Part 24

_We have now done careening, fixing, and loading our Ships, with the_ Marquiss, _and taken all manner of Goods out of our Prizes, as much as our Ships can carry, having received a valuable Consideration of Mr._ Morell _and_ Navarre, _the Masters of our 2 Prizes, we are all of opinion we had best leave them in possession of their Ships, and what Negroes we can’t carry hence; our present Circumstances and the Condition of the Prizes not allowing us to remove them from this Place, could we make ever so great advantage of ’em elsewhere. So judge it our present Interest to ply to Windward, to try for other Purchases and Sale of the Goods, and if possible to take or buy Provisions. We all agree to land one of the_ Guiaquil _Hostages at_ Manta, _in order to procure Money to pay for the Ransom of the Town, and a Bark we have sold the same Man, laden with Prize Goods, Witness our Hands this_ 6th _of_ August, 1709.

Tho. Dover, _Pres._ William Stratton, Woodes Rogers, Tho. Glendall, Stephen Courtney, John Connely, William Dampier, William Bath, Edw. Cooke, John Ballett, Robert Frye, Lan. Appleby. Cha. Pope,

I drew up the following Agreement, to which we Officers swore on the Holy Evangelists, because I thought it the most proper Method to prevent the Confusions which were like to happen among us, because of the Jealousies that were entertain’d of one another, and came to such a height, that I fear’d a Separation.

_We having made a solemn Agreement, do this Instant sign voluntarily, and give each other our Oaths on the Holy Bible; and as we hope for Forgiveness of Sins, and Salvation by the alone Merits and Intercession of our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, to keep severely and strictly this serious concerted_ Memorandum. _First we agree to keep company, and assist each other on all Occasions, and with all Necessaries, as far as our Abilities reach, and our common Safety requires. Secondly, that in case we engage at any time with the Enemy, we design it in Consortship, and that each Commander and Second in each Ship, hereto subscribed, shall on all Occasions, without the least Reserve, and to the utmost of his Power, be forward and ready to assist, rescue or defend each other, with the utmost Dispatch, Bravery and Conduct, even to the apparent Hazard of his Ship and all that is dear to him: Well knowing all of us, that on whatever Occasion should either of our Ships be deserted by the other two, and taken or lost in these barbarous and remote Parts, it’s very improbable ever the Men will get home, and the Survivors would be in as bad, if not in a worse Condition than the Dead._

_On these and the like Considerations we do hereby solemnly agree never to desert each other in time of Need, if possibly we can avoid it, and to be to the utmost of our Power and Knowledge alike brave in attacking or defending our selves against the Enemy to the last Extremity._

_But if we are so unfortunate to see one Ship inevitably perish, then the two remaining (after they have us’d their utmost Endeavours for the distress’d Ship, and find all past Recovery) may then agree on the best Methods for their own Security. The like for one Ship if two are lost, but for no other Reason to desert this firm and solemn Agreement of Consortship; and to shew that none of us is so unbecoming a Man as to shrink back, or slight this agreement in time of Action, we agree it shall not be alter’d without the Consent of all us three Commanders, and the major part of the Officers hereto subscrib’d, and to a Duplicate in each Ship of the same Date in_ Gorgona, _the sixth Day of_ August, 1709.

Tho. Dover, _Pres._ William Stretton, Woodes Rogers, Charles Pope, Stephen Courtney, John Connely, Edward Cooke, Tho. Glendale. Rob. Fry,

[Sidenote: _From Gorgona towards Manta, in Peru._]

Another Paper was also drawn up for every Man to swear what Clothes, Goods, _&c._ he had received of the Agents, and to restore whatever he had taken without the Agents Knowledge, in order to a just distribution of the Plunder, and every one was to oblige himself in a Penalty of 20_s._ for every Shilling Value that should be found about him conceal’d, besides the former Penalty agreed on of losing his Share of any Prize or Purchase for concealing above the Value of half a Piece of Eight; and for the Incouragement of Discoveries the Informer was to have half the Penalty, and the Protection of the Commanders. This Paper was objected against by several of the Officers, who insisted, that there ought to be a greater Latitude allowed them to advantage themselves, since they had ventured their Lives hither on so difficult an Undertaking, which made us defer the signing it till a better Opportunity; for unless such Agreements as these had been constantly promoted, as occasion required, the Temptation of Interest wou’d have made us fall into irrecoverable Confusions abroad, which generally end in a Separation, or worse.

