History of the Buccaneers of America Part 8

The Buccaneers embarked here all in their new ship, and named her the Batchelor's Delight. Their old ship they burnt, 'that she might tell no tales,' and set their prisoners on sh.o.r.e, to shift as well as they could for themselves.

They sailed from the coast of Guinea in the middle of November, directing their course across the _Atlantic_ towards the _Strait of Magalhanes_.

[Sidenote: January, 1684.] On January the 28th, 1684, they had sight of the Northernmost of the Islands discovered by Captain John Davis in 1592, (since, among other appellations, called the _Sebald de Weert Islands_.) From the circ.u.mstance of their falling in with this land, originated the extraordinary report of an Island being discovered in the _Southern Atlantic Ocean_ in lat. 47 S, and by Cowley named _Pepys Island_; which was long believed to exist, and has been sought after by navigators of different European nations, even within our own time. The following are the particulars which caused so great a deception.

[Sidenote: History of the Report of a Discovery named Pepys Island.]

Cowley says, in his ma.n.u.script Journal, 'January 1683: This month we were in lat.i.tude 47 40', where we espied an Island bearing West of us, and bore away for it, but being too late we lay by all night. The Island seemed very pleasant to the eye, with many woods. I may say the whole Island was woods, there being a rock above water to the Eastward of it with innumerable fowls. I sailed along that Island to the Southward, and about the SW side of the Island there seemed to me to be a good place for ships to ride. The wind blew fresh, and they would not put the boat out.

Sailing a little further, having 26 and 27 fathoms water, we came to a place where we saw the weeds ride, and found only seven fathoms water and all rocky ground, therefore we put the ship about: but the harbour seemed a good place for ships to ride in. There seemed to me harbour for 500 sail of shipping, the going in but narrow, and the North side of the entrance shallow that I could see: but I think there is water enough on the South side. I would have had them stand upon a wind all night; but they told me they did not come out to go upon discovery. We saw likewise another Island by this, which made me to think them the _Sibble D'wards_[34].'

The lat.i.tude given by Cowley is to be attributed to his ignorance, and to this part of his narrative being composed from memory, which he acknowledges, though it is not so stated in the printed Narrative. His describing the land to be covered with wood, is sufficiently accounted for by the appearance it makes at a distance, which in the same manner has deceived other voyagers. Pernety, in his Introduction to M. de Bougainville's Voyage to the _Malouines_ (by which name the French Voyagers have chosen to call _John Davis's Islands_) says, 'As to wood, we were deceived by appearances in running along the coast of the _Malouines_: we thought we saw some, but on landing, these appearances were discovered to be only tall bulrushes with large flat leaves, such as are called corn flags[35].'

The Editor of Cowley's Journal, William Hack, might possibly believe from the lat.i.tude mentioned by Cowley, that the land seen by him was a new discovery. To give it a less doubtful appearance, he dropped the 40 minutes of lat.i.tude, and also Cowley's conjecture that the land was the _Sebald de Weerts_; and with this falsification of the Journal, he took occasion to compliment the Honourable Mr. Pepys, who was then Secretary of the Admiralty, by putting his name to the land, giving as Cowley's words, 'In the lat.i.tude of 47, we saw land, the same being an Island not before known. I gave it the name of _Pepys Island_.' Hack embellished this account with a drawing of _Pepys Island_, in which is introduced an _Admiralty Bay_, and _Secretary's Point_.

The account which Dampier has given of their falling in with this land, would have cleared up the whole matter, but for a circ.u.mstance which is far more extraordinary than any yet mentioned, which is, that it long escaped notice, and seems never to have been generally understood, that Dampier and Cowley were at this time in the same ship, and their voyage thus far the same.

Dampier says, 'January the 28th (1683-4) we made the _Sebald de Weerts_.

They are three rocky barren Islands without any tree, only some bushes growing on them. The two Northernmost lie in 51 S, the other in 51 20'

S. We could not come near the two Northern Islands, but we came close by the Southern; but we could not obtain soundings till within two cables'

length of the sh.o.r.e, and there found the bottom to be foul rocky ground[36].' In consequence of the inattention, or oversight, in not perceiving that Dampier and Cowley were speaking of the same land, Hack's ingenious adulation of the Secretary of the Admiralty flourished a full century undetected; a _Pepys Island_ being all the time admitted in the charts.

