Strange wild men.
Deform’d people.
After all this Entertainment, Weighing from hence,SchoutenSail’d along the Coast ofNew-Guiny, where three Boats full ofNegro’s came Rowing towards them, Slinging very fiercely Stones at them, and hovering about, attended their motion all night. Next morning, seven Boats more coming to their assistance, they set upon theHollanders, but soon fled from their Bullets;yet two of theNegro’s were taken, that in each Nostril wore a Ring. Sailing further, several Boats came aboard of them, whereof those that Row’d, breaking theirAssagaysor Launces over their Heads, enter’d the Ship; the Hair of their Heads and Beards bedawb’d with Lime, flew about, whilst they Danc’d on the Decks, after they had eaten a good Meal: But they endeavor’d to reward this their kind Entertainment with Treachery, for going ashore, they soon after return’d in greater numbers, and sat upon the Anchors which lay over the Bows of the Ship, and there being a great calm, endeavor’d to Towe the Ship towards the Shore, whilst others threw Stones and Arrows. But so soon as theHollandersfiring their Guns Wounded several of them, they all fled, except some which they took Prisoners, whereof one whom they afterwards call’dMoses, did them great service.
ButLe Mairewas amaz’d at nothing more, than when on the next Coast he saw several little Houses built about nine Foot high, out of which many People issu’d, which were all deform’d, either having Wry Noses, Bow Legs, Squint Eyes, or crooked Backs, and all in one part or another mis-shapen.
At last, Anchoring beforeJacatra, the Ship was stopt there by order of theEast-IndiaCompany, and the Men divided and put aboard those Ships that Sail’d fromIndiatoHolland, and arriv’d in safety atFlushing, after they had Sail’d about the World, in two years and eighteen days.
Remarkable Exploits ofL’Hermite.
TheUnited Netherlands, to abate theSpanishGreatness, set out a considerable Fleet, which they sent to try their fortune, in making Prize of what ever they could light upon in any of their Havens wash’d by the South-Sea.
Jaques L’Hermitehad ten Ships under his Command, Mann’d with sixteen hundred thirty seven Men, and two hundred ninety four Brass and Iron Guns, with which he set Sail fromGoree,Anno 1623.and coming beforeCape Vincent, he discover’d elevenTurkishPirates, whom fighting, he beat, and re-took theHollandShips they had made Prize of.
AtRoxents Head,L’Hermitegave chase to fifteenSpanishShips, and coming up with them, sunk eleven, and took four laden with Sugar. Afterwards Anchoring atSafia, he sent the ShipOver-yssel, and a Frigat call’d theGray-Hound, to Convoy home the Prizes; afterward being inform’d, that thirtySpanishShips were making to them, Sailing into the HavenSt. Vincent, the Spring Water that he supply’d his empty Cask with being brakkish, caus’d an excoriation of the Guts, which brought the Bloody-Flux, whereby he lost many of his Sea-men; being well entertain’d by the Salvages ofAntonio, they went on toSierra Leona, a Mountainous Point full of Lime-Trees, here they found the Names ofSr. Francis Drake, and otherEnglishcut in a Rock.
After that he put in at the fruitful IslandAnnabon, where he caus’d his Chirurgeon to be Beheaded.
Vegara wicked man.
This wicked Man being brought to the Torture, would confess nothing concerning the Crimes objected against him, but being strip’d for Execution, they found a small Bag hanging on his Breast, in which lay a Serpents Skinand Tongue, with which he had Poyson’d several Men, but he confess’d nothing.
The first ofFebruary, the Fleet came toCape de Pemias, which they know at a great distance, by its high Mountains cover’d with Snow.
In short time after, Sailing by the Mouth of theStraightsofLa Maire, they met with very tempestuous Weather, and seventeen of their Men going ashore, were devour’d by theCannibalsofTerra del Fuogo. These People being allWhites, and of a large Stature, Paint themselves Red, and go stark naked, except some of highest quality who tie a Deer Skin about their Necks; and the Women cover their Nakedness with a piece of Leather: They live in Bowers made of the Branches of Trees, Stak’d three Foot deep, in a round at bottom, and above like our Tents, Canopy’d, the top of which open, to carry out the Smoke like a Chimney; and have no other Houshold-stuff than some Baskets, in which they lay their few Fishing Implements. They go continually Arm’d with Clubs, Arrows, Slings, and Stone-Knives: Their Boats being only the Trunk of a Tree made hollow, rise up before and behind like a Half-Moon, and are fourteen, and some sixteen Foot long, and two broad, and Row swifter than a Pinnace with many Oars. Lastly, they are so Salvage, that they seem rather to be Beasts than Men, knowing no Religion, ill Natur’d, cruel and Treacherous.
From hence, passing on,L’Hermiterefresh’d at the desolate IsleFernando, and so Steer’d his Course toCalla de Lima, on whose Coast, taking aSpanishVessel, the Prisoners told him, that their Plate-Fleet had Weigh’d Anchor, and were gone toPanama; only the Admiral which carry’d forty Brass Guns, with fifty Merchant-Men, lay close under the Shore, Guarded by three Stone Bulwarks, Fortifi’d with fifty Guns.
