and himself of little more knowledge than those poor ignorant creatures; nor can they gain much experience, seldom going far off to sea, but coasting along the shores. But to proceed. In the morning when it was light we came again to an anchor close by our buoys, and strove to get our anchors again; but our buoy-ropes, being rotten, broke. While we were puzzling about our anchors, we saw a great many canoes full of men pass between Taboga and the other island. This put us into a new consternation; we lay still some time, till we saw that they came directly towards us, then we weighed and stood towards them; and when we came within hail, we found that they were English and French Privateers come out of the North Seas through the Isthmus of Darien. They were 280 men, in twenty-eight canoes; 200 of them French, the rest English. They were commanded by Captain Gronet and Captain Lequie. We presently came to an anchor again, and all the canoes came aboard. These men told us that there were 180 Englishmen more, under the command of Captain Townley, in the country of Darien, making canoes (as these men had been) to bring them into these seas. All the Englishmen that came over in this party were immediately entertained by Captain Davis and Captain Swan in their own ships; and the Frenchmen were ordered to have our flour prize to carry them, and Captain Gronet, being the eldest commander, was to command them there; and thus they were all disposed of to their hearts' content. Captain Gronet, to retaliate this kindness, offered Captain Davis and Captain Swan each of them a new commission from the Governor of Petit Goave. It has been usual for many years past for the Governor of Petit Goave to send blank commissions to sea by many of his captains, with orders to dispose of them to whom they saw convenient; those of Petit Goave by this means making themselves the sanctuary and asylum of all people of desperate fortunes, and increasing their own wealth and the strength and reputation of their party thereby. Captain Davis accepted of one, having before only an old commission which fell to him by inheritance at the decease of Captain Cooke, who took it from Captain Tristian, together with his bark, as is before mentioned. But Captain Swan refused it, saying he had an order from the Duke of York neither to give offence to the Spaniards nor to receive any affront from them; and that he had been injured by them at Valdivia, where they had killed some of his men, and wounded several more; so that he thought he had a lawful commission of his own to right himself. I never read any of these French commissions while I was in these seas, nor did I then know the import of them; but I have learned since that the tenor of them is, to give a liberty to fish, fowl, and hunt. The occasion of this is, that the Island of Hispaniola, where the garrison of Petit Goave is, belongs partly to the French and partly to the Spaniards, and in time of peace these commissions are given as a warrant to those of each side to protect them from the adverse party; but in effect the French do not restrain them to Hispaniola, but make them a pretence for a general ravage in any part of America, by sea or land. Having thus disposed of our associates, we intended to sail towards the Gulf of San Miguel, to seek Captain Townley, who by this time we thought might be entering into these seas. Accordingly the 2d of March 1685, we sailed from hence towards the Gulf of San Miguel. This gulf lies near thirty leagues from Panama towards the SE. The way thither from Panama is to pass between the King's Islands and the main. It is a place where many great rivers, having finished their courses, are swallowed up in the sea. It is bounded on the S. by Point Garachina, which lies in N. Lat. 6° 40', and on the N. 1 At the opening of Chapter IV., page 151. 1685.] 195 there, and built the town of Santa Maria. These mines were still being worked by the Spaniards and native Indians, when visited by Dampier. Another town known by its Indian name of Nisperal, also stood at the mouth of the river, described as being more airy and habitable than Santa Maria itself. On the 2d of March they anchored at Pacheque; on leaving and sailing out towards the gulf they met Captain Townley, who had taken two barks bound for Panama, and laden with wine, brandy, and sugar, &c.] The 10th, we took a small bark that came from Guayaquil; she had nothing in her but ballast. The 12th there came an Indian canoe out of the River of Santa Maria, and told us that there were 300 English and French men more coming overland from the North Seas. The 15th we met a bark with five or six Englishmen in her, that belonged to Captain Knight, who had been in the South Seas