University of Virginia Library

CHAP. XV.

BEing all embarked again, as was mentioned in the precedent
Chapter, the next morning, which was Tuesday,
December the 7th, twenty of us were sent ashoar to observe
the motion of the Enemy. We went unto the look-out,
or watch-hill, but from thence could learn nothing. Hereupon,
about noon we returned on board the ship, and at
two in the afternoon, we weighed anchor, and set sail, directing
our course for the Isle of Juan Fernandez, not far distant
from the Coast of Coquimbo. At night we were five
leagues distant from thence at N. W. by N. The Southermost
Island of those which are called de los Paxaros, or the

Islands of Birds, was then N. N. W. from us. Before
our departure, I took this following draught of the Bay of
Coquimbo, and City of la Serena.

[ILLUSTRATION]

December the 28th we had but very little wind, and a
leeward current here, which we could perceive did heave
us to the Northward. The afore-mentioned Island de los
Paxaros, at three in the afternoon, bore N. E of us. At
the distance of three leagues, more or less, it appeared
thus.

[ILLUSTRATION]

Isla de los PAXAROS.

It is distant from the main Continent four leagues,
and from the next Island of the same name, about two.
The Main is extream high and mountainous hereabouts.
At evening we were West from the said Island five leagues.
About eight or nine leagues to Windward of Coquimbo, are

certain white cliffs, which appear from the shoar to those
that are off at Sea.

On the 9th of December we had likewise but little wind,
as the day before. I supposed my self this day to be about
thirteen leagues West from the Island above-mentioned.
The weather was cloudy, with misling rain, so that no ob-

servation could be taken. However, this day it was thought
convenient to put us to an allowance of water; for we had
taken in little or none at Coquimbo. The same weather,
or very like unto it, we had the next day, being the
10th; that is to say, stark calm and cloudy.

On the 11th of December, we had some small rain in the

forepart of the day. But in the afternoon it cleared up, so
that the weather was very hot. We had still but little
wind.

The next day, December the 12th, we had very sair
weather, and by a clear observation made this day, we found
Lat. 30 D. 06 S.

December the 13th. By a W. S. W. way, we made forty
two leagues. By observation we found Lat. 30 D. 45
S. D. M. four leagues and two thirds.

On the 14th in the morning, we had a handsom shower
of rain, which continued for some while. Then, about
eight of the clock, there sprang up a S. S. W. breeze. My
reckoning was by an E. S. E. way, fourteen leagues. And
by observation, we found this day 30 D. 30 S. In the af-

ternoon of this day, dyed one of our men, whose name
was William Cammock. His disease was occasioned by a
surfeit, gained by too much drinking on shoar at la Serena;
the which produced in him a Calenture, or Malignant Feaver,
and an Hicup. Thus in the evening we buryed him
in the Sea, according to the usual custom of Mariners, giving
him three French Vollies for his Funeral.

The following day, we had an indifferent fresh wind on
both tacks. Our way was W. S. W. and by it we reckoned
thirty four leagues. So likewise by an observation we
had Lat. 30 D. 42 S. All the afternoon blew a S. by W.
wind very fresh, with a short topping S. W. Sea.

But on the next ensuing day, we had no small breez, but
rather hard gusts of wind. These grew so high, that they
forced us to take in our top-sails. We made a S. W. half
S. way, and forty five leagues.

On the 17th we had likewise high winds, and withal a
S. W. sea. Our way W. by S. By observation taken this
day, we found Lat. 30 D. 51 S. In the afternoon we had
a S. S. E. wind, our course being S. W.

December the 18th. This day we had the same high
winds as before, at S. S. E. We reckoned by a W. S. W.
way forty fiveleagues. At noon the wind was something
fallen, and then we had some rain.

The 19th we had both cloudy and windy weather. My
reckoning was a S. W. by S. way, and here upon fifty eight
miles. Yesterday we were assured by our Pilot, that we
were now in the Meridian of the Island of Juan Fernandez,
whither our course was directed for that present. What
occasioned him to be so positive in his assertion, was the

seeing of those great birds, of which we made mention in
the foregoing Chapter.

