The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell Part 2

_Andrew Battel, his Voyage to the River of Plate, who being taken on the coast of Brasill, was sent to Angola._

[_From the Thames to Cape Palmas._]

In the year 1589, Abraham c.o.c.ke[9] of Limehouse, began his voyage toward the River of Plate, with two pinnaces[10] of fifty tons apiece: the one was called the _May-Morning_, the other the _Dolphin_.

We sailed from the river Thames the twentieth of April; and the six and twentieth of the same month we put into Plimmoth [Plymouth], where we took in some provision for the voyage. The seventh of May we put to sea, and with foul weather were beaten back again into Plimmoth, where we remained certain days, and then proceded on our voyage: And running along the coast of Spain and Barbary we put into the road of Sancta Cruz,[11] and there set our Light-horse-man[12] together which we carried in two pieces. Abraham c.o.c.ke made great account hereof, thinking that this boat should have made his voyage. This done, we put to sea, and running along the coast of Guinea we were becalmed, because we were so near the coast.

[_St. Thome and the Gulf of Guinea._]

Here our men fell sick of the scurvy, in such sort, that there were very few sound. And being within three or four degrees of the equinoctial line we fell with the Cape de las Palmas, where we had some refreshing, wherewith our men recovered. The people of the Cape de las Palmas [Cabo das Palmas] made much of us, saying that they would trade with us; but it was but to betray us, for they are very treacherous, and were like to have taken our boat, and hurt some of our men. From this Cape we lay south-west off;[13] but the current and the calms deceived us, so that we were driven down to the isle of St. Thome,[14] thinking that we had been further off to the Sea than we were. And being in distress for wood and water, we went in on the south end between San Tome and the islands das Rolas,[15] where we rode very smooth, and with our light-horse-man went on sh.o.r.e, thinking to have watered, but we found none in the island. Here we had great store of plantains and oranges. We found a village of negroes, which are sent from San Tome, for the Portugals of San Tome do use, when their slaves be sick or weak, to send them thither to get their strength again. For the islands are very fruitful, and though there be no fresh water, yet they maintain themselves with the wine of the palm-trees. Having refreshed ourselves with the fruit of this island, we burned the village. And running on the east side of San Tome we came before the town;[16] but we durst not come near, for the castle shot at us, which hath very good ordnance in it.

Then we lay east and by south toward the main, and in four and twenty hours we had sight of the Cape de Lopo Gonsalves:[17] and being within three leagues of the said cape we cast about and stood again toward the island of San Tome, and turned up on the west side of the island; and coming to a little river, which runneth out of the mountains, we went on sh.o.r.e with our Light-horse-man, with six or seven b.u.t.ts to fill with water. But the governor had ambushed one hundred men of the island; and when we were on sh.o.r.e they came upon us, and killed one of our men and hurt another: wherefore we retired to our boat and got aboard.

[_Across the Atlantic to the Brazils._]

Then Abraham c.o.c.ke determined to fetch the coast of Brasil, and lay west-south-west into the sea: and being some fifty leagues off, we fell into a shoal of dolphins,[18] which did greatly relieve us, for they did follow our ship all the way, till we fell [in] with the land, which was some thirty days. And running along the coast of Brasil till we came to Ilha Grande,[19] which standeth in five [_sic_] degrees southward of the line, we put in betwixt the island and the main, and haled our ships on sh.o.r.e, and washed them, and refreshed ourselves, and took in fresh water. In this island are no inhabitants, but it is very fruitful. And being here some twelve days there came in a little pinnace which was bound to the River of Plate, which came in to water and to get some refreshments: and presently we went aboard, and took the Portugal merchant out of the pinnace, which told Abraham c.o.c.ke, that within two months there should two pinnaces come from the River of Plate, from the town of Buenos Aires.

[_The Rio de la Plata._]

From this town there come every year four or five caravels to Bahia[20]

in Brasil, and to Angola in Africa, which bring great store of treasure, which is transported overland out of Peru into the River of Plate. There Abraham c.o.c.ke, desirous to make his voyage, took some of the _Dolphin's_ men into his ship, and sent the _Dolphin_ home again, which had not as yet made any voyage. This Portugal merchant carried us to a place in this island, where there was a banished man,[21] which had planted great store of plantains, and told us that we might, with this fruit, go to the River of Plate: for our bread and our victuals were almost all spent.

