or else we would go into the City to fetch them the effect of this blustering was that on the first of November came a Canoe to tell us that a Bark would bring us next day the Summ we demanded and on the second two of our Men dyed As we saw nothing coming from Panama we made ready and entred into the Port and when we had hung oâ— our main Flag we fired a Gun they answered our Signallâ— putting up a white Flag upon one of the Bastions of the Fort to give us notice that the Money was not yet readâ— which made us put out again and lye all Night at thâ— Cape before the mouth of the Port Next day came tâ— us a Knight of Maltha in a Bark wherein he brought us ten thousand pieces of Eight and received the Prisoâ—ers from us On the fifth we anchored at Ottoqua iâ— order to victual our Ships on the seventh two of 〈◊〉 Men dyed On the Eighth the Indians who had been our Guideâ—â— in our passage from the North to the South-Sea and who kept close with us ever since were taken or mâ—rthered by the Spaniards upon this Island of Ottoqua iâ— revenge for the Service they had done us On the Eighâ— in the Morning we put fifty Men ashoar to see if 〈◊〉 could find the place whereunto the Spaniards had withdrawn themselves whom we could not find in their Hâ—bitations that we might know what they had done 〈◊〉 those Indians but we could find nothing save their Maney and Baggage which they had hid in a Vault The same day at Noon Captain Townsley dyed of his Wounds We threw his Body into the Sea according to his defire with such Ceremonies as are usual upon these occasions On the tenth we weighed and came to an Anchor at Kings-Islands and two days after dyed one of our wounded Men. On the Seventeenth we put out with the little Frigat and long Bark to sail to the port of Panama to see whether they had any Ships there that might come to insult us while our Vessels were a Careening We had a North-West-Wind so that we could not reach the Isles of Pericos before the tenth when we found our selves under the forts of that Town We furled our low Sails and as the Spaniards saw us bring to they gave us three Guns after they put up Burgundian Colours upon the Windward Bastion But when we understood there was no Ship in that place whereof we might be afraid we went out a Cruising between Tavoga and Sippilla we being resolved to watch those two Ships that were to come from Lima and in the mean time we sent one of our Pirogues to bid our Men careen the Vessels with all Expedition and that they need fear no danger from Panama We had very bad Weather in this Channel It blew round all the points of the Compass with such violent Whirlwinds that the Sea grew very boisterous But on the 28th the Weather proving more moderate we discovered a Ship sailing all along the Coast of the main Land after which we sent two Pirogues in chase She would have entred into the Port of Panama but they firing upon her from the Fort as believing she was one of our Ships she passed by and our Pirogues took her She came from Nato and was laden with Provisions and Sugars which she was carrying to our Enemies who had the Charity to put her back to us On the Eleventh being not able to see any thing of what we waited for we failed for the King's Islands and as the Moon shone bright we found the Currents very strong there also which obliged us to anchor in the Channel with all the Tides contrary to us from twenty to forty fathom Water We arrived on the 16â—â— at the Island where our Ships were careening and found them all ready done The Sea round about these Kings Islands whereof I have spoken so much is full of a great many very large Whales who are infested by a Fish they call Espadâ—â—â— that assaults them continually with a kind of Fish-bone like unto a Sabre fastened to their Heads and 〈◊〉 makes those monstrous Animals to give such Leapt and Rebounds that they raise themselves continually abovt the Water But to return from a great Fish to a small one I shall say that besides Pearl-Oysters which 〈◊〉 to be found in those parts in great numbers there are also others that are exceeding good and so large that they are forced to cut them into four parts to 〈◊〉 them and they are when roasted exceeding white We departed on the 18th and sailed for those Islands that are in the Main where we came to an Anchor on the Nineteenth in the Morning and on the Twentieth put out with our Galley and two Pirogues to go to a Sugar Plantation which stands two Leagues to Leeward of panarna giving Orders at the same time to our Ships to come and Anchor there Three Days after us We possest our selves of the said Plantation and seized all the People belonging thereto who told us there was a Courier come from Chiriquita to Panama who reported he had seen Two Ships and as many Barks belonging to the Freebooters Anchor at the Port of that Town who came for Provision there wherewith we were somewhat surprized and could hardly believe those Freebooters would have leâ—t so good a Coast as that of Peru was whither we knew they were gone to come thither which is much worse which difference has it rise from another than the abundance and quality of the Provisiâ—nâ— that the former produceth whereof I shall give 〈◊〉 an Account hereafter We were also informed by these Prisoners as it was very true that a Galley which we knew well enough was in Building at Panaâ—â— was finished that she carried Two and fifty Oars Five pieces of Cannon â—and Forty 〈◊〉 that there were what with those come from Carthagena and Porto Bello Five hundred Men come to go on Board her and Two Pirogues and that they watched the opportunity of our passing before their Port as we had used to do to the end they might put out in the Night and surprize us during the absence of our other Ships whom they supposed to be still a careening On the 24th we anchored at Ottoqua to gather Mace and Rice that were â—till standing on the Ground and next Day being apâ—rehensive according to the Report of our Prisoners that there might be Freebooters at Chiriquita we sent a Bark thither to give them Notice if she found it to be 〈◊〉 so that we would come up to them as soon as we had taken in some Provision along the Coast we â—ut Nineteen Prisoners on the 29th a Shoar and made â—eady to depart with an Easterly Wind we were got on â—he 30th in the Morning over-against the Bay of la Vilâ—ia we straitened our round Top being affraid to be 〈◊〉 by it we embarked in the Evening on our Canoes 〈◊〉 on the 31st at Midnight
cannot find a Place to tread on or walk along in the Woods for the great numbers of land Tortoises Lizards and Agoutils that retire thither The Sea thereabouts is also so fruitful in the production of Fish that they come to the very Sands to die there but these advantages on the other hand are encountred with the want of Water whereof these Islands are entirely destitute The Wind towards Evening came to North North-East and made us bear East and by South-East to keep to the Continent the Weather on the Tenth in the Morning grew very dark and we having a Southerly Blast we bore East and East and by South-East till the Eleventh when we were becalmed on the Thirteenth arose an East Wind and we bore to the South South-East upon a tack and North North-East and then lay by for some time because we did not know the Currents On the 14th having a North East Wind we bore East South-East and accordingly as it blew fresh we steered East and by South-East and East on the Fifteenth Two Hours before Day-light we had a Storm and then a South Wind we steered East all that Day but we had such bad Weather the following Night that we could not carry our Sails next Day about Noon the Weather grew better and an Easterly Breeze presented we lay by till the Eighteenth at Noon when we discovered a Ship to Windward of us to whom we gave chase till the Evening she proved to be the English Ship that had parted from us when we came out of the Bay of Caldaira who knowing who we were put into the Cape we came to Leeward of her but she spread out her Sails and got to Leeward of us after we had given one another this salutation we put out for Two Hours to see which sailed best but knowing at last they were the better Sailors and fearing they might reach Queaquilla before us we desired them to joyn with us in our Design to which when they agreed we set fail together we found our selves much perplext to know what Latitude we might be in since we had not seen the Sun for Ten Days together But it happily fell out that it appeared on the Nineteenth our Pilots computed we might be about Five and twenty Leagues to Windward of Queaquilla and Sixty Leagues from Land but the Winds varied to that degree that we could make no way and many times went contrary On the 20th we had a West Wind and steered East and by South-East till the 21st when we were becalmed On the 24th arose a South