r
 
 £-■'.- 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 COMMODORE BYKON MCCANDLESS
 
 VOYAGE 
 
 ROUND THE 
 
 WORLD, 
 
 In the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV. 
 
 B Y 
 
 GEORGE ANSON, Efq; 
 
 Commander in Chief of a Squadron of His Majefty's 
 Ships, fent upon an Expedition to the South-Seas. 
 
 COMPILED 
 
 From Papers and other Materials of the Right Honourable 
 GEORGE Lord ANS N, and publiflied under his Dlredion, 
 
 By RICHARD WALTER, M. A. 
 
 Chaplain of his M a j e s t y's Ship the Centurion, in that Expedition. 
 
 lUuftrated with Forty-Two COPPER-PLATES. 
 
 LONDON: 
 Printed for the A U T H O R j 
 By John and Paul Knapton, in Ludgate-Street. Mcccxlviii.
 
 
 H I S G RACE 
 
 JOHN, 
 
 DUKE of BEDFORD, 
 
 MARQ^UIS of TJFISTO CUT, 
 
 EARL of B ED FO RD, 
 
 BARON RVSSEL, 
 
 BARON RV S S E L of rhornhaugh, 
 
 AND 
 
 BARON ROWLAND of Streathami 
 
 One of His Majefty's Principal Secretaries of State; and 
 Lord-Lieutenant, and Cuftos Rotulorum of the 
 County of Bedford. 
 
 My LO RD, 
 
 THE following Narrative of a very fingular 
 naval atchievement is addrefled to Your Grace, 
 both on account of the infinite obligations 
 which the Commander in Chief at all times profe/Tes 
 
 A 2 to
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 to have received from your Friendfliip ; and alfo, as the 
 Subje(fl itfelf naturally claims the patronage of One, under 
 whofe diredion, the Briii/hNavy has refumed its ancient 
 Spirit and Luftre, and has in one fummer ennobled it- 
 felf by two vrftorics, the moft decifive, and (if the 
 ftrcncrth and number of the captures be confidered) the 
 moft important, that are to be met vfith in our Annals. 
 Indeed, an uninterrupted feries ot fuccefs, and a mani- 
 feft fupcriority gained univerfally over the enemy, 
 both in commerce and glory, feem to be the neceffary 
 effeds of a revival of ftridt difcipline, and of an un- 
 biased regard to merit and fervice. Thefe are marks 
 that muft diftinguifh the happy period of time in 
 which Your Grace prefided, and afford a fitter fub- 
 jed for hiftory, than for an addrefs of this nature. 
 Very lio^nal advantages of rank and diftinftion, ob- 
 tained and fecured to the naval profeflion by Your 
 G R A c e's aufpicious influence, will remain a lafting 
 monument of Your unwearied zeal and attachment to 
 it, and be for ever remembred with the higheft 
 gratitude, by all who fhall be employed in it. As 
 thefe were the generous rewards of paft exploits, 
 they will be likewife the nobleft incentives, and furcft 
 pledges of the future. That Your G r a c e's emi- 
 nent talents, magnanimity, and difinterefted zeal, 
 
 whence
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 whence the Public has already reaped fuch fignal 
 benefits, may in all times prove equally fuccefsful in ad- 
 vancing the profperity of Great-Britain^ is the ardent 
 vvifh of, 
 
 My LO RD, 
 
 Your G R A c E*s 
 
 Mofl obedient^ 
 
 Moji devoted^ 
 
 AND 
 
 Mofi humble Servant^ 
 
 RICHARD WALTER.
 
 L 
 
 I 
 
 S 
 
 T 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 N. B. Thofe marked with an Afterisk have fubfcribed for the Royal Paper. 
 
 A. 
 
 H 
 
 Rt. 
 Rt. 
 Rt. 
 Rt. 
 Rt. 
 Rt. 
 
 I S Grace the D. of Argyll. 
 Rt. Hon. the Earl of Al- 
 bemarle. 
 Hon. the Countefs of Albemarle. 
 Hon. the Earl of Afliburnham. 
 Hon. the Earl of Ancram. 
 Hon. the Countefs of Ancram. 
 Hon. the Lord Andover. 
 Rev. and Hon. the Lord Bp. of 
 St. Afaph. 
 
 * Rt Hon. the Lord Anfon. 
 
 * Hon. Mr. Juftice Abney. 
 
 * Hon. Richard Arundel, Efq; 
 •Sir Thomas Dyke Acland. 
 
 * Sir William Abdy, Bart. 
 
 * Sir Jacob Aftley, Bart. 
 Sir Robert Abdy, Bart. 
 
 * Sir Richard Atkyns, B.nrt. 
 
 * '["homas Anfon, Efq; 
 Jofcph Andrews, Efcj; 
 George Armftrong, Efq; 
 
 * George Atkyns, Efq; 
 Rev. Richard Allin, B. IX 
 Richard Afliby, Efq; 
 
 * John Alderfon, Efq; 
 Rev. George Afhby, M. A. 
 Charles AUanfon, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Andrews, D. D. 
 
 Rev. Annefly, D. D. 
 
 Mr. John Adington. 
 Adam Afkew, M. D. 
 Mr. Jofeph Airey. 
 Mr. Jeremiah Andrcwrs, 
 Mr. Samuel Allin. 
 Rev. Mr. Addenbrooke. 
 
 * William Pritchard Afliurft, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. William Aylewonh. 
 Francis Andrevi^s, Efq; 
 John Abery, Efq; 
 Richard Alien, Efq; 
 Rowland Aynfworth, Efq; 
 
 * Abraham Atkins, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Anguifh. 
 Rev. Dr. Ayerft. 
 Richard Ailell, Efq; 
 Mr. Charles Allen. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Edmund Arnold. 
 John Auflen, Efq; 
 John Anftis, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Apthorg. 
 
 Samuel Atkins, Efq; 
 
 * Ralph Allen, Efq; 
 
 * William Adair, Efq; 
 Mr. Richard Auften. 
 Mr. Robert Arthur. 
 Mr. James Ayfcough. 
 Samuel Atkinfon, Efq; 
 James Abercrombie, Efq; 
 Captain Arnot 
 
 Mr. John Ackers. 
 Mr. Henry Alleyne. . 
 Richard Adams, Efq; 
 
 * William Adams, Efq; 
 William Windham Afhe, Efq; 
 George Atkins, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Mr. Allot. 
 
 * Mr. George Aufrere. 
 LiUie Smith Aynfcombe, Efq; 
 Rev. Dr. Atwell. 
 
 Mr. Henry Alcroft. 
 Rev. Mr. Allen. 
 Jolm Afhwood, Efq; 
 Mr. Stephen Auflen. 
 Mr. Robert Akenhead. 
 Mr. John Addy. 
 
 HIS
 
 A LIST of the SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 B 
 
 * TT I S Grace the Duke of Beaufort. 
 
 * "• His Grace the U. of Bedford. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Earl of Burhngton. 
 Rt. Hon. the Earl of Bute. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Earl Brooke. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Burghley. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Bury. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. tlie Lord Boyne. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lady Bateman. 
 
 Rt. Rev. ti.e Lord Bifhop of Bangor. 
 Rt. Hon. the Lord Berkeley of Strat- 
 tone. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Baltimore. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. Count Charles Bentink. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Chief Baron 
 
 Bowes. 
 Hon. and Rev. Dr. Booth Dean of 
 Windfor. 
 
 * Hon. Admiral John Byng. 
 Sir Edmund Bacon, Bart. 
 
 * Sir Walter Bagot, Bart. 
 Sir Griffith Boynton, Bart. 
 Sir John Bernard, Bart, 
 Sir Robert Ba} lis, Kt. 
 
 Sir John Bofvvorth, Kt. 
 
 William I'lackbourn, Efqj 
 
 John Blofs, Efq; 
 
 Mr, Thomas Brant. 
 
 Mr. Claude Bofanquet. 
 
 Mr. John Burges. 
 
 Robert Bennet, Efq; 
 
 Samuel Bofanquet, Efq; 
 
 John Bamber, M. B. 
 
 Mr. William Bekhier. 
 
 Thomas Browne, M. D. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Philip Birt. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Bi»g. 
 
 Mr. William Biltett. 
 
 Mr. William Branfon. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Bigge. 
 
 Colonel John Brown. 
 
 'I'homas Bradfhaw, Efq; 
 
 Mr. John BadcocI:. 
 
 Mr. Daniel Booth. 
 
 Hugh Barker Bell, Efq; 
 
 Mrs. Burton. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Boftock. 
 
 Captain Patrick Baird. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Bridges. 
 
 Rev. Mr. John Brantluvaite. 
 
 j\Ir. Stephen Barbut. 
 
 John Boyd, Efq; 
 
 Mr. John filackltonc. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Edward B, Blackett. 
 
 Thomas Rylcy Elankley, Efq; 
 Mr. William Branfon. 
 Mr. John Baxter. 
 Rev. Mr. Barnes. 
 Robert Banks, M. D. 
 Claudius Bennet, Efq; 
 Chriftian Henrich Brande, Efq; 
 Mr. James Backhoufe. 
 William Beecher, Efq; 
 Mr. John Bailey. 
 Mr. Barnaby Backwell. 
 
 * Mr. ^Villiam Backwell. 
 Mr. Luke Bennett. 
 John Becher, Efq; 
 
 Mr. John Bovfield. 
 
 Mr. Jofiah Boy field. 
 
 Richard Buckley, Efq; 
 
 Fitz William Barrington, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Jonas Butler. 
 
 Mr. John Butler. 
 
 Captain Hans Bredefon. 
 
 Captain Jochum Bugge. 
 
 Mrs. Butler. 
 
 John Kuifliere, Efq; 
 
 Mr. William Bekhier. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Samuel Baker. . 
 
 ■ - . . J-. - Bird, Efq; 
 
 Nicholas Bonfov, Efq; 
 
 Richard Bull. Efq; 
 
 Rev. Richard Buckby, B. A. 
 
 Air. Francis Beilby. 
 
 Mr. James Bucknall. 
 
 Rev. William Bedford, M. A. 
 
 Mr. John Bateman. 
 
 Daniel Burgefs, Efq; 
 
 * Richard Badcock, Efq. 
 Mr. Baynam. 
 
 Mr. Barnardiflon. 
 Thomas Blofeld, Efq; 
 Mr. James Bourdieu. 
 Mr. Alexander Black. 
 Benjamin Bond, junr. Efq; 
 Mr. Noah BlilTon. 
 Mr. Brooke Bridges. 
 Mrs. Biidges. 
 
 . Bridt;i)ian, Efq; 
 
 Mr. ■William" Birch. 
 
 Rev. Edward Bell, M. A. 
 
 Jvlr. Francis Beft. 
 
 Charles Brov/n, Efq; 
 
 James Bed, Efq; 
 
 13uck Nutcombe Bluett, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Martin Barnes, B. D. 
 
 Rev. John Buxton, M. A. 
 
 Rev. Robert Buxton, M. A. 
 
 William barbor, M. B. 
 
 Rev. Berxidge, M. A. 
 
 Chambers Bate, Efq; 
 
 Rev. George Brough, M. A. 
 
 The Book oociety at Stowmarket. 
 
 Rev. Bringhurft, M. A. 
 
 George Bond, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Breefe. 
 Fotherby Baker, Efq; 
 
 * Edmund Brown, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Thomas Buttonfliaw, M, A. 
 
 Samuel Barker, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Brent. 
 
 John Buxton, Efq; 
 
 Mr. John Button. 
 
 Lieutenant George Blankley. 
 
 Mr. Richard Blac.kham. 
 
 Rev. Balguy, M. A. 
 
 Rev. Barnard, M. A. 
 
 * Timothv Brett, Efq; 
 Mr. William Boawre, A. B. 
 Mr. Bloodworth. 
 
 * Thomas Bonfov, Efq; 
 
 * Brooke Boothby, Efq; 
 
 * Captain Peter Bruce. 
 
 * George Blondall, Efq; 
 
 * John Biag, Efq; 
 
 * William Bodvell, Efq; 
 
 * John Bonnel, Efq; 
 Mr. Benjamin Blyth. 
 Roger Blount, Efq; 
 Major Balladine. 
 Mr. Thomas Burdett. 
 Elliot Bifhop, Efq; 
 Micheal Bidulph, Efq; 
 James Brockman, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. William Bcels. 
 Rev. Mr. Bagfhav/, 
 Mr. Bell. 
 
 Mrs. Barlowe. 
 Mrs. Ann Bridges. 
 John Bacon, Efq; 
 Mr. Henry Burgefs. 
 Chriflopher Batt, Efq; 
 Mr. William Bowdcn. 
 William Brinck, Efq; 
 Thomas Barlow, Efq; 
 Benjamin Barlow, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. John Bouin. 
 Mr. Booth. 
 Robert Ball, Efq; 
 
 * Thomas Beckford, Efq; 
 Captain Matthew Bookey. 
 Captain ^Villiam Earl Benfon. 
 
 * Captain Blomficld Barradale. 
 Thomas Brand, Efq; 
 
 Ml. William Bulmer. 
 Ralph Bell, Efq; 
 Edward Blacket, Efq; 
 
 2 Mr.
 
 A L I S T of the SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 * Harry Burrard, Efq; 
 Mr. Peter Barbar. 
 Mr. Brigg3. 
 
 Bryan Bentham, Efq; 
 Thomas Bate, Efq; 
 Mr. Henry Bullock. 
 Mr. Barton. 
 Mr. Bailey. 
 
 * George Breton, Efq; 
 Mr. Nathaniel Baflhet. 
 
 * Peter Burrel, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Edward Barnard. 
 Mr. George Bailey. 
 
 Mr. James Bogle. 
 
 * Rev. Ofmin Beauvoir, A. M. 
 Mr. William Bowes. 
 
 Richard Beranger, Efq; 
 
 * Pucey Brooke, Efq; 
 Mr. George Baker. 
 Mr. George Brown. 
 Mr. Stephen Barbier. 
 Mr. George Bifhop. 
 Mr. Thomas Browne. 
 Mr. Bedford. 
 
 * Mr. Michael Barber. 
 Mr. John Berry. 
 
 * Mr. Henton Brown. 
 
 * Norborne Berkeley, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. Herman Berens. 
 John Browning, Efq; 
 
 * Thomas Brand, Efq; 
 
 * John Briftow, Efq; 
 Mr. Richard Bailye. 
 Mr. John Brotherton. 
 Mr. Samuel Birt. 
 Mr. Buckland. 
 
 Mr. J ames Brackftone. 
 Mr. William Bonner. 
 Mr. Samuel Baker. 
 Mr. John Beecroft. 
 
 TT I S Grace the Lord Archbp. of 
 
 ■•^ Canterbury. 
 
 Rt. Hon. the Earl of Cardigan. 
 
 Rt. Hon. the Earl Cowper. 
 
 Rt. Hon. Lord Charles Cavendifh. 
 
 Rt. Hon. Lord George Cavendifh. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Craven. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Chetvvynd. 
 
 * Hon. Robert Coke, Efq; 
 
 * Hon. John Chichefter, Efq; 
 
 * Hon. Mr. Baron Clarke. 
 
 * Sii John Chichefter, Bart. 
 
 * Sir Walter Calverley, Bart. 
 Sir John Chapman, Bart. 
 
 Hon. Sir Henry Calthrope, Kt. of the 
 Bath. 
 
 Hon. William Conolly, Efq; 
 
 * Lady Conycrs. 
 Lady Cullen. 
 Lady Cairnes. 
 
 Sir V^^illiam Calvert, Kt. 
 
 * Sir James Creed, Kt. 
 
 * Sir Richard Chafe, Kt. 
 Samuel Craghead, Efqj 
 William Cuft, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Corbert. 
 Nathaniel Cooper, Efq; 
 Mr. Henry Coulthurft. 
 Mr. Nicholas Crifpe. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Nicholas Cholwcl. 
 Nathaniel Cole, Efq; 
 
 ' Calthrope, Efq; 
 
 Sabine Chandler, Efq; 
 
 * Richard Crop, Efq; 
 
 * Phillip Crefpigny, Efq; 
 Mr. Richard Cowlam. 
 Mr. Chaloner Cooper. 
 Mr. Clarke. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Creed. 
 ( eorge Lewis Coke, Efq; 
 John Chafe, Efq; 
 Mr. John Camp. 
 Colonel Cracherode. 
 Mifs Elizabeth Collier. 
 Mr. William Coulthurft. 
 
 * William Cowper, Efq; 
 Mr. Charles Child. 
 
 * Thomas Corbett, Efq; 
 
 * William Corbett, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Caftlefranc. 
 Matthew Concannen, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Thomas Colefax. 
 Mr. John Crellius. 
 
 Mr. Martin Capron. 
 James Cocks, junr. Efq; 
 James Chetham, Efq; 
 Godfrey Clarke, Efq; 
 
 * William Clayton, Efq; 
 
 * John Cay, Efq; 
 
 Mr. John Mort Cowbert. 
 
 * John Cleveland, Efq; 
 John Conyers, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Carr. 
 
 Mr. John Cotton. 
 
 Mr. Cook. 
 
 Dr. Cockburn. 
 
 Rev. Anthony Chefter, M. A. 
 
 Thomas Colclough, Efq; 
 
 Mr. William Henry Coppard. 
 
 John Cole, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Cartwright. 
 
 Mr. Edward Carter. 
 
 * Nathaniel Clements, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. James Cowfat. 
 
 ( « ) 
 
 John Copeland, Efq^ 
 
 Mr. Copeland. 
 
 Dr. Conyers. 
 
 Mr. Robert Crew. 
 
 Mr. George Coltman. 
 
 Mr. Jofeph Commins. 
 
 Bryan Cooke, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Edward Chapman, A. Wf, 
 
 Joftiua Churchill, Efq; 
 
 William Caftle, Efq; 
 
 William Crowe, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Mr. Caley. 
 
 Thomas Chafe, Efq; 
 
 Daniel Cox, M. D. 
 
 Charles Chauncy, M. D. 
 
 Mr. Richard Charlton, junr. 
 
 * Walter Carey, Efq; 
 Henry Carrington, A. B. 
 
 * Capt. Alexander Crowden. 
 
 * Charles Carleton, M. D. 
 Clare-Hall Library, .Cambridge",' 
 
 Rev. Courtail, M. A. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Cumberland. 
 Society of Clergy at Bofton. 
 John Creed, Efq; 
 
 Mr. John Chambers. 
 
 * Caius College Library, Cambridge. 
 Mr. Peter Chefter. 
 Catherine-Hall Library, Cambridge. 
 Rev. Henry Clofe, M. A. 
 
 Rev. John Cuel, M. A. 
 
 Corpus Chrifti College Library,Camb» 
 
 Samuel Clarke, Efq; 
 
 Mrs. Chambcrlayne. 
 
 Rev. Benjamin Crowe, M. A. 
 
 Rev. — — Chapman, M. A. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Cole. 
 
 Mr. Cotton. 
 
 Pryfe Campbell, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Mr. Charles Cowper. 
 
 Mr. Carrington. 
 
 Captain Richard Clarke. 
 
 William Cole, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Paul Co.bctt. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Clayton. 
 
 Charles Cholmondley, Efq$ 
 
 * Captain David Cheap. 
 Jeremiah Cray, Efq; 
 Mr. Ralph Carr. 
 
 Mr. John Cookfon. 
 
 Rev. Cooper, M. A. 
 
 Mr. William Colfon. 
 Mr. Norrifon Coverdale. 
 John Carter, Efq; 
 Thomas Crowe, M. D. 
 Mr. Robert Carr. 
 Mr. AVilliam Cooke. 
 Samuel Collett, Efq; 
 
 "Samuc?
 
 A LIST of the SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Samuel ChilJ, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Francis Child. 
 
 Mr. John Chandler. 
 
 Mr. Peter Campart. 
 
 Mr. Henry Cavendifli. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Cooke. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Chapmaii. 
 
 Mrs. Mary Child. 
 
 Mr. John Cathcart. 
 
 Mr. James Cooke. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Cawne. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Thomas Chamberlayne. 
 
 Mr. John Coltman. 
 
 Mr. Edward Collis. 
 
 * John Spencer Colepeper, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Martin Clare, F. R. S. 
 James Compton, Efq; 
 
 Richard Cambridge, Efq; 
 Mr. Jofiah Colebroke. 
 Jofeph Crefwick, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. Anthony Cooper. 
 
 * Henry Crewys, Efq; 
 Mr. John CoUett. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Cotfell. 
 Mr. Richard Clark. 
 
 * James Carr, Efq; 
 
 * John Chefliyre, Efq; 
 Captain Fiefeild Coe. 
 Mr. John Crofts. 
 
 Mr. William Craighton. 
 
 Mr. John Clay. 
 
 Mr. Richard Clements. 
 
 D 
 
 * TTlS Grace the Duke of De- 
 ^^ vonftijre. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Earl of Dalkeith. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord De Lawarr. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Ducie Moreton 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Duncannon. 
 Sir Francis Henry Drake, Bart. 
 
 * Sir James Darfiwood, Bart. 
 Sir George Dalfton, Bart. 
 Lady Dafliwood. 
 
 John Difney, Efq; 
 John Dias, Efq; 
 Mr. Thomas Dummer. 
 Robert Darrell, Efq; 
 
 * Roger Drake, Efq; 
 Mr. Thomas Dimfdale. 
 Mr. Ely Dyfon. 
 
 Rev, Mr. Edward Darell. 
 Mr. John Denyer. 
 John Darell, Efq; 
 
 * Peter Delmc, Efq; 
 
 * John Delmc, Efq; 
 Robyt Dinwiddie, Efq; 
 Captain Thomas Defaguliers. 
 
 Mr. Theophilus Dorrington. 
 Colonel Durand. 
 John Damcr, Efq; 
 William Domvile, Efq; 
 Rev. Lewis Devifme, A. M. 
 Mr. Stephen Devifme. 
 Edward Dixon, Efq; 
 Mr. Thomas Delafietd. 
 Rev. Mr. Charles Dalton. 
 James Ducarel, Efq; 
 
 * Auhur Dobbs, Efq; 
 
 * Jofeph Damer, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. Charles Denis. 
 
 * Rev. Mr. Dampier. 
 
 * Mrs. De Gols. 
 William Dillingham, Efq; 
 
 * Mofes Mendez Da Cofla, Efq; 
 Mr. Thomas Day. 
 
 Mr. John Dick. 
 William Dixon, Efq; 
 Mr. Dixon. 
 Mrs. De Giey. 
 
 Rev. Dixon, R. D. 
 
 Rev. Daddo, M. A. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Stephen Duck. 
 
 Mr. Davies. 
 
 Richard Du Horty, Efq; 
 
 Rev. John Dawney, M. A. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Dawfon. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Dovey. 
 
 Mr. Daniel Debat, A. B. 
 
 * Mr. William Darwent. 
 
 * Alexander Davie, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. John Downes. 
 Mr. David Delavau. 
 James Dalbiac, Efq; 
 Mr. John Dell. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Michael Dorfet. 
 Captain DufF. 
 
 * Captain Peter Denis. 
 Rev. Mr. Thomas Dampier. 
 Mr. David Dalrymple. 
 Peter Ducane, Efq; 
 
 Mr. William Duncombe. 
 
 * Francis Douce, M. D. 
 Mr. Robert Duncan. 
 Mr. Benjamin Denham. 
 Matthew Duane, Efq; 
 
 * Captain Philip Durcll. 
 
 * Arthur Dobbins, Efq; 
 Mr. James Dornford. 
 Rev. Mr. Dunftan. 
 
 * Mr. Peter Dobree. 
 
 * Mr. Ifaac Dobree. 
 Captain Lars Andcrfon Dahl. 
 
 * James Dcbeauvoir, Efq; 
 Mr. Robert DodHey. 
 
 Mr. Lock/cr Davis. 
 
 R 
 
 I G H T Hon. the Lord Edge- 
 cumbe. 
 Sir John Evelyn, Bart. 
 Edward Everard, Efq; 
 
 * Humphry Edwin, Efq; 
 Walter Edwards, Efq; 
 John EIJ, Efq; 
 Anthony Ewer, Efq; 
 Mr. John Ellicott. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Fames. 
 
 AugufHne Earle, Efq; 
 
 Emanuel College Library, Cambridge. 
 
 * Welbore Ellis, Efq; 
 Francis Eld, Efq; 
 Mr. Martin Eelking. 
 Thomas Edwards, Efq; 
 Mr. William Eames. 
 Mr. John Ellis. 
 Robert Eddowes, Efq; 
 Thomas Elyott, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Edmund Elyott, B. A. 
 Rev. Mr. Evans. 
 Rev. Mr. Englifh. 
 
 * Richard Edwards, Efq; 
 Mr. Charles Eafton. 
 John Edwards, junr. Efq; 
 
 * Mifs Ecclefton. 
 Rev. Mr. Entick. 
 Rev. Dr. Eden. 
 Mr. William Eaton. 
 Mr. Edward Eafton. 
 
 Meflrs. George and Alex. Ewing. 
 
 * n IGHT Hon. the Earl Fitz- 
 ■■•*- waiter. 
 
 Rt. Hon. the Lord Falkland. 
 
 * Hon. Henry Finch, Efq; 
 
 * Rt. Hon. William Fortcfcue, Efq; 
 
 Mafter of the Rolls. 
 Hon. Mr. Juftice Fofter. 
 Hon. John Forbes, Efq; 
 
 * Hon. Richard Fitz-Patrick, Efq; 
 
 * Hon. Mrs. Fortcfcue. 
 
 * Hon. Mrs. Charlotte Fane. 
 Sir Thomas Farnaby, Bart. 
 
 * Sir Cordel Firebracc, Bart. 
 Sir Mattliew Featherftone, Bart. 
 
 * Sir John Frederick, Bart. 
 William Freeman, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. William Friend. 
 Robert Freeman, Efq; 
 
 * Simon Fanfliaw, Efq; 
 
 * William Fauquier, Efq; 
 
 Rowland
 
 ALIST of the SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Rowland Frye, Efq; 
 Mr. George Farrell. 
 Rev. Mr. William Friend. 
 Henry Flitcroft, Efq; 
 Richard Frank, Efq; 
 Sloane Fowler, Efq; 
 Mr. Fitzhugh. 
 Mr. George Fleming. 
 Mr. Alexander Forbes. 
 Mr. John Fox. 
 
 * Frederic Frankland, Efq; 
 Mr. Franks. 
 
 * Francis Fane, Efq; 
 Robert Fleetwood, Efq; 
 Rev. Peter Freeman, B. D. 
 Mr. Jeffery Fiflier. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Fuller. 
 John Frederick, Efq; 
 Dennis Farrer, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Foley, M. A. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Fearon. 
 
 Rev. Mr. George Feme. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Fctherfton. 
 
 Rev. William Foord, M. A. 
 
 Mr. John Fifh. 
 
 John Farfide, Efq; 
 
 William Farfide, Efq; 
 
 John Fuller, Efq; 
 
 ^Ir. Stephen Fuller. 
 
 Rev. John Fitzherbert, M. A. 
 
 * William Fitzherbert, Efq; 
 
 * Martin Folkes, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Edward Francklin. 
 George Fitzgerald, Efq; 
 Mr. Fuzard 
 
 Mr. Baruch Fox. 
 
 * Captain Thomas Frankland. 
 Mr. Edward Frewen. 
 
 Mrs. Mary Frankland. 
 Mr. Richard Fetlicrfton. 
 Mr. John Fiflier. 
 Mr. Luke Franklin. 
 Mr. Richardfon Ferrand. 
 Mr. ^Villiam Frears. 
 Mr. Richard Poofter. 
 Lieutenant Jofeph Frame. 
 Mr. George Faulkner. 
 Mr. William Frederick. 
 
 G 
 
 * rj I S Grace the Duke of Grafton. 
 
 * *-*■ Moil Hon. the Marquis of 
 
 Granby. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Earl of Gainfborough. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Gal-.vay. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Gowran. 
 Sir William Gage, Bart. 
 
 Sir Henry Grey, Bart. 
 
 Sir Reginald Graham, Bart. 
 
 * Rear Admiral John Gafcoyne. 
 
 * Francis Gafliry, Efq; 
 Philip Garbrand, Efq; 
 William Guildas, Efq; 
 Mr. Thomas QamuU. 
 Mrs. Griffith. 
 Richard Graham, Efq; 
 Mr. Nathaniel Green. 
 Captain Martin Groundman. 
 Major William Gardner. 
 Thomas Gee, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Goodacre. 
 
 Mr. Godwin. 
 
 Mr. Robert Griffin. 
 
 Mr. Peter Garrick. 
 
 David Garrick, Efq; 
 
 Mr. John Gill. 
 
 Mr. William Gerrard Galpinc. 
 
 * Jofeph Gulfton, Efq; 
 Dr. Gamier. 
 Richard Gem, M. D. 
 
 * Mr. Sampfon Gideon. 
 Mr. Gawler. 
 
 * Mr. Edward Grofe. 
 
 * John Green, Efq; 
 Captain Charles Gough. 
 
 * James Gynander, Kfq; 
 
 * George Greenville, Efq; 
 Mr. John Gurdon. 
 
 Ifaac Gale, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Gay. 
 Nathanael Gurdon, Efq; 
 
 * William Gery, Efq; 
 Major George Gray. 
 
 Green, Efq; M. A. 
 
 Rev. John Gamttt, B. D. 
 Rev. John Green, B. D. 
 George Grey, Efq; 
 Richard Green, Efq; 
 Charles Gray, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Peter Goddard, M. A. 
 Rev. Mr. Goodall. 
 Mr. James Gautier. 
 
 * Captain William Gordon. 
 Mr. John Gregory, 
 
 Rev, William Greenwood, D. D. 
 
 Rev. Griffith, D. D. 
 
 Mr. Henry Gregory. 
 Captain James Gambier. 
 Mr. Jofeph Gayland. 
 Mr. Richard George. 
 Mr. James Gay lard. 
 Air. Thomas Gent. 
 John Geekie, Efq; 
 John Gore, lifq; 
 Mr. Edv/ard Giac«. 
 
 Mr. James Godin. 
 
 * Phillip Gello, Efq; 
 Mr. Richard Glecd . 
 
 H 
 
 * T> IGHT Honourable Philip Loid 
 ■'^ Hardwicke, Lord High-Clian- 
 
 cellor. 
 
 * Mod Hon. the Marquis of Har- 
 
 tington. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Earl of HoIdemelTe. 
 Rt. Hon. the Countefs of Home. 
 Rt. Hon. and Rt. Rev. the Lord Bp. 
 
 of Hereford. 
 Hon. Thomas Hervey, Efq; 
 
 * Hon. Capt. Hamilton. 
 
 Hon. and Rev. Mr. How, M. A. 
 Sir William Halford. Bart. 
 Sir Thomas Head, Bart. 
 Sir Robert Hildyard, Bart. 
 Sir William Heathcote, Bart. 
 Sir John Heathcote, Bart. 
 Sir Edward Hulfe, Bart. M. D. 
 
 * Hon. Sir Philip Honywood, Knight 
 
 of the Bath. 
 
 * Hon. Sir William Harbord, Knight 
 
 of the Bath. 
 
 * Hon. Sir Edward Hawke, Knight 
 of the Bath. 
 
 * Hon. Lieutenant-General Handafyd. 
 
 * Hon. Lieutenant-General Huflce. 
 
 * Hon. Lieutenant-General Howard. 
 Baron Hardenberg. 
 
 Sir Richard Hoare, Kt. 
 Sir Jofeph Hankey, Kt. 
 John Hayes, Efq; 
 Mr. Hancock. 
 Benjamin Hall, Efq; 
 Colonel Hodges. 
 James Henckell, Efq; 
 
 * Richard Heath, Efq; 
 Mr. Robert Harrifon. 
 Mr. Monins HoUingbury. 
 Mr. Thomas Hort. 
 
 Mr. Lacy Hawes. 
 Mr. Chrillopher Hedges. 
 Rev. Dr. Hughes. 
 Edward Hope"ood, Efq; 
 Hugh Hamerfley, Efq; 
 
 * Mrs Rebecca Houblon. 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Houblon. 
 William Hanbury, Efq; 
 Jacob Harvey, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Harper. 
 Samuel Hcllier, Efq; 
 Mr. John Hammond. 
 Rev. Richard Hurd, M. A. 
 
 ( a 2 ) , Mr.
 
 A LIST of the SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Mr. Vv'il!i:>m Iloifhon. 
 JcfFery Hctlierington, Efq; 
 Henry Hutchins, Efq; 
 Mr. Alarmaduke Hilton. 
 T hornas Hart, Efq; 
 Mr. Ifiiac Heaton. 
 Mr. John Holmes. 
 Mr. "flodofon. 
 
 * Alexander Hume, Efq; 
 
 * Abraham Hume, Efq; 
 
 * Thomas Orby Hunter, Efq; 
 IJcL'tenant-Colonel Philip Honywood. 
 Richard Hor»ywood, Efqj 
 
 John Honvwood, Efq; 
 Mr. Walter Holt. 
 Mr. Thomas Hurdman. 
 Mr. Thomas Hirft. 
 Rev. Mr. Harling, A. M. 
 Mr. John Horfley. 
 
 * Mr. James Home. 
 Robert Holford, Efq; 
 V/iliiam Hay, Efq; 
 
 * John Hooke, Efq; 
 
 * Edward Hooper, Efq; 
 
 * John Lewis Harfcher, junr. Efq; 
 Edward Hopfon, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. Thomas Hitt. 
 Edmund Hofkins, Efq; 
 
 * George Haldane, Efq; 
 Mifs Holden. 
 
 Richard Kopwood, M. Ds 
 Mr. Hollier. 
 Fowke Hufi'y, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. Samuel Herring 
 
 .^. Htberdcen, li'l. D. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Henry Hcalv, B. A. 
 
 Mr. Hafwell. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Hetherington. 
 
 Mrs. Harding. 
 
 Rev. Henry Herring, A.M.. 
 
 Robert Hotchkin, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Halfhide. 
 
 John Hudfoii, Efq; 
 
 Mann Horsfuld, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Samuel Hafsle. 
 
 Rev.-^ Harrifon, M. A. 
 
 Rev. Mr. H) ly. 
 
 Rev. William Herring, M. A.. 
 
 Thomas Hill, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Edward Holden. 
 
 Chefter Moor Hall, Efq; 
 
 Edmond Hornby, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Richard Hayes, M. A. 
 
 William Higginfon, Efq; 
 
 George Hartly, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Mr. Henry Hafcardj. 
 
 Richard Houlditch, Efq; 
 
 Captain Sainucl Hobfoo, 
 
 ' • 4, 
 
 Samuel Horfcy, Efq; 
 Edward Hulfc, Efq; 
 Captain Thom.is Harrifon. 
 Lieutenant James Hume. 
 Mr. John Harvey. 
 Mr. John Heaton. 
 Mr. Hall, M. A. 
 Mis. Sarah Hill. 
 
 * Rev. Mr. Harrifon. 
 Abraham. Hall, M. D. 
 Mrs. Hayes. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Hopkins. 
 Mr. Henry Holcombe. 
 Mr. Francis Harling. 
 Thomas Haliel, Efq; 
 Mr. Henley. 
 Mr. Richard Holland. 
 Charles Hofkins, Efq; 
 Mr. Edward Harding. 
 John Halis, Efq; 
 Rev. John Hume, D. D; 
 Edward Hooker, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. Ifaac Hunter. 
 Mr. Adam Hayes. 
 Tilman Fenckel, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Mark Hildefley. 
 Philip Harcourt, Efq; 
 Mr. William Hatch. 
 
 * Charles Hubert Herriot, Efq; 
 Samuel Heathcote, junr. Efq; 
 Harman Hoburg, Efq; 
 
 Mr. John Jacob Heldt. 
 
 Mr. James Hunter. 
 
 Mr. Nathaniel Hillier. 
 
 Mr. William Hawkins. 
 
 Mr. William Holloway. 
 
 Mr. Milefon Hingefton.. 
 
 Mr. Samuel Heathcote. 
 
 Mr. Samuel Hartly. 
 
 Henry Hoare, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Mr. James Hotchkis. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Hefkins. 
 
 Mr. Nathaniel Harris. 
 
 Peter Hinde, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Peter Hemet. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Hopwood. 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Holden. 
 
 Mr. John Harrifon. 
 
 William Hammond, Efq; 
 
 Captain Peter Johanfen Holts. 
 
 Mr. Jafper Horn. 
 
 Mr. John Hammerfley. 
 
 Mr. Charles Hitch. 
 
 Mr. John Hinton. 
 
 Mr. John Hildyard. 
 
 Mr. James Hodges, 
 
 Mr. Hayhow.. 
 
 I 
 
 * T> IGHT Hon. the Earl of 
 *^ Jcrfey. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Ilchefter. 
 
 * Hon. and Rev. Dr. Ingram. 
 Baron Ilton. 
 
 * Sir Hikiebrand Jacob, Bar& 
 
 * Sir William Irby, Bart. 
 Major John Johnfton. 
 Swynfen Jcrvis, Efq; 
 
 J. Jenkinfon, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Ifaac Johnfon. 
 Theodore Jacobfon, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. John Jeffreys. 
 
 * Richard Jackfon, Efq; 
 
 * William Jones, Efq; 
 
 * Rev. Richard Jackfon, M. A. 
 Robert Johnfon, Efq; 
 
 * John Jefferies, Efq; 
 John Jones, Efq; 
 Thomas Johnfon, Efq; 
 Mr. Charles Jewfon. 
 Mr. Jofeph Jones. 
 Alexander Johnfon, Efq; 
 Mr. Jofeph Jackfon. 
 LafccUes Ironmonger, Efq; 
 
 Jefus College Library, Cambridge*. 
 Rev. George Inman, A. M. 
 Rev. Mr. Jones. 
 Rev. Mr. Jones, junr. 
 Rev. Mr. Jackfon. 
 
 Rev. Jackfon, B. D. 
 
 Mr. James Jackfon. 
 James Jurin, M. D. 
 Rev. John Johnfon, D. D. 
 Mr. Simon Julins. 
 Mr. Simon Jacklon. 
 John Innjs, Efq; 
 Pelham Johnfton, M. Di 
 Mrs. Lucy Jacombe. 
 Mr. Thomas Jervis. 
 Cheret Jones, Efq; 
 John Jefs, Efq; 
 Mr. James Jones. 
 William Jenkins, Efq; 
 Erneft Augufl Jager, Efqj. 
 Mr. John Jeffir. 
 
 * Edward Jackfon, Efq; 
 Mr. Benjamin Johnfon, 
 Mr. Daniel Jones. 
 Samuel Jones, Efq; 
 
 TTER Grace the Duchefs of 
 
 Kent. 
 
 *Rt,
 
 A LIST of the SUBSCRIBERS: 
 
 Rt. Rev. tlie Lord Bp. of Kildare. 
 
 lion. Auguftus Keppel, Efq; 
 ' Hon. Frederick Keppel, Efq; 
 valph Knox, Efq; 
 .Irs. Mary Kingman. 
 At. Samuel Kiliken. 
 Colonel Kerr. 
 |/Irs. Kien. 
 
 ohn Kerrick, M. D. 
 ev. Mr. Keen. 
 
 r. Robert Keymour. 
 lolonel King. 
 At. William Kinlefide. 
 iev. Richard Kitchingman, M. A. 
 
 |lev. Keller, A. M. 
 
 Mr. Robert Kitchingman, L L B. 
 Element Kent, Efq; 
 tirs. Kent. 
 
 iev. Samuel Knight, M. A. 
 iaylock Kingfley, Efq; 
 afper Kingfman, Efq; 
 Robert Key, M. D. 
 At. William Key. 
 lev. Mr. Knipe. 
 VIr. Chriftopher Keating. 
 Edward Knipe, Efq; 
 VIr. William Knipe. 
 Randolph Knipe, Efq; 
 Mr. John Kent. 
 VIr. William Ifaac Kops. 
 Mr. William Cooper Keating. 
 
 R 
 
 L. 
 
 I G H T Hon. the Earl of Lich- 
 field. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Earl of Lticefter. 
 Rt. Hon. the Lord Lonfdale. 
 
 Rt. Rev. the Lord Bp. of London. 
 Rt. Rev. the Lord Bifhop of Lichfield. 
 Rt. Rev. the Lord Bilhop of LandafF. 
 
 Rt. Hon. the Lord Langdale. 
 
 * Hon. Henry Lcege, Efq; 
 
 * Hon. Mr. Baron Legge. 
 Sir William Lowther, Bart. 
 Sir Thomas Littleton, Bart. 
 
 Sir Edward Littleton, Bart. 
 Sir A twill Lake, Bart. 
 Sir Robert Ladbroke, Knight, Lord- 
 Mayor of the City of London, 
 
 • Sir Richard Lloyd, Kt. 
 
 • Mr. Charles Lowtb. 
 Robert Legard, Efq; 
 Thomas Lifter, Efq; 
 
 • Charles Long, Efq; 
 
 • Beeflon Long, Efq; 
 Ellis Lloyd, Efq;; 
 Niciiolas Linwood, Efq; 
 
 * George Lyttelton, Eicy 
 
 Richard Lockwood, junr. Efq; 
 Mr. William Lake. 
 Nathaniel Lloyd, Efq; 
 Matthew Lee,' M. D. 
 Richard Lindfey, Efq; 
 Mr. John Liddefdale. 
 James Lever, Efq; 
 William Locke, Efq; 
 Mr. Jofhua Locke. 
 Henry Lowther, Efq; 
 Mifs Elizabeth Lewis. 
 Mifs Sufannah Lewis. 
 
 * Rev. Dr. Lynch. 
 Mr. Lancafter. 
 
 Mr. Peter Lathbury. 
 
 A'Ir. George Lillington. 
 
 Mr. John Larpent. 
 
 Daniel I'eter Layard, M D. F.R.S. 
 
 Mr. Thomas Leech. 
 
 Mr. Henry Lewis. 
 
 Temple Laws, Efq; 
 
 Jofeph Letherland, M. D. 
 
 *Edwin Lafcelles, Efq; 
 
 Henry Lafcelles, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Langley. 
 
 * Thomas Lowfeild, Efqj 
 
 * Charles Lowndes, Efq; 
 Mr. John Lowther. 
 
 * Benjamin LethieuUier, Efq; 
 
 * Chriftopher LethieuUier, Efq; 
 Mr. John Leech. 
 
 Thomas Lifter, Efq; 
 Rev. John Linton, B. A. 
 
 * Rev. Mr. Langbaine. 
 Francis Long, Efq; 
 Mr. Thomas Light. 
 Thomas Luck, Efqj 
 Rev. Mr. Law. 
 
 Mr. Lloyd.' 
 Richard Long, Efq; 
 Robert Long, Efq; 
 Richard Langley, Efq; 
 Mr. Lcnfdale. 
 Rev. Mr. Lamplugh. 
 Rev. Mr. Lally. 
 
 * Thomas Liell, Efq; 
 Mr. Thomas Ludlam. 
 Rev. William Lamb, M. A. 
 Mr. Charles Lidgould. 
 
 * John Lloyd, Efq; 
 Mr. Edward Lowry. 
 Manning LethieuUier, Efq; 
 
 * Captain Limburner. 
 
 * Theophilus Lane, Efq; 
 Mr. Samuel Lankford. 
 Rev. Mr. Lydiatt. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Laurence, 
 Mr. Thomas Langley. 
 
 Mr. Griffith Loyd, 
 Mr. James Lardant. 
 Mrs. Judith Lyford. 
 R'Ir. Lewis. 
 
 Mr. John Luke Landon. 
 Mr. Daniel Le Voutier. 
 Mr. John Lee. 
 Mr. Edward Lee. 
 
 * Richard Lateward, Efq;. 
 Mr. RoLJat Le Hook. 
 Thomas Lempriere, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Lyne. 
 
 Mr. John Lucas. 
 Mr. Charles Le Grys. 
 
 * Captain Edward Lecras. 
 Mr. James Le Marchant. 
 
 * Mr. Robert Lee. 
 Mr. William Loxham. 
 Mr. Edward Lowry. 
 Mr. Peter Le Keux. 
 
 * Lieutenant WiUiam Langdon*. 
 Mr. Edward Langton. 
 
 Rev. Mr. James Leaver. 
 Mr. Thomas Longman. 
 Mr. James Leake. 
 
 M. 
 
 tJIS Grace the Duke of Mar!- 
 ■''-'■ borough. 
 
 * His Grace the Duke of Manchefter.. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Earl of Morton. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Earl of Macclesfield. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Earl of Malton. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord James Manners.. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Maynard. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Mor.fon. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Montfort. 
 Rt. Hon. the Lord Middleton. 
 Rt. Hon. the Lady Middleton. 
 Hon. and Rev. Dr. Henry More. 
 Hon. and Rev. Gideon Murray, \I.A^ 
 Hon. Colonel Thomas Murray. 
 
 Sir William Maynard, Bart. 
 Kir Charles MoU'oy, Bart. 
 Sir Ralph Milbank, Bart. 
 Sir Edward Man el, Bart. 
 
 * Chriftopher Mole, Efq; for the Hon. 
 
 the Di reenters of the Eaft- India. 
 
 Company, 3 1 Books. 
 Valentine Morris, Efq; 
 Willii.m Milford, Elq; 
 Mr. Richard iVlartyn. 
 Mr. Thomas Mofely. 
 
 * James Mytton, Efqj 
 Dr. Mitchell. 
 Benjamin Martyn, Efq;
 
 A LIST of the SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 David Mitchell, Efq; 
 Mr. Edmund Monk. 
 Robert Moore, Efq; 
 Dr. Muncklcy. 
 Mr. William May. 
 Mr. Ifrael Mauduit. 
 
 * Andrew Mitchell, Efq; 
 
 * Nicholas Mann, Efq; 
 Cutts Maydvvell, Efq; 
 Mr. Peter Motteaux, junr. 
 Mr. Samuel More. 
 
 Jofiah Martyn, Efq; 
 Mr. William Markes. 
 Sydenham Malthus, Efq; 
 Marm. Middleton, Efq; 
 Mr. Jofeph MalTee. 
 
 * John Macarell, Efq; 
 Mr. MafTey. 
 
 Rev. John Murgahodd, M. A. 
 
 Mr. Jofeph Martin. 
 
 Mr. Marfden. 
 
 Mr. John Mort. 
 
 Rev. Edward Mufgrave, A. B. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Morgan. 
 
 Charles Moore, Efq; 
 
 * George Montgomery, Efq; 
 Mr. Edward Moore. 
 George Maxwell, Efq; 
 
 * Lieutenant Thomas Moore. 
 Rev. Roger Moflyn, M. A. 
 Dr. M'Atty. 
 
 Edward Mann, Efq; 
 William Metcalfe, Efq; 
 Rev. Conyers Middleton, D. D. 
 Henry Morley, Efq; 
 
 * Charles Maneflee, Efq; 
 Rev. John May, M. A. 
 Mr. Robert Mackay. 
 
 Rev. John Manning, M. A. 
 Mr. Moody. 
 
 Rev. Roger Mortlock, M. A. 
 Mr. Thomas Manley, M. A. 
 George Macartney, Efq; 
 Captain James Mercer. 
 Captaia Montolieu. 
 Dr. Mabb. 
 
 * Rev. Dr. Henry Miles, F. R. S. 
 Lieutenant Jofeph Myers. 
 
 Mr. George Murray. 
 Mr. Henry Milburnc. 
 Andrew Mitchel, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. William Mills. 
 
 * Mr. Thomas Mills. 
 
 * Mr. Laurence Miilechamp. 
 Hon. Major Maccarty. 
 
 * Richard Mead, M.' D. 
 Ricliaid Mead, Efq; 
 
 James Mead, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Robert Morgan. 
 Rev. Mr. William Murray. 
 Captain William Morrio. 
 Hugh Marriott, Efq; 
 Captain Benjamin Mafon. 
 Mr. Harman Myer. 
 Peter Darnell Muilman, Efq; 
 Mr. Henry Martel. 
 Mr. Henry Mufgrave. 
 Mr. John Michel. 
 Norman Macleod, Efq; 
 John Martin, M. D. 
 Mr. John Milnes. 
 
 * Mr. Robert Mann, junr. 
 Mr. Mills. 
 
 Mr. Leonard Martin. 
 Mr. James Maze, junr. 
 
 * Mr. Thomas Mofely, junr. 
 Mr. Roger Matthews. 
 Robert Marfh, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Samuel Rogers Mansfield. 
 Mr. James Maze. 
 Mr. John Manfliip, junr. 
 Mr. Daniel MefTman. 
 Humphrey Monoux, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Lewis Monoux. 
 Captain James Millefon. 
 
 * Captain John Montagu. 
 Mr. Thomas Metcalfe. 
 Mr. John Mayfon. 
 Harward Martin, Efq; 
 Captain Andrew Mow. 
 Captain Hans Mow. 
 
 Mr. Jofeph Mofs. 
 Mr. John Mace. 
 Mr. John Millan. 
 Mr. Andrew Millar. 
 
 N 
 
 * TJflS Grace the Duke of Nor- 
 •" folk. 
 
 * Her (jrace the Duchefs of New- 
 
 caftle. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. thcEarlofNorthcfk. 
 
 Rt. Hon. the Lord North and Guilford. 
 Mr. Henry Norris. 
 Mr. Matthew Nafh. 
 
 * Albert Ncfliit, Kfq; 
 William Northcy, Efq; 
 Robert North, Efq; 
 
 * Robert NcH-'it, M. D. 
 Colonel Robert Napier. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Richard Ne-.vcom';e. 
 Mr. William Nayior. 
 Mr. William Neale. 
 
 Mr. Nelfon. 
 
 Rev. Mr, George North. 
 
 Rev. Mr. 'William Nunns. 
 
 * Captain Juftinian Nutt. 
 
 * James Naifh, Efq; 
 Rev. John Ncsfield, M. A. 
 Rev. Me.'ifon Newton, M. A. 
 Thomas Nutting, Efq; 
 Mr. Thomas Nevile, A. B. 
 
 Rev. Ncwcome, D. D. 
 
 Mr. Nathaniel Newberry. 
 Rev Neale, M. A. 
 
 * Francis Nailour, Efq; 
 Mr. John Nuttall. 
 Mr. Robeit New. 
 Mr. Henry Napton. 
 Mr. Abraham Newhoufe. 
 Mr. Sandford Nevile. 
 Mrs. Mary Newdigate. 
 Mr. John Needham. 
 
 * Thomas Afhbourn Newton. Efq 
 Captain Sofren Nielfon. 
 Mr. John Noone. 
 Mrs. Needham. 
 
 o 
 
 * p I G H T Honourable the Lo.i 
 •»^ Onflow. 
 
 Hon. Percy Windham Obricn, Efq] 
 Sir John Oglander, Bart. 
 Sir Danvers Osborn, Bart. 
 Peter Ofborn, Efq; 
 James Orlebar, Efq; 
 Captain Lucius Obryen. 
 Lieutenant John Obryen. 
 Old Society of Ringers at York. 
 Robert Osborn, Efq; 
 William Osbaldiflon, Efq; 
 George Osbaldiflon, Efq; 
 Robert Ord, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Obyns, D. D. 
 
 William Ockenden, Efq; 
 Timothy Ottbie, Efq; 
 
 * Leek Okeover, Efq; 
 
 * Rev. Owen, D. D. 
 
 Henry Ord, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Francis Ogier. 
 
 Henry Osborn, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Thomas Osborn, LL. D. 
 
 Mr. Abraiiam Ogier. 
 
 Mr. John C)sbourn. 
 
 Mr. John Orme. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Robert Oakeley. 
 
 * Mr. John Overy. 
 Mr. JohnOxky. 
 
 M O S '
 
 A LIST of the SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 MOST Rev. John Potter, D.D. 
 
 [■'■*• late Lord Archbifliop of Can- 
 
 I terbury. 
 
 ' His Grace the Duke of Portland. 
 
 U. Hon. the Earl of Plymouth. 
 
 ' Rt. Hon. the Countefs of Portland. 
 
 ' Rt. Hon. Henry Pelham, Efq; 
 
 Chancellor of the Exchequer. 
 It. Hon. Stephen Pointz, Efq; 
 ir Edward Pickering, Bart, 
 lir Thomas Parkins, Bart. 
 ' Hon. Colonel Pelham. 
 Thomas Potter, Efq; 
 ' David Polhill, Efq; 
 Lliakim Palmer, Efq; 
 llr. George Purvis. 
 Reginald Pole, Efq; 
 I'Ir. Thomas Pennant. 
 ''ilr. Samuel Parmenter. 
 Itv. Mr. John Pennington. 
 ^-Ir. George Paynter. 
 lobert Purfe, Efq; 
 \cv. Mr. Pickering, 
 fohn Periam, Efq; 
 VIr. Poirier. 
 '^ts. Pulteney. 
 ^r. John Poyner. 
 •' Dr. Charles Pinfold, 
 ^r. Refta Patching, 
 ^r. Edward Clarke Parifli. 
 VIr. Pardoe. 
 
 fohn Plumptree, junr. Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. James Parker. 
 Hev. Mr. Thomas Prowfe. 
 ^ev. Mr. Pudfey. 
 William Purcas, Efq; 
 VIr. William Palmer, 
 oaptain Dean Pointz. 
 Thomas Pulleyn, Efq; 
 [^arrifon Pilkington, Efq; 
 Pembroke-Hall Library, Cambridge, 
 ilev. Mr. Plumtree. 
 Ur. John Partridge. 
 Rev. Mr. Francis Pyle. 
 Mr. Purt. 
 Mr. John Pine. 
 Philip Parfons, Efq; 
 Jocelyne Pickard, Efq; 
 Thomas Percival, Efq; 
 
 * .Mr. John Porter. 
 
 * Captain Jervis Henry Porter. 
 
 * Thomas Penn, Efq; 
 Pringle, M. D. 
 
 Rev. Robert Piper, B. D. 
 
 * Mr. Arthur Pond, 
 
 Mr. Thomas Parker. 
 
 Peel, Efq; M. A. 
 
 Captain John Pritchard. 
 Rev. Henry Prefect, B. D. 
 
 ■ Plumtree, M. D. 
 
 Thomas Sawyer Parris, Efq; 
 
 * John Proby, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. William Porter. 
 
 * Robert Pulleyn, Efq; 
 John Plumtree, Efq; 
 Lieutenant Colonel Pattifon. 
 Mr. Robert Plumtree, M. A. 
 Captain Thomas Proby. 
 Charles Poole, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. Baptilt: Proby. 
 
 * George Morton Pit, Efq; 
 
 * Rev. Francis Sawyer Parris, D. D. 
 Rev. Powel, M. A. 
 
 * John Philipfon, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. Page. 
 
 * Mrs. Page. 
 John Palmer, Efq; 
 Mr. John Palmer. 
 Colonel Francis Peirfon. 
 Mr. Robert Palmer. 
 Mr. Thomas Pinkard. 
 Mr. Daniel Pocock. 
 William Parker, Efq; 
 Mr. William Pawfon. 
 Mr. John Price. 
 Henry Pennyman, Efq; 
 
 * Thomas Powys, Efq; 
 Mr. Thomas Plumer. 
 Azariah Pinney, Efq; 
 Mr. William Powell. 
 Thomas Parr, Efq; 
 Samuel Pye, M. D. 
 Captain Richard Peirfon. 
 Mr. Edward Payne. 
 Mr. Francis Prime. 
 Mr. Percival Pott. 
 
 Mr. John Purling. 
 Mr. Thomas Palmer. 
 Rev. Mr. Richard Palmer. 
 Captain Jarvis Porter. 
 Captain Thomas Parker. 
 Mr. John Powdich. 
 Captain George Petterfon. 
 
 * Ifaac Prefton, Efq; 
 Peter Peirfon, Efq; 
 Mr. William Percy. 
 Mr. Herman Pohlman. 
 
 * John Payne, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. John Parr. 
 Mr. Richard Percy. 
 Mr. George Petzold. 
 Thomas Pomfret, Efq; 
 
 Mrs. Pitt. 
 
 Mr. Nicholas Pentony. 
 Mr. Samuel Parrifh. 
 Mr. Jofeph Pote. 
 
 Q. 
 
 QU E E N's College Library, Cam- 
 bridge. 
 * John Qiiick, Efq; 
 Mr. Nutcombe Quick. 
 
 R 
 
 * TJ I S Grace the Duke of Rut- 
 ■*^ land. 
 
 * Moft Hon. the Marquis of Rocking- 
 
 ham. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Romney. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Ravenfworth. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lady Ravenfworth. 
 Hon. John Robartes, Efq; 
 
 * Sir John Robinfon, Bart. 
 Sir John Rous, Bart. 
 
 Sir Robert Rich, Bart. 
 
 Sir Tancred Robinfon, Bart. 
 
 Samuel Reynardfon, Efq; 
 
 Mr. John Ryan. 
 
 Mr. Jer. Roe. 
 
 Mr. Henry Ryall. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Arthur Robinfon. 
 
 Mr. James Royflon. 
 
 Robert Roane, Efq; 
 
 Robert Robinfon, M. D. 
 
 * Mr. Rogers. 
 
 * Jones Raymond, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Herbert Randolph. 
 Thomas Robinfon, Efq; 
 
 * Richard Roderick, Ef^ 
 George Ruck, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Charles Reynoldfon. 
 Mr. Charles RadclifF. 
 Mr. Morton RockclifF. 
 Samuel Rufh, Efq; 
 BifTe Richards, Efq; 
 Nicholas Roberts, Efq; 
 John Ranby, Efq; 
 Mr. Benjamin Robinfon. 
 Mr. Samuel Rhodes. 
 
 * John Rufli, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Rutter. 
 Mr. John Rowe. 
 
 * Mr. John Rule. 
 Lancelot Rolleflon, Efq; 
 Matthew Robinfon, Efq; 
 Rev. Dr. Richardfon. 
 
 Mr.
 
 A LIST of the SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Mr. John Roolce. 
 
 Rev. Henry Roolce, D. D. 
 
 Richard Ray, Efq; M. A. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Ray. 
 
 Brigadier Edward Richbelle. 
 
 Henry Reade, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Thomas Rutherforth, D. D. 
 
 Mr. Peter Ruflcl. 
 
 Mr. Henry Richmond. 
 
 Jofeph Rea, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Richardfon, M. A. 
 
 * Mr. T. Rowney. 
 Rev. Mr. Rayner. 
 
 * William Rivet, Efq; 
 Thomas Reave, M. D. 
 Henry Rowe, Efq; 
 Mr. Thomas Rodbard. 
 Mr. John Rayner. 
 Mr. William Reddall. 
 Captain John Redman. 
 John RuO'ell, Efq; 
 Matthew Rollifton, Efq; 
 Chriftopher Rawlinfon, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Richard Reddall. 
 Nathaniel Ryder, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Edward Rufliworth. 
 Thomas Rudd, Efq; 
 I^lr. Richard Romman. 
 Riney Rifley, Efq; 
 Mr. Thomas Rodber. 
 Walter Robertfon, Efq; 
 Mrs. Mary RofFey. 
 Mrs. Anne Roffey. 
 Mr. Andrew Ram. 
 Ruffell Revell, Efq; 
 Mr. Roberts. 
 
 * Thomas Roycroft, Efq; 
 
 * Thomas Ryvas, Efq; 
 
 * Captain Edward Rycaut. 
 Mr. Andrew Rogers. 
 
 Mr. Daniel Radford. 
 Mr. James Reade. 
 
 * Mr. John Reepe. 
 Mr. Jofeph Reynardfon. 
 Mr. John Rigg. 
 Captain Daniel Ruflell. 
 Mr. Nathaniel Rothery. 
 Mr. William Roberts. 
 John Reeve, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Jacob Robinfon. 
 
 Meff. John and James Rivington. 
 
 Mr. Caleb Ratten. 
 
 H 
 
 ER Grace the Duchefs of So- 
 merfet. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Earl of Sandwich. 
 
 * Rt.Hon. the Countefs of Shiftfbury. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Earl of Strafford. 
 Rt. Hon. the Lord Vifcount St. John. 
 
 * Rt. Rev. the Lord Bp. of Sodor and 
 
 Man. 
 Hon. Edwin Sandys, Efq; 
 Sir William St. Qj.iintin, Bart. 
 Sir George Savile, Bart. 
 Sir Thomas Style, Bart. 
 Sir John Strange, Kt. 
 Humphry Senhoufe, Efq; 
 James Stonehoufe, M. D. 
 Nicholas Styleman, Efq; 
 
 * Frederick Ulrick Schicke. Efq; 
 Mr. Richard Stevens. 
 
 Lovel Stanhope, Efq; 
 Mr. Daniel Scott. 
 Edmond Sawyer, Efq; 
 Thomas Sadler, Efq; 
 Mr. Symons. 
 Charles Smyth, Efq; 
 Richard Skrine, Efq; 
 Mr. John Smith. 
 Mr. Richard William Scale. 
 Mr. John Simmons. 
 
 * Charles Stanhope, Efq; 
 Mr. Thomas Smallwood, 
 Roger Sedgwick, M. B. 
 Mr. Henry Siffon. 
 
 R. Simms, Efq; 
 
 Harvey Sparkes, Efq; 
 
 Henry Sandys, Efq; 
 
 Air. Savill. 
 
 Henry Richard Scudamore, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Mr. George Shakerley. 
 
 Philip Stephens, El'q; 
 
 * Mr. James Spragg. 
 
 * Captain Thomas Stanhope. 
 
 * Henry Stuart Stevens, Efq; 
 Mr. Thomas Speed. 
 
 Mr. Sharp. 
 
 Mr. Richard Sheldon. 
 
 * Admiral Smith. 
 John Sutton, Efq; 
 Mr. Edmund Stevens. 
 Mr. Thomas Smith. 
 Mr. Jonathan Scott. 
 Henry Shelley, Efq; 
 William Spicer, Eq; 
 
 * Captain Stevenfon. 
 Francis Say, Efq; 
 Mr. George Scott. 
 Alexander Stuart, Efq; 
 
 * Charles Smith, Efq; 
 
 * Rev. Dr. Arthur Smyth. 
 
 * Capuin Arthur Scot. 
 
 * Sloan, Efq; 
 
 * Jacob Salvador, Efq; 
 
 Re/. Skottowe, B. D. 
 
 Rev. Mr. George Sykos. 
 Major Sawyer. 
 Mr. George Scott. 
 Richard Symons, Efq; 
 Robert Salusbury, Efq; 
 Rev. John Scott, A. M. 
 Mr. Thomas Smyth. 
 
 Sparkes, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Mr. Smith. 
 
 Rev. Sedgwick, B. D. 
 
 Rev. Shuter, M. A. 
 
 Heivey Spragg, B. A. 
 
 Mr. John Spirker. 
 
 Rev. Henry Stebbine;, D. D. 
 
 Rev. Henry Stebbing, M. A. 
 
 Robert Sutton, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Charles Soan, LL. B. 
 
 Henry Kynafton Southoufe, Ef^ 
 
 * Simpfon, Efq; 
 
 Mifs Sally Sev/ell. 
 
 Henry Snooke, Efq; 
 
 Henry Spencer, Efq; 
 
 Mr. John Sherwood. 
 
 Charles Scrivener, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Thomas Smythics, M. A, 
 
 Mr. Benjamin Sabbarton. 
 
 Mr. Walter Scott. 
 
 Mr. George Stanyford. 
 
 * Captain Charles Saunders, 
 Mr. Slingelandt. 
 Mr. St. Quintin. 
 Rev. Ralph Sneyd, D. D. 
 Major Sneyd. 
 Rev. Saunderfon, M. A. 
 
 * William Stanley, Efq; 
 Thomas Stack, M. D. 
 
 * Edward Ppragg, Efq; 
 
 * Mifs Sabbarton. 
 
 * Sidney College Library, Cambridge 
 Rev. Mr. Charles Squire. 
 
 * Mr. Doyley Stevens. 
 Mr. Samuel Bennett Smith. 
 Mr. John Sabatier. 
 Mr. Jenner Swaine. 
 William Selwin, Efq; 
 Mr. Edmund Stevens. 
 William Skinner, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. Laurence Singleton. 
 Mr. James Scot. 
 Sontlcy South, Efq; 
 Mr. Charles Salkcld. 
 ■"* John Sharpe, Efq; 
 Mr. Stewart. 
 Rev. Mr. Snow. 
 
 * Captail
 
 A LIST of the SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 * Captain Philip Saumarez. 
 
 Rev. Sleech, D. D. 
 
 Mr. Henry Simeon. 
 
 Lieutenant Colonel John Stewart. 
 
 Mr. Stephen Simpfiui. 
 
 Jofeph Sitnpfon, Efq; 
 Mr. Charles Siinpfon. 
 Richard Symes, Efq; 
 
 * George Scott, Efq; 
 Mrs. Martha Steuart. 
 Rev. Mr. Edward Saul. 
 Rev. Mr. Philip Sone. 
 Rev. Mr. Smart. 
 
 Captain Mollineux Shaldham. 
 Mr. John Strettell. 
 Mr. Jofeph Smith. 
 
 Rev. Sumner, D. D. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Svvindcn. 
 Lieutenant James Smitli. 
 
 * Mr. Robert Snaith. 
 Mr. James Stent. 
 Richard Stevens, Efq; 
 Mrs. Sloper. 
 
 * John Saumarez, Efq; 
 Mr. Henry Sleach. 
 
 * Captain Samuel Scot. 
 
 * Henry Swan, Efq; 
 Mr. Richard Smith. 
 Mr. William Sone. 
 Mr. Richard Stanford. 
 
 * Captain Nathaniel Stevens. 
 
 * Captain John Storr. 
 Robert Salkeld, Efq; 
 
 * Captain SkefHngton. 
 
 * Mr. Thomas Smith. 
 Meff. Stabler and Barftov/. 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Smithurft. 
 Mr. Edward Smith. 
 
 Mr. John Shuckburgh. 
 
 * n IGHT Hon. the Earl of Tra- 
 ■'•*- quair. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Torrington. 
 Rt. Hon. the Lord Tyrconnel. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Trevor. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Talbot. 
 
 * Hon. Captain George Townfliend. 
 Sir Charles Keymeys Tynte, Bart. 
 Sir John Thompfon, Kt. 
 
 Sir Peter Thompfon. Kt. 
 Mr. Samuel Trymmer. 
 Thomas Thornbury, Efq; 
 Mr. William Thomas. 
 Captain Samuel Thornton. 
 Trinity-Houfe in Hull. 
 
 * l\.ev. Mr. Tough. 
 
 * Robert Thompfon, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Herbert Taylor. 
 
 * Robert Taylor, M. D. 
 Richard Tyldtn, Efq; 
 Samuel Thcyer, Efq; 
 Coel Thornhill, Efq; 
 John Tucker, Efq; 
 
 * Rev. Mr. Nicholas Tindal. 
 John Twifleton, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Mr. Tyfon. 
 Marmaduke Tunflall, Efq; 
 
 Turner, Efq; 
 
 Blayney Townley, Efq; 
 Mr. Francis Tregagle. 
 Andrew Taylor, Efq; 
 George Trenchard, Efq; 
 Mr. Jacob Thibou. 
 John Tilfon, Efq; 
 Mr. James Turner. 
 
 * Rev. Mr. Talham. 
 
 * William Trumbull, Efq; 
 
 * Arthur Trevor, Efq; 
 
 * Abraham Taylor, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. Terry. 
 Captain George Tindal. 
 John Turner, Efq; 
 William Thomfon, Efq; 
 John Tuckficld, Efq; 
 
 Rev. ■ Taylor, B. D. 
 
 'I'rinity-College Library, Cambridge. 
 Jofeph Tudor, Efq; 
 
 Rev. George Tilfon, M. A. 
 Edmund Tyrrel, Efq; 
 
 * Thomas Tickell, Efq; 
 Mr. James Thornton. 
 
 Mr. Triftram. 
 
 Tatham, Efq; 
 
 John ThurfVon, M. D. 
 
 Rev. Guftavus Thompfon, M. A. 
 Rev. Robert Thomlinfon, D. D. 
 Mr. PeregrineTyzack. 
 Rev. James Tunftall, D. D. 
 Rev. Mr. Traherne. 
 Richard Tyfon, M. D. 
 Thomas Tower, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. Robert Tunftal. 
 Jofeph Tily, Efq; 
 
 Mr. Barnard Townfend. 
 Rev. Mr. John Taylor. 
 Rev. Mr. George Tymms. 
 Chriftopher Toncer, Efq; 
 George Tafh, Efq; 
 Ralph Towne, Efq; 
 Mr. William Thomas. 
 Abraham Tucker, Efq; 
 Clement Tudway, Efq; 
 Mr. Hugh Tomlins. 
 Mr. John Townfend. 
 
 Captain William Tayler. 
 Oliver Tilfen, Efq; 
 Mr. Joftiua Toft. 
 Mrs. Anne Toft. 
 Mr. Thomas Tyndall. 
 Capt:.in Chriften Tideman. 
 Captain Hans 'l"yfch. 
 Rev. Mr. Trant. 
 Mr. William Thurlbourn. 
 Mr. Robert Taylor. 
 Mr. Barnabas Thome. 
 
 * fJ O N. Thomas Villiers, Efqj 
 ■*■-* Mr. George Virgoe. 
 
 Mr. Robert Vincent. 
 
 * S. Vilett, Efq; 
 
 * William Vigor, Efq; 
 
 * Captain Philip Vincent. 
 -Vandeval, Efq; 
 
 * Thomas Voughon, Efq; 
 Mr. John Van Rixtel. 
 Thomas Uthwat, Efq; 
 Mr. James Unwin. 
 
 Mr. 1 faac Vanafl'endclfc. 
 
 Mr. John Vokes. 
 
 W 
 
 * n I G H T Hon, the Earl of War- 
 •*^*- vi-ick. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Earl of Warrington. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Earl Waldegrave. 
 
 * Rt. Rev. the Lord Bp. of Worcefler. 
 Rt. Hon. the Lord Willoughby of 
 
 Parham. 
 
 * Rt. Hon. the Lord Ward. 
 Lady Williams. 
 
 * Hon. Colonel Waldegrave. 
 Hon. Francis Willoughby, Efq; 
 Rev. and Hon. Mr. Wandesford. 
 Hon. Mr. Juftice Wright. 
 
 * Sir Watkin Williams 'Wynn, Bart 
 Sir Edward Wordey, Bart. 
 
 Sir Anthony Weflcombe, Bart. 
 Sir Randal Ward, Bart, 
 Mr. Edward Woodcock. 
 Richard Wilkes, M. D. 
 Mr. Richard Whilock. 
 John Wilkes, Efq; 
 Ralph Willet, E(q; 
 Philip Corbet W"ebb, Efq; 
 Gilbert Walmlley, Efq; 
 Daniel Wray, Efq; 
 John Wowen, Efq; 
 Francis Wollafton, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. William Watfon. 
 
 ( b ) Mr.
 
 A L 1 S T of the SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Mr. John Ward. 
 Thomas Wilbr.iham, LL. D. 
 Mr. Samuel ^Vyatt. 
 Nathaniel Wcttenhall, Efq; 
 Anthony Walburgh, Efq; 
 Thomas White, Efq; 
 Thomas Whittington, Efq; 
 Mr. Harbord Wright. 
 John Williams, Efq; 
 Mr. Thomas Whilkcr. 
 Mr. Thomas Wekrh. 
 Mr. Whilker. 
 Thomas Wilfon, Efq; 
 Mr. Samuel Wilfon. 
 Mr. William Webb. 
 Thomas Weftern, Efq; 
 Captain Temple Weft. 
 Mr. Charles Wildbore. 
 James Wallace, Efq; 
 Edward Wright, Efq; 
 Mr. Warkman. 
 Rev. Mr. Witton. 
 Francis Wace, Efq; 
 Rev. Mr. JefFery Walmflcy. 
 William Wilkinfon, Efq; 
 Jofliua Winder, Efq, 
 Rev. Dr. Wright. 
 
 Watkins, Efq; 
 
 Ed. Wilmot, M. D. 
 Mr. William Ware. 
 
 * Rev. Mr. William WarbuitOH. 
 
 * Mr. Wildey. 
 William Woolball, Efq; 
 
 * Wollafton, Efq; 
 
 » William Saltren WiUet, Efq; 
 
 * Francis Woodhoufe, Efq; 
 
 * William Watts, Efq; 
 Mr. Watts. 
 
 Mr. Whiftler. 
 
 Rev, Mr. Robert WUfon. 
 
 Mr. Wilfon. 
 
 Captain Weller. ft 
 
 John Wynn, Efq; 
 
 Wliitc, Elq; 
 
 Rev. John Withers, M. A. 
 Mr. Waterland. 
 Rev. Dr. Henry A"V'atcrland. 
 Mr. William Welhtt. 
 Rev. Mr. Battle Worfop. 
 
 * John Walton, Efq; 
 
 Rev. Warcopp, LL. B. 
 
 Henry Lee Warner, Efq; 
 Kev. Mr. Wheeler. 
 
 * Philip Ward, Kfq; 
 
 Rev. Mr. Wrangham. 
 
 Mr. Wollafcot. 
 
 Rev. Stephen Whiflon, M. A. 
 Mr. Robert Willie. 
 Mr. Robert Waift field. 
 Rev. Mr. Wright. 
 William Whitclx-ad, Efq^ 
 Mr. John Wibkerfley. 
 
 Rev. Whalley, D. D. 
 
 Rev. Wilfon, B. D. 
 
 Thomas Whatelv, Efq; 
 Mr. Edwfard Wi'Uiams. 
 Mr. Henry Wi2;ley. 
 Walter Walker Ward, D. D. 
 WiUiam Wollafton, Efq; 
 John Wedgewood, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. Arthur Walter. 
 
 * Chriftophw Walter, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. Arthur AValter, junr. 
 Mr. David Wharam. 
 
 Mr. John Warrall. 
 Mr. Thomas Whyte. 
 Captain John Williams. 
 Matthew Wildbore, Efq; 
 Mr. Thomas Wright. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Edmund Williamfon. 
 Rev. Mr. Henry Watkins. 
 Matthew Wife, Efq; 
 Mr. Jofeph ^V^alton. 
 Colonel Wardour. 
 Ralph Whiftler, Efq; 
 Samuel Wegg. Efq; 
 
 * William Welby, Efq; 
 Mr. Robert Watfon. 
 
 * Mr. Ifracl Wilkes. 
 Mr. John AVillctt. 
 Mrs. White. 
 
 Mr. Job "vV'ilkes. 
 Mr. Henry Woodcock. 
 Benjamin Woodward, Efq; 
 Edward Wheeler, Efq; 
 
 * Mr. Peter Waldo. 
 Thomas Waters, Efq; 
 George Weller, Efq; 
 Mr. John Watfon. 
 Ifaac Whittington, Efq; 
 Mr. Samuel Whitmore. 
 Rev. Mr. William Wilfon. 
 Captain John Williams. 
 Lieutenant Edward Wheeler. 
 Mr. William Ward. 
 
 Mr. Richard Ware. 
 Mr. Henry Whitridge. 
 Mr, John Whifton. 
 
 * O O N. Henry Yelverton, Efq; 
 
 *^ Hon. Philip Yorke, Efq; 
 William Young, Efq; 
 Rev. Philip Yonge, M. A. 
 Mr. Talbot Young-. 
 Mr. John Young. 
 
 CON-
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 BOOK. I. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 F the equipment of the fqiiadrcn : The incidents relating thereto^ 
 from its Jirji appointmetit to its Jetting fail from St. Helens, 
 
 Page I 
 CHAP. II. 
 The parage from St. Helens to the IJland of Madera, with a f:ort 
 accouytt of that If and ^ and of our fay there ^ 1 4 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Thehifory of the fquadron comnia?ided by Don Jofeph Pizarro, 20 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 From Madera to St. Catherine's, 34 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Proceedings at St. Catherine's, and a defcription of the place, -with 
 a fort accoimt of Bxdi'zWy 42 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 The run from St. Catherine's to port St. Julian, ivithfome account of 
 that port^ and of the country to the fouthward of the river of 
 Plate, 57 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Departure from the bay of St. Julian, a72d the pajfage from thence to 
 Streights Le Maire, 70 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 From Streights Le Maire to Cape Noir, 76 
 
 C H A P. IX. 
 
 Obfervations and direBions for facilitating the pajfage of our future 
 
 Cruifers round Cape Horn, °4 
 
 ^ ( c ) CHAP.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 From Cape Noir to the IJland of Juan Fernandes, Page 98 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 *the arrival of the Centurion at the IJland of Juan Fernandes 
 mtb a defcri^tion of that Jflarid, 1.09 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 ^he arrival of the Gloucefter and the Anna Pink at the IJland of 
 
 Juan Fernandes,, and the tranfaStiom at that flace during this /«- 
 
 tervalf 127 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 ^ Jhort narrative of what bejel the Anna Pink before Jhe joined us, 
 
 with an account of the lojs of the Wager, ai^d of the putting back of 
 
 the Severn and Pearl, the two remaining Jloips of the jquadron^ 138 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 C^nclufon of our proceedings at Juan Fernandes, from the arrival of 
 the Anna Pink, to our final departure from thence ^ 156 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Our end fe from the time of our leaving Juan Fernandes, io the taking 
 
 the town of Paita, J 70 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 7he taking of Paita, and our proceedings till we left the coajl of 
 
 Peru, 189 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 From our departure from Paita, to our arrival at Quibo, 207 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Our proceedings at Quibo, with an account of the place, 2 1 6 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 From Quibo to the coajl of Mexico, 224 
 
 CHAP.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP, X. 
 
 ^ account of the commerce carried on between the city of Manila on 
 
 the IJJand of Luconia, and the port of Acapulco on the coaji of 
 
 Mexico, Page z\z 
 
 C H A P. XI. 
 
 Our cruife off the port of Acapulco for the Manila /Zv^, 249 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 Defcription of the harbour of Chequetan, and of the adjacent ccaji 
 and country^ 250 
 
 CHAP. xiir. 
 
 Our proceedings at Chequetan and on the adjacent coaji^ till our fct' 
 ting fail for Alia, 269 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 A brief account of what might have been expeBed from our fquadron^ 
 had if arrived in the South-Seas in good timet 279 
 
 — ■•'■■» — ^ 
 
 B O O K III. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 *The run from the coafl o/" Mexico to the Ladrones or Marian Ifands, 
 
 291 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Our arrival at Tinian, and an account of the IJland^ and of our pro* 
 
 ceedings there ^ till the Centurion drove out tofea, 304. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Trai factions at Tinian after the departure of the Centurion, 32a 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Proceedings on board the Centurion, when driven out tofea^ 33a 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Employment at Tinian, /;// the final departure of the Centurion from 
 thence; with a defcriptign of the Ludroncs^ 336 
 
 ( c 2 > CHAP,
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 From Tinian to Macao, Page 345 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Proceedings at Macao, 353 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 From Macao to Cape Efplritu Santo : The taking of the Manila ga- 
 leoriy and returning back again, 370 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 IranJaBiom in the river of Canton, 386 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 Proceedings at the city of Canton, and the return of the Centurion 
 to England, 402 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 PAGE 40. line 6. for about, read^havX to. P. 88. /. 34. /. heighth, r. height. 
 P. 97. /. 20. f. rout, r. route ; I. 21, 22, 27. f. tradt, r. track. P. 1 14, 
 l.-p..fKr.a; I. 33-/- B r. i ; f.Q, r. c ; I. i\. f. D r. d. P. 115. 1. i./ E 
 r. e. P. 200. 1. 34. /. Cur, r. Our. P. 216. /. 9. / Eaft-end Ifland, r. Eaft 
 end of the Ifland. P. 254, /. 33. /. D, r. C. P. 255. /. 12./. 1 1, r. H H. 
 P. 267. /. 33. /. no, r. a. P. 282. /. 3. /. longitude, r. latitude. P. 305. L ij. 
 f. fower, »■. four. P. 355. /. 6. f. metaorphofis, r. metamorphofis. — In the plan of 
 Chequetan, f. Bath, r Path. In fome impreflions of the Chinefc veflels, the fore-(heet 
 in the veflel A is placed on the wrong fide of the maft. 
 
 The Reader is defired to excufe the feveral falfe fpellings in the Plates, 
 as they are none of them of moment •, and the erafing and correding 
 them -would have coft much time and trouble. 
 
 INTRO-
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 NOTWITHSTANDING the great improvement of na- 
 vigation within the laft two Centuries, a Voyage round the 
 World is ftili confidered as an enterprize of a very Angu- 
 lar nature ; and the Public have never failed to be extremely in- 
 quifitive about the various accidents and turns of fortune, with 
 which this uncommon attempt is generally attended : And though 
 the amufement expedted in a narration of this kind, is doubtlefe 
 one great fource of this curiofity, and a ftrong incitement with the 
 bulk of readers, yet the more intelligent part of mankind have al- 
 ways agreed, that from thefe relations, if faithfully executed, the 
 more important purpofes of navigation, commerce, and national 
 intereft may be greatly promoted : For every authentic account of 
 foreign coafts and countries will contribute to one or more of thefe 
 great ends, in proportion to the wealth, wants, or commodities of 
 thofe countries, and our ignorance of thofe coafts ; and therefore a 
 Voyage round the World promifes a fpecies of information, of all 
 others the moft defirable and interefting ; fince great part of it is 
 performed in feas, and on coafts, with which we are as yet but 
 very imperfeftly acquainted, and in the neighbourhood of a coun- 
 try renowned for the abundance of its wealth, though it is at the 
 fame time fligmatifed for its poverty, in the neceilaries and conve- 
 niencies of a civilized life. 
 
 Thefe confiderations have occafioned the publication of the en- 
 fuing work > which, in gratifying the inquifitive turn of mankind, 
 and contributing to the fafety and fuccefs of future navigators, and 
 to the extenfion of our commerce and power, may doubtlefs vie 
 with any narration of this kind hitherto made public ; Since the 
 circumftances of this undertaking already known to the world, may 
 
 be
 
 INTRODUCTIONT. 
 
 be fuppofed to have ftrongly excited the general curiofity; for 
 whether we confider the force of the fquadron fent on this fervice, 
 or the diverfified diftrefles that each fingle {hip was fcparately in- 
 volved in, or the uncommon inftances of varying fortune, which 
 attended the whole enterprize, each part, I conceive, muft, from 
 its rude well-known outlines, appear worthy of a compleater and 
 more finiflied delineation : And if this be allowed v/ith refpefl to 
 the narrative part of the work, there can be no doubt about tha 
 more ufeful and inftrudive parts, which are almoft every where in- 
 terwoven with it } for I can venture to affirm, without fear of 
 being contradided on a comparifonj that no voyage I have yet feen, 
 furniihes luch a number of views of land, foundings, draughts of 
 roads and ports, charts, and other materials, for the improvement 
 Ci geography and navigation, as are contained in the enfuing volume ; 
 which are of the more importance too, as the greateft part of them 
 relate to fuch Iflands or Coafts, as have been hitherto not at all or 
 erroneoufly defcribed, and where the want of fufficient and authen- 
 tic information might occafion future enterprizes to prove abortive, 
 perhaps with the deftrudtion of the men and veflels employed 
 
 therein 
 
 And befides the number and choice of thefe marine drawings 
 And delcriptions, there is another very effcntial circumftance belong- 
 ing to them, which much enhances their value ; and that is, the 
 great accuracy they were drawn with. I fliall exprefs my opinion 
 of them in this particular very imperfedly, when I fay, that they 
 are not exceeded, and perhaps not equalled by any thing of this 
 nature hitherto made public : For they were not copied from the 
 works of others, or compofed at home from imperfed: accounts, 
 given by incurious and unfkilful obfervers, as hath been frequent- 
 ly the cafe in thefe matters ; but the greateft part of them were 
 drawn on the fpot with the utmoft exadnefs, by the dircdion, and 
 under the eye of Mr. ^njb?i himfelf ; and where (as is the cafe in 
 three or four of them) they have been done by lefs fkilful hands, or 
 were found in poffefTion of the enemy, and confequently their juft- 
 
 nefs
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 nefs could be lefs relied on, I have always taken care to apprize the 
 reader of it, and to put him on his guard againfl: giving entire credit 
 to them j although I doubt not, but thefe lefs authentic draughts, 
 thus cautioufly inferted, are to the full as corredl as' thofe, which are 
 ufually publirtied on thefe occafions. For as aftuaf furveys of roads 
 and harbours, and nice and critical delineations of views of land,, 
 take up much time and attention, and require a good degree of fkill 
 both in planning and drawing, thofe who arc defedtive in induftry 
 and ability, fupply thefe wants by bold con)e<n:ures, and fiftitious- 
 <3efcriptions ; and as they can be no otherwife confuted than by go- 
 ing on the fpot, and running the rifque of fuffering by their mifin- 
 formation, they have no apprehenfions of being detedled ; and 
 therefore, when they intrude their fuppofititious produdions on the 
 Public, they make no confcience of boafting at the fame time, witb- 
 how much fkill and care they are performed. And let not thofe who- 
 are unacquainted with naval affairs imagine, that impofitions of this 
 kind are of an innocent nature ; for as exadl views of land are the 
 fureft guide to a feaman, on a coafl where he has never been be- 
 fore, all fiftions in fo interefling a matter mufl be attended witb 
 numerous dangers, and fometimes with the deftrudion of thof© 
 who are thus unhappily deceived. 
 
 Befides thefe draughts of fuch places as Mr. Anfon or the fliips 
 under his command have touched at in the courfe of this expedition, 
 and the defcriptions and diredlions relating thereto, there is inferred, 
 in the enfuing work, an ample defcripiion, with a chart annexed 
 to it, of a particular navigation, of which hitherto little more than 
 the name has been known, except to thofe immediately employed 
 in it : I mean the track defcribed by the MofiHa fliip, in her paf- 
 fage to Acapulcoy through the northern part of the Facljk Ocean. 
 This material part is coUeded from the draughts and journals met 
 with on board the Manila galeon, founded on the experience of 
 more than a hundred and fifty years pradtice, and corroborated in its 
 principal circumflances by the concurrent evidence of all the Sfa- 
 nijh prifoners taken in that vefTel. Aiid as many of their journals, 
 
 whicJi
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 which I have examined, appear to have been not ill kept, I pre- 
 fume, the chart of that northern Ocean, and the particulars of their 
 route through it, may be very fafely relied on by future Navigators. 
 The advantages, which may be drawn from an exadl knowledge 
 of this navigation, and the beneficial projefts that may be formed 
 tliereon, both in war and peace, are by no means proper to be dif- 
 cuiTed in this place : But they will eafily offer themfelves to the 
 ikilful in maritime affairs. However, as the Matiila fhips are the 
 only ones which have ever traverfed this vaft ocean, except a French 
 ftragcfler or two, which have been afterwards feized on the coaft of 
 Mexico, and as during near two ages, in which this trade has been 
 carried on, the Spaniards have, with the greateft care, fecreted all 
 accounts of their voyages from the reft of the world ; thefe reafons 
 alone would authorize the infertion of thofe papers, and would re- 
 commend them to the inquifitive, as a very great improvement in 
 geography, and worthy of attention from the fingularity of many 
 circumftances recited therein. 1 muft add too, (what in my opini- 
 on is far from being the leaft recommendation of thefe materials) 
 that the obfervationi of the variation of the compafs in that Ocean, 
 which are inferted in the chart from thefe Spanijl:) journals, tend 
 greatly to compleat the general fyftem of the magnetic variation, of 
 infinite import to the commercial and feafaring part of mankind. 
 Thefe obfervations were, though in vain, often publickly called for 
 by our learned countryman the late Dr. Halley, and to his immor- 
 tal reputation they confirm, as far as they extend, the wonderful 
 hypothefis he had entertained on this head, and very nearly corref- 
 pond in their quantity, to the predidions he publiflied above fifty 
 years fince, long before he was acquainted with any one obfervation 
 made in thofe feas. The afcertaining the variation in that part of 
 the world isjuft now too of more than ordinary confequence, as the 
 Editors of a nev/ variation-chart lately publifhed, have, for want of 
 obfervations in thofe parts, been mifled by an erroneous analogy, 
 and have miftaken the very fpecies of variation in thofe northern 
 feas ; for they make it wefterly where it is eafterly, and have laid it 
 (Jown 12° or 13° fhort of its real quantity. Thus 
 
 4
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Thus much it has been thought necCiTary to premi'fe with regard 
 to the hydrographical and geographical part of the enfuing worlc ; 
 which it is hoped the reader will, on perufal, find much ampler and 
 more important than this flight flcetch can well indicate. But as 
 there are hereafter occafionally interfperfed fome accounts of Sfa- 
 nijh tranfadtions, and many obfervations on the difpofition of the 
 American Spaniards^ and on the condition of the countries border- 
 ing on the South-Seas, and as herein I may appear to differ greatly 
 from the opinions generally eftablifhed, 1 think it incumbent on mc 
 particularly to recite the authorities I have been guided by on this 
 occafion, that I may not be cenfured, as having given way either to 
 a thoughtlefs credulity on one hand, or, what would be a much moro 
 criminal imputation, to a wilful and deliberate mifireprefentation on 
 the other. 
 
 Mr. Anfon, before he fet fail upon this expedition, befides the 
 printed journals to thofe parts, took care to furnifli himfelf with 
 the beft manufcript accounts he could procure of all the SpaniJJ} fet- 
 tlements upon the coafts of Chili, Peru and Mexico : Thefe he 
 carefully compared with the examinations of his prifoners, and the 
 informations of feveral intelligent perfons, who fell into his hands 
 in the South- Seas. He had likewife the good fortune, in fome of 
 his captures, to poflefs himfelf of a great number of letters and pa- 
 pers of a public nature, many of them written by the Viceroy of 
 Peru to the Viceroy of Santa Fee, to the Prefidents of Panama and 
 Chili, to Don Blafs de Lezo, Admiral of the galeons, and to di- 
 vers other perfons in public employments ; and in thefe letters 
 there was ufually inferted a recital of thofe they were intended to 
 anfwer ; fo that they contained a confiderable Part of the correfpon- 
 dence between thefe officers for fome time previous to our arrival 
 on that coaft : We took befides many letters fent from perfons em- 
 ployed by the Government to their friends and correfpondents, 
 which were frequently filled with narrations of public bufinefs, and 
 fometimcs contained undifguifed animadverfions on the views and 
 condudt of their fuperiors. From thefe materials thofe accounts 
 
 (d) of
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of the Spani/J} affairs are taken, which may at firft fight appear the 
 moft exceptionable. In particular, the hiftory of the various cafualties 
 wliich befel Fizarro's fquadron, is for the moft part compofed from 
 intercepted letters : Though indeed the relation of the infurredioii 
 of Orellana and his followers, is founded on rather a lefs difputable 
 authority : For it was taken from tlie mouth of an Englip Gentle- 
 man then on board Pizatro, who often converfed with Orellana ; 
 and it was, on enquiry, contirmed in its principal circumftances by 
 others who were in the iLip at the fame time: So that the fadt, 
 however extraordinary, is, I conceive, not to be contefted. 
 
 And on this occalion I cannot but mention, that though I have 
 Endeavoured, witli' my iitmoft care, to adhere llridi'y to truth in 
 every article of the jenluing narration > yet J am apprehenfive, that 
 iri fo corfip'icated a work, lime overfights muft have been comnait- 
 ted, by the inattention to which at times all mankind are hable. 
 However, I know of ncne but literal millakes, fome of which are 
 correded in the table of Errata : And if there are other errors which 
 have efcaped me, I flatter myfelf they are not of moment enough to 
 aflfedt any material tranfadlion, and therefore 1 hope they may juftly 
 claim the readers indulgence. 
 
 After this general account of the contents of the enfuing work, 
 it might be expelled, perhaps, that I fhould proceed to the work 
 itfelf, but I cannot finifli this Introdudion, without adding a few 
 reflexions on a matter very nearly conneded with the prefent fub- 
 jeft ; and, as I conceive, neither deftitute of utility, nor unworthy 
 the attention of the Public > I mean, the animating my country- 
 men both in their public and private ftations, to the encouragement 
 and purfuit of all kinds of geographical and nautical obfervations, 
 and of every fpecies of mechanical and commercial information. 
 It is by a fettled attachment to thefe feemingly minute particulars, 
 that our ambitious neighbours have efl:abli(hed fome part of thac 
 power, with which we are now ftruggling: And as we have the 
 means in our hands of purfuing thefe fubjedls more effedually, than 
 they can, it would be a diflionour to us longer to negled: fo eafy and 
 
 beneficial
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 beneficial a pradice: For, as we have a Navy much more nu- 
 merous than theirs, great part of which is always employed in very 
 diftant ftations, either in the protedion of our colonies and com- 
 merce, or in aflifting our allies againft the common enemy, this 
 gives us frequent opportunities of furnifliiing ourfelves with fuch kind 
 of materials, as are here recommended, and fuch as might turn great- 
 ly to our advantage either in war or peace : For, not to mention 
 what might be expedled from the officers of the Navy, if their ap- 
 plication to thefe fubjedls was properly encouraged, it would create 
 no new expence to the Goverment to eftablifh a particular regulation 
 for this purpofe j fince all that would be requifite, would be con- 
 flandy to embark on board fome of our men of war, which arc 
 fent on thefe diftant cruifes, a perfon, who with the charader of an 
 engineer, and the fkill and talents neceflary to that profeffion, fliould 
 be employed in drawing fuch coiftp, and planning fuch harbours, as 
 the Oiip (liould touch at, and in making fuch other obfervations of 
 all kinds, as might either prove of advantage to future Navigators, 
 or might any ways tend to promote the Public fervice. Befides, 
 perfons habituated to this employment (which could not fail at the 
 fame time of improving them in their proper bufinefs.) would be ex- 
 tremely ufeful in many other liglus, and might fcrve to fecure our 
 Fleets from thofe difgraces, with which their attempts againft places on 
 fhore have been often attended : And, in a Nation like ours, where all 
 fciences are more eagerly and univerllilly purfued, and better under- 
 ftood than in any other part of the world, proper fubjeds for fuch 
 employments could not long be wanting, if due incouragement 
 were friven to them. This method here recommended is known 
 to have been frequendy pradifed by the French, particularly in the 
 inftanceof Monfieur Frezier, an Engineer, who has publiftied a cele- 
 brated voyage to the Saith-Scas : For this perfon in the year 1711, 
 was purpofely fent by the French King into that country on board a 
 merchantman, that he might examine and delcribe the coaft, and 
 take plans of all the fortified places, the better to enable the French 
 to profecute their illicit trade, or, in cafe of a rupture with the 
 
 (da) court
 
 INTRODUCTION, 
 
 court of Spain, to form their enterprizes in thofe feas with more 
 readinefs and certainty. Should we purfue this method, we might 
 hope, that the emulation amonj^ft thofe who were thus employed, 
 and the experience, which even in time of peace, they would here- 
 by acquire, might at length procure us a proper number of able 
 Engineers, and might efface the national fcandal, which our defici- 
 ency in that fpecies of men has fome times expofed us to : And 
 furely, every ftep to encourage and improve this profcfiion is of 
 great moment to the Public ; as no perfons, when they are properly 
 inftrudled, make better returns in war, for the encouragem.ent and 
 emoluments beftowcd on them in time of peace. Of which the 
 advantages the French have reaped from their dexterity (too numer- 
 ous and recent to be foon forgot) are an ample confirmation. 
 
 And having mentioned Engineers, or fuch as are fkilled in draw- 
 ing, and the other ufual pradices of that profeffion, as the propereft 
 perfons to be employed in thefe foreign enquiries, I cannot (as it 
 offers itfelf fo naturally to the fubjedt in hand) but lament, how 
 very imperfed many of our accounts of diftant countries are rendered 
 by the relators being unfkilled in drawing, and in the general princi- 
 ples of furveying j even where other abilities have not been wanting. 
 Had more of our travellers been initiated in thefe acquirements, and 
 had there been added thereto fome little ikill in the common agro- 
 nomical obfervations, (all which a perfon of ordinary talents might 
 attain, with a very moderate fliare of application) wefliould by this 
 time have feen the geography of the globe much corredler, than wc 
 we now find it ; the dangers of navigation would have been confider- 
 ably leflened, and the manners, arts and produce of foreign countries 
 would have been much better known to us, than they are. Indeed, 
 when I confider, the ftrong incitements that all travellers have to ac- 
 quire fome part at leaft of thefe qualifications, efpecially drawing ; 
 when I confider how much it would facilitate their obfervations, af- 
 lift and ftrcngthen their memories, and of how tedious, and often 
 unintelligible, a load of defcription it would rid them, I cannot but 
 wonder that any perfon, that intends to vifit diftant countries, with a 
 
 2 view
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 view of informing either himfelf or others, fliould be unfurniflied 
 with fo ufeful a piece of ilcill. And to inforce this argument ftill 
 further, 1 muft add, that befides the ufes of drawing, which are 
 already mentioned, there is one, whicli, though not fo obvious, is yet 
 perhaps of more confequence than all that has been hitherto urged ; 
 and that is, that thofe who are accuflomed to draw objeds, obferve 
 them with more diftindlnefs, than others who are not habituated to 
 this pradice. For we may eafily find, by a little experience, that 
 in viewing any objed however fimple, our attention or memory is 
 fcarcely at any time fo ftrong, as to enable us, when we have turn- 
 ed our eyes away from it, to recoiled cxadly every part it confifted 
 of, and to recal all the circumftances of its appearance ; fince, on 
 examination, it will be difcovered, that in fome we were miftaken, 
 and others we had totally overlooked : But he that is employed in 
 drawing what he fees, is at the fame time employed in redifying 
 this inattention ; for by confronting his ideas copied on the paper, 
 with the objed he intends to reprefent, he finds in what manner he 
 has been deceived in its appearance, and hence he in time acquires the 
 habit of obferving much more at one view, and retains what he 
 fees with more corrednefs than he could ever have done, without. 
 his pradice and proficiency in drawing. 
 
 If what has been faid merits the attention of Travellers of all forts, 
 it is, I think, more particularly applicable to the Gentlemen of the 
 Navy ; fince, without drawing and planning, neither charts nor 
 views of land can be taken ; and without thefe it is fufficiently evi- 
 dent, that navigation is at a full ftand. It is doubtlefs from a per- 
 fuafion of the utility of thefe qualifications, that his Majefty has eC- 
 tabliilied a drawing Mafter at Port/mouth, for the inflrudion of thofe , 
 who are prefumed to be hereafter intrufted with the command of 
 his Royal Navy : And though fome have been fo far mifled, as to 
 fuppofe that the perfedion of Sea-officers confiftcd in a turn of mind 
 and temper refembling the boifterou^ element they had to deal with, 
 and have condemned all literature and fcience as eifeminate, and 
 derogatory to that ferocity, which, they would falfely perfuade us, 
 
 was
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 was the moft unerring charaderiftic of courage : Yet it is to be 
 hoped, that fuch abfurdities as thefe have at no time been authorifed 
 by the Public opinion, and that the belief of them daily diminiflies. 
 If thofe who adhere to thefe mifchievous pofitions were capable of 
 being influenced by reafon, or fwayed by example, I (liould think 
 it fufficient for their convidion to obferve, that the mofl: valuable 
 drawings inferted in the following work, though done with fuch 
 a degree of fliill, that even profelTed artifts can with difficulty imi- 
 tate them, were taken by Mr. Peircy Brett, one of Mr. Anfon'% 
 Leiutenants, and fince Captain of the luion man of war ; who, in 
 his memorable engagement with the Elizabeth (for the importance 
 of the fervice, or the refolution with which it was conduded, in- 
 feriour to none this age has feen) has given ample proof, that a pro- 
 ficiency in the arts I have been here recommending is cxtreiriely 
 confiftent with the moft exemplary bravery, and the moft diftin- 
 guiflied fidll in every fundion belonging to the duty of a Sea-officer. 
 Indeed, when the many branches of fcience are confidered, of 
 which even the common pradice of navigation is compofed, and the 
 many improvements, which men of (kill have added to this pradice 
 within thefe few years, it would induce one to believe, that the ad- 
 vantages of refledion and fpeculative knowledge were in no profef- 
 fion more eminent than in that of a fea-officer : For, not to mention 
 fome expertnefs in geography, geometry and aftronomy, wliich it 
 would be dilhonourable for him to be without, (as his journal and his 
 eftimate of the daily pofition of tlie fhip are no more than the pra- 
 dice of particular branches of thefe arts) it may be well fuppofed, 
 that the management and working of a ffiip, the difcovery of her 
 moft eligible pofition in the water, (ufually Ailed her Trim) and the 
 difpofition of her fails in the moft advantageous manner, are articles, 
 wherein the knowledge of mechanics cannot but be greatly affiftant : 
 And perhaps the application of this kind of knowledge to naval fub- 
 jeds may produce as great improvements in fliiling and working a 
 fhip, as it has already done in many other matters conducive to the 
 eafe and convenience of human life : For when the fabric of a ftiip, 
 
 and
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 and the variety of her fails are confidered, together with the artificial 
 contrivances of adapting them to her different motions, as it cannot 
 be doubted, but thefe things have been brought about by more than 
 ordinary fagacity and invention, fo neither can it be doubted but that 
 a fpeculative and fcientihc turn of mind may find out the means of 
 direding and difpoling this complicated mechanifm much more ad- 
 vantageoufly than can be done by mere habit, or by a fervile copy- 
 ing of vfh&t others may perhaps have erroneoufly pradlifed in the 
 like emergency : But it is time to finifh this digreffion and to leave the 
 reader to the perufal of the enfuing work ; which, with how little 
 art Ibever it may be executed, will yet, from the importance of the 
 fubjecV, and the utility and excellence of the materials, merit fome 
 fliare of the Public attention. 
 
 A VOYAGE
 
 VOYAGE 
 
 ROUND THE 
 
 WORLD, 
 
 B Y 
 
 GEORGE ANSON, Efq; 
 
 Commander in Chief of a Squadron of his 
 majesty's Ships. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Of the equipment of the fquadron : The incidents re- 
 lating thereto, from its firft appointment to its fet- 
 ting fail from St. Helens. 
 
 TH E fquadron under the Command of Mr. An/on (of 
 which I here propofe to recite the moft material proceed- 
 ings) having undergone many changes in its deftination, 
 its force, and its equipment, in the ten months between 
 its firft appointment and its final failing from St. Helens j I conceive 
 the hiflory of thefe alterations is a detail neceflary to be made pub- 
 lic, both for the honour of thofe who firft planned and'promoted 
 this enterprize, and for the juftiiication of thofe who have been en- 
 
 B trufted
 
 trurtcd with its execution. Since it will from hence nppcar, that 
 the accidents the expedition was afterwards expofed to, and which, 
 prevented it from producing a'l the national advantages the ilrength 
 of tile fquadron, and the expcdation cf the public, fcemed to pre- 
 iiige, were principally owing to a feries of interruptions, which de- 
 layed the Commander in the courfe cf his preparations, and which 
 it exceeded his utmofl: induftry either to avoid or to get removed. 
 
 When in the latter end of the fummer of the year 1739, it 
 was forefeeh that a war with Spain was inevitable, it was the opi- 
 nion of feveral confiderable perfons then trufted with the Admi- 
 niftraticn of affairs, that the moft prudent flep the Nation could 
 take, on the breaking out of the war, was attacking that Crown 
 in her diftant fettlements ; for by this means (as at that time 
 there was the greatefl: probability of fuccefs) it was fuppofed 
 that v/e fliould cut off the principal refources of the enemy, and 
 reduce them to the neceffity of fincerely defiring a peace, as they 
 would hereby be deprived of the returns of that treafure by which 
 alone they could be enabled to carry on a war. 
 
 In purfuance of thefe fentiments, feveral projeds were exa- 
 mined, and feveral refolutions taken in Council. And in all thefe 
 deUberations it was from the firft determined, that George An- 
 yj;/, Efq; then Captain of the Centurio7i, fliould be employed as 
 Commander in Chief of an expedition of this kind : And he then 
 being abfent on a cruize, a veffcl was difpatched to his ftation 
 fo early as the beginning of September, to order him to return with 
 his rtiip to Portfmouth. And foon after he came there, that is, on 
 tlie 10th of Noijonber following, he received a letter from Sir 
 Charles Wager, ordering him to repair to London, and to attend 
 the board of Admiralty : Where, when he arrived, he was inform- 
 ed by Sir Charles^ that two Squadrons would be immediately fitted 
 out for two fecret expeditions, which however would have fome 
 connexion with each other : That he, Mr. Anjon, was intended 
 to command one of them, and Mr. Ccrw-jcall (who hath fince loft 
 his life glorioufly in the defence of his Country's honour) the other : 
 
 That
 
 { 3 ) 
 
 That the fquadron under Mr. Anfon was to take on board three 
 Independent Companies of a hundred men each, and hlar,d\ 
 regiment of Foot: That Colonel Bland was likewil'e to ini- 
 bark with his regiment, and to command the land-forces: And 
 that, as foon as this fquadron could be fitted for the fea, they 
 were to fet fail, with exprefs orders to touch at no place till they 
 came to yava-Head in the EaJI-Lidies: That there they were only to 
 ftop to take in water, and thence to proceed direftly to the city of 
 Manila, fituated on Luconla, one oix\\Q Philippine Illands : That the 
 other fquadron was to be of equal force with this commanded by 
 Mr. Anfon, and was intended to pafs round Cape Horn into the 
 South-Seas, and there to range along that coaft j and after cruizing 
 upon the enemy in thofe parts, and attempting their fettlements, 
 this fquadron in its return was to rendezvous at Manila, and there 
 to join the fquadron under Mr. Anfon, where they were to refrefli 
 their men, and refit their fliips, and perhaps receive further orders. 
 
 This fcheme was doubtlefs extremely well projedcd, and could 
 not but greatly advance the Public Service, and at the fame time the 
 reputation and fortune of thofe concerned in its execution ; for had 
 Mr. Anfon proceeded for Manila at the time and in the manner pro- 
 pofed by Sir Charles Wager, he would, in all probability, have arrived 
 there before they had received any advice of the war between us 
 and Spain, and confequently before they had been in the leaft pre- 
 pared for the reception of an enemy, or had any apprehenfions of 
 their danger. The city of Manila might be well fuppofed to have 
 been at that time in the fame defencelefs condition with all the 
 other Spanifli fettlements, jufl: at the breaking out of the war : 
 That is to fay, their fortifications negleded, and in many places de- 
 cayed ; their cannon difmounted, or ufelefs by the mouldring of 
 their carriages ; their magazines, whether of military {lores or pro- 
 vifion, all empty; their garrifons unpaid, and confequently thin, 
 ill-aflfeded, and difpirited ; and the royal chefls in Peru, whence 
 alone all thefe diforders could receive their redrefs, drained to the 
 very bottom : This, from the intercepted letters of their Viceroys 
 
 ^ 2 and
 
 (4) 
 
 and Governors, is well known to have been the defencelefs flate of 
 Panama, and the other SpamJIs places on the coaft of the Soiitb- 
 Sea, for near a twelvemonth after our declaration of war. And it 
 cannot be fuppofed that the city of Manila, removed ftill farther by 
 almofl: half the circumference of the globe, fliould have experienced 
 from the Spanip Government, a greater fliare of attention and con- 
 cern for its fecurity, than Panama, and the other important ports in 
 Peru and Chili, on which their poffefllon of that immenfe Em- 
 pire depends. Indeed, it is well known, that Manila was at that 
 time incapable of making any confiderable defence, and in all pro- 
 bability would have furrendered only on the appearance of our 
 fquadron before it. The confequence of this city, and the ifland it 
 ftands on, may be in fome meafure eftimated, from the healthinefs of 
 its air, the excellency of its port and bay, the number and wealth 
 of its inhabitants, and the very extenfive and beneficial commerce 
 which it carries on to the principal Ports in the Eajl-Jndiei, and 
 Cbiiia, and its exclufive trade to Acapulco, the returns for which, 
 being made in filver, are, upon the lowed valuation, not lefs than 
 tliree millions of Dollars /^r annum. 
 
 And on this Scheme Sir Charles Wager was fo intent, that in a 
 few days after this firft conference , that is, on November \ 8, 
 Mr. Anfon received an order to take under his command the Ar- 
 g\le, Severn, Pearl, Wager, and 7ryal Slocp ; and other orders were 
 iilued to him in the fame month, and in the December following, 
 relating to the vidualling of this fquadron. But Mr. Aiifon attend- 
 ing the Admiralty the beginning of January, he was informed by 
 Sir Charles Wager, that for reafons with which he. Sir Charles, was 
 not acquainted, tlie expedition to Ma7iila was laid afide. It may be 
 conceived, that Mr. Aiifon was extremely chagrined at the lofing the 
 command of fo infallible, fo honourable, and in every refpedl, fo de- 
 firable an enterprize, efpecially too as he had already, at a very 
 great expence, made the necefiary provifion for his own accommo- 
 dation in this voyage, which he had reafon to cxpedl would prove a 
 very long one. However, Sir Charles, to render this difappolntment 
 
 in.
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 in fome degree more tolerable, informed him that the expedition to 
 the South- Seas was ftill intended, and that he, Mr. Anjon, and his 
 fiijuadron, as their firft deftination was now countermanded, Hiould 
 be employed in that fervice. And on the loth of 'January he 
 received his commilTion, appointing him Commander in Chief of 
 the forementioned fquadron, which (the Argyle being in the courfe 
 of their preparation changed for the GkuceJIer) was the fame he 
 failed with above eight months after from St. Helens. On this 
 change of deftination, the equipment of the fquadron was ftill pro- 
 fecuted with as much vigour as ever, and the vidlualling, and what- 
 ever depended on the Commodore, was fo far advanced, that he 
 conceived the fliips might be capable of putting to fea the inftant 
 he fhould receive his final orders, of which he was in daily expec- 
 tation. And at laft, on the 28th of yime 1740, the Duke of 
 NewcaJIle, Principal Secretary of State, delivered to him his Ma- 
 jefly's infu'udions, dated January 31, 1739, with an additional in- 
 flru<ftion from the Lords Juftices, dated June 19, 1740. On the 
 receipt of thefe, Mr. Anfon immediately repaired to Spitbead, Nvith 
 a refolution to fail with the firft fair wind, flattering himfelf that 
 all his delays were now at an end. For though he knew by the 
 mufters that his fquadron wanted three hundred feamen of their 
 complement, (a deficiency which, with all his affiduity, he had 
 not been able to get fupplied) yet, as Sir Charles Wager informed 
 him, that an order from the board of Admiralty was difpatched to 
 Sir John Norris to fpare him the numbers which he wanted, he 
 doubted not of his complying therewith. But on his arrival at 
 Pert/mouth, he found himfelf greatly miftaken, and difiippointed in 
 this perfuafion : for on his application, Sir John Norris told him, 
 he could fpare him none, for he v/anted men for his own fleet. 
 This occafioned an inevitable and a very confiderable delay; for it 
 was the end of July before this deficiency was by any means fup- 
 plied, and all that was then done was exfremely fliort of his necef- 
 fities and cxpedation. For Admiral Balcken, who fucceeded to the 
 command at Spithetfd, after Sir John Norris had failed to the weft- 
 ward.
 
 (6) 
 
 ward, inflead of three hundred able failors, which Mr. Anfo?t want- 
 ed of his complement, ordered on board the fquadron a hundred and 
 feventy men only ; of which thirty-two were fi-om the hofpital 
 and fick quarters, thirty-feven from the Salijburj, with three offi- 
 cers of Colonel Lowther'?, regiment, and ninety-eight marines, and 
 thefe were all that were ever granted to make up the forementioned 
 deficiency. 
 
 But the Commodore's mortification did not end here. It has 
 been already obferved, that it was at firft intended that Colonel 
 Bland's regiment, and three independent companies of a hundred 
 men each, fhould embark as land-forces on board the fquadron. 
 But this difpofition was now changed, and all the land-forces that 
 were to be allowed, were five hundred invalids to be colledled from 
 the out-penfioners of Cbclfea college. As thefe out-penfioners con- 
 fift of foldiers, who from their age, wounds, or other infirmities, 
 are incapable of fervice in marching regiments, Mr. A7ifoji was 
 oreatly chagrined at having fuch a decrepid detachment allotted him ; 
 for he was fully perfuaded that the greateft part of them would pe- 
 rifli long before they arrived at the fcene of adlion, fince the delays 
 he had already encountered, neceffarily confined his pafTage round 
 Cape Horn to the moft rigorous feafon of the year. Sir Charles 
 Waver too joined in opinion with the Commodore, that invalids 
 were no ways proper for this fervice, and foUicited ftrenuoufly to 
 have them exchanged ; but he was told that perfons, who were 
 fuppofed to be better judges of foldiers than he or Mr. Anfon^ 
 thought them the propereft men that could be employed on this 
 occafion. And upon this determination they were ordered on board 
 the fquadron on the 5th of Aiiguft : But inftead of five hundred, 
 there came on board no more than two hundred and fifty-nine ; for 
 all thole who had limbs and ftrength to walk out of Portfmouih 
 defcrted, leaving behind them only fuch as were literally invalids, 
 moft of them being fixty years of age, and fome of them upwards 
 of feventy. Indeed it is difficult to conceive a more moving fcene 
 than the imbarkation of thefe unhapry veterans : They were them- 
 
 felves
 
 ( 7) 
 
 felves extremely averfe to the fervice they were engaged in, and 
 fully apprized of all the difaflers they were afterwards expofed to ; 
 the apprehenfions of which were fhrongly msrk'd by the concern 
 that appeared in their countenances, which was mixed with no 
 fmall degree of indignation, to be thus hurried from their repofe into 
 a fatiguing employ, to which neitiier the ftrength of their bodies, 
 nor the vigour of their minds, were any ways proportioned, and 
 where, without feeing the face of an enemy, or in the lead pro- 
 moting the fuccefs of the er;terprize they were engaged in, they 
 would in all probability ufeleflly perifli by lingring and painful dif- 
 eafes ; and this too, after they had fpent the adlivity and ftrength of 
 their youth in their Country's fervice. 
 
 And I cannot but obferve,on this melancholy incident,how extreme- 
 ly unfortunate it was, both to this aged and difeafed detachment, and 
 to the expedition they were employed in j that amongft all the out- 
 penfioners of Chelfca Hofpital, which were fuppofed to amount to 
 two thoufand men, the moft crazy and infirm only fhould be culled 
 out for fo fatiguing and perilous an undertaking. For it was. well 
 known, that however unfit, invalids in general might be for this 
 fervice, yet by a prudent choice, there might have been found 
 amongfl: them five hundred men who had fome remains of vigour 
 left : And Mr. Jinfon fully expedted, that the beft of them would 
 have been allotted him ; whereas the whole detachment that was 
 fent to him, feemed to be made up of the moft: decrepid and mi- 
 ferable objedts, that could be colleded out of the whole body ; and 
 by the defertion abovementioned, thefe were a fecond time cleared 
 of tliat little health and ftrength which were to be found amongft 
 them, and he was to take up with fuch as were much fitter for an 
 infirmary, than for any military duty. 
 
 And here it is necefiTary to mention another material particular in 
 the equipment of this fquadron. It was propofed to Mr. Anfon, 
 after it was refolved that he fliould be fent to the South-Seas, to take 
 with him two perfons under the denomination of Agent Victuallers. 
 Thofe v/ho were mentioned for this employment had formerly been 
 
 lit
 
 { 8) 
 
 in the Spattipj Wefi-Ind'tes, in the South-Sea Company's fervice, 
 and it was fuppofed that by their knowledge and intelligence on that 
 coaft, they might often procure provifions for him by compadl with 
 the inhabitants, when it was not to be got by force of arms : Thefe 
 Agent Victuallers were, for this purpofe, to be allowed to carry to 
 tlie value of 15,000 /. in merchandize on board the fquadron ; for 
 they had reprefented, that it would be much eafier for them to pro- 
 cure provifions with goods, than with the value of the fame goods 
 in money. Whatever colours were given to this fcheme, it was 
 difficult to perfuade the generality of mankind, that it was not prin- 
 cipally intended for the enrichment of the Agents, by the beneficial 
 commerce they propofed to carry on upon that coaft. Mr. Anfin^ 
 from the beginning, objedted both to the appointment of Agent 
 Viduallers, and the allowing them to carry a cargo on board the 
 fquadron : For he conceived, that in thofe few amicable ports where 
 the fquadron might touch, he needed not their affiftance to contradt 
 for any provifions the place afforded ; and on the enemy's coaft, he 
 did not imagine that they could ever procure him the necefiTaries he 
 ft)Quld want, unlefs (which he was refolved not to comply with) 
 the military operations of his fquadron were to be regulated by the 
 ridiculous views of their trading projeds. All that he thought the 
 Government ought to have done on this occafion, was to put on 
 bo.ird to the value of 2 or 3000/. only of fuch goods, as the hi~ 
 dians, or the Spa?iiJJo Planters in the lefs cultivated part of the coaft, 
 might be tempted with ; fince it was in fuch places only that he 
 imagined it would be worth while to truck with the enemy for pro- 
 vifions : And in thefe places it was fufficiently evident, a very fmall 
 cargo would fufFice. 
 
 But though the Commodore objedled both to the appointment of 
 thefe officers, and to their prqjedl -, yet, as they had infinuated that 
 their fcheme, befides vidlualling the fquadron, might contribute to 
 fettling a trade upon that coaft, which might be afterwards carried 
 on without ditBculty, and might thereby prove a very confiderable 
 national advantage, they were much liftened to by fome confi- 
 derable
 
 ( 9) 
 
 derable perfons : And of the 15,000 /. which was to be the amount 
 of their cargo, the Government agreed to advance thcni ] 0,000 
 upon impreft, and the remaining 5000 they raifed on bottomry 
 bonds ; and the goods purchafed with this fum, were all that were 
 taken to fea by the fquadrcn, how much foever the amount of 
 them might be afterwards magnified by common report. 
 
 This cargo was at firft (hipped on board the JVager Store Ship, 
 and one of the Victuallers ; no part of it being admitted on board 
 the men of war. But when the GDmmcdore was at St. Cathariiie's, 
 he conlidered, that in cafe the fquadron (hould be feparated, it 
 might be pretended that fome of the fhips were difappointed of 
 provifions for want of a cargo to truck with, and therefore he dif- 
 tributed fome of the leaft bulky commodities on board the men of 
 war, leaving the remainder principally on board the H'ager, where 
 it was loft : And more of the goods perifliing by various accidents 
 to be recited hereafter, and no part of them being difpofed of up- 
 on the coaft, the few that came home to England, did not pro- 
 duce, when fold, above a fourth part of the original price. So 
 true was the Commodore's predidlion about the event of this pro- 
 ject, which had been by many confidered as infallibly produdive of 
 immenfe gains. But to return to the tranfad:ions at Portfnwutb. 
 