With this hard allowance we departed from this island, and were six-and-thirty days before we came to the Isle of Lobos Marinos,[22]

which is in the mouth of the River of Plate. This island is half a mile long, and hath no fresh water, but doth abound with seals and sea-morses,[23] in such sort that our light-horseman could not get on sh.o.r.e for them, without we did beat them with our oars: and the island is covered with them. Upon these seals we lived some thirty days, lying up and down in the river, and were in great distress of victuals. Then we determined to run up to Buenos Aires, and with our light-horseman to take one of the pinnaces that rid at the town. And, being so high up the river as the town, we had a mighty storm at south-west,[24] which drove us back again, and we were fain to ride under the Isla Verde[25]-that is, the green island-which is in the mouth of the river on the north side.

[_A Prisoner of the Portuguese._]

Here we were all discomforted for lack of victuals and gave over the voyage, and came to the northward again, to the isle of Sant Sebastian, lying just under the tropic of Capricorn.[26] There we went on sh.o.r.e to catch fish, and some went up into the woods to gather fruit, for we were all in a manner famished. There was at that time a canoe fraught with Indians, that came from the town of Spiritu Sancto.[27] These Indians landed on the west side of the island, and came through the woods and took five of us, and carried us to the River of Janeiro [Rio de Janeiro]. After this mischance our captain, Abraham c.o.c.ke, went to sea, and was never heard of more.[28]

[_Transported to Angola-A Voyage to the Zaire._]

When we that were taken had remained four months in the River of Janeiro, I and one Torner[29] were sent to Angola in Africa, to the city of Saint Paul,[30] which standeth in nine degrees to the southward of the equinoctial line. Here I was presently taken out of the ship and put into prison, and sent up the River Quansa,[31] to a town of garrison, which is 130 miles up the river. And being there two months the pilot of the governor's pinnace died: then I was commanded to carry her down to the city, where I presently fell sick, and lay eight months in a poor estate, for they hated me because I was an Englishman. But being recovered of my sickness, Don John Hurtado de Mendoca,[32] who then was governor, commanded me to go to the river of Congo, called Zaire, in a pinnace, to trade for elephants' teeth,[33] wheat,[34] and oil of the palm-tree. The river Zaire[35] is fifty leagues from the city, to the northward, and is the greatest river in all that coast. In the mouth of that river is an island, called the Isle de Calabes, which had at that time a town in it. Here we laded our pinnace with elephants' teeth, wheat, and oil of the palm, and so returned to the city again.

-- II.

_His trading on the coast; offer to escape; imprisonment; exile; escape and new imprisonment; his sending to Elamba and Bahia das Vaccas; many strange occurrences._

[_Trading in Loango._]

When I was sent to Longo [Loango], which is fifteen leagues to the northward of the River Zaire, and carried all commodities fit for that country, as long gla.s.s beads, and round blue beads, and seed beads, and looking-gla.s.ses, blue and red coa.r.s.e cloth, and Irish rugs, which were very rich commodities. Here we sold our cloth at a great rate, for we had for one yard of cloth three elephants' teeth, that weighed 120 pounds; and we bought great store of palm-cloth[36] and elephants'

tails.[37] So, in little time we laded our pinnace. For this voyage I was very welcome to the governor, who promised me my liberty if I would serve him. So I went in his pinnace two years and a half upon the coast.

[_An Attempted Escape._]

Then there came a ship of Holland to the city, the merchant of which ship promised to carry me away. And, when they were ready to depart I went secretly on board, but I was betrayed by Portugals which sailed in the ship, and was fetched on sh.o.r.e by sergeants of the city and put in prison, and lay with great bolts of iron two months, thinking that the governor would have put me to death. But at last I was banished for ever to the Fort of Ma.s.sangano, to serve in the conquest of those parts. Here I lived a most miserable life for the s.p.a.ce of six years without any hope to see the sea again.

