A journal of a voyage made into the South Sea, by the bucaniers or freebooters of America, from the year 1684 to 1689 written by the Sieur Raveneau de Lussan ; to which is added, The voyage of the Sieur de Montauban, captain of the free-booters on the coast of Guiney, in the year 1695.

CHAP. VI. (Book 6)

The return of the Freebooters from the South to the North-Sea, over the Continent, by another way than that by which they got thi∣ther. (Book 6)

ON the Second day of Ianuary, in the Morning, af∣ter we had said our Prayers, and sunk our Pirogues, least the Spaniards should have any benefit of them, we set out, and lay that Night by the Sea-side; we stopped next day about Noon at an Hatto to Bait: On the 4th. we lay upon a Plat-form that extends it self upon the tops of several very high Mountains where the Spaniards, notwithstanding all the precautions we had taken, were advertised of our departure, and failed not to let us have their Company, keeping themselves always in our Flanks and Rear.

On the 8th. we lay at another Hatto belonging to the Tenient of Chiloteca, about which place the Enemy be∣gan to Barricade the Ways: We rested on the Sixth for an hour and better at an Estancia to Bait, and upon a Bed in an Hall there, we found the following Letter directed unto us in these Words:

WE are very glad that you have made choice of our Province for your Passage through,* 1.1 home-wards; but we are sorry you are no better laden with Silver; however, if you have occasion for Mules to carry your Baggage, we will send them to you, we hope to have the French General Grogniet very quickly in our Power, and we will leave you to con∣sider what is like to become of the Soldiers.

We saw clearly by this Letter, that they knew nothing of the Death of Grogniet, since they believed he was still our Commander, and that they had no knowledge of him, but by the Account that had been given them by the three Men that had run away from him to them, when they failed of getting the Gold of the Mines of Tinsigal.

On the 7th. we met with an Ambuscade of the Ene∣my,* 1.2 whom our Van-Guard forced to retire, and lay in the Evening at an Hatto: The Spaniards, who left no means unattempted to destroy us, burnt all the Provision that was in our way, and also when we en∣ter'd into any Savannas where the Grass was very dry, they went to Windward o•• us to set it on fire, whereby we were very much incommoded, and our Horses were even stifled with the Smoak: As we were sometimes ob∣liged to stay till the Fire had burnt up all, to go forwards, this very much retarded our March, and this was the chief thing the Spaniards aim'd at, that their Men might have leisure to finish a Retrenchment, whereof I shall quickly have occasion to speak, which they erected un∣known to us at some distance off upon our Road, to which also the Work they cut out for us to remove the Barricadoes of Trees, wherewith they had encumber'd the way, contributed very much; Insomuch, that not be∣ing able to penetrate into their Designs, we perswaded our selves that they did all this with no other intent than to chagreen us only, as being not able to do worse unto us; or I should have rather said, having not the Courage for it.

On the 8th. we passed on to a very fine Sugar-Planta∣tion, and as we were very desirous to take some Priso∣ners who might inform us of what was done, all our Company filed off, and twenty of us staid behind in an House, after they had set it on Fire, to oblige the Spa∣niards to come and put it out, when they saw our Men at a distance from them, and this they failed not to do: But our Impatience being the means of discovering of us too soon, they thereupon fled; yet we firing upon them, wounded one, and took him, by whom we understood that all their Reinforcements were coming together to dispute our Passage, and that we were going to meet them that came from Tinsigal, who consisted of three hundred Men.

When we had done with this wounded Man, we re∣••oyned our main Body, who had halted to wait for us, and then jogged on till we came to a great Burrough, where we found those three hundred Men, who after∣wards were our continual Guard, for they gave us Morning and Evening the Diversion of their Trumpets, but 'twas like the Musick of the Enchanted Palace of Psicha, who heard it without seeing the Musicians, for ours marched on each side of us in places so covered with Pine-Trees, that it was impossible to perceive them.

We lay this Evening about a quarter of a League from the said Burrough, upon an Ascent according to our usu∣al manner, who never incamped but upon high ground, or in the Race of Savannas, for fear of being hemmed in. We decamped on the 9th. in the Morning, after we had reinforced our advanced Guard with forty Men more, who were appointed to fire their Musquets at the Entries, or Avenues of the Woods, that we might have a sight of the Spaniards, in case they laid any Ambuscades for us: in the mean time, about ten in the Morning we passed on to a place that was so thin set with Wood, that we might see a considerable distance from us, and seeing no Enemy appear, we did not fire at all: But we did not dream that we were seeking for that far before us, which we had at the sides of us, for the Spaniards who were ranged to the Right and Left of our way, lying on their Bellies, made their Discharges with so much Precipitation, that there was no more than one half of our advanced Guard who had time to answer their firing. They killed us two Men presently, who were turned out of the way, to pass undiscover'd of the Enemy; after which we went to refresh our selves in a little Town that was in our way, and lay half a League beyond it.

We met with another Ambuscade on the 10th. where∣in we were before-hand with our Enemies, and made them leave us their Horses, then went to bait at another Burrough, and lay a little farther.

On the 11th.* 1.3 as we drew near unto the Town of Se∣govia, we met with a new Ambuscade a little on this side it, and when we had forced them with our Fusils to re∣tire, we went into the said Town, being resolved, and disposed to Fight stoutly, as believing if the Spaniards were minded to try us, they would use their greatest Effort in the place, but they contented themselves with

firing only a few Musquet-shot at us from under the Co∣vert of some Pine-Trees that grow upon the Ascents which encompass the Town whither they were retired: We found nothing there to eat, because they had burnt all the Provision in the place.