On the 20th, we had cloudy weather in the morning
on both tacks. We made a S. W. and half S. way, and by
it fifty two leagues. By observation we found this day
Lat. 32 D. 20 S. Difference of Meridian was now one
hundred and twenty three leagues.

The next day likewise we had cloudy weather; yet by
observation we found a W. way. On the 22d by observation
we found and F. way proved.

Thursday, December the 23d. All the night past we

had a fresh wind. But in the morning, from top-mast
head, we descryed a hammock of land. In the evening
we saw it again. We found afterwards that what we had
seen, was the Westermost Island of Juan Fernandez; which
is nothing else but a meer rock, there being no riding, nor
scarce landing, near unto it.

Fryday, December the 24th. This morning we could

descry the Island it self, of Juan Fernandez, S. by E. it being
at sixteen leagues distance when we saw it yesterday.
At seven this morning the Island stood E. the wind being at
N. W. by N. At eight the same morning, the Island, at
the distance of five leagues, little more or less, appeared
thus.

[ILLUSTRATION]

Isla de JUAN FERNANDEZ.

Here my observation was, that I could see neither fowl

nor fish nigh unto this Island; both which things are usually
to be seen about other Islands. Having told my observation
unto our Pilot, he gave me for answer, that he had
made many Voyages by this Island, and yet never saw any
either fowl or fish more than I. Our reckoning this day
was an E. S. E. way, and hereby thirty six leagues. Our
latitude by observation was found to be 33 D. 30 S.

Saturday, December the 25th. Yesterday in the afternoon,
at three of the clock, we saw the other Island, making
two or three hammocks of land. This morning we were
about eight leagues distant from it, the Island bearing E. S.
E. from us. At eight the same morning, we were right
at breast with it. Here therefore are two Islands together,
the biggest whereof is three leagues and an half in length,

nearest N. W. and S.E. the other, and lesser, is almost one
league, and no more in circumference. At ten of the clock
we sent off from the ship one of our Canoa's, to seek for the
best landing and anchoring for our Vessel. As we approached,
both Islands seemed unto us nothing but one entire
heap of rocks. That which lyeth more unto the N.
is the highest, though we could not now see the tops thereof
for the clouds which covered it. In most places it is so
steep, that it becometh almost perpendicular.

This day being Christmas-day, we gave in the morning
early three Vollies of shot, for solemnization of that great
Festival. I reckoned an E. by S. way. By a clear observation
from the middle of the Island, I found here Lat. 33
D. 45 S. and M. D. to be ninty nine leagues. In the evening
of this day, we came to an anchor at the South end
of the Island, in a stately Bay that we found there, but
which lyeth open from the South, to the South-East winds.
We anchored in the depth of eleven fathom water, and at
the distance of onely one furlong from the shoar. Here we
saw multitudes of Seals covering the Bay every where, insomuch
that we were forced to kill them, to set our feet
on shoar.

Sunday, December the 26th. This day we sent a Canoa
to see if we could find any riding secure from the Southerly
winds; these being the most constant winds that
blow on these Coasts. The Canoa being gone, our Commander
sent likewise what men we could spare on shoar,

to drive Goats, whereof there is great plenty in this Island.
They caught and killed that day to the number of threescore,
or thereabouts. The Canoa returning unto the ship,
made report that there was good riding in another Bay, situate
on the North side of the Island, in fourteen fathom
water, and not above one quarter of a mile from the shoar.
Moreover that there was much wood to be had, whereas
in the place where we had first anchored, not one stick of
wood nor tuft of grass was to be found.

The next day, being the 27th, between two and four of

the clock in the morning, we had a tempest of violent winds
and fierce showers of rain. The same day we got in two
hundred jars of water, bringing them the full distance of a
league from the place of our riding. In the mean while, others
were employed to catch Goats, as they had done the
day before.

