Longing for Prize and Plunder come over us; and did we sweep the Horizon
hour after hour as long as it was Light, in hope of satisfaction to our
long-deferred Hope. March 2d we sighted Land, and a vast high ridge of
Mountains they call the Cordilleras, and are in the Country of Chili.
Some parts are, I believe, full as high, if not higher, than the Pico of
Teneriffe, and the tops of all of 'em covered with Snow. This day we
came to an allowance of Three Pints of Water a day for each man; judging
it best to be Economical, although we had a good stock of water aboard
(taken in at Juan Fernandez); but Captain Blokes' reason was, to be able
to keep at Sea for some time longer, and take some Prizes to keep the
Deuce out of our pockets, without being discovered by Watering; for our
South-Sea Pilot told us that the timorous people of these Latitudes once
smelling an Enemy hovering about, will put to sea with nothing of value
from one end of the Coast to the other. Much baffled by several white
Rocks that looked like Ships, and Captain Blokes much incensed at
continual Disappointments, takes to making the Cabin-boy weary of his
life; and after drubbing him with a Rope's end three times doubled, was
for sousing him in the Pickle-tub; but I dissuaded him (remembering the
Torments I had myself endured as a Moose; and even now when I think of
'em I am Afraid, and Trembling takes hold of my Flesh), and so no more
was Done to him, beyond a Threat that he should be Keel-hauled next
time; although the poor lad had in no way misbehaved himself. We got the
two Pinnaces into the water, to try 'em under sail, having fixed each
of 'em with a Gun, after the manner of a Patterero, to be useful as
small Privateers, hoping they'd be serviceable to us in little winds to
take vessels. March 15th, Land again, and we supposed it was Lobos; and
sure enough, on the 17th, we got well unto anchor off that Island, but
found nobody at the place. On the 19th we determined to fit out our
small Bark for a Privateer, and launched her into blue water, under the
name of the _Beginning_. To his great pride and delight, Captain Blokes
appointed the Doctor of Physic to command her. She was well built for
sailing, so she was had round to a small Cove in the Southernmost part
of Lobos. A small Spar out of the _Marquis_ made a Mainmast for her, and
one of our Mizen Topsails was altered to make her a Mainsail. March
21st, All being ready, and the _Beginning_ christened by Captain Blokes
emptying a Bowl of hot Punch over her bow, she was victualled from the
general store; and the Doctor of Physic, who, for all his Degree,
claimed to be a good Mariner, took possession of his high and important
command. Twenty men from our ship, and ten from our Consorts, were put
aboard her, all well Armed. We saw her out of the Harbour, and she
looked very pretty, having all Masts, Sails, Rigging, and Materials,
like one of those Half Galleys fitted out for his Majesty's Service in
England. They gave our Ship's Company three Huzzas, and we returned them
the like at parting. We told the Captain-Doctor that if we were forced
out of the Road, or gave chase hence, we would leave a Glass Bottle,
buried under a remarkable Great Stone agreed upon, with Letters in it,
to give an Account of how it was with us at the moment of our Departure,
and where to meet again. And he was to do the like. When the _Beginning_
was gone we fell to and scrubbed Ship, getting abundance of Barnacles
off her much bigger than Mussels. Seals numerous, but not so many as at
Juan Fernandez. A large one seized upon a fat Dutchman that belonged to
us, and had like to have pulled him into the water, biting him to the
bone about the arms and legs. This Hollander was henceforth known as
the Lord Chancellor, having been so very near the Great Seal. After
barnacling, we gave the _Marquis_ a good Keel, and Tallowed her low
down. Another Dutchman we had died of the Scurvy. His Messmates said
that it was because we had no more Cheese aboard, and that we could not
catch Red Herrings by angling for them in Blue Water.
