University of Virginia Library

CHAP. XVI.

HAving bid our enemies adieu, after the manner as was

said in the precedent Chapter, the next morning
being January the 14th. we bore N. E. We reckoned this
day a N. N. E. one quarter South way, and by it, thirty
Leagues. We were four Leagues Eastward from the Isle of
Juan Fernandez, when I took our departure.

Saturday Jauuary the 15th, we had hasey weather. This
day we made by a N. E. by N. way eleven Leagues. The
same hasey weather continued in like manner the 16th.
But about ten that morning the wind dyed away. Our
reckoning was a N.E. by N. way, and thirty six Leagues.

On the 17th we had a soft gale, and a clear observation.
We found by it Lat. 28 d. 47 S. Easting seventy
Leagues. The next day we had likewise a clear day, and

we reckoned by a N. E. by N. way, thirty one leagues. By
observation Lat. 27 d. 29 South.

Wednesday January the 19th, we had a clear day, as
before, and reckoned a N. E. by N. way, and thirty five
Leagues and two thirds. By observation we took Lat. 25
d. 00. South. This day we put up our top-gallant masts
and sails, the which we had taken down at the Island of
Juan Fernandez, when we thought to have gone directly
from thence for the Straights of Magallanes. But now our
resolutions were changed, and our course was bent for Arica,
that rich place, the second time, to try what good we
could do upon it by another attempt, in order to the making
all our fortunes there. In the evening of this day we
saw Land at a great distance.

January the 20th, about midnight past we had a small
Land-wind that sprang up and reached us. At break of
day we could descry Land again, at the distance of nine or
ten Leagues more or less. This day was very hot and
calme, Easting ninety two Leagues.

On the 21. we had very little wind, and all along as we
went we could descry high land, and that barren. We sailed
N. by E. and N.N.E. along the Coast of the Continent.

The next day being Saturday the 22 of January, we
had very hot weather. This day we sailed N. and N. by E.
and looked out continually for the Island of Yqueque, which
our Pilot told us was hereabouts. We kept at a just distance
from Land, for fear of being descryed by the enemy.

On the following day, Sunday the 23. we sailed in like
manner N.N.E. along the Coast, which seemeth to be very
full of Bays hereabouts. By observation this day, we
took Lat. 21 d. 49. South.

Munday January the 24th, this day we had an indifferent
gale of wind, and we stood N. and by E. the wind being
S.S.E. We found Latitude by observation 21 d. 02
South. Our whole Easting I reckoned to be ninety two
leagues and an half. In the afternoon of this day Captain
Watling our Commander, and twenty five men more departed
from the ship in two Canoas, with design to seek for,
and take the Island of Yqueque, and there to gain intelligence
of the posture of affairs at Arica. We were at the
distance of twelve leagues from shoar, when they went away
from the ship.

The next day by a clear observation, we found Lat. 20

d. 40 South. At four in the afternoon this day, returned
one of our Canoas, bringing word that they could not find
the Island, though they had searched for it very diligently.
At night came the other, being brought back by a wrong
sign given us by the first Canoa. This second Canoa had
landed upon the Continent, and there found a track, the
which they followed for some little space. Here they met
a dead Whale, with whose bones the Spaniards had built a
Hut, and set up a Cross. There lay also many pieces of
broken Jars. They observed likewise, that hereabouts upon
the Coast were many Bays, good landing, and anchoring
for ships. That evening about seven of the clock, a fresh
gang departed from the ship to seek for the same Island,
mean while we lay becalmed all night, driving about a
league to leeward.

Wednesday January the 26th, we had extream hot wea-

ther. This day the Spanish Pilot told us, that on the Continent
over against us, and at the distance of a very little
way within the Land, are many rich Mines of Silver, but
that the Spaniards dared not to open them for fear of an
Invasion from some Forreign enemy or other. We sailed
North, at the distance of about two leagues from shoar. At
noon we had an observation, and found Lat. 20 d. 21 S.
At four of the clock we saw a smoak made by our men,
close by a white clift, which proved to be the Island. Hereupon
we immediately sent away another Canoa with more
men, to supply them in their attempts. But in the mean
while the first Canoa which had departed the evening before
this day, came aboard, bringing with them four prisoners,
two old white men, and two Indians.