_Aug. 7._ We gave Sen. _Morell_ and _Navarre_ their Ships, and all the Goods we could not carry away, for what Money our Agents receiv’d of ’em, tho’ they expected to have had ’em at an easier Rate. We came to sail this Morning; the dividing the Plunder has took up more Time than we were willing to spare; but ’twas absolutely necessary to do it. We took Sen. _Navarre_ with us before we came to sail: I went ashore, and shew’d Sen. _Morell_ how we left things between his Ship and the other Prize. Mr. _Navarre_ left his Son-in-law in charge of this Vessel and Goods, then came with me on board our Ships, expecting to have the Bark betwixt him and our Ransomers, if they paid us at _Guiaquil_. Wind veerable in the South West Quarter, a Lee Current.

_August 8._ Yesterday at 6 in the Evening the Island of _Gorgona_ bore S. by E. distant 6 Leagues. Just before Night we took our Men out of the Bark, and left her in possession of an old _Indian_ Pilot, and some Negroes and _Indian_ Prisoners, putting our ordinary Ransomer aboard to go in her, as we agreed on before we came out. I and Capt. _Dover_ sign’d a Paper to protect them from being seiz’d by the _Spaniards_, if they should lose Company with us; but order’d them not to stir from us. I also desir’d the _Spaniards_ aboard the _Duke_, who had agreed for her, strictly to charge the Crew in the Bark not to leave us willingly, which they did, because our Agreement was not in Writing, but only Verbal, promising us 15000 Pieces of Eight for the Bark and her Cargo, including the Remainder of the Towns Ransom, we designing to have it under their hand in _Spanish_ and _English_ to morrow, before we would wholly let go the Bark: But this Morning, to our surprize, the Bark was out of sight. The _Marquiss_ is very crank, and sails heavy on a Wind. We held the following Committee to endeavour to help the _Marquiss_’s sailing.

At a Committee held on board the _Dutchess_ at Sea, off the Island _Gorgona, August 8th, 1709_.

Memorandum,

_The_ Marquiss _not answering our Expectations, but proving crank and sailing heavy: We now advise Capt._ Cooke _to heave the_ Dutchess’_s two heavy Guns overboard, and 20 Boxes of Snuff, with two spare Top-masts, and bring his Ship more by the Stern, stowing every thing as low as possible in the Ship, to endeavour to make her stiffer, and if he finds any thing more necessary for the Benefit of the Ship, we desire him to do it. Witness our Hands._

Signed by the Majority of our Council.

Amongst our Prisoners taken on board Sen. _Navarre_’s Ship from _Panama_, there was a Gentlewoman and her Family, her eldest Daughter a pretty young Woman of about 18, was newly married, and had her Husband with her. We assign’d them the Great Cabin aboard the Galleon, and none were suffer’d to intrude amongst them, or to separate their Company; yet the Husband (I was told) shew’d evident Marks of Jealousy, the _Spaniards_ Epidemick Disease; but I hope he had not the least Reason for it amongst us, my third Lieutenant _Glendall_ alone having charge of the Galleon and Prisoners: For being above 50 Years of Age, he appear’d to be the most secure Guardian to Females that had the least Charm, tho’ all our young Men have hitherto appear’d modest beyond Example among Privateers; yet we thought it improper to expose them to Temptations. At this time Lieut. _Connely_, who behav’d himself so modestly to the Ladies of _Guiaquil_, was some days in possession of _Navarre_’s Ship before we stopt here, to remove these Prisoners aboard the Galleon, where he gain’d their Thanks and publick Acknowledgments for his Civilities to these Ladies, and even the Husband extols him. We had notice these Ladies had some conceal’d Treasure about them, and order’d a Female Negro that we took, and who spoke _English_, to search them narrowly, and found some Gold Chains and other things cunningly hid under their Clothes. They had before deliver’d to Capt. _Courtney_ Plate and other things of good Value. We gave them most of their wearing Apparel and Necessaries, with 3 Female Mullatto Slaves, and parted very friendly. They confess’d to our People, who put them ashore, that we had been much civiller than they did expect, or believe their own Countrymen would have been in the like case, and sent back the Husband with Gold to purchase some Goods and two Slaves of us. I come next to the Description of _Gorgona_.