 To fupply the place of the two hundred and forty invalids which 
 had defected, as is mentioned above, there were ordered on board two 
 hundred and ten marines detached from different regiments : Theie 
 were raw and undifciplined men, for they were juft raifed, and had 
 fcarcely any thing more of the foldier than their regimentals, none 
 of them having been fo far trained, as to be permitted to fire. The 
 laft detachment of thefe marines came on board the 8 th of ylu- 
 giift, and on the i oth the fquadron failed from Spithead to St. He- 
 lens, there to wait for a wind to proceed on the expedition. 
 
 But the delays we had already fuffered had not yet fpent all their 
 influence, for we were now advanced into a feafon of the year, 
 when the wefterly winds are ufually very conftant, and very vio- 
 lent J and it was thought proper that we (hould put to fea in com- 
 
 C pany
 
 ( lO ) 
 
 pany with the fleet commanded by Admiral Balchen, and the ex- 
 pedition under Lord Cathcart. And as we made up in all twenty- 
 one men of war, and a hundred and twenty-four fail of merchant- 
 men and tranfports, we had no hopes of getting out of the Chan- 
 nel with fo large a number of fliips, without the continuance of a 
 fair wind, for fome conflderable time. This was what we had every 
 day lefs and lefs reafon to expedl, as the time of the equinox drew 
 near ; fo that our golden dreams, and our ideal poiTellion of the 
 Peruvian treafures, grew each day more faint, and the difficulties 
 and dangers of the pafTage round Cape Hern in the winter feafon 
 filled our imaginations in their room. For it was forty days from 
 our arrival at St. Helens^ to our final departure from thence : And 
 even then (having orders to proceed without Lord Cathcart) we 
 tided it down the Channel with a contrary wind. But this inter- 
 val of forty days was not free from the difpleafing fatigue of often 
 fetting fail, and being as often obliged to return ; nor exempt from 
 dangers, greater than have been fometimes experienced in furround- 
 ing the globe. For the wind coming fair for the firft time, on the 
 23d of Augujl, we got under fail, and Mr. BaJckcn fliewed himfelf 
 truly felicitous to have proceeded to fea, but the wind foon return- 
 ing to its old quarter, obliged us to put back to St. Helens, not with- 
 out confiderable hazard, and fotne damage received by two of the 
 tranfports, who, in tacking, ran foul of each other : Befides this, 
 we made two or three more attempts to fail, but without any better 
 faccefs. And, on the 6th of Septe-mber, being returned to an anchor 
 at St. Helens, after one of thefe fruitlefs efforts, the v/ind blew fa 
 freili, that the whole fleet flruck their yards and topmafls to pre- 
 vent their driving : And, notwithflanding this precaution, the Cen- 
 turicn drove the next evening, and brought both cables a-head, and 
 we were in no fmall danger of driving foul of the Prince Frederick, 
 a fcventy-gun fnip, moored at a fmall diftance under our flern ; 
 which we happily efcaped, by her driving at the fame time, and fo 
 preferving her dllbnce : Nor did we think ourfelves fecure, till we 
 at lafl: let go the fheet anchor, which fortunately brought us up. 
 
 However,
 
 ( II) 
 
 However, on the 9th of September, we were in fome degree 
 relieved from this hngring vexatious fituation , by an Order 
 which Mr. Anfofi received from the Lords Juflices, to put to fea the 
 firft opportunity with his own fquadron only, if Lord Catbcart 
 flaould not be ready. Being thus freed from the troublefome com- 
 pany of fo large a fleet, our Commodore refolved to weigh and 
 tide it down Channel, afToon as the weather fliould become 
 fufficiently moderate ; and this might eafily have been done with 
 our own fquadron alone full two months fooner, had the orders of 
 the Admiralty, for fupplying us with feamen, been pundtually com- 
 plied with, and had we met with none of thofe other delays men- 
 tioned in this narration. It is true, our hopes of a fpeedy departure 
 were even now fomewhat damped, by a fubfequent order which 
 Mr. jiiifon received on the 1 2th of September ; for by that he was 
 required to take under his convoy the St. Albans with the Turkey 
 fleet, and to join the Drago?i, and the JVificheJier, with the 
 Streights and the American trade at Torbay or Plymouth, and to pro- 
 ceed with them to fea as far as their way and ours lay together : This 
 incumbrance of a convoy gave us fome uneafinefs, as we feared it 
 might prove the means of lengthening our paflage to the Maderas. 
 However, Mr. Anfon, now having the command himfelf, re- 
 folved to adhere to his former determination, and to tide it down 
 the Channel with the firft moderate weather j and that the junftion 
 of his Convoy might occafion as little a lofs of time as pofTible, he 
 immediately fent diredlions to Torbay, that the fleets he jv«is there 
 to take under his care, might be in a readinefs to join him inftantly 
 on his approach. And at laft, on the 1 8th of September, he weighed 
 from St. Helens ; and though the wind was at firft contrary, had 
 the good fortune to get clear of the Channel in four days, as will 
 be more particularly related in the enfuing chapter. 
 
 Having thus gone through the refpedive fteps taken in the equip- 
 ment of this fquadron, it is fufficiently obvious how different an 
 afpeft this expedition bore at its firft appointment in the beginning of 
 
 C 2 yamtary,
 
 ( 12 ) 
 
 January, from what it had in the latter end of September, when it 
 left the Channel ; and how much its numbers, its ftrength, and the 
 probability of its fuccefs were diminiflicd, by the various incidents 
 which took place in that interval. For inftead of having all our 
 old and ordinary feamen exchanged for fuch as were young and 
 able, (which the Commodore was at firft promifed) and having 
 our numbers compleated to their full complement, we were obliged 
 to retain our firfl: crews, which were very indifferent ; and a defici- 
 ency of three hundred men in our numbers w^as no otherwife 
 made up to us, than by fending us on board a hundred and feventy 
 men, the greatefl: part compofed of fuch as were difcharged from 
 hofpitals, or new-raifed marines who had never been at fea before. 
 And in the land-forces allotted us, the change was flill more difad- 
 vantageous ; for there, inftead of three independent companies of 
 a hundred men each, and B/trnd's regiment of foot, which was an 
 old one, we had only four hundred and feventy invalids and ma- 
 rines, one part of them incapable for adlion by age and infirmities, 
 and the other part ufelefs by their ignorance of their duty. But 
 the diminifhing the ftrength of the fquadron was not the greateft 
 inconveniency which attended thefe alterations ; for the contefts, 
 i-eprefentations, and difiiculties which they continually produced, 
 (as we have above feen, that in thefe cafes the authority of the 
 Admiralty was not always fubmitted to) occafioned a delay and 
 wafte of time, which in its confequences was the fource of all 
 the difafters to which this enterprize was afterwards expofed : for 
 by this means we were obliged to make our pafTage round Cape 
 Horfi in the moft tempeftuous feafon of the year ; whence proceed- 
 ed the feparation of our fquadron, the lofs of numbers of our 
 men, and the imminent hazard of our total deftrudlion : And by 
 this delay too, the enemy had been fo well informed of our defigns, 
 that a perfon who had been employed in the South- Sea Company's 
 fervice, and arrived from Fnnama three or four days before we 
 left Fortfmoutb, was able to relate to Mr. Anfon moft of the parv 
 
 ticulars
 
 ( '3) 
 
 ticulars of the deftlnation and ftrength of our fquadron, from 
 what he had learnt amongft the Spaniards before he left tlicm. 
 And this was afterwards confirmed by a more extraordinary cir- 
 cumftance : For we fhail find, that when the Spaniards (fully fa- 
 tisfied that our expedition was intended for the South-Seas) had fit- 
 ted out a fquadron to oppofe us, which had fo far got the ftart of 
 us, as to arrive before us off the ifland of Madera, the Com- 
 mander of this fquadron was fo well inftrudled in the form and 
 make of Mr. Anfon% broad pennant, and had imitated it fo ex- 
 aftly, that he thereby decoyed the Pearl, one of our fquadron, 
 within gun-fhot of him, ]?efore the Captain of the Pearl was able to 
 difcover his miftake. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ( 14) 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 The paffage from St. Helens to the Ifland of Madera ; 
 with a fliort account of that Ifland, and of our 
 ftay there. 
 
 ON the 1 8th of September ^ 1740, the fquadron, as we have 
 obferved in the preceding chapter, weighed from St. Helem 
 with a contrary wind, the Commodore propofing to tide it 
 down the Channel, as he dreaded lefs the inconveniencies he fhould 
 thereby have to ftruggle with, than the rifk he fhould run of ruin- 
 ing the enterprize, by an uncertain, and, in all probability, a tedi- 
 ous attendance for a fair wind. 
 
 The fquadron allotted to this fervice confifted of five men 
 of war, a floop of war, and two vidlualling fhips. They were 
 the Centurion of fixty guns, four hundred men, George An- 
 fony Efq; Commander ; the Gloucejter of fifty guns, three hundred 
 men, Richard Norris Commander ; the Severn of fifty guns, three 
 hundred men, the Honourable Edward Legg Commander ; the 
 Pearl of forty guns, two hundred and fifty men, Matthew Mitchel 
 Commander j the Meager of twenty-eight guns, one hundred and 
 fixty men. Dandy Kidd Commander ; and the Tryal Sloop of 
 eight guns, one hundred men, the Honourable John Murray Com- 
 mander ; the two Victuallers were Pinks, the largeft of about four 
 hundred, and the other of about two hundred tons burthen, thefe 
 were to attend us, till the provifions we had taken on board were fo 
 far conlumed, as to make room for the additional quantity they car- 
 ried with them, which, when we had taken into ourlhips, they were 
 to be difcharged. Befides the complement of men born by the 
 abovementioned fliips as their crews, there were embarked on board 
 tlie fquadron about four hundred and fcventy invalids and marines, 
 
 under
 
 ( '5 ) 
 
 under the denomination of land-forces, as has been particularly men- 
 tioned In the preceding chapter, which were commanded by Lieu- 
 tenant Colonel Crochercde. With this fquadron, together with the 
 St. Alhans and the Larh, and the trade under their convoy, 
 Mr. Afifcn, after weighing from St. Helens, tided it down the Chan- 
 nel for the firfl: forty-eight hours j and, on the 20th, in the morn- 
 ing, we difcovered off the Ram- Head the Dragon, Winchcjier^ 
 South- Sea Cajlle, and Rye, with a number of merchantmen under 
 their Convoy : Thefe we joined about noon the fame day, our Com- 
 modore having orders to fee them (together with the St. Albans 
 and Lark) as far Into the fea as their courfe and ours lay together. 
 When we came in fight of this lafl: mentioned fleet, Mr. Anfon firft 
 hoifted his broad pennant, and was faluted by all the men of war 
 in company. 
 
 When we had joined this lafl: Convoy, we made up eleven men 
 of war, and about one hundred and fifty fail of merchantmen, con- 
 fiftlng of the Turk)', the Streights, and the American trade. Mr. An- 
 fon, the fame day, made a fignal for all the Captains of the men of 
 war to come on board him, where he delivered them their fighting 
 and failing inftrudlons, and then, with a fair wind, we all fl:ood to- 
 wards the South-Weft ; and the next day at noon, being the 21ft 
 we had run forty leagues from the Ram-Head; and being now clear of 
 the land, our Commodore, to render our view more exteufive, or- 
 dered Captain Mitchel, in the Pearl, to make fail two leagues a-head 
 of the fleet every morning, and to repair to his ftatlon every even- 
 ing. Thus we proceeded till the 25th, when the Winchefter and 
 the American Convoy made the concerted fignal for leave to fepa- 
 rate, which being anfwered by the Commodore, they left us : As 
 the St. Albans and the Dragon, with the Turky and Streights Con- 
 voy, did on the 29th. After which feparation, there remained la 
 company only our own fquadron and our two vidluallers, with which 
 we kept on our courfe for the Ifland of Madera. But the winds 
 were fo contrary, that we had the mortification to be forty days in 
 our pafl"age thither from St. ?Iclens, though it is known to be oftea 
 
 done
 
 ( i6 ) 
 
 done In ten or twelve. This delay was a mofl unpleafing circum- 
 ftance, produdive cf much difcontent and ill-humour amongfl: our 
 people, of which thofe only can have a tolerable idea, who have 
 had the experience of a like fituatlon. And befides the peeviflinefs 
 and delpondency which foul and contrary winds, and a lingring 
 voyage never fail to create on all occafions, we, in particular, had 
 very fubftantial reafons to be gready alarmed at this unexpedled im- 
 pediment. For as we had departed from England much later than 
 we ought to have done, we had placed ulmoft all our hopes of fuc- 
 cefs in the chance of retrieving in fome meafure at fea, the time 
 we had fo unhappily wafted at SpitberJ and St. Helens. However, 
 at laft, on Monday, OSiober the 25th, at five in the morning, we, 
 to our great joy, made the land, and in the afternoon came to an 
 anchor in Madera Road, in forty fathom water •, the Brazen-head 
 bearing from us E by S, the Loo N N W, and the great Church 
 N N E. We had hardly let go our anchor, when an EngUp pri- 
 vateer floop ran under our ftern, and falutcd the Commodore with 
 nine guns, which we returned with five. And, the next day, the 
 Conful of the Ifland coming to vifit the Commodore, we faluted 
 him with nine guns on his coming on board. 
 
 This Ifland of Madera, where we are now arrived, is famous 
 through all our American fetdements for its exxcllent wines, which 
 feem to be defigned by Providence for the refrefhment of the inha- 
 bitants of the Torrid Zone. It is fituated in a fine climate, in the 
 latitude of 32 : 27 North; and in the longitude from Londm of, 
 by our different reckonings, from 1 8° 4 to 1 9° 4- Weft, though laid 
 down in the charts in 17°. It is compofed of one continued hill, 
 of a confiderable height, extending itfelf from Eaft to Weft : The 
 declivity of which, on the South-fide, is cultivated and interfperfed 
 with vineyards ; and in the midft of this flope the Merchants have 
 fixed their country feats, which help to form an agreeable profped:. 
 There is but one confiderable town in the whole Ifland, it is named 
 Fonchiale, and is feated on the South part of the Ifland, at the bot- 
 tom of a large bay. This is the only place of trade, and indeed the 
 
 only
 
 ( 17 ) 
 only one where it is pofiibic for a boat to land. Fotich'uiJe, towards 
 the fea, is defended by a high wall, with a battery of cannon, bo- 
 fides a caftle on the Leo, which is a rock ftanding in the water at 
 a fmall diftance from the fliore. Even here the beach is covered 
 with large ftones, and a violent furf continually beats upon it ; io 
 that the Commodore did not care to venture the fhips long boats 
 to fetch the water o^, as there was fo much danger of their being 
 loft ; and therefore ordered the Captains of the fquadron to employ 
 Porttiguefe boats on that fervice. 
 
 We continued about a week at this Ifland, watering our fliips, 
 and providing the fquadron with wine and other refreihments. 
 And, on the 3d oi November^ Captain Richard A/b?77V having figni- 
 fied by a letter to the Commodore, his defire to quit his command 
 on board the Gloucejier, in order to return to E?7gh2nd for the re- 
 covery of his health, the Commodore complied with his requeft ; 
 and thereupon was pleafed to appoint Captain Matthew Mitchel to 
 command the Gloucefier in his room, and to remove Captain Kidd 
 from the Wager to the Pearl, and Captain Murray from the Tryal 
 Sloop to the Wager, giving the command of the 'Tryal to Lieute- 
 nant Cheap. Thefe promotions being fettled, with other changes in 
 the Lieutenancies, the Commodore, on the following day, gave to 
 the Captains their orders, appointing St. 'jago, one of the Cape de 
 Verd Iflands, to be the firft place of rendezvous in cafe of fepara- 
 tion ; and direding them, if they did not meet the Centurion there, 
 to make the beft of their way to the Ifland of St. Catherine's, on 
 the coaft of Brazil. The water for the fquadron being the fame 
 day compleated , and each fliip fupplied with as much wine 
 and other refreihments as they could take in, we weighed anchor 
 in the afternoon, and took our leave of the Ifland of Madera. 
 But before I go on with the narration of our own tranfadions, I 
 think it neceflary to give fome account of the proceedings of the 
 enemy, and of the meafurcs they had taken to render all our de- 
 figns abortive. 
 
 D Whea
 
 ( i8 ) 
 
 When Mr, j^nfon vlfited the Governor of Madera, he received 
 information from him, that for three or four days, in the latter end 
 of Oiiikr, there had appeared, to the weftward of that Ifland, 
 feven or eight fliips of tlie Hne, and a Patache, which laft was 
 fent every day clofe in to make the land. The Governor affured 
 the Commodore, upon his honour, that none upon the Ifland 
 had either given them intelligence, or had in any fort communi- 
 cated with them, but that he believed them to be either French 
 or StaniJ]?, but was rather inclined to think them Spar.ijh. On 
 this intelligence, Mr. A?ifc7i fent an Officer in a clean floop, eight 
 leagues to the wefl:ward, to reconnoitre them, and, if pofiible, to 
 difcover what they were : But the Officer returned without being 
 able to get a fight of them, fo that we ftill remained in uncertain- 
 ty. However, we could not but conjedlure, that this fleet was in- 
 tended to put a flop to our expedition, which, had they cruifed to 
 the eaftward of the Ifland inflead of the weflward, they could not 
 but have executed with great facility. For as, in that cafe, they muft 
 have certainly fallen in with u?, we fliould have been obliged to throw 
 overboard vafl: quantities of provifion to clear our fliips for an en- 
 gagement, and this alone, without any regard to the event of the 
 aftion, would have efi:edlually prevented our progrefs. This was 
 fo obvious a meafure, that we could not help imagining reafons 
 which might have prevented them from purfuing it. And we 
 therefore fuppofed, that this French or Spanijh fquadron was fent 
 out, upon advice of our failing in company with Admiral Bal- 
 chen and Lord Catchcarf% expedition : And thence, from an ap- 
 prehenfion of being over-matched, they might not think it ad- 
 vifeable to meet with us, till we had parted company, which they 
 might judge would not happen, before our arrival at this Ifland. 
 Thefe were our fpeculations at that time ; and from hence we had 
 reafon to fuppofe, that we might ftill fell in with them, in our way 
 to the Cape de Vci'd \ikwds. And afterwards, in the courfe of our 
 expedition, we were many of us perfuaded, that this was the 
 
 SpaniJI}
 
 ( '9) 
 
 SpanlJJj fquadron commanded by Don Jofcph Pizarro, which was 
 fent out purpofely to traverfe the views and enteiprizes of our 
 fquadron, to which, in fiirength, they were greatly fuperior. As 
 this Spanifi armament then was fo nearly connedled with our ex- 
 pedition, and as the cataftrophe it underwent, though not effeded. 
 by our force, was yet a confiderable advantage to this Nation, pro- 
 duced in confequence of our equipment, I have, in the following 
 chapter, given a fummary account of their proceedings, from their 
 firfl fetting out from Spain in the year 1740, till the ^fia, the only 
 fhip which returned to Europe of the whole fquadron, arrived at the 
 Groyne in the beginning of the year 1746. 
 
 D 2 CHAP. 
 
 ^
 
 ( 20 ) 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 The Iiiflory of the fquadron commanded by Don ya- 
 
 Jepb Plzarj'o. 
 
 t a A H E fquadron fitted out by the Court of Spain to attend 
 g our motions, and traverfe our projedls, we fuppofed to have 
 been the fliips feen off Madera, as mentioned in the pre- 
 ceding chapter. And as this force was fent out particularly againft 
 our exredition, I cannot but imagine, that the following hiflory of 
 the cafualties it met with, as far as by intercepted letters and other 
 information the fame has come to my knowledge, is a very effential 
 part of the prefent work : For by this it will appear we were the oc- 
 callon, that a confiderable part of the naval power of Spain was 
 diverted from the profecution of the ambitious Views of that Court 
 in Europe ; and the men and fhips, loft by the enemy in this under- 
 taking, were loft in confequence of the precautions they took to 
 fecure themfelves againft our enterprizes. This fquadron (befides 
 two fliips intended for the JVeJi-hidies, which did not part company 
 till after they had left the Maderas) was compofed of the follow- 
 ing men of war, commanded by Don Jofeph Fizarro : 
 
 The JJa of fixty-fix guns, and feven hundred men j this was 
 
 the Admiral's fliip. 
 The Guipufcoa of feventy-four guns, and feven hundred men. 
 The Hermiona of fifty- four guns, and five hundred men. 
 The Efperanza of fifty guns, and four hundred and fifty men. 
 The St. Eftevan of forty guns, and three hundred and fifty men. 
 And a Patache of twenty guns. 
 
 Thefe ftiips, over and above their complement of failors and ma- 
 rines, had on board an old SpaniJ}:> regiment of foot, intended to 
 
 reinforce
 
 ( 2r ) 
 
 reinforce the garrifons on the coaft of the South-Seas. When this 
 fleet had cruifed for feme days to the leeward of the Maderas, as 
 is mentioned in the preceding chapter, they left that ftation in the 
 beginning of November, and fteered for the river of Plate, where 
 they arrived the 5 th of January, 0. S. and coming to an anchor in 
 the bay oi Maldonado, at the mouth of that river, their Admiral Fi- 
 zarro fent immediately to Buenos Ayres for a fupply of provifions j 
 for they had departed from Spain with only four months provifions 
 on board. While they lay here expetlling this fupply, they received 
 intelligence, by the Treachery of the Portugueje Governor of St. 
 Catherine's, of Mr. Anfon'% having arrived at that Ifland on the 
 21ft of December preceding, and of his preparing to put to fea 
 again with the utmoft expedition. Plzarro, notwithftanding his 
 Superior force, had his reafons (and as fome fay his orders likewife) 
 for avoiding our fquadron any where fhort of the South-Seas. He 
 was befides extremely defirous of getting round Cape Horn before 
 us, as he imagined that ftep alone would eifedually baffle all our 
 defigns ; and therefore, on hearing that we were in his neighbour- 
 hood, and that we fliould foon be ready to proceed for Cape Horn 
 he weighed anchor with the five large fliips, (the Patache being dif- 
 abled and condemned, and the men taken out of her) after a flay of 
 feventeen days only, and got under fail without his provifions, wliich 
 arrived at Maldonado within a day or two after his departure. But 
 notwithfl.anding the precipitation, with which he departed, we put 
 to fea from St. Catherine's four days before him, and in fome part of 
 our paflage to Cape Horn, the two fquadrons were fo near together 
 that the Pearl, one of our fhips, being feparated from the reft, fell 
 in with the Spanip Fleet, and miftaking the Afia for the Centurion, 
 had got within gun-£hot of Pizarro, before fhe difcovered her er- 
 ror, and narrowly efcaped being taken. 
 
 It being the 2 2d of January when the Spaniards weighed from 
 Maldonado, (as has been already mentioned) they could not expedl 
 to get into the latitude of Cape Horn before the equinox 3 and as 
 they had reafon to apprehend very tempeftuous weather in doubling 
 
 it 
 
 ^
 
 ( 22 ) 
 
 it at that feafon, and as the SpaniJJj failors, being for the moft par 
 accnflomed to a fair weather country, might be expe6led to be very 
 averfe to fo dangerous and fatiguing a navigation, the better to en- 
 courage them, fome part of their pay was advanced to them in Eu- 
 ropean goods, which they were to be permitted to difpofe of in the 
 Soiitb-Seas, that fo the hopes of the great profit, each man was to 
 make on his fmall venture, might animate him in his duty, and 
 render him lefs difpofed to repine at the labour, the hardfliips and 
 the perils he would in all probability meet with before his arrival 
 on the coaft of Peru. 
 
 Pizarro with his fquadron having, towards the latter end of 
 cf February, run the length of Cape Hoi ;;, he then flood to the 
 weftward in order to double it ; but in the night, of the laft day 
 of February, O. S. while with this view they were turning to 
 windward, the Guipufcca, the Hermtona, and the Efperanza, were 
 feparated from the Admiral ; and, on the 6th of March following, 
 the Guipufcoa was feparated from the other two ; and, on the 7th 
 (being the day after we had pafTed Streighis le Maire) there came 
 on a moft furious ftorm at N W, which, in defpight of all their 
 efforts, drove the whole fquadron to the eaftward, and obliged 
 them, after feveral fruitlefs attempts, to bear away for the river of 
 Plate, where Pizarro in the jlfa arrived about the middle of May^ 
 and a few days after him the Efperanza and the Eftcvan. The 
 Hermiona was fuppofed to founder at fea, for flie was never heard 
 of more ; and the Guipufcoa was run a-fhore, and funk on the 
 coaft of Brazil. The calamities of all kinds, which this fqua- 
 dron underwent in this unfuccefsful navigation, can only be pa- 
 ralleled by what we ourfelves experienced in the fame climate, 
 when buffeted by the fame ftorms. There was indeed fome di- 
 verfity in our diftrefles, which rendered it difficult to decide, whofe 
 fituation was mofl worthy of commiferation. For to all the mif- 
 fortunes we had in common with each other, as fliattered rig- 
 ging, leaky fhips, and the fatigues and defpondency, which necef^ 
 iarily attend thefe difafters, there was fuperadded on board our fqua- 
 dron
 
 ( 23 ) 
 
 dron the ravage of a moft deftrudive and incurable difeafe, and on 
 board the Spatiifb fquadron the devaftation of famine. 
 
 For this fquadron, either from the hurry of their outfct, their 
 prefumption of a fupply at Buenos Ayra, or from other lefs ol>- 
 vious motives, departed from Spain, as has been already obferved, 
 with no more than four months provifion, and even that, as it is 
 faid, at fhort allowance only; fo that, when by the dorms they 
 met with off Cape Hern, their continuance at fea was prolonged a 
 month or more beyond their expedlation, they were thereby reduced 
 to fuch infinite diflrefs, that rats, when they could be caught, were 
 fold for four dollars a-piece ; and a failor, who died on board, had 
 his death concealed for fome days by his brother, who, during that 
 time, lay in the fame hammock with the corpfe, only to receive the 
 dead man's allowance of provifions. In this dreadful ficuation they 
 were alarmed (if their horrors were capable of augmentation) by 
 the difcovery of a confpiracy among the marines, on board the A/la 
 the Admiral's (h\^. This had taken its rife chiefly from the miferics 
 they endured : For though no lefs was propofed by the confpirators 
 than the maffacring the officers and the whole crew, yet their motive 
 for this bloody refolution feemed to be no more than their dcfire of 
 relieving their hunger, by appropriating the whole (liips provifions 
 to thcmfelves. But their defigns were prevented, when jufl: upon 
 the point of execution, by means of one of their confelTor?, and 
 three of their ringleaders were immediately put to death. Howe- 
 ver, though the confpiracy was fuppreffed, their other calamities ad- 
 mitted of no alleviation, but grew each day more and more dc- 
 flrudlive. So that by the complicated dilrrefs of fatigue, ficknefs 
 and hunger, the three fhips which efcaped loft the greateft part of 
 their men: The Afia, their Admiral's Ihip, arrived at Monte J'cdio'm 
 the river of Plate, with half her crew only ; the St. Ejle.'van had lofi 
 in like manner half her hands, when fl^.e anchored in the h^y oi Barra- 
 gan ; the Rfperanza, a fifty gun fliip, was ftill more unfortunate, for 
 of four hundred and fifty hands which flic brought from Spain, only 
 fifty-eight remained alive, and the whole regiment of foot perilhed 
 
 except
 
 ( 24 ) 
 
 except fixty men. But to give the reader a more diftind and par- 
 ticular idea of what they underwent upon this occafion, I fliall lay 
 before him a fliort account of the fate of the Gtiipufcoa, from a 
 letter written by Don yofeph Mendbmetta her Captain, to a perfon 
 of diftindlion at Lima j a copy of which fell into our hands after- 
 wards in the Soutb-Seas. 
 
 He mentions, that he feparated from the Hermiona and the £/- 
 peranza in a fog, on the 6ih of March, being then, as I fuppofe, 
 to the S. E. of Stateti-Land, and plying to the weftward ; that in 
 the night after, it blew a furious ftorm at N. W, which, at half an 
 hour after ten, fplit his mainlail, and obliged him to bear away with 
 his forefail ; that the fhip went ten knots an hour with a prodigious 
 fea, and often ran her gangway under water ; that he likewife 
 fprung his main-maft ; and the fliip made fo much water, that with 
 four pumps and bailing he could not free her. That on the 19th 
 it was calm, but the fea continued fo high, that the fliip in rolling 
 opened all her upper works and feams, and Parted the butt ends of 
 her planking and the greateft part of her top timbers, the bolts 
 being drawn by the violence of her roll : That in this condition, 
 with other additional difafters to the hull and rigging, they conti- 
 nued beating to the weftward till the 12th : That they were then 
 in fixty degrees of fouth latitude, in great want of provifions, num- 
 bers every day periihlng by the fatigue of pumping, and thofe who 
 furvived, being quite difpirited by labour, hunger, and the feverity 
 of the weather, they having two fpans of fnow upon the decks : 
 That then finding the wind fixed in the weftern quarter, and blowing 
 ftrong, and confequently their paflage to the weftward impoffible, 
 they refolved to bear away for the river of Plate : That on the 
 2 2d, they were obliged to throw overboard all the upper-deck 
 guns, and an anchor, and to take fix turns of the cable round the 
 Ihip to prevent her opening : That on the 4th of ^pril, it being 
 calm but a very high fea, the fhip rolled fo much, that the main- 
 maft came by the board, and in a few hours after flie loft, in like 
 manner, her fore-maft and her mizen-maft ; and that, to accumu- 
 late
 
 ( 25 ) 
 
 kte their misfortunes, they were foon obliged to cut away their 
 bowlprit, to diminifh, if poffiblc, th.e leakage at her head : That 
 by this time he had lofl: two hundred and fifty men by hunger and 
 fatigues ; for thofe who were capable of working at the pumps, 
 (at which every Officer without exception took his turn) were al- 
 lowed only an ounce and laalf of bifcuit jer diem j and thofe who 
 were fo fick or fo weak, that they could not affift in this necefiiiry 
 kbour, had no more than an ounce of wheat ; fo that it was com- 
 mon for the men to fall down dead at the pumps : That, including 
 the Officers, they could only mufler from eighty to a hundred 
 perfons capable of duty : That the South Weft winds blew fo frcfli, 
 after they had loft their mafts, that they could not immediately fet 
 up jury mafts, but were obliged to drive like a wreck, between 
 the latitudes of 32 and 28, till the 24th oi April, when they made 
 the coaft of Brazil at Rio de Patas, ten leagues to the fouthward 
 of the Ifland of St. Cathcritie's ; that, here they came to an anchor 
 and that the Captain was very defirous of proceeding to St. Cathe- 
 rine's if poffible, in order to fave the hull of the fliip, and the guns 
 and ftores on board her ; but the crew inftantly left oft' pumping, 
 and being enraged at the hardfliips they had fuftered, and the 
 numbers they had loft, (there being at that time no lefs than thirty 
 dead bodies lying on the deck) they all with one voice cried out 
 on Jlore, on Jl:ore, and obliged the Captain to run the fliip in di- 
 rpdly for the land, where, the 5th day after, {ho. funk with her 
 ftores, and all her furniture on board her, but the remainder of 
 the crew, whom hunger and fatigue had fpared, to the number of 
 four hundred, got fafe on fliore. 
 
 From this account of the adventures and cataftrophe of the 
 Guipufcoa, we may form fome conjedure of the manner, in which 
 the Hermiona was loft, and of the diftrefl'es endured by the three 
 remaining fliips of the fquadron, which got into the river of Plate. 
 Thefe laft being in great want of mafts, yards, rigging, and all kind 
 of naval ftores, and having no fupply at Buenos Ajres, nor in any 
 other of their fettlements, Pizarro difpatched an advice boat witli 
 
 E a letter
 
 ( 26 ) 
 
 a letter of credit to Rio "Janeiro, to purchafe what was wanting 
 from the Pcrtuguefe. He, at the fame time, fent an exprefs acrofs 
 the continent to Sun Ji^go in Cbiii, to be thence forwarded to the 
 Viceroy of Fau, informing him of the diCiilers that had befallen 
 his fqiiadrcn, and dtfuing a remittance of 200, coo dollars from 
 the royal chefls at Lima, to enable him to victual and refit his re- 
 maining {hips, that he might be again in a condition to attempt the 
 pafllige to the Saiuh-Scas, as foon as the feafon of the year fliould be 
 more fiivoiirable. It is mentioned by th,e Spaniards as a nroft ex- 
 traordinary circumfcance, that the Indian charged with this exprefs 
 (though it was then tlie depth of winter, when the Cordilleras are 
 efteemed impaflable on account of the fnow) was only thirteen days 
 in his journey from Bue?:os ^yres to St. J ago in Cbili ; though thefe 
 places are diftant three hundred Spanijh leagues, near forty of 
 which are amongfl: the fnows and precipices of the Cordilleras. 
 
 The return to tliis difpatch of Pizarro's from the Viceroy of 
 Peru was no ways firvourable ; inflead of 200,000 dollars, the 
 fum demanded, the Viceroy remitted him only 100,000, telling 
 him, that it was with great difficulty he was able to procure him 
 even that : Though the inhabitants at Lima, who confidered the 
 prefence of Pizarro as abfolutely neceffary to their fecurity, were 
 much difcontented at this procedure, and did not fail to affert, that 
 it was not the want of money, but the interefted views of fome of 
 the Viceroy's confidents, that prevented Pizarro from having the 
 whole fum he had afked for. 
 
 The advice-boat fent to Rio Janeiro alfo executed her commiffion, 
 but imperfedtly ; for though flie brought back a confiderable quan- 
 tity of pitch, tar and cordage, yet flie could not procure either 
 marts or yards : and as an additional misfortune, Pizarro was dif- 
 appointed of fome mafts he expeded from Paraguay ; for a car- 
 penter, whom he entrufted with a large fum of money, and had 
 fent there to cut mafls, inftead of profecutirg the bufinefs he was 
 employed in, had married in the country, and refafed to return. 
 However, by removing the mafls of the Efpcrariza into the Jfa, 
 
 and
 
 ( ^7 ) 
 
 and making ufc of what fpare marts and yards tliey had on board, 
 they made a fliift to refit the Af.a and the St. EJlevan. And in the 
 OBober following, Pizarro was preparing to put to fea with thefc 
 two iLips, in order to attempt the paflage round Cape Horn a fc- 
 cond time; but the St. Ej'uvaJi, in coming down the river Pbii\ 
 ran on a Ihoal, and beat off her rudder, on which, and other da- 
 mages flie received, flie was condemned and broke up, and Pi- 
 zarro in the AJia proceeded to fea without her. Having now 
 the fummer before him, and the winds favourable, no doubt was 
 made of his having a fortunate and fpeedy pafiage ; but being off 
 Cape Horn^ and going right before the wind in very moderate wea- 
 ther, though in a fwelling fea, by feme mifcondud of the officer 
 of the watch the fliip rolled away her maft?, and was a fecond 
 time obliged to put back to the river of Plate in great diflrefs. 
 
 The ^a having confiderably fuffered in this fecond unfortunate 
 expedition, the Efperanza, which had been left behind at Monte 
 Vcdio, was ordered to be refitted, the command of her being given 
 to Miiidimietta, who was Captain of the Guipufcoa, when Ihe was 
 loft. He, in the November of the fucceeding year, that is, in No- 
 vember 1742, failed from the river of Plate for the South- Seas, and 
 arrived fafe on the coaft of Chih' -, where his Commodore Pizarro 
 paffing over land from Buenos Ayres met him. There were sreat 
 animofities and contefts between thefe two Gendemen at their meet- 
 ing, occafioned principally by the claim of Pizarro to command 
 the Efperanza, which Mindinuetta had brought round : For Mnt- 
 dinuetta refufed to deliver her up to him ; infifting, that as he came 
 into the Saith-Seas alone, and under no fiiperior, it was not now 
 in the power of Pizarro to refume that authority, which he Iiad 
 once parted with. However, the Prefident of Chili interpofing, 
 and declaring for Pizarro, Mindinuetta, after a long and obftinatc 
 ftruggle, was obliged to fubmit. 
 
 But Pizarro had not yet compleated the feries of his adventures ; 
 for when he and Mindinuetta came back by land from Chili to 
 Buenos ylyres, in the year 1745, they found at Monte J'edio the 
 
 1'^ 2. Jj,a,
 
 ( 28 ) 
 
 Jfia, which near three years before they had left there. This fhip 
 they refolvcJ, if poflible, to carry to Europe, and with this view 
 they refitted her in the beft manner they could : Bat their great dif- 
 tlculty was to procure a fufficient number of hands to navigate her, 
 for all the remaining Hiilors of the fquadron to be met with in the 
 neighbourhood cf Bncncs Ayres, did not amount to a hundred 
 men. They endeavoured to fupply this defeft by prefiing many of 
 the inhabitants of Buenos Aji es, and putting on board befides all 
 the Englijh prifoners then in their cuftody, together with a number 
 of Portugucfc fniugglers, which they had taken at different times, 
 and fome of the IndiaTis of the country. Among thefe lafl: there 
 was a Chief and ten of his followers, which had been furprized by 
 a party of Span's f]j foldiers about three months before. The name 
 of tliis Chief was OrellaJW, he belonged to a very powerful Tribe, 
 which had committed great ravages in the neighbourhood of Buenos 
 Ayres. With this motly crew (all of them, except the European Spa- 
 niards, extremely averfe to the voyage) Pizarro fet fail from Monte 
 Fedio in the river of PlrJe, about the beginning oi November 1745, 
 and the native Spaniards being no Grangers to the diffatisfadicn of 
 their forced men, treated both thofe, the Englifi prifoners and the 
 Indians, with great infolence and barbarity ; but more particularly 
 the Indians, for it was common for the meaneft officers in the Hn'p 
 to beat them moft cruelly on the flighteft pretences, and oftentimes 
 only to exert their fuperiority. OrcUana and his followers, though 
 in appearance fufficiently patient and fubmiffive, meditated a fevere 
 revenge for all thefe inhumanities. As he converfed very well in 
 Spanijh, (thefe Indians having in time of peace a great intercourfe 
 with Bue?ws Ayres) he afieded to talk with fuch of the Englijh as 
 undcrflood that larJguage, and Teemed very defirous of being inform- 
 ed how many EngUfi.mcn tliere were on board, and which they 
 were. As he knew that the Englifo were as much enemies to the 
 Spaniards as himfelf, he had dcubtlefs an intention of difclofing his 
 purpofes to them, and making them partners in the fcheme he had 
 projeded fjr revenging his wrongs, and recovering his liberty ; but 
 
 having
 
 ( 29 ) 
 
 having founded them at a diftance, and not finding them (o precipi- 
 tate and vindidlive as he expeifted, he proceeded no further with 
 them, but refolved to trufl: alone to the refolution of his ten faithful 
 followers. Thefe, it fliould feem, readily engaged to obferve his 
 direilions, and to execute whatever commands he gave them ; and 
 having agreed on the meafures neceffiry to be taken, they firfl: fur- 
 niflied themfelves with Dutch knives fliarp at the point, which be- 
 ing the common knives ufed in the fliip, they found no difficulty 
 in procuring : Befides this, they employed their leifure in fe- 
 cretly cutting out thongs from raw hides, of which there were great 
 numbers on board, and in fixing to each end of thefe thongs the 
 double-headed fliot of the fmall quarter-deck guns; this, when 
 fwung round their heads, according to the pradice of their country, 
 was a moft mifchievous weapon, in the ufe of which the hniiatis 
 about Buenos Ayres are trained from their infancy, and confequently 
 are extremely expert. Thefe particulars being in good forward- 
 ncfs, the execution of their fcheme was perhaps precipitated by a 
 particular outrage committed on Orellana himfelf For one of the 
 Officers, who was a very brutal fellow, ordered OrcUana aloft, 
 which being what he was incapable of performing, the Officer, un- 
 der pretence of his difobedience, beat him with fuch violence, that 
 he left him bleeding on the deck, and flupified for fome time with 
 his bruifes and wounds. This ufage undoubtedly heightened his 
 thirft for revenge, and made him eager and impatient, till the 
 means of executing it were in his power ; fo that within a day or 
 two after this incident, he and his followers opened their defperate 
 refolves in the enfuing manner. 
 
 It was about nine in the evening, when many of the principal 
 Officers were on quarter-deck, indulging in the freffinefs of the 
 night air; the wafte of the ffiip was filled with live cattle, and the 
 forccaftle was manned with its cuftcmary watch. OreUana and his 
 companions, under cover of the night, having prepared their weapons, 
 and thrown cfr their trouzers and the more cumbrous part of their 
 drefs, came all together on the quarter-deck, and drew towards 
 
 the
 
 ( 30 ) 
 
 the door of the great cabbin. The Boatfwain immediately repri- 
 manded them, and ordered them to be gone. On this Onllana 
 fpoke to his followers in his native language, when four of them 
 drew off, two towards each gangway, and the Chief and the fix 
 remaining Indians feemed to be (lowly quitting the quarter-deck. 
 When the detached htdians had taken polTetTion of the gangway, 
 Orellana placed his hands hollow to his mouth, and bellowed CHit 
 the war-cry ufed by thofe favages, which is faid to be the harflieft 
 and mofl: terrifying found known in nature. This hideous yell was 
 the fignal for beginning the maffacre : For on this they all drew 
 their knives, and brandiflied their prepared double-headed (liot, and 
 the fix with their Chief, which remained on the quarter-deck, im- 
 mediately fell on the Spaniards^ who were intermingled with them, 
 and laid near forty of them at their feet, of which above twenty 
 were killed on the fpot, and the reft difabled. Many of the Offi- 
 cers, in the beginning of the tuniult, pufhed into the great cabbin, 
 where they put out the lights, and barricadoed the door. And of 
 the others, who had avoided the firft fury of the Indians, fome en- 
 deavoured to efcape along the gangways into the forecaflle, but the 
 Indians^ placed there on purpofe, ftabbed the greateft part of them, 
 as they attempted to pafs by, or forced them off the gangways into 
 the wafte. Others threw themfelves voluntarily over the barrica- 
 does into the wafte, and thought themfelves happy to lie concealed 
 amongft the cattle ; but the greateft part efcaped up the main 
 flirouds, and {heltered themfelves either in the tops or rigging. 
 And thougli the Indians attacked only the quarter-deck, yet the 
 watch in the forecaftle finding their communication cut off, and be- 
 ing terrified by the wounds of the few, who not being killed on the 
 fpot, had ftrength fjmcient to force their paflage along the gang- 
 ways, and not knovinng either who their enemies were, or what 
 were their numbers, they likewife gave all over for loft, and in 
 great confufion ran up into the rigging of the fore-maft and 
 bowfprit. 
 
 Thus
 
 ( 31 ) 
 
 Thus thefe eleven THdians, with a refolution perhaps without ex- 
 ample, porfeflcd themfelvcs uimoft in an inftant of the quarter-decic 
 of a fliip mounting fixty-fix guns, v/i;h a crew of near five hundred 
 men, and continued in peaceable poflefiion of this poft a confide- 
 rable time. For the Officers in the great cabbin, (amongft: wliom 
 were Pizarro and Mindiniwttd) the crew between decks, and thofe 
 who had efcaped into the tops and rigging, were only anxious for 
 their own fafety, and were for a long time incapable of forming 
 any projeifl for fupprelling the infurredion, and recovering the pof- 
 feffion of the fhip. It is true, the yells of the Indians, the groans 
 of the wounded, and the confufed clamours of the crew, all heii^ht- 
 ned by the obfcurity of the night, had at firft greatly magnified 
 their danger, and had filled them with the imaginary terrors, which 
 darknefs, diforder, and an ignorance of the real flrength of an ene- 
 my never fail to produce. For as tlie Spatiiards Were fenfiblc of 
 the difafFedlion of their preft hands, and were alfo confcious of their 
 barbarity to their prifoners, they imagined, the conlpiracy was ge- 
 neral, and confidered their own deflrudion as infdlible ; fo that, it 
 is faid, fome of them had once taken the refolution of leaping into 
 the fea, but were prevented by their companions. 
 
 However, when the Indians had entirely cleared the quarter-deck, 
 the tumult in a great meafure fubfided ; for thofe, who had ef- 
 caped, were kept filent by their fears, and the Indians were incapa- 
 ble of purfuing them to renew the diforder. Orellana, when lie law 
 himfelf mafVer of the quarter-deck, broke open the arm-cheft 
 which, on a flight fufpicion of mutiny, had been ordered there a 
 few days before, as to a place of the greateft fecurity. Here he 
 took it for granted, he fliould find cutlafles fufficient for himfelf and 
 liis companions, in the ufe of which weapon they were all ex- 
 tremely Ikilful, and with thefe, it was imagined, they propofed ta 
 have forced the great cabbin : But on opening the chefl, there ap- 
 peared nothijig but fire-arms, which to them were of no ufe. There 
 were indeed cutlafles in the chert, but they were hid by the fire- 
 arms being laid over them. This was a fenfible difappointmcnt to 
 
 them,
 
 ( 32 ) 
 
 them, and by this time Pizaj-ro and his companions in the great 
 cabbin were capable of converfing aloud, through the cabbin win- 
 dows and port-holes, with thofe in the gun room and between 
 decks, and from hence they learnt, that the Englifi (whom they 
 principally fufpedled) were all fafe below, and had not intermedled 
 in this mutiny j and by other particulars they at lafl: difcovered, that 
 none were concerned in it but Orc'Icma and his people. On this 
 Pizarro and the Officers refolved to attack them on the quarter- 
 deck, before any of the difcontented on board (hould fo far reco- 
 ver their firll furprize, as to reflect on the facility and certainty of 
 feizing the fliip by a junction with the Indians in the prefent emer- 
 gency. With this view Pizarro got together what arms M'ere in 
 the cabbin, and diftributed them to thofe who were with him : 
 But there were no other fire-arms to be met with but piftols, and 
 for thefe they had neither powder nor ball. However, having now 
 fettled a correfpondence with the gun-room, they lowered down a 
 bucket out of the cabbin- window, into which the gunner, out of 
 one of the gun-room ports, put a quantity of piftol cartridges. 
 When they had thus procured ammunition, and had loaded their 
 piftols, they fet the cabbin-door partly open, and fired feme fliot 
 amongft the Indiam on the quarter-deck, at firft without efFedl. 
 But at lafl: Mindinuetta, whom we have often mentioned, had the 
 good fortune to fhoot Orellana dead on the fpot ; on which his 
 faithful companions abandoning all thoughts of farther refiftance, 
 inftantly leaped into the fea, where they every man periflied. Thus 
 was this infurredion quelled, and the pofleflion of the quarter- 
 deck regained, after it had been full two hours in the power of this 
 great and daring Chief, and his gallant and unhappy countrymen. 
 
 Pizarro having efcaped this imminent peril fleered for Europe, 
 and arrived fafe on the coafl of Galicia in the beginning of the year 
 1746, after having been abfent between four and five years, and 
 liaving, by his attendance on our expedition, diminiflied the naval 
 power of Spain by above three thoufand hands, (the flower of their 
 failors) and by four confiderable ftiips of war and a Patache. For 
 
 we
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 we have feen, that the Hermwia foundered at fea \ the Guipufcoa 
 ■was ftranded, and funk on the coaft of Brazil; the St. Ejlevan 
 was condemned, and broke up in the river of Plate ; and the Ef- 
 feranza being left in the South- Seas, is doubtlefs by this time inca- 
 pable of returning to Spain. So that the jyia only, with lefs than 
 one hundred hands, may be confidered as all the remains of that 
 fquadron, with which Pizarro firft put to fea. And whoever at- 
 tends to the very large proportion, which this fquadron bore to the 
 whole navy of Spain, will, I believe, confefs, that had our under- 
 taking been attended with no other advantages than that of ruining 
 fo great a part of the fea-force of fo dangerous an enemy, this alone 
 would be a fufficient equivalent for our equipment, and an incon- 
 teftible proof of the fervice, which the Nation has thence received. 
 Having thus concluded this fummary of Pizarro's adventures, I 
 fliall now return again to the narration of our own tranfadlions» 
 
 F CHAP.
 
 (34 ) 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 From Madera to St. Catherines, 
 
 I HAVE already mentioned, that on the 3d of November wc 
 weighed from Madera, after orders had been given to the Cap- 
 tains to rendezvous at St. Jago, one of the Cape de Verd 
 Iflands, in cafe the fquadron was feparated. But the next day, 
 when we were got to fea, the Commodore confidering that the 
 feafon was far advanced, and that touching at St. 'Jago would cre- 
 ate a new delay, he for this reafon thought proper to alter his ren- 
 dezvous, and to appoint the Ifland of St. Catherine's, on the coaft of 
 Brazil, to be the firft place to which tiie (hips of the fquadron 
 were to repair in cafe of feparation. jinoni 
 
 In our paffage to the Ifland of St. Catherine's, we found the di- 
 rection of the trade-winds to differ confiderably from what we 
 had reafon to expefl, both from the general hiftories given of thefe 
 winds, and the experience of former Navigators. For the learned 
 Dr. Halleyy in his account of the trade winds, which take place in 
 the Ethiopic and Atlantic Ocean, tells us, that from the latitude of 
 28° N, to the latitude of 10" N, there is generally a frelli gale of 
 N. E. wind, which towards the African fide rarely comes to the 
 eaflward of E. N. E, or pafTes to the northward of N. N, E : But 
 on the American fide, the wind is fomewhat more eallerly, though 
 moft commonly even there it is a point or two to the northward of 
 the Eaft : That from 10° N. to 4° N, the calms and tornadoes take 
 place ; and from 4° N. to 30° S, the winds are generally and per- 
 petually between the South and the Eafl:. This account we ex- 
 pedled to have verified by our own experience ; but we found con- 
 fiderable variations from it, both in refped to the fteadinefs of the 
 winds, and the quarter from whence they blew. For though we 
 met with a N. E. wind about the .latitude of 28° N, yet from the 
 
 latitude
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 ktkude of 25° to the latitude of 18° N, the wind was never once to 
 the northward of the Eaft, but on the contrary, almoft conftantly 
 to the fouthward of it. However, from thence to the latitude of 
 6° : 20' N, we had it ufually to the northward of the Eaft, though 
 net entirely, it having for a fhort time changed to E. S. E. From 
 hence, to about 4° 46' N, the weather was very unfettled ; fome- 
 times the wind was N. E. then changed to S. E, and fometimes 
 we had a dead calm, attended with fmall rain and lightning. After 
 this, the wind continued almoft invariably between the S. and E, to 
 the latitude of 7° : 30' S ; and then again as invariably between the 
 N. and E, to the latitude of 15° : 30' S ; then E. and S. E, to 2 r : 
 yj S. But after this, even to the latitude of 2^" : 44' S, the wind 
 was never once between the S. and the E, though we had it 
 at times in all the other quarters of the compafs. But this 
 laft circumflance may be in fome meafure accounted for, from our 
 approach to the main continent of the Brazils. I mention not thefe 
 particulars with a view of cavilling at the received accounts of thefe 
 trade-winds, which I doubt not are in general fufficiently accurate ; 
 but I thought it a matter worthy of public notice, that fuch devia- 
 tions from the eftabliflied rules do fometimes take place. This ob- 
 fervation may not only be of fervice to Navigators, by putting them 
 on their guard againft thefe Wtherto unexpedled irregularities, but 
 may perhaps contribute to the folution of that great queftion about 
 the caufes of trade-winds, and monfoons, a queftion, wliich, in 
 my opinion, ha& not been hitherto difcufTed with that clearncfs and 
 accuracy, which its importance (whether it be confidered as a naval 
 or philofophical inquiry) feems to demand. 
 
 On the 1 6th of November, one of our Viduallers made a fignal 
 to fpeak with the Commodore, and we fhortned fail for lier to come 
 up with us. The Mafter came on board, and acquainted Mr. y^n- 
 fon, that he had complied with the terms of his charter-party, and 
 defired to be unloaded and difmiffed. Mr. Anfon^ on confulting the 
 Captains of the fquadron, found all the fhips had ftill fuch quan- 
 tities of provifion between their decks, and were withal {o deep, 
 
 F 2 that
 
 ( 36 ) 
 
 that they could not without great difficulty take in their feveral pro- 
 portions of brandy from the hiditliry Pink, one of the Vidluallers 
 only : And confequently he was obliged to continue the other of 
 them, the Anna Pink^ in the fervice of attending the fquadron. And 
 the next day the Commodore made a fignal for the fliips to bring 
 to, and to take on board their (hares of the brandy from the /«- 
 dujlry Pink ; and in this, the long boats of the fquadron were em- 
 ployed the three following days, that is, till the 1 9th in the even- 
 ing, when the Pink being unloaded, flie parted company with us, 
 being bound for Barbadocs, there to take in a freight for England. 
 Moft of the Officers of the fquadron took the opportunity of writing 
 to their friends at home by this lliip; but flie was afterwards, as I have 
 been fince informed, unhappily taken by the Spaniards. 
 
 On the 20th of Ncvember, the Captains of the fquadron repre- 
 fented to the Commodore, that their fhips companies were very 
 fickly, and that it was their own opinion as well as their furgeons, that 
 it would tend to the prefervation of the men to let in more air be- 
 tween decks ; but that their fliips were fo deep, they could not 
 poffibly open their lower ports. On this reprefentation, the Com- 
 modore ordered fix air fcuttles to be cut in each fliip, in fuch places 
 where they would leaft weaken it. 
 
 And on this occafion I cannot but obferve, how much it is the duty 
 of all thofe, who either by office or authority, have any influence 
 in the diredtion of our naval affairs, to attend to this important ar- 
 ticle, the prefervation of the lives and health of our feamen. If 
 it could be fuppofed, that the motives of humanity were infufficient 
 for this purpofe, yet policy, and a regard to the fuccefs of our arms, 
 and the interefl and honour of each particular Commander, fhould 
 naturally lead us to a careful and impartial examination of every 
 probable method propofed for maintaining a fliip's crew in health 
 and vigour. But hath this been always done ? Have the late in- 
 vented plain and obvious methods of keeping our fliips fweet and 
 clean, by a conftant fupply of frefli air, been confidered with that 
 candour and temper, which the great benefits promiled hereby 
 
 ought
 
 ( 37 ) 
 
 ought naturally to have infpiied ? On the contrary, have not thefe 
 falmary fchemes been often treated with negledl and contempt r 
 And have not fome of thofe who have been entrufted with expe- 
 rimenting their efFeds, been guilty of the mofl indcfenfible partia- 
 lity, in the accounts tliey have given of thefe trials ? Indeed, it 
 muft be confefled, that many di{1:inguifl:ied perfons, both in the 
 direction and command of our fleets, have exerted themfelves on 
 thefe occafions with a judicious and difpafllonate examination, be- 
 coming the interefting nature of the inquiry ; but the wonder is, 
 that any could be found irrational enough to adl a contrary part, in de- 
 fpight of the ftrongeft: didates of prudence and humanity. I mufl: 
 however own, that I do not believe this condud; to have arifen frcni 
 motives fo favage, as the firft reflection thereon does naturally fuo-. 
 geft : But I rather impute it to an obftinate, and in fome degree, fu- 
 perftitious attachment to fuch praflices as have been long eftablifhed, 
 and to a fettled contempt and hatred of all kinds of innovations, 
 efpecially fuch as are projeded by landmen and perfons refiding on 
 fhore. But let us return from this, I hope not, impertinent di- 
 grefllon. 
 
 • We crofled the equinofllal with a fine frefli gale at S. E, on 
 Friday the 28th of November, at four in the morning, being then 
 in the longitude of 27° : 59' W. from London. And on the 2d of 
 December^ in the morning, we faw a fail in the N. W. quarter, and 
 made the Gloucejler's and TryaN fignals to chafe ; and half an hour 
 after, we let out our reefs and chafed with the fquadron ; and about 
 noon a fignal was made for the Wager to take our remaining Vic- 
 tualler, the ^nna Pink, in tow. But at feven in the evening, find- 
 ing we did not near the chace, and that the Wager was very far 
 a-ftern, we fliortened fail, and made a fignal for the cruizers to 
 join the fquadron. The next day but one we again difcovered a fail, 
 which, on a nearer approach, we judged to be the fame vefTel. We 
 chafed her the whole day, and though we rather gained upon her, 
 yet night came on before we could overtake her, and obliged us to 
 give over the chace, to coUedt our fcattered fquadron. \^''e were 
 
 much
 
 ( 38) 
 
 much chagrined at the efcape of this veffel, as we then apprehend- 
 ed her to be an ad vice- boat fent from Old Spam to Buenos Ayres, 
 with notice of our expedition. But we have fince learnt, that we 
 were deceived in this conjedurc, and that it was our Eaji-India 
 Company's Packet bound to St. Hele?ia. 
 
 On the loth of December, being by our accounts in the latitude 
 of 10" S, and 36" : 30' longitude Weft from London, the Tryal 
 fired a gun to denote foundings. We immediately founded, and 
 found fixty fathom water, the bottom coarfe ground with broken 
 fhells. The Tryal being a-head of us, had at one time thirty-feven 
 fathom, which afterwards increafed to 90 : And then flie found no 
 bottom, which happened to us too at our fecond trial, though we 
 founded with a hundred and fifty fathom of line. This is the 
 fhoal which is laid down in moft charts by the name of the 
 Abrollos ; and it appeared we were upon the very edge of it ; per- 
 haps farther in, it may be extremely dangerous.. We were then, 
 by our dififerent accounts, from ninety to fixty leagues Eafi: of the 
 coaft of Brazil. The next day but one we fpoke with a Portu- 
 guefe Brigantine from Rio Janeiro, bound to Bahia del todos Santos^ 
 who informed us, that we were thirty- four leagues from Cape St. 
 Thomas, and forty leagues from Cape Frio, which laft bore from 
 us W, S. W. By our accounts we were near eighty leagues from 
 Cape Frio ; and though, on the information of this Brigantine, we 
 altered our courfe, and flood more to the fouthward, yet by our. 
 coming in with the land afterwards, we were fully convinced that 
 our reckoning was much corredler than our Portuguefe intelligence^ 
 We found a, confiderable current fetting to the fouthward, after we 
 had paffcd the latitude of 1 6" S. And the fame took place all along 
 the coaft of Brazil^ and even to the fouthward of the river of 
 Plate, it amounting fometimes to thirty miles in twenty-four hours,, 
 and once to above forty miles. 
 
 If this current is occafioned (as it is moll probable) by the run- 
 ning off of the water, accumulated on the coaft of Brazil by the 
 conftant fwecping of the eaftern trade-wind over the Ethiopic 
 
 Ocean,
 
 ( 39) 
 
 Ocean, then it is mod natural to fuppofc, that its general couife isi 
 determined by the bearings of the adjacent fhore. Perhaps too, in. 
 almofl: every other inftance of currents, the fame may hold true, as 
 I believe no examples occur of confiderable currents being obfcived 
 at any great diftance from land. If this then could be laid down, 
 for a general principle, it would be always eafy to corredl the reckon- 
 ing by the obferved latitude. But it were much to be wiflied, for 
 the general interefts of navigation, that the aftual fettings of the 
 different currents which are known to take place in various parts of 
 the world, were examined more frequently and accurately than hi- 
 therto appears to have been done. 
 
 We now began to grow impatient for a fight of land, both for 
 the recovery of our fick, and for the refrefliment and fecurity of 
 thofe who as yet continued healthier. When we departed from St- 
 Helens^ we were in fo good a condition, that we loft but two inen 
 on board the Centurwi, in our long paflage to Madera, But in 
 this prefent run between Madera and Sl Catherine's we have beea 
 very fickly, fo that many died, and great numbers were confined to 
 their hammocks, both in our own fliip and in the reft of the fqua- 
 dron, and feveral of thefe paft all hopes of recovery. The difor- 
 ders they in general labour under are fuch as are common to the 
 hot climates, and what moll; Ihips bound to the fouthward experi- 
 ence in a greater or lefs degree. Thefe are thofe kind of fevers, 
 which they ufually call Calentures : A difeafe, which was not only 
 terrible in its firft inftance, but even the remains of it often proved 
 fatal to thofe wlio confidercd themlelves as recovered from it. For 
 it always left them in a very weak and helplefs condition, and 
 ufually afflided with fluxes and tenafmus's. And by our continu- 
 ance at fea all our complaints were every day increafing, fo that it 
 was with great joy that we difcovered the coaft of Brazil on the 
 J 8th of December, at feven in the morning. 
 
 The coaft of Brazil appeared high and mountainous land, ex- 
 tending from the W. to W. S. W, and when we firft faw it, it was 
 
 about
 
 ( 40 ) 
 about fcver.teen leagues diilant. At noon we perceived a low dou- 
 ble kind, bearing W, S. W. about ten leagues diftant, which we 
 took to be the Ifland of St. CcUkrifie's. That afternoon and the 
 next morning, the wind being N, N. W, we gained very little to 
 windward, and were apprehenfive of being driven to the leeward of 
 the Ifland; but a little before noon, the next day,the wind came about tc 
 the fouthward, and enabled us to fleer in between the North point 
 of St. Catheri?ie's, and the neighbouring Ifland of J.horedo. As 
 we flood in for the land, we had regular foundings gradually de- 
 creafing, from thirty-fix to twelve fathom, all muddy ground. In 
 this lafl depth of water we let go our anchor at five o'clock in the 
 evening of the i8th, the North Wefl: point of the Ifland of St. Ca- 
 tberine'i, bearing S.S.W, diilant three miles ; and the Ifland Ahoredo 
 N. N. E, diflidnt two leagues. Here we found the tide to fet S. S.E. 
 and N.. N. W, at the rate of two knots, the tide of flood coming 
 from the fouthward. We could from our fliips obferve two forti- 
 fications at a confiderable diftance within us, which feemed defigned 
 to prevent the paflTage of an enemy between the Ifiand of St. Cathe- 
 vine's and the main. And we could foon perceive that our fqua- 
 dron had alarmed the coafl, for we faw the two forts hoifl their 
 colours, and fire feveral guns, which we fuppofed to be intended 
 for afTembling the inhabitants. To prevent any confufion, the 
 Commodore immediately fent a boat with an Officer on fliore, to 
 compliment the Governor, and to defire a Pilot to carry us into the 
 road. The Governor returned a very civil anfwer, and ordered us 
 a Pilot, On the morning of the 20th we weighed and flood in, 
 and towards noon the Pilot came on board us, who, the fame af- 
 ternoon, brought us to an anchor in five fathom and an half, in a 
 large commodious bay on the continent fide, called by the French, 
 Bon Port. In flanding from our lafl anchorage to this place, we 
 every where found an ouzy bottom, with a depth of water firfl re- 
 gularly decreafing to five fathom, and then increafing to feven, af- 
 ter which we had fix and five fathom alternately. The next morn- 
 ing
 
 (41 ) 
 
 ing we weighed again with the fquadron, in order to run above the 
 two fortifications we have mentioned, which are called the caftles 
 of Safita Criiiz and St. yuan. And now the foundings between 
 the Ifland and the Main were four, five and fix fathom, with mud- 
 dy ground. As we pafied by the caftle of Santa Cruiz we faluted 
 it with eleven guns, and were anfwered by an equal number ; and 
 at one in the afternoon, the fquadron came to an anchor in five fa- 
 thom and a half, the Governor's Ifland bearing N. N. W, St. Juan's 
 Caftle N. E. ~ E, and the Ifland of St. Antonio South. In this pofition 
 we moored at the Ifland of St. Catherine's on Sunday the 21ft of 
 December, the whole fquadron being, as I have already mention- 
 ed, fickly, and in great want of refrefliments : Both which incon- 
 yeniencies we hoped to have foon removed at this fettlement, cele- 
 brated by former Navigators for its healthinefs and its provifions, and 
 for the freedom, indulgence, and fi-iendly afl]fl;ance there given to 
 the fhips of all European Nations, in amity with the Crown of 
 Portugal. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 (42) 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Proceedings at St Catherine s^ and a defcription of the 
 place, with a fhort account of Brazil. 
 
 OU R firfl: care, after having moored our flilps, was to fend 
 our fick men on fliore, each fhip being ordered by the 
 Commodore to eredt two tents for that purpofe : One of 
 them for the reception of the difeafed, and the other for the ac- 
 commodation of the furgeon and his affiftants. We fent about 
 eighty fick from the Centurion, and the other fhips I believe fent 
 nearly as many, in proportion to the number of their hands. Asfoon 
 as we had performed this neceffary duty, we fcraped our decks, and 
 gave our fhip a thorough cleanfing ; then fmoked it between decks, 
 and after all waflied every part well with vinegar. Thefe operati- 
 ons were extremely neceffary for correcting the noifome flench on 
 board, and deflroying the vermin ; for from the number of our 
 men, and the heat of the climate, both thefe nuifances had in- 
 creafed upon us to a very loathfome degree, and befides being mofl 
 intolerably offenfive, they were doubtlefs in fome fort productive of 
 the ficknefs we had laboured under for a confiderable time, before 
 our arrival at this Ifland. 
 
 Our next employment was wooding and watering our fqua- 
 dron, caulking our fliips fides and decks, overhaling our rigging, 
 and fecuring our mafts againfl the tempefluous weather we were, in 
 all probability, to meet with in our paflage round Cape Horn, in fo 
 advanced and inconvenient a feafon. But before I engage in the 
 particulars of thefe tranladions, it will not be improper to give fome 
 account of the prefent ftate of this Ifland of St. Catherine's, and of 
 the neighbouring country ; both as the circumftances of this place 
 are now greatly changed from what they were in the time of former 
 writers, and as tliefe changes laid us under many more difficulties 
 
 and
 
 (43 ) 
 
 and perplexities than we had reafon to expedl, or than other BritijJj 
 fliips, hereafter bound ioihe South-Seas, may perhaps think it pru- 
 dent to ftruggle with. 
 
 This Ifland is efteemed by the natives to be no where above two 
 leagues in breadth, though about nine in length ; it lies in 49": 45' 
 of Weft longitude from London, and extends from the South lati- 
 tude of 27° 2iSi to that of 28°. Although it be of a confiderable 
 height, yet it is fcarce dilcernible at the diftance of ten leagues, be- 
 ing then obfcured under the continent of Brazil, whofe mountains 
 are exceeding high ; but on a nearer approach it is eafy to be dif- 
 tinguiflied, and may be readily known by a number of fmall 
 Iflands lying at each end, and fcattered along the Eaft fide of it. 
 In the annexed plate there is exhibited a very exa<3: view of the 
 N. E. end of the Illand, where [a) is its N. E. point, as it appears 
 when it bears N. W. And {b) is the fmall Ifland of Ahoredo, bear- 
 ing N. N. W, at the diftance of 7 leagues. The beft entrance to 
 the harbour is between the point {a) and the Ifland of Ahoredo, 
 where Ihips may pafs under the guidance of their lead, without the 
 leaft apprehenfions of danger. The view of this North entrance 
 of the harbour is reprefented in the fecond plate, where {a) is the 
 N. W.end of St. Catherine's Ifland, {b) Parrot Ifland,(<:) a battery on 
 St. Catherine's, and {d) a battery on a fmall Ifland near the continent. 
 Frezier has given a draught of this Ifland of St. Catherine's, and of 
 the neighbouring coaft, and the minuter ifles adjacent j but he has 
 by miftake called the Ifland of Asjorcdo the Ifle de Gal, whereas 
 the true Ifle de Gal lies feven or eight miles to the North- weftward 
 of it, and is much fmaller. He has alfo called an Iflmd, to the 
 fouthward of St. Catherine's, Aivcrcdo, and has omitted the Ifland 
 Mafaqiira ; in other refpeds his plan is fufficiently exad. 
 
 The North entrance of the harbour is in breadth about five miles, 
 and the diftance from tlience to the Ifland of St. Antonio is eight 
 miles, and the courfe from the entrance to St. Antonio is S. S. W. i W. 
 About the middle of the Ifland the harbour is contradted by two 
 points of land to a narrow channel, no more than a quarter cf a 
 
 G 2 mile
 
 ( 4+) 
 
 mile broad •, and to defend this paflage, a battery was erefling on the 
 point of land on the Ifland fide. But this feems to be a very ufe- 
 lefs work, as the channel has no more than two fathom water, and 
 confcquently is navigable only for barks and boats, and therefore 
 fecms to be a paflage that an enemy could have no inducement to at- 
 tempt, efpecially as the common paflage at the North end of the 
 Ifland is fo broad and fafe, that no fquadron can be prevented from 
 coming in by any of their fortifications, when the fea-breeze is made. 
 However, the Brigadier Don Jofe S)ha de Paz, the Governor of this 
 fettlement, is efteemed an expert Engineer, and he doubdefs under- 
 ftands one branch of his bufinefs very well, which is the advan- 
 tages which new works bring to thofe who are entrufted with the 
 care of erecting them : For befides the battery mentioned above, 
 there are three other forts carrying on for the defence of the har- 
 bour, none of which are yet compleated. The firfl: of thefe, cal- 
 led St. Juan, is built on a point of St. Catherine's near P^rro/ Ifland j 
 the fecond, in form of a half moon, is on the Ifland of St. Anto~ 
 nio ; and the third, which feems to be the chief, and has fome ap- 
 pearance of a regular fortification, is on an Ifland near the conti- 
 nent, where the Governor refides. 
 
 The foil of the Ifland is truly luxuriant, producing fruits of moft 
 kinds fpotaneoufly ; and the ground is covered over with one conti- 
 nued foreft of trees of a perpetual verdure, which from the exube- 
 rance of the foil, are fo entangled with briars, thorns, and under- 
 wood, as to form a thicket abfolutely impenetrable, except by fome 
 narrow pathways which the inhabitants have made for their own 
 convenience. Thefe, with a few fpots cleared for plantations along 
 the fliore facing the continent, are the only uncovered parts of 
 the Ifland. The woods are extremely fragrant, from the many 
 aromatick trees and (hrubs with which they abound ; and the 
 fruits and vegetables of all climates thrive here, almoft without cul- 
 ture, and are to be procured in great plenty ; fo that here is no want 
 of pine-apples, peaches, grapes, oranges, lemons, citrons, melons, 
 apricots, nor plantains. There are befides great abundance of two 
 
 other
 
 (45 ) 
 
 Other produdlons of no fmall confideration for a fea-ftore, I 
 mean onions and potatoes. The provifions of other kinds are howe- 
 ver inferior to their vegetables : There are fmall vs^ild cattle to be 
 purchafed, fomewhat like buffaloes, but thefe are very indifferent 
 food, their flefh being of a loofe contexture, and generally of a 
 difagreable flavour, which is probably owing to the wild calabafh 
 on which they feed. There are linewife great plenty of pheafants, 
 but they are much inferiour in tafte to thofe we have in Eng- 
 land. The other provifions of the place are monkeys, parrots, and 
 fifli of various forts, which abound in the harbour, and arc all ex- 
 ceeding good, and are eafily catched, for there are a great number 
 of fmall fandy bays very convenient for haling the Seyne. 
 
 The water both on the Ifland and the oppofite continent is ex- 
 cellent, and preferves at fea as well as that of the T^ha^nes. For after 
 it has been in the cafk a day or two it begins to purge itfelf, and 
 ftinks mofl intolerably, and is foon covered over with a green fcum : 
 But this, in a few days, fubfides to the bottom, and leaves the water 
 as clear as chryflal, and perfedly fweet. The French (who, du- 
 ring their South-Sea trade in Queen Anne\ reign firft brought this 
 place into repute) ufually wooded and watered in Bon Port, on the 
 continent fide, where they likewife anchored with great fatety in 
 fix fathom water; and this is doubtlefs the moft commodious 
 road fcjr fuch fliips as intend to make only a fhort flay. But we 
 watered on the St. Catherine's fide, at a plantation oppofite to the 
 Ifland of St. Antonio. 
 
 Thefe are the advantages of this Ifland of St. Catherine's ; but 
 there are many inconveniencies attending it, partly from its climate, 
 but more from its new regulations, and the late form of government 
 cflabliflied there. With regard to the climate, it mufl he remem- 
 bred, that the woods and hills which furround the harbour, pre- 
 vent a free circulation of the air. And the vigorous vegetation 
 which conflantly takes place there, furnifhes fuch a prodigious quan- 
 tity of vapour, that all the night and a great part of the morning a 
 thick fog covers the whole country, and continues till eitlier the 
 
 fun
 
 ( 46 ) 
 
 fun giithers Arength to dlflipate^'itj or it Is difperfed by a brifk 
 fea-breezc. This renders the place dole and humid, and probably 
 occalioned the many fevers and fluxes we were there afflided 
 with. To thefe exceptions I muft not omit to add, that all the 
 day we were peftered with great numbers of mufcatos, which are 
 not much unlike the gnats in England, but more venemous in their 
 flings. And at fan-fet, when the mufcatos retired, they were fuc- 
 ceeded by an infinity of fand-flies, which, though fcarce difcerni- 
 ble to the naked eye, make a mighty buzzing, and wherever they 
 bite raife a fmall bump in the flefli, which is foon attended with a 
 painful itching, liJ^e that arifing from the bite of an EngUJJj harveft 
 bag. 
 
 But as the only light in which this place deferves our confidera- 
 tion, is its favourable fituation for fupplying and refrefhing our 
 cruizers intended for the South-Seas : In this view its greateft in- 
 conveniencies remain flill to be related j and to do this more di- 
 ftindlly, it will not be amifs to confider the changes which it has 
 lately undergone, both in its inhabitants, its police, and its go- 
 vernor. ■ 
 
 In the time of Prezier and ShJvocke, this place ferved only as a 
 retreat to vagabonds and outlaws, who fled thither from all parts of 
 Brazil. They did indeed acknowledge a fubjedlion to the Crown 
 of Portugal^ and had a perfon among them whom they called their 
 Captain, who was confidered in fome fort as their Governor : But 
 both their allegiance to their King, and their obedience to their 
 Captain, feemed to be little more than verbal. For as they had 
 plenty of provifions but no money, they were in a condition to 
 fupport themfelves without the afliftance of any neighbouring fet- 
 flements, and had not amongfl: them the means of tempting any 
 adjacent Governor to bufy his authority about them. In this fitu- 
 ation they were extremely hofpitahle and friendly to fuch foreign 
 ll:ips as came amongft them. For thefe fliips wanting only provi- 
 sions, of which the natives had great flore ; and the natives want- 
 ing clothes, (for they often defpifed money^ and refufed to take it) 
 
 which
 
 (47) 
 
 which the flilps furnlllied them with in exchange for their provl- 
 fions, both fides found tlieir account in this traffic ; and their Cap- 
 tain or Governor had neither power nor intereft to rcftrain it or to 
 tax it. But of late (for reafons which (hall be hereafter mentioned) 
 thefe honeft vagabonds have been obliged to receive amongft them 
 a new colony, and to fubmit to new laws and government. In- 
 flead of their former ragged bare legged Captain (whom however 
 they took care to keep innocent) they have now the honour to be 
 governed by Don 'Jofe Sjha de Paz, a Brigadier of the armies of 
 Portugal. This Gendeman has with him a garrifon of foldiers, 
 and has confequently a more extenfive and a better fupported pow- 
 er than any of his predeceflbrs, and as he wears better clothes, and 
 lives more fplendidly, and has befides a much better knowledge of 
 the importance of money than they could ever pretend to : So he 
 puts in praftice certain methods of procuring it, with which they 
 were utterly unacquainted. But it may be much doubted, if die 
 inhabitants confider thefe methods as tending to promote either 
 their interefls, or that of their Sovereign the King of Portugal. 
 This is certain, that his behaviour cannot but be extremely em- 
 barrafling to fuch Britijh fhips as touch there in their way to the 
 Soutb-Seas. For one of his practices was placing centinels at all the 
 avenues, to prevent the people from felling us any refrefhments, 
 except at fuch exorbitant rates as we could not afford to give. His 
 pretence for this extraordinary ftretch of power was, that he was 
 obliged to preferve their provifions for upwards of an hundred fa- 
 milies, which they daily expeded to reinforce their colony. Hence 
 he appears to be no novice in his profeffion, by his readinefs at in- 
 venting a plaufible pretence for his interefted management. Howe- 
 ver, this, though fufficiendy provoking, was far from being the 
 moft exceptionable part of his conduft. For by the neighbour- 
 hood of the river Plate, a confiderable fmuggling traffic is carried 
 on between the Portuguefe and the Spaniards, efpecially in the ex- 
 changing gold for filver, by which both Princes are defrauded of 
 their fifths, and in this prohibited commerce Don Jofe was fo deeply 
 I engaged.
 
 (48 ) 
 
 engaged, that in order to ingratiate hinifelf with his Spanijh corref- 
 pondents (for no other reafon can be given for his procedure) he 
 treacheroufly difpatched an exprefs to Buenos j4yres in the river of 
 Plate, where Pizarro then lay, with an account of our arrival, and of 
 the ftrength of our fquadron ; particularly the number of fliips, guns 
 and men, and every circumftance which he could fuppofe our ene- 
 my defirous of being acquainted with. And the fame perfidy every 
 Britifi cruizer may expeft, who touches at St. Catherine's, while it 
 is under the Government of Don yofe Syha de Paz. 
 
 Thus much, with what we fliall be neceffitated to relate in the 
 courfe of our own proceedings, may fuffice as to the prefent ftate 
 of St. Catherine's, and the charadler of its Governor. But as the 
 reader may be defirous of knowing to what caufes the late new mo- 
 delling of this fettlement is owing ; to fatisfy him in this particular,, 
 it will be neceflary to give a fliort account of the adjacent continent 
 of Brazil, and of the wonderful difcoveries which have been made 
 there within this laft forty years, which, from a country of but 
 mean eftimation, has rendered it now perhaps the mod confiderable 
 colony on the face of the globe. 
 
 This country was firft difcovered by Americus Vejputio a Floren- 
 tine, who had the good fortune to be honoured with giving his 
 name to the immenfe continent, feme time before found out by 
 Cclumbus : He being in the fervice of the Portugueft-, it was fettled and 
 planted by that Nation, and with the other dominions of Pcriu- 
 o-al, devolved to the Crown of Sf^ain, when that Kingdom became 
 fubjedl to it. During the long war between Spain and the State of 
 Holland, the Dutch pofiTefTed themfelves of the northermoft part of 
 Brazil, and were maflers of it for fome years. But when the 
 Portuguefe revolted from the Spanijh Government, this country took 
 part in the revolt, and foon repofiefied themfelves of the places the 
 Dutch had taken ; fince which time it has continued without inter- 
 ruption under the Crown of Portugal, being, till the beginning of the 
 prefent century, only produdive of fugar, and tobacco, and a few 
 other commodities of very little account. 
 
 I But
 
 ( 49 ) 
 
 But this country, which for many years was only confidered for 
 the produce of its plantation?, has been lately difcovered to abound 
 with the two minerals, which mankind hold in the greatefl efteem 
 and which they exert their utmoft art and induftry ia acquiring, 
 I mean, gold and diamonds. Gold was firft found in the mountains, 
 which lie adjacent to the city of Rio Janeiro. The occafion of its 
 difcovcry is varioufly related, but the moft common account is, 
 that the hidiatis, lying on the back of the Portuguefe fetdements, ' 
 were obferved by the foldiers employed in an expedition at^ainfl 
 them to make ufe of this metal for their fifli hooks ; and their man- 
 ner of procuring it being enquired into, it appeared that great quan- 
 tities of it were annually waflied from the hill*, and left amongft 
 the fand and gravel, which remained in the vallies after the run- 
 ning off, or evaporation of the water. It is now little more than 
 forty years fince any quantities of gold worth notice have been 
 imported to Europe fiom Brazil ; but fince that time the annual 
 imports from thence have been continually augmented by the dif- 
 covery of places in other provinces^ where it is to be met with as 
 plentifully as at firft about Rio Janeiro, And it is now faid, that 
 there is a fmall flender vein of it fpread through all the country at 
 about twenty-four feet from the furface, but that this vein is too ' 
 thin and poor to anfwer the cxpcnce of digging ; however where 
 the rivers or rains have had any courle for a confiderable time, there 
 gold is always to be colleded, the water having feparated the me- 
 tal from the earth, and.depofited it in the fands, thereby faving the 
 expences of digging : So that it is efteemed an infallible gain to be 
 able to divert a ftreani from its channel, and to ranfack its bed. 
 From this account of gathering this metal, it fhould follow that 
 there are properly no gold mines in Brazil -, and this the Gover- 
 nor of Rio Grande (who being at St. Catherine's, frequently vifited 
 Mr. Arifon) did moft confidently afiirm, affuring us, that the gold 
 was all coUedled either from rivers, or from the beds of torrents af- 
 ter floods. It is indeed aflTerted, that in the mountains, large rocks 
 are found abounding with this metal; and I myfelf have feen the 
 ifagmcnt of one of ihefe rocks with a confiderablQ.luoip of o'old in- 
 <K JI tangled
 
 ( 50 ) 
 
 tangled in it ; but even in this cafe, the workmen break off the rocks, 
 iihd do not properly mine into them ; and the great expence in 
 fublifting among thefe mountains, and afterwards in feparating the 
 metal from the ftone, makes this method of procuring gold to be 
 but rarely put in pradtice. 
 
 The examining the bottoms of riverSj and the gnllics of torrents, 
 and the wafliing the gold found therein from the faml and dirt, 
 with which it is always mixed, are works performed by Haves, who 
 are principally Negroes, kept in great numbers by the Portuguefe- 
 for thefe purpofes. The regulation of the duty of thefe flaves is fin- 
 gular : For they are each of them obliged to furnifh their mafter 
 with tlie eighth part of an ounce of gold per diem ; and if they 
 are either fo fortunate or induftrious as to collc(5l a greater quantity,, 
 the furplus is confidered as their own property, and they liave the 
 liberty of difpofing of it as they think fit. So that it is faid fome 
 Negroes who have accidentally fallen upon rich wafhing places have 
 themfelves purchafed flaves, and have lived afterwards in great 
 fpleudor, their original mailer having no other demand on them 
 than the daily fupply of the forementioned eighth ; which as the 
 Portuguefe ounce is fomewhat lighter than our troy ounce, may a- 
 mount ta about nine fhillings flerling. 
 
 The quantity of gold thus colleded in the Brazilsy and returned 
 annually to Lisbon, may be in fome degree eflimated from the a- 
 mount of the King's fifth. This hath of late been efleemed one 
 year with another to be one hundred and fifty arroves of 3 2 /. Por- 
 tuguefi weight, each of which, at 4 /. the troy ounce, makes very near 
 300,000/. flerlingj and confequently the capital, of which this is 
 the fifth, is about a million and a half flerling. And the annual 
 return of gold to Lijbon cannot be lefs than this, though it be difw 
 ficult to determine how much it exceeds it; perhaps we may not be 
 very much miflaken in our conjefture, if we fuppofe the goM ex- 
 changed for filver with the Spaniards at Buenos Ayres, and what is 
 brought privily to Europe, and efcapes the duty, amounts to near 
 half a million more, which will make the whole annual produce 
 cf the Brafilian gold near two millions fterlingj a prodigious fum. 
 
 to.
 
 (51 ) 
 
 to be found in a country, which a few years fince was not knowa 
 to furnifli a fingle grain. 
 
 I have already mendoned, that befides gold, tliis country does 
 likewife produce diamonds. The difcovery of thefc valuable Aones 
 is much more recent than that of gold, it being as yet fcarce twenty 
 years fijice the firft were brought to Europe. They are found in the 
 fame manner as the gold, in the gullies of torrents and beds of rivers, 
 but only in particular places, and not fo univerfally fpread through 
 the country. They were often found in wafliing the gold before 
 they were known to be diamonds, and were confequently thrown 
 away with the fand and gravel feparated from it. And it is very 
 well remembered, that numbers of very large ftoncs, which would 
 have made the fortunes of the poffeflbrs, have palled unregarded 
 through the hands of thofe, who now with impatience fupport the 
 oortifying refle<3:ion. However, about twenty years fince, a per- 
 fon acquainted with the appearance of rough diamonds, conceived 
 that thefe pebbles, as they were then efteemed, were of the fame 
 kind : But it is faid', that there was a confiderable interval betweeti 
 the firft ftarting of this opinion, and the confirmation of it by pro- 
 per trials and examination, it proving difficult to perfuade the in- 
 habitants, that what they had been long accuftomed to defpife, could 
 be of the importance reprefented by the difcovery ; and I have 
 been informed, that in this interval, a Governor of one of their 
 places procured a good number of thefe ftones, which he pretend- 
 ed to make ufe of at cards to mark with, inftead of counters. But 
 to proceed : It was at lad confirmed by fkilful Jewellers in Europe^ 
 confulted on this occafion, that the ftones thus found in Brazil 
 were truly diamonds, many of which were not inferiour either ia 
 luftre, or any other quality to thofe of the Eaft-Itidies. On this 
 determination the Portuguefe, in the neighbourhood of thole places 
 where they had firft been obferved, fet themfelves to fearch for 
 them with great afiiduity. And they were not without great hopes 
 of difcovering confiderable mafles of them, as they found large 
 
 H 2 rocks
 
 ( 5^ ) 
 
 rocks of chriflal in many of the mountains, from whence -thd 
 flreams came which waflied down the dinmonds. ' rr' ■ vS 
 
 But it was foon reprefented to ^Tie-King of Perfnga!, that if fuch 
 plenty of diamonds fhould be met with a& their fanguine coniec- 
 tures Teemed to indicate, this would fodebafe their value, and di- 
 minifh their eftimation, that befides ruining all the Europeans, who 
 had anv quantity of Indian diamonds in their poffeffion, it would 
 render the difcovery itfelf of no importance, and would prevent his 
 Majefty from receiving any advantages from it. And on thefe con- 
 fiderations his Majefty has thought proper to^ reftrain the genei-ali 
 fearch of diamonds, and has ered^ed a Diamond Company for that 
 purpofe, with an exclufive charter. This Company, in confidera- 
 tion of a fum paid by them to the King, have the property of all- 
 diamonds found in Brazil : But to hinder their collecting too 
 large quantities, and thereby debafing their value, they are pro- 
 hibited from employing above eight hundred flaves in fearching af- 
 ter them. And to prevent any of his other fubjedts from ading' 
 the fame part, and likewife to fecure the Company from being de- 
 frauded by the interfering of interlopers in their trade, he has de- 
 populated a large town, and a conliderable diftrid round it, and 
 has obliged the inhabitants, who are faid to amount to fix thoufond, 
 to remove to another part of the country ; for this town being in 
 the nei'^hbourhood of the diamonds, it was thought impoffible to- 
 prevent fuch a number of people, who were on the fpot, from fre- 
 quently fmuggling. 
 
 In confequence of thefe important difcoveries in Brazil, new 
 laws new governments, and new regulations have been eftabliflied 
 in many parts of the country. For not long lince, a confiderable 
 trad, poffciTed by a fet of inhabitants, who from their principal fet- 
 tlemcnt were called Pauli/is, was almoft independent of the 
 Crown of Portugal, to which they fcarcely acknowledged more 
 than a nominal allegiance. Thefe are faid to be defcendants of 
 thofe portiigu€ji\ who retired from the northern part of Brazil, 
 
 when
 
 ( 53 ) 
 
 when it whs invaded and poflelled by the Dutch. And being for a 
 Jong time negledled and obligCid to provide for their own feturity 
 and defence, the neceffify of their aftairs produced a kind of go- 
 vernment amongft them, which they found fuflicient for the con- 
 fined manner of Hfe to which tliey were inured. And tJierefore 
 rejeding and defpifing the authority and mandate of the Courf 
 of Lifvon, they were often engaged in a Aate of downright rebel- 
 tion : And the mountains furrounding their country, and the diffi- 
 cuky of clearing the few paflagts that open into it, generally put it 
 in their power to make their own terms before they fubmitted. But 
 as gold was found to abound in this country of the Pmili/h^ the 
 prefent King of Portugal (during whofe reign almofl: the whole 
 difcoveries 1 liave mentioned were begun and compleated) thought 
 it incumbent on him to reduce this province, which now became 
 of great confequence, to the fame dependency and obedience with 
 the reft of the country, which, I am told, he has at laft, though 
 with great difficulty, happily effeded. And the fame motives 
 which induced his Majefty to undertake the redudion of the Pau^ 
 lijis, has alfo occafioned the changes I have mentioned, to have 
 taken place at the Ifland of St. Catherine's. For the Governor o£ 
 Rio Grande, of whom I have already fpoken, aflured us, that in the 
 neighbourhood of this Ifland there were confiderable rivers which 
 were found to be extremely rich, and that this was the reafon that 
 a garrifon, a mihtary Governor, and a new colony was fettled there. 
 And as the harbour at this liland is by much thefccureft and the moft: 
 capacious of any on the coaft, it is not improbable, if the riches o£ 
 the neighbourhood anfwer their expcdation, but it may become 
 in time the principal lettlement in Brazil, and the moft confiderable 
 port in all South yl/nerica. 
 
 Thus much I have thought nccefl^iry to infeit, in relation to the. 
 piefent ftate of Brazil, and of the Ifland of St. Catherijie's. For as 
 this luft place has been generally recommended as the moft eligible. 
 port for our cruifer.^ to refrtlii at, wijich are bound to the S'Mih- 
 Sjeas, I believed it to be my duty to inftrud my countrymen, in the. 
 
 hitherto.'
 
 (54) 
 
 iiitherto unfufpeded inconveniencies which attend that place. And 
 as the Brafilian gold and diamonds are fubjedts, about which^ from 
 their novelty, very few particulars have been hitherto publiflied, I 
 conceived this account I had colleded of them, would appear to the 
 reader to be neither a trifling nor a ufelefe digreflion. Thefe fub- 
 jeds being thus difpatched, I fliall now return to the fcries of our 
 own proceedings. 
 
 When we firft arrived at St. Catherine' s, we were employed in 
 refrefliing our fick on fhore, in wooding and watering the fquadron, 
 cleanling our fliips, and examining and fecuring our mafts and rig- 
 ging, as 1 have already obferved in the foregoing chapter. At the 
 fame time Mr. Anfon gave diredions, that the ihips companies 
 ihould be fupplied with frefh meat, and that they fhould be vidu- 
 alled with whole allowance of all the kinds of provifion. In con- 
 fcquenoe of thele orders, we liad frefli beef fent on board us con- 
 tinually for our daily expence, and what was wanting to make up 
 our allowance we received from our Vidualler the Anna Pink^ in 
 order to preferve the provifions on board our fquadron entire for our 
 future fervice. The feafon of the year growing each day lefs favou- 
 rable for our paffige round Cape Horn, Mr. Avfon was very defi- 
 rous of leaving this place affoon as poflible ; and we were at firft 
 in hopes that our whole bufinefs would be done, and we {hould be 
 in a readinefs to iiiil in about a fortnight from our arrival : But, on 
 examining the Tryal's mafts, we, to our no fmall vexation, found 
 inevitable employment for twice that time. For, on a furvey, it 
 was found that the main-maft was fprung at the upper woulding, 
 though it was thought capable of being fecured by a couple of 
 fifties ^ but the fore-maft was reported to be unfit for fervice, and 
 tliereupon the Carpenters were fent into the woods, to endeavour to 
 find a ftick proper for a fore-maft. But after a fearch of four 
 days, they returned without having l>een able to meet with any tree 
 fit for the puipoie. This obliged them to come to a fecond con- 
 fultation about the old fore-maft, when it was %reed to endeavour 
 to fecure. it by cafing it with three fifties : And in this work the 
 
 Carpenters
 
 f 55) 
 
 Carpenters were employed, till within a day or two of our failing. 
 In the mean time, the Commodore thinking it necefTary to have a 
 clean veffel on our arrival in the South- Seas, ordered the Tryal to be 
 hove down, as this would not occafion any lofs of time, but nii2;ht 
 be compleated while the Carpenters were refitting her marts, which 
 was done on (hore. 
 
 On the 27th of December we difcovered a fail in the offing, and- 
 not knowing but fhe might be a Spaniard, the eighteen oared-bo.U' 
 was manned and armed, and fent under the command of our fe- 
 cond Lieutenant, to examine her, before {he arrived within the 
 proteftion of the forts. She proved to be a Portuguefe Brigantino- 
 from Rio Grande. And though our Officer, as it appeared on in- 
 quiry, had behaved with the utmoft civility to the Mafter, and'j 
 had refufed to accept a calf, which the Mafter would have forced 
 on him as a prefent : Yet the Governor took great offence at our 
 fending our boat ; and talked of it in a high ftrain, a3 a violation 
 of the peace fublifting between the Crowns of Great- Britain and 
 Portugal. We at firft: imputed this ridiculous bluftering to no 
 deeper a caufe, than Don Jofe's infolence ; but as we found he pro- 
 ceeded fo far as to charge our Officer with behaving rudely, and. 
 opening letters, and particularly with an attempt to fake out of the- 
 veflel, by yiolence, the very calf which we knew he had refufed 
 to receive as a prefent, (a circumffance which we were fatisfied the 
 Governor was well acquainted with) we had hence reafon to fuf- 
 pedl, that he purpofely fought this quarrel, and had more impor- 
 tant motives for engaging in it, than the mere captious biafs of his 
 temper. What thefe motives were it was not fo eafy for us to de- 
 termine at that time j but as we afterwards found by letters, which 
 fell into our liands in the South-Seas, that he had difpatched an ex- 
 prefs to Buenos Ayres, where Pizarro then lay, with an account of 
 our fquadron's arrival at St. Catherine's, together with the moflr 
 ample and circumfl:antial intelligence of our force and condition, 
 we thence eonjeihired that Don Jofe had raifed this groundJcfsi 
 clamour, only to prevent our vifiting theBrigantine when flae fhould 
 
 put
 
 ( 5^ ) 
 put to (cA again, leaft we might there find proofs of his perfidious 
 behaviour, and perhaps at tlie fame time difcover the fecret of his 
 fmuggling correfpondence with his neighbouring Governors, and the 
 Spaniards at Buenos Ayres. But to proceed, 
 
 It was near a month before the Iryal was refitted ; for not only 
 her lower mafts were defedive, as hatli been %lready mentioned, 
 but her main top-maft and fore-yard were likcwife decayed and rot- 
 ten. While this work was carrying on, the other fliips of the fqua- ; 
 dron fixed new ftanding rigging, and fet up a fufficient number of 
 preventer flirouds to each maft, to fecure them in the msfl efte(flu- 
 al manner. And in order to render the fliips ftiffer, and to enable 
 them to carry more fxil abroad, and to prevent their labouring in hard 
 gales of wind, each Captain had orders given him to ftrike down fome 
 of their great guns into the hold. Thefe precautions being complied 
 with, and each ftiip having taken in as much wood and water as 
 there was room for, the T'ryal was at laft compleated, and the 
 whole fquadron was ready for the fea : On which the tents on 
 fhore were ftruck, and all the fick were received on board. And 
 here we had a melancholy proof how much the healthinefs of this 
 place had been over-rated by former writers, for we found that 
 thou'^h the Centurion alone had buried no lefs than twenty-eight 
 men fince our arrival, yet the numbex- of her fick was in the fame 
 interval increafed from eighty to ninety-fix. And now our crews 
 being embarked, tind every thing prepared for our departure, 
 the Commodore made a fignal for all Captains, and delivered them 
 their orders, containing the fuccefiive places of rendezvous from 
 hence to the coaft of China. And then, on the next day, being 
 the 1 8th of "January^ the fignal was made for weighing, and the 
 fcjuadron put to fea, leaving without regret this Ifland of St. Cathe- 
 rine's; where we had been fo extremely difappointed in ourrefrefh- 
 ments, in our accommodations, and in the humane and friendly 
 offices which we had been taught to expert in a place, which hath 
 been fo much celebrated for its hofpitality, freedom, and conveni- 
 
 cncy. 
 
 C H A F.
 
 ( S7) 
 
 CHAR VI. 
 
 The run from St. Catherines to port St' yulian^ with 
 fome account of that port, and of the country to 
 the fouthward of the river of Plate.. 
 
 IN leaving St. Catherine Sy we left the laft amicable port we pro- 
 pofed to touch at, and were now proceeding to an hoflile, or 
 at beft, a defart and inhofpitable coaft. And as we were to 
 expedt a more boifterous climate to the foutiiward than any wc 
 had yet experienced, not only our danger of reparation would by 
 this means be much greater than it had been hitherto, but other ac- 
 cidents of a more pernicious nature were likewife to be apprehend- 
 ed, and as much as polTible to be provided againft. And therefore 
 Mr. Anfon, in appointing the various ftations at which the fliips of 
 the fquadron were to rendezvous, had confidercd, that it was pof- 
 fible his own (hip might be difabled from getting round Cape 
 Hor;/, or might be loft, and had given proper directions, that 
 even in that cafe the expedition fliould not be abandoned. For the 
 orders delivered to the Captains, the day before we (ailed from St. 
 Catherine's, were, that in cafe of feparation, which they were with 
 the utmoft care to endeavour to avoid, the firfl: place of rendezvous 
 fliould be the bay of port St, Julian ; delcribing tlie place from 
 Sir John Narborough's, account of it : There they were to fupply 
 themfelves with as much fait as they could take in, both for their 
 own ufe, and for the ufe of the fquadron ; and if, after a Hay 
 there of ten days, they were not joined by the Commodore, they 
 were then to proceed through Streigbis le Maire round Cape Horn, 
 into the South-Seas, where the next place of rendezvous was to be 
 the llland of Nojlra Senora del Socoro, in tlie latitude of 45^ t<outh, 
 jmd longitude from the Lizard jx": 12! Weft. They were to bring 
 
 I this
 
 tills Ifland to bear E, N. E, and to cruize from five to twelve lea^ires 
 diftance from it, as long as their ftore of wood and water v'ould 
 permit, both which they were to expend with the utmofl frugahtVi 
 Arid when they were under an abfolute neceflity of afredi fupplv,. 
 they wei"e to lliind in, and endeavour to find out an anchoring 
 place ; and in cafe they could not, and the weather made it dange- 
 rous to fupply their fliips by landing off and on, they were then; 
 to make t!ie belt of their way to the Ifland of 'Juan Fcrmindes, in 
 the latitude of 33" : 37' South. And as foon as they had there re- 
 cruited their wood and water, they were to continue cruizing off the 
 anchoring place of that Ifland for fifty-fix days ; in which time, if. 
 they were not ioined by the Commodore, they might conclude 
 that fome accident had bcfillen him, and they were forthwith to 
 put themfelves under the command of the fenior Ofiicer, who was 
 to ufe his utmofl: endeavours to annoy the enemy both by fea and; 
 land. That with thefe views their new Commodore was to conti- 
 nue in thofe feas as long as his provifions lafted, or as long as they 
 were recruited by what he fhould take from the enemy, referving 
 only a fufficient quantity to carry him and the fliips under his com- 
 mand to Macao, at the entrance of the river Tigris near Canton 
 on the coaft of China, where having fupplied himfelf with a new 
 ftock of provifions, he was thence, without delay, to make the 
 beft of his way to Englafid. And as it was found impoflible as yet 
 to unload our VicTiualler tlie Ami Pink, the Commodore gave the 
 Mafler of her the fame rendezvous, and the fame orders to pirt 
 himfelf under the command of the remaining fenior Officer, 
 
 Under thefe orders the fqnadron failed from St. Catheri}tfs on 
 Sunday the i8th oi January, as hath been already mentioned in 
 the preceding chapter. The next day we had very fqually wea- 
 ther,, attended with rain, lightning and thunder, but it foon became 
 •fair aoT.in with light breezes, and continued thus till Wedncfday 
 evening, when it blew frefh again ; and encreafing all night, by 
 eight the next morning it became a moft violent ftorm, and we had 
 with It fo thick a fag, that it was impoflible to fee at the difiance 
 
 of
 
 ( 59 ) 
 of two fliips length, fo that the whole fquadron dilappeared. On 
 this, a fignal was made, by firing guns, to bring to with the larboard 
 tacks, the wind being then due Eaft. We ourfelvcs immediately 
 handed the top-fails, bunted the main-fail, and lay to under a 
 reefed mizen till nooa, when the fog difperfed, and we foon dif- 
 covered all the fliips of the fquadron except the Pearl, who did 
 not join us till near a month afterwards. The Trp/ Sloop was a 
 great way to leeward, having loft her main-maft in this fquall, and 
 having been obliged, for fear of bilging, to cut away the raft. Wc 
 bore down witli the fquadron to her relief, and the Ghticefter was 
 ordered to take her in tow, for the weather did not entirely abate 
 till the day after, and even then, a great fwell continued from the 
 eaftward, in confequence of the preceding ftorm. 
 
 After this accident we ftcod to the fouthward with little inter- 
 ruption, and here we experienced the fame fetting of the current, 
 which we had obferved before our arrival at St. Catherine's j that is, 
 we generally found ourfelves to the fouthward of our reckoning, by 
 about twenty miles each day. This error continued, with a little 
 variation, till we had pafled the latitude of the river of Plate ; and 
 .even then, we found that the fame current, however difficult to be 
 accounted for, did yet undoubtedly take place ; for we were not fa- 
 -tisfied in deducing it from the error in our reckoning, but we actu- 
 ally tried it more than once, when a calm made it pradlicable. 
 
 When we had pafled the latitude of the river of Plate, we had 
 ibundings all along the coaft of Patagonia. Thefe foundings, when 
 well afcertained, being of great ufein determining the pofition of the 
 fliip, and we having tried them more frequendy, in greater depths, 
 and with more attention, than I believe had been done before us, 
 I fliall recite our obfervations as fuccindly as I can, referring to the 
 chart hereafter inferted in the ninth chapter of this book, for a ge- 
 neral view of the whole. In the latitude of 36°: 52' we had 
 fixty fathom of water, with a bottom of fine black and grey fand ; 
 from thence, to 39<> : 55', we varied our depths from fifty to eighty 
 fathom, though we had conftantly the fame bottom as before ; be- 
 
 I 2 tween
 
 (6o) 
 
 tWTcn the lafl: mentioned latitude, and 43" : 16', wc had only fine 
 grey fand, widi the lame variation of depths, except that we once 
 or twice lefiened our water to forty fiuhom. After this, we conti- 
 nued in forty flithom for about half a degree, having a bottom of 
 coarfe fand and broken fliells, at which time we were in fidit of 
 land, and not above kven leagues from it : As we edged fiom the 
 land we met with variety of foundings ; firft black f.uid, then 
 inuddv, and foon after rough ground with (tones ; but then en- 
 creafnig our water to forty-eight fathom, we had a muddy bottom 
 to the latitude of 46° : i o'. We then returned again into thirty-iix 
 fathom, and kept fhoaling our water, till at length we came into 
 twelve fathom, having conftantly fmall ftones and pebbles at the 
 bottom. Part of this time we had a view of Cape Biarxo, which 
 lies in about the latitude of 46° : 52', and longitude Weft from 
 London 66° : 43'. This is the moft remarkable land upon the coaft : 
 Two very exadt views of it are exhibited in the annexed plate, 
 where [b) reprefents the Cape itfelf ; thefe draughts will fully ena- 
 ble future Voyagers to diftinguifh it. Steering from hence S. by 
 E. nearly, we, in a run of about thirty leagues, deepned out water 
 to fifty fathom, without once altering the bottom ; and then draw- 
 ing towards the fliore with a S. W. courfe, varying rather to the 
 weftward, we had every where a fandy bottom, till our coming in- 
 to thirty fathom, where we had again a fight of land diftant from 
 us, about eight leagues, lying in the latitude of 48° : 3 i'. We made 
 this land on the 17th of February, and at five in the afternoon we 
 came to an anchor upon the fame bottom, in the latitude of 48° : 58', 
 the fouthermoft land then in view bearing S. S. W, the norther- 
 moftN. 4- E, a fmall Ifland N. W, and the weftermoft hummock 
 W. S. W. In this ftation we found the tide to fet S. by W ; and 
 weighing again at five the next morning, we, an hour afterwards, 
 difcovcred a fail, upon which the Severn and Ghucejier were both 
 direfted to give chace ; but we foon perceived it to be the Pearly 
 which feparated from us a few days after we left St. Catherine's, 
 and on this we made a fignal for the Severn to rejoin the fquadron, 
 
 ■^ leaving
 
 JUnit 4 Ini^l'"'''
 
 CAFE BLANCO /■eanna J" W dutant 3 lea/ju&i. 
 
 CAPE BLANCO m tJw ,vii.,/ .'/' PATAGONIA: ^Smniuj ./ i' /(■' i /I' ,U,„I ., /.vym-.,. 
 
 m^ 
 
 o
 
 ( 6i ) 
 
 leaving the Glciicefle)' a]onc in the purCuit. And now we were fur- 
 prized to fee, that on the Glcucejler's approach, the people on board 
 the Pearl increafed their fail, and ftood from her. However, the 
 Gloucefier came up with them, but found them with their hammocks 
 in their nettings, and every thing ready for an engagement. At two 
 in the afternoon the Vearl joined us, and running up under our 
 ftern. Lieutenant Salt hailed the Commodore, and acquainted him 
 that Captain Kidd died on the 31 ft of 'January. He likewi(e in- 
 formed him, that he had feen five large (hips the loth inftant, 
 which he for fomc time imagined to be our fquadron : That he fuf- 
 fered the commanding fliip, which wore a red broad pennant, ex- 
 aftly refernbling that of the Commodore, at the main top-mart: 
 head, to come within gun-fliot of Jiim before he difcovercd his 
 miftake ; but then finding it not to be the Centurion^ lie haled 
 clofe upon the wind, and crowded from them with all his fail, and 
 ftanding crofs a ripling, where they hefitatcd to follow him, he 
 Isappily efcaped. He made them to be five SfajiiJJ? men of war, 
 one of them exceedingly like the Gloucefier, which was the occa- 
 fion of his apprehenfions when the Gkucejlcr chafed him. By their 
 appearance he thought they confifted of two fliips of feventy guns, 
 two of fifty, and one of forty guns. The whole fquadron continu- 
 ed in chace of him all that day, 'but at night fmding-they could not 
 get near him, they gave over the chace, and diredkd their courie 
 to the fouthward. 
 
 And now hr.d it not been for the necefTity we were under of re- 
 fitting the Tryal, this piece of intelligence would have prevented 
 our making any ftay at St. Juliati's ; but as it was impoflible for that 
 Hoop to proceed round the Cape in her prefent condition, fnne ftay 
 there was inevitable, and therefore the fimc evening we came to an 
 anchor again in twenty five fathom water, the bottom a mixture of 
 mud and fand, and the high hummock bearing S. W. by W. And 
 weighing at nine in the morning, we foon after lent tlie two Cut- 
 ters belonging to the Centurion and Sever }2 in fliore, to difcov4;r the 
 harbour of St. Julian, while the fhips kept ftanding along the 
 
 coaft.
 
 (62) 
 
 coaft, at about the diftance of a league from the land. At fix 
 o'clock we anchored in the bay of St. 'Julian, in nineteen fathom, 
 the bottom muddy ground with fand, the northermoft land in 
 fight bearing N. and by E, the fouthermoft S. | E, and the high 
 hummock, to which Sir John Narborough formerly gave the name 
 of Wood's Mount, W. S. W. Soon after, the Cutter returned on 
 board having difcovered the harbour, which did not appear to us 
 in our fituation, the northermoft point fliutting in upon the fouther- 
 moft, and in appearance clofing the entrance. To facilitate the 
 knowledge of this coaft to future Navigators, there are two views 
 annexed ; the firft of the land of Patagonia, to the northward of 
 port St. Julian, where (to) is Wood's Mount, and the bay of St. 
 Julian lies round the point (f). The fecond view is of the bay it- 
 felf J and here again (to) is Wood's Mount, [a) is cape St. Julian, 
 and [b) the port or river's mouth. 
 
 Being come to an anchor in this bay of St, Julian, principally 
 with a view of refitting the Tryal, the Carpenters were immediate- 
 ly employed in that bufinefs, and continued fo during our whole 
 ftay at the place. The Tryal's. main maft having been carried away 
 about twelve feet below the cap, they contrived to make the re- 
 maining part of the maft ferve again ; and the Wager was ordered 
 to fupply her with a fpare main top- maft, which the Carpenters 
 converted into a new fore-maft. And I cannot help obferving, that 
 this accident to the TryaN maft, which gave us fo much uneafi- 
 nefs at that time, on account of the delay it occafioned, was, in 
 all probability, the means of preferving the floop, and all her crew. 
 For before this, her mafts, how well foever proportioned to a better 
 climate, were much too lofty for thefe high fouthern latitudes : So 
 that had they weathered the preceding ftorm, it would have been 
 impofiible for them to have ftood againft thofe feas and tempefts we 
 afterwards encountered in pafiing round Cape Horn, and the lofs of 
 mafts in that boifterous climate, would fcarcely have been attended 
 with lefs than the iofs of the vefi"el, and of every man on board her ; 
 lince it would have been impradicable for the -other fliips to have 
 
 given
 
 ( 63 ') 
 
 given them any relief, during the continuance of thofe impetuous 
 ftorin?. 
 
 Wliilft we flayed at this place, the Commodore appointed the 
 Honourable Captain Murray to fucceed to liie Pearl, and Captain 
 Cheap to the Imager, and he promoted Mr. Charles Saunders, his 
 firft Lieutenant, to the command of the Tryrt' Sloop. But Capt. Saun- 
 ders lying dangeroufly ill of a fever on board the Centurion, and it 
 being the opinion of the furgeons, that the removing him on board 
 his own fliip, in his prefent condition, might tend to the hazard of 
 his life ; Mr. An/on gave an order to Mr. Sauniarez, firft Lieute- 
 nant of the Centurion, to aft as Mafter and Commander of the 
 Tryal, during the illnefs of Captain Saunders. 
 
 Here the Commodore too, in order to eafc the expedition of 
 all unnecefTary expencc, held a farther confukation with his Cap- 
 tains about unloading and difcharging the Anna Pink ; but they re- 
 prefented to him, that they were fo far from being in a condition of 
 taking any part of her loading on board, that they had ftill great 
 quantities of provifions in the way of their guns between decks, and 
 that their fliips were withal fo very deep, that they were not fit for 
 adion without being cleared. This put the Commodore under a 
 neceffity of retaining the Pink in the fervice ; and as it was ap- 
 prehended we fliould certainly meet with the Spanijh fquadron, ia 
 paffing the Cape, Mr. Anfon thought it advifeable to give orders to 
 the Captains, to put all their provifions, which were in the way 
 of their guns, on board the Anna Pink, and to remount fuch of 
 their guns as had formerly, for the eafe of their fhips, been ordered 
 into the hold. 
 
 This bay of St. Julian, where we are now at anchor, being a 
 convenient rendezvous, in cafe of feparation, for all cruifers bound 
 to the fouthward, and the whole coafi: of Patagonia, from the river 
 of Plate to the Streights of Magellan, lying nearly parallel to their 
 ufual route, a fhort account of the fingularity of tlJs country, with 
 a particular defcription of port St. Julian, may perhaps be neither 
 unacceptable to the curious, nor unworthy the attention of future 
 
 Navigators,
 
 (64) 
 
 Navi<yators, as fome of them, by unforefeen accidents, may be ob^ 
 li^ed to run in with the land, and to make fome flay on this coaft, 
 in which cafe the knowledge of the country, its produce and in- 
 habitants, cannot but be of the utmofl: confequence to them. 
 
 To begin then with the tradt of country ufually ftiled Patagonia. 
 This is the' name often given to the fouthermoft part of South A- 
 vierica, which is unpoffeffed by the Spaniards, extending from 
 their fettlements to the Streights of Magellan. On the eaft fide, 
 this country is extremely remarkable, for a peculiarity not to be pa- 
 ralleled in any other known part of the globe ; for though the whole 
 territory to the northward of the river of Plate is full of wood, 
 and ftored \vith immenfe quantities of large timber trees, yet to the 
 fouthward of the river no trees of any kind are to be met with, ex- 
 cept a few peach-trees, £rft planted and cultivated by the Spaniards 
 in the neighbourhood of Buenos Ayrcs : So that on the whole 
 eaftcrn coaft of Patagonia, extending near four hundred leagues in 
 length, and reaching as far back as any difcoveries have yet been 
 made, no other wood has been found than a few infignificant fhrubs. 
 Sir John Narborougb in particular, who was fent out, by King 
 Charles the fecond, exprefly to examine this country, and the 
 Strei^hts of Magellan, and who, in purfuance of his orders, win- 
 tered upon this coaft in port St. Julian and port Dejhe, in the year 
 1670; Sir John Narborougb, I fay, tells us, that he never faw a 
 ftick of wood in the country, large enough to make the handle of 
 an hatchet. 
 
 But though this country be fo deftitute of wood, it abounds with 
 nafture. For the land appears in general to be made up of downs 
 of a li^ht dry gravelly foil, and produces great quantities of long 
 coarfe "lafs, which grows in tufts interfperfed with large barren fpots 
 of gravel between them. This grafs, in many places, feeds im- 
 menfe herds of cattle : For the Spaniards at Buenos Ayres, having 
 brought over a few black cattle from Europe at their firft fetdement, 
 they have thriven prodigioufly by the plenty of herbage which they 
 found here, and are now encreafcd to that degree, and are extended 
 
 fo
 
 (6s ) 
 
 fo far into the country, that they are not confidered as private pro- 
 perty ; but many thoufands at a time are flaughtered every year by 
 the Hunters, only for their hides and tallow. The manner cf kil- 
 ling thefe cattle, being a pradice peculiar to that part of the world, 
 merits a more circumftantial defcription. The Hunters employed 
 on this occafion being all of them mounted on horfeb.xk, (and 
 both the Spaniards and Indians in that part of the world are ufually 
 moft excellent horfemen) they arm themfelves with a kind of a 
 fpear, which, at its end, inftead of a blade fixed in the fame 
 line with the wood in the ufual manner, has its blade fixed acrofs ; 
 with this inftrument they ride at a beaft, and furround him. The 
 Hunter that comes behind him hamftrings him j and as after this 
 operation the beaft foon tumbles, without being able to raife himfelf 
 again, they leave him on the ground, and purfue others, whom 
 they ferve in the fame manner. Sometimes there is a fecond party, 
 who attend the Hunters, to (kin the catde as they fall : But it is faid, 
 that at other times the Hunters chufe to let them languifh in tor- 
 ment till the next day, from an opinion that the anguifh, wliich the 
 animal in the mean time endures, may burft the lymphaticks, and 
 thereby facilitate the feparation of the fkin from the carcafs : And 
 though their Priefts have loudly condemned this moft barbarous 
 pradlice, and have gone fo far, if my memory does not fail me, 
 as to excommunicate thofe v. ho follow it, yet all their efforts to put 
 an entire flop to it have hitherto proved ineffedlual. 
 
 Befidesthe numbers of cattle which are every year flaughtered for 
 their hides and tallow, in the manner already defcribed, it is often 
 neceffary for the purpofes of agriculture, and likewife with other 
 views, to take them alive, and without wounding them : This is 
 performed with a mofl wonderful and almoft incredible dexterity, 
 and principally by the ufe of a machine, which the EngUjh, who 
 have refided at Buenos Ayres^ generally denominate a laOi. It is 
 made of a thong of feveral fathoms in length, and very ftrong, 
 with a running noofe at one end of it : This the Hunters (who in 
 this cafe are alfo mounted on horfcback) take in their right hand?, 
 
 K it
 
 ( 66 ) 
 
 h being firfl properly coHed up, and having its end oppofite to the 
 noofe faftened to the faddle j and thus prepared they ride at a herd 
 of cattle. When they arrive within a certain diftance of a beaft, 
 they throw their thong at him with fuch exadnefs, that they ne- 
 ver fail of fixing the noofe about his horns. The beaft, when he 
 finds himfelf entangled, generally runs, but the horfe, being fwifter, 
 attends him, and prevents the thong from being too much flrained, 
 til] a fecond Hunter, who follows the game, throws another noofe 
 about one of its hind legs ; and this being done, both horfes (they 
 being trained for this purpofe) inftantly turn different ways, in or- 
 der to flrain the two thongs in contrary diredions, on which the 
 beaft, by their oppofite pulls, is prefently overthrown, and then the 
 horfes flop, keeping the thongs fWl upon the flretch : Being thus on 
 the ground, and incapable of refinance, (for he is extended between 
 the two horfes) the Hunters alight, and fecure him in fuch a man- 
 ner, that they afterwards eafily convey him to whatever place they 
 pleafe. In the fame manner they noofe horfes, and, as it is faid, 
 even tygers j and however flrange this lafl circumflance may ap- 
 pear, there are not wanting perfons of credit who affert it. In- 
 deed, it mufl be owned, that the addrefs both of the Spa?iiards and 
 Indians in that part of the world, in the ufe of this lafh or noofe, 
 and the certainty with which they throw it, and fix it on any in- 
 tended part of the beafl at a confiderable diftance, are matters only 
 to be believed, from the repeated and concurrent teflimony of all 
 who have frequented that country, and might reafonably be quef^ 
 tioned, did it rely on a fingle report, or had it been ever contra- 
 dided or denied by any one who had refided at Buenos Ayres. 
 
 The cattle which are killed in the manner I have already ob- 
 ferved, are flaughtered only for their hides and tallow, to which 
 fometimes are added their tongues, and the refl of their flelli is left ta 
 putrify, or to be devoured by the birds and wild beafts ; but the 
 greatefl part of this carion falls to the fl^iare of the wild dogs, of 
 which there arc immenfe numbers to be found in that country^ 
 They are fuppofed to have been originally produced by Spanifh 
 
 dogs
 
 (67) 
 
 dogs from Buems Ayres, who, allured by the great quantity of ca- 
 rion, and the facility they had by that means of fubfifting, left their 
 Maflers, and ran wild amongft the cattle ; for they are plainly of 
 the breed of the European dogs, an animal not originally fouj^.d ia 
 America, But thougii thefe dogs are faid to be fome thoufinds in 
 a company, they hitherto neither diminish nor prevent the increafe 
 of the cattle, not daring to attack them, by reafon of the numbers 
 which conftandy feed together; but contenting themfelves with the 
 carion left them by the Hunters, and perhaps now and then with a 
 few ftragglers, who, by accidents, are feparated from the herd they 
 belong to. 
 