L’Hermitehaving a design upon these, took threeSpanishVessels that were going thither, and at midnight, sent CaptainAdrian Tol,Peter Slobbe, andMeindert Egbertszon, with twelve well Mann’d Boats, furnish’d with Brass Drakes, and Hand-Granado’s, to Attaque theSpanishFleet that lay hard by; and whilst some gave a false Alarm on the North ofCallao, the Boats Rowing from Ship to Ship, in short time fir’d forty of them; although theSpaniardsfrom the Shore endeavor’d by their Shot to drive back the Enemy, neither the Fort or Admiral sparing Powder nor Ball.
In this valiant Exploit theHollandershad onely seven Men kill’d, and fifteen Wounded: About break of day, seven of theSpanishShips floated, burning towards theDutchFleet, which were as terrible as now Fire-ships, which forc’d them to Weigh Anchor to shun them.
After that,L’Hermitetook two Ships laden with Wine, a third full of Wood, and a fourth with Wheat: One of these Prizes he fitted and prepar’d for a Fire-ship, and sending her to Board theSpanishAdmiral, it ran aground within shot of him; whereupon being batter’d by the Admirals Guns, and those from the Bulwarks, and at last taking Fire gave but a small blow, because most part of the Powder had taken Wet.
In this interim, while thus their design went prosperously on, their AdmiralL’Heremitedy’d, whom they Bury’d on the IslandLima, andSchapenham, in defiance of the Vice-Roy inCallao, caus’d one and twentySpaniardsto be hang’d at the Yard-Arm, because he had sent him a scornful Answer on the Proposals concerning the delivery of the Prisoners.
Vershoor’s Exploit.
Schapenham’s remarkable Exploits.
Schapenhamdies.
Cornelius JacobszoonSailing toPiscowith four Sail from the Fleet, could dono good there, for he not onely found the City to be surrounded with a Wall of fifteen Foot high, but having also many Earthen Redoubts, behind which lay above two thousand arm’d Men, wherefore he deserted the same after some Rancounters: But the Rear-Admiral,John Williamszoon Vershoor, who was sent toGainquil, had much better luck; for he not onely took that Metropolis, but also burnt a new RoyalGallion, and two lesser Vessels; carry’d a conquer’d Vessel toLima; slew above a hundredSpaniards, and threw seventeen overboard, because they had shot Poyson’d Bullets against the Law of Arms; of which Conquest CaptainEngelbert Shuttehad the greatest honor: But the Sea-men grew weaker and weaker by the Scurvy, and all of them would have perish’d, had they not found a soveraign Herb on the highest Mountains ofLima.Schapenhambeing chose Admiral inL’Heremitesplace, Weigh’d Anchor fromCallao, and ran into the InletPiscadores, where on the shore he rais’d a Sconce; yet not long after departed from thence without any effect, but lost twenty eight Men, through the bad Conduct of their Commanders; the like number he lost also atAquapulque, on the side of which City stands a Castle with four strong Bulwarks; theHollandFire-ship lay just without the reach of the shot, the rest lay along the shore in a row, there to seize upon the Vessels expected thither from theManillaes: But because the Scurvy raged amongst the Sea-men, and disabled them, they waited in vain,SchapenhamSail’d through the South-Sea to theLadrones, where he found store of Provisions.Anno 1625.inMarch, he drop’d Anchor beforeMaleye, and from thence went withHerman Spiult, the Governor for theEast-IndiaCompany inAmboina, toCeram, where they Conquer’d the FortLochoe, and soon afterCambella; then the Fleet being divided,Schapenhamcarry’d home two Ships fromBatavia, and the remainder return’d at several times, they being hir’d to serve theEast-IndiaCompany toSurratta,Malacca,Coromandel, and theMolucco Isles:SchapenhamDeceasing nearBantum, and being Bury’d onPulo Boftok, the Ships arriv’d at theTexelinJuly, Anno 1626.
Anno 1643.Brewerset Sail with four Ships fromReciffo, and ran close along theStates-Isle, so dangerous and Rocky, that he durst not put in to the Land; from which flew great abundance of Party-colour’d Ducks, with sharp Bills, about the Ships, and under the Keels swam also Whales.
Sea Lions.
Brewer’s Haven.
Remarkable Exploits.
On the West side of theStraights Le Maire,Brownran intoValentine’s Inlet, where he was much troubled by the Winds which came whistling through the hollow Mountains with great and sudden gusts: The shore afforded red and black Strawberries,Carvilleand Muscles, to the great refreshment of the Sea-men, who daily saw Sea-Lions, but could not come to shoot one of them, for no sooner they perceiv’d any body, but they Diving under Water, swam away; and though they saw Mens Foot-steps of eighteen Inches long, yet they never found any Men. Thence Sailing into the South-Sea, along the Coast ofChili, they enter’d a Bay which they nam’dBrewer’s-Haven; where Landing, they walk’d towards a great Smoke which they saw afar off, but coming near it, found only two Houses within a large Plain, full of Sheep, Oxen, and Horses; before the Houses stood Woodden Crosses.
Ter Bergen’s Exploit.
