A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels Volume Xvii Part 35

Wednesday the 29th, fresh gales at N.W. with rain; sure no men ever met with such weather as we have in this climate: To-day we walked in the woods to take some notice of the trees, which we find to be very much like our beech in England; but the trees and bushes are in general of a soft free nature, and with a spicy bark.

Thursday the 30th, wind still at N.W. and rainy weather. This day departed this life, Nathaniel Robinson, the last private man of the invalids; there are now only two left, viz. the captain and surgeon. Being at the honourable Mr B----n's tent, I found him looking in Sir John Narborough's voyage to these seas: This book I desired the loan of, he told me it was Captain C----p's, and did not doubt but he would lend it me; this favour I requested of the captain, and it was presently granted. Carefully perusing this book, I conceived an opinion that our going through the Streights of Magellan for the coast of Brasil, would be the only way to prevent our throwing ourselves into the hands of a cruel, barbarous, and insulting enemy: Our long-boat, when finished, can be fit for no enterprize, but the preservation of life: As we cannot act offensively, we ought to have regard to our safety and liberty. This evening proposals were offered to the officers concerning our going through the Streights of Magellan; which at this time they seem to approve of.

Friday the 31st, hard gales at N.W. with rain: This day was taken up along sh.o.r.e, an otter just killed, but by what animal we could not tell; it was bleeding fresh when taken up, and proved a dainty repast. Came ash.o.r.e the s.h.i.+p's beams, with several things of great value.

Sat.u.r.day, August the 1st, hard gales at N.W. with rain and hail. This day put to an allowance of flour, one quarter of a pound a man per diem, and one pint of wine: Those who like brandy, to have half a pint in lieu of wine. We have now in a manner nothing to live on but what we pick'd up along the sh.o.r.e: The s.h.i.+p's company agree to go through the Streights of Magellan.

Sunday the 2d, this morning found the store-tent robbed of brandy, filled up all the ullage casks, picked up about the rocks abundance of clams, a sh.e.l.l-fish not unlike our c.o.c.kles: These fish are at present the support of our life. The people are now very quarrelsome and discontented.

Monday the 3d, this day having fine weather (which is a prodigy in this place) launched the boat, and went about the rocks and islands on discovery. This day we also moved into our new house, it being a very commodious habitation, exceedingly well thatched; in this dwelling there are cabins for fourteen people, which are covered inside and out with broad cloth: This is a rich house, and, in some parts of the world, would purchase a pretty estate; there are several hundred yards of cloth about it, besides the curtains and linings, which are shalloon and camblet; in short, considering where we are, we cannot desire a better habitation. The people fall into disputes concerning the boat, where we are to proceed with her, when she is built and ready for going off. It is the opinion of the navigators, that going through the Streights of Magellan is the safest and only way to preserve life and liberty: The artists, who have worked the bearings and distance, are very pressing that it should be moved to the captain, purposing to have their reasons drawn up, and signed by all who are willing to go that way, and to be delivered to the captain for his opinion; upon this there was a paper drawn up, and as soon as the people heard it, they came flocking to sign first, crying all aloud for the Streights, seeming overjoyed, as if they were going to England directly, without any affliction or trouble, but there must be a great deal of hards.h.i.+ps to be encountered before we arrive at our native country: This paper was signed by all the officers on the spot, except the captain, lieutenant, purser, and surgeon, and by all the seamen in general, except the captain's steward.

Tuesday the 4th, at the time of serving at the storehouse, about twelve o'clock, I went to the captain, with the master, carpenter, and boatswain, and read to him the paper; he answered he would consider of it, and give his answer: Here follows a copy of the paper signed:--

"We whose names are under-mentioned, do, upon mature consideration, as we have met with so happy a deliverance, think it the best, surest, and most safe way for the preservation of the body of people on the spot, to proceed through the Streights of Magellan for England. Dated at a desolate island on the coast of Patagonia, in the lat.i.tude of 47 deg. 00 min. south, and west longitude from the meridian of London 81 deg. 40 min. in the South Seas, this 2d day of August, 1741.