On the 28th of the said month, in the morning I went
with ten more of our company, and two Canoas, to fetch
water from the land. Being come thither, and having filled

our jars, we could not get back unto the ship, by reason
of a Southerly wind that blew from off the Ocean, and
hindred our return. Thus we were forced to lie still in
a water-hole, and wait till the wind were over for a safer
opportunity. Mean while, the violence of the wind encreasing,
our ship was forced to get under sail, and make away,
not without danger of being forced ashoar. Hereupon
she sailed out of the harbour, to seek another place of
anchoring. At noon I ventured out, to try if I could follow
the ship, but was forced in again by the wind and a raging
sea. Thus we lay still for some while longer, till the
evening came on. This being come, we ventured out again
both Canoa's together: but the winds were then so
high, that we were forced to throw all our jarrs of water
over-board to lighten our boats, otherwise we had inevitably
perished. I ought to bless and praise God Almighty
for this deliverance; for in all humane reason, the least
wave of that tempest must have sunk us. Notwithstanding,
we came that night to our place or harbour, where
we expected to have found our ship (called False wild harbour)
but found her not. Hereupon not knowing what to
do, we went ashoar, and halled up our Canoa's dry. Having
done this, we ascended higher within the Island, along
a Gulley, for the space of half a mile, there to clear our
selves of the noise and company of the Seals which were
very troublesome on the shoar. Here we kindled a fire,
and dryed our clothes, and rested our selves all night,
though with extream hungry bellies, as having eaten very
litte or nothing all the day before. In the sides of the hill,
under which we lay, we observed many holes like Coneyholes.
These holes are the nests and roosting-places of
multitudes of birds that breed in this Island, called by the
Spaniards, Pardelas. One of these birds, as we lay drying
and warming our selves, fell down into our fire.

The next morning being come, very early before Sunrise,
we went farther to the Northward, to seek for our ship
which we feared we had lost. But we were not gone far,

when we soon espied her at sea. Hereupon we passed a
point of land, and entered a certain Bay, which was about a
mile deep, and not above half a league over. Into this Bay
we put, and instantly made a fire, thereby to shew the ship
whereabouts we were. Here we found good watering and
wooding close unto the shoar. In this Bay also we saw another
sort of amphibious Animal, the which I imagined
to be the same, that by some Authors is called a Sea-Lyon.
These Animals are six times bigger than Seals. Their heads
are like unto that of a Lyon, and they have four fins not
unlike unto a Tortoise. The hinder parts of these Creatures
are much like fins, but are drawn after them, as being
useless upon the shoar. They roared as if they had been
Lyons, and were full of a certain short and thick hair, which
was of a Mouse colour; but that of the young ones was
something lighter. The old ones of these Sea-Lyons are
between twelve and fourteen foot long, and about eleven
or twelve foot in thickness, or circumference. A Seal is
very easily killed, as we often experimented, but two of
our men with great stones could not kill one of these Animals.

That day in the afternoon there came a Canoa from on
board the ship with Provision for us, they fearing least
we should be starved. In like manner the Lanch came
with men to cut wood. They told us that the ship came
to an Anchor in the other Bay, but that within half an
hour the Cable broke, and they were forced to leave their
Anchor behind them and get out to Sea again. Night being
come, we made our beds of Fern, whereof there is huge
plenty upon this Island; together with great multitudes of
Trees like unto our English Box, the which bore a sort of
green Berries, smelling like unto Pimiento, or Pepper. All
this day the ship was forced to ply off at Sea, not being
able to get in.

December the thirtieth. The morning of this day we
employed in filling water, and cutting down wood. But
in the afternoon, eight of us eleven, went aboard the ship,

all in one and the same Canoa, sending her ashoar again with
Provisions for the men that were there. This day in like
manner we could not get into the Harbour, for no sooner
the ship came within the parts of Land, but the wind comeing
out of the Bay, blew us clear out again. Thus we were
forced to ply out all that night, and great part of the following
day.