[Sidenote: Shoals of small red Lobsters.] Near these Islands the variation was observed 23 10' Easterly. They pa.s.sed through great shoals of small red lobsters, 'no bigger than the top of a man's little finger, yet all their claws, both great and small, were like a lobster. I never saw,' says Dampier, 'any of this sort of fish naturally red, except here.'

The winds blew hard from the Westward, and they could not fetch the _Strait of Magalhanes_. [Sidenote: February.] On February the 6th, they were at the entrance of _Strait le Maire_, when it fell calm, and a strong tide set out of the _Strait_ Northward, which made a short irregular sea, as in a race, or place where two tides meet, and broke over the waist of the ship, 'which was tossed about like an egg-sh.e.l.l.' [Sidenote: They sail by the East end of Staten Island; and enter the South Sea.] A breeze springing up from the WNW, they bore away Eastward, and pa.s.sed round the East end of _Staten Island_; after which they saw no other land till they came into the _South Sea_. They had much rain, and took advantage of it to fill 23 casks with fresh water.

[Sidenote: March.] March the 17th, they were in lat.i.tude 36 S, standing for the _Island Juan Fernandez_. Variation 8 East.

CHAP. XIII.

_Buccaneers under =John Cook= arrive at =Juan Fernandez=.

Account of =William=, a Mosquito Indian, who had lived there three years. They sail to the =Galapagos Islands=; thence to the Coast of =New Spain=. =John Cook= dies. =Edward Davis= chosen Commander._

[Sidenote: 1684. March 19th.] Continuing their course for _Juan Fernandez_, on the 19th in the morning, a strange ship was seen to the Southward, standing after them under all her sail. The Buccaneers were in hopes she would prove to be a Spaniard, and brought to, to wait her coming up. The people on board the strange vessel entertained similar expectations, for they also were English, and were come to the _South Sea_ to pick up what they could. This ship was named the Nicholas; her Commander John Eaton; she fitted out in the River _Thames_ under pretence of a trading, but in reality with the intention of making a piratical voyage.

[Sidenote: Joined by the Nicholas of London, John Eaton Commander.] The two ships soon joined, and on its being found that they had come on the same errand to the _South Sea_, Cook and Eaton and their men agreed to keep company together.

It was learnt from Eaton that another English ship, named the Cygnet, commanded by a Captain Swan, had sailed from _London_ for the _South Sea_; but fitted out by reputable merchants, and provided with a cargo for a trading voyage, having a licence from the Duke of York, then Lord High Admiral of _England_. The Cygnet and the Nicholas had met at the entrance of the _Strait of Magalhanes_, and they entered the _South Sea_ in company, but had since been separated by bad weather.

[Sidenote: March 22d.] March the 22d, the Batchelor's Delight and the Nicholas came in sight of the Island _Juan Fernandez_.

[Sidenote: At Juan Fernandez. William the Mosquito Indian.] The reader may remember that when the Buccaneers under Watling were at _Juan Fernandez_ in January 1681, the appearance of three Spanish ships made them quit the Island in great haste, and they left behind a Mosquito Indian named William, who was in the woods hunting for goats. Several of the Buccaneers who were then with Watling were now with Cook, and, eager to discover if any traces could be found which would enable them to conjecture what was become of their former companion, but with small hope of finding him still here, as soon as they were near enough for a boat to be sent from the ship, they hastened to the sh.o.r.e. Dampier was in this first boat, as was also a Mosquito Indian named Robin; and as they drew near the land, they had the satisfaction to see William at the sea-side waiting to receive them. Dampier has given the following affecting account of their meeting: 'Robin, his countryman, was the first who leaped ash.o.r.e from the boats, and running to his brother _Moskito_ man, threw himself flat on his face at his feet, who helping him up and embracing him, fell flat with his face on the ground at Robin's feet, and was by him taken up also. We stood with pleasure to behold the surprise, tenderness, and solemnity of this interview, which was exceedingly affectionate on both sides: and when their ceremonies were over, we also that stood gazing at them, drew near, each of us embracing him we had found here, who was overjoyed to see so many of his old friends, come hither as he thought purposely to fetch him.