By good luck we took a Prisoner to conduct us to the River we sought for, and which was still twenty Leagues off; for as much as those who had been our Guides as far as Segovia knew not the way any farther.

This Town lies in a bottom, and is so surrounded with Mountains,* 1.4 that she looks as if she were laid up in Prison; the Churches here are but very indifferently built, and the place of Arms is both very considerable, and very fine; it's an Inland place forty Leagues off from the South-Sea. The way that leads to it from the place where we were, is very difficult, being all Moun∣tains of a prodigious height, to the tops whereof we must creep with great danger, and the Valleys conse∣quently are so very narrow here, that for a League of even Ground you pass over, you have six Leagues of Mountains to go: When we had past these Mountains we felt a very sharp Cold, and were taken with so thick a Fog, that even when day appear'd, we could not know one another no otherwise than by our Voices; but that lasted not till above ten in the Morning, when the Wei∣ther cleared up, and the Fog went entirely off; and the Heat which succeeds the Cold, becomes there very great, as well as in the Plains, where none of this Cold is felt, till you come directly to the Foot of the Mountains▪ Thus were we forced to endure such contrary Seasons, as well when we Travelled, as when we reposed our selves, that they exposed us to very great Inconvenien∣cies: But the hopes of getting once into our Native Country, made us patiently to endure all these Toy••••, and served as so many Wings to carry us.

On the 12th.* 1.5 we departed from this Town, and went up other Mountains, where we had incredible trouble to clear the ways of those works the Spaniards had prepared to Barricade them up with; we went to lodge in an Hatto, where they fired very much in the Night into our Camp.

On the 13th. an hour before Sun-rising, we mount∣ed along an Eminence, that seemed to us to be an ad∣vantagious place to Encamp on; from thence we sa•• upon the edge of a Mountain from which we were se∣parated

but by a narrow Valley, twelve or fifteen Hor∣se••▪ which we took for some time for Cattle that fed there, whereat we much rejoyced, as being in hopes we should next Morning have good Chear at the cost of those Animals; and that we might be the more assured of the matter, we sent forty Men thither, who told us 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their return, that what we took for Beefs, were all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Horses, and that they had observed three Retrench∣ments in the same place, about Pistol-shot one from a∣nother, which raising by degrees towards the middle of the same side of the Mountain,* 1.6 fully barricaded the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 through which we were to pass next day, and com∣manded a small Stream that ran along the said Valley, into which we must necessarily descend first, there being no other way, nor any likelihood of our going on one 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thereof. They saw also a Man, who, as soon as he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them, severely threatn'd them with his Cutlass, which he held naked in his Hand.

These sad Tydings was a mighty allay to our Joy, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the transformation of those pretended Beefs, on whom our pineing Appetite had depended so much, af∣fected us to a great degree; but these Thoughts were at 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be laid aside, to make room for to consider 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we should disentangle our selves from that place, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that without delay, because the Spdniards, who were ••••••ering together from all the adjacent Provinces, would ••••ckly fall upon our small Company, who must of ne∣cessity be overborn by them, if we staid for them: The ••••ans to effect this were not easily found, and perhaps it ••••uld have appear'd an impossible thing to any other 〈◊〉〈◊〉 such as we were, who till then had been successful 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in all our Undertakings; and to be plain in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, we found our selves now hard put to it: For as I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the rest of our People, ten thousand Men ••••ould not be able to force their way through that In∣••••••••chment, without being cut to pieces, as well because of the advantage of the place, as the number of Spani∣ards that defended it, which we might compute by that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their Horses; and seeing a single Man could hardly pass ••••one side of it, there was no likelihood we should be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to do it with our Horses and Baggage, so rough was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Country: And indeed, saving the Road it self, all the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was no other than a thick Forest without either ••ays or Paths, full of sharp Rocks in some places,

of Quagmires in others, and embarassed with a great many Trees that had dropped down to the Ground with Age: And tho' after all, we should have found out a way to escape a-cross so many Obstacles, there was still an indispensible necessity that we should fight with the Spaniards, that we might be at quiet for the rest of our Journey. This they all agreed to; but, as they objected unto me, that it was to no purpose to represent these Difficulties, which of themselves were but too appa∣rent, without proposing some Method to surmount them, nor to give Counsel without facilitating the execution thereof:* 1.7 I told them, that for my part, I could not see what else we could do, but go cross those Woods, Pre∣cipices, Mountains, and Rocks, how unaccessible soever they appeared to be, and endeavour to surprize the Enemy in the Rear, and to gain the Advantage of the Ground from them, by getting above them, where surely we were not expected; and that I would answer for the Success of the same at the Peril of my Life, if they would undertake it: That as for our Prisoners, Horses, and Baggage, wherewith we were incumbred, we ought not to leave them defenceless, to the Discre∣tion of those Three Hundred Men, who always kept close to us in our March, and encamped every Evening about a Musquet-shot off; That we ought to leave Fourscore Men to Guard them with all necessary Pre∣caution, as you'll hear by and by, and that such a Num∣ber was enough to fight with so many Spaniards four times told.

We took some time to deliberate hereupon, and a•• length these Expedients, how hazardous soever they were, being found the most suitable to the Condition we were in, and I may say, the only ones we had left us, we resolved to lay hold of them, and put the same in execution.