The other Canoa which set out last, brought back Molossus,
Fish, and two Jars of wine. To windward of the
said Island, is a small village of eighteen or twenty houses,
having a small Chappel nigh unto it, built of stone, and
for adornment thereof, it is stuck full of Hides, or the skins
of Seals. They found about fifty people in this Hamlet,
but the greatest part of them made their escape at the arrival
of the Canoa. Unto this Island do frequently come
Barks from Arica, which City is not far distant from
thence to fetch clay, and they have already transported away
a considerable part thereof. The poor Indians, Inhabitants
or Natives of this Island, are forced to bring all the
fresh water they use, the full distance of eleven leagues
from thence, that is to say, from a River name Camarones,
which lyeth to Leeward of the Island. The Barque wherein
they used to bring it, was then gone for water, when
our men landed upon the place. The Island all over is
white, but the bowels thereof are of a reddish sort of earth.
From the shoar is seen here a great path which leadeth over
the Mountains into the Country. The Indians of this
Island use to eat much and often, a sort of Leaves that are
of a tast much like unto our Bay-leaves in England. Insomuch,
that their teeth are died of a green colour, by the
continual use thereof. The Inhabitants go stark naked,
and are very robust and strong people; yet notwithstanding
they live more like beasts than men.

Thursday January the 27th, this morning on board the
ship, we examined one of the old men, who were taken
prisoners upon the Island the day before. But finding him
in many Lies, as we thought, concerning Arica, our Commander
ordered him to be shot to death, which was accordingly
done. Our old Commander Captain Sharp was
much troubled in his mind and dissatisfyed at this cruelty
and rash proceeding; whereupon he opposed it as much
as he could. But seeing he could not prevail, he took wa-
terand washed his hands, saying, Gentlemen, I am clear of
the blood of this old man; and I will warrant you a hot day
for this piece of cruelty, whenever we come to fight at Arica.
These words were found at the latter end of this expedition
of Arica, to contain a true and certain prophesie, as shall
be related hereafter.

The other old man being under examination, informed

us, that the Island of Tqueque afore-mentioned, belonged
unto the Governour of Arica, who was Proprietor thereof;
and that he allowed unto these men a little wine, and other
Necessaries, to live upon for their sustenance. That he
himself had the superintendance of forty or fifty of the
Governours slaves, who caught fish and dryed it, for the
profit of the said Governour; and he sold it afterwards to
the inland Towns, and reaped a considerable benefit thereby.
That by a Letter received from Arica, eight days
ago, they understood there was then in the Harbour of Arica,
three ships from Chile, and one Bark. That they had
raised there a Fortification mounted with Twelve Copper
Guns. But that when we were there before, they had conveyed
out of the Town unto the neighbouring stantions,
all their Plate, Gold, and Jewels, burying it there in the
ground, and concealing it after several manners and ways.
The which whether it were now returned or not, he could
not easily tell. That there were two great places, the one
at ten, the other at twenty five leagues distance from Arica,
at which Towns lay all their strength and treasure. That
the day before had passed a Post to declare our having been
at Coquimbo. That the Embargo laid on all vessels going
to the Northward, was now taken off; so that a free passage
was allowed them. That by Land it was impossible
to go from hence unto Arica in less than four or five days,
for as much as they must carry water for themselves and
Horses for the whole journey. At last, that those Arms
that were brought from Lima unto Arica, as was mentioned
above, were now carryed away from thence unto Buenos
Ayres. All these things pleased us mighty well to hear
them. But however, Captain Sharp was still much dissatisfyed,
by reason we had shot the old man. For he had
given us information to the full, and with all manner of
truth, how that Arica was greatly fortified, and much
more than before; but our misfortune was, that we took
his information to be all contrary to the truth.

