University of Virginia Library

CHAP. XVIII.

FRom the time that we set sail from the Port of Hilo,
until Sunday April the tenth, 1681. nothing hapned
unto us that might be accounted remarkable; neither did
I take any notes all this while, by reason of my indisposition
afore-mentioned. This day we could hear distinctly
the breaking of the Seas on the shoar, but could see no
land, the weather being extream dark and hasey. Notwithstanding
about noon it cleared up, and we found our
selves to be in the Bay called de Malabrigo. The land in
this Bay runneth due East and West. By an observation
made, we found this day 6 d. 35 South. We saw from
hence the Leeward Island of Lobos, or Seals, being nothing
else than a rocky and scraggy place. On the S.W. side
thereof is a red hill, which is a place about the said Island,
where the Indian Fishermen much frequent. It is situate in
Lat. 6 d. 15 S. This day likewise in the evening we saw
the Point called Aguja.

On Saturday April the 16th, we came within a league
distance of the West-end of the Island of Plate, above des-
cribed. The next day unto this, being Sunday April the
17th, 1681. our Mutineers broke out again into an open
dissention, they having been much dissatisfyed all along the
course of this Voyage, but more especially since our unfortunate
fight at Arica, and never entirely reconciled unto
us since they chose Captain Watling, and deposed Sharp at
the Isle of Juan Fernandez, as was related above. Nothing
now could appease them, nor serve their turn, but a separation
from the rest of the company, and a departure from
us. Hereupon this day they departed from the ship, to
the number of forty seven men, all in company together,
with design to go over land by the same way they came
into those Seas. The rest who remained behind, did fully
resolve, and faithfully promise to each other, they would
stick close together. They took five slaves in their company,
to guide and do them other service in that Journey.
This day we had 1 d. 30 minutes Southern Latitude. We
sailed N. N. W. before the wind.

The next day after their departure, being April the 18th,

we began to go to work about taking down one of our upper
decks, thereby to cause our ship still to mend her sailing.
We now made a N. W. by N. way, and had Latitude
by observation 25 North, the wind being at S. W.

On April the 19th we made a N. W. by N. way. This
day our observation was Lat. 2 d. 45 North. In the afternoon
we had cloudy weather. The following day likewise
we made the same way, and by it seventy miles, according
to my reckoning.

On the twenty first in the morning we had some small
showers of rain, and but little wind. We saw some Turtle
upon the surface of the water, and great quantity of fish.
We caught twenty six small Dolphins. By a N. W. by N.
way, we reckoned this day forty miles.

April the 22. this day we caught seven large Dolphins,

and one Bonito. We saw likewise whole multitudes of
Turtle swimming upon the water, and took five of them.
We had an observation that gave us Lat. 5 d. 28 North.
Hereabouts runneth a great and strong current. This day
we lowered the quarter deck of our ship, and made it even
unto the upper deck.

The following day we had but small wind, and yet great
showers of rain. Hereupon every man saved water for
himself, and a great quantity was saved for the whole
company. In the morning of this day we caught eight
Bonitos, and in the evening ten more.

On April the 24th we had both cloudy and rainy weather.
By an observation we had Lat. 7 d. 37 North.
Meridian difference was ninety two Leagues. This morning
we caught forty Bonitos, and in the evening thirty more.
In the afternoon we stood North, the wind being at S. W.
by S.

Munday April the 25th, all the night before this day,
we had huge gusts of wind and rain. At break of day
we were close in with Land, which upon examination proved
to be the Island of Cano. To westward thereof is very
high land. About noon this day it cleared up, and we
had Lat. 8 d. 34 N. In the evening we sent a Canoa to
search the Island. In it they found good water, and even
ground, but withal, an open road. At night we stood off
the first watch, and the last we had a land wind.