Sc••rce had we projected the Design, and considered the Ascent where we were, the Situation of the opposite Mountain, where the Spaniards had made their Re∣trenchments, but that above the highest of them we saw a Road, which we took to be the Continuation of that which they had shut up against us, and turning to the Right, went winding about the side of the same Mountain, which yet we could not discover but with dif∣ficulty, and by Lights peeping in between the Trees,

which would allow us to see but some traces at a di∣stance from one another.

As we had not hitherto resolved upon which side to pitch, in order to get behind those Intrenchments, whe∣ther the right or left, this way decided that point, being well satisfied, that if we could but once cross it, it would 〈◊〉〈◊〉 us directly upon the Enemy: But yet that we might not engage our selves inconsiderately in this En∣terprize, where all things went for us, we sent Twenty 〈◊〉〈◊〉, while we had any Day-light left, to a Place that was somewhat higher than that where we were, to cover ••nother Party, whom we had known by Experience to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 been very ingenious and expert upon several Oc∣casions, that so they might pitch upon those Places, by which we might, in the Night, the more easily get up 〈◊〉〈◊〉 far as that Road, thereby to go and charge the Enemy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Rear by break of Day.

As soon as our Men were returned, and gave us an ••ccount of what they had observed, we made all things 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for our departure, but we first made that Station 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were leaving, a Place of Arms, where we left our Baggage, all the Prisoners we had, and Fourscore Men 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them, and this, that the Three Hundred Spa∣niards, who continually followed us, as well as those who were posted behind the Retrenchments, might be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we had not left our Camp; and we gave the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that commanded Order to make every Sentinel 〈◊〉〈◊〉 set, or relieved in the Night-time, to fire his Fusil, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that he should beat the Drum at the usual hour: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 told him moreover, that if God gave us the Victory, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 should send a Party to bring him off, and that if ••••out an hour after he heard the Firing at an end, he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not see any Body from us, he should provide for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 own safety as well as he could.

Things being thus disposed, we said our Prayers as low we could, that the Spaniards might not hear us, from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we were separated but by the Valley we have 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of: At the same time we set forward, to the ••umber of. Two Hundred Men, by Moon-light, it be∣•••••• now an hour within Night, and about one more 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our departure, we heard the Spaniards also at their ••••yers, who knowing we were encamped very near 〈◊〉〈◊〉, fired about Six Hundred Musquets into the Air to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 us. Besides which, they also made a Discharge

at all the Responses of the Litany of the Saints which they sung. We still pursued our March, and spent the whole Night (in going down, and then getting up) to advance half a quarter of a League, which was the distance between them and us, through a Country, as I have already said, so full of Rocks, Mountains, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and frightful Precipices, that our Posteriors 〈…〉〈…〉 were of more use to us than our Legs, it be∣in•• impossible for us to Travel thither otherwise.

On the Fourteenth by break of Day,* 1.8 as we were got 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the most dangerous parts of this Passage, and had already seized upon a considerable Ascent of the Mountain, by clambering up to it in great silence, and leaving the Spaniards Retrenchments on our left, we saw their Party that went the Rounds; who, thanks to the Foggs that are very rife in this Country (as I have already said) till Ten a Clock, did not discover us. As soon as they were gone by, we went directly to the Place where we saw them, and found it to be exactly the Road we were minded to seize on: When we had made an Halt for about half an hour to take breath, and that we had a little Day-light to facilitate our March, we followed this Road by the Voice of the Spaniards, who were at their Morning Prayers, and we were but just be∣ginning our March, when unfortunately we met with two Out-Sentinels, on whom we were forced to Fire, and this gave the Spaniards notice, who thought of nothing less than to see us come down from above them upon their Retrenchment, since they expected us no other way than from below: So that those who had the Guard thereof, and were in Number about Five Hun∣dred Men, finding themselves on the outside, when they thought they had been within, and consequently open without any Covert, took the Alarm so hot, that falling all on upon them at the same time, we made them quit the Place in a moment, and make their Escape by the favour of the Fogg.

This so much unexpected Morning Musick disturbed the whole Oeconomy of their Designs,* 1.9 and so thwarted their whole Contrivance, that those of the other two Retrenchments drew all without the lowermost, where they prepared to defend themselves; We fought with them a whole hour from under the Covert of the first Retrenchment, which we had got of them, and which

exactly commanded them, because of its elevated Si∣tuation upon the Mountain: But as they gave no Ground, we began to think that the Shot we discharged, did not reach them, because of the Fogg which hindred us to discover them, and that we could not Fire but ac∣cording to the Discharges that came from them; so that being resolved to lose our Aim no longer, we advanced, and fell directly upon the Place from whence they fired: There we fought them stoutly, and they did not quit the Place, 'till such time as they saw the butts of our Musquets, and that near them, the sight whereof the Mist had till then taken from them; But then being much terrified, they left us all, and ran that way which was before their Retrenchments, which proved very in∣commodious for them; because that being the only Place by which they thought we could come at them, they had cut down all the Trees that grew there, and in the adjacent Parts, as well because they might obstruct their sight in this Bottom, as hinder us to come on under the covert of them: And thus the Precaution which they had taken against us, by a quire contrary Effect was turned upon themselves, insomuch that we had so clear a view of them from the Retrenchments we had taken, that we did Execution almost with every Piece we shot. We pursued them after that for some time, still beating them, but at length being weary, both of running and killing, we returned to the Retrenchments where the Five Hundred Men, whom we had put to flight at first, being come back, endeavoured to break in upon those whom we had left to Guard them, but we made them like the rest quickly run away. We were also fatigued mightily in pursuing of them, for besides that the Ground was so extraordinary bad, and hard to pass, they had also augmented the Difficulties, by ma∣king use of the Trees which they had fell'd down, to barricade and stop up even the least Avenue that was near the Place round about.