 Befides the wild cattle which have fpread themfelves in fuch vaft 
 herds from Buenos Ayres towards the fouthward, the fame country 
 is in like manner furnifhed with horfes. Thefe too were firfl 
 brought from Spai?7, and are alfo prodigioufly encreafed, and run 
 wild to a much greater diftance than the black cattle : And thougli 
 many of them are excellent, yet their number makes them of very 
 litde value ; the beft: of them being often fold, in a country where 
 money is plenty and commodities very dear, for not more than a 
 dollar a-piece. It is not as yet certain how far to the fouthward 
 thefe herds of wild cattle and horfes have extended themfelves ; but 
 there is fome reafon to conie£ture, that flragglers of both kinds are 
 to be met with very near the Streights of Magellan j and they will 
 in time doubtlefs fill the fouthern part of this Continent with their 
 breed, which cannot fail of proving of confiderable advantage to 
 fuch fliips as may touch upon the coaftj for the horfes themfelves 
 are faid to be very good eating, and as fuch, to be preferred by fome 
 of the Indians even before the black cattle. But whatever plenty of 
 this kind may be hereafter found here, there is one material re- 
 frefliment which this eaftern fide of Patagonia feems to be very de- 
 fedlive in, and that is frefli water 3 for the land being generally of 
 a nitrous and faline nature, the ponds and flrcains are frequeiitly brack- 
 jih. However, as good water has been found there, though in fmall 
 
 K 2 quantities.
 
 ( 68 ) 
 
 quantities, it is not improbable, but on a further fearch, this incon- 
 venience may be removed. 
 
 Befides the cattle and horfes which I have mentioned, there are in 
 all parts of this country a good number oiVicunnas or Peruvian fheep; 
 but thefe, by reafon of their fhynefs and fwiftnefs, are killed with 
 difficulty. On the eaftern coaft too, there abounds immenfe quan- 
 tities of feals, and a vaft variety of fea-fowl, amongft which the 
 inoft remarkable are the Penguins ; they are in fize and fliape like a 
 goofe, but inftead of wings they have fhort ftumps like fins, which 
 are of no ufe to them except in the water j their bills are narrow, 
 like that of an Albitrofs^ and they ftand and walk in an eredt pot 
 ture. From this, and their white bellies. Sir 'John Narboroiigh has 
 whimfically likened them to little children {landing up in white 
 aprons. 
 
 The inhabitants of this eaftern coaft (to which I have all along 
 hitherto confined my relation) appear to be but few, and have 
 rarely been feen more than two or three at a time, by any fliips that 
 have touched here. We, during our ftay at the port of St, Julian, 
 faw none. However, towards Buenos Ayres they are fufficiently nu- 
 merous, and oftentimes very troublefome to the Spmiiards ; but 
 there the greater breadth and variety of the country, and a milder 
 climate, yield them a better protedion ; for in that place the Conti- 
 nent is between three and four hundred leagues in breadth, whereas 
 at port St. Julim it is little more than a hundred : So that I 
 conceive the fame Indians , that frequent the weftern coaft 
 of Patagonia and the Streights of Magellan, often ramble to this 
 fide. As the Indians near Buenos Ayres exceed thefe louthern In- 
 dians in number, fo they greatly furpafs them in activity and fpirit, 
 and feem in their manners to be nearly allied to thofe gallant Chilian 
 Indians, who have long fet the whole Spanijh power at defiance, 
 have often ravaged their country, and remain to this hour inde- 
 pendent. For the Indans about Buaios Ay^ es have learnt to be ex- 
 cellent horfemen, and are extreainly expert in the man..gement of all 
 cutting weapons, though ignorant of the ufe of fire-arms, which 
 
 the
 
 ^ 
 
 "■II « m I iiw "14 t'l 
 
 ^yh fmhsfwH: of PORT ST lULlAN, a.i it afifwarj nf^ Im' rrak'r. Lvkim] dm-n tlw nvcr, iinJ ea^bmdmq fern t/w iMnd of TRUE lUSTlCE le tho riooM iiioulh
 
 (69) 
 
 the Spaniards are very foHcItous to keep out of their hands. And 
 of the vigour and refolution of thefe Indians^ the behaviour of O- 
 rellana and his followers, whom we have formerly mentioned, is a 
 memorable inftance. Indeed were we difpofed to aim at the utter 
 fubverfion of the Spanijh power in America, no means feem more 
 probable to effe<^ it, than due encouragement and afllftance given 
 to thefe Indians and thofe of Chili. 
 
 Thus much may fuffice in relation to the eaftcrn coaft of Pata- 
 gonia. The wtflern coaft is of lefs extent j and by reafon of the 
 Andes which fkirt it, and ftretch quite down to the water, is a very 
 rocky and dangerous fliore. However, 1 fliall be hereafter neceflitated 
 to make further mention of it, and therefore fhall not enlarge thereon 
 at this time, but fhall conclude this account with a fliort defcription 
 of the harbour of St. 'Julian^ the general form of which may be 
 conceived from the annexed iTcetch But it muft be remembered, 
 that the bar, which is there marked at the entrance, is often fliifting 
 and has many holes in it. The tide flows here N. and S, and at 
 full and change, rifes four fathom. 
 
 We, on our firft arrival here, fent an Officer on fhore to the falt- 
 pond, marked (D). in the plan, in order to procure a quantity of fait 
 for the ufe of the Squadron, Sir 'John Narborough having obferved, 
 when he was liere, tliat the fait produced in that place was very 
 white and good, and that in February there was enough of it tofilf 
 a thoufand fliips ; but our Officer returned with a fample which was 
 very bad, and he told us, that even of this there was but little to be 
 got ; I fuppofe the weather had been more rainy than ordinary, and 
 had deftroyed it. To give the reader a better idea of this port, and 
 of the adjacent country, to which the wliole coaft 1 have defcribed 
 bears a great refemblance, 1 have infv.rted two very accurate vie\is,, 
 one of them rtprefenling the appearance of the country, when look- 
 ing up the river ; the other, being a view taken from the f^me 
 fpot, but the obferver is now fuppofed to turn round oppofite to I is 
 former fituation and confequently thi? is a reprefentation of the ap- 
 pearance of the country down tiie river, betwixt the flation (if the 
 obferver, and the nver'smouih. CHAP,
 
 (70) 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Departure from the bay of St. Julian^ and the paflage 
 from thence to Streights Le Maire. 
 
 fU'"^ H E I'ryal being nearly refitted, which was our principal 
 B occupation at this bay of St. 'Julian, and the fole occafion 
 of our ftay, the Commodore thought it neceflary, as we 
 were now diredly bound for the South- Seas and the enemy's coafts, 
 to regulate the plan of his future operations : And therefore, on the 
 24th of February, a fignal was made for all Captains, and a Coun- 
 cil of war was held on board the Centurion, at whicli were pre- 
 fent the Honourable EdivarJ Legg, Captain Matthew Mitchell 
 the Honourable George Murray, Captain David Cheap, together 
 with Colonel Mordaunt Crachcrode, Commander of the land-forces. 
 At this Council Mr. Anjon propofed, that their firft attempt, after 
 their arrival in the. South- Seas, fliould be the attack of the town and 
 harbour of Baldivia, the principal frontier of the diftridl of Chili ; 
 Mr. uf^nfon informing them, at the fame time, that it was an arti- 
 cle contained in his Majefty's inftrudlions to him, to endeavour to 
 fecure fome port in the Scuth-Seas, where the fliips of the fqua- 
 dron might be careened and refitted. To this propofition made by 
 the Commodore, the Council unanimoufly and readily agreed •, and 
 i.i confequence of this refolution, new inftrudions were given to the 
 Captains of the fquadron, by which, though they were flill dired:- 
 ed, in cafe of feparation, to make the beft of their way to the 
 Illand of Nuejlra Scnora del Socoro, yet (notwithftanding the orders 
 they had formerly given them at St. Catkriiu's) they were to cruize 
 off that Ifland only ten days; from whence, if not joined by the 
 Commodore, they were to proceed, and cruize off the harbour of 
 Baldivia, making the land between the latitudes of 40°, and 40" : 
 30', and taking care to keep to the fouthward of the port ; and, if 
 I in
 
 ( 71 ) 
 
 in fourteen days they were not joined by the reft of the fquadron; 
 they were then to quit this ftation, and to diredl their courfe to the 
 Ifland of "Juan Fernandei after which they were to regulate their 
 further proceedings by their former orders. The fame diredtions 
 were alfo given to the Mafter of the Anna Pink, and he was parti- 
 cularly inflruded to be very careful in anfwering the fignals made by 
 any fhip of the fquadron, and likewife to deftroy his papers and 
 orders, if he fhould be fo unfortunate, as to fall into the hands of 
 the enemy. And as the feparation of the fquadron might prove of 
 the utmoft prejudice to his Majefly's fervice, each Captain was or- 
 dered to give it in charge to the refpedive Officers of the watch 
 not to keep their fhip at a greater diftance from the Centurion than 
 two miles, as they would anfwer it at their peril ; and if any 
 Captain {hould find his fliip beyond the diftance fpecified, he wa& 
 to acquaint the Commodore with the name of the Officer, who liad 
 thus negleded his duty. 
 
 Thefe neceflary regulations being eftabliftied, and the Tryal 
 Sloop compleated, the fquadron weighed on Friday the 27th of 
 February, at feven in the morning, and ftood to the feaj the 
 Gloucejler indeed found a difficulty in purchafing her anchor, and 
 was left a confiderable way a-ftern, fo that in the night we fired 
 feveral guns as a fignal to her Captain to make fail, but he did not 
 come up to us till the next morning, when we found that they had 
 been obliged to cut their cable, and leave their beft bower behind 
 them. At ten in the morning, the day after our departure, Weed's 
 Mount, the highland over St, 'Julian, bore from us N. by W, dif- 
 tant ten leagues, and we had fifty-two fathom of water. And now 
 ftanding to the fouthward, we had great expeftation of falling in 
 with Pizarrd's fquadron^ for, during our fby at port St. Julian, 
 there had generally been hard gales between the VV. N. W. and 
 S. W, fo that we had reafon to conclude the Spaniards had gained 
 no ground upon us in that interval. And it was the profpeft of 
 meeting with them, that had occafioned our Commodore to be fa 
 very folicitous to prevent the feparation of our fhips : For had we 
 
 been
 
 ^72 ) 
 
 been folely intent on getting round Cape IJorn in the fliorteft time, 
 the properefl metliod for this purpofe would have been, to ha\"e or-< 
 dered each ibip to have made the befl of her way to the rendez- 
 vous, without waiting for the reft. 
 
 From our departure from St. Julian to the 4th of March, we 
 bad litde wind, with thick, hazy weather, and feme rain ; and our 
 foundings were generally from forty to hfty faihom, with a bottom 
 of black and grey fand, fometimes intermixed with pebble ftones. 
 On the 4th of March we were in fight of cape Virgin Mary, and 
 not more than fix or feven leagues diftant from it : This is the 
 northern cape of the Streights of Magellan, it lies in the latitude of 
 52° : 21 South, and longitude from London 71° : 44' Weft, and 
 feems to be a low flat land, ending in a point. And for a diredion 
 to fuch fliips as may, by particular reafons, be induced hereafter to 
 pafs through thofe Streights into the South Sras, 1 have annexed a 
 very accurate draught of its appearance, where {a) reprefents the 
 Cape ivfelf Oft^ this Cape our depth of water was from thirty- five 
 to forty-eight fathom. The afternoon of this day was very bright 
 and clear, with fmall breezes of wind, inclinable to a calm, and 
 moft of the Captains took the opportunity of this favourable wea- 
 ther to pay a vific to the Commodore ; but while they were in com- 
 pany together, they were all greatly alarmed by a fudden flame, 
 which burft out on board the Gloucejler, and which was fuccecded 
 by a cloud of fmoak. However, they were foon relieved from their 
 apprehenfions, by receiving information, that the blaft was occa- 
 fioned by a fpark of fire from the forge, lighting on fome gunpow- 
 der and other combuftibles, which an Officer on board was pre- 
 paring for ufe, in cafe we fliould fall in with the Spanijh fleet ; 
 and that it had been extinguiflied, without any damage to the 
 ftiip. 
 
 We here found what was conftantly verified by all our obfer- 
 yations in thefe high latitudes, that fair weather was always of an 
 exceeding fliort duration, and that when it was remarkably fine, 
 it was a certain prefage of a fucceeding ftorm, for the calm and 
 
 funfliine
 
 fa/ie VIRGIN MARY n/ ///c
 
 fafw VIRGIN MARY ^// ////' mirrii I'fitrtVNr cf MAGYAA^S^^ STREIGHTS 
 
 ^
 
 (73 ) 
 
 funfliine of our afternoon ended in a mod turbuknt night, the 
 wind freflining from the S. W. as the night came on, and en- 
 crealing its violence continually till nine in the morning the next 
 day, when it blew fo hard, that we were obliged to bring to with 
 the fquadron, and to continue under a reefed mizen till eleven at 
 night, having in that time from forty-three to fifty- feven fathom 
 water, with black fand and gravel ; and by an obfervation we had 
 at noon, we concluded a current had fet us twelve miles to the 
 fouthward of our reckoning. Towards midnight, the wind abating, 
 we made fail again ; and fleering South, we difcovered in the 
 morning for the firft time the land, called 'Terra del Fi/ego, ftretch- 
 ing from the S. by W, to the S. E. 4 E. This indeed afforded 
 us but a very uncomfortable profpeft, it appearing of a ftupendous 
 height, covered every where with fnow. And though the dieari- 
 nefs of this fcene can be but imperfedlly reprefented by any Draw- 
 ing, yet the annexed plate contains fo exad: a delineation of the 
 form of the country, that it may greatly affifl the reader in fram- 
 ing fome idea of this uncouth and rugged coaft. In this Drawing 
 (fl) is the opening of Streights Le Maire, [b) Cape St. Diego^ 
 (]) (2) (3) the three hills, called the three brothers, and (4) Monte- 
 gorda, an highland which lies up in the country, and appears over 
 the three brothers. We fleered along this ftiore all day, having 
 foundings from forty to fifty fathom, with ftones and gravel. And 
 as we intended to pafs through Streights Le Maire next day, we 
 lay to at night, that we might not overfhoot them, and took this 
 opportunity to prepare ourfelves for the tempeftuous cliinate we 
 were foon to be engaged in ; with which view, we employed 
 ourfelves good part of the night in bending an entire new fuit of 
 fails to the yards. At four the next morning, being the 7th of 
 March, we made fail, and at eight faw the land ; and foon after 
 we began to open the Streights, at which time Cape St. James bore 
 from us E. S. E, Cape St. Vincent S. E. i- E, the middlemoft of 
 the three brothers S. and by W, Mcntegorda South, and Cape St. 
 Bartholomew y which is the fouthermoft point of Staten-Iand, E. S. E. 
 
 L The
 
 ( 74) 
 
 The appearance of the Streights in this fituatlon, is reprefentcd 
 in the annexed plate, where (a) is part of Staten-land^ (/;) Cape 
 St. Bartholomew, [c] part of Terra del Fiiego, [d) port Maurice^ 
 and {e) fuppofed to be Falejitwe's bay, or the bay of good fuccefs. 
 And here I muft obferve, that Frezier has given us a very correct 
 profpedl of the part of Terra del Fuego, which borders on the 
 Streights, but has omitted that of Staten-Iatid, which forms the 
 oppofite fliore : Hence we found it difficult to determine exaftly 
 wiiere the Streights lay, till they began to open to our view j and 
 for want of thi>, if we had not happened to have coafted a confi- 
 derable way along fliore, we might have mifled the Streights, and 
 have got to the eaflward of Staten-land before we knew it. This 
 is an accident that has happened to many fliips, particularly, as 
 Frezier mentions, to the Incarnation and Concord ; who intending 
 to pafs through Streights Le Maire, were deceived by three hills 
 on Staten l.ind like the three brothers, and fome creeks refembling 
 thofe of Terra del Fuego, and thereby over-fliot the Streights. To 
 prevent thefe accidents for the future, there is inferted the Weft 
 profped: of Staten-la/id, where [a) is Cape St. Diego, on Terra del 
 Fuego, {b) Cape St. Bartholomew, on Staien-laiid. This Drawing 
 will hereafter render it impoffible for any (lilps to be deceived in the 
 manner abovementioned, or to find any difficulty in diflinguiffiing 
 the points of land by which the Streights are formed. 
 
 And on occafion of this profpedt of Staten-la?id here inferted, 
 I cannot but remark, that though Terra del Fuego had an afpecft 
 extremely barren and defolate, yet this Ifland of Staten-land far 
 furpafles it, in the wildnefs and horror of its appearance : It feem- 
 ing to be entirely compofed of inacceffible rocks, without the leaft 
 mixture of earth or mold between them. Thefe rocks terminate 
 in a vaft number of ragged points,, which fpire up to a prodigious 
 height, and are all of them covered with everlafting fnow ; the 
 points themfelves are on every fide furrounded with frightful pre- 
 cipices, and often overhang in a moft aftonirtiing manner ; and the 
 hUls which bear them, are generally feparated from each other by 
 
 narrov/
 
 (75 ) 
 
 narrow clefts, which appear as if the country had been rent by 
 earthquakes ; for thefe chafms are nearly perpendicular, and extend 
 through the fubftance of the main rocks, almolt to their very bot- 
 toms : So that nothing can be imagined more favagc and gloomy, 
 than the whole afpedl of this coaft. But to proceed, 
 
 I have above-mentioned, that on the 7rh of March, in the 
 morning, we opened Streights Le Maire, and foon after, or about 
 ten o'clock, the Pearl and the Tryal being ordered to keep a-head 
 of the fquadron, we entered them with fair weather and a brifk 
 gale, and were hurried through by the rapidity of the tide in about 
 two hours, though they are between feven and eight leagues in 
 length. As thefe Streights are often confidered as the boundary be- 
 tween the Atlantick and Pacijick Oceans, and as we prefumed we 
 had nodiing now before us but an open fea, till we arrived on thofe 
 opulent coafls where all our hopes and wiflies centered, we could 
 not help flattering ourfclves, that the greateft difficulty of our paf- 
 fage was now at an end, and that our mofl fanguine dreams were 
 upon the point of being realifed ; and hence we indulged our ima- 
 ginations in thofe romantick fchemes, which the fancied poflefhon 
 of tlie Chilian gold and Ferwoicin filver might be conceived to in- 
 fpire. Thefe joyous ideas were heightened by the brightnefs of the 
 iky, and the ferenity of the weather, which was indeed moil remark- 
 ably pleafing ; for tho' the winter was now advancing apace, yet the 
 morning of this day, in its brilliancy and mildnefs, gave place to none 
 we had k^w fince our departure from England. Thus animated by 
 thefe delufions, we travers'd thefe memorable Streights, {(^norant 
 of the dreadful calamities that were then impending, and juft ready 
 to break upon us ; ignorant that the time drew near, when the 
 fquadron would be feparated never to unite again, and that this day 
 of our pafTage was the laft chearful day that the greateft part of us 
 would ever live to enjoy. 
 
 L 3 CHAP.
 
 ( 76) 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 From Streights Le Maire to Cape Nolr. 
 
 WE had fcarcely reached the fouthern extremity of the 
 Streights of Le Maire, when our flattering hopes were in- 
 ftantly loft in the apprehenfions of immediate deftrudtion: 
 For before the fternmoft (hips of the fquadron were clear of the 
 Streights, the ferenity of the fky was fuddenly changed, and gave 
 us all the prefages of an impending ftorm ; and immediately the 
 wind fliifted to the fouthward, and blew in fuch violent fqualls, 
 that we were obliged to hand our top-fails, and reef our main-lail : 
 The tide too, which had hitherto favoured us, now turned againft 
 us, and drove us to the eaftward with prodigious rapidity, fo that 
 we were in great anxiety for the Woger and the Anna Pink, the 
 two fternmoft vefTels, fearing they would be daflied to pieces againft 
 the ftiore of Staten-latid -, nor were our apprehenfions without 
 foundation, for it was with the utmoft difficulty they efcaped. And 
 now the whole fquadron, inftead of purfuing their intended courfe to 
 the S. W, were driven to the eaftward by the united force of the 
 ftorm, and of the currents ; fo that next day in the morning we 
 found ourfelves near feven leagues to the eaftward of Staten-land, 
 which then bore from us N. W. The violence of the current, 
 which had fet us with fo much precipitation to the eaftward, toge- 
 ther with the force and conftancy of the wefterly winds, foon 
 taught us to confider the doubling of Cape Hern as an enterprize, 
 that might prove too mighty for our efforts, though fome amongft 
 us had lately treated the difficulties which former voyagers were faid 
 to have met with in this undertaking, as little better than chimeri- 
 cal, and had fuppofed them to arife rather from timidity and un- 
 ikilfulnefs, than from the real embarraffments of the winds and 
 
 feas }
 
 (77) 
 
 leas ; but vre were now feverely convinced, that thefe cenfures were 
 rafli and ill-grounded : For the diftrefles with which we ftruggled, 
 during the three fucceeding months, will not eafily be paralleled in 
 the relation of any former naval expedition. This will, I doubt 
 not, be readily allowed by thofe who fhall carefully perufe the en- 
 fuing narration. 
 
 From the ftorm which came on before we had well got clear of 
 Streights Le Maire, we had a continual fucceflion of fuch lempef- 
 tuous weather, as furprized the oldeft and moft experienced Ma- 
 riners on board, and obliged them to confefs, that what they had 
 hitherto called ftorms were inconfiderable gales, compared with 
 the violence of thefe winds, which raifed fuch fliort, and at the fame 
 time fuch mountainous waves, as greatly furpafled in danger all 
 feas known in any other part of the globe: And it was not without 
 great reafon, that this unufual appearance filled us with continual 
 terror ; for had any one of thefe waves broke fairly over us, it muft, 
 in all probability, have fent us to the bottom. Nor did we efcape 
 with terror only ; for the fhip rolling inceffantly gunwale to, gave 
 us fuch quick and violent motions, that the men were in perpetual 
 danger (;f being dafhed to pieces againfl; the decks, or fides of 
 the (hip. And though we were extremely careful to fecure our- 
 felves from thefe fliocks, by grafping fome fixed body, yet many 
 of our people were forced from their hold , fome of whom were 
 killed, and others greatly injured ; in particular, one of our befl: fea- 
 men was canted over-board and drowned, another diflocated his 
 neck, a third was thrown into the main-hold and broke his thigh, 
 and one of our Boatfwain's Mates broke his collar-bone twice ; not 
 to mention many other accidents of the fame kind. Thefe tem- 
 pcfts, fo dreadful in themfelves, though unattended by any other 
 unfavourable circumflance, were yet rendered more mifchievous to 
 us by their inequality, and the deceitful intervals which they at 
 fome-times afforded ; for though we were oftentimes obliged to lie 
 to for days together under a reefed mizen, and were f metimes re- 
 duced to lie at tile mercy of the waves under our bare poles, yet 
 
 now
 
 ( 78 ) 
 
 now and then we ventured to make fail with our courfcs double 
 reefed ; and the weather proving more tolerable, would perhaps en- 
 coura-^^e us to fet our top-lails; after which, the wind, without any 
 previous i .'rice, would return upon us with redoubled force, and 
 would in an inftanttear our fails from the yards. And that no cir- 
 cumflance might be wanting which could aggrandize our diftrefs, 
 thefe blalls generally brought with them a great quantity of fnow 
 and fleet, which cafed our rigging, and froze our fails, thereby 
 rendring them and our cordage brittle, and apt to fnap upon tlie 
 fli'-^htcll flrain, adding great difficulty and labour to the working of 
 the (Ifip, benumbing the limbs of our people, and making them 
 incapable of exerting themfelves with their ufual adlivity, and even 
 difibling many of them, by mortifying their toes and fingers. It 
 were indeed endlefs to enumerate the various difaflers of different 
 kinds which befel us ; and I fliall only mention the moft material, 
 which will fulliciently evince the calamitous condition of the whole 
 fquadron, during the courfe of this navigation. 
 
 It was on the 7th of March, as hath been already obferved, that 
 we paffed Streights Le Maire, and were immediately afterwards 
 driven to the eaftward by a violent ftorm, and the force of the cur- 
 rent which fet that way. For the four or five fucceeding days we 
 had hard gales of wind from the fame quarter, with a mofl prodi- 
 gious fvvcll ; fo that though we flood, during all that time, towards 
 the S. W, yet we had no reafon to imagine, we had made any 
 way to the weftward. In this interval we had frequent fqualls of 
 rain and fnow, and {hipped great quantities of water ; after which, 
 for three or four days, though the feas ran mountains high, yet 
 the weather was rather more moderate : But, on the 1 8th, we had 
 a^ain flrong gales of wind with extreme cold, and at midnight the 
 main top-fail fplit, and one of the flraps of the main dead eyes 
 broke. From hence, to the 23d, the weather was more favourable, 
 though often intermixed with rain and fleet, and fome hard gales ; 
 but as the waves did not fubfide, the fliip, by labouring in this lofty 
 fca, was now grown fo loofe in her upper works, that flie let in the 
 
 water
 
 ( 79) 
 
 water at every feam, fo that every part within board was conftantly 
 expofed to the fea-water, and fcarcely any of the Officers ever lay 
 in dry beds. Indeed it was very rare, that two nights ever paffcd 
 without many of them being driven from their beds, by the deluge 
 of water that came upon them. 
 
 On the 23d,. we had a moft violent ftorm of wind, hail, and 
 rain, with a very great fea ; and though we handed the main top- 
 fail before the height of the fquall, yet we found the yard Iprung ; 
 and foon after the foot-rope of the main- fail breaking, the main- 
 fail itfelf fplit inftandy to rags, and, in fpite of our endeavours to 
 fave it, much the greater part of it was blown over-board. On 
 this, the Commodore made the fignal for the fquadron to bring to j 
 and the ftorm at length flattening to a calm, we had an opportunity 
 of getting down our main top-fail yard to put the Carpenters at 
 work upon it, and of repairing our rigging ; after wliich, having 
 bent a new mainfiil, we got under fail again with a moderate breeze; 
 but in lefs than twenty-four hours we were attacked by another 
 ftorm ftill more furious than the former ; for it proved a perfeft 
 hurricane, and reduced us to the neceffity of lying to under our 
 bare poles. As our fhip kept the wind better than any of the reft, 
 we were obliged, in the afternoon, to wear fliip, in order to join 
 the fquadron to the leeward, which otherwife we fliould have been 
 in danger of lofing in the night : And as we dared not venture any 
 fail abroad, we were obliged to make ufe of an expedient, whicJi 
 anfwered our purpofe ; this was putting the helm a weather, and 
 manning the fore-flirouds : But though this method proved fuc- 
 cefsful for the end intended, yet in the execution of it, one of our 
 ableft feaman was canted over-board ; and notwithftanding the pro- 
 digious agitation of the waves, we perceived that he fvvam very 
 ftrong, and it was with the utmoft concern that we found ourfelves 
 incapable of affifting him ; and we were the more grieved at his 
 unhappy fate, iince we loft fight of him ftruggling with the waves 
 and conceived from the manner in which he Iwam, that he might 
 
 continue
 
 ( 8o ) 
 
 continue fenfible for a confiderable time longer, of the horror at 
 tending his irretrievable fituation. 
 
 Before this lafl mentioned ftorm was quite abated, we found two 
 of our main-dirouds and one mizen-fhroud broke, all which we 
 knotted, and fet up immediately ; and from hence we had an inter- 
 val of three or four days lefs tempeftuous than ufual, but accom- 
 panied with a thick fog, in which we vere obliged to fire 
 guns almofl: every half hour, to keep our fquadron together. On 
 the 3 1 ft, we were alarmed by a gun fired from the Gloucejter, and 
 a fignal made by her to fpeak w ith the Commodore ; we imme- 
 diately bore down to her, and were prepared to hear of fome terri- 
 ble difafter j but we were apprized of it before we joined her, for we 
 fivv that her main-yard was broke in the flings. This was a grie- 
 vous misfortune to us all at this juncture j as it was obvious it would 
 prove an hindrance to our failing, and w ould detain us the longer in 
 thefe inhofpitable latitudes. But our future fuccefs and fafety v* as 
 not to be promoted by repining, but by refolution and adivity ; and 
 therefore, that this unlucky incident might delay us as little as 
 pofTible, the Commodore ordered feveral Carpenters to be put on 
 board the Gloucejhr from the other fliips of the fquadron, in order 
 to repair her damage with the utmoft expedition. And the Cap- 
 tain of the Tryal complaining at the fame time, that his pumps 
 were fo bad, and the floop made fo great a quantity of water, that 
 he was fcarcely able to keep her free, the Commodore ordered him 
 a pump ready fitted from his own fliip. It was very fortunate for 
 the Gloucefier and the Tryal, that the weather proved more favou- 
 rable this day than for many days, both before and after ; fince by 
 this means they were enabled to receive the affiftance u hich feemed 
 eifential to their prefervation, and which they could fcarcely have 
 had at any other time, as it would have been extremely hazardous 
 to have ventured a boat on board. 
 
 The next day, that is, on the ift of April, the weather return- 
 ed again to its cuftomary bias, the Iky looked dark and gloomy, 
 
 and
 
 ( 8i ) 
 
 and the wind began to freflien and to blow in fqualls ; however, 
 it was not yet {o boifterous, as to prevent our carrying our top-fiiils 
 clofe reefed ; but its appearance was fuch, as plainly prognolticated 
 that a flill feverer tempeft was at hand : And accordingly, on tlie 
 3d of ^/)n'/, there came on a ftorm, which both in i;s violence and 
 continuation (for it lafted three days) exceeded all that we had lii- 
 therto encountered. In its firft onfet we received a furious fliock 
 from a fea which broke upon our larboard quarter, wlicre it flove. 
 in the quarter gallery, and rufl^ed into the fliip like a deluge ; our 
 rigging too fuffered extremely, for one of the ilraps of tl.c main 
 dead-eyes was broke, as was alfo a main-fhroud and puttock- 
 fhroiid, fo that to eafe the ftrefs upon the mafts and flirouds, we 
 .lowered both our main and fore-yards, and furled all our fails, and 
 in this pofture we lay to for three days, when the florm Ibmeuhat 
 abating, we ventured to make fail under our courfes only j but 
 even this we could not do long, for, the next day, which was the 
 7th, we had another hard gale of wind, with lightning and rain 
 which obliged us to lie to again till night. It was wonderful, that 
 notwithftanding the hard weather we had endured, no extraordi- 
 nary accident had happened to any of the fquadron lince the break- 
 ing of the Gkuccfier'i main- yard: But this wonder foon ceafed ; for 
 at three the next morning, feveral guns were fired to leeward as fio-_ 
 nals of diftrefs. And the Commodore making a fignal for the 
 fquadron to bring to, Vvc, at day-break, faw the IJ^agcr a confide- 
 rable way to leeward of any of the other fliips j and we foon per- 
 ceived that flie had loft her mizen-maft, and main top-fail yard. 
 We immediately bore down to her, and found this dififler had 
 arifen from the badnefs of her iron work ; for all the chain-plates 
 to windward had given way, upon the fliip's fetching a deep roll. 
 This proved the more unfortunate to the Wager ^ as her Carpenter 
 had been on board the Gloucejicr ever fincc the 31ft of Mard\ 
 and the weather was now too fevere to permit him to return ; Nor 
 was the Wager the only (liip of the fquadron that had fufiercd in 
 the late tempefl: j for, the next day, a fignal of diftrefs was made 
 
 xM by
 
 ( 82 ) 
 
 by the Amia Pivk, and, upon fpeakii.g with the Mafter, we learnt 
 that they had broke their fore-flay and the gammon of the bow- 
 fprir, and were in no fmall danger of having all the marts come by 
 the board ; fo that we v/ere obliged to bear away until they had 
 made all fafr, after which w e haled upon a wind again. 
 
 And now, after all our folicitude, and the numerous ills of every 
 kind, to which we had been incefllintly expofed for near forty days, 
 we had great confolation in the flattering hopes we entertained, that 
 our fatigues were drawing to a period, and that we n}ould foon 
 arrive in a more hofpitable climate, where we fliould be amply re- 
 payed for all our part fufferings. For, towards the latter end of 
 March, we were advanced, by our reckoning, near lo" to the 
 weftward of the weftermoll point of Tirra del Fuego, and this al- 
 lov/ance being double what former Navigators have thought ne- 
 ccflary to be taken, in order to compenfate the drift of the eaflern 
 current, we eftecmed ourfelves to be well advanced within the 
 limits of the fouthern Ocean, and had therefore been ever fince 
 ftanding to the northward with as much expedition, as the turbu- 
 lence of the weather, and our fi-equent difaflers permitted. And, 
 on the 1 3th of ^pril, we were but a degree in latitude to the 
 fonthward of the Weft entrance of the Streights of Mogellvi -, fo 
 that we fully expeded, in a very few days, to have experienced the 
 celebrated tranquility of the Pacifck Ocean. 
 
 But thefe were delufions which only ferved to render our dif- 
 appointment more terrible ; for the next morning, between one 
 and two, as we Vv'ere ftanding to the northward, and the weather, 
 v/hich had till then been hazy, accidentally cleared up, the Pink 
 made a fignal for feeing land right a-hcad ; and it being but two 
 miles diftant, we were all under the moft dreadful apprehenfions of 
 running on fliore ; which, had either the wind blown from its 
 ufual quarter with its wonted vigour, or had not the moon fud- 
 dcnly fhone out, not a fhip amongft us could poffibly have avoided': 
 But the wind, which fome few hours before blew in fqualls from 
 the S, W, liaving fortunately Hiifted to W. N. W, we were enabled 
 
 to
 
 (83 ) 
 
 to {land to the fouthward, and to clear ourfelves of this uncx- 
 peded danger ; fo that by noon we had gained an offing of near 
 twenty leagues. 
 
 By the latitude of this land we fell In with, it was agreed to be 
 a part of T^ei-ra del Fnego, near the fouthern outlet defcribed in 
 Frezier's Chart of the Streights of Magellan, and was fuppofed to 
 be that point called by him Cape Noir. It was indeed moft won- 
 derful, that the currents fliould have driven us to the eaftward with 
 fuch fbength ; for the whole fquadron efteemed themfelves up- 
 wards of ten degrees more wefterly than this land, fothat in running 
 down, by our account, about nineteen degrees of longitude, we 
 had not really advanced above half that diftance. And now, in- 
 {lead of having our labours and anxieties relieved by approaching a 
 warmer climate and more tranquil feas, we were to fteer again to 
 the fouthward, and were again to combat thofe weftern blafls, 
 which had fo often terrified us; and this too, when we were weak- 
 ned by our men falling fick, and dying apace, and when our fpirits, 
 dejedled by a long continuance at fea, and by our late difappoint- 
 ment, were much lefs capable of fupporting us in the various difli- 
 culties, which we could not but expert in this new undertaking. 
 Add to all this too, the difcouragement we received by the diminu- 
 tion of the ftrength of the fquadron ; for three days before this, u e 
 loft fight of the Severn and the Pearl in the morning ; and thou2,h 
 we fpread our fliips, and beat -about for them fome time, yet u e ne- 
 ver faw them more j whence we had apprehenfions that they too 
 might have fallen in with this land in the night, and by being lefs 
 favoured by the wind and the moon than we were, might have run 
 on fhore and have perilhed. Full of thefe dejedted thoughts and 
 gloomy prefages, we flood away to the S. W, prepared by our late 
 difafler to fufped:, that how large foever an allowance we made in 
 our wefting for the drift of the eaflern current, we might flill, 
 upon a fecond trial, perhaps find it infufHcient. 
 
 M 2 CII A P.
 
 ( H) 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Obfervations and diredions for facilitating the paflage 
 of our future Cruifcrs round Cape Horn. 
 
 f \i "*\ H E improper feafon of the year in which we attempted to 
 % double Cape Horn^ and to which is to be imputed the dif- 
 appointment (recited in the foregoing chapter) in falling in 
 with Terra del Furgo, when we reckoned ourfelves at leaft a hun- 
 dred leagues to the weftward of that w hole coaft, and confequent- 
 ly v.ell advanced into the Pacifick Ocean ; this unfeafonable naviga- 
 tion, I fay, to which we were neceflltated by our too late departure 
 from England, was the fatal fource of all the misfortunes w e after- 
 wards encountered. For from hence proceeded the feparation of 
 our fliips, the deftrudion of our people, the ruin of our projeft on 
 Baldlvia, and of all our other view s on the Spa?njl:) places, and the 
 reduftion of our fquadron from the formidable condition in which 
 it paffed Streights Le Maire, to a couple of fliattered half manned 
 cruifers and a floop, fo far difabled, that in many climates they 
 fcarcely durft have put to fea. To prevent therefore, as much as 
 in me lies, all fliips hereafter bound to the South- Seas from fuffer- 
 ino- the f-ime calamities, I think it my duty to infert in this place, 
 fuch diredions and obfervations, as either my own experience and 
 refledlion, or the converfe of the mofi: iTiilful Navigators on board 
 the fquadron could furnilh me with, in relation to the moft eligible 
 manner of doubling Cape Horn^ whether in regard to the feafon of 
 the year, the courfe proper to be fleered, or the places of refrefli- 
 ment both on the Eaft and WeR-lide of South America. 
 
 And firft with regard to the proper place' for refreflmient on the 
 Eaft-fiJe of South J!me ica. For this purpoj'e the ifland of St. Ca- 
 tbcrine's has b(ien ufually recommended by former writers, and on 
 
 their
 
 ( «5 ) 
 
 their faith we put in there, as has been formerly mentioned : But 
 the treatment we met with, and the fmall Here of refrefhments we 
 could procure there, are fufficient reafons to render all (l)ips for the 
 future cautious, how they truft themfelves in the government of 
 Don Jofe Siha de Paz; for they may certainly depend on having 
 their ftrength, condition and defigns betrayed to tlie Spmiiards, as 
 far as the knowledge, the Governor can procure of thefe particulars, 
 will give leave. And as this treacherous condudt is infpired by the 
 views of private gain, in the illicit commerce carried on to the river 
 of Plate, rather than by any national affeftion which the Portu- 
 guefe bear the Spaniards, the fame perfidy may perhaps be expeded 
 from moft of the Governors of the Brazil coafl. ; fince thele 
 fmuggling engagements are doubtlefs very extenfive and general. 
 And though the Governors fliould themfelves deleft fo faithlefs a 
 procedure, yet as fliips are perpetually paffing from fome or other 
 of the Brazil ports to the river of Plate, tlie Spaniards could 
 fcarcely fail of receiving, by this means, cafual intelligence of any 
 Britij}} fliips upon the coaft; which, however imperfed fuch intel- 
 ligence might be, would prove of dangerous import to the views 
 and interefts of thofe cruifers who were thus difcovered. 
 
 For the Spani/l^ trade in the South-Seas running all in one track 
 from North to South, with very little deviation to the eaftward or 
 weftward, it is in the power of two or three cruifers, properly 
 ftationed in different parts of this track, to pofiefs themfelves of 
 every flfip that puts to fea : But this is only fo long as they can con- 
 tinue concealed from the neighbouring coaft ; for tlie inftant an 
 enemy is known to be in thofe feas, all navigation is flopped, and 
 confequcntly all captures are at an end ; fince the Sfaniards, well 
 apprized of thefe advantages of the enemy, fend exprelTes along 
 the coaft, and lay a general embargo on all their trade j a meafure, 
 which they prudentially fortfee, will not only prevent their veiicls 
 being taken, but will foon lay any cruifers, who have not ftrength 
 fufficient to attempt their places, under a neceflity of returning 
 home. Hence then appears the great importance of concealing all 
 
 expeditions
 
 (86 ) 
 
 expeditions of this kind j and hence too it follows, how extremely, 
 prejudicial that intelligence may prove, which 15 given by the Por- 
 tuguefe Governors to the Spaniards, in relation to the defigns of 
 fliips touching at the ports of Brazil. 
 
 However, notwithftanding the inconveniencies we have mention- 
 ed of touching on the coaft of Brazil, it will oftentimes happen, 
 that (liips bound round Cape Horn will be obliged to call there for 
 a fupply of wood and water, and other refreflunents. In this cafo 
 St. Catberim's is the laft place I would recommend, both as the 
 proper animals for a live flock at fea, as hogs, flieep and fowls can- 
 not be procured there, (for want of which v/e found ourfelves greatly 
 diftreffed, by being reduced to live almoft entirely on fait provifions) 
 but alfo becaufe from its being nearer the river of Plate tlxin many 
 of their other fettlements, the inducements and conveniencies of be- 
 traying us are much ftronger. The place I would recommend is 
 Rio Janeiro, where two of our fquadron put in after they were fe- 
 parated from us in pafling Cape Horn ; for here, as I have been in- 
 formed by one of the Gentlemen on board thofe lliips, any quan- 
 tity of hogs and poultry may be procured, and this place being 
 more diftant from the river of Plate, the difliculty of intelligence 
 is fomewhat inhanced, and confequently the chance of continuing 
 there undilcovered, in fome degree augmented. Other meafures, 
 which may effedually obviate all thefe embarrafl'ments, will be con- 
 fidered more at large hereafter. 
 
 And now 1 proced to the confideration of the proper courfe to be 
 ileered for doubling Cape Hern. And here, 1 tliink, I am fufficiently 
 authorifed by our own fatal experience, and by a careful comparifon 
 and examinadon of the journals of former Navigators,to give diis piece 
 of advice, which in prudence I think ought never to be departed 
 from : That is, that all lliips bound to die South-Seas, inftead of 
 paffing through Streights le Moire, fliould conftantly pafs to the 
 eaftward of Staten-land, and fliould be invariably bent on running 
 to the fouthward, as far as the ladtude of 61 or 62 degrees, before 
 they endeavour to iland to the weflward ; and that when they are 
 
 got
 
 ( 87 ) 
 
 got into that latitude, they Oiould then make fure of fufKcieut 
 wefting, before they once think of fleering to the northward. 
 
 But as directions diametrically oppofite to thefe have been for- 
 merly given by other writers, it is incumbent on me to produce my 
 reafons for each part of this maxim. And firft, as to the pafling to 
 the eailward of Statcn-hnd. Thofe who have attended to the rifque 
 we ran in pafling Strcights Le Maire, the danger we were in of be- 
 ing driven upon Staten-land by the current, when, though we 
 happily efcaped being put on fliore, we were yet carried to the 
 eaflward of that Illand : Thofe who refledt on this, and on the like 
 accidents which have happened to other fliips, v^'ill furely not efteem 
 it prudent to pafs through Streights Le Maire, and run the rifque 
 of fliipwreck, and after all find themfelves no farther to the weft- 
 ward (the only reafon hitherto given for this practice) than they 
 niight have been in tlie fame time, by a fecure navigation in an " 
 open fea. 
 
 And next, as to the diredions I have given for running into the 
 latitude of 6i or 62 South, before any endeavour is made to ftand 
 to the weftward. The reafons for this precept are, that in all proba- 
 bility the violence of the currents will be hereby avoided, and the 
 weather will prove lefs tempeftuous and uncertain. This Lift cir- 
 cumftance we ourfelves experienced moft remarkably ; for after we 
 had unexpecfledly fallen in with the land, as has been mentioned in 
 the preceding chapter, we ftood away to the fouthward to run clear 
 of it, and were no fooner advanced into fixty degrees or upwards 
 but we met with much better weather, and fmoother water than 
 in any other part of the whole paflage : The air indeed was very 
 cold and fliarp, and we had ftrong gales, but they were fteady and 
 uniform, and we had at the fame time funfliine and a clear fky ; 
 whereas in the lower latitudes, the winds every nov^^ and then in- 
 termitted, as it were, to recover new ftrength, and tiien returjicd 
 fuddenly in the moft violent gufts, threatening at each blaft the iofs 
 of our mafts, which muft have ended in our certain deftrudion. 
 And that the currents m tliis high latitude would be of much lefs ef- 
 
 ficscv
 
 (88 ) 
 
 ficacy than nearer the land, feems to be evinced from thefe confide- 
 rations, that all currents run v. ith greater violence near the fliore than 
 at fea, and that at greater diftances from fliore they are fcarcely per- 
 ceptible : Indeed the reafon of this feems fufficiently obvious, if vfQ 
 confider, that conftant currents are, in all probability, produced by 
 conftant winds, the \\'ind driving before it, though with a flow 
 and imperceptible motion, a large body of water which being ac- 
 cumulated upon any coafl that it meets with, this fuperfluous water 
 mufl: efcape along the fliore by the endeavours of its furface, to re- 
 duce itfelf to the fame level with the reft; of the Ocean. And it is 
 reafonable to fnppofe, that thofe violent gufts of wind which we 
 experienced near the fliore, fo very different from what v\e found in 
 the latitude of fixty degrees and upwards, may be owing to a fimi- 
 lar caufe ; for a wefterly wind almofl perpetually prevails in the 
 fouthern part of the Pacifck Ocean : And this current ot air be- 
 ino- interrupted by thofe immenfe hills called the Andes, and by the 
 mountains on Ten-a del Fuego, which together bar up the whole 
 country to the fouthward as far as Cape Horfe, a part of it only can 
 efcape over the tops of thofe prodigious precipices, and the reft: 
 muft naturally follow the diredtion of the coafl:, and muft range 
 down the land to the fouthward, and fweep with an impetuous and 
 irregular blafi: round Cape //or«, and the fouthermofl part of Terra 
 del Fuego. However, not to rely on thefe fpeculations, we may, I 
 believe, eftablifli, as incontefl:able, thefe matters of fad, that both 
 the rapidity of the currents, and the violence of the weflern gales, 
 are lefs fenfible in the latitude of 6i or 62 degrees, than nearer the 
 fliore of Terra del Fuego. 
 
 But though I am fatisfied both from our own experience, and the 
 relations of other Navigators, of the importance of the precept I 
 here infift. on, that of running into the latitude of 61 or 62 degrees, 
 before any endeavours are made to fland to the weftward ; yet I 
 would advife no flilps hereafter to truft fo far to this management, 
 as to negledt another moft efl'cntial maxim, which is the making this 
 paflage in the height! of fummer, that is, in the months of December 
 
 and
 
 ( S9 ) 
 
 and "January ; and the more diftant the time of pafling is taken from 
 this feafon, the more dillillrous it may be reafonably expected to prove. 
 Indeed, if the mere vjolencc of the wcllern winds be confidered, 
 the time of our paifage, which was about the Equinox, was per- 
 haps the moft unfavourable feafon ; but then it mud be confidered, 
 that in the depth of winter there are many other inconveniencies to 
 be apprehended in this navigation, which are ahiioft infuperable : 
 For the feverity of the cold, and the fliortnefs of the days, would 
 render it impra<5licable at that feafon to run fo far to the fouthward 
 as is here recommended ; and the fame reafons would gready aug- 
 ment the alarms of failing in the neighbourhood of an unknown 
 ftiore, dreadful in its appearance in the midft of fummer, and 
 would make a winter navigation on this coail to be, of all others, 
 the moft difmaying and terrible. As I would therefore advife all 
 fliips to make their paflage in December and January, if pofTible, 
 fo I would warn them never to attempt the feas to the fouthward of 
 Cape Horn, after the month of March. 
 
 And now as to the remaining confideration, that is, the properefl: 
 port for cruifers to refrefli at on their firft arrival in the South- Seas. 
 On this head there is fcarcely any choice, the Ifland of Juati Fer^ 
 nandes being the only place that can be prudently recommended for 
 this purpofe. For though there are many ports on the weftern fide 
 of Patagonia, between the Streights of Magellan and the Spani/Jj 
 fettlements (a plan of one of which 1 fliall infert in the courfe of 
 this work) where fhips might ride in great fafety, might recruit 
 their wood and water, and might procure fome few refrefliments 3 
 yet that coaft is in itfelf fo terrible, from the rocks and breakers it 
 abounds with, and from the violence of the weftern winds, which 
 blow conftantly full upon it, that it is by no means advileable to 
 fall in with that land, at leaft till the roads, channels and anchorage 
 ifi each part of it are accurately furveyed, and both the dangers 
 and ftielter it abounds with are more diftindly known. 
 
 N Thus
 
 ( go ) 
 
 Thus luving given the befl: diredions in my power for the fuccefs 
 of future cruifer? bound to the ^onth-Seas, it might be expeded that 
 ] fhould again refume the thread of my narration. Eut as both in 
 the preceding and fubfequent parts of this work, 1 have thought it 
 my duty not only to recite all fuch fafts, and to inculcate fuch 
 maxims as had the lead: appearance of proving beneficial to future 
 Navigators, but alfo occafionally to recommend fuch meafures to the 
 Public, as I conceive are adapted to promote the fame laudable pur- 
 pofe, I cannot defift from the prefent fubjedt, without befeeching 
 thofe to whom the condudl of our naval affairs is committed, to 
 endeavour to remove the many perplexities and embarraffments with 
 which the navigation to the Scuth-Seas is, at prefent, neceffarily en- 
 cumbered. An effort of this kind could not fail of proving highly 
 honourable to themfelves, and extremely beneficial to their country. 
 For it is to me fufRciently evident, that whatever advantages navi- 
 gation (liall receive, either by the invention of methods that fliall 
 render its pradice lefs hazardous, or by the more accurate delineation 
 of the coafts, roads and ports already known, or by the difcovery of 
 new nations, or new fpecies of commerce ; it is evident, I fay, to 
 me, that by whatever means navigation is promoted, the conveni- 
 encies hence arifmg mufl ultimately redound to the emolunnent of 
 Great-Britain. £ince as our fleets are at preient fuperior to thofe of 
 the whole world united, it mufl be a matchlefs degree of fupine- 
 nefs or mean-fpiritednefs, if we permitted any of the advantages 
 which new difcoveries, or a more extended navigation may pro- 
 duce to mankind, to be raviflied from us. 
 
 As therefore it appears that all our future expeditions to the South- 
 Seas muft run a conliderable rifque of proving abortive, whilfl we 
 are under the necefTity of touching at Brazil in our paffage thither, 
 an expedient that might relieve us from this difficulty, would furely 
 be a fubjedl worthy of the attention of the Public ; and this 
 feems capable of being effeded, by the difcovery of fome place 
 more to the fouthward, where {hips might refrefli and fupply them- 
 felves
 
 f 91 ) 
 
 felves with the neceffary fea-ftock for their voyage round Cape Hon?. 
 And we have in reality the imperfedl knowledge of two places, 
 which might perhaps, on examination, prove extremely convenient 
 for this purpofe ; the firft cf them is Pepys's Ifland, in the latitude 
 of 47° South, and laid down by Dr. HalLy, about eighty leagues 
 to the eaflward of Cape Blanco, on the coaft of Patagojiia ; the 
 fccond, is Falkland^ Ifles, in the latitude of 51° 4. nearly South of 
 Pepys'% Ifland. The firft of thefe was dilcovered by Captain Conj- 
 Icy, in his Voyage round the World in the year 1686 ; who repre- 
 fents it as a commodious place for fliips to wood and water at, and 
 fiys, it is provided with a very good and capacious harbour, w here 
 a thoufand fail of fliips might ride at anchor in great fafety ; that 
 it abounds with fowls, and as the fliore is either rocks or fands, it 
 feems to promife great plenty of fifli. The fecond place, or Falk- 
 land'% Ifles, have been feen by many fliips both French and Fv.gUp^ 
 being the land laid down by Frezier, in his Chart of the extremity 
 of South America, under the title of the Nc'w JJlands. Weeds 
 Rogers^ who run along the N. E. coaft of thefe Ifles in the year 
 3708, tells us, that they extended about two degrees in length, and 
 appeared with gentle defcents from hill to hill, and feemed to be 
 good ground, with woods and harbours. Either of thefe places, 
 as they are Iflands at a confiderable diftance from the Continent, 
 may be fuppofed, from their latitude, to lie in a climate fufficiently 
 temperate. It is true, they are too little known to be at prefcnt 
 recommended for proper places of refrefliment for fliips bound to 
 the fouthward : But if the Admiralty fliould think it advifeabic to 
 order them to be furveyed, which may be done at a very fmall cx- 
 pence, by a veflel fitted out on purpofe ; and if, on this examina- 
 tion, one or both of thefe places ftiould appear proper for the pur- 
 pofe intended, it is fcarccly to be conceived, of what prodigious 
 import a convenient ftation might prove, fituated fo far to die fouth- 
 ward, and fo near Cape Horn. The Duke and Duchefs of Eri/lol 
 were but thirty-five days from their lofing fight of Falkland'^ Ifles to 
 their arrival at Juan Fertiandcs in the South-Seas : And as the re- 
 
 N 2 turning:
 
 ( 92 ) 
 
 turning back is much flicUitated by the wcftern winds, I doubt not 
 but a voyage might be made from Falkland's Ifles to Juan Fernan- 
 das and back again, in litde more than two months. This, even in 
 time of peace, might be of great confequence to this Nation; and, 
 in time of war, would make us mafters of thofe feas. 
 
 And as all difcoveries of this kind, though extremely honoura- 
 ble to thofe who direit and promote them, may yet be carried on 
 at an inconfiderable expence, fince fmall vefTels are much the pro- 
 perefl: to be employed in this fervice, it were to be wifhed, that 
 the whole coaft of Patagonia, Terra del Fuego, and Stateti-land^ 
 were carefully furveyed, and the numerous channels, roads and har- 
 bours with which they abound, accurately examined ; this might 
 open to us facilities of pafllng into the Pacifck Ocean, which as yet 
 we may be unacquainted with, and would render all that fouthern 
 navigation infinitely fecurer than at prefent- and particularly, an ex- 
 aft draught of the Weft coaft of Patagcnia, from the Streights of 
 Magellan to the SpaniJJ: fettlements, might perhaps furnifli us with 
 better and more convenient ports for refrefliment, and better fitua- 
 ted for the purpofes either of war or commerce, and above a fort-^ 
 night's fail nearer to Falkland^ Iftands, than the Ifland of Juan Fer- 
 nandez The difcovery of this coaft hath formerly been thought of- 
 fuch confequence, by reafon of its neighbourhood to the Araiuos 
 and other Chilian Indians, who are generally at war, or at leaft on 
 ill terms with their Spanijl: neighbours, that Sir Johyi Narborougb. 
 was purpofely fitted out in the reign of King Charles II, to furvey 
 the Streights of Magellan, the neighbouring coaft of Patagonia^ 
 and the Spanip ports on that frontier, vv'ith diredtions, if poftiblci 
 to procure fome intercourfe with the Chilian Indians, and to efta- 
 blifli a commerce and a lafting correfpondence with them. His 
 Majefty's views in employing Sir John Narborougb in this expedi- 
 tion, were not folely the advantage he might hope to receive from 
 the alliance of thofe favages, in reftraining and intimidating the 
 Crown oi Spain; but he conceived, that, independent of thofe mo- 
 tives, the immediate truflick with thefe Indians might prove ex- 
 tremely
 
 ( 93 ) 
 
 tremely advantaglous to the EngliJJj Nation. For it is well known, 
 that at the firft difcovery of Chili by the Spaniards, it abounded 
 with vaft quantities of gold, much beyond what it has at any time 
 produced, fince it has been in their poffeflion. And hence it has 
 been generally believed, that the richeft mines are prudently con- 
 cealed by the Indians, as well knowing that the difcovery of them 
 to the Spaniards would only excite in them a greater thirft for con- 
 queft and tyranny, and render their own independence precarious. 
 But with refpedl to their commerce with the Englip, thefe rea- 
 fons would no longer influence them ; fince it would be in our 
 power to furnifh them with arms and ammunition of all kinds, of 
 which they are extremely defirous, together with many other con- 
 veniencies which their intercourfe with the Spaniards has taught them 
 to relilh. They would then, in all probability, open their mines 
 and gladly embrace a traffick of fuch mutual convenience to both 
 Nations ; for then their gold, inftead of proving the means of 
 enflaving them, would procure them weapons to affert their liberty, 
 to chaftife their tyrants, and to fecure themfelves for ever from 
 the SpaniJJj yoke ; whilft with our afliftance, and under our pro- 
 tedlion, they might become a confiderable people, and might fecure. 
 to us that wealth, which formerly by the Houfe of Aujlria, and 
 lately by the Houfe of Bourbon, has been mofl mifchievoufly la- 
 vilhed in the purfuit of univerfal Monarchy. 
 
 It is true, that Sir John Narborough did not fucceed in opening 
 this commerce, which in appearance promifed fo many advantages 
 to this Nation. However, his difappointment was merely acciden- 
 tal, and his tranfadlions upon that coafl: (befides the many valuable 
 improvements he furniflied to geography and navigation) are rather 
 an encouragement for future trials of this kind, than any objedion 
 againft them ; his principal misfortune being the lofing company of 
 a fmall bark which attended him, and having fome of his people.- 
 trapanned at Baldivia. However, it appeared, by the precautions 
 and fears of the Spaniards, that they were fully convinced of tha 
 
 pradicability.
 
 ( 9+) 
 
 pradlcability of the fcheme he was fent to execute, and extremely 
 alarmed with the apprehenfion of its confequences. 
 
 It is faid, that his Majefty King Charles the Second was fo far 
 prepoffefled with the hopes of the advantages redounding from 
 this expedition, and fo eager to be informed of the event of it, 
 that having intelligence of Sir JcJm Narbcrough'% paffing through 
 the Downs on his return, he had not patience to attend his arrival 
 at Court, but went himfelf in his barge to Gravefettd to meet 
 him. 
 
 .To facilitate as much as poffible any attempts of this kind, which 
 may be hereafter undertaken, I have, in the annexed plate, given 
 a chart of that part of the world, as far as it is hitherto known, 
 which I flatter myfelf is in fome refpecls much correfter than any 
 hitherto publiflied. To evince which, it may be neceffary to men- 
 tion what materials I have principally made ufe of, and what 
 changes I have introduced different from other authors. 
 
 The two moft celebrated charts hitherto publiflied of the fouth- 
 ermoft part of South America, are thofe of Dr. Hailcy, in his ge- 
 neral chart of the magnetic variation, and of Frezier in his voyage 
 to the South- Seas. But befides thefe, there is a chart of the Streights 
 of Magellan, and of fome part of the adjacent coaft, by Sir John 
 Narborough abovementioned, which is doubdefs infinitely exadler in 
 that part than Frezier, and in fome refpefts fuperior to Halley, par- 
 ticularly in what relates to the longitudes of the different parts of 
 thofe Streights. The coaft from Cape Blanco to T^erra del FuegOy 
 and thence to Streights Le Maire, we were in fome meafure capa- 
 ble of correding by our own obfervations, as we ranged that fhore 
 generally in fight of land. The pofition of the land, to the north- 
 ward of the Streights of Magellan, on the Weft fide, is doubtlefs 
 laid down in our chart but very imperfedly ; and yet I believe it to 
 be much nearer the truth than what has hitherto been done : As it 
 is drawn from the information of fome of the Wager'^ crew, who 
 were (hipwrecked on tliat lliore, and afterwards coafted it down j 
 
 and
 
 ( 95 ) 
 
 and as it agrees pretty nearly with the defcription of Tome Spanijh 
 manufcripts I have feen. 
 
 The Channel dividing Terra del Fucgo is drawn from Frezicr ; 
 but in the Spiutip manufcripts there are feveral (lianncls delineated, 
 and I have reafon to fuppofe, that whenever this country is \ho- 
 roughly examined, this circumftance will prove true, and Terra del 
 Fiiego will be found to confift of feveral 1 Hands. 
 
 And having mentioned Frezier fo often, 1 muft not omit warn- 
 ing all future Navigators, againft relying on the longitude of Streights 
 ' Le Maire, or of any part of that coaft, laid down in his chart j 
 the whole being from 8 to lo degreae too far to the eaftward, if 
 any faith can be given to the concurrent evidences of a great num- 
 ber of journals, verified in fome particulars by aftronomical obfer- 
 vation. For inftance, Sir John Narboroiigh lays down Cape Virgin 
 Mary in 65° : 42' of Weft longitude from the Lizard^ that is in 
 71° : 20 from London. And the fhips of our fquadron, who took 
 their departure from St. Catherine's (where the longitude was redli- 
 fied by an obfervation of the eclipfe of the moon) found Cape Vir- 
 gin Mwy to be from 70° : 46', to 7 1° : 30' from Lo7ido}7, according 
 to their different reckonings : And there were no circumftances in our 
 run that could render it confiderably erroneous, fo that it cannot be 
 efteemed in lefs than 7 1 degrees of Weft longitude ; whereas Fre- 
 zier lays it down in lefs than 66 degrees from Paris, that is little 
 more than 63 degrees from London, which is doubtlefs 8 decrees 
 fhort of its true quantity. Again, our fquadron found Cape Viroin 
 Mary and Cape St. Bartholomew on the eaftern fide of Streights Lc 
 Maire to be only 2° : 8 different in longitude, which in Frezier 
 are diftant near 4 degrees ; fo that not only the longitude of Cape 
 St. Bartholomew is laid down in him near jo degrees too little, but 
 the whole coaft, from the Streights of Magellan to Streights Le 
 Maire, is enlarged to near double its real extent. 
 
 But to have done with Frezier, whofe errors, the importance of 
 the fubjedl and not a fondnefs for cavilling, has obliged me to re- 
 mark, (though his treatment of Dr. Balhy might, on the prefent 
 
 occafion.
 
 ( 96) 
 
 •occafion, authorife much feverer ufage) I muft, in the next place, 
 particularize wherein the chart I have here inferted differs from that 
 of our learned countryman. 
 
 It is well known that this Gentleman was fent abroad by the Pub- 
 lic, to make fuch geographical and aftronomical obfervations, as 
 might facilitate the future practice of navigation, and particularly to 
 determine the variation of the compafs in fuch places as he lliould 
 touch at, and if poflible, to afcertain its general laws and affedtions. 
 
 Thefe things Dr. Halley, to his immortal reputation and the ho- 
 nour of our Nation, in good meafure accompliflied, particularly 
 with regard to the variation of the compafs, a fuhjedl, of all others, 
 the mofl interefting to thofe employed in the art of navigation. He 
 likewife corredled the pofition of the coaft of Brazil, which had 
 been very erroneoufly laid down by all former Hydrographers ; and 
 by a judicious comparifon of the obfervations of others, has happily 
 fucceeded in fettling the geography of many parts of the globe, 
 where he had not himfelf been. So that the chart he publiflied, 
 with the variation of the needle marked thereon, being the refult 
 of his labours on this fubjed:, was allowed by all Europe to be far 
 compleater in its geography than any that had then appeared, and at 
 the fame time mofl furprizingly exadt in the quantity of variation 
 affigned to the different parts of the globe ; a fubjeft fo very intri- 
 cate and perplexing, that all general determinations about it had till 
 then appeared impofhble. 
 
 But as the only means he had of correfting thofe coafls where he 
 did not touch himfelf was the obfervations of others ; where thole 
 obfervations were wanting, or were inaccurate, it was no imputation 
 on his fkill, that his determinations were defedlive. And this, up- 
 on the bed comparifon 1 have been able to make, is the cafe with 
 regard to that part of his chart, which contains the South part of 
 South America. For though the coafl of Brazil, and the oppo- 
 iite coafl of Peru on the South-Seas are laid down, I prefume, with 
 the greatefl accuracy, yet from about the river of Plate on the Eafl 
 iide, and its oppofite point on the Wefl, the coaft gradually declines 
 
 too
 
 ( 97 ) 
 
 too much to the weftward, fo as at the Streights of Magellan to be, 
 as I conceive, about fifty leagues removed from its true pofition : 
 At leaft, this is the refult of the obfervations of our fquadron, 
 which agree extremely well with thofe of Sir JoLm Narborcugh. I 
 mufl add, that Dr. Halky has, in the Philofophical Tranfadions, 
 given the foundation on which he has proceeded, in fixing Port 
 St. Julian in 76" 4- of WefV longitude : (which the concurrent journals 
 of our fquadron place from 70" -1: to 71° |) This, he tells us, was 
 an obfervation of an eclipfe of the moon, made at that place by 
 Mr. Wood, then Sir John Narborougb'z Lieutenant, and which is 
 faid to have happened there at eight in the evening, on the 18th of 
 September, 1 670. But Capt. //^coJ's journal of this whole voyage under 
 Sir John Narborough is fince publiflied, together with this obferva- 
 tion, in whicli he determines the longitude of Port St. Julian to be 
 73 degrees from Lcnaon, and the time of the eclipfe to have been 
 different from Dr. Hallefs account. But the numbers he has given 
 are fo faultily printed, that nothing can be determined from them. 
 
 To what I have already mentioned with regard to tlie chart here- 
 unto annexed, I fliall only add, that to render it more compleat, I 
 have inferted therein the rout&f our fquadron, and have delineated, 
 in the paffage round Cape Hern, both the real tradi; which we de- 
 fcribed, and the imaginary tras^iexhibited by our reckoning j whence 
 the violence of the currents in that part of the world, and the enor- 
 mous deviations which they produce, will appear by infpedtion. And 
 that no material article might be omitted in this important affiiir, the 
 foundings on the co.aft of Patagonia, and the variation of the mag- 
 netic needle, are annexed to thofe parts of this tra<fi> where, by 
 our obfervations, we found them to be of the quantity there Ipe- 
 cified. 
 
 O CHAP.
 
 (98) 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 From Cape Noir to the Ifland of Juan Fernaiides. 
 
 AFTER the mortifying difappointment of falling in with, 
 the coafl of Terra del Fuego, . when w c efteemed ourfelves 
 ten degrees to the weftward of it ; after this difappointment, 
 I fay, recited in the eighth chapter, we flood away to the S. W. 
 till the 2 2d of y^pril, v.'hen we were in upwards of 60° of South lati- 
 tude, and by our account near 6° to the weftward of Cape Noir ; and 
 in this run, we had a feries of as favourable weather, as could well be 
 expedled in that part of the world, even in a better feafon : So that 
 this interval, fetting the inquietude of our thoughts afidc, was by 
 far the moft eligible of any we enjoyed from Streights Le Maire to 
 the Weft coaft of America. This moderate weather continued, 
 with little variation, till the 24th ; but on the 24th, in the evening, 
 the wind began to blow frefli, and foon encreafed to a prodigious 
 ftorm ; and the weather being extremely thick, about midnight we 
 loft fight of the other four Ihips of the fquadron, which, notwith- 
 ftanding the violence of the preceding ftorms, had hitherto kept in 
 company with us. Nor was this our fole misfortune -, for, the next 
 morning, endeavouring to hand the top-fails, the clew-lines and 
 bunt-lines broke, and the flieets being half flown, every feam in the 
 top-fails was foon fplit from top to bottom, and the main top-fail 
 fliook fo flrongly in the \\ind, that it carried a-.vay the top Ian- 
 thorn, and endangered the head of the maft j however, at length 
 fome of the moft daring of our men ventured upon the yard, and 
 cut the fail away clofe to the reefs, though with the utmoft hazard 
 of their lives. At the fame time, the foretop-fail beat about the 
 yard >/. ith fo much fury, that it was foon blown to pieces ; and that 
 we might have full employment, the main-fail blew loofe, which 
 
 obliged
 
 ( 99) 
 
 obliged us to lower down the yard to fecure the fail, and the fore- 
 yard being likewife lowered, we lay to under a mizen : And be- 
 fides the lofs of our top fails, we had much of our other ringing 
 broke, and lofl a main ftudding- fail-boom out of the chains. 
 
 On the 25th, about noon, the weather became more moderate, 
 which enabled us to fway up our yards, and to repair, in the bell 
 manner we could, our fliattered rigging ; but flill we had no fight 
 of the reft of our fquadron, nor indeed were we joined by any of 
 them again, till after our arrival at "Juan Fernandes; nor did any 
 two of them, as we have fince learned, continue in company toge- 
 ther : And this total feparation was the more wonderful, as we had 
 hitherto kept together for feven weeks, through all the reiterated 
 tempefts of this turbulent climate. It muft indeed be owned, that this 
 feparation gave us room to expedl, that we might make our pafTage in 
 a fliorter time, than if we had continued together, becaufe we could 
 now make the beft of our way without being retarded by the mif- 
 fortunes of the other fliips ; but then we had tlic melancholy re- 
 fle<ftion, that we ourfelves were hereby deprived of the afiiftance 
 of others, and our fafety would depend upon our fingle fliip ; fo 
 that if a plank ftarted, or any other accident of the fame nature 
 fliould take place, we muft all irrecoverably perifli ; or fliould we 
 be driven on fhore, we had the uncomfortable profpcdl of ending 
 our days on fome defolate coaft, without any reafonable hope of ever 
 getting away ; whereas with anotlier fliip in company, all thefe ca- 
 lamities are much lefs formidable, fince in every kind of danger, 
 there would be fome probability that one fliip at leaft might ef- 
 cape, and might be capable of preferving or relieving the crew of 
 the other. 
 
 The remaining part of this month ol April we had generally hard 
 gales, although we had been every day, lince the 22d, edging to 
 the northward ; however, on the laft day of the month, we flat- 
 tered ourfelves with the hopes of foon terminating all our fufferings, 
 for we that day found ourfelves in the latitude of 52" : 13', which 
 being to the northward of the Streights of Magellan^ we were af- 
 
 O 2 fured
 
 ( 100 ) 
 fared that we had compleated our pafTuge, and had arrived In the 
 confijies of the fouthern Ocean ; and this Ocean being nominated 
 Pacijick, from the equability of the feafons which are faid to pre- 
 vail there, and the facility and fecurity with which navigation is 
 there carried on, we doubted not but we fliould be fpeedily cheared 
 with the moderate gales, the fmooth water, and the temperate air, 
 for which that trad of the globe has been fo renowned. And un- 
 der the influence of thefe pleafing circumftances, we hoped to ex- 
 perience fome kind of compenfation ; for the complicated miferies 
 which had fo conflantly attended us for the lafl eight weeks. But 
 here we were again difappointed ; for in the fucceeding month of 
 May, our fufferings role to a much higher pitch than they bad ever 
 yet done, whether we confider the violence of the florms, the fliat- 
 tering of our fails and rigging, or the diminifliing and weakening 
 of our crew by deaths and ficknefs, and the probable profpeft of 
 our total deftrudlion. All this will be fufficiently evident, from the 
 followina; circumftantial account of our diverfified misfortunes. 
 
 Soon after our palling Streights Le Maire, the fcurvy began to 
 make its appearance amongft us ; and our long continuance at fea, 
 the fatigue we underwent, and the various difappointments we met 
 with, had occafioned its fpreading to fuch a degree, that at the lat- 
 ter end of Jpril there were but few on board, who were not in 
 fome degree afflided with it, and in that month no lefs than forty- 
 three died of it on board the Centurion. But thous;h we thought 
 that the diftemper liad then rifen to an extraordinary height, and 
 were willing to hope, that as we advanced to the northward Its 
 malignity would abate, yet we found, on the contrary, that in the 
 n^onth of May we loft near double that number : And as we did 
 not get to land till the middle of 'June, the mortality went on in- 
 crealing, and the difeafe extended itfelf fo prodigioufly, that after 
 the lofs of above two hundred men, we could not at laft mufter 
 more than fix fore-maft men in a watch capable of duty. 
 
 Th 
 
 IS
 
 ( roi ) 
 
 This difeafe Co frequently attending all long voyages, and (o par- 
 ticularly deftrudive to us, is furely the mofl: fingular and unaccoun- 
 table of any that aifeds the human body. For its fymptoms arex 
 inconftant and innumerable, and its progrefs and effeds extremely " 
 irregular ; for fcarcely any two perfons have the fame complaints, 
 and where there hath been found fome conformity in the fymptoms, 
 the order of their appearance has been totally different. However, 
 though it frequently puts on the form of many other difeafes, and 
 is therefore not to be defcribed by any exclufive and infallible crite- 
 rions ; yet there are fome fymptoms which are more general than the 
 reft, and therefore, occurring the oftneft, deferve a more particular 
 enumeration. Thefe common appearances are large difcoloured 
 fpots difpcrfed over the whole fnrface of the body, fwclled legs, 
 putrid gums, and above all, an extraordinary laffitude of the whole 
 body, efpecially after any exercife, however inconfiderable ; and 
 this laffitude at laft degenerates into a pronenefs to fwoon on the leaft 
 exertion of ftrength, or even on the leaft motion. 
 
 This difeafe is likewife ufually attended with a ftrange dejedtion 
 of the fpirits, and with fliiverings, tremblings, and a difpofition to 
 be feized with the moft dreadful terrors on the flighteft accident. 
 Indeed it was moft remarkable, in all our reiterated experience of 
 this malady, that whatever difcouraged our people, or at any time 
 damped their hopes, never failed to add new vigour to the diftem- 
 per ; for it ufually killed thofe who were in the laft ftages of it, and 
 confined thofe to their hammocks, who were before capable of 
 fome kind of duty -, fo that it feemed as if alacrity of mind, and 
 finguine thoughts, were no contemptible prefervatives from its fatal 
 malignity. 
 
 But it is not eafy to compleat the long roll of the various conco- 
 mitants of this difeafe ; for it often produced putrid fevers, pleuri- 
 fies, the jaundice, and violent rheumatick pains, and fometimes it 
 occafioned an obftinate coftivenefs, which was generally attended 
 with a difficulty of breathing ; and this was efteemed the moft 
 deadly of all the fcorbutick fymptoms : At other times the whole 
 
 bodv,
 
 ( I02 ) 
 
 body, but more efpecially the legs, were fubjedl to ulcers of the 
 vvorft kind, attended with rotten bones, and fuch a luxuriancy of 
 lunguous flefli, as yielded to no remedy. But a moft extraordinary 
 circumftance, and what would be fcarcely credible upon any fingle 
 evidence, is, that the fears of wounds whicli had been for many 
 years healed, were forced open again by this virulent diftemper: Of 
 this, tliere was a remarkable inllance in one of the invalids on board 
 the Centurion, who had been wounded above fifty years before at 
 the hittle of tlie Bcyve ; for though he v/as cured foon after, and 
 had continued well for a great number of years paft, yet on his 
 being attacked by the fcurvy, his wounds, in the progrefs of his 
 difeale, broke out afrefli, and appeared as if they had never been 
 healed : Nay, what is flill more aftonifliing, the callous of a broken 
 bone, which h.id been compleatly formed for a long time, was found 
 to be hereby diffolved, and the fradlure feemed as if it had never 
 been confolidated. Indeed, the effeds of this difeafc were in almofl: 
 every inflance v/onderful ; for many of our people, though con- 
 fined to their hammocks, appeared to have no inconlkierable fhare 
 of healtli, for they eat and drank heartily, were chearful, and 
 talked with much feeming vigour, and with a loud flrong tone 
 of voice; and yet on their being the lead: moved, though it was 
 only from one part of the fliip to the other, and that in their ham- 
 mocks, th.ey have immediately expired ; and others, who have 
 confided in their feeming flrength, and have refolved to get out of 
 their hammocks, have died before they could weil reach die deck ; 
 and it was no uncommon thing for thofe who were able to walk 
 the deck, and to do fome kind of duty, to drop down dead in an 
 inftant, on any endeavours to acl with their utmoft vigour, many 
 of our people having periflied in tliis manner during the courfe of 
 this voyage. 
 
 With this terrible difeafe we ilruggled the greatefl part of the 
 lime of our beating round Cape Horn ; and though it did not then 
 rage with its utmoft violence, yet we buried no lefs than forty- 
 three men on board the Centurion^ in the month of ^r/7, as hath 
 
 beea
 
 ( 103 ) 
 
 been already obferved, but we ftill entertained hopes, that when wc 
 fhould have once fecured our pafTage round the Cape, we Ihouki 
 put a period to this, and all the other evils which had fo conftantly 
 purfued us. But it was our misfortune to find, that the Facifick 
 Ocean was to us lefs hofpitable than the turbulent neighbourhood of 
 Terra del Fuego and Cape Horn : For being arrived, on the 8th of 
 M(7)\ off the Ifland of Socoro, which was the firft rendezvous ap- 
 pointed for the fquadron, and where we hoped to have met with 
 fome of our companions, we cruized for them in that ftation feve- 
 ral days. And here we were not only difappointed in our hopes of 
 being joined by our friends, and were thereby induced to favour 
 the gloomy fuggeftions of their having all periflied ; but we were 
 likewife perpetually alarmed with the fears of being driven on fliorc 
 upon this coaft, which appeared too craggy and irregular to give us 
 the leaft hopes, that in fuch a cafe any of us could poffibly efcape 
 immediate deflrudion. For the land had indeed a moft tremendous 
 afpeft : The moft diftant part of it, and which appeared far within 
 the country, being the mountains ufually called the Andes or Cordille- 
 ras, was extremely high, and covered with fnow; and the coiift itfelf 
 feemed quite rocky and barren, and the water's edge fidrted with 
 precipices. In fome places indeed there appeared feveral deep bays 
 running into the land, but the entrance into them was generally 
 blocked up by numbers of little Iflands ; and though it was not im- 
 probable but there might be convenient flicker in fome of thofe 
 bays, and proper channels leading thereto ; yet as we were utterly 
 ignorant of the coaft, had we been driven afliore by the weftern 
 winds which blew almoft conftantly there, we did not expedl to 
 have avoided the lofs of our (hips and of our lives. 
 
 And this continued peril, which lafted for above a fortnight, 
 was greatly aggravated by the difliculties we found in working the 
 iliip ; as the fcurvy had by this time deftroyed fo great a part of our 
 hands, and had in fome degree affedcd almoft the whole crew. Nor 
 did we, as wc hoped, find the winds lels violer.t, as we advanced 
 to the northward ; for we had often prodigious fqualls which fpiit 
 
 our
 
 C I04 ) 
 
 our fiiils, greatly damaged our rigging, and endangered our mafts. 
 Indeed, during the greateft part of the time we u-ere upon this 
 coali, the wind blew lb hard, that in another fiiuaticn, where ve 
 had fufficient fea-room, we fliould certainly have lain to; but in 
 the prefent exigency we were neceffitated to carry both our courfes 
 and top-fails, in order to keep clear of this lee-fliore. In one of 
 thefe fqualls, which was attended by feveral violent claps of thunder, 
 a ludden flafli of fire darted along our decks, which, dividing, ex* 
 ploded with a report like that of feveral piftols, and wounded many 
 of our men and officers as it pafled, marking them in different parts 
 of the body : This flame was attended with a ftrong fulphurous 
 flench, and was doubtlefs of the fame nature with the larger and 
 more violent blafts of lightning which then filled the air. 
 
 It were endlefs to recite minutely the various difafters, fatigues 
 and terrors which we encountered on this coaft ; all thefe went on 
 encreafing till the 2 2d of May, at which time, the fury of all the 
 ftorms which we had hitherto encountered, feemed to be combined, 
 and to have confpired our deftrudion. In this hurricane almoft all 
 our fails were fplit, and great part of our ftanding rigging broken ; 
 and, about eight in the evening, a mountainous overgrown-fea took 
 us upon our ftarboard quarter, and gave us fo prodigious a fliock, 
 that feveral of our ftirouds broke with the jerk, by whicli our mafts 
 were greatly endangered ; our ballafi; and ftores too were fo ftrangely 
 fhifted, that the fliip heeled afierwards two ftreaks to port. Indeed 
 it was a mofi: tremendous blow, and we were thrown into the ut- 
 moft confternation from the apprehenfion of inflantly foundering ; 
 and though the wind abated in a few hours, yet, as we had no 
 more fails left in a condition to bend to our yards, the fliip laboured 
 very much in a hollow fea, rolling gunwale to, for want of fail to 
 Heady her : So that we expeded our marts, which were now very 
 flenderly fupported, to come by the board every moment. Howe- 
 ver, we exerted ourfelves the beft we could to flirrup our flirouds, 
 to reeve new lanyards, and to mend our fails ; but while thefe ne- 
 cclTary operations were carrying on, we ran great rifque of being 
 
 driven
 
 ( 'OS ) 
 
 driven on Hiore on the Ifland of Chiloe, which was not flir diftant 
 from us J but in the midfl of our peril the \^ ind happily Hiiftcd to 
 the fouthward, and we fteered cfF the land with the main-iiiil only, 
 the Matter and mvlclf undertaking the management of the helm, 
 while every one elfe on board was bufied in fecuring the mads, and 
 bending the fails as faft as they could be repaired. This was the 
 laft effort of that ftormy climate ; for in a day or two after, we got 
 clear of the land, and found the weather more moderate than we 
 had yet experienced fince our pafTing Streights Le Moire. 
 And now having cruized in vain for more than a fortnight in 
 queft of the other {hips of the fquadron, it v/as refolved to 
 take the advantage of the prefent favourable feafjn and the of- 
 fing we had made from this terrible coafl, and to make the 
 beft of our way for the Ifland of "jfiian Fernmidcs. For though 
 our next rendezvous was appointed off the harbour of Baldivici, yet 
 as we had hitherto feen none of our companions at this lirft ren- 
 dezvous, it was not to be fuppofed that any of them would be 
 found at the fecond : Indeed we had the greateft rcafon to fufned:, 
 that all but ourfelves had periflied. Befides, we were by this tiir,e 
 reduced to fo low a condition, that inftead of attempting to attack 
 the places of the enemy, our utmoft hopes could only fuggeft to us 
 the poffibility of faving the fhip, and fome part of the remaining 
 enfeebled crew, by our fpeedy arrival at Jua?i Fernandes j for this 
 was the only road in that part of the world where there was any 
 probability of our recovering our fick, or refitting our veffel, and 
 confequently our getting thither was the only chance we had left to 
 avoid perifiiing at fea. 
 
 Our deplorable fituation then allowing no room for deliberation 
 we flood for the Ifland of 'Juan Fvrnandei ; and to fave time, which 
 was now extremely precious, (our men dying four, five and fix ia 
 a day) and likewife to avoid being engaged again with a lee-(hore, 
 we refolved, if poffiblc, to hit the Ifland upon a meridian. And, 
 on the 28th of May, being nearly in the parallel upon which it is 
 laid down, we had great expedations of feeing it : But not finding 
 
 P it
 
 ( io6 ) 
 
 it In the pclition in which the charts had taught us to expe<!i: it, we 
 began to fear that we liad got too far to the weftward ; and there- 
 fore, though the Commodore himfelf was flrongly pcrfuaded, that 
 he faw it on the morning of the 28th, yet his Oflicers believing it 
 to be only a cloud, to which opinion the hazinefs of the weather 
 gave fome kind of countenance, it was, on a confultation, refolved 
 to fland to the eaftward, in the parallel of the Ifland ; as it was cer- 
 tain, that by this courfe we lliould either fall in with the Ifland, if 
 we were already to the weftward of it ; or fliould at leaft make the. 
 main-land of Chili, from whence wc might take a new departure^ 
 and aflure ourfelves, by running to the weftward afterwards, of not 
 milling the Ifland a fecond time. 
 
 On the 30th of ]\Iay we had a view of the Continent of Chili y 
 diflant about twelve or thirteen leagues ; the land made exceeding 
 high and uneven, and appeared quite white ; what we faw being 
 doubtlefs a part of the Cordilleras, which are always covered with 
 fnow. Though by this view of the land we afcertained our poli- 
 tion, yet it gave us great uneafinefs to find that we had fo needlellly 
 altered our courfe, when we. were, in all probability juft upon the 
 point of making the Ifland j for the mortality amongft us was now 
 encreafed to a moft dreadful degree, and thofe who remained alive 
 were utterly difpirited by this new difappointment, and the profpedt 
 of their longer continuance at fea : Our water too began to grow 
 IJcarce; fo that a general dejedion prevailed amongft us, which ad- 
 ded much to the virulence of the difeafe, and deftroyed numbers of 
 our beft men ; and to all thefe calamities there was added this vex- 
 atious circumftance, that when, after having got a fight of the Main, 
 we tacked and ftood to the weftward in queft of the Ifland, we 
 were fo much delayed by calms and contrary winds, that it coft us 
 nine days to regain the wefting, which, when we ftood to the 
 eaftward, we ran down in two. In this defponding condition, 
 with a crazy ftiip, a great fcarcity of frefli water, and a crew lb 
 univerfally dileafed, that there were not above ten fore-maft men in 
 5, watch capable of doing duty, and even fome of thefe lame, and 
 
 unable
 
 ( 107 ) 
 
 unable to go aloft : Under thefe dirtieartning circumftances, I fay, 
 we flood to the weftward ; and, on the 9 th of JiuK, at day-break, 
 we at laft difcovered the long-wifhed for Illand of Juan Fernmides. 
 And with this difcovery I fliall clofe this chapter and the firft book, 
 after obferving (which will furnifli a very ftrong image of our unpa- 
 ralleled diftrefles) that by our fufpeding ourfelves to be to the weft- 
 ward of the Ifland on the 28th of May, and, in confequence of 
 this, ftanding in for the Main, we loft between feventy and eighty of 
 our men, whom we ftiould doubtlefs have faved had we made the 
 Illand that day, which, had we kept on our courfs for a few hours 
 longer, we could not have failed to have done. 
 
 END of BO OKI. 
 
 P 2 A VOYAGE
 
 ( 109 ) 
 
 VOYAGE 
 
 ROUND THE 
 
 WORLD, &'c. 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 The arrival of the CeJiturlon at the Ifland of Juan 
 Fernandes, with a defcription of that Ifland. 
 
 ON the 9th of June, at day break, as is mentioned in the 
 preceding chapter, we firfl defcried the Ifland of Juan 
 Fernandes, bearing N. by E. i- E, at eleven or tweh'c 
 leagues diftance. And though, on this firfl view, it ap- 
 peared to be a very mountainous place, extremely ragged and irregu- 
 lar ; yet as it was land, and the land we fought for, it was to us a 
 moft agreeable fight : For at this place only we could hope to put a 
 period to thofe terrible calamities we had fo long ftruggled with, 
 which had already fwept away above half our crew, and which, had 
 "We continued a few days longer at fea, would inevitably have com- 
 pleated our deilrudion. For we were by this time reduced to (o 
 helplefs a condition, that out of two hundred and odd men v^hich 
 
 remained
 
 (no) 
 
 remained alive, we could not, taking all our watches together, 
 mufter hands enough to work the iliip on an emergency, though 
 we included the officers, their fervants, and the boys. 
 
 The wind being northerly when we firft made the Ifland, wc 
 kept plying all that day, and the next night, in order to get in with 
 the land ; and wearing the fliip in the middle watch, we had a 
 melancholy inflance of the almoft incredible debility of our people ; 
 for the Lieutenant could mufter no more than two Quarter-mafters, 
 and fix Fore-maft men capable of working ; fo that without the af- 
 fiftance of the officers, fervants and the boys, it might have proved 
 impoffible for us to have reached the Ifland, after we had got fight 
 of it ; and even with this affiftance they were two hours in trim- 
 mino- the fails : To fo wretched a condition was a fixty gun fliip re- 
 duced, which had pafl^d Streights Le Maire but three months be- 
 fore, with between four and five hundred men, almoft all of them 
 in health and vigour. 
 
 However, on the loth in the afternoon, we got under the lee 
 
 of the Ifland, and kept ranging along it, at about two miles difl:ance, 
 
 in order to look out for the proper anchorage, which was defcribed 
 
 to be in a bay on the North fide. And now being nearer in with 
 
 the fliore, we could difcover that the broken craggy precipices, 
 
 which had appeared fo unpromifing at a diflance, were far from 
 
 barren, being in mofl: places covered with woods ; and that between 
 
 them there were every where interfperfed the finefl: vallies, clothed 
 
 with a moft beautiful verdure, and watered with numerous flreams 
 
 and cafcades, no valley, of any extent, being unprovided of its 
 
 proper rill. The water too, as we afterwards found, was not in- 
 
 feriour to any we had ever tafted, and was conftanily clear : So that 
 
 the afpcift of this country would, at all times, have been extremely 
 
 deli2;htful, but in our diftrefled fituation, languifliing as we were 
 
 for the land and its vegetable produdions, (an inclination conflantly 
 
 attending every flage of tiie fea-fcurvy) it is fcarcely credible with 
 
 what eagernefs and tranfport we viewed the fliore, and with how 
 
 jiiuch impatience we longed for the greens and other refrefliments 
 
 which
 
 ( III ) 
 
 which were then in fight, and particularly for the water, for of this 
 we had been confined to a very fparing allowance for a confiderable 
 time, and had then but five ton remaining on board. Thofe only 
 who have endured a long feries of thirft, and who can readily re- 
 cal the defire and agitation which the ideas alone of fprings and 
 brooks have at that time raifed in them, can judge of the emotion 
 with which we eyed a large cafcade of the moft tranfparent water, 
 which poured itfelf from a rock near a hundred feet high into the 
 fea, at a fmall diftance from the fliip. Even thofe amongfl: the 
 difeafed, who were not in the very laft ftages of the diftemper, 
 though they had been long confined to their hammocks, exerted the 
 fmall remains of flrength that was left them, and crawled up to 
 the deck to feaft themfelves with this reviving profpedt. Thus we 
 coafted the fliore, fully employed in the contemplation of this di- 
 verfified landfkip, which ftill improved upon us the farther we ad- 
 vanced. But at laft the night clofed upon us, before we had fa- 
 tisfied ourfelves which was the proper bay to anchor in ; and there- 
 fore we refolved to keep in foundings all night, (we having then 
 from fixty-four to feventy fathom) and to fend our boat next 
 morning to difcover the road : However, the current fliifted in the 
 night, and fet us fo near the land, that we were obliged to let "o 
 the beft bower in fifty- fix fathom, not half a mile from the fliore. 
 At four in the morning, the Cutter was difpatched with our third 
 Lieutenant to find out the bay we were in fearch of, who returned 
 again at noon with the boat laden with feals and grafs ; for thou'^h 
 the Ifland abounded with better vegetables, yet the boats-crew in 
 their fliort ftay, had not met with them ; and they well knexv that 
 even grafs would prove a dainty, and indeed it was all foon and 
 eagerly devoured^ The feals too were confidered as frefli provifion ; 
 but as yet were not much admired, tho' they grew aftervv'ards into 
 more repute : For what rendered them lefs valuable at this juncture 
 was the prodigious quantity of excellent filh, which the people on^ 
 board had taken, during the abfence of the boat. 
 
 The
 
 (iia) 
 
 The Cutter, in this expedition, had difcovered the bay where we 
 intended to anchor, which we found uas to the wcftuard of eur 
 prefent ftation ; and, the next morning, the weather proving favou- 
 rable, we endeavoured to weigli, in order to proceed thither : But 
 though, on this occafion, we muftercd all the flrength we could, 
 obliging even the fick, who were fcarce able to keep on their leggs, 
 to aflifl lis ; yet the capflan was fo weakly manned, that it was 
 near four hours before we hove the cable right up and down : After 
 which, with our utmoft efforts, and with many furges and fome 
 purchafes we made ufe of to encreafe our power, we found our- 
 felves incapable of ftarting the anchor from the ground. Ho'.\ever, 
 at noon, as a frcfh gale blew towards the bay, we w ere induced to 
 fet the dils, which fortunately tripped the anchor ; on which wc 
 fteered along (liore, till we came a-breaft of the point that forms 
 the caftern part of the bay. On the opening of the bay, the wind, 
 that had befriended us thus far, fliifted and blew from thence in 
 fqualls ; but by means of the head- way we had got, we loofed 
 clofe in, till the anchor brought us up in fifty-fix fathom. Soon af- 
 ter we nad thus got to our new birth, we dilcovered a fail, which 
 we made no doubt was one of our fquadron ; and on its nearer ap- 
 proach, we found it to be the Iryal Sloop. We immediately fent 
 fome of our hands on board her, by whofe affiftance (he was 
 broueht to an anchor between us and the land. We foon found 
 
 O 
 
 that the Sloop had not been exempted from thofe calamities which- 
 we had fo feverely felt; for her Commander, Captain SaiinderSy 
 waiting on the Commodore, informed him, that out of his fmall 
 complement, he had buried thirty-four of his men ; and thofe that 
 remained were fo univerfiilly afflifted with the fcurvy, that only 
 himfelf, his Lieutenant, and three ot his men, were able to fland 
 by the fails. The Tryal came to an anchor within us, on the 1 2th, 
 about noon, and we carried our hawfers on board her, in order to 
 moor ourfelves nearer in fliorc ; but the wind coming off the land 
 in violent gulls, prevented our mooring in the birth we intended, 
 efpecially as our principal attention was now employed on bufinefs 
 
 rather
 
 ( "3) 
 
 rather of more importance ; for we were now extremely occupied 
 in fending on fliore materials to raife tents for the reception of the 
 fick, who died apace on board, and doubtlefs the diftemper was 
 confiderably augmented, by the ftench and filthinefs in which they 
 lay ; for the number of the difeafed was fo great, and fo few could 
 be fpared from the neceflary duty of the fails to look after tl-:cm, 
 that it was impoffible to avoid a great relaxation in the article of 
 cleanlinefs, which had rendered the fliip extremely loathfome be- 
 tween decks. But notwithftanding our defire of freeing the fick 
 from their hateful fituation, and their own extreme impatience to 
 get on fliore, we had not hands enough to prepare the tents for 
 their reception before the i6th; but on that and the two following 
 days we fent them all on fliore, amounting to a hundred and fixty- 
 feven perfons, befides at Icaft a dozen who died in the boats, on 
 tlieir being expofed to the frefli air. The greatefl: part of our fick 
 were fo infirm, that we were obliged to carry them out of thelliip 
 in their hammocks, and to convey them afterwards in the fiime man- 
 ner from the water-fide to their tents, over a ftony beach. T his 
 was a work of confiderable fatigue to the few who were healthy, 
 and therefore the Commodore, with his accuftomed humanity, not 
 only affifted herein with his own labour, but obliged his Officers, 
 without diftindlion, to give their helping hand. The extreme 
 weaknefs of our fick may in fome meafure be colleded from the 
 numbers who died after they had got on fliore ; for it had generally 
 been found, that the land, and the refrefliments it produces, very 
 foon recover moft ftages of the fea-fcurvy ; and we flattered our- 
 felves, that thofe who had not peritlied on this firft expofure to 
 the open air, but had lived to be placed in their tents, would 
 have been fpeedily reftored to their health and vigour : But, to our 
 great mortification, it was near twenty days after their landing, be- 
 fore the mortality was tolerably ceafed ; and for the firfl ten or 
 twelve days, we buried rarely lefs than fix each day, and many of 
 thofe, who furvived, recovered by very flow and infenfible degrees. 
 Indeed, thofe who were well enough at their firft getting on (hore, 
 
 (> to
 
 ( 114 ) 
 
 to creep out of thek tents, and crawl about, were foon relieved, 
 and recovered their health and flrengtli in a very fliort time ; but in 
 the reft, the difeafe feemcd to have acquired a degree of invete- 
 racy which was altogether without example. 
 
 Having proceeded thus hr, and got our fick on rtiore, I think it 
 r.eceflary, before I enter into any longer detail of our tranfa<ftions, 
 to give a diftind account of this Ifland of Juan Fernandes, its fitu- 
 ation, produdlions, and all its conveniencies. Thefe particulars we 
 were well enabled to be minutely inflruifled in, during our three 
 months flay there ; and as it is the only commodious place in thofe 
 feas, where BritiJJj cruifers can refrefli and recover their men after 
 their pafTage round Cape Horn, and where they may remain for 
 fome time without alarming the Spanifi coaft, thefe its advan- 
 tages well merit a circumftantial defcription. And indeed Mr. An- 
 fon was particularly induflrious in ,direding the roads and coafts to 
 be furveyed, and other obfervations to be made, knowing, from 
 his own experience, of how great confequence thefe materials might 
 prove to any EritijJo vefTels hereafter employed in thofe feas. For 
 the uncertainty we were in of its poGtion, and our {landing in for 
 the Main on the 28th of May, in order to fecure a fufficient eaft- 
 ing, when we were indeed extremely near it, coft us the lives of 
 between feventy and eighty of our men, by our longer continuance 
 at fca : From which fatal accident we might have been exempted, 
 had we been furniflied with fuch an account of its fituation, as we 
 could fully have depended on. • 
 
 The Ifland of ^uan Femandes lies in the latitude of 33°: 40' 
 South, and is a hundred and ten leagues diftant from the Continent 
 of Chili. It is faid to have received its name from a Spaniard, wha 
 formerly procured a grant of it, and refided there feme time with 
 a view of fettling it, but afterwards abandoned it. On approach- 
 ing it on its eaft fide, it appears, as reprefented in the annexed plate, 
 where (A) is a fmall Ifland, called Goat IJland, to the S. \\. of it; 
 (i)^a rock, galled Mcnkey key, almoft contiguous to it ; (^ is the 
 Eaft bay, (1^) Cumberland Bay, where we moored, and which, as 
 
 will
 
 
 ]S in i/ie <fou//i deoy.
 
 S%:5 Mdf ftwd/ii'^ ofi/ie dQ/af/J cf lUAN FERNANDE S /// //if ^,'u//i dfa . 
 
 iri^
 
 { "S ) e 
 
 will be obferved, is the befl: road for (hipping, and (•) the Eaft 
 bay. The Ifland itfelf is of an irregular figure, as may be fcen by 
 the very exaft plan of it here inferted ; its greateft extent being be- 
 tween four and five leagues, and its greatefl breadth fomewhat 
 fliort of two leagues. The only fafe anchoring at this Ifland is on 
 the North fide, where are the three bays mentioned above, but the 
 middlemofl: known by the name of Cu?nkrla?id Bay, is the wideft 
 and deepeft, and in all refpeds much the befl ; the other two 
 bays, denominated the Eaft and Weft bays, are fcarcely more than 
 good landing places, where boats may conveniently put their cafk 
 on fliore. A plan of the N. E. fide of the Ifland, containing thefc 
 three bays, drawn by a large fcale, is here inferted, where it ap- 
 pears, that Cumberland Bay is pretty well fecured to the fouthward, 
 lying only expofed from the N. by W. to the E. by S j and as the 
 northerly winds feldom blow in that climate, and never with any 
 violence, the danger from that quarter is not worth attending to. 
 To diflinguifli this bay the better at fea, I have added a very exadt 
 view of it, which will enable all future Navigators readily to 
 find it. 
 
 As the bay lafl: defcribed, or Cumberland Bay, is by far the moft 
 commodious road in the Ifland, fo it is advifeable for aU Ihips to an- 
 chor on the weftern fide of this bay, within little more than two 
 cables length of the beach. Here they may ride in forty fathom of 
 water, and be, in a great meafure, fheltered from a large heavy 
 fea, which comes rolling in whenever an eafliern or a wefl.ern wind 
 blows. It is however expedient, in this cafe, to cackle or arm the 
 cables with an iron chain, or good rounding, for five or fix fathom 
 from the anchor, to fecure them from being rubbed by the foulnefs 
 of the ground. 
 
 I have before obferved, that a northerly w'ind, to which alone 
 this bay is expofed, very rarely blew during our fl:ay here ; and as 
 it was then winter, it may be fuppofed, in other feafons, to be lefs 
 frequent. Indeed, in thofe few inftances when it was in that quar- 
 ter, it did not blow with any great force : But this perhaps might 
 
 Q_2 be
 
 ( "6) 
 
 be ovviii!^ -to the highlands on the Ibuthvvard of the bay, whicli 
 checked its current, and thereby abated its violence} for we had 
 rcafon to fuppofe, that a few leagues off", it blew with confiderable 
 force, lince it fometimes drove before it a prodigious fca, in which 
 we rode fore-caftle in. But though the northern winds are never to 
 be apprehended, yet the foutlicrn winds, which generally prevail 
 here, frequently blow off" the land in violent guffs and fqualls, 
 which however rarely laft longer than two or three minutes. This 
 fcems to be owing to the obffrudion of the fouthern gale, by the 
 Iiills in the neighbourhood of the bay ; for the wind being coUeded 
 by this means, at laft forces its paffage through the narrow vallies, 
 which, like fo many funnels, both facilitate its efcape, and increafe 
 its violence. Thefe frequent and fudden guffs make it difficult for 
 ftiips to work in with the wind off" fliore, or to keep a clear hawfe 
 when anchored. 
 
 The northern part of this Ifland is compofed of high craggy hills, 
 many of them inacceiTible, though generally covered with trees. 
 The foil of this part is loofe and fliallow, fo that very large trees on 
 the hills foon perifli for want of root, and are eafily overturned ; 
 which occafioned the unfortunate death of one of our foilors, who 
 beino- upon the hills in fearch of goats, caught hold of a tree upon 
 a declivity to afliff him in his afcent, and this giving way, he im- 
 mediately rolled down the hill, and though in his fall he faffened 
 on another tree of confiderable bulk, yet that too gave way, and he 
 fell amon^ft the rocks, and was daflied to pieces. Mr. Brett too met 
 with an accident only by reffing his back againft a tree, near as 
 larwe about as himfelf, which ffood on a (lope, for the tree giving 
 way, he fell to a confiderable diftance, though without receiving 
 
 any biann. 
 
 The fouthern, or rather the S. W. part of the Ifland, as diffin- 
 <^uifl-ied in the plan, is widely diff"erent from tlie reft, being dry, 
 ftony, and deffitute of trees, but very flat and low, compared with 
 the hills on the northern part. This part of the Ifland is never fre- 
 quented by fliips, being furrounded by a fteep ffiore, and having 
 
 little 
 
 {->
 
 ( 117 ) 
 
 little or no fredi water ; and belides, it is expofed to the foutherly 
 wind, which generally blows here the whole year round, and in tiic 
 winter folftice very hard. The trees of which the woods on the 
 northern fide of the Ifland are compofed, are mofl: of them aroma- 
 ticks, and of many different forts : There are none of them of a fize 
 to yield any confiderable timber, except the myrde-trees, which are 
 the largeft on the Ifland, and fupplied us with all the timber we 
 made ufe of; but even thefe would not work to a greater length 
 than forty feet. The top of the myrtle-tree is circular, and appears 
 as uniform and regular, as if it had been clipped by art ; it bears 
 on its bark an excrefcence like mofs, which in tafle and fniell re- 
 fembles garlick, and was ufed by our people inftead of it. We 
 found here too the piemento-tree and likewife the cabbage-tree, 
 though in no great plenty. 
 
 Our prifoners obferved, that the appearance of the hills in fome 
 part of the Jfland refemblcd that of the mountains in Chili, where 
 the gold is found : So that it is not impofllble but mines might be 
 difcovered here. We obferved, in fome places, feveral hills of a 
 peculiar fort of red earth, exceeding vermilion in colour, which 
 perhaps, on examination, might prove ufeful for many purpofes. 
 
 Befides a great number of plants of various kinds which are to be 
 met with upon the Ifland, but which we were not botanifts enough 
 either to defcribe, or attend to, we found there almoft all the ve^-e- 
 tables, which are ufually efteemed to be particularly adapted to the 
 cure of thofe fcorbutick diforders, which are ccntraded by fait diet 
 and long voyages. For here we had great quantities of water- 
 crefTes and purflain, with excellent wild forrel, and a vaft profuJion 
 of turnips and Sicilian radiflies : Thefe two laft, having fome refem- 
 blance to each other, were confounded by our people under the ge- 
 neral name of turnips. We iifually preferred the tops of the tur- 
 nips to the roots, which were often ftringy ; though fome of them 
 were free from that exception, and remarkably good. Thefe ve- 
 getables, with the fiHi and flelh we found here, and which I (inW 
 more particularly defcribe hereafter, were not only extremely grate- 
 ful
 
 ( ii8 ) 
 
 ful to our palates, after the long courfe of fait diet which we had 
 been confined to, but were likewife of the rnoft falutary confequence 
 to our lick in recovering and invigorating them, and of no mean 
 tcrvice to us who were well, in deflroying the lurking feeds of the 
 fcurvy, from which perhaps none of us were totally exempt, and 
 in refrediing and reftoring us to our wonted ftrength and adivity. 
 
 Befides the vegetables I have mentioned, of which we made per- 
 petual ufe, we found many acres of ground covered with oats and 
 clover. There were alfo fome few cabbage-trees upon the Ifland, 
 as obferved before ; but as they generally grew on the precipices, and 
 in dangerous fituations, and as it was neceffary to cut down a large 
 tree for every fingle cabbage, this was a dainty that we were able 
 but rarely to indulge in. 
 
 The excellence of the climate and the loofenefs of the foil ren- 
 der this place extremely proper for all kinds of vegetation ; for if 
 the ground be any where accidentally turned up, it is immediately 
 overgrown with turnips and SiciUati radiflies ; and therefore Mr. An- 
 ion having with him garden feeds of all kinds, and ftones of dif- 
 ferent forts of fruits, he, for the better accommodation of his coun- 
 trymen who fliould hereafter touch here, fowed both lettices, car- 
 rots, and other garden plants, and fett in the woods a great variety 
 of plumb, apricock, and peach ftones : And thefe laft lie has been 
 informed have fince thriven to a very remarkable degree ; for fome 
 Gentlemen, who in their paflage from Lima to Old Spain 
 were taken and brought to Englandy having procured leave to wait 
 upon Mr. Anfon, to thank him for his generofity and humanity to 
 his prifoners, fome of whom were their relations, they, in cafual 
 difcourfe with him about his tranfadions in the Scuth-Seas, particu- 
 larly alked him, if he had not planted a great number of fruit- 
 ftones on the Ifland of Juan Fernanda, for they told him, their late 
 Navigators had difcovered there numbers of peach-trees and apri- 
 cock-trees, which being fruits before unobferved in that place, they 
 concluded them to be produced from kernels fett by him. 
 
 And
 
 fii9) 
 
 And this may in general fuffice as to the foil and vegetable pro- 
 dudions of this place : But the face of the country, at leaii of 
 the North part of the Ifknd, is fo extremely fingular, that I cannot 
 avoid giving it a particular confideration. I have already taken no- 
 tice of the wild, inhofpitable air with which it firft appeared to us, 
 and the gradual improvement of this uncouth landfkip as we drew 
 nearer, till we were at iaft captivated by the numerous beauties we 
 difcovered on the fhore. And I muft now add, that we found, 
 during the time of our refidence there, that the inland parts of the 
 Ifland did no ways fall fliort of the fanguine prepofieflions which we 
 firft entertained in their favour. 
 
 For the woods which covered moft of the fteepeft hills, were 
 free from all buflies and underwood, and afforded an eafy paflage 
 through every part of them ; and the irregularities of the hills and 
 precipices, in the northern part of the Ifland, neceflarily traced out 
 by their various combinations a great number of romantic vallies ; 
 moft of which had a ftream of the cleareft water running through 
 them, that tumbled in cafcades from rock to rock, as the bottom 
 of the valley, by the courfe of the neighbouring hills, was at any 
 time broken into a fudden fharp defcent : Some particular fpots oc- 
 curred in thefe vallies, where the fhade and fragrance of the conti- 
 guous woods, the loftinefs of the overhanging rocks, and the tran- 
 sparency and frequent falls of the neighbouring ftreams, prefented 
 fcenes of fuch elegance and dignity, as would perhaps with dif- 
 ficulty be rivalled in any other part of the globe. It is in this 
 place, perhaps, that the fimple produdions of unaftifted nature 
 may be fiiid to excel all the fidlitious defcriptions of the moft ani- 
 mated imagination. 1 fhall finifli this article with a fhort account 
 of that fpot where the Commodore pitched his tent, and which he 
 made choice of for his own refidence, though I defpair of con- 
 veying an adequate idea of its beauty. This piece of ground which 
 he chofe was a fmall lawn, that lay on a little afcent, at the diftance 
 of about half a mile from the fea. In the front of his tent there 
 was a large avenue cut through the woods to the fea-fidc, which 
 
 floping
 
 ( 120 ) 
 
 fl'jping to the water with a gentle defcent, opened a profpedl of the 
 bay and the ihips^at anchor. This lawn was fcreened behind by a 
 tall wood of myrtle fweeping round it, in the form of a theatre, 
 the ground on which the wood flood, rifing with a much ftiarper 
 afcent than the lawn itfelf, though not fo much, but that the hills 
 and precipices within land towered up confiderably above the tops 
 of tiie trees, and added to the grandeur of the view. There were, 
 l)efides, two itreams of chryftal water, which ran on the right 
 and left of the tent, within an hundred yards diftance, and were 
 iliaded by the trees which flcirted the lawn on either fide, and 
 compleated the fymmetry of the whole. Som.e faint conceptions of 
 the elegance of this fituation may perhaps be belter deduced from 
 the draught of it, inferted in the adjoining plate. 
 
 It remains now only that we fpeak of the animals and provifions 
 which we met with at this place. Former writers have related, 
 that this Ifland abounded with vaft numbers of goats, and their ac- 
 counts are not to be queftioned, this place being the ufual haunt of 
 the buccaneers and privateers, who formerly frequented thofe feas. 
 And there are two inftances ; one of a Miifquito huiiait, and the 
 other of Alexander Selkirk a Scotchman^ who were left by their re- 
 fpcclive lliips, and lived alone upon this Ifland for fome years, and 
 confequenily were no flrangers to its produce. Selkirk, who was 
 the lafl:, after a flay of between four and five years, was taken off 
 the place by the Duke and Duchefs Privateers of Bri/iol, as may be 
 fccn at large in the journal of their voyage : His manner of life, 
 during his folitude, was in mofl particulars very remarkable ; but 
 there is one circumflance he relates, which was fo flrangely verified 
 by cur own obfervation, that I cannot help reciting it. He tells 
 u?, amongft other things, as he often caught more goats than he 
 wanted, he fometimes marked their ears and let them go. This 
 was about thirty-two years before our arrival at the Ifland. Now it 
 happened, that the firfl goat that was killed by our people at their 
 landing had his ears flit, whence we conclijded, that he had doubt- 
 Icfs been formerly under the power of Selkirk. This was indeed an 
 
 animal
 
 ( '2' ) 
 
 animal of a mofi: venerable afpedl, dignified with an exceeding ma- 
 jeftic beard, and with many other fymptoms of antiquity. During 
 our ftay on the Ifland, we met with others marked in the fame 
 manner, all the males being diflinguiflied by an exuberance ^of 
 beard, and every other charaderiftick of extreme age. 
 
 But the great numbers of goats, which former writers defcribed to 
 have been found upon this Ifland, are at prefent very much dimi- 
 nifiied : For the Spatiiivds being informed of the advantages wliich 
 the buccaneers and privateers drew from the provifions which goats- 
 flefli here furniflied them with, they have endeavoured to extir- 
 pate the breed, thereby to deprive their enemies of this relief For 
 this purpofe, they have put on fhore great numbers of large dogs, 
 who have encreafed apace, and have deftroyed all the goats in the 
 acceffible part of the country ; fo that there now remain only a few 
 amongft the craggs and precipices, where the dogs cannot follow 
 them. Thefe are divided into feparate herds of twenty or thirty 
 each, which inhabit diftind faflneffes, and never mingle with each 
 other : By this means we found it extremely difficult to kill them 5 
 and yet we were fo defirous of their flefli, which we all asreed 
 much refembled venifon, that we got knowledge, 1 believe, of all 
 their herds, and it was conceived, by comparing their numbers to- 
 gether, that they fcarcely exceeded two hundred upon the whole 
 Ifland. I remember we had once an opportunity of obferving a 
 remarkable difpute betwixt a herd of thefe animals and a number 
 of dogs ; for going in our boat into the eaftern bay, we faw fome 
 dogs running very eagerly upon the foot, and being willing to dif- 
 cover what game they were after, we lay upon our oars fome time 
 to view them, and at lafl we faw them take to a hill, and lookir.-- a 
 litde further, we obferved upon the ridge of it an herd of goats, 
 which feemed drawn up for their reception ; there was a very nar- 
 row path flcirted on each fide by precipices, on which the Mafter 
 of the herd pofled him.felf fronting the enemy, the reft cf the 
 goats being all behind him, where the ground was more open : As 
 
 R this
 
 ( 122 ) 
 
 •this fpot was inacceffible by any other path, excepting wliere this 
 champion had placed himfelf, the dogs, though they ran up-hill 
 with great alacrity, yet when they came within about tv^'cnty 
 yyds of him, durft not encounter him, (for he would infallibly have 
 driven thciii down the precipice) but gave over the chace, and 
 quietly laid themfelves down, panting at a great rate. 
 
 The dogs, who, as I have mentioned, are mafters of all the ac- 
 ceffible parts of the IHand, are of various kinds, but fome of them- 
 very large, and are multiplied to a prodigious degree. They feme- 
 times came down to our habitatioiis at night, and ftole our proviii- 
 on ; and once or twice they fct upon fmgle perfons, but afliftancc 
 being at hand, they were driven off without doing any mifchie£ 
 As at prefent it is rare for goats to fall in their way, we conceived 
 that they lived principally upon young feals ; and indeed fome of 
 our people had the curiofity to kill dogs fometimes and drefs them, 
 , and they feemed to agree that they had a filliy tafte. 
 
 Goats-fleil-i, as I l^ave inentioned, being fcarce, v/e rarely being 
 able to kill above one a day ; and our people growing tired of fifh, 
 (which, as 1 (hall hereafter obferve, abounds at this place) they at 
 laft condefcended to eat feals, which by degrees they came to re- 
 li(h and called it lamb. The feal, numbers of which haunt this 
 Ifland, hath been fo often defcribed by former writers, that it is un- 
 neceflary to fay any thing particular about them in this place. But 
 there is another amphibious creature to be met with here, called a 
 fea-lyon, that bears fome refemblance to a feal, though it is much 
 larger. This too we eat under the denomination of beef; and as it 
 is fo extraordinary an animal, I conceive, it well merits a particular 
 annotation. They are in fize, when arrived at their full growth, 
 from twelve to twenty feet in length, and from eight to fifteen in 
 circumference : They are extremely fat, fo that after having cut thro' 
 the fkin, which is about an inch in thicknefs, there is at leafl: a foot 
 of fat before you can come at either lean or bones -, and we expe- 
 lienccd more than once, that the fat of fome of the largeft afforded 
 
 us
 
 ( I2> ) 
 
 US a "butt of oil. They ate likewife very full of blood, for if they 
 are deeply wounded in a dozen places, there will inftantly gufli out 
 as many fountains of blood, fpouting to a confiderable diftance ; 
 and to try what quantity of blood they contained, we fliot one firil, 
 and then cut its throat, and meafuring the blood that came from 
 him, we found, that befides what remained in the veffels, which 
 to be fure was confiderable, we got at leafl two hogfheads. Their 
 fkms are covered with (hoct hair of a light dun colour, but their 
 tails, and their fins, which ferve them for feet on fliore, are almoft 
 black ; their fins or feet are divided at the ends like fingers, the 
 web which joins them not reaching to the extremities, and each of 
 thefe extremities is furnifhed with a nail. They have a diftant re- 
 femblance to an overgrown feal, though in fome particulars there is 
 a manifeft difference, efpecially in the males, who have a large 
 fnout or trunk hanging down fi.ve or fix iiiches below the end of the 
 upper jaw ; this particular the females have not, and this renders the 
 countenance of the male and female eafy to be diflinguiflied from 
 each other, and befides, the males are of a much larger fize. The 
 form and appearance both of the male and female are very exa»illy 
 reprefented in the annexed plate, only the difproportion of their 
 fize is not ufually fo great as is there exhibited, for the male was 
 drawn from the life, after the largefi: of thefe animals, which was 
 found upon the Ifland : He was the mafter of the flock, and from 
 his driving off the other males, and keeping a great number of fe- 
 males to himfelf, he was by the feamen ludicroufly ftiled the 
 Bafliaw. Thefe animals divide their time equally between the land 
 and fea, continuing at fea all the fummer, and coming on fhore at 
 the fetting in of the winter, where they refide during that whole 
 feafon. In this interval they engender and bring forth their young, 
 and have generally two at a birth ; thefe they fuckle with their 
 milk, they being at firft about the fize of a full-grown feal. Du- 
 ring the time of thefe animals continuance on fliore, they feed on 
 the grafs and verdure which grows near the bank of the . frefl;i-wa- 
 
 R 2 ter
 
 fi24) 
 
 ter ftreams ; and, when not employed in feeding, fleep In herds in 
 the mod miry places they can find out. As they feem to be of a 
 very lethargic difpofition, and not eafily awakenetl, each herd was 
 oblerved to place fonie of their males at a diftance in the nature of 
 fentinels, who never filled to alarm them, whenever our men at- 
 tempted to moleft, or even to approach them ; and they were very 
 capable of alarming, even at a confidcrable diftance, for the noife 
 (hey make is very loud and of different kinds, fometimes grunting 
 like hogs, and at other times fnorting like horfcs in full vigour. 
 They often, efpecially the males, have furious battles with each 
 other, principally about their females ; and we were one day ex- 
 tremely furprized by the fight of two animals, which at firff ap- 
 peared different from all we had ever obferved, but, on a nearer 
 approach, they proved to be two fea-lions, who had been goring 
 each odier with their teeth, and were covered over with blood : 
 And the Baihaw before-mentioned, who generally lay furrounded 
 with a fcraglio of females, which no other male dared to ap- 
 proach, had not acquired that envied pre-eminence without many 
 l^loody contefts, of which the marks ftill remained in the nume- 
 rous Icars which were viSble in every part of his body. We killed 
 many of them for food, particularly for their hearts and tongues^ 
 which we efteemed exceeding good eating, and preferable even to 
 thofe of bullocks : And in general there was no difficulty in 
 killing them, for they were incapable either of efcaping or re- 
 fifting, their motion being the moft unweildy that can be con- 
 ceived, their blubber, all the time they are moving, being agitated 
 ia large waves under their fkins. However, a lailor one day being, 
 careleflly employed in fkinning a youag fea-lion, the female, from 
 whence he had taken it, came upon him unperceived, and getting 
 his head in her mouth, flie with her teeth fcored his fkull in 
 notches in many places, and thereby wounded him fo defpe- 
 rately, that though all poffible care was taken of him, he died in 
 
 a few days. 
 
 Thefc
 
 ( '23 ) 
 
 Thefe are the principal animals which we found upon the 
 Ifland : For we faw but few birds, and thofe chiefly hawksy 
 blackbirds, owls, and humming birds. We faw not t]:ie Pardela, 
 which burrows in the ground, and which former writers have 
 mentioned t« be found here ; but as we often met with their holes, 
 we fuppofed that the dogs had deftroyed them, as they have al- 
 moft done the cats, which were very numerous in Selkirk's time, 
 but we faw not above one or two during our whole ftay. Howe- 
 ver, the rats ftill keep their ground, and continue here in great 
 numbers, and were very troublefome to us, by infefting our tents 
 nightly. 
 