The leaves of which we made mention above, are

brought down unto this Island in whole Bales, and then
distributed unto the Indians by a short allowance given to
each man. This day we had very hot weather, and a S.
W. Sea. By observation we found Lat. 20 d. 13 South.
Besides the things above-mentioned, our prisoners informed
us, that at Arica the Spaniards had built a breast-work
round about the Town; and one also in every street, that
in case one end of the Town were taken, they might be able
to defend the other. We stood off and in for the greatest
part of this day. In the afternoon we were eight
leagues and an half distant from shoar, with a fresh wind.
That morning moreover we took the Barque that was at
the River of Camarones, to fill water for the Island.

Friday January the 28th, last night about midnight we

lest the ship, and embarked our selves in the Barque aforementioned,
the Lanch, and four Canoas, with design to take
Arica by surprizal. We rowed and sailed all night, making
in for the shoar.

Saturday January the 29th, about break of day this day,

we got under shoar, and there hid our selves among the
Rocks for all the day long, fearing lest we should be descryed
by the enemy, before we came to Arica. At this
time we were about five leagues to Southward of Arica,
nigh Quebrada de San Vitor, a place so called upon that
Coast. Night being come, we rowed away from thence.

Sunday January the 30th, 1680. this day (being the day

that is consecrated in our English Kalendar, unto the Martyrdom
of our glorious King Charles the First) in the
morning about Sun-rise, we landed amongst some Rocks, at
the distance of four miles, more or less, to the Southward
from Arica. We put on shoar ninety two men in all, the
rest remaining in the Boats, to keep and defend them from
being surprized by the enemy, to the intent we might
leave behind us a safe retreat, in case of necessity. Unto
these men we left strict orders, that if we made one smoak
from the Town, or adjoyning fields, they should come after
us towards the harbour of Arica with one Canoa; but
in case we made two, that they should bring all away,
leaving only fifteen men in the Boats. As we marched from
our landing place towards the Town, we mounted a very
steep hill, and saw from thence no men, nor Forces of the
enemy; which caused us to hope we were not as yet descryed,
and that we should utterly surprize them. But
when we were come about half of the way unto the Town,
we espied three horsemen, who mounted the Look-out hill;
and seeing us upon our march, they rid down full speed
towards the City, to give notice of our approach. Our
Commander Watling chose out forty of our number, to
attaque the Fort, and sent us away first thitherwards, the
rest being designed for the Town. We that were appointed
for the Fort, had ten hand Granadoes among us, when we
gave the assault, and with them, as well as with our other
Arms, we attacked the Castle, and exchanged several shot
with our enemies. But at last, seeing our main body in
danger of being overborn with the number of our enemies,
we gave over that attempt on the Fort, and ran down
in all hast unto the valley, to help and assist them in the
fight. Here the Battel was very desperate, and they killed
three, and wounded two more of our men from their
out-works, before we could gain upon them. But our rage
encreasing with our wounds, we still advanced, and at last
beat the enemy out of all, and filled every street in the
City with dead bodies. The enemy made several retreats

unto several places, from one breast-work to another; and
we had not a sufficient number of men wherewith to man
all places taken. Insomuch, that we had no sooner beat
them out of one place, but they came another way, and
man'd it again with new Forces and fresh men.

We took in every place where we vanquished the enemy,
great number of Prisoners, more indeed, then peradventure
we ought to have done, or we knew well what to
do withal; they being too many for such a small body as
ours was to manage. These prisoners informed us, that
we had been descryed no less than three days before, from
the Island of Yqueque, whereby they were in expectation of
our arrival every hour, as knowing we had still a design
to make a second attempt upon that place. That into the
City were come four hundred Souldiers from Lima, the
which, besides their own, had brought seven hundred Arms
for the use of the Country-people; and that in the Town
they had six hundred armed men, and in the Fort three
hundred.

