly Half their men here; but 'twas at the Sickly season,
and the French have a marvellous foul way of Living. The people very
Civil; and we offered 'em handsome Gratuities if they would catch such
of our men as might run away, which they promised to do most Cheerfully.
Hearing of a Brigantine (this was some days afterwards) at the entrance
of the Bay of Grande, we sent our Pinnace manned and armed to know all
about her. She turned out to be a Portugee laden with Negroes, poor
Creatures! for the Gold-mines. Our boat returned, and brought as
presents a Roove of Fine Sugar and a Pot of Sweetmeats from the Master,
who spoke a little English, and had formerly sailed with 'em. The
Portugees are cautious in saying how far it is to the Gold-mines; but, I
believe, the distance by water is not great; and there is certainly
abundance of Gold in the country. The French took about 1200_l._ worth
out of their boats last autumn at one Haul, which makes the Portugees
hate 'em so. Some of 'em brought us a Monstrous Creature which they had
killed, having Prickles or Quills like a Hedgehog, and the head and tail
of a Monkey. It stank abominably, which the Portugees said was only the
Skin, and that the Meat of it was very Delicious, and often used for the
table; but our men not being yet on Short Commons, none of 'em had
Stomach enough to try the Experiment, so that we were forced to throw it
overboard to make a Sweet Ship. Our people could now hardly go ashore
without being frightened, as they thought, by Tigers, and holloaing to
be taken aboard again; but there was nothing more dangerous hereabouts
than Apes and Baboons.
Twenty-seventh November was a grand Festival at Angre de Keys, in honour
of one of their Saints. We, and most of our officers from the _Hope_ and
the _Delight_, went ashore and were received by the Governor, Signor
Raphael da Silva Lagos, with much civility. He asked if we would see the
Convent and Procession; and on our telling him our Religion differed
very much from his, answered that we were willing to see it without
partaking in the Ceremony. We waited on him in a Body, being ten of us,
with two Trumpets and Hautboys, which he desired might play us to
Church, where our Music did the office of an Organ, but separate from
the Singing, which was very well chanted by the Padres. Our Trumpets and
Hautboys played "Hey Boys, up go we!" and all manner of paltry noisy
tunes; and, after service, the Musicians, who were by this time more
than half-drunk, marched at the head of the Company: next to them an old
Padre and two Friars, carrying Lamps of Incense. Then the Image of the
Saint, as Fine as a Milkmaid's Garland, borne on a Bier, all spangled,
on the shoulders of four men, and bedizened out with Flowers,
Wax-candles, &c. After these, the Padre Guardian of the Convent, and
about forty Priests in their full Habits. Next came the Governor;
Captain Blokes, in a blue Navy Coat laced with Gold, a pair of
scarlet-velvet Breeches, and a Military Hat; and the rest of the English
officers in their very best Apparel. I was fit to die a-laughing, and
whispered to our Doctor of Physic, that had I known I was fated to walk
in such a Procession, I would never have sold my old Tower Warder's
slashed doublet to the Frippery Man in Monmouth Street, but would have
brought it round the World with me to wear at this Outlandish place.
Each of us had, moreover, in Compliment to his Saintship, a long Candle,
lighted, in his hand; the which gave us great Diversion, flaring the
tapers about, and seeking to smoke one another. The Ceremony held about
two hours, after which we were splendidly entertained at the Convent,
and then by the Governor at the Guard-house, his own habitation being
about three leagues off. It is to be noted, they Kneeled at every
Crossway, and turning, walked round the Convent, and came in at another
door, bowing down and paying their devotion to the Images and the
Wax-candles, with the like superstitious observances. They unanimously
told us, however, that they expected nothing from us but our Company;
and, beyond the Trumpets and Hautboys, and a jolly Song or two from us,
they had no more. Many Sharks were in the Road, that keep the Negro
Slaves in good order, should they, poor Black Fellows, attempt Escape to
any foreign ship by swimming to her. But the Portugees are not very hard
with their Negroes, save up at the Gold-mines, where Mercy is quite
unknown. _Aqua d'oro_ may be a very good Eye-water; but, sure, there's
nothing like it for hardening of the Heart.
On the 28th of this Month we bade farewell to our kind friends of Angre
de Keys. Just before sailing we sent a Boat to the town for more
Necessaries, and brought off some Gentlemen, whom we treated to the very
best we could. They were very glorious, and in their Cups proposed the
Pope's Health to us; but we were quits with 'em by toasting that of the
Archbishop of Canterbury; and, to keep up the humour, we also proposed
Martin Luther: but this fell flat, as they had never Heard of him;
whereas that of his Grace at Lambeth turned out rather against us than
for us; for they cried out that they knew him very well, and that he was
a Catholic Saint, under the style and title of San Tomaso de Cantorberi.