On the next day having overcome all difficulties, and

many dangers, we came to an Anchor in the afternoon, in
fifteen fathom water, at the distance of a Cable length
from shoar. Here it was observable, that we were forced
to keep men ashoar on purpose to beat off the Seals, mean
while our men filled water at the Sea side, at high-water
mark, for as much as that the Seals covet hugely to lye in
fresh water. About this Island fish is so plentiful, that in
less then one hours time, two men caught enough for all
our whole company.

Saturday January the first, 1680. This day we put up

a new Main-top, larger then the old one; and we caught
Craw-fish that were bigger than our English Lobsters.

The next day being January the second, dyed a chief man

of our company, whose name was John Hilliard. This
man until our weighing Anchor from the Port of Coquimbo,
had been our Master all the space of this Voyage. But
from that time we chose John Cox for the Starboard, and
John Fall for the Larboard watch. The disease whereof he
dyed was the Dropsie. That evening we buryed our
dead Companion, and gave him a Volley for his Funeral,
according to the usual custom.

On the third of January we had terrible gusts of wind

from the shoar every hour. This day our Pilot told us,
that many years ago a certain ship was cast away upon this
Island, and onely one man saved, who lived alone upon
the Island five years before any ship came this way to carry
him off. The Island hath excellent Land in many Valleys
belonging thereunto. This day likewise we fetched
our Anchor which we left in the other Bay when the ship
broke her Cable.

Tuesday January the fourth, 1680. This day we had
such terrible flaws of wind, that the Cable of our ship
brake, and we had undoubtedly been on shoar, had not the
other held us fast. At last it came home and we drove
outward. By the way it caught hold of a Rock, and held
some time, but at last we haled it up, and the wind came
with so much violence, that the waves flew as high as our
Main-top, and made all the water of a foam.

January the fifth, the same huge gusts of wind continued
all the night last past, which notwithstanding this day
at noon it was brave and calme. But in the morning the
Anchor of our ship gave way again, and we drove to the
Eastward more than half a mile, till at last we hapned to
fasten again in the depth of sixty fathom water. Here in
this Bay where we rid at Anchor, did run a violent current,
sometimes into, and at other times out of the Bay; so that
all was uncertain with us. But our greatest discomfort
was, that our men were all in a mutiny against each other,
and much divided among themselves. Some of them being
for going home towards England, or our Forreign Plantations,
& that round about America through the Straights
of Magallanes, as Captain Sawkins had designed to do;
others of them being for staying longer, and searching
farther into those Seas, till such time as they had got more
Money. This day at noon our Anchor drove again; whereupon
to secure our selves from that dangerous place, we
sailed from thence into the West Bay, and anchored there
in twenty five fathom water, and moored our ship one
quarter of a mile from shoar.

On Thursday January the sixth, our dissentions being

now grown unto a great heighth, the Mutineers made a
new Election of another person to be our chief Captain
and Commander, by vertue whereof they deposed Captain
Sharp, whom they protested they would obey no
longer. They chose therefore one of our company, whose
name was John Watling, to command in chief, he having
been an old Privateer, and gained the esteem of being a
stout Seaman. The election being made, all the rest were
forced to give their assent unto it, and Captain Sharp gave
over his command, whereupon they immediately made
Articles with Watling, and signed them.

The following day being the seventh, we burnt and tal-

lowed the star-board side of our ship. In this Bay where
we now anchored, we found a Cross cut in the Bark of a
Tree, and several Letters besides. Hereupon, in another
Tree up the Gulley, I engraved the two first Letters of my
name, with a Cross over them. This day likewise William
Cook, servant unto Captain Edmund Cook, confessed that
his Master had oft times Buggered him in England, leaving
his Wife and coming to bed to him the said William. That
the same crime he had also perpetrated in Jamaica; and
once in these Seas before Panama. Moreover, searching
his Writings, we found a paper with all our names written
in it, the which it was suspected he designed to have given
unto the Spanish prisoners. For these reasons, this evening
our Captain thought it convenient to put him in Irons,
which was accordingly done. The next day unto the above-mentioned
in this Paragraph, we finished the other
side of our ship.