Wind and on the 26th an Easterly Breeze at last the Wind persisting to be contrary we were reduced to great want of Victuals for we had already been upon our passage longer than our Provision would allow us to which we may add that Fish had till now been so scarce and hard to catch that we had but little support from them So that having on the 28th taken an Accompt of the remainder of our Victualling we were forced to retrench our selves so far as to eat but once in Forty eight Hours we also wanted Water and had it not been for the help of Rain we had certainly died of thirst but what made us amends for one part of our wants was that we found our selves all of a sudden in a Kingdom of large Fishes such as Emperors Tunnies Germons Galdenies Negros Bonitoes and several others to whom we gave no quarter no more that to the Sea Wolfs who for all their ill smell could not escape us During that time we bore to the North-East the Wind not allowing us to keep on our designed Course that if the worst came to the worst we might by this course reach the Isle of St. Iohn pursuant to the Design we had formed upon meeting with this contrary Wind of putting in there in case the same continued all the way On the 29th after we had taken the Latitude our Pilots computed us to be opposite to the Isle of Platta Thirty Leagues to Leeward of Queaquilla on the 30th being Easter-Day we were but one degree North Latitude in the Twi light the Wind began to blow fresh and bore us East North-East next Day the Wind came South South-West we steering East East and by South-East and East South-East On the 3d. of April we were becalmed and as we had for the space of Two Days by the computation of our Pilots sailed towards Land they were of Opinion that the Currents deceived them of which we made our selves satisfied by the following manner On the Fourth the Weather being very calm we furled our Sails and put out one of our Pirogues about whose Fore-Castle we spun Sixty Fathom of our smallest Rope made fast unto a Grapling Iron and from that Coast she made from the Tide ran along her side with as much swiftness as the Current of a River and bore to the North-East on the Fifth we caulked our Ships towards Midnight a South-West Wind presented it self and we bore South-East On the 6th in the Morning we discovered Land both to Windward and Leeward of us we veered to least we should be brought too near and steered South On the 8th we were about Four or Five Leagues off and our coasting Pilots knew the Place to be Cape Pastao which is under the Line Thirty Leagues to Leeward of the Isle of Platta we had all hands aloft and steered South On the 9th we bore to the South South-East till the Evening and to the South-West till Ten at Night when we steered to the South South-East and on the IIth we were got to the heighth of the Isle of Platta Eighteen Leagues out at Sea On the 12th at Noon we saw the Point of Sancta Helena which is Fifteen Leagues to Leeward of Queaquilla and forms the beginning of the Bay that bears the Name of that Town On the 12th at Night we saw Fire to Windward of us we lay by till break of Day when we discovered a Ship Three Leagues to Windward of us and as we were becalmed we sent Three Pirogues to know what she was they found her to be a Prize laden with Wine and Corn which Captain David had taken as she came out of Nasca and which was separated from him he had put Eight English Men on Board to Conduct her who were to have their Rendezvous in case of a separation at the Isle of Platta These Men told us that after they had left St Iohn's Island they made several Descents and in several Parts of that Country among others at Sagua Arrica and Pisca that in the last of these Places a Relation of the Vice-Roy of Lima came at the Head of Eight hundred Men to attack them with Sword in hand but that they were vigorously repulsed that they had also taken a great many Ships which when they pillaged they let go again so that finding they had got to the value of Five thousand pieces of Eight a Man they
had resolved to return to the North Sea and that as they sailedâ— away for the Streights of Magellan they fell to gaming whereat many lost all they had got that they had anchored in the Road which leads to the Isles of Dom Fernandez that stand upon the brink of the Streight to which Place came Captain Willnet an English Man who had left them long before and was come thither upon the same Design with themselves of repassing into the North Seas by the same Streights but that Captain David had altered his Resolution for that those of his Crew who had lost their Money were not willing to leave these Seas nor the Ship till they had taken another That as for those who had won they went on Board Captain Willnet out of which Ship went also at the same time such of his Crâ—w as were without Money in order to go and get some with Captain David and that so they were come back into the South Sea to the number of Sixty English and Twenty French as Willnet was gone through the Streight for the North Sea that Captain Peter Henry was gone for the East-Indies presently after Captain Suams and lastly they told us tho' we had been informed thereof before that the Spanish Fleet was a careening at Puerto Callao which as I have already said is the Place of Embarking that belongs to Lima. As these Eight English Men did not think that Captain David's Frigate would rejoyn them so quickly at the Place of Rendezvous they proposed going with us to Queaquilla which we so much the more willingly agreed to in that they gave us a share of their Victuals and Drink and a little revived amongst us that usual meriment that had now for some time been exiled from us by the abstinences we were forced to undergo wherewith we were extreamly weakned Then we sailed all Night in their Company steering South-East and by East On the 14th we furled all our Sails for fear of being discovered from Land near unto which we were About two arose a Fog by favour whereof we made use of our main Sail of all as well to come ready Rigged into the Bay which is Thirty Leagues in length as to get to Windward of the River Queaquilla and to spare our selves also the Labour of rowing so much for being so extraordinary weak we had not strength to do it We steered all Night South-East And on the 11th discovered the White Cape which is the Windward Cape of this Bay about Ten in the Morning we embarked to the number of Two hundred and Sixty Men on Board our Canoes after having given our Ships Orders to lay by in the Bay till they heard News from us We steered all Day long for the Island Sancta Clara with which we came up at Sun setting this little Island is in reality nothing else but a Rock standing East and West Six Leagues distant from the Continent we were obliged to cast Anchor with all the Tides contrary to us it being impossible to put into this Bay against the Currents where we found Six Fathom Water And on the 16th we found our selves between Sancta Clara and la Puna about Five Leagues from the Shoar La Puna is a very pretty Island and may be discovered at a great distance at Sea because of the Form of it resembling a Cardinalâ—s Cap It 's Twenty Leagues in circumference and stands East and West Two Leagues from the Continent and over-against the Mouth of the River Queaquilla There is a large Burrough built upon it where in former times were kept the King of Spain's Magazines Great Ships that is such as are Two or Three Deck'd ones that cannot come into the River Anchor between it and the Island We hid our selves in this Island all Day and that with the good Luck of not being discovered by the Sentinels who were there to the number of Forty of them though we knew nothing of it We departed in the Evening and got more Southerly that we might not be discovered from the Continent On the 17th we hid our selves again in a Covert Place upon the same Island where after we had got an exact Account from our Prisoners of the State Situation and Disposition of the Town of Queaquilla which we were about to go and take we disposed of our Forces in the following Order There were Fifty Men making the Forlorn Hope led by Captain Picard who commanded our Frigate to attack the great Fort Fourscore Granadiers commanded by the Captain of our Bark were to be in the nature of Reserves and to serve any where as there should be Occasion for them Captain Grogniâ—â— with the main Body was to make himself Master of the Town and Port And Captain George Hewit who was Commander of the English Ship with Fifty of his Men was to attack the little Fort and a Thousand Pieces of Eight was promised to any one of the Ensigns whereof I was one that should pitch the First Colours upon the great Fort Things being thus regulated we left our Covert in the Evening believing we might be able to enter into the River of Queaquilla