December 1st, we weighed with a breeze at N.E.; but later came on a gale
S.S.W., forcing us to anchor close under the Island of Grande. About 10
next morning we weighed again, and bore away and steered away S.W. Now
the product of Brazil is well known to be Red Wood, Sugars, Gold,
Tobaccos (of every kind, and very choice), Whale Oil, Snuff, and several
sorts of Drugs. The Portugees build their best ships here. The people
very Martial; and 'tis but a few years since they would be under no
Government, but have now submitted to the House of Braganza, which makes
a Pretty Penny out of them. Their Customs are very nasty; their Houses
marvellously foul; and they are for ever smoking of Tobacco; but the
Portugees are still a very friendly folk, cordial to us English,
although they call us Heretics, and, but for their great love for
roasting Jews, very tender-hearted. I like them much better than those
Proud Paupers the Spaniards. A Beggar on Horseback is bad enough; but
Goodness deliver us from a Beggar on an Andalusian Jackass!
_Memorandum._--Brazil discovered by the famous Americus Vespucius, that
came after Captain Christopher Colomb.
Nothing remarkable happened until December 6th, when we had close cloudy
Weather, with Showers; and, after that, some pretty sharp Gales. On the
15th the colour of the water changed; and we sounded, but had no ground.
On the 18th one of the _Hope's_ men fell out of the Mizen-top on the
Quarter-deck, and broke his Skull; so that he died, and was buried next
day. A brisk fellow, that, from his merry ways, used to be called
Brimstone Jemmy. After this, cold airy weather, and numbers of
Porpoises, black on their backs and fins, with sharp white Noses. They
often leaped high up in the water, showing their white bellies. Also, a
plenty of seals. December 23d we saw Land, appearing first in three, and
afterwards in several Islands. The Wind being westerly, and blowing
fresh, we could not weather it, but were forced to bear away and run
along Shore from three to four leagues distant. This we saw first was
Falkland's Land, described in few Draughts, and none lay it down right,
though the Latitude agrees pretty well. December 25th saw Land again;
but could not get near enough to see whether it was inhabited; in truth
we were too much in a hurry to think of making Discoveries; for at four
in the Afternoon we sighted a Sail under our Lee-bow, gave chase, and
got ground of her apace till Night came on. In the Morning we saw
nothing, it being thick hazy Weather; then, as ill luck would have it,
it fell Calm, and having nothing else to do we Piped all hands to
Punishment, and gave the Cook three dozen for burning Captain Blokes'
burgoo. Then Grog served out, and we took an Observation. Lat. 52.40.
We kept on rowing and towing with Sweeps, and our Boats ahead, until
about six in the Evening; and the Chase appearing to be a large ship, we
sent Boats aboard our Consorts, and agreed to engage her. A fine breeze
sprang up, and we got in our Sweeps and Boats, making all possible sail;
it came on thick again; but we kept her open on the Larboard, and the
_Hope_ and _Delight_ on the Starboard bow, and it being now Short
Nights, we thought it impossible to lose one another. But the Master
persuaded our Commander to shorten sail, saying that we should lose our
Consorts if we kept on. Another Fog, and be hanged to it; but the next
morning the Yellow Curtain was lifted up, and we saw the Chase about
four miles ahead, which gave us a new Life. We ran at a great Rate, it
being smooth water; but it coming on to blow more and more, the Chase
outbore our Consorts, and being to windward she gave off, and then came
down very melancholy to us, supposing her to be a French Homeward-bound
Ship from the South Seas. Thus, this Ship escaped; and left us all, from
the Commander to the Cabin-boys (who had a hard time of it that night,
you may be sure), in the most doleful Dumps.
Strong gales to the 1st of January. This being New-Year's Day, every
officer was wished a Merry New Year by our Trumpets and Hautboys; and we
had a large tub of Punch, hot, upon the Quarter-deck, where every man in
the Ship had above a Pint to his share, and drank to our Owners' and
Friends' healths in Great Britain, to a Happy New Year, a good Voyage,
plenty of Plunder (Wo is me for that Homeward-bound Frenchman from the
Southern Seas!), and a Safe Return. And then we bore down on our
Consorts and gave them three Huzzas, wishing them the like.
Now, it being very raw cold Weather, we very much dreaded scudding upon
Ice; so we fired Guns as Signals for the _Hope_ and _Delight_ to bring
to, and on the 5th of January brought ourselves to, under the same
reefed Topsails. We feared at one time, from our Consorts having an
Ensign in their Maintopmast shrouds, as a Signal of Distress, that they
had sprung their Mainmast; so we made the Large again, our Ship working
very well in a mighty great sea. When we were able to get within Hail of
our Consorts, we asked them how they did, and how they had come to hoist
the Wretched Rag. They answered, Pretty well, but that they had shipped
a great deal of Water in lying by, and being forced to put before the
wind, the Sea had broke in at the Cabin Windows, filling the Steerage
and Waist, and was like to have spoiled several Men; but, Heaven be
thanked! all else was indifferent well with 'em; only it was intolerably
Cold, and everything Wet. Captain Blokes sent me on board the _Delight_
in our Yall, and I found them in a very disorderly Pickle, with all
their Clothes a-drying: the Ship and Rigging covered with 'em from the
Deck to the Maintop. They got six of their Guns into the Hold, to make
the Ship lively.