[Sidenote: _From Gorgona towards Manta, in Peru._]

_Gorgona_ is 3 Leagues in Length, N. E. and S. W. but narrow. It’s about 6 Leagues from the Main, full of Wood and tall Trees, one of ’em call’d _Palma Maria_, of which the _Spaniards_ make Masts, and use a Balsam that flows from it for several Diseases. The Island appears at a distance indifferent high, and in 3 Hummocks. There is Riding for Ships all over against the North East Side; but in some places foul Ground, and shoal’d near the Shore, particularly on the South East Side, and near the South West End, where there’s a small Island almost joining, with Shoal Ground, and Breakers near a Mile to the Eastward from that End. Capt. _Dampier_ has been here several times, but never rode where we did, which is the best and only good Road in the Island. The _Spaniards_ told us of strange Storms and heavy Turnadoes of Wind about this Island; but we found it otherwise, and had only frequent Showers and Thunder: But in the time of Breezes, which the _Spaniards_ call our Winter Months, and in Spring, till the Beginning of _May_, here are now and then Northerly strong Breezes of Wind, and then I believe the Road must be shifted to the other Side of the Island, which may be at that time the best Riding; but this we had no Time to try, neither do I think it half so bad as these puny Mariners tell us. About this Island are several remarkable Rocks, at the South West End there’s one looks like a Sail half a Mile off shore; at the North East End there are several high ones, round and steep, near a Cable’s Length off Shore, where the Sea-Fowls breed. The Beasts and Insects, we saw in this Island are Monkeys, Guinea Pigs, Hares, Lizards, Lion Lizards, which change their Colours, and are fine Creatures to look at, several Species of great and small Snakes, and so numerous, that ’tis dangerous for a Man to walk the Island, for fear of treading on them. There’s great Variety of Plants and Trees peculiar to these hot Climates, and little or nothing resembling what we have in _Great Britain_; but it being out of my Road to describe such things, I refer ’em to such whose Talents lie that way. Here are also several sorts of Fish unknown in our Seas, besides Mullets in great Plenty, but hard to be caught with Hook and Line, which I suppose is occasion’d by the Clearness of the Water, so that they easily see the Hook and avoid it. Here’s also some white Coral, and abundance of Oysters, and as I am told by the Prisoners, good Pearls in them. We caught an ugly Creature here, which I suppose may be of the Monkey Kind, because it look’d like one of the middling sort, but with this difference; his Hair was thicker and longer, his Face, Eyes and Nose less, and more wrinkled and deformed; his Head of the same Shape, but his Ears not so large; his Teeth longer and sharper, his hinder Parts more clumsey, and his Body thicker in proportion, with a very short Tail, and instead of 5 Claws like Fingers as a Monkey has, he had only 3 on each Paw, with the Claws longer and sharper. We let one of ’em go at the lower part of the Mizon Shrowds, and it was about 2 Hours getting to the Mast Head, which a Monkey would have performed in less than half a Minute; he mov’d as if he had walk’d by Art, keeping an equal and slow Pace, as if all his Movements had been directed by Clock-work, within him. The _Spaniards_ call it a _Sloth_, and not improperly; they say it feeds on the Leaves of a certain lofty Tree, and when it has clear’d one, before it can get down and walk a little Way to find and climb another, would grow lean and be almost starved.

I saw no Land Birds here; because I suppose the Monkeys destroy their Nests and Eggs: We shot many of them, and made Fricassees and Broth for our sick Men; none of our Officers would touch them, Provisions being not yet so scarce; but Capt. _Dampier_, who had been accustomed to such Food, says he never eat any thing in _London_ that seemed more delicious to him than a Monkey or Baboon in these Parts.

_August 9._ I propos’d sending the _Marquiss_ to _India_, and thence to _Brazil_; and then we could add to our own Stock of Bread and salt Provisions, and if she got well to _Brazil_, would vend her Goods at an extraordinary Rate, to the Advantage of the Voyage, and we two should be strong enough to wait for the _Manila_ Ship, but Capts. _Dover_ and _Courtney_ did not think it reasonable.

_August 10._ We got to wind-ward very slowly, here being a constant Current, which runs down to Leward into the Bay of _Panama_.