that Night before Day light appear'd but for all that all we could do was to gain one of the Points of the Island which is over-against the River for we could have the advantage of the Tyde 's coming in but for three Hours which was the Reason that on the 18th as we put off again that we might the more readily get under the Covert of the Island Day overtook us and so discovered us to a Sentinel who set a Cottage on Fire as a Signal to the other Sentinels that were posted at convenient distances on both sides the River that he saw us that so these same might advertise the Town of it As soon as we got a Shoar we marched cross a Wood to get to the said Fire where we found some of those that had kindled it whereof Two were killed as they â—â—ed to save themselves and a Third was taken but we could get no Intelligence from him for he was but a little Boy This day we discovered a Ship entring into the River we let her pass being unwilling to come out from under our Covert to fall upon her for fear of being discovered by those on the main Land who we supposed knew nothing of us Because the Inhabitants of Queaquilla had not answered the Fire-Signal which the Sentinel of La Puna had given them Upon the approach of Night we made ready and entred into the River of Queaquilla by one of the two Mouths we found there and by which goes in and out with the Tyde so rapid a Current that it is enough to carry a Canoe two Leagues in an hour so that we made four in the space of two hours There are two very fine Islands in the two largest parts of this River which may be about half a League over under the Covert whereof we hid our selves
savage Indian Nation who are neither Friends to nor have Society with any other People whatsoever no not even with the Spaniards themselves who live round about them They eat without any distinction whatever they can catch and are afraid of nothing but Swords and the like Weapons but as for Fire-Arms they matter them not at all we were satisfied to have a sight of them as we returned without having the Curiosity to make a trial of their Teeth by going farther up into a Country were there was nothing to be got I am not able to forbear in this place to give a strange Example of what I am speaking and of what this People can do whom I take to be the oldest Free-Booters of America The Marquiss of Maintenon Governour of the Isle of Mary Gallant who had the command of one of the King's Frigats called the Witch having taken a Prize of fourteen Guns which he went on Board and finding himself one day separated from his own Ship was constrained in order to take in water to cast Anchor at Boca del Drago on the Terra Firma of America which was inhabited by the same Indian People as live at Cape la Vella He brought his Ship as near the Shore as he could and bringing all his Cannon to bear on one side he sent under the Covert of them his Shalloop with two and twenty armed Men to fill their Casks with Water Now those Savages lying in Ambush upon the Sea-side did not give the Shalloop time to land but throwing themselves head-long into the Water and rushing upon them in spight of the continual Fire made upon them from the Cannon of the Man of War they carried her with the two and twenty Men for above fifty Paces to Land where after they had killed them every one took his man upon his Back and moved them off then they returned and swimming to cut the Cables of the Ship to make her drive a-shoar they hoped also to serve those on board the same Sauce but as good luck would have it they had time to loose their Sails and to make ready to put farther off from the Shore On the second we put our Ships into a Careening-Posture and on the eight Rose's Boat returned to us and gave an account that as soon as they had anchored at the Mouth of the River la Acha they sent a small Canoe with six Englishmen in it a-shore they being of our Crew and at Peace then with the Spaniards who agreed with them that next Morning about Sun-rising they would fire a Gun to give the other notice to come on board to traffick with them That in the night they had put thirty men a-shore to surprize those of the Spaniards that should pass to and fro But that the Spaniards having discerned the Snare that was laid for them fired all night which gave all the Inhabitants the alarm That next Morning our People fired their Cannon of Signal according to the Agreement and put out English Colours but it was to no purpose for the Spaniards according to all appearance had no inclination for those Goods they supposed we would trade with them in so that our Men finding their design had miscarried weighed Anchor and sailed away to joyn us As we were of opinion at last that there was no hopes the Patach would pass that way we held a Council on board our Ship about forming another Design but not being able to agree with Captain Laurence who was owner of two thirds of the Neptune because he would have imposed upon us there were fourscore and seven that quitted the Ship and went on board the Prize in which we came from St. Domingo and so left him on the thirteenth He weighed and steered his Course thitherward Captain Michael and Captain Iohn Rose weighed also and sailed for Carthagena and we who were irresolute what way to take followed the latter On the 25th we had a hard Easterly Breeze which carried us beyond a River that runs on the Terra-Firma and is by the Spaniards called Rio-grande where we should have taken in Water which continues sweet within the Sea for three or four Leagues from the Mouth of it for all it rains so little and provided you take that which runs on the Superficies About three of the same day in the Afternoon we saw our Lady de la Poupla which is also on the Continent and the 16th anchored at the Isles of St. Bernard from whence we parted in the Eveninig with three Pirogues only in order to get to windward of Carthagena to endeavour to seek us some Provision which they continually carry to that place and our Design had in effect the desired success We returned on the 18th with seven Pirogues laden with Maes which we made good Prize By the Spaniards that were in them we understood that there were two Galleons at Carthagena and that the Spanish Flota was at Porto Belo and that two Ships one carrying twenty and the other twenty four Guns would quickly put out from thence but we did not think fit to wait for them because they could not assign to us any determinate time when they should sail On the twenty second at Noon we weighed and towards Evening discovered Point Picaron on the Continent and the Isles of Palmas About two Hours within the Night we doubled the greatest Point of these Islands The next Morning which was the twenty third we found our selves separated from Captain Michael and Captain Rose and then it was we took a Resolution of attempting to cross over the Continent to the end we might get into the South-Sea In order to which we sailed to the Bay of the Isle d'Or which is inhabited by the Indians of Sambes that so we might know of them who were our Friends what success the other Free-booters met with who we had been told were gone thither some Months before From the twenty third at Night to the twenty fourth we kept to the Cape being afraid of entring into the Gulph of Arian and that Morning by break of Day we made nearer the Shoar to discover where we were and upon trial we found it to be a Point of the Wind in that Gulph which the Currents made us to double Between this Gulph and Cape Matance happened a very remarkable Adventure we had on board our Ship a Soldier belonging to the Spanish Galleons whom we had taken to windward of Carthagena in one of the Pirogues whereof we found the Maes before spoken of who out of a despair to find himself made a Prisoner though he was very kindly used took a Resolution as appeared by what followed to throw himself into the Sea to which end he went five or six times upon Deck without being able to put his Design in execution and that in all likelyhood out of a secret resistance he found within himself to do it But at last after several Attempts he effected the same
