Part 21

[165] Sir Richard does not exaggerate “the bitternesse of the time.” During the survey of these straits in the _Adventure_ and _Beagle_, Captain Stokes, an active, intelligent, and energetic officer, destroyed himself, in consequence of his excitable mind becoming worn out by the severe hardships of the cruize, the dreadful weather experienced, and the dangerous situations in which the _Beagle_ was constantly exposed.

[166] Synnet is plait made from rope yarns. Wooling or woolding is performed by passing turns of rope round a spar or rope, either for strength, or, as in this case, to prevent chafe; if spun yarn is used, it is called serving.

[167] The tree called Winter’s bark, _Drimys Winteri_, was discovered by Captain Winter, one of Drake’s officers. The bark is agreeably aromatic, and was found useful in cases of scurvy.

[168] Used for vats.

[169] The devastation caused by rats is very great. We have, however, never heard of their gnawing through the bottom. Indeed if there be any truth in the old sailor’s superstition that rats always leave a vessel when in a dangerous state, they must be too clever to perform so dangerous an experiment.

[170] Much discussion has arisen as to whether this should be written _way_, or _weigh_. We think the correct phraseology is this: when the anchor is _weighed_, the ship is under _way_.

[171] Now called Cape Pillar--on the modern charts Cape Deseado lies to the south of it.

[172] After the defeat of the Spanish Armada, Lord Charles Howard, of Effingham, was created Earl of Nottingham.

[173] These observations appear to have occurred to our author, in consequence of what had taken place during the voyages of Magalhaens and Drake. Both these great commanders, while lying at Port Saint Julian, tried for mutiny, and executed, some of their chief officers; doubtless deeming it wise to cut off the hydra’s head at an early period.

[174] This must be a misprint; it should be perhaps 56°. Some accounts state that Drake visited a bay in 57°: this must be erroneous, as Cape Horn, the most southern part of South America, is in the parallel of 56°.

[175] Much interesting information respecting these straits will be found in the voyages of the _Adventure_ and _Beagle_. Since the days of Anson, the difficulties experienced in rounding Cape Horn have been such as to cause navigators to look to the passage through these straits with great interest, hoping, that if found practicable, adverse gales and a heavy sea might be avoided. Now that the labours of King and Fitzroy have provided correct charts, the road is well known; still it can hardly be recommended to large vessels to “shoot the straits.”

[176] Chiloe.

[177] _Contractation_--commerce or dealings with them.

[178] _To lamm_ is used by Beaumont and Fletcher in the sense of _beat_--_bruise_.

[179] The Araucanians have been immortalized in the _Araucano_, a poem written by Don Alonzo d’Ercilla y Zuniga; Madrid, 1632.

[180] This word is perhaps derived from _lave_, _to draw out_, _to exhaust_.

[181] Chile.

[182] A storm is often judged to be severe in inverse proportion to the size of the vessel caught in it. We may form some idea of this sharp storm from the fact that the boats in tow lived through it.

[183] Val paraiso--vale of Paradise.

[184] _Bota_ is Spanish for a wine-skin or vessel: _botijá_, a jar used for the same purpose.

[185] Lard.

[186] Lime was added to sack, not to preserve it, apparently, but for the same purpose that drugs are mixed in beer and spirits by brewers, publicans, and rectifiers, at the present day.

_Falstaff._ Villain, there’s lime in this sack.

--_Hen. IV._

_Host._ I have spoke; let him follow; let me see thee Froth and lime.

--_Merry Wives of Windsor._

[187] _Teased_, pulled, or unravelled. Oakum is made from rope yarns teased or untwisted.

[188] We owe many good hints to Spanish seamen: this among others is used to this day.

[189] This was one of Sarmiento’s unfortunate colonists.

[190] Coquimbo, or la Serena.

[191] Thirty years back, two or three ships sufficed for the trade of this coast with Great Britain. At present above three hundred are employed, carrying copper ore, wool, guano, nitrate of soda, etc.

[192] This reminds us of the familiar lines:

“For Widdrington needs must I wail, As one in doleful dumps; For when his legs were smitten off, He fought upon his stumps.”--_Chevy Chace._

[193] “Going by thirds” means that the crew have a certain per centage on the profits of the voyage, in lieu of wages; thus their remuneration partly depends on their own exertions.

[194] Boatswain?

[195] Monte Morena.