[Sidenote: _From Gorgona towards Manta, in Peru._]

_August 11._ Yesterday Afternoon I went aboard the _Dutchess_, and carried with me Doctor _Dover_; we discoursed about parting with Capt. _Cooke_, and giving him only a Sailing Crew to go for _Brazil_, and sell his Cargo; but finding the Majority against my Proposition, I dropt it, tho’ I fear we shall repent it, were there no other Reasons but to save Provisions. Capt. _Cooke_ came to us a-board the _Dutchess_, to put in Execution the Order of the 8th instant, where we agreed as before to throw 2 of the heaviest Guns over-board he had out of the _Dutchess_, being less valuable than the Goods between Decks, and what Lumber they had besides, which he did, and we perceive his Ship much stiffer, and sails better; our Consort, Capt. _Courtney_ and his Officers, with some of mine, are uneasie at parting with the Bark, so that if we come up with her, we must take to her again for Peace sake.

_August 12._ Yesterday Evening, the Island of _Gorgona_ was in sight, and bore E. half S. about 13 Leagues. At 6 this Morning, we met with the Bark, and put Mr. _Selkirk_ aboard her, with his Crew. At 9 this Morning, we sent our Boat for Capt. _Courtney_ and Capt. _Cooke_, when we had a second Consultation, which again concluded with keeping the _Marquiss_ and Bark: Tho’ I was of Opinion, they’d be rather a Detriment than Furtherance to us in any thing, so long as the _Marquiss_ sails so heavily, besides the Benefit of more Provisions that would have been left for us that must stay behind.

_August 13._ In the Evening last Night, we saw the Island of _Gallo_, bearing S. by E. distant 6 Leagues. We have a strong Current runs to Leward, so that we lost Ground, and at 8 this Morning was again in sight of _Gorgona_, bearing N. E. by E. distant about 12 Leagues; had rainy Weather all Night, with Thunder and Lightning, but indifferent fair in the Morning. Wind veerable in the S. W. Quarter. This Coast is more subject to hot Weather than any other Part of _Peru_.

_August 15_. We sounded several Times in the Night, and had Ground in about 50 Fathom Water, not above two Leagues off Shore.

_August 16._ This Day I muster’d our Negroes aboard the _Duke_, being about 35 lusty Fellows; I told them, That if we met the _Spaniards_ or _French_, and they would fight, those that behav’d themselves well should be free Men; 32 of ’em immediately promis’d to stand to it, as long as the best _Englishman_, and desired they might be improv’d in the Use of Arms, which some of them already understood; and that if I would allow ’em Arms and Powder, these would teach the rest. Upon this, I made _Michael Kendall_, the _Jamaica_ free Negro, who deserted from the _Spaniards_ to us at _Gorgona_, their Leader, and charged him to be continually exercising them, because I did not know how soon we might meet an Enemy: I took down the Names of those that had any, and such as wanted I bestow’d Names on them, and to confirm our Contract made them drink a Dram all round to our good Success; at the same time I gave ’em Bays for Clothes, and told them they must now look upon themselves as _Englishmen_, and no more as Negro Slaves to the _Spaniards_, at which they express’d themselves highly pleas’d: I promise my self good Assistance from them, if need be, having this Proverb on their Side, that Those who know nothing of Danger fear none; and for our own Parts, we must not submit to be Prisoners, tho’ forced to engage at the greatest Disadvantage, but every one resolve to stand to the last, for if taken we shall be worse than Slaves.

_August 18._ At 6 this Morning we saw a Sail, which bore W. N. W. of us; we and the _Dutchess_ gave Chace, and took her in about an Hour. The _Dutchess_ had kept her Company ever since 12 at Night, and thought her to be our Bark. She was a Vessel of about 70 Tun, bound from _Panama_ to _Lima_, but was to stop at _Guiaquil_. They had very little aboard besides Passengers, for they knew of our being in these Seas: The best of her Cargo was about 24 Negroes, Men and Women. I sent our Agent aboard, to examine the Prize.

_August 19._ After Dinner aboard the _Dutchess_, we examin’d the Prisoners; they could tell us little News from _Europe_, but said there came Advices by a Packet to _Portobell_ from _Spain_, and by a _French_ Ship from _France_, not long before they came out of _Panama_; that all was kept private, only they heard in _Panama_, that his Royal Highness Prince _George_ of _Denmark_ was dead,[136] which we were not willing to believe, but drank his Health at Night, which can do him no Hurt if he is dead. We read several Letters from _Panama_, by which we understood, that when they heard of our taking _Guiaquil_, they kept their Gates shut Day and Night for above a Week, and that the Inhabitants kept Guard on their Walls, being afraid we should attack them next, and by what I can guess, we might have taken that Town as well as _Guiaquil_, had we but double our Number of Men. They had various Conjectures about us when at _Panama_, and were continually allarm’d, not knowing where to expect us.