Captain two Ships laden with Provision coming from 〈◊〉 He brought along with him a Man of Captain Groignict's Crew who was lost in the Woods a hunâ—ting while his Comrades were making their Canoes iâ— the same River where we were building ours On the twenty eighth we received News again by an Indian Captain who had conducted Captain Groigniet and Captain Esurier into the South-Sea in a Letter which they sent us that they would stay for us at Kings-Islands and desired us to lose no time but to come and have our share in taking of the Fleet of Peru which they waited for But for all the Expedition we could use our Conoes could not be finished before the last of March when we drew them into the River April the first we parted with fourteen Canoes carrying about twenty Oars apiece guided by twenty Indians who made use of this opportunity in order to participate of the Booty which they thought we were about to take from the Spaniards as soon as ever we got into the South-Sea We rested on the fourth to tarry for our Men who were behind and to mend our Canoes that were damnified by the Rocks and Flats we met with all along that River It cannot be believed what pains we had to bring them to the great Water as I may call it for we met with places where they rested dry so that we were in a manner forced to carry them This day died one of our Men of the Bloody Flux which was very rife amongst us because we were forced to fast so long and by reason of the hard Feeding we had and our continual dabling in the Water On the fifth we put on and about Evening found the River deeper but so full of and encumbred with Trees which the Floods had carried thither that our Canoes were in danger every Minute to be lost and this day died two of our Men. On the sixth we got to the great Water where the River is wider and deeper and that day we spent on the Banks of it to dry our Sacks which were wet through with the great Rains that fell the day before another of our Men died this day From hence to the eleventh we did all we could to get quickly to the Mouth of the River where we were informed by an Indian that was come in a small Vessel to meet us the English and French Free-Booters had sent a shore in a little Bay called Boca del Chica that stands at the Mouth of that River some Corn for our Refreshment when we should get down thither for they could gather very well by themselves who had been so straitned there for Provision whereabouts we must be and indeed we had so little that we were reduced to an handfull of Raw Maes for each Man a day The same Day we received farther News and by other Indians who gave our Guides notice to tell us that a thousand Spaniards being informed of our Descent mounted up along this River by Land with a design to lay an Ambuscade for us Hereupon we resolved not to stir but in the night-time and that without noise that so we might shun them and this succeeded accordingly But we fell into another encumbrance and that was we being Strangers in thâ—â— Country and knowing no more than our Guides how high the Tide flowed in this River we were surprized with the coming in of it and drove ouâ— Canoes and us very far so that one of them was overset with a great Tree that had fallen into the River and upon which the swiftness of the current threw it but it luckily fell out that no one was drowned they quitted it for the Arms and Ammunition that were lost which could not but woâ—â— some trouble in us to see our Men disarmed in 〈◊〉 Country where we could not go but must have much occasion to use them but to deliver us 〈◊〉 this Inquieâ—ude God was pleased to dispose of some of us who left their Arms to those that had lost their own When we were got clear of these Dangers our Guides advised us to row gently for fear the Indian-Spaniards who were our Enemies should hear us and who lay in wait to attack us some Leagues thâ—â— side the Mouth of the River in a place called Lestocads we took their Council and when we were got over against the said place where the River is very broad we disposed of our Canoes in such a manner that by the favour of the night they appeared to be much less than they really were Now these Indian-Spaniardâ— having some Glimpse of us asked who was there and our Guides having answered That what they saw waâ— nought but a few Boats belonging to them with which they were going to fetch Salt into the South-Sea by this wile we were spared the labour of engaging with those Rascals On the twelfth in the Morning we cast Anchor because the Tide came in and was against us and about ten made ready but towards Noon the Heavens were overcast to that degree that you could scarce see a Man from one end of a Canoe to the other and this was followed with such excessive Rains that we were afraid every Minute of being sunk though we employed two men in each Canoe continually to throw out the Water and during that time one of our Men died The same Day at Mid-night we got to the Mouth of the River and entred into the south-South-Sea from whence we made directly for the Bay of Boca del Chiâ—a to see for the Provision which we were told was there and which we found accordingly but before this we met with a Canoe of Captain Grogniet that waited for us and two Barks at Anchor They had been purposely sent by the English both to tow our Canoes to the place where the Fleet of Free-booters were and to bring us more Provision On the thirteenth in the Morning we carried our Sick on board them two Barks for their better Accommodation and then weigh'd Anchor in order to sail altogether to an Island four Leagues distant from the Mouth of that River where we refreshed our selves for two days with the Provision the English had sent us which was a mighty comfort to us On the sixteenth we went off in order to find out the English and French Fleet whose Rendezvous was to cruise either before Panama or at the Kings Islands which were not far from this River We arrived at those Islands on the eighteenth which stand thirty Leagues to the East of Panama where we found the largest of them to look more like the Continent than an Island so spacious and mountainous it is The same is inhabited by those Negroes whom they call Marons or Fugitives from the Spaniards who upon making their escapes from their Masters at Panama and the adjacent places have made this a place of Refuge This day one of our 〈◊〉 died We entred into this Sea at a very bad time
Life we lead in those Places where we 〈◊〉 in perpetual Hazzard to lose it which I should be frâ—â— from by an advantagious Offer of a pretty Womâ—â— and a considerable Settlement the other proceeded 〈◊〉 the despair I was in of ever being able to return into 〈◊〉 own Country for want of Ships fit for that purpose But when I began to reflect upon these things with little more leasure and consideration and that I reâ—ved with my self how little Trust was to be given 〈◊〉 the Promises and Faith of so perfidious as well as â—â—â—dictive a Nation as the Spaniards and more especiâ—â— towards Men in our Circumstances by whom they 〈◊〉 been so ill used this Second Reflection carried it agaiâ—â— the First and even all the Advantages offered me 〈◊〉 this Lady But however the matter was I was resolved in spight of the Grief and Tears of this pretty Woman to prefer the continuance of my Troubles with a Ray of hope I had of seeing France again before the perpetual Suspicion I should have had of some Treachery designed against me Thus I rejected her Proposals but so as to assure her I should retain even as long as I lived a lively Resentment of her Affections and good Inclinations towards me On the 23d we sent one of our Canoes to Queaquilla to carry one of the Fathers thither they being a People as much obeyed and respected by that Nation as the Viceroys themselves The Governour gave this Man a full Power to act as he pleased even in opposition to the Obstructions which the Tenient made against the Payment of the Ransom afore-mentioned After his departure came a Bark which brought us Four and Twenty Sacks of Meal and to the value of Twenty Thousand Pieces of Eight in Gold They desired us moreover to grant them three days time for the Payment of the rest which we allowed them but withal threatned that upon their failure therein we should seize upon their Fort and burn their Town and Ships Our Canoe returned on the 25th who gave us an Account they would pay no more than Two and Twenty Thousand Pieces of Eight for the rest of the Ransom and that the Tenient would pursue his Prince's Orders who forbad the payment of any That he had Five Thousand Men at hand with which he waited to see if we would put our Threats in Execution Upon this â—â—â—â—ce and bold Answer we had a Consultation together whether we should cut off the Heads of all the Prisoners The Plurality of Voices together with mine was That it were better we should go and look after the Two and Twenty Thousand Pieces of Eight than shed any more Blood seeing also that our Design being to leave these Seas we had no farther occasion for these Executions to make us be feared and that after all we were but too well assured by the Tenient's Letter that the Spaniards were setting all things in Order to come and act their utmost Effort against us which perhaps would administer matter of Repentance unto us if we still persisted in our Resolution That therefore we ought to accept of the Offer and to give up unto them no other than the meanest of the Prisoners without divesting our selves of those of Quality who would be a Security unto us for the rest That while we