He was named Will, as the other was Robin; which names were given them by the English, for they have no names among themselves, and they take it as a favour to be named by us, and will complain if we do not appoint them some name when they are with us.'

William had lived in solitude on _Juan Fernandez_ above three years. The Spaniards knew of his being on the Island, and Spanish ships had stopped there, the people belonging to which had made keen search after him; but he kept himself concealed, and they could never discover his retreat. At the time Watling sailed from the Island, he had a musket, a knife, a small horn of powder, and a few shot. 'When his ammunition was expended, he contrived by notching his knife, to saw the barrel of his gun into small pieces, wherewith he made harpoons, lances, hooks, and a long knife, heating the pieces of iron first in the fire, and then hammering them out as he pleased with stones. This may seem strange to those not acquainted with the sagacity of the Indians; but it is no more than what the Moskito men were accustomed to in their own country.' He had worn out the clothes with which he landed, and was not otherwise clad than with a skin about his waist. He made fishing lines of the skins of seals cut into thongs.

'He had built himself a hut, half a mile from the sea-sh.o.r.e, which he lined with goats' skins, and slept on his couch or _barbecu_ of sticks raised about two feet from the ground, and spread with goats' skins.' He saw the two ships commanded by Cook and Eaton the day before they anch.o.r.ed, and from their manoeuvring believing them to be English, he killed three goats, which he drest with vegetables; thus preparing a treat for his friends on their landing; and there has seldom been a more fair and joyful occasion for festivity.

[Sidenote: Stocked with Goats by its Discoverer.] Dampier reckoned two bays in _Juan Fernandez_ proper for ships to anchor in; 'both at the East end, and in each there is a rivulet of good fresh water.' He mentions (it may be supposed on the authority of Spanish information) that this Island was stocked with goats by Juan Fernandez, its discoverer, who, in a second voyage to it, landed three or four of these animals, and they quickly multiplied. Also, that Juan Fernandez had formed a plan of settling here, if he could have obtained a patent or royal grant of the Island; which was refused him[37].

The Buccaneers found here a good supply of provisions in goats, wild vegetables, seals, sea-lions, and fish. Dampier says, 'the seals at _Juan Fernandez_ are as big as calves, and have a fine thick short fur, the like I have not taken notice of any where but in these seas. The teeth of the sea-lion are the bigness of a man's thumb: in Captain Sharp's time, some of the Buccaneers made dice of them. Both the sea-lion and the seal eat fish, which I believe is their common food.'

[Sidenote: Coast of Peru.] April the 8th, the Batchelor's Delight and Nicholas sailed from _Juan Fernandez_ for the American coast, which they made in lat.i.tude 24 S, and sailed Northward, keeping sight of the land, but at a good distance. [Sidenote: May.] On May the 3d, in lat.i.tude 9 40'

S, they took a Spanish ship laden with timber.

[Sidenote: Appearance of the Andes.] Dampier remarks that 'from the lat.i.tude of 24 S to 17, and from 14 to 10 S, the land within the coast is of a prodigious height. It lies generally in ridges parallel to the sh.o.r.e, one within another, each surpa.s.sing the other in height, those inland being the highest. They always appear blue when seen from sea, and are seldom obscured by clouds or fogs. These mountains far surpa.s.s the _Peak of Teneriffe_, or the land of _Santa Martha_.'

[Sidenote: Islands Lobos de la Mar.] On the 9th, they anch.o.r.ed at the Islands _Lobos de la Mar_. 'This _Lobos_ consists of two little Islands each about a mile round, of indifferent height, with a channel between fit only for boats. Several rocks lie on the North side of the Islands. There is a small cove, or sandy bay, sheltered from the winds, at the West end of the Easternmost Island, where ships may careen. There is good riding between the Easternmost Island and the rocks, in 10, 12, or 14 fathoms; for the wind is commonly at S, or SSE, and the Easternmost Island lying East and West, shelters that road. Both the Islands are barren, without fresh water, tree, shrub, gra.s.s, or herb; but sea-fowls, seals, and sea-lions were here in mult.i.tudes[38].'