 But that which furniflied us with the moft delicious repafts at 
 this Iflandj remains ftill to be defcribed. This was the fifh, with 
 which the whole bay was mod plentifully llored, and with the 
 greateft variety : For we found here cod of a prodigious fize ; and' 
 by the report of fome of our crew, who had been formerly eiK-- 
 ployed in the Newfcundland fifhery, not in lefs plenty than is to be 
 i-net with on the banks of that Ifland. We caught alfo cavallies, 
 gropers, large breams, maids, iilver fi(h, congers of a peculiar 
 kind, and above all, a black fidi which we moft efteemed, called by 
 ibme a Chimney fweeper, in fliape refembling a carp. Indeed the 
 beach is every where fo full of rocks and loofe ftones, that there 
 is no poffibility of haling the Seyne ; but with hooks and lines wc 
 caught what numbers we pleafed, fo that a boat with two or three 
 lines would return loaded with fifh in abi^^nt two or three hours 
 time. The only interruption we ever met with, arofe from great 
 quantities of dog-fifli and large n>arks, which fometimes attended 
 our boats and prevented our fport. Befides the fifli we liave 
 already mentioned, we found here one delicacy in greater perfec- 
 tion, both as to fize, flavour and quantity, than is perhaps to be 
 niet with in any other part of the world : This was fea cra-filh ; they 
 generally weighed eight or nine pounds apiece, were of a moft excel- 
 lent tafte, and lay in fuch abundance near the water's edge, that the 
 
 boat-
 
 ( 126 ) 
 
 boat-hooks often ftruck into them, in putting the boat to and from 
 the fliore, 
 
 Thefe are the moft material articles relating to the accommoda- 
 tions, foil, vegetables, animals, and other produdions of the Ifland 
 of Juan Fcrnandes : By which it muft appear, how properly that 
 place was adapted for recovering us from the deplorable lituation to 
 which our tedious and unfortunate navigation round Cape Horn had 
 reduced us. And having thus given the reader fome idea of the 
 fite and circumftances of this place, which was to be our refidence 
 for three months, I fhall now proceed, in the next chapter, to re- 
 late all that occurred to us in that interval, refuming my narration 
 from the i8th day of JunCy being the day in which the Tryal 
 Sloop, having by a fquall been driven out to fea three days before, 
 came again to her moorings, the day in which we finiflied the 
 fending our fick on fliore, and about eight days after our firft an- 
 choring at this Ifland, 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ( 127 ) 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 The arrival of the Gloucefte?' and the Anne Pink at the 
 Ifland of Juan Fernandas^ and the tranfadlions at 
 that place during this interval. 
 
 TH E arrival of the Tryal Sloop at this Ifland, fo foon after 
 we came there ourfelves gave us great hopes of being 
 fpeedily joined by the reft of the fquadron ; and we were 
 for fome days continually looking out, in expedation of their 
 coming in fight. But near a fortnight being elapfed, without any 
 of them having appeared, we began to defpair of ever meetino- them 
 again ; as we knew that had our Ihip continued fo much longer at 
 fea, we fliould every man of us have pcriflied, and the vefTel, oc- 
 cupied by dead bodies only, would have been left to the caprice of 
 the winds and waves: And this we had great reafon to fear was 
 the fate of our conforts, as each hour added to the probability of 
 thefe defponding fuggeftions. 
 
 But on the 2 ift of 'June, fome of our people, from an eminence 
 on fhore, difcerned a fliip to leeward, with her courfes even with 
 the horizon j and they, at the fame time, particularly obferved, that 
 rtie had no fail abroad except her courfes and her main top- fail. 
 This circumftance made them conclude that it was one of our fqua- 
 dron, which had probably fuffered in her fiils and rigging as feverely 
 as we had done : But they were prevented from forming more de- 
 finite conjedlures about her; for, after viewing her for a fliort time 
 the weather grew thick and hazy, and they loft fight of her. On 
 this report, and no fhip appearing for fome days, we were all un- 
 der the greateft concern, fufpedting that her people were in the ut- 
 moft diftrefs for want of water, and fo diminiftied and weakned by 
 ficknefs, as not to be able to ply up to windward j fo that we 
 
 feared.
 
 ( 128 ) 
 
 feared that, after having been in fight of the Tfland, her whole 
 crew would notwithflanding perifh at fea. Plowever , on the 
 26th, towards noon, we difcerned a fail in the North Eaft quarter, 
 which we conceived to be the very fame fliip that had been feen be- 
 fore, and our conjedlures proved true j and about one o'clock flie 
 approached fo near, that we could diftinguifh her to be the Gloic- 
 cejier. As we had no doubt of her being in great dillrefs, the 
 Commodore immediately ordered his boat to her affiftance, laden 
 with f'rclli water, filli and vegetables, which was a very feafonable 
 relief 10 them ; for our apprehenfions of their calamities appeared to 
 be but too well grounded, as perhaps there never was a crew in a 
 more diftrefi'cd iituation. Tlaey had already thrown over- board 
 two thii'ds of their complement, and of thofe that remained alive, 
 fcarcely any were capable of doing duty, except the officers and 
 tlieir fervants. They had been a coniiderable time at the fmall 
 allowance of a pint of fredi water to each man for twenty-four 
 hours, and yet they had fo little left, that, had it not been for 
 the fupply we fent them, they mull: foon have died of thirft. The 
 fliip plied in widiin three mile? of the bay ; but, the winds and 
 currents being contrary, flie could not reach the road. However, 
 (lie continued in the offing the next day, but had no chance of 
 coming to an anchor, unlefs the wind and currents fhifted ; and 
 therefore the Commodore repeated his affiftance, fending to her the 
 'Tryai's boat manned with the Centurion i> people, and a farther fup- 
 ply of water and other refrefliments. Captain Mitchell the Cap- 
 tain of the Gloiicejler, was under a neceffity of detaining both this 
 boat and that fent the preceding day ; for without the help of their 
 crews he had no longer ftrength enough to navigate the fliip. In this 
 tantalizing fituation the Gloucejler continued for near a fortnight, with- 
 ■cut being able to fetch the road, though frequently attempting it, and 
 at feme times bidding very fair for it. On the 9th of July, we 
 obferved her ftretching away to the eaftward at a confiderable di- 
 ftance, which we fuppofed was with a defign to get to the fouth- 
 VS-'Sfd of the Ifland ; but as we foon lofl: fight pf her, and flie did 
 
 not
 
 ( 129 ) 
 
 not appear for near a week, we were prodlgioufly concerned, know- 
 ing that (he muft be ngain in extreme diftrefs for want of water. 
 After great impatience about her, wc difcovered her again on the 
 1 6th, endeavouring to come round the eafliern point of the Ifland ; 
 but the wind, ftiil blowing diredly from the bay, prevented her get- 
 ting nearer than within four leagues of the land. On this, Cap- 
 tain Mitchel made fignals of diftrefs, and our long boat was fent to 
 him with a ftore of water, and plenty of fifli, and other refiefli- 
 ments. And the long-boat being not to be fpared, the Cockfwain 
 had pofitive orders from the Commodore to return again immediate- 
 ly ; but the weather proving ftormy the next day, and the boat not 
 appearing, we much feared flie was loft, which would have proved 
 an irretrievable misfortune to us all : But, the 3d day after, we were 
 relieved from this anxiety, by the joyful fight of the long-boat's fails 
 upon the water; and we fent the Cutter immediately to her af- 
 fiftance, who towed her along fide in a few hours. The crew of our 
 long boat had taken in fix of the Gkucefler's fick men to bring them 
 on fliore, two of which had died in the boat. And now we learnt 
 that the Gloucejler was in a moft dreadful condition, having fcarcely 
 a man in health on board, except thofe they received from us ; and, 
 numbers of their fick dying daily, we found that, had it not 
 been for the laft fupply fent by our long-boat, both the h.calthy and 
 difeafed muft have all periflied together for want of water. And 
 thefe calamities were the more terrifying, as they appeared to be 
 without remedy : For the Gloucejler had already fpent a month in 
 her endeavours to fetch the bay, and flie was now no farther ad- 
 vanced than at the firft moment flie made the Ifland ; on the 
 contrary, the people on board her had worn out all their hopes of 
 ever fucceeding in it, by the many experiments they had made of 
 its difficulty. Indeed, the fame day her fituation grew more defpe- 
 rate than ever, for after flie had received our laft fupply of refrefli- 
 ments, we again loft fight of her ; fo that we in general defpaired 
 of her ever coming to an anchor. ; 
 
 S Thus
 
 ( 130 ) 
 
 Thus was this unhappy veflel bandied about within a few leagues 
 of her intended harbour, whilft the neighbourhood of that place 
 and of thole circumftances, which could alone put an end to the 
 calamities they laboured under, ferved only to aggravate their dif- 
 trcfs, by torturing ihem with a view of the relief it was not in 
 their power to reach. But fhe was at laft delivered from this dread- 
 ful fituation, at a time when we leaft expedted it ; for after having 
 loft fight of her for feveral days, we were pleafingly furprized, on 
 the morning of the 23d of ^July, to fee her open the N. W. point of 
 the bay with a flowing fail ; when we immediately difpatched what 
 boats we had to her aliiftance, and in an hour's time from our firft 
 perceiving her, {he anchored fafe within us in the bay. And now 
 we were more particularly convinced of the importance of the af- 
 fiftance and refrefliments we fo often fent them, and how impoffi- 
 bie it would have been for a man of them to have furvived, had 
 we given lefs attention to their wants ; for notwithftanding the wa- 
 ter, the greens, and frefh piovifions which we fupplied them with, 
 and the hands we fent them to navigate the fliip, by which the fa- 
 tigue of their own people was diminiflied, their fick relieved, and 
 the mortality abated ; notwithftanding this indulgent care of the 
 Commodore, they yet buried three fourths of their crew, and a 
 very fmall proportion of the remainder were capable of affifting in 
 the duty of the fliip. On their coming to an anchor, our firft care 
 was to afilft them in mooring, and our next to fend the fick on 
 fhore : Thefe were now reduced by deaths to lefs than fourfcore, 
 of which we expected to lofe the greateft part j but whether it was, 
 that thofe fartheft advanced in the diftemper were all dead, or that 
 the greens and frefii provifions we had fent on board had prepared 
 thofe which remained for a more fpeedy recovery, it happened con- 
 trary to our expeftations, that their fick were in general relieved and 
 reftored to their ftrength, in a much fliorter time than our own had 
 been when we firft came to the Ifland, and very few of them died 
 on fliore. 
 
 I have
 
 ( 131 ) 
 
 I have thus given an account of the principal events, relating to 
 the arrival of the Glcucejler, in one continued narration : I ihall 
 only add, that we never were joined by any other of our fliips, ex- 
 cept our Vidualler, the Antia Pink, who came in about the middle 
 of Augtijl, and whofe hiflory I fliall more particularly relate hereaf- 
 ter. And I fliall now return to the account of our own tranfac- 
 tions on board and on fliore, during the interval of the Ghucefxcr'i 
 frequent and ineftecflual attempts to reach the llland. 
 
 Our next employment, after fending our ficlc on fliore from the 
 Centurion, was cleanfing our ihip and filling our water. The fnll 
 of thefe meafures was indifpenfibly neceilary to our future health, 
 as the numbers of fick, and the unavoidable negligence arifing from 
 our deplorable fituation at fea, had rendered the decks moft intole- 
 rably loathfome. And the filling our w^ater was a caution that ap- 
 peared not lefs eflential to our future fecurity, as we had reafon to 
 apprehend that accidents might oblige us to quit the Ifland at a 
 very fliort warning ; for fome Appearances, which we had difcovercd 
 on Ihore upon our firft landing, gave us grounds to believe, that 
 there were Spanijlo cruifers in thefe feas, which had left the Ifland 
 but a fliort time before our arrival, and might pofllbly return there 
 again, either for a recruit of water, or in fearch of us j for as uc 
 could not doubt, but that the fole bufinefs they had at fea was to in- 
 tercept us,and we knew that this Ifland was the likeliefl: place, in their 
 own opinion, to meet with us. The circunifl:ances, which gave 
 rife to thefe refledions (in part of which we were not miflaken, as 
 fliall be obferved more at large hereafter) were our finding on fliore 
 feveral pieces of earthen jars, made ufe of in thofe feas for water 
 and other liquids, which appeared to be frelh broken : We Hiw too 
 many heaps of aflies, and near them fiili-bones and pieces of fiih, 
 befides whole fifli fcattered here and there, which plainly appeared 
 to have been but a fliort time out of the water, as they were but 
 jull beginning to decay. Thefe appearances were certain indica- 
 tions th-t there had been fliips at this place but a fliort time before 
 we came there ; and as all Spanifi Merchant-men are inflruded to 
 
 S 2 avoid
 
 ( 132 ) 
 
 avoid the Illand, on account of its being the common rendezvou-s of 
 their enemies, we concluded thofe who had touched here to be 
 fhips of force ; and not knowing that Pizarro was returned to 
 Buenos ylyres, and ignorant what ftrength might have been fitted 
 out at Callao, we were under fome concern for our fafety, being in 
 fo wretched and enfeebled a condition, that notwithftanding the 
 rank of our fhip, and the fixty guns flie carried on board, which 
 would only have aggravated our difhonoar, there was fcarcely a pri- 
 vateer fent to fea, that was not an over-match for us. However, 
 our fears on this head proved imaginary, and we were not expofed 
 to the d^fgrace, which might have been expecfled to have befallen 
 us, had we been necelTitated (as we muft have been, had tlie ene- 
 my appeared) to fight our ftxty-gun fhip with no more thafl thirty 
 hands. 
 
 Whilft the cleaning our fhip and the filling our water went 
 on, we fet up a large copper-oven on fl;:ore near the fick tents, in 
 which we baked bread every day for the fliip's company, being ex- 
 tremely defirous of recovering our fick as foon as pofllble, and con- 
 ceiving that new bread added to their greens and frefh fifli, might 
 prove a powerful article in their relief. Indeed we had all imagi- 
 nable reafon to endeavour at the augmenting our prefent firength, 
 as every little accident, which to a full crew w^ould be infignificant, 
 was extremely alarming in our prefent helplefs fituation : Of this, we 
 had a troublefome inftance on the 30th of June ; for at five in the 
 morning, we were aflonifhed by a violent guft of wind diredly off" 
 Ihore, which inftandy parted our fmall bower cable about ten fa- 
 thom from the ring of the anchor : The flrrip at once fwung ofl" to 
 the befl: bower, which happily flood the violence of the jerk, and 
 brought us up with two cables an end in eighty fathom. At this 
 time we had not above a dozen feamen in the fhip, and we were 
 apprehenfive, if the fquall continued, that we fliould be driven to 
 lea in this wretched condition. However, we fent the boat on 
 Ihore, to bring ofi" all that were capable of ading; and the wind, 
 foon abating of its fury, gave us an opportunity of receiving the boat 
 
 back
 
 { U3 ) 
 
 back again with a reinforcement. With tliis additional {Irength we 
 immediately went to work, to heave in what remained of the cable, 
 which we fufpedled had received fome damage from the foulnefs of 
 the ground before it parted ; and agreeable to our conjedlure, we 
 found that feven fathom and a half of the outer end had been rubbed, 
 and rendered unferviceablc. In the afternoon, we bent the cable to 
 the fpare anchor, and got it over the (liip's fide ; and the next 
 morning, Ju/y i, being favoured with the wind in gentle breezes, 
 we warped the fliip in again, and let go the anchor in forty-one fa- 
 thom ; the eaftermort: point now bearing from us E. -i S ; the 
 weftermofl N. W. by W ; and the bay as before, S. S. W ; a fitua- 
 tion, in which we remained fccure for the future. But we were 
 much •oncerned for the lofs of our anchor, and fwept frequently 
 for it, in hopes to have recovered it ; but the buoy having fonk at 
 the very inftant that the cable parted, we were never able to find it. 
 
 And now as we advanced in yuly, fome of our men being tole- 
 rably recovered, the flrongeft of them were employed in cutting 
 down trees, and fplitting them into billets ; while others, who were 
 too w^ak for this employ, undertook to carry the billets by one at a 
 time to the water- fide : This they performed, fome of them with 
 the help of crutches, and others fupported by a fingle ftick. We 
 next fent the forge on fliore, and employed our fmiths, who were 
 but juft capable of working, in mending our chain-plates, and our 
 other broken and decayed iron work. We began too the repairs of 
 cur rigging ; but as we had not a fufficicnt quantity of junk to make 
 fpun-yarn, we deferred the general over-hale, in hopes of the 
 daily arrival of the Ghnce^er, who we knew had a great quantity 
 of junk on board. However, that we might make as great dif- 
 patch as pofTible in our refitting, we fet up a large tent on the 
 beach for the fail-makers ; and they were immediately employed in 
 repairing our old fails, and making us new ones. 
 
 Thefe occupations, with our cleanfing and watering the fliip, 
 (which was by this time pretty well compkated) the attendance on 
 
 our
 
 ( '34) 
 
 our fick, and the frequent relief fent to the Gloucepr, were the 
 principal tranfadions of our infirm crew, till the arrival of the 
 Gloucejicr at an anchor in the bay. And then Captain Mitchel 
 waiting on the Commodore, informed him, that he had been forced 
 by the winds, in his laft abfence, as far as the fmall Ifland called 
 Mafa-Fuero, lying about twenty-two leagues to the weftward of Juan 
 Fcrmndes ; and that he endeavoured to fend his boat on fliore at this 
 place for water, of which he could obferve fevcral ftreams, but 
 the wind blew fo ftrong upon the fli ore, and occafioned fuch a furf, 
 that it was impoffible for the boat to land ; though the attempt was 
 not altogether ufelefs, as they returned with a boat-load of fi{h. 
 This Ifland had been reprefented by former Navigators as a bairen 
 rock ; but Captain Mitchel afTured the Commodore, that i| was al- 
 mofl every where covered with trees and verdure, and was near 
 four miles in length ; and added, that it appeared to him far from 
 impoflible, but fome fmall bay might be found on it, which might 
 afford fuflicient flielter for any fhip defirous of refrefliing there. 
 
 As four fliips of our fquadron were milTing, this defcription of the 
 Ifland of Mofa-Fuero gave rife to a conjedlure, that fome of them 
 might pofiibly have fallen in with that Ifland, and have miftaken it 
 for the true place of our rendezvous ; and this fufpicion was the 
 more plaufible, as we had no draught of either Ifland that could 
 be relied on. In confequence of this reafoning, Mr. Anjon deter- 
 mined to fend the T^ryd Sloop thither, as foon as fhe could be fit- 
 ted for the fea, in order to examine all its bays and creeks, that we 
 might be fatisfied whether any of our miffing fliips were there or 
 not. For this purpofe, fome of our befl: hands were fent on board 
 the Tryal the next morning, to overhale and fix her rigging j and 
 our long boat was employed in compleating her water ; and whate- 
 ver fliores and neccflliries the wanted, were immediately fupplied, 
 either from the Centurion or the Gloucejicr. But it was the 4th of 
 Augiijlh^ioxt the T; j^/ was in rcadinefs to fail, when having weighed, 
 it foon after fell calm, and the tide fct her very near the eaftern fliorc : 
 
 Captain
 
 ( '35 ) 
 
 Captain Saunders hung out lights, and fired feveral guns to acquaint 
 us with his danger ; upon which all the boats were fent to his re- 
 lief, who towed the Sloop into the bay j v/here fhe anchored until the 
 next morning, and then weighing again, proceeded on her cruize 
 with a fair breeze. 
 
 And now after the Gloucefier's arrival, we were employed in 
 earnefl: in examining and repairing our rigging ; but in the {tripping 
 cur foremaft, we were alarmed by difcovering it was fprung juft 
 above the partners of the upper deck. The fpring was two inches 
 in depth, and twelve in circumference ; but the Carpenters infpeft- 
 ing it gave it as their opinion, that filhing it with two leaves of an 
 anchor ftock, would render it as fecure as ever. But our greateft 
 difficulty in refitting was the want of cordage and canvas ; for tho* 
 we had taken to fea much greater quantities of both, than had ever 
 been done before, yet the continued bad weather we met with, had 
 occafioned fuch a confumption of thefe ftores, that we were driven 
 to great ftraits : For after working up all our junk and old 
 flirouds, to make 'twice-laid cordage, we were at laft obliged to un- 
 lay a cable to work into running rigging. And with all the can- 
 vas, and remnants of old foils that could be muflered, we could 
 only make up one compleat fuit. 
 
 Towards the middle of Angufl our men being indifferently reco- 
 vered, they were permitted to quit their fick tents, and to build fe- 
 parate huts for themfelves, as it was imagined, that by living apart, 
 they would be much cleanlier, and confequendy likely to recover 
 their flrength thefooner ; but at the fame time pardcular orders were 
 given, that on the firing of a gun from the fliip, they fhould in- 
 ftantly repair to the water- fide. Their employment on fliore was 
 now either the procuring of refrefhments, the cutting of wood, 
 or the making of oil from the blubber of the lea-lions. This oil 
 ferved us for fc\eral ufes, as burning in lamps, or mixing with pitch 
 to pay the fliips fides, or, when mixed with wood-afhes, to fupply 
 the ufe of tallow, of which we had none left, to give the fliip 
 boot-hofe tops, Some of the men too were occupied in faking of cod ; 
 
 for
 
 ( 136 ) 
 
 for there being two Newfoundland fifliermen in the Centurion^ the 
 Commodore made ufe of them in laying in a confiderable quantity 
 of falted cod for a fea-ftore; but very little of it was made ufe of, 
 as it was afterwards thought to be as produdllve of the fcurvy, as 
 any other kind of fait provifions. 
 
 I have before-mentioned, that we had a copper-oven on fliore to 
 bake bread for the fick ; but it happened that the greateft part of 
 the flower, for the ufe of the fquadron, was embarked on board our 
 Vidlualler the Anna Fink : And I fhould have mentioned, that the 
 Tryal Sloop, at her arrival, had informed us, that on the 9th of 
 May fhe had fallen in with our Vidlualler, not far diftant from the 
 Continent of Chili -, and had kept company with her for four days, 
 when they were parted in a hard gale of wind. This gave us 
 fome room to hope that {he was fafe, and that flie might join us ; 
 but all June and July being part without any news of her, we fuf- 
 pedled (lie was loft ; and at the end of July the Commodore or- 
 dered all the fliips to a fliort allowance of bread. And it was not 
 in our bread only, that we feared a deficiency ; for fince our arrival 
 at this Ifland, we difcovered that our former Purfer had negledled to 
 take on board large quantities of feveral kinds of provifions, which 
 the Commodore had expreflly ordered him to receive ; fo that the 
 fuppofed lofs of our Vidlualler, was on all accounts a mortifying 
 confideration. However, on Sunday, the i6th of Auguft, about 
 noon, we efpied a fail in the northern quarter, and a gun was im- 
 niediately fired from the Centurion^ to call off the people from fliore ; 
 who readily obeyed the fummons, and repaired to the beach, where 
 the boats waited to carry them on board. And now being prepared 
 for the reception of this fliip in view, whether friend or enemy, we 
 had various fpeculations about her ; at firft, many imagined it to be 
 the Tryal Sloop returned from her cruize ; but as flie drew nearer 
 this opinion was confuted, by obferving flie was a vefTel with three 
 maftsj and then other conjectures were eagerly canvafied, fome 
 judging it to be the Severn, others the Pearl, and feveral affirm- 
 ing that it did not belong to our fquadron : But about three in the 
 
 afternoon
 
 { >37) 
 
 afternoon our difputes v^ere ended, by an unanimous perfualion that 
 it was our Vid:ualler the Anna Pink. This Ihip, though, Hke the 
 Gloucefler, fhe had fallen in to the northward of the Ifland, had 
 yet the good fortune to come to an anchor in the bay, at five in 
 the afternoon. Her arrival gave us all the fincerefl: joy ; for each 
 fliip's company was now reftored to their full allowance of bread, 
 and we were now freed from the apprehenfions of our provifions 
 falling fliort, before we could reach fome amicable port ; a calami- 
 ty, which in thefe feas is of all others the moft irretrievable. This 
 was the laft fliip that joined us j and the dangers rtie encountered, 
 and the good fortune which flie afterwards met with, being matters 
 worthy of a feparate narration, I fliall refer them, together with a 
 fliort account of the other fliips of the fquadron, to the enfuing 
 chapter. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 (138 ) 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 A fhort narrative of what befel the Afina Pink before 
 fhe joined ii?, with an account of the lofs of the 
 TVager^ and of the putting back of the Severn and 
 Pearly the two remaining iliips of the fquadron. 
 
 N the firft appearance of the Anna Pink, it feemed won- 
 derful to us how the crew of a veflcl, wliich came to this 
 rendezvous two months after us, flwuld be capable of 
 working their fl^ip in the manner they did, with fo little appearance 
 of debility and diftrefs : But this difhculty was foon folved when (he 
 came to an anchor ; for we then found that they had been in har- 
 bour fince the middle of May, which was near a month before we 
 arrived at "Juan Fcrnandes : bo that their fufferings (the rilque they 
 had run of fliipwreck only excepted) were greatly lliort of what 
 had been undergone by the reft of the fquadron. It feems, on the 
 1 6th of Af(2y, they fell in with the land, which was then but four 
 leagues diftant, in the latitude of 45°: 15' South, On the firft 
 fight of it they wore fnip and ftood to the fouthward, but their fore- 
 topfail fplitting, and the wind being W. S. W, they drove towards 
 the fliore ; and the Captain at laft, either unable to clear the land, 
 or as ethers fay, refolved to keep the fea no longer, ftcered for the 
 coaft, with a view of difcovering lome ftielter amongft the many 
 Iflands which then appeared in fight : And about four hours after 
 the firft view of the land, the Pink had the good fortune to come to 
 an anchor, to the eaftward of the llland of Incbi/i ; but as they did 
 not run fufliciently near to the Eaft-ftiore of that Ifland, and had 
 not hands to veer away the cable brilkly, they were foon driven to 
 the eaft\\'ard, deepning their water from twenty-five fathom to thirty- 
 five, and ftill continuing to drive, they, the next day, the I7ih of 
 
 May,
 
 ( '39 ) 
 
 May^ let go their fleet anchor; which though It brought them up 
 for a (hort time, yet, on the i8th, ihey drove again, till they came 
 into fixty-five futhom water, and were now within a mile of the 
 land, and expedled to be forced on fhore every moment, in a 
 place where the coaft was very high and ftcep to, that there was 
 not the leafl: profped: of faving the fliip or cargo j ar.d their boats 
 being very leaky, and there being no appearance of a landing-place,, 
 the whole crew, confifting of fixteen men and boys, gave themfelves 
 over for loft, for they apprehended, that if any of them by ft;me 
 extraordinary chance (liould get on fliore, they would, in all pro- 
 bability, be malJIiCred by the Savages on the coaft : F^or thefc, knov/- 
 ing no other Europeans but Spaniards, it might be expeded iliey 
 would treat all ftrangers with the fame cruelty which they had fo 
 often and fo fignally exerted againft their SpaniJJ; neiglibours. Un- 
 der thefe terrifying circumftances the Pink drove nearer and nearer 
 to the rocks which formed the fliore ; but at laft, wl:en the crew 
 expeifted each inftant to ftrike, they perceived a fmall opening in 
 the land, which raifed their hopes ; and immediately cutting away 
 their two anchors, they fteered for it, and found it to be a fmali 
 channel betwixt an Ifland and the Main, which led them into a 
 moft excellent harbour, which, for its fecurity againft all winds and 
 fwells, and the fmoothnefs of its waters, may perhaps compare with 
 any in the knov\n world. And this place being fcarcely two miles 
 diftant from the fpot where they deemed their deftrudion inevita- 
 ble, the horrors of iLipwreck and of immediate death, which had 
 fo long, and fo ftrongly poffefied them, vanifiicd almoft inllantane- 
 oufly, and gave place to the more joyous ideas of fecurity, repofe, 
 and refrefliment. 
 
 In this harbour, difcovered in this almoft miraculous m.anner, the 
 Pink came to an anchor in twenty-live fathom water, with only a 
 hawfer, and a fmall anchor of about three hundred weight : And 
 here ftie co-tinued for near two months, refreftiing her people, who 
 were many of them ill of the fcurvy, but were foon reftored to 
 perfedl hcaUh by the frefh provifions, of which they procured gocd 
 
 T 2 ftore,
 
 ( HO ) 
 
 ftore, and the excellent water with which the adjacent fliorc 
 ubounded. But as this place may prove of the greateft importance 
 to future Navigators, wlio may be forced upon this coafl: by the 
 weflerly winds, which are almoft perpetual in that part of the 
 world, I ilull, before I enter into any farther particulars of the ad- 
 ventures of the Pifik, give the bed account I could colledl of this 
 Port, its fituation, convcniencics and produtflions. 
 
 To facilitate the knowledge of this place to thofc who may here- 
 after be defirous cf making ufe of it, there is annexed a plan both 
 of the harbour itfelf, and of the large bay before it, thro' which 
 the Ppi^ drove. This plan is not perhaps in all refpedls fo accu- 
 rate as might be wiflied, it being compofed from the memoran- 
 dums and rude flsietches of the Mailer and Surgeon, who were not, 
 I prefume, the ableft draughts-men. But as tlie principal parts were 
 laid down by their eflimated di fiances from each other, in which 
 kind of eflimations it is well known the greatcil part of failors are 
 very dextrous, I fuppofe the errors are not very confiderable. Its la- 
 titude, which is indeed an important point, is not well afcertained, 
 the Pif^k having no obfervation either the day before flie came here, 
 or within a day of her leaving it : But it is fuppofed that it is not 
 very diftant from 45" 30 South, and the large extent of the bay be- 
 fore the harbour renders this uncertainty the lefs material. The 
 Ifland of Inchin lying before the bay is fuppofed to be one of the 
 Iflands of Chofics, which are mentioned in the Spmiijl: accounts, as 
 fprcading all along that coaft ; and ,are faid by them to be inhabi- 
 ted by a barbarous people, famous for their hatred of the Spaniards^ 
 and for their cruelties to fuch of that Nation as have fallen into their 
 hands : And it is poffible too that the land, near which the harbour 
 itfelf lies, may be another of thofe Illands, and that the Continent 
 may be confiderably farther to the eaftward. The depths of water 
 in the different parts of the Port, and the channels by which it com- 
 municates with the bay, are fufficiently marked in the plan. But it 
 mufi: be remembred, that there are two coves in it where iLips may 
 conveniently heave down, the water being conftantly fmooth : And 
 
 there
 
 ( '4' ) 
 
 there are feveral fine runs of excellent frerti water, which fall into 
 the harbour, and fome of them lb luckily fituated, that the cafks 
 may be filled in the long-boat with an hofe : The moft remarkable 
 of thefe runs is the ftream marked in the N. E. part of the Port. 
 This is a frefli water river, and here the Pi?tk's people got fome 
 few mullets of an excellent flavour ; and they were perfuaded that, 
 in a proper fcafon (it being winter when they were there) it abound- 
 ed with filli. The principal refrefhments they met with in this 
 port were greens, as wild celery, nettle-tops, &c. (which after fo 
 long a continuance at fea they devoured with great eagernefs) fhel- 
 iilli, as cockles and mufcles of an extraordinary fize, and extreme- 
 ly delicious ; and good flore of geefe, fliags, and penguins. The 
 climate, though it was the depth of winter, was not remarkably 
 rigorous ; nor the trees, and the face of the country deftitute of 
 verdure ; and doubtkfs in the fummer many other fpecies of frefh 
 provifion, befides thefe here enumerated, might be found there. 
 And notwithftanding the tales of the Spanip Hiflorians, in relation 
 to the violence and barbarity of the inhabitants, it doth not appear 
 tliar their numbers are fuflicient to give the lead jealoufy to any fliip 
 of ordinary force, or that their difpofition is by any means fo mis- 
 chievous or mercilefs as hath hitherto been reprefented : And befides 
 all thefe advantages, it is fo far removed from the Spanifb frontier, 
 and fo little known to the Spaniardi thcmfelves, that there is reafon 
 to fuppofc, that with proper precautions a (liip might continue here 
 undifcovered for a lojig time. It is alfo a place of great defence ; 
 for by poflTefiing the Ifland that clofes up the harbour, and which 
 is accefiible in very few places, a fmall force might defend this 
 Port againO: all the ftrength the Spaniards could mufler in that part 
 of the \\orld j for this llland towards the harbour is fteep to, and 
 has fix fathom water clofe to the ihore, fo that the Piiik aiichored 
 within forty yards of it : Whence it is obvious how impofiible it 
 would prove, either to board or to cut out any vefi'el proteded bv 
 .a force ported on Uiore within piflol-fhot, and where thofe who 
 were thus pofled could not thenifelves be attaclccd. All thefe cir- 
 
 cumflances
 
 ( 142 ) 
 
 cumftances leem to render this place worthy of a more accurate ex- 
 amination ; and it is to be hoped, that the important ufcs which this 
 rude account of it feems to fngeefl-, may hereafter recommend it 
 to the confideration of the Public, and to tlie attention of ihofe 
 who are more immediately entrufled with the condu(fl of our naval 
 affairs. 
 
 After this defcripiion of the place where the Pink lay for two 
 months, it may be expeded that I Ihould relate the difcoveries made 
 by the crew on the adjacent coaft, and the principal incidents du- 
 ring their (lay there : But here I mad: obferve, that, being only a few 
 in number, they did not dare to detach any of their people on dif- 
 tant difcoveries ; for they were perpetually terrified with the appre- 
 henfion that they flwuld be attacked either by the Spaniards or the 
 Indians ; fo that their excurfions were generally confined to that 
 tradl of land which furrounded the Port, and where they were ne- 
 ver oi!t of view of the ihip. But even had they at firft known 
 how little foundation there was for thefe fears, yet the country in 
 the neighbourhood was fo grown up with wood, and traverfed v.'ith 
 mountains, that it appeared imprafticable to penetrate it : So that 
 no account of the inland parts could be expefted from them, hi- 
 deed they were able to difprove the relations given by Spanijfi 
 writers, who had reprefented this coaft as inhabited by a fierce and 
 powerful people : For they were certain that no fuch inhabitants 
 were there to be found, at leaft during the winter feafon ; lince all 
 tlie time they continued there, they faw no more than one Indian 
 family, which came into the harbour in a periagua, about a month 
 after the arrival of the Pitik, and confifted of an Indian near forty 
 years old, his wife, and two children, one three years of age, and 
 the other ftill at the breaft. They feemed to have with them all 
 their prcperty, which was a dog, and a cat, afi(hing-net, a hatchet,, 
 a knife, a cradle, fome bark of trees intended for the covering of a 
 liut, a reel, fome worfted, a flint and fteel, and a few roots of 
 a yellow hue and a very difagreeable tafte, which ferved them for 
 bread. The Mafter of the Pink^ as foon as he perceived them.
 
 ( H3 ) 
 
 fent his yawl, who brought tliem on board j and fearing, leafl: they 
 might difcover him if they were permitted to go away, he took, ts 
 he conceived, proper precautions for fecuring them, but without 
 any mixture of ill ufage or violence : For in the day-time they v^ere 
 permitted to go where they pleafed about the fliip, but at night 
 were locked up in the fore-caftle. As they were fed in the fame 
 manner with the reft of the crew, and were often indulged with 
 brandy wliich they fecmcd gready to relifh, it did not at firft ap- 
 pear that they were much diffatisfied with their fituation, efpeci- 
 ally as the Mafter took the Indian on flicre when he went a fhoot- 
 ing, (who always feemed extremely delighted when the Mafter killed 
 his game) and as all the crew treated them with great humanity : 
 But it was foon perceived, that though the woman continued eafy 
 and chearful, yet the man grew penfive and reftlefs at his confine- 
 ment. He feemed to be a perfon of good natural parts, and tho' 
 not capable of converfing with the Pink's people, otherwife than 
 by figns, was yet very curious and inquifitive, and fl)owed great 
 dexterity in the manner of making himfelf undeiftood. In particu- 
 lar, feeing fo few people on board fuch a large fliip, he let them 
 know, that he fuppofed they were once more numerous : And 
 to reprcfent to them what he imagined was become of tljeir compa- 
 nions, he laid himfelf down on the deck, clofing his eyes, i-nd 
 ftretching himfelf out moticnlefs, to imitate the appearance of a 
 dead body. But the ftrongeft proof of his fagacity was the man- 
 ner of his getting away ; for after being in cuftody on board the 
 ■Pink eight days, the fcuttle of the fore-caftle, where lie and his fa- 
 mily were locked up every ni^ht, happened to be unnailed, and 
 the following night being extremely dark and ftormj^, lie contrived 
 to convey his wife and children through the unnailed fcuttle, and 
 then over the fliip's fide into the yawl ; and to prevent being pur- 
 fued, he cut away the long-boat and liis own pcriagua, which were 
 towing a-ftern, and immediately rowed aihore. AH this he con- 
 duded with fo much diligence and fecrecy, that though there was 
 a watch on the quarter-deck with loaded arms, yet he was not dif- 
 
 covcred
 
 ( 144 ) 
 
 covered by them, till the nolfe of his oars in the water, after he had 
 put off from the fliip, gave them notice of his efcape ; and then 
 it was too late either to prevent him or to purfue him ; for, their 
 boats being all a drift, it was a confiderable time before they could 
 contrive the means of getting on fliore themfelves to fearch for their 
 boats. The Luiicin too by this effort, befides tlie recovery of his 
 liberty, was In fome fort revenged on thofe who had confined hint, 
 both bv the perplexity they were involved in from the lofs of their 
 boats, and by the terror he threw them into at his departure ; for 
 on the firfl: alarm of the watch, who cried out, the Indians, the 
 whole iliip was in the utmoft confulion, believing themfelves to be 
 boarded by a fleet of armed periagua's. 
 
 The refolution and fagacity with which the Indian behaved up- 
 on this occafion, had it been exerted on a more extenfive objedl 
 than the retrieving the freedom of a fingle family, might perhaps 
 have immortalized the exploit, and have given him a rank amongft 
 the illuftrious names of antiquity. Indeed his late Mafters did 
 fo much juftice to his merit, as to own that it was a mofl gallant 
 cnterprize, and that they were grieved they had ever been neceflita- 
 ted, by their attention to their own fafety, to abridge the liberty of 
 a perfon, of whofe prudence and courage they had now fuch a 
 dillin^uillied proof /\nd as it was fuppofed by fome of them 
 that lie dill continued in the woods in the neighbourhood of the 
 port, where it was feared he might fuffer for want of provifTons, 
 they eafily prevailed upon the Mafter to leave a quantity of fuch 
 food, as they thought would be moft agreeable to him, in a parti- 
 cular part where they imagined he would be likely to find it : And 
 there was reafon to conjefiure, that this piece of humanity was not 
 akocrethcr ufelel's to him ; for, on vifiting the place fometime after, it 
 was fcund that the provifion was gone, and in a manner that made 
 them conclude it had fl\llen into his hands. 
 
 But however, though many of them were fatisfied that this //;- 
 dian Hill continued near them ; yet others would needs conclude, 
 that he was gone to the Iflaad of Chiloe, where they feared he 
 
 v\ oukl
 
 ( U5 ) 
 
 would alarm the Spaniards, and would foon return with a force fuf- 
 ficient to furprize the Pir.k : And on this occafion the ALifier of 
 the Pink was prevailed on to omit firing the evening gun ; for it 
 mufl: be remembered, (and there is a particular reafon hereafter for 
 attending to this circumftance) that the Mafter, from an oftentatious 
 imitation of the pradice of men of war, had hitherto fired a gun 
 every evening at the fetting of the watch. This he pretended was 
 to awe the enemy, if there was any within hearing, and to con- 
 vince them that the Piuk was always on her guard ; but it being 
 now reprefented to him, that his great fecurity was his conceal- 
 ment, and that the evening gun might poffibly difcover him, and 
 ferve to guide the enemy to him, he was prevailed on, as has been 
 mentioned, to omit it for the future : And his crew being now well 
 refreQied, and their wood r.nd water fulTiciently repleniflicd, he, in 
 a few days after the efcape of the Indian, put to fea, and had a for- 
 tunate paflage to the rendezvous at the Ifland of Juan Femandes^ 
 where he arrived on the i6th of Aiigitjl^ as hath been already men- 
 tioned in the preceding chapter. 
 
 This veflel, the Anna Pink, was, as I have obferved, the kft 
 that joined the Commodore at yuan Fcmandes. The remaining 
 fliips of the fquadron were the Severn, the P<.arJ, and the JVager 
 flore-fliip : The Severn and Pearl parted company with the fqua- 
 dron off Cape Noir, and, as we afterwards learnt, put back, to the 
 Brazils : So that of all the fliips which came into the Soidh-Stas^ 
 the JVager, Captain Cheap, was the only one that was milling. 
 This fliip had on board fome field-pieces mounted for land fervice, 
 together with fome coehorn mortars, and feveral kinds of artillery, 
 (lores and tools, intended for the operations on fliore : And there- 
 fore, as the enterprize on Baldivia had been refolved on for the firfl 
 undertaking of the fquadron. Captain Cheap was extremely folici- 
 tous that thefe materials, which were in his cuftody, might be ready 
 before Baldivia ; that if the fquadron fliould poflibly rendezvous 
 there, (as he knew not the condition they were then reduced to) no 
 delay nor dilappointment might be imputed to him. 
 
 U But
 
 ( h6 ) 
 
 But whilfl tlie Wager^ with thefe views, was making the beft 
 of her way to her firfl: rendezvous off the Ifland of Socoro, whence 
 (as there was httle probability of meeting any of the fquadron 
 there) flie propofed to fleer dirediy for Buldi'viaj {ht made the 
 land on the 14th of May, r.bout the latitude of 47° South ; and, 
 the Captain exerting himfelf on this occafion, in order to get clear 
 of it, he had the misfortune to fall down the after-ladder, and there- 
 by diflocated his flioulder, which rendered him incapable of ading. 
 This accident, together with the crazy condition of the fliip, which 
 was httle better than a wreck, prevented her from getting off to 
 fea, and entangled her more and more with the land, fo that the 
 next morning, at day-break, fl:e flruck on a funken rock, and foon 
 after bilged, and grounded between two fmall Illands, at about a 
 mufquet fhot from the fliore. 
 
 In this fituation the fliip continued entire a long time, fo that all 
 the crew had it in their power to get fafe en fliore ; but a general 
 confufion taking place, numbers of them, inftead of confulting 
 their fafcty, or refleding on their calamitous condition, fell to pil- 
 laging the fliip, arming themfelves with the firft weapons that 
 came to hand, and threatning to murder all who fhould oppofe 
 them. This frenzy was greatly heightned by the liquors they 
 f.:und on board, with which they got fo extremely drunk, that 
 fome of them tumbling down between decks were drowned, as the 
 water flowed in, being incapable of getting up and retreating to 
 other places where the water had not yet entered : And the Cap- 
 tain, having done his utmofl to get the whole crew on fliore, was 
 at lafl obliged to leave thefe mutineers behind him, and to follow 
 his officers, and fuch as he had been able to prevail on j but he did 
 not fail to fend back the boats, to perfuade thofe who remained, to 
 have fome regard to their prefervation ; tho' all his efforts were for 
 fome time without fucccfs. However, the weather next-day proving 
 flormy, and there being great danger of the fliip's parting, they 
 began to be alarmed with the fears of perifliing, and were defirous 
 of getting to land ; but it feems their madnefs had not yet left 
 
 them.
 
 ( H7 ) 
 them, for the boat not appearing to fetch them cff fo foon as they 
 expefted, they at laft pointed a four pounder, which was on the 
 quarter-deck, againft the hut, where they knew the Captain re- 
 dded on fliore, and fired two fliot which pafTed but juft over it. 
 
 From this fpecimen of the behaviour of part of tlie crew, it 
 will not be difficult to frame fome conjetfture of the diforder and 
 anarchy which took place, when tliey at iafl pot all on fhore. 
 For the men conceived, that by the lofs of the fiiip, the autliority 
 of the officers was at an end ; and, tliey lx;ing now on a defolate 
 coaft, vhere fcarcely any other provifions could be got, except 
 what ftiould be faved out of the wreck, this was another infur- 
 mountable fource of difcord : For as the working upon the wreck, 
 and the fecuring the provifions, fo that they might be preferved for 
 future exigencies as much as poffible, and the taking care that what 
 was neceffary for immediate fubfillance might be fparingly and 
 equally diftributed, were matters not to be brought about but by 
 dilcipline and fubordination ; the mutinous difpofition of the people, 
 ftimulated by the impulfes of immediate hunger, rendered every 
 regulation made for this purpofe ineffeftual : So that there v^'ere con- 
 tinual concealments, frauds and thefts, which animated each man 
 againft his fellow, and produced infinite feuds and contefts. And 
 hence there was conftantly kept on foot a perveife and malevolent 
 turn of temper, which rendered them utterly ungovernable. 
 
 But befides thefe heart-burnings occafioned by petulance and 
 hunger, there was another important point, which fet the greateft 
 part of the people at variance with the Captain. This was their dif- 
 fering with him in opinion, on the mcafures to be purfued in the 
 prefcnt exigency : For the Captain was determined, if poffible, to 
 lit up the boats in the beft manner he could, and to proceed with 
 them to the northward. For having with him above an hundred 
 men in health, and having gotten fome fire-arms and ammunition 
 from the wreck, he did not doubt but they could maftcr any Spn- 
 nip veffel they fliould meet with in thofe feas : And he thought he 
 could not fail of meeting with one in the neighbour] lood of Cbike 
 
 U 2 or
 
 ( 148 ) 
 
 or Baldivia, in which, when he had taken her, he intended to 
 proceed to the rendezvous at Juan FenianJes ; and he farther 
 infilled, that fiiould they meet with no prize by the way, yet the 
 boats alone would eafiiy carry them there. But this was a fcheme 
 tliat, however prudent, was no ways relinked by the generality of 
 his people ; for, being quite jaded with the dillrefTes and dangers 
 they had already run through, they could not think of profecuting 
 an enterprize farther, which had hitherto proved fo difaftrous : And 
 therefore the common refolution was to lengthen the long-boat, and 
 with that and the reft of the boats to fteer to the fouthward, to 
 pafs through the Streights of Magellan, and to range along the Eafl 
 fide of South Anierica, till they fhould arrive at Brazil^ where 
 they doubted not to" be 'well received, and to procure a palTage to 
 Crtat-Britain. This projecfl was at firft fight infinitely more ha- 
 zardous and tedious than what was propofed by the Captain ; but as 
 it had the air of returning home, and flattered them with the hopes 
 of bringing them once more to their native country, this circum- 
 ftance alone rendered them inattentive to all its inconveniencies, and 
 made them adhere to it with infurmountable obftinacy ; fo that the 
 Captain himfelf, though he never changed his opinion, was yet ob- 
 liged to give way to the torrent, and in appearance to acquiefce in 
 this refolution, whilft he endeavoured under-hand to give it all the 
 obftrudlion he could ; particularly in the lengthning of the long- 
 boat, which he contrived (hould be of fuch a fize, that though it 
 might ferve to carry them to Juan Fernandcs, would yet, he hoped, 
 appear incapable of fo long a navigation, as that to the coaft of 
 Brazil. 
 
 But the Captain, by his fleady oppofition at firft to this fiiyou rite 
 projedt, had much embittered the people again ft him ; to which 
 likewife the following unhappy accident greatly contributed. There 
 was a Midfliipman whofe name was Cozens, who had appeared the 
 foremoft in all the refradtory proceedings of the crew. He had in- 
 volved himfelf in brawls with moft of the officers who had ad- 
 hered to the Captain's authority, and had even treated the Captain 
 
 himfelf
 
 ( H9 ) 
 himfelf with great abufe and infolence. As his turbulence and bru- 
 tality grew every day riiore and more intolerable, it was not in the 
 leaft doubted, but there were fome violent meafures in agitation, in 
 which Cozens was engaged as the ringleader : For which reafon the 
 Captain, and thofc about him, conftantly kept themfelves on their 
 guard. Bat at laft the Purfer, having, by the Captain's order, 
 flopped the allowance of a fellow who would not work, Cozens 
 though the man did not complain to him, intermedled in the af- 
 fair with great eagernefs ; and groffly infulting the Purfer, who was 
 then delivering out provifions juft by the Captain's tent, and was 
 himfelf fufficiendy violent, the Purfer, enraged by his fcurrilit)', and 
 perhaps piqued by former quarrels, cried out a mutiny, adding, 
 that the dog had piftolsy and then himfelf fired a piflol at Cozens 
 which however mift him : But the Captain, on this outcry and the 
 report of the piftol, rufhsd out of his tent; and, not doubting but 
 it had been fired by Cozens as the commencement of a mutiny, 
 he immediately fliot him in the head without farther deliberation, 
 and though he did rot kill him on the fpot, yet the wound proved 
 mortal, and he died about fourteen days after. 
 
 This incident, however difpleafing to the people, did yet, for a 
 confiderable time, av/e them to their duty, and rendered them more 
 fubmiffive to the Captain's authority; but at laft, when towards the 
 middle of 06lober the long-boat was nearly compleated, and they 
 were preparing to put to fea, the addiiional provocation he gave 
 them by covertly traverfing their proje(5l of proceeding through the 
 Streights of Mogeilan, and their fears that he might at length en- 
 gage a party fufhcient to overturn this favourite meafure, made them 
 refolve to make ufe of the death of Cozens as a reafon for depriving 
 him of his command, under pretence of carrying him a prifoner to 
 England, to be tried for murder ; and he was accordingly confined 
 under a guard. But they never intended to carry him with them, 
 as they too well knew what they had to apprehend on their return 
 to England^ if their Commander flioiild be prcfent to confront tlien:i : 
 
 And
 
 ( 'SO ) 
 
 And therefore, when they were juft ready to put to fca, they fet 
 him at liberty, leaving him and the few who chofe to take their 
 fortunes with him, no other embarkation but the yawl, to which 
 t!ie barge was afterwards added, by the people on board her being 
 prevailed on to return back. 
 
 When the fhip was wreckt, there remained alive on board the 
 JFagcr near an hundred and thirty perfons ; of thefe above thirty 
 died during their Oay upon the place, and near eighty went off in 
 the long-boat, and the Cutter to the fouthward : So that there re- 
 mained with the Captain, after their departure, no more than nine- 
 teen perfons, which however was as many as the barge and the 
 yawl, the only embarkations left them, could well carry off. It 
 was the 13th of O^cber, five months after the (liipwreck, tl:at 
 the long-boat, converted into a fchooner, weighed, and ftocd to the 
 fouthward, giving; the Caotain, who, with Lieutenant Hainihon of 
 the land-forces and the furgeon, was then on the beach, three cheers 
 at their departure. It was the 29th of "^amiary following be- 
 fore they arrived at Kio Grande, on the coaft of Brazil : And 
 having, by various accidents, left about twenty of their people on 
 iliore at the different places they touched at, and a greater number 
 having periflied by hunger during the courfe of their navigation, 
 there were no more than thirty of them left, when they arrived in 
 that Port. Indeed, the undertaking of itfelf was a moft extraordi- 
 nary one ; for, not to mention the length of the run, the veffel was 
 fcarcely able to contain the number that firfi: put to fea in her j and 
 their flock of provifions (being only what they had faved out of 
 the Ihip) was extremely flender, and the Cutter, the only boat they 
 had with them, foon broke away from the flern, and was ftaved 
 to pieces ; fo that when their provifion and their water failed them, 
 they had frequently no means of getting on fliore to fearch for a 
 frefli fupply. 
 
 When the long boat and Cutter were gone, the Captain, and 
 thofe who were left with him^ propofed to pafs to the north- 
 ward
 
 ( IS' ) 
 
 ward in the barge and yawl : But the weather was fo bad, and the 
 difficulty of fubfifting fo great, that it was two months after the 
 departure of the long boat before he was able to put to fea. It 
 feems, the place, where the PFnger was caft away, was not a part of 
 the Continent, as was firft imagined, but an Ifland at fome diltance 
 from the Main, which afforded no other forts of provifion but flielnO), 
 and a few herbs ; and as the greateft part of what they had gotten 
 from the (hip was carried off in the long-boat, the Captain and his 
 people were often in great necefhty, efpecially as they chofe to pre- 
 ferve, what little fea-provifions remained, for their ftore when they 
 fhould go to the northward. During their refidence at this Ifland, 
 which was by the feamen denominated Wager's JJIaiid, they had 
 now and then a flraggling canoe or two of Indians, which came 
 and bartered their fifli and other provifions with our people. 
 This was indeed fome little fuccour , and at another fealbn 
 might perhaps have been great'er ; for as there were feveral Indian 
 huts on the fhore, it was fuppofed that in fome years, during the 
 height of fummer, many of thefe favages might refort thither to 
 filh : And from what has been related in the account of tlie 
 Anna Pink, it fhould feem to be the general pradlice of thofe 
 Indians to frequent tliis coaft in the fummer time for the benefit of 
 fifliing, and to retire in the winter into a better climate, more to the 
 northward. 
 
 And on this mention of the Anna Pink, I cannot but obferve, 
 how much it is to be lamented, that the IVager's people had no 
 knowledge of her being fo near them on the coaft; j for as flie was 
 not above thirty leagues diftant from them, and came into their 
 neighbourhood about the fame time the JVager was loft, and was a 
 fine roomy fliip, fhe could eafily have taken them all on board, and 
 have carried them to Juan Fernandes. Indeed, I fufped flie was 
 ftill nearer to them than what is here eftimated ; for feveral of the 
 Wager's people, at different times, heard the report of a cannon, 
 which I conceive could be no other than the evening gun fired from 
 
 the
 
 ( 152 ) 
 
 the Anna Pink, efpcclally as what was heard at Wager's IJland 
 was about the fame time of the day. But to return to Captain 
 
 Cheap. 
 
 Upon tlie 1 4th of December y the Captain and his people embark- 
 ed in tlie barge and the yawl, in order to proceed to the northward, 
 taking on board with them all the proviiions they could amals from 
 the wreck of the fliip ; but they had fcarcely been an hour at 
 fea, when the wind began to blow hard, and the fea ran fb 
 hi?h, that they were obliged to throw the greateft part of their 
 provisions over-board, to avoid immediate deflrudion. This was a 
 terrible misfortune, in a part of the world where food is fo difficult 
 to be got: However, they ftill perfifted in their defign, putting on 
 ihore as often as they could to feek fubfiftance. But about a fort- 
 night after, another dreadful accident befel them, i)X the yawl funk 
 at an anchor, and one of the men in her was drowned ; and as 
 the barge was incapable of carrying the whole company, they w ere 
 now reduced to the hard necefllty of leaving four marines behind 
 them on that defolate flwre. But they ftill kept on their courfe to 
 the northward, flruggling with their difafters, and greatly delayed 
 by the perverfenefs of the winds, and the frequent interruptions 
 which their fearch after food occafioned : Till at lall, about the 
 end of 'January, having made three unfuccefsful attempts to double 
 a head-land, which they fuppofed to be what the Spaniards called 
 Cape "Tres Monies, it was unanimoufly refolved to give over this ex- 
 pedition, the difficukies of which appeared infuperable, and to re- 
 turn again to Wager IJland, where they got back about the middle 
 of February, quite diflieartned and dejedted with their reiterated dif- 
 appointments, and almofl; perifhing with hunger and fatigue. 
 
 However, on their return they had the good luck to meet with 
 feveral pieces of beef, which had been wa(hed out of the fhip, and 
 were fwimming in the fea. This was a moft feafonable relief to 
 them after the hardfliips they had endured : And to compleat their 
 good fortune, there came, in a fliort time, two canoes of Indians^ 
 
 amongft
 
 : ( '53 ) 
 
 amongft which vKls a native of Chike, who fpoke a little Spamfi:% 
 and the furgeon, who was with Captain Cheap, underftanding that 
 language, he made a bargain with the Indian, that if he would car- 
 ry the Captain and his people to Chihe in the barge, he fhould have 
 her, and all that belonged to her for his pains. Accordingly, on 
 the 6th of March, the eleven perfons to which the company was 
 now reduced, embarked in the barge on this new expedition ; but 
 after having proceeded for a few days, the Captain and four of his 
 principal officers being on ftiore, the fix, who together v/ith an In- 
 dian remained in the barge, put off with her to fea, and did not 
 return. 
 
 By this means there were left on fhore Captain Cheap, Mr. Ha- 
 milton Lieutenant of marines, the Honourable Mr. Byron and 
 Mr. Campkel, MidHiipmen, and Mr. Elliot the furgeon. One would 
 have thought that their dilbelles had long before this time been in- 
 capable of augmentation -, but they found, on refledlion, that their 
 prefent fituation was much more difmaying than any thing they had 
 yet gone through, being left on a defolate coaft without any pro- 
 vifion, or the means of procuring any ; for their arms, ammunition, 
 and every conveniency they were mafters of, except the tattered ha- 
 bits they had on, were all carried away in the barge. 
 
 But when they had fufficiently revolved in their own minds the 
 various circumftances of this unexpedled calamity, and were per- 
 fuaded that they had no relief to hope for, they perceived a canoe 
 at a diftance, which proved to be that of the Indian, who had un- 
 dertaken to carry them to Ckiloe, he and his family being then on 
 board it. He made no difficulty of coming to them ; for it feems 
 he had left Captain Cheap and his people a little before to go a fifli- 
 ing, and had in the mean time committed them to the care of the 
 other Indian, whom the failors had curried to fea in the barge. But 
 when he came on fhore, and found the barge gone and his compa- 
 nion miffing, he was extremely concerned, and could with difficulty 
 be perfuaded that the other Indian was not murtheredj but, being 
 
 X at laft
 
 ( IS4 ) 
 
 at laft fatlsfied with the account that was given him, he ftill under- 
 took to carry them to the SpaniJJi fettlements, and (as the Indiatis 
 are well fkilled in iiftiing and fowling) to procure them proviflons 
 by the way. 
 
 About the middle of March, Captain Cheap and the four who 
 were left with him fet out for Chiloe, the Indian having procured 
 a number of canoes, and gotten many of his neighbours together 
 for that purpofe. Soon after they embarked, Mr. Elliot the fuc- 
 geon died, fo that there now remained only four of the whole com- 
 pany. At laft, after a very complicated pafTage by land and wa- 
 ter. Captain Cheap, Mr. Byroti, and Mr. Campbel, arrived in the. 
 beginning of yiine at the Ifland of Chiloe, where they were re- 
 ceived by the Spaniards with great humanity ; but, on account qf 
 fome quarrel among the Indians, Mr. Hamilton did not get tliither 
 till two months after. Thus, above a twelvemonth after the lofs 
 of the Wager, ended this fatiguing peregrination, which by a va- 
 riety of misfortunes had diminiflied the company from twenty to 
 no more than four, and thofe too brought fo low, that, had their 
 diftreffes continued but a few days longer, in all probability none of 
 them would have furvived. For the Captain himfelf was with 
 difficulty recovered ; and the reft were fo reduced by the feverity 
 of the weather, their labour, and their want of all kinds of necef- 
 faries that it was wonderful how they fupported themfelves fb 
 long. After fome ftay at Chiloe, the Captain and the three who 
 were with him were fent to Valparaifo, and thence to St. °Jago^ 
 the Capitol of Chili, where they continued above a year : But on 
 the advice of a cartel being fettled betwixt Great-Britain and 
 Spain, Captain Cheap, Mr, Byron, and Mr, Hamilton, were per- 
 mitted to return to Europe on board a French fliip. The 
 other MidiLipman, Mr, Campbel, having changed his religion, 
 whilft at St. Jago, chofe to go back to Buenos Ayres with Pi- 
 zarro and his officers, with whom he went afterwards to Spain on 
 Board the Jfia ; and there having failed in his endeavours to 
 
 procure
 
 ( 'SS ) 
 
 procure a commlflion from the Court of Spaif2, he returned to 
 Englandy and attempted to get reinftated in the Briiif} Navy; 
 and has fince publiflied a narration of his adventures, in which he 
 complains of the injuftice that had been done him, and ftrongly 
 difavows his ever being in the Spanifi ferviee : But as the change 
 of his religion, and his offering himfelf to the Court of Spairiy 
 (though not accepted) are matters which, he is confcious, are ca- 
 pable of being inconteftably proved ; on thefe two heads, he has been 
 entirely filent. And now, after this account of the accidents which 
 befel the Anna Tink^ and the cataftrophe of the Wager^ 1 fhaU 
 again refunie the thread of our own ftory. 
 
 X2 CHAP.
 
 (156) 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 ConcluHon of our proceedings at Juan Feniandesy 
 from the arrival of the Anna Pinky to our final de- 
 parture from thence. 
 
 ABOUT a week after the arrival of our Vidualler, the 
 Tryal Sloop, that had been fent to the Ifland of Mafa- 
 Fuero, returned to an anchor at Juan Feniafides, after hay- 
 ing been round that Ifland, without meeting any part of our fqua- 
 dron. As, upon this occafion, the Ifland of Maja-Fiiero was more 
 particularly examined, than I dare fay it had ever been before, or 
 perhaps ever will be again ; and as the knowledge of it may, in 
 certain circumfl;ances, be of great confequence hereafter, I think it 
 incumbent on me to infert the accounts given of this place, by the 
 officers of the Tryal Sloop. 
 
 The Spaniards have generally mentioned two Iflands, under the 
 name of Juan Feniajides, ftiling them the greater and the lefs : 
 The greater being that Ifland where we anchored, and the lefs be- 
 ino- the Ifland we are now defcribing, which, becaufe it is more 
 diftant from the Continent, they have diftinguiflied by the name 
 of Mafa-Fuero. The Tryal Sloop found that it bore from the 
 oreater Juan Fernandes W. by S, and was about twenty-two leagues 
 diftant. It is much larger than has been generally reported ; for 
 former writers have reprefented it as a barren rock, deftitute of 
 wood and water, and altogether inaccefliblc ; whereas our people 
 found it was covered with trees, and that there were feveral fine 
 falls of water pouring down its.fides into the fea : They found, too, 
 that there was a place where a fliip might come to an anchor on 
 the North fide of it, though indeed the anchorage is inconvenient j 
 for the bank extends but a little way, is fteep to, and has very deep 
 
 water
 
 (' / /-.u//- ,y //', //v,./ .</</,■ ,y AlASA-FUERO z//,'/^//'// ./ /////c^ 
 
 m
 
 
 ^r-f ?ntt^*\ ^"f 
 
 '»•
 
 ('57) 
 
 water upon It, fo that you mull come to an anchor very near the 
 fhore, and there lie expofed to all the winds but a foutherly one : 
 And befides the inconvenience of the anchorage, there is alfo a 
 reef of rocks running off the eaftern point of the Ifland, about two 
 miles in length ; but there is little danger to be feared from them, 
 becaufe they are always to be feen by the feas breaking over them. 
 This place has at prefent one advantage beyond the Ifland of 'Juan 
 Fernandes ; for it abounds with goats, who, not being accullomed 
 to be diflurbed , were no ways fliy or apprehenfive of danger, 
 till they had been frequently fired at. Thefe animals refide here in 
 great tranquillity, the Spaniards having not thought the Jfland con- 
 liderable enough to be frequented by their enemies, and tlierefore 
 they have not been folicitous in deftroying the provifions upon it ; 
 fo that no dogs have been hitherto fet on fliore there. And befides 
 the goats, our people found there vaft numbers of feals and fea- 
 lions : And upon the whole, they feemed to imagine, that though it 
 was not the moft eligible place for a fhip to refrefli at, yet in cafe 
 of neceffity it might afford fome fort of fliclter, and prove of con- 
 fiderable ufe, efpecially to a fingle fhip, who might apprehei:id 
 meeting with a fuperior force at Fcrncndes. The appearance of its 
 N. E. fide, and alfo of its Weft fide, may be feen in the two an- 
 nexed plates. This may fuffice in relation to the Ifland of Mafa- 
 Fuero. 
 
 The latter part of the month of Aiiguft \s^% fpent in unloading 
 the provifions from the Anna Pink ; and here we Iiad the morti- 
 fication to find that great quantities of our provifions, as bread, 
 rice, groats, Qfc. were decayed, and unfit for ufe. This was owino- 
 to the water the Fi7:k had made by her working and ft raining in 
 bad weather ; for hereby feveral of her caflcs had rotted, and her 
 bags were foaked through. And now, as we had no farther occa- 
 fion for her fervice, the Commodore, purfuant to his orders from 
 the board of Admiralty, fenc notice to Mr. Gerardhcx Mafter, tliat 
 Jie difcharged the Anna Pink from the fervice of attending the 
 fquadron ; and gave him, at the fame time, a certificate, fpecifying 
 
 hov/
 
 ( 153 )- 
 
 how Ion? flie had been employed. In confequcncc of this dlfmlf- 
 fion, her Miifter was at liberty, either to return diredlly to EngJandy. 
 or to make the beft of his way to any Port, where he thought he- 
 could take in fuch a cargoe, as would anfwer the interefl: of his 
 Owners. But the Mafter, being fenfible of the bad condition of the 
 ftiip and of her unfitnefs for any fuch voyage, wrote the next day 
 an anfwer to the Commodore's mellage, acquainting Mn Anfon^. 
 that from the great quantity of water the Fink had made in her. 
 paflage round Cape Horn, and fince that, in the tempeftuous wea- 
 ther lie had met with on the coaft of Chilis he had reafon to ap- 
 prehend that her bottom was very much decayed ; and that befides, 
 her upper works were rotten abaft ; that fhe was extremely leaky -. 
 that her fore-beam was broke; and that, in his opinion, it was 
 impolfible to proceed to fea with her before fhe had been tho- 
 roughly refitted: He therefore requefted the Commodore, that the. 
 Carpenters of the fquadron might be diredted to furvey her, that 
 their judgment of her condition might be known. In compliance 
 with this defjre,. Mr. Anfon immediately ordered the Carpenters to 
 take a careful and flrid furvey of the Anna Pink, and to give him 
 •a faithful report under their hands of the condition in \vhich they 
 found her, direding them at the fame time to proceed herein with 
 fuch circumfpedtion, that, if they fhould be hereafter called upon, 
 they might be able to make oath of the veracity of theic proceed- 
 inf^s. Furfuant to thefe orders, the Carpenters immediately fct 
 about the examination, and the next day made their report ; which 
 was, that the Pink had no lefs than fourteen knees and twelve 
 beams broken and decayed ; that one breaft-hook v/as broken, and 
 another rotten ; that her water-ways were open and decayed ; tliat 
 two ftandards were broken, as alfo feveral clamps, befides others 
 which were rotten ; that all her iron-work was greatly decayed ; 
 tliat her fpirkiting and timbers were very rotten ; and that, having 
 ripped off part of her fheathing, , they found her wales and outfide 
 planks extremely defedive, and her bows and decks very leaky ; 
 and in confequence of thefe defeds and decays they certified, that 
 
 in
 
 ( '59 ) 
 
 in their opinion fhe could not depart from the Ifland without great 
 hazard, unlefs ilie was firft of all tlioroughly refitted. 
 
 The thorough refitting of the Anna Pink, propofed by the Car- 
 penters, was, in our prefent fltuation, impoffible to be complied 
 with, as all the plank and iron in the fquadron was infufficient for 
 that purpofe. And now the Mafter finding his own fentiments con- 
 firmed by the opinion of all the Carpenters, he offered a petition to 
 •the Commodore in behalf of his Owners, defiring that, fince it ap- 
 peared he was incapable of leaving the Ifland, Mr. A?tfo7i would 
 pleafe to purchafe the hull and furniture of the Pitik for the ufe of 
 the fquadron. Hereupon the Commodore ordered an inventory to 
 ■be taken of every particular belonging to the Pink, with its juft va- 
 lue: And as by this Inventory it appeared, that there were many 
 (lores which would be ufeful in refitting the other fliips, and which 
 were at prefent very fcarce in the fquadron, by reafon of the great 
 fjuantities that had been already expended, he agreed with Mr. Ge- 
 rard to purchafe the whole together for 300 /. The Pink being 
 thus broken up, Mr. Gerard, with the hands belonging to the 
 Pijjk, were fent on board the Ghitcejfer j as that fliip had buried 
 tl->e greateft number of men in proportion to her complement. 
 But afterwards, one or two of them were received on board the 
 Centurion on their own petition, they being extremely averfe to fail- 
 ing in the fame fliip with their old Mafter, on account of ibmc 
 particular ill ufage they conceived they had fufFered from him. 
 
 This tranfaftion brought us down to the beginning of September^ 
 and our people by this time were fo far recovered of the fcurvy, 
 that there was little danger of burying any more at prefent ; and 
 therefore I fhall now fum. up the total of our lofs fince our departure 
 from England, the better to convey fome idea of our paft fufter- 
 ings, and of our prefent ftrength. We had buried on board the 
 Centurion, fince our leaving St. Helens, two hundred and ninety-two, 
 and had now remaining on board two hundred and fourteen. This 
 will doubtlefs appear a moft extraordinary mortality : But yet on 
 board the Ghuccjfer it had been much greater ; for out of a much 
 
 fmaller
 
 ( >6o ) 
 
 fnialler crew than ours they had buried the fame number, and had 
 only eight}'-two remaining alive. It might be expected that on 
 board the T^ryal, the flaughter would have been the mofl: terrible, 
 as her decks were almofl: conftantly knee-deep in water; but it 
 l}appened otherwife, for fhe efcaped more favourably than tlie reft, 
 iince ftie only buried forty-two, and had now thirty-nine remaining 
 alive. The havock of this difeafe had fdlen ftill feverer on the in- 
 valids and marines than on the failors j for on board the Centurion, 
 out of fifty invalids and feventy-nine marines, there remained only 
 four invalids, including officers, and eleven marines ; and on board 
 the Gloucejter every invalid periflied ; and out of forty-eight ma- 
 rines, only two efcaped. From this account it appears, that the 
 three fhips together departed from England with nine hundred and 
 fixty-one iiien on board, of whom fix hundred and twenty-fix were 
 dead before this time ; fo that the whole of our remaining crews, 
 which were now to be diftributed amongft three fliips, amounted 
 to no more than three hundred and thirty-five men and boys ; a 
 number, greatly infufficient for the manning the Cotturion alone, and 
 barely capable of navigating all the three, with the utraoft exertion 
 of their ftrength and vigour. This prodigious redudion of our 
 men was ftill the more terrifying, as we were hitherto uncertain of 
 the fate of Pizarro's fquadron, and had reafon to fuppofe, that 
 feme part of it at leaft had got round into thefe feas : Indeed, we 
 were fatisfied from our own experience, that they muft have fuffer- 
 ed greatly in their pafiuige ; but then every port in the South-Seas 
 was open to them, and the whole power of Chili and Pe?-u v/ould 
 doubtlefs be united in refrefliing and refitting them, and recruiting 
 the numbers they had loft. Befides, we had fome obfcure knowledge 
 of a force to be fitted out from Cal/ao -, and, however contemptible 
 the ftiips and failors of this part of the world may have been gene- 
 rally efteemed, it was fcarcely poflible for any thing, bearing the 
 name of a ftiip of force, to be feebler or lefs confiderable than our- 
 felves. And bad there been nothing to be apprehended from the 
 Baval power of the Sfa7iiards in this part of the world, yet our en- 
 feebled
 
 ( i6i ) • 
 
 feebled condition would neverthelefs give us the greateft uneafinefs, 
 as we were incapable of attempting any of their confiderable places ; 
 for the rifquing of twenty men, weak as we then were, was 
 rifquing the fafety of the whole : So that we conceived we (hould 
 be necefiitated to content curfelves with what few prizes we could 
 pick up at fea, before we were difcovered ; after which, we (hould 
 in all probability be obliged to depart with precipitation, and ef- 
 teem ourfelves fortunate to regain our native country, leaving our 
 enemies to triumph on the inconfiderable mifchief they had re- 
 ceived from a fquadron, whofe equipment had filled them with 
 fuch dreadful apprehenfions. This was a fubjedt, on which we had 
 reafon to imagine the Spa7u/Ij oftentation would remarkably exert 
 itfelf ; though the caufes of our difappointment and their fecurity 
 were neither to be fought for in their valour nor our mifcondudl. 
 
 Such were the defponding refledions which at that time arofc on 
 the review and comparifon of our remaining flrength with our 
 original numbers : Indeed our fears were far from being groundlefs, 
 or difproportioned to our feeble and almoft defperate fituatjon. It 
 is true, the final event proved more honourable than we liad fore- 
 boded; but the intermediate calamities did likewife greatly furpafs 
 our mod gloomy apprehenfions, and could they have been pre- 
 dided to us at this Illand of Juan Fernandes, they would doubtlefs 
 have appeared infurmountable. But to return from this digrefilon. 
 
 In the beginning of September, as has been already mentioned, 
 our men were tolerably well recovered ; and now, the time of navi- 
 gation in this climate drawing near, we exerted ourfelves in getting 
 our fliips in readinefs for the fea. We converted the forc-maft of 
 the Vidualler into a main-maft for the Tryal Sloop ; and flill flat- 
 tering ourfelves with the poffibility of the arrival of fume other 
 fhips of our fquadron, we intended to leave the main-mart of tiie 
 Vidualler, to make a mizen-maft for the Wager. Thus all 
 hands being employed in forwarding our departure, we, on the 
 8th, about eleven in the morning, efpied a fail to the N. E, which 
 continued to approach us, till her courfes appeared even with the 
 
 y horizon.
 
 ( ^62 ) 
 
 horizon. In this Interval we all had hopes flie might prove one of 
 our own fquadron ; but at length finding i\\c fleered away to the 
 eaftward, without haling in for the Ifland, we concluded iTie muft 
 be a- Spaniard. And now great difputes were fet on foot about the 
 poflibility of her having difcovered our tents on fliore, fome of us 
 flrongly infixing, that {he had doubtlefs been near enough to have 
 perceived fomething that had given her a jealoufy of an enemy, 
 which had occafioned her landing to the eaflward without haling 
 in ; but leaving thefe contefts to be fettled afterwards, it was rer 
 folved to purfue her, and, the Centurion being in the greateft for- 
 wardnefs, we immediately got all our hands on board, fet up our 
 ris;ging, bent our fails, and by five in the afternoon got under 
 fail. We had at this time very litde wind, fo that all the boats 
 were employed to tow us out of the bay ; and even what wind 
 there was lafled only long enough to give us an offing of two or 
 three leagues, when it flatted to a calm. The night coming on we 
 lofl fight of the chace, and were extremely impatient for the return 
 of day-light, in hopes to find that ilie had been becalmed as well 
 as we ; though I mull: confefs, that her greater diftance from the 
 land was a reafonable ground for fufpeding the contrary, as we in- 
 deed found in the morning to our great mortification j for though 
 the weather continued perfedlly clear, we had no fight of the fhip 
 from the maft-head. But as we were now fatisfied that it was an 
 enemy, and the firft we had feen in thefe feas, we refolved not to 
 give over the fearch lightly ; and, a fmall breeze fpringing up from 
 the W. N, W, we got up our top-gallant mafts and yards, fet all 
 the fails, and fleered to the S. E, in hopes of retrieving our chace, 
 which we imagined to be bound to Valparaijo. We continued on 
 this courfe all that day and die next , and then not getting 
 fight of our chace we gave over the purfuit, conceiving that by 
 that time flie mufl, in all probability, have reached her Port. And 
 now we prepared to return to 'Juan Fernandes, and haled up to the 
 S. W. with that view, having but very little wind till the 12th, 
 when, at three in the morning, there fprung up a frefli gale from 
 
 the
 
 ( i63 ) 
 
 the W. S, W, and we tacked and ftood to the N. W : And at 
 day-break we were agreeably furprized with the fight of a fail on 
 our weather-bow, between four and five leagues difiant. On this 
 we crouded all the fail we could, and flood after her, and foon 
 perceived it not to be the fame fiiip we originally gave chace to. 
 She at firfl: bore down upon us, fliowing Spanip colours, and 
 making a fignal as to her confort; but obferving that we did net 
 anfwer her fignal, (he inftantly loofed clofe to the wind, and flood 
 to the fouthward. Our people were now all in fpirits, and put the 
 fhip about with great alacrity ; and as the chace appeared to be a 
 large ihip, and had miftaken us for her confort, we conceived that 
 file was a man of war, and probably one of Fizarro^ fquadron : 
 This induced the Commodore to order all the officers cabins to be 
 knocked down and thrown over-board, with feveral cafks of wa- 
 ter and provifions which flood between the guns ; fo that we had 
 foon a clear fiiip, ready for an engagement. About nine o'clock we 
 had thick hazy weather and a fliower of rain, during which we 
 loft fight of the chace ; and we were apprehenfive, if the weatlier 
 fliould continue, that by going upon the other tack, or by fonie 
 other artifice, flie might efcape us ; but it clearing up in lefs than 
 an hour, we found that we had both weathered and fore-reached 
 upon her confiderably, and now we were near enough to difcover 
 that flie was only a Merchantman, without fo much as a fingle tire 
 of guns. About half an hour after twelve, being then within a 
 Teafonable diflance of her, we fired four fhot amongfl her rigginf^ ; 
 on which, they lowered their top-fails, and bore down to us, but in 
 very great confufion, their top-gallant fails and flay-fiiils all flutter- 
 ing in the wind : This was owing to their having let run their fheets 
 and halyards juft as we fired at them ; after which, not a man 
 amongfl them had courage enough to venture aloft (for there the 
 fhot had pafi"ed but jufl before) to take them in. As foon as the 
 veffel came within hail of us, the Commodore ordered them to 
 bring to under his; lee-quarter, and then hoifted out the boat, and 
 lent Mr. Sanmarez, his firft Lieutenant, to take polTeflion of the 
 
 Y 2 prize,
 
 f 1^4 ) 
 prfee, with diredions to fend all the prifoners on board the Centu^ 
 rion, but firft the officers and paflengers. When Mr. Saumarez 
 came on board them, they received him at the fide with tiie ftrongefl 
 tokens of the moft abje(5l fubmiffion ; for they were all of them 
 (efpecially the paflengers, who were twenty- five in number) ex- 
 tremely terrified, and under the greatefl apprehenfioris of meeting 
 with very fevere and cruel ufage ; but the Lieutenant endeavoured, 
 with great courtefy, to diffipate their fright, aflhring them, that 
 their fears were altogether groundlefs, and that they would find a 
 generous enemy in the Commodore, who was not lefs remarkable 
 for his lenity and humanity, than for his refolution and courage. 
 The prifoners, who were firft fent on board the Centurion, informed 
 us, that our prize was called Nuejira Senora del Monte Carmelo, 
 and was commanded by Don Manuel Zamorra. Her cargoe con- 
 fined chiefly of fugar, and great quantities of blue cloth made in 
 the province of ^lito, fomewhat refembling our EugliJ]) coarfe 
 broad-cloths, but inferiour to them. They had befides feveral bales 
 of a coarfer fort of cloth, of different colours, fomewhat like Col- 
 chejler bays, called by them Pannia da Tierra, with a few bales 
 of cotton and tobacco ; which, though ftrong, was not ill flavoured. 
 Thefe were the principal goods on board her ; but we found be- 
 fides, what was to us much more valuable than the reft of the car- 
 goe : Tlfis was fome trunks of wrought plate, and twenty-three 
 ferons of dollars, each weighing upwards of 200 /. averdupois. 
 The fliip's burthen was about four hundred and fifty tuns ; fhe had 
 fifty-three failors on board, both v/hites and blacks ; fhe came from 
 Callao, and had been twenty-feven days at fea, before flie fell into 
 our hands. She was bound to the port of VaJparaifo in the king- 
 dom of Chili, and propofed to have returned from thence loaded 
 with corn and Chili wine, fome gold, dried beef, and fmall cordage, 
 which at Callao they convert into larger rope. Our prize had been 
 built upwards of thirty years j yet as they lie in harbour all the win- 
 ter months, and the climate is favourable, they efteemed it no very 
 great age. Her rigging was very indifl:erent, as were likewife her 
 
 failsj
 
 ( i65 ) 
 
 fails, which were made of Cotton. She had only three four poun- 
 ders, which were altogether unferviceable, tlieir carriages being 
 fcarcely able to fupport them : And there were no fmall arms on 
 board, except a few piflols belonging to the pafTengers. The prifoners 
 informed us, that they left Callao in company with two other fliips, 
 whom they had parted with fome days before, and that at firfl 
 they conceived us to be one of their company j and by the defcrip- 
 tion we gave them of the fliip we had chafed from Juan Fa-nandesy 
 they affured us, flie was of their number, but that the coming in 
 fight of that Jfland was diredlly repugnant to the Merchant's in- 
 ftrudtions, who had expreilly forbid it, as knowing that if any 
 Engli/Jj fquadron was in thofe feas, the Ifland of Fcrnandes was 
 moll probably the place of their rendezvous. 
 
 And now, after this fliort account of the fl^p and her cargoe, it 
 is neceffary tiiat I fliould relate the important intelligence which wc 
 met with on board her, partly from the information of the pri- 
 foners, and partly from the letters and papers which fell into 
 our hands. We here firfl: learnt with certainty the force and defli- 
 nation of that fquadron, which cruifed off the Maderas at our ar- 
 rival there, and afterwards chafed the Pearl in our pafTage to port 
 St. 'Julian. This we now knew was a fquadron compofed of five 
 large Spani/lo fliips, commanded by Admiral Pizarro, and purpofely 
 fitted out to traverfe our defigns, as hath been already more amply re- 
 lated in the 3d chapter of the i ft book. And we had, at the fame time, 
 the fatisfadtion to find, that Pizarro, after his utmofl endeavours to 
 gain his pafTage into thefe feas, had been forced back again into the 
 river o^ Plate, with the lofs of two of his largeft fliips : And befides 
 this difappointmcnt of Pizarro, which, confidering our great debi- 
 lity, was no unacceptable intelligence, we farther learnt, that an em- 
 bargo had been laid upon all flapping in thefe feas, by the Viceroy 
 of Peru, in the month of May preceding, on a fuppofition that 
 about that time we might arrive upon the coafl:. But on the ac- 
 count fent over-land by Pizarro of his own diflreffes, part of which 
 they knew we mufl have encountered, as we were at fea during the 
 
 fii.me
 
 ( i66 ) 
 
 fame time, and on their having no news of us in eight months after 
 ■we were known to fet fail from St. Catherine's, they were fully 
 perfuaded that we were either fhip-wreck'd, or had periflied at fea, 
 or at leaft had been obliged to put back again j for it was conceived 
 impollible for any fliips to continue at fea during fo long an inter- 
 val : And therefore, on the application of the Merchants, and the 
 firm perfuafion of our having mifcarried, the embargo had been 
 lately taken off. 
 
 This laft article made us flatter ourfelves, that, as the enemy was 
 flill a ftranger to our having got round Cape Horf?, and the naviga- 
 tion of thcfe feas was reftored, we might meet with fome confide- 
 rable captures, and might thereby indemnify ourfelves for the inca- 
 pacity we were now under of attempting any of their confiderable 
 fettlements on (liore. And thus much we were certain of, from 
 the information of our prifoners, that, whatever our fuccefs might 
 be as to the prizes we might light on, we had nothing to fear, 
 weak as we were, from the Spanijh force in this part of the world ; 
 though we difcovered that we had been in moft imminent peril 
 from the enemy, when we leaft apprehended it, and when our 
 other diftrelles were at the greateft height ; for we learnt, from the 
 letters on board, that Pizarro, in the exprefs he dlfpatched ro the 
 Viceroy of Peru, after his return to the river of Plate, had inti- 
 mated to him, that it was poflible fome part at leaft of the Englifi 
 fquadron might get round ; but that, as he was certain from his own 
 experience, that if they did arrive in thofe feas it muft be in a very 
 v;eak and defencelefs condition, he advifed the Viceroy, in order to 
 be fecure at all events, to fit out what fhips of force he had, and fend 
 them to the fouthward, where, in all probability, they would intercept 
 us finglv, and before we had an opportunity of touching any where 
 for refrefliment ; in which cafe, he doubted not but we fliould prove 
 an eafy conqueft. The Viceroy of Peru approved of this advice, 
 and immediately fitted out four fliips of force from Callao ; one of 
 fifty guns, two of forty guns, and one of twenty-four guns : Three 
 of them were ft ationed off the Port of Co?iception, and one of them 
 
 at
 
 ( i67 ) 
 
 at the liland of Fernandes ; and in thefe ftations they continued 
 cmiiijig for us till the 6th of Jioie, when not feeing any thing of 
 us, and conceiving it to be impoflible that we could have kept the 
 feas fo long, they quitted their cruife and returned to Callao, fully 
 fatisfied that we had either periflied, or at lead: liad been driven 
 back. As the time of their quitting their ftation was but a few 
 days before our arrival at the Ifland of Fer?inndcs, it is evident, 
 that had we made that Ifland on our firft fearch for it, without 
 haUng in for the main to fecure our eafting, (a circumftance, which 
 at that time we confidered as very unfortunate to us, on account of 
 the numbers which we loft by our longer continuance at fea) had 
 we, I fay, made the Ifland on the 28th of Msy, when we firft 
 expedted to fee it, and were iii reality very near it, we had doubt- 
 lefs fallen in with fome part of the Spanip fquadron ; and in the 
 diftrefled condition we were then in, the meeiing with a healtliy 
 well provided enemy, was an incident that could not but have been 
 perplexing, and might perhaps have proved fatal, not only to us, 
 but to the 7r)w/, the Glouce/ier, and the Anna Pt7ik, who fepa- 
 rately joined us, and who were each of them lefs capable than we 
 were of making any conliderable refiftance. I fhall only add, that 
 thefe Spanifti Ihips fent out to intercept us, had been greatly fhat- 
 tered by a ftorm during their cruife ; and that, after their arrival at 
 Cdllao, they had been laid up. And our prifoners afllired us that 
 whenever intelligence was received at Lif?ja, of our being in tliefe 
 feas, it would be at leaft two months before this armament could be 
 again fitted out. 
 
 The whole of this intelligence was as favourable, as we in our 
 reduced circumftances could wifh for. And now we were fully fa- 
 tisfied as to the broken jars, afhes, and fifh-bones, which we had 
 obferved at our firft landing at Juan Fernandes, thefe things bein<T 
 doubtlefs the relidls of the cruifers ftationed off that Port. Having 
 thus fatisfied ourfelves in the material articles, and liaving gotten on 
 board the Centurion moft of the prifoners, and all the filver, we at 
 eight in the feme evening, made fail to the northward, in company 
 
 with
 
 ( i68 ) 
 
 with our prize, and at fix the next morning difcovered the Ifland 
 of Fernandes, where, the next day, both we and our prize came 
 to an anchor. 
 
 And here I cannot omit one remarkable incident which occurred, 
 
 when the prize and her crew came into the bay, where the reft of 
 
 the fquadron lay. The Spa?iiards in the Cannclo had been luffici- 
 
 ently informed of the diftrefles we had gone through, and were 
 
 greatly furprized that we had ever furmounted them : But when 
 
 they faw the Tryal Sloop at anchor, they were ftill more aftoniflied, 
 
 that after all cur fdtigues we had the induftry (befides refitting our 
 
 other hiips) to compleat fuch a veffel in fo fliort a time, they taking 
 
 it for granted that flie had been built upon the fpot. And it was 
 
 with f^rcat difficulty they were prevailed on to believe, that flae came 
 
 from Englafid with the reft of the fquadron ; they at firft infifting, 
 
 that it was impoffible fuch a bawble as that could pafs round Cape 
 
 Horn, when the beft flnps of Spain were obliged to put back. 
 
 By the time v\'e arrived at Juan Fernmides, the letters found on 
 board our prize v/ere more minutely examined : And, it appearing 
 from them, and from the accounts of our :prifoners, that feveral 
 other Merchantmen were bound from Callaoio'Valparaifo, Mr. Ati- 
 fon difpatched the Tryal Sloop the very next morning, to cruife off 
 the laft-mentioned Port, reinforcing him with ten hands from on 
 board his own fliip. Mr. Anfon likewife reiblved, on the intelli- 
 o-ence recited above, to feparate the fliips under his command, and 
 employ them in diftindl cruifes, as he thought that by this means 
 we fliould not only encreafe our chance for prizes, but that we fliould 
 likewife run a lefs rifque of alarming the coaft, and of being difco- 
 vered. And now the fpirits of our people being greatly railed, and 
 their defpondency diflipated by this earneft of fuccefs, they forgot 
 all their paft diftrefies, and refumed their wonted alacrity, and la- 
 boured indefatigably in compleating our water, receiving our lumber, 
 and in preparing to take our farewel of the Ifland : But as thefe oc- 
 cupations took us up four or five days with all our induftry, the 
 Commodore, in that interval, directed tliat the guns belonging to 
 
 the
 
 ( i6g ) 
 
 the Anna Pink, being four fix pounders, four four pounders, and 
 two fvvivels, fhoiild be mounted on board the Carwelo our prize : 
 And having fent on board the GlouceJIcr fix paflcngers, and twenty- 
 three feamen to affifi. in navigating the fliip, he diredled Captain 
 Mitchcl to leave the Ifland as foon as poffible, tlie fervice requiring 
 the utmoft difpatch, ordering him to proceed to the latitude of five 
 degrees South, and there to cruife off the highland of Paita^ at 
 fuch a diftance from {hore, as fliould prevent his being difcovered. 
 On this ftation he was to continue till he fliould be joined by the 
 Commodore, which would be whenever it fliould be known that the 
 Viceroy had fitted out the fliips at Callao, or on Mr. y^;z/o7?'s receiving 
 any other intelligence, that fhould make it neceffary to unite our 
 ftrength. Thefe orders being delivered to the Captain of the 
 Gloucefter, and all our buiinefs compleated, we, on the Saturday fol- 
 lowing, being the 1 9th of September, weighed our anchor, in com- 
 pany with our prize, and got out of the bay, taking our laft leave 
 of the Ifland of Juan Fernandes, and fl:eering to the eaft;ward, 
 with an intention of joining the Tryal Sloop in her ftation off Val- 
 farniJQ^ 
 
 C H A P.
 
 ( I70 ) 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Our cruife from the time of our leaving Juan Fer- 
 7ia?ideSi to the taking the town of Paita. 
 
 L T H O U G H the Centwioti, with her prize the Cartmlo^ 
 weighed from the bay of 'Juan Fernandes on the i yth of 
 SiptembeK^ leaving the Glouceiier at anchor behind her j yet, 
 by the irregularity and fludluation of the winds in the ofRng, it was 
 the 2 2d of the fame month in the evening, before we loft fight of 
 the Ifland : After which, we continued our courfe to the eaftward, 
 in order to reach our ftation, and to join the Tryal off Valparaifi. 
 The next night, the weather proved fqually, and we fplit our 
 maintop-fail, which we handed for the prefent, but got it repaired, 
 and fet it again the next morning. And now, on the 24th, a little 
 before fun-fet, v/e faw two fail to the eaftward ; on which, our prize 
 ftood diredlly from us, to avoid giving any fufpicion of our being 
 cruifers j whilft we, in the mean time, made ourfelves ready for an 
 engagement, and fleered towards the two fliips we had dilcovered 
 w^ith all our canvas. We foon perceived that one of thefe, which 
 had the appearance of being a very flout fliip, made directly for 
 us, whilft the other kept at a very great diflance. By feven o'clock 
 we were within piftol-fliot of the neareft, and had a broad-fide 
 ready to pour into her, the Gunners having their matches in their 
 hands, and only waiting for orders to fire ; but as we knew it was 
 now impoflible for her to efcape us, Mr. Anfon, before he permitted 
 them to fire, ordered the Mafter to hail the fliip in Spanifh ; on which 
 the commanding officer on board her, who proved to be Mr. Hughs, 
 Lieutenant of the Tryal^ anfwered us in Efigli/J:, and informed us, 
 that (he was a prize taken by the Tryal a few days before, and that 
 the other fail at a diftance was the Tryal herfelf difabled in her 
 
 maftf.
 
 ( '7' ) 
 
 marts. We were foon after joined by the Tryal ; and Captain Saun- 
 ders her Commander came on board the Centurion. He informed 
 the Commodore, that he had taken this fliip the 1 8th inftant ; that 
 {ht was a prime failor, and had coft him thirty-fix hours chace, be- 
 fore he could come up with her ; that for fome time he gained fo 
 httle upon her, that he began to defpair of taking her ; and the 
 Spaniards though alarmed at firft with feeing nothing but a cloud 
 of fail in purfuit of them, the Tryal's hull being fo low in the wa- 
 ter that no part of it appeared, yet knowing the gocdnefs of their 
 fliip, and finding how litde the Tryal neared them, they at len<yth 
 laid afide their fears, and, recommending themfelves to the blefied 
 Virgin for protedion, began to think themfelves fecure. And 
 indeed their fuccefs was very near doing honour to their Ave Marias- 
 for, altering their courfe in the night, and Hiutting up their windows 
 to prevent any of their lights from being feen, they had fome 
 chance of efcaping ; but a fmall crevice in one of the fhutters ren- 
 dered all their invocations ineffedtual ; for through this crevice the 
 people on board the Tryal perceived a light, which they chafed, 
 till they arrived within gun-fliot ; and then Captain Saunders alarm- 
 ed them unexpectedly with a broadfide, when they flattered them- 
 felves they were got out of his reach : However, for feme time 
 after they fi:ill kept the fame fail abroad, arid it was not obferved 
 that tliis firft falute had made any impreflion on them ; but, juft as 
 the Tryal was preparing to repeat her broadfide, the Spaniards crept 
 from their holes, lowered their fails, and fubmitted without any 
 oppofition. She was one of the largeft Merchantmen emploved in 
 thofe feas, being about fix hundred tuns burthen, and was called 
 the Arranzazu. She was bound from Callao to Valparaifo, end 
 had much the fame cargoe with the Carmelo we had taken before, 
 except that her filver amounted only to about 5000 /. fierling. 
 
 But to balance this fuccefs, we had the misfortune to find that 
 the Tryal had fprung her main-maft, and that her maintop-mafi: had 
 come by the board ; and as we were all of us ftanding to the eaft- 
 ward the next morning, with a frefh gale at South, fiie had the ad- 
 
 Z 2 ditional
 
 ( '72 ) 
 
 ditional ill-luck to fpring her fore-maft : So that now fhe had not x 
 mart left, on which (he could carry fail. Thefe unhappy i.u.idents 
 were flill aggravated by the impoffibility we were juft then under of 
 aflifting her ; for the wind blew fo hard, and raifed fuch a hollow 
 fea, that we could not venture to hoifl: out our boat, and confequent- 
 ly could have no communication with her ; fo that v. e were ob- 
 liged to lie to for the greateft part of forty-eight hours to attend her, 
 as we could have no thought of leaving her to herfelf in her prefent 
 unhappy iituation : And as an accutnulation to our misfortunes, wc 
 were all the while driving to the'leeward of our ilation, at the very 
 time when, by our intelligence, we had reafon to expedt feveral of 
 the enemy's fhips would appear upon the coaft, who would now 
 gain the port of Falparaifo without obftrudion. And I am verily 
 perfuaded, that the embarafTment we received frcm the difmafting 
 of the Trya/, and our abfence from our intended ftation occafioned 
 therebv, deprived us of fome very confiderable captures. 
 
 The weather proving fome what more moderate on the 27th, we 
 fent our boat for the Captain of the 7>W, who, when he came 
 on board us, produced an inflrument, figned by himfclf and all 
 his officers, reprefenting that the Sloop, befidcs being difmafted, 
 was fo very leaky in her hull, that even in moderate weather it 
 was neceffary to keep the pumps conftantly at work, and that they 
 v^ ere then fcarcely fufficient to keep her free ; fo that in the late 
 gale, though they had all been engaged at the pumps by turns, yet 
 the water had encreafed upon them ; and, upon the whole, they ap- 
 prehended her to be at prefent fo very defeftive, that if they met 
 with much bad weather, they muft all inevitably perifli ; and there- 
 fore they petitioned the Commodore to take fome meafures for 
 their future fafety. But the refitting of the Tryal, and the repair- 
 ing of her defedts, was an undertaking that in the prefent con- 
 iunfturc greatlv exceeded his power ; for we had no mafts to fpare 
 her, we had no ftores to compleat her rigging, nor had we any 
 port where fhe might be hove down, and her bottom examined : 
 Befides, had a port and proper requifites for this purpofe been in our 
 
 poflcffion,
 
 ( ^73 ) 
 pofleffion ; yet it would have been extream imprudence, in fo criti- 
 cal a conjunfture, to have loitered away fo much time, as would 
 have been neceflary for thefe operations. The Commodore therefore 
 had no choice left him, but that of taking out her people, and de- 
 ftroying her : But, at the fame time, as he conceived it neceflary 
 for his Majefty's fervice to keep up the appearance of our force, he 
 appointed the Trjal's prize (which had been often employed by the 
 "Viceroy of Peru as a man of war) to be a frigate in his Majefty's 
 fervice, manning her with the Tryals crew, and giving new com- 
 mifllons to the Captain and all the inferior officers accordingly. This 
 new frigate, when in the Spanijh fervice, had mounted thirty-two 
 guns ; but fhe was now to have only twenty, which were the 
 twelve that were on board the Tryal, and eight that had belonged 
 to the Anna Pink. When this al^air was thus far regulated, Mr. 
 A?ifon gave orders to Captain Saunders to put it in execution, di- 
 redting him to take out of the Sloop the arms, ftores, ammunition, 
 and every thing that could be of any ufe to the other fliips, and 
 then to fcuttle her and fink her. And after Captain Saunders had 
 feen her deftroyed, he was to proceed with his new frigate (to be 
 called the TryaN Prize) and to cruife off the highland of I'alpa- 
 raifoy keeping it from him N. N. W, at the diftance of twelve or 
 fourteen leagues : For as all fhips bound from Valparaifo to the 
 northward fteer that courfe, Mr. Anjon propofed by this means to 
 ftop any intelligence, that might be difpatched to Callao^ of two of 
 their fliips being miffing, which might give them apprehenfions of 
 the Rngl'ijli fquadron being in their neighbourhood. The 7ryal's 
 Prize was to continue on this flation twenty-four days, and, if 
 not joined by the Commodore at the expiration of that term, 
 (lie was then to proceed down the coaft to Pifco or Nafca, where 
 flie would be certain to meet with Mr. An/on. The Com- 
 modore likewife ordered Lieutenant Saumarez, who commanded 
 the Centurion's prize, to keep company with Captain Saunders, 
 both to affift him in unloading the Sloop, and alfo that by fpread- 
 bg in their cruife, there might be lef^ danger of any of the ene- 
 my's
 
 f ^74 ) 
 my's fiiips Hipping by ajiobfcrved. Thcfc orders being difpatdicd, 
 the Centurion parted from them at eleven in the evening, on the 
 27ih of September, directing her courfe to the fouthward, with a 
 view of ciuifing for feme days to the windward of Vcilparaijo. 
 
 And now by this difpofition of our fliips we flattered ourfelves, 
 tjiat we had taken all the advantages of the enemy that we pofli- 
 bly could with our fmall force, fince our difpofidon was doubtlefs 
 the moft prudent that could be projeded. For, as we might fup- 
 pofe the Glcuce/Ier by this time to be drawing near her flation off 
 the highland of Paita, we were enabled, by our feparate ftations, " 
 to intercept all velTels employed either betwixt Peru and Cbilt to the 
 fouthward, or betwixt Panama and Peru to the northward : Since 
 the principal trade from Peru to Chili being carried on to the port 
 oi Falparaijo, the Centurion cruifing to the windward of Falparaifo^ 
 would, in all probability, meet with them, as it is the conftant 
 pradice of thofe fliips to fall in with the coaft, to the windward of 
 that port : And the Ghucejler would, in like manner, be in the 
 way of the trade bound from Pajiama or the northward, to any 
 part of Peru ; fince the highland off which fl^e was ftationed is 
 conftantly made by all fliips in that voyage. And whilfl: the Cen- 
 turion and GlouceJIer were thus fituated for interrupting the enemy's 
 trade, the Tryal's Prize and Centurions Prize were as conveniently 
 ftationed for preventing all intelligence, by intercepting all fliips 
 bound from Valparaifo to the northward j for it v^ as on board thefe 
 veffels that it was to be feared fome account of us might poffibly 
 be fent to Peru. 
 
 But the moft prudent difpofitions carry with them only a proba- 
 bility of fuccefs, and can never enfure its certainty : Since thofe 
 chances, which it was reafonable to overlook in deliberations, are 
 fometimes of moft powerful influence in execution. Thus in the 
 prefent cafe, the diftrefs of the T^ryal, and the quitting our ftation 
 to affift her (events which no degree of prudence could either fore- 
 fee or obviate) gave an opportunity to all the fliips, bound to VaU 
 paraifo, to reach that port without moleftation, during this unlucky 
 
 interval.
 
 ( 175 ) 
 
 Interval. So that though, after leaving Captain Saunders, we vi^ere 
 very expeditious in regaining our ftation, where we got the 29th 
 at noon, yet in plying on and off till the 6th of October, we had 
 not the good fortune to difcover a fail of any fort : And then having 
 loft all hopes of making any advantage by a longer ftay, we made 
 fail to the leeward of the port, in order to join our prizes; but when 
 we arrived on the ftation appointed for them, we did not meet 
 with them, though we continued there four or five days. We fup- 
 pofed that fome chace had occafioned their leaving their ftation, and 
 therefore we proceeded down the coaft to the highland of Nijfca, 
 where Captain Saunders was diredled to join us. Here we arrived 
 on the 21ft, and were in great expedtation of meeting wirh fome 
 of the enemy's fhips on the coaft, as both the accounts of former 
 voyages, and the information of our prifoners afTured us, that all 
 fliips bound to Callao conftandy make this land, to prevent the 
 danger of running to the lecvard of the port. But notwithftand- 
 ing the advantages of this ftation, we faw no fail till the 2d of 
 November, when two ftiips appeared in fight together ; we imme- 
 diately gave them chace, but foon perceived that they were tiie 
 Tryai's and Ce?iturion's prizes : As they had the wind of us, we 
 brought to and waited their coming up ; when Captain Saunders 
 came on board us, and acquainted the Commodore, that he had 
 cleared the Tryal purfuant to his orders, and having fcuttled her, 
 he remained by her till (lie funk, but that it was the 4th of OiJo- 
 her before this was efFeded ; for there ran fo large and hollow a 
 fea, that the Sloop, having neither mafts nor fails to fteady her, 
 rolled and pitched lb violently, that it was impoflible for a boat to 
 lay a long-fide of her, for the greateft part of the time : And du- 
 ring this attendance on the Sloop, they were all driven fo fir to the 
 North-weft, that they were afterwards obliged to ftretch a long 
 way to the weftward to regain the ground they had loft ; which was 
 the reafon that we had not met with them on their ftation as we 
 expefted. We found they had not been more fortunate in their 
 cruife than we were, for they had feen no vellel fmce they fepa- 
 
 ratcd
 
 ( 176 ) 
 
 rated from us. The little fuccefs we all had, and our certainty, 
 that had any fliips been fltrring in thefe feas for fome time part; we 
 muft have met with them, made us believe, that the enemy at 
 Valfaraifo, on the miffing of the two fhips we had taken, had fuf- 
 pe6ted us to be in the neighbourhood, and had confequently laid 
 an embargo on all the trade in the fouthern parts. We likewife ap- 
 prehended, that they might by tliis time be fitting out the men of 
 war at Callao ; for we knew that it was no uncommon thing for an 
 exprefs from Valparaifo to reach Lima in twenty-nine or thirty days, 
 and it was now more than fifty lince we had taken our firft prize. 
 Thefe iipprehenfions of an embargo along the coafl:, and of the equip- 
 ment of the Spaniji: fquadron at Callao, determined the Commo- 
 dore to baften down to the leeward of Callao, and to join Captain 
 Mitcljel (who was ftationed off Paita) as foon as poffible, that our 
 ftrength being united, we might be prepared to give the fliips from 
 Callao a warm reception, if they dared to put to fea. With this 
 view we bore away the fame afternoon, taking particular care to 
 keep at fuch a diftance from the fhore, that there might be no 
 danger of our being difcovered from thence j for wc knew that all 
 the country fliips were commanded, under the fevereft penalty, not 
 to fail by the port of Callao without flopping ; and as this order 
 was conflandy complied with, we fliould undoubtedly be knowa 
 for enemies, if we were leen to adf contrary to it. In this new 
 navigation, not being certain whether we might not meet the Spa- 
 niOo fquadron in our route, the Commodore took on board the 
 Centurion part of his crew, \vith which he had formerly manned 
 the Carmelo. And now flanding to the northward, we, before 
 night came on, had a view of the fmail liland called St. Gallan, 
 which bore from us N. N. E. 4- E, about feven leagues diflant. This^ 
 Ifland lies in the latitude of about fourteen degrees South, and about 
 five miles to the northward of a highland, called Morro veijo, or 
 the old man's head. I mention this hland, and the highland near 
 it, more particularly, bccaufe between them is the mofl eligible fi:a- 
 tion on that coafl for ciuifmg upon the enemy ; as all fliips bound 
 
 10
 
 { 177 ) 
 
 to CaJlaOy whether from the northward or the fouthward, run ^'Ce^l 
 in with tlie land in this part. By the 5th of November, at three in 
 the afternoon, we were advanced within view of the high land 
 of Barranca, lying in the latitude of 10" : 36' South, bearing from 
 us N. E. by E, diftant eight or nine leagues ; and an hour and an 
 half afterwards wc had the fatisfa<flion we had fo long wiflied for, 
 of feeing a fail. She firft appeared to leeward, and we all imme- 
 diately gave her chace ; but the Centurion fo much outfuiled the 
 two prizes, that we foon ran them out of fight, and gained con- 
 fiderably on the chace : However, night coming on before we came 
 up with her, we, about feven o'clock, loft fight of her, and were 
 in fome perplexity what courfe to fteer ; but at laft Mr. Anfon re- 
 folved, as we were then before the wind, to keep all his fails fet, 
 and not to change his courfe : For though we had no doubt but 
 the chace would alter her courfe in the night ; yet, as it was un- 
 certain what tack flie would go upon, it was thought more prudent 
 to keep on our courfe, as we muft by this means unavoidably near 
 her, than to change it on conje<5lure ; when, if we fhould mif- 
 take, we muft infallibly lofe her. Thus then we continued the 
 chace about an hour and an half in the dark, fome one or other on 
 board us conftantly imagining they difcerned her fails right a-head 
 of US; but at laft Mr. Brett, tlicn our fecond Lieutenant, did 
 really difcover her about four points on the larboard-bow, lleering 
 off to the feaward : We immediately clapped the helm a weather, 
 and ftood for her; and in lefe than an hour came up with her, and 
 having fired fourteen ftiot at her, flie ftruck. Our third Lieuteiiant, 
 Mr. Dennis, was fent in the boat with fixteen men, to take polTel- 
 Con of the prize, and to return the prifoners to our fliip. TJiis 
 ihip was named the Sa7ita Terefa de J ejus, built at Giiaiaquil, of a- 
 bout three hundred tuns burthen, and was commanded by Barto- 
 lotne TJrrunaga, a Bifcayer : She was bound from Gtiraaquil to Cal- 
 iao ; her loading confifted of timber, cocao, coco-nuts, tobacco, 
 hides, Pito thread (which is very ftrong, and is made of a fpccies 
 of grafs) ^ito cloth, wax, &c. • The fpecies on board her was in* 
 
 A a confiderabic.
 
 ( 178 ) 
 
 confiderable, being principally fmall filvcr money, and not amount- 
 ing to more than 170/. flerling. It is true, her cargoe was of 
 great value, could we have diipofed of it ; but, the Spaniards hav- 
 kig flri(5l orders never to ranfom their fliips, all the goods that we 
 took in thefe feas, except what little we had occafion for ourfelves, 
 were of no advantage to us. Indeed, though we could make no 
 profit thereby ourfelves, it was fome fatisfadion to us to confider, 
 that it was fo much really loft to the enemy, and that the defpoil- 
 ing tliem was no contemptible branch of that fervice, in which we 
 were now employed by our country. 
 
 Befides our prize's crew, which amounted to forty-five hands, 
 there were on board her ten paffengers, confifting of four men and 
 three women, who were natives of the country, born of Spanijh 
 parents, and three black female flaves that attended them. The 
 women were a mother and her two daughters, the eldeft about 
 twenty-one, and the youngeft about fourteen. It is not to be won- 
 dered at, that women of thefe years fhould be exceflively alarmed at 
 the falling into the hands of an enemy, whom, from the former 
 outrages of the Buccaneers, and by the artful infinuations of their 
 Priefts, they had been taught to confider as the moft terrible and 
 brutal of all mankind. Thefe apprehenfions too were in the pre- 
 ient inftance exaggerated by the fingular beauty of the youngeft of 
 the women, and die riotous difpofition which they might well ex- 
 pedl to find in a fet of failors, that had not feen a woman for near 
 a twelvemonth. Full of thefe terrors, the women all hid them- 
 felves when our ofiicer went on board, and when they were founds 
 out, it was with great difiicuky that he could perfuade them to ap- 
 proach the light : However, he foon fatisfied them, by the huma- 
 nity of his condudl and his aflurances of their future fecurity and 
 honourable treatment, that ihey had nothing to fear. And the 
 Commodore being informed of the matter fait directions that 
 they ftiould be continued on board their own (hip, with the ufe of 
 the fame apartments, and with all the other conveniencies they had 
 enjoyed before, giving ftrid orders that they fhould receive no kind 
 
 of
 
 ( 179 ) 
 
 of inquietude or moleflation wlwtever : And that they might be 
 the more certain of having thefe orders complied with, or of com- 
 plaining if they were not, the Commodore permJti:ed the Pilot. 
 who in SpaniJJj fhips is generally the fecond perfon on board, to Hay 
 with them, as their guardian and protedlor. He was particularly 
 chofen for this purpofe by Mr. Anfon, as he feemed to be extreme- 
 ly interefted in all that concerned the women, and had at firfl de- 
 clared that he was married to the youngeft of them ; though it af- 
 terwards appeared, both from the information of the reft of the 
 prifoners, and other circumftances, that he had aflerted this with a 
 view, the better to fecure them from the infults they expedled on their 
 firft falling into our hands. By this compafljonate and indulgent 
 behaviour of the Commodore, the confternation of our female 
 prifoners entirely fubfided, and they continued eafy and chearful du- 
 ring the whole time they were with us, as I fliall have occafion to 
 mention more particularly hereafter. 
 
 I have before obferved, that at the beginning of this cbace the 
 Ceniurion ran her two conforts out of fight, for which reafon we 
 lay by all the night, after we had taken the prize, for Captain 
 Sauntfers and Lieutenant Saumarez to join us, firing guns, and 
 making falfe fires every half hour, to prevent their pafilng us un- 
 obferved j but they were fo far a-ftern, that they neither heard nor 
 faw any of our fignals, and were not able to come up with us 
 till broad day-light. When they had joined us we proceeded toge- 
 ther to the northward, being now four fail in company. We here 
 found the fea, for many miles round us, of a beautiful red colour : 
 This, upon examination, we imputed to an immenfe quantity of 
 fpawn fpread upon its furface ; and taking up fome of the water in 
 a wine-glafs, it foon changed from a dirty afpedl to a clear chryf- 
 tal, with only fome red globules of a flimy nature floating on the 
 top. And now having a fupply of tiniber on board our new prize, 
 the Commodore ordered our boats to be repaired, and a fwivel gun- 
 ftock to be fixed in the bow both of the barge and pinnace, in order 
 
 A a 2 to
 
 f iSo ) 
 
 to encreaie their force, in cafe we fhould be obliged to have rccourfe 
 to them for boarding (hips, or for any attempts on iQiore. 
 
 As we flood from hence to the northward, nothing remarkable 
 occurred for two or three days, though we fpread our fhips in fuch 
 a manner, that it was not probable any velTel of the enemy could 
 efcape us. In our run along this coall: we generally obferved, that 
 there was a current which fet us to the northward, at the rate of 
 ten or twelve miles each day. And now being in about eight de- 
 grees of South latitude, we began to be attended with vaft num- 
 bers of flying fi(h and bonitos, which were the firffc we faw after 
 our departure from the coaft of Brazil. But it is remarkable, that 
 on the Eaft fide of South America they extended to a much higher 
 latitude than they do on the Weft fide j for we did not lofe them 
 on the coaft o^ Brazil, till we approached the fouthern tropic. The 
 reafon for this diverfity is doubtlefs the different degrees of heat 
 obtaining in the fame latitude on different fides of that Continent. 
 And on this occafion, I muft beg leave to make a fhort digreffion 
 on the heat and cold of different climates, and on the varieties which 
 occur in the fame place in different parts of the year, and in differ- 
 ent places lying in the fame degree of latitude. 
 
 The Ancients, as appears in many places, conceived that of the 
 five zones, into which they divided the furface of the globe, two 
 only were habitable, fuppofing that all between the tropics was too 
 hot, and all within the polar circle too cold to be fupported by 
 mankind. The fdfhood of this reafoning has been long evinced ; 
 but the particular comparifons of the heat and cold of thefe various 
 climates, has as yet been very imperfedlly confidered. However, 
 enough is known fafely to determine this pofition, tliat all places 
 between the tropics are far from being the hotteil on the globe, as 
 many of thofe within the polar circles are far from enduring that 
 extreme degree of cold, to which their fituation fliould feem to fub- 
 jed them : That is to. fay, in other words,, that the temperature of 
 a place depends much m.ore upon other circumftances, than upon 
 Us diftance from the pole, or its proximity to the equinodial. 
 
 This:
 
 ( ISI ) 
 
 This propofition relates to the general temperature of places, 
 taking the whole year round j and in this fenfe it cannot be denied, 
 but that the city of London, for inftance, enjoys much warmer fea- 
 fons than the bottom of Hudfon'i bay, which is nearly in the fame 
 latitude with it j for there the feverity of the winter is fo great, that 
 it will fcarcely permit the hardieft of our garden plants to live. And 
 if the comparifon be made between the coaft of Brazil and the 
 weftern fl,iore of South America , as, for example, betwixt Bahia 
 and Lima, the difference will be ftill more remarkable ; for though 
 the coaft of Brazil is extremely fultry, yet the coaft of the South- 
 Seas in the fame latitude is perhaps as temperate and tolerable as 
 any part of the globe ; fmce in ranging along it, we did not once 
 meet with fo warm weather, as is frequent in a fummer's day in 
 England: And this was the more remarkable, as there never fell 
 any rains to refrefti and cool the air. 
 
 The caufes of this temperature in the South-Seas are not difficult 
 to be afllgned, and lliuU be hereafter mentioned. I am now only 
 felicitous to eftablifli the truth of this alfertion, that the latitude of 
 a place alone is no rule whereby to judge of the degree of heat and 
 cold which obtains there. Perhaps this pofition mic^ht be more 
 briefly confirmed, by obferving, that on the tops of the Andes 
 though under the equinodlial, the fnow never melts the whole vear 
 round ; a criterion of cold, ftronger than what is known to take place 
 in many parts far removed within the polar circle. 
 
 i have hitherto confidered the temperature of the air all the vear 
 through, and the grofs eftimations of heat and cold which every 
 one makes from his own fenfation. If this matter be examined by 
 means of Thermometers, which in refpeft to the abfolute degree of 
 heat and cold are doubtlefs the moft unerring evidences ; if this be 
 done, the refult will be indeed moft wonderful : For it will appear 
 that the heat in very high latitudes, as at Feterjhurgh for inftance, 
 is at particular times much greater than any that has been hitherto 
 obferved between the tropics ; and that even at London in the year 
 1746, there was the part of one day confiderably hotter than what 
 
 wa»
 
 ( '82 ) 
 
 was at any time felt by a fliip of Mr. Anfon's, fquadron, in running 
 from hence to Cape Horn and back again, and paffing twice under 
 the fun ; for in the fummer of that year, the thermometer in Lon- 
 don (being one of thofe graduated according to the method of Faren- 
 heit) flood once at 78° -, and the greateft height at which a ther- 
 mometer of the fame kind ftood in the foregoing fliip, I find to be 
 yb° : This was at St. Catherme's, in the latter end of December, 
 when the fun was within about three degrees of the vertex. And 
 as to Peterjburgh, I find, by the ads of the academy eftablifhed 
 there, that in the year 1734, on the 20th and 25th of July, the 
 thermometer rofe to 98° in the (hade, that is, it was twenty-two di- 
 vifions higher than it was found to be at St. Catherine's ; which is 
 a degree of heat that, were it not authorifed by the regularity and 
 circumfpedlion with which the obfervations feem to have been 
 made, would appear altogether incredible. 
 
 If it fliould be a{ked, how it comes to pafs then, that the heat 
 in many places between the tropics is efteemed fo violent and infuf- 
 ferable, when it appears by thefe inftances, that it is fometimes ri- 
 valled or exceeded in very high latitudes not far from the polar cir- 
 cle ? I fliould anfwer, that the eftimation of heat in any particular 
 place, ought not to be founded upon that degree of heat which 
 may now and then obtain there, but is rather to be deduced from 
 the medium obferved in a whole feafon, or perhaps in a whole year : 
 And in this light it will eafily appear, how much more intenfe the 
 fame degree of heat may prove, by being long continued without 
 remarkable variation. For inftancc, in comparing together St. Ca- 
 therine' i and Peterjburgh^ we will fuppofe the fummer heat at St. 
 Catherine's to be 76°, and the winter heat to be twenty divifions 
 fhort of it : I do not make ufe of this lafl: conjedture upon Effici- 
 ent obfervation ; but I am apt to fufpedl, that the allowance is full 
 large. Upon this fuppofition then, the medium heat all the year 
 round will be 66°, and this perhaps by night as well as day, with 
 no great variation : Now thofe who have attended to thermome- 
 ters will readily own, that a continuation of this degree of heat 
 
 for
 
 ( '83 ) 
 
 for a length of time would by the generality of mankind be ftiled 
 violent and fufFocating. But now at Pet.rjhurgh, though a few 
 times in the year the heat, by the thermometer, may be confidera- 
 bly greater than at St. Catherine's, yet, as at other times the cold 
 is immenfely (liarper, the medium for a year, or even for one fea- 
 fon onlv, would be far (hort of 66°- For I find, that the variati- 
 on of the thermometer at Petcrjhurgh is at leaft five times greater, 
 from its higheft to its loweft poinr, than what I have fuppofed to 
 take place at St. Catherine's. 
 