waited for them it was our best way to take them along with us and put off from the Shoar steering towards the Point of St. Helena where we should be out of danger of the surprizes of our Enemies whose Motions we could every way discover at a distance Things being thus concluded on we sent our Canoe to Queaquilla who returned again the 25th and told us that next day the Spaniards would without fail bring us the Two and Twenty Thousand Pieces of Eight to the Isle of Puna where we then were We put the same day Fifty of our best Prisoners on board our Ships and at the same time weighed Anchor and quitted our good Winter Quarters where we left the rest of our Prisoners with two Canoes to Guard them and to wait for the Money promised us giving our Men Orders to tell those that brought it that they should send us the remainder of what was agreed on to the Point of St. Helena and upon default thereof that they should see their People no more Our Canoes on the 26th in the Evening came to joyn us as we lay by to get out of this Bay and brought us the Two and Twenty Thousand Pieces of Eight Next Night the English Frigate's Prize who thought we lay still at Anchor at la Pruna from whence she met us about Eight Leagues came to give us notice that two Spanish Armadilla's waited our coming out of the Bay and that David's Frigate lay by as they did to stay for us On the 27th by break of Day we discovered them between the Isle of St. Clare and the Point of St. Helena to Windward of us Captain Davidâ—â— Frigate upon sight of us made up presently to us and having got all together we consulted what we were best to do We put â—ourscore of our Men on board of him because he had not number enough of his own to manage his Guns and as we had not Men enough to manage our Prizes we reserved only but two Ships and a long Bark and sent the rest with our Pirogues upon the Flats where the Spanish Ships could not come as drawing more Water than they did We lay by tillâ— Noon to get the Weather-gage which yet we could not do because at this time of the Year the Winds blow from the Sea and are very fixed and that besides as we came out of the bottom of the Bay we could not well hope to gain it the Spaniards being at the Mouth thereof About Noon our Enemies came upon us and so we sought till the Evening with our Cannon which the Spaniards call Gallant Fighting without much hurting of one another We cast Anchor upon the approach of Night as they did also about a League to Windward of us We fired a Gun for our Prizes to come up which they did and cast Anchor near us for their greater Security We sent them back about an hour before Day-light to their former Station and as soon as ever Light appeared we made ready and the Spaniards did the same but no sooner were we got under Sail but we were becalmed Unhappily it fell out that we were without our Pirogues to tow us to Windward because we had sent them back with our Prizes to avoid the trouble they might have caused us and therefore all we could do now was to make use of our little Canoes which we had still with us the Spaniards also towed to Windward to dispute the matter with us however with much ado we got a Cannot-shot to Windward of them But as they knew better how to bear close up to the Wind in these Seas than we in half an hour's
into the Bay of Mapallo in quest of the French Men that were gone ashoar upon those Islands which I have already said are there and that in her return she was to carry the President of Guatimala and his Wife to Panama On the 25th we weigh'd and sailed for the Isle of Câ—cas which stands North and South of Realegâ—o an hundred Leagues distance We had a South-west Wind and sailed West North-west On the 30th we discovered Land we pinch'd upon the Wind that we might know what place it was we found towards Evening 't was the Isle of Malpalla that stands forty Leagues Southwards of that of St. Iohn's and from thence we sailed to the Bay of Mapalla instead of going to the Isle of Cocas from whence the Wind blew and consequently was contrary to us From this day forward to the 11th of Iuly we had the same Southwest Wind which allay'd not but when it blew from the East and South On the 13th we took our Latitude and found we were thirty Leagues out at Sea from Realegâ—o and steared North to get to Land On the 16th at Noon we discovered the Mountains and put into the Cape for fear of being discovered On the â—7th we sent two of our Canoes to endeavour to take some one Prisoner that so we might know how things were before we brought our Ships into the Bay In the Evening our Canoes having discovered what Coast it was returned and told it was St. Michael's Bay whether the Currents had driven us in making the Cape and which we took for that of Mapalla whither we would have gone and which stands fourteen Leagues to Windward of the former which might the more 〈◊〉 have been mistakâ—n from the Sea in that the Mountainâ—â— of these two Bayâ—â— are very like one another We lay by to Windward of iâ— in the Night and on the 18th 〈◊〉 out our Canoes and continuing at the Cape till the 20â—â— we made use of them to go and joyn our Friends at 〈◊〉 of the Islands As we entered in on the 23d we 〈◊〉 taken with a breeze of Wind that separated us from 〈◊〉 another and of five Sail whereof our Fleet consisted we had no more than two of the least and weakest of our Ships left together but we did not lose sight of the other three tho' they were got very far to Leeward and overtaken with a Calm In the mean time we Anchoâ—ed at the Isle of Tigers which is the nearest to the Mouth of it On the 24th about Eight in the Morning we discovered three Sail of Ships that doubled the Point of Harina which is to Windward of that Bay and Ten Leagues to Leeward of Realeguo we presently fired a Paterero to call in our Canoes who were ashoar to take in Water As soon as they were come on Board we made ready and bore up to those Ships with a full Wind though we had then but very little of it Those three Vessels which were a Galley and two Pirogues bore also towards us though they saw us 〈◊〉 but as soon as we were got out and discovered by them they doubled the Cape upon us with their Sails and Oaâ—â— and the two Pirogues that sailed better than the Galley got behind us and fired fifteen Cannon-shot upon us but as our Arms could reach them these Pirogues were forced to fall a Stern and to wait for their Galley When she had joyned them they held a Council and then put out to Attack us our Ships not being able to give us any Relief put to the Cape to wait for us we fought them all along till we had rejoyned our Vessels which we did about two in the Afternoon when the Spaniards left us to go bury their Dead upon the Island where we had been to take in Water when we first discovered them they did us some Damage in our main Mast and Rigging and wounded few of our Men Towards Evening a Wind arose from the Sea and we sailed in quest of them but they kept to the Shoar On the 25th we passed round the Island in search for our Canoes which the Enemy's Galley sought for also rightly imagining they were ashoar as not having seen 〈◊〉 with us during the Action About two in the Aâ—â—â—noon they discovered us and coming out from under their Covert gave us the Signal which we on our part answered they had hid themselves there for four Hours expecting our coming and had a full sight of the Engagement but could not possibly any more than the 〈◊〉 of our Ships come in to our Assistance The Spaniâ—â—ds who saw us take them with us durst not hinder it though they were at Anchor very near them then we attempted with one of our Ships to Board the Enemy's Galley but she saved her self upon the Flats where our Ships could not come near her On the 26th we Anchored at an Island in the Bay where we put two of our Vessels to Careen while the other three guarded them On the 28th we saw a Canoe under white Colours crossing from the main Land to the Islands where one of ours met and took her It was a Spanish Captain who believing us to be his own People came to congratulate the Commander upon the Victory which he from the Shoar thought they had got over us We put him upon the Wrack to know whether he came not by some wile or other to draw us into a Snare laid for us by the Galley 〈◊〉 the Greek Captain had formerly done But he solemnly protested it was not so and informed us that there 〈◊〉 a Pirogue with thirty Men in the same Bay where we were who were gone ashoar some time since and 〈◊〉 fought in the rase of Savannas against six hundred Spaniards whose Captain called don Albarado who was accounted the bravest and most valiant Man in the Province they had killed and that when we had met with their Galley and two Pirogues there had Eight â—â—ndred Armed Men come not with a design to look after us but to fight those thirty French Men who could not be conquered by his six hundred Country-men in admirable instance of the Valour of the Spaniards in those 〈◊〉 The Day of Mapalla is a very curious place and full of 〈◊〉 great Ilands not inferiour in Beauty to those of 〈◊〉 they were formerly Inhabited and there are still 〈◊〉 Burroughs there which the People have forsaken by 〈◊〉 of the Descents of the Free-booters As for Anchorage it 's very good here but no good shelter to be found in this place from any corner of the Wind great Blasts whereof come over those great Mountains that are at the bottom of it so that there are very few Cables that are proof against them On the 6th of August one of our Men who was Hunting upon the Island where we were Careening found two Men who had been there for the space of Eight Days to observe our Motions and who taking us to