John Bulkeley, gunner.

John c.u.mmins, carpenter.

Thomas Clark, master.

John King, boatswain.

John Jones, master's mate.

John Snow, ditto.

Robt. Elliot, surgeon's mate.

The Hon. John Byron, mids.h.i.+pman.

Alexander Campbell, ditto.

Isaac Morris, ditto.

Thomas Maclean, cook.

John Mooring, boatswain's mate.

Henry Stevens, seaman.

Benjamin Smith, seaman.

John Montgomery, seaman.

John Duck, seaman.

John Hayes, seaman.

James Butler, seaman.

John Hart, seaman.

James Roach, seaman.

Job Barns, seaman.

John Petman, seaman.

William Callicutt, seaman.

Richard Phipps, boatswain's mate.

John Young, cooper.

Richard n.o.ble, quarter-master.

William Rose, ditto.

William Hervey, quarter-gunner.

John Bosman, seaman.

William Moore, ditto.

Samuel Stook, ditto.

Samuel Cooper, ditto.

David Buckley, quarter-gunner.

George Smith, seaman.

Peter Deleroy, seaman.

James M'Cawle, seaman.

John George, seaman.

John Shorclan, seaman.

Richard East, seaman.

William Lane, seaman.

William Oram, seaman.

Moses Lewis, seaman.

Nicholas Griselham, seaman.

"We whose names are under-mentioned, have had sufficient reasons, from the above-mentioned people, to consent to go this way. Signed by

Captain Robert Pemberton, commander of his majesty's land forces.

William Fielding, lieutenant Robert Ewers, lieutenant

Wednesday the 5th, this day I went with the master, carpenter, master's mates, and mids.h.i.+pmen, to the captain, to acquaint him with what was done, and resolved on, and farther told him, it was a duty inc.u.mbent on us to preserve life before any other interest. He answered, Gentlemen, I desire time to consider of it, and will give you my final determination; on which we took our leave, and came away.