March 28th. The little _Beginning_ came in with a Prize, called the
_Santa Josepha_, bound from Guayaquil to Truxillo, 50 tons burden, full
of Timber, with some Cocoa-nuts and Tobacco. A very paltry Spoil. There
were about twelve Spaniards aboard, who told us (after some little
Persuasion, in the way of Drubbing) that the Widow of the late Viceroy
of Peru would shortly embark at Acapulco, with her Family and Riches,
and stop at Payta to Refresh; and that about eight months ago there was
a Galleon with 200,000 pieces of Eight on board, that passed Payta on
her way to Acapulco. They continued, however, to Lie and Contradict
themselves when questioned; and so (as they howled most dismally on deck
while under Punishment) they were had down to the Cockpit, where the
Boatswain and his Mates had their Will of them, and I don't know what
became of them afterwards. These Spanish Prisoners give a great deal of
Trouble.
April 2d. The Superstitious among us were heartily frightened at the
Colour of the Water, which for several miles looked as Red as any Blood.
Some fellows among the crew that were of a Preaching Turn, gave out that
this unusual appearance was an Omen, or Warning to us of Judgments
coming for what had been done to the Spanish Prisoners (in the which
Duresse I declare I had no hand; 'twas all done by Captain Blokes'
orders, and 'tis very likely that the Boatswain, who was a Rough Fellow,
very ignorant, exceeded his instructions). It was explained, however,
that this Sanguinary Hue in the water was a perfectly natural
appearance, caused by the Spawn of Fish; and two or three of the
preaching fellows being had to the Maingears and well Drubbed, Grog was
served out to the rest, and an Alarm, which might have bred a Mutiny,
soon subsided.
But huzza! on the 5th of April we had things more substantial to think
of than Red Seawater; for we took, after a very slight Resistance, a
Ship called the _Ascension_, built Galleon-fashion, very high, with
Galleries, Burden between 400 and 500 tons, and two Brothers Commanders,
both Dons of families that were Grandees 500 years before Adam was born,
and of course with five-and-twenty Christian Names apiece. She had a
number of Passengers and some fifty Negroes; but the former being
persons of Condition, far above the Common Sort, and not poor Coasting
people, such as were those in the Timber Bark, we used 'em handsomely.
They, without any such persuasion as was employed to their forerunners,
told us that the Bishop of Chokeaqua, a place far up the Country in the
South Parts of Peru, was to have come from Panama in this vessel for
Lima, but would stop at Payta to Recruit. Being near that place, we
resolved to Watch narrowly, in order to catch his Lordship.
Now to the Norrard, and on the 10th of April we were off the Hummocks
they call the Saddle of Payta; and being very Calm, we held a
Court-Martial on one of our Midshipmen who had threatened to shoot one
of our men when at Lobos, merely for refusing to carry some Crows that
he had shot. The Court was held in Captain Blokes' Cabin, and consisted
of the Commander, Self, First-Lieutenant, assisted in our deliberations
by sundry Pipes of Tobacco and a great Jug of Punch. Found Guilty.
Sentenced to be Degraded before the Mast, to have his Grog stopped for a
Fortnight, and to receive Four Dozen at the Gun (for he being a kind of
Officer, we did not wish to Humiliate him on deck). Half of his
Punishment he endured with more doleful Squalling than ever I heard from
a Penitent in my Life, although the Boatswain was very tender with him,
and three Tails of the Cat were tied up. He begged pardon, and so
Captain Blokes remitted him the rest of his Punishment. This Midshipman
was one who sang a very good Song; and so a Cushion being brought to
Ease him, we finished the Evening and the Punch jovially enough, he
being before the end in high favour with the Commander, and promised his
Rating back again.
April 15th. The Officers of all three Ships met on board the _Marquis_,
and the Committee came to a Resolution to attack Guayaquil at once. The
Bark we had called the _Beginning_ by this time had come back to us,
having begun nothing and found nothing, since its first prize, except a
great Sea Lubber, some kind of Monster that the Doctor of Physic had
caught and wanted to preserve in Rum, to make a Present of to the Royal
Society when we came Home; but we forbade his wasting good Liquor for so
unworthy an end, and the Monster, smelling intolerably, was thrown
overboard. 'Twould have caused me no great sorrow to see the Doctor
follow his Prodigy, for he was a very uncomfortable Person, and was
much given to cheating at Cards.