We found these Spaniards had so little Mind to give us Quarter,* 1.10 if they should have the upper hand of us, that even when we took any of them, they would not as much as ask it at our hands, and to some of them we gave Quarter in spite of their Teeth, tho' they did other∣wise all that ever they could to save themselves out of our hands: But at this no man ought to wonder, for

it's a Maxim amongst them in these Parts, and whereof we have had Experience upon several Occasions, whether it proceed from Pride, or natural Fierceness of Temper, or because of an Oath they take before their Commander, before they go to Fight, that they will never submit to ask Quarter of those, to whom, they have swore they would give none: But we in the mean time being affected with Compassion upon sight of the great quantity of Blood we saw running down into the Rivulet, spared the rest, and went a second time into our Intrenchments, having lost all this while but one Man, and two only wounded. The Spaniards, among others, lost their General, who was an old Walloon Of∣ficer, who had given them the Plan of this Retrench∣ment, that would infallibly have prevailed against us, had we attacked them by the way they expected. In the mean time another old Captain had advised him to secure their Rear, but he saw so little likelihood of dan∣ger on that side, that he answered, we must be either Men or Devils; that if we were Men, he defied us to get over any way in Eight days time; but if we were Devils, tho he should take never so much care of him∣self, he must still be taken.

However, at the sollicitation of the said Officer, he sent a Party that way to go the Rounds, and to Post the two Sentinels we spoke of, as they thought most convenient. The General being searched, there were several Letters found in his Pockets, which had been writ to him by the Governours of the Province, that set forth particularly the Number of Men they had sent him; and one, among others, from the General of Costa Rica, who express'd himself as follows.

A Letter written by the General of the Province of Costa Rica, to the Commander in Chief in the Retrenchments, Dated January 6th. 1688.

SIR,

I Thought I had made a good Choice,* 2.1 when I com∣mitted to you the Conduct of an Affair which ought to re-establish our Reputation, if you have th•• better of the Enemy, as you induce me to believe you will; I was preparing to send you Eight Thousand Men, if you had not sent me word that Fifteen Hun∣dred

was enough. I do not doubt but a Person that hath served so long as you have done, will take care of your Men, especially since you have to do with a Peo∣ple, from whom there will no Honour redound to you by over-doing them.

According to the Relation you have given me of your Retrenchments, it's impossible but those People, with the help of God, must be destroyed: I Advise you to put a Thousand Men into them, and Two Hundred near unto the River, by which they hope to get unto the North Sea. In case any of them save themselves cross the Mountains, Don Rodrigo Sarmado, the new Governour of Tuisigal, ought to be at the Head of Three Hundred Men, to fall upon the Rear, as soon as ever they are engaged, for certainly their Baggage must be there. Take good Measures, for those Devils have a Cunning and Subtilty that is not in use amongst us.

When you find them advance within the shot of your Harquebusses, let not your Men fire but by Twenties, to the end your firing may not be in vain, and when you find them weakened, raise a Shout to frighten them, and fall in with your Swords; while Don Rodrigo Attacks them in the Rear. I hope God will favour our Designs, since they are no other than for his Glory, and the Destruction of these new sort of Turks; Hearten up your Men, tho' they may have enough of that according to your Example; They shall be rewarded in Heaven, and if they get the bet∣ter, they will have Gold and Silver enough, where∣with these Thieves are laden.

After we had sung Te Deum upon the Field of Battle, by way of Thanks unto God for this Victory, we mounted Sixty Men on Horseback to go and give notice to our other People of the Success the Almighty was pleased to give us. We found them ready to begin another Engagement against the Three Hundred Spa∣niards, whereof we have spoken, who, as soon as they heard that Action at the Retrenchments begin, and saw how few Men we had left behind in our Camp, were easily induced to believe we had made our Attack by that disadvantageous way I have spoke of, as sup∣posing it impossible for us to do it in any other Place▪

and that therefore our Ruin must be inevitable; Inso∣much, that instead of entring directly into the Place, which, considering their Number, they could have car∣ryed in a moment, they had so little Courage, that they contented themselves to send an Officer to our Men that guarded the Baggage, to Parley with them, whom they stopped for a time, in expectation of some News from us, that so they might return an Answer conform∣able to the Intelligence they received. And thus the Platform I had laid whereon to ground the sufficiency of Fourscore of our Men for that Work, or rather the Cowardize of the Enemy, was fully confirmed.

They told us, that as soon as we had begun the Fight, those Three Hundred Spaniards advanced a little, and having got upon an Emmence that commanded our Camp, they alighted, and sent them the said Officer to make the following Harangue to them.

I come hither from my General;* 2.2 you say, you do not question but you have Force enough, and that you are Men of Courage, which you have let us know whenever you have been minded to make your selves Masters of our Country; yet you are not to doubt but the great numbers of Men we have got together, will over-power you. We are to let you understand, there are a Thousand Men in that Retrenchment against whom they are gone to fight, where they are worsted; that we are Three Hundred Men in this Place, and that Two Hundred are posted near to the River you go and seek, to wait for those of you who escape out of the Fight: Wherefore if you will give your selves up Pri∣soners of War into the Power of our General, who is a Man of Honour, we will be Friends, and we will let you pass to your own Country: But as to those of your Men whom ours have taken alive, their Almoner, yesterday after Prayers, begged Quarter for them, for the Honour of the Holy Sacrament, and Glorious Virgin, which has been promised unto them.