 But befides this eftimation of the heat of a place, by taking the 
 medium for a confiderable time together, there is another circum- 
 ftance which will ftill augment the apparent heat of the warmer 
 climates, and diminish that of the colder, though 1 do not remem- 
 ber to have feen it remarked in any author. To explain myfelf 
 more diftindly upon this head, I mufl obferve, that the meafure of 
 abfolute heat, marked by the thermometer, is not the certain crite- 
 rion of the fenfation of heat, with which human bodies are afFedl- 
 ed : For as the prefence and perpetual fucceffion of frefli air is ne- 
 ceffary to our refpiration, fo there is a fpecies of tainted or ftagnated 
 air, which is often produced by the continuance of great heats, 
 which never fails to excite in us an idea of fultrinefs and fuffocating 
 warmth, much beyond what the mere heat of the air alone, fup- 
 pofing it pure and agitated, would occafion. Hence it follows, 
 that the mere infpeftion of the thermometer will never determine 
 the heat which the human body feels from this caufe ; and hence it 
 follows too, that the heat in mofl: places between the tropics muft 
 be much more troublefome and uneafy, than the fame degree of 
 abfolute heat in a high latitude : For the equability and duration of 
 the tropical heat contribute to impregnate the air with a multitude 
 ©f fleams and vapours from the foil and water, and thefe being, 
 many of them, of an impure and noxious kind, and being not 
 eafily removed, by reafon of the regularity of the winds in thofe 
 parts, which only fhift the exhalations from place to place, with- 
 out difperfing them, the atmofphere is by this means rendered lefs 
 
 proper
 
 ( i8+ ) 
 
 proper for refpiratlon, and mankind are confequently affefted with 
 what they ftile a moft intenfe and ftifling heat : Whereas in the 
 higher latitudes thefe vapours are probably raifed in fmaller quanti- 
 ties, and the irregularity and violence of the winds frequently dif- 
 j>erfe them ; fo tliat, the air being in general pure and lefs ftagnant, 
 the fame degree of abfolute heat is not attended with that uneafy 
 aiid futfocating fenfation. This may fuffice in general with refpedt 
 to the prefent fpeculation; but I cannot help wifhing, as it is a 
 fubjedt in which mankind, efpecially travellers of all forts, are very 
 much interefted, that it were more thoroughly and accurately ex- 
 atnined, and that all fliips bound to the warmer climates would 
 furnifli themfelves with thermometers of a known fabric, and would 
 obferve them daily, and regifter their obfervations ; for confidering 
 the turn to philofophical fubjeds, which has obtained in Europe 
 for the laft fourfcore years, it is incredible how very rarely any thing 
 of this kind hath been attended to. For my own part, I do not 
 recoUedl that I have ever feen any obfervations of the heat and cold, 
 either in the Eaft or Weji-Indies, which were made by mariners or 
 officers of veiTels, except thofe made by Mr. Anfon"?, order, on 
 board the Centurion^ and by Captain Leg on board the Severn^ 
 which was another fliip of our fquadron. 
 
 This digreflion I have been in fome meafure drawn into, by the 
 confideration of the fine weather we met with on the coaft of 
 Peru, even under the equinodlial itfelf, but the particularities of 
 this weather T have not yet defcribed : I Ihall now therefore add, 
 that in this climate every circamftance concurred, that could render 
 tlie open air and the day-light defirable. For in other countries the 
 fcorching heat of the fun in fummer renders the greater part of the 
 day unapt either for labour or amufement ; and the frequent rains 
 are not lefs troublefome in the more temperate parts of the year. 
 But in this happy climate the fun rarely appears : Not that the 
 heavens have at any time a dark and gloomy look; but there is 
 conftantly a chearful grey fky, juft fufficient to fcreen the fun, and 
 Jjo mitigate the violence of its perpendicular rays, witliout obfcuring 
 
 the
 
 ('8s) 
 
 the air, or tinging the day-light with an unpleafant or melancholy 
 hue. By this means all parts of the day are proper for labour or 
 cxercife abroad, nor is there wanting tliat refielhment and pleafing 
 refrigeration of the air, which is fometinies produced in other cli- 
 mates by rains ; for here the fame effedl is brought about, by the 
 frefh breezes from the cooler regions to the foutiiward. It is rea- 
 fonable to fuppofe, that this fortunate complexion of the heavens is 
 principally owing to the neighbourhood of thofe vaft hills, called the 
 yi}ides, which running nearly parallel to the fliore, and at a fmall 
 diftance from it, and extending themfelves immenfely liigher than 
 any other mountains upon the globe, form upon their fides and de- 
 clivities a prodigious tradl of country, where, according to the dif- 
 ferent approaches to the fummit, all kinds of climates may at all 
 feafons of the year be found. Thefe mountains, by intercepting 
 great part of the eaflern winds which generally blow over the Con- 
 tinent of South America, and by cooling that part of the air which 
 forces its way over their tops, and by keeping belides a prodigious 
 extent of the atmofphere perpetually cool, by its contiguity to the 
 fnows with which they are covered ; thefe hills, I fay, by thus ex- 
 tending the influence of their frozen crells to the neighbouring 
 coalls and feas of PcrUy are doubtlefs tlie caufe of the temperature 
 and equability which conftantly prevail there. For when we were 
 advanced beyond the equinodial, where tliefe mountains left us, 
 find had nothing to fcreen us to the eaftward, but the high lands on 
 the Ifthmus of Panama, which are but mole-hills to the Andes, wc 
 then foon found that in a fliort run we had totally changed our cli- 
 mate, paffing in two or three days from the temperate air of Peru, 
 to the fultry burning atmofphere of the Wcjl-Indics. But it is time 
 to return to our narration. 
 
 On the loth of November we were three leagues South of the 
 fouthermofl Ifland of Lobos, lying in the latitude of o" : 27 South : 
 There are two lilands of this name ; this called Lo!m de la Mar ; 
 and another, which lies to the northward of it, very much refem- 
 bling it in Ihape and appearance, and often miftaken for it, called 
 
 B b luo'ooi
 
 ( iS6 ) 
 
 Lobos de ticrra. We were now drawing near to the ftation ap- 
 pointed to the Gloucejlcr, for which reafon, fearing to inifs her, we 
 made an eafy f>il all night. The next morning, at day- break, we 
 favv a fliip in fhore, and to windward, plying up the coaft : She had 
 paffed by us with the favour of the night, and we foon perceiving 
 her not to be the G'oucefler, got our tacks on board, and gave her 
 chace; but it proving very little wind, fo that neither of us could 
 make much way, the Commodore ordered the barge, his pinnace, 
 and the Trycj/'s pinnace to be manned and armed, and to purfue the 
 chace and board her. Lieutenant Brett, who commanded the 
 barge, came up with her firft, about nine o'clock, and running 
 along fide of her, he fired a volley of fmall fhot between the marts, 
 juft over the heads of the people on board, and then inftantly en- 
 tered with the greateft part of his men ; but the enemy made no 
 refiftance, being fufficiently frightened by the dazzling of the cut- 
 laffes, and the volley they had juft received. Lieutenant Brett or- 
 dered the fails to be trimmed, and bore down to the Commodore, 
 taking up in his way the two pinnaces. When he was arrived 
 within about four miles of us he put off in the barge, bringing 
 with him a number of the prifoners, who had given him fome ma- 
 terial intelligence, which he was defirous the Commodore fliould 
 be acquainted with as foon as poffible. On his arrival we learnt, 
 that the prize was called Niiefira Senora del Carmin, of about two 
 hundred and feventy tuns burthen ; flie v^as commanded by Marcos 
 Morena, a native of Venice, and had on board forty-three mariners : 
 She was deep laden with fteel, iron, wax, pepper, cedar, plank, 
 fnuff, rofarios, European bale goods, powder blue, cinnamon, Ro- 
 mipi indulgences, and other fpecies of merchandize : And though 
 this cargoe, in our prefent circumftances, was but of little value to 
 us, yet with refpeft to the Spaniards, it was the moft confiderable 
 capture that fell into our hands in this part of the world ; for it a- 
 mounted to upwards of 400,000 dollars prime cofl at Panama. 
 This fliip was bound to Callao, and had flopped at Paita in her 
 paffage, to take in a recruit of water and provifions, and had not 
 
 left
 
 ( '8? ) 
 
 left that place above twenty-four hours, before (he fell into our 
 hands. 
 
 I have mentioned that Mr. Brett had received fome important 
 intelligence from the prifoners, which he endeavoured to acquaint 
 the Commodore with immediately. The firll perfon he received it 
 from (though upon further examination it was confirmed by the 
 other prifoners) was one John Williams an Irifjman, whom he 
 found on board the Spanilh vefTei. WilUar.n was a Papift, who 
 worked his paffage from Cadiz, and had travelled over all the Iving- 
 dom oi Mexico as a Pedlar : He pretended, that by this bufinels he 
 had got 4 or 5000 dollars; but that he was embarraffed by the 
 Priefts, who knew he had money, and was at lad ftript of all he 
 had. He was indeed at prefent all in rags, being but juft got out of 
 Paita goal, where he had been confined for fome mifdemeanor ; he 
 exprefled great joy upon feeing his countrymen, and immediately in- 
 formed them, that, a few days before, a veflel came into Paita, 
 where the Mafler of her informed the Governor, that he had been 
 chafed in the offing by a very large fliip, which from her fize, and 
 the colour of her fails, he was perfuaded muft be one of the Englijb 
 fquadron : This we then conjed:ured to have been the Glcucefier, as 
 we afterwards found it was. The Governor, upon examining tiie 
 Mailer, was fully fatisfied of his relation, and immediately fent 
 away an exprefs to Lima to acquaint the Viceroy therewith : And 
 the Royal Ofiicer refiding at Vaita, being apprehenfive of a vifit 
 from the Englijl:, was bufily employed in removing the Kin<i,'s trea- 
 fure and his own to Piura, a town within land, about fourteen leagues 
 diftant. We further learnt from our prilbners, that there was a 
 very confiderable fum of money belonging to fome Merchants at 
 Liffia, that was now lodged at theCuftom-houfe at Paita ; and tliat 
 this was intended to be fliipped on board a vcifcl, which was tl.en in 
 the port of Paila, and was preparing to fail with the utmoft ex- 
 pedition, being bound for the bay of Sonfonnate, on the coaft of 
 Mexico, in order to purchafc a part of the cargoe of the Manila 
 fliip. This velTel at Paita was eftcemed a prime lailor, and liad 
 
 B b 2 juft
 
 ( x88 ) 
 
 juft received a new coat of tallow on her bottom ; and, in the opi- 
 nion of the prifoners, flie might be able to fail the fucceeding morn- 
 ing. The charadler they gave us of this veflel, on which the mo- 
 ney was to be fliipped, left us little reafon to believe that our fliip, 
 which had been in the water near two years, could have any chance 
 of coming up with her, if we once fuftered her to efcape out of the 
 Port. And therefore, as we were now difcovered, and the coaft 
 \vould be foon alarmed, and as our cruifing in thefe parts any longer 
 would anfwcr no purpofe, the Commodore refolved to furprize the 
 place, having firft minutely informed himfelf of its flrength and 
 condition, and being fully fatisfied, that there was litde danger of 
 lofing many of our men in the attempt. This furprize of Paita, 
 belides the treafure it promifed us, and its being the only enterprize 
 it was in our pow er to undertake, had thefe other advantages attend- 
 ing it, that we fliould in all probability fupply ourfclves with great 
 quantities of live provifion, of which we were at this time in want: 
 And we (liould likewife have an opportunity of fetting our prifoners 
 on ihore, who were now very numerous, and made a greater con- 
 funiption of our food than our flock that remained was capable of 
 furnifliing long. In all thefe lights the attempt was a mofl: eligible 
 one, and' what our neceflities, our fituation, and every prudential 
 confideration, prompted us to. How it fucceeded, and how far it 
 anfwered our expeftations, {hall be the fubjedl of the following 
 chapter. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ( iS9) 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 The taking of Paita^ and our proceedings till we left 
 
 the coaft of Peru. 
 
 TH E town of Paita is fituated in the latitude of 5° : 1 2 
 South, in a moft barren foil, compofed only of fand and 
 flate : The extent of it (as may be feen in the annexed plan 
 of it) is but fmall, containing in all lefs than two hundred fami- 
 lies. The houfes ere only ground-floors ; the walls built of fplit 
 cane and mud, and the roofs thatched with leaves : Thefe edifices, 
 though extremely flight, are abundantly fufiicient for a climate, 
 where rain is confldered as a prodigy, and is not (ttn in many years : 
 So that it is faid, that a fmall quantity of rain falling in this coun- 
 try in the year 1728, it ruined a great number of buildings, which 
 mouldered away, and as it were melted before it. The inhabitants 
 of Paita are principally Indians and black flaves, or at leafl: a mixed 
 breed, the whites being very few. The port of Paita, though in 
 reality little more than a bay, is efl;eemed the befl: on that part of 
 the coafl: ; and is indeed a very fecurc and commodious anchorage. 
 It is greatly frequented by all veflels coming from the Nortii ; fince 
 it is here only that the fhips from Acapulco, Soifonnate, Reaieijo and 
 Panama, can touch and refrefli in their paffage to Cailao : And the 
 length of thefe voyages (the wind for the greatefl: part of the year 
 being full againfl; them) renders it impofiible to perform them v, ith- 
 out calling upon the coafl: for a recruit of frefli water. It is true, 
 Paita is fituated on fo parched a fpot, that it does not iifelf 
 furnifli a drop of frefli water, or any kind of greens or provifions, 
 except fifli and a few goats : But there is an Indian town called Co- 
 lany about two or three leagues diflant to the northward, from 
 whence water, maize, greens, fowls, ^c. are brought to Paita on 
 
 balia*
 
 ( I90 ) 
 
 balAs or floats, for the convenlency of the Hiips that touch here ; 
 and cattle are fometimes brought from Piura, a town which lies 
 about fourteen leagues up in the country. The water brought from 
 Colan is whitifh, and of a difagreeable appearance, but is fliid to be 
 very whollbme : For it is pretended by the inhabitants, that it runs 
 through large woods of farfaparilla, and that it is fenfibly impreg- 
 nated therewith. This port of Paita, befides furnifliing the north- 
 ern trade bound to Callao, with water and neceffaries, is the ulual 
 place where paflengers from Acapulco or Panama^ bound to Lima, 
 difembark ; for, as it is two hundred leagues from hence to Callao, 
 the port of Lima, and as the wind is generally contrary, the paffage 
 by fea is very tedious and fatiguing, but by land there is a tolerable 
 good road parallel to the coaft, with many ftations and villages 
 for the accommodation of travellers. 
 
 It appears by the plan, that the town of Paita is itfelf an open 
 place } fo that its fole proteftion and defence is the fort marked 
 (B) in the plan. It was of confequence to us to be well informed 
 of the fabrick and ftrength of this fort ; and by the examination of 
 our prifoncrs we found, that there were eight pieces of cannon 
 mounted in it, but that it had neither ditch nor outwork, being 
 only furrounded by a plain brick wall ; and that the garrifon con- 
 lifted of only one weak company, but the town itfelf might pof- 
 fibly arm three hundred men more. 
 
 IVIr. Anfon having informed himfelf of the ftrength of the place, 
 reiblved (as hath been faid in the preceding chapter) to attempt it 
 that very night. We were then about twelve leagues diflant from 
 the fliore, far enough to prevent our being difcovered ; yet not fo 
 fi\r, but that by making all the fail we could, we might arrive in : 
 the bay with our {hips in the night. However, the Commodore 
 prudently confidered, that this would be an improper method of 
 proceeding, as our llMps, being fuch large bodies, might be eafily 
 difcovered at a diftance even in the night, and might thereby alarm 
 the inhabitants, and give them an opportunity of removing their va- 
 luable effeds. He therefore, as the flrength of the place did not 
 
 require
 
 ( ^91 ) 
 
 require our whole force, refolved to attempt it with our boats only, 
 ordering the eighteen oared barge, and our own and the T/jrt/'s pin- 
 naces on that fervice ; and having picl^ed out fifty-eight men to 
 man them, well provided with arms and ammunition, he gave the 
 command of the expedition to Lieutenant Brett, and gave him his 
 necefliiry orders. And the better to prevent the difappointment and 
 confufion which might arife from the darknefs of the night, and 
 the ignorance of the flreets and pafTages of the place, two of the 
 Spanip Pilots were ordered to attend the Lieutenant, and to con- 
 ducft him to the moft convenient landing-place, and were afterwards 
 to be his guides on fhore ; and that we might have the greater fe- 
 curity for their faithful behaviour on this occafion, the Commodore 
 took care to affure all our prifoners, that, if the Pilots adled properly, 
 they fliould all of them be releafed, and fet on fliore at this place ; 
 but in cafe of any mifcondudl or treachery, he threatened them that 
 the Pilots fliould be inftantly lliot, and that he would carry all the 
 reft of the Spaniards, who were on board him, prifoners to Eng- 
 land. So that the prifoners themfelves were interefted in our fuo- 
 cefs, and therefore we had no reafon to fufpedl our Condudlors 
 either of negligence or perfidy. 
 
 And on this occafion I cannot but remark a fingular circumftance 
 of one of the Pilots employed by us in this bufinefs. It feems (as 
 we afterwards learnt) he had been taken by Captain Clipperton a- 
 bove twenty years before, and had been forced to lead Clipperton 
 and his people to the furprize of Truxilh, a town within land to 
 the fouthward of Paita, v^here however he contrived to alarm 
 his countrymen, and to fave them, though the place was taken. 
 Now that the only two attempts on fliore, which were made at fo 
 long an interval from each other, fliould be guided by the fame per- 
 fon, and he too a prifoner both times, and forced upon the employ 
 contrary to his inclination, is an incident fo very extraordinary, that 
 I could not help taking notice of it. But to return to the matter 
 in hand. 
 
 Duri 
 
 im
 
 ( 192 ) - 
 
 During our preparations, the fliips themfelves flood towards the 
 Port with all the fail thej could make, being fecure that we were 
 yet at too great a diftance to be feen. But about ten o'clock at 
 night, the fliips being then within five leagues of the place. Lieu- 
 tenant Brett, with the boats under his command, put off, and ar- 
 rived at the mouth of the bay without being difcovered j but no 
 fooner had he entered it, than fome of the people, on board a veffel 
 riding at anchor there, perceived him, who inftantly put off in their 
 boat, rowing towards the fort, fliouting and crying, the Englijh, 
 the Englifi dogs, &c. by which the whole town was fuddenly 
 alarmed, and our people foon obferved feveral lights hurrying back- 
 wards and forwards in the fort, and other marks of the inhabitants 
 being in great motion. Lieutenant Brett, on this, encouraged his 
 men to pull brifkly up to the fliore, that they might give the ene- 
 my as little time as pofTible to prepare for their defence. However, 
 before our boats could reach the fliore, the people in the fort had 
 got ready fome of their cannon, and pointed them towards the 
 landing-place ; and though in the darknefs of the night it might be 
 well fuppofed that chance had a greater fliare than fkill in their di- 
 redion, yet tlic firfl: fliot pafTed extremely near one of the boats, 
 whiftling jufl over the heads of the crew. This made our people 
 redouble their efforts ; fo that they had reached the fliore, and were 
 in part difembarked by the time the fecond gun fired. As foon as 
 our men landed, they were conduced by one of the Spamjb Pilots 
 to the entrance of a narrow ftreet, not above fifty yards diflant from 
 the beach, where they were covered from the fire of the fort ; and 
 being formed in the befl manner the thortnefs of the time would 
 allow, they immediately marched for the parade, which was a large 
 fquare at the end of this ftreet, the fort being one fide of the 
 fquare, and the Governor's houfe another, as may be feen more 
 diftindly in the plan, where likewife the road they took from their 
 landing to the fort is marked out by a prickt line. In this march 
 (though performed with tolerable regularity) the fhouts and cla- 
 mours of threefcore failors, who had been confined ib long on 
 
 fliipboard,
 
 ( '93 ) 
 
 fhipboard, and were now for the firft time on fliore in an enemy's 
 country, joyous as they always are, when they land, and animated 
 befides in the prefent cafe with the hopes of an immenfe pillage ; 
 the huzza's, I fay, of this fpirited detachment, joined with the 
 noife of their drums, and favoured by the night, had augmented 
 their numbers, in the opinion of the enemy, to at leaft three hun- 
 dred ; by which perfuafion the inhabitants were fo greatly intimida- 
 ted, that they were much more folicitous about the means of their 
 flight than of their refiftance : So that though upon entering the pa- 
 rade, our people received a volley from the Merchants who ovincd 
 the treafure then in the town, and who, with a few others, had 
 ranged themfelves in a gallery that ran round the Governor's houfe, 
 yet that port was immediately abandoned upon the firrt fire made 
 by our people, who were thereby left in quiet pofTeffion of the 
 parade. 
 
 On this fuccefs Lieutenant Brett divided his men into two par- 
 ties, ordering one of them to furround the Governor's houfe, and 
 if poffible to fecure the Governor, whilft he himfelf with the other 
 marched to the fort, with an intent to force it. But, contrary to 
 his expe<5tation, he entered it without oppofition ; for the enemy, oa 
 his approach, abandoned it, and made their efcape over the walls. 
 By this means the whole place was maftered in lefs than a quarter 
 of an hour's time from the firft landing, with no other lofs than 
 that of one man killed on the fpot, and two wounded ; one of 
 which was the SpaniJJo Pilot of the 'Terefa, who received a flight 
 bruife by a ball which grazed on his wrift : Indeed another of the 
 company, the Honourable Mr. Kepple, fon to the Earl of Alhe- 
 mark, had a very narrow efcape ; for having on a jocky cap, one 
 fide of the peak was lliaved off clofe to hi? temple by a ball, whicii 
 however did him no other injury. 
 
 And now Lieutenant Brett, after this fuccefs, placed a guard at 
 the fort, and another at the Governor's houfe, and appointed centi- 
 nels at all the avenues of the town, both to prevent any furprize 
 from the enemy, and to fecure the cffcds in the place from being 
 
 C c embezzled.
 
 ( iQi ) 
 embezzled. And this being done, his next care was to feize on. 
 the Cuftom-houfe where the trealure lay, and to examine if any of 
 the inhabitants remained in the town, that he might iinow what 
 farther precautions it was neceffary to take ; but he foon found that 
 the numbers left behind were no ways formidable : For the greateft 
 part of them (being in bed when the place was furprized) had run 
 away with fo much precipitation, that thev had not given them- 
 felves time to put on their cloaths. And in this precipitate rout the 
 Governor was not the laft to fecure himfelf, for he fled betimes 
 half naked, leaving his wife, a young Lady of about feventeen years 
 of age, to whom he had been married but three or four days, be- 
 hind him, though flie too was afterwards carried off in her fliift by 
 a couple of centinels, juft as the detachment, ordered to invert: the 
 houfe, arrived before it. This efcape of the Governor was an un- 
 pleafing circumftance, as Mr. udnfoji had particularly recommended 
 it to Lieutenant Breii to fecure his perfon, if poflible, in hopes that 
 by that means we might be able to treat for the ranfom of the 
 place : But it feems his alertnefs rendered it impoffible to feize him. 
 The few inhabitants who remained were confined in one of the 
 churches under a guard, except fome ftout Negroes which were 
 found in the place ; thefe, inftead of being fhut up, were em- 
 ployed the remaining part of the night to affifl in carrying the trea- 
 fure from the Cuftom-houfe and other places to the fort : However, 
 there was care taken that they fhould be always attended by a file of 
 mufqueteers. 
 
 The tranfporting the treafure from the Cuftom-houfe to the forr, 
 was the principal occupation of Mr, Brett's people, after he had 
 got pofTefi^ion of the place. But the (ailors, while they were tlius 
 employed, could not be prevented from entring the houfes which 
 lay near them, in fearch of private pillage. And the firft things 
 which occurred to them, being the cloaths which the SpaJiiards in 
 their flight had left behind them, and which, according to the cus- 
 tom of the country, were moft of them either embroidered or 
 laced, our people eagerly feized thefe glittering habits, and put 
 
 them
 
 ' ( 195 ^ 
 
 them on over their own dirty trovvfers and jackets, not forgetting, at 
 the lame time, the tye or bag-wig and laced hat, which were ge- 
 nerally found with the cloaths ; and when this pradlice was once 
 begun, there was no preventing the whole detachment from imi- 
 tating it : And thofe, who came latefl into the faihion, not finding 
 mens cloaths fufficicnt to equip themfelves, they were obliged to 
 take up with womens gowns and petticoats, which (provided there 
 was finery enough) they made no fcruple of putting on, and 
 blending with their own greafy drefs. So that when a party of 
 them thus ridiculoufly metamorphifed firfl appeared before Mr. 
 Brett, he was extreamly furprized at their appearance, and could 
 not immediately be iatisfled they were his own people. 
 
 Thefe were the tranfaftions of our detachment on fhore at Paita 
 the firfl night. And now to return to what was done on board the 
 Centurion in that interval. I mufl obferve, that after the boats were 
 gone off, we lay by till one o'clock in the morning, and then fup- 
 pofing our detachment to be near landing, we made an eafy fail for 
 the bay. About feven in the morning we began to open the bay, 
 and foon after we had a view of the town ; and though we had no 
 realbn to doubt of the fuccefs of the enterprize, yet it was with 
 great joy that we firft difcovered an infallible fignal of the certainty 
 of our hopes ; this was by means of our perfpedives, for through 
 them we faw an EngliJJd flag hoifted on the fiag-flaflf of the fort, 
 which to us was an inconteftable proof that our people had got 
 pofleflion of the town. We plied into the bay with as much ex- 
 pedition as the wind, which then blew off fliore, would permit us : 
 And at eleven, the Trj^/'s .boat came on board us, loaden with 
 dollars and church- plate ; and the officer who commanded her in- 
 formed us of the preceding night's tranfadions, fuch as we have al- 
 ready related them. About two in the afternoon we came to an 
 anchor in ten fathom and a half, atr a mile and a half dillance from 
 the town, and were confequently near enough to have a more im- 
 mediate intercourfe with thofe on fliore. And now we found that 
 Mr. Brett had hitherto gone on in colleding and removing the 
 
 C c 2 treafure
 
 ( 19^ ) 
 treafurc without interruption ; but that tlic enemy had rcndezvoufed 
 from all partb ol' the country on a hill, at the back of the town, 
 where they made no inconfiderable appearance : For amongft the 
 veft of their force, tliere were two hundred horfe feemingly very 
 w ell armedj and mounted, and, as we conceived, properly trained and 
 regimented, being furnilhed with trumpets, drums and itandards. 
 Thefe troops paraded about the liill with great oftentation, founding 
 their military mufick, and pradifing every art to intimidate us, (as 
 our numbers on fhore were by this time not unknown to them) in 
 hopes that we might be induced by our fears to abandon the place 
 before the pillage was compleated. But we were not fo ignorant as 
 to believe, that this body of horfe, which feemed to be what the 
 enemy principally depended on, would dare to venture in ftreets 
 and amongft houfes, even had their numbers been three times as 
 great ; and therefore, notwithftanding their menaces, we went on, 
 as long as the day- light lafted, calmly, in fending off the treafure, 
 and in employing the boats to carry on board the refrefliments, fuch 
 as hogs, fowls, &c. which we found here in great abundance. But 
 at night, to prevent any furprize, the Commodore fent on Ihore a 
 reinforcement, who pofted themfelves in all the ftreets, leading to 
 the parade ; and for their greater fecurity, they traverfed the ftreets 
 with barricadoes fix feet high : And the enemy continuing quiet all 
 night, we, at day-break, returned again to our labour of load- 
 ing the boats, and fending them oft; 
 
 By this time we were convinced of what confequence it would 
 have been to us, had fortune feconded the prudent views of the 
 Commodore, by permitting us to have fecured the Governor. For 
 we found in the place many ftore-houfes full of valuable effedls, 
 which were ufelefs to us at prefent, and fuch as we could not find 
 room for on board. But had the Governor been in our power, he 
 would, in all probability, have treated for a ranfom, which would 
 have been extremely advantageous both to him and us : Whereas, 
 he being now at liberty, and having colleded all the force of the 
 country for many leagues round, and having even got a body of mi- 
 litia
 
 ( '97 ) 
 liria from Piura, which was fourteen leagues di/lant, he was fo 
 elated with his numbers, and fo fond of his new military command, 
 that he feemed not to trouble himfelf about the fate of his Govern- 
 ment. So that though Mr. y^nfcn fent feveral meflages to him by 
 the inhabitants, who were in our power, defiring him to enter into 
 a treaty for the ranfom of the town and goods, giving him, at 
 the fame time, an intimation that he fliould be for from infifting 
 on a rigorous equivalent, but perhaps might be fatisfied with fome 
 live cattle, and a few necelTaries for the ufe of the fquadron, and af- 
 furing him too, that if he would not condefcend at leaft to treat, 
 he would fet fire to the town, and all the warehoufes : Yet the Go- 
 vernor was fo imprudent and arrogant, that he defpifed all thefe 
 reiterated applications, and did not deign even to return the leaft 
 anfwer to them. 
 
 On the fecond day of our being in pofleffion of the place, feve- 
 ral Negro Haves deferted from tlic enemy on the hill, and coming 
 into the town, voluntarily entered into our fervice ; One of thefc 
 was well known to a Gentleman on board, who remembered him 
 formerly at Panama, And the Spaniards without the town being 
 in extreme want of water, many of their flaves crept into the place 
 by ftealth, and carried away feveral jars of water to their matters on 
 the hill J and though fome of them were feized by our men in the 
 attempt, yet the thirft amongft the enemy was fo preffing, that 
 they continued this pradice till we left the place. And now, on 
 this fecond day we were affured, both by the deferters and by thefe 
 prifoners we took, that the Spaniards on the hill, who were by this 
 time encreafed to a formidable number, had rcfolved to florm the 
 town and fort the fucceeding night ; and that one Gordon, a Scotch 
 Papift, and Captain of a fhip in thofe feas, was to have the com- 
 mand of this enterprize. But we, notvvithitanding, continued fend- 
 ing off our boats, and profecuted our work without the leaft hur- 
 ry or precipitation till the evening ; and then a reinforcement was 
 again fent on fhore by the Commodore, and Lieutenant Brett 
 <ioubled his guards at each of the barricadoes ; and our pofts being 
 
 conneded
 
 ( 198 ) 
 
 conneded by the means of centinels placed widiin call of each 
 other, and the whole being vifited by frequent rounds, attended 
 with a drum, thefe marks of our vigilance which the enemy could 
 not be ignorant of, as they could doubtlefs hear the drum, if not 
 the calls of the centinels; thefe marks, I fay, of our vigilance, and 
 of our readinefs to receive them, cooled their refolution, and made 
 them forget the vaunts of the preceding day; fo that we pafTed 
 this fecond night with as little moleftation as we had done the firft. 
 We had finiftied fending the treafure on board the Centurion the 
 evening before ; fo that the third morning, being the 15 th of No- 
 vember, the boats were employed in carrying off the moit valuable 
 part of the effedls that raiiained in the town. And the Commo- 
 dore iAtending to fail this day, he, about ten o'clock, purfuant to 
 his promife, fent all his prifoners, amounting to eighty-eight, on 
 (liore, giving orders to Lieutenant Brett to fecure them in one of 
 the churches under a flrid; guard, till he was ready to embark his 
 men. Mr. Brett vias at the fame time ordered to fet the whole 
 town on fire, except the two churches (which by good fortune 
 flood at feme diftance from the other houfes) and then he was to 
 abandon the place, and to come on board. Thefe orders were 
 pundlually complied with ; for Mr. Brett immediately fet his men 
 to work, to diftributc pitch, tar, and other combuftibles (of which 
 great quantities were found here) into houfes fituated in different 
 flreets of the tov/n, fo that, the place being fired in many quarters 
 at the fame time, the deftrudlion might be more violent and fud- 
 den, and the enemy, after our departure, might not be able to ex- 
 tinguifli it. Thefe preparations being made, he, in the next place, 
 ordered the cannon, which he found in the fort, to be nailed up ; 
 and then fetting fire to thofe houles which were mofl to windward, 
 he collected his men, and marched towards the beach, where the 
 boats waited to carry them oft And the part of the beach where 
 he intended to embark being an open place without the town, near 
 where the churches are marked in the foregoing plan, the Spaniards 
 oji the hill perceiving he was retreating, refolved to try if they 
 
 could
 
 ( ^99 ) 
 could not precipitate his departure, and thereby lay feme foundation 
 for their future boafting. And for this purpofe a fmall fquadron of 
 their horfe, confifling of about lixty, picked out, as I fuppofe, for 
 this fervice, marched down the hill with much feeming refolution j 
 fo that, had we not been prepoffeffed with a jufter opinion of their 
 prowefs, we might have fufpedled, that now we were on the open 
 beach with no advantage of fituation, they would certainly have 
 charged us : But we prefumed (and we were not miftaken) that this 
 was mere oftentation. For, notwithftanding the pomp and parade 
 they advanced with, Mr. Brett had no fooner ordered his men to 
 halt and face about, but the enemy flopped their career, and never 
 dared to advance a ftep further. 
 
 When our people were arrived at their boats, and were ready to 
 go on board, they were for fome time delayed, by miffing one of 
 their number ; but being unable, by their mutual enquiries amongft: 
 each other, to inform themfelves where he was left, or by what ac- 
 cident he was detained, they, after a confiderable delay, refolved to 
 get into their boats, and to put off without him. And the laft 
 man was aftually embarked, and the boats juft putting oft^ when 
 they heard him calling to them to take him in. The town was by 
 this time fo thoroughly on fire, and the fmoke covered the beach fo 
 effedlually, that they could fcarcely fee him, though they heard his 
 voice. The Lieutenant inftantly ordered one of the boats to his 
 Felief, who found him up to the chin in water, for he had waded 
 as far as he durft, being extremely frightned with the apprehenfions 
 of fulling into the hands of an enemy, enraged, as they doubtlefs 
 were, with the pillage and deftrufticn of their town. On enqui- 
 ring into the caufe of his flaying behind, it was found that he had 
 taken that morning too large a dofe of brandy, which had thrown 
 him into fo found a flcep, that he did not awake till the fire came 
 near enough to fcorch him. He was ftrangely amazed on firft 
 ooening his eyes, to fee the place all in a blaze on one fide, and 
 feveral Spqniards and hidians not far from him on the other. The 
 greatnefs and fuddennefs of his fright inftantty reduced him to a fiate 
 
 of
 
 # 
 
 ( 200 ) 
 
 of ibbriety, and gave hitn fufficlent prefence of mind to pufli thro* 
 the thickeft of the fmoke, as the Hkeheft means to efcape the ene- 
 my J and making the beft of his way to the beach, he ran as 
 far into the water as he durft, (for he could not fwim) before he 
 ventured to look back. 
 
 And here I cannot but obferve, to the honour of our people, 
 that though there were great quantities of wine and fpirituous li- 
 quors found in the place, yet this man was the only one who was 
 known to have fo far negledled his duty, as to get drunk. Indeed, 
 their whole behaviour, while they were on fhore, was much more 
 regular than could well have been expeded from failors, who had 
 been (o long confined to a {hip : And though part of this prudent 
 demeanor muft doubtlefs be imputed to the diligence of their 
 Officers, and to the excellent dilcipline to which they had been 
 long inured on board the Commodore, yet it was doubtlefs no fmall 
 reputation to the men, that they fliould in general refrain from in- 
 dulging themfelves in thofe intoxicating liquors, which they found 
 ready to their hands in almoil: every warehoufe. 
 
 And having mentioned this fingle inftance of drunkennefs, I 
 cannot pafs by another overfight, which was likewife the only one 
 of its kind, and which was attended with very particular circum- 
 ftances. There was an Rnglijl.man^ who had formerly wrought as 
 a (liip-carpenter in the yard at Portfnmith, but leaving his country, 
 had afterwards entered into the SpaniJJj fcrvice, and was employed 
 by them at the port of Guaiaqtiil ; and it being well known to his 
 friends in England that he was then in that part of the world, they 
 put letters on board the Centurion, directed to him. This man be- 
 in"' dien by accident amongft the Spaniards, who were retired to 
 the hill at Paita, he was defirous (as it fliould feem) of acquiring 
 fome reputation amongft his new Mafters. With this view he 
 came down unarmed to a centinel of ours, who was placed at fome 
 diftance from the fort towards the enemy, and pretended to be de- 
 firous of furrendring himfelf, and of entering into our fervice. 
 Olir centinel had a cock'd piftol, but being deceived by the other's 
 
 fair
 
 ( 201 ) 
 
 fair fpeeches, he was fo imprudent as to let him approach much 
 nearer than he ought ; fo that the Shipwright, watching his opportu- 
 nity, ruflied on the centinal, and feizing his piftol, wrenched it out 
 of his hand, and inftantly ran away with it up the hill. By this 
 time, two of our people, who feeing the fellow advance had fuf- 
 pedted his intention, were making towards him, and were thereby 
 prepared to purfue him ; but he got to the top of the hill before 
 they could reach him, and then turning about fired the piftol j at 
 which inftant his purfuers fired at him, and though he was at a 
 great diftance, and the creft of the hill hid him as foon as they 
 had fired, fo that they took it for granted they had miffed him, yet 
 we afterwards learnt that he was {hot through the body, and 
 had fallen down dead the very next ftep he took after he was out 
 of fight. The centinel too, who had been thus groflly impofed 
 upon, did not cfcape unpuniflied ; for he was ordered to be fevere- 
 ly whipt for being thus fl:iamefully furprized upon his port, and for 
 liaving given an example of carelefihefs, which, if followed in 
 other inftances, might prove fatal to us all. But to return : 
 
 By the time our people had taken their comrade out of the water 
 and were making the beft of their way for the fquadron, the flames 
 had taken poffeffion of every part of the town, and had got fuch 
 hold, both by means of combuftibles that had been diftributed for 
 that purpofe, and by the flightnefs of the materials of which the 
 houfes were compofed, and their aptitude to take fire, that it 
 was fufficiently apparent, no efforts of the enemy (though they 
 flocked down in great numbers) could poflibly put a flop to it, or 
 prevent the entire dcftrudlion of the place, and all the merchandize 
 contained therein. A whole town on fire at once, efpecially a place 
 that burnt with fuch facility and violence, being a very fin^ular 
 fpec^acle, iMr. Brett had the curicfity to delineate its appearance 
 together with that of the (hips in the harbour, which may be feen 
 in the annexed plate. 
 
 D d Our
 
 ( 202 ) 
 
 Our detachment under Lieutenant Brett having fafely joined the 
 fquadron, the Commodore prepared to leave the place the fame 
 evening. He found, when he firft came into the bay, fix veffels 
 of the enemy at anchor ; one of which was the fhip, which, ac- 
 cording to our intelligence, was to have failed with the treafure to 
 the coaft of Mexico^ and which, as we were perfuaded fhe was a 
 good failor, we refolved to take with us : The others were two 
 Snows, a Bark, and two Row-gallies of thirty- fix oars a-piece : 
 Thefe laft, as we were afterwards informed, with many others of 
 the fame kind built at different ports, were intended to prevent our 
 landing in the neighbourhood of Callao : For the Spaniards, on 
 the firft intelligence of our fquadron and its force, expected that 
 we would attempt the city of Lima. The Commodore, having no 
 occafion for thefe other veffels, had ordered the mafts of all five of 
 them to be cut away on his firft arrival ; and now, at his leaving 
 the place, they were towed out of the harbour, and fcuttled and 
 funk J and the command of the remaining iliip, called the Soli- 
 dad, being given to Mr. Hughs the Lieutenant of the Tryal^ who 
 had with him a crew of ten men to navigate her, the fquadron, 
 towards midnight, weighed anchor, and failed out of the bay, 
 bein? now augmented to fix fail, that is, the CeJiturion and the Tryal 
 Prize, together with the Carmelo, the T^ereja, the Cartnin, and our 
 laft acquired vefTel the Solidad. 
 
 And now, before I entirely quit the account of our tranfadions 
 at this place, it may not perhaps be improper to give a fuccindl re- 
 lation of the booty we made here, and of the lofs the Spaniards 
 fuftained. I have before obferved, that there were great quantities 
 of valuable effeds in the town ; but as the greateft part of them 
 were what we could neither dilpofe of nor carry away, the total 
 amount of this merchandize can only be rudely gueffed at. But 
 the Spa?iiards, in the repreientations they made to the Court of 
 Madrid, (as we were afterwards aflTured) eftimated their whole lofs 
 at a million and a half of dollars : And when it is confidered, that no . 
 . fmall part of the goods we burnt there were of the richeft and moft 
 
 cxpenfive
 
 ( 203 ) 
 
 expenfive fpecies, as broad-cloaths, filks, cambrics, velvets, C^c. I 
 cannot but think their valuation fufficiently moderate. As to our 
 parts, our acquilition, though inconfiderable in compariibn of what 
 we deftroyed, was yet in itfelf far from defpicable ; for the wrought 
 plate dollars and other coin which fell into our hands amounted to 
 Upwards of 30,000/. fterling, befides feveral rings, bracelets, and 
 jewels, whofe intrinlick value we could not then determine ; and 
 over and above all this, the plunder, which became the property of 
 the immediate captors, was very great ; fo that upon the whole it 
 was by much the moft important booty we made upon that coaft. 
 There remains, before I take leave of this place, another particu- 
 larity to be mentioned, which, on account of the great honour 
 which our national character in thofe parts has thence received, and 
 the reputation which our Commodore in particular has thereby ac- 
 quired, merits a difi:in<fl and circumftantial difcuflion. It has been 
 already related, that all the prifoners taken by us in our precedinp- 
 prizes were put on fliore, and difcharged at this place ) amongft 
 which, there were fome perfons of confiderable diftindlion, particu- 
 larly a youth of about feventeen years of age, fon of the Vice-Prc- 
 fident of the Council of Cbili. As the barbarity of the Buccaneers 
 and the artful ufe the Ecclefiafticks had made of it, had filled the 
 natives of thofe countries with the moft terrible ideas of the Efi?- 
 lijh cruelty, we always found our prifoners, at their firft coming 
 on board us, to be extremely dejedted, and under great horror and 
 anxiety. In particular this youth, whom I laft mentioned, havin'^- 
 never been from home before, lamented his captivity in the moft 
 moving manner, regretting, in very plaintive terms, his parents, 
 his brothers, his fifters, and his native country ; of all which 
 he was fully perfuaded he had taken his laft farewel, believing that 
 he was now devoted, for the remaining part of his life, to an ab- 
 jedl and cruel fervitude ; nor was he fingular in his fears, for his 
 companions on board, and indeed all the Spaniards that came into 
 our power, had the fame, defponding opinion of their fituation. 
 Mr. An/on conftantly exerted his uinioft endeavours to eiface thefe 
 
 D d 2 inhuman
 
 ( 204 ) 
 
 inhuman impreflions they had received of us j always taking care, 
 that as many of the principal people among them as there was room 
 for fliould dine at his table by turns j and giving the ftrideft or- 
 ders too, that they fliould at all times, and in every circumftance, be 
 treated with the utmoft decency and humanity. But notwithftand- 
 ing this precaution, it was generally obferved, that for the firft day 
 or two they did not quit their fears, but fufpedled the gentlenefs of 
 their ufage to be only preparatory to fome unthought of calamity. 
 However, being confirmed by time, they grew perfedlly eafy in 
 their fituation and remarkably chearful, fo that it was often difpu- 
 table, whether or no they confidered their being detained by us 
 as a misfortune. For the youth I have above-mentioned, who was 
 near two months on board us, had at laft fo far conquered his me- 
 lancholy furmifes, and had taken fuch an affedlion to Mr. ylnfon, and 
 feemed fo much pleafed with the manner of life, totally different 
 from all he had ever feen before, that it is doubtful to me whe- 
 ther, if his own opinion had been taken, he would not have pre- 
 ferred a voyage to England in the Centurion, to the being fet on 
 {hore at Paita, where he was at liberty to return to his country and 
 his friends. 
 
 This condudt of the Commodore to his prifoners, which was 
 continued without interruption or deviation, gave them all the 
 higheft idea of his humanity and benevolence, and induced them 
 likewife (as mankind are fond of forming general opinions) to en- 
 tertain very favourable thoughts of the whole Englifi Nation. But 
 whatever they might be difpofed to think of Mr. yinfon before the 
 taking of the Terefa, their veneration for him was prodigioufly in- 
 creafed by his conduft towards thofe women, whom (as I have al- 
 ready mentioned) he took in that veflel : For the leaving them in 
 the poffeffion of their apartments, the ftridt orders given to pre- 
 vent all his people on board from approaching them, and the per- 
 mitting the Pilot to ftay with them as their guardian, were mea- 
 fures that feemed fo different from what might be expedled from an 
 enemy and an heretick, that the Spaniards on board, though thev 
 
 had
 
 ( 205 ) 
 
 had themfelves expcncnceJ his beneficence, were furprized at this 
 new inftance of it, and the more lb, as all this was done without 
 his ever having feen the women, though the two daughters were 
 both efteemed handfome, and the youngeft was celebrated for her 
 uncommon beauty. The women themfelves too were fo fenfible of 
 the obligations they owed him, for the care and attention with 
 which he had protedled them, that they abfolutely refufed to go 
 on fhore at Paifa, till they had been permitted to wait on him on 
 board the Centurion^ to return him thanks in perfon. Indeed, all 
 the prifoners left us with the ftrongeft afllirances of their grateful 
 remembrance of his uncommon treatment. A Jefuit in particular, 
 whom the Commodore had taken, and who was an Ecclefiaftick of 
 fome diftindlion, could not help exprefling himfelf with great 
 thankfulnefs for the civilities he and his countrymen had found on 
 board, declaring, that he fhould confider it as his duty to do Mr. 
 Anfon juftice at all times ; adding, that his ufage of the men pri- 
 foners was fuch as could never be forgot, and fuch as he could ne- 
 ver fail to acknowledge and recite upon all occafions : But that his 
 behaviour to the women was fo extraordinary, and fo extremely ho- 
 nourable, that he doubted all the regard due to his own ecclefiafti- 
 cal charadter, would be fcarcely fufficient to render it credible. And 
 indeed we were afterwards informed, that both he and the reft of 
 our prifoners had not been filent on this head, but had, both at Litna 
 and at other places, given the greatefl encomiums to our Commo- 
 dore; the Jefuit in particular, as we were told, having, on his ac- 
 count, interpreted in a lax and hypothetical fenfe that article of his 
 Church, which afferts the impofubility of hereticks being faved. 
 
 And let it not be imagined, that the impreffions wliich the Spa- 
 niards hence received to our advantage, is a matter of fmall import; 
 for, not to mention feveral of our countrymen who have already 
 felt the good eftefts of thefe prepofleflions, the Spaniards are a Na- 
 tion, whofe good opinion of us is doubtlefs of m»ore confequencc 
 than that of all the world befides : Not only as the commerce wc 
 have formerly carried on with them, and perhaps may again here- 
 after.
 
 ( 206 ) 
 
 after, is (o extremely valuable ; but alfo as the tranfading it does fo 
 immediately depend on the honour and good faith of thofe who 
 are entrufted with its management. But however, had no national 
 conveniencies attended it, the Commodore's equity and good tem- 
 per would not lefs have deterred him from all tyranny and cruelty to 
 thofe, whom the fortune of war had put into his hands. I fliall only 
 add, that by his conftant attachment to thefe humane and prudent 
 maxims, he has acquired a diftinguifhed reputation amongft the 
 Creolian Spaniards^ which is not confined merely to the coaft of the 
 South-Seas, but is extended through all the Spatji/I? fettlements in 
 America -, fo that his name is frequendy to be met with in the mouths 
 of moft of the Spatii/]} inhabitants of that prodigious Empire. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ( 207 ) 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 From our departure from Paiia, to our arrival at 
 
 WH E N we got under fail from the road of Paita^ (which, 
 as I have already obferved, was about midnight, on the 
 1 6th of November) we flood to the weftward, and in 
 the morning the Commodore gave orders, that the whole fquadron 
 fliould fpread themfelves, in order to look out for the Gloucefler. 
 For we now drew near to the ftation where Captain Mitchel had been 
 diredled to cruife, and hourly expeded to get fight of him j but 
 the whole day pafled without feeing him. 
 
 And now a jealoufy, which had taken its rife at Paita^ between 
 thofe who had been ordered on fhore for the attack, and thofe who 
 had continued on board, grew to fuch a height, tnat the Commo- 
 dore, being made acquainted with it, thought it necefliiry to in- 
 terpofe his authority to appeafe it. The ground of this animofity 
 was the plunder gotten at Paita, which thofe who had adled on 
 fhore had appropriated to themfelves, and confidered it as a reward 
 for the rifques they had run, and the refolution they had fliown in 
 that fervice. But thofe, who had remained on board, confidered 
 this as a very partial and unjuft procedure, urging, that had it been 
 left to their choice, they fhould have preferred the acting on (liore 
 to the continuing on board ; that their duty, while their comrade* 
 were on fhore, was extremely fatiguing ; for befides the labour of 
 the day, they were conflantly under arms all night to fecure the 
 prifoners, whofe numbers exceeded their own, and of whom it 
 was then necefTary to be extremely watchful, to prevent any attempts 
 they might have formed in that critical conjundture : That upon the 
 whole it could not be denied, but that the prefence of a fufficient 
 
 force
 
 ( 208 ) 
 
 force on board was as neceflary to the fuccefs of the enterprize, as 
 the adion of. the others on fliore, and therefore thofe who had 
 continued on board infifted, that they could not be deprived of 
 their fliare of the plunder, without manifefl injuftice. Thefe were 
 the contefts amongft our men, which were carried on with great 
 heat on both fides : And though the plunder in queflion was a very 
 trifle, in comparifon of the treafure taken in tlie place, (in which 
 there was no doubt but thofe on board h::d an equal right) 
 yet as the obflinacy of failors is not always regulated by the impor- 
 tance of the matter in difpute, the Commodore thought it necefla- 
 ry to put a flop to this ferment betimes. And accordingly, the 
 morning after our leaving of Paita, he ordered all hands upon the 
 quarter-deck J where, addreffing himfelf to thofe who had been 
 detached on fhore, he commended their behavionr, and thanked 
 them for their fervices on that occafion : But tlien reprefenting to 
 them the reafons urged, by thofe who had continued on board, for 
 an equal diftribution of the plunder, he told them, that he thought 
 ihefe reafons vesy conclufive, and that the expedlations of their 
 comrades were juflly founded ; and therefore he ordered, that not 
 only the men, but all the officers likewife, who had been employ- 
 ed in taking the place, fliould produce the whole of their plunder 
 immediately upon the quarter-deck ; and that it fnould be impar- 
 tially divided amongft the whole crew, in proportion to each man's 
 rank and commiffion : And to prevent thofe who had been in pof- 
 feflion of the plunder from murmuring at this diminution of their 
 (hare, the Commodore added, that as an encouragement to others 
 who mi^ht be hereafter employed on like fervices, he would give 
 his entire lliare to be diftributed amongft thofe who had been de- 
 tached for the attack of the place. Thus this troublefomc affair, 
 which if permitted to have gone on, might perhaps have been at- 
 tended with mifchievous confequences, was by the Commodore's 
 prudence foon appeafed, to the general flitisfadion of the ftiip's 
 company : Not but there were feme few, whofe felfifh difpofitions 
 were uninfluenced by the jnftice of this procedure, and who were 
 
 incapable
 
 ( 209 ) 
 
 incapable of dilcerning the force of equity, however glaring, when 
 it tended to deprive them of any part of what they had once got 
 into their hands. 
 
 This important bufinefs employed the beft part of the day, after 
 we came from Paita. And now, at night, having no fight of the 
 Gloucejier, the Commodore ordered the fquadron to bring to, that 
 we might not pafs her in the dark. The next morning we again 
 looked out for her, and at ten we faw a fail, to which we gave chace; 
 and at two in the afternoon we came near enough to her to difcover 
 her to be the Ghucefter, with a fmall vefiel in tow. About an 
 hour after, we were joined by them ; and then we learnt that Cap- 
 tain Mitchel, in the whole time of his cruife, had only taken two 
 prizes ; one of them being a fmall Snow, whofe cargoe confifted 
 chiefly of wine, brandy, and olives in jars, with about 7000 /. in 
 fpecie ; and the other a large boat or launch, which the GlouceJIer's 
 barge came up with near the fliore. The prifoners on board this 
 veflel alledgcd, that they were very poor, and that their loading 
 confiftcd only of cotton ; though the circumflances in which the 
 barge furprized them, feemed to infinuate that they were more 
 opulent than they pretended to be ; for the Gloucejicr's people found 
 them at dinner upon pidgeon-pye, ferved up in filver diOies, How- 
 ever, the Officer who commanded the barge having opened feve- 
 ral of the jars on board, to fatisfy his curiofity, and finding nothin" 
 in them but cotton, he was inclined to believe the account the pri- 
 foners gave him : But the cargoe being taken into the Gloiice/icr 
 and there examined more fin'dtly, they were agreeably furprized to 
 find, that the whole was a very extraordinary piece of falfe pack- 
 age ; and that there was concealed amongfi: the cotton, in every jar 
 a confiderable quantity of double doubloons and dollars, to the 
 amount in the whole of near 12,000/. This treafure was o-oino- 
 to Paitaj'^nd belonged to the fame Merchants who were the pro- 
 prietors of the greateft part of the money we had taken there ; fo 
 that had this boat efcaped the G/ouce/kr, it is probable her cargoe 
 would have fallen into our hands. Befides thefe iv/o prizes which 
 
 E e we
 
 ( 2I,G ) 
 
 we have mentioned, the Gloucejler's, people told us, that they had 
 been in fight of two or three other lliips of the enemy which had 
 efcaped them ; and one of them we had reafon to believe, from 
 fome of our intelligence, was of an immenfe value. 
 
 Being now joined by the Gloiicejier and her prize, it was refolved 
 that we fliould ftand to the northward, and make the beft of our 
 way either to Cape St. Lucas on California, or to Cape Corieiites on 
 the coaft of Mexico. Indeed the Commodore, vv'hen at Juan Fer- 
 nandes, had determined with himfelf to touch in the neighbour- 
 hood of Panama, and to endeavour to get feme correfpondence 
 over land with the fleet under the command of Admiral Vernon. 
 For when we departed from England, we left a large force at Portf- 
 7noutb, which was intended to be fent to the ll'^eji-lndies, there to 
 be employed in an expedition againft fome of the Spanifj fettle- 
 ments. And Mr. Anfon taking it for granted, that this enterprize 
 had fucceeded, and that Porto Bcllo perhaps might be then gar- 
 rifoned by BritiJJ:) troops, he hoped, that on his arrival at the 
 Ifthmiis, he {hould eafily procure an intercourfe with our country- 
 men on the other fide, cither by the Indians, who were greatly 
 difpofed in our favour, or even by the Spaniards themfelves, fome 
 of whom, for proper rewards, might be induced to carry on this 
 intellioence, wliich, after it was once begun, might be continued 
 with very little difficulty ; (o that Mr. Atifon flattered himfelf, that 
 he might by this means have received a reinforcement of men from 
 the other fide, and that by fettling a prudent plan of operations with 
 our Commanders in the (Feji-Indies, he might have taken even Pa- 
 nama itfelf ; which would have given to the Britijh Nation the pof- 
 feflion of that IJihmus, whereby we fliould have been in efi-'edl 
 maflers of all the treafures of Perit^ and {hould have had in our 
 hands an equivalent for any demands, however extraordinary, which 
 we mitfht have been induced to have made on either of fJie branch- 
 es of the Houfe of Bourbon. 
 
 Such were the proieds which the Commodore revolved in his 
 thoughts at the Ifland of Juan Fernandes, notwithftanding the 
 
 f&ebla
 
 ( 211 ) 
 
 feeble condition to which he was then reduced. And indeed, had 
 the fuccefs of our force in the IVeft-Indics been anfvverable to the 
 general expedtation, it cannot be denied but thefe views would have 
 been the moft prudent that could have been thought of. But in 
 examining the papers which v.ere found on board the Cannclo, the 
 firft prize we took, we learnt (though I then omitted to mention it) 
 that our attempt againfl Carthagejia had fiiiled, and that there was 
 jio probability that our fleet, in that part of the world, would en- 
 gage in any new enterprize, that would at all facilitate this plan. 
 And therefore Mr. Anjon gave over all hopes of being reinforced 
 a-crofs the Ijihmus, and confequenily had no inducement at prefent 
 to proceed to Panama, as lie was incapable of attacking the place ; 
 and there was great reafon to believe, that by this time there was a 
 general embargo on all the coaft. 
 
 The only feafible meafure then which was left us, was to cret as 
 foon as poffible to the fouthern parts of California, or to the ad- 
 jacent coaft of Mexico, there to cruife for the Manila Galeon, which 
 we knew was now at fea, bound to the port of Acapulco. And we 
 doubted not to get on that ftation, time enough to intercept her 5 
 for this fhip does not adlually arrive at Acapulco till towards the mid- 
 dle of January^ and we were now but in the middle of Ncvem- 
 ber, and did not conceive that our paflage thither would coft us 
 above a month or five weeks ; fo that we imagined, we had 
 near twice as much time as was neceflary for our purpofe. Indeed 
 there was a bufinefs which we forefaw would occafion fome delay 
 but we flattered ourfelves that it would be difpatched in four or five 
 days, and therefore could not interrupt our projedl. This was the 
 recruiting of our water ; for the number of prifoners we had enter- 
 tained on board, fince our leaving the Ifland of Fernajides, had fo 
 far exhaufted our ftock, that it was impoflible to think of ven- 
 turing upon this paflage to the coaft of Mexico, till ue had pro- 
 cured a frefli fupply ; efpecially as at Paita, where we had fome 
 hopes of getting a quantity, we did not find enough for our con- 
 fumption during the time we ftayed there. It was for fome time 
 
 E e 2 a mat-
 
 ( 212 ) 
 
 a matter of deliberation, where we fliould take In this neceflary ar- 
 ticle; but by confulting the accounts of former Navigators, and 
 examining our prifoners, we at laft refolved for the Ifland o£ ^il>o, 
 fituatcd at the mouth of the bay of Fanama : Nor was it but on 
 good grounds that the Commodore conceived this to be the pro- 
 pereft place for watering the fquadron. Indeed, there was a fmall 
 llland called Cocos, which was lefs out of our way than ^dbo, 
 where fome of the Buccaneers have pretended they found water 5 
 but none of our prifoners knew any thing of it, and it was thought 
 too hazardous to rifque the fafety of the fquadron, and expofe our- 
 felves to the hazard of not meeting with water when we came there,. 
 en the mere authority of thefe legendary writers, of vvhofe mifrepre- 
 fcntations and falfities we had almofl daily experience. Befides, by 
 o-Qing to ^iibo we were not without hopes that fome of the enemies 
 ihips bound to or from Panama might fall into our hands, particularly 
 fuch of them as were put to fea, before they had any intelligence of 
 our fquadron. 
 
 Having determined therefore to go to ^dbo, we diredled our 
 courfe to the northward, being eight fail in company, and confe- 
 quently having the appearance of a very formidable fleet ; and on. 
 the 19th, at day- break, we difcovered Cape Blanco^ bearing 
 S. S. E. 4- E, feven miles diftant. This Cape lies in the latitude of 
 4° : 15' South, and is always made by fliips bound either to wind- 
 ward or to leeward ; fo that off this Cape is a moft excellent flation 
 to cruife upon the enemy. By this time we found that our laft 
 prize, the Solidad was far from anfwering the charafter given her 
 of a good fallor ; and fhe and the Santa Terefa delaying us confide- 
 rably, the Commodore ordered them both to be cleared of every 
 thinT that might prove ufeful to the reft of the (hips, and then to 
 be burnt ; and having given proper inftrudions, and a rendezvous 
 to the Ghiicejier and the other prizes, we proceeded in our courfe 
 for ^ibo; and, on the 2 2d in the morning, faw the Ifland of 
 Plata, bearing Eaft, diftant four leagues. Here one of our prizes 
 was ordered to ftand clofe in with it, botli to difcover if there 
 
 werfr
 
 ( 213 ) 
 
 Vs'ere any fliips between that Ifland and the Continent, and likewlfe 
 to look out for a flream of frefli water, which was reported to be 
 there, and which would have faved us the trouble of going to 
 Sluibo ; but fhe returned without having feen any fliip, or finding 
 any water. At three in the afternoon point Mauta bore S. E. by 
 E. feven miles diftant ; and there being a town of the fame name 
 in the neighbourhood, Captain Mitchel took this opportunity of 
 fending away feveral of his prifoners from the Ghucejlcr in the 
 SpaniJJj launch. The boats were now daily employed in diftri- 
 buting provifions on board the Try^/ and other prizes, to compleat 
 their ftock for fix months : And that the Centurion might be the 
 better prepared to give the Manila jfhip (one of which we were 
 told was of an immenfe fize) a warm reception, the Carpenters 
 were ordered to fix eight (locks in the main and fore-tops, which 
 were properly fitted for the mounting of fwivel guns. 
 
 On the 25th we had a fight of the Ifland of Gdlo^ bearing 
 E. S. E. i- E, four leagues difiant ; and from hence we crofied the 
 bay of Patiama with a N. W. courfe, hoping that this would Jiave 
 carried us in a diredt line to the Ifland of ^libo. But we after- 
 wards found that we ought to have ftood more to the weftward ; for 
 the winds in a fliort time began to incline to that quarter, and made 
 it difficult for us to gain the Ifland. And now, after pafilng the 
 equinodial, (which we did on the 2 2d) and leaving the neigh- 
 bourhood of the Cordilleras, and ftanding more and more towards 
 the I/lhmus, where the communication of the atmofphere to the 
 eaftward and the weftward was no longer interrupted, we found in 
 very few days an extraordinary alteration in the climate. For inftead 
 of that uniform temperature, where neither the cxcefs of heat or 
 cold was to be complained of, we had now for feveral days toge- 
 ther clofe and fultry weather, refembling what we had before met 
 with on the coaft of Brazil, and in other parts between the tro- 
 pics on the eaftern fide of America. We had befides frequent 
 calms and heavy rains j which we at fir ft afcribed to the neighbour- 
 hood of the line, where this kind of weather is generally found to- 
 
 prevail
 
 ( 214 ) 
 
 prevail at all feafons of the year ; but obferving that it attended us 
 to the latitude of feven degrees North, we were at length induced to 
 believe, that the flormy feafon, or, as the Spaniards call it, the 
 Vandevals, was not yet over ; though many writers, particularly 
 Captain Shehccke, pofitively aflert, that this feafon begins in June, 
 and is ended in Novewber ; and our prifnners all affirmed the fame 
 thincf. But perhaps its end may not be always conflant, and it 
 might laft this year longer than ufual. 
 
 On the 27th, Captain Mitchcl having finlfhed the clearing of liis 
 largefl prize, flie was fcuttled, and fet on fire ; but we ftill coiilill- 
 ed of five fliips, and were fortunate enough to find them all good 
 tailors ; fo that we never occafioned any delay to each other. Being 
 now in a rainy climate, which we had been long difufed to, we 
 found it neceffary to caulk the decks and fides of the Centurion^ to 
 prevent the rain-water from running into her. 
 
 On the 3d of December we had a view of the Ifland oi ^ibo; 
 the Eaft end of which then bore from us N. N. W, four leagues di- 
 ftant, and the Ifland of ^licara W.N.W, at about the fime diftance. 
 Here we ftruck ground with fixty-five fathom of line, and found 
 the bottom to confift of grey fand, with black fpecks. There is 
 hereafter inferred (being contained in the fame plate with the view 
 of the hill of Tetaplan) a view of thefe two Iflands, where (a) re- 
 prefents the S. E. end of ^dbo^ bearing N. by W. four leagues di- 
 ftant: And {b) the Ifland of S>uicara, which bears from the point 
 (a) W. S. W. i- S, and is difl:ant from it four leagues, the point 
 (n) being itfelf in the latitude of 7° : 20' North. When we had thus 
 got fight of the land, we found the wind to hang wefterly ; and 
 therefore, night coming on, v^-e thought it advifeable to fiand off 
 till morning, as there are faid to be feme flioals in the entrance of 
 the channel At fix the next morning point Mariato bore N. E. ^ N, 
 three or four leagues diftant. In weathering this point all the fqua- 
 dron, except the Centurion, were very near it ; and the Gloucejler 
 being the leewardmoft flfip, was forced to tack and fiand to the 
 fouthward, fo that we loft fight of her. At nine, the Ifland S,e- 
 
 bac9
 
 ( 215 ) 
 
 baco bore N. W. by N, four leagues diftant ; but the wind ftill 
 proving unfavourable, we were obliged to ply on and off for the 
 fucceeding twenty-four hours, and were frequently taken aback. 
 However, at eleven the next morning the wind happily fettled in 
 the S. S. W, and we bore away for the S. S. E. end of the Ifland, 
 and about three in the afternoon entered the Canal Bueno^ paffing 
 round a fhoal which ftretches off about two miles from the South 
 point of the Ifland. This Canal Bucno, or Good Channel, is at leaft 
 fix miles in breadth ; and as we had the wind large, we kept in a 
 good depth of water, generally from twenty-eight to thirty-three 
 fathom, and came not within a mile and a half diflance of the 
 breakers ; though, in all probability, if it had been necefTary, we 
 might have ventured much nearer, without incurring the leafl dan- 
 ger. At feven in the evening we came to an anchor in thirty-three 
 fathom muddy ground ; the South point of the Ifland bearing 
 S. E. by S, a remarkable high part of the Ifland W. by N, and 
 the Ifland Sebaco E. by N. Being thus arrived at this Ifland of 
 %/^, the account of the place, and of our tranfadions there, fhall 
 be referred to the enfuing chapter. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ( 2i6) 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Our proceedings at ^iboy with an account of tlic 
 
 place. 
 
 1 
 
 ■^ H E next morning, after our coming to an anchor, an of- 
 ficer was difpatched on fhore to difcover the watering 
 place, who having found it, returned before noon ; and 
 t)ien we fent the long boat for a load of water, and at the fame 
 tiiiie we weiglied and flood farther in with our fliips. At two we 
 came again to an anchor in twenty-two fathom, with a bottom of 
 rough gravel intermixed with broken fliells, the watering place now 
 bearing from us N, W. -i N, only three quarters of a mile diflant. A 
 plan of the road where we lay and of the Eafl-end Ifland is annexed, 
 where the foundings are laid down, fuch as we found them, the 
 latitude of the S. E. point of the Ifland being, as hath been al- 
 ready mentioned, 7° : 20' North. 
 
 This Ifland of ^ibo is extremely convenient for wooding and 
 watering ; for the trees grow clofe to the high-water mark, and a 
 large rapid flream of frefh water runs over the fandy beach into 
 the fea: So that we were little more than two days in laying in 
 all the wood and water we wanted. The whole Ifland is of a 
 very moderate height, excepting one part. It confifts of a conti- 
 nued wood fpread over the whole furface of the country, which 
 preferves its verdure all the year round. Amongft the other wood, 
 we found there abundance of cafTia, and a few lime-trees. It ap- 
 peared Angular to us, that confidering the climate and the flicker, 
 we fliould fee no other birds there than parrots, parroquets, and 
 mackaws ; indeed of thefe lafl: there were prodigious flights. Next 
 to thefe birds, the animals we found there in mofl plenty were mon- 
 keys and guanos, and thefe we frequently killed for food ; for tho' 
 
 there
 
 ( 217 ) 
 
 though there were many herds of deer upon the place, yet the dif- 
 ficulty of penetrating the woods prevented our coming near them, 
 fo that though we faw them often, we killed only two during our 
 flay. Our prifoners aflured us, that this Ifland abounded with 
 tygers ; and we did once difcover the print of a tygcr's paw upon 
 the beach, but the tygers themfelves we never faw. The Spaniards 
 too informed us, that there was often found in the woods a mofh 
 mifchievous ferpent, called the flying fnake, which tl:ey faid darted 
 itfelf from the boughs of trees on either man or beaft that came 
 within its reach ; and whofe fling, they believed, to be inevitable 
 death. Befides thefe mifchievous land-animals, the fea hereabouts 
 is infefled with great numbers of alligators of an extraordinary 
 fize ; and we often obferved a large kind of flat-fifh, jumpina; a 
 confiderable height out of the water, which we fuppofed to be 
 the filh that is faid frequently to dellroy the pearl divers, by 
 clafping them in its fins as they rife from the bottom ; and we 
 were told that the divers, for their fecurity, are now always armed 
 with a fharp knife, which, when they are entangled, they flick 
 into the belly of the fifli, and thereby difengage themfelves from 
 its embraces. 
 
 V/hilfl: the fliip continued here at anchor, the Commodore, attend- 
 ed by feme of his officer?, went in a boat to examine a b.w which 
 lay to the northward j and they afterwards ranged all along the eafl- 
 crn fide of the Ifland. And in the places where they put on fliore 
 in the courfc of this expedition, they generally found the foil to be 
 extremely rich, and met with great plenty of excellent v/ater. la 
 particular, near the N. E. point of the Ifland, they difcovered a na- 
 tural cafcade, which furpaflcd, as they conceived, every thing of 
 this kind, which human art or indufliy hath hitherto produced. It 
 was a river of tranfparent water, about forty yards wide, which ran 
 down a declivity of near a hundred and fifty yards in lengih. The 
 channel it ran in was very irregular ; for it was entirely formed of 
 rock, both its fides and bottom being made up of large detached 
 blocks ; and by thefe the courfe of the water was frequently inter- 
 
 F f rupted :
 
 ( 2l8 ) 
 
 nipted : For in fome places it ran floping with a rapid but uniform 
 mo'.ion, while in other parts it tumbled over the ledges of rocks 
 with a perpendicular defcent. All the neighbourhood of this ftream 
 was a fine wood ; and even the huge maffes of rock, which over- 
 liung the water, and which, by their various projections, formed 
 the inequaliiies of the channel, were covered with lofty foreft 
 trees. Whilft the Commodore, and thofe who were with him, 
 were attentively viewing this place, and were remarking the dif- 
 ferent blendings of the water, the rocks and the wood, there came 
 in fight (as it were with an intent ftill to heighten and animate the 
 profped;) a prodigious flight of mackaws, which hovering over this 
 fpot, and often wheeling and playing on the wing about it, aiford- 
 cd a moft brilliant appearance, by the glittertng of the fun on their 
 variegated plumage ; kt that fome of the fpeiftators cannot refrain 
 from a kind of tranfport, when they recount the complicated beau- 
 ties which occurred in this extraordinary water-fall. 
 
 In this expedition, which the boat made along the eaftern fide 
 of the Ifland, though they met with no inhabitants, yet they faw 
 many huts upon the fhore, and great heaps of fhells of fine 
 mother of pearl fcattered up and down in different places : Thefe 
 w ere the remains left by the pearl-fifliers from Panama, who often 
 frequent this place in the fummer feafon ; for the pearl oyfiiers, 
 which are to be met with every where in the bay of Pana/na, are 
 fo plenty at ^ibo, that by advancing a very little way into the fea, 
 you might ftoop down and reach them fi^om the bottom. They 
 are ufually very large, and out of curiofity we opened fome of 
 them with a view of tafting them, but we found them extremely 
 tough and unpalatable. And having mentioned thefe oyfi:ers and 
 the pearl-fifiiery, I muft beg leave to recite a few particulars re- 
 lating thereto. 
 
 The oyfters mofl: produ6llve of pearls are thofe found in confi- 
 derable depths ; for though what are taken up by wading near fliore 
 are of the fame fpecies, yet the pearls found in them are very rare 
 and very fmall. It is faid too, that the pearl partakes in fome de- 
 gree
 
 ( 219 ) 
 
 grce of the quality of the bottom on which the oyfter is found ; 
 (o that if the bottom be muddy, the pearl is dark and ill-coloured. 
 The taking up oyfters from great depths for the fake of the pearls 
 they contain, is a work performed by Negro flaves, of which the 
 inhabitants of Panama and the neighbouring coaft formerly kept 
 great numbers, which were carefully trained to this bufinefs. And 
 thefe are faid not to be efteemed compleat divers, till they have by 
 degrees been able to protrad their flay under water fo long, that 
 the blood gufhes out from their nofe, mouth and ears. And it is 
 the tradition of the country, that when this accident has once be- 
 fallen them, they dive for the future with much greater facility than 
 before ; and they have no apprehenfion either that any inconveni- 
 ence can attend it, the bleeding generally flopping of itfelf, or that 
 there is any probability of their being ever fubjedl to it a fecond time. 
 But to return from this digreffion. 
 
 Though the pearl oyller, as hath been faid, was incapable of 
 being eaten, yet the fea at this place furnifhed us with another dain- 
 ty, in the greatefl plenty and perfedlion : This was the turtle, of 
 which we took here what quantity we pleafed. There are gene- 
 rally reckoned four fpecies of turtle ; that is, the trunk turtle, the 
 loggerhead, the hawkfbill, and the green turtle. The two firft are 
 rank and unwholefome ; the hawkfbill (which furniflies the tor- 
 tois-fliell) is but indifferent food, though better than the other two; 
 but the green turde is generally efteemed, by the greateft part of thofe 
 who are acquainted with its tafte, to be the mofl delicious of all 
 eatables ; and that it is a moft wholfome food, we are amply con- 
 vinced by our own experience : For we fed on this laft fpecies, 
 or the green turde, for near four months, and confequently had it 
 been in any degree noxious, its ill effefts could not poffibly have 
 efcaped us. At this Ifland we took what quantity we pleafed with 
 great facility ; for as they are an amphibious animal, and get on 
 fliore to lay their eggs, which they generally depofit in a large hole 
 in the fand, juft above the high-water mark, covering them up, 
 and leaving them to be hatclied by the heat of the fun, we ufually 
 
 F f 2 difperfed
 
 f ^-o ) 
 
 difj-JcrfcJ feveral of our men along the beach, whofe bufinefs it was- 
 to turn them on their backs when they came to land ; and the tur- 
 tle being thereby prevented from getting away, we carried them off 
 at our leifure : By this means we not only fecured a fufficient 
 flock for the time we ftayed on the liland, but we took a number 
 of ihcni with us to fea, which proved of great fervice both in 
 lengthning out our flore of provifion, and in heartning the whole 
 crew with an almoft conftant fupply of frefli and palatable food ; 
 for the turtle being large, they generally weighing about 200 lb. 
 weight each, thofe we took with us lafted us near a month, and by 
 that time we met with a frefli recruit on the coafl: of Mexico^ 
 where we often faw them in the heat of the day floating in great 
 numbers on the furface of the water faft afleep ; when we difcover- 
 ed them, we ufually fent out our beat with a man in the bow, who 
 was a dextrous diver, and when the boat came within a few yards 
 of tiie turtle, the diver plunged into the water, and took care to 
 rile clofe upon it ; and leizing the fhell near the tail, and preffing 
 down the hinder parts , the turtle, when awakened, began to 
 flrike with its claws, which motion fupported both it and the diver, 
 till the boat came up and took them in. By this management we 
 never wanted turtle for the fucceeding four months in which we con- 
 tinued at fea ; and though, when at ^libo, we had already been 
 three months on board, without otherwife putting our foot on fliore, 
 than in the few days we flayed at this liland of ^ibo, (except thofe 
 employed in the attack of Paita) yet in the whole fcven months,, 
 from our leaving Juan Fcrnandes to our anchoring in the harbour 
 of Chequetmi, we buried no more in the whole fquadron than two 
 men ; a mofl: inconteflable proof, that the turde, on which we fed 
 for the lafl: four montlas of this term, was at leaft innocent, if not 
 fomething more. 
 
 Confidering the fcarcity of provilions on fome part of the coafl 
 of thcfe feas, it appears wonderful, that a fpecies of food fo very 
 palatable and falubrious as turtle, and fo much abounding in thofe 
 parts, fliould be profcribed by the Spaniards as unwholefome, and 
 
 little
 
 f 221 ) 
 
 little lefs than poifonous. Perhaps the ftrange appearance of tins 
 animal may have been tlie foundation of this ridiculous and fuper- 
 llitious averfion, which is ftrongly rooted in all the inhabitants of 
 that coaft, and of which we had many infliances in the courfe of 
 this navigation. I have already obferved, that we put our SpanijJ} 
 prifoners on (here at Paha^ and that the Gloucejfer fent theirs to Mmi- 
 ta ; but as we had taken in our prizes fome hidian and Negro flaves, 
 we did not fet thefe on fliore with their mafters, but continued 
 them on board, as our crews were thin, to affift in navigating our 
 fhips, Thefe poor people being poffefled with the prejudices of the 
 country they came from, were aftonifhed at our feeding on turtle, 
 and feemed fully perfuaded that it would foon deftroy us ; but find- 
 ii3g that none of us died, nor even fuftered in our health by a con- 
 tinuation of this diet, they at laft got fo far the better of their 
 averfion, as to be perfuaded to tafte it, to which the abfcnce of all 
 other kinds of frefh provifions might not a little contribute. How- 
 ever, it was with great reluftance, and very fparingly, that they firft 
 began to eat of it: But the relifli improving upon them by degrees, 
 they at laft grew extremely fond of it, and preferred it to every 
 other kind of food, and often felicitated each other on the happy 
 experience they had acquired, and the delicious and plentiful repass 
 it would be always in their power to procure, when they fliould 
 again return back to their country. Thofe who are acquainted 
 with the manner of life of thefe unhappy wretches, need not be 
 told, that next to large draughts of fpirituous liquors, plenty of to- 
 lerable food is the greateft joy they know, and confequently tlie dif- 
 covering a method which would always fupply them with what 
 quantity they plcafed, of a food more luxurious to the palate than 
 any their haughty Lords and Mailers could indulge in, was doubtlefs 
 a circumftance, which they confidered as the moil fortunate that 
 could befal them. 
 
 After this digreffion, which the prodigious quantity of turtle on 
 this Ifland of S^ibo, and the ftore of it we thence took to fea, in 
 fbme meafure led me into, 1 fball now return to our own proceedings.
 
 ( 222 ) 
 
 In three days tim^ we had compleated our bufinafs at this place, 
 and were extremely impatient to put to fea, that we might arrive 
 time enough on the coaft of Mexico to intercept the Matiila galeon. 
 But the wind being contrary detained us a night, and the next day, 
 when we got into the offing (which we did through the fame chan- 
 nel by which we entered) we were obliged to keep hovering about 
 the Ifland, in hopes of getting light of the Gloucejler, who, as 1 
 have in the lafl; chapter mentioned, was feparated from us on our 
 firft arrival. It was the 9th of December, in the morning, when 
 we put to fea, and continuing to the fouthward of the Ifland, look- 
 ing out for the Gkucejler, we, on the loth, at five in the after- 
 noon, difccrned a fmall fail to the northward of us, to which we 
 s;ave chace, and coming up with her took her. She proved to be 
 a bark from Pa?wma, bound to Cheripe, an inconfiderable village on 
 the Continent, and was called the Jefu Nazare?io. She had no- 
 thing on board but fome oakum, about a tun of rock fait, and 
 between 30 and 40/. in fpecie, moft of it confifting of fmall fil- 
 ver money, intended for purchafing a cargoe of provifions at 
 Cheripi-. 
 
 And on occafion of this prize I cannot but obferve, for the ufe 
 of future cruifers, that had we been in want of provifions, we had 
 by this capture an obvious method of fupplying ourfelves. For at 
 Cheripe, whither flie was bound, there is a conftant flore of pro- 
 vifions prepared for the vefl*els who go thither every week from 
 Patiamq, the market of Panama being chiefly fupplied from thence : 
 So that by putting a few of our hands on board our prize, we 
 might eafily have feized a large flore without any hazard, fince 
 Cheripe is a place of no flrength. And as provifions are the fiiaple 
 commodity of that place and of its neighbourhood, the knowledge 
 of this circumfl:ance may be of great ufe to fuch cruifers, as find 
 their provifions grow fcant, and yet are defirous of continuing on 
 tliat coafl: as long as poflible. But to return : 
 
 On
 
 ( 223 ) 
 
 On the 1 2th of Ticcember we were at laA relieved from tlie per- 
 plexity we had fufFered, by the reparation of the Ghucefter ; for on 
 that day (he joined us, and informed us, that in tacking to the 
 fouthward, on our firft: arrival, fhe had fprung her fore-top-maft, 
 which had difabled her from working to windward, and prevented 
 her from joining us fooner. And now we fcutded and funk the 
 '^efu Nazareno, the prize we took laft ; and having the grcateft 
 impatience to get into a proper ftation for the galeon, we ftood all to- 
 gether to the weftward, leaving the Ifland of ^ibo (notwithftand- 
 ing all the impediments we met with) in about nine days after our 
 i&rft coming in fight of it. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ( 224 ) 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 From ^ibo to the coaft of Mexico, 
 
 N the 1 2 th of December we flood from ^libo to the weft- 
 ward, and the fame day the Commodore delivered frefli in- 
 flruftions to the Captains of the men of war, and the com- 
 manders of our prizes, appointing them the rendezvoufes they were 
 to make, and the courfes they were to fteer in cafe of a feparation. 
 And firft, they were directed to ufe all poflible difpatch in getting 
 to the northward of the harbour of Acapulco^ where they were to 
 endeavour to fall in with the land, between the latitudes of i8 
 and 1 9 degrees ; from thence, they were to beat up the coaft at 
 eight or ten leagues diftance from the fhore, till they came a-breaft 
 of Cape Corientes, in the latitude of 20° : 20'. When they ar- 
 rived there, they were to continue cruifing on that flation till the 
 14th of February; and then they were to proceed to the middle 
 Ifland of the Tres Marias^ in the latitude of 21°: 25', bearing 
 from Cape Corientes N. W. by N, twenty-five leagues diftant. And 
 if at this Ifland they did not meet the Commodore, they were there 
 to recruit their wood and water, and then to make the befl of their 
 way to the Ifland of Macao, on the coafl of China. Thefe or- 
 ders being diflributed to all the fliips, we had little doubt of ar- 
 riving foon upon our intended flation, as we expedled, upon the 
 encreafing our offing from S^dbo, to fill in with the regular trade- 
 wind. But, to our extream vexation, we were baffled for near a month, 
 either with tempefluous weather from the weflern quarter, or with 
 dead calms and heavy rains, attended with a fultry air ; fo that it 
 was the 25th of December before we got a fight of the Ifland of 
 Cocos, which by our reckoning was only a hundred leagues from' 
 the Continent ; and we had tiie mortification to make fo little way, 
 
 that
 
 ( 225 ) 
 
 that we did not lofe fight of it again in five days. This Ifland wc 
 found to be in the latitude of 5° : 20' North. It has a high hum- 
 mock towards the weftern part, which defcends gradually, and at 
 laft terminates in a low point to the eaflward. From the Ifland of 
 Cocos we ftood W. by N, and were till the 9th of January in 
 running an hundred leagues more. We had at firft flattered ourfelves, 
 that the uncertain weather and weftern gales we met with were 
 owing to the neighbourhood of the Continent, from which, as 
 we got more diftant, we expeded every day to be relieved, by 
 falling in with the eaftern trade-wind : But as our hopes were fo 
 long baffled, and our patience quite exhaufted, we began at length 
 to defpair of fucceeding in the great purpofe we had in view, that 
 of intercepting the Manila galeon ; and diis produced a general de- 
 jedlion amongft us, as we had at firft confidered this projed as al- 
 moft infallible, and had indulged ourfelves in the moft bountllefs 
 hopes of the advantages we Ihould tlience receive. However, our 
 defpondency was at laft fomewhat alleviated, by a favourable change 
 of the wind ; for, on the 9th of January, a gale for the firft time 
 fprung up from the N. E, and on this we took the Carmeh in tow, 
 as the Gloiiccjier did the Carmin, making all the fail we could to 
 improve the advantage, for wc ftill fulpcded that it was only a 
 temporary gale, which would not laft long ; but the next day we 
 had the fatisfadlion to find, that the wind did not onlv continue in 
 the lame quarter, but blew with fo much briiknefs and fteadiiiefs, 
 that we now no longer doubted of its being the true trade-wind. 
 And as we advanced a-pace towards our ftation, our hopes bee;an 
 to revive, and our former defpair by degrees gave place to more 
 fanguine prejudices : For though the cuftomary leafon of the arri- 
 val of the galeon at Acapuko was already elapfed, yet we were by 
 this time unreafonable enough to flatter ourfelves, that fome acci- 
 dental delay might, for our advantage, lengthen out her paflage be- 
 yond its ufual limits. 
 
 When we got into the trade-wind, we found no alteration in it 
 till the 17th of January, when we were advanced to the latitude 
 
 Gg of
 
 ( 226 ) 
 
 of 12* : co', but diV that day it ftiifted to the weftward "of the 
 North : This change we imputed to our having haled up too fdon, 
 though we then cfteemed our felvcs full feventy leagues from the 
 coaft, which plunly fl^sovv's, that the trade-wind doth not take 
 place, but at a confiderable diftance from the Continent. After this, 
 the wind was not fo favourable to us as it had been : However, we 
 flill continued to advance, and, on the 26th of 'January, being 
 then to the northward of Acapulco, we tacked and flood to the 
 eaftward, with a view of making the land. 
 
 In the preceding fortnight we caught fome turtle on the furface of 
 the water, and feveral dolphins, bonitos, and albicores. One day, 
 as one of the fail-makers mates was filhing from the end of the 
 gib-boom, he loft his hold and dropped into the fea ; and the fliip, 
 which was then going at the rate of fix or feven knots, went di- 
 redtly over him : But as we had the Carmelo in tow, we inftantly 
 called out to the people on board her, who threw him over feveral 
 ends of ropes, one of which he fortunately caught hold of, and 
 twifting it round his arm, they haled him into the fhip, without 
 his having received any other injury than a wrench in his arm, of 
 which he foon recovered. 
 
 When, on the 26th of Jaimary, we flood to the eaftward, we 
 expedled, by our reckonings, to have fallen in with the land on the 
 28th ; but though the weather was perfediy clear, we had no 
 fieht of it at fun-fet, and therefore we continued on our courfe, not 
 doubting but we /lie aid fee it by the next morning. About ten 
 at nicfht we difcovered a light on the larboard-bow, bearing from 
 us N. N. E. The I'ryal'i prize too, who was about a mile a 
 head of us, made a fignal at the fame time for feeing a fail ; and as 
 we had none of ns any doubt but what we faw was a fliip's light, 
 we were all extremely animated with a firm perfuafion, that it was 
 the Manila galeon, which had been io long the objedl of our 
 wiflies: And what added to our alacrity, was our expectation of 
 meeting with two of them inftead of one, for we took it for grant- 
 ed that tlie lipht in vie.v was carried in the top of one Hiip for a 
 
 diredlion.
 
 ( ^^1 ) 
 
 difedlori to her confort. Wc immediately call off the Carmelo, 
 and prefTed forward with all our canvafs, making a fignal for the 
 Glouc<:Jler to do the fame. Tlius we chafed the light, keeping all 
 our hands at their refpedlive quarters, under an expedtation of en- 
 gaging in the next half hour, as we fometimes conceived the chace 
 to be about a mile diftant, and at other times to be within reach 
 of our guns ; and fome on board us pofitivcly averred, that befides 
 the light, they could plainly difcern her fails. The Commodore 
 himfelf was fo fully perfuadcd that we fliould be focn along fide 
 of her, that he fent for his firfl: Lieutenant, who coniaunded be- 
 tween decks, and direded him to fee all the great guns loaded with 
 two round-fhot for the firfl broadfide, and after that with one 
 round-fliot and one grape, flridly charging him, at the fame time, 
 not to fuffer a gun to be fired, till he, the Commodore, fliould give 
 orders, which he informed the Lieutenant would not be till we ar- 
 rived within piftol-fliot of the enemy. In this confiant and eager 
 attention we continued aU night, always prefuming that another 
 quarter of an hour would bring us up with this Manila fliip, whofe 
 wealth, with that of her fuppofed confort, we now eAimated by 
 round millions. But when tlic morning broke, and day-light came 
 on, we were mod ftrangely and vexatioufly difappointed, by find- 
 ing that the light which had occafioned all this buftle and expec- 
 tancy, was only a fire on the fliore. Indeed the circumftances of 
 this deception are fo extraordinary as to be fcarcely credible j for, by 
 our run during the night and the diflance of the land in the 
 morning, there was no doubt to be made but this fire, when wc 
 firfl difcovercd it, was above twenty-five leagues from us : And 
 yet 1 believe there was no perfon on board, who doubted of its 
 being a fliip's light, or of its being near at hand. It was indeed 
 upon a very high mountain, and continued burning for feveral days 
 afterwards ; it was not a vulcano, but rather, as I fuppofe, flub- 
 ble or heath fet on fire for fome purpofe of agriculture. 
 
 At fun-rifing, after this mortifying delufion, we found ourfelves 
 cibout nine leagues off the land, which extended from the N, W. 
 
 G g 2 t»
 
 ( 22S ) 
 
 to E. i N. On this land we obferved two remarkable hummocks, 
 fuch as are ufually called paps, which bore North from us : Thefe 
 a SpaniJJi Pilot and two Indians^ who were the only perfons amongfl: 
 us that pretended to have traded in this part of the world, aflirmed 
 to be over the harbour of Acapuko, Indeed, we very much 
 doubted their knowledge of the coaft ; for we found thefe paps to 
 be in the latitude of 17°: 56', wiiereas thofe over Acapulco are faid 
 to be in 17 degrees onlyj and we afterwards found our fufpicions of 
 their {kill to be well grounded : However, they were very confi- 
 dent, and allured us, that the height of the mountains was itfelf 
 an infallible mark of the harbour; the coaft, as they pretended 
 (though falfly) being generally low to the eaftward and weft ward 
 
 of it. 
 
 And nov/ being in the track of the Manila galeon, it was a 
 great doubt with us (as it was near the end of 'January) whether 
 (he was or was not arrived : But examining our prifoners about it, 
 they allured us, that flie was fometimes known to come in after 
 the middle of 'February ; and they endeavoured to perfuade us, that 
 the fire we had feen on (hore was a proof that flie was as yet at 
 fea, it being cuftomary, as they faid, to make ufe of thefe fires a3 
 fignals for her direction, when flie continued longer out than ordi- 
 nary. On this information, ftrengthened by our propenfity to be- 
 lieve them in a matter which fo pleafingly flattered our wifhes, 
 we refolved to cruife for her for fome days ; and we accordingly 
 fpread our ftiips at the diftance of twelve leagues from the coaft, in 
 fuch a manner, that it was impoflible flie Ihould pafs us unobferved : 
 However, not feeing her foon, we were at intervals inclined to fuf. 
 pedl that fhe had gained her port already ; and as we now began to 
 want a harbour to refrelh our people, the uncertainty of our pre- 
 fent fituation gave us great uneafinefs, and we were very felicitous to 
 get fome polkive intelligence, which might either fet us at liberty to 
 confult our neceffities, if the galeon was arrived, or might animate 
 us to continue on our prefent cruife with chearfulnefs, if flie was 
 not. With this view the Commodore, after examining our pri- 
 foners
 
 ( 229 ) 
 
 foners very particularly, refolved to fend a boat, under colour of the 
 night, into the harbour of Aco.pulco, to fee if the Manila fhip was 
 there or not, one of the Indians being very pofitive that this might 
 be done without the boat itfelf being difcovered. To execute this 
 projedt, the barge was difpatched the 6th of February, with a fuf- 
 ficient crew and two officers, who took with them a Spanifh Pi- 
 lot, and the Indian who had infifted on the pradlicability of this 
 meafure, and had undertaken to condudl it. Our barge did not 
 return to us again till the eleventh, when the officers acquainted 
 Mr. Anfon, that, agreeable to our fufpicion, there was nothing like 
 a harbour in the place where the Spaniflo Pilots had at firfl: aflerted 
 Acapuko to lie ; that when they had fatisfied themfelves in this 
 particular, they fleered to the eaftward, in hopes of difcovering it, 
 and had coafted along fhore thirty-two leagues ; that in this whole 
 range they met chiefly with fondy beaches of a great length, over 
 which the fea broke with fo much violence, that it was impoffible 
 for a boat to land ; that at the end of their run they could juft dif- 
 cover two paps at a very great diftance to the eaftward, which from 
 their appearance and their latitude, they concluded to be thofe in 
 the neighbourhood of Acapuko ; but that not having a fufficient 
 quantity of freffi water and provifion for their paffage thither and 
 back again, they were obliged to return to the Commodore, to ac- 
 quaint him with their difappointment. On this intelligence we all 
 made fail to the eaftward, in order to get into the neighbourhood of 
 that port, the Commodore refolving to fend the barge a fecond time 
 upon the fame enterprize, when we were arrived within a mode- 
 rate diftance. And the next day, which was the 12th of Febru- 
 ary, we being by that time confiderably advanced, the barge was 
 again difpatched, and particular inftrudions given to the officers to 
 prefervc themfelves from being (ctn from the ftiore. On the 1 3tli 
 we efpied a high land to the eaftward, which we firft imagined to 
 be that over the harbour of Acapuko ; but we afterwards found that 
 it was the high land of Seguate?ieio, where there is a fmall harbour, 
 of which we ihall have occafion to make more ample mention here- 
 after.
 
 ( 230 ) 
 
 after. And now, having waited fix days without any news of our 
 barge, we began to be uneafy for her fafety ; but, on the 7th day, 
 that is, on the 1 gth of Fe/>ruary, fhe returned. The officers in- 
 formed the Commodore, that they had difcovered the liarbour of 
 Acapidco, which they efleemed to bear from us E. S. E. at leaft fifcy 
 leagues diftant: That on the 17th, about two in the morning, they 
 were got within the Ifland that lies at the mouth of the harbour, 
 and yet neither the SpaniJJj Pilot, nor the hidian who were with 
 them, could give them any information where they then were ; but 
 that while they were lying upon their oars in fufpcnce what to do, 
 being ignorant that they were then at the very place they fouglit for, 
 they difcerned a fmall light upon the furface of the water, on which 
 they inftantly plied their paddles, and moving as filently as pofli- 
 ble towards it, they found it to be in a fifhing canoe, which they 
 furprized, with three Negroes that belonged to it. It feems the Ne- 
 groes at firft attempted to jump overboard ; and being fo near the 
 land they would eafily have fwam on fliore; but they were prevent- 
 ed by prefenting a piece at them, on which they readily fubmltted, 
 and were taken into the barge. The officers further added, that they 
 had immediately turned the canoe adrift againft the face of a rock, 
 where it would inevitably be daflied to pieces by the fury of the 
 iea : This they did to deceive thofe who perhaps might be fent from 
 the town to fearch after the canoe ; for upon feeing feveral pieces of 
 a wreck, they would immediately conclude that the people on board 
 her had been drowned, and would have no fufpicion of their having 
 fallen into our hands. When the crew of the barge had taken this 
 precaution, they exerted their utmoft ftrength in pulling out to fea, 
 and by dawn of day had gained fuch an offing, as rendered it im- 
 poffible for them to be feen from the coaft. 
 
 And now having gotten the three Negroes in our pofTefnon, who 
 were not ignorant of the tranGnflions at Acapidco^ we were foon fatif- 
 fied about the moft material points which had long kept us in fuf- 
 pence : And on examination we found, that we were indeed difap- 
 pointed in our expedtation of intercepting the galeon before her arri- 
 val
 
 ( 231 ) 
 
 val at Acapuko ; but we learnt other circumftances which ftill revived 
 our hopes, and which, we then conceived, would more than balance 
 the opportunity we had already lofl : For tho' our Negroe prifoners 
 informed us that the galeon arrived at Acapuko on our 9th of Janii^ 
 ary^ which was about twenty days before we fell in with this coaft, 
 yet they at the fame time told us, that the galeon had delivered her 
 cargoe, and was taking in water and provifions for her return, and 
 that the Viceroy of Mexico had by proclamation, fixed her depar- 
 ture from Acapuko to the i4tli of March, N. S. This laft news ' 
 was moft joyfully received by us, as we lud no doubt but flie muft 
 certainly fall into our hands, and as it was much more eligible to feize 
 heron her return, than it would have been to have taken her before 
 her arrival, as the fpecies for which (he had fold her cargoe and which 
 fhe would now have on board, would be prodigioufly more to be 
 efteemed by us than the cargoe itfelf ; great part of which would 
 have periflied on cur hands, and no part of it could have been dif- 
 pofed of by us at fo advantageous a mart as Acapuko. 
 
 Thus we were a fecond time engaged in an eager cxpeftation of 
 meeting with this Manila fliip, which, by the fame of its wealth, 
 we had been taught to confider as the moft defirable prize that was 
 to be met with in any part of the globe. As all our fuiure projedls 
 will be in fome fort regulated with a view to the poffeffion of this 
 celebrated galeon, and as the commerce which is carried on by 
 means of thefe veflels between the city of Manila and the port of 
 Acapuko is perhaps the moft valuable, in proportion to its quantity, 
 of any in the known world, I ftiall endeavour, in the enfuing chap- 
 ter, to give as diftind an account as I can of all the p?.rdculars relat- 
 ing thereto, both as it is a matter in wliich I conceive the public 
 to be in fome degree interefted, and as I flatter myfelf, that from the 
 materials which have fallen into my hands, I am enabled to defcribe 
 it with more diftindnefs than has hitherto been done, at leaft in our- 
 language. 
 
 C PI A P.
 
 ( 232 ) 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 An account of the commerce carried on between the 
 city of Manila on the Ifland of Luconia^ and the 
 port of Acapulco on the Coafl: of Mexico. 
 
 BOUT the end of the r 5th Century and the beginning of 
 the 1 6th, the difcovery of new countries and of new 
 branches of commerce was the reigning pafiion of feveral 
 of the 'European Princes. But thofe who engaged moft deeply and 
 fortunately in thefe purfuits were the Kings of S>pai7i and Portugal; 
 the firfl: of thefe having difcovered the immenfe and opulent Con- 
 tinent of America and its adjacent Iflands, whilft the other, by 
 doubling the Cape of Good Hope, had opened to his fleets a pailage 
 to the fouthern coafl of Afiay ufually called the Eaji-Indies, and 
 by his fettlements in that part of the globe, became pofTefled of 
 many of the manufadlures and natural produdtions with which it 
 abounded, and which, for fome ages, had been the wonder and 
 delight of the more poliflied and luxurious part of mankind. 
 
 In the mean time, thefe two Nations of Spain and Portugal, 
 who were thus profecuting the fame views, though in different 
 quarters of the world, grew extremely jealous of each other, and 
 became apprehenfive of mutual encroachments. And therefore to 
 quiet their jealoufies, and to enable them with more tranquillity to 
 purfue the propagation of the Catholick Faith in thefe diftant coun- 
 tries, (they having both of them given diftinguifhed marks of their 
 zeal for their mother church, by their butchery of innocent Pagans) 
 Pope Alexander VI. granted to the Spanipj Crown the property and 
 dominion of all places, either already difcovered, or that fliould be 
 difcovered an hundred leagues to the weftward of the Iflands of 
 Azores, leaving all the unknown countries to the eaftward of this 
 
 limit.
 
 (233) 
 
 limit, to the induftry and future difquiruion of the Portuguefe : And 
 this boundary being afterwards removed two hundred and fifty 
 leagues more to the weftward, by the agreement of both Nations, 
 it was imagined that by this regulation all the feeds of future con- 
 tefts were fupprefied. For the 'Spaniards prcfumed, that the Portu- 
 guefe would be hereby prevented from meddling with their colonies 
 in America : And the Portuguefe fuppofed that their Paajl- Indian 
 fcttlements, and particularly the fpice Ifiands, which they had then 
 newly difcovered, were fecured from any future attempts of the 
 Spanif.^ Nation. 
 
 But it feems the infallibility of the Holy Father had, on this oc- 
 cxifion, <ieferted him, and for want of being more converfant in 
 geography, he had not forefeen that the Spaniards, by purtiing their 
 difcoveries to the Weft, and the Portuguefe to the Eaft, might at 
 laft meet with each other, and be again embroiled ; as it aftually 
 happened within a few years afterwards. For Frederick Magellan, 
 who was an officer in the King of Portugal's fervice, having re- 
 ceived fome difguft from that Court, either by the defalcation of 
 his pay, or by having his parts, as he conceived, too cheaply con- 
 fidered, he entered into the fervice of the King of Spain ; and be- 
 ing as it appears a man of ability, he was very defirous of figna- 
 Hzing his talents by fome enterprize, which might prove extremely 
 vexatious to his former Mafters, and might teach them to eftiniate 
 his worth by the greatnefs of the mifchief he brought upon them, 
 this being the moft obvious and natural turn of all fugitives, and 
 more efpecially of thofe, who, being really men of capacity, have 
 quitted their country by reafon of the fmall account that has 
 been made of them. Magellan, in purfuance of thefe vindidive 
 views, knowing that the Portuguefe Court confidered their poflef- 
 Tion of the fpice iflands as their moft important atquiiition in the 
 Eafl-Indies, refolved with himfelf to inftigate the Court of Spai}z 
 to an enterprize, whidi, by ftill puflnng their difcoveries, would 
 give them a right to interfere both in the property and commerce of 
 thofe 4:enowned Portuguefe fettlementsj and the King of Sj)ain 
 
 H h a|'>provin2
 
 ( 234- ) 
 
 approving of this projed, Magellan, in the year 1519, fet fail 
 from the port of Sevi/, in order to carry this enterprize into execu- 
 tion. He had with him a confiderable force, confifting of five 
 fliips and two hundred and thirty-four men, with which he flood 
 for the Goafl of South America, and ranging along fhore, he at 
 laft, towards the end of O£lober 1520, had the good fortune to dif- 
 cover thofe Streights, which have fince been denominated from him, 
 and which opened him a paffage into the Pacific Ocean. And this 
 tirft part of his fcheme being thus happily accomplifl:ied, he, after 
 feme (lay on the coaft of Feru, fet fail again to the weftward, with 
 a view of falling in with the fpice iflands. In this extenfive run he 
 firft difcovered the Ladrones or Marian Iflands : and continuins on 
 liis courfe, he at length reached the Philipfhie Iflands, which are 
 the moft eaftem part oi Afia, where, venturing on fliore in an hof- 
 tile manner, and flcirmilhing with the Indians, be was fiain. 
 
 Bv the death of Magellan, the original projeft of fecuring fome 
 of the fpice iflands was defeated ; for thofe who were left in com- 
 mand contented themfelves with ranging through them, and pur- 
 chaflng fome fpices from the natives ; after which they returned 
 home round the Cape oi Good Hope, being the firfl fliips which had 
 ever furrounded this terraqueous globe ; and thereby demonflrated, 
 by a palpable experiment obvious to the groffefl and mofl vulgar 
 capacity, the reality of its long difputed fpherical figure. 
 
 But though Spain did not hereby acquire the property of any of 
 the fpice iflands, yet the difcovery made in this expedition of the 
 Philippine Iflands, was thought too confiderable to be negleded j 
 for thefe were not far diftant from thofe places which produced 
 foice?, and were very well fituated for the Chincfe trade, and for the 
 commerce of other parts of India ; and therefore a communication 
 was foon eflablifhed, and carefully fupported between thefe Iflands 
 and the Spanif? colonies on the coaft of Peru : So that the city 
 of Manila, (which was built on the Ifland of Luc^nia, the chief of 
 the Philippines) foon became the mart for all Indian commodities, 
 which were bought up by the inhabitants, and were annually fent 
 
 to
 
 ( 235 ) 
 
 to the South-Seas to be there vended on their account ; and the re- 
 turns of this commerce to Matiila being principally made in filver, 
 the place by degrees grew extremely opulent and confiderable, and 
 its trade fo far encreafed, as to engage the attention of the Court of 
 Spain, and to be frequently controlled and regulated by royal 
 edids. 
 
 In the infancy of this trade, it was carried on from the port of 
 Callao to the city of Manila, in which voyage the trade-wind con- 
 tinually favoured them ; fo that notw^ithftanding thefe places were 
 diftant between three and four thoufand leagues, yet the voyage was 
 often made in little more than two months: But then the return 
 from Manila was extremely troublefome and tedious, and is faid to 
 have fometimes taken them up above a twelve month, which, if 
 they pretended to ply up within the limits of the trade-wind, is 
 not at all to be wondered at ; and it is aflerted, that in their firll 
 voyages they were fo imprudent and unfkilful as to attempt this 
 courfe. However, that route was foon laid afide by the advice, as it 
 is faid, of a Jefuit, who perfuaded them to fleer to the northward 
 till they got clear of the trade-winds, and then by the favour of the 
 wefterly winds, which generally prevail in high latitudes, to flretch 
 away for the coaft of California. This has been the pradlice for at 
 leaft a hundred and fixty years paft : For Sir Thcnias CavendiJL\ in 
 the year 1586, engaged off the South end of Calijornia a velTel 
 bound from Manila to the Atnerican coaft. And it was in compli- 
 ance with this new plan of navigation, and to iliorten the run both 
 backwards and forwards, that the ftaple of this commerce to and 
 from Manila was removed from Callao on the coaft of Peru, to 
 the port of Acapulco on the coaft of Mexico, where it continues 
 fixed at this time. 
 
 Such was the commencement, and fuch were the early regula- 
 tions of this commerce; but its prefent condition being a much 
 more interefting fubjedl, I muft beg leave to dwell longer on this 
 iaead, and to be indulged in a more particular narration, beginning 
 
 H h 2 with
 
 ( 236 ) 
 
 yv'iih a defciiption of the Ifland of Luco/iia, and of the port and bay 
 of Manila. 
 
 The Ifland of Liiconia, though fituated in the latitude of 15* 
 North, is efteemed to be in general extremely healthy, and the 
 water, that is found upon it, is faid to be the befl in the world : It 
 produces all the fruits of the warm climates, and abounds in a moft 
 excellent breed of horfes, fuppofed to be carried thither firft from 
 Spain : It is very well fituated for the Iridian and Ckinefe trade - 
 and the bay and port of Manila^ which lies on its weftern fide, is 
 perhaps the moft remarkable on the whole globe, the bay being 
 a large circular bafon, near ten leagues in diameter, and great part 
 of it entirely land-locked . On the eaft fide of this bay flands the 
 city of Manila, which is very large and populous ; and which, at 
 the beginning of this war, was only an open place, its principal de- 
 fence conflfting in a fmall fort, which was in great meafure furround- 
 ed on every fide by houfes ; but tliey have Lately made conliderable 
 additions to its fortification?, though I have not yet learnt in what 
 manner. The port, peculiar to the city, is called Cabite, and lies 
 near two leagues to the fouthward j and in this port all the fliips eat- 
 ployed in the Acapulco trade are ufuaily ftationed. As 1 huve aever 
 feen but one engr.ived plan of this bay, and that in a very fcarce 
 book, 1 have hereafter added, towards the beginning of the third 
 bock, a nlan which fell into my hands, and which differs confiderably 
 from that already publiflied : But I cannot pretend to decide which 
 of the two is moft to be relied on. 
 
 The city of Manila itfelf is in a very healthy fituation, is we-B 
 watered, and is in the neighbourhood of a very fruitful and plenti^ 
 ful country ; but as the principal bufinefs of this place is its trade to 
 Jcapnk'j, it lies under fome difadvantage, from the difficulty there 
 is in eetting to fea to the eaft ward : For the paftage is among iflands 
 and through channels where the Spa7iiards, by re;ifoaof their unlTcil* 
 fulnefs in marine affairs, wafte much time, and are often in great 
 danf^er. Thefe difficulties will be better apprehended by the reader
 
 ( 237 ) 
 
 by the annexed draught of the Ifland of Luconia, and of its neigh- 
 bouring ifles, which was taken from the enemy, and had been new- 
 ly drawn and correfted but a fliort time before. 
 
 The trade carried on from this place to China and different parts 
 of India, is principally for fuch commodities as are intended to fup- 
 ply the Kingdoms of Mexico and Peru. Thefe are fpices, all forts 
 of Chitiefe filks and manufadures ; particularly filk flockings, of 
 which I have heard that no lefs than fifty thoufand pair were the 
 ufual number fliipped on board the annual fliip ; vafl quantities of 
 Indian fluffs, as callicoes and chints, which are much worn in 
 America, together with other minuter articles, as goldl'miths work, 
 &c. which is principally done at the city of Maiiila itfelf by the 
 Chinefe ; for it is faid there are at leaft twenty thoufand Cbinefe who 
 conftantly refide there, either as fervants, manufadturers, or brokers^ 
 All thefe different commodities are colledled at Manila, thence to 
 be tranfported annually in one or more fhips, to the port of Acapulco^ 
 in the Kingdom of Mexico. 
 
 But this trade to Acapidco is not laid open to all the inhabitants of 
 Manila, but is confined by very particular regulations, fomewhat 
 analogous to thofe by which the trade of the regifter fliips from 
 Cadiz to the Wejl-lndies is reflrained. The Ihips employed 
 herein are found by the King of Spain, who pays the officers and 
 crew J and the tunnage is divided into a certain number of bales, all 
 of the fame fize : Thefe are diftributed amongft the Convents at Ma- 
 nila, but principally to the Jefuits, as a donation for the fupport of 
 their miffions for the propagation of the Catholick Faith ; and 
 thefe Convents have hereby a right to embark fuch a quantity of 
 goods on board the Manila fhip, as the tunnage of their bales a- 
 inounts to ; or if they chufe not to be concerned in trade them- 
 felves, they have the power of felling this privilege to others ; and 
 as the Merchants to whom they grant their {hares are often unpro- 
 vided of a flock, it is ufual for the Convents to lend them confide- 
 raWe fums of money on bottomry. 
 
 The;
 
 (238) 
 
 The trade is by the royal ediAs limited to a certain value, which 
 the annual cargoc ought not to exceed. Some Spanijh manufcripts, 
 I have feen, mention this limitation to be 600,000 dollars ; but the 
 annual cargoe does certainly furpafs this fum ; and though it may 
 be difficult to fix its exad value, yet from many comparilbns I con- 
 clude, that the return cannot be greatly fl:iort of three millions of 
 dollars. 
 
 It is fufficiently obvious, that the greateft part of the treafure, re- 
 turned from Acapulco to Manila^ does not remain in that place, but 
 is again difperfed into different parts of India. And as all Europeati 
 Nitions have generally efteemed it good policy to keep their Ame- 
 ricajt fettlements in an immediate dependence on their mother 
 country, without permitting them to carry on diredly any gainful 
 traffick with other powers, thefe confiderations have occafioned 
 many remonftrances to be prefented to the Court of Spain againfl 
 the Indian trade, hereby allowed to the Kingdom of Peru and 
 Mexico; it having been urged, that the filk manufadures of Va- 
 lencia and other parts of Spain are hereby greatly pre'iudiced, and 
 the linnens carried from Cadiz are much injured in their fale : Since 
 the Chif2efe filks coming almoft diredly to Acapulco, can be afforded 
 much cheaper there than any European manufadures of equal good- 
 nefs ; and the cottons from the Coro/nondel coa{\i, make the Europe- 
 an linnens almoft ufelefs. So that the Manila trade renders both 
 Mexico and Peru lefs dependent upon Spain for a fupply of their ne- 
 ceflities than they ought to be ; and exhaufts thofe countries of a con- 
 liderabie quantity of filver, the greateft part of which, were this 
 trade prohibited, would center in Spaiji, either in payment for Spa- 
 7jiJJ: commodities, or in gains to the Spanijh Merchant ; whereas 
 now the only advantage which arifes from it is, the enriching the 
 Jefuits and a few particular perfons befides, at the other extremity 
 of the world. Thefe arguments did fo far influence Don Jofepb 
 Patinho, who was then prime Minifter, but an enemy to the Je- 
 fuits, that about the year 1725, he had refolved to aboHfli this 
 trade, and to have permitted no Indian commodities to be introduced 
 
 into
 
 ( 239 ) 
 
 into any of the Spafii/J: ports in the JVeJi-Indies, but what were car- 
 ried there in the regifter fJiips from Europe. But the powerful in- 
 trigues of the Jefuits prevented this re2;ulation from taking place. 
 
 This trade from Manila to Acapiilco and back again, is ufually 
 carried on in one or at moft two annual fliips, which fet Hul from 
 Manila about July\ and arrive at jicapulco in the December, Janua- 
 ry ^ or February following, and having there difpofed of their effedts, 
 return for Manila fometime in March, where they generally arrive 
 in June ; (o that the whole voyage takes up very hear an entire 
 year : For this reafon, though there is often no more than one fliip 
 employed at a time, yet there is always one ready for the fea when 
 the other arrives; and therefore the commerce at Manila are provided 
 with three or four flout fl)ips, that, in cafe of any accident, the 
 trade may not be fufpended. The largeft of thefe fliips, whofe 
 name I have not learnt, is defcribed as little lefs than one of our firfl 
 rate men of war, and indeed flie mufl: be of an enormous fize ; 
 for it is known, that when fhe was employed with other fliips from 
 the fame port, to cruife for our China trade, fhe had no lefs than 
 twelve hundred men on board. Their other fliips, though far infe- 
 rior in bulk to this, are yet ftout large veffcls, of the burthen of 
 twelve hundred tun and upwards, and ufually carry from three 
 hundred and fifty to fix hundred hands, pailengers included, with 
 fifty odd guns. As thefe are all King's fliips commiflioned and 
 paid by him, there is ufually one of the Captains, who is fliled the 
 General, and who carries the royal flandard of Spain at the main- 
 top gallant maft-head, as we fliall more particularly obferve here- 
 after. 
 
 And now having defcribed the port of Manila and the fhipping 
 they employ, it is necefTary to give a more circumifantial detail of 
 their navigation. The fliip having received her cargoe on board, and 
 being fitted for the Jfea, generally weighs from the mole of Cabite 
 about the middle of July, taking the advantage of the vi'efterly 
 monfoon, which then fets in, to carry them to fea. It appears by 
 the chart already inferted, that the getting through the Boccadero to 
 
 the
 
 ( 240 ) 
 
 the eaftward muft be a troublefome navigation, and in fad, it is 
 Ibmetimes the end of Augufi before they get clear of the land. 
 When they have got through this paflage, and are clear of the 
 Iflands, they ftand to the northward of the eaft, in order to get 
 into the latitude of 30 odd degrees, where they expeft to meet with 
 wefterly winds, before which they run away for the coaft of Cali- 
 fornia. To give a better idea of the track which they hold in this 
 navigation, I have inferted, towards the latter end of the third book, 
 the copy of a manufcript chart, which was taken on board one of 
 thefe fliips, containing all that Ocean between the Philippine Iflands 
 and the coaft of Mexico, in which I have laid down the particular 
 route of this veflel, both in her paflage from Manila to Acapilco, 
 and from Acapulco back again. In this chart (as it was drawn for 
 the ufe of the Spanif.^ General) there are contained all the difcove- 
 ries which the MiUiila fliips have at any time made in traverfmg 
 this vaft Ocean ; whence it appears what minute and inconflderable 
 fragments of land are difperfed in that prodigious fea; ar.d it is moft 
 remarkable, that by tlie concurrent teflimony of all the Spanifi Na- 
 vigators, there is not one port, nor even a tolerable road as yet found 
 out betwixt the Philippi72e Iflands and the coaft of California and 
 Mexico ; fo that from the time the X^Ianila fliip firft lofes fight of 
 land, file never lets go her anchor till flie arrives on the coaft of 
 California, and very often not till flie gets to its fouthermoft extre- 
 mity : And therefore as this voyage is rarely of lefs than fix months 
 continuance, and the fliip is deep laden with merchandize and 
 crowded with people, it may appear wonderful how they can be 
 fupplied with a ftock of frefti water for fo long a time ; and indeed 
 their method of procuring it is extremely fingular, and deferves a 
 very particular recital. 
 
 It is well known to thofe who are acquainted with the Spanifi 
 cuftoms in the Soutb-Scas, that their water is preferved on fhip- 
 board not in caflcs but in earthern jars, which in fome fort refemble 
 the large oil jars we often fee in Europe. When the Manila fliip 
 firft puts to fea, they take on board a much greater quantity of wa- 
 ter
 
 ( 2 + 1 ) 
 
 ter than can be flowed between decks, and the jars which contain 
 it are hung all about the fhrouds asd flays, fo as to exhibit at a di- 
 flance a very odd appearance. And though it is one convenience of 
 their jars that they are much more manageable than cafks, and are 
 liable to no leekage, unlefs they are broken, yet it is fiifficiently ob- 
 vious, that a fixth, or even a three months flore of water could 
 never be ftowed in a fliip fo loaded, by any management what- 
 ever; and therefore without fome other fupply, this navigation 
 could not be performed : A fupply indeed they have, but the re- 
 liance upon it feems at firfl fight fo extremely precarious, that it is 
 wonderful fuch numbers fhould rifquc the perifliing by the mofl 
 dreadful of all deaths, on the expedation of fo cafual a circum- 
 flance. In fliort, their only method of recruiting their water is by 
 the rains, which they meet with between the latitudes of 30 and 
 40" North, and which they are always prepared to catch : For this 
 purpofe they take to fea with them a great number of mats, which 
 they place flopingly againft the gunwale, whenever the rain defcends ; 
 thefe mats extend from one end of the fhip to the other, and their 
 lower edges reft on a large fplit bamboe, fo that all the water vi'hich 
 falls on the mats drains into the bamboe, and by this, as a trough, 
 is conveyed into a jar ; and this method of fupplying their water, 
 however accidental and extraordinary it may at firft fight appear, 
 hath never been known to fail them, fo that it is common for them 
 when their voyage is a little longer than ufual, to fill all their water 
 jars feveral times over. 
 
 However, though their diftrefles for frefli water are much fliort 
 of what might be expefted in fo tedious a navigation, yet there arc 
 other inconveniencies generally attendant upon a long continuance at 
 fea, from which they are net exempted. The principal of thefe 
 is the fcurvy, which fometimes rages with extreme violence, and 
 ■ deftroys great numbers of the people ; but at other times their paf- 
 fage to Acapidco (of which alone I would be here under ftood to 
 ipeak) is performed with little lofs. 
 