from thence-forward On the 20th of February we found the River largeâ— and more spacious than before and met with no more Falls therein But the same was so incumbred with Trees and Bamboes which the Floods carryed thither that our wretched Machines could not be kept from overturning but the depth of the Water in these Parts being a means to moderate the rapidness of it there were not many drowned At last when we were gone down some Leagues farther we found the River very good the Stream very gentle and no likelihood of our meeting any more Rocks nor Trees tho' we had still above Sixty Leagues to the Sea-side Wherefore now finding our selves freed from those Perils and Dangers which we had been exposed to in such terrible Places where Death in the most frightful shape presented it self continually to our view every one began to resume fresh Courage and conceive good hopes of the remainder of the Voyage insomuch that being now all of us assembled together in the same Place where those who had gone before staid for them that came after and that we had now before us how we should go quite through with the rest of our Voyage we agreed to divide our selves into several Companies each consisting of Sixty Men to build Canoes out of Mapou Wood which sort of Trees grow in great numbers upon the Banks of the said River Having with wonderful Diligence finished four Canoes by the first of March for the use of an Hundred and Twenty Men that were of us in one Canton we put them into the Water and embarked thereon without staying for an Hundred and Forty more who were finishing theirs the ardent desire we had to be as soon is possibly satisfied whether we should really be able to reach the North Sea egged us mightily to put on for according to the Idea we had conceived of our Passage we were apprehensive of being carryed back into that of the South as not being able to think we could be so Happy as to recover the sight of a Sea by which we might be carryed home to our Native Countries and which we had for so considerable a time longed for The English who would not make any Canoes had got in their Piperies before us to the Sea-side Here they met with an English Boat from Iamaica at Anchor whom they were very forward to press to go and ask Leave of the Governour of that Island for their safe coming thither because they had gone out without any Commission but that Vessel â— being unwilling to go thither without they laid down Six Thousand Pounds Sterling by way of Advance and they being not in a condition to run the hazard of such a Sum because many of them had lost their Money as several amongst us had done which they would have carryed with them by the over-setting of the Piperies they staid with the Moustick Indians that dwell some Leagues to Windward of the Mouth of this River and who are very kind to them because of the Trinkets they bring them from Iaâ—â—â—a Thus that Boat proving to be of no use to these English they politickly bethought themselves to send us word hereof as hoping we in acknowledgment of this Kindness would obtain leave of the Governour of St. Domingo for them to retire and be proteceted in that Island This News we received by two Moustick Indians whom in a Boat they sent to meet us Forty Leagues up the River and who told us that there should no more than Forty Men only come down because that â—hip could contain no more by reason of the smalness of it and its scantiness of Provision But for all this the Hundred and Twenty that made up one of our Companies went down together for every one pretended to be of the number of the said Forty Though this River we are now leaving is by some Spanish Maps made to run directly fourscore Leagues and then to fall into the North Sea yet we have computed the same to run above Three Hundred being almost always carryed to the South-East for to go to the North. We happily arrived on the 9th at the Mouth of the River at Cape Gracia de Dios and entred into the Sea which with much Satisfaction we knew to be that of the North where we were obliged to wait for the English Ship that was at the Isles of Pearls which are a dozen Leagues distant from that Cape to the East Here we staid till the 14th with the Mulasters that live in these Parts and who fed us for some days with Fish This Cape which stands on the Continent hath been inhabited for a long time by these Mulasters and Negroes both Men and Women who have greatly multiplied there since a Spanish Ship bound from Guinea freighted with their Fathers was lost by coming too near the Shoar which is very dangerous in these Party Now those who had escaped the Shipwrack were courteously received by the Moustick Indians living about this Canton who were well pleased with the loss of that Ship and of the Spaniards their Enemies that were in it Those Indians assigned their new Guests a place to grub up where they built themselves Cottages in the finest Country of Savanna's that reach along the River from the Mouth of it for five or six Leagues upwards Here for their Sustenance they Plant Maes Bananiers and Magniots which the Indians gave them They also taught them to make a most Nourishing sort of Drink which they call Hoon they prepare the same of a Fruit that is produced on the top of a kind of a Palm-Tree which grows naturally in these Woods and never exceeds ten Foot in height Each of these Trees bears no more than one Bunch or Grape but most of them are a full Load for one Man Its Grain is of the same form and thickness as an Olive some of them are yellowish others reddish and containing in a very hard stone an exceeding oily Kernel They pound the Fruit Stone and Kernel all together boyling the same afterwards in Water and this makes up all the Composition When the same is grown cold or but lukewarm they put what quantity they are minded to drink into a Calabass pierced through with small holes like unto a Skimmer this Drink besides that it is very Nourishing and fattens very much is also a pleasanter Liquor than any that is to be met with among the other Indians the same being only peculiar to this Nation The Mulasters are all a very tall People and go altogether naked saving their Privy-Parts which they cover Nature having provided for them upon the Account a kind of greyish stuff which they pull from a Tree called the Bastard-Palm the top of whose Stock is wrapped up in some Fathoms of it from the first rising of its Branches some feet downwards according to the thickness of each of these Trees This stuff is also a great help to them to make Coverlets
wherewith to cover them in the Night and some of those People who live more at ease wear Shirts and Drawers which the English bring them from Iamaica They are the boldest People in the World for exposing themselves to the Perils of the Sea and undoubtedly the most expert in the Art of Fishing They 'll commit themselves to the Waves in these little Boats or such like which an able Seaman will scarce venture to do and here they will stay for three or four days together being no more concerned let the Weather be what it will than if they were made of the same piece as their Boat and provided they can but once set sight of the Fish tho' swimming never so low in the Water they will not fail to take him so dextrous are they at this Work They many times do our Freebooters a Kindness when they take them on Board with them upon Condition of letting them have a share of what Booty is got which must be exactly performed unto them For if you once deceive them you must no longer expect their Assistance and this Temper is peculiar almost to all the Indian Nations in these Parts that they will never go again when once you have broke your Word with them The Ancient Mousticks who gave these Men I have spoken of Entertainment live about ten or a dozen Leagues to Windward of Cape Gracia a Dios in those Places they call Sambay and Sanibey They are very slothful and neither Plant nor Sow but very little aâ—â— lie all day on their Amacks which are a kind of moviâ—â— Beds in