Our Men hearing him talk at this rate, were already somewhat alarmed, as fearing what he said was true▪ but as soon as they saw us come at a distance, they took Courage, and returned him as fierce an Answer, like Men who had no fear upon them, to this purpose.

Though you had had Force enough to destroy two thirds of our Number,* 2.3 we should not fail still to fight with the remaining part; yea, tho there were but one Man of us left, he should fight still against you all.

When we put ashoar, and left the South Sea, we all resolved to pass through your Country, or die in the Attempt; and tho' there were as many Spaniards of you as there is Grass in this Savanna, we should not be afraid, but look upon you always in our Opi∣nion Cowards, and we will pass on, and go where we will in spight of your Teeth.

The Officer being dismiss'd upon our arrival, mounted his Horse to return from whence he came, and observing we were booted, and mounted upon his Companions Horses who guarded the Retrenchments, he shrunk up his shoulders, by way of amazement, and rode as fast as he could to carry the News to his own Party. As soon as he was got to them, who were not above a Musquet∣shot off, we advanced, and fell upon them, to put them out of Condition all at once to follow us any more: We received their first Firing, to which we made no return otherwise than with our Pistols and Cutlasses,* 2.4 and that un∣happily for them who had not yet got upon their Horses, for we cut a great many of them to pieces, insomuch that God crowning all the Advantages we had had in the rest of our Engagements, by the Success we had in this last, we let the rest go, detaining only their Horses; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 when we had broken all their Arms, we with our Baggage rejoyned our main Body, who staid still upon the Place to Guard the Retrenchments. We had no more than one Man killed in this Engagement (as 'twas in the other) and two maimed.

We asked some of the Prisoners, whom we had taken, several Questions, and they told us, among other things, that we should still meet with another Retrenchment upon the Road, about six Leagues distant from those we quitted, which made us fear, with very great reason, lest the Fugitives should go and possess themselves of it, with a design to dispute our Passage once more: And indeed we saw Fire upon the top of a great Mountain, which they had made for a Signal to gather their scat∣tered Troops together, and those who out of the fear

they were in, might perhaps hide themselves for Eight Days together, had it not been for this, as believing us still at their heels: But we prevented their Design, so we lay two Leagues from thence to cut off their Passage▪ there being no other way than this by which they might get thither, and whose sides were still less accessible the farther you went on, than they were behither the same We had cut the Hams of Nine Hundred of their Horse before, that so they might be made unfit to pursue us; we took much about the same Number of them with us to ease our Journey, till we came at the River we were in quest of, and to kill and salt them upon our arrival, that so they might serve us for Food in that long Passage.

On the 15th. we passed by the forementioned Re∣trenchment,* 2.5 which was not yet finished, without any Re∣sistance, this proceeding in all appearance from the Te∣ror which the noise of our Victory had struck into the People, and lay at an Hatto three Leagues beyond it. On the 16th. we lay at another six Leagues farther; and at last, on the 17th. which was the sixteenth day sin•••• our setting out, we came to the so much desired River, and presently entred into the Woods that grow upon the Banks thereof, where every one fell to work in good earnest to cut down Trees to build Piperies, wherein we might go down the same.

Some perhaps may think that these were some com∣modious Vessels, wherein to carry us with ease down the River, but there was nothing less than that in it. What we called Piperies, were four or five Stocks of one kind of Tree, which they called Mahot; it's a light floating sort of Wood, which, after we have taken off the Bark, we joyn and tye together, instead of Cords, with a sort of Lines that grow in these Woods, and cling like Ivy unto every thing that is near them, and especially to Trees, to the height whereof they mount; and when these Pieces are set together, they put two or three Men upon them, according to the bigness of the Pipery, and this is all the Equipment we make thereof.

The surest posture we can find our selves to be in, is to stand upright thereon, tho' they sink two or three Foot under Water; and you may judge by what follows, whe∣ther the continual apprehensions of Danger we were in, were well or ill grounded.

We built ours no bigger than to hold two Men, that so they might the more easily pass between those very harrow Rocks we foresaw, by those that already pre∣sented themselves to our view, we must meet with be∣fore we got unto the Sea-side. When this pretty Flota was in a condition to put out, we dragged it to the River-side, after we had furnish'd our selves with long Poles, to keep up from being driven too violently upon the Rocks, where we were apprehensive we should be carryed by the violence of the Stream, as it came also frequently to pass.

This River springs in the Mountains of Segovia, and discharges it self into the North Sea at Cape Gracias a Dios, after having run a very long way in a most rapid manner cross a vast number of Rocks of a prodigious bigness, and by the most frightful Precipices that can be thought of, besides a great many Falls of Water, to the Number of at least an Hundred of all sorts, which it's impossible for a Man to look on without trembling, and making the Head of the most fearless to turn round, when he sees and hears the Water fall from such an ••eight into those tremendous Whirlpools. In short, the whole is so formidable, that there are none but those who have some Experience, can have right conceptions of it: But for me, who have passed these Places, and who, as long as I live, shall have my Mind filled with those Risques I have run, it's impossible I should give such an Idea hereof but what will come far short of what I have really known of them.

'Twas therefore upon this dangerous River that we went down,* 2.6 suffering our selves to be carryed along at the will of the Stream, in these pitiful Machines, whereof the greatest part was under Water, as has been said be∣fore, two or three Foot, insomuch that we were almost always up to the middle therein: But this was nothing in comparison of the rapidity of it, which many times ••urried us, in spight of all the resistance we could make, into the bublings of foaming Water, where we now and then found our selves buried with our pieces of Wood, which made many of our Men tye themselves thereon, as being in hopes, the Wood, that floated, would bear them up still upon the Water, but in this some of them were mistaken.