The next day following, at day light we stood in, and
about noon we came to an anchor at the East side of the
Island afore-mentioned, which is not in breadth above one
league over. In the afternoon we removed from our former
anchoring place, and anchored again within shot of
the N. E. point of the Island. In this place groweth great
number of Cacao trees, all over the greatest part of the
Isle. On the North side thereof are many Rivulets of good
water to be found in sandy bays. We saw moreover some
good Hogs on shoar, whereof we killed one and two pigs.
Here are great numbers of Turtle-doves, and huge store
of fish, but withal, very shye to be caught. To Northward
of the Island it looketh thus.

[ILLUSTRATION]

Isla del Cano.

Lat. 8 d. 45 N.

April the 27th, we had some rain and wind the forepart
of the day; but the afternoon was fair. The next day

in like manner we had great quantity of rain. On Saturday
the 30th, about seven of the clock in the morning we
weighed from the aforesaid Island with little wind, and
stood N. W. That day fell much rain with great thunder
and lightning.

Munday, May the 2d. This day we observed and found
Lat. 9 D. N. The Coast all along appeared to us very
high and mountainous, and scarce six hours did pass, but

we had thunder, lightning, and rain. The like continued
for the two days following, wherein we had nothing but almost
continual thunder and rain.

On May the 5th we had an indifferent fair day. And
that evening we were right off of the Gulf of Nicoya.

Friday, May the 6th. This morning we saw the Cape
very plain before us. N. by E. from it, are certain keys at
eight leagues distance, close under the Main. We steered
N. N. W. towards the biggest of them; at whose E. S. E.
side are two or three small rocks. The Main Eastward is
fine Savana, or plain and even land, through which goeth a
very great road, which is to be seen from off at Sea. At
noon the Port of Caldero, commonly called Puerto Caldero

bore N. from us. At which time the Ebb forced us to
found in the middle of the Gulf, where we found fourteen
fathom water. After this we anchored nearer unto the
Eastern keys, in the depth of nineteen fathom, where we
had oosey ground.

Saturday, May the 7th. The night before this day was
very fair all night long. In the morning we went in a
Canoa, being several in company, to seek for a place to lay
our ship in. Amongst the Islands along the shoar, we found
many brave holes, but little or no water in them, which
caused us to dislike what we had found. On one of the
said Islands we hapned to find a hat, and many empty jarrs
of water, which shewed us that some people had been lately
there. About eight in the evening our ship weighed
anchor at young flood, and about three after noon we anchored
again in six fathom water.

Sunday, May the 8th, 1681. The night before this day,
we had much rain with thunder and lightning. The morning
being come, our Commander Captain Sharp departed
from the ship in two Canoas, with twenty two men in his
company, out of design to surprize any vessels or people
they could meet hereabouts. In the mean while, i'th'
evening we drove up with the tide (there being no wind)

in the ship, for the space of two or three leagues higher, till
that we found but three fathom high water. Here we
back't a stern. At this time we saw one of our Canoas
coming off from the Island, that was at head of us
(which was named Chira) calling for more men and arms,
and saying there was two sail of ships that were seen higher
up the Gulf. Hereupon eight of us went away with them
ashoar, whereof two joyned the party aforementioned, and
the six remaining were appointed to guard the prisoners
they had taken. Unto these we shewed our selves very
kind, as finding that they were very sensible of the cruelties
of the Spaniards towards them and their whole Nation.
Here we found to the number of eight or nine houses, and
a small Chappel standing. These people have been in former
times a considerable and great Nation, but are now almost
destroyed and extinguished by the Spaniards. We ascended
a creek of the Sea for the space of a league, or
thereabouts, and took there by surprisal two Barks, which
were the two sail they had told us of before. On of these
Barks was the same we had taken before at Panama, of
which I made mention at the beginning of this History.