Thursday the 6th, hard gales at W.S.W. and rainy weather. At noon we went with Mr c.u.mmins to Captain P--mb--rt--n's tent, to have some farther conference for our future deliverance: While we were there, the captain sent his service to Captain C----p for a pair of pocket-pistols, his own property, which had been refused him on his request some time before. The servant was answered, by the captain's favourite and prime minister the steward, The captain is ill, and I can't let you have 'em. This answer not being satisfactory to Captain P--mb--rt--n, he sent a second time, and insisted on the delivery of his pistols, but was answered, they could not be come at before the captain was up; but a little time after it was judged proper to send Captain P--mb--rt--n his pistols. From Captain P--mb--rt-- n's we went to the L----t's tent; while there, the L----t was sent to Captain C----p, about an hour after the carpenter and myself were sent for; when we came to him, he said, Gentlemen, I have maturely considered the contents of your paper, so far as it regards the preservation of the people on the spot: This paper has given me a great deal of uneasiness, insomuch that I have not closed my eyes till eight o'clock this morning, for thinking of it, but, I think, you have not weighed the thing rightly; do you know we are above one hundred and sixty leagues distant S.W. from the Streights of Magellan, with the wind against us? Then think on the distance to be run afterwards on the other side the Streights, with the wind always against us, and where no water is to be had. I answered, Sir, you say it is above one hundred and sixty leagues to the Streights, but let the navigators work it, and they will find it not above ninety leagues; yourself and lieutenant are undoubtedly navigators and judges, therefore will certainly find it as I say. Mr c.u.mmins acquainted him, accordingly to his calculation, the vessel would carry a month's water, at a quart a man per diem; and, sir, do you consider, after running along sh.o.r.e to the northward this side the land, that we have one hundred leagues to run right out to sea to the island of Juan Ferdinandez, and five hundred chances to one if we meet the commodore there, or any of the squadron, nor do we know but the commodore may have shared the same fate with ourselves, or perhaps worse? The captain answered, It's a thousand to one if we see the commodore at Juan Ferdinandez; for, gentlemen, to let you into a secret, which I never discovered before, we shall meet him at Baldavia, his orders were from ---- to go there with the squadron, it being a place of little or no force. Mr c.u.mmins answered, Sir, 'tis agreed, the commodore is at Baldavia, but we make it in our bargain, when we go from hence, that we will put ash.o.r.e at every place when we want water, whenever the weather will permit, without any obstruction. The captain replied, There is no occasion for that, we will water at the islands, and take a vessel going along. Mr c.u.mmins said, Sir, what shall we do with a vessel, without provisions, for ninety souls? The captain answered, We will take a vessel loaded with flour from Chili, there being a great many trading vessels that way, and then we will proceed through the Streights of Magellan. Mr c.u.mmins said, How shall we take a vessel without guns, not having any but muskets, and our enemies know, as well as ourselves, that we have a squadron in these seas, therefore, undoubtedly are well armed, and keep a good look-out? The captain's answer to this was, What are our small arms for, but to board 'em? The carpenter said, Sir, if a shot should take the boat under water, it would not be in my power to stop a leak of that kind, where the plank is so thin, that in some places it is not above three quarters of an inch thick. The captain then said, Gentlemen; I am agreeable to any thing, and willing to go any way, for the preservation of the people; but at the same time would have you consider of it, the wind being always against us on the other side the land, and we have above seven hundred leagues to the river Plate. I answered the captain, 'Tis not above five hundred and ninety leagues from hence to Cape St Antonio's; and, as I have before said, let the navigators work it, and reason take place, which is what we chiefly desire to be governed by: Another inducement we have to go the way proposed is, that we may be a.s.sured of water and provision. I allow that, says the captain, and we may save our own; but how do you know whether we may not meet enemies in the Streights? I replied to the captain, We can have no enemies to encounter there, but Indians in their canoes, and those we can master at our pleasure. The captain then seemed to countenance our opinion again, and said, When we come to St Julian's we shall be sure of salt in plenty for our provisions, without which our fowls will not keep above two or three days: Besides, when we come to the river Plate, we may meet with a prize, they not being acquainted with any English vessel like ours, with schooner's sails, by which means we may run up the river and take a larger vessel: If we fail here, we may go ash.o.r.e, and get what cattle we please, but what business have we at the Rio Grand? We must go to the Rio Janeiro.

I told him, we should be obliged to stop at every place along sh.o.r.e for supplies; at St Catharine's the governor will give us a certificate, so that we shall be known to be the people that were there in the squadron.