But as for those great Falls, they had, to our good Fortunes, at their entrance and goings out, a great Ba∣sin of still Water, which gave us the Opportunity to get upon the Banks of the River, and draw our Piperies ashoar, to take off those things we had laid on them, which, as wet as we were, we carryed with us, leaping from Rock to Rock, till we came to the end of the Fall, from whence one of us afterwards returned to put our Pipery into the Water, and let her swim along to him who waited for her below: But if he failed to catch hold (by swimming) of those pieces of Wood, before they got out of the Bason below, the violence of the Stream would carry them away to rights, and the Men must then be necessitated to go and pick out Trees to make another.

We thought at our setting out to go down the Water all together, to the end, that in case of any Accident▪ one might give Assistance to the other; But at the end of three days, when I knew the danger we exposed our selves to in this way of Swimming together, which had already been the occasion of our losing many Piperies, I set my self against the design of our continuing thus together, by demonstrating to all our Men; That now we had no Spaniards in these Parts to conflict with, but only the Difficulties of this dangerous River, it was convenient on the contrary to allow every Crew of us to advance a little before the other, and to keep as it were in a Line successively, that so in case the first were ca••∣ryed (as indeed it came to pass) by the violence of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Stream upon the Rocks on the brink of the Water, whereof the River is full in an infinity of places; they might have time at least to get off before the arrival of the next Pipery, which had already wrought so much Disorder by the Wrecks that had been occasioned by their falling foul on one another, that all of us were in ma∣nifest danger of perishing.

I afterwards found, as well as several others of our People, who had made Tryal hereof, that this fore∣sight was not useless to us; for my Pipery happening to be cast upon such a Place, I was forced to untye the pieces of Wood, and to straddle upon one piece, while my Companion did the same upon another, and so leave our selves to be carryed down in this manner at the pleasure of the Stream, till it pleased God that we should

meet with a Place, as we did indeed, that was not so ripid, where we could go upon the Bank of the River, which we could not have done if others had immediately followed us. I also advised, that those who went down first, should take care to set up in the most dangerous Places a Flag or Banner at the top of a long Pole, that so we might discern it afar off, not so much to give notice to those who were hindermost, that there was a Fall in such a Place, for these would make themselves to be heard almost a League off, but to signifie to them what side they were to put to land, which should be that where the Flag stood. These Methods being put in practice, saved the Lives of a great many Men, though for all these Precautions, several were also lost.

The many Bananiers which we found along the Banks of this River,* 2.7 was almost the only Food that kept us from starving; for our Arms being continually wet, and our Powder all spoil'd, we could not possibly go a Hunt∣ing, tho' there is very good Game there; For as to the Horse-Flesh which we had salted, we were forced to throw it away in two days time, for it would not keep in the Water any longer.

These Bananiers have partly been planted by the In∣dians, who dwell along the sides of this River, and partly by the overflowing of the Waters, which having dragged them along, and then left them dry, they took Root again, and so have multiplyed.

Some days after we found,* 2.8 when we began to go down the River, some Carbets of an Indian Nation, cal∣led Albaouins, whom we chased to get their Victuals; there are a multitude of others, who dwell farther from the brink thereof on the opposite side to the former, and those of the one Bank have neither War nor Com∣merce with those of the other.

It was in this Place that those of our Men who had lost their Money by Gaming,* 2.9 put their cruel Design in Execution, and where I came to know that the warn∣ing formerly given me, was too true: For these Wretches being gone before, went and hid themselves behind the Rocks that are upon the brink of this River, by which we must necessarily pass. As every Man endeavoured to save himself as well as he could, and that for the Rea∣sons already given, we went down the River at a distance one from another, and without any mistrust, they had

but too much Time and Conveniency to pick out and Murder five English-men, whom they knew to be some of the best furnished with Booty, of which these As∣sassines entirely deprived them. My Companion and I found their Bodies upon the Rivers side; and I must freely confess, that such a Spectacle would have struck no small Terror into me, if I had been still the bearer of my winnings; I bless God with all my Heart, that inspired me with a Design to quit my Treasure, being then exposed, in going down the River as I was last after the English, to the Treachery of those Villains, where I must infallibly have run the same risque as they had done. None of our People knew any thing of this Murder, but when we were got all together farther down, I told them what I had seen, which was fully confirmed, as well by the absence of the dead Men, as by that of the Assassines, who durst not come and re∣joyn us, and whom we never saw from thence-for∣ward.

On the 20th. of February we found the River large••, and more spacious than before, and met with no more Falls therein; But the same was so incumbred with Trees and Bamboes, which the Floods carryed thither, that our wretched Machines could not be kept from over∣turning; but the depth of the Water in these Parts being a means to moderate the rapidness of it, there were not many drowned.

At last,* 2.10 when we were gone down some Leagues farther, we found the River very good, the Stream very gentle, and no likelihood of our meeting any more Rocks nor Trees, tho' we had still above Sixty Leagues to the Sea-side. Wherefore now finding our selves freed from those Perils and Dangers which we had been ex∣posed to in such terrible Places, where Death in the most frightful shape presented it self continually to our view, every one began to resume fresh Courage, and conceive good hopes of the remainder of the Voyage; insomuch that being now all of us assembled together in the same Place where those who had gone before staid for them that came after, and that we had now before us how we should go quite through with the rest of our Voyage, we agreed to divide our selves into several Com∣panies, each consisting of Sixty Men, to build Canoes

out of Mapou Wood, which sort of Trees grow in great numbers upon the Banks of the said River.