five or six months and was now on the Mexican coast. There he had spied this bark; but not being able to come up with her in his ship, he detached these five or six men in a canoe, who took her, but when they had done could not recover their own ship again, losing company with her in the night; and therefore they came into the Bay of Panama, intending to go overland back into the North Seas, but that they luckily met with us: for the Isthmus of Darien was now become a common road for Privateers to pass between the North and South Seas at their pleasure. This bark of Captain Knight's had in her forty or fifty jars of brandy: she was now commanded by Mr Henry More; but Captain Swan, intending to promote Captain Harris, caused Mr More to be turned out, alleging that it was very likely these men were run away from their commander. Mr More willingly resigned her, and went aboard of Captain Swan, and became one of his men. IN THE GULF OF SAN MIGUEL. by Cape San Lorenzo. The chief rivers which run into this gulf are Santa Maria, Sambu, and Congo. The River Congo (which is the river I would have persuaded our men to have gone up as their nearest way in our journey overland, mentioned Chapter I.) comes directly out of the country, and swallows up many small streams that fall into it from both sides; and at last loses itself on the N. side of the gulf, a league within Cape San Lorenzo. It is not very wide, but deep, and navigable some leagues within land. There are sands without it, but a channel for ships. It is not made use of by the Spaniards, because of the neighbourhood of Santa Maria River; where they have most business on account of the mines. The River of Sambu seems to be a great river, for there is a great tide at its mouth; but I can say nothing more of it, having never been in it. This river falls into the sea on the south side of the gulf, near Point Garachina. Between the mouths of these two rivers on either side the gulf runs in towards the land somewhat narrower, and makes five or six small islands, which are clothed with great trees, green and flourishing all the year, and good channels between the islands. Beyond which, farther in still, the shore on each side closes so near, with two points of low mangrove land, as to make a narrow or strait scarce half-a-mile wide. This serves as a mouth or entrance to the inner part of the gulf, which is a deep bay two or three leagues over every way; and about the east end thereof are the mouths of several rivers. The River of Santa Maria is the largest of all the rivers of this gulf; it is navigable eight or nine leagues up, for so high the tide flows. Beyond that place the river is divided into many branches, which are only fit for canoes. [They now sailed towards the Gulf of San Miguel in search of Captain Townley. Near the mouth of the River of Santa Maria which falls into the gulf, the Spaniards, twenty years before, made their first discovery of the gold It was now the latter end of the dry season here; and the water at 196 . [CHAP. VII we could fill our water here, we designed to go next morning went to Taboga, where the King's or Pearl Islands, of which | lately taken. there was plenty when we first came hither, was now dried away. Therefore we were forced to go to Point Garachina, thinking to water our ships there. Captain Harris, being now commander of the new bark, was sent into the River of Santa Maria, to seeing we anchored by Perica, and the for those men that the Indians told us of, whilst the rest of the ships sailed towards Point Garachina; where we arrived the 21st day, and anchored two miles from the point, and found a strong tide running out of the River Sambu. The next day we ran within the point, and anchored in four fathoms The Indians that inat low water. habit in the River Sambu came to us in canoes, and brought plantains and bananas. They could not speak nor understand Spanish; therefore I be lieve they have no commerce with the Spaniards. We found no fresh water here neither; so we went from hence to Puerto Pinas, which is seven leagues S. by W. from hence. Puerto Pinas lies in Lat 7° N. It is so called because there are many pine trees growing there. The land is pretty high, rising gently as it runs into the country. This country near the sea is all covered with pretty high woods; the land that bounds the harbour is low in the middle, but high and rocky The 25th we arrived at both sides. at this harbour of pines, but did not go in with our ships, finding it but an We sent in ordinary place to lie at. our boats to search it, and they found a stream of good water running into the sea but there were such great swelling surges came into the harbour, that we could not conveniently fill our water