University of Virginia Library

CHAP. X.

HAving got in all things necessary for Navigation, we

were now in a readiness to depart, on Sunday June
the 6th 1680. That day we had some rain fell, which
now was very frequent in all places. About five of the
clock in the evening we set sail from the Island of Cayboa,
with a small breez, the wind being at S. S. W. Our course
was E. S. by E. and S. E. having all night a very small, or
little wind. The same calmness of weather continued all
the next day; insomuch, that we lay and drove only as the
current horsed us to N. W.

Little better then a calm we had also the third day of our
Navigation. Mean while a current drove us to the Westward.
About Sun-rising we descryed Quicara, which at
that time bore N.W. by W. from us; at the distance of five
Leagues, more or less. With the rising of the Sun an easie
gale of wind sprung up, so that at noon we had altered our
bearing, which was then N. by E. being six Leagues distant,
and appearing thus, as is underneath demonstrated.

[ILLUSTRATION]

QUICARA

Lat. 7 Deg. 40. N.

These are two several Islands, whereof the least is to the
Southward of the other. The Land is a low table Land:
these Islands being more than three Leagues in length.
About six of the clock that evening, we were nigh ten
Leagues distant W.S.W. from them. Much like unto the
former weather we had the fourth day of our Sailing, with
little wind in the forenoon, and rather less than more in the
afternoon. I judged about the middle of the day, we were
at the distance of twenty Leagues S. S. W. from the said
Islands.

Thursday June the Tenth, we had very small and variable
winds. This day I reckoned that we had made hitherto

a S. by E. way, and a S. by W. from our departure; being
driven by a current, according to the observation I
made, into the Latitude of six degrees and thirty minutes.

This day we saw much Tortoise sloating upon the Sea.

Hereupon, we hoisted out our Boat, and came to one of
them, who offered not to stir until she was struck; and
even then not to sink to the bottom, but rather to swim
away. The sea hereabouts is very full of several sorts of
Fish, as Dolphins, Bonitos, Albicores, Mullets, and Old Wives,
&c. which came swimming about our ship in whole shoals.
The next day, which was Friday, we had likewise very little
wind; which was no more than we had all Thursday
night, with some showers of rain. That day we had an
observation, which was six deg. N. latitude. In the evening
a fresh wind came up at S. W. our course being S. S. E.
On Saturday we had in like manner, about seven in the
morning, a fresh breeze at South. So we stood W. S. W.
with cloudy weather, and several showers of rain. This
day our Spanish prisoners informed us, we must not expect
any setled wind, until we came within the Latitude of three
degrees. For all along the Western shoar of these seas, there
is little wind; which is the cause that those ships that go
from Acapulco unto the Islands called de las Philippinas, do
coast along the shoar of California, until they get into the
heighth of forty five degrees; yea sometimes of fifty degrees
latitude. As the wind varyed, so we tacked several
times, thereby to make the best of our way that was possible
to the Southward.

As our Prisoners had informed us, so we found it by ex-

perience. For on the next day, which was Sunday June
the 13th, we had very little wind, and most commonly
none, for the space of twenty four hours. That day we
tryed the current of the sea, and found it very strong to the
Eastward. The same day we had much rain, and in the
afternoon a small breeze at West, and West South West, but
mostly at West. Yet notwithstanding all this calmness of
weather, the next day in the morning very early, by a suddain
gale of wind which arose, we made shift to split our
main top-sail. We had all the night before, and that day,
continual and incessant showers of rain, and made a S. W.
and by south way; seeing all along as we went a multitude
of Dolphins, Bonitos and several other sorts of fish floating
upon those Seas, whereof in the afternoon we caught many,
the weather being now changed from stormy to calm
again; insomuch that we could fish as we sailed along, or
rather as we lay tumbling in the calm.