Having with wonderful Diligence finished four Ca∣noes by the first of March, for the use of an Hundred and Twenty Men that were of us in one Canton, we put them into the Water, and embarked thereon, with∣out staying for an Hundred and Forty more, who were finishing theirs; the ardent desire we had to be as soon is possibly satisfied, whether we should really be able to reach the North Sea, egged us mightily to put on; for according to the Idea we had conceived of our Passage, we were apprehensive of being carryed back into that of the South, as not being able to think we could be so Happy as to recover the sight of a Sea by which we might be carryed home to our Native Countries, and which we had for so considerable a time longed for.

The English,* 2.11 who would not make any Canoes, had got in their Piperies before us to the Sea-side: Here they met with an English Boat from Iamaica at Anchor, whom they were very forward to press to go and ask Leave of the Governour of that Island for their safe coming thither, because they had gone out without any Com∣mission; but that Vessel •• being unwilling to go thither, without they laid down Six Thousand Pounds Sterling by way of Advance, and they being not in a condition to run the hazard of such a Sum, because many of them had lost their Money, as several amongst us had done, which they would have carryed with them, by the over∣setting of the Piperies, they staid with the Moustick Indians, that dwell some Leagues to Windward of the Mouth of this River, and who are very kind to them, because of the Trinkets they bring them from Ia∣••••••a.

Thus that Boat proving to be of no use to these Eng∣lish, they politickly bethought themselves to send us word hereof, as hoping we, in acknowledgment of this Kindness, would obtain leave of the Governour of St. Domingo for them to retire, and be proteceted in that Island. This News we received by two Moustick In∣dians, whom in a Boat they sent to meet us Forty Leagues up the River, and who told us, that there should no more than Forty Men only come down, because that ••hip could contain no more, by reason of the smalness of it, and its scantiness of Provision: But for all this,

the Hundred and Twenty that made up one of our Companies, went down together, for every one pre∣tended to be of the number of the said Forty.

Though this River we are now leaving, is by some Spanish Maps made to run directly fourscore Leagues,* 2.12 and then to fall into the North Sea, yet we have computed the same to run above Three Hundred, being almost always carryed to the South-East for to go to the North.

We happily arrived on the 9th. at the Mouth of the River at Cape Gracia de Dios, and entred into the Sea, which with much Satisfaction we knew to be that of the North, where we were obliged to wait for the Eng∣lish Ship that was at the Isles of Pearls, which are a dozen Leagues distant from that Cape to the East: Here we staid till the 14th. with the Mulasters that live in these Parts, and who fed us for some days with Fish.

This Cape, which stands on the Continent, hath been inhabited for a long time by these Mulasters and Ne∣groes,* 2.13 both Men and Women, who have greatly mul∣tiplied there, since a Spanish Ship, bound from Guinea, freighted with their Fathers, was lost by coming too near the Shoar, which is very dangerous in these Party: Now, those who had escaped the Shipwrack were cour∣teously received by the Moustick Indians living about this Canton, who were well pleased with the loss of that Ship, and of the Spaniards their Enemies that were in it.

Those Indians assigned their new Guests a place to grub up,* 2.14 where they built themselves Cottages in the finest Country of Savanna's, that reach along the Ri∣ver from the Mouth of it for five or six Leagues up∣wards. Here for their Sustenance they Plant Maes, Bananiers, and Magniots, which the Indians gave them; They also taught them to make a most Nourishing sort of Drink, which they call Hoon; they prepare the same of a Fruit that is produced on the top of a kind of a Palm-Tree, which grows naturally in these Woods, and never exceeds ten Foot in height: Each of these Trees bears no more than one Bunch or Grape, but most of them are a full Load for one Man: Its Grain is of the same form and thickness as an Olive; some of them are yellowish, others reddish, and containing in a very hard stone an exceeding oily Kernel: They pound the Fruit, Stone, and Kernel all together, boyling the same after∣wards

in Water, and this makes up all the Composition: When the same is grown cold, or but lukewarm, they put what quantity they are minded to drink into a Ca∣labass pierced through with small holes like unto a Skimmer; this Drink, besides that it is very Nourish∣ing, and fattens very much, is also a pleasanter Liquor than any that is to be met with among the other In∣dians the same being only peculiar to this Nation.

The Mulasters are all a very tall People, and go al∣together naked, saving their Privy-Parts, which they cover, Nature having provided for them upon the Ac∣count a kind of greyish stuff, which they pull from a Tree, called the Bastard-Palm, the top of whose Stock is wrapped up in some Fathoms of it, from the first rising of its Branches some feet downwards, according to the thickness of each of these Trees: This stuff is also a great help to them to make Coverlets, wherewith to cover them in the Night; and some of those People who live more at ease, wear Shirts and Drawers, which the English bring them from Iamaica. They are the boldest People in the World for exposing themselves to the Perils of the Sea, and undoubtedly the most expert in the Art of Fishing: They'll commit themselves to the Waves in these little Boats, or such like, which an able Seaman will scarce venture to do, and here they will stay for three or four days together, being no more concerned, let the Weather be what it will, than if they were made of the same piece as their Boat; and provided they can but once set sight of the Fish, tho' swimming never so low in the Water, they will not fail to take him, so dextrous are they at this Work.