April 20th. To our Boats off Guayaquil, a Great Company of Men and
Officers all armed to the teeth. We rowed till 12 at night, when we saw
Lights, which we judged to be a place called Puna. It blew fresh, with a
small rolling Sea, the Boat I commanded being deep laden and crammed
with men; some of us say they would rather be in a Storm at Sea than
here; but, in regard we were about a charming Undertaking, we thought no
Fatigue too hard. At daybreak we saw a Bark above us in the River; and,
running down upon her, found it was a large Pinnace, full of the most
considerable Inhabitants of Puna, escaping towards Guayaquil. Here were
at least a dozen handsome genteel young Women, extremely well dressed,
and from them our men got some fine Gold Chains and Earrings. Some of
these Nicknacks were concealed about 'em; but the Gentlewomen in these
parts being very thinly dressed in Silk and Fine Linen, they could hide
but little, and our Linguist was bidden to advise them to be Wise in
Time, and surrender their Valuables, which they did. And so civil were
our Sailors to them, that they offered to dress some Victuals for us
when we got 'em aboard; which made us hope that the Fair Sex would be
kind to us when we returned to England, for our discreet behaviour to
these charming Prisoners.
* * * * *
I am afraid that during the Attack on Guayaquil, which took place the
next day, and continued for the three following ones, when the place
Capitulated to our force, and a Treaty was signed between our Commanders
and the Governor and Corregidor of Guayaquil, sundry proceedings took
place that would not very well have squared with the public ideas of
what is due to the Fair Sex just treated of; but I declare that I had
neither Art nor Part in them, and that I am entirely Free from any
Responsibility that Censure might cast on the Authors of Cruel
Disturbances; for early in the Attack I was hit by a Musket-ball in the
chest, and borne senseless to our Boats. That I did my Duty bravely, my
Commander was good enough to say, and the whole Ship's Company to admit.
I was carried away to the _Marquis_, and for a long time lay between
Hawk and Buzzard; for a smart Fever came about the third day, like
Burgundy wine after Sherris, and I was for awhile quite off my head and
Raving about Old Times;--about Captain Night and the Blacks, and Maum
Buckey and her Negro Washerwomen, and my Campaign against the Maroons,
and some Other Things that had befallen me during those fifteen years
which I have chosen to leave a Blank in my life, and which I scorn to
deny did--some of them--lie heavy on my Conscience. All these were mixed
up with the old Gentleman at Gnawbit's, and my Lord Lovat with his head
off, and my Grandmother in Hanover Square; so that I doubt whether those
who tended me knew what to make of me. There was some difficulty too as
to medical attendance, for we had cashiered our Surgeon--that is to
say, he had run away at Grande in the Brazils, to marry a brown
Portugee woman; and the Doctor of Physic he was all for Herbal
Treatment, demanding Succory, Agrimony, Asarabacca, Knights-pound-wort,
Cuckoo-point, Hulver-bush, with Alehoof, and other things not to be
found in this part of the World. And Captain Blokes said that he knew
nothing half so good for a Gunshot Wound as cold Rum-and-Water; and
between the two I had like to have died, but all were very kind to me,
even to extracting the Ball with a Pair of Snuffers; and a great clumsy
thing the said missile was, being, I verily believe, part of a
Door-hinge which these clumsy Spanish Brutes had broken off short to
cram into their Guns; and yet it might have gone worse with me had it
been a smooth round cast Bullet, and drilled a clean Wound right through
my Body.
As I was coming round, even to the taking of some Sangaree and Chicken
Panada (for we were now very well provided with Live Stock), the
Captain said to me: "You ha'n't murdered a man, Brother, have you?"