[_A Second Attempt at Escape._]

In this fort there were Egyptians and Moriscoes that were banished as myself. To one of these Egyptians[38] I brake my mind, and told him that it were better for us to venture our lives for our liberty than to live in that miserable place. This Egyptian was as willing as myself, and told me he would procure ten of his consorts to go with us. So we got three Egyptians and seven Portugals. That night we got the best canoe that we could find, and went down the river Cuanza, and being as far down as Mani Cabech,[39] which is a little lord in the province of Elamba [Lamba], we went on sh.o.r.e with our twelve muskets, powder and shot. Here we sunk our canoe, because they should not know where we went on sh.o.r.e. We made a little fire in the wood, and scorched Guinea wheat,[40] which we [had] brought from Ma.s.sangano, to relieve us, for we had none other food.

As soon as it was night, we took our journey all that night and the next day, without any water at all. The second night we were not able to go, and were fain to dig and sc.r.a.pe up roots of trees, and suck them to maintain life. The third day we met with an old negro which was travelling to Mani Cabech. We bound his hands behind him, and made him lead us the way to the Lake of Casansa.[41] And, travelling all that day in this extreme hot country we came to the Bansa [mbanza], or town, of Mani Casansa, which lyeth within the land twelve leagues from the city of San Paulo. Here we were forced to ask water, but they would give us none. Then we determined to make them flee their houses with our shot; but seeing that we were desperately bent they called their Lord, Mani Casansa, who gave us water and fair speeches, desiring us to stay all night, only to betray us; but we departed presently, and rested that night in (_sic_) the lake of Casansa.

The fourth day, at night, we came to the river which is towards the north,[42] and pa.s.sed it with great danger. For there are such abundance of crocodiles in this river that no man dare come near the riverside when it is deep. The fifth day, at night, we came to the river Dande, and travelled so far to the eastward that we were right against the Serras, or mountains of Manibangono,[43] which is a lord that warreth against the King of Congo, whither we intended to go. Here we pa.s.sed the river, and rested half the night. And being two leagues from the river we met with negroes, which asked us whither we travelled. We told them that we were going to Congo. These negroes said that we were in the wrong way, and that they were Masicongos,[44] and would carry us to Bambe,[45] where the Duke of Bambe lay.

So we went some three miles east, up into the land, till we perceived that we were in the wrong way, for we travelled by the sun, and would go no further that way, and turned back again to the westward; they stood before us with their bows, arrows and darts, ready to shoot at us. But we, determining to go through them, discharged six muskets together and killed four, which did amaze them, and made them to retire. But they followed us four or five miles, and hurt two of our company with their arrows. The next day we came within the borders of Bamba, and travelled all that day. At night we heard the surge of the sea. The seventh day, in the morning, we saw the captain of the city come after us with hors.e.m.e.n and great store of negroes. Hereupon our company being dismayed, seven of our faint-hearted Portugals hid themselves in the thickets. I, and the four Egyptians, thought to have escaped, but they followed us so fast that we were fain to go into a little wood. As soon as the captain had overtaken us he discharged a volley of shot into the wood, which made us lose one another.

[_Surrenders to a Portuguese Captain._]

Thus, being all alone, I bethought myself that if the negroes did take me in the woods they would kill me: wherefore, thinking to make a better end among the Portugals and Mulatoes, I came presently out of the wood with my musket ready charged, making none account of my life. But the captain, thinking that we had been all twelve together, called to me and said: "Fellow Soldier, I have the governor's pardon; if you will yield yourselves you shall have no hurt." I, having my musket ready, answered the captain that I was an Englishman, and had served six years at Ma.s.sangono, in great misery; and came in company with eleven Portugals and Egyptians, and here am left all alone; and rather than I will be hanged, I will die amongst you. Then the captain came near unto me and said: "Deliver thy musket to one of the soldiers; and I protest, as I am a gentleman and a soldier, to save thy life for thy resolute mind."

Whereupon I yielded up my musket and myself.

Then the captain commanded all the soldiers and negroes to search the woods, and to bring them out alive or dead, which was presently done.

Then they carried us to the city of San Paulo, where I and the three Egyptians lay in prison three months with collars of iron, and great bolts upon our legs, and hardly escaped.

