Volume Xvii Part 33 (1/2)
It has been hinted to us, as if publis.h.i.+ng this journal would give offence to some persons of distinction. We can't conceive how any transactions relating to the Wager, although made ever so public, can give offence to any great man at home. Can it be any offence to tell the world that we were s.h.i.+pwrecked in the Wager, when all people know it already? Don't they know that the Wager was one of his majesty's store-s.h.i.+ps? That we had on board not only naval stores, but other kind of stores, of an immense value? Don't they also know that we went abroad with hopes of acquiring great riches, but are return'd home as poor as beggars? We are guilty of no indecent reproaches, or unmannerly reflections; though, it is certain, we cannot but lament our being engaged in so fatal an expedition. When persons have surmounted great difficulties, it is a pleasure for them to relate their story; and if we give ourselves this satisfaction, who has any cause to be offended? Are we, who have faced death in so many shapes, to be intimidated, lest we should give offence to the--Lord knows whom? We never saw a satyrical journal in our lives, and we thought that kind of writing was the most obnoxious to give offence.
It has been a thing usual, in publis.h.i.+ng of voyages, to introduce abundance of fiction; and some authors have been esteemed merely for being marvellous. We have taken care to deviate from those, by having a strict regard to truth. There are undoubtedly in this book some things which will appear incredible.
The account we give of the Patagonian Indians, and our own distresses, though ever so well attested, will not easily obtain credit; and people will hardly believe that human nature could possibly support the miseries that we have endured.
All the difficulties related we have actually endured, and perhaps must endure more: Till the commodore's arrival we cannot know our fate; at present we are out of all employment, and have nothing to support ourselves and families, but the profits arising from the sale of our journal; which perhaps may be the sum total we shall ever receive for our voyage to the South Seas.
A VOYAGE TO THE SOUTH SEAS.
On Thursday the 18th of September, 1740, sailed from St h.e.l.lens his majesty's s.h.i.+p Centurion, Commodore Anson, with the Gloucester, Pearl, Severn, Wager, and Tryal, and two store-s.h.i.+ps; this squadron was designed round Cape-Horn into the South Seas, to distress the Spaniards in those parts. The s.h.i.+ps were all in prime order, all lately rebuilt. The men were elevated with hopes of growing immensely rich, and in a few years of returning to Old England loaden with the wealth of their enemies.
Sat.u.r.day, the 20th, the Ram-head bearing N. by W., distant four leagues, the commodore hoisted his pendant, and was saluted by every s.h.i.+p in the squadron, with thirteen guns each. This day joined company with us his majesty's s.h.i.+ps Dragon, Winchester, South-Sea-Castle, and Rye-Galley, with a large convoy of merchant s.h.i.+ps.
Thursday, the 25th, we parted company with the Winchester and the South- Sea-Castle, with their convoys, bound for America.
On Monday, we parted company with the Streights and Turkey convoys.
Friday, October the 3d, at eight in the morning, we saw two brigantines to the south-east; the commodore gave a signal to chace, at nine fired two shots to bring 'em to, at ten spoke with the chace, being two brigs from Lisbon, bound for New York.
Sunday, the 26th, about five in the morning, the Severn shewed lights, and fired several guns a-head; soon after we saw the land bearing W. by S, and at noon the east end of Madeira bore north, distant five leagues.
Wednesday, we moored in Fonchiale road, so called from a city of that name, which is the metropolis of the island of Madeira; here we employed most of our time in getting aboard water, and stowing our dry provisions between decks.
Tuesday, November the 4th, Captain Kidd our commander was removed on board the Pearl, and the Honourable Captain Murray succeeded him in the Wager.
Captain Norris of the Gloucester having obtained leave to return to England, on account of his ill state of health, occasioned the above removals.
While we lay at Madeira, we were informed of ten sail of s.h.i.+ps cruising off and on, to the westward, these s.h.i.+ps were judged to be French, and had been seen every day for a week before our arrival: The commodore sent out a privateer sloop, but she returned the day following, without seeing 'em, so that we can give no account of 'em.
On Wednesday, the 5th, we sailed, from Madeira. On the 2Oth the Industry store-s.h.i.+p parted company, and on Friday the 28th, by account, we crossed the equinoctial.
On the 17th of December, we saw the island of St Catharine, at noon, the northmost land in sight bore W.N.W., and the southmost S.W. by W. Variation per amplitude 12; 57 easterly.
On the 18th, the north end of the island of St Catharine bore N.W. by W., distant seven leagues, and the island of Gaul bore N.W., distant six leagues.
On the 19th we anch.o.r.ed in St Catharine's bay, in upward of twelve fathom water, the island Gaul on the coast of Brazil, bearing N. by E., distant four leagues. On the 20th, we anch.o.r.ed in St Catharine's road, and the day following, we moored between the island of St Catharine and the main.
On Monday, the 22d, the commodore ordered fresh beef for the sick people.
On the 27th, came in a Portuguese brig from Rio Janeiro, for the Rio Grand: While we lay here, the people were generally employed in over-hauling the rigging, and getting aboard water.
On the 17th of January, 1741, we sailed from St Catharine's, the commodore saluted the fort with eleven guns, the fort returned the same number.
On Thursday, the 22d, we lost sight of the Pearl.
On Tuesday, the 17th of February, the Pearl joined the squadron, and on the 19th we came to anchor off the river of St Julian's, on the coast of Patagonia; St Julian's hill bearing S.W. by W., and the southmost land in sight S. by E., distant from the sh.o.r.e three leagues. This day our captain, the Honourable George Murray, took command on board the Pearl, Captain Kidd having died on the voyage since we left St Catharine's.
Captain Kidd was heard to say, a few days before his death, that this voyage, which both officers and sailors had engaged in with so much cheerfulness and alacrity, would prove in the end very far from their expectations, notwithstanding the vast treasure they imagined to gain by it; that it would end in poverty, vermin; famine, death, and destruction.
How far the captain's words were prophetic will appear in the course of our journal. Captain C--p succeeded Captain Murray on board the Wager.
On the 26th of February, we sent on board the Pearl twelve b.u.t.ts and two puncheons of water, the Pearl having, while she was separated from us, been chased by five large Spanish men of war, the commander in chief being distinguished by a red broad pendant with a swallow's tail at his main-top- mast head, and a red flag at his ensign-staff: During the chace, the Pearl, in order to clear s.h.i.+p, threw overboard and stove fourteen tons of water; she likewise stove the long-boat, and threw her overboard, with oars, sails, and booms, and made all clear for engaging, but night coming on at seven o'clock lost sight of the enemy, at five in the morning saw the Spanish s.h.i.+ps from the mast-head, two points on the lee-quarter, still giving chace, and crowding all the sail they could, but at nine the Pearl lost sight of 'em entirely. We judged this to be admiral Pizarro's squadron, sent out in pursuit of Commodore Anson. Had our s.h.i.+ps united fallen in with 'em, 'tis probable we might have given a good account of 'em. While we lay at St Julian's we saw the sea full of shrimps, and red as if they were boiled, the water appeared tinctured to that degree, that it looked like blood.