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SECTION II.
Success's Journal. |
. . . .
November 18th. "Maltesi one of the Guara islands bore N. E. one league; from whence I take my departure in latitude 11:10 S. Being fine weather we heel'd and scrubb'd both sides of our ship. We stood in for Guanchaco: but finding nothing there, bore away for Cheripe: where seeing nothing, we stood away for Payta, designing to try our fortune at every port to the northward; particularly to get a supply of flower, which being now all expended, we have three pound of Indian corn served to a mess of six men each. 27. "Saw point Helen: shorten'd sail and stood from the land. Hoisted out the pinnace and yawl to set the prisoners ashore belonging to the last prize retaken by the enemy. After which we steer to |
"the westward for the Gallipagos islands, in order to refresh our men, who are very bad with the scurvy. 36. "Had an observation, and find my self in latitude 00:09 N. Here is a strong current to the northward, and I believe a little westerly. I am 22 miles more northerly than the log gives, variation and leeway having been allow'd. All our bread, flower, and Indian corn is now expended, and we have but one little meal in 24 hours; which is a small piece of English beef (being yet very good) and calivances. Six men in a mess. December 4th. "Mr. Thomas Fairman our purser departed this life; and we committed him to the deep. Measur'd our logline and find it three fathom too short, which amounts to 52 mile one hour with another since we left cape Helen. Having an observation, I rectify my account and find the latitude 00:36 N. We keep plying to windward against a strong S.W. current in sight of the Gallipagos. 6th. "Sent the pinnace to difcover an anchoring place at one of the islands: returns without finding any but saw a- |
"bundance of tortoise ashore. Send the pinnace and yawl to get some. They return with fish enough to serve the company a day: But there running a prodigious surf, they could not land, or look for turtle. We kept plying off and on, and sounded in foul ground from 80 to 50 fath: the latitude of the island I make 9 minutes N. 'tis a mere rock: so we left it, and steer'd away for another S.W. being the same which the Spaniards make to lye under the equator. We run along shore but can find no anchoring: so that being unwilling to lose more time, we make our best way to the isle of Cocos>, where we hope certainly to get fish, fowl, and cocoa-nuts; our people being very sick and weak. 7th and 8th. "We had several islands N.E. but on the 9th got clear of them all. This day I took charge of the captain's watch, and Mr. Chambers the larboard, Mr. Davison being sick, and lieutenant Cook still refusing his duty. Little happens in this passage, but burying two or three of our hands. Our people fall apace; therefore are in pain lest we miss the island. |
17. "Going very slowly ahead, find there is a southern current. Lye to till day light, believing we are near the island. At nine forenoon with joy we beheld the island Cocos about nine leagues N.W. 18. "Anchor in 13 fathom white fand. Here all our people and the marquifs de Villa Roche got ashore, where we build a house for the sick men. Here is abundance of good fish round the island which we take pains to catch, the surf being sometimes very great. Our people find here plenty of coco-nuts, crabs, boobies and their eggs, this being their hatching time. Our captain broaches the last hogshead of brandy, allowing every man a dram a day: and on new-years-day gave the people a gallon of strong beer for six. This food, ease, and refreshment pretty well recover'd all our company. We wood and water, tho' with much difficulty; for here is a great swell coming in from the northward constantly at full moon and change: therefore are forced to wait 'till the spring tides are abated before we can get any thing off. . . . .
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Source.
William Betagh.
This extract is from a book at Hathi Trust.
Last updated by Tom Tyler, Denver, CO, USA, Jan 8 2022.
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