Castroa City.
StreamChili.
BrewerDies.
Strange accident.
Baldivia, a brave City.
TheDolphinPink and a great Boat being sent to the Inlet, lay the following Night at an Anchor near a high Mountain; from whence, in the Night, two great Guns were fir’d, whereupon, LieutenantWilliam Ter BergenLanded withsixteen Musqueteers, and climbing up the Mountain, found a Village behind the same, where all things were in Alarm, Drums beating, Trumpets sounding, Bells ringing; the Villagers suddenly firing their Guns onTer Bergen, who being supply’d with thirty four Men, Encounter’d the Enemy so Valiantly, that he fled into the Woods, not without the loss of Men and Horses: The Guns with which they had shot in the Night lay onely on a Redoubt:Ter Bergenpersuing this Victory, March’d into the Woods, and shot theSpanishCommanderAndreas Munes Iserrerafrom his Horse, got great store of Treasure which lay hid under the Tree, being brought out ofCarelmappa, which Village he set afire, and kill’d all the Horses, and Weigh’d Anchor with the AdmiralBrewertoMichael de Cabucowhere not being able to Land, because of the many obscure Rocks and Shoals, they set Sail toCastro, which they conquer’d and burnt without the least resistance: This City situate on a Mountain is stately built among Flowry Meadows, delightful Orchards, and brave Fountains; the Sea before it flows daily fourteen Foot.Breweralso burnt aSpanishShip, and set some Houses afire, took threeSpaniardsPrisoners onLas Bahias, who inform’d him, that the Winter Season was almost over, but that it was never known by any to pass over so mildly, ill Weather generally using to blow down Houses, Trees, and rend Rocks asunder; that there was much Gold inOsornoandBaldivia, which last they had some years since deserted for hunger, but it was since Garrison’d by three hundredCastilians, that none could get at the FortConception(which lay a League Westerly from thence) but in a small Boat, that there were on the place near two thousand Inhabitants. Moreover, an ancient Matron call’dLovysa Pizarra, fromQuintian, one of the Isles in theChileanIn-Land-Sea, being fetch’d from thence, gave information, that forty years since, before theIndianstook up Arms, theSpaniardswere quietly setled inOsorno, and in so good a condition, that an ordinary Planter had at least three hundred Slaves, of which, every one was to procure a certain quantity of Gold; that the IslesChiloveswere divided into above a hundred Colonies or Plantations, theChilesesserving theCastiliansas their true Governors; those that do good Service the King of the Colony makes them Commanders, and that theChileseshad Rebell’d in several places.Breweron theChilesesrequest took some of them, with their Wives and Children into his Ship, furnish’d with Arms, he digg’d a Chest of Silver and a Brass Gun out of the Earth, and soon after being sick, dy’d. His SuccessorElias Herkmansprosecuting those Publick Affairs, sent the Pilot of theUnityout ofBrewer’s Haven, and some Sea-men, with twoChilean Casiqueswith a Boat toCarelmappa; but being surpriz’d by a violent Storm, stood in forHorse-Island, where he and theCasiquesLanding, he order’d seven Sea-men to carry the Boat to a safer Harbor; but being driven from the shore by strong Winds it took in so much Water as fill’d and sunk it, so that all of them were drown’d.Horse-Islandbeing destitute of Provisions and Lodgings, those that were Landed expected nothing but Death, till they found out a small Hut, and in the same six brave Sheep, and a good quantity of Potatoe Roots, which serv’d for Bread: But when this their new-found Store was almost spent, they happily were fetch’d off by the Boat belonging to the ShipAmsterdam, and with the whole Fleet came to an Anchor beforeBaldivia. This City built by theCastilians, consisted formerly of five hundred and fifty fair Houses, and was divided into Streets and cross Ways, with two large Markets, and as many costly Churches.
Why theChilesesgrew strange to theHollanders.
TheChilesesunsufferably oppress’d, slew all theSpanishGarrison, and intothe Governor’s Mouth and Ears pour’d melted Gold; of his Skull they made a Drinking-cup, and of his Shin-bones, Trumpets; after this, the City fell almost to decay, onely a great part of the Wall remain’d yet standing: TheChileanshereupon flock’d hither by thousands, some on Horses, others on Foot, all Arm’d with Lances of a Foot long:Herkmanhereupon informing them by an Interpreter, that they being mortal Enemies of theSpaniards, would joyn with theChileansagainst that common Foe; and desir’d, that they might build a Fort on the Market-place inBaldivia, for a defence against all Invasions, and that they might be supply’d with Provisions which the Fleet wanted; all which theChileansgranted, and accordingly brought in store of Sheep, Hogs, and Cattel: But so soon asHerkmanbegan to make the least mention of Gold, they were all abash’d, and said, that they knew of no Gold Mines, nay, their Hair stood an end, when they heard the name of Gold; so horribly theSpaniardshad dealt with their Parents: After this, theChileansgrowing more and more strange, did not in the least countenance the building of the Fort, and the longer the Fleet staid, the less Provisions they brought aboard; upon which, the Ships were necessitated, without any remarkable Exploits, to set Sail and return toReciffo.