Tuesday June the 15th, the morning continued calm,
as the day before; and this day also we saw multitudes of
fish of several sorts, whereof we caught some for our Table
as we were wont to do. By an observation which was
made this day, we found our selves to be now in the lati-
tude of four degrees and twenty one minutes. At this
time the course of our Navigation, and our whole design
was to go and careen our Vessels at the Islands commonly
called by the Spaniards, de los Galapagos, that is to say, of
the Tortoises, being so denominated from the infinite number
of those Animals swarming and breeding thereabouts.
These Islands are situated under the Æquinoctial Line, at
the distance of a hundred Leagues more or less from the
main Continent of America, in the South Sea. In the afternoon
of this day we had a small breeze to push us forwards.

June the 16th being Wednesday, we made our way this
day, and for the four and twenty hours last past, E.S. E. with
much rain, which ceased not to fall, as in all this Voyage,
fince our departure from Cayboa. This day likewise we
caught several Dolphins, and other sorts of fish. But in the
evening we had again a fresh breeze at S. by W. our course
being, as was just now said, E. S. E.

The next day, which was June the 17th, about five in the
morning we descryed Land, which appeared all along to
be very low, and likewise full of Creeks and Bays. We
instantly asked our Pilot what Land that was before us?
But he replyed, he knew it not. Hereupon, being doubtful
of our condition, we called Mr. Cox on board us, who
brought Captain Peralta with him. This Gentleman being
asked, presently told us, the Land we saw was the Land
of Barbacoa, being almost a wild Country all over. Withal,
he informed us, that to Leeward of us, at the distance of
ten Leagues, or thereabouts, did lye an Island called by the
name of Gorgona; the which Island, he said, the Spaniards
did shun, and very seldom come nigh unto, by reason of the
incessant and continual rains there falling; scarce one day
in the year being dry at that place. Captain Sharp having
heard this information of Captain Peralta, judged the said
Island might be the fittest place for our company to careen
at; considering, that if the Spaniards did not frequent it,
we might in all probability lye there undiscryed, and our
Enemies the Spaniards, in the mean time might think, that
we were gone out of those Seas. At this time it was, that
I seriously repented my staying in the South Seas, and that
I did not return homewards in company of them that went
before us. For I knew, and could easily perceive, that by
these delays the Spaniards would gain time, and be able to
send advice of our coming to every Port all along the Coast,
so that we should be prevented in all, or most of our attempts
and designs wheresoever we came. But those of
our company, who had got money by the former Prizes of
this Voyage, overswayed the others who had lost all their
booty at gaming. Thus we bore away for the Island aforesaid
of Gorgona, and at the distance of six Leagues and an
half, at S.W. I observed it to make the appearance following.

[ILLUSTRATION]

GORGONA.

Lat. 1. 00. N.

On the main Land over against this Island of Gorgona,
we were told by our prisoners, that up a great Laguna, or
Lake, is seated an Indian Town, where they have great quantity
of sand grains of Gold. Moreover, that five days
journey up a River, belonging to the said Laguna, do dwell
four Spanish Superintendents, who have each of them the
charge of overseeing fifty or sixty Indians, who are employed
in gathering that Gold which slippeth from the
chief Collectors, or finders thereof These are at least threescore
and ten, or fourscore Spaniards, with a great number
of slaves belonging unto them, who dwell higher up then
these four Superintendents, at the distance of twenty five
or thirty days Journey on the said River. That once every
year, at a certain season, there cometh a vessel from Lima,
the Capital City of Peru, to fetch the Gold that here is
gathered; and withal, to bring unto these people such Necessaries
as they want. By Land it is nothing less than six
weeks travel from thence to Lima.

The main Land to windward of this Island is very low,
and full of Rivers. All along the Coast it raineth most
desperately. The Island is distant from the Continent
only the space of four Leagues. Mean while we lay at it,
I took the whole circumference thereof, which is according
to what is here underneath described.