their Ajoupas or Baracks while their Wives wâ—â— upon them in every thing as far as they can serve them and when they are pres'd with Hunger they go a Fishing in their Boats at which they are also very skilfuâ— and when they have taken any they eat them and gâ—â— not out any more till Hunger returns upon them again As for their Cloathing it 's neither larger nor moâ—â— sumptuous than that of the Mulasters at the Capâ—â— There are but a few amongst them that have a fixeâ— abode most of them being Vagabonds and wandring along the River-side and having no other House to shelter themselves in but a Latanier-leaf which they manage so that when the Wind drives the Rain on the one side they turn their Leaf against it behind which they lie and this Skreens them against the Weather When they are inclined to sleep they dig a hole in the Sand where they lie and then cover themselves therewith and this they do to keep themselves from the stinging of the Mousticks wherewith the Air is generally very full They are little Flies that are sooner 〈◊〉 than seen and have so sharp and venomous a sting 〈◊〉 where they alight they seem to have fiery Darts wherewith to prick Men. These poor People are so tormented with those mischievous Insects when they see them not that their Bodies appear like Lepers and I can assure it for Truth as knowing the same on my own Knowledge that it 〈◊〉 no small pain to be attacked with them For besides thâ—â— they caused us to lose our Rest in the Night it was theâ— that we were forced to go naked for want of Shirts when the troublesomness of these Animals made us 〈◊〉 into despair and such a Rage as set us besides our selves When these Indians go a Journey tho' never so shâ—â— they take their Wives Children Dogs and Fawns which they breed 〈◊〉 all along with them It 's a Custom I have observed to be â—â—eld among all the Indiâ—â— Nations on the Terra Firma of America and those speak of live as brutishly as any of the rest yet theâ— are not so Cruel and Savage because of the Society they have with the English who have no other aim than to endeavour to bring them under and Mailer their Country where they have a great many Habitationsâ— already On the 14th the Vessel which I said was gone to the Isles of Pearls arrived at the Place where we were and came scarce to an Anchor but we all crouded to go on Board because we were to draw Lots who should embark But about Fifty of us for all that being more vigilant than the rest made a shift to enter her who thinking it unadviseable to go ashoar again to commit to Chance a thing we were already in Possession of and for to prevent a greater Number from entring in we being already piled as it were on the top of one another we weighed Anchor and departed The Master would have carryed us to Iamaica but we not knowing how matters stood between France and England whether it were Peace or War engaged him to carry us to St. Domingo for Forty Pieces of Eight a Head We went to take in Water at the Isle of Pearls and on the 16th left the same On the 17th we doubled the Island of Catalina or Providence as the English call it where the Spaniards had formerly a very fine Fort and small Town which were taken by the French and English under the Colours of the last On the 18th we went to cross the Channel â—ho ' it blew a strong Easterly Breeze On the 24th we â—ame to Land at Los Iardinos which are a great many small Islands near unto that of Cuba And on the 29th we took in Water at Port Portilla in the Isle of Cuba which is not inhabited On the 30th we anchored to the South South-East of the Burrough of Baracoa in the same Island where we surprized the Hunters belonging to that Place whom we obliged to sell us the Victuals they had took by giving them their own Price for it But this our Liberality towards them proceeded from another cause and that was that we were uncertain whether our Nation was at Peace or War with the Spaniards since we had no Intelligence here 〈◊〉 from any French Country how things went with them On the 6th of April we touched at Nippas which is 〈◊〉 small Burrough on the Coast Seven Leagues distant from Petit Guavis that so we might hear some News of our own Country while we rode at Anchor there There were some of our People so infatuated with the long Miseries we had suffered that they thought of nothing â—â—se but the Spaniards insomuch that when from the Deck they saw some Horsemen riding along the Sea-side they flew to their Arms to fire upon them as imagining they were Enemies tho' we assured them we were now come amongst those of our own Nation We left this Port on the 4th and went to Anchor in the Port of Petit Guavis from whence we had departed almost four Years before and before we came near the Fort I went to Monsieur Dumas the King's Lieutenant to require him to grant us Protection and Idemnity in the Governour Monsieur de Cassy's absence by Vertue of an Amnesty the King had been pleased to send to those that made War upon the Spaniards
as their Ship 's Crew consisted of above Three hundred Men and that they saw their Cannon could not do their Work for them they resolved to board us which they did with a great Shout and terrible Threatnings of giving no Quarter if we did not surrender Their grappling Irons failing to catch the Stern of my Ship made theirs run in such a manner that their Stern run upon my Boltsprit and broke it Having observed my Enemy thus incumbred my Men plied them briskly with their Small-shot and made so terrible a Fire upon them for an Hour and an half that being unable to resist any longer and having lost a great many Men they left the Sport and ran down between Decks and I saw them presently after make Signals with their Hats of crying out for Quarter I caused my Men thereupon to give over their firing and commanded the English to embark in their Shallops and come on board of me while I made some of my Crew at the same time leap into the Enemies Ship and sieze her and so prevent any Surprize from them I already rejoyced within my self for the taking of such a considerable Prize and so much the more in that I hoped that after having taken this Vessel that was the Guardship of Angola and the largest the English had in those Seas I should find my self in a Condition still to take better Prizes and attack any Man of War I should meet with My Ship 's Crew were also as joyful as my self and did the Work they were engaged in with a great deal of pleasure but the Enemy's Powder suddenly taking fire by the means of a Match the Captain had left burning of purpose as hoping he might escape with his Two Shallops blew both the Ships into the Air and made the most terrible Crack that was ever heard It 's impossible to set forth this horrid Spectacle to the Life the Spectators were themselves the Actors of this bloody Scene not knowing whether they saw or saw it not and not being able to judge of that which themselves felt Wherefore leaving the Reader to imagine the Horror which the blowing up of two Ships above Two hundred Fathom into the Air must work in us where there was formed as it were a Mountain of Water Fire wrack of the Ships Cordages Cannon Men with a most terrible Clap made what with the Cannon that went off in the Air and the Waves of the Sea that were tossed up thither to which we may add the cracking of Masts and Boards the rending of the Sails and Ropes the Cries of Men and the Breaking of Bones I say leaving these things to the Imagination of the Reader I shall only take notice of what befel my self and by what good Fortune it was that I escaped When the Fire first began I was upon the fore Deck of my own Ship where I gave the necessary Orders now I was carried up upon part of the said Deck so high that I fancy it was the height alone that prevented my being involved in the Wreck of the Ships where I must have infallibly perish'd and being cut into a Thousand pieces I fell back into the Sea you may be sure giddy headed enough and continued a long time under Water without being able to get up to the Surface of it At last falling into a Debate with the Water as a Person who was afraid of being drowned I got upon the face of it and laid hold of a broken piece of a Mast that I found near me I called to some of my Men who I saw swimming round about me and exhorted them to take Courage hoping we might yet save our Lives if we could alight upon any one of our Shallops But what yet afflicted me more than my very Misfortune was to see Two half Bodies who had still somewhat of Life remaining in them from time to time mount up to the face of the Water and leave the place where they appeared all dyed with Blood It was also much the same thing to see round about me a vast number of Members and scattered Parts of Mens Bodies and most of them spitted upon Splinters of Wood. At last one of my Men having met with a whole