I replied, starting up, that my hands were free from the stain of Blood
unrighteously spilt.
"No offence, Brother Dangerous," continued the Captain. "In our line of
life we ar'n't particular. It wouldn't take very dirty weather to make
our Ensign look like a Black Flag. Piracy and Privateering--they both
begin with a P. I thought you had something o' that sort on your mind,
because you took it so woundily about being hanged."
"I have had a strange life," I answered faintly.
"No doubt about that," says the Captain. "So have I, Brother, and not an
over-good one: that's why I asked you. If the old woman hadn't been in
the oven herself, she'd never have gone there to look for her daughter.
But have you anything on your mind, Brother? Is there anything that
Billy Blokes can do for you?"
I answered, very gratefully, that there was nothing I could think of.
"'Cause why," he resumed, "if there is, you have only to sing out. If
you think you're like to slip your Cable and would like to say
something, we've got a Padre on board out of the last Prize, and he
shall come and do the Right Thing for you. You don't know anything about
his lingo; but what odds is that? Spanish, or Thieves' Latin, or
rightdown Cockney,--it's all one when the word's given to pipe all
hands."
I answered that I was no Papist, but a humble member of the Church of
England as by Law established.
"Of course," concluded the Captain. "So am I. God bless King George and
the Protestant Succession, and confound the Pope, the Devil, and the
Pretender! But any Port in a storm, you know; and a Padre's better than
no Prayers at all. I've done all I could for you, Brother. I've read you
most part of the story of Bel and the Dragon, likewise the Articles of
War, and a lot of psalms out of Sternhold and Hopkins; and now, if you
feel skeery about losing the number of your mess, I'll make your Will
for you, to be all shipshape before the Big Wigs of London. There must
be a matter of Four Hundred Pounds coming to you already for your share
of Plunder; and no one shall say that Billy Blokes ever robbed a
Messmate of even a twopenny tester of his Rights."
Again I thanked this singular person, who, for all his Addictedness to
Rum-and-Water, of which he drank vast quantities, was one of the most
Sagacious men I have known. But I told him that I had neither kith nor
kin belonging to me; that I did not even know the name of my Father and
Mother; and that my Grandmother, even, was an Unknown Lady, and been
dead nigh forty years. Finally, that if I made my Will, it would only be
to the effect that my Property, if any, might be divided among the
Ship's Company of the _Marquis_, with a donative of Fifty guineas to the
_Hope_ and _Delight_ people to drink to my Memory.
"Ay, and to a pleasant journey to Fiddler's Green," cries out the
Captain. "But cheer up, Heart; ye're not weighed for the Long Journey
yet." Nor had I; for I presently recovered, and in less than a month
after my Mishap was again whole and fit for Duty. And I have set this
down in order to confute those malignant men who have declared that all
my Wounds were from Stripes between the Shoulders; whereas I can show
the marks, 1 deg., of an English Grenadier's bayonet; 2 deg., of a
Frenchman's sword; 3 deg., of a Spanish bullet; with many more Scars
gotten as honourably, and which it would be only braggadocio to tell
the History of.
_Item._--The Corregidores, or Head-Men of Guayaquil, are great Thieves.
The Mercenary Viceroys not being permitted to Trade themselves, do use
the Corregidores as middle-men, and these again employ a third hand; so
that ships are constantly employed carrying Quicksilver, and all manner
of precious and prohibited goods, to and from Mexico out of by-ports.
Thus, too, being their own Judges, they get vast Estates, and stop all
complaints in Old Spain by Bribes. But now and then comes out a Viceroy
who is a Man of Honesty and Probity, and will have none of these
Scoundrelly ways of Making Money (like Mr. Henry Fielding among the
Trading Justices, a Bright exception for integrity, though his Life, as
I have heard, was otherwise dissolute), and then he falls too and
squeezes the Corregidores, in the same manner as Cardinal Richelieu,
that was Lewis Thirteenth's Minister, was wont to do with the
Financiers. "You must treat 'em like Leeches," said he; "and when they
are bloated with blood, put salt upon them, to make them disgorge." And
I have heard that this rigid System of Probity, and putting salt on the
gorged Corregidores, has ofttimes turned out more profitable to the
Viceroys than trading on their own account.