[196] It is still the custom to prove ordnance with a heavier charge than they are expected to carry on service. It seems quite possible that a piece may bear the proof, and yet the particles be so disarranged, that it fail afterwards.

[197] The demy-culverin was about equivalent to the nine-pounder; a saker to the six-pounder; and the minion to the four-pounder.

[198] Arequipa.

[199] Sangallan.

[200] Used in the sense of misfortunes.

[201] The plan pursued at that day was to beat to wind-ward in shore: now, by standing out boldly to the westward, the voyage to the south-ward, against the prevailing wind, is much shortened.

[202] Punta de Ahuja?

[203] Puna.

[204] Various preparations of the root of the _smilax sarsaparilla_ are used medicinally.

[205] Alligators.

[206] Cape Pasado.

[207] The first broadside--_tirer_ (French).

[208] Cornish? See page 24.

[209] Down?

[210] To sheer, or shore, means to _separate_--we use the term “sheer to”, but “sheer off” appears to be the only sense in which it should be applied.

[211] The greater part of the powder on board men-of-war, is made up into cartridges, to avoid delay in filling during action, and danger from using loose powder in a ladle.

[212] Crows or crow-bars?

[213] The additional velocity of the projectile gained by using long guns, is thought to overbalance the advantage which the short guns possess by being more easily handled. The usual length of heavy guns at present, is about nine feet and a half.

[214] _To moil_ has been supposed to be derived from the French _mouiller_.

[215] Profited.

[216] Since.

[217] Slightly--or perhaps what we now call “deep-waisted”.

[218] See note, page 199.

[219] Maim.

[220] Probably a misprint for “rare”.

[221] Did not hold so good a wind, or drove more easily to leeward.

[222] Seville was formerly the emporium of the trade of the new world: since the Guadalquiver has become unnavigable for large vessels, its trade has been transferred to Cadiz.

[223] Punctilio.

[224] This apopthegm is sufficient to stamp Sir Richard Hawkins as a great commander.

[225] Fowlers, murderers, etc., were pieces of cannon of the nature of swivels, adapted to close combat. The “cobridge heads” seem to have been bulk heads across the fore and after parts of the vessel.

[226] _En buena guerra_ means by fair or lawful means: it probably implied offering quarter; which means, that if accepted, a certain sum was to be given as ransom.

[227] _Partido_ (Spanish), favour or protection.

[228] With respect to the transaction at San Juan de Ulloa, already alluded to at page 10, Sir Richard Hawkins had good reason to be suspicious of the good faith of the Spaniards. From the account given in Hakluyt, from Sir John Hawkins himself, it appears, that “he was attacked after he had been assured on the faith of the Spanish viceroy that no treachery should be used.” But in the matter of Oxenham, apparently, they were not to blame. John Oxenham had accompanied Drake in his first voyage, in 1574, and after his return, was induced to fit out a small expedition on his own account: he was successful in acquiring booty, but by mismanagement he and all his people fell into the hands of the Spaniards. At Panama he was examined as to what authority he held from his queen; but not being able to produce any power or commission, he with all his company were sentenced to death, as pirates.

[229] _Wool_ probably means the covering or planking. _Rampire_ (for rampart?) what is now termed the bulwark.

[230] Ready.

[231] “Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel just.”

_--Henry V._

[232] Precedents.

[233] The term “race” is here repeated: if not a misprint (see note, page 199), can “a race ship” mean one built for speed?

[234] Tumbling home (?); applied to the inclination inward, given to a ship’s topsides.

[235] _Hoy por mi, mañana por ti_: which may be freely translated, “my turn to-day, yours to-morrow.”

[236] Tow or tug.

[237] Divers.

[238] This island was probably named after the Latin term “Margaritæ” pearls.

[239] Poles.

[240] Rare--wonderful: this pearl was found at Santa Margarita; weighed two hundred and fifty carats, and was valued at thirty thousand pounds. Tavernier purchased one at Katifa, in Arabia, for upwards of one hundred thousand pounds. The Ceylon pearls are most valued in England.

[241] Imbargo--embargo: laying on an embargo, means issuing an order to prevent the sailing of vessels.

[242] Oxenham? See page 209.

[243] Mound or hillock.

[244] Pier?

[Transcriber’s Note:

Footnote 128: “off Sir Christopher, in 1667,” changed to read “off St. Christopher, in 1667,”. St. Christopher was an island during that period, now Saint Kitts.

Obvious printer errors corrected silently.

Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation are as in the original.]