The captain said, That's true, and I can get bills of credit in any part of Brazil; besides, the people may be separated, some in the Flota, and some in other s.h.i.+ps, with less hands we may go to Barbadoes. Mr c.u.mmins told him, we might venture to England with, twelve hands. Yes, you may, says the captain, with thirty. It is to be observed, during all this debate, the lieutenant spoke not a word. The carpenter asking him the reason of his silence in all the consultation, he answered, I'll give my opinion hereafter. The captain said, I knew nothing of his being acquainted with it, till Mr Bulkeley told me yesterday; but at the same time, Mr B----s, I expect, you will be the first that will sign the paper. I imagined the captain meant our paper, and immediately answered, with some warmth, As he had refused signing at first, and at the same time agreed to the proposal, that I had signed so close, that there was no room left for his name, and now it was too late for him to sign. The captain surprized me, by saying, I don't mean your paper; I told him, Any other, which should be contrary to ours, would never be signed by us. Mr c.u.mmins said to the captain, Sir, 'tis all owing to you that we are here; if you had consulted your officers, we might have avoided this misfortune, considering the condition the s.h.i.+p was in, she was not fit to come in with the land, all our men being sick, and not above three seamen in a watch; suppose the mast had gone by the board, as was every moment expected. The captain made answer, Gentlemen, you do not know my orders; there never were any so strict given to a commander before, and had I but two men living besides myself, I must, and was obliged to go to the first rendezvous, which was the island of Nostra Senhora di Socora: I was obliged to go there at all events. I made answer to this, Sir, if that is the case, it seems plain the thing was designed we should be here: But, sir, I am of opinion, notwithstanding the commodore had his orders from ---- to go with the squadron to Baldavia, that at the same time those orders were so far discretional, that if the squadron was disabled, care was to be taken not to endanger his majesty's s.h.i.+ps. Yes, that (says the captain) was settled at St Julian's: Notwithstanding what has been said, gentlemen, I am agreeable to take any chance with you, and to go any way; but would have you consider of it, and defer your determination till all is ready to go off the spot. I then told the captain, You have known, sir, from the time you saw the proposal, that the people are uneasy, and the work is at a stand, and in this situation things will be until this affair is settled; therefore the sooner you resolve the better. The captain replied, I design to have a consultation among my officers: Have you any more objections to make? I answered, Yes, sir, one more; which is, when you go from hence, you are not to weigh, come to an anchor, or alter course, without consulting your officers. The captain said, Gentlemen, I was your commander till the s.h.i.+p parted, or as long as any stores or provisions were getting out of her. We told him, we had always taken care to obey his orders in the strictest manner, which he allowed us to have done; and he added, You were the officers that I placed my whole dependence in. We answered, Sir, we will support you with our lives, as long as you suffer reason to rule: And then we parted. After this consultation, the captain seldom came out of his tent, which occasioned.

great disturbances among the people.

Friday the 7th, the wind at W.N.W. with rain. This day the navigators worked the bearings and distance along sh.o.r.e, from one place to another, to know the true distance: Hereupon it was agreed to proceed through the Streights of Magellan, according to Sir John Narborough's directions, which give us great encouragement to go that way. Captain P----n drawed his men up, and dismissed 'em again. Great uneasiness among the people.

Sat.u.r.day the 8th, this morning went to the lieutenant, for him to acquaint the captain all his officers were ready to give sufficient reasons for going through the Streights of Magellan, desiring a consultation might be held in the afternoon. At three o'clock the captain sent for me and Mr c.u.mmins; when we came, the master and boatswain were sent for, but they were gone in search of subsistence, as limpetts, muscles, &c. The captain said, Gentlemen, I don't doubt but you have considered upon the business you are come about; therefore I am determined to take my fate with you, or where the spirit of the people leads, and shall use my best endeavours for their preservation; but I am afraid of meeting contrary winds, for after the sun has crossed the Line we must expect to meet 'em. I made answer, By all accounts the wind hangs from N.W. to the S.W. above three parts of the year, which is in our favour. Mr c.u.mmins told him, There was fresh water to be got as well on one coast as the other, and if Sir John Narborough's treatment was so ill in a profound peace, what must we expect in a time of open war? The captain said, I am afraid, very bad. Then Mr c.u.mmins spoke in this manner to the captain: Sir, I always took you for an honourable gentleman, and I believe you to be such; on your honour, sir, I beg you will give the true sentiments of your mind, whether through the Streights is not the surest and safest way to preserve our lives, notwithstanding we have a thousand difficulties to encounter with any way? The captain answered, I really think going to the northward is the safest way; for suppose we should be drove off to sea, when on the other side the land, what is to be done then? I said, Sir, it is our business to keep the sh.o.r.e, to prevent all accidents that may happen that way. Then Lieutenant B----s made an objection, Suppose you have the wind blowing right in, and a tumbling sea, as to endanger the boat, what are we to do? I made answer, Sir, if you remember when we were riding at St Julian's, it blowed a very hard gale of wind right in from the sea; yet, even then, the sea did not run so high as to endanger a boat riding at anchor: Another instance I bring you from St Catherine's, when we had such hard gales that the Trial lost her masts, and the Pearl separated from the squadron; yet, at that time, there was no sea comparable to what we have met with this side the land. The lieutenant allowed this to be fact. Then the captain said, I will allow you to have water at Port Desire; but do you consider the lengthening your distance, by keeping along sh.o.r.e, and rounding every bay, and some of those bays are very deep? I told him, that undoubtedly there was water all along the coast, and that we had no business to round the bays, but to steer from one head-land to the other. Then Lieutenant B----s made a second objection, Suppose we are forced into a bay, and shoal water? I answered, We should always have a boat a-head, and our draught of water will not be above four or five feet at most; and if we should be so unfortunate as to lose our boat, we must keep the lead a-going. The l----t replied, That was true, and there could not be a great deal of difficulty in it. This was the only time the l----t ever spoke in public on the affair; he always allowed, when absent from the captain, that going through the Streights was the best way; but in the captain's presence he sided with him, and was for going to the northward.