 I I The
 
 f ^42 ) 
 
 The length of time employed in this paflage, fo much beyond 
 what ufually occurs in any other known navigation, is perhaps in part 
 to be imputed to the indolence and unfkilfulnefs of the Sfanijh 
 ikilors, and to an unnecelTary degree of caution and concern for fo 
 rich a veflel : For it is faid, that they never fet their main fail in 
 tJie night, and often lie by unnecefTarily. And indeed the inftruc- 
 tions given to their Captains (which I have feen) feem to have 
 been drawn up by fuch as were more apprehenlive of too ftrong a 
 gale, though favourable, than of the inconveniencies and mortality 
 attending a lingring and tedious voyage ; for the Captain is particu- 
 larly ordered to make his paflage in the latitude of 30 degrees if 
 poiTible, and to be extremely careful to iland no farther to the 
 northward than is abfolutely necelTary for the getting a wefferly 
 wind. This, according to our conceptions, appears to be a very 
 abfurd reftridtion ; fince it can fcarcely be doubted, but that in the 
 higher latitudes the wefterly winds are much fteadier and brifkef 
 than in the latitude of 30 degrees : So that the whole condudl of 
 this navigation feems liable to very great cenfure. For if inflead of 
 fleering E. N. E. into the latitude of 30 odd degrees,, they at firfl 
 flood N. E, or even fllll more northerly, into the latitude of 40 or 
 45 degrees, in part of which courfe the trade-winds would greatly 
 afiift them, 1 doubt not but by this management they might confi- 
 derably contradl their voyage, and perhaps perform it in half the 
 time, which is now allotted for it ; for in the journab I have feen 
 of thefe voyages it appears, that they are often a month or fix. 
 weeks after their laying the land, before they get into the latitude of 
 30 degrees; whereas, with a more northerly courfe, it might eafily 
 be done in a fourth part of the time ; and when they were once well 
 advanced to the northward, the wefterly winds would foon blow 
 them over to the coafl: of California^ and they would be thereby 
 freed from, the other embaraiTments, to which they are now fubjedl- 
 ed, only at the expence of a rough fea and a ftifF gale. And this 
 is not merely matter of fpeculation ; for I am credibly informed, 
 that about the year 1721, a French fhip, by purfuing this courfe. 
 
 ran
 
 ( 243 ) 
 
 Tan from the coafl of China to the valley of Vanderas on the coaft 
 of Mexico, in lefs than fifty days : But it was faid that this fliip, 
 notvvithflanding the ihortnefs of her paiTage, fuffered prodigioufly by 
 the fcurvy, fo that (he had only four or five of her crew left when 
 flie arrived in America. 
 
 However, I fliall defcant no longer on the probability of perform- 
 ing this voyage in a much fliorter time, but fliail content myfelf 
 with reciting the adlual occurrences of the prefent navigation. The 
 Manila fliip having flood fo far to the nordiward as to meet with a 
 weftcrly wind, flretchcs away nearly in tb.e fame latitude for the 
 coaft o( California : And when Ihe has run into the longitude of 96 
 degrees from Cape Efpiritu Santo, flie generally meets with a plant 
 floating on the fea, which, being called Porra by the Spaniards, is, 
 I prefume, a fpecies of lea-leek. On the fight of this plant they 
 efteem themlelves fufiiciently near the Californian fliore, and inime- 
 •diately ftand to the fouthward ; and they rely fo much on this cir- 
 cumftance, that on the firft difcovery of the plant the whole Ihip's 
 company chaunt a folemn TV Deum, efleeming the difficulties 
 and hazards of their pallage to be now at an end ; and they ccn- 
 ftantly correal their longitude thereby, without ever coming within 
 fight of land. After falling in with thefe Signs, as they denomi- 
 nate them, they fieer to the fouthward, without endeavouring to 
 fall in with the coafi:, till they have run into a lower latitude; for 
 as there are many iflands, and fome flioals adjacent to California, 
 the extreme caution of the Spanip Navigators makes them very 
 ^pprehenfive of being engaged with the land j however, when they 
 draw near its fouthern extremity, they venture to hale in, both for 
 the fake of making Cape St. hucai to afccrtain their reckoning, and 
 alfo to receive intelligence from the Indian inhabitants, whether 
 or no there arc any enemies on the coaft ; and this laft circumftance, 
 which is a particular article in the Captain's inftruftions, makes it 
 neceflary to mention the late proceedings of the Jefuits amongft the 
 Californian Indians. 
 
 X i 2 Siiice
 
 ( 244- ) 
 
 Since the firft difcovery of C^.lifcriiia, there have been various 
 vvandring Miirionaries who have vifited it at different times, though 
 to little purpole ; but of late years the Jefuits, encouraged and fup*- 
 ported by a large donation from the Marquis de Valero, a moft niu- 
 nificent bigot, have fixed thcmfelves upon the place, and have cfta- 
 blidied a very confidcrable miffion. Their principal fcttlement lies 
 juft within Cape St, Lucas, where they have colleded a great num- 
 ber of favages, and have endeavoured to inure them to agriculture 
 and other mechanic arts : And their efforts have not been alto- 
 gether ineffectual ; for they have planted vines at their fetdements 
 with very good fuccefs, fo that they already make a confiderable 
 quantity of wine, refembling in flavour the inferior forts of Madera, 
 which begins to be efteemed in the neighbouring kingdom of 
 Mexico. 
 
 The Jefuits then being thus firmly rooted on Califcrma, they 
 have already extended their jurifdidion quite acrofs the country from 
 fea to fea, and are endeavouring to fpread their influence farther to 
 the northward ; with which view they have made feveral expediti- 
 ons up the gulf between California and Mexico, in order to dif- 
 cover the nature of the adjacent countries, all which they hope 
 hereafter to bring under their power. And being thus occupied in 
 advancing the interefts of their fociety, it is no wonder if fonie 
 lliare of attention is engaged about the fecurity of the Manila ihip, 
 in which their Convents at Manila are fo deeply concerned. For 
 this purpofe there are refrefliments, as fruits, wine, water, Gfr. con- 
 ftantly kept in readinefs for her ; and there is befides care taken at 
 Cape St. Lucas, to look out for any fhip of the enemy, which 
 might be cruifing there to intercept her ; this being a flation where 
 (lie is conftantly expefled, and where flie has been often waited for 
 and fought with, though generally with little fuccefs. In confe- 
 quence then of the meafures mutually fettled between the Jefuits 
 of Manila and their brethren at Califor7ua, the Captain of the ga- 
 leon is ordered to fall in with the land to the northward of Caps 
 St. LncaSy where the inhabitants are diredlcd^ on fight of the vef- 
 
 fel.
 
 ( 245 ) 
 
 (el, to make the proper fignals with fires ; and on difcovering thefe 
 fires, the Captain is to fend his launch on fliore with twenty men, 
 well armed, who arc to carry with them the letters from the Con- 
 vents at Manila to the CalifcrTiia?! Miflionaries, and are to bring 
 back the rcfrefliments which will be prepared for them, and like- 
 wife intelligence whether or no there are any enemies on the coaft. 
 And if the Captain finds, from the account which is fent him, 
 that he has nothing to fear, he is direfted to proceed for Cape 
 St. Lucas, and thence to Cape Ccritiites, after which he is to coaft 
 it along for the port of Acatulco. 
 
 The moft ufual time of the arrival of the galeon at Acapulco 
 is towards the middle of 'January : But this navigation is fo uncer- 
 tain, that flie fometimes gets in a month fooner, and at other times 
 has been detained at fea above a month longer. The port of Aca- 
 pulco is by much the fecureft and lineft in all the northern parts of 
 the Facific Ocean, being, as it were, a bafon furrounded by very 
 high mountains : But the town is a moft wretched place, and ex- 
 tremely unhealthy, for the ait about it is fo pent up by the hills 
 that it has fcarcely any circulation. The place is befides deftitute 
 of frefli water, except what is brought from a conliderable diftance^ 
 and is in all refpeds fo inconvenient, that except at the time of the 
 mart, v/hilft the Manila galeon is in the port, it is almoft deferted. 
 To corapenfate in fome meafure for the flaortnefs of this defcrip- 
 tion, I have added in the third book, in the fame plate with the 
 bay of Manila abovementioned, a plan of this place and of its 
 port and citadel, in which are likevvife drawn the new works 
 which were added on their iirfl intelligence of the equipment of 
 our fquadron. As this plan was taken from the Spaniards, I can- 
 not anfwer for its accuracy ; but having feen two or three other 
 Spa7ujl; draughts of the place, I conceive, by comparing them to- 
 gether, that this I have here inferted is not very diftant from the 
 truth. 
 
 WI:en
 
 ( 246 ) 
 
 When the galeon arrives in this port, flie is generally moored on 
 its weftern lide to the two trees marked in the plan, and her car- 
 goe is delivered with all poflible expedition. And now the town 
 of AcapulcOy from almoft a folitude, is immediately thronged with 
 Merchants from all parts of the kingdoni of Mexico. The cargoe 
 being landed and difpofed of, the filver and the goods intended for 
 Manila are taken on board, together with provifions and water, and 
 the Ihip prepares to put to fea with the utmoft expedidon. There 
 is indeed no time to be loft ; for it is an exprefs order to the Captain 
 to be out of the port of Acapuko on his return, before the firfl; 
 day of ApriU N. S, 
 
 And having mentioned the goods intended for Manila, I mufl ob- 
 ferve, that the principal return is always made in filver, and con- 
 fequently the reft of the cargoe is but of little account, the other 
 articles, befides the filver, being fome cochineal and a few fweet- 
 meats, the produce of the American lettlements, together with Eu- 
 ropean millinery ware for tlie women at Mdni/a, and fome Spajiijh 
 wines, fuch as tent and flierry, which are intended for the ufe of 
 their Priefts in the adminiftration of the Sacrament. 
 
 And this difference in the cargoe of the fhip to and from Ma- 
 nila, occafions a very remai-kable variety in the manner of equipping 
 the fliip for thefe two different voyages. For the galeon, when fhe 
 fets fail from Manila, being deep laden with a variety of bulky 
 goods, flie has not the conveniency of mounting her lower tire of 
 guns, but carries them in her hold, till flie draws near Cape St. Lu- 
 cas, and is apprehenfive of an enemy. Her hands too are as few 
 as is confiflent with the fafety of the fhip, that flae may be lefs pef^ 
 tered with the flowage of provifions. But on her return from Aca- 
 puko, as her cargoe lies in lefs room, her lower tire is (or ought to 
 be) always mounted before fhe leaves the port, and her crew is aug- 
 mented with a lupplyof failors, and with one or two companies of 
 foot, which are intended to reinforce the garrifon at Manila. And 
 there being befides many Merchants wlio take their paffage to Ma- 
 nila
 
 ( 247 ) 
 nila on board the galeon, her whole number of hands on her returr^ 
 is ufually little fliort of fix hundred, all which are eafily provided for, 
 by reafon of the fmall flowage necefTary for the filver. 
 
 The galeon being thus fitted for her return, the Captain, on 
 leaving the port of Acapulco^ fteers for the latitude of 130 or 14°, 
 and runs on that parallel, till he gets fight of the Ifland of Guam^ 
 one of the Ladrones. In this run the Captain is particularly di- 
 reded to be careful of the flioals of St. Bartholomew^ and of the 
 Ifland of Gafpanco. He is alfo told in his inftrudlions, that to 
 prevent his palling the Ladrones in the dark, there are orders given 
 that, through all the month of June, fires fliall be lighted every 
 night on the higheft part of Guam and Rota, and kept in till the. 
 morning. 
 
 At Giuim there is a fmall Spaiiijl? garrifon, (as will be more par- 
 ticularly mentioned hereafter) purpofely intended to fecure that place 
 for the refrefliment of the galeon, and to yield her all the affift- 
 ance in their power. However, the danger of the road at Guam 
 is fo great, that though the galeon is ordered to call there, yet flie 
 rarely flays above a day or two, but getting her water and refrefli- 
 ments on board as foon as pofiible, flie fleers away direftly for 
 Cape Elpiritu Santo, on the Ifland of Samal. Here the Captain is 
 again ordered to look out for fignals ; and he is told, that centinels 
 will be ported not only on that Cape, but likewife in Catanduanas^ 
 Butufan, Birriborongc, and on the Ifland of Batan. Thefe centinels- 
 are inflruefled to make a fire when they difcover the fliip, which the 
 Captain is carefully to obferve : For if,after this firfl fire is extinguiihed 
 he perceives that four or more are lighted up again, he is then to- 
 conclude that there are enemies on the coafl: y and on this he is im- 
 mediately to endeavour to fpeak with the centinel on fhore, and 
 to procure from, him more particular intelligence of their force, and 
 of the flation they cruife in ; purfuant to which, he is to regulate 
 his condudl, and to endeavour to gain fome fecure port amongft 
 thofe Iflands, without coming in fight of the enemy j and in cafe: 
 
 he.'
 
 ( 248 ) 
 
 he fliould be difcovered when in port, and Ihould be apprehenfive 
 of an attack, he is then to land his treafure, and to take fome 
 of his artillery on fhore for its defence, not neglecting to fend fre- 
 quent and particular accounts to the city of Manila of all that 
 paffes. But if, after the firft fire on fliore, the Captain obferves 
 that two others only are made by the centinels, he is then to con- 
 clude, that there is nothing to fear : And he is to purfue his courfe 
 without interruption, and to make the beft of his way to the port 
 of Cab'tte, which is the port to the city of Manila^ and the con- 
 ftant flation for all the (hips employed in this commerce to 
 Acapulco, 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ( 249 ) 
 
 CHAP. XL 
 
 Our cruife off the port of Acapiilco for the Ma- 
 nila fliip. 
 
 IH A V E already mentioned, in the ninth chapter, that the re- 
 turn of our barge from the port of Acapidco, where fhe had 
 furprized three Negro fifhermen, gave us inexpreflible fatisfac- 
 lion, as we learnt from our prifoners, that the galeon was then pre- 
 paring to put to fea, and that her departure was fixed, by an edidt 
 of the Viceroy of Mexico, to the 1 4th of March, N. S. that is 
 to the 3d of March, according to our reckoning. 
 
 What related to this Majiila fhip being the matter to which we 
 were mofl attentive, it was neceffarily the firfl: article of our exami- 
 nation ; but having fatisfied ourfelves upon this head, we then in- 
 dulged our curiofity in enquiring after other news ; when the prifon- 
 ers informed us, that they had received intelligence at Acapidco, of 
 our having plundered and burnt the town of Paiia ; and that, on 
 this occafion, .the Governor of Acapulco had augmented the fortifi- 
 cations of the place, and had taken feveral precautions to pre- 
 vent us from forcing our way into the harbour ; that in parti- 
 cular, he had placed a guard on the Ifland which lies at the 
 harbour's mouth, and that this guard had been withdrawn but two 
 nights before the arrival of our barge : So that liad the barge fijc- 
 ceeded in her firft attempt, or had flie arrived at the port the fe- 
 cond time two days fooner, flie could fcarccly have avoided being 
 feized on, or if flie had efcaped, it muft have been with the lofs 
 of the greatefl: part of her crew, as flie would have been under the 
 fire of the guard, before flic had known her danger, 
 
 K ^ The
 
 ( 250 ) 
 
 The withdrawing of this guard was a Gircamftance that greatly- 
 encouraged us, as it feemed to demonflrate, not only that the ene- 
 my had not as yet difcovered us, but likewife that they had now no 
 ferther apprehenfions of our vifiting their coaft. Indeed the pri- 
 foners affured us, that they had no knowledge of our being in thofe 
 feas, and that they had therefore flattered themfelves, that, in the 
 long interval fince our taking of Paita, we had fteered another 
 courfe. But we did not confider the opinion of thefe Negro pri- 
 foners as fo authentick a proof of our being hitherto concealed, as. 
 the withdrawing of the guard from the harbour's mouth ; for this 
 being the adion of the Governor, was of all arguments the moft 
 convincing, as he might be fuppofed to have intelligence, with, 
 which the reft of the inhabitants were unacquainted. 
 
 Satisfied therefore that we were undifcovered, and that the time 
 was fixed for the departure of the galeoa from Acapulce, v/e made 
 all neceflary preparations, and waited with the utmoft impatience 
 for the important day. As this was the 3d of March, and it was 
 the I Qth of Fihruary when the barge returned and brought us our 
 intelligence, the Commodore refolved to continue the greateft part 
 of the intermediate time on his prefent ftation, to the weflward of 
 Acatuko, conceiving that in this fituation there would be lels dan- 
 ger of his being feen from the fliore, which was the only circum- 
 ftance that could deprive us of the immenfe treafure, on which we 
 had at prefent fo eagerly fixed our thoughts. During this interval, 
 we were employed in fcrubbing and cleanfing our fhips bottoms, in 
 bringing them into their moft advantageous trim, and in regulating 
 the orders, fignals and ftations to be obferved, when we fhould ar- 
 rive off Acapulco, and the time of the departure of the galeon 
 fliould draw nigh. 
 
 And now, on the firft of March, we made the high lands, ufu- 
 ally called the paps over Acafulco, and got with all poflible expe- 
 dition into the fituation prefcribed by the Commodore's orders. The 
 diflrlbution of our fquadron on this occafion, both for the inter- 
 cepting
 
 ( 2SI ) 
 
 cepting the galeon, and for the avoiding a difcovery from the 
 (hore, was fo very judicious, that it well merits to be diftinftly de- 
 fcribed. The order of it was thus : 
 
 The Centurion brought the paps over the harbour to bear N.N.E, 
 at fifteen leagues dillance, which was a fufficient offing to preveiit 
 our being feen by the enemy. To the weftward of the Centurion 
 there was ftationed the Carmelo, and to the eaftward were the Try- 
 nl Prize, the Gloucefter, and the Carmin : Thefe were all ranged 
 in a circular line, and each fliip was three leagues diftant from the 
 next ; fo that the Carmelo and the Carvmt, which were the two ex- 
 tremes, were twelve leagues diftant from each other : And as the 
 galeon could, without doubt, be difcerned at fix leagues diftance 
 from either extremity, the whole fweep of our fquadron, witaiii 
 which nothing could pafs undifcovered, was at leaft twenty-four 
 leagues in extent ; and yet we were fo conne<3:ed by our fignals, as 
 to be eafily and fpeedily informed of what was feen in any part of 
 the line : And to render this difpofition ftill more compleat, and to 
 prevent even the poflibility of the galeon's efcaping us in the ni?ht, 
 the two Cutters belonging to the Centurion and the Glxice'ter were 
 both manned and fent in fliore, and were ordered to lie all dav at 
 the diftance of four or five leagues ft-om the entrance of the port, 
 where, by reafon of their fmallnefs, they could not poffibly be dif- 
 covered ; but in the night they were direded to ftand nearer to the 
 harbour's mouth, and as the light of the morning came on, they 
 were to return back again to their day-pofts. When the Cutters 
 fhould firft difcover the Manila fhip, one of them was ordered to 
 return to the fquadron, and to make a fignal, whether the galeon 
 ftood to the eaftward or to the weftward ; whilft the other was to 
 follow the galeon at a diftance, and if it grew dark, was to diredt 
 the fquadron in their chace, by fliewing falfe fires. The particu- 
 lar fituation of each fliip and of the Cutters, and the bearings from 
 €ach other, which they were to obferve in order to keep their fta- 
 tions, will be better underftood by the delineation exhibited in the 
 
 K- k 2 annexed
 
 f 252 ) 
 
 annexed plate ; a draught of which was delivered to each of th» 
 Commanders at tb.e fame time with their orders. 
 
 Befides the care we had taken to prevent the galeon from pafUng 
 by us unobferved, we had not been inattentive to the means of en- 
 gaging her to advantage, when we came up with her : For confi- 
 dering the thinnefs of our hands, and the vaunting accounts given 
 by the Spaniarch of her lize, her guns, and her flrength, this was 
 a confideration not to be negleded. As we fuppofcd that none of 
 our fliips but the Centurion and the Gloiicefier were capable of ly- 
 ing along fide of her, we took on board the Centurion all the hands 
 belonging to the Carmelo and the Cannin^ except what were juft fuf- 
 ficient to navigate thofe fliips ; and Captain Saunders was ordered 
 to fend from the Tryai Prize ten EngHjhnun, and as many Negroes, 
 to reinforce the crew of the Gloucejlcr : And for the encourage- 
 ment of our Negroes, of which we had a confiderable number on 
 board, we promifed them, that on their good behaviour they fliould 
 all have their freedom ; and as they had been almofl every day 
 trained to the management of the great guns for the two preceding 
 months, they were very well qualified to be of fervice to us ; and 
 from their hopes of liberty, and in return for the ufage they had 
 met with amongft us, they feemed difpofed to exert themfelves to 
 the utmoft of their power. 
 
 And now being thus prepared for the reception of the galeon, we 
 expedted, with the utmoft impatience, the fo often mentioned 3d 
 of Marcby the day fixed for her departure. And on that day we 
 were all of us moft eagerly engaged in looking out towards Aca- 
 pulco ; and we were fo ftrangely prepofieiTed with the certainty of 
 our intelligence, and with an afiTurance of her coming out of port, 
 that fome or other on board us were conftantly imagining that they 
 difcovered one of our Cutters returning with a fignal. But to our 
 extreme vexation, both this day and the fucceeding night pafled 
 over, without any news of the galeon : However, we did not yet 
 defpair, but were all heartily difpofed to flatter ourfelves, that fome 
 
 unforefeea
 
 ( 253 ) 
 
 unforefeen accident had intervened, which might have put off her 
 departure for a few days ; and fuggeftions of this kind occurred in 
 plenty, as we knew that the time fixed by the Viceroy for her fail- 
 ing, WAS often prolonged on the petition of the Merchants of Mex- 
 ico. Thus we kept up our hopes, and did not abate of our vi<Ti- 
 lance ; and as the 7th of March was Sunday the beginning of 
 Paffion week, which is obferved by the Papifls with great ftridnefs, 
 and a total cefliition from all kinds of labour, fo that no fliip is per- 
 mitted to flir out of port during the whole week, this quieted our 
 apprehenfions for fome days, and difpofed us not to exped: the ga- 
 leon till the week following. On the Friday in this week our Cut- 
 ters returned to us, and the officers on board them were very con- 
 fident that the galeon was ftill in port, for that flie could not pofli- 
 bly have come out but they mufl have (ctn her. On the Monday 
 morning fuccceding pafiion week, that is, on the 1 5th of March, the 
 Cutters were again difpatched to their old ftation, and our hopes were 
 once more indulged in as fiinguine prepoffefllons as before ; but in a 
 week's time our eagernefs was greatly abated, and a general dejedtion 
 and defpondcncy took place in its room. It is true, there were fome 
 few amongll us who ftill kept up their fpirits, and were very inge- 
 nious in finding out reafons to fatisfy therafelves, that the difappoint- 
 ment we had hitherto met with had only been occafioned by a ca- 
 iual delay of the galeon, which a few days would remove, and not 
 by a total fufpenfion of her departure for the whole feafon : But 
 thele fpeculations were not relifhed by the generality of our peo- 
 ple ; for they were perfuaded that the enemy had, by fome acci- 
 dent, difcovercd our being upon the coafl, and had therefore laid 
 an embargo on the galeon till the next year. And indeed this per- 
 fuafion was but too well founded ; for we afterwards learnt, that our 
 barge, when fent on the difcovery of the port of j^cajuko, had 
 been feen from the fliore ; and that this circumftance (no embarka- 
 tions but canoes ever frequenting that coaft) was to them a fufficient 
 proof of the neighbourhood of our fquadron ; on which, tliey flop- 
 ped the galeon till the fucceeding year. 
 
 Tht
 
 ( 254 ) 
 
 The Commodore himfelf, though he declared not his opinion, 
 was yet in his own thoughts very apprehenfive that we were difco- 
 vered, and that the departure of the galeon v\ as put off ; and he 
 had, in confequence of this opinion, formed a plan for poffeffing 
 himfelf of Acapulco ; for he had no doubt but the treafure as yet 
 remained in the town, even though the orders for the difpatching 
 of the galeon were countermanded. Indeed the place was too well 
 defended to be carried by an open attempt; for befides the garrifon 
 and the crew of the galeon, there were in it at leaft a thoufand men 
 well armed, who had marched thither as guards to the treafure, when 
 it was brought down from the city of Mexico : For the roads there- 
 abouts are fo much infefled either |py independent Itidians or fugi- 
 tives, that the Spaniardi never truft the filver without an armed 
 force to protedl it. And befides, had the ftrength of the place been 
 lefs confiderable, and fuch as might have appeared not fuperior to 
 the efforts of our fquadron, yet a declared attack would have pre- 
 vented us from receiving any advantages from its fuccefs ; fince upon 
 the firft difcovery of our fquadron, all the treafure would have been 
 ordered into the country, and in a few hours would have been 
 out of our reach ; fo that our conqueff would have been only a defo- 
 late town, where we (hould have found nothing that could have 
 been of the leaft confequence to us. 
 
 For thefe reafons, the furprifal of the place was the only method 
 that could at all anfwer our purpofe ; and therefore the manner in 
 which Mr. Atifo^i propofed to condudl this enterprize was, by fet- 
 ting fail with the fquadron in the evening, time enough to arrive at 
 the port in the night ; and as there is no danger on that coaft, he 
 would have flood boldly for the harbour's mouth, where he ex- 
 pedted to arrive, and might perhaps have entered it, before the 
 Spaniards were acquainted with his defigns : Affoon as he had run 
 into the harbour, he intended to have puflit two hundred of his men 
 on fliore in his boats, who were immediately to attempt the fort- 
 markt (©) in the plan mentioned in the preceding chapter, and 
 inferted towards the beginning of the third book ; whilft he, the 
 
 Com-
 
 ( 2<n 
 
 Commodore, with his fhips, was employed in firing upon the town, 
 and the other batteries. And thefe different operations, which would 
 have been executed with great regularity, could har Uy have fiiled 
 of fucceeding againft an enemy, who would have been p' evented 
 by the fuddennefs of the attack, and by the want of day-iight, from 
 concerting any meafures for their defence ; fo tli;u it was extremely 
 probable that we fhould have carried the fort by dorm ; and then th& 
 other batteries, being open behind, muft have been foon abandoned j 
 after which, the town, and its Inhabitants, and all the treafure, muft 
 neceflarily have fallen into our hands ; for the place is fo cooped 
 up with mountains, that it is fcarcely poflible to efcape out of it,. 
 but by the great road, markt {Hi^ in the plan, which paflcs under 
 the fort. This was the projedt which the Commodore had fettled 
 in general in his thoughts; but when he began to inquire into fuch 
 circumftances as were neceffary to be confidered in order to regu- 
 late the particulars of its execution, he found there was a difficulty, 
 which, being infuperable, occafioned the enterprize to be laid afide: 
 For on examining the prifoners about the winds which prevail near 
 the ftiore, he learnt (and it was afterwards confirmed by the officers 
 of our cutters) that nearer in fhore there was always a dead calm 
 for the greateft part of the night, and that towards morning, wlien 
 a gale fprung up, it conftantly blew off the land ; fo that the fetting 
 fail from our prefent flation in the evening, and arriving at Acapu'co 
 before day- light, was impoffible. 
 
 This fcheme, as hath been faid, was formed by the Commodore, 
 upon a fuppofition that the galeon was detained till the next year : 
 But as this was a matter of opinion only, and not founded on intel- 
 ligence, and there was a poffibility that (lie might lii.l put to fea in 
 a {hort time, the Commodore thought it prudent to continue his 
 cruife upon this ftation, as long as the neceffary attention to his 
 ftores of wood and water, and to the coiwenient (cx(o\\ for his fu- 
 ture paffage to Chiii!, would give him leave ; and therefore, as the 
 Cutters had been ordered to remain before Acapuico till the 23d of 
 March^ the fquadron did not change its polition till that day ; when 
 
 the
 
 ( 256) 
 
 riie Cutters not appearing, we were in fome pain for them, appre- 
 hending they might have fuffered either from the enemy or the 
 weather ; but we were relieved from our concern the next morn- 
 ing, when we difcovered them, though at a great diftance and to 
 the leeward of the fquadron : We bore down to them and took 
 them up, and were informed by them, that, conformable to their 
 orders, they had left their ftation the day before, without having 
 feen any thing of the galeon ; and we found, that the reafon of 
 their being fo far to the leeward of us was a ftrong current, which 
 had driven the whole fquadron to windward. 
 
 And here it is neccllary to mention, that, by information which 
 was afterwards received, it appeared that this prolongation of our 
 cruife was a very prudent meafure, and afforded us no contemptible 
 chance of feizing the treafure, on which we had fo long fixed our 
 thoughts. For it feems, after the embargo was laid on the galeon, 
 as is before mentioned, the perfons principally interefted in the car- 
 goc fent feveral exprelTes to Mexico, to beg that flie might flill be 
 permitted to depart : For as they knew, by the accounts fent from 
 Paita, that we had not more than three hundred men in all, they 
 infifted that there was nothing to be feared from us ; for that the 
 a,a!eon (carrving above twice as many hands as our whole fquadron) 
 would be greatly an overmatch for us. And though the Viceroy 
 was inflexible, yet, on the account of their reprefentation, flie was 
 kept ready for the fea for near three weeks after the firft order came 
 to detain her. 
 
 When we had taken up the Cutters, all the fliips being joined, 
 the Commodore made a fignal to fpeak with their Commanders ; 
 and upon enquiry into the (lock of frelh water remaining on board 
 the fquadron, it was found to be fo very flender, that we were un- 
 der a neceffity of quitting our ftation to procure a frefli fupply : And 
 confulting what place was the properell for this purpofe, it was 
 agreed, that the harbour of Seguatanco or Chcqueta7i being the near- 
 eft to us, was, on that account, the moft eligible j and it was there- 
 fore irximediatcly refolved to make the beft of our way thither : And 
 
 tliat
 
 ( 257 ) 
 
 that, even while we were recruiting our water, we might not to- 
 tally abandon our views upon the galeon, which perhaps, upon cer- 
 tain intelligence of our being employed at Chequetan, might venture 
 to flip out to fea, our Cutter, under the command of Mr. Hughes, 
 the Lieutenant of the Tryal Prize, was ordered to cruife off the 
 port of Acapulco for twenty-four days ; that if the galeon fliould 
 fet i\\A in that interval, we might be fpeedily informed of it. In 
 purfuance of thefe refolutions we endeavoured to ply to the wefl- 
 ward, to gain our intended port, but v/ere often interrupted in our 
 progrefs by calms and adverfe currents : In thefe intervals we em- 
 ployed ourfelves in taking out the moft valuable part of the cargoes 
 of the Carmeh and Cannin prizes, which two fliips we intended to 
 defl:roy as foon as we had tolerably cleared them. By the fiiH: of 
 April we were fo far advanced towards Seguataneo, that we thou'^ht 
 it expedient to fend out two boats, that they might range along the 
 coaft, and difcover the watering place ; they were gone fome days, 
 and our water being now very fliort, it was a particular felicity to 
 us that we met with daily fupplies of turtle, for had we been en- 
 tirely confined to fait provifions, we mufl have fuffercd extremely 
 in fo warm a climate. Indeed our prefent circumftances were fuf- 
 ficiently alarming, and gave the moft confiderate amongft us as 
 much concern as any of the numerous perils we had hitherto en- 
 countered J for our boats, as we conceived by their not returning 
 had not as yet difcovered a place proper to water at, and by the leak- 
 age of our caflc and other accidents, we had not ten days water on 
 board the whole fquadron : So that from the known difficulty of 
 procuring water on this coaft, and the little reliance we had on the 
 Buccaneer writers (the only guides we had to truft to) we were ap- 
 prehenfive of being foon expofed to a calamity, the moft terrible of 
 any in the long diflaeartning catalogue of the diftrefles of a fea- 
 faring life. 
 
 But thefe gloomy fuggeftions were foon happily ended ; for our 
 boats returned on the 5th of April, having difcovered a place pro- 
 per for our purpofe, about fcven miles to the weftward of tlie rocks 
 
 LI of
 
 ( 2S8 ) 
 
 of Seguataneo, which, by the defcription they gave of it, appeared 
 to be the port, called by Dampier the harbour of Cheqiutan. The 
 fuccefs of our boats was highly agreeable to us, and they were or- 
 dered out again the next day, to found the harbour and its entrance, 
 which they had reprefented as very narrow. At their return they 
 reported the place to be free from any danger ; fo that on the 7th we 
 ftood in, and that evening came to an anchor in eleven fathom. 
 The Gloucefier came to an anchor at the fame time with us ; but 
 tlie Carmelo and the Carmin having fallen to leeward, the Tryal 
 Prize was ordered to join them, and to bring them in, which in two 
 or three days flie effeded. 
 
 Thus, after a four months continuance at fea from the leaving 
 oi ^ibo, and having but fix days water on board, we arrived in the 
 harbour of Chequctan, the defcription of which, and of the adja- 
 cent coafl, fliall be the bufinefs of the enfuing chapter. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ( 259 ) 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 Defcription of the harbour of Chequetan, and of the 
 adjacent coaft and country. 
 
 TH E harbour of Chequetan, which we here propofe to de- 
 fcribe, lies in the latitude of 17°: 36' North, and is about 
 thirty leagues to the weftward of Acapulco. It is eafy to 
 be difcovered by any fliip that will keep well in with the land, es- 
 pecially by fuch as range down coaft from Acapulco, and will attend 
 to the following particulars. 
 
 There is a beach of fand, which extends eighteen leagues from 
 the harbour of Acapulco to the weftward, againft which the fea 
 breaks with fuch violence, that it is impoflible to land in any part 
 of it : But yet the ground is fo clean, that fliips, in the fliir fea- 
 fon, may anchor in great fafety, at the diftance of a mile or two 
 from the fliore. The land adjacent to this beach is generally low, 
 full of villages, and planted with a great number of trees; and on 
 the tops of fome fmall eminencies there are feveral look-out towers; 
 fo that the face of the country affords a very agreeable profpedt ; 
 For the cultivated part, which is the part here defcribed, extends 
 feme leagues back from the fliore, and there appears to be bounded 
 by the chain of mountains, which ftretch to a confiderable diftance 
 on either fide of Acapulco. It is a moft remarkable particularity 
 that in this whole extent, being, as hath been mentioned, eighteen 
 leagues, and containing, in appearance, the moft populous and beft 
 planted diftridt of the \\\\o\t coaft, there ftiould be neither canoes 
 boats, nor any other embarkations either for fiihing, coaftin"', or for 
 pieafure. 
 
 LI 2 ' The
 
 ( 260 ) 
 
 The beach here defcribed is the furefl: guide for finding the har- 
 bour of Chequctan ; for five miles to the weflward of the extremity 
 of this beach there appears a hummock, which at firft makes hke an 
 ifland, and is in ftiape not very unlike the hill of Fctaflan hereafter 
 mentioned, though much fmallcr. Three miles to the weftward of 
 this hummock is a white rock lying near the fliore,* which cannot 
 cafily be paffed by unobfcrved : It is about two cables length from 
 the land, and lies in a large bay about nine leagues over. The 
 weftvvard point of this bay is the hill of Petaplan, which is repre- 
 fented in the fame plate with the view of the Ifland of ^icara and 
 ^iibo, and is here inferted. This hill too, like the forementioned 
 hummock, may be at firfl miflaken for an ifland, though it he, in 
 reality, a peninfula, which is joined to the Continent by a low and 
 narrow Ifthmus, covered over with flirubs and fmall trees. The 
 bay of Seguataneo extends from this hill a great way to the wefl- 
 ward ; and it appears, by a plan of the bay of Petapkn, which is 
 part of that of Seguataneo, and is here annexed, that at a fmall 
 diflance from the hill, and oppofite to the entrance of the bay, there 
 ■ is an aflemblagc of rocks, which are white from the excrements of 
 boobies and tropical birds. Four of thefe rocks are high and large, 
 and, together with feveral fmaller ones, are by the help of a little 
 imagination, pretended to refemble the form of a crofs, and are 
 called the White Friers. Thefe rocks, as appears by the plan, bear 
 W. by N. from Petapkn ; and about feven miles to the weflward 
 of them lies the harbour of Chcquetan, which is flill more minutely 
 diflinguiflied by a large and fingle rock, that rifes out of the wa- 
 ter a mile and an half diflant from its entrance, and bears S. 4. W. 
 from the middle of it. The appearance of the entrance of this har- 
 bour is very accurately reprefented in the annexed plate, where {e) 
 is the Eafl point of the harbour, and {d) the Wefl, the foremen- 
 tioned rock being marked (/). In the fame view {a) is a large 
 fandy bay, but where there is no landing ; {b) are four remarkable 
 white rocks ; and from the ifland {c) there runs a large bay to the 
 weft ward. 
 
 Thefe
 
 >t«: ,;, :,. i^sff- 
 
 
 CL^l '/^7/^ p///.
 
 .^.^-*';::;v^'*^ 
 
 O-y/'y^M^ ff///^ k^y/v///.v ^/^^'ChEQUETANw SEGUATANEO '/vW//^^7'/rV./.W/////)v- '/////t-^. 
 
 / 1 / ./ / 
 
 ^fi^r.m^a^^yca^ 
 
 7 
 
 r
 
 ( 26l ) 
 
 Thefe are the infallible marks by which the harbour of Cheque" 
 tan may be known to thofe who keep well in u ith the land ; and 
 I muft add, that the coaft is no ways to be dreaded from the mid- 
 dle of OElober to the beginning of May^ nor is there then any dan- 
 ger from the winds : Though in the remaining part of the year 
 there are frequent and violent tornadoes, heavy rains, and hard gales 
 in all diredlions of the compafs. But as to thof,; who keep at any 
 confiderable diftance from the coaft, there is no other method to 
 be taken by them for finding this harbour, than that of making 
 it by its latitude : For there are fo many ranges of mountains rifing 
 one upon the back of another within land, that no drawings of the 
 appearance of the coaft can be at all depended on, when off at fea j 
 for every little change of diftance or variation of pofition brings 
 new mountains in view, and produces an infinity of different prof- 
 pedls, which would render all attempts of delineating the afpedl of 
 the coaft impoffible. 
 
 This may fuffice as to the methods of difcovering the harbour of 
 Chequetan. A plan of the harbour itfelf is reprefented in the annex- 
 ed plate ; where it appears, that its entrance is but about half a 
 mile broad ; the two points which form it, and which are faced 
 with rocks that are almoft perpendicular, bear from each other S, E. 
 and N. W. The harbour is invironed on all fides, except to the 
 weftward, with high mountains overfpread with trees. The paf- 
 fage into it is very fafe on either fide of the rock that lies off the 
 mouth of it, though we, both in coming in and going out, left it to 
 the eaftward. The ground without the harbour is gravel mixed 
 with ftones, but within it is a foft mud : And it muft be remember- 
 ed, that in coming to an anchor a good allowance fliould be made 
 for a large fwell, which frequently caufes a great fend of the fea j 
 as like wife, for the ebbing and flowing of the tide, which we ob- 
 ferved to be about five feet, and that it fet nearly E. and W. 
 
 The watering place is fituated in that part of the harbour, which 
 is taken notice of in the plan for frefh water, This, during the 
 whole time of our ftay, had the appearance of a large ftanding lake, 
 
 without
 
 ( 262 ) 
 
 without any viGblc outlet into the fea, from which it Is feparatcd 
 by a part of the ftrand. The origin of this lake is a fpring j that 
 bubbles out of the ground near half a mile within the country. We 
 found the water a little brackilh, but more confiderablv fo towards 
 the fea-fide ; for the nearer we advanced towards the fpring-hcad 
 the fofter and freflier it proved : This laid us under a neceflity of 
 filling all our caflcs from the furtheft part of the lake, and occafion- 
 cd us fome trouble -, and would have proved ftill more difficult, had 
 it not been for our particular management, which for the convenien- 
 cy of it deferves to be recommended to all who fliall hereafter water 
 at tliis place. Our method confilled in making ufe of canoes which 
 drew but little water ; for, loading them with a number of fmall 
 cafk, they eafily got up the lake to the fpring-head, and the fmall 
 cafk being there filled were in the fame manner tranfported back 
 again to the beach, where fome of our hands always attended to 
 ftart them into other caiks of a larger fize. 
 
 Though this In.ke, during our continuance there, appeared to have 
 no outlet into the lea, yet there is reafon to fuppofe that in the wet 
 feafon it overflows the ftrand, and communicates with the ocean ; 
 for Daiiipicr, who was formerly here, fpeaks of it as a large river. 
 Indeed there muft be a very great body of water amafled before " 
 the lake can rife hi;jh enough to overflow the ftrand ; for the neigh- ; 
 bouring country is fo low, that great part of it muft be covered with 
 water, before it can run out over the beach. 
 
 As the country in the neighbourhood, particularly the tradl which 
 we have already defcribed, appeared to be well peopled, and cul- 
 tivated, we hoped thence to have procured freili provifion and other 
 rcfrelhments which we flood in need of. With this view, the 
 morning after we came to an anchor, the Commodore ordered a 
 party of forty men, well armed, to inarch into the country, and to 
 cp.dcavour to difcover fome town or village, where they were to at- 
 tempt to fet on foot a correfpondence with the inhabitants ; for we 
 doubted not, if we could have any intercourfe with them, but that 
 by prefents of fome of the coarfe mcrchandife, with which our prizes 
 
 abounded
 
 (263) 
 
 abounded (which, though of little confequence to us, would to 
 them be extremely valuable) we fliould allure them to furnifli us 
 with whatever fruits or frelb provifions were in their power. Our 
 people were directed on this occafion to proceed with the greateft 
 circumfpev5lion, and to make as little oftentation of hoftility as poffi- 
 blcj for we were fenfible, that we could meet with no wealth 
 here worth our notice, and that what necefTaries we really wanted, 
 we {hould in all probability be better fupplied with by an open 
 amicable traffic, than by violence and force of arms. But this en- 
 deavour of opening an intercourfe with the inhabitants proved inef- 
 fed:ual ; for towards evening, the party which had been ordered 
 to march into the country, returned greatly fatigued with their un- 
 ufual exercife, and fome of them fo far fpent as to have fainted by 
 the way, and to be obliged to be brought back upon the Oioulders 
 of their companions. They had marched in all, as they conceived, 
 about ten miles, in a beaten road, where they often faw the freHi 
 dung of horfes or mules. When they had got about five miles 
 from the harbour, the road divided between the mountains into 
 two branches, one running to the Eaft, and the other to the Weft : 
 After fome deliberation about the courfe they fhould take, they 
 agreed to purfue the eaftern road, which, when they had followed 
 for fome time, led them at once into a large plain or Savannah ; 
 on one fide of which they difcovered a centinel on horfeback with 
 a piftol in his hand : It was fuppofed that when they firft faw him 
 be was afleep, but his horfe ftartled at the glittering of their arms, 
 and turning round fuddenly rode off with his mafter, who was very 
 near being unhorfed in the furprize, but he recovered his feat, and 
 efcaped with the lofs only of his hat and his piftol which he drop- 
 ped on the ground. Our people ran after him, in hopes of difcover- 
 ing fome village or habitation which he would retreat to, but as he 
 had the advantage of being on horfeback, he foon loft fight of them. 
 However, they were unwilling to come back without making fome 
 difcovery, and therefore ftill followed the track they were in ; but 
 the heat of the day cncreafing, and finding no water to quench their 
 
 thirft,
 
 ( 264 ) 
 thhft they were firft obliged to halt, and then rcfolved to return ; 
 for as they faw no figns of plantations or cultivated land, they had 
 no reafon to believe that there was any village or fettlement near 
 them : But to leave no means untried of procuring fome intercourfc 
 with the people, the officers ftuck up feveral poles in the road, to 
 which were affixed declarations, written in SpamJ].\ encouraging 
 the inhabitants to come down to tlie harbour, and to traffic with us, 
 eivin"- the llrongeft affurances of a kind reception, and faithful pay- 
 ment for any provifions they fhould bring us. This was doubtlcfs 
 a very prudent meafure, but yet it produced no effedl ; for we ne- 
 ver faw any of them during the whole time of our continuance at 
 this port x)f Cbcqiictan. But had our men upon the divifion of the 
 path, taken the weftern road inftead of the eaftern, it would fcon 
 have led them to a village or town, which in fome Spanijh manu- 
 fcripts is mentioned as being in the neighbourhood of this port, and 
 which we afterwards learnt was not above two miles from that 
 
 turning. 
 
 And on this occafion I cannot help mentioning another adven- 
 ture which happened to fome of our people in the bay of Peta- 
 plan, as it may help to give the reader a juft idea of the temper of 
 the inhabitants of this part of the world. Sometime after our ar- 
 rival at Cbequctan, Lieutenant Brett was fent by the Commodore, 
 with two of our boats under his command, to examine the coaft 
 to the eaftward, particularly to make obfervations on the bay and 
 watering place of Petaflan^ a plan of which has been already in- 
 fcrted in this chapter. As Mr, Brett with one of the boats was pre- 
 paring to go on ffiore towards the hill of Petaplati, he, accidentally 
 lookino- acrofs the bay, perceived, on the oppofite ftrand, three 
 fmall fquadrons of horfe parading upon the beach, and feeming to 
 advance towards the place where he propofed to land. On fight 
 of this he immediately put off the boat, though he had but fixteen 
 men with him, and flood over the bay towards them : And he 
 foon came near enough to perceive that they were mounted on 
 very fightly horfes, and were armed with carbines and lances. On 
 
 feeing
 
 ( 26i ) 
 
 feeing him make towards them, they formed upon the beach, and 
 feemed refolved to difpute his landing, firing feveral diftant flwt at 
 him as he drew near ; till at laft the boat being arrived within a 
 reafonable diftance of the moft advanced fquadron, Mr. Brett or- 
 dered his people to fire, upon which tliis refolute cavalry inftantly 
 ran in great confufion into the wood, through a fmall opening 
 which appears in the plan. In this precipitate flight one of their 
 horfes fell down and threw his rider ; but, whether he was wound- 
 ed or not, we could not learn, for both man and horfe foon got up 
 again, and followed the reft into the wood. In the mean time tlie 
 other two fquadrons, who were drawn up at a great diftance be- 
 hind, out of the reach of our Ihot, were calm fpedators of the 
 rout of their comrades j for they had halted on our hrft approach, 
 and never advanced afterwards. It was doubtlefs fortunate for our 
 people that the enemy ad:ed with fo little prudence, and exerted fo 
 little fpirit ; for had they concealed themfelves till our men had 
 landed, it is fcarcely poffible but the whole boat's crew muft have 
 fallen into their hands ; fince the Spaniards were not much ftiort of 
 two hundred, and the whole number with Mr. Brett, as hath 
 been already mentioned, only amounted to fixteen. However, 
 the difcovery of fo confiderable a force, collefled in this bay of 
 Fetaplan. obliged us conftantly to keep a boat or two before it : For 
 we were apprehenfive that the Cutter, which we had left to cruife 
 off Acapidco, might, on her return, be furprized by the enemy, if 
 flie did not receive timely information of her danger. But now to 
 proceed with the account of the harbour of Chcqu tan. 
 
 After our unfuccefsful attempt to engage the people of the country, 
 to furnifti us with the neceilarics wc wanted, we defifted from any 
 more endeavours of the lame nature, and were obliged to he con- 
 tented with what we could procure for ourfelves in the neighbour- 
 hood of the port. We caught filli here in tolerable quantities, ef- 
 pecially when the fmoothnefs of the water permitted us to hale the 
 Seyne. Amongft the reft, we got here caval'ies, breams, mullets, 
 foles, fiddle-filh, fea eggs, aiid lobfters : And we here, and in no 
 
 M m other
 
 ( 266 ) 
 
 other place, met vvltli that extraordinary fifli called the Torpedo, at 
 numbing fifh, which is in Ihape very like the fiddle-fifh, and is 
 not to be known from it but by a brown circular fpot of about the 
 bignef; of a crown piece near the center of its back ; perhaps its figure 
 will be better underftood, when I foy it is a flat fi(h, much refembling 
 the thorn-back. This fifh, the Torpedo, is indeed of a moft fingular 
 nature, produdive of the ftrangeft effeds on the human body : For 
 whoever handles it, or happens even to fet his foot upon it, is pre- 
 fently feized with a numbnefs all over him ; but which is more 
 diftinguifliable, in that limb which was in immediate contaft v\'ith 
 it. The fame efFe<ft too will be in fome degree produced by touch- 
 ing the fifli with any thing held in the hand ; for I myfelf had a 
 confiderable degree of numbnefs conveyed to my right arm, through 
 a walking cane which I refted on the body of the fifli for fome 
 time ; and I make no doubt but I fhould have been much more 
 fenfibly afFeded, had not the fi(h been near expiring when I made 
 the experiment : For it is obfervable that this influence adls with 
 moft viy;our when the fiQi is firfl: taken out of the water, and en- 
 tirely ceafes when it is dead, fo that it may be then handled or even 
 eaten without any inconvenience. I fhall only add that the numb- 
 nefs of my arm on thisoccalion did not go off on a fudden, as the 
 accounts of fome Naturalifts gave me reafon to expeft, but dimi- 
 niflied gradually, fo that I had fome fenfation of it remaining till 
 
 the next day. 
 
 To the account given of the fifli we met with here, I muft add, 
 that though turtle now grew fcarce, and we met with none in this 
 harbour of Chequetan, yet our boats, which, as I have men- 
 tioned , were ftationed off" Petaplan , often fupplied us there- 
 with ; and though this was a food that we had now been fo long as 
 it were confined to, (for it was the only frefti provifions which we 
 had taftcd for near fix months) yet we were far from being cloyed 
 with it, or from finding that the relilli we had of it at all dimi- 
 niflied. 
 
 The
 
 ( 267 ) 
 
 The animals wc met with on fhore were principally guanos, 
 with which the country abounds, and which are by fome reckoned 
 delicious food. We faw no hearts of prey here, except we {hould 
 efteeni that amphibious animal, the alligator, as fuch, feveral of 
 which our people difcovered, but none of them very krge. Howe- 
 ver, we were fatished that there were great numbers of tygers in 
 the woods, though none of them came in fight; for we every 
 morning found the beach near the watering place imprinted very 
 thick with their footftcps : But we never apprehended any mifchief 
 from them ; for they are by no means fo fierce as the Afiatic or 
 African tyger, and are rarely, if ever known, to attack mankind. 
 Birds were here in fufHcient plenty ; for we had abundance of phca- 
 fants of different kinds, fome of them of an uncommon fize, but 
 they were very dry and taftelefs food. And befides thefe we had a 
 variety of fmaller birds, particularly parrots, which we often killed 
 for food. 
 
 The fruits and vegetable refrefliments at this place were neither 
 plentiful, nor of the heft kinds : There were, it is true, a few 
 bulhes fcattered about the woods, which fupplied us with limes, 
 but we fcarcely could procure enough for our prefent ufe ; and 
 thefe, with a fmall plumb of an agreeable acid, called in ^Jamaica 
 the Hog-Plu}}ib, together with another fruit called a Papak, were 
 the only fruits to be found in the woods. Nor is there any otlier 
 ufeful vegetable here worth mentioning, except brook-lime : This 
 indeed grew in great quantities near the freili- water banks ; and, as 
 it was efteemed an antifcorbutic, we fed upon it frequently, though 
 its extreme bitternefs made it very unpalatable. 
 
 Thefe are the articles moft worthy of notice in this harbour of 
 Chequetan. I fliall only mention a particular of the coaft lying to 
 the weilward of it, that to the eaftward having been already def- 
 cribed. As Mr. Anfon was always attentive to whatever might be 
 of confequence to thofe who might frequent thefe feas hereafter ; 
 and, as we had obfcrved, that there was «b double land to the 
 weflward of Chequetan, which ftretched out to a confiderable di- 
 
 M m 2 ftancc,
 
 ( 268 ) 
 
 ftance, with a kind of opening, which appeared not unlike the in- 
 let to iomc harbour, the Commodore, foon after we came to an. 
 anchor, fent a boat to difcover it moi-e accurately, and it was found, 
 on a nearer examination, that the two hills, which formed the dou- 
 ble land, were joined together by a valley, and that there was no 
 harbour nor flielter between them. 
 
 By all that hath been faid it will appear, that the conveniencies 
 of this port of Chcqiictan, particularly in the articles of refrefliment, 
 are not altogether fuch as might be defired : But yet, upon the 
 whole, it is a place of confiderable confequence, and the know- 
 ledcre of it may be of great import to future crullers. For it is the 
 only fecure harbour in a vafl: extent of coaft, except Acapuko,. 
 which is in the hands of the enemy. It lies at a proper diftance 
 from Acapulco for the convenience of fuch fliips as may have any 
 defio'ns on the Manila galeon ; and it is a place, where wood and 
 water may be taken in with great fecurity, in defpight of the ef- 
 forts of the inhabitants of the adjacent diftrift : For there is but 
 one narrow path which leads through the woods into the country,, 
 and this is eafily to be fecured by a very fmall party, againft all the 
 ilrencfth the Spaniards in that neighbourhood can mufter. After, 
 this account of Chequctan, and the coaft contiguous to it, we flialL 
 return to the recital of our own proceedings. 
 
 CHAP,
 
 f 269 ) 
 
 CHAP. Xlll. 
 
 Our proceedings at Chzquetan and on the adjacent 
 coaft, till our letting fail for Aft a. 
 
 TH E next morning, after our coming to an anchor in the 
 harbour of Cheqiietan, we fent about ninety of our men 
 well armed on fliore, forty of whom were ordered to march 
 into the country, as hath been mentioned, and the remaining fifty 
 were employed to cover the watering place, and to prevent any in- 
 terruption from the natives. 
 
 Here we compleated the unloading of the Carmelo and Carmit?, 
 which we had begim at fea j at leaft, we took out of them the in- 
 dico, cacao, and cochineal, with fome iron for ballaft, which were 
 all the goods we intended to preferve, though they did not amount 
 to a tenth of their cargoes. Here too it was agreed, after a mature 
 confultation, to deftroy the Tryah Prize, as well as the Carmelo and 
 Carmm, whofe fate had been before refolved on. Indeed the Hiip 
 was' in good repair and fit for the fea ; but as the whole numbers 
 on board our fquadron did not amount to the complement of a fourth 
 rate man of war, we found it was impoffible to divide them into 
 three fliips, without rendering them incapable of navigating in 
 fafety in the tempefluous weather we had reafon to expedl on the 
 coaft of China, where we fuppofed we {liould arrive about the time 
 of the change of the monfoons. Thefc confiderations determined 
 the Commodore to deftroy the Tryal Prize, and to reinforce the 
 Gkiicelhr with the greateft part of her crew. And in confequence 
 of this refolve, all the ftores on board the Tryal Prize were removed 
 into the other fhips, and the Prize herfclf, with the Carvulo and 
 Carmin, were prepared for fcuttling with all the expedition we were 
 mafters of; but the greateft diliiculcies we were under in laying in a 
 I ftore
 
 ( 270 ) 
 
 flore of \v?Aer (which have been already touched on) together 
 \vith the neccflary repairs of our rigging and other unavoidable oc- 
 cupations, took us up fo much time, and lound us fuch unexpeft- 
 cd employment, that it was near the end of ^pri'I before we were 
 in a condition to leave the place. 
 
 During our ftay here, there happened an incident, which, as it 
 proved the means of convincing our friends in Engl tin d oi our fafe- 
 ty, which for feme time they had defpaired of, and were then in 
 doubt about, I fliall beg leave particularly to recite. 1 have ob- 
 ferved, in the preceding chapter, that from this harbour of Cheque- 
 tan there was but one path- way which led through the woods into 
 the country. This we found much beaten, and were thence con- 
 vinced, that it was well known to the inhabitants. As it pafled by 
 the ff ring-head, and was the only avenue by which the Spm:iarh 
 could approach us, we, at fome diflance beyond the fpring-head, 
 felled feveral large trees, and laid them one upon the other acrofs 
 the path ; and at this barricadoe we conftantly kept a guard : And 
 we befides ordered our men employed in watering to have their 
 arms ready, and, in cafe of any alarm, to march inftantly to this 
 poft. And though our principal intention was to prevent our being 
 difturbed by any fudden attack of the enemy's horfe, yet it anfwered 
 another purpofe, which was not in itfelf lefs important ; this was 
 to hinder our own people from ftraggling fingly into the country, 
 where we had reafon to believe they would be furprized by the 
 Spaniards, who would doubtlefs be extremely folicitous to pick up 
 fome of them, in hopes of getting intelligence of our future de- 
 figns. To avoid this inconvenience, the ftrideft orders were given 
 to the centinels, to let no perfon whatever pafs beyond their poft : 
 But notwithftanding this precaution, we miffed one Lewis Leger^ 
 who was the Commodore's Cook ; and as he was a Frenchman, and 
 fufped-cd to be a Papift, it was by fome imagined that he had de- 
 lerted, with a view of betraying all that he knew to the enemy j 
 but this appeared, by the event, to be an ill-grounded furmife ; for 
 it was afterwards known, that he had been taken by fome Indians, 
 
 who
 
 ( 271 ) 
 
 who carried him priibner to Acapiiko, from whence he was transferred 
 to Mexico, and then to Vera Cruz, where he was (hipped on board a 
 veflel bound to Old Spai?i : And the veiTel being obliged by fome acci- 
 dent to put into Lijbon, Leger efcaped on fhore, and was by the Bri- 
 tip:) Conful fent from thence to England; where he brought the firil: 
 authentick account of the fafety of the Commodore, and of what he 
 had done in the South- Seas. The relation he gave of his own fei- 
 zure was, that he rambled into the woods at fome diftan :e from the 
 barricadoe, where he had firft attempted to pafs, but had been 
 flopped and threatned to be puniflied ; that his principal view was 
 to get a quantity of limes for his Mafler's ftore ; and that in this 
 occupation he was furprized unawares by four India?is, who flripped 
 him naked, and carried him in that condition to j^capuko, expofed 
 to the fcorching heat of the fun, which at that time of the year 
 flione with its greatefl violence : And afterwards at Mexico his treat- 
 ment in prifon was fufhciently fevere, and the whole courfe of his 
 captivity was a continued inftance of the hatred, which the Spa~ 
 niards bear to all thofe who endeavour to difturb them in the peace- 
 able poflelfion of the coafts of the South-Seas. Indeed Leger's 
 fortune was, upon the whole, extremely fingular ; for after the 
 hazards he had run in the Commodore's fquadron, and the feveri- 
 ties he had fuffered in his long confinement amongft the enemy, a 
 more fatal difafler attended him on his return to England : For 
 though, when he arrived in London, fome of Mr. AnJon% friends 
 interefted themfelves in relieving him from the poverty to which his 
 captivity had reduced him ; yet he did not long enjoy the benefit of 
 their humanity, for he was killed in an infignificant night brawl, 
 the caufe of which could fcarcely be difcovered. 
 
 And here I muft obferve, that though the enemy never appeared 
 in fight during our ftay in this harbour, yet we perceived that there 
 were large parties of them incamped in the woods about us ; for 
 we could fee their fmokes, and could thence determine that they 
 were pofled in a circular line furrounding us at a diflance ; and 
 
 jufl
 
 ( 272 ) 
 
 juft before our coming away they feemed, by the Increafe of thek 
 fires, to have received a confiderable reinforcement. But to return : 
 
 Towards the latter end of Aprils the unloading of our three 
 prizes, our wooding and watering, and, in flaort, all our propofed 
 emplovments at the harbour of Chcqiietaji, were com pleated : So 
 that, on the 27th of April , the Tryal's Prize, the Cainielo and the 
 Carmln, all which we here intended to deftroy, were towed on 
 fliore and fcuttled, and a quantity of combuftible materials were 
 diftributed in their upper works ; and the next morning the Centu- 
 rion and the Glouccjicr weighed anchor, but as there was but little 
 wind, and that not in their favour, they were obliged to warp out 
 of the harbour. When they had reached the offing, one of the 
 boats was difpatched back again to fet fire to our prizes, which 
 was accordingly executed. And a canoe was left fixed to a grap- 
 nel in the middle of the harbour, with a bottle in it well corked, 
 inclofing a letter to Mr. Hughes, who commanded the Cutter, 
 which was ordered to cruife before the port of Acapulco, when we 
 came off that flation. And on this occafion I mull mention more 
 particularly than I have yet done, the views of the Commodore 
 in leaving the Cutter before that port. 
 
 When we were neceflitated to make for Chequetan to take in our 
 water, Mr. Anfon confidered that our being in that harbour would 
 foon be known at Accp.iilco ; and therefore he hoped, that on the 
 intelligence of our being en:iployed in port, the galeon might put 
 to Tea, efpecially as Chcquetiin is fo very remote from the courfe ge- 
 nerally fleered by the galeon : He therefore ordered the Cutter to 
 cruife twenty-four day? oft' the port of Acapukc, and her Com- 
 mander was direded, on perceiving the galeon under fail, to make 
 the beft of his way to the Cornmodore at Chequetan. As the Cen- 
 turlon was doubtlefs a much better failor than the galeon, Mr. Aji- 
 fon, in this cafe, refolved to have got to fea as foon as poflible, and 
 to have parfued the galeon acrofs the Pacific Ocean : And fuppofing 
 he fliould not have met with her in his paflage (which confidering 
 
 th^H
 
 ( 273 ) 
 
 that he would have kept nearly the fame parallel, was not very im- 
 probable) yet he was certain of arriving off Cape Efpiritu SaiitOy 
 on the Ifland of Samal, before her ; and that being the iirft land 
 {he makes on her return to the Philippines, we could not have 
 failed to have fallen in with her, by cruiling a few days in that fla- 
 tion. But the Viceroy of Mexico ruined this projed, by keeping 
 the galeon in the port of ^capulco all that year. 
 
 The letter left in the canoe for Mr. Hughes, the Commander of 
 the Cutter, (the time of whole return was now conliderably elap- 
 led) direfted him to go back immediately to his former flation be- 
 fore Acapulco, where he would find Mr. Anjon, who refolved to 
 cruife for him there for a certain number of days ; after which it 
 was added, that the Commodore would return to the fouthward to 
 join the reft of the fquadron. This laft article was inferted to de- 
 ceive the Spaniards, if they got pofieffion of the canoe, (as we af- 
 terwards learnt they did) but could not impofe on Mr. Hughes, who 
 well knew that the Commodore had no fquadron to join, nor any 
 intention of fteering back to Peru. 
 
 Being now in the offing of Chequetan, bound crofs the vaft Pa- 
 cific Ocean in our way to China, we were impatient to run off the 
 coaft as foon as poffible ; for as the ftormy feafon was approaching a- 
 pace, and as we had no further views in the American iifx^, we had 
 hoped that nothing would have prevented us from ftanding to the 
 weft ward, the moment we got out of the harbour of Chcquetan: 
 And it was no fmall mortification to us, that our necefTary employ- 
 ment there had detained us fo much longer than we expeded ; and 
 now we were farther detained by the abfence of the Cutter, and 
 the ftanding towards Acapulco in fearch of her. Indeed, as the time 
 of her cruife had been expired for near a fortnight, we fufpeded 
 that ftie had been difcovered from the fliore ; and that the Gover- 
 nor of Acapulco had thereupon fent out a force to feize her, which, 
 as flie carried but fix hands, was no very difficult enterprize. liow- 
 ever, this being only conjedture, the Commodore, as foon as he 
 was got clear ^f the harbour of Chequctan, ftood along the coaft 
 
 N n to
 
 ( 274 ) 
 
 to the eaftward in fearch of her : And to prevent her from pafling 
 by us in the dark, we brought to every night ; and the Gloucejler^ 
 whofe ftation was a league within us towards the fliore, carried a 
 light, which the Cutter could not but perceive, if flie kept along 
 fhore, as we fuppofed (he would do; and as a farther fecurity, the 
 Ccntiirkn and the Gloucejler alternately fliovved two falfe fires every 
 half hour. Indeed, had (he efcaped us, fhe would have found or- 
 ders in the canoe to have returned immediately before Jlcapulco, 
 where Mr. Anjon propofed to cruife for her fome days. 
 
 By Sunday, the 2d oi May, we were advanced within three leagues 
 of AcapiilcOy and having feen nothing of our boat, we gave her over 
 for lofl, which, befidcs the compaffionate concern for our fiiip- 
 males, and for what it was apprehended they might have fuffered, 
 was in itfelf a misfortune, which, in our prefent fcarcity of hands, 
 we v/ere all greatly interefled in : For the crew of the Cutter, con- 
 fifting of fix men and the Lieutenant, were the very flower of our 
 people, purpofely pickt out for this fervice, and known to be every 
 one of them of tried and approved refolution, and as flcilful feamen 
 as ever trod a deck. However, as it was the general belief among 
 us that they were taken and carried into Acapidco, the Commodore's 
 prudence fjggefted a project which we hoped would recover them. 
 This was founded on our having many Spanijh and hidian prifoners 
 in our pofTeflion, and a number of fick Negroes, who could be of 
 no lervice to us in the navigating of the fliip. The Commodore 
 therefore wrote a letter the lame day to the Governor of Acapuko, 
 telling him, that he v/ould releafe them all, provided the Governor 
 returned the Cutter's crew ; and the letter was difpatched the fame af- 
 ternoon by a Sfanip oflicer, of whofe honour we had a good opi- 
 nion, and who was furniflied with a launch belonging to one of our 
 prizes, and a crev/ of fix: other prifoners who all gave their parole 
 for their return. The officer too, befides the "Commodore's letter, 
 carried with him a joint petition figned by all the reft of the pri- 
 foners, befeeching his Excellence to acquiefce in the terms propofed 
 for their liberty. From a confideration of the nun^er of our pri- 
 4 foners
 
 ( 275 ) " 
 
 foners, and the quality of fome of them, we did not doubt but the 
 Governor would readily copiply with Mr Aifoji's propofal, and 
 therefore we kept plying on and off the whole night, intending to 
 keep well in with the land, that we might receive an anfwer at the 
 limited time, which was the next day, being Monday : But both 
 on the Monday and Tuefday we were driven fo far off Ihore, that 
 we could not hope to receive any anfwer ; and on the Wcdncf- 
 day morning we found ourfelves fourteen leagues from the harbour 
 of Acapulco ; but as the wind was now favourable, we preiTed for- 
 wards with all our fail, and did not doubt of getting in with the 
 land in a few hours. Whilfl: we were thus ftandinp- in, the man 
 at the maft-head called out that he faw a boat under fail at a conii- 
 derable diftance to the South eaftward : This we took for granted 
 was the anfwer of the Governor to the Commodore's meflage, and 
 we inftantly edged towards it ; but when we drew nearer, we found 
 to our unfpeakable joy that it was our own Cutter. While (he was 
 dill at a diftance we imagined that fhe had been difcharged out of 
 the port of Acapuko by the Governor ; but when {he drew nearer, 
 the wan and meager countenances of the crew, the length of their 
 beards, and the feeble and hollow tone of their voices, convinced 
 us that they had fuffered much greater hardihips than could be ex- 
 pedled from even the feverities of a Spanijh prifon. They were 
 obliged to be helped into the fliip, and were immediately pat to bed, 
 and with reft, and nourifliing diet, which they were plentifully fiip- 
 plied with from the Commodore's table, they recovered their health 
 and vigour apace : And now we learnt that they had kept the fea 
 the whole time of their abfence, which was above fix weeks, that 
 when they had finiflied their cruife before Acapuko, and had 
 juft begun to ply to the wcftward in order to join the fquadron, a 
 ftrong adverfe current had forced them down the coaft to the eaft- 
 ward in fpight of all their efforts ; that at length their water being 
 all expended, they were obliged to fearch the coaft fxrtheron to the 
 eaftward, in queft of fome convenient landing-place, where they- 
 might get a frefli fupply ; that in this diftrefs they ran upwards of 
 
 N n 2 eighty
 
 ( 27^ > 
 
 eighty leagues to leeward, and found every where To large a furi^. 
 that there was not the leaft poffibilily of' their landing ; that they 
 palTed fome days in this dreadful fituation, without water, and having 
 no other means left them to allay their thirft than fucking the blood 
 of the turtle, which they caught j and at laft, giving up all hopes 
 of relief, the heat of the climate too augmenting their neceflitics, 
 and rendring their fufferings infupportable, they abandoned them- 
 felves to defpair, fully perfuaded that they fliould perilh by the moft 
 terrible of all deaths ; but that they were foon after happily relieved 
 by a moft unexpeded incident, for there fell fo heavy a rain, that by 
 fpreading their fails horizontally, and by putting bullets in the cen- 
 ters of them to draw them to a point, they caught as much water,, 
 as filled all their cafk ; that immediately upon this fortunate fupply 
 they ftood to the weftward in queft of the Commodore ; and being 
 now luckily favoured by a ftrong current, they joined us in lefs than 
 fifty hours, from the time they ftood to the weftward, after having 
 been abfent from us full forty-three days. Thofe who have an 
 idea of the inconfiderable fize of a Cutter belonging to a fixty gun. 
 fliip, (being only an open boat about twenty-two feet in length) and 
 who will attend to the various accidents to which flie was expofed 
 during a fix weeks continuance alone, in the open ocean, on fo im- 
 prailicable and dangerous a coaft, will readily own, that her return, 
 to us at laft, after all the difficulties which flie actually experienced,, 
 and the hazards to which (lie was each hour expofed, may be con- 
 fidered as little fliort of miraculous. 
 
 I cannot finirti the article of this Cutter, without remarking how 
 little reliance Navigators ought to have on the accounts of the Buc- 
 caneer writers : For though in this run of hers, eighty leagues to the 
 eaftward of Acapulco, flie found no place where it was pofTible for 
 a boat to land, yet thofe writers have not been afhamed to feign 
 harbours and convenient watering places within thefe limits, thereby 
 expofing fuch as fliould confide in their relations, to the rifque of 
 being deftroyed by thirft. 
 
 I muft farther add on this occafion, that when we ftood near 
 4 'the
 
 ( 277 ) 
 
 the port of Accpuko, in order to fend our me/Tage to the Governor, 
 and to receive his anfwer, Mr. Brett took that opportunity of deli- 
 neating a view of the entrance of the port, and of the neighbour- 
 ing coaft, which, added to the plan of the place formerly mentioned, 
 may be of confiderabie ufe hereafter, and is therefore annexed. In 
 this plate (^) is the weft point of the harbour called the Griffo, 
 being in the latitude of 16° : 45'; {be) is the Ifland bearing from 
 the obferver N. by E, three leagues diftant ; [d) is the eaft point 
 of the harbour j {e) port Marqiih ; (/) Sierra di Brea j (/6) a 
 white rock in the harbour, and (g) watch towers. 
 
 And now having received our Cutterj the fole objeil of our 
 coming a fecond time before Acapulco, the Commodore refolved 
 not to lofe a moment's time longer, but to run off the coaft with 
 the utmoft expedition, both as the ftormy feafon on the coaft of 
 Mexico was now approaching apace, and as we were apprehenfive 
 of having the wefterly monfoon to ftruggle with when we canie 
 upon the coaft of China ; and therefore he no longer ftood to- 
 wards Acapuko, as he now wanted no anfwer from the Governor ; 
 but yet he refolved not to deprive his prifoners of the liberty, which 
 he had promifed them ; fo that they were all immediately em- 
 barked in two launches which belonged to our prizes, thofe from the 
 Cetiturion in one launch, and thofe from the Gloiicejier in the other. 
 The launches were well equipped with mafts, fails and oars ; and 
 leaft the wind might prove unfavourable, they had a ftock of wa- 
 ter and provifions put on board them fufficient for fourteen days. 
 There were difcharged thirty-nine perfons from on board the Cen- 
 turion^ and eighteen from the Ghucejier, the greateft part of them 
 Spaniards, the reft Indians and fick Negroes : But as our crews 
 were very weak, we kept the Mulattoes and fome of the ftout- 
 eft of the Negroes, with a few Indians to affift us j but we difmif- 
 fed every SpaniJJj prifcher whatever. We have fince learnt, that 
 thefe two launches arrived fife at A(.apulco, where the prifoners 
 could not enough extol the humanity with which they had been 
 treated ; and that the Governor^ before tlieir arrival, had returned 
 
 a very
 
 ( 27§ ) 
 a very obliging anfwer to the Commodore's letter, and had attend- 
 ed it with a prefent of two boats laden with the choicefl: refrefli« 
 ments and provifions which were to be got at Acapulco; but that 
 thefe boats not having found our fliips, were at length obliged to 
 put back again, after having thrown all their provifions over-board 
 in a ftorm which threatened their deftrudion. 
 
 The fending away our prifoners was our laft tranfadlion on the 
 American coaft ; for no fooner had we parted with them, than we 
 and the Gloucejier made fail to the S. W, propofing to get a good 
 oiling from the land, where we hoped, in a few days, to meet 
 with the regular trade- wind, which the accounts of former Navi- 
 gators had reprefented as much brifker and fleadier in this ocean, 
 than in any other part of the globe : For it has been efteemed no 
 uncommon paflage, to run from hence to the eaftermofl: parts of 
 Afia in two months; and wx flattered ourfelves that we were as 
 capable of making an expeditious paflage, as any lliips that had ever 
 run this courfe before us : So that we hoped foon to gain the coaft 
 of China, for which we were now bound. And conformable to 
 the general idea of this navigation given by former Voyagers, we 
 confidered it as free from all kinds of embarraflment of bad wea- 
 ther, fatigue, or ficknefs ; and confequently we undertook it with 
 alacrity, efpecially as it was no contemptible ftcp towards our ar- 
 rival at our native country, for which many of us by this time be- 
 gan to have great longings. Thus, on the 6th of May, we, for 
 the laft time, loft fight of the mountains of Mexico, perfuaded, that 
 in a few weeks we ftiould arrive at the river of Canton in Chi- 
 va, where we expedted to meet with many EngUJJo fliips, and 
 numbers of our countrymen ; and hoped to enjoy the advantages of 
 an amicable well frequented port, inhabited by a poliflied people, and 
 abounding with the conveniencies and indulgencies of a civilized life; 
 bleffings, which now for near twenty months had never been once 
 in our power. But there yet remains (before we take our leave of 
 America) the confideration of a matter well worthy of attention, 
 the difcuflion of which ftiall be referred to the enfuing chapter. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ( 279 ) 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 A brief account of what might have been expeded 
 from our fquadron, had it arrived in the South-Seas 
 in good time. 
 
 AFTER the recital of the tranfadions of the Commodore, 
 and the fliips under his command, on the coafts of Peru 
 and Mexico^ as contained in the preceding part of this 
 book, it will be no ufelefs digreflion to examine what the whole 
 fquadron might have been capable of atchieving, had it arrived in 
 thofc feas in fo good a plight, as it would probably have done, had 
 the paflage round Cape Horn been attempted in a more feafonable 
 time of the year. This difquifition may be ferviceable to thofe 
 who fhall hereafter form projefls of the like nature for that part of 
 the world, or may be entrufted with their execution. And there- 
 fore I propofe, in this chapter, to confider as fuccindly as I can, the 
 nuincrous advantages which the Public might have received from 
 the operations of the fquadron, had it fet fail from England a few 
 months fooner. 
 
 And firft, I muft fuppofe, that in the fummer time we might 
 have got round Cape Horn with an inconfiderable lofs, and without 
 any damage to our fhips or rigging. For the Duke and Duchefs 
 of BriJIol^ who between them had above three hundred men, buri- 
 ed no more than two, from the coaft of Brazil to Juan Fernandez y 
 and out of a hundred and eighty-three hands which were on board 
 the Duke, there were only twenty-one fick of the fcurvy, when 
 they arrived at that Ifland : Whence as men of war are much bet- 
 ter provided with all conveniencies than privateers, we might doubt- 
 lefs have appeared before Baldivia in full ftrength, and in a coiidi- 
 tion of entering immediately on adion ; and therefore, as that place- 
 was
 
 '( 28o ) 
 
 was In a very defencelefs flate, its cannon incapable of fervice, and 
 its garrifon in great meafure unarmed, it was impoflible that it could 
 have oppofed our force, or that its half ftarved inhabitants, moft of 
 whom are convids baniflied thither from other parts, could have 
 had any other thoughts than tliat of fubmitting ; and BalJivia, 
 which is a moft excellent port, being once taken, we {hould im- 
 mediately have been terrible to the whole kingdom of Cbili, and 
 fliould doubtlefs have awed the moft diftant parts of the Spanijh 
 Empire. Indeed, it is far from improbable that, by a prudent ufe 
 of our advantages, we might have given a violent fliock to the au- 
 thority of Spain on that whole Continent ; and might have rendered 
 fome, at leaft, of her provinces independent. This would doubtlefs 
 have turned the whole attention of the Spanip Miniftry to that part 
 of the world, where the danger would have been fo prefling : And 
 thence Greaf-Britainy and her Allies, might have been rid of the 
 numerous embarraffments, which the wealth of the Spanip h:dieSy 
 operating in conjundlion with the Gallick intrigues, have conftantly 
 thrown in her way. 
 
 And that I may not be thought to over-rate the force of this 
 fquadron, by afcribing to it a power of overturning the Spani^: Go- 
 vernment in America, it is neceffary to premife a few obfervations 
 on the condition of the provinces bordering on the South- Seas, and 
 on the difpofition of the inhabitants, both Spaniards and Indians^ 
 at that time ; by which it will appear, that there was great dilTen- 
 fion amongft the Governors, and difaffedion among the Creolians j 
 that they were in want of arms and ftores, and had fallen into a 
 total negled of all military regulations in their garrifons ; and that 
 as to the Indians on their frontier, they were univerfally difcontent- 
 ed, and feemed to be watching with impatience for the favourable 
 moment, when they might take a fevere revenge for the barbarities 
 they had groaned under for more than two ages ; fo that every cir- 
 cumftance concurred to facilitate the enterprizes of our fquadron. 
 Of all thefe particulars we were amply informed by the letters 
 
 we
 
 ( 28i ) 
 
 ^ve took on board our prizes, none of thefe veflels, as I remember, 
 having had the precaution to throw her papers over-board. 
 
 The ill blood amongft the Governors was greatly augmented 
 by their apprehenfions of our fquadron ; for every one being willing 
 to have it believed, that the bad condition of his Government was 
 not the eScd: of negligence, there were continual demands and 
 remonftrances amongft; them, in order to throw the blame upon 
 each other. Thus, ior inftance, the Prefident of St. 'Jago in Chili^ 
 the Prefident of Panama, and many other Governors, and miliuiry 
 officers, were perpetually foliciting the Viceroy of Peru to furnilh 
 them with the necefliiry fupplies of money for putting their pro- 
 vinces and places in a proper Hate of defence to oppofe our defigns : 
 But the culromary anfwer of the Viceroy to thefe reprefentations 
 was the emptinefs of the royal cheft at Lima, and the difficulties he 
 was under to fupport the expences of his own Government ; and 
 in one of his letters, (which we intercepted,) he mentioned his ap- 
 prehenfions that he might even be neceffi;ated to ftopthe pay of the 
 troops and of the garrifon oiCallao, the key of the whole kingdom 
 of Peru. Indeed he did at times remit to thefe Governors feme part 
 of their demands ; but as what he fent them was greatly lliort of 
 their wants, it rather tended to the railing jealoufies and heartburn- 
 ings amongd them, than contributed to the purpofes for which it 
 was intended. 
 
 And befides thefe niutual jangling? amongft the Governors, tlie 
 whole body of the people were extremely dillatisfied ; for thev were 
 fully perfuaded that the affairs of Spam for many years before had 
 been managed by the influence of a particular foreign intereft, which 
 was altogether detached from the advantages of tlic Spanifi Nation : 
 So that the inhabitants of thefe diflant provinces believed ibemfelves 
 to be facrificed to an ambition, which never confidered their con- 
 venience or interefts, or paid any regard to the reputation of their 
 name, or the honour of their country. That this was the temper of 
 ■ the Creolian Spaniards at that time, might be evinced from a hun- 
 dred inflances ; but I fliall content myfelf with one, which is indeed 
 
 O o concluiive :
 
 { 282 ) 
 
 coiKluiive : This is th6 teftimony of the French Mathematicians 
 lent into Jltnericci, to meafure the magnitude of an equatorial degree oii-S-tiUluic 
 ^BO^SS. For in the relation of the murther of a furgeon belonging 
 to their company in one of the cities of Peru, and of the popular 
 tumult cccafioned thereby, written by one of thofe aftronomers, the 
 author confeffes, that the inhabitants, during the uproar, all joined 
 in imprecations on their bad Governors, and beftowed the mcfl 
 abufive language upon the French, detefting them, in all probabi- 
 lity, more particularly as belonging to a nation, to whofe influ- 
 ence in the Spanijh Counfels the Spaniards imputed all their 
 misfortunes. 
 
 Ai;d whilft the Crcolian Spaniards were thus diflatisfied, it ap- 
 pears by the letters we intercepted, that the Indians^ on almoft 
 every frontier, were ripe for a revolt, and would have taken up 
 arms on the (lighteft encouragement ; in particular, the Indians in 
 the fouthern parts of Peru ; as likewife the Arraiicos, and the reft 
 of the Chilian Indians, the moft powerful and terrible to the Spa* 
 nifh name of any on that Continent. For it feems, that in the 
 dirputes between the Spajiiards and the Indians, which happened 
 fome time before our arrival, the Spaniards had infulted the In- 
 dians with an account of the force, which they expedted from 0!d 
 Spain under the com.mand of Admiral Pizarro, and had vaunted 
 that he was coming thither to compleat the great work, which 
 had been left unfiniihed by his anceftors. Thefe threats alarmed 
 the Indians, and made them believe that their extirpation was re- 
 folved on : For the Pizarro's being the firft conquerors of that 
 coaft, the Peruvian Indians held the name, and all that bore it, in 
 execration ; not having forgot the deftrudlion of their Monarchy, 
 the malTacre of their beloved Lica, u^tapalifa, the extindlion of 
 tlieir religion, and the flaughter of their anceftors ; all perpetrated' 
 by the family of the Pizarro's. The Chilian Indians too abhorred 
 a Chief del'cended from thofe, who, by their Lieutenants, had iirfc 
 aticmpted to inllave them, and had neceffitated theii- TribeSj for more 
 
 I than
 
 ( 233 ) 
 
 than a Century, to be continually wafting their blood in defence of 
 their independency. 
 
 And let it not be fuppofed, that among thofe barbarous nations 
 the traditions of fuch diftant tranfadions could not be continued till 
 the prefent times ; for all who have been acquainted with that part 
 of the world agree, that the Indians^ in their publick fcafts, and 
 annual folemnities, conftandy revive the memory of thefe tragick 
 incidents ; and thofe who have been prefent at thefe fpedtacles, have 
 obferved, that all the recitals and reprefentations of this kind were 
 received with an enthufiaflick rage, and with fuch vehement emo- 
 tions, as plainly evinced how ftrongly the memory of their former 
 vyrongs was implanted in them, and how acceptable the means of 
 revenge would at all times prove. To this account I muft add 
 too, that the Spanip Governors themfelves were fo fully informed 
 of the difpofition of the Lidians, and were fo apprehenfive of a ge- 
 neral defedion among them, that they employed all their induftry 
 to reconcile the moft dangerous tribes, and to prevent them from 
 immediately taking up arms : Among the reft, the Prefident of 
 Cbili in particular made large concefiions to the Arraucos, and the 
 other Chilian Indians^ by which, and by diftributing confiderablc 
 prefents to their leading men, he at loft got them to confent to a 
 prolongation of the truce between the two nations. But thefe ne- 
 gotiations were not concluded at the time when we might have been 
 in the South-Seas ; and had they been compleated, yet the hatred 
 of thefe Indians to the Spaniards was fo great, that it would have 
 been impoflible for their Chiefs to have prevented their join- 
 
 ing us. 
 
 Thus then it appears, that on our arrival in the Scuth-Sea wo 
 might have found the whole coaft unprovided with troops, and 
 deftitute even of arms : For we well knew from very particular in- 
 telligence, that there were not three hundred fire-arms, of which 
 too the greatcft part were matchlocks, in all the province of Chili. 
 At the fame time, the Indians would have been ready to revolt, the 
 Spaniards difpofed to mutiny, and the Governors enraged with eacli 
 
 O o 2 other^
 
 ( 284) 
 other, and eacli prepared to rejoice at the dlfgrace of his antagonift ; 
 whillt we, on the other hand, might have conlifted of near two 
 tlioufand men, the greateft part in heahh and vigour, all well- 
 armed, and united under a Chief, whofe enterprifing genius (as we 
 have feen) could not he depreffed by a continued feries- of the moft 
 finifter events, and whofe equable and prudent turn of temper 
 would have remained unvaried, in the midft of the greatefl: degree 
 of good fuccefs ; and who befides poffeiled, in a diftinguifhed man- 
 ner, the two qualities, the moft neceff.iry in thefe uncommon un- 
 dertakings ; I mean, that of maintaining his authority, and pre- 
 ferving, at the fame time, the affedions of his people. Our other 
 officers too, of every rank, appear, by the experience the Public 
 hath fince had of them, to have been equal to any enterprize they 
 might have been charged with by their Com.mander: And our 
 men (at all times brave if well condnded) in fuch a caufe where 
 treafure vvas the objeft, and under fuch leaders, would doubtlefs 
 have been prepared to rival the moft celebrated atchievements hither- 
 to performed by Britif:/ Mariners. 
 
 It cannot then be contcfted, but that Baldhia muft have fur- 
 rendered on the appearance of our fquadron : After which, it may be 
 prefumed, that the Arraucoi^ the Ptilcbes and Penguinches, inhabi- 
 ting^ the banks of the river Iviperial, about twenty-five leagues to the 
 northward of this place, would have immediately taken up arms, 
 bein^ difpofed as hath been already related, and encouraged by the 
 arrival of fo confiderable a force in their neighbourhood. As thefe 
 Indiam can bring into the field near thirty thoufand men, the great- 
 eft part of them horfe, their firft ftep would doubtlefs have 
 been the invading the province -of. C////, which they would 
 have found totally unprovided of ammunition and weapons ; and 
 as its inhabitants are a luxurious and efi^eminate race, they v/ould 
 have been incapable, on fuch an emergency, of giving any oppofi- 
 tion to this rugged enemy : So that it is no ftrained conjedure to 
 imac^ine, that the Indians would have been foon mafters of the 
 whole country. And the other Indiam on the frontiers of Feru be- 
 
 ing
 
 ( 2^5 ) 
 
 ing equally difpofed with the Arraucos to fliake off the SpaniJIj 
 yoke, it is highly probable, that they likevvife would have embraced 
 the occafion, and that a general infurredion would have taken place 
 through all the Spanijh territories in South America ; in which cafe, 
 the only refource left to the Crcolians (diffatisfied as they were with 
 the Spanijh Government) would have been to have made the befi: 
 terms they could widi their Indian neighbours, and to have with- 
 drawn thcmfelves from the obedience of a Mafter, who had fhown 
 fo little regard to their fecurity. This laft fuppofiiion may perhaps 
 appear chimerical to thofe, who meafure the poffibility of all events 
 by the fcanty ftandard of their own experience ; but the temper 
 of tlie times, and the flrong diflike of the natives to the meafures 
 then purfued by the Spanijl:> Court, fufficiently evince at leaft its 
 pofilbility. But not to infift on the prcfumption of a general re- 
 volt, it is fuflicient for our piirpofe to conclude, that the Arraucos 
 would fcarcely have failed of taking arms on our appearance : For 
 this alone would fo far have embarrafled the enemy, that they 
 would no longer have thought of oppofing us ; but would have 
 turned all their care to the Indian affairs ; as they ftill remember, 
 with the utmofl; horror, the facking of their cities, the rifling of 
 their convents, the captivity of their wives and daughters, and the 
 defolation of their country by thefe refolute favages, in the laft war 
 between the two nations. For it muft be remembered, that this 
 tribe of Indians have been frequently fuccefsful againft the Spa- 
 niards^ and poffefs at this time a large tradt of country, which was 
 formerly full of SpaniJJj towns and villages, whofe inhabitants were 
 all either deftroyed, or carried into captivity by the Arraucos and 
 the neighbouring Indians, who, in a war againft the Spaniards, ne- 
 ver fail to join their forces. 
 
 But even, independent of an Indian revolt, there were but two 
 places on all the coaft of the Sout/j-Sea, which could be fuppofed 
 capable of refifting our fquadron ; thefe were the cities of Panama 
 and Callao: As to the firft of thefe, its fortifications were fo decay- 
 ed, and it was fo much in want of powder, that the Governor 
 
 Limdlf,
 
 ( 286 ) 
 
 himfelf, in an intercepted letter, acknowledged it was incapable of 
 being defended ; fo that I take it for granted, it would have given 
 us but little trouble, efpecially if we had opened a communication 
 acrofs the Iflhmus with our fleet on the other fide : And for the ci- 
 ty and port of Callao, its condition was not much better than that 
 of Panama ; for its walls are built upon the plain ground, without 
 either outwork or ditch before them, and confifl only of very flen- 
 der feeble mafonry, without any earth behind them ; fo that a 
 battery of five or fix pieces of cannon, railed any where within 
 four or five hundred paces of the place, would have had a full view 
 of the whole rampart, and would have opened it in a lliort time ; 
 and the breach hereby formed, as the walls are fo extremely thin, 
 could not have been difficult of afcent ; for the ruins would have 
 been but little higher than the furface of the ground ; and it would 
 have yielded this particular advantage to the affailants, that the bul- 
 lets, which grazed upon it, would have driven before them fuch flii- 
 vers of brick and flone, as would have prevented the garrifon from 
 forming behind it, fuppofing that the troops employed in the de- 
 fence of the place, fhould have fo far furpafied the ufual limits of 
 Orolian bravery, as to refolve to fi:and a general afTault : Indeed, 
 fuch a refolution cannot be imputed to them ; for the garrifon and 
 people were in general diffatisfied with the Viceroy's behaviour, and 
 were never expeded to aft a vigorous part. The Viceroy himfelf 
 greatly apprehended that the Commodore would make him a vifit 
 at Lima, the capitol of the kingdom of Peru ; to prevent which, 
 if poffible, he had ordered twelve gallies to be built at Guaiaquil 
 and other places, which were intended to cppofe the landing of our 
 boats, and to hinder us from pufhing our men on fiiore. But this 
 was an impradicable projedl, and proceeded on the fuppofition that 
 our Ihips, when we fliould land our men, would keep at fuch a 
 diftance, that thefe gallies, by drawing litde water, would have 
 been out of the reach of their guns ; whereas the Commodore, be- 
 fore he had made fuch an attempt, would doubtlefs have been pof- 
 feflcd of feveral prize fliips, which he would not have hefitated to 
 
 have
 
 ( 287) 
 
 have run on fliore for the' protedion of his boats ; and befides there 
 were many places on that coaft, and one in particular in the neigh- 
 bourhood of Callao, where there was good anchoring, though a 
 great depth of water, within a cable's length of the fliore ; fo that 
 the cannon of the men of war would have fwept all the coaft to 
 above a mile's diftance from the water's edge, and would have ef- 
 fedtually prevented any force from alTembling, to oppofe the landing 
 and forming of our men : And the place had this additional advan- 
 tage, that it was but two leagues diflant from the city of Lima j fo 
 that we might have been at that city within four hours after we 
 fhould have been firft difcovered from the fliore. The place I have here 
 in view is about two leagues South of Callao, andjufl: to the north- 
 ward of the head-land called, in Frezier's draught of that coaft^ 
 Morro Soltir. Here there is feventy or eighty fathom of water, 
 within two cables length of the fliore ; and the Spaniards them- 
 felves were fo apprehenfive of our attempting to land there, that they 
 had projedled to build a fort clofe to the water ; but there being no 
 money in the royal chefls, they could not go on with that work, 
 and therefore they contented themfelves with keeping a guard of an 
 hundred horfe there, that they might be fure to receive early no- 
 tice of our appearance on that coaft. Indeed fome of them (as wc 
 were told) conceiving our management at fea to be as pufillanimous 
 as their own, pretended that the Commodore would never dare to 
 bring in his fliips there, for fear that in (o great a depth of water 
 their anchors could not hold them. 
 
 And here let it not be imagined, that I am proceeding upon 
 groundlefs and extravagant prefumpiions, when I conclude, that 
 fifteen hundred or a thoufand of our people, well conducted, fliculd 
 have been an over-match for any numbers the Spaniards could niuf- 
 ter in South America, For not to mention the experience we had 
 of them at Paita and Petaplan, it muft be remembered, that our 
 Commodore was extremely folicitous to have all his men trained to 
 the dexterous ufe of their fire-arms ; whereas the Spaniards, in this 
 part of the world, were in great want of arms, and were very 
 
 awkard
 
 ( 288 ) 
 
 awkard in the management of the few they had : And though, 
 on their repeated reprelentations, the Court of Spain had ordered 
 feveral thoufand firelocks to be put on board PizaiTo\ fquadron, 
 yet thofe, it is evident, could not have been in America time enough 
 to have been employed againft us ; fo that by our arms, and our rea- 
 dinefs in the ufe of them (not to infift on the timidity and foftnefs 
 of our enemy) we fliould in fome degree have had the fame ad- 
 vantages, which tlie Spaniards themfelves had, in the firfl difcovery 
 of this country, againft its naked and unarmed inhabitants. 
 
 And now let it be conlidered what were the events which we 
 had to fear, or what were the circumftances which could have pre- 
 vented us from giving law to all the coaft of South America, and 
 thereby cutting ofi' from Spain the refources which flie drew from 
 thofe immenfe provinces. By fea there was no force capable of op- 
 pofino- us ; for how foon foever we had failed, Fizarro's fquadron 
 could not have failed fooner than it did, and therefore could not have 
 avoided the fate it met with : As we fliould have been mafters of 
 the ports of Chili, we could there have fupplied ourfelves with the 
 provifions we wanted in the greateft plenty ; and from Baldivia to 
 the equinodlial we ran no rifque of lofmg our men by ficknefs, (that 
 bcin"' of all climates the moft temperate and healthy) nor of having 
 our fliips difabled by bad weather ; and had we wanted hands to 
 afiift in the navigating our fquadron, whilft a confiderable part of 
 our men were employed on fliore, we could not have failed of get- 
 ting whatever numbers we pleafed in the ports we lliould have 
 taken and the prizes which would have fallen into our hands ; and 
 I mufc obferve that the Indians, who are the principal failors in that 
 part of the world, are extremely docile, and dexterous, and though 
 they are not fit to ftruggle with the inclemencies of a cold climate, 
 yet in temperate feas they are moft ufeful and laborious feamen. 
 
 Thus then if appears, what important revolutions might have been 
 brought about by our fquadron, had it departed from England as 
 early as it ought to have done : And from hence it is eafy to con- 
 clude, what immenfe advantages might have thence accrued to the 
 
 Public.
 
 ( 2?9 ) 
 
 public. For, as on our fuccefs it would have been impofllble for 
 the kingdom of Spain to have received any treafure from the pro- 
 vinces bordering on the Sou/b-Seas, or even to have had any com- 
 munication with them, it is certain that the whole attention oi that 
 Monarchy niuft have been immediately employed in regaining the 
 poffeffion of thefe ineftimabic territories, either by force or com- 
 padt. By the firfl of thefe methods it was fcarcely pofTible they 
 could fucceed ; for it mufl: have been at leafl a twelvemonth from 
 our arrival, before any fliips from Spain could get into the Scutb- 
 Seas, and thofe perhaps feparated, difabled, and iickly ; and by that 
 time they would have had no port in their poflelTion, either to ren- 
 dezvous at or to refit j whilft we might have been fupplied acrofs the 
 Kthmus with whatever neceffarie?, ftores, or even men we wanted, 
 and might thereby have maintained our fquadrbn in as good a plight, 
 as when it firft fet fail from St. Helens. In fliort, it required but 
 little prudence in the condudl of this bufinefs to have rendered all 
 the efforts of Spain, feconded by the power of France, ineffedlual, 
 and to have maintained our conquefts in defiance of them both : So 
 that they mufl: either have refolved to have left Great- Britain maf- 
 ters of the wealth of Soutb America, (the principal fupport of all 
 their deflrudlive projedls) or they mufl: have fubmitted to her terms, 
 and have been contented to receive thefe provinces back again, as an 
 equivalent for thofe refl:ridions to their future ambition, which her 
 prudence fhould have diftated to them. Having thus difcufied the 
 prodigious weight which the operations of our Squadron might have 
 added to the national influence of this kingdom, I fliall here end this 
 fccond book, referring to the sext, the paflage of the fliattered re- 
 mains of our force acrofs the Pacific Ocean, and all their future 
 tranfadions till the Commodore's arrival in England. 
 
 END ^/ B OO K II. 
 
 P p A VOYAGE
 
 S .1
 
 { 291 ) 
 
 VOYAGE 
 
 ROUND THE 
 
 WORLD, &c. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 The run from the coaft of Mexico to the Ladrones or 
 
 Marian Iflands. 
 
 WHEN, on the 6th of May 1742, we left the coaft of 
 America^ we ftood to the S. W. with a view of meet- 
 ing with the N. E. trade-wind, which the accounts of 
 former writers made us expert at feventy or eighty 
 leagues diftance from the land : We had befides another reafon for 
 {landing to the fouthward, which was the getting into the latitude of 
 13 or 14° North ; that being the parallel where the Pacific Ocean is 
 moft ufually crolTcd, and confequently where the navigation is ef- 
 teemed the fafeft : This laft purpofe we had foon anfwered, being 
 in a day or two fufficiently advanced to the South. At the fame 
 time we were alfo farther from the fliore, than we had prefumed 
 was neceflary for the falling in with the trade-wind : But in this 
 
 P p 2 particular
 
 ( 292 ) 
 
 particular we were moft grievoufly difappointed ; for the wind ftill 
 continued to the weftward, or at beft variable. As the getting into 
 theN. E. trade was to us a matter of the laft confequence, we ftood 
 more to the fouthward, and made many experiments to meet with 
 it ; but all our efforts were for a long time unfuccefbful : So that it 
 was feven weeks, from our leaving the coaft, before we got into 
 the true trade-wind. This was an interval, in which we believed 
 we fliould well nigh have reached the caflermoft parts of j{lia : 
 But we were fo baffled with the contrary and variable winds, which 
 for all that time perplexed us, that we were not as yet advanced a- 
 bove a fourth part of the way. The delay alone would have been 
 a fufficient mortification ; but there were other circumftances at- 
 tending it, which rendered this fituation not lefs terrible, and our 
 apprehenfions perhaps ftill greater than in any of our pafl: diflrefTes. 
 For our two fhips were by this time extremely crazy ; and many 
 days had not pafled, before we difcovered a fpring in the foremaft of 
 the Centurion, which rounded about twenty-fix inches of its circum- 
 ference, and which was- judged to be at leaft four inches deep ; 
 And no fooner had our Carpenters fecured this with fifliing it, but 
 the Ghiicejler made a fignal of diftrefs ; and we learnt that flie had 
 a danfferous fpring in her main-maft, twelve feet below the truffel- 
 trees ; fo that fhe could not carry any fail upon it. Our Carpen- 
 ters, on a ftrid; examination of this mart, found- it fo very rotten 
 and decayed, thaf they judged it necefliiry to cut it do\\yi as low 
 38^ it appeared to have been injured j and by this: it was re- 
 duced, to nothing but a flump, which ferved only as a (lep to the 
 toD-maft:. 1 hefe accidents augmented our delay, and occafioned us 
 great anxiety about our future fecurity : For on our leaving the 
 coaft of Mexico, the fcurvy had begun to make its appearance again 
 amongfl our people ; though from our departure from yuan 
 Fernanda we had till then chjoyed a mofl: uninterrupted ftate of 
 health. We too v.-ell knew the effeds of this difeafc, from our 
 former fatal experience, to fuppole that any thing but a fpcedy paf- 
 fip-e could fccure the greater part of our crew from perliliing by it : 
 
 And
 
 r 2qs )) 
 
 And as, after being feven vv^eks at fea, there did not appear any. 
 rcafons that could perfuade ug, we were nearer the trade- wind, . 
 than when we fiift fet out, there was no ground for us to fuppofe> 
 but our paflage would prove at leaft three times as long as we at 
 firft expedted ; and confequently we had the melancholy profped,. 
 either of dying by the fcurvy, or perifhing with the fliip for want 
 of hands to navigate her. Indeed, fome amongft us were at firft 
 willing to believe, that in this warm climate, fo different from 
 what we felt in pafllng round Cape Havi, the violence of this dif- 
 eafe, and its fatality, might be in fome degree mitigated; as it had 
 not been unufual to fuppofe that its particular virulence in that paf- 
 fage was in a great meafure owing to the fe verity of the weather : 
 But the havock of the diftemper, in our prefent circumftances, foon 
 convinced us of the falfity of this fpeculation ; as it likewife ex- 
 ploded fome other opinions, which ufually pafs current about the 
 caufe and nature of this difeafe. 
 
 For it has been generally prefumed, that plenty of frefli provifi- 
 ons, and of water are effedtual preventives of this malady ; but 
 it happened that in the prefent inftance we had a confiderable ftock 
 of frcfh provifions on board, as hogs and fowls, which were taken 
 at Paitci; and we befides almoft every day caught great abundance 
 of bonito's, dolphins, and albicores ; and the unfettled feafon, which 
 deprived us of the benefit of the trade-wind, proved extremely rai- 
 ny ; fo that we were enabled to fill up our water cafli, almoft: as 
 £ift as they were empty ; and each man iiad five pints of water al- 
 lowed him every day, during the paflage. But notwlthftanding 
 this plenty of water, and that the fredi provifions were diftributed 
 amongft: the fick, and the whole crew often fed upon fifti, yet 
 neither were the fick hereby relieved, nor the progiefs and advance- 
 ment of the difeafe retarded : Nor was it in thefe inft:ances only that 
 we found ourfelves difappointed ; for though it has been ufually 
 efleemed a neceflary piece of management to keep all fliips, where 
 the crews are large, as clean and airy between decks as poffible; and 
 it hath been believed by many, that this particular, if well attended 
 
 to.
 
 ( 294 ) 
 
 to, would prevent the appearance of the fcurvy, or at leaft, mitigate 
 Its effetfts ; yet we obferved, during the latter part of our run, that 
 though we kept all our ports open, and took uncommon pains in 
 cleanfing and fweetning the fhips, yet neither the progrefs, nor the 
 virulence of the difeafe were thereby fenfibly abated. 
 
 However, I would not be underftood to aflert, that frerti pro- 
 vifions, plenty of water, and a conftant frefh fupply of fweet air 
 between decks, are matters of no moment : I am, on the contrary, 
 well fatisfied, that they are all of them articles of great importance, 
 and are doubtlefs extremely conducive to the health and vi- 
 gour of a crew, and may in many cafes prevent the fatal malady 
 we are now fpeaking of from taking place. All I have aimed at, in 
 what I have advanced, is only to flicw that in fome inftances, both 
 the cure, and prevention of this difeafe, is impoffible to be effedled 
 by any management, or by the application of any remedies which 
 can be made ufe of at fea. Indeed, 1 am myfelf fully perfuaded, that 
 when it has once got to a certain head, there are no other means 
 in nature for relieving the difeafed, but carrying them on fliore, or at 
 leaft bringing them into the neighbourhood of land. Perhaps a di- 
 ftindt and adequate knowledge of the fource of this difeafe may ne- 
 ver be difcovered ; but in general, there is no difficulty in conceiv- 
 ing, that as a continued fupply of frefli air is neceflary to all ani- 
 mal life, and as this air is fo particular a fluid, that without lofing its 
 elafticity, or any of its obvious properties, it may be rendered unfit 
 for this purpofe, by the mixing with it fome very fubtle and other- 
 wife imperceptible effluvia ; it may be conceived, I fty, that the 
 fteams arifing from the ocean may have a tendency to render the air 
 thev are fpread through lefs properly adapted to the fnpport of the 
 life of terreftrial animals, unlefs thefe fteams arc corredled by 
 effluvia of another kind, and which perhaps the land alone can 
 fupply. 
 
 To what hath been already faid in relation to this difeafe, I (liall 
 add, that our furgeon (who during our pafliige round Cape Horn, 
 had afcribed the mortality we fufFered to the feverity of the climate) 
 
 I exerted
 
 ( 295 ) 
 exerted himfclf In the prefent run to the utmoft, and at laft declar- 
 ed, that all his meafures were totally inefFedlual, and did not in the 
 leaft avail his patients : On which it was refolved by the Commo- 
 dore to try the effects of two medicines, which ^ jufl: before his de- 
 parture from England, were the fubjed of much difcourfe, I mean 
 the pill and drop of Mr. ^Fard. For however violent the effedls of 
 thefe medicines are faid to have fometimes proved, yet in the prefent 
 inftance, where deftruftion feemed inevitable without feme remedy, 
 the experiment at leaft was thought advifeable : And therefore, one 
 or both of them, at different times, were given to perfons in every 
 ftage of the diftemper. Out of the numbers that took them, one, 
 foon after fwallowing the pill, was feized with a violent bleeding at 
 the nofe : He was before given over by the furgeon, and lay almoft 
 at the point of death ; but he immediately found himfelf much bet- 
 ter, and continued to recover, though flowly, till we arrived on fliore, 
 which was near a fortnight after. A few others too were relieved 
 for Ibme days, but the difeafe returned again with as much violence 
 as ever ; though neither did thefe, nor the reft, who received no be- 
 nefit, appear to be reduced to a worfe condition than they would 
 have been if they had taken nothing. The moft remarkable pro- 
 perty of thefe medicines, and what was obvious in almoft every 
 one that took them, was, that they operated in proportion to the 
 vigour of the patient ; fo that thofe who were within two or thee 
 days of dying were fcarcely affeded ; and as the patient was dif- 
 ferently advanced in the difeafe, the operation was either a gentle 
 perfpiration, an eafy vomit, or a moderate purge : But if they were 
 uken by one in full ftrength, they then produced all the beforemen- 
 tioned effedls with confiderable violence, which fometimes continu- 
 ed for fix or eight hours together with little intermiffion. But to re- 
 turn to the profecution of our voyage. 
 
 I have already obferved, that, a few days after our running off" 
 the Goaft of Mexico, the Gloucc/ler had her main-maft cut down to 
 a ftump, and we were obliged to fifli our fore-maft ; and that thefe 
 misfortunes were greatly aggravated, by our meeting with contrary 
 
 m 
 
 d
 
 (29^) 
 
 and variable winds for near feven week?. I fliall now add, that 
 when we rerxhed the trade- wind, and it fettled between the North 
 and the Eart, yet it fcldom blew with fo much ftrength, but the 
 Centurion might liave carried all her fmall fails abroad with the 
 greateft fafety ; io that now had we been a fingle (hip, we might 
 tiave run down our longitude apace, and have reached the hadrowes 
 foon enough to have recovered great numbers of our men, who af- 
 terwards periflied. But the Glciicejicr, by the lofs of her main- 
 maft, failed fo very heavily, that we had feldom any more than our 
 top-fails fet, and yet were frequently obliged to lie too for her : 
 And, I conceivej that in the whole we loft little lefs than a month 
 by our attendance upon her, in confeqiience of the various mif- 
 chances fhe encountered. In all this run it was remarkable, that 
 we were rarely many days together, without feeing great numbers of 
 birds ; which is a proof that there are many iflands, or at leaft rocks, 
 fcattered all along, at no very confiderable diftance from our track. 
 Some indeed there are marked in the Spani/h chart, hereafter infert- 
 ed ; but the frequency of the birds feem to evince, that there are 
 many more than have been hitherto difcovered : For the greateft 
 part of the birds, we obferved, were fuch as are known to rooft on 
 fhore; and the manner of their appearance fufficiendy made out, 
 that they came from fome diftant haunt every morning, and re- 
 turned thither again in the evening ; for we never faw them early 
 or late ; and the hour of their arrival and departure gradually va- 
 ried, which we fuppofed was occafioned by our running nearer 
 their haunts, or getting farther from them. 
 
 The trade-wind continued to favour us without any fluduation, 
 from the end of June till towards the end of July. But on the 
 26th of July, being then, as we cfteemed, about three hundred 
 leagues diftant from the LadroneSy we met with a wefterly wind, 
 which did not come about again to the eaftward in four days time. 
 This was a moft difpiriting incident, as it at once damped all our 
 hopes of fpeedy relief, efpccially too as it was attended with a vex- 
 atious accident to the Gloucejier : For in one part of thefe four days 
 
 the
 
 ( 297 ) 
 
 Ac wind flatted to a calm, and the fhips rolled very deep ; by 
 which means the Gbticejiers forecap fplit, and her top-mail came 
 ty the board, and broke her fore-yard diredly in the flings. As ihe 
 was hereby rendered incapable of making any fail for fome lime, 
 we were obliged, as foon as a gale fpmng up, to take her in tow } 
 and near twenty of the healthieft and ableft of our feamen were 
 taken from the bufinefs of our own fliip, and were employed for 
 eight or ten days together on board the Glcucejier in repairing her 
 damages : But thefe things, mortifying as we thought them, were 
 but the beginning of our difofters ; for fcarce had our people fi- 
 nilTied their buflnefs in the Glctice/ter, before wt met with a moft 
 violent ftorm in the weftern board, which obliged us to lie to. In 
 the beginning of this florm our fiiip fprung a leak, and let in fo 
 much water, that all our people, officers included, were employed 
 continually in working the pumps: And the next day we had the 
 vexation to fee the Ghucefer^ with her top-mafl: once more by the 
 board ; and whilft we were viewing her with great concern for 
 this new diftrefs, we faw her main- top maft, which had hitherto 
 ferved her as a jury main-maft, fliare the fame fate. This compleat- 
 ed our misfortunes, and rendered them without refource ; for we 
 knew the Glcucejier's crew were fo few and feeble, that without 
 our affiflance they could not be relieved : And our fick were now 
 fo far encreafed, and thofe that remained in health fo continually fa- 
 tigued with the additional duty of our pumps, that it was impofli- 
 ble for us to lend them any aid. Indeed we were not as yet fully 
 apprized of the deplorable fituation of the Gloucejer's crew j for 
 when the ftorm abated, (which during its continuance prevented all 
 communication with them) the Gkuccjier bore up under our ftern ; 
 and Captain Mitchel informed the Commodore, that befides the 
 lofs of his marts, which was all that had appeared to us, the fliip 
 had then no lefs than feven feet of water in her hold, although his 
 officers and men had been kept conftantly at the pump for the laft 
 twenty-four hours. 
 
 Ctq This
 
 ( 298 ) 
 
 This laA circumftance was indeed a moft terrible accumulation to 
 the otlicr extraordinary diftrefles of the Glouce/ier, and required, if 
 pofllble, the moft fpeedy and vigorous affiftance j which Captaift 
 Mtichd begged the Commodore to fend him : But the debility of 
 our people, and our own immediate prefervation, rendered it im- 
 pofiible for tlie Commodore to comply with his requefl:. All that 
 could be done was to fend our boat on board for a more particular 
 condition of the fhip ; and it was foon fufpeded tliat the taking her 
 people on board us, and then deftroying her, was the only meafure 
 that could be profecuted in the prefent emergency, both for the fe- 
 curity of their lives and of our own. 
 
 Our boat foon returned with a reprefentation of the ftate of the 
 Gkucejier^ and of her feveral defeats, figned by Captain Mitchel 
 and all his officers ; by which it appeared, that flie had fprung a leak 
 by the ftern poft being loofe, and working with every roll of the 
 fliip, and by two beams a midfliips being broken in the orlope ; no 
 part of which the Carpenters reported was poffible to be repaired 
 at fea : That both officers and men had worked twenty-four hours 
 at the pump without intermiffion, and were at length fo fatigued, 
 that they could continue their labour no longer ; but had been forced 
 . to defift, with feven feet of water in the hold, which covered 
 their cafk, fo that they could neither come at freffi water, nor pro- 
 vifion ; That they had no maft {landing, except the fore-mafl, the 
 mizen-maft, and the mizen top-maft, nor had they any fpare marts 
 to get up in the room of thofe they had loft : That the fliip was 
 befides extremely decayed in every part, for her knees and clamps 
 were all worked quite loofe, and her upper works in general were 
 fo loofe, that the quarter-deck was ready to drop down : And that her 
 crew was greatly reduced, for there remained alive on board her no 
 more than feventy-feven men, eighteen boys, and two prifoners, 
 officers included ; and that of this whole number, only £xteen 
 men, and eleven boys were capable of keeping the deck, and fe- 
 veral of thefe very infirm. 
 I 
 
 The
 
 ( 299 ) 
 
 The Commodore, on the perufal of this melancholy reprefenta- 
 tlon, prefently ordered them a fupply of water and provifions, of 
 which they feemed to be in immediate want, and at the fame time 
 fent his own Carpenter on board them, to examine into the truth 
 of every particular ; and it being found, on the ftrideft enquiry, 
 that the preceding account was in no inftance exaggerated, it plainly 
 appeared, that there was no poffibility of preferving the Gloucejler 
 any longer, as her leaks were irreparable, and the united hands on 
 board both (hips, capable of working, would not be able to free 
 her, even if our own ihip fhould not employ any part of them. 
 What then could be refolved on, when it was the utmoft we our- 
 felvcs could do to manage our own pumps ? Indeed there was no 
 room for deliberation ; the only ftep to be taken was, the faving the 
 lives of the few that remained on board the Gloucejler^ and getting 
 out of her as much as was poffible before {he was deftroyed. And 
 therefore the Commodore immediately fent an order to Captain 
 Mitchel, as the weather was now calm and favourable, to fend his 
 people on board the Centurion, as expcditioufly as he could ; and to 
 take out fuch ftores as he could get at, whilft the (hip could be kept 
 above water. And as our leak required lefs attention, whillt the 
 prefent eafy weather continued, we fent our boats with as many 
 men as we could fpare, to Captain Mitchel's affiftance. 
 
 The removing the Gloucejler"^ people on board us, and the get- 
 ting out fuch {lores as could mo{l cafily be come at, gave us full 
 employment for two days. Mr. Anfon was extremely deiirous to 
 have gotten two of her cables and an anchor, but the {liip rolled 
 fo much, and the men were fo exce{rively fatigued, that they were 
 incapable of effecting it ; nay, it was even with the greate{l: diffi- 
 culty that the prize money, which the Glouce^er had taken in the 
 South- ScaSy was fecured, and fent on board the Centurion: How- 
 ever, the prize goods on board her, which amounted to feveral 
 thouland pounds in value, and were principally the Centurioii's pro- 
 perty, were entirely lofl ; nor could any more provilion be got out 
 than five cailc of flower, three of which were fpoiled by the falt- 
 er q 2 water.
 
 ( 300 ) 
 
 water. Their fick men afnountlng to near feventy, were removed 
 into the boats with as much care as the circumftances of that time 
 would permit ; but three or four of them expired as they were 
 lioifting them into the Centurion. 
 
 It was the 1 5th of Auguft^ in the evening, before the Gloucejler 
 was ckared of every thing that was propofed to be removed ; and 
 though the hold was now almoft full of water, yet, as the Car- 
 penters were of opinion that flie might flill fwim for fome time, if 
 the calm fliould continue, and the water become fmooth, flie was 
 fet on fire ; for we knew not how near we might now be to the 
 Ifland of Guiifi], which was in the pofTeffion of our enemies, and 
 the wreck of fuch a fliip would have been to them no contemptible 
 •icquifition. When flie was fet on fire, Captain MitcM and his 
 officers left her, and came on board the Centurion : And we imme- 
 diately ftood from the wreck, not without fome apprehenfions (as 
 we had now only a light breeze) that if flie blew up foon, tlie 
 concuffion of the air might damage our rigging ; but fhe fortunate- 
 ly burnt, though very fiercely, the whole night, her guns firing 
 fucceflively, as the flames reached them. And it was fix in the 
 morning, when we were about four leagues diftant, before fhe 
 blew up ; the report (ht made upon this occafion was but a fmall 
 one, but there was an exceeding black pillar of linoke, which fhot 
 up into the air to a very confiderable height. 
 
 Thus peri/lied his Majefly's fliip the Gbucefler. And now it 
 might have been expeded, that being freed from the embarraf- 
 ments which her frequent difafters had involved us in, we might 
 proceed on our way much brifker than we had hitherto done, tC- 
 pecially as we had received fome fmall addition to our ftrength, by 
 the taking on board the GlcuceJIcr's crew j but our anxieties were 
 not yet to be relieved ; for, notwithflanding all that we had hi- 
 therto fuffered, there remained much greater diftreffes, which 
 "we were ftill to ftruggle with. For the late form, which had 
 proved fo fatal to the Glouce/Ier, had driven us to the northward of 
 our intended courfe ; and the current fetting the fame way, after 
 4 the
 
 ( $01 ) 
 
 ihe weather abated, had forced us ftill a degree or two farther, (6 
 that we were uow in 17° -^ of North latitude, inftead of being in 
 13° -i, which was the parallel we propofed to keep, in order to 
 reach the Ifland of Guam : And as it had been a perfeft calm for 
 fome days fince the ceiTation of the ftorm, and we were ignorant 
 how near we were to the meridian of the LaJrojjes, and fuppofed 
 ourfelves not to be far from it, we apprehended that we might be 
 driven to the leeward of them by the current, without dlfcovering 
 them : In this cafe, the only land we could make would be fome 
 of the eaftern p^ts of ^Jia, where, if we could arrive, we fliould 
 find the weftern*rnonfoon in its full force, fo that it would be im- 
 pofllblc for the flouteft befl manned fliip to get in. And this coafl 
 being removed between four and five hundred leagues fartlier, we, 
 in our languifliing clrcumftances, could expeft no other than to be 
 deftroyed by the fcurvy, long before the moft favourable gale could 
 carry us to fuch a diftance : For our deaths were now extremely 
 alarming, no day paffing in which we did not bury eight or ten, 
 and fometimes twelve of our men ; and thofe, who had hitherto 
 continued healthy, began to fall down apace. Indeed we made the 
 beft ufe we could of the prefent calm, by employing our Carpen- 
 ters in fearching after the leak, which was now confiderable not- 
 withftanding the little wind we had : The Carpenters at length dif- 
 covered it to be in the Gunner's fore flore-room, where the water 
 ruflied in under the breaft-hook, on each fide of the ftem ; but 
 though they found where it was, they agreed that it was impofllble 
 to flop it, till we fliould get into port, and till they could come at 
 it on the outfide : However, they did the beft they could within 
 board, and were fortunate enough to reduce it, which was a coiiii- 
 derable relief to us. 
 