Shallop among all that Wreck that swam up and down upon the Water came to tell me that we must endeavour to stop some Holes therein and to take out the Canoe that lay on board her We got to the number of Fifteen or Sixteen of us who had escaped near unto this Shallop every Man upon his piece of Wood and took the pains to loosen our Canoe which at length we effected We went all on board her and after we had got in saved our chief Gunner who in the Fight had had his Leg broke We took up Three or Four Oars or pieces of Boards which served us for that purpose and when we had done that we sought out for somewhat to make us a Sail and a little Mast and having sitted up all things as well as possibly we could we committed our selves to the Divine Providence who alone could give us Life and Deliverance As soon as I had done working I found my self all over besmeared with Blood that ran from a Wound I had received in my Head at the time of my fall we made some Lint out of my Handkerchief and a Fillet to bind it withal out of my Shirt after I had first washed the Wound with Urine The same thing was done to the rest that had been wounded and our Shallop in the mean while sailed along without making Land or our knowing where we were going And what was still more sad was that we had no Victuals and we had already spent three days without either eating or drinking One of our Men being greatly afflicted both with Hunger and Thirst at the same time drunk so much Salt Water that he died of it Most of our Men vomited continually whether it were that they were incommoded with the Water that got into them when they fell into the Sea as it will happen if they drink of it out of meer Necessity As for my self I was incommoded for a long time I afterwards swelled up mightily and my Excrements came from me in the form of small Buttons and I attribute to a Quartan Ague that seized on me soon after the Cure of my Dropsie and Recovery of my Health that by degrees returned to me I make no enumeration of the other Inconveniencies which so dangerous a Fall brought upon me such being unavoidable to a Man that fell into so great a Fire All my Hair Face and one side of me were burnt with the Powder and the same Fate attended me as usually does Bombardiers at Sea and that was to bleed at the Nose Ears and Mouth I do not know whether this be the eâ—â—ect of the Powder or no by swelling up those Vessels which contain the Blood in our Bodies to such an extraordinary degree that the ends
of the Veins open and let it out or that the great noise and violent motion that is wrought in those Organs makes the same happen But let it come which way it will since there is no room here for a Consultation of Physicians as long as we were dying of Hunger nor to enquire what became of the English when we had so much difficulty and hardly could save our selves we continued our Course up the Current with the help of our Oars because we knew the same came from the Port of Cabinda But as the Wind was against us we could never get thither and were forced to be satisfied to get to the Cape of Corsa if we could which stands a dozen Leagues from that of Cathersna where we could not Land because of a Bar that renders the Coast unaccessible That was our Design but Hunger hindred us to put the same in Execution and we were forced even to overcome the Obstacles which Nature laid in our way by running ashoar in spight of the Bar This we performed at last after much difficulty being in hopes to find there some Negroes that might furnish us with Victuals One of our Company presently landed in order to go and seek out somewhat to satisfie our Hunger and by good Fortune found in a Pond sticking to the Branches of Trees some Oysters whereof he came presently to give us notice We went all up to the very Pond along a Channel of the Sea where we were no sooner come but we eat lustily of the Oysters with a very good Appetite We opened them with the few Knives we found in our Pockets lending the same from one to another very charitably and readily When we had spent two days in that Place I divided my Men into three small Companies and sent them up into the Country to seek for Victuals and Houses with Orders to return again in the Evening to the Shalloop I went out my self also as the rest did but we could find neither any House nor the least sign of any Men in those Parts All that we could see were great Herds of Bufflers as large as Oxen who fled so fast from us that we could not possibly come near them Wherefore having spent all the Day in this manner and got nothing we returned to our Shalloop to eat Oysters again and resolved next day to leave this Place and go to Cape Corsa to Leeward of which there is a large Port where Ships that sail that way put in to furnish themselves with Water and Wood. The Negroes that live in the Country having notice of the coming in of Ships by the firing of Cannon come thither also with Provisions and Barter the same for Brandy Knives and Hatchets They are forced to live remote from the Sea â—ecause all that Coast is very Marshy As soon as we were got to the said Cape we heard a great noise made 〈◊〉 the Negroes who came thither to sell Wood to the â—hips that lay at Anchor in the Port I looked amongst â—hem to see if I could find any one whom I knew for 〈◊〉 they had often brought me some Wood and other Refreshments in the course of my former Voyages I was in hopes to find some or other that would know me again But tho' I knew several of them it was impossible for me to perswade any of them that I was Captain Montauban so much was I disfigured with my late Misfortune and all of them took me for a Man that would impose the belief of it upon them I thought fit to tell them in their own Language whereof I understood a little that I was ready to die with Famine and prayed them to give me somewhat to eat but it signified nothing so I desired them to carry me to Prince Thomas who is Son to the King of that Country as hoping he might call to mind the favours I had formerly shewed him I carryed all my Company with me to that Prince we were first brought to the Dwellings of those Negroes where they began to be a little more tractable and gave us some Bananiers to eat which are a sort of Figs longer than a Man's Hand Next day we got to the Princes Habitation but I was in so pitiful a Condition that I could never by the signs I gave make him know me tho' I spoke to him in his own Language as also in the Portuguese Tongue which he understood very well It fortuned one day that going together to bath our selves he saw a Scar upon my Thigh that was the effect of a Wound I had received with a Musquet-ball he told me that he must immediately know whether I was Captain Montauban or no and that if I were not the Man he would cut off my Head He asked if everâ— I had a Scar with a Musquet-shot in my Thigh which when I had shewed him he presently embraced me and said he was exceeding sorry to see me in that Condition and immediately caused Victuals to be distributed among my Men and divided them into several Habitations with strict Orders to the Negroes with whom they were quartered to take the greatest care they could of them As for me he kept me with himself and made me always eat at his own Table When I was a little brought into Order he said he would carry me to see the King his Father who lived five or six Leagues off that is about ten or a dozen from the Sea-side I let him know how great the Favour and Honour was he did me and prayed him at the same time that I might have the Liberty to let my Freebooters go along with me and grant us some Pieces of Stuffs to put our selves in as good Equipage as we could in order to appear before so great a Prince all which he allowed me and three days after we went all together in a great Canoe and passed up the River of Cape Lopez because the Country is so full of Marshes that you cannot go by Land Being arrived at the King's Habitation which is a Village consisting of Three Hundred Booths covered with Palm-leaves wherein the King keeps his Wives Family Relations and some other Negro Families whom he loves best I was lodged in Prince Thomas his House and all my Men were distributed into other Habitations We found all the People in great Lamentation because the Chief of their Religion whom they call Papa had died that day when they were to begin the Funeral Obsequies which were usually to last for seven days for Priests of that Quality This same Person was had in great Esteem and Veneration by all the People they looking upon him to be an Holy Man As the King is in Mourning and sees no body all the While that this Funeral Ceremony lasts Prince Thomas bid me have patience and not to go out of my Lodgings for to see the King because that was the Custom of his Nation However I could not forbear going to see the Funeral