Sunday the 9th, at three this afternoon, I went with Mr c.u.mmins, the master, and boatswain, as desired, to the captain, to give him our opinions, believing going through the Streights the surest way to preserve life; it was therefore agreed, That if the wind did not set in against us, at the sun's crossing the Line, that the captain would go that way. The captain asked every man's opinion, and found the people unanimous for the Streights of Magellan. To-day being fair weather, launched the yawl to go a fowling, shot several geese, ducks, s.h.a.ggs, and sea-pies. Heeled the long- boat for planking.

Monday the 10th, wind at N. and N.N.W. rainy weather. Eat slaugh and sea- weed fryed with tallow-candles, which we picked up along sh.o.r.e; this we reckon at present exceeding good eating, having nothing to live on but a quarter of a pound of flour a man per day, and what we can get off the rocks: For many days the weather has been so bad that we have not been able to stir abroad, though almost starved for want of food.

Tuesday the 11th, hard gales at S.W. with heavy rains. This afternoon the people came in arms to acquaint us of the stores being robbed; they therefore wanted our consent for moving the stores to our tent; on which we desired they would desist from offering any violence: We told 'em of the ill consequence of mutiny, which, as we always abhorred, we took all imaginable care to prevent: The people, on our persuasions, instantly quitted their arms. The captain presently sent for me and Mr c.u.mmins, to acquaint us with what had happened: He told us the purser, accidentally coming by, saw the prisoner Rowland Crussett, marine, crawling from the bushes, and from under the store tent, and found on him upwards of a day's flour for ninety souls, with one piece of beef under his coat, and three pieces more, which were concealed in the bushes, to carry off when an opportunity offered; and the sentry, Thomas Smith, his mess-mate, a marine, undoubtedly was privy to the robbery. The captain farther said, We have nothing to do with them; but I shall send to Captain P----n, to insist on a court-martial: I really think that for robbing the store-tent (which, in our present circ.u.mstances, is starving the whole body of people) the prisoners deserve death. This was not only the captain's opinion, but indeed the sentiments of every person present. After we parted from the captain, we were sent for by Captain P----n: He acquainted us, he would go as far as the martial law would allow him, and in conjunction with the sea- officers: I look (said he) on the l----t as nothing, and the c----n in the same light: As for you two, (meaning the gunner and carpenter) I confide in, and shall have regard to your opinions. When the articles of war were read, we found their crime did not touch life, but they were to suffer corporal punishment. Whilst Mr c.u.mmins was laying open the nature of their guilt, and the ill consequence of lenity in the circ.u.mstances we were in, I proposed a way next to death, which was, if judged proper by Captain P----n and Captain C----p, to carry 'em off to an island where the s.h.i.+p parted, there being muscles, limpetts, and clams in abundance, and no want of water, and there to be left till we should be ready for sailing; and, to strike a terror in all for the future, that if any man should be guilty of the like offence, without any respect of person, he should share the same fate. This proposal was approved of by both the captains. At night Lieutenant B----n surprised us with a new kind of proposal we little dreamt of, which was, to have a proper place of devotion to perform divine service in every sabbath-day: For this sacred office, our tent was judged the most commodious place. The duty of public prayer had been entirely neglected on board, though every seaman pays fourpence per month towards the support of a minister; yet devotion, in so solemn a manner, is so rarely performed, that I know but one instance of it during the many years I have belonged to the navy. We believe religion to have the least share in this proposal of the lieutenant. If our tent should be turned into a house of prayer, and this project takes, we may, perhaps, in the midst of our devotion, be surprised, and our arms taken, from us, in order to frustrate our designs, and prevent our return to England through the Streights of Magellan, or any other way.