On a review of their strength, they mustered in the two ships 108 men fit for service, besides their sick. They remained at the _Lobos de la Mar_ Isles till the 17th, when three vessels coming in sight, they took up their anchors and gave chace. They captured all the three, which were laden with provisions, princ.i.p.ally flour, and bound for _Panama_. They learnt from the prisoners that the English ship Cygnet had been at _Baldivia_, and that the Viceroy on information of strange ships having entered the _South Sea_, had ordered treasure which had been shipped for _Panama_ to be re-landed. [Sidenote: They sail to the Galapagos Islands.]

The Buccaneers, finding they were expected on the coast, determined to go with their prizes first to the _Galapagos Islands_, and afterwards to the coast of _New Spain_.

They arrived in sight of the _Galapagos_ on the 31st; but were not enough to the Southward to fetch the Southern Islands, the wind being from SbE, which Dampier remarks is the common trade-wind in this part of the _Pacific_. Many instances occur in _South Sea_ navigations which shew the disadvantage of not keeping well to the South in going to the _Galapagos_.

[Sidenote: Duke of Norfolk's Island.] The two ships anch.o.r.ed near the North East part of one of the Easternmost Islands, in 16 fathoms, the bottom white hard sand, a mile distant from the sh.o.r.e.

It was during this visit of the Buccaneers to the _Galapagos_, that the chart of these Islands which was published with Cowley's voyage was made.

Considering the small opportunity for surveying which was afforded by their track, it may be reckoned a good chart, and has the merit both of being the earliest survey known of these Islands, and of having continued in use to this day; the latest charts we have of the _Galapagos_ being founded upon this original, and (setting aside the additions) varying little from it in the general outlines.

Where Cook and Eaton first anch.o.r.ed, appears to be the _Duke of Norfolk's Island_ of Cowley's chart. They found there sea turtle and land turtle, but could stop only one night, on account of two of their prizes, which being deeply laden had fallen too far to leeward to fetch the same anchorage.

[Sidenote: June. King James's Island.] The day following, they sailed on to the next Island Westward (marked _King James's Island_ in the chart) and anch.o.r.ed at its North end, a quarter of a mile distant from the sh.o.r.e, in 15 fathoms. Dampier observed the lat.i.tude of the North part of this second Island, 0 28' N, which is considerably more North than it is placed in Cowley's chart. The riding here was very uncertain, 'the bottom being so steep that if an anchor starts, it never holds again.'

[Sidenote: Mistake made by the Editor of Dampier's Voyages.] An error has been committed in the printed Narrative of Dampier, which it may be useful to notice. It is there said, 'The Island at which we first anch.o.r.ed hath water on the North end, falling down in a stream from high steep rocks upon the sandy bay, where it may be taken up.' Concerning so essential an article to mariners as fresh water, no information can be too minute to deserve attention. [Sidenote: Concerning Fresh Water at King James's Island.] In the ma.n.u.script Journal, Dampier says of the first Island at which they anch.o.r.ed, 'we found there the largest land turtle I ever saw; but the Island is rocky and barren, without wood or water.' At the next Island at which they anch.o.r.ed, both Dampier and Cowley mention fresh water being found. Cowley says, 'this Bay I called _Albany Bay_, and another place _York Road_. Here is excellent sweet water.' Dampier also in the margin of his written Journal where the second anchorage is mentioned, has inserted the note following: 'At the North end of the Island we saw water running down from the rocks.' The editor or corrector of the press has mistakenly applied this to the first anchorage.

[Sidenote: Herbage on the North end of Albemarle Island.] Cowley, after a.s.signing names to the different Islands, adds, 'We could find no good water on any of these places, save on the _Duke of York's_ [_i. e. King James's_] _Island_. But at the North end of _Albemarle Island_ there were green leaves of a thick substance which we chewed to quench our thirst: and there were abundance of fowls in this Island which could not live without water, though we could not find it[39].'