Being now in possession of the City, or the greatest part
thereof, we sent unto the Fort, commanding them to surrender.
But they would not vouchsafe to send us any answer.
Hereupon we advanced towards it, and gave it a second
Attaque, wherein we persisted very vigorously for
a long time. Being not able to carry it, we got upon the
top of a house that stood nigh unto it, and from thence fired
down into the Fort, killing many of their men, and
wounding them at our ease and pleasure. But mean while
we were busyed in this Attaque, the rest of the enemies Forces
had taken again several Posts of the Town, and began
to surround us in great numbers, with design to cut us off.
Hereupon we were constrained to desist the second time, as
before, from assaulting the Fort, and make head against
them. This we no sooner had done, but their numbers
and vigour increasing every moment, we found our selves
to be overpowred, and consequently we thought it convenient
to retreat unto the plaee where our wounded men
were, under the hands of our Surgeons, that is to say, our
Hospital. At this time our new Commander Captain
Watling, both our Quartermasters, and a great many others
of our men were killed, besides those that were wounded
and disabled to fight. So that now the enemy rallying
against us, and beating us from place to place, we were
in a very distracted condition, and in more likelihood to
perish every man, than escape the bloodiness of that day.
Now we found the words of Captain Sharp to bear a true
prophesie, being all very sensible, that we had had a day too
hot for us, after that cruel heat in killing and murdering
in cold blood, the old Mestizo Indian whom we had taken
prisoner at Yqueque, as before was mentioned.

Being surrounded with difficulties on all sides, and in

great disorder, as having no head nor leader to give orders
for what was to be done, we were glad to turn our eyes
unto our good and old Commander Captain Bartholomew
Sharp, and beg of him very earnestly to commiserate our
condition, and carry us off. It was a great while that we
were reiterating our supplications unto him, before he would
take any notice of our request in this point. So much
was he displeased with the former mutiny of our people against
him, all which had been occasioned by the instigation
of Mr. Cook. But Sharp is a man of an undaunted
courage, and of an excellent conduct, not fearing in the
least to look an insulting enemy in the face, and a person
that knoweth both the Theory and practical parts of Navigation,
as well as most do. Hereupon, at our request and
earnest petition, he took upon him the command in chief
again, and began to distribute his orders for our safety.
He would have brought off our Surgeons, but that they
had been drinking in the mean while that we assaulted
the Fort, and thus would not come with us when they were
called. They killed and took of our number twenty
eight men, besides eighteen more that we brought off, who
were desperately wounded. At this time we were all extream
faint for want of water and victuals, whereof we
had had none all that day. Moreover, we were almost
choaked with the dust of the Town; this being so much
raised by the work that their great Guns had made, that
we could scarcely see each other. They beat us out of the
Town, and then followed us into the Savanas, or open fields,
still charging us as fast as they could. But when they saw
that we rallyed again, resolving to dye one by another,
they then ran from us into the Town, and sheltred themselves
under their breast-works. Thus we retreated in as
good order as we could possibly observe in that confusion.
But their Horsemen followed us as we retired, and fired at
us all the way, though they would not come within reach
of our Guns; for their own reached farther then ours, and
out-shot us more than one third. We took the sea-side for
our greater security; the which when the enemy saw, they
betook themselves unto the Hills, rowling down great
stones, and whole Rocks to destroy us. In the mean while
those of the Town examined our Surgeons, and other men
whom they had made prisoners. These gave them our
signs that we had left unto our Boats that were behind us,
so that they immediately blew up two smoaks, which were
perceived by the Canoas. This was the greatest of our
dangers. For had we not come at that instant that we
did, unto the sea-side, our Boats had been gone, they being
already under sail, and we had inevitably perished every
man. Thus we put off from the shoar, and got on
board about ten of the clock at night, having been involved
in a continual and bloody fight with the enemy all
that day long.