Aboard the _Marquis_ died, on the 8th, John Veale, a Landsman, having
lain ill a Fortnight, and had a Swelling in the Legs ever since he left
the Island of Grande. At nine at night we buried him; and this was the
first we had lost by Sickness since we left England. Until the 15th,
cloudy Weather with Squalls of Rain, and fresh Gales at S.W. We now
accounted ourselves round Cape Horn, and so in the South Seas. The
French ships that first came to trade in these seas were wont to come
through the Straits of Magellan; but Experience has taught 'em since,
that this is the best Passage to go round the Horn, where they have Sea
Room enow, without being crushed and crowded as at a Ranelagh
Masquerade; and the Straits are in many places very narrow, with strong
Tides and no Anchor Ground.
On the 31st of January, at seven in the Morning, we made the Island of
Juan Fernandez, bearing W.S.W., and about two in the Afternoon we
hoisted our Pinnace out, and essayed to send one of our Lieutenants
ashore, though we could not be less than four leagues off. As soon as it
was Dark our men cried out that they saw a Light ashore; our Boat was
then about a mile from the Shore, and bore away for the Ship on our
firing a Quarter-deck Gun, and several Muskets, showing Lanterns in our
Mizen and Foreshrouds, that the Pinnace might find us again, whilst we
plied to the lee of the Island. About two in the Morning she came
aboard, all safe. Next day we sent our Yall ashore about noon with the
Master and Six Men, all well Armed; meanwhile we cleared all ready for
Action on board the _Marquis_. Our Boat did not return, so we sent our
Pinnace with the Crew, likewise Armed: for we were afraid that the
Spaniards might have had a Garrison there, and so seized 'em. However,
the Pinnace returned, and brought abundance of Crawfish, but found
nothing human; so that the alarm about the Light must have been a mere
superstition of the Ship's Company.
_It was at this same Island of Juan Fernandez, in the year of our Lord
1708-9, that Captain Woodes Rogers, commanding the "Duke" Frigate, and
with whom also Captain Dampier, that famous Circumnavigator, sailed,
found a Man clothed in Goatskins, who looked wilder than they who had
been the first owners of 'em. He had been on the Island four years and
four months, being left there by Captain Stradling in the "Cinque
Ports;" his name was_ ALEXANDER SELKIRK, _a Scottish man, who had been
Sailing Master to the "Cinque Ports;" but quarrelling with the
Commander, was by him accused of Mutiny, and so Abandoned on this
Uninhabited Island. During his stay he saw several Ships pass by, but
only two came to an Anchor. As he went to view 'em he found they were
Spaniards, and so retired, upon which they Shot at him. Had they been
French, he would have submitted; but chose to risk his dying alone on
the Island rather than fall into the hands of the Spaniards, because he
apprehended they would Murder him, or make a Slave of him in the Mines;
for he feared they would spare no Stranger that might be capable of
Discovering the South Sea. He had with him when left his Clothes and
Bedding, with a Firelock, some Powder, Bullets, and Tobacco, a Hatchet,
a Knife, a Kettle, a Bible, some practical Pieces, and some Mathematical
Instruments and Books. During the first eight months of his stay he
suffered much from Melancholy and Terror; but afterwards got on pretty
well. He built two Huts with Pimento Wood, which he also burnt for Fuel
and Candle; and which, besides, refreshed him with its fragrant smell.
He had grown very Pious in his Retreat, and was much given to singing of
Psalms, having before led a very naughty life. Being a very good sailor,
Captain Woodes Rogers took him away with him as Second Mate. He told 'em
that he had been at first much pestered with Cats and Rats, the latter
of which gnawed his feet and clothes, so that he was obliged to cherish
the Cats with Goat's-flesh, and they grew so familiar with him as to lie
about him in hundreds. But I cannot stay to recount half the wonderful
Adventures of Mr. Selkirk. I knew him afterwards, a very old Man,
lodging with one Mrs. Branbody, that kept a Chandler's Shop over against
the Jews' Harp Tavern at Stepney. He was wont bitterly to complain that
the Manuscript in which he had written down an Account of his Life at
Juan Fernandez had been cozened out of him by some crafty Booksellers;
and that a Paraphrase, or rather Burlesque, of it, in a most garbled and
mutilated form, had been printed as a Children's Story-book, under the
name of_ ROBINSON CRUSOE. _This was done by one Mr. Daniel Foe, a
Newswriter, who, in my Youth, stood in the Pillory by Temple Bar, for a
sedition in some plaguey Church-matters. But it is fitting to let these
Gentry know that they have Ears, lest they become too Saucy._
CHAPTER THE THIRD.
THE CONTINUATION OF MY VOYAGE UNTIL MY RETURN AGAIN TO EUROPE.