_August 20._ At 10 in the Morning we bore down to the _Dutchess_, who had _Spanish_ Colours flying, to make a sham Fight to exercise our Men and the Negroes in the Use of our great Guns and small Arms. Here I must not forget a _Welchman_ that came to me, and told me, He took the Ship we were going to engage for the _Dutchess_, till he saw the _Spanish_ Colours, and that being over-joyed with the Hopes of a good Prize, he had loaded his Musket with Shot, and design’d to fire amongst the thickest of ’em, which he would certainly have done, had he not been forbid. By this it appears, that blundering Fools may have Courage. During this sham

[Sidenote: _In Tecames Road._]

Engagement, every one acted the same Part he ought to have done, if in earnest, firing with Ball excepted. Our Prisoners were secured in the Hold by the Surgeons, who had their Instruments in order, and to imitate Business for them, I order’d red Lead mixt with Water to be thrown upon two of our Fellows, and sent ’em down to the Surgeons, who, as well as the Prisoners in the Hold of the Ship, were very much surpriz’d, thinking they had been really wounded, and the Surgeons actually went about to dress them, but finding their Mistake, it was a very agreeable Diversion.

_August 23._ Yesterday, at one in the Afternoon, we tack’d and stood for the Shore, but at two we drew near discolour’d Water, and sounded, had but 8 Fathom, and very near an ugly Shoal, which the _Spaniards_ tell me runs off about 2 Leagues from the Shore, off a high white Cliff, 3 Leagues to the N. of _Tecames_. At 6 last Night, Cape St. _Francisco_ bore S. by W. distant about 6 Leagues. We sounded again, and had 40 Fathom Water. We stood off at Night, and at 6 in the Morning tack’d for the Shore. The Wind is here always more Southerly, as we draw near the Equinox.

_August 24._ At 10 this Morning, I went with Captain _Dover_ aboard the _Dutchess_, where we agreed to send the Bark into _Tecames_, being now under our Lee, and we to follow them. We order’d our Linguist to buy Provisions of the _Indians_ there, and put several Men well arm’d a-board, to keep the Bark till our Ship could arrive near enough to protect her, if occasion, in Case of an Attack.

_August 25._ About 2 Yesterday in the Afternoon we bore away for _Tecames_, after the Barks. I went aboard the _Dutchess_, and found our Pilot, and most of the _Spaniards_, who are generally ignorant, uncertain whether it was the Port under our Lee, tho’ I never saw more remarkable Land; this made us the more timerous, and me in particular, because Capt. _Dampier_, who was here last Voyage, and said he had pass’d near it very often, was full as dubious as our selves, that never saw it: This occasion’d me to hurry aboard our own Ship to secure her; for I doubted our being near Shoals, because the Water was very thick and white. Capt. _Courtney_ sent his Pinnace a Head sounding, and we follow’d, he having then all the Pilots aboard. We kept the Lead sounding from 40 to 13 Fathom Water, very uneven Depths, till we came within 2 Leagues of the Anchoring place. We had every Cast about 14 Fathom Water, and saw the Houses by the Water-side; then I was easy and satisfied. Before we got in, the Barks were at Anchor, and our Linguist, Mr. _White_, without Orders, ventur’d a-shore with a _Spanish_ Prisoner; we design’d that the Prisoner alone should discourse the _Indians_, and try to trade for a Refreshment: It was Night as they landed, just against the Houses where the _Indians_ lay in Ambush, with Fire-Arms, Bows, Arrows, and Lances, among the Trees, and fir’d several Times at our Boats, tho’ they told the _Indians_ in _Spanish_, that they were Friends, and call’d to them often to forbear firing. Our Men having the good Luck to escape being shot, they hid themselves all Night, whilst we feared they were either kill’d or taken; but at Day-light they call’d again to the _Indians_, and prevail’d with them to trade for what we wanted, provided their Padre would give Consent, he lived about 6 Leagues off, and they promis’d to send and ask his Leave. Our Linguist told them we had a Padre aboard, whom we esteemed, and he would absolve them, if they traded with us: Upon this, they desired we would permit him to come a-shoar, which we granted.

[Sidenote: _In Tecames Road._]