 We had hitherto confidered the calm which fucceeded the ftorm, 
 and which continued for fome days, as a very great misfortune ; 
 fince the currents -were driving us to the northward of our parallel, 
 and we thereby rifqued the mifling of the Ladrofies, which we 
 now conceived ourfelves to be very near. But when a gale Iprung
 
 ( 302 ) 
 
 up, our condition was ftill vvorfe ; for it blew from the S. W, and 
 confequently was diredly oppofed to the courfe we wanted to fleer : 
 And tliough it foon veered to the N. E, yet this ferved only to 
 tantalize us, for it returned back again in a very fliort time to its 
 old quarter. However, on the 2 2d of Atigujl we had the fatisfac- 
 tion to find that the current was Ihifted ; and had fet us to the fouth- 
 ward : And the 23d, at day-break, we were cheered with the dif- 
 covery of two Iflands in the weftern board : This gave us all great 
 joy, and raifed our drooping fpirits ; for before this an univarfal de- 
 jedion had feized us, and we almoft defpaired of every feeing land 
 again : The neareft of thefe Iflands we afterwards found to be Aita- 
 tacan j we judged it to be full fifteen leagues fi-om us, and it feemed 
 to be high land, though of an indifferent length : The other was the 
 Ifland of Serigan ; and had rather the appearance of a high rock, 
 than a place we could hope to anchor at. The view of thefe Iflands is 
 infcrted at the top of the annexed plan. We were extremely impa- 
 tient to get in with the nearefl: Ifland, where we expeded to meet 
 with anchoring ground, and an opportunity of refrefliing our fick : 
 But the wind proved fo variable all day, and there was fo little of it, 
 that we advanced towards it but flowly ; however, by the next 
 morning we were got fo far to the wefliward, that we were in view 
 of a third Ifland which was that of Paxaros, though marked in tiie 
 chart only as a rock. This was fmall and very low land, and we 
 had pafl*ed within lefs than a mile of it, in the night, without feeing 
 it : And now at noon, being within four miles of the Ifland oi Aia- 
 tacan, the boat was fent away to examine the anchoring ground and 
 the produce of the place ; and we were not a little folicitous for her 
 return, -as we then conceived our fiue to depend upon the report we 
 fhould receive : For the other two Iflands were obvioufly enough in- 
 capable of furnifliing us with any aflifl:ancc, and we knew not then 
 that there were any others which we could reach. In the evening the 
 boat came back, and the crew informed us that there was no place 
 for a fhip to anchor, the bottom being every where foul ground, and 
 all except one fmall fpot, not lefs than fifty fathom in depth ; that 
 
 on
 
 { 303 ) 
 
 on that fpot there was thirty fathom, though not above half a mile 
 from the ftiore -, and that the bank was fteep to, and could not be 
 depended on : They farther told us, that they had landed on the 
 Ifland, but with fome difficulty on account of the greatncfs of the 
 fwell ; that they found the ground was every where covered with a 
 kind of wild cane, or rufli ; but that they met with no water, and 
 did not believe the place to be inhabited ; though the foil was good, 
 and abounded with groves of coco-nut-trees. 
 
 This account of the impoflibility of anchoring at this Ifland occa- 
 fioned a general melancholy on board ; for we confidered it as little lefs 
 than the prelude to our deftrudtion; and our defpondency was encreafed 
 by a difappointment we met with the fucceeding night ; for, as we 
 were plying under top-fails, with an intention of getting nearer to the 
 Ifland, and of fending our boat on (liore to load with coco-nuts for 
 the refrefhment of our fick, the wind proved fqually, and blew fo 
 ftrong off fhore, that we were driven fo far to the fouthward, that 
 we dared not to fend off our boat. And now the only pofTible cir- 
 cumftance, that could fecure the few which remained alive from pe- 
 rifhing, was the accidental falling in with fome other of the Ladrone 
 Iflands, better prepared for our accommodation ; and as our knowledge 
 of thefe Iflands was extremely imperfedt, we were to trufl entirely to 
 chance for our guidance ; only as they are all of them ufually laid 
 down near the fame meridian, and we had conceived thofe we had 
 already feen to be part of them, we concluded tofland to the fouth- 
 ward, as the moft probable means of falling in with the next. Thus, 
 with the mofl gloomy perfwafion of our approaching deftrudlion, 
 we flood from the Ifland of Aiwtacatr, having all of us the flrongefl; 
 apprehenfions (and thofe not ill founded) cither of dying ofthefcur- 
 vy, or ofperifhing with the fhip, which, for want of hands to work 
 her pumps, might in a fliort time be expeded to founder. 
 
 CHAP,
 
 ( 304 ) 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Our arrival at Tinian^ and an account of the Ifland, 
 and of our proceedings there, till the Centurion 
 drove out to fea. 
 
 IT was the 26th of Augu/l 1742, in the morning, when we 
 loft fight o^ Anatacmz. The next morning we difcovered three 
 other Iflands to the eaftward, which were from ten to fourteea 
 leagues from us. Thefe were, as we afterwards learnt, the Iflands 
 of Saypatj, Tmian^ and Agidgan. We immediately fteered towards 
 7inian, which was the middlemoft of the three, but had fo much of 
 calms and light airs, that tho' we were helped forwards by the cur- 
 rents, yet next day, at day-break, we were at leaft five leagues di- 
 ftant from it. However, we kept on our courfe, and about ten 
 in the morning we perceived a proa under fail to the fouthward, 
 between Thiian and Agtiigan. As we imagined from hence that 
 thefe Iflands were inhabited, and knew that the Spaniards had al- 
 ways a force at Guam^ we took the neceflary precautions for our 
 own fecurity, and for preventing the enemy from taking advantage 
 of our prefent wretched circumflances, of which they would be 
 fufficiently informed by the manner of our working the fliip ; we 
 therefore muftered all our hands, who were capable of ftanding to 
 their arms, and loaded our upper and quarter-deck guns with grape- 
 fliot ; and that we might the more readily procure fome intelligence 
 of the ftate of thefe Iflands, we fliowed Spanijh colours, and hoift- 
 ed a red flag at the fore top-maft-head, to give our fliip the appear- 
 ance of the Manila galeon, hoping thereby to decoy fome of the 
 inhabitants on board us. Thus preparing ourfelves, and ftanding 
 towards the land, we were near enough, at three in the afternoon, 
 to fend the Cutter in fliore, to find out a proper birth for the ftiip ; 
 
 and
 
 ( 305 ) 
 
 and we foon perceived that a proa oimc off" the fliore to meet the 
 Cutter, fully perfuaded, as we afterwards found, that we were the 
 Manila fhip. As we faw the Cutter returning back with the proa 
 in tow, we immediately fent the Pinnace to receive the proa and 
 the prifoners, and to bring them on board, that the Cutter might pro- 
 ceed on her errand. The Pinnace came back with a Spaniard and 
 four Indians, which were the people taken in the proa. The Spa- 
 niard was immediately examined as to the produce and circum- 
 ftances of this Ifland of Tinian, and his account of it furpafled 
 even our mofl fanguine hopes ; for he informed us that it was un- 
 inhabited, which, in our prefent defencelcfs condition, was an ad- 
 vantage not to be defpifed, efpecialiy as it wanted but few of the 
 conveniencies that could be expeded in the moft cultivated country j 
 for he affured us, that there was great plenty of very good water, 
 and that there were an incredible number of cattle, hogs, and poul- 
 try running wild on the Ifland, all of them excellent in their kind ; 
 that the woods produced fvveet and fo««er oranges, limes, lemons 
 and coco- nuts in great plenty, befides a fruit peculiar to thefe 
 Illands (called by TDampier, Bread-fruit) ; that from the quantity and 
 goodnefs of the provilions produced here, the Spaniards at Guam 
 made ufe of it as a ftore for fupplying the garrilon j that he him- 
 felf was a Serjeant of that garrifon, and was fent here with twenty- 
 two Indians to jerk beef, which he was to load for Guam on board 
 a fmall bark of about fifteen tun, which lay at anchor near the 
 (liore. 
 
 This account was received by us with inexpreflible joy : Part of 
 it we were ourfelves able to verify on the fpot, as we were by this 
 time near enough to dlfcover feveral numerous herds of cattle feed- 
 ing in different places of the Ifland ; and we did not any ways 
 doubt the reft of his relation, as the appearance of the fliore pre- 
 judiced us greatly in its favour, and made us hope, that not only 
 our neceiTuies might be there fully relieved, and our difeafed reco- 
 vered, but that, amidft thofe pleafing fcenes which were then in 
 view, we might procure ourfelves fome amufement and relaxation, 
 
 R r after
 
 ( 3^6 ) 
 
 after the numerous fatigues we had undergone : For the profped of 
 the country did by no means refemble that of an uninhabited and 
 uncuhivated place, but had much more the air of a magnificent 
 plantation, where large lawns and llately woods had been laid out 
 together with great Ikill, and where the whole had been fo artfully 
 combined, and fo judicioufly adapted to the flopes of the hills, and 
 the inequalities of the ground, as to produce a mod ftriking efFed, 
 and to do honour to the invention of the contriver. Thus, (an 
 event not unlike what we had already feen) we were forced upon 
 the moll: defirable and falutary meafures by accidents, which at firft 
 fight V. e confidered as the greatefl of misfortunes ; for had we not 
 been driven by the contrary v/inds and currents to the northward of 
 our courfe, (a circumftance, which at that time gave us the mofl 
 terrible apprehcnfions) we fliould, in all probability, never have ar- 
 rived at this delightful Ifland, and confequently we fliould have 
 mifled of that place, where alone all our wants could be mofl 
 amply relieved, our Tick recovered, and our enfeebled crew once 
 more refreftied, and enabled to put again to fea. 
 
 The Spanijh Serjeant, from whom we received the account of 
 the Ifland, having informed us that there were fome hidiayn on 
 fhore under his command, employed in jerking beef, and that 
 there was a bark at anchor to tike it on board, we were defirous, if 
 pofllble, to prevent the Indiana from efcaping, who doubtlefs would 
 have given the Governor of Guam intelligence of our arrival j and 
 we therefore immediately difpatched the Pinnace to lecure the bark, 
 which the Serjeant told us was the only imbarkation on the place ; 
 and then, about ei^ght in the evening, we let go our anchor in 
 twenty-two fathom ; and though it was almoft calm, and whatever 
 vigour and fpirit was to be found on board was doubtlefs exerted to 
 the utmoft on tlus pleafmg occafion, when, after having kept the fea 
 for fome moaths, v o were going to take poffefTion of this little para- 
 dlfe, yet we were full five hours in furling our fails : It is true, 
 we were fomewhat we.tkened by the crews of the Cutter and Pin- 
 nace which wz'.z fcnt un Hiore j but ii isnotkfb true, that, ir.clud- 
 
 \ ing
 
 ( 307 ) 
 ing thofe abfent with the boats and fome Negroe and Indian pri- 
 foners, all the hands we could mufter capable of {landing at a gun 
 amounted to no more than feventy-one, moft of which number too 
 were incapable of duty ; but on the greateft emergencies this was 
 all the force we could colle<5i:, in our prefent enfeebled condition, 
 from the united crews of the Centurion, the Glouccfter, and the Tryal 
 which, when we departed from England, confifted all together of 
 near a thoufand hands. 
 
 When we had furled our fails, the remaining part of the night 
 was allowed to our people for their repofe, to recover them from 
 the fatigue they had undergone -, and in the morning a party was 
 fent on fhore well armed, of which I myfelf was owz, to make our- 
 felves mafters of the landing place, as we were not certain what op- 
 pofition might be made by the Indiam on the llland: We landed 
 without difficulty, for the Indiam having perceived, by our feizureof 
 the bark the night before, that we were enemies, they immediately 
 fled into the woody parts of the Ifland. We found on {hore many 
 huts which they had inhabited, and which llived us both the time 
 and trouble of eredling tents ; one of thefc huts which the Indians 
 made ufe of for a ftore-houfe was very large, being twenty yards long 
 and fifteen broad ; this we immediately cleared of fome bales of jerk- 
 ed beef, which we found in it, and converted it into an hofpital for 
 our lick, who aflbon as the place was ready to receive them were 
 brought on fliore, being in all a hundred and twenty-eight : Num- 
 bers of thefe were fo very helplefs, that wc were obliged to carry 
 them from the boats to the hofpital upon our llioulders, in which 
 humane employment (as before at '^uan Fernandes) the Commo- 
 dore himfelf, and every one of his officers, were engaged without 
 diftinftion ; and, notwithftanding the great debility and the dying 
 afpeds of the greateft part of our fick, it is almoft incredible how 
 foon they began to feel the falutary influence of the land ; for, 
 though we buried twenty-one men on this and the preceeding day, 
 yet we did not loofe above ten men more during our whole two 
 months ftay here ; and in general, our dileafed received fo much 
 
 R r 2 benefit
 
 ( 308 ) 
 
 benefit from the fruits of the Ifland, particularly the fruits of the 
 acid kind, that, in a week's time, there were but few wh.o were 
 not I'o far recovered, as to be able to move about without help. 
 
 And now being in fome fort eftablilhed at this place, we were 
 enabled more particularly to examine its qualities and productions ; 
 and that the reader may the better judge of our manner of life 
 here, and future Navigators be better apprized of the conveniencies 
 we met with, I fliall, before I proceed any farther in the hiflury of 
 our own adventures, throw together the moft interefting particu- 
 lars that came to our knowledge, in relation to the fituation, foil, 
 produce, and conveniencies of this Ifland of Timaii. 
 
 This Ifland lies in the latitude of 15": 8' North, and longitude 
 from Acapnko 114° : 50' Weft. Its length is about twelve miles, 
 and its breadth about half as much j it extending from the S. S. W. 
 to N. N. E. The foil is every where dry and healthy, and fome- 
 what fandy, which being lefs difpofed than other foils to a rank- 
 and over luxuriant vegetation, occafions the meadows and the bot- 
 toms of the woods to be much neater and fmoother than is cuf- 
 tomary in hot climates. The land rifes by eafy flopes, from the 
 very beach where we watered to the middle of the Ifland ; tho' 
 the general courfe of its afcent is often interrupted and travcrfed by 
 gentle defcents and vallies ; and the inequalities, that are formed by 
 the different combinations of thefe gradual fwellings of the ground, 
 are moft beautifully divcriified with large lawns, which are covered 
 with a very fine trefoil, intermixed with a variety of flowers, 
 and are flcirted by woods of tall and well-fprcad trees, moft of 
 them celebrated either for their afpedt or their fruit. The turf of 
 the lawns is quite clean and even, and the bottoms of the woods in 
 many places clear of all bu flies and underwoods j and the woods 
 themfelves ufually terminate on the lawns with a regular outline, 
 not broken, nor confufed with ftraggling trees, but appearing as uni- 
 form, as if laid out by art. Hence arofe a great variety of the moft 
 elegant and entertaining profpeds, formed by the mixture of thefe 
 woods and lawns, and their various interfedions with eacii other, as 
 
 they
 
 (' 3"09 ) 
 tihey fpread themfclves differently through the vallies, and over the 
 flopes and declivities v?ith which the place abounds. The fortu- 
 nate animals too, which for the greateft part of the'year are the fole 
 lords of this happy foil, partake in fome meafure of the romantic 
 caft of the Ifland, and are no fmall addition to its wonderful fce- 
 nary : For the cattle, of which it is not uncommon to fee herds 
 of fome thoufands feeding together in a large meadow, are cer-^ 
 tainly the mofl remarkable in the world ; for they are all of them 
 milk-white, except their ears, which are generally black. And 
 though there are no inhabitants here, yet the clamour and frequent 
 parading of domeftic poultry, which range the woods in great num- 
 bers, perpetually excite the ideas of the neighbourhood of farms 
 and villages, and greatly contribute to tHe chearfulnefs and beauty 
 of the place. The cattle on the Ifland we computed were at leafV 
 ten thouf.md ; and we had no difficulty in getting near them, as they 
 were not fhy of us. Our firfl method of killing them was flioot- 
 ing them ; but at lafl, when, by accidents to be hereafter recited, 
 we were obliged to huftand our ammunition, our men ran them 
 down with eafe. Their fleth was extremely well tafted, and was be- 
 lieved by us to be much more eafily digefted, than any we had 
 ever met with. The fowls too were exceeding good, and were 
 like wife run down with little trouble ; for they could fcarce fly fur- 
 ther than an hundred yards at a flight, and even that fatigued them 
 fo much, that they could not readily rife again ; fo that, aided by 
 the opennefs of the woods, we could at all times furnifli ourfelves 
 with whatever number we wanted. Befides the cattle and the 
 poultry, we found here abundance of wild hogs : Thcfe were mofl 
 excellent food ; but as they were a very fierce animal, we were ob- 
 liged either tO" flioot them, or to hunt them with large dogs, which 
 we found upon the place at our landing, and which belonged to the 
 'detachment which was then upon the Ifland amailing provifions 
 for the garrifon of Guam. As thefe dogs had been pnrpofely train- 
 ed to the killing of the v/ild hogs, they followed us very readily, 
 and hunted for us ; but though they were a large bold breed, the 
 
 2 hogs
 
 ( 310 ) 
 hogs fought with Co much fury, that they frequently deftroycd 
 them, fo that we by degrees loft the greateft part : f them. 
 
 But this place was not only extremely gratefu to us from the 
 plenty and excellency of its frefh provifions, but was as much per- 
 haps to be admired for its fruits and vegetable produdions, which 
 were moft fortunately adapted to the cure of the fea fcurvy, which 
 had fo terribly reduced us. For in the woods there were inconceiv- 
 able quantities of coco-nuts, with the cabbages growing on the fame 
 tree : There were befides guavoes, limes, fvveet and fower oranges, 
 and a kind of fruit, peculiar to thefe Iflands, called by the India?is 
 Rima, but by us the Bread Fruit, for it was conftantly eaten by us 
 during our ftay upon the Ifland inftead of bread, and fo univerfally 
 preferred to it, that no (hip's bread was expended during that whole 
 interval. It grew upon a tree which is fomewhat lofty, and which, 
 towards the top, divides into large and fpreading branches. The 
 leaves of this tree arc of a remarkable deep green, are notched a- 
 bout the edges, and are generally from a foot to eighteen inches in 
 length. The fruit itfelf grows indifferently on all parts of the 
 branches ; it is in fliape rather eliptical than round, is covered with 
 a rough rind, and is ufually feven or eight inches long ; each of 
 them grows fingly and not in clufters. This fruit is fitteft to be 
 ufed, when it is full grown, but is ftill green ; in which ftate, its tafte 
 has fome diftant refemblance to that of an artichoke bottom, and 
 its texture is not very different, for it is foft and fpungy. As it 
 ripens it grows fofter and of a ydlow colour, and then contradls a 
 lufcious tafte, and an agreeable fmell, not unlike a ripe peach ; but 
 then it is eftcemed unwholefome, and is Hiid to produce fluxes. In 
 the annexed view of the watering place, there is drawn one of the 
 trees bearing this fruit, it being that marked with the letter (c). 
 Befides the fruits already enumerated, there were many other vege- 
 tables extremely conducive to the cure of the malady we had long 
 laboured under, fuch as water-melons, dandelion, creeping purf- 
 lain, mint, fcurvy-grafs, and forrel ; all which, together with the 
 freH) meaui of the place, we devoured with great eagernefs, promp- 
 ted
 
 ( 311 ) 
 
 ted thereto by the ftrong inclination, which nature never fails of 
 exciting in fcorbutic diforders for thefe powerful fpecifics. 
 
 It will eafily be conceived from what hath been already faid, 
 that our cheer upon this Ifland was in fome degree luxurious, but 
 1 have not yet recited all the varieties of provifion which we here 
 indulged in. Indeed we thought it prudent totally to abftain from 
 fifli, the few we caught at our firft arrival having furfeited thofe 
 who eat of them ; but confidering how much we had been inured 
 to that fpecies of food, we did not regard this circumflance as a dif- 
 advantage, efpecially as the defed: was fo amply fupplied by the 
 beef, pork and fowls already mentioned, and by great plenty of 
 wild fowl ; for I muft obferve, that near the center of the Ifland 
 there were two confiderable pieces of frerti water, which abounded 
 with duck, teal and curlew : Not to mention the whirling plover, 
 which we found there in prodigious plenty. 
 
 And now perhaps it may be wondered at, that an Ifland, fo ex- 
 quifitely furnifhed with the conveniencies of life, and fo well a- 
 dupted, not only to the fubfiftence, but likewife to the enjoyment 
 of mankind, fliould be entirely deftitute of inhabitants, efpecially 
 as it is in the neighbourhood of other Iflands, which in fome mea- 
 fure depend upon this for their fupport. To obviate this difficulty, 
 I mufl obferve, that it is not fifty years fince the Ifland was depo- 
 pulated. The Indians we had in our cuftody aflured us, that for- 
 merly the three Iflands of Tint .n. Rota and Giiam^ were all full of 
 inhabitants ; and that Jinian alone contained thirty thoufand fouls : 
 But a flcknefs raging amongfl; thefe Iflands, which defl;royed mul- 
 titudes of the people, the Spaniards, to recruit their numbers at 
 Guam, which were greatly diminiflied by this mortality, ordered 
 all the inhabitants of Tinian thither ; where, languiiliing for their 
 former habitations, and their cuflomary method of life, the greateft 
 part of them in a few year ■.£, :d of grief Indeed, independent of 
 that attachment which all mankind have ever fliown to the places of 
 their birth and bringing up, it fhould fcem, frwn what has been al- 
 ready
 
 ( 312 ) 
 
 ready faid, that there were few countries more worthy to be regret- 
 ted than this of Tinian. 
 
 Thefe poor hidiam might reafonably have expedted, at the great 
 diftance from Spain, where they were placed, to have efcaped the 
 violence and cruelty of that haughty Nation, fo fatal to a large pro- 
 portion of the whole human race : But it feems their remote fitua- 
 tion could not protedl them from fliaring in the common deftruc- 
 tion of the wcftern world, all the advantage they received from 
 their diftance being only to perifli an age or two later. It may 
 perhaps be doubted, if the number of the inhabitants of Timan, 
 who were banilhed to Guam, and who died there pining for their 
 native home, was fo great, as what we have related above ; but, not 
 to mention the concurrent alTertion of our prifoners, and the com- 
 modioufnefs of the Ifland, and its great fertility, there are ftill re- 
 mains to be met with on the place, which evince it to have been 
 once extremely populous : For there are, in all parts of the Wand, 
 a great number of ruins of a very particular kind ; they ufually 
 confift of two rows of fquare pyramidal pillars, each pillar being 
 about fix feet from the next, and the diftance between the rows 
 being about twelve feet ; the pillars themfclves are about five feet 
 iquare at the bafe, and about thirteen feet high •, and on the top of 
 each ef them there is a femi-globe, with the flat part upwards ; the 
 whole of the pillars and femi-globe is folid, being compofed of 
 fand and ftonc cemented together, and plaiftrered over. This odd 
 fabrick will be better underftood, by infpeding the view of the 
 vvaterinw place inferted above, where an aftemblage of thefe pillars 
 is drawn, and is denoted by the letter [a). If the account our pri- 
 foners gave us of thefe ftrud:ures was true, the Ifland muft: in- 
 deed have been extremely populous ; for they aflured us, that they 
 were the foundations of particular buildings fet apart for thofe In- 
 dians only, who had engaged in fome religious vow ; and monaftic 
 inftitutions are often to be met with in many Pagan nations. 
 However, if thefe ruins were originally the bafis of the corii- 
 . . mon
 
 ( 313 ) 
 
 mon dwelling-houfes of the natives, their numbers muft have been 
 confiderable j for in many parts of the Ifland they are extremely 
 thick planted, and fufficiently evince the great plenty of former in- 
 habitants. But to return to the prefent ftate of the Ifland. 
 
 Having mentioned the conveniencies of this place, the excellency 
 and quantity of its fruits and provifions, the neatnefs of its lawns, 
 the ftatelinefs, frefhnefs and fragance of its woods, the happy ine- 
 quality of its furface, and the variety and elegance of the views it 
 afforded, I muft now obferve that all thefe advantages were greatly 
 enhanced by the healthinefs of its climate, by the almoft conftant 
 breezes which prevail there, and by the frequent (bowers which 
 fall, and which, though of a very fhort and almoft momenta- 
 ry duration, are extremely grateful and refreftiing, and are perhaps 
 one caufe of the falubrity of the air, and of the extraordinary in- 
 fluence it was obferved to have upon us, in increaflng and invigo- 
 rating our appetites and digeftion. This was fo remarkable, that 
 thofe amongft our officers, who were at all other times fpare and 
 temperate eaters, who, befides a flight breakfaft, made but one mo- 
 derate repaft a day, were here, in appearance, transformed into glut- 
 tons ; for inftead of one reafonable flelh-meal, they were now 
 fcarcely fatisfied with three, and each of them fo prodigious in 
 quantity, as would at another time have produced a fever or a fur- 
 feit : And yet our digeftion fo well correfponded with the keenefs 
 of our appetites, that we were neitlier difordered nor even loaded by 
 this repletion; for after having, according to the cuftom of the 
 Ifland, made a large beef breaktaft, it was not long before we be- 
 gan to confider the approach of dinner as a very defirable, though 
 fomevvhat tardy incident. 
 
 • And now having been thus large in my encomiums on this 
 Ifland, in which however, I conceive, I have not done it juftice, it 
 is necelLry I fliould fpeak of thofe circumftances in wlwch it is de- 
 fedtive, whether in point of beauty or utility. 
 
 Sf And
 
 ( 3H ) 
 
 And firft, with refped to its water. I muft own, that before'il 
 had ieen this Ipot, I did not conceive that the abience of running 
 water, of which it is entirely deftitute, could have been fo well re- 
 placed by any other means, as it is in this Ifland ; for though there 
 are no ftreams, yet the water of the wells and Iprings, which are to 
 be met with every where near the furface, is extremely good ; and 
 in the midft of the Ifland there are two or three confiderable pieces 
 of excellent water, whofe edges are as neat and even, as if they 
 had been bafons purpofely made for the decoration of the place. It 
 muft however be confefled, that with regard to the beauty of the 
 profpefts, the want of rills and ftreams is a very great defedt, not 
 to be compenfated either by large pieces of ftanding water, or by 
 the neighbourhood of the fea, though that, by reafonof the fmall- 
 nefs of the Illand, generally makes a part of every extenfive 
 view. 
 
 As to the refidence upon the liland, the principal inconvenience 
 attending it is the vail numbers of mufcatos, and various other 
 fpecies of flies, together with an infed: called a tick, which, though 
 principally attached to the cattle, would yet frequently faflen upon 
 our limbs and bodies, and if not perceived and removed in time, 
 would bury its head under the fkin, and raife a painful inflamma- 
 tion. We found here too centipedes and Icorpions, which we fup- 
 pofed were venemous, but none of us ever received any injury 
 from them. 
 
 But the mofl important and formidable exception to this place re- 
 mains ftill to be told. This is the inconvenience of the road, and 
 the little fecurity there is at fome feafons for a fhip at anchor. The 
 only proper anchoring place for fhips of burthen is at the S. W. 
 end of the Ifland. As a direftion for readily finding it, there is an- 
 nexed a very accurate view of the S. W. fide of the Ifland, where 
 (a) is the peak of Saypan, feen over the northern part of Tinian, 
 and bearing N. N. E. i. E. And {b) is the anchoring place, di- 
 ftant eight miles from the obferver. And as an additional affifl- 
 
 ance.
 
 ( 315) 
 ance, there is alfo added a near view of the anchoring place itfclf, 
 which reprefents it fo exadlly, that none hereafter can poflible mif- 
 take it. In this place the Centurwi anchored in twenty and twenty- 
 two fathom water, oppofite to a fandy bay, and about a mile and 
 an half diftant from the (hore. The bottom of this road is full of 
 fliarp-pointed coral rocks, which, during four months of the year, 
 that is, from the middle of June to the middle of OBober, render* 
 it a very unfafe place to lie at. This is the feafon of the weftern 
 monfoons, when near the full and change of the moon, but more 
 particularly at the change, the wind is ufually variable all round the 
 compafs, and feldom fails to blow with fuch fury, that the ftouteft 
 cables are not to be confided in ; what adds to the danger at thefe 
 times, is the exceflive rapidity of the tide of flood which fets to the 
 S. E, between this Ifland and that of Jlguigua?!, a fmall Ifland near 
 the fouthern extremity of Tinian, which is reprefented in the gene- 
 ral chart, hereafter inferted, only by a dot. This tide runs at firft 
 with a vaft head and overfall of water, and occafions fuch a hollow 
 and overgrown fea, as is fearcely to be conceived ; fo that (as will 
 be hereafter more particularly mentioned) we were under the dread- 
 ful apprehenfion of being pooped by it, though we were in a 
 fixty-gun fliip. In the remaining eight months of the year, that 
 is, from the middle of OSlobcr to the middle of June, there is a 
 conftant feafon of fettled weather, when, if the cables are but well 
 armed, there is fearcely any danger of their being fo much as rub- 
 bed : So that during all that interval, it is as fecure a road as could 
 be wifhed for. I fhall only add, that the anchoring bank is very 
 {helving, and ftretches along the S. W. end of the Ifland, and that 
 it is entirely free from fl^oals, except a reef of rocks which is vi- 
 fible, and lies about half a mile from the fliore, and affords a nar- 
 row palTage into a fmall fandy bay, which is the only place where 
 boats can pofTibly land. After this account of the Ifland, and its 
 produce, it is necefTary to return to our own hiflory. 
 
 Our firft: undertaking, after our arrival, was the removal of our- 
 fick on fhore, as hath been mentioned. Whilft we were thus em- 
 
 S f 2 ployed.
 
 ( 3^6 ) 
 
 ployed, four of tbe IrJiain on fliore, being part of the Spanip? 
 Serjeant's detachment, came and furrendered themfelves to us, fo 
 that with thofe we took in the proa, we had now eight of them 
 in our cuftody. One of the four who fubmitted undertook to fl:iow 
 us the moft convenient place for killing cattle, and two of our 
 men were ordered to attend him on that fervice ; but one of them 
 unwarily trufting the Indian with his firelock and piftol, the 
 Indian efcaped with them into the woods: His countrymen, who 
 remained behind, were apprehenfive of fuffering for this perfidy 
 of their comrade, and therefore begged leave to fend one of their 
 own party into the country, who they engaged fliould both bring 
 back the arms, and perfuade the whole detachment from Guam to 
 fubmit to us. The Commodore granted their requeft ; and one of 
 them was difpatched on this errand, who returned next day, and 
 brought back the firelock and piftol, but aflured us, he had met 
 with them in a path way in the wood, and protefted that he had 
 not been able to meet with any one of his countrymen : This re- 
 port had fo little the air of truth, that we fufpefted there was fome 
 treachery carrying on, and therefore to prevent any future commu- 
 nication amongft them, we immediately ordered all the Indiam who 
 were in our power on board the fliip, and did not permit them to 
 return any more on (hore. 
 
 When our fick were well fettled on the Ifland, we employed 
 all the hands that could be fpared from attending them, in arming 
 the cables with a good rounding, feveral fathom fiom the anchor, 
 to fecure them from being rubbed by the coral rockr, which here 
 abounded : And this being compleated, our next attention was our 
 leak, and in order to raife it out of water, we, on the firft of 
 St-ptembert began to get the guns aft to bring the Ihip by the ftern j 
 and now the Carpenters, being able to come at u on the outfide, 
 ripped of the old fheathing that was left, ar.i caulked all the 
 feams on both fides the cut-water, and leaded tL-m over, and then 
 new fheathed the bows to the furface of the water : By this means 
 we conceived the defed was fufficiently fecurcd ; but upon our be- 
 
 2 ginning
 
 ( 31? ) 
 
 ginning to bring the guns into their places, we had the mortifica- 
 tion to perceive, that the water ruflied into the (hip in the old 
 place, with as much violence as ever : Hereupon we were neceffita- 
 ted to begin again ; and that our lecond attempt might be more ef- 
 fetflual, we cleared the fore ftore-room, and fent a hundred and 
 thirty barrels of powder on board the fmall Spanif: bark we had 
 feized here, by which means we raifed the fliip about three feet out 
 of the water forwards, and the Carpenters ripped of the flieathing 
 lower down, and new caulked all the feams, and afterwards laid on 
 new fheathing ; and then, fuppofing the leak to be effedlually 
 flopped, we began to move the guns forwards ; but the upper deck 
 guns were fcarcely in their places, when, to our amazement, it 
 burft out again ; and now, as we durft not cut away the lining 
 within board, leaft a but-end or a plank might ftart, and we might 
 go down immediately, we had no other refource left than chincing 
 and caulking within board j and indeed by this means the leak was 
 flopped for fome time ; but when our guns were all in their places, 
 and our ftores were taken on board, the water again forced its way 
 through a hole in the flem, where one of the bolts was driven in j 
 and on this we defifted from all farther efforts, being now well af- 
 (Tured, that the defedt was in the flem itfelf, and that it was not to be 
 remedied till we fliould have an an opportunity of heaving down. 
 Towards the middle of September, feveral of our fick were tole- 
 rably recovered by their refidence on fliore j and, on the 1 2th of 
 September, all thofe who were fo far relieved, fince their arrival, as 
 to be capable of doing duty, were fent on board the fhip : And 
 then the Commodore, who was himfelf ill of the fcurvy, had a 
 tent eredled for him on fliore, v/here he went with the view of 
 flaying a few days for the recovery of his health, being convinced 
 by the general experience of his people, that no other method but 
 living on the land was to be trufled to for the removal of this 
 dreadful malady. The place, where his tent was pitched on this 
 occafion, was near the well, whence we got all our water, and was 
 indeed a mofl elegant fpot. A view of it hath been already inferted 
 
 under
 
 ( 3i8 ) 
 un<ier die title of the watering place, where {/>) is the Commo- 
 dore's tent, and {tf) the well where we watered. 
 
 As the crew on board were now reinforced by the recovered 
 hands returned from the Ifland, we began to fend our cafk on fliore 
 to be fitted up, which till now could not be done, for the Coopers 
 were not well enough to work. We likewife weighed our an- 
 chors, that we might examine our cables, which we fufpedled had 
 by this time received confiderable damage. And as the new moon 
 was now approaching, when we apprehended violent gales, the Com- 
 modore, for our greater fecurity, ordered that part of the cables next 
 to the anchors to be armed with the chains of the fire-grapnels j and 
 they were befides cackled twenty fatliom from the anchors, and 
 feven fathom from the fervice, with a good rounding of a 4 1 inch 
 hawfer ; and to all thefe precautions we added that of lowering the 
 main and fore-yard clofe down, that in cafe of blowing weather 
 the wind might have lefs power upon the fhip, to make her ride 
 a ftrain. 
 
 Thus effedlually prepared, as we conceived, we expedted the new 
 moon, which was the 18 th of Septonber^ and riding fafe that and 
 the three fucceeding days, (though the weather proved very fqually 
 and uncertain) we flattered ourfelves (for I was then on board) that 
 the prudence of our meafures had fecured us fi-om all accidents ; 
 but, on the 2 2d, the wind blew from the eafl:ward with fuch fury, 
 that we foon defpaired of riding out the ftorm ; and therefore we 
 fhould have been extremely glad that the Commodore and the reft 
 of our people on fhore, which were the greateft part of our hands, 
 had been on board with us, fince our only hopes of fafety feemed to 
 depend on our putting immediately to fea ; but all communication 
 with the fliore was now effedually cut ofi^, for there was no poffibi- 
 lity that a boat could live, fo that we were neceflitated to ride it out, 
 till our cables parted. Indeed it was not long before this happened, 
 for the fmall bower parted at five in the afternoon, and the fliip 
 fwung off to the beft bower j and as the night came on, the vio- 
 lence of the wind ftill encreafed j but notwitliftanding its inexpref- 
 
 2 fible
 
 ( 219 ) 
 
 fible fury, the tide ran with (o much rapidity, as to prevail over It j 
 for the tide having fet to the northward in the beginning of the 
 ftorm, turned fuddenly to the fouthward about fix in the evening, 
 and forced the fliip before it in defpight of the ftorm, which blew 
 upon the beam : And now the fea broke moft furprizlngly all round 
 us, and a large tumbling fwell threatened to poop us ; the long 
 boat, which was at this time moored a-ftern, was on a fudden 
 canted fo high, that it broke the tranfom of the Commodore's gal- 
 lery, whofe cabin was on the quarter-deck, and would doubtlefs have 
 lifen as high as the tafferel, had it not been for this ftroke which 
 ftove the boat all to pieces; but the poor boat- keeper, though ex- 
 tremely bruifed, was faved almoft by miracle. About eight, the tide 
 flackened, but the wind did not abate ; fo that at eleven, the beft 
 bower cable, by which alone we rode, parted. Our fheet anchor, 
 which was the only one we had left, was inftantly cut from the 
 bow ; but before it could reach the bottom, we were driven from 
 twenty-two into thirty-five fathom ; and after we had veered away 
 one whole cable, and two thirds of another, we could not find 
 ground with fixty fathom of line : This was a plain indication, that 
 the anchor lay near the edge of the bank, and could not hold us 
 long. In this prefiing danger, Mr. Saumarez, our firft Lieutenant 
 who now commanded on board, ordered feveral guns to be fired, 
 and lights to be lliown, as a fignal to the Commodore of our dil^ 
 trefs ; and in a fliort time after, it being then about one o'clock, 
 and the night excefnvely dark, a ftrong guft, attended with rain 
 and lightning, drove us off the bank, and forced us out to fea, 
 leaving behind us, on the Ifland, Mr. AnfotJ^ with many more of 
 our officers, and great part of our crew, amounting in the whole 
 to an hundred and thirteen perfons. Thus were we all, both at 
 fea and on Ihore, reduced to the utmoft defpair by this cataf- 
 trophe, thofe on fliore conceiving they had no means left them 
 ever to leave the Ifland, and we on board utterly unprepared to 
 ftruggle with the fury of the feas and winds, wo were now ex- 
 pofed to, and expecting each moment to be our laft, 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ( 320 ) 
 
 C H A P. III. 
 
 Vj iri i\ r. 111. 
 
 Tranfadions at Tinian after the departure of the 
 
 Centurioji. 
 
 TH E ftonn, which drove the Centurion to fea, blew with 
 too much turbulence to permit either the Commodore or 
 any of the people on fliore from hearing the guns, which 
 flie fired as fignals of diftrefs ; and the frequent glare of the Itght- 
 ning had prevented the explofions from being obferved : So that, 
 when at day-break it was perceived from the fhore that the fliip 
 was miffing, there was the utmoft confternation amongft them : For 
 much the grea.teft part of them immediately concluded that flie was 
 loft, and intreated the Commodore that the boat might be fent 
 round the Ifland to look for the wreck ; and thofe who believed 
 her fafe, had fcarcely any expedation that (he would ever be able 
 to make the Ifland again : For the wind continued to blow ftrong 
 at Eaft, and they knew how poorly flie was manned and provided 
 for ftruggling with fo tempeftuous a gale. And if the Centurion 
 was loft, or fhould be incapable of returning, there appeared in 
 either cafe no poffibility of their ever getting off the Ifland : For 
 they were at leaft fix hundred leagues from Macao, which was 
 their neareft port ; and they were mafters of no other veflel than 
 the fmall Spanijh bark, of about fifteen tun, which they feized at 
 their firft arrival, and which would not even hold a fourth part of 
 their number : And the chance of their being taken off the Ifland 
 by the cafual arrival of any other fliip was altogether defperate j as 
 perhaps no European fhip had ever anchored here before, and it 
 were madnefs to e\pe<fl that like incidents fliould fend another here 
 in an hundred ages to come : So that their defponding thoughts 
 could only fuggeft to them the melancholy profped of fpending the 
 
 remainder
 
 ( 321 ) 
 
 remainder of their days on this Ifland, and bidding adieu for ever 
 to their country, their friends, their families, and all their domeftic 
 endearments. 
 
 Noi- was this the worll they had to fear : For they had reafon to 
 expedl, that the Governor of Guam, when he iliould be informed 
 of their fituation, might fend a force fufiicient to overpower them, 
 and to remove them to that Ifland j and then, the moft favourable 
 treatment they could hope for would be to be detained prifoners 
 for life ; fince, from the known policy and cruelty of the Spa- 
 niards in their difl:ant feitlements, it was rather to be expefted, ' 
 that the Governor, if he once had them in his power, would make 
 their want of commifllons (all of them being on board the Centii- 
 rion) a pretext for treating them as pirates, and for depriving them 
 of their lives with infamy. 
 
 In the midft of thefe gloomy refledlons, Mr. ^nfon had doubt- 
 lefs his fliare of difquietude ; but he always kept up his ufual cora- 
 pofure and fteadinefs : And having foon projefted a fcheme for ex- 
 tricating himfelf and his men from their prefent anxious fituation, 
 he firft communicated it to fome of the mofl: intelligent perfons a- 
 hout him j and having fatisfied himfelf that it was practicable, he 
 then endeavoured to animate his people to a fpeedy and vigorous 
 profccution of it. With this view he reprefented to them, how 
 little foundation there was for their apprehenfions of the Centurion' i 
 being lofl : That he fliould have hoped, they had been all of them 
 better acquainted with fea-affairs, than to give way to the impref- 
 fion of fo chimerical a fright ; and that he doubted not, but if they 
 would ferioufly confider what fuch a fliip was capable of enduring, 
 they would confefs that there was not the leaft probability of her 
 having periflied : That he was not without hopes that flie mi2;ht 
 return in a few days ; but if flie did not, the worfl that couldbe 
 ftippofed was, that flie was driven fo far to the leeward of the 
 Ifland that flie could not regain it, and that IIjc would confequently 
 be obliged to bear away for Macao on the coaft of Cbim : TJiat 
 as it was neceflury to be prepared agaiufl all events, he had, in this 
 
 T t cafe,
 
 ( 3^^ ) 
 cafe, coiilnkTed of a method of carrying them off the Ifland, and 
 joining thcii old (hip the Centiirim again at Macao : That this me- 
 thod was to hale the SpaniJI: bark on fhore, to faw her afunder, and 
 to lengthen her twelve feet, whicli would enlarge her to near forty 
 tun burthen, and would enable her to carry them all to China : 
 That he had confuUed the Carpenter?, and they had agreed that this 
 propofal was very feazible, and that nothing was wanting to execute 
 it, but the united refolution and induftry of the whole body : He 
 added, that for his own part he would fhare the fatigue and labour 
 with them, and would expedl no more from any man than what 
 he, the Commodore himfelf, was ready to fubmit to ; and con- 
 cluded with reprefenting to them the importance of faving time ; 
 and that, in order to be the better prepared for all events, it was 
 neeeliary to fet to work immediately, and to take it for granted, 
 that the Centurion would not be able to put back (which was in- 
 deed the Commodore's fecret opinion) ; fince if fiie did return, they 
 fliould only throw away a few days application ; but if fhe did not, 
 their fituation, and the feafon of the year, required their utmoft 
 
 difpatch. 
 
 Thefe remonflrances, though not without effed, did not imme- 
 diately operate fo powerfolly as Mr. Aifon could have wiflicd : He 
 indeed raifed their fpirits, by (bowing them the pofilbility of their 
 petting away, of which they had before defpaired ; but then, from 
 their confidence of this refource, they grew Icfs apprehenfive of 
 their fituation, gave a greater fcope to their hopes, and flattered 
 themfelves that the Ceniuricn would return and prevent the execu- 
 tion of the Commodore's fcheme, which they could eafily forefee 
 would be a work of confiderable labour : By this means, it was 
 fome days before they were all of them licartily engaged in the 
 projcft ; but at laft, being in general convinced of the impofiibility 
 of the fliip's return, they fet themfelves zealoufly to the different 
 talks allotted them, and were as induftrious and as eager as their 
 Commander could define, pundually afltmbling at day-break at the 
 rendezvous, whence they were diftributed to their different em- 
 ployments.
 
 I o - J ' 
 
 ployments, which they followed wi:h unufual vigour till night 
 came on. 
 
 And here I mud interrupt the courfe of this tranfadion for a 
 moment, to relate an incident which for fjme time gave Mr. Air- 
 fin more concern than all the preceding difafters. A few days after 
 the fhip was driven o&, feme of the people on fliore cried out, a 
 fail. This fpread a general joy, e^'ery one fuppofmg that it was 
 the fliip returning ; but prefenrly, a fecond fail was defcried, which 
 quite deftroyed their hrfV conjedture, and made it difficult to guefs 
 what they were. The Commodore eagerly turned his glafs towards 
 them, and faw they were two boats ; on which it immediately oc- 
 curred to him, that the Centurion was gone to the bottom, and that 
 thefe were lier two boats coming back with the remains of her peo- 
 ple ; and this fuddcn and unexpected fuggeftion wrought on him 
 fo powerfully, that, to conceal his emotion, he was obliged (without 
 fpeaking to any one) inftandy to retire to his tent, where he pafl 
 fome bitter moments, in the firni belief that the fliip was loft, and 
 that now all his views of farther diftrefilng the enemy, and of ftill 
 fignalizing his expedition by fome important exploit , were at 
 
 an end. ^ ilnorn^T ftj.r! T 
 
 But he was foon relieved from thefe difturbing thoughts, by dif- 
 covering that the two boats in the offing were Indian proas ; and per- 
 ceiving that they ftood towards the ffiore, he direded every appear- 
 ance that could give them any fufpicion to be removed, and con- 
 cealed his people, in the adjacent thickets, prepared to fecurc the 
 Indians when they fhould land : But, after the proas had flood 
 in within a quarter of a mile of the land, they fuddenly ftopt fliort, 
 and remaining there motionlcfs for near two hours, they then made 
 fail again, and ftood to the fouthward. But to return to the pro- 
 jeded enlargement of the bark. 
 
 If we examine how they were prepared for going through with 
 this undertaking, on which their fafety depended, we fliall find, that, 
 independent of other matters which were of as much importance, 
 the lengthning of the bark alone was attended with great difficul- 
 
 T t 2 ty. 
 
 ^"
 
 ( 324- ) 
 ty. Indeed, in a proper place, where all the neceflliry materials 
 and tools were to be had, the embarrafment would have been 
 much lefs ; but fome of thefe tools were to be made, and many 
 of the materials were wanting ; and it required no fmall degree of 
 invention to fupply all thefe deficiencies. And when the hull of tlie 
 bark fliould be compleated, this was but one article ; and there 
 were many others of equal weight, which were to be well confi- 
 dered : Thefe were the rigging it, the vidualling it, and lafHy, 
 the navigating it, for the fpace of fix or feven hundred leagues, thro" 
 unknown fea?, where no one of the company had ever pafied be- 
 fore. In fome of thefe particulars fiich obftacles occurred, that, 
 without the intervention of very extraordinary and ■ unexpedled 
 accidents, the pofiibility of the whole enterprize v/ould liave 
 fallen to the ground, and their utmoft induflry and efforts muft have 
 been fruitlefs. Of all thefe circumftances 1 Ihall make a Ihort re- 
 cital. 
 
 It fortunately happened that the Carpenters, both of the Gkiicefter 
 and of the Tryal, with their chefts of tools, were on fliore when 
 the fliip drove out to fea ; the Smith too was on fliore, and had 
 with him his forge and fome tools, but unhappily his bellows had 
 not been brought from on board ; fo that he was incapable of 
 working, and without his afllftance they could not hope to proceed 
 with their defign : Their firft attention therefore was to make him 
 a pair of bellows, but in this they were for fome time puzzled, by 
 their want of leather ; however, as they had hides in fufficient 
 plenty, and they had found a hogfliead of lime, which the Indians 
 or Spaniards had prepared for their own ufc, they tanned fome 
 liides with this lime ; and though we may fuppofe the workman- 
 tlfip to be but indifferent, yet the leather they thus made ferved to- 
 lerably well, and the bellows (to which a gun-barrel ferved for a 
 pipe) had no other inconvenience, than that of being fomewhat 
 ftroDg fcentcd from the imperfeftion of the Tanner's work. 
 
 Whilfl
 
 ( 3^5 ) 
 
 Whilft the Smith was preparing the neceffary iron-work, others 
 were employed in cutting down trees, and fawing them into planks ; 
 and this being the moft laborious talk, the Commodore wrought at 
 it himfelf for the encouragement of his people. As there were 
 neither blocks nor cordage fufficient for tackles to hale the bark on 
 fhore, it was propofed to get her up on rollers j and for thefe, the 
 body of the coco-nut tree was extremely ufeful ^ for its fmoothnefs 
 and circular turn prevented much labour, and fitted it for the pur- 
 pofe with very little v/orkmanihip : A number of thefe trees v. ere 
 therefore felled, and the ends of them properly opened for the re- 
 ception of hand-fpikes} and in the mean time a dry dock was 
 dug for the bark, and ways laid from thence quite into the fea, to 
 facilitate the bringing iier up. And belides thofe who were thus oc- 
 cupied in preparing meafures for the future enlargement of the bark, 
 a party was conftantly ordered for the killing and preparing of pro- 
 vilions for the reft : And tho' in thefe various employments, fome 
 of which demanded conliderahle dexterity, it might have been ex- 
 peded there would have been great confufion and delay; yet good 
 order being once eftablithed, and all hands engaged, their prepara- 
 tions advanced apace. Indeed, the common men, I prefume. 
 Were not the lefs tradable for their want of fpirituous liquors : For, 
 there being neither wine nor brandy on fliore, the juice of the coco- 
 nut was their confiant drink, and this, though extremely plea- 
 lant, was not at all intoxicating, but kept them very cool and or- 
 derly. 
 
 And now the officers began to confider of all the articles necelTi- 
 ry for the fitting out the bark ; v/hen it was found, tliatthe tents on 
 fliorc, and the fpare cordage accidentally left there by the Centurion 
 together with the fails and rigging already belonging to the bark, 
 would ferve to rig her indifferently well, when flie was lengthened ; 
 And as they had tallow in plenty, they propofed to pay her bottom 
 with a mixture of tallow and lime, which it was known was well 
 adapted to that purpofe: So that with refpedl to her equipment, flie 
 would not have been very defective. There was, however, one 
 4 exception.
 
 ( 326 ) 
 
 exception, which would have proved extremely inconvenient, and 
 that was her fize : For as they could not make her quite forty 
 tun burthen, fhe would have been incapable of containing half the 
 crew below the deck, and flie would have been fo top-heavy, that 
 if they were all at the fame time ordered upon deck, there would 
 be no fmall hazard of her over-fetting ; but this was a difficulty not 
 to be removed, as they could not augiTicnt her beyond the fize al- 
 ready propofcd. After the manner of rigging and fitting up the 
 bark was confidered and regulated, the next eflential point to be -"^ 
 
 thought on was, how to procure a fufficient ftock of provifions for 
 their voyage ; and here they were greatly at a lofs what courfe to 
 take ; for they had neither grain nor bread of any kind on fliore, 
 their bread fruit, which would not keep at fea, having all along 
 fupplied its place: And though they had live cattle enough, yet 
 they had no fait to cure beef for a fea-ftore, nor would meat 
 take fait in that climate. Indeed, they had prefer ved a fmall quan- 
 tity of jerked beef, which they found upon the place at their land- 
 ing ; but this was greatly difproportioned to the run of near fix 
 hundred leagues, which they were to engage in, and to the number 
 of hands they fhould have on board. It was at laft, however, re- 
 folved to take on board as many coco-nuts as they poffibly could ; 
 to make the mofl of their jerked beef, by a very fparing diftribu- 
 tion of it ; and to endeavour to fupply their want of bread by rice ; 
 to furnifli themfelves with which, it was propofed, when the bark 
 was fitted up, to make an expedition to the Ifland of Rota, where 
 they %vere told, that the Spaniards had large plantations of rice un- 
 der the care of the Tjidian inhabitants : But as this lafl: meafure was 
 to be executed by force, it became neceffary to examine what am- 
 munition had been left on lliore, and to prcferve it carefully ; and 
 on this enquiry, they had the mortification to find, that the utmoft 
 that could be coUedted, by the ftri<5teft fearch, did not amount to 
 more than ninety charges of powder for their firelocks, which 
 was confiderably iliort of one a-piece for each of the company, and 
 was indeed a very {lender ftock of ammunition, for fuch as were to 
 I cat
 
 ( 3 27 ) 
 
 eat no grain or bread for a month, but what they were to procure 
 by force of arms. 
 
 But the mod alarming circumftance, and what, without the pro- 
 vidential interpofition of very improbable events, had rendered all 
 their fchemes abortive, remains yet to be related. The general 
 idea of the fabric and equipment of the vefTel was fettled in a few 
 days ; and when this was done, it was not difficult to make fomc 
 eftimation of the time neceffary to compleat her. After this, it 
 was natural to expetSt that the officers would confider on the courfe 
 they were to fteer, and the land they were to make. Thefe re- 
 flections led them to the diflieartning difcovery, that there was nei- 
 ther compafs nor quadrant on the Ifland. Indeed the Commodore 
 had brought a pocket-compafs on fliore for his own ufe ; but Lieu- 
 tenant Brett had borrowed it to determine the pofition of the 
 neighbouring Iflands, and he had been driven to fea in the Cefituri- 
 on, without returning it : And as to a quadrant, that could not be 
 expefted to be found on fl:iore, for as it was of no ufe at land, there 
 could be no reafon for bringing it from on board the Ihip. It was 
 eight days, from the departure of the Ceiitur'ion^ before they were 
 in any degree relieved from this terrible perplexity : At laft, in ru- 
 maging a cheft belonging to the Spanip;) bark, they found a fmall 
 compafs, which, though little better than the toys ufually made for 
 the amufcment of fchool-boys, was to them an invaluable treafure. 
 .And a few days after, by a fimilar piece of good fortune, they 
 found a quadrant on the fea-fhore, which had been thrown over- 
 board amongfl: other lumber belonging to the dead : The quadrant 
 was eagerly feized, but on examination, it unluckily wanted vanes, 
 and therefore in its prefent ftate was altogether ufelefs ; however, 
 fortune flill continuing in a favourable mood, it was not long before 
 a perfon out of curiofity pulling out the drawer of an old table, 
 which had been driven on fliore, found therein fome vanes, which 
 fitted the quadrant very well ; and it being thus compleated, it was 
 examined by the known latitude of the place, and was found to 
 anfwer to a fufficient degree of cxacfcners. 
 
 And
 
 ( 328 ) 
 
 And now, all thefe obftacles being in fome degree removed, (which 
 were always as much as poffi'ole concealed from the vulg.ir, that 
 tliey might not grow remifs with the apprehenfion of labouring to 
 no purpofe) the work proceeded very fuccefsfully and vigoroufly : 
 The necefiary iron-work was in great forwardnefs ; and the timbers 
 and planks (which, though not the moft cxquifite performances of 
 the Sawyer's art, were yet fufficient for the purpofe) were all prepa- 
 red ; fo that, on the 6th of OBober, being the 14th day from the de- 
 parture of the fliip, they haled the bark on fliore, and, on the two 
 fucceeding days (he was fawn afunder, (though with great care not 
 to cut her planks) and her two parts were feparated the proper di- 
 ftance from each other, and, the materials being all ready before hand, 
 they, the next day, being the 9th of O£iobcr, went on with great 
 difpatch in their propofed enlargement of her; and by this time 
 they had all their future operations fo fairly in view, and were fo 
 much mafters of them, that they were able to determine when the 
 whole would be finiflied, and had accordingly, 'fixed the 5th of 
 November for the day of their putting to fea. But their projefts and 
 labours were now drawing to a fpeedier and happier conclufion ; 
 for on the 1 1 th of O£iober, in the afternoon, one of the Glottcefier\ 
 men, being upon a hill in the middle of the Illand, perceived the 
 Centuri n at a diftancc, and running down with his utmoft fpeed 
 towards the landing place, he, in the way, faw fome of his comrades, 
 to whom he hollowed out with great extafy. The fiip, the f.ip. 
 This being heard by Mr. Gordon, a Lieutenant of marines, who 
 was convinced by the fellow's tranfport that his report was true^ 
 Mr. Gordon ran towards the place where the Commodore and his 
 people were at work, and being frefli and in breath, eafily outftrip- 
 ped the Gkucejler's man, and got before him to the Commodore, 
 who, on hearing this happy and unexpeded news, threw down his 
 axe with which he was then at work, and by his joy broke through, 
 for the firft time, the equable and unvaried charadler which he had 
 hitherto preferved ; the others, who were with him, inftantly ran 
 down to the fea- fide in a kind of frenzy, eager to feaft themfelves 
 
 with
 
 ( 329 ) 
 
 whh a fight they had fo ardently wifhed for, and of which 
 they had now for a confiderable time defpaired. By five in the 
 evening, the Centurion was vifible in the offing to them all ; and, a 
 boat being fent off with eighteen men to reinforce her, and with 
 frefli meat and fruits for the refreshment of her crew, fhe, the next 
 afternoon, happily came to an anchor in the road, where the Com- 
 modore immediately came on board her, and was received by us 
 with the fincereft and heartieft acclamations : For, from the fol- 
 lowing fhort recital of the fears, the dangers and fatigues we in the 
 (hip underwent, during our nineteen days abfence from linian, it 
 may be eafily conceived, that a harbour, refrefhments, repofe, and 
 the joining of our Commander and Shipmates, were not lefs pleafing 
 to us, than our return was to them. 
 
 U 11 CHAP,
 
 ( 330 ) 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Proceedings on board the Centurion^ when driven out 
 
 to fea. 
 
 TH E Centurion being now once more fafely arrived at 7T- 
 nioTif to the mutual refpite of the labours of our divided 
 crew, it is high time that the reader, after the relation al- 
 ready given of the projedis and employment of thofe left on fhorci 
 fhould be apprized of the fatigues and diftrefles, to which we, who 
 were driven off to fca, were expofed during the long interval of 
 nineteen days that we were abfent from the Ifland. 
 
 It has been already mentioned, that it was the 2 2d of September'^ 
 about one o'clock, in an extreme dark night, when by the united 
 violence of a prodigious ftorm, and an exceeding rapid tide, we 
 were driven from our anchors, and forced to fea. Our condition 
 then was truly deplorable ; we were in a leaky {hip, with three ca- 
 bles in our hawfes, to one of which hung our only remaining an- 
 chor ; we had not a gun on board laflied, nor a port barred in ; our 
 fhrowds v^'cre loofe, and our top-mafts unrigged, and we had 
 ftruck our fore and main-yards clofe down, before the ftorm came 
 on, fo that there were no fails we could fet, except our mizen. In 
 this dreadful extremity we could mufter no more ftrength on board, 
 to navigate the fliip, than an hundred and eight hands, feveral Ne- 
 groes and Indians included : This was fcarcely the fourth part of 
 our complement ; and of thefe the greater number were either 
 boys, or fuch as, being lately recovered from the fcurvy, had not 
 yet arrived at half their former vigour. No fooner were we at fea, 
 but by the violence of the ftorm, and the working of the fliip, we 
 made a great quantity of water through our hawfe-holes, ports and 
 fcuppers, which, added to the conftant effed of our leak, rendered 
 
 our
 
 ( 331 ) 
 
 our pumps alone a fufficient employment for us all : But though 
 this leakage, by being a (hort time negledled, would inevitably end 
 in our deftrudion ; yet we had other dangers then impending, 
 which occafioned this to be regarded as a fecondary confideration 
 only. For we all imagined, that we were driving diredly on the 
 neighbouring Ifland of Aguiguan^ which was about two leagues di- 
 ftant ; and as we had lowered our main and fore-yards clofe down, 
 we had no fails we could fet but the mizcn, which was altogether 
 infufFicient to carry us clear of this inftant peril : We therefore im- 
 mediately applied ourfelves to work, endeavouring, by the utmofl 
 of our efforts, to heave up the main and fore-yards, in hopes that, 
 if we could but be enabled to make ufe of our lower canvafs, we 
 might poflibly weather the Ifland, and thereby fave ourfelves from 
 this impending fliipwreck. But after full three hours ineffedual la- 
 bour, the jeers broke, and the men being quite jaded, we were ob- 
 liged, by mere debility, to defift, and quietly to exped our fate, which 
 we then conceived to be unavoidable : For we imagined ourfelves, 
 by this time, to be driven juft upon the (liore, and the night was fo 
 extremely dark, that we expedled to difcover the Ifland no other- 
 wife than by ftriking upon it ; fo that the belief of our deftrudlion, 
 and the uncertainty of the point of time when it would take place, 
 occafioned us to pafs feveral hours, under the moft ferious apprehen- 
 fions, that each fucceeding moment would fend us to the bottom. Nor 
 did thefe continued terrors, of inflrantly ftriking and finking, end but 
 with the day-break ; when we with great tranfport perceived, that 
 the Ifland, we had thus dreaded, was at a confiderable diftance, and 
 that a ftrong northern current had been the caufe of our pre- 
 fervation. 
 
 The turbulent weather, which forced us firom Tinian, did not 
 begin to abate, till three days after } and then we fwayed up the 
 fore-yard, and began to heave up the main-yard, but the jeers 
 broke and killed one of our men, and prevented us at that time 
 from proceeding. The next day, being the 26th o{ September, was 
 a day of moft fevere fatigue to us all j for it muft be remembred, 
 
 U u a that
 
 ( 332 ) 
 
 that in thafe ejilgencies no rank or office exempted any perfon from 
 the manual application and bodily labour of a common iailor. The 
 bufinels of tliis day was no lefs than an attempt to heave up the 
 llieet- anchor, which we had hitherto dragged at our bows with two 
 cables an end. This was a work of great importance to our future 
 prefervation : For, not to mention the impediment to our naviga- 
 tion, and the hazard it would be to our fliip, if we attempted to 
 make fail with the anchor in its prefent fituation, we had this mofl 
 interefting conlideration to animate us, that it was the only anchor 
 we had leftj and, without fecuring it, we fhould be under the ut- 
 moft difficulties and hazards, when ever we made the land again j 
 and therefore, being all of us fully apprized of the confequence of 
 this enterprize, we laboured at it with the fevereft application for 
 full twelve hours, when we had indeed made a confiderable progrefs, 
 having brought the anchor in fight; but, it then growing dark, 
 sad we being exceffively fatigued, we were obliged to delifl:, and to 
 leave our work unfiniffied, till the next morning, when, by the be- 
 nefit of a night's reft, we compleated it, and hung the anchor at 
 our bow. 
 
 It was the 27th of September in the morning, that is, five days 
 after our departure, when we thus fecured our anchor j and the 
 fame day, we got up our main- yard : And having now conquered in. 
 fbme degree the diftrefs and diforder which we were neceflarily in- 
 volved in at our firil: driving out to fea, and being enabled to make 
 ufe of our canvais, we fet our courfes, and for the firfl: time flood 
 to the eaftward, in hopes of regaining the llland of 1inia7iy and 
 joining our Commodore in a few days : For we were then, by our 
 accounts, only forty-feven leagues to the South Weft of Tinian j, 
 Jb that on the firft day of OSlober^ having then run the diftance 
 neceffary for making the Ifland according to our reckoning, we. 
 were in full expectation of feeing it ; but we were unhappily dif- 
 appointed, and were thereby convinced, that a current had drivea- 
 us to the weft ward. And as we could not judge how much we 
 ^ght hereby have deviated, and confequently how long we might 
 4 "' flilli
 
 I 333 ) ■ 
 
 flill expedt to be at fea, we had great apprehenfions that our Hock 
 of water might prove deficient ; for we were doubtful about the 
 quantity we had on board, and found many of our caiTcs fo 
 decayed, as to be half leaked out. However, we were delivered 
 from our uncertainty the next day by having a fight of the Illand 
 of Guam, by which we difcovered that the currents had dri- 
 ven us forty-four leagues to the weftward of our accounts. This 
 fight of land having fatisfied us of our fituation, we kept plying 
 to the eaftward, though with exceffive labour, for, the wind con- 
 tinuing fixed in the eaftern board, we were obliged to tack often, 
 and our crew was fo weak, that, without the affiftance of every 
 man on board, it was not in our power to put the fhip about : This 
 fevere employment lafted till the j ith of OSfober, being the nine- 
 teenth day from our departure ; when arriving in the offing of Ti- 
 jiiati, we were reinforced from the fhore, as hath been already men- 
 tioned ; and on the evening of the fame day, we, to our inexpref- 
 fible joy, came to an anchor in the road, thereby procuring to our 
 fiiipmates on fhore, as well as to ourfelves, a ceflation from the fa- 
 tigues and apprehenfions, which this difaftrous incident had given 
 rife to. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ( 334- ) 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Employment at Tinian^ till the final departure of the 
 Centurion from thence j with a defcription of the 
 Ladro7ies. 
 
 WHEN the Commodore came on board the Centurion^ on 
 her return to Timan, as already mentioned, he refolved 
 to flay no longer at the Ifland than was abfolutely necef- 
 fary to compleat our ftock of water, a work which we immedi- 
 ately fet ourfelves about. But the lofs of our long-boat, which 
 was ftaved againft our poop, wdien we were driven cut to fea, put 
 us to great inconveniencies in getting our water on board ; for we 
 were obliged to raft off all our cafk, and the tide ran fo ftrong, 
 that, befides the frequent delays and difficulties it occafioned, we 
 more than once loft the whole raft. Nor was this our only mif- 
 fortune ; for, on the 1 4th of O&ober, being but the third day after 
 our arrival, a fuddcn guft of wind brought home our anchor, forced 
 us off the bank, and drove the fliip out to fea a fecond time. The 
 Commodore, it is true, and the principal officers were now on 
 board ; but we had near feventy men on fliore, who had been em- 
 ployed in filling our water, and procuring provifions: Thefe had 
 with them our two Cutters j but as they were too many for the 
 Cutters to bring off at once, we fent the eighteen oared barge to af- 
 fift them ; and at the fame time made a fignal for all that could to 
 embark, The two Cutters foon came off to us full of men ; but 
 forty of the company, who were employed in killing cattle in the 
 wood, and in bringing them down to the landing-place, were left 
 behind ; and though the eighteen oared barge was left for their con- 
 veyance, yet, as the fhip foon drove to a confiderable diftance, it 
 was not in their power to join us. However, as the weather was 
 
 favourable.
 
 ( 335 ) 
 
 favourable, and our crcw was now flronger than when we were 
 firft driven out, we, in about five days time, returned again to an 
 anchor at Tinian, and relieved thofe we had left behind us from 
 their fecond fears of being deferted by their fhip. 
 
 On our arrival, we found that the Spanijh bark, the old object of 
 their hopes, had undergone a new metaorphofis : For thofe we had 
 left on fliore began to defpair of our return, and conceiving that the 
 lengthening the bark, as formerly propofed, was both a toilfome and 
 unneceflary meafure, conlidering the fmall number they confifted 
 of, they had refolved to join her again, and to reftore her to her 
 firft ftate ; and in this fcheme they had made fome progrefs ; for 
 they had brought the two parts together, and would have foon com- 
 pleated her, had not our coming back put a period to their labours 
 and difquietudes. 
 
 Thefe people we had left behind informed us, that, juft before we 
 were feen in the offing, two proas had ftood in very near the fliore, 
 and had continued there for fome time ; but, on the appearance of 
 our fhip, they crowded away, and were prefently out of fight. 
 And, on this occafion, I muft mention an incident, which, though it 
 happened during the firft abfence of the fliip, was then omit- 
 ted, to avoid interrupting the courfe of the narration. 
 
 It hath been already obferved, that a part of the detachment, fent 
 to this Ifland under the command of the SpaniJJj Serjeant, lay con- 
 cealed in the woods ; and we were the lefs felicitous to find them out, 
 as our prifoners all afllired us, that it was impoffible for them to get 
 off, and confequently that it was inipoffible for them to fend any 
 intelligence about us to Gucm. But when the Centurion drove out 
 to fea, and left the Commodore on fliore, he one day, attended by 
 fome of his' officers, endeavoured to make the tour of the Illand : 
 In this expedition, being on a riling ground, they perceived in the 
 valley beneath them the appearance of a fmall thicket, which, by 
 obferving more nicely, they found had a progreffive motion : This 
 at firft furprized them ; but they foon difcovered, that it was no 
 more than feveral large coco bufhes, which were dragged along the 
 4 ground.
 
 ( 336) 
 
 ground, by perfons concealed beneath them. They Immediately 
 concluded that thefe were fome of the Serjeant's party (which was in^ 
 deed true) ; and therefore the Commodore and his people made after 
 them, in hopes of finding out their retreat. The Indians foon per- 
 ceived they were dicovered, and hurried away with precipitation ; but 
 Mr. Anfon was fo near them, that he did not lofe fight of them till 
 they arrived at their cell, which he and his officers entering found 
 to be abandoned, there being a paflage from it down a precipice con- 
 trived for the conveniency of flight. They found here an old fire- 
 lock or two, but no other arms. However, there was a great quan- 
 tity of provifions, particularly failed fparibs of pork, which were 
 excellent ; and from what our people faw here, they concluded, 
 that the extraordinary appetite, which they had found at this Ifland, 
 was not confined to themfelves alone ; for, it being about noon, the 
 Jndiam had laid out a very plentiful repaft confidering their num- 
 bers, and had their bread-fruit and coco-nuts prepared ready for 
 eating, and in a manner which plainly evinced, that, with them 
 too, a good meal was neither an uncommon nor an unheeded arti- 
 cle. The Commodore having in vain endeavoured to difcover the 
 path by which the India?is had efcaped, he and his officers content- 
 ed themfelves with fitting down to the dinner, which was thus 
 luckily fitted to their prefent appetites ; after which, they returned 
 back to their old habitation, difpleafed at miffing the hjdians^ as they 
 hoped to have engaged them in our fervice, if they could have had 
 any conference with them. But notwithftanding what our pri- 
 foners had afi'erted, we were afterwards aflured, that thefe Indiam 
 were carried off to Guam long before we left the place. But to re- 
 turn to our hiftory. 
 
 On our coming to an anchor again, after our fecond driving off 
 to fea, we laboured indefatigably in getting in our water ; and hav- 
 ing, by the 20th of OSiober, compleated it to fifty tun, which we 
 fuppofed would be fufficient for our paffage to Macao, we, on the 
 next day, font one of each mefs on fliore, to gather as large a quan- 
 tity of oranges, lemons, coco-nuts, and other fruits of the Ifland, as 
 
 they
 
 ( 337 ) 
 
 they poflibly could, for the ufe of themfelves and their mefs- mates, 
 when at fea. And, thefe purveyors returning on board us on the 
 evening of the fame day, we then fet fire to the bark and proa, hoifted 
 in our boats, and got under fail, fleering away for the South end of 
 the Ifland of Fonnofa, and taking our leaves, for the third and laft time, 
 of the Ifland of TiVi/^w ; An Ifland, which, whether we confider the 
 excellence of its productions, the beauty of its appearance, the ele- 
 gance of its woods and lawns, the healthinefs of its air, or the ad- 
 ventures it gave rife to, may in all thefe views be truly ftiled ro- 
 mantic. 
 
 And now, pofl:poning for a fhort time our run to Fonnofa, and 
 thence to Canton, I fhall interrupt the narration with a defcription of 
 that range of Iflands, ufually called the Ladrones, or Marian Iflands, 
 of which this of Tinian is one. 
 
 Thefe Iflands were difcovered by Magellan in the year 152 1 ^ and 
 by the account given of the two he fir ft fell in with, it lliould feem 
 that they were the Iflands of Saypan and Tinian ; for they are def- 
 cribed in his expedition as very beautiful Iflands, and as lying be- 
 tween 15 and 16 degrees of North latitude. Thefe characfleriftics 
 are particularly applicable to the two above mentioned places j for 
 the pleafing appearance of Tinian hath occafioned the Spaniards to 
 give it the additional name of Bu€navi[la ; and Saypan, which is 
 in the latitude of 15" : 22' North, affords no contemptible profpecfl 
 when feen from the fea, as may be fufficiently evinced from the 
 annexed view of its North Weft fide, taken at three leagues 
 diftance. 
 
 There are ufually reckoned twelve of thefe Iflands ; but it will 
 appear, from the chart of the North part of the Pacific Ocean here- 
 after inferted, that if the fmall iflets and rocks are Counted in, then 
 their whole number will amount to above twenty. Tliey were' 
 formerly moft of them well inhabited ; and, even not lixty years 
 ago, the three principal Iflands, Guam, Rota, and Tinian together, 
 are faid to have contained above fifty thouiand people : But fince" 
 that time Tinian hath been entirely depopulated j and only two or 
 
 X X three
 
 (338) 
 
 three hundred Jndiam have been left at Rota^ to cultivate rice for 
 the Ifland of Guam ; fo that now no more than Guam can properly 
 be faid to be inhabited. This Ifiand of Guam is the only fettle- 
 ment of the Spaniardi ; here they keep a governor and garrifon, 
 and iiere the Manila fliip generally touches for refrefliment, in her 
 pafl'ige from Acapulco to the Ptilippifics. It is efteemed to be 
 about thirty leagues in circumference, and contains, by the SpaniJIj 
 accounts, near four thouflmd inhabitants, of which a thoufand are 
 faid to live in the city of San Iguatio dc j^gand, where the Gover- 
 nor generally refidcs, and where the houfes are reprefented as confi- 
 derable, being built with flone and timber, and covered with tiles, 
 a very uncommon fabric for thefe warm climates and favage coun- 
 tries : Befides this city, there are upon the Ifland thirteen or four- 
 teen villages. As this is a pofl; of fome confequence, on account 
 of the refrefliment it yields to the Manila fliip, there are two 
 caftles on the fea-fhore ; one is the caftle of St. Angela, which lies 
 near the road, where the Manila fliip ufually anchors, and is but 
 an infignificant fortrefs, mounting only five guns eight pounders j 
 the other is the caftle of St. Lewis, which is N. E. from St. Ajt- 
 gelo, and four leagues diftant, and is intended to protedl a road 
 where a fmall veflel anchors, which arrives here every other year 
 from Manila. This fort mounts the lame number of guns as the 
 former : And befides thefe forts, there is a battery of five pieces of 
 cannon on an eminence near the fea-fhore. The Spanifj troops 
 employed on this Ifland, confifl: of three companies of foot, from 
 forty to fifty men each ; and this is the principal ftrength the Gover- 
 nor has to depend on ; for he cannot rely on any affiftance from the 
 Indian inhabitants, being generally upon ill terms with them, and 
 fo apprehenfive of them, that he has debarred them the ufe of fire- 
 arms or lances. 
 
 The reft of thefe Iflands, though not inhabited, do yet abound 
 
 with many kinds of refrefhment and provifion ; but there is no 
 
 good harbour or road to be met with amongft them all : Of that 
 
 of linian we have treat«d largely already ; nor is the road of Guam 
 
 z much
 
 ( 339 ) 
 
 much' better ; for it is not unufual for the Manila fliip, though ftie 
 propofes to flay there but twenty-four hours, to be forced to fea, 
 and to leave her boat behind her. This is an inconvenience fo fen- 
 fibly felt by the commerce at Manila, that it is always recommend- 
 ed to the Governor of Guam, to ufe his beft endeavours for the dif- 
 covery of fome fafe port in this part of the world. How induf- 
 trious he may be to comply with his inftrudtions, I know not ; but 
 this is certain, that, notwithftanding the many Iflands already found 
 out between the coaft of Mexico and the Philippines, there is not 
 yet known any one fafe port in that whole trad ; though in other 
 parts of the world it is not uncommon for very fmall Iflands to fur- 
 nifh moft excellent harbours. 
 
 From what has been faid it appears, that the Spaniards, on the 
 Ifland of Guam, are extremely few, compared to the Indian inha- 
 bitants ; and formerly the difproportion was ftill greater, as may 
 be eafily conceived from what hath been faid, in another chapter, of 
 the numbers heretofore on Tinian alone. Thefe Indians are a bold 
 well-limbed people ; and it fl^ould feem from fome of their prac- 
 tices, that they are no ways defedive in underftanding ; for their 
 flying proas in particular, which have been for ages the only veflels 
 ufed by them, are fo fingul;;-r and extraordinary an invention, that 
 it would do honour to any nation, however dexterous and acute. 
 For if we confider the aptitude of this proa to the particular navi- 
 gation of thefe Iflands, which lying all of them nearly under the 
 fame meridian, and within the limits of the trade-wind, require 
 the vefl'els made ufe of in pafTing from one to the other, to be par- 
 ticularly fitted for failing with the wind upon the beam ; or, if we 
 examine the uncommon fimpHcity and ingenuity of its fabric and 
 contrivance, or the extraordinary velocity with which it moves, we 
 fhall, in each of thefe articles, find it worthy of our admiration, and 
 meriting a place amongft the mechanical produdlions of the moll 
 civilized nations, where arts and fciences have moft; eminendy flou- 
 riftied. As former Navigators, though they have mentioned thefe 
 
 X X 2 veflils
 
 ( 340 ) 
 veflels, have yet treated of them imperfe^lly, and, as I conceive, 
 that, befides their curiofity, they may furnifli both the Ihipwright 
 and feaman with no contemptible obfervations, I fliall here infert a 
 very exaft defcription of the built, rigging, and working of thefe 
 veflels, which 1 am well enabled to do, for one of them, as I 
 have mentioned, fell into our hands at our firft arrival at Tinian, and 
 Mr. Brett took it to pieces, on purpofe to delineate its fabric and di- 
 menfions with greater accuracy : So that the following account may 
 be relied on. 
 
 The name of flying proa given to thefe velTels, is owing to the 
 fwiftnefs with which they fail. Of this the Spaniards aflert fuch 
 ftories, as appear altogether incredible to thofc who have never (cqw 
 thefe veflels move ; nor are the Spa7iiards the only people who re- 
 late thefe extraordinary tales of their celerity. For thofe who fliall 
 have the curiofity to enquire at the dock at Portjhouth, about a 
 trial made there fome years fince, with a very imperfedl one built 
 at that place, will meet with accounts not lefs wonderful than any 
 the Spaniards have given. However, from fome rude eflimations 
 made by our people, of the velocity with which they crofled the 
 horizon at a difliance, while we lay at fitiiati, I cannot help be- 
 lieving, that with a briflc trade- wind they will run near twenty 
 miles an hour : Which though, greatly fliort of what the Spaniards 
 report of them, is yet a prodigious degree of fwiftnefs. But let us 
 give a difl:ind: idea of its figure. 
 
 The conftrudion of this proa is a diredl contradidtion to the prac- 
 tice of all the refl: of mankind. For as the refl: of the world make 
 the head of their vefl"els different from the fl:ern, but the two fides 
 alike ; the proa, on the contrary, has her head and fl:ern exadly 
 alike, but her two fides very different ;' the fide, intended to be 
 always the lee-fide, being flat ; and the windward-fide made round- 
 ing, in the manner of other veflfels : And, to prevent her overfetting, 
 which from her fmall breadth, and the ftraight run of her lee- 
 ward-fide, would, without this precaution, infallibly happen, there 
 2 is
 
 ( 340 
 
 is a frame laid out from her to windward, to the end of which is 
 faftened a log, fafhioned into the {hape of a fmall boat, and made 
 hollow : The weight of the frame is intended to ballance the proa, 
 and the fmall boat is by its buoyancy (as it is always in the water) 
 to prevent her overfetting to windward ; and this frame is ufually 
 called an outrigger. The body of the proa (at leaft of that wc 
 took) is made of two pieces joined end-ways, and fowed together 
 with bark, for there is no iron ufed about her : She is about two 
 inches thick at the bottom, which at the gunwale is reduced to lefs 
 than one : The dimenfions of each part will be better known from 
 the uprights and views contained in the annexed plate, which were 
 drawn from an exadl menfuration ; thefe I fliall endeavour to ex- 
 plain as minutely and diftinftly as I can. 
 
 Fig. I. Reprefents the proa with her fail fet, as (he appears 
 when viewed from the leeward. 
 
 Fig. 2. Is a view of her from the head, with the outrigger to 
 tihe windward. 
 
 Fig. 3. Is the plan of the whole ; where (A B) is the lee-fide of 
 the proa ; (C D) the windward-fide ; (E F G H) the outrigger or 
 frame laid out to windward ; (K L) the boat at the end of it j 
 (M N P Q^) two braces from the head and ftern to fteady the 
 frame ; (R S) a thin plank placed to windward, to prevent the 
 proa from fliipping of water, and for a feat to the Indian who bales, 
 and fometimes goods are carried upon it ; (Ij is the part of the mid- 
 dle outrigger, on which the maft is fixed : The mail: itfelf is fup- 
 ported [Fig. 2,) by the {hore (C D), and by the fhrowd (E F), and 
 by two ftays, one of which may be feen, in Fig. i, marked (C D), 
 the other is hid by the fail : The fail (E FG), in Fig. i, is made 
 of matting, and the maft, yard, boom, and outriggers, are all 
 made of bamboo : The heel of the yard is always lodged in one 
 of the fockets (T) or (V), Fig. 3, according to the tack the proa 
 goes on ; and when flie alters her tack, they bear away a little to 
 bring her ftern up to the wind, then by eafing the halyard, and 
 
 raifing
 
 ( 342 ) 
 
 railing the yard, and carrying the heel of it along the lec-fide of 
 the proa, they fix it in the oppofite focket ; whilft the boom at the 
 fame time, by letting fly the fheet (M), and haling the flieet (N), 
 Fig. 1, fhifts into a contrary fituation to what it had before, and 
 that which was the ftern of the proa, now becomes the head, and 
 flie is trimmed on the other tack. When it is neceffary to reef or 
 furl the fail, this is done by rolling it round the boom. The 
 proa generally carries fix or feven Indiatis ; two of which are placed 
 in the head and flern, who fteer the veiTel alternately with a pad- 
 dle according to the tack fhe goes on, he in the ftern being the 
 fteerfman ; the other Indians are employed either in baling out the 
 water which (he accidentally fliips, or in fetting and trimming the 
 fail. From the defcription of thefe veflels it is fufficiently obvious, 
 how dexteroufly they are fitted for ranging this colledion of Iflands 
 called the Ladro72es : For as thefe Iflands lie nearly N. and S. of 
 each other, and are all within the limits of the trade-wind, the 
 proas, by failing mod excellently on a wind, and with either end 
 foremoft, can run from one of thefe Iflands to the other and back 
 again, only by fhifting the fail, without ever putting about ; and, 
 by the flatnefs of their lee- fide, and their fmall breadth, they are 
 capable of lying much nearer the wind than any other vefl"el hi- 
 therto known, and thereby have an advantage, which no veflTels 
 that go large can ever pretend to : The advantage I mean is that of 
 running with a velocity nearly as great, and perhaps fometimcs 
 greater than that with which the wind blows. This, however pa- 
 radoxical it may appear, is evident enough in fimilar inftances on 
 Ihore : For it is well known, that the fails of a windmill often 
 move fafter than the wind ; and one great fuperiority of common, 
 windmills over all others, that ever were, or ever will be contrived 
 to move with an horizontal motion, is analogous to the cafe we 
 have mentioned of a veflTel upon a wind and before the wind : For 
 the fails of an horizontal windmill, the fafter they move, the more 
 they detract from the impulfe of the wind upon them -, whereas the 
 
 common
 
 ( 343 ) 
 common windmills, by moving perpendicular to the torrent of air, 
 are nearly as forcibly z&ed on by the wind, when they are in mo- 
 tion, as when they are at reft. 
 
 Thus much may fuffice as to the defcription and nature of thefe 
 Angular embarkations. I muft add, that veflels bearing fomc ob- 
 fcure refemblance to thefe, are to be met with in various parts of 
 the Eaji-Indics, but none of them, that I can learn, to be com- 
 pared with thofe of the Ladrones, either in their conflrudtion or ce- 
 lerity ; which (hould induce one to believe, that this was originally 
 the invention of fome genius of thefe Iflands, and was afterwards 
 imperfedly copied by the neighbouring nations : For though the' 
 Ladrones have no immediate intercourfe with any other people, yet 
 there lie to the S. and S. W. of them a great number of Iflands, 
 which are fuppofed to extend to the coaft of New Guinea. Thefe 
 Iflands are io near the Ladrones^ that canoes from them have fome- 
 times, by diftrefs, been driven to Guam ; and the Spaniards did 
 once difpatch a bark for their difcovery, which left two Jefuits a- 
 mongft: them, who were afterwards murthered : And the inhabi- 
 tants of the Ladi-07ies, with their proas, may, by like accident, have 
 been driven amongfl: thefe Iflands. Indeed I fliould conceive, that 
 the fame range of Iflands extends to the S. E. as well as the S. W 
 and that to a prodigious diftance : For Schouten, who traverfed the 
 South part of the Facific Ocean in the year 1615, met with a large 
 double canoe full of people, at above a thoufand leagues diftance 
 from the Ladrones towards the S. E. If this double canoe was any 
 diftant imitation of the flying proa, which is no very improbable 
 conjedure, this can only be accounted for, by fuppofinT that there 
 is a range of Iflands, near enough to each other to be capable of an 
 accidental communication, which is extended from the Ladrones 
 thither. And indeed all thofe who have crofl'ed from America to 
 the Eaji-Indies in a fouthern latitude, have never failed of meet- 
 ing with feveral very Imall Iflands fcattered over that immenfe ocean. 
 
 And
 
 ( 344 ) 
 
 And as there may be hence fome reafon to fuppofe, that the 
 Ladrones are only a part of an extenfive chain of Iflands, fpread- 
 ing themfelves to the fouthward, towards the unknown boundaries 
 of the Pacijic Ocean ; fo it appears from the Spanijh chart here- 
 after inferted, that the fame chain is extended from the northward 
 of the Ladrones to "Japan : So that in this light the Ladrones will 
 be only one fmall portion of a range of Iflands reaching from Ja- 
 pan, perhaps to the unknown fouthern Continent. After this (hort 
 account of thefe places, I fhall now return to the profecution 
 of our voyage. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ( 345 ) 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 From Tinian to Macao. 
 
 I HAVE already mentioned, that, on the 21ft of OSiober^ in 
 the evening, we took our leave of the Ifland of Tiniariy fleer- 
 ing the proper courfe for Macao in China. The eaftern mon- 
 foon v^ras now, we reckoned, fairly fetded ; and we had a conftant 
 gale blowing right upon our ftern : So that we generally run from 
 forty to fifty leagues a day. But we had a large hollow fea pur- 
 fuing us, which occafioned the fhip to labour much; whence 
 we received great damage in our rigging, which was grown very 
 rotten, and our leak was augmented : But happily for us, our peo- 
 ple were now in full health ; fo that there were no complaints of fa- 
 tigue, but all went through their attendance on the pumps, and 
 every other duty of the fliip, with eafe and chearfulnefs. 
 
 Having now no other but our flieet-anchor left, except our prize 
 anchors, which were flowed in the hold and were too light to be 
 depended on, we were under great concern how we fliould manage 
 on the coaft of Chi?ia, where we were all entire Grangers, and 
 where we fliould doubtlefs be frequently under the neceflity of 
 coming to an anchor. Our flieet-anchor being obvioufly much too 
 heavy for a coafting anchor, it was at length refolved, to fix two of 
 our largeft prize anchors into one flock, and to place between their 
 flianks two guns, four pounders, which was accordingly executed, 
 and it was to ferve as a befl bower : And a third prize-anchor being 
 in like manner joined with our flream-anchor, with guns between 
 them, we thereby made a fmall bower ; (o that, befidcs our flieet- 
 anchor, we had again two others at our bows, one of which weigh- 
 ed 3900, and the other 2900 pounds. 
 
 Y y The
 
 ( 346 ) 
 
 The 3d of November, about three in the afternoon, we faw an 
 Ifland, which at firfl we imagined to be the Ifland of Botel Tcbago 
 Xinia : But on our nearer approach we found it to be much fmaller 
 than that is ufually reprefented ; and about an hour after we faw a- 
 nother Ifland, five or fix miles farther to the weftward. As no 
 chart, nor any journal we had feen, took notice of any other Ifland 
 to the eaflward of Formofa, than Boiel Tobago Xima, and as we had 
 no obfervation of our latitude at noon, we were in feme perplexity, 
 t)eing apprehenfive that an extraordinary current had driven us into 
 the neighbourhood 'of the ^^yZr^- JJkinds; and therefore, when 
 night came on, we brought to, and continued in this pofliure till 
 the next morning, which proving dark and cloudy, for fome time 
 prolonged our uncertainty j but it cleared up about nine o'clock, 
 when we again difcerned the two Iflands above-mentioned ; we then 
 preft forwards to the weflward, and by eleven got a fight of the 
 fouthern part of the Ifland of Formofa. This fatisfied us that the 
 fecond Ifland we faw was Botel Tobago Xima, and the firfl: a fmall 
 ifland or rock, lying five or fix miles due Eafl: from it, which, not 
 being mentioned by any of our books or charts, was the occafion 
 of our fears. 
 
 When we got fight of the Ifland of Formofa, we fleered W. by 
 S, in order to double its extremity, and kept a good look-out for 
 the rocks of Vele Rcte, which we did not fee till two in the after- 
 noon. They then bore from us W. N. W, three miles diftant, the 
 South end of Formofa at the fame time bearing N, by W i. W, a- 
 bout five leagues diftant. To give thefe rocks a good birth, we im- 
 mediately haled up S. by W, and fo left them between us and the 
 land. Indeed we had reafon to be careful of them ; for though 
 they appeared as high out of the water as a fliip's hull, yet they 
 are environed with breakers on all fides, and there is a flioal ftretch- 
 ing from them at leaft a mile and an half to the fouthward, whence 
 they may be truly called dangerous. The courfe from Botel Tobago 
 Xima to thefe rocks, is S. W. by W, and the diftance about twelve 
 or thirteen leagues : And the South end of Formofa, off which 
 
 they
 
 ( 347 ) 
 
 they lie, is In the latitude of 21°: 50' North, and in 23'* : 50' 
 Weft longitude from Tmian, according to our moft approved 
 reckonings, though by fome of our accounts above a degree more. 
 
 While we were pafling by thefe rocks of Vele Rete, there was 
 an outcry of fire on the fore-caftle ; this occafioned a general alarm, 
 and the whole crew inftantly flocked • together in the utmoft con- 
 fufion, fo that the officers found it difficult for fome time to appeafe 
 the uproar : But having at laft reduced the people to order, it was 
 perceived that the fire proceeded from the furnace j and pulling 
 down the brick- work, it was extinguiflied with great facility, for 
 it had taken its rife from the bricks, which, being overheated, had 
 begun to communicate the fire to the adjacent wood- work. In the 
 evening we were furprized with a view of what we at firft fight 
 conceived to have been breakers, but, on a ftridler examination, we 
 found them to be only a great number of fires on the Ifland of 
 Formofa. Thefe, we imagined, were intended by the inhabitants 
 of that Ifland as fignals for us to touch there, but that fuited not 
 our views, we being impatient to reach the port of Macao as foon 
 as poffible. From Formofa we fleered W. N. W, and fometimes 
 ftill more northerly, propofing to fall in with the coaft of China^ to 
 the eaftward of Pedro Blatico j for the rock fo called is ufually 
 efteemed an excellent diredlion for {hips bound to Macao. We 
 continued this courfe till the following night, and then frequently 
 brought to, to try if we were in foundings : But it was the 5th of 
 Nc/uember, at nine in the morning, before we ftruck ground, and 
 then we had forty-two fathom, and a bottom of grey fand mixed 
 with {hells. When we had got about twenty miles farther W.N.W, 
 we had thirty-five fathom and the fame bottom, from whence our 
 foundings gradually decreafed from thirty-five to twenty- five fathom j 
 but foon after, to our great furprize, they jumped back again to thirty 
 fathom : Tliis was an alteration we could not very well account for, 
 fince all the charts laid down regular foundings every where to the 
 northward of Pedro Blanco ; and for this reafon we kept a very care- 
 ful look-out, and altered our courfe to N. N. W, and having run 
 
 Y y 2 thirty-
 
 ( 348 ) 
 
 thirty-five miles in this dire£tion, our foundings again gradu- 
 ally diminifhed to twenty-two fathom, and we at laft, about mid- 
 ni'^bt, got fight of the main land of China, bearing N, by W. four 
 leaf'ues diftant : We then brought the fhip to, with her he^-J. to the 
 fea, propofing to wait for the morning ; and before fun-rife we 
 were farprized to find ourfelves in the midft ©f nn incredible num- 
 ber of fifliing boats, which feemed to cover the furface of the fea 
 as far as the eye could reach. I may well ftile their number incre- 
 dible, fmce I cannot believe, upon the loweft eftimate, that there 
 were fo few as fix thoufanJ, moft of them manned with five 
 hands, and none of thofe we faw with lefs than three. Nor was 
 this fwarm of fifliing vefl"els peculiar to this fpot ; for, as we ran on to 
 the weflvvard, we found them as abundant on every part of the coaft. 
 We at firft doubted not but we fhould procure a Pilot from them 
 to carry us to Macao % but though many of them came clofe to 
 the fliip, and we endeavoured to tempt them by {howing them a 
 number of dollars, a moft alluring bait for Chinefe of all ranks and 
 profeflions, yet we could not entice them on board us, nor procure 
 any diredions fi-om them ; though, I prefume, the only difficulty 
 was their not comprehending what we wanted them to do, for vvc 
 could have no communication with them but by figns : Indeed we 
 often pronounced the word Macao ; but this we had reafon to fup- 
 pofe they underftood in a different fenfe ; for in return they fome- 
 times held up fifli to us, and we afterwards learnt, that the Chhiefe 
 name for fifh is of a fomewhat fimilar found. But what furprifed 
 us moft was the inattention and want of curiofity, which we ob- 
 ferved in this herd of fifliermen : A fhip hke ours had doubtlefs 
 never been in thofe feas before ; perhaps, there might not be one, 
 amongft all the Chinefe employed in this fifhery, who had ever 
 feen any European veflel j fo that we might reafonably have ex- 
 pected to have been confidered by them as a very uncommon and 
 extraordinary objedt; but though many of their vefl^els came clofc 
 to the fliip, yet they did not appear to be at all interefted about us, 
 nor did they deviate in the lea ft fi-om their courfe to regard us ; which 
 2 infenfibility.
 
 ( 349 ) 
 
 Infenfibility, efpeclally in maritime perfons, about a matter in their 
 own profeffion, is fcarcely to be credited, did not the general be- 
 haviour of the Chinefe, in other inflances, fumifh us with continual 
 proofs of a fimilar turn of mind : It may perhaps be doubted, whe- 
 ther this cafi: of temper be the effedl of nature or education ; but, in 
 either cafe, it is an inconteftable fymptom of a mean and con- 
 temptible difpofition, and is alone a fufficient confutation of the 
 extravagant panegyrics, which many hypothetical writers have be- 
 ftowed on the ingenuity and capacity of this Nation. But to re- 
 turn : 
 
 Not being able to procure any information from the Chinefe fifli- 
 crmen about our proper courfe to Macao, it was neceflary for us to 
 rely entirely on our own judgment j and concluding from our lati- 
 tude, which was 22° : 42' North, and from our foundings, which 
 were only feventeen or eighteen fathom?, that we were yet to the 
 eaftward of Pedro Blaficc, we flood to the weflward : And for the 
 afTiftance of future Navigators, who may hereafter doubt about the 
 parts of the coaft they are upon, I muft obferve, that befides the 
 latitude of Pedro Blanco, which is 22° : 18', and the depth of 
 water, which to the weftward of that rock is almoft every where 
 twenty fathoms, there is another circumftance which will give great 
 alLftance in judging of the pofition of the fhip : This is the kind 
 of ground ; for, till we came within thirty miles of Ped7-o Blaiico, 
 we had conftantly a fandy bottom ; but there the bottom changed 
 to foft and muddy, and continued fo quite to the Ifland of Macao j 
 only while we were in light of Pedro Blanco and very near it, we 
 had for a fljort fpacc a bottom of greenifh mud, intermixed with 
 fand. 
 
 It was on the 5th of November, at midnight, when we firft: 
 made the coaft of China ; and the next day, about two o'clock, 
 as we were ftanding to the weftward within two leagues of the 
 coaft, and ftill furrounded by fifhing vefTels in as great numbers as 
 at firft, we perceived that a boat a-head of us waved a red flag, 
 and blew a horn : This we confidered as a fignal made to us, either 
 
 to
 
 ( 350 ) 
 
 to warn us of fome flioal, or to inform us that they would fupply 
 us with a Pilot, and in this belief we immediately fent our Cutter to 
 the boat, to know their intentions ; but we were foon made fenfi- 
 ble of our miftake, and found that this boat was the Commodore of 
 the whole fifliery, and that the fignal fljc had made, was to order 
 them all to leave off fifliing, and to return in fhore, which we faw 
 t]iem inftantly obey. On this difappointment we kept on our 
 courfe, and foon after paffed by two very fmall rocks, which lay 
 four or five miles diflant from the ihore ; but night came on before 
 we got fight of Pedro Blanco, and we therefore brought to till the 
 morning, when we had the fatisfadion to difcover it. It is a rock 
 of a fmall circumference, but of a moderate height, and, both in 
 (hape and colour, refembles a fugar loaf, and is about feven or eight 
 miles from the fliore. We pafled within a mile and an half of it, 
 and left it between us and the land, ftill keeping on to the weft- 
 ward i and the next day, being the 7th, we were a-breaft of a 
 chain of Iflands, which flretched from Eaft to Weft. Thefe, as 
 we afterwards found, were called the Iflands of Lema ; they are 
 rocky and barren, and are in all, fmall and great, fifteen or fixteen ; 
 and there are, befides, a great number of other Iflands between them 
 and the main land of China. There is annexed a view of thefe 
 Iflands, and likewife a view of the grand Ladrone hereafter men- 
 tioned, as it appears when (R), the weftermoft of the Iflands of 
 Lema, bears W. N. W, at the diftance of a mile and half Thefe 
 Iflands we left on the ftarboard-flde, pafllng within four miles of 
 them, where we had twenty-four fathom water. We were ftill fur- 
 rounded by fifliing boats ; and we once more fent the Cutter on 
 board one of them, to endeavour to procure a Pilot, but could 
 not prevail ^ however, one of the Chincje direfted us by figns to 
 fail round the weftermoft of the iflands or rocks oF Lenia, and then 
 to hale up. We followed this diredlion, and in the evening came 
 to an anchor in eighteen fathom ; at which time, the rock (R) in the 
 foregoing draught bore S. S. E. five miles diftant, and the grand La- 
 drone W. by S, about two leagues diftant. The reck (R) is a moft 
 
 excellent

 
 
 '.y'At- .y^y,iu^/^ ^y'LEMA 
 
 H B - •',/' 
 
 . .'■ Jt>t/I . 
 
 -^ 
 
 . ///^ .X>/,i/i^/^ r^/ LE MA . 
 
 / 
 
 G
 
 ( 35" ) 
 
 excellent diredion for fhips coming from the eaftward : Its latitude 
 is 21' : 52' North, and it bears from Pedro Blanco S. 64' W, di- 
 ftant twenty-one leagues. You are to leave it on the ftarboard-fide, 
 and you may come within half a mile of it in eighteen fathom wa- 
 ter : And then you muft fleer N. by W. i W. for the channel, be- 
 tween the Iflands of Cabouce and Bamboo^ which are to the north- 
 ward of the grand Ladrone. 
 
 After having continued at anchor all night, We, on the 9th, at 
 four in the morning, fent our Cutter to found the channel, where we 
 propofed to pafs ; but before the return of the Cutter, a Chinefe Pi- 
 lot put on board us, and told us, in broken Portuguefe^ he would 
 carry us to Macao for thirty dollars : Thefe were immediately paid 
 him, and we then weighed and made failj and foon after, feveral 
 other Pilots came on board us, who, to recommend themfelves, 
 produced certificates from the Captains of feveral fhips they had pi- 
 lotted in, but we continued the fhip under the management of the 
 Chinefe who came firft on board. By this time we learnt, that we 
 were not u\x diftant from Macao, and that there were in the river of 
 Canton, at the mouth of which Macao lies, eleven European fliips, 
 of which four were Evglifi. Our Pilot carried us between the 
 Iflands of Bamboo and Cabouce, but the winds hanging in the nor- 
 thern board, and the tides often fetting ftrongly againft us, we were 
 obliged to conie f;,^quently to an anchor, fo that we did not get 
 through between the two Iflands till the 1 2th of Novejnber, at two 
 in the morning. In paffing through, our depth of water was from 
 twelve to fourteen fathom ; and as we flill fl:eered on N. by W. L W, 
 between a number of other Iflands, our foundings underwent little 
 or no variation till towards the evening, when they encreafed to 
 feventeen fathom ; in which depth (the wind dying away) we an- 
 chored not far from the Ifland of Lantoon, which is the largeft of all 
 this range of Iflands. At fcven in the morning we weighed again, 
 and fleering W. S. W. and S. W. by V/, we at ten o'clock happily 
 anchored in Macao road, in five fathom water, the city of Macao 
 bearing W. by N, three leagues diftant ; the peak of Lantcon 
 2 E. by N,
 
 ( 352 ) 
 
 E. by N, and the grand Ladrone S. by E, each of them about five 
 leagues diftant. Thus, after a fatiguing cruife of above two years 
 continuance, we once more arrived in an amicable port, in a civi- 
 lized country \ where the conveniencies of life were in great plenty j 
 where the naval (lores, which we now extremely wanted, could be 
 in fome degree procured ; where we expedtcd the inexpreflible fa- 
 tisfa(!lion of receiving letters from our relations and friends ; and 
 where our countrymen, who were lately arrived from Englandy 
 would be capable of anfwering the numerous enquiries we were 
 prepared to make, both about public and private occurrences, and 
 to relate to us many particulars, which, whether of importance or 
 not, would be liftned to by us with the utmoft attention, after the 
 long fufpenfion of our correfpondence with our country, to which 
 the nature of our undertaking had hitherto fubjedled us. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ( 353 ) 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Proceedings at Macao. 
 
 TFI E city of Macao, in the road of which \^-e came to an 
 anchor on the 12th of November, is a Portuguefe fettle- 
 ment, fituated in an Ifland at tlie mouth of the river of 
 Canton. It was formedy a very rich and populous city, and capa- 
 ble of defending itfelf againft the power of the adjacent Chinefe 
 Governors : But at prefent it is much fallen from its antient fplen- 
 dor ; for though it is inhabited by Portuguefe, and hath a Gover- 
 nor nominated by the King of Portugal, yet it fubfifls merely by 
 the fufferance of the Chinefe, who can ftarve the place, and dif- 
 poflefs the Portuguefe whenever they pleafe : This obliges the Go- 
 vernor ol Macao to behave with great circumfpedion, and carefully 
 to avoid every circumftance that may give offence to the Chinefe. 
 The river of Canton, at the mouth of which this city lies, is the 
 only Chinefe port, frequented by European {hips ; and this river is in- 
 deed a more commodious harbour, on many accounts, than Ma^ 
 cao : But the peculiar cuftoms of the Chinefe, only adapted to the 
 entertainment of trading fliips, and the apprehenfions of the Com- 
 modore, leaft he {liouW .embroil the Eafilndia Companv with 
 the Regency of Canton, if he fliould iniift on being treated upon a 
 different footing than the Merchantmen, made him refoh'^e to go 
 firft to Macao, before he ventured into the port of Canton. Indeed, 
 had not this reafon prevailed with him, he himfelf had nothing to 
 fear : For it is certain that he might have entered the port of Can- 
 ton, and might have <;ontinued there as long as he pleafed, and af- 
 terwards have left it again, although the whole power of the Chi- 
 nefe Empire had been brought together to oppofe him. 
 
 Z z The
 
 ( 354 ) 
 
 The Commodore, not to depart from his ufual prudence, no 
 fooner came to an anchor in Macao road, than he difpatched an of- 
 ficer with his compliments to the Pcrtuguefe Governor of Macao, 
 requefting his Excellency, by the fame officer, to advife him in 
 what manner it would be proper to ad:, to avoid offending the 
 Clvieje, which, as there were then four of our fhips in their power 
 at Canto?!, was a matter worthy of attention. The difficulty, which 
 the Commodore principally apprehended, related to the duty 
 ulually paid by all fhips in the river of Canton , according to 
 their tunnage. For as men of war are exempted in every foreign 
 harbour from all manner of port charges, the Commodore thought 
 it would be derogatory to the honour of his country, to fubmit to 
 this duty in China : And therefore he defired the advice of the Go- 
 vernor of Mcicao, who, being an European, could not be ignorant 
 of the privileges claimed by a Britijh man of war, and confequent- 
 ly might be expedled to give us the beft lights for avoiding this 
 perplexity. Our boat returned in the evening with two officers fent 
 by the Governor, who informed the Commodore, that it was the 
 Governor's opinion, that if the Cmturion ventured into the river 
 of Canton, the duty would certainly be demanded j and therefore, 
 if the Commodore approved of it, he would fend him a Pilot, 
 who fhould condu(5l us into another fafe harbour called the Typa, 
 which was every way commodious for careening the ffiip (an ope- 
 ration we were refolved to begin upon as foon as poffible) and 
 where the abovementioned duty would, in all probability, be never 
 alked for. 
 
 This propofal the Commodore agreed to, and in the morning 
 we weighed anchor, and, under the dire(5lion of the Portuguefe Pi- 
 lot, fleered for the intended harbour. As we entered two 1 (lands, 
 which form the eaftern paflage to it, we found our foundings de- 
 creafed to three fatliom and a half: But the Pilot affuring us that 
 this was the leaft depth we fliould meet with, we continued our 
 courfe, till at length the fliip fluck fiift in the mud, with only 
 eighteen footwater abaft; and, the tide of ebb making, the 
 
 2 water
 
 ( 355 ) 
 
 water fewed to fixteen feet, but the (hip remained perfedtly up- 
 right ; we then founded all round us, and finding the water deep- 
 ned to the northward, we carried out our fmall bovver with two 
 hawfers an end, and at the return of the tide of flood hove the 
 fliip a float ; and a fmall breeze fpringing up at the fame inftant, we 
 fet the fore- top- fail, and flipping the hawfer ran into the harbour, 
 where we moored in about five fathom water. This harbour of 
 the Typa is formed by a number of Iflands, and is about fix miles 
 difl:ant from Macao. Here we faluted the caflile of Macao with 
 eleven guns, which were returned by an equal number. 
 
 The next day the Commodore paid a vlfit in perfon to the Go- 
 vernor, and was laluted at his landing by eleven guns ; which were 
 returned by the Centurion. Mr. AnJo?i'% bufinefs in this vifit, was 
 to folicit the Governor to grant us a fupply of provifions, and to 
 furnilli us with fuch ftores as were neceifary to refit the ililp. The 
 Governor feemed really inclined to do us all the fervice he could ; 
 and aflured the Commodore, in a friendly manner, that he would 
 privately give us all the afl'ifliance in his power ; but he, at the fame 
 time, frankly owned, that he dared not openly furnifli us with 
 any thing we demanded, unlefs we firft procured an order for ic 
 from the Viceroy of Canton ; for that he neither received provifions 
 for his garrifon nor any other necefiaries, but by permiflion from 
 the Ckineft Government ; and as they took care. only to furnifh him 
 from day to day, he was indeed no other than their vafial, whom 
 they could at all times compel to fubmit to their own terms, only 
 by laying an embargo on his provifions. 
 
 On this declaration of the Governor, Mr. Anfon refolved him- 
 felf to go to Canton^ to procure a licence from the Viceroy ; and 
 he accordingly hired a Chinefe boat for himfelf and his attendants ; 
 but juft as he was ready to embark, the Hoppo or Chinefe Cufiom- 
 houfe ofiicer at Macao refufed to grant a permit to the boat, and 
 ordered the watermen not to proceed at their peril. The Com- 
 modore at firft endeavoured to prevail with the Ho[po to withdraw 
 his injundion, and to grant a permit ; and tlie Governor of Macao 
 
 Z z 2 em-
 
 ( 35^ ) 
 
 employed his intereft with the Hoppo to the fame purpofe 
 Mr, Afijhn, finding the officer inflexible, told him, the next day, 
 that if he longer refufed to grant the permit, he would man and 
 arm his own boats, to carry him thither ; afking the Hcppo, at the 
 fame time, who he imagined would dare to oppofe him. This 
 threat immediately brought about what his intreaties had laboured 
 for in vain : The permit was granted, and Mr. Anfon went to 
 Canton. On his arrival there, he confulted with the Supercargoes 
 and Officers of the Englifj Ihips, how to procure an order from 
 the Viceroy for the neceflaries he wanted : But in this he had rea- 
 fon to fuppofe, that the advice they gave him, though doubtlefs 
 well intended, was yet not the mofl prudent : For as it is the cui^ 
 tom with thefe Gentlemen, never to apply to the fupremc Magif- 
 trate himfelf, whatever difficulties they labour under, but to tranfadl 
 all matters relating to the Government, by the mediation of the 
 principal Chinefe Merchants, Mr. Anfon was advifed to follow the 
 fame method upon this occafion, the EngliJJ? promifing (in which 
 they were doubtlefs fmcere) to exert all their intereft to engage the 
 Merchants in his favour. And when the Chinefe Merchants were 
 applied to, they readily undertook the management of it, and pro- 
 mifed to anfwer for its fuccefs ; but after near a month's delay, and 
 reiterated excufes, during which interval they pretended to be often 
 upon the point of compleating the bufinefs, they at laft (being 
 prefTed, and meafures being taken for delivering a letter to the Vice- 
 roy) threw off the mafk, and declared they neither had applied to 
 the Viceroy, nor could they ; for he was too great a man, they 
 faid, for them to approach on any occafion : And not contented with 
 having themfelves thus grofly deceived the Commodore, they now 
 vifed all their perfuafion with the Englijl} at Canton, to prevent them 
 from intermeddling with any thing that regarded him, reprefenting 
 to them, that it would in all probability embroil them with the 
 Governmentj and occafion them a great deal of unnecelTary trouble ; 
 which groundlefs infinuations had indeed but too much weight with 
 ihofe they were applied to.
 
 ( 357 ) 
 
 It may be difficult to affign a reaibn for this perfidious conducfl of 
 the Chinefe Merchants : Interefl: indeed is Icnown to exert a bound- 
 lefs influence over the inhabitants of that Empire j but how their in- 
 terefl could be affedled in the prefent cafe is not eafy to difco- 
 ver ; unlefs they apprehended that the prefence of a fliip of force 
 might damp their Manila trade, and therefore adted in this man- 
 ner with a view of forcing the Commodore to Batavia ; But it 
 might be as natural in this light to fuppofe, that they would have 
 been eager to have got him difpatched. I therefore rather impute 
 their behaviour to the unparalleled pufillanimlty of the Nation, and 
 to the awe they are under of the Government : For as fuch a fliip 
 as the Centurion, fitted for war only, had never been feen in thofe 
 parts before, fhe was the horror of thefe daflards, and the Mer- 
 chants were in fome degree terrified even with the idea of her, 
 and could not think of applying to the Viceroy (who is doubtlels 
 fond of all opportunities of fkecing them) without reprefenting to 
 themfelves the pretences which a hungry and tyrannical Magiftrate 
 might poflibly find, for cenfuring their intermeddling in fo unufual 
 a tranfailion, in which he might pretend the interefl of the State 
 was immediately concerned. However, be this as it may, the 
 Commodore was fatisfied that nothing was to be done by the inter- 
 pofition of the Merchants, as it was on his prefTing them to deli- 
 ver a letter to the Viceroy, that they had declared they durfl not in- 
 termeddle, and had confefTed, that notwithflanding all their pre- 
 tences of ferving him, they had not yet taken one ftep towards it. 
 Mr. Anfon therefore told them, that he Vi'ould proceed to Batavia^ 
 and refit his fliip there ; but informed them, at the fame time, that 
 this was impoffible to be done, unlefs he was fupplied with a flock 
 of provifions fufficient for his pailage. The Merchants, on this, 
 undertook to procure him provifions, but afTured him, that it was 
 what they durfl not engage in openly, but propofed to manage it in 
 a clandelline manner, by putting a quantity of bread, flower and 
 other provifion on board the Evglijh fliips, wliich were now ready 
 to iiiil } and thefe were to flop at tlie mouth of the Typa, where the 
 
 Caituriorfs
 
 (358 ) 
 
 Cenfurioii's boats were to receive it. This article, which the Mer- 
 chants reprefented as a matter of great favour, being fettled, the 
 Commodore, on the i6th of December, returned from Canton to 
 the fhip, fcemingly refolved to proceed to Batavia to refit, as foon 
 as he fhould get his fupplies of provihon on board. 
 
 But Mr. An/on (who never intended going to Batavia) found, 
 on his return to the Ce?ilurio't, that her main-mall was fprung in 
 two places, and that the leak was confiderably encreafed ; fo that, 
 upon the whole, he was fully fatished, that though he fliould lay in 
 a fufficient ftock of provifions, yet it would be impoffible for him 
 to put to fea without refitting: For, if he left the port with his fliip 
 'in her prefent condition, flie would be in the utmoft danger of 
 "foundringj and therefore, notwithitanding the difiiculties he had 
 met with, he refolved at all events to have her hove doun, before 
 he left Macao. He was fully convinced, by what he had obferved 
 at Canton, that his great caution not to injure the Eaji-India Com- 
 pany's affairs, and the regard he had fliown to the advice of their 
 officers, had occafioned all his embarrafments. For he now faw 
 clearly, that if he had at firfl: carried his fliip into the river of Can- 
 ton, and had immediately applied himfelf to the Mandarines, who 
 are the chief officers of State, inftead of employing the Merchants 
 to apply for him, he would, in all probability, have had all his 
 requefts granted, and would have been foon difpatched. He had 
 already loft a month, by the wrong meafures he had been put upon, 
 but he refolved to lofe as little more time as pcffible ; and '.hex- 
 fore, the 17th of December, being the next day after his return from 
 Canton, he wrote a letter to the Viceroy of that plate, acquainting 
 him, that he was Commander in chief of a fquadron of his Britan- 
 nick Majefty's ffiips of war, which had been cruifing for two years 
 paft in the South-Seas againft the Spaniards, who were at war with 
 the King his Mafter ; that, in his way back to England, he had put 
 into the port of Macao, having a confiderabie leak in his Ihip, and 
 being in great want of provifions, fo that it was impofiible for him 
 to proceed on his voyage, till his fliip was repaired, and he was fup- 
 
 plied
 
 ( 359 ) 
 plied with the neceffaries he wanted ; that he had been at Canton, in 
 hopes of being admitted to a perfonal audience of his Excellency ; 
 but being a ftranger to the cuftoms of the country, he had not been 
 able to inform himfelf what fteps were neceffary to be taken to pro- 
 cure fuch an audience, and therefore was obliged to apply to him in 
 this manner, to defire his Excellency to give orders, for his being per- 
 mitted to employ Carpenters and proper workmen to refit his fhip, 
 and to furnifli himfelf with provifions and ftores, thereby to ena- 
 ble him to purfue his voyage to Great-Britain with this monfoon, 
 hoping, at the fame time, that thefe orders would be iffued with as 
 little delay as poffible, leafl: it might occafion his lofs of the feafon,, 
 and he might be prevented from departing till the next winter. 
 
 This letter was tranflated into the Cbiiiefe language, and the 
 Commodore delivered it himfelf to the Hoppo or chief officer of the 
 Emperor's cuftoms at Macao, defiring him to forward it to the Vice- 
 roy of Canton, with as much expedition as he could. The officer 
 at firft feemed unwilling to take charge of it, and raifed many dif- 
 ficulties about it, fo that Mr. Anjon fufpefled him of being in 
 league with the Merchants of Canton, who had always fhown a 
 great apprehenfion of the Commodore's having any immediate in- 
 tercourfe'with the Viceroy or Mandarines ; and therefore the Com- 
 modore, with fonic refcntment, took back his letter from the Hop- 
 po, and told him, he would immediately fend an officer with it to 
 Canton in his own boat, and would give liim pofitive orders not to 
 return without an anfwer from the Viceroy. The Hoppo perceiving 
 the Commodore to be in earneft, and fearing to be called to an ac- 
 count for his refulal, begged to be entrufted with the letter, and 
 promifed to deliver it, and to procure an anfwer as foon as poffible. 
 And now it was foon feen how juftly Mr. AnJon had at lafl: judged 
 ©f the proper manner of dealing with the Chinefe ; for this letter 
 was written but the j -th of Decemb. r, as hath been already ob- 
 ferved ; and, on the 19th in the morning, a Mandarine of the firft 
 rank, who was Governor of the city of Janfon, together with two 
 Mandarines of an inferior claf?, and a great retinue of officers and 
 
 fcrvants.
 
 ( 36o ) 
 
 fervants, having with them eighteen half gallies, decorated with a 
 great number of ilreamers, and furniflied with mufic, and full of 
 men, came to grapnel a-head of the Caitiirion ; whence the M?«- 
 darine fent a meflage to the Commodore, telling him, that he (the 
 Mandarine) was ordered, by the Viceroy oi Canton, to examine the 
 condition of the fhip, and defiring the fliip's boat might be fent to 
 fetch him on board. The Centurion' 'i> boat was immediately dif- 
 patched, and preparations were made for receiving him ; for a hun- 
 dred of the mofl fightly of the crew were uniformly drefl in the 
 regimentals of the marines, and were drawn up under arms on the 
 main-deck, againft his arrival. When he entered the fliip he was 
 faluted by the drums, and what other military mufic there was on 
 board ; and paffing by the new-formed guard, he was met by the 
 Commodore on the quarter-deck, who conduced him to the great 
 cabbin. Here the Mandarine explained his commiffion, declaring, 
 that his bufinefs was to examine all the particulars mentioned in the 
 Commodore's letter to the Viceroy, and to confront them with the 
 reprefentation that had been given of them ; that he was particularly 
 inftrudled to infpedl the leak, and had for that purpofe brought 
 with him two Chiijefe Carpenters ; and that for the greater regula- 
 rity and difpatch of his bufinefs, he had every head of enquiry fe- 
 parately wrote down on a fheet of paper, with a void fpace oppo- 
 fite to it, where he was to infert fuch information and remarks 
 thereon, as he could procure by his own obfervation. 
 