Many of our men falling sick here, and our Ransom being now fully
disbursed by the authorities of Guayaquil, we made haste to get away
from the place, which was fast becoming pestiferous.
We set sail with more than fifty men Down with the Distemper (of which
they were dying like Sheep with the Rot in the town, and all the
Churches turned into Hospitals); but we hoped the Sea Air, for which we
longed, would set us all healthy again. So plying to windward, bearing
for the Galligapos Islands, and on the 21st of May made the most Norrard
of that Group. Jan Serouder, a West Frieslander, and very good Sailor,
though much given to smoking in his Hammock, for which he had many times
been Drubbed, died of the Distemper. A great want of Medicines aboard,
and the Rum running very low. Sent a boat ashore to see for Water, Fish,
and Turtle, which our men (being now less Dainty by Roughing) had, by
this time, condescended to eat. Kept on our course; on the 27th the
Easternmost Island bore S.E. by S., distant about four leagues: and
nothing more remarkable happened till the 6th of June, when we spied a
Sail, the _Hope_ being then about two miles ahead of us; and about seven
in the Evening she took her in a very courageous manner. This was a
Vessel of about 90 tons, bound from Panama to Guayaquil, called the _San
Tomaso y San Demas_ (for these Spaniards can never have too much of a
good thing in the way of Saints), Juan Navarro Navarret y Colza,
Commander. About forty people on board, and eleven Negro Slaves, but
little in the way of European goods save some Iron and Cloth. They had a
passenger of note on board, one Don Pantaleone and Something as long as
my Arm, who was going to be Governor of Baldivia, and said he had been
taken not long since in the North Sea by Jamaica Cruisers. On the 7th
June we made the Island of Gorgona; and, on the 8th, got to an anchor in
30-fathom water. The next day sent out our Pinnace a'cruising, and took
a prize called the _Golden Sun_, belonging to a Creek on the Main,--a
twopenny-halfpenny little thing, 35 tons; ten Spaniards and Indians,
and a Negro that was chained down to the deck to amuse the Ship Company
with playing on the Guitar (a kind of Lute). However, we found a few
ounces of Gold-dust aboard her, worth some sixty pounds sterling. After
examining our Prisoners (who gave us much trouble, for we had no
Linguist, and 'twas a Word and a Blow in questioning them: that is, the
Blow came from us to get the Word from 'em; but not more than two or
three Spaniards were Expended),--after this tedious work was over we
held a Committee, and agreed to go to Malaga,[A] an Island which had a
Road, and with our Boats tow up the River in quest of the rich
Gold-mines of Barbacore, also called by the Spaniards San Juan. But
heavy Rains coming on, we were obliged to beat back and come to Gorgona
again, building a Tent ashore for our Armour and Sick Men. We spent
till the 25th in Careening; on the 28th we got all aboard agen, rigged
and stowed all ready for sea; the Spaniards who were our Prisoners, and
who are very Dilatory Sailors (for they hearken more to their Saints
than to the Boatswain's Pipe), were much amazed at our Despatch; telling
us that they usually took Six Weeks or a Month to Careen one of their
King's Ships at Lima, where they are well provided with all Necessaries,
and account that Quick Expedition. We allowed Liberty of Conscience on
board our floating Commonwealth to our Prisoners; for there being a
Priest in each ship, they had the Great Cabin for their Mass, whilst we
used the Church-of-England Service over them on the Quarter-deck. So
that the Papists here were the Low Churchmen. Shortly after the
beginning of July we freed our prisoners at fair Ransom in Gold-dust;
but the Village where we landed them was so poor in common Necessaries,
that we were obliged to give them some corned beef and biscuit for their
subsistence until they could get up the Country, where there was a
Town. Same day a Negro belonging to the _Delight_ was bit by a small
brown speckled Snake, and died in a few hours.