there. The 26th day we returned to Point Garachina again. In our way we took a small vessel she came from laden with cacao: Guayaquil. The 29th we arrived at There we found Point Garachina. Captain Harris, who had been in the River of Santa Maria; but he did not meet the men that he went for; yet he was informed again by the Indians that they were making canoes in one of the branches of the River of Santa Maria. Here we shared our cacao While we lay here, Captain Davis's bark went to the Island of Otoque. This is another inhabited island in the Bay of Panama, not so big as Taboga, yet there are good plantain walks on it, and some Negroes to look after them. These Negroes rear fowls and hogs for their masters, who live at Panama; as at the King's Islands. It was for some fowls or hogs that our men went thither; but by accident they met also with an express that Most that the Lima fleet was at sea. was sent to Panama with an account of the letters were thrown overboard and lost, yet we found some that said positively that the fleet was coming with all the strength that they could make in the kingdom of Peru; yet were ordered not to fight us, except they were forced to it (though afterwards they choose to fight us, having first landed their treasure at Lavelia); and that the pilots of Lima had been [Dampier here inserts in consultation what course to steer to miss us. translations of two of the captured letters reporting the resolutions taken by the committee of pilots, and laying down the course to be steered by the fleet.] The 10th we sailed from Taboga towards the King's Islands again, because our pilots told us that the 1685.] AT THE ISLAND OF TABOGA. 197 King's ships did always come this | King's Islands; she was sent out well way. The 11th we anchored at the appointed with armed men to watch place where we careened. Here we our motions. The 25th, Captain Harfound Captain Harris, who had gone ris came to us, having cleaned his a second time into the River of Santa ship. The 26th we went again toMaria, and fetched the body of men ward Taboga; our fleet now, upon that last came overland, as the In- Captain Harris joining us again, condians told us, but they fell short of sisted of ten sail. We arrived at the number they told us of. The Taboga the 28th; there our prisoners 19th we sent 250 men in fifteen were examined concerning the strength canoes to the River Chepo to take of Panama; for now we thought ourthe town of Chepo. The 21st, all selves strong enough for such an enour ships but Captain Harris, who terprise, being near 1000 men. Out stayed to clean his ship, followed of these, on occasion, we could have after. The 22d we arrived at the landed 900; but our prisoners gave Island of Chepillo, the pleasantest us small encouragement to it, for island in the Bay of Panama. It is they assured us that all the strength but seven leagues from the city of of the country was there, and that Panama, and a league from the main. many men were come from Porto This island is about two miles long, Bello besides its own inhabitants, and almost so broad; it is low on the who of themselves were more in numnorth side, and rises by a small ascent ber than we. These reasons, together towards the south side. The soil is with the strength of the place, which yellow, a kind of clay. The high has a high wall, deterred us from atside is stony; the low land is planted tempting it. While we lay here at with all sorts of delicate fruits, viz., Taboga, some of our men burned the sappodillas, Avocado pears, mammees, town on the island. [From the 4th mammee sapotas, star apples, &c. of May till the 27th, they were cruisThe middle of the island is planted ing among the King's Islands waiting with plantain trees, which are not for the Spanish fleet from Lima.] very large, but the fruit extraordinary The 28th we had a very wet morning, sweet.1 for the rains were come in, as they do usually in May or June sooner or later; so that May is here a very uncertain month. However about 11 o'clock it cleared up, and we saw the Spanish fleet about three leagues WNW. from the Island of Pacheque, standing close on a wind to the E.; but they could not fetch the island by a league. We were riding a league SE. from the island, between it and the main; only Captain Gronet was about a mile to the northward of us near the island. He weighed so soon as they came in sight, and stood over for the main, and we lay still, expecting when he would tack and come to us; but he took care to keep himself out of harm's way. The River Chepo is very deep, and about a quarter of a mile broad; but the mouth of it is choked up with sands, so that no ships can enter, but barks may. There is a small Spanish town of the same name