 This Mandarine appeared to be a perfon of very confiderable 
 parts, and endowed with more franknefs and honefty, than is to be 
 found in the generality of the Chinefe. After the proper enquiries 
 had been made, particularly about the leak, which the Chinefe Car- 
 penters reported to be as dangerous as it had been reprefented, and 
 confequently that it was impoflible for the Centurion to proceed to fea 
 without being refitted, the Mandarine exprefled himfelf fatisfied 
 with the account given in the Commodore's letter. And this Ma- 
 giftrate, as he was more intelligent than any other perfon of his na- 
 tion that came to our knowledge, fo like wife was he more curious 
 
 and
 
 ( 36i ) 
 
 and inquifitive, viewing each part of the fliip with particular atten- 
 tion, and appearing greatly furprized at the largenefs of the lower 
 deck guns, and at the weight and fize of the (hot. The Com- 
 modore, obferving his aftonilhment, thought this a proper op- 
 portunity to convince the Chinefe of the prudence of granting 
 him a fpeedy and ample fupply of all he wanted : With this view 
 he told the Mandarine, and thofe who were with him, that, befides 
 the demands he made for a general fupply, he had a particular com- 
 plaint againfl the proceedings of the Cuftom-houfe of Macao ; 
 that at his firfl arrival the Cbinefe boats had brought on board 
 plenty of greens, and variety of frefh provifions for daily ufe, for 
 which they had always been paid to their full fatisfad:ion, but that 
 the Cuftom-houfe officers at Macao had foon forbid them, by which 
 means he was deprived of thofe refrefliments which were of tlie 
 utmoft confequence to the health of his men, after their long and 
 fickly voyage ; that as they, the Mandarines, had informed 
 themfelves of his wants, and were eye-witnefles of the force and 
 ftrength of his f]iip, they might be I'atisfied it was not for want of 
 power to fupply himfelf, that he defircd the permilTion of the Go- 
 vernment to purchafe what provifions he ftood in need of; that 
 they muft be convinced that the Centurion alone was capable of de- 
 flroying the whole navigation of the port of Canton, or of any o?i^er 
 port in China, without running the leaft rifque from all the force 
 the Chinefe could coUeft ; that it was true, this was not the man- 
 ner of proceeding between nations in friendfliip with each other, but 
 it was likewife true, that it was not cuftomary for any nation to per- 
 mit the fliips of their friends to ftarve and fink in their ports, when 
 thofe friends had money to fupply their wants, and only defired li- 
 berty to lay it out ; that they muft confefs, he and his peo- 
 ple had hitherto behaved with great modefty and referve, but that 
 as his wants were each day encreafing, hunger would at laft prove 
 too ftrong for any reftraint, and neceflity was acknowledged in all 
 countries to be fuperior to every other law ; and therefore it could 
 BOt be expeded that his crew would long continue to ftarve in the 
 
 A a a niidft
 
 ( 362 ) 
 
 niidft of that plenty to which their eyes were every day witnefles : 
 To this the Commodore added, (though perhaps with a lefs ferious 
 air) that if by the delay of fupplying him with provifion his men 
 fliould be reduced to the neceffity of turning cannibals, and preying 
 upon their own fpecies, it was eafy to be forefeen that, independent 
 of their friendfliip to their comrades, they would, in point of lux- 
 ury, prefer the plump well fed Chinefe to their own immaciated 
 fliipmates. The firfl Mandarine acquiefced in the juftnefs of this 
 reafoning, and told the Commodore, that he fliould that night pro- 
 ceed for Canton ; that on his arrival, a Council of Mandarines would 
 be fummoned, of which he himfelf was a Member, and that by 
 being employed in the prefent Commiffion, he was of courfe the 
 Commodore's Advocate ; that, as he was fully convinced of the 
 urgency of Mr. yinfotfs neceffity, he did not doubt but, on his re- 
 prefentation, the Council would be of the fame opinion ; and that 
 all that was demanded would be amply and fpeedily granted : And 
 with regard to the Commodore's complaint of the Cuflom-houfe of 
 Macao, he undeftook to redlify that immediately by his own autho- 
 lity ; for defiring a lift to be given him of the quantity of provi- 
 fion neceffary for the expence of the ftiip for a day, he wrote a per- 
 mit under it, and delivered it to one of his attendants, diredling him 
 to l^e that quantity fent on board early every morning ; and this or- 
 der, from that time forwards, was punctually complied with. 
 
 When this weighty affair was thus in fome degree regulated, the 
 Commodore invited him and his two attendant Mandarijies to din- 
 ner, telling them at the fame time, that if his provifion, either in 
 kind or quandty, was not what they might expedl, they muft thank 
 themfelves for having confined him to fo hard an allowance. One 
 of his dilhes was beef, which the Chinefe all diflike, though Mr. A71- 
 fon was not apprized of it; this feems to be derived from the In- 
 dian fuperftition, which for fome ages paft has made a great pro- 
 grefs in China. However, his guefts did not entirely faft ; for the 
 three Mandarines compleatly finiilied the white part of four large 
 fowls. But they were extremely embarralTed with their knives and 
 2 forks.
 
 ( 3^3 ) 
 
 forks, and were quite incapable of making ufe of them : So that, 
 after fome fruitlefs attempts to help themfelves, which were fuffi- 
 ciently awkward, one of the attendants was obliged to cut their meat 
 in fmall pieces for them. But whatever difficulty they might 
 have in complying' with the European manner of eating, they 
 feemed not to be novices in drinking. The Commodore excufed 
 hlmfelf in this part of the entertainment, under the pretence of ill- 
 nefs ; but there being another Gentleman prefent, of a florid and 
 jovial complexion, the chief Mandarine clapped him on the iliould- 
 er, and told him by the interpreter, that certainly he could not 
 plead ficknefs, and therefore infifted on his bearing him company j 
 and that Gentleman perceiving, that after they had difpatched four 
 or five bottles of Frontiniac, the Mandarine ftill continued unruffled, 
 he ordered a bottle of citron- water to be brought up, which the 
 Chincfe feemed much to relifh, and this being near finiflied, they 
 arofe from table, in appearance cool and uninfluenced by what they 
 had drank, and the Commodore having, according to cuftom, made 
 the Mandarine a prefent, they all departed in the fame vefl"els that 
 brought them. 
 
 After their departure, the Commodore with great impatience ex- 
 pelled the refolution of the Council, and the neceflTary licences for 
 his refitment. For it muft be obferved, as hath already appeared 
 from the preceding narration, that he could neither purchafe ilores 
 nor neceflaries with his money, nor did any kind of workmen dare 
 to engage themfelves to work for him, without the permiffion of 
 the Government firfl: obtained. And in the execution of thefe par- 
 ticular injundtions, the Magiftrates never fail of exercifing great fe- 
 verity, they, notwithftanding the fuflian elogiums bellowed up- 
 on them by the Catholic Miffionaries and their European copiers, 
 being compofed of the fame fragile materials with the refl of man- 
 kind, and often making ufe of the authority of the law, not to 
 fupprefs crimes, but to enrich themfelves by the pillage of thofe 
 who commit them ; for capital punilhments are rare in China, the 
 efl:eminate genius of the nation, and their ftrong attachment to lucre, 
 
 A a a 2 difpofing
 
 ( 364 ) 
 difpofing them rather to make ufe of fines ; and hence arifes no 
 inconfiderable profit to thofe who compofe their tribunals : Confe- 
 quently prohibitions of all kinds, particularly fuch, as the alluring 
 profpeft of great profit may often tempt the fubjedl to infringe, 
 cannot but be favourite inftitutions in fuch a Government. But to 
 return : 
 
 Some time before this, Captain Saunders took his paffage to Eng- 
 land on board a Swedtp fliip, and was charged with difpatches from 
 the Commodore ; and foon after, in the month of December, Cap- 
 tain MitcheJ, Colonel Cracherode, and Mr. TaJj'eJ, one of the Agent- 
 Vidluallers, with his nephew Mr. Charles Herriot, embarked on 
 board fome of our Company's fhips ; and I, having obtained the 
 Commodore's leave to return home, embarked with them. I muft 
 obferve too, (having omitted it before) that whilft we lay here at 
 Macao, we were informed by fome of the officers of our India- 
 men, that the Severn and Pearl, the two {hips of our fquadron, 
 which had feparated from us off Cape Noir, were fafely arrived at 
 Rio Janeiro on the coaft of Brazil. I have formerly taken notice, 
 that at the time of their feparation, we apprehended them to be 
 loft. And there were many rcafons which greatly favoured this fuf- 
 picion : For we knew that the Severn in particular was extreamly 
 fickly ; and this was the more obvious to the refl: of the fliips, as, \n 
 the preceding part of the voyage, her Commander C^il.Legg had been 
 remarkable for his exemplary punduality in keeping his flation, 
 till, for the laft ten days before his feparation, his crew was fo di- 
 miniflied and enfeebled, that with his utmoft efforts it was not poffible 
 for him to maintain his proper pofition with his wonted exadnefs. 
 The extraordinary ficknefs on board him was by many imputed to 
 the fliip, which was new, and on that account was believed to be the 
 more unhealthy ; but whatever was the caufe of it, the Severn was 
 by much the moft fickly of the fquadron : For before her departure 
 from St. Catherine's flie buried more men than any of them, info- 
 much that the Commodore was obliged to recruit her with a num- 
 ber of fre{h hands ; and, the mortality ftill cpntinuing on board 
 2 her.
 
 ( 365) 
 
 her, fhe was fuf^lied with men a fecond time at fea, after our fet- 
 ting fail from St. Julians ; and notwithftanding thefe different re- 
 inforcements, fhe was at lafl reduced to the diflreffcd condition I 
 have already mentioned : So that the Commodore himfelf was 
 firmly perfuaded fhe was loft j and therefore it was with great joy 
 we received the news of her and the Pearl's fafety, after the flrong 
 perfuafion, which had fo long prevailed amongfl us, of their having 
 both perifhed. But to proceed with the tranfadions between Mr. 
 Anfon and the Chinefe. 
 
 Notwithftanding the favourable difpofition of the Mandarine Go- 
 vernor of Janfofi, at his leaving Mr. Anfon, feveral days were 
 elapfed before he had any advice from him ; and Mr. Anfon was 
 privately informed there were great debates in Council upon his affairj 
 partly perhaps owing to its being fo unufual a cafe, and in part to the 
 influence, as I fuppofe, of the intrigues of the "French at Canton : 
 For they had a countryman and fafl friend refiding on the fpot, who 
 fpoke the language very well, and was not unacquainted with the 
 venality of the Government, nor with the perfons of feveral of the 
 Magiftrates, and confequently could not be at a lofs for means of 
 traveifing the afliftanLe defired by Mr. Anfm. And this oppofition 
 of the French was not merely the effe<5t cf national prejudice or 
 contrariety of political interefls, but was in good meafure owing to 
 their vanity, a motive of much more weight with the generality of 
 mankind, than any attachment to the public fervice of their com- 
 munity : For, the French pretending their India-men to be Men 
 of War, their officers were apprehenfive, that any diftindion 
 granted to Mr. Anfcn^ on account of his bearing the King's Com- 
 milfion, would render them lefs confiderable in the eyes of the 
 Chiiiefcy and would eflablifh a prepofTefHon at Canton in favour of 
 (hips of war, by which they, as trading veffels, would fuffer in 
 their importance : And I wifli the affedlation of en9eavourin<y to 
 pafs for men of war, and the fear of finking in the eftimation of the 
 Chinefe, if the Centurion was treated in a different manner from 
 themfelves, had been confined to the officers of the French fliips 
 
 only.
 
 ( 366 ) 
 
 only. However, notwithftanding all thcle obftaclcs, it fhould feem, 
 that the reprefentation of the Commodore to the Mandarines of 
 the facility with which he could right himfelf, if juftice were de- 
 nied him, had at laft its effeft : For, on tlie 6th of January, in the 
 morning, the Governor of Janjl:t, the Commodore's Advocate, 
 fent down the Viceroy of Canton's warrant for the refitment of the 
 Centurion, and for fupplying her people with all they wanted ; and, 
 the next day, a number of Chinefe Smiths and Carpenters went on 
 board, to agree for all the work by the great. They demanded at 
 £rft, to the amount of a thoufand pounds fterling for the neceflary 
 repairs of the fhip, the boats, and the mafts : This the Commo- 
 dore feemed to think an Unreafonable fum, and endeavoured to per- 
 fuade them to work by the day ; but that propofal they would not 
 hearken to j fo it was at laft agreed, that the Carpenters fhould 
 have to the amount of about fix hundred pounds for their work j 
 and that the Smiths fliould be paid for their iron-work by weight, 
 allowing them at the rate of three pounds a hundred nearly for the 
 fmall work, and forty-fix fliillings for the large. 
 
 This being regulated, the Commodore exerted himfelf to get this 
 moft important bufinefs compleated ; I mean, the heaving down the 
 Centurion, and examining the ftate of her bottom : For this pur- 
 pofe the firft Lieutenant was difpatched to Canton to hire two coun- 
 try veffels, called in their language junks, one of them being in- 
 tended to heave down by, and the other to ferve as a magazine for 
 the powder and ammunition : At the fame time the ground was 
 fmoothed on one of the neighbouring I Hands, and a large teiit was 
 pitched for lodging the lumber and provifions, and near a hundred 
 Chifjefe Caulkers were foon fet to work on the decks and fides of 
 the fliip. But all thefe preparations, and the getting ready the ca- 
 reening gear, took up a great deal of time ; for the Cbinefc Caulk- 
 ers, though tlTey worked very well, were far from being expediti- 
 ous ; and it was the 26th of January before the junks arrived ; 
 and the necefifary materials, which were to be purchafed at Canton, 
 came down very flowly j partly from the diflance of the place, 
 
 and
 
 ( 367 ) 
 
 and partly from the delays and backwardnefs of the Chinefe Mer- 
 chants. And in this interval Mr. Anfon had the additional perplex- 
 ity to difcover, that his fore-maft was broken afunder above the 
 upper dick partners, and was only kept together by the fiflies 
 which had been formerly clapt upon it. 
 
 However, the Centurion's people made the moft of their time, 
 and exerted themfelves the beft they could ; and as, by clearing the 
 fl^ip, the Carpenters were enabled to come at the leak, they took 
 care to fecure that effedually, whilft the other preparations were 
 going forwards. The leak was found to be below the fifteen foot 
 mark, and was principally occafioned by one of the bolts being 
 wore away and loofe in the joining of the ftem where it was 
 fcarfed. 
 
 At laft, all things being prepared, they, on the 2 2d oi February^ 
 in the morning, hove out the firft courfe of the Centurion^ {lar- 
 board fide, and had the fatisfaftion to find, that her bottom ap- 
 peared found and good ; and, the next day, (having by that time 
 compleated the new flieathing of the firft courfe) they righted her 
 again, to fet up anew the careening rigging which ftretched much. 
 Thus they continued heaving down, and often righting the fliip 
 from a fufpiclon of their careening tackle, till the 3d of March j 
 when, having compleated the paying and flieathing the bottom, 
 which proved to be every where very found, they, for the laft time, 
 righted the fhip to their great joy ; for not only the fatigue of ca- 
 reening had been confiderable, but they had been apprehenfive of 
 being attacked by the Spaniards^ whillt the lliip was thus incapaci- 
 tated for defence. Nor were their fears altogether groundlefs j for 
 they learnt afterwards, by a Pcrtuguefn veflel, that the Spa?2iards at 
 Manila had been informed, that the CeiUurion was in the ^ypa^ and 
 intended to careen there ; and that thereupon the Governor had fuiE- 
 moned his Council, and had propofed to them to endeavour to burn 
 her, whilft flie was careening, which was an enterprize, which, if 
 properly condudled, might have put them in great danger : They 
 were farther told, that this fcheme was not only propofed, but re- 
 
 folved
 
 ( 368 ) 
 
 folved on ; and that a Captain of a veffel had a(5tually undertaken 
 to perform the bufinefs for forty thoufand dollars, which he was not 
 to receive unlefs he fucceeded ; but the Governor pretending that 
 there was no treafure in the royal cheft, and infifting that the Mer- 
 chants (houid advance the money, and they refufing to comply with 
 the demand, the affair was dropped : Perhaps tiie Merchants fuf- 
 pedled, that the whole was only a pretext to get forty thoufand dol- 
 lars from them > and indeed this was affirmed by fome who bore 
 the Governor no good will, but with what truth it is difficult to 
 afcertain. 
 
 As foon as the Centurion was righted, they took in her powder, 
 and gunners (lores, and proceeded in getting in their guns as faft as 
 poffible, and then ufed their utmcft expedition in repairing the 
 fore-maft, and in compleating the other articles of her refitment. 
 And being thus employed, they were alarmed, on the loth of 
 March, by a Chinefe Fiffierman, who brought them intelligence that 
 he had been on board a large Spanipo {hip off the grand Ladrone^ 
 and that there were two more in company with her : He added fe- 
 veral particulars to his relation ; as that he had brought one of their 
 officers to Macao, and that, on this, boats went off early in the 
 morning from Macao to them : And the better to eflabli/li the belief 
 of his veracity, he faid he defired no money, if his information 
 fliould not prove true. This was prefently believed to be the fore- 
 mentioned expedition from Manila ; and the Commodore immedi- 
 ately fitted his cannon and fmall arms in the beft manner he could 
 for defence ; and having then his Pinnace and Cutter in the offing, 
 who had been ordered to examine a Fortugnefe veffel, which wss 
 getting under fail, he fent them the advice he had received, and di- 
 refted them to look out ffridlly : But no fuch fliips ever appeared, 
 and they were foon fatisfied, the whole of the ftory was a fiction ; 
 though it was difficult to conceive what reafon could induce the fel- 
 low to be at fuch extraordinary pains to impofe on them. 
 
 It was the beginning of ^r/V before they had new- rigged the 
 flirp, flowed their provifions and water on board, and had fitted 
 
 her
 
 f 369 ) 
 
 her for the fea ; and before this time the Chifiefe grew very uneafy, 
 and extremely defircus that (lie fliould be gone ; either not know- 
 ing, or pretending not to believe, that this was a point the Com- 
 modore was as eagerly fet on as they could be. On the 3d oi April^ 
 two Mandarine boats came on board from Macao to urge his depar- 
 ture ; and this having been often done before, tho' there had been no 
 pretence to fufpeft Mr. Atifon of any affedled delays, he at this laft 
 meffage anfwered them in a determined tone, defiring them to 
 give him no further trouble, for he would go when he thought 
 proper, and not before. On this rebuke the Chinefe (though it 
 was not in their power to compel him to be gone) immediately 
 prohibited all provifions from being carried on board him, and took 
 fuch care that their injundions fliould be complied with, that from 
 that time forwards nothing could be purchafed at any rate whatever. 
 On the 6th of Aprils the Centurion weighed from the Typa, and 
 warped to the fouthward; an,d, by the 15th, fhe was got into 
 Macao road, compleating her water as flie pad along, fo that there 
 remained now very few articles more to attend to ; and her whole 
 bufinefs being finiflied by tiie 19th, Hie, at three in the afternoon of 
 that dav, wcishcd ;•''■.' in:'.de fail, and flood to lea. 
 
 B b b CHAR
 
 ( Z1^ ) 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 From Macao to Cape Efpiritu Santo : The taking of 
 the Manila galeon, and returning back again. 
 
 TH E Commodore was now got to fea, with his fliip very well 
 refitted, his ftores replenifhed, and an additional flock of 
 provifions on board : His crew too was fomewhat reinforced ; 
 for he had entered twenty-three men during his flay at Macao, the 
 greateft part of which were Lafcars or Indian failors, and fome 
 few Dutch. He gave out at Macao, that he was bound to Bata- 
 via, and thence to England ; and though the wefterly monfoon was 
 now fet in, when that paflage is confidered as impradlicable, yet, by 
 the confidence he had exprefled in the flrength of his (hip, and the 
 dexterity of his people, he had perfuaded not only his own crew 
 but the people at Macao likewife, that he propofed to try this unu- 
 fual experiment ; fo that there were many letters put on board him 
 by the inhabitants of Canton and Macao for their friends at Ba- 
 
 iavia. 
 
 But his real defign was of a very different nature : For he knew, 
 that inftead of one annual fliip from Acapulco to Manila, there 
 would be this year, in all probability, two; fince, by being before 
 Acapidco, he had prevented one of them from putting to fea the 
 preceding feafon. He therefore refolved to cruife for thefe returning 
 vefTels off Cape Efpiritu Santo, on the Ifland of Samal, which is 
 the firfl land they always, make in the Philippine Iflands, And as 
 June is generally the month in which they arrive there, he doubt- 
 ed not but he fliould get to his intended flation time enough to in- 
 tercept them. It is true, they were find to be flout veffels, mount- 
 ing forty-four guns apiece, and carrying above five hundred hands, 
 and mi"ht be expeded to return in company ; and he himfelf had 
 
 but
 
 ( 37- ) 
 
 but two hundred and twcnty-feven hands on board, of which near 
 thirty were boys : But this difproportion of ftrength did not deter 
 him, as he knew his ftiip to be much better fitted for a fea-engage- 
 ment than theirs, and as he had reafon to expedt that his men would 
 exert themfelves in the moft extraordinary manner, when they had 
 in view the imraenfe wealth of thele Matiila galeons. 
 
 This projedl the Commodore had refolved on in his own 
 thoughts, ever fince his leaving the coaft of Mexico. And the 
 greateft mortification which he received, from the various delays he 
 had met with in Chi?m, was his apprehenfion, left he might be 
 thereby fo long retarded as to let the galeons efcape him. Indeed, 
 at Macao it was incumbent on him to keep thefe views extremely 
 fecret ; for there being a great intercourfe and a mutual connexion 
 of interefts between that port and Manila, he had reafon to fear, 
 that, if his defigns were difcovered, intelligence would be immedi- 
 ately fent to Manila, and meafures would be taken to prevent the 
 galeons from falling into his hands r But being now at fea, and en- 
 tirely clear of the coaft, he fummoned all his people on the quar- 
 ter-deck, and informed them of his refolution to cruife for the two 
 Manila ftiips, of whofe wealth they were not ignorant. He told 
 them he fliould chufe a ftation, where he could not fail of meet- 
 ing with them ; and though they were ftout fhips, and full man- 
 ned, yet, if his own people behaved with their accuftomcd fpirit, 
 he was certain he Ihould prove too hard for them both, and that 
 one of them at leaft could not fail of becoming his prize : He fur- 
 ther added, that many ridiculous tales had been propagated about 
 the ftrength of the fides of thefe fliips, and their being impenetra- 
 ble to cannon-fliot ; that thefe fidion^ had been principally invent- 
 ed to palliate the cowardice of thofef u'ho had formerly engaged 
 them ; but he hoped there were none of thofe prefent weak 
 enough to give credit to fo abfurd a ftory : For his own part, he did 
 afiiire them upon his word, that, whenever he met with them, he 
 would fight them fo near, that they ftiould find, his bullets, inftead 
 of being flopped by one of their fides, fliould go through them both. 
 
 B b b 2 • This
 
 (372 ) 
 
 This fpeecli of the Commodore's was received by his people with 
 great joy : For no fooner had he ended, than they expreffed their 
 approbation, according to naval cuflom, by three ilrenuous cheers, 
 and all declared their determination to fucceed or perilh, whenever 
 the opportunity prefented itfelf. And now their hopes, which fince 
 their departure from the coaft of Mexico, had entirely kibfided, were 
 again revived ; and they all perfuaded themfelves, that, notwith- 
 ftanding the various cafualties and difappointments they had hitherto 
 met with, they fliould yet be repaid the price of their fatigues, and 
 fliould at laft return home enriched with the fpoils of the enemy : 
 For firmly relying on the aflurances of the Commodore, that they 
 fliould certainly meet with the veflels, they were all of them too 
 languine to doubt a moment of maftering them ; fo that they con- 
 fidered themfelves as having them already in their poffefTion. And 
 this confidence was fo univerfally fpread through the whole fliip's 
 company, that, the Commodore having taken fome Chincfc fl:ie€p to 
 fea with him for his own provifion, and one day enquiring of his 
 Butcher, why, for fome time pad, he had feen no mutton at his 
 table, afking him if all the fheep were killed, the Butcher very 
 ferioufly replied, that there were indeed two (heep left, but that if 
 his Honour would give him leave, he propofed to keep thofe for 
 the entertainment of the General of the galeons. 
 
 When the Cet^tiirion left the poi t of Macao, flie flood for fome 
 days to the weftward ; and, on the firfl: of May, they faw part 
 of the Ifland of Formojh; and, {landing thence to the fouthward, 
 they, on the 4th of May, were in the latitude of the Bajhee I/Lmds, 
 as laid down by Datnpier ; but they fufpeded his account of inac- 
 curacy, as they found that he had been confiderably miftakcn in 
 the latitude of the South end of Formofa : For this reafon they 
 kept a good look-out, and about feven in the evening difcovered 
 from the maft-head five fmall Illands, which were judged 10 he the 
 Bajlies, and they had afterwards 3. fight oi' Bo/el Tcdago Xn;ja. By 
 this means they had an opportunity of correding th.e pofidon of the 
 Ba/Jjee IJlands, which had been hitherto laid down twenty- five 
 
 leagues
 
 ( 373 ) 
 
 leagues too far to the weftward : For by their obfervations, they 
 efteemed the middle of thefe Iflands to be in 21°: 4' North, and 
 to bear from Bote! Tobago Xima S. S. E. twenty leagues diftant, 
 that Ifland itfelf being in 21": ^j North. 
 
 After getting a fight of the Bajhee IJIands, they ftood between 
 the S. and S. W for Cape Efpiritu Santo ; and, the 20th of May 
 at noon, they firft difcovered that Cape, which about four o'clock 
 they brought to bear S. S. W, about eleven leagues diftant. It ap- 
 peared to be of a moderate height, with feveral found hummocks 
 on it ; and is exaftly reprefented in the annexed plate. As it was 
 known that there were centinels placed upon this Cape to make fig- 
 nals to the Acapiilco fhip, when flie firft falls in with the land, the 
 Commodore immediately tacked, and ordered the top- gallant fails 
 to be taken in, to prevent being difcovered; and, this being the 
 ftation in which it was refolved to cruife for the galeons , they 
 kept the Cape between the South and the Weft, and endeavoured to 
 €enfine themfelves between the latitude of 12°: 50', and i \° : 5', 
 the Cape itfelf lying, by their obfervations, in 1 2° : 40' North, 
 and in 4° of Eaft longitude from Botel Tobago Xinia. 
 
 It was the Lift of May^ by the foreign ftile, when they arrived 
 off this. Cape ; and, the month of 'June, by the fame ftile, being 
 tliat in which the Manila fliips are ufually expeded, the Centu- 
 rions people were now waiting each hour with the utmoft impa- 
 tience for the happy crifis which was to ballance the account of 
 all their paft calamities. As from this time there was but fmall 
 employment for the crew, the Commodore ordered them almoft 
 every day to be exercifed in the management of the great guns, and 
 in the ufe of their fmall arms. This had been his praftice, more 
 or lefs, at all convenient feafons during the whole courfe of his 
 voyage; and the advantages which he received from it, in his en- 
 gagement with the galeon, were an ample recompence for all his 
 care and attention. Indeed, it fiiould feem that there are few par- 
 ticulars of a Commander's duty of more importance than this, how 
 much foever it may have been fometimes overlooked or mifunder- 
 2 ' ftood ;
 
 ( 374 ) 
 
 -ftood : For it will, I fuppofe, be confefTed, that in two fhips of 
 war, equal in the number of their men and guns, the difprcpor- 
 tion of ftrength, arifing from a greater or lefs dexterity in the ufe of 
 their great guns and fmall arms, is what can fcarcely be ballanced 
 by any other circumftances whatever. For, as thefe are the wea- 
 pons with which they are to engage, what greater inequaUty can 
 there be betwixt two contending parties, than that one fide fliould 
 perfedly underftand the ufe of their weapons, and fhould have the 
 fkill to employ them in the moft effedtual manner for the annoy- 
 ance of their enemy, while the other fide (houid, by their awk- 
 ward management of them, render them rather terrible to them- 
 felves, than mifchievous to their antagonifts ? This feems fo plain 
 and natural a conclufion, that a perfon unacquainted with thefe af- 
 fairs would fuppofe the firft care of a Commander to be the train- 
 ing his people to the ufe of their arms. 
 
 But human affaire are not always conduced by the plain di- 
 ctates of common fenfe. There are many other principles which 
 influence our tranfadions : And there is one in particular, which, 
 though of a very erroneous complexion, is fcarcely ever excluded 
 from our moft ferious deliberations j I mean cuflom, or the prac- 
 tice of thofe who have preceded us. This is ufually a power too 
 mighty for reafon to grapple with ; and is the moft terrible to thofe 
 who oppofe it, as it has much of fupcrftition in its nature, and 
 purfues all thofe who queftion its authority with unrelenting vehe- 
 mence. However, in thefe later ages of the world, fome lucky 
 encroachments have been made upon its prerogative ; and it may 
 reafonably be hoped, that the Gentlemen of the Navy, whofe par- 
 ticular profeflion hath of late been confiderably improved by a 
 number of new inventions, v/ill of all others be the readieft to give 
 up thofe pradices, which have nothing to plead but prefcription, 
 and will not fuppofe that every branch of their bulinefs hath already 
 received all the perfedion of which it is capable. Indeed, it muft 
 be owned, that if a dexterity in the ufe of fmall arms, for in- 
 ftance, liath been fomelimes lefs attended to on board our fliips of 
 
 war.
 
 ( 375 ) 
 war, than might have been wiflied for, it hath been rather owing 
 to unfkilful methods of teaching it, than to negligence : For the 
 common failors, how ftrongly foever attached to their own preju- 
 dices, are very quick fighted in finding out the defeds of others, and 
 have ever fhewn a great contempt for the formalities pradifed in the 
 training of land troops to the ufe of their armsj but when thofe 
 who have undertaken to inftrudt the feamen have contented them- 
 felves with inculcating only what was ufeful, and that in the fini- 
 pleil: manner, they have conflantly found their people fufficiently 
 docile, and the fuccefs hath even exceeded their expedlation. Thus 
 on board Mr. Anfoii% fliip, where they were only taught the fliort- 
 efl: method of loading with cartridges, and were conftantly trained 
 to fire at a mark, which was ufually hung at the yard-arm, and 
 where fome little reward was given to the mofl expert , the 
 whole crew, by this management, were rendered extremely {kil- 
 ful, quick in loading, all of them good markfmen, and fome of 
 them mofl: extraordinary ones ; fo that I doubt not but, in the ufc 
 of fmall arms, they were more than a match for double their num- 
 ber, who had not been habituated to to the fame kind of exercife. 
 But to return : 
 
 It was the laft of Mzy, TV. 5. as hath been already faid, when 
 the Centurion arrived off Cape Efpiritu Santo ; and confequen'Jy the 
 next day began the month in which the galeons were to be ex- 
 peded. The Commodore therefore made all necelTary preparations 
 for receiving them, having hoiftcd out his long boat, and lalbed 
 her along fide, that the lliip might be ready for engaging, if they 
 fell in with the galeons in the night. All this time too he was very 
 folicitous to keep at fuch a diflance from the Cape, as not to be 
 difcovered : But it hath been fince learnt, that, notwithftanding his 
 care, he was feen from the land ; and advice of him was fent to 
 Manila, where it was at firft difbelieved, but on reiterated intelligence 
 (for it feems he was feen more than once) the Merchants were 
 alarmed, and the Governor was applied to, who undertook (the 
 commerce fupplying the neceffary fums) to fit out a force confifl- 
 
 ing
 
 ( 376 ) 
 ing of two fliips of thirty-two guns, one of twenty guns, and two 
 Hoops of ten guns each, to attack the Centurion on her ftation : 
 And fome of thefe vefTels did a<3:ually weigh with tlus view ; 
 but the principal Hiip not being ready, and the monfoon being a- 
 gainft them, the Commerce and the Governor difagreed, and the en- 
 terprize was laid afide. This frequent difcovery of the Centurion from 
 the fliore was fomewhat extraordinary; for tlie pitch of the Cape 
 is not high, and flie ufually kept from ten to fifteen leagues diftant ; 
 though once indeed, by an indraught ot the tide, as was fuppofed, 
 they found themfelves in the morning within fcven league* of the 
 land. 
 
 As the month of yur.e advanced, the expectancy ai"ui impatience 
 of the Commod(;re's people each day encreafed. And I think no 
 better idea can be given of their great eagernefs on this occafion, 
 than by copying a few paragraphs from the journal of an officer, 
 who was then on board ; as it will, I prefume, be a more natural 
 piifture of the full attachment of their thoughts to the bufinefs of 
 their cruifc, than can be given by any other means. The paragraphs 
 I have feleded, as they occur in order of time, are as follow : 
 
 *' May 3 I , Exercifing our men at their quarters, in great expeda- 
 " tion of meeting with the galeons very foon ; this being the 
 ** eleventh of June their ftile." 
 
 " June 3, Keeping ift our ftations, and looking out for the 
 " galeons." 
 
 " Jutie 5, Begin now to be in great expedation, this being the 
 " middle of June their ftile." 
 
 " June 1 1, Begin to grow impatient at not feeing the galeons." 
 
 " June 13, The wind having blown frefh eafterly for the forty- 
 " eight hours paft, gives us great expedtations of feeing the galeons 
 
 " foon." 
 
 " Jtme 15, Cruifing on and off, and looking out ftri<flly." 
 
 " June 19, This being the laft day of June^ N. S. the ga- 
 
 «' Icons, if they arrive at all, mufl appear foon." 
 
 From
 
 ( 377 ) 
 
 Trom thefe famples it is fufficiently evident, how coinpleatly the 
 treafure of the galeons had engrolTed their imagination, and how 
 anxioufly they paffed the latter part of their cruife, when the certainty 
 of the arrival of thefe velfels was dwindled down to probability 
 only, and that probability became each hour more and more doubt- 
 ful. However, on the 20th of 'June^ O. S. being juft a month 
 from their arrival on their ftation, they were relieved from this ftate 
 of uncertainty ; when, at fun-rife, they difcovered a fail from the 
 maft-head, in the S. E. quarter. On this, a general joy fpread 
 through the whole {hip ; for they had no doubt but this was one 
 of the galeons, and they expeded foon to fee the other. The 
 Commodore inftantly flood towards her, and at half an hour after 
 feven they were near enough to fee her from the Centurion's deck ; 
 at which time the galeon fired a gun, and took, in her top-gallant 
 fails, which was fuppofed to be a fignal to her contort, to haflen 
 her up i and therefore the Centurion fired a gun to leeward, to 
 amufe her. The Commodore was lurprized to find, that in all 
 this time the galeon did not change her courfe, but continued to 
 bear down upon him ; for he hardly believed, what afterwards ap- 
 peared to be the cafe, that flie knew his fliip to be the Centuriofiy 
 and refolved to fight him. 
 
 About noon the Commodore was little more than a league di- 
 (lant from the galeon, and could fetch her wake, fo that flie could 
 not now efcape ; and, no fecond fliip appearing, it was concluded 
 that fhe had been feparated from her confort. Soon after, the ga- 
 leon haled up her fore-fail, and brought too under top-fails, with her 
 head to the northward, hoifting Spanijh colours, and having the 
 ftandard of Spain flying at the top- gallant maft-head. Mr. An/on, 
 in the mean time, had prepared all things for an engagement on 
 board the Centurion, and had taken all pofiible care, both for the 
 mofl effedual exertion of his fmall ftrcngth, and for the avoiding 
 the confufion and tumult, too frequent in a<5lions of this kind. 
 He picked out about thirty of his choiceft hands and beft markf- 
 men, whom he diflributed into his tops, and who fully anfwered 
 
 C c c his
 
 ( 378 ) 
 his expedution, by the fignal fervices they performed. As he had 
 not hands enough remaining to quarter a fufficient number to each 
 great gun, in the cuftomary manner, he therefore, on his lower 
 tire, fixed only two men to each gun, who were to be folely em- 
 ployed in loading it, whillT: the red of his people were divided into 
 different gangs of ten or twelve men fach, which were conflantly 
 moving about the decks, to run out and fire fuch guns as were 
 loaded. By this management he was enabled to make ufe of all 
 his guns ; and inftead of firing broad-fides with intervals between 
 them, he kept up a conflant fire without intermiffion, whence he 
 doubted not to procure very fignal advantages ; for it is common 
 with the Spaniards to fall down upon the decks when they fee a 
 broadfide preparing, and to continue in that pofiure till it is given ; 
 after which they rife again, and, prefuming the danger to be for 
 fome time over, work their guns and fire with great brifknefs, 
 till another broad-fide is ready : But the firing gun by gun, in 
 the manner directed by the Commodore, rendered this practice of 
 theirs impoffible. 
 
 The Centurion being thus prepared, and nearing the galeon a- 
 pace, there happened, a little after noon, feveral fqualls of wind 
 and rain, which often obfcured the galeon from their fight ; but 
 whenever it cleared up, they obferved her refolutely lying to ; and, 
 towards one o'clock, the Cejitiirion hoifi:ed her broad pendant and 
 colours, flie being then within gun-fhot of the enemy. And the 
 Commodore obferving the Spaniards to have negledled clearing their 
 fliip till that time, as he then fa\v them throwing over-board cattle 
 and lumber, he gave orders to fire upon them with the chace-guns, 
 to embarafs them in their work, and prevent them from compleat- 
 ing it, though his general diredions had been not to engage till 
 they were within piftol fiiot. The galeon returned the fire with 
 two of her ftern-chace ; and, the Centurion getting her fprit-fail- 
 yard fore and aft, that if necefifary {he might be ready for board- 
 ing, the Spaniards in a bravado rigged their fprit-fail-yard fore and 
 aft likewife. Soon after, the Centurion came abreaft of the enemy 
 4 within
 
 ( 379 ) 
 
 within piftol-fliot, keeping to the leeward with a view of prevent- 
 ing them from putting befure the wind, and gaining the port 
 of Jalapay, from which they were about it\tn leagues diftant. 
 And now the engagement began in earneft, and, for the firfl: half 
 hour, Mr. ylnfon over-reached the galeon, and lay on her bow ; 
 where, by the great widened of his ports he could traverfe almoft 
 all his guns upon the enemy, whilft the galeon could only bring a 
 part of hers to bear. Immediately, on the commencement of the 
 adtion, the mats, with which the galeon had Huffed her netting, 
 took fire, and burnt violendy, blazing up half as high as the mi- 
 zen-top. This accident (fuppofed to be caufed by the Centurions 
 wads) threw the enemy into great confufion, and at the fame time 
 alarmed the Commodore, for he feared leaft the galeon fliould be 
 burnt, and leafl: he himfelf too might fuffer by her driving on board 
 him : But the Spaniardi at laft freed themfelves from the fire, by 
 cutting away the netdng, and tumbling the whole mafs which 
 was in flames into the fea. But flill the Centurion kept her firft 
 advantageous pofition, firing her cannon with great regularity and 
 brifknefs, whilft at the fame time the galeon's decks lay open to her 
 topmen, who, having at their firft volley driven the Spaniards from 
 their tops, made prodigious havock with their fmall arms, killing or 
 wounding every officer but one that ever appeared on the quarter- 
 deck, and wounding in particular the General of the galeon him- 
 felf. And though the Centurion, after the firft half hour, loft her 
 original fituation, and was clofe along-fide the galeon, and the ene- 
 my continued to fire brifkly for n^ar an hour longer, yet at laft the 
 Commodore's grape-fliot fwept their decks fo eff*eaually, and the 
 number of their (lain and wounded was fo confiderable, that they 
 began to fall into great diforder, efpecially as the General, who was 
 the life of the adion, was no longer capable of exerting himfelf. 
 Their embarafment was vifible from on board the Commodore. 
 For the fliips were fo near, that fome of the Spanip officers were 
 feen running about with great affiduity, to prevent the defertion of 
 their men from their quarters : But all their endeavours were in 
 
 C c c 2 vain -.
 
 ( sSo ) 
 
 vain J for after having, as a laft effort, fired five or fix guns with 
 more judgment than ufual, they gave up the conteft ; and, the ga- 
 leon's colours being finged off the enfign ftaff in the beginning of 
 the engagement, flie ffruck the ftandard at her main-top-gallant 
 maft-head, the perfon, who was employed to do it, having been: 
 in imminent peril of being killed, had not the Commodore, who per- 
 ceived what he was about, given exprefs orders to his people to de- 
 fid from firing. 
 
 Thus was the Centurion poffeffed of this rich prize, amounting 
 in value to near a million and half of dollars. She was called the 
 Nojlra Signora de Cabadonga^ and was commanded by the General 
 Don Jeronimo de Montero, a Portuguefe by birth, and the moft ap- 
 proved officer for fkill and courage of any employed in that fervice. 
 The galeon was much larger than the Centurion, had five hundred and 
 fifty men and thirty-fix guns mounted for aflion, befides twenty- 
 eight pidreroes in her gunwale, quarters and tops, each of which car- 
 ried a four pound ball. She was very well furniflied with fmall 
 arms, and was partlculary provided againfl: boarding, both by her 
 clofe quarters, and by a ftrong net- work of two inch rope, which 
 was laced over her waift, and was defended by half pikes. She 
 had fixty-feven killed in the aftion, and eighty-four wounded, 
 whilft the Centurion had only two killed, and a Lieutenant and fix- 
 teen wounded, all of whom but one recovered : Of fo little con- 
 fequence are the moft deftrudive arms in untutored and unprac- 
 tifed hands. 
 
 The treafure thus taken by the Centurion having been for at 
 leaft eighteen months the great objedl of their hopes, it is impofli- 
 ble to defcribe the tranfport on board, when, after all their reiterated 
 difappointments, they at laft faw their wiflies accompliflied. But 
 their joy was near being fuddcnly damped by a moft tremendous in- 
 cident : For no fooncr had the galeon ftruck, than one of the Lieu- 
 tenants coming to Mr, Anjon to congratulate him on his prize, 
 whifpercd him at tlie fame time, that the Caiturion was dangeroufly 
 on fire near the powder-room. The Commodore received this 
 
 1 dreadful
 
 ( 38' ) 
 
 dreadful news without any apparent emotion, and, taking care not 
 to alarm his people, gave the neceffary orders for extingui(hing 
 it, which was happily done in a fhort time, though its appearance at 
 firft was extremely terrible. It fcems fome cartridges had been 
 blown up by accident between decks, whereby a quantity of oak- 
 uni in the after-hatch way, near the after powder-room, was fet on 
 fire ; and the great fmother and fmoke of the oakum occafioned the 
 apprehenfion of a more extended and mifchievous fire. At the 
 fame inftant too, the galeon fell on board the Centurion on the iVar- 
 board quarter, but flie was cleared without doing or receiving any 
 eonfiderable damage. 
 
 The Commodore made his firft Lieutenant, Mr, Sawnarez^ Cap- 
 tain of this prize, appointing her a poft-fliip in his Majefty's fer- 
 vice. Captain SautmreZy before night, fent on board the Centurion 
 all the Spanijh prifoners, but fuch as were thought the moft pro- 
 per to be retained to aflift in navigating the galeon. And now the 
 Commodore learnt, from fome of thefe prifoners, that the other 
 Ihip, which he had kept in the port of Acapuko the preceding year, 
 inftead of returning in company with the prefent prize as was ex- 
 pedled, had fet fail from Acapuko alone much fooner than ufual 
 and had, in all probability, got into the port of Manila long before 
 the Centurion arrived off Efpiritu Santo ; fo that Mr. Anion, not- 
 ■ withftanding his prefent fuccefs, had great reafon to regret his lofs 
 of time at Macao, which prevented him from taking two rich 
 prizes inftead of one. 
 
 The Commodore, when the adion was ended, refolved to make 
 the beft of his way with his prize for the river of Canton, being in 
 the mean time fully employed in fecuring his prifoners, and in re- 
 moving the treafure from on board the galeon into the Cetiturion. 
 The laft of thefe operations was too important to be poftponed • 
 for as the navigation to Canton was through feas but little known 
 and where, from the feafon of the year, much bad weather might 
 be expetaed,. it was of great confequcnce that the treafure fhould 
 be fent on board the Centurim, which fliip, by the prefenee of the 
 
 Commander
 
 ( 382 ) 
 
 Commander in Chief, the greater number of her hands, and her 
 other advantages, was doubtlefs much fafer againrt all the cafualties 
 of winds and feas than the galecn : And ihe fecuring the pri- 
 foners was a matter of ftill more confequence, as not only the pof- 
 fefllon of the treafure, but the lives of the captors depended there- 
 on. This was indeed an article wl)ich gave the Commodore much 
 trouble and difqnietude ; for they were above double tiie number of 
 his own people ; and fome of them, when they were brought on 
 board the Ccnturioii, and had obferved hov/ flenderly ihe was man- 
 ned, and the large proportion which the ftriplings bore to the reft, 
 could not help exprefllng themfelves with great indignation to be 
 thus beaten by a handful of boys. The method, which was taken 
 to hinder them from rifing, was by placing all but the officers and 
 the wounded in the hold, where, to give them as much air as pof- 
 lible, two hatchways were left open j but then (to avoid all dan- 
 ger, whilft the Centurion % people fliould be employed upon the 
 deck) there was a fquare partition of thick planks, made in the 
 iliape of a funnel, which enclofed each hatch-way on the lower 
 deck, and reached to that directly over it on the upper deck ; thefe 
 funnels ferved to communicate the air to the hold better than could 
 have been done without them ; and, at the fame time, added 
 greatly to the fecurity of the fliip ; for they being feven or eight 
 feet high, it would have been extremely difficult for the Spaniards 
 to have clambered up ; and ftill to augment that difficulty, four 
 fwivel guns loaded with mufquet-bullets were planted at the mouth 
 of each funnel, and a centinel with lighted match conftantly at- 
 tended, prepared to fire into the hold amongft them, in cafe of 
 any difturbance. Their officers, which amounted to feventeen or 
 eighteen, were all lodged in the firft Lieutenant's cabbin, under a 
 conftant guard of fix men ; and the General, as he was wounded, 
 lay in the Commodore's cabbin with a centinel always with him j 
 and they were all informed, that any violence or difturbance would 
 be punifhed with inftant death. And that the Centurion's people 
 might be at all times prepared, if, notwithftanding thefe regula- 
 tions,
 
 ( 383 ) 
 
 tions, any tumult fhould arife, the fmall arms were conftantly kept 
 loaded in a proper place, whilft all the men went armed with cut- 
 laffes and piftols ; and no officer ever pulled off liis cloaths, and 
 when he flept had always his arms lying ready by him. 
 
 Thefe meafures were obvioufly neceffary, confidering the ha- 
 zards to which the Commodore and his people would have been 
 expofed, had they been lefs careful. Indeed, the fufFerings of the 
 poor prifoners, though impoflible to be alleviated, were much to be 
 commiferated j for the weather was extremely hot, the ftenchof the 
 hold loathfome beyond all conception, and their allowance of water 
 but jufl: fufficient to keep them alive, it not being pradticable to 
 fpare them more than at the rate of a pint a day for each, the 
 crew themfelves having only an allowance of a pint and an half. 
 All this confidered, it was wonderful that not a man of them died 
 during their long confinement, except three of the wounded, 
 who died the fame night they were taken ; though it mufl be con- 
 feffed, that the greateft part of them were flrangely metamorphifed 
 by the heat of the hold ; for when they were firft taken, they were 
 fightly robufl fellows ; but when, after above a month's imprifon- 
 ment, they were difcharged in the river of Canton, they were re- 
 duced to mere fkeletons ; and their air and looks correfponded 
 much more to the conception formed of ghofts and fpe<flres, than 
 to the figure and appearance of real men. 
 
 Thus employed in fecuring the treafure and the prifoners, the 
 Commodore, as hath been faid, flood for the river of Canton ; and, 
 on the 30th of June, at fix in the evening, got fight of Cape De- 
 langano, which then bore Wefl ten leagues diflant j and, the next 
 day, he made the Bajl:ee IJlaiids, and the wind, being fo far to the 
 northward, that it was difficult to weather them, it was refolved to 
 fland through between Grafton and Monmouth JJlands, where the 
 pafiTage feemed to be clear ; but in getting through, the fea had a 
 very dangerous afped:, for it ripled and foamed, as if it had been 
 full of breakers, which was ftill more terrible, as it was then 
 night. But the fhips got through very fafe, (the prize always keep- 
 ing
 
 ( 384 ) 
 
 ing a head) and It was found that the appearance which had alarm- 
 ed them had been occafioned only by a ftrong tide. I mufl 
 here obferve, that though the Bajl:ee IJlands are ufually reckoned to 
 be no more than five, yet there are many more lying about them to 
 the weftward, which, as the channels amongft them are not at all 
 known, makes it advifeable for fliips, rather to pafs to the north- 
 ward or fouthward, than through them ; and indeed the Commo- 
 dore propofed to have gone to the northward, between them and 
 Forifjofa, had it been poffible for him to have weathered them. 
 From hence the Caiturion fleering the proper courfe for the river 
 of Canton, flie, on the 8th of y^ly, difcovered the Ifland of Su- 
 pata, the weflermoft of the Lema Iflands, being the double peaked 
 rock, particularly delineated in the view of the Iflands of Letna, 
 formerly inferted. This Ifland of Stipata they made to be a hun- 
 dred and thirty-nine leagues diftant from Grnftcn'i Ifland, and to 
 bear from it North 82° 37 Weft: And, on the i ith, having taken 
 on board two Chinefe Pilots, one for the Centurion, and the other 
 for the prize, they came to an anchor off the city of Macao. 
 
 By this time the particulars of the cargoe of the galeon were well 
 afcertained, and it was found that flie had on board 1,3 13,843 pieces 
 of eight, and 35,682 ox. of virgin filver, befides fome cochineal, 
 and a few other commodities, which, however, were but of fmall 
 account, in comparifon of the fpecie. And this being the Com- 
 modore's laft prize, it hence appears, that all the treafure taken by 
 the Centurion was ix)t much fliort of 400,000 /. independent of the 
 ihips and merchandife, which flie either burnt or deftroyed, and 
 which, by the moft reafonable eftimation, could not amount to fo 
 little as 600,000 1. more ; fo that the whole lofs of the enemy, by 
 our fquadron, did doubtlefs exceed a million fterling. To which, 
 if there be added the great expence of the Court of Spain, in fit- 
 ting out Pizarro, and in paying the additional charges in America, 
 incurred on our account, together with the lois of their men of 
 war, the total of all thefe articles will be a moft exorbitant fum, 
 and is the ftrongcft convidlion of the utility of this expedition^ which, 
 
 with
 
 ( 38s ) 
 
 with all its numerous difadvantages, did yet prove fo extremely pre- 
 judicial to the enemy. I (hall only add, that there were taken en 
 board the galeon feveral draughts and journals, from fome of which 
 many of the particulars recited in the loth chapter of the fecond 
 book are collected. Among the reft there was found a chart of all 
 the Ocean, between the Philippines and the coaft of Mexico^ which 
 was what was made ufe of by the galeon in her own navigation. 
 A copy of this draught, corrected in fome places by our own obfer- 
 vation, is here annexed, together with the route of the galeon 
 traced thereon from her own journals, and likewife the route of 
 the Centurion, from Acapulco through the fame Ocean. This is 
 tlie chart formerly referred to, in the account of the Manila trade : 
 And to render it flill more coropleat, the obferved variation of the 
 needle is annexed to feveral parts both of the Spanip and Englijb 
 track j which addition is of the greateft confequence, as no obfer- 
 vations of this kind in the northern parts of the Pacific Ocean have 
 yet to my knowledge been publiflied, and as the quantity of the 
 variation fo nearly correfponds to what Dr. Halley predided from 
 his Theory above £fty years ago. And wit]:i this digreffion I fhall 
 end this chapter, leaving the Centurion with her prize, at anchor 
 off Macao, preparing to enter the river of Canton^ 
 
 D d d CHAP.
 
 ( 3^6 ) 
 
 C H A R "ix. 
 
 TianfadHons in the river of Catitoju 
 
 T 
 
 HE Commodore, having taken Pilots on board, proceeded 
 with his prize for the river of Canton-, and, on the 14th 
 of j^7//y, came to tin anchor fliort of the Bocca Tigris, 
 which is a narrow paffage forming the mouth of that river : This 
 entrance he propofed to ftand through the next day, and to run up 
 as far as Tiger JJland, which is a very fafe road, fecured from all 
 winds. But whilft the Centurion and her prize were thus at anchor, 
 a boat with an officer came off from tlie Mandarine, commanding 
 the forts at Boua Tigris to examine what the fliips were, and 
 whence they came. Mr. Anfon informed the officer, that his fliip 
 was a fliip of war, belonging to the King of Great Britain ; and 
 that the other in company with him was a prize he had taken ; that 
 he was going into Canton river to flielter himfelf againft the hurri- 
 canes which were then coming on ; and that as foon as the mon- 
 foon fliifted, he ffiould proceed for England. The officer then de- 
 fired an account of wliat men, guns, and ammunition were on 
 board, a lifl; of all which he faid was to be fent to the Government 
 of Canton. But when thefe articles were repeated to him, particu- 
 larly when he was told that there were in the Centurion four hun- 
 dred firelocks, and between three and four hundred barrels of pow- 
 der, he flirugged up his flioulders, and feemed to be terrified with 
 the bare recital, faying, that no fliips ever came into Canton river 
 armed in that manner ; adding, that he durft not fet down the 
 whole of this force, leaft it fliould too much alarm the Regency. 
 After he had iiniflied his enquiries, and was preparing to depart, 
 he defired to leave two Cuftom-houfe officers behind him ; on 
 which the Commodore told him, that though as a man of war 
 
 he
 
 ( 3^7 ) 
 he was prohibited from trading, and had nothing to do with 
 cuftoms or duties of any kind, yet, for the fatisfadlion of the Chi- 
 7iefe, he would permit two of their people to be left on board, who 
 might themfelves be witnelTes how pundlually he fliould comply 
 with his inftrudions. The officer feemed amazed when Mr. ^- 
 fo}2 mentioned being exempted from all duties, and told him, that 
 the Emperor's duty muft be paid by all fliips that came into his 
 ports : And it is fuppofed, that on this occalion, private diredlions 
 were given by him to the Chinefe Pilot, not to carry the Commo- 
 dore through tlie Bocca Tigris; which makes it neceflary, more 
 particularly, to defcribe that entrance. 
 
 The Bocca Tigris is a narrow pafTage, little more than mufquet- 
 fliot over, formed by two points of land, on each of which there 
 is a fort, that on the ftarboard-fide being a battery on the wa- 
 ter's edge, with eighteen embrafures, but wliere there were no more 
 than twelve iron cannon mounted, feeming to be four or iix poun- 
 ders; the fort on the larboard-fide is a large caftle, refembling 
 thofe old buildings which here in England we often find diftjn- 
 guiihed by that name ; it is fituated on a high rock, and did not 
 appear to be furniflied with more than eight or ten cannon, none 
 of which were fuppofed to exceed fix pounders. Thefe are the 
 defences whicl:! I'ecure the river of CoJilon ; and which tiie Chinefe 
 (extremely defective in all military fkill) have imagined were fuffi- 
 cient to prevent any enemy from forcing his way through. 
 
 But it is obvious, from the defcription of thefe forts, that they 
 could have given no obftrudion to Mr. Anfon's pafTage, even if they 
 had been well fupplied with gunners and ftores; and therefore 
 though the Pilot, after the Ctinefe officer had been on board re- 
 fuied at firft to take charge of the ihip, till he had leave from the 
 forts, yet as it was necelTary to get through without any delay 
 for fear of the bad weather which was hourly expeded, the Com- 
 modore weighed on the 1 5th, and ordered the Pilot to carry him 
 by the forts, threatening him that, if the ffiip ran aground, he 
 would inftantly hang him up at the yard-arm. The Pilot, awed 
 
 D d d 2 by
 
 ( 388 ) 
 
 by thcfe ttireats, canicd the fliip through fafely, the forts not at- 
 tcniptin'g to difpute the pallage. Indeed the poor Pilot did not ef- 
 cape the refentment of his countrymen, for when he came on 
 fhore, he was feized and fent to prifon, and was rigor ou fly difci- 
 plined with the bamboo. However, he found means to get at 
 Mr. Atifon afterwards, to deiire of him fome recompence for the 
 chaftifement he had undergone, and of which he then carried very 
 fignifi:ant marks about hiai ; and Mr. Anfon, in commiferation of 
 his fufferings, gave him. fuch a fum of money, as would at any 
 time have enticed a Ch'mefe to have undergone a dozen bailina- 
 dings. 
 
 Nor was the Pilot the only perfon that fuffered on this occafion ; 
 for the Commodore foon after feeing fome royal junks pafs by him 
 from Bccca Tigris towards Canfon, he learnt, on enquiry, that the 
 Mandarine commanding the forts was a prifoner on board them ; 
 that he was already turned out, and was now carrying to Canton^ 
 where it was expedled he would be feverely puniflied for having 
 permitted the ftiips to pafs ; and the Commodore urging the unrea- 
 fonablenefs of this procedure, from the inability of the forts to have 
 done otherwife, explaining to the Chinefe the great fuperiority his 
 fhips would have had over the forts, by the number and fize of 
 their guns, the Cbinefe feemcd to acquiefce in his reafoning, and 
 feUowed that their forts could not have flopped him j but they flill 
 aflerted, that the Mandarine would infallibly fufFcr, for not having 
 done, what all his judges were convinced, was impoffible. To 
 fuch indefenfible abfurdities are thofe obliged to fubmit, who think 
 themfelves concerned to fupport their authority, when the neceffary 
 force is wanting. But to return : 
 
 On the i6th of 'July the Commodore fent his fecond Lieute- 
 nant to Canton, with a letter to the Viceroy, informing him of the 
 reafon of the Centurions putting into that port ; and that the Com- 
 modore himfelf foon propofed to repair to Canton, to pay a vifit to 
 the Viceroy. The Lieutenant was very civilly received, and was 
 promiled that an anfwer ihould be fent to the Commodore the next 
 
 2 day.
 
 ( 389 ) 
 
 day. In the mean time Mr. Anfon gave leave to feveral of the of- 
 ficers of the galeon to go to Canton, they engaging their parole to 
 return in two days. When thefe prifoners got to Canton, the Re- 
 gency fent for them, and examined them, enquiring particularly by 
 what means they had fallen into Mr. Anfori's power. And on this 
 occafion the prifoners were honeft enough to declare, that as the 
 Kings of Great-Britain and of Spain were at war, they had pro- 
 pofed to themfelves the taking of the Centurion, and had bore down 
 upon her with that view, but that the event had been contrary to 
 their hopes : However, they acknowledged that they had been 
 treated by the Commodore, much better than they believed they 
 fhould have treated him, had he fallen into their hands. This 
 confeffion from an enemy had great weight with the Chinefe, who, 
 till then, though they had revered the Commodore's power, had 
 yet fufpedled his morals, and had confidered him rather as a lawlefs 
 freebooter, than as one commiflioned by the State for the revenge 
 of public injuries. But they now changed their opinion, and re- 
 garded him as a more important perfon ; to which perhaps the vaft 
 treafure of his prize might not a little contribute ; the acquisition of 
 wealth being a matter greatly adapted to the eftimation and reve- 
 rence of the Chinefe Nation. 
 
 In this examination of the SpaniJJj prifoners, though the Chinefe 
 had no reafon in the main to doubt of the account which was 
 given them, yet there were two circumflances v/hich appeared to 
 them fo fiiigular, as to deferve a more ample explanation ; one of 
 them was the great difproportion of men between the Centurion 
 and the galeon j the other was the humanity, with which the peo- 
 ple of the galeon were treated after they were taken. The Man- 
 darines therefore aflced the Spaniards^ how they came to be over- 
 powered by fo inferior a force ; and how it happened, fince the 
 two nations were at war, that they were not put to death when 
 they came into the hands of the EnglifJj. To the firft of thefe en- 
 quiries the Spaniards replied, that though they had more hand* 
 than the Centurion, yet (he being intended folely for war had a 
 
 great
 
 ( 390 ) 
 
 great fuperiorlty in the iize of her guns, and iti many other articles, 
 over the galeon, which was a veffel fitted out principall)' for traf- 
 fic : And as to the kcond queftion, they told the Chinefe, that 
 amongft the nations o^ Europe, it was not cuflomary to put to death 
 thofe who fubniitted ; though they readily owned, that the Com- 
 modore, from the natural bias of his temper, had treated both 
 tliem and their countrymen, who had formerly been in his power, 
 with very unulual courtefy, much beyond what they could have 
 expeded, or than was required by the cuftoms effablillied between 
 nations at war with each other. Thefe replies fully fatisfied the 
 Cbincje, and at the fame time wrought very powerfully in the 
 Commodore's favour. 
 
 On the 2Gth of July, in the morning, three Mandarmcs, with 
 a great number of boats, and a vaff retinue, came on board the 
 Centurion, and delivered to the Commodore the Viceroy of Can- 
 ton's order for a daily fupply of provifions, and for Pilots to carry 
 the fliips up the river as far as the fecond bar ; and at the fame time 
 they delivered him a meffage from the Viceroy, in anfwer to the 
 letter fent to Canton, The fubftance of the meflage was, that the 
 Viceroy defired to be excufed from receiving the Commodore's vi- 
 fit, during the then exceflive hot weather ; becaufe the afiembling 
 the Manciari?2es and foldiers, neceffary to that ceremony, would 
 prove extremely inconvenient and fatiguing ; but that in September, 
 when the weather would be more temperate, he fliould be glad to 
 fee both the Commodore himfelf, and the EngliJJ:i Captain of the 
 other fhip, that was with him. As Mr. Anfon knew that an ex- 
 prefs had been difpatched to the Court at Pekin, with an account 
 of the Centurion and her prize being arrived in the river of Canton,. 
 he had no doubt, but the principal motive for putting off this vi- 
 fit was, that the Regency at Canton might gain time to receive 
 the Emperor's inflrudtions, about their behaviour on this unufual 
 affair. 
 
 When the Mandarines had delivered their meffage, they began 
 to talk to the Commodore aboiit the duties to be paid by his fliips j 
 
 but
 
 ( 391 ) 
 
 but he immediately told them, that he would never fubmlt to any 
 demand of that kind ; that as he neither brought any merchandize 
 thither, nor intended to carry any away, he could not be reafona- 
 bly deemed to be within the meaning of the Emperor's orders, 
 which were doubtlefs calculated for trading veflels only, adding, 
 that no duties were ever demanded of men of war, by nations ac- 
 cuftomed to their reception, and that his Mafter's orders exprefly 
 forbad him from paying any acknowledgement for his fliips ancho- 
 ring in any port whatever. 
 
 The Mandarines being thus cut fliort on the fubjedl of the duty, 
 they faid they had another matter to mention, which was the only 
 remaining one they had in charge ; this was a requeft to the Com- 
 modore, that he would releafe the prifoners he had taken on board 
 the galeon ; for that the Viceroy of Canton apprehended the Em- 
 peror, his Mafter, might be difpleafed, if he fliould be informed, 
 that perfons, wlio were his allies, and carried on a great commerce 
 with his fubjeds, were under confinement in his dominions. Mr. 
 Anjon was himfelf extremely dcfirous to get rid of the Spaniards^ 
 liaving, on his'i'-rft arrival, fent about an hundred of them to Ma-- 
 cao, and thofe who remained, which were near four hundred more, 
 were, on many accounts, a great incumbrance to him. However, 
 to inhance the favour, he at firft railed fome difficulties ; but per- 
 mitting himfelf to be prevailed on, he at laft told the Mandarines^. 
 that to fliow his readinefs to oblige the Viceroy, he would releafe" 
 the prifoners, whenever they, the Chincfe, would fend boats to 
 fetch them oft". This matter being thus adjufted, the Mandarines 
 departed; and, on the 28 th of July, two Chinefc pviks were fent 
 from Canton, to take on board the prifoners, and to carry them to 
 Macao. And the Commodore, agreeable to his promife, difmiifcd 
 them all, and ordered his Purfer to fend with them eight days pro- 
 vifion for their fubfiftence, during their failing down the river ; this 
 being difpatched, the Centurion and her prize came to her moorings, 
 above the fecond bar, where they propofed to continue till tlie mon- 
 foon fliifted. 2 
 
 Though
 
 ( 392 } 
 
 Though the fhips, in confequence of the Viceroy's permit, 
 found no difficulty in purchafing provilions for their daily confump- 
 tion, yet it was impoflible for the Commodore to proceed to Eng- 
 kind, without laying in a large quantity both of provifions and 
 iiores for his ufe, during the voyage : The procuring this fupply 
 was attended with much embarafment ; for there were people at 
 Canton who had undertaken to furnifh him with bifcuit, and what- 
 ever elfe he wanted ; and his linguift, towards the middle of Bep- 
 tivibcr, had affured him, from day to day, that all was ready, and 
 would be fent on board him immediately. But a fortnight being 
 elapfed, and nothing being brought, the Commodore fent to Can- 
 ton to enquire more particularly into the reafons of this difappoint- 
 ment : And he had foon the Vexation to be informed, that the 
 vrhole was an illufion ; that no order had been procured from the 
 Viceroy, to furnifh him with his fea-ftores, as had been pretended ; 
 that there was no bifcuit baked, nor any one of the articles in rea- 
 dinefs, which had been promifed him ; nor did it appear, that the 
 Contraftors had taken the leafl: ftep to comply with their agree- 
 ment. This was moft difagreeable news, and made it fufpefted, 
 that the furnifhing the Centurion for her return to Great-Britain 
 might prove a more troublefome matter than had been hitherto 
 imagined; efpecially too, as the month of September was nearly 
 elapfed, without Mr. Anfon'% having received any meffage from the 
 Viceroy of Canton. 
 
 And here perhaps it might be expe<Sled that fome fatisfadlory ac- 
 count fhould be given of the motives of the Chinefe for this faith- 
 lefs procedure. But as I have already, in a former chapter, made 
 fome kind of conjeflures about a fimilar event, I fhall not repeat 
 them again in this place, but fliall obferve, that after all, it m.ay 
 perhaps be impoffible for an European, ignorant of the cuftoms and 
 manners of that nation, to be fully apprized of the real incite- 
 ments to this behaviour. Indeed, thus much may undoubtedly be 
 afferted, that in artifice, falfliocd, and an attachment to all kinds of 
 lucre, many of the Chinefe are difficult to be paralleled by any other 
 
 people J
 
 ( 393 ) 
 
 people ; but then the combination of thefe talents, and the manner 
 in which they are applied in particular emergencies, are often be- 
 yond the reach of a Foreigner's penetration : So that though it may 
 be fafely concluded, that the Chinefe had feme intereft in thus 
 amuling the Commodore, yet it may not be eafy to affign the indivi- 
 dual views by which they were influenced. And that I may not 
 be thought too fevere in afcribing to this Nation a fraudulent and 
 fellifli turn of temper, fo contradidlory to the charafter given of 
 them in the legendary accounts of the Roman Miffionaries, I fliall 
 here mention an extraordinary tranfadtion or two, which I hope will 
 be fome kind of confirmation of what I have advanced. 
 
 When the Commodore lay firft at MiJcao, one of his officers, 
 v/ho had been exu^emely ill, defired leave of him to go on ihorc 
 every day on a neighbouring Ifland, imagining that a walk upon 
 the land would contribute greatly to the reftoring of his health : The 
 Commodore would have difTuaded him, fufpeding the tricks of the 
 Cbincfe, but the officer continuing importunate, in the end the boat 
 was ordered to carry him. The firft day he was put on ihorc he 
 took his exercife, and returned without receiving any moleftation, 
 or even feeing any of the inhabitants ; but the fecond day, he was 
 aflaulted, foon after his arrival, by a great number of Ctinefe, wl:o 
 had been hoeing rice in the neighbourhood, and who beat h*m 
 fo violently with the handles of their hoes, that they foon laid him 
 on the ground incapable of refinance ; after which they robbed 
 him, taking from him his fword, the hilt of which was filver, his 
 money, his watch, gold-headed cane, fnuff-box, ileeve- buttons and 
 hat, with feveral other trinkets : In the mean time the boat's crew, 
 who were at fome little diftance, and had no arms of any kind 
 with them, were incapable of giving him any affiftance ; till at laft 
 one of them flew on the fellow who had the fword in his poffef- 
 fion, and wrefling it out of his hands drew it, and w ith it was pre- 
 paring to fall on the Chinefe^ fome of whom he could not have 
 failed of killing j but the officer, perceiving what he was about, im- 
 mediately ordered him to defift, thinking it more prudent to fub- 
 
 E e e mit
 
 ( 394 ) 
 
 mit to the prefent violence, than to embroil his G)mmodore in an 
 inextricable fquabble with the Ch'mefe Government, by the death of 
 their fubjedls ; which calmnefs in this Gentleman was the more 
 meritorious, as he was known to be a perfon of an uncommon fpi- 
 rit, and of a fomewhat hafty temper : By this means the Chinefe 
 recovered the poffeflion of the fword, which they foon perceived 
 was prohibited to be made ufe ofagainft them, and carried off their 
 whole booty unmolcfled. No fooner were they gone, than a Chi- 
 nefe on horfeback, very well dreffed, and who had the air and ap- 
 pearance of a Gentleman, came down to the fliore, and, as far as 
 could be underflood by his figns, feemed to cenfure the condudl of 
 his countrymen, and to commiferate the officer, being wonderfully 
 officious to aiTift in getting him on board the boat : But notwith- 
 ftanding this behaviour, it was ffirewdly fufpeiled that he was an 
 accomplice in the theft, and time fully evinced the juftice of thofe 
 fufpidons. 
 
 When the boat returned on board, and reported what had pafled 
 to the Commodore, he immediately complained of it to the Man- 
 darine, who attended to fee his fhip fupplied ; but the Mandarine 
 coolly replied, that the boat ought not to have gone on fhore, 
 promifing, however, that if the thieves could be found out, they 
 {hould be puniffied ; though it appeared plain enough, by his 
 manner of anfwering, that he would never give himfelf any trou- 
 ble in fearching them out. However, a confiderable time after- 
 wards, when fome Chinefe boats were felling provifions to the Cen- 
 hirion, the perfon who had wrefted the fword from the Chinefe 
 came with great eagernefs to the Commodore, to affure him that 
 one of the principal thieves was then in a provifion-boat along-fide 
 the {hip ; and the officer, who had been robbed, viewing the fel- 
 low on this report, and well remembring his face, orders were im- 
 mediately given to feize him ; and he was accordingly fecured on 
 board the fliip, where ftrange difcoverics were now made. 
 
 This
 
 ( 395 ) 
 
 This thief, on his being firft apprehended, exprefled fo much 
 fright in his countenance, that it was feared he would have died 
 upon the fpot ; the Mandarine too, who attended the (hip, had vl- 
 fibly no fmall fhare of concern on the occafion. Indeed he had 
 reafon enougli to be alarmed, fince it was foon evinced, that he had 
 been privy to the whole robbery ; for the Commodore declaring 
 that he would not deliver up the thief, but would himfelf order 
 him to be fhot, the Mandarine immediately put off the magifle- 
 rial air, with which he had at firft pretended to demand him, and 
 begged his releafe in the moft abjedt manner : And the Commo- 
 dore appearing inflexible, there came on board, in lefs than two 
 hours time, five or fix of the neighbouring Mandarines^ who all 
 joined in the fame entreaty, and with a view of facilitating their 
 fuit, offered a large fum of money for the fellow's liberty. Whilft 
 they were thus folliciting, it was difcovered that the Mandarine^ 
 who was the moft adtive amongft them, and who feemed to be 
 moft interefted in the event, was the very Gentleman, who came 
 to the officer, juft after the robbery, and who pretended to be fo 
 much difpleafed with the villany of his countrymen. And, on fur- 
 ther inquiry it was found, that he was the Mandarine of the Ifland ; 
 and that he had, by the authority of his office, ordered the Pea- 
 feants to commit that infamous adlicn. And it feemed, as far as 
 could be colleded from the broken hints which were cafually 
 thrown out, that he and his brethren, who were all privy to the 
 tranfadion, were terrified with the fear of being called before the 
 tribunal at Canton, where the firft article of their punifhment would 
 be the ftripping them of all they were worth ; though their judges 
 (however fond of infliding a chaftifement fo lucrative to themfelves) 
 were perhaps of as tainted a complexion as the delinquents. Mr. 
 Anjon was not difpleafed to have caught the Chinefe in this dilem- 
 ma ; and he entertained himfelf for fome time with their perplexi- 
 ty, rejeding their money with fcorn, appearing inexorable to their 
 prayers, and giving out that the thief fhould certainly be (hot ; but 
 
 £ e e 2 as
 
 ( 396 ) 
 as he then forefiiw that he (liould be forced to take fhelter in their 
 ports a fecond time, when the influence he might hereby acquire 
 over the Magiftrates would be of great fervice to him, he at length 
 permitted himfelf to be perfuaded, and as a favour releafed his pri- 
 foner, but not till the Mandarine had colledled and returned all 
 that had been ftolen from the officer, even to the minuteft trifle. 
 
 But notwithftauding this inftance of the good intelligence betv.'een 
 the magin,rates and criminals, the flrong addi(5tion of the Chincjc to 
 lucre often prompts them to break through this awful confederacy, 
 and puts them on detrauuing the authority that protedts them of its' 
 proper quota of the pilluge. For not long after the above-men- 
 tioned tranfadion, (the former Mandarine^ attendant on the fliip, 
 being, in the mean time, relieved by another) the Commodore loft 
 a top-maft from his ftern, which, after the moft diligent enquiry, 
 could not be traced : As it was not his own, but had been borrowed 
 at Macao to heave down by, and was not to be replaced in that part 
 of the world, he was extremely defirous to recover it, and pub- 
 liflied a confiderable reward to any who would bring it him again. 
 There were fufpicions from the firft of its being ftolen, which made 
 him conclude a reward was the likelieft method of getting it back : 
 Accordingly, foon after, the Mandarine told him, that feme of his, 
 the Mandaritie's, people, had found the top-maft, defiring the Com- 
 modore to fend his boats to fetch it, which being done, the Man- 
 darine's people received the promifed reward > but the Commodore 
 told the Mandarine^ that he would make him a prefent befides for 
 the care he had taken in diredling it to be fearched for ; and ac- 
 cordingly, Mr. Atifon gave a fum of money to his Linguift, to be 
 delivered to the Mandarine ; but the Linguift knowing that the 
 people had been paid, and ignorant that a further prefent had been 
 promifed, kept the money himfelf : However, the Mandarine ful- 
 ly confiding in Mr. Anfon's word, and fufpedling the Linguift, lie 
 took occafion, one morning, to admire the fize of the Centuriori^ 
 ipafts, and thence, on a pretended fudden recoliedion, he made a 
 
 digreffion
 
 ( 397 ) 
 digreffion to the top-maft which had been loft, and aflced Mr. An- 
 fon if he had not got it again. Mr. Anjon prefently perceived the 
 bent of this converfation, and enquired of him if he had not re- 
 ceived the money from the Linguift, and finding he had not, he 
 offered to pay it him upon the fpot. But this the Mandarine re- 
 fufed, having now fomewhat more in view than the fum which 
 had been detained : For the next day the Linguift was feized, and 
 was doubtlefs muldled of all he had gotten in the Commodore's fer- 
 vice, which was fuppofed to be little lefs than two thoufand dol- 
 lars ; he was befides fo feverely baftinadoed with the bamboo, that 
 it was with difficulty he efcaped with his life ; and when he was 
 upbraided by the Commodore (to whom he afterwards came beg- 
 ging) with his folly, in rifquing all he had fuffered for fifty dollars, 
 (the prefent intended for the Mandarine) he had no other excufe to 
 make than the ftrong bias of his Nation to difhonefty, replying, in 
 his broken jargon, Chinefe man v:ry great rogue trul)\ but have 
 Jaf/ncn, no atn help. 
 
 It were endlefs to recount all the artifices, extortions and frauds 
 which were praiflifed on the Commodore and his people, by this 
 interefted race. The method of buying all things in China being 
 by weight, the tricks made ufe of by the Chinefe to encreafe the 
 weight of the provifion they fold to the Centurion^ were almoft in- 
 credible. One time a large quantity of fowls and ducks being 
 bought for the fliip's ufe, the greateft part of them prefendy died : 
 This alarmed the people on board with the apprehenfions that they 
 had been killed by poifon ; but on examination it appeared, that it 
 was only owing to their being crammed v/ith ftones and gravel to 
 encreafe their weight, the quantity thus forced into moil: of the 
 ducks being found to amount to ten ounces in each. The hogs 
 too, which were bought ready killed of the Chinefe Butchers, had 
 water injedted into them for the fame purpofe j fo that a carcals, 
 hung up all night for the water to drain from it, hath loft above a 
 ftone ot its weight ; and when, to avoid this cheat, the hogs were 
 2 bought
 
 C 398 ) 
 bought alive, it was found that the Chinefe gave them fait to en- 
 creafe their thirft, and having by tliis means excited them to drink 
 creat quantities of water, they then took meafures to prevent them 
 irom difcharging it again by urine, and fold the tortured animal in 
 this inflated ftate. When the Commodore firft put to fea from 
 Macao, they pradtifed an artifice of another kind j for as the Chi- 
 nefe never objeft to the eating of any food that dies of itfelf, they 
 took care, by fome fecret pradices, that great part of his live fea- 
 ftore fhouid die in a (liort time after it was put on board, hoping 
 to make a fecond profit of the dead carcafies which they expefted 
 would be thrown overboard ; and two thirds of the hogs dying be- 
 fore the Centurion was out of fight of land, many of the Chinefe 
 boats followed her, only to pick up the carrion. Thefe inftances 
 may ferve as a fpecimen of the manners of this celebrated Nation, 
 which is often recommended to the reft of the world as a pattern of 
 all kinds of laudable qualities. But to return : 
 
 The Commodore, towards the end of September, having found 
 out (as has been faid) that thofe, who had contracted to fupply him 
 with fea- provifions and ftores, had deceived him, and that the 
 Viceroy had not fent to him according to his promife, he faw it 
 would be impoflible for him to furmount the embarafment he was 
 under, without going himfelf to Canton, and vifiting the Viceroy ; 
 and therefore, on the 27th of September, he fent a meflage to the 
 Mandarine, who attended the Centurion, to inform him that he, 
 the Commodore, intended, on the firft of OSiober, to proceed in 
 his boat to Canton ; adding, that the day after he got there, he 
 Ihould notify his arrival to the Viceroy, and fliould defire him to fix 
 a time for his audience; to which the Mandarine returned no 
 other anfwer, than that he would acquaint the Viceroy with the 
 Commodore's intentions. In the mean time all things were pre- 
 pared for this expedition : And the boat's crew in particular, which 
 Mr. Anfon propofed to take with him, were cloathed in an uniform 
 drefs, refembling that of the Watermen on the Thames-, they were 
 
 2 in
 
 ( 399 ) 
 
 in number eighteen and a Coxfwain ; they had fcarlet jackets and 
 blue filk waiftcoats, the whole trimmed with filver buttons, and 
 with filver badges on their jackets and caps. As it was apprehend- 
 ed, and even aflerted, that th6 payment of the cuftomary duties for 
 the Centurmi and her prize, would be demanded by the Regency 
 of Canton^ and would be inlifted on previous to the granting a per- 
 miffion for victualling the (liip for her future voyage ; the Commo- 
 dore, who was refolved never to eftablifli fo diihonourable a prece- 
 dent, took all poffible precaution to prevent the Chinefe from facili- 
 tating the fuccefs of their unreafonable pretenfions, by having him 
 in their power at Ca?Uon : And therefore, for the fecurity of his fhip, 
 and the great treafure on board her, he appointed his firft Lieutenant, 
 A'Ir. Brett, to be Captain of the Centurion under him, giving him 
 proper inflrudions for his condud ; direding him, particularly, if 
 he, the Commodore, lliould be detained at Canton on account of the 
 duties in difpute, to take out the men from the Centurion's prize, 
 and to deftroy her ; and then to proceed down the river through 
 the Bocca Tigris, with the Centurion alone, and to remain with- 
 out that entrance, till he received further orders from Mr. Anfon. 
 
 Thefe neceflary fleps being taken, which were not unknown 
 to the Chinefe, it lliould feem as if' their deliberations were in 
 fome fort embarafed thereby. It is reafonable to imagine, that 
 they were in general very defirous of getting the duties to be paid 
 them } not perhaps folely in confideration of the amount of thofe 
 dues, but to keep up their reputation for addrefs and fubtlety, and 
 to avoid the imputation of receding from claims, on which they had 
 already fo frequently infifted. However, as they now forefaw that 
 they had no other method of fucceeding than by violence, and 
 that even againfl this the Commodore was prepared, they were at 
 laft difpofed, I conceive, to let the affair drop, rather than entan- 
 gle themfelves in an hoftile meafure, which they found would only 
 cxpofe them to the rifque of having the whole navigation of their 
 port deflroyed, without any certain profped: of gaining their fa- 
 vourite point thereby. ' 
 
 However,
 
 ( 400 } 
 
 However, though there is reafon to imagine that the(e were their 
 thoughts at that time, yet they could not depart at once from the 
 cvafive condu<fl to which they hud hitherto adhered. For when 
 the Commodore, on the morning of tljc firftof OSlober, was pre- 
 paring to fet out for Canton, his Linguift came to him from the 
 Mandarine, who attended his fliip, to tell him that a letter had 
 been received from the Viceroy oi Canton, defiring the Commodore 
 to put off his going thither for two or three days : But in the af- 
 ternoon of the fame day, another Linguift came on board, who, 
 with much feeming fright, told Mr. Aufon, that the Viceroy had 
 expeded him up that day, that the Council was aflembled, and the 
 troops had been under arms to receive him ; and that the Viceroy 
 was highly offended at the difappointment, and had lent the Com- 
 modore's Linguift to prifon chained, fuppofing that the whole had 
 been owing to the Linguifl's negligence. This plaulible tale gave 
 the Commodore great concern, and made him apprehend that there 
 was fome treachery defigned him, which he could not yet fathom ; 
 and though it afterwards appeared that the whole was a fiftion, 
 not one article of it having the leaft foundation, yet (for reafons 
 beft known to themfelves) this falfhood was fo well fupported by 
 the artifices of the Chinefe Merchants at Canton, that, three days 
 afterwards, the Commodore received a letter figned by all the fu- 
 percargoes of the E72gIiJJj fhips then at that place, expreffing their 
 great uneafinefs at what had happened, and intimating their fears 
 that fome infult would be offered to his boat, if he came thither 
 before the Viceroy was fully fatisfied about the miftake. To this 
 letter Mr. An/on replied, that he did not believe there had been 
 any miflake ; but was perfuaded it was a forgery of the Chitiefe to 
 prevent his vifiting the Viceroy ; that therefore he would certainly 
 come up to Canton on the 13th of OBober, confident that the 
 Chinefe would not dare to offer him an infult, as well knowing it 
 would be properly returned. 
 
 On
 
 ( 401 ) 
 On the 13th of OBokr, the Commodore continuing firm to 
 his refclution, all the fupercargoes of the Englif), Danijh, and 
 Swedijli fliips came on board the Centurion^ to accompany him to 
 Canton, for which place he fet out in his barge the fame day, at- 
 tended by his own boats, and by thofe of the trading fhips, which on 
 this occafion came to form his retinue ; and as he pafled by Wampo^ 
 where the European vefTeis lay, he was faluted by all of them but 
 the French, and in the evening he arrived fafely at Canton. His 
 reception at that city, and the moft material tranladions from hence- 
 forward, till his arrival in Great- Britain, ftiall be the fubjedt of the 
 enfuing chapter. 
 
 Fff CHAP.
 
 ( 402 ) 
 
 C H A p. X. 
 
 Proceedings at the city of Canton^ and the return of 
 the Centurion to Englajtd. 
 
 WHEN the Commodore arrived at Canton^ he was vifited 
 by the principal Chinefe Merchants, who afFedled to ap- 
 pear very much pleafed that he had met with no obftruc- 
 tion in getting thither, and who thence pretended to conclude, that 
 the Viceroy was fatisfied about the former miftake, the reality of 
 which they ftill infifted on ; they added, that as foon as the Vice- 
 roy fhould be informed that Mr. ^njon was at Canton, (which 
 they promifed fliould be done the next morning) they were per- 
 fuaded a day would be immediately appointed for the vifit, which 
 was the principal bufinefs that had brought the Commodore 
 thither. 
 
 The next day the Merchants returned to Mr. Atifon, and told 
 him, that the Viceroy was then fo fully employed in preparing his 
 difpatches for Pekin, that there was no getting admittance to him 
 for fome days j but that they had engaged one of the officers of 
 his Court to give them information, as foon as he Hiould be at 
 leillire, when they propofed to notify Mr. Anfon"% arrival, and to 
 endeavour to fix the day of audience. The Commodore was by 
 this time too well acquainted with their artifices, not to perceive 
 that this was a falfehood ; and had he confulted only his own judg- 
 ment, he would have applied diredtly to the Viceroy by other 
 hands : But the Chinefe Merchants had fo far prepoffefl*ed the fu- 
 percargoes of our fhips with chimerical fears, that they (the fuper- 
 cargoes) were extremely apprehenfive of being embroiled with the 
 Government, and of fufFering in their intereft, if thofe meafures were 
 taken, which appeared to Mr. Aiifon at that lime to be the moft 
 2 prudential :
 
 ( 403 ) 
 prudential : And therefore, leafl: the malice and double dealing of 
 the Chincfe might have given rife to fome finifler incident, which 
 would be afterwards laid at his door, he refolved to continue paf- 
 five, as long as it fliould appear that he loft no time, by thus fuf- 
 pending his own opinion. With this view, he promifed not to take 
 any immediate ftep himfelf for getting admittance to the Viceroy, 
 provided the Chinefey with whom he contrafted for provifions, 
 would let him fee that his bread was baked, his meat falted, and 
 his ftores prepared with the utmoft difpatch : But if by the time 
 when all was in readinefs to be fliipped off, (which it was fuppofed 
 would be in about forty days) the Merchants fliould not have pro- 
 cured the Viceroy's permifTion, then the Commodore propofed to 
 apply for it himfelf, Thefe were the terms Mr. j^nfon thought pro- 
 per to offer, to quiet the uneafinefs of the fupercargoes ; and not- 
 withftanding the apparent equity of the conditions, many ditEcul- 
 ties and objedions were urged ; nor would the Chiiiefe agree to 
 them, till the Commodore had confented to pay for every article he 
 befpoke before it was put in hand. However, at laft the contradt 
 being part, it was fome fatkfadion to the Commodore to be certain 
 that his preparations were now going on, and being himfelf on the 
 fpot, he took care to haften them as much as poffible. 
 
 During this interval, in which the ftores and provifions were 
 getting ready, the Merchants continually entertained Mr. An/on 
 with accounts of their various endeavours to get a licence from the 
 Viceroy, and their frequent difappointments ; which to him was now 
 a matter of amufement, as he was fully fatisfied there was not one 
 word of truth in any tiling they faid. But when all was com- 
 pleated, and wanted only to be fhipped, which was about the 
 24th oi November, at which time too the N, E. monfoon was fet in 
 he then refolved to apply himfelf to the Viceroy to demand an au- 
 dience, as he was perfuaded that, without this ceremony, the pro- 
 curing a permiflion to fend his ftores on board would meet with 
 great difficulty. On the 24th of November, therefore, Mx.Anfon 
 fent one of his officers to the Matidarine, who commanded the 
 
 F f f 2 guard
 
 ( 40+ ) 
 
 guard of the principal gate of the city of Canton, with a letter di- 
 re<fled to the Viceroy. When this letter was delivered to the 
 Mandarine, he received the officer who brought it very civilly, and 
 took down the contents of it in Chincfe, and proniifed that the Vice- 
 roy fhould be immediately acquainted with it ; but told the officer, 
 it was not neceflary for him to wait for an anfwer, becaufe a mef- 
 fage would be fent to the Commodore himfelf. 
 
 On this occafion Mr. A7ifon had been under great difficulties about 
 a proper interpreter to fend with his officer, as he was well aware 
 that none of the Chinefe, ufually employed as Linguifts, could be 
 relied on : But he at laft prevailed with Mr. Flint, an EnglifiGtn- 
 tleman belonging to the fadlory, who fpoke Chinefe perfectly well,, 
 to accompany his officer. This perfon, who upon this occafion and 
 many others was of Angular fervice to the Commodore, had been 
 left at Canton when a youth, by the late Captain Rigby. The 
 leaving him tliere to learn the Chinefe language was a ftep taken 
 by that Captain, merely from his own perfuafion of the great ad- 
 vantages which the EaJ.i~India Company might one day receive from 
 an Englif:/ interpreter ; and though the utility of this meafure has 
 gready exceeded all that was expedled from it, yet I have not heard 
 that it has been to this day imitated : But we imprudently choofe 
 (except in this fingle inftance) to carry on the vaft tranfadlions of 
 the port of Canton, either by the ridiculous jargon of broken Eng- 
 lifi, which fome few of the Chinefe have learnt, or by the fufpeded 
 interpretation of the Linguifts of other Nations. 
 
 Two days after the fending the above-mentioned letter, a 
 fire broke out in the fuburbs of Canton, On the firft alarm, Mr. 
 Anfon went thither with his officers, and his boat's crew, to affift 
 the Chinefe. When he came there, he found that it had begun in a 
 lailor's fhed, and that by the flightnefs of the buildings, and the 
 awkwardnefs of the Chincfe, it was getting head apace : But he 
 perceived, that b) pulling down fome of the adjacent flieds it might 
 eafily be extinguifhed ; and particularly obferving that it was run- 
 ning along a wooden cornifli, which woiJd foon communicate it 
 
 to
 
 ( 405 ) 
 
 to a great diftance, he ordered his people to begin with tearing a- 
 way that cornifli ; this was prefently attempted, and would have 
 been foon executed ; but, in the mean time, he was told, that, as 
 there was no Mandar-ine there to diredl what was to be done, the 
 Chinefe would make him, the Commodore, anfwerable for what- 
 ever rtiould be pulled down by his orders. On this his people de- 
 fifted ; and he fent them to the EnglijJj fadtory, to affift in fecu- 
 ring the Company's treafurc and efFedts, as it was eafy to forefee 
 that no diftanee was a proteftion againft the rage of fuch a fire, 
 where fo little was done to put a ftop to it ; for all this time the 
 Chinefe contented themfelves with viewing it, and now and then 
 holding one of their idols near it, whidi they feemed to expedt 
 fliould check its progrefs : However, at laft, a Mandarine came out 
 of the city, attended by four or five hundred firemen : Thefe made 
 fome feeble efforts to pull down the neighbouring houfes j but by 
 this time the fire had greatly extended itfelf, and was got amongft 
 the Merchants warehoufes ; and the Chinefe firemen, wanting both 
 fkiil and (pirit, were incapable of checking its violence ; fo that its 
 fury encreafed upon them, and it was feared the whole city would 
 be deftroyed. In this general confufion the Viceroy himfelf came 
 thither, and the Commodore was fent to, and was entreated to af- 
 ford his affiftance, being told that he might take any meafures 
 he fhould think moft prudent in the prefent emergency. And now 
 he went thither a fecond time, carrying with him about forty of 
 his people ; who, upon this occafion, exerted themfelves in fuch a 
 manner, as in that country was altogether without example: For 
 they were rather animated than deterred by the flames and falling 
 buildings, amongft which they wrought ; fo that it was not uncom- 
 mon to fee the moft forward of them tumble to the ground on the 
 roofs, and amidft the ruins of houfes, which their own efforts 
 brought down with them. By their boldnefs and adivity the fire 
 was foon extiaguiflied to the amazement of the Chinefe ; and the 
 buildings being all on one floor, and the materials flight, the fea- 
 
 men.
 
 ( 4o6 ) 
 
 men, notwithftanding their daring behaviour, happily efcaped with 
 no other injuries, than fome eonfiderable bruifes. 
 
 The fire, though at laft thus luckily extinguiflied, did great mif- 
 chief during the time it continued ; for it confumed an hundred 
 (hops and eleven ftreets full of warehoufes, fo that the damage 
 amounted to an immenfe fum ; and one of the Chinefe Merchants, 
 well known to the EngliJJ:, whofe name was Succoy, was fuppofed, 
 for his own lliare, to have loft near two hundred thoufand pound 
 fterling. It raged indeed with unufual violence, for in many of the 
 warehoufes, there were large quantities of camphire, which greatly 
 added to its fury, and produced a column of exceeding white flame, 
 which {hot up into the air to fuch a prodigious height, that the 
 flame itfelf was plainly feen on board the Centurio?i, though flie 
 was thirty miles diftant. 
 
 Whilft the Commodore and his people were labouring at the 
 fire, and the terror of its becoming general fl;ill pofl^fled the whole 
 city, feveral of the moft eonfiderable Chinefe Merchants came to 
 Mr, Anfon, to defire that he would let each of them have one of 
 his foldiers (for fuch they ftiled his boat's crew from the uniformity 
 of their drefs) to guard their warehoufes and dweUing houfes, 
 which, from the known diflionefty of the populace, they feared 
 would be pillaged in the tumult. Mr. Anfon granted them this re- 
 quefl: ; and all the men that he thus furniflied to the Chitiefe be- 
 haved greatly to the fatisfadlion of their employers, who afterwards 
 highly applauded their great diligence and fidelity. 
 
 By this means, the refolution of the Englijh at the fire, and their 
 truftinefs and pundluality elfewhere, was the general fubjedt of con- 
 verfation amongft the Chinefe: And, the next morning, many of the 
 principal inhabitants waited on the Commodore to thank him for 
 his affiftance ; frankly owning to him, that they could never have 
 extinguifhed the fire of thcmfelves, and that he had faved their 
 city from being totally confumed. And foon after a mefliage came 
 to the Commodore from the Viceroy, appointing the 30th of No- 
 
 vember
 
 ( 407 ) 
 
 vember for his audience ; which fudden refolution of the Viceroy, 
 in a matter that had been fo long agitated in vain, was alfo owing 
 to the fignal fervices performed by Mr. Anfon and his people at the 
 fire, of which the Viceroy himfelf had been in fome meafure an 
 eye-witnefs. 
 
 The fixing this bufinefs of the audience, was, on all accounts, a 
 circumftance which Mr. Anfon was much plcafed with ; as he was 
 fetisfied that the Chinefe Government would not have determined 
 this point, without having agreed among themfelves to give up their 
 pretenfions to the duties they claimed, and to grant him all he could 
 reafonably afk. ; for as they well knew the Commodore's fenti- 
 ments, it would have been a piece of imprudence, not confiftent 
 with the refined cunning of the Chinefe^ to have admitted him to 
 an audience, only to have contefted with him. And therefore, be- 
 ing himfelf perfectly eafy about the refult of his vifit, he made all 
 neceflary preparations againft the day; and engaged Mr. Flint, 
 whom I have mentioned before, to adt as interpreter in the confe- 
 rence : Who, in this affair, as in all others, acquitted himfelf much 
 to the Commodore's fatisfaclilion ; repeating with great boldncfs, and 
 doubtlefs with exadlnefs, all that was given in charge, a part which 
 no Chinefe Linguifl would ever have performed with any tolerable 
 fidelity. 
 
 At ten o'clock in the morning, on the day appointed, a Manda- 
 rine came to the Commodore, to let him know that the Viceroy 
 was ready to receive him ; on which the Coiriinodore and his reti- 
 nue immediately fet out : And as foon as he entered the outer gate 
 of the city, he found a guard of two hundred foldiers drawn up 
 ready to attend him ; thefe conduced him to the great parade be- 
 fore the Emperor's palace, where the Viceroy then refided. In tiiis 
 parade, a body of troops, to the number often thcufand, were drawn 
 up under arms, and made a very fine appearance, being all of them 
 new cloathed for this ceremony : And Mr. Anfon and his retinue 
 having paffed through the middle of them, he was then conduded 
 
 to
 
 ( 4o8 ) 
 
 to the great hall of audience, where he found the Viceroy feated 
 under a rich canopy in the Emperor's chair of State, with all his 
 Council of Mandarines attending ; Here there was a vacant feat 
 prepared for the Commodore, in which he was placed on his arri- 
 val : He was ranked the third in order from the Viceroy, there be- 
 ing above him only the Head of the Law, and of the Treafury, 
 who in the Chinefe Government cake place of all military officers. 
 When the Commodore was feated, he addrefled himfelf to the 
 Viceroy by his interpreter, and began with reciting the various me- 
 thods he had formerly taken to get an audience ; adding, that he 
 imputed the delays he had met with, to the infincerity of thofe he 
 had employed, and that he had therefore no other means left, 
 than to fend, as he had done, his own officer with a letter to the 
 gate. On the mention of this the Viceroy flopped the interpreter, 
 and bid him aflure Mr. An/on, that the firfl knowledge they had of 
 his being at Canton, was from that letter. Mr. An/on then pro- 
 ceeded, and told him, that the fubjeds of the King of Great-Bri- 
 tain trading to Chijta had complained to him, the Commodore, of 
 the vexatious impofitions both of the Merchants and inferior Cuf- 
 tom-houfe officers, to which they were frequently neceffitated to 
 fubmit, by reafon of the difficulty of getting accefs to the Mati- 
 darines, who alone could grant them redrefs : That it was his, 
 Mr. Anfofi's, duty, as an officer of the King of Great-Britain, to 
 lay before the Viceroy thefe grievances of the Britijh fubjeds, 
 which he hoped the Viceroy would take into confideration, and 
 would give orders, that for the future there fhould be no juft rea- 
 fon for complaint. Here Mr. An/on paufed, and waited fome 
 time in expedlation of an anfwer ; but nothing being faid, he 
 afked his interpreter if he was certain the Viceroy underftood 
 what he had urged ; the interpreter told him, he was certain 
 it was underftood, but he believed no reply would be made to it. 
 Mr. An/on then reprefented to the Viceroy the cafe of the fhip 
 Hajlingjield, which, having been difmafted on the coaft of China, 
 
 2 had
 
 ( 409 ) 
 
 had arrived In the river of Canton but a few days before. The 
 people on board this veffel had been great fufferers by the fire ; the 
 Captain in particular had all his goods burnt, and had lofl befides, 
 in the confufion, a cheft of treafure of four thoufand five hundred 
 Tahel, which was fuppofed to be ftolen by the ChtJieJe boat-men. 
 Mr. Anfon therefore defired that the Captain might have the af- 
 fiftance of the Government, as it was apprehended the money could 
 never be recovered without the interpofition of the Mandarines, 
 And to this requeft the Viceroy made anfwer, that in fettling the 
 Emperor's cuftoms for that {hip, fome abatement fliould be made 
 in confideration of her lofles. 
 
 And now the Commodore having difpatched the bufinefs with 
 which the ofiicers of the Raft-India Company had entrufted him, 
 he entered on his own affairs ; acquainting the Viceroy, that the 
 proper feafon was now fet in for returning to Europe^ and that he 
 waited only for a licence to fliip off his provifions and flores, which 
 were all ready ; and that as foon as this fhould be granted him, and 
 he fliould have gotten his necefTaries on board, he intended to leave 
 the river of Canton, and to make the befl of his way for England. 
 The Viceroy replied to this, that the licence fhould be immediately 
 ilTued, and that every thing fliould be ordered on board the follow- 
 ing day. And finding that Mr. yinfofi had nothing farther to infifl 
 on, the Viceroy continued the converfation for fome time, acknow- 
 ledging in very civil terms how much the Chinefe were obliged to 
 him for his fignal fervices at the fire, and owning that he had 
 faved the city from being deflroyed : And then obferving that the 
 Centurion had been a good while on their coafV, he clofed his dif- 
 courfe, by wifliing the Commodore a good voyage to Europe, Af- 
 ter which, the Commodore, thanking him for his civility and afiifl- 
 ance, took his leave. 
 
 As foon as the Commodore was out of the hall of audience, he 
 was much prefTed to go into a neighbouring apartment, where there 
 was an entertainment provided ; but finding, on enquiry, that the 
 
 G g g . Viceroy
 
 ( 410 ) 
 
 Viceroy himfelf was not to be prcfent, he declined the invitation, 
 and departed, attended in the fame manner as at his arrival ; only 
 at his leaving the city he was faluied by three guns, which are as 
 many as in that country are ever fired on any ceremony. Thus the 
 Commodore, to his great joy, at laft finilhed this troublefome af- 
 fair, which, for the preceding four months, had given him great 
 difquietude. Indeed he was highly pleafed with procuring a licence 
 for the fhipping of his ftores and provifions ; for thereby he was 
 enabled to return to Great- Britam with the firft of the monfoon, 
 and to prevent all intelligence of his being expeded : But this, 
 though a very important point, was not the circumftance which 
 gave him the greatefl fatisfadlion ; for he was more particularly at- 
 tentive to the authentic precedent eftabliflied on this occafion, by 
 which his Majefty's fliips of war are for the future exempted from 
 all demands of duty in any of the ports of Cbifja. 
 
 In purfuance of the promifes of the Viceroy, the provifions were 
 begun to be fent on board the day after the audience ; and, four 
 days after, the Commodore embarked at Canton for the Centurion ^ 
 and, on the yth of December, the Centurion and her prize un- 
 moored, and flood down the river, paffing through the Bocca Ti- 
 gris on the loth. And on this occafion I muft obferve, that the 
 Chinefe had taken care to man the two forts, on each fide of that 
 pafTage, with as many men as they could well contain, the greatefl 
 part of them armed with pikes and match-lock mufquets. Thefe 
 garrifons affeded to fhew themfelves as much as pofTible to the 
 fliips, and were doubdefs intended to induce Mr. A?!ldn to think 
 more reverently than he had hitherto done of the Chinefe military 
 power : For this purpofe they were equipped with much parade, 
 having a great number of colours expofed to view ; and on the 
 caflle in particular there were laid confiderable heaps of large 
 ftones ; and a foldier of unufual fize, drefTed in very fightly ar- 
 mour, flalkt about on the parapet with a battle-ax in his hand, en- 
 deavouring to put on as important and martial an air as pofTible, 
 
 though
 
 ( 4iO 
 
 tliough fome of the obfervers on board the Centurion (hrewdly fuf- 
 pedled, from the appearance of his armour, that inftead of fteel, 
 it was compofed only of a particular kind of glittering paper. 
 
 The Centurion and her prize being now without the river of 
 Canton^ and confequendy upon the point of leaving the Chinefe 
 jurifdidtion, I beg leave, before I quit all mention of the Chinefe 
 affairs, to fubjoin a few remarks on the difpofition and genius of 
 that extraordinary people. And though it may be fuppofed, that 
 obfervations made at Canton only, a place fituated in the corner 
 of the Empire, are very imperfecfl materials on which to found 
 any general concluiions, yet as thofe who have had opportunities 
 of examining the inner parts of the country, have been evidently 
 influenced by very ridiculous prepoffeffions, and as the tranfadtions 
 of Mc, An/on with the Regency of Canton were of an uncommon 
 nature, in which many circumflances occurred, different perhaps 
 from any which have happened before, I hope the following re- 
 flections, many of them drawn from thefe iiicidents, will not be 
 altogether unacceptable to the reader. 
 
 That the Chinefe are a very ingenious and induftrious people, is 
 fufficiently evinced, from the great number of curious manufa(5hires 
 which are efliablirtied amongft them, and which are eagerly fought 
 for by the moft diftant nations ; but though flcill in the handi- 
 craft arts feems to be the moft important qualification of this peo- 
 ple, yet their talents therein are but of a fecond rate kind j for 
 they are much outdone by the fapmiefe in thofe manufadlures, 
 which are common to both countries ; and they are in numerous 
 inftances incapable of rivalling the mechanic dexterity of the Ku- 
 ropeans. Indeed, their principal excellency feems to be imitation j 
 and they accordingly labour under that poverty of genius, which 
 conftantly attends all fervile imitators. This is moft confpicuous in 
 works which require great truth and accuracy ; as in clocks, 
 watches, fire-arms, &c. for in all thefe, though they can copy 
 the different parts, and can form fome refemblance of the whole, 
 yet they never could arrive at fuch a juftnefs in their fabric, as was 
 
 G g g 2 neceflary
 
 ( 412 ) 
 
 neceflary to produce the defired effcd. And if we pafs from their 
 manufafturers to artifls of a fuperior clafs, as painters, flatuaries, Gfr. 
 in thefe matters they leem to be ftill more defedlive, their painters, 
 though very numerous and in great efteem, rarely fucceeding in 
 the drawing or colouring of human figures, or in the grouping of 
 large compofitions ; and though in flowers and birds their per- 
 formances are much more admired, yet even in thefe, fome part 
 of the merit is rather to be imputed to the native brightnefs and 
 excellency of the colours, than to the fkill of the painter ; fince it 
 is very unufual to fee the light and fliade juflly and naturally hand- 
 led, or to find that eafe and grace in the drawing, which are to be 
 met with in the works of Europeati artifts. In {hort, there is a 
 ftiffnefs and minutenefs in moft of the Chinefe productions, which 
 are extremely difpleafing : And it may perhaps be afferted with 
 great truth, that thefe defedls in their arts are entirely owing to the 
 peculiar turn of the people, amongft whom nothing great or fpi- 
 rited is to be met with. 
 
 If we next examine the Cbinefc literature, (taking our accounts 
 from the writers, who have endeavoured to reprefent it in the 
 moft favourable light) we fliall find, that on this head their obfli- 
 nacy and abfurdity are moft wonderful : For though, for many 
 ages they have been furrounded by nations, to whom the ufe of 
 letters was familiar, yet they, the Chinefe alone, have hitherto neg- 
 lefted to avail themfelves of that almoft divine invention, and have 
 continued to adhere to the rude and inartificial method of repre- 
 fenting words by arbitrary marks ; a method, which neceffarily ren- 
 ders the number of their characters too great for human memory 
 to manage, makes writing to be an art that requires prodigious ap- 
 plication, and in which no man can be oihervvife than partially 
 fkilled J whilft all reading, and underftanding of what is written, 
 is attended with infinite obfcurity and confufion ; for the connexion 
 between thefe marks, and the words they reprefent, cannot be re- 
 tained in books, but muft be delivered down from age to age by 
 oral tradition : And how uncertain this muft prove in fuch a com- 
 plicated
 
 (413 ) 
 
 plicated fubjed:, is fufficlently obvious to thofe who have attended 
 to the variation which all verbal relations undergo, when they are 
 tranfmitted through three or four hands only. Hence it is eafy to 
 conclude, that the hiftory and inventions of part ages, recorded by 
 thefe perplexed fymbols, muft frequently prove unintelligible ; and 
 confequendy the learning and boafted antiquity of the Nation muft 
 in numerous inftances, be extremely problematical. 
 
 But we are told by fome of the Miffionaries, that though the 
 (kill of the Chinefe in fcience is indeed much inferior to that of the 
 Europeans, yet the morality and juftice taught and prad:ifed by 
 them are moft exemplary. And from the defcription given by 
 fome of thefe good fathers, one fhould be induced to believe, that 
 the whole Empire was a well-governed affeflionate family, where 
 the only contefts were, who fliould exert the moft humanity 
 and beneficence : But our preceding relation of the behavi- 
 our of the Magiftrates, Merchants and Tradefmen at Can- 
 ton, fufficlently refutes thefe jefuitical fidions. And as to their 
 theories of morality, if we may judge from the fpecimens exhi- 
 bited in the works of the Miffionaries, we ffiall find them folely 
 employed in recommending ridiculous attachments to certain im- 
 material points, inftead of difcuffing the proper criterion of human 
 adtions, and regulating the general condud of mankind to one ano- 
 ther, on reafonable and equitable principles. Indeed, the only pre- 
 tenfion of the Chinefe to a more refined morality than their neigh- 
 bours is founded, not on their integrity or beneficence, but folely 
 on the affedted evennefs of their demeanor, and their conftant at- 
 tention to fupprefs all fymptoms of paffiion and violence. But it 
 muft be confidered, that hypocrify and fraud are often not Icfs mif- 
 chievous to the general interefts of mankind, than impetuofity and 
 vehemence of temper : Since thefe, though ufually liable to the 
 imputation of imprudence, do not exclude fincerity, benevolence 
 pefolution, nor many other laudable qualities. And perhaps, if this 
 matter was examined to the bottom, it would appear, that the 
 calm and patient turn of tlie Chinefe, on which they fo much va- 
 2 luc
 
 ( 414 ) 
 lue themfelves, and which diftinguifhes the Nation from all others, 
 is in reality the fource of the moft exceptionable part of their cha- 
 radler; for it has been often obfer\ed by thofe who have attended 
 to the nature of mankind, that it is difficult to curb the more ro- 
 buft and violent paffions, without augmenting, at the fame time, 
 the force of the felfifh ones : So that the timidity, diffimulation, 
 and diflionefty of the Chinefe, may, in fome lore, be owing to the 
 compofure, and external decency, fo univcrfelly prevailing in that 
 Empire. 
 
 Thus much for the general clifpofltion of the people : But I can- 
 not difmifs this fubjcd, without adding a few words about the Chi- 
 neje Government, that too having been the fubjed: of boundlefs 
 panegyric. And on this head 1 muft obferve, that the favourable 
 accounts often given of their prudent regulations for the adminiftra- 
 tion of their domeftic aflfairs, are fufficiently confuted by their 
 tranfadtions with Mr. Anjon : For we have feen that their Ma- 
 giftrates are corrupt, their people thievifli, and their tribunals crafty 
 and venal. Nor is the conftitution of the Empire, or the general 
 orders of the State lefs liable to exception: Since that form of 
 Government, which does not in the fir/l place provide for the fecu- 
 rity of the public againft the enterprizes of foieign powers, is cer-j 
 tainly a moft defedtive inftitution : And yet this populous, this rich 
 and extenfive country, fo pompoufly celebrated for its refined wif- 
 dom and policy, was conquered about an age fince by an handful 
 of Tartars ; and even now, by the cowardice of the inhabitants, 
 and the want of proper military regulations, it continues expofed 
 not only to the attempts of any potent State, but to the ravages of 
 every petty Invader. I have already obferved, on occafion of the 
 Commodore's difputes with the Chinefe, that the Centurion alone 
 was an overmatch for all the naval power of that Empire : This 
 perhaps may appear an extraordinary pofition ; but to render it un- 
 queftionable, there is exhibited in the annexed plate the draught of 
 two of the veffels made ufc of by the Chincje. The firft of thefe 
 marked (A), is a junk of about a hundred and twenty tuns bur- 
 then.
 
 (4>i) 
 
 then, and was what the Centurion hove down by ; thefe are moft 
 ufed in the great rivers, though they fotnetinies ferve for fmall coaft- 
 ing voyages : The other junk marked (B) is about two hundred and 
 eighty tuns burthen, and is of the fame form with thofe in which 
 they trade to Cocbhichifia, Mani/a, Batovia and 'Japan, though 
 fome of their trading vefTels are of a much larger fize ; its head, 
 which is reprefented at (C) is perfcdly flat ; and when the veflel 
 is deep laden, the fecond or third plank of this flat furface is oft- 
 times under water. The marts, fails, and rigging of thefe vefl!els 
 are ruder than their built ; for their mafts are made of trees, no 
 otherwife fafliioned than by barking them, and lopping off their 
 branches. Each ma ft has only two flirouds made of twifted rat- 
 tan, which arc often both fliifted to the weather- fide ; and the hal- 
 yard, when the yard is up, ferves inftead of a third fliroud. The 
 fails are made of matt, flrengthened every three feet by an hori- 
 zontal rib of bamboo j they run upon the maft with hoops, as is 
 reprefented in the figure, and when they are lowered down, they 
 fold upon the deck. Thefe merchantmen carry no cannon ; and it 
 appears, from this whole defcription, that they are utterly incapa- 
 ble of refifting any European armed vefl!el. Nor is the State pro- 
 vided with fhips of confiderable force, or of a better fabric, to pro- 
 tedt them: For at Canton, where doubdefs their principal naval 
 power is ftationed, we faw no more than four men of war junks, 
 of about three hundred tuns burthen, being of the make already 
 defcribed, and mounted only with eight or ten guns, the largeil of 
 which did not exceed a four pounder. This may fuffice to give 
 an idea of the defencelefs flate of the Chinefe Empire. But it is 
 time to return to the Commodore, whom I left with his two fliips 
 without the Bocca Tigris, and who, on the 12th of December 
 anchored before the town of Macao. 
 
 Whilft the fhips lay here, the Merchants of Macao finished - 
 their agreement for the galeon, for which they had ofl^ered 6000 
 dollars ; this was much {hort of her value, but the impatience of 
 the Commodore to get to fea, to which the merchants were no 
 2 fVanger^
 
 ( 4i6 ) 
 
 ftrangers, prompted them to infift on fo unequal a bargain. Mr. An- 
 fon had learnt enough from the EngliJJj at Canton to conjedture, 
 that the war betwixt Great-Britain and Spain was ftill continued ; 
 and that probably the French might engage in the affiftance of 
 Spain, before he could arrive in Great-Britain ; and therefore, 
 knowing that no intelligence could get to Europe of the prize he 
 had taken, and the treafure he had on board, till the return of the 
 merchantmen from Canton^ he was refolved to make all poffible ex- 
 pedition in getting back, that he might be himfelf the firft mefTen- 
 ger of his own good fortune, and might thereby prevent the ene- 
 my from forming any prqjefts to intercept him : For thefe rea- 
 ons, he, to avoid all delay, accepted of the fum offered for the 
 galeon ; and fhe being delivered to the Merchants the 1 5th of 
 December 1743, the Centurion, the fame day, got under fail, 
 on her return to England. And, on the 3d of 'January, flie came 
 to an anchor at Prince" $ JJland in the Streights of Sunda, and con- 
 tinued there wooding and watering till the 8th ; when fhe weighed 
 and flood for T^he Cape of Good Hope, where, on the i ith of Marchy 
 (lie anchored in Table-bay. 
 
 The Cape of Good Hope is fituated in a temperate climate, where 
 the exceffes of heat and cold are rarely known ; and the Dutch 
 inhabitants, who arc numerous, and who here retain their native 
 induftry, have ftock'd it with prodigious plenty of all fort of fruits 
 and provilions ; moft of which, either from the equality of the 
 feafons, or the peculiarity of the foil, are more delicious in their 
 kind than can be met with elfewhere : So that by thefe, and by the 
 excellent water which abounds there, this fettlement is the befl: 
 provided of any in the known world, for the refrefhment of fea- 
 men after long voyages. Here the Commodore continued till the 
 beginning of April, highly delighted with the place, which by its 
 extraordinary accommodations, the healthinels of its air, and the 
 pidturefque appearance of the country, all enlivened by the addition 
 of a civilized colony, was not difgraced in an imaginary comparifon 
 with the vallies of fuan Fernandes, and the lawns of Tinian. Du- 
 ring
 
 (4.7) 
 
 ring his ftay he entered about forty new men ; and having, by the 
 3d of u4pril 1744, complcated his water and provifion, he, on that 
 day, weighed and put to fea; and, the rgth of the fame month, 
 they faw the Ifland of Saint Helena, which however they did not 
 touch at, but flood on their way; and, on the loth of June, be- 
 ing then in foundings, they fpoke with an Engli/h fliip from Am- 
 Jlerdam bound for 'Philadelphia, whence they received the firfl intel- 
 ligence of a French war; the twelfth they got fight of the Lizard; 
 and the fifteenth, in the evening, to their infinite joy, they came 
 fafe to an ajichor at Spithead. But that the fignal perils which hadfo 
 often threatened them in the preceding part of the enterprize, might 
 purfue them to the very lafl:, Mr. Anjon, learnt on his arrival, that 
 there was a French fleet of confiderable force cruifing in the chops 
 of the Channel, which, by the account of their pofitfon, he found 
 the Centurion had run through, and had been all the time concealed 
 by a fog. Thus was this expedition finiflied, when it had lafted 
 three years and nine months, after having, by its event, firongly 
 evinced this important truth, That though prudence, intrepidity, 
 and perfeverance united, are not exempted from the blows of ad- 
 verfe fortune ; yet in a long feries of tranfadions, they ufually 
 rife fuperior to its power, and iii the end rarely fail of proving 
 fuccefeful. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 DIRECTIONS to the Bookbinder, for 
 placing the Copper-Plates. 
 
 Plate Page 
 
 View of the N. E. end of the Idand of St. Catherine's, &c. 43 
 
 'A 
 
 2 Ditto of the North entrance of the harbour of St. Catherine's, ibid. 
 
 3 Two views of Cape Blanco, &c. 60 
 
 4 A view of the land a little to the northward of Port St. Julian, > ^^ 
 
 5 A view of the bay of St. Julian, &c. 3 
 
 6 Plan of St. Julian's harbour, &c. > 
 
 7 Profpeft of St. Julian's river, as it appears looking up, &c. > 69 
 
 8 Profpedt of Port St. Julian, as it appears looking down, &c. j 
 
 9 Cape Virgin Mary, &c. 72 
 
 10 A view of part of the N. E. fide of Terra del Fuego, y^ 
 
 1 1 A view of Streights Le Maire, &c. 7 
 
 12 The Weft profped of Staten Land, J '''■ 
 
 13 A Chart of the fouthern part of fouth Annerica, &c. 94 
 
 14 The Eaft profpeft of the Ifland of Juan Fernandes, &cc.. 114 
 
 15 A plan of Juan Fernandes Ifland in the South-Seas, &c. "? 
 
 16 A plan of the N. E. fide of Juan Fernandes, &c. ? ^^5 
 
 17 A view of Cumberland bay at the Ifland of Juan Fernandes, j 
 
 1 8 A view of the Commodore's tent at the Ifland of Juan Fernandes, 120 
 
 19 A Sea Lion and Lionefs, 123 
 
 20 Plan of a bay and harbour on the coaft of Chili, &c. 140 
 
 21 A view of the N. E. fide of Mafa-Fuero, &c. 7 
 
 22 A view of the Weft fide of Mafa-Fuero, Sic. J *57 
 
 23 A plan of the town of Paita, &c, 189 
 
 24 The burning of the town of Paitn, 201 
 
 25 A plan of the Eaft end of the Ifland of Quibo, 216 
 
 26 A chart of the Channel in the Philippine Iflands, Sec. 237 
 
 27 The form of cruifing off Acapulco, &c. 
 
 „ I View of the hill of Petaplan, &c. with a view of the Iflands' 
 I * of Quibo and Qoicara, 
 
 Quibo and Qy 
 
 29 The bay and rocks of Petaplan, 
 
 30 A View of the entrance of Chequetan, &c 
 
 260 
 
 31 A
 
 Directions to the Bookbinder, ^c. 
 
 Plate Pag» 
 
 31 A plan of the harbour oF Chequetan, &c. 261 
 
 32 A view of the entrance of the port of Acapulco, 277 
 ^ t A view of two of the Lad rone Iflands, with the plans of the 7 
 ^^} harbour of Acapulco, and of the bay of Manila, 3 ^ 
 
 34 A view of the watering place at Tinian, 310 
 
 35 A view of the S. W. fide of Tinian, 314 
 
 36 A view of the anchoring place at Tinian, 3 1^ 
 
 37 A view of the N. W, fide of Saypan, &c. 337 
 
 38 A flying proa, taken at the Ladrone Iflands, 341 
 
 39 The Iflands of Lema, 350 
 
 40 A view of Cape Efpiritu Santo, &c. 373 
 ^ A Chart of the Pacific Ocean, from the equinodial, to the la- > g ^ 
 
 "*■ i titude of 39 degrees and a half North, J 3 ^ 
 
 42 Chinefe veflels, 414
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 LO-UHL 
 
 JUN 4 197J 
 fIFCD LO-URB 
 
 SLP2 51972 
 JUL 17 1973 
 
 fEcrnnMJ* 
 
 w^ 
 
 iicro 
 
 ,0-'.^«* 
 
 
 URL 
 
 SEP 815177 
 
 U'PX 
 
 SF' 
 
 Sep 2^1978 
 
 WSCM^**Gf "Rl 
 
 7 
 
 APR ii 197^ 
 
 -^7Q 
 
 Form L9-50m-9, '60(8361064)444
 
 rilSSS"*' ^«R"*ai iry 
 
 'J D 000 722 376