On Munday following this day, we weighed anchor
with our barks, and drove down the creek, with the tide at

ebb, towards our ship. The prisoners that we had taken
here, informed us, that when we were to Westward in
these Seas before, there lay one hundred men at the Port
of Santa Maria. That our men who left us at the Island
of Cayboa, as was mentioned above, met the other Bark
that we lost at Sea, as we were sailing thither, and thus all
went over land together. That in the North Seas, near
Puerto Velo, they had taken a good ship, and that for this
cause, ever since the Spaniards had kept at the mouth of the
river of Santa Maria, three Armadilla-barks, to stop and
hinder others from going that way. On Munday night
our Captain with twenty four men, went from the ship into
another creek, and there took several prisoners, among
whom was a Shipwright and his men, who were judged able
to do us good service in the altering of our ship; those
Carpenters being there actually building two great ships
for the Spaniards. Having taken these men, they made
a float of timber to bring down the Tools and Instruments
they were working withal. Here it hapned that they put
several tools, and some quantity of iron-work, into a
Doree, to be conveyed down the river with the float. But
this Doree sank by the way, as being over-laden with iron,
and one of our company, by name John Alexander a Scotch-
man, was unfortunately drowned by this means.

On Thursday following, May the 12th, we sent a Canoa
from the ship, and found the Doree that was drowned.
That evening likewise drove down the body of our drow-

ned man aforementioned. Hereupon we took him up,
and on Friday morning following threw him over-board,
giving him three French vollies for his customary Ceremony.
Both this day and the day before, we fetched water
from a Point near the houses, on the Island of Chira aforementioned.
From the ship also we sent away a Spa-
nish Merchant, whom we had taken among the prisoners,
to fetch a certain number of Beeves, that might serve for a
ransom of the new bark taken here. This day the weather
was fair; but on Sunday following it rained from morning
until night.

On Munday, May the 16th, we began to work all hands

together on our ship. On Tuesday an Indian boy named
Peter ran away from us. He belonged unto Captain Sawkins,
and waited upon him as his Servant. On Wednesday
died an Indian slave, whose name was Salvador. On Thursday
we heard thirty or forty guns fired on the Main,
which caused us to think that these would also turn to Hilo
Beeves. On Friday we caught cockles, which were as large
as both our fists. At night there fell such dreadful rain,
with thunder, lightning, and wind, that for the space of two
hours the air was as light as day; the thunder not ceasing
all the while. On Sunday we continued to work; the
night before which day we had more thunder, lightning,
and rain.

Wednesday, May the 25th. This day we finished our
great piece of work, viz. the taking down the deck of our
ship. Besides which, the length of every mast was shortned,
and all was now serv'd and rigg'd. Insomuch that it
would seem incredible unto strangers, could they but see
how much work we performed in the space of a fortnight
or less. The same day likewise we set at liberty our Spanish
Carpenters, who had been very serviceable to us all this
while; the old Pilot; the old Spaniard taken at the Isle
of Yqueque; and several others of our Spanish prisoners and
slaves. Unto these people, but chiefly unto the Spanish
Carpenters as a reward of their good service, we gave the
new Bark, which we had taken at this place. But the old
Bark we thought fit to keep, and sail her in our company, as
we did, putting into her for this purpose six of our own
men and two slaves. The next day we fell down as low as
Vanero, a place so called hereabouts, and would have sailed a-
way again that very evening, but that our tackle gave
way in hoisting our anchor, whereby we lay still. In the
Gulf of Nicoya we experimented most commonly a fresh
breeze, and at night a land wind.

Friday, May the 27th. This day likewise we drove down
with the tide as low as Cavallo, another place so named in
the Gulf. Here we stayed and watered that day; and

here one Cannis Marey our Interpreter, ran away from
us.

On May the 28th in the morning we sailed from thence,
and came within twenty nine leagues of that rich and rocky
shore. Yet notwithstanding we had but seven fathom
water. Here I saw this day a white Porpus. Behind this

Island is a Town called New Cape Blanco. At Puerto Caldero
above-mentioned is but one Store-house to be seen. We
came to an anchor in the depth of seven fathom water, at
the distance of a league from shoar, and caught five Turtle.

May the 29th. This day we saw Cape Blanco. Both
this day and the day following we continued turning it
out of the Gulf, against a South wind. Here I took the
ensuing demonstration of the Gulf of Nicoya, which, for the
use of the Reader, I have hereunto annexed.

[ILLUSTRATION]