Wednesday the 12th, hard gales from S.W. to W. with heavy showers of hail and rain. Served out provisions today, a piece of beef for four men; some time past we have had but a quarter of a pound of flour per man per diem, and three pieces of beef: We live chiefly on muscles, limpitts, and clams, with saragraza and thromba; one is a green broad weed, common on the rocks in England; the other is a round sea-weed, so large, that a man can scarce grasp it; it grows in the sea, with broad leaves; this last we boil, the saragraza we fry in tallow; in this manner we support life: Even these sh.e.l.l-fish and weeds we get with great difficulty; for the wind, the rain, and coldness of the climate in this season, are so extremely severe, that a man will pause some time whether he shall stay in his tent and starve, or go out in quest of food.

Friday the 14th, very hard gales at W. and N.W., with showers of rain and hail, which beat with such violence against a man's face, that he can hardly withstand it; however, one of our mess-mates to-day shot three gulls and a hawk, which gave us a very elegant repast. This day was held a court- martial on the sentry who is believed confederate with the marine that robbed the store-tent: sentence was pa.s.sed on them to receive six hundred lashes each: Captain C----p not thinking the punishment adequate to the crime, cut 'em short of their allowance, so that they have now but half the provisions they had before: The day following the offenders received two hundred lashes each, as part of their punishment. We hauled the long-boat higher up, for fear the sea should wash the blocks from under her. We have found a new way of managing the slaugh; we fry it in thin batter with tallow, and use it as bread.

Sunday the 16th, fresh gales of wind at S.W. with heavy showers of hail: The people generally complain of a malady in their eyes; they are in great pain, and can scarce see to walk about. The last tide flowed nine feet perpendicular; to-day we picked up sh.e.l.l-fish in abundance, with, pieces of beef and pork. The prisoners received two hundred lashes more.

Tuesday the 18th, this day the carpenter, who has all along been indefatigable in working about the long-boat, saw one of the seamen cutting up an anchor-stock for firewood, which had been designed for a particular use for the long-boat; at sight of the fellow's folly he could not contain himself: This affair, added to the little concern and intolerable indifference that appeared in the generality of the people, for some time impaired his understanding, and made him delirious; all possible methods are used to restore him, as he is the only man, who, through the a.s.sistance of Providence, can compleat the means of our deliverance.

Wednesday the 19th, the carpenter was so much recovered, that he went to work as usual; at night the lieutenant acquainted us, that the captain desired to speak with the carpenter and me to-morrow at noon, to consult what should be done with the two prisoners, having received but four hundred lashes out of the six, to which they were sentenced by a court- martial, the other two hundred being remitted by their own officers.

Thursday the 20th, we waited on the captain, who acquainted us with what the lieutenant had mentioned last night relating to the prisoners: We told him the people were very uneasy about this mitigation of the punishment indicted on them by a court-martial; therefore it was agreed they should provide for themselves as well as they could, but to have no sort of provisions out of the store-tent for the future.

Sat.u.r.day, the 22d, we begun upon several contrivances to get provisions, such as building punts, cask-boats, leather-boats, and the like.