within six leagues of the sea; it stands on the left hand going from the sea. The land about it is champaign, with many small hills clothed with woods, but the biggest part of the country is savannah. On the south side of the river it is all woodland for many leagues together. It was to this town that our 250 men were sent. The 24th they returned out of the river, having taken the town without any opposition, but they found nothing in it. By the way going thither they took a canoe, but most of the men escaped ashore upon one of the 1 The particular description of these fruits is now omitted. Captains Swan and Townley came aboard of Captain Davis to order how to engage the enemy, who we saw came purposely to fight us, they being in all fourteen sail, besides periagoes rowing with twelve and fourteen oars signal for his fleet to come to an anchor. We saw the light in the Admiral's top, which continued about half-an-hour, and then it was taken down. In a short time after, we saw the light again; and being to windward, we kept under sail, supposing the light had been in the Admiral's top; but, as it proved, this was only a stratagem of theirs, for this light was put out the second time at one of their barks', topmast-head, and then she went to the leeward, which deceived us, for we thought still the light was in the Admiral's top, and by that means thought ourselves to windward of them. In the morning, therefore, contrary to our expectation, we found they had got the weatherguage of us, and were coming upon us with full sail; so we ran for it, and after a running fight all day, and having taken a turn almost round the Bay of Panama, we came to an anchor again at the Isle of Pacheque, in the very same place from whence we set out in the morning. Thus ended this day's work, and with it all that we had been projecting for five or six months, when, instead of making ourselves masters of the Spanish fleet and treasure, we were glad to escape them, and owed that too, in a great measure, to their want of courage to pursue their advantage. a-piece. Six sail of them were ships of good force: first the Admiral, 48 guns, 450 men; the Vice-Admiral, 40 guns, 400 men; the Rear-Admiral, 36 guns, 360 men; a ship of 24 guns, 300 men; one of 18 guns, 250 men; and one of 8 guns, 200 men; two great fireships, six ships only with small arms, having 800 men on board them all; beside two or three hundred men in periagoes. This account of their strength we had afterwards from Captain Knight, who, being to the windward on the coast of Peru, took prisoners, of whom he had this information, being what they brought from Lima. Besides these men, they had also some hundreds of Old Spain men that came from Porto Bello, and met them at Lavelia, from whence they now came; and their strength of men from Lima was 3000 men, being all the strength they could make in that kingdom, and for greater security they had first landed their treasure at Lavelia. Our fleet consisted of ten sail: first Captain Davis, 36 guns, 156 men, mostly English; Captain Swan, 16 guns, 140 men, all English. These were the only ships of force that we had, the rest having none but small arms. Captain Townley had 110 men, all English; Captain Gronet, 308 men, all French; Captain Harris, 100 men, mostly English; Captain Branley, 36 men, some English, some French; Davis's tender, 8 men; Swan's tender, 8 men; Townley's bark, 80 men; and a small bark of thirty tons made a fireship, with a canoe's crew in her. We had in all 960 men. But Captain Gronet came not to us till all was over, yet we were not discouraged at it, but resolved to fight them; for being to windward of the enemy, we had it at our choice whether we would fight or not. It was 3 o'clock in the afternoon when we weighed, and being all under sail we bore down right afore the wind on our enemies, who kept close on a wind to come to us; but night came on without anything besides the exchanging of a few shot on each side. When it grew dark, the Spanish Admiral put out a light as a The 30th day, in the morning, when we looked out, we saw the Spanish fleet all together, three leagues to leeward of us, at anchor. It was but little wind till 10 o'clock, and then sprang up a small breeze at S., and the Spanish fleet went away to Panama. What loss they had I know not; we lost but one man; and having held a consult, we resolved to go to the Keys of Quibo or Cabaya, to seek Captain Harris, who was forced away from us in the fight; that being the place appointed for our rendezvous upon any such accident. As for Gronet, he said his men would not suffer him to join us in the fight; but we were not satisfied with that excuse; so we suffered him to go with 1 Council, or consultation. |