[ILLUSTRATION]

Captain Sharp gave unto this Island the name of Sharps
Isle, by reason we careened at this place. We anchored on
the South side of the Island, at the mouth of a very fine
River, which there disgorgeth it self into the Sea. There
belong unto this Island about thirty Rivers and Rivolets,
all which fall from the Rocks on the several sides of the
Island. The whole circumference thereof is about three
Leagues and an half round, being all high and mountainnous
land, excepting only on that side where we cast Anchor.
Here therefore we moor'd our ship in the depth of
eighteen or twenty fathom water, and began to unrig the

vessel. But we were four or five days space before we could
get our Sails dry, so as to be able to take them from the
yards, there falling a shower of rain almost every hour of
the day and night. The main Land to the East of the
Island, and so stretching Northward, is extream high and
towering, and withal perpetually clouded, excepting only
at the rising of the Sun, at which time the tops of those
hills are clear. From the South side of this Island where
we Ankored, as was said above, we could see the low-land
of the main; at least a point thereof which lyeth nearest
unto the Island. The appearance it maketh, is as it were
of Trees growing out of the water.

Friday July the second, as we were heaving down our
ship, our Main-mast hapned to crack. Hereupon our Carpenters
were constrained to cut out large fishes, and fish it,
as the usual terms of that art do name the thing.

On the next day after the mischance of our Main-mast,
we killed a Snake which had fourteen inches in circumference,
and was eleven foot in length, About the distance
of a League from this Island, runneth a ledge of Rocks,
over which the water continually breaketh; the ledge being
about two miles, more or less, in length. Had we anchor'd
but half a mile more Northerly, we had rid in much
smoother water; for here where we were, the wind came
in upon us in violent gusts. Mean while we were there,
from June the thirtieth, to July the third, we had dry weather,
which was esteemed as a rarity by the Spaniards our
prisoners. And every day we saw Whales and Grampusses,
who would often come and drive under our ship. We sired
at them several times, but our Bullets rebounded from
their bodies. Our choice and best provisions here, were
Indian Conies, Monkeys, Snakes, Oysters, Cunks, Periwinkles,
and a few small Turtle, with some other sorts of good fish.
Here in like manner we caught a Sloath, a beast well deser-

ving that name, given it by the Spaniards, by whom it is
called Pereza, from the Latin word Pigritia.

At this Island dyed Joseph e Gabriel, a Spaniard, born in

Chile, who was to have been our Pilot unto Panama. He
was the same man who had stolen and married the Indian
Kings Daughter, as was mentioned above. He had all along
been very true and faithful unto us, in discovering several
Plots and Conspiracies of our prisoners, either to get
away or destroy us. His death was occasioned by a Calenture,
or Malignant Feaver, which killed him after three
days sickness, having lain two days senceless. During the
time of our stay at this Island, we lengthned our top-failyards,
and got up top gallant masts; we made two staysails,
and refitted our ship very well. But we wanted
Provisions extreamly, as having nothing considerable of any
sort, but flower and water. Being almost ready to depart,
Captain Sharp our Commander, gave us to understand, he
had changed his resolution concerning the design of going
to Guayaquil, for he thought it would be in vain to go thither,
considering, that in all this time we must of necessity
be described before now. Yet notwithstanding he himself
before had perswaded us to stay. Being very doubtful among
our selves what course we should take, a certain old
man, who had long time sailed among the Spaniards, told
us, he could carry us to a place called Arica. Unto which
Town, he said, all the Plate was brought down from Potosi,
Chuquisaca, and several other places within the Land, where
it was digged out of the Mountains and Mines. And that
he doubted not, but that we might get there of purchase
at least two thousand pound every man. For all the Plate
of the South Sea lay there as it were in store; being deposited
at the said place, until such time as the ships did
fetch it away. Being moved with these reasons, and having
deliberated thereupon, we resolved in the end to go
unto the said place. At this Island of Gorgona afore-mentioned,
we likewise took down our Round-house coach, and
all the high carved work belonging to the stern of the ship.
For when we took her from the Spaniards before Panama,
she was high as any Third-Rate ship in England.