We had with us, too, a very good prize taken by the _Hope_, and
continued unloading this and transferring the rich contents to our
ships, having promised to restore the Hull itself to the Spaniards, on
her being handsomely Ransomed; and the Don that was to be Governor of
Baldivia was appointed Agent for us, and suffered to go freely on his
Parole to and fro to arrange Money-Matters with the Authorities up the
Country.
_Memorandum,_--Amongst our Prisoners (taken on board the Panama ship)
there was a Gentlewoman and her Family, the Eldest Daughter, a pretty
young woman of Eighteen, newly Married, and had her husband with her. We
assigned them the Great Cabin on board the Prize, and none were suffered
to intrude amongst them; yet the Husband (we were told) showed evident
Marks of a Violent Jealousy, which is the Spaniard's Epidemic Disease.
I hope he had not the least Reason for it, seeing that the Prize-Master
(our Second Lieutenant) was above Fifty years of Age, and of a very
Grave Countenance, appearing to be the most secure Guardian to females
that had the least Charm, though all our young Men (that were Officers)
had hitherto appeared Modest beyond Example among privateers; yet we
thought it improper to expose them to Temptation. And I am sure, when
the Lieutenant, being superseded for somewhat Scorching of a Negro with
a stick of fire for answering him Saucily, and Captain Blokes bade me
take temporary command of the Prize and Prisoners, that I behaved myself
so well as to gain Thanks and Public Acknowledgments for my civility to
the Ladies. We had notice that more than one of these Fair Creatures had
concealed Treasure about 'em; and so in the most Delicate Manner we
ordered a Female Negro who spoke English to overhaul 'em privately, and
at the same time to tell 'em that it would pain us to the Heart to be
obliged to use Stripes or other Unhandsome Means to come to a Discovery.
Many Gold Chains, Bracelets, Ouches, and suchlike Whim-Whams the Sable
Nymph found cunningly stowed away; upon which we gave her half a pint of
Wine and a large pot of Sweets, forgiving her at the same time a
Whipping at the Capstan which had been promised her for Romping and
Gammocking among the people in the Forecastle. For I suppose there was
never a modester man than Captain Blokes.
August 10th. All Money-Matters being arranged, we disposed of our
Prisoners. We burnt down the Village for some Impertinence of the Head
Man (who was a Half-caste Indian),--but no great harm done, since 'twas
mostly Mud and Plantain thatch, and could be built up again in a
Week,--and got to Windward very slowly, there being a constant current
flowing to Leeward to the Bay of Panama. 13th we saw the Island of
Gallo; the 18th we spied a Sail bearing W.N.W. of us, when we all three
gave chase, and took her in half an hour. 70 tons. Panama to Lima. Forty
people aboard, upon examining whom they could tell us little News from
Europe, but said that there came Advices from Portobello in Spain, and
by a French ship from France, not long before they came out of Panama;
but that was all kept private; only, they heard that his Royal Highness
the Duke of Cumberland was Dead, the which Sad Intelligence we were not
willing to Believe, but drank his Health at Night, which we thought
could do him no hurt even if he really happened to be Dead. By this time
we had gotten another Surgeon out of the _Delight_, whom we daily
exercised at his Instruments in the Cockpit, and his Mate at making of
Bandages and spreading of Ointment; and Captain Blokes (who was always
giving some fresh proof of Sagacity), just to try 'em, and imitate
business for 'em a little, ordered Red Lead, mixed with Water, to be
thrown on two of our Fellows, and sent 'em down to the Hold, when the
Surgeon, thinking they had really been wounded, went about to Dress
them; but the mistake being discovered, it was a very agreeable
Diversion.