[_A campaign in Lamba._][46]

At that time the governor sent four hundred men, that were banished out of Portugal, up into the country of Elambe. Then I was with proclamation through the city banished for ever to the wars, and marched with them to Sowonso,[47] which is a lord that obeyeth the Duke of Bamba; from thence to Samanibansa, and then to Namba Calamba, which is a great lord, who did resist us. But we burnt his town, and then he obeyed us, and brought three thousand warlike negroes to us. From thence [we marched] to Sollancango, a little lord, that fought very desperately with us, but was forced to obey; and then to Combrecaianga,[48] where we remained two years. From this place we gave many a.s.saults and brought many lords to subjection. We were fifteen thousand strong, and marched to the Outeiro,[49] or mountain, of Ingombe. But first we burnt all Ingasia, which was his country, and then we came to the chief town of Ingombe, which is half a day's journey to go up.[50]

This lord came upon us with more than twenty thousand bows, and spoilt many of our men. But with our shot we made a great spoil among them, whereupon he retired up into the mountain, and sent one of his captains to our general, signifying that the next day he would obey him. The next day he entered our camp with great pomp, with drums, petes,[51] and Pongoes,[52] or waits, and was royally received; and he gave great presents, and greatly enriched the general, and them which marched up.

Upon the top of the mountain is a great plain, where he hath his chief town; very fresh, full of palm-trees, sugar-canes, potatoes, and other roots, and great store of oranges and lemons. Here is a tree that is called _Engeriay_,[53] that beareth a fruit as big as a pome-water,[54]

and hath a stone in it, present remedy (_sic_) for the wind colic, which was strange to the Portugals. Here is a river of fresh water, that springeth out of the mountains and runneth all along the town. We were here five days, and then we marched up into the country, and burned and spoiled for the s.p.a.ce of six weeks, and then returned to Engombe again, with great store of margarite stones,[55] which are current money in that land. Here we pitched our camp a league from this pleasant mountain, which remained twelve months: but I was shot in my right leg, and many Portugals and Mulatoes were carried to the city to be cured.

[_A Voyage to Benguella._]

Then the governor sent a fregatte to the southward, with sixty soldiers, myself being one of the company, and all kinds of commodities. We turned up to the southward until we came into twelve degrees. Here we found a fair sandy bay. The people of this place brought us cows and sheep, wheat[56] and beans; but we staid not there, but came to Bahia das Vaccas: that is, the Bay of Cows, which the Portugals call Bahia de Torre,[57] because it hath a rock like a tower. Here we rode on the north side of the rock, in a sandy bay, and bought great store of cows, and sheep-bigger than our English sheep-and very fine copper. Also, we bought a kind of sweet wood, called _Cacongo_,[58] which the Portugals esteem much, and great store of wheat and beans. And having laded our bark we sent her home; but fifty of us staid on sh.o.r.e, and made a little fort with rafters of wood, because the people of this place are treacherous, and not to be trusted. So, in seventeen days we had five hundred head of cattle; and within ten days the governor sent three ships, and so we departed to the city.

In this bay may any ship ride without danger, for it is a smooth coast.

Here may any ship that cometh out of the East Indies refresh themselves.

For the Portugals carracks[59] now of late come along the coast, to the city, to water and refresh themselves. These people are called _Endalanbondos_,[60] and have no government among themselves, and therefore they are very treacherous, and those that trade with these people must stand upon their own guard. They are very simple, and of no courage, for thirty or forty men may go boldly into the country and fetch down whole herds of cattle. We bought the cattle for blue gla.s.s beads of an inch long, which are called _Mopindes_,[61] and paid fifteen beads for one cow.

This province is called Dombe,[62] and it hath a ridge of high _serras_, or mountains, that stretch from the _serras_ or mountains of Cambambe, wherein are mines, and lie along the coast south and by west. Here is great store of fine copper, if they would work in their mines; but they take no more than they wear for a bravery. The men of this place wear skins about their middles and beads about their necks. They carry darts of iron, and bow and arrows in their hands. They are beastly in their living, for they have men in women's apparel, whom they keep among their wives.

Their women wear a ring of copper about their necks, which weigheth fifteen pound at the least; about their arms little rings of copper, that reach to their elbows; about their middle a cloth of the _Insandie_ tree, which is neither spun nor woven;[63] on their legs rings of copper that reach to the calves of their legs.