Animal food was furnished by the _Galapagos Islands_ in profusion, and of the most delicate kind; of vegetables nothing of use was found except the mammee, the leaves just noticed and berries. The name _Galapagos_ which has been a.s.signed to these Islands, signifies Turtle in the Spanish language, and was given to them on account of the great numbers of those animals, both of the sea and land kind, found there. Guanoes, an amphibious animal well known in the _West Indies_, fish, flamingoes, and turtle-doves so tame that they would alight upon the men's heads, were all in great abundance; and convenient for preserving meat, salt was plentiful at the _Galapagos_. Some green snakes were the only other animals seen there.

[Sidenote: Land Turtle.] The full-grown land turtle were from 150 to 200 _lbs._ in weight. Dampier says, 'so sweet that no pullet can eat more pleasantly. They are very fat; the oil saved from them was kept in jars, and used instead of b.u.t.ter to eat with dough-boys or dumplings.'--'We lay here feeding sometimes on land turtle, sometimes on sea turtle, there being plenty of either sort; but the land turtle, as they exceed in sweetness, so do they in numbers: it is incredible to report how numerous they are.'

[Sidenote: Sea Turtle.] The sea turtle at the _Galapagos_ are of the larger kind of those called the Green Turtle. Dampier thought their flesh not so good as the green turtle of the _West Indies_.

Dampier describes the _Galapagos Isles_ to be generally of good height: 'four or five of the Easternmost Islands are rocky, hilly, and barren, producing neither tree, herb, nor gra.s.s; but only a green p.r.i.c.kly shrub that grows 10 or 12 feet high, as big as a man's leg, and is full of sharp p.r.i.c.kles in thick rows from top to bottom, without leaf or fruit. In some places by the sea side grow bushes of Burton wood (a sort of wood which grows in the _West Indies_) which is good firing. [Sidenote: Mammee Tree.]

Some of the Westernmost of these Islands are nine or ten leagues long, have fertile land with mold deep and black; and these produce trees of various kinds, some of great and tall bodies, especially the Mammee. The heat is not so violent here as in many other places under the Equator. The time of year for the rains, is in November, December, and January.'

At _Albany Bay_, and at other of the Islands, the Buccaneers built storehouses, in which they lodged 5000 packs of their prize flour, and a quant.i.ty of sweetmeats, to remain as a reserved store to which they might have recourse on any future occasion. Part of this provision was landed at the Islands Northward of _King James's Island_, to which they went in search of fresh water, but did not find any. They endeavoured to sail back to the _Duke of York's Island_, Cowley says, 'there to have watered,' but a current setting Northward prevented them.

[Sidenote: 12th. They sail from the Galapagos.] On June the 12th, they sailed from the _Galapagos Islands_ for the Island _Cocos_, where they proposed to water. The wind at this time was South; but they expected they should find, as they went Northward, the general trade-wind blowing from the East; and in that persuasion they steered more Easterly than the line of direction in which _Cocos_ lay from them, imagining that when they came to the lat.i.tude of the Island, they would have to bear down upon it before the wind. Contrary however to this expectation, as they advanced Northward they found the wind more Westerly, till it settled at SWbS, and they got so far Eastward, that they crossed the parallel of _Cocos_ without being able to come in sight of it.

[Sidenote: July. Coast of New Spain. Cape Blanco.] Missing _Cocos_, they sailed on Northward for the coast of _New Spain_. In the beginning of July, they made the West Cape of the _Gulf of Nicoya_. 'This Cape is about the height of _Beachy Head_, and was named _Blanco_, on account of two white rocks lying about half a mile from it, which to those who are far off at sea, appear as part of the mainland; but on coming nearer, they appear like two ships under sail[40].'

[Sidenote: John Cook, Buccaneer Commander, dies. Edward Davis chosen Commander.] The day on which they made this land, the Buccaneer Commander, John Cook, who had been some time ill, died. Edward Davis, the Quarter-Master, was unanimously elected by the company to succeed in the command.

CHAP. XIV.