Sunday January the ninth, this day was the first Sunday
that ever we kept by command and common consent,

since the loss and death of our valiant Commander Captain
Sawkins. This generous spirited man threw the dice
over board, finding them in use on the said day.

January the Tenth, this day the weather was very clear

and setled again. We caught every day in this Bay, where
we now were, great plenty of fish; and I saw the same
day a shoal of fish a mile and more long.

On the next day being the eleventh, we filled our wa-

ter, and carryed our wood on board the ship. Moreover,
our two Canoas went to the other side of the Island to
catch Goats, for on the barren side thereof are found and
caught the best; and by Land it is impossible to go from
one side of the Island to the other.

Wednesday January the twelfth, this morning our Canoas
returned from catching of Goats, firing of Guns as
they came towards us to give us warning. Being come on
board, they told us, they had espied three sail of ships, which
they conceived to be men of War coming about the Island.
Within half an hour after this notice given by our Boats,
the ships came in sight to Leeward of the Island. Hereupon
we immediately slipt our Cables, and put to Sea, taking
all our men on board that were ashoar at that time.
Onely one William a Mosquito Indian, was then left behind
upon the Island, because he could not be found at this our
suddain departure. Upon the Island of Juan Fernandez
do grow certain Trees that are called by the name of Bilby-
trees. The tops of these trees are excellent Cabbage, and
of them is made the same use that we do of Cabbage in
England. Here fish aboundeth in such quantity, that on
the surface of the water I have taken fish with a bare and
naked hook, that is to say, unbaited. Much fish is taken
here of the weight of twenty pound; the smallest that is
taken in the Bay being almost two pound weight. Very
good Timber for building of Houses and other uses, is likewise
found upon this Island. It is distant from the Main
Continent the space of ninety five Leagues, or thereabouts,
being situate in 33 d. 40 South. The plats of the Islands
lye N. W. and S. E.

Being got out of the Bay we stood off to Sea, and kept
to windward as close as we could. The biggest of these

Spanish men of War, for such they proved to be, was of
the burthen of eight hundred Tuns, and was called El Santo
Christo, being mounted with twelve Guns. The second
named San Francisco, was of the port of six hundred Tuns,
and had ten guns. The third was of the carriage of three
hundred and fifty Tuns, whose name I have forgot. As
soon as they saw us, they instantly put out their bloody
flags, and we, to shew them that we were not as yet daunted,
did the same with ours. We kept close under the
wind, and were, to confess the truth, very unwilling to
fight them, by reason they kept all in a knot together, and
we could not single out any one of them, or separate him
from the rest. Especially considering, that our present
Commander Watling had shewed himself at their appearance
to be faint hearted. As for the Spaniards themselves,
they might have easily come unto us, by reason we lay by
several times: but undoubtedly they were cowardly given,
and peradventure as unwilling to engage us, as we
were to engage them.

The following day being January the thirteenth, in the
morning we could descry one of the fore-mentioned men
of war, under the Leeward side of the Island; and we believed
that the rest were at Anchor thereabouts. At W. by
S. and at the distance of seven Leagues the Island appeareth
thus.

[ILLUSTRATION]

Isle of Juan Fernandez.

Lat. 33 d. 40 South.

At noon that day we stood in towards the Island, ma-

king as if that we intended to be in with them. But in the
afternoon our Commander propounded the question unto
us, whether we were willing now that the Fleet was to
windward, to bare away from them? Unto this we all agreed
with one consent. And hereupon, night being come,
with a fresh wind at S.S.E. we stood away N.E. by N. and
thus gave them handsomly the slip, after having out braved
them that day, and the day before.

[ILLUSTRATION]