They many times do our Freebooters a Kindness, when they take them on Board with them, upon Con∣dition of letting them have a share of what Booty is got, which must be exactly performed unto them: For if you once deceive them, you must no longer expect their Assistance; and this Temper is peculiar almost to all the Indian Nations in these Parts, that they will ne∣ver go again, when once you have broke your Word with them.

The Ancient Mousticks, who gave these Men I have spoken of, Entertainment, live about ten or a dozen Leagues to Windward of Cape Gracia a Dios, in those Places they call Sambay and Sanibey: They are very

slothful, and neither Plant nor Sow but very little, a•••• lie all day on their Amacks, which are a kind of movi•••• Beds, in their Ajoupas or Baracks, while their Wives w•••• upon them in every thing as far as they can serve them and when they are pres'd with Hunger, they go a Fish∣ing in their Boats, at which they are also very skilfu•• and when they have taken any, they eat them, and g•••• not out any more till Hunger returns upon them again.

As for their Cloathing, it's neither larger, nor mo•••• sumptuous than that of the Mulasters at the Cap•••• There are but a few amongst them that have a fixe•• abode, most of them being Vagabonds, and wandring along the River-side, and having no other House to shelter themselves in but a Latanier-leaf, which they manage so, that when the Wind drives the Rain on the one side, they turn their Leaf against it, behind which they lie, and this Skreens them against the Weather When they are inclined to sleep, they dig a hole in the Sand, where they lie, and then cover themselves there∣with; and this they do to keep themselves from the stinging of the Mousticks, wherewith the Air is gene∣rally very full: They are little Flies, that are sooner 〈◊〉〈◊〉 than seen, and have so sharp and venomous a sting, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 where they alight, they seem to have fiery Darts where∣with to prick Men.

These poor People are so tormented with those mis∣chievous Insects, when they see them not, that their Bodies appear like Lepers, and I can assure it for Truth, as knowing the same on my own Knowledge, that it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no small pain to be attacked with them; For besides th•••• they caused us to lose our Rest in the Night, it was the•• that we were forced to go naked for want of Shirts when the troublesomness of these Animals made us 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into despair and such a Rage, as set us besides our selves.

When these Indians go a Journey, tho' never so sh••••, they take their Wives, Children, Dogs, and Fawns▪ which they breed 〈◊〉〈◊〉, all along with them: It's a Custom I have observed to be ••••eld among all the Indi•••• Nations on the Terra Firma of America, and those speak of live as brutishly as any of the rest, yet the•• are not so Cruel and Savage, because of the Society they have with the English, who have no other aim than to endeavour to bring them under, and Mailer their Country, where they have a great many Habitations•• already.

On the 14th.* 2.15 the Vessel which I said was gone to the Isles of Pearls, arrived at the Place where we were, and came scarce to an Anchor, but we all crouded to go on Board, because we were to draw Lots who should em∣bark: But about Fifty of us, for all that, being more vigilant than the rest, made a shift to enter her, who thinking it unadviseable to go ashoar again, to commit to Chance a thing we were already in Possession of, and for to prevent a greater Number from entring in, we being already piled as it were on the top of one another, we weighed Anchor, and departed.

The Master would have carryed us to Iamaica, but we not knowing how matters stood between France and England, whether it were Peace or War, engaged him to carry us to St. Domingo, for Forty Pieces of Eight a Head: We went to take in Water at the Isle of Pearls, and on the 16th. left the same.

On the 17th. we doubled the Island of Catalina or Pro∣vidence, as the English call it, where the Spaniards had formerly a very fine Fort and small Town, which were taken by the French and English, under the Colours of the last. On the 18th. we went to cross the Channel, ••ho' it blew a strong Easterly Breeze. On the 24th. we ••ame to Land at Los Iardinos, which are a great many small Islands near unto that of Cuba: And on the 29th. we took in Water at Port Portilla (in the Isle of Cuba) which is not inhabited.

On the 30th. we anchored to the South South-East of the Burrough of Baracoa, in the same Island, where we surprized the Hunters belonging to that Place, whom we obliged to sell us the Victuals they had took, by giving them their own Price for it: But this our Liberality to∣wards them proceeded from another cause, and that was, that we were uncertain whether our Nation was at Peace or War with the Spaniards, since we had no Intelligence here 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from any French Country how things went with them.

On the 6th. of April we touched at Nippas, which is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 small Burrough on the Coast, Seven Leagues distant from Petit Guavis, that so we might hear some News of our own Country while we rode at Anchor there. There were some of our People, so infatuated with the long Miseries we had suffered, that they thought of nothing ••••se but the Spaniards, insomuch that when from the Deck they saw some Horsemen riding along the Sea-side,

they flew to their Arms to fire upon them, as imagining they were Enemies, tho' we assured them we were now come amongst those of our own Nation.

We left this Port on the 4th. and went to Anchor in the Port of Petit Guavis,* 2.16 from whence we had departed almost four Years before, and before we came near the Fort, I went to Monsieur Dumas the King's Lieutenant, to require him to grant us Protection and Idemnity in the Governour Monsieur de Cassy's absence, by Vertue of an Amnesty the King had been pleased to send to those that made War upon the Spaniards since the Peace, which being concluded on since our departure, it was impossible we should come to know it in such remote Places, and where we were thought to have been en∣tirely destroyed.

Lastly, When we were got all ashoar to a People that spoke French, we could not forbear shedding Tears for Joy, that after we had run so many Hazards, Dangers, and Perils, it had pleased the Almighty Maker of the Earth and Seas, to grant a Deliverance, and bring us back to those of our own Nation, that at length we may return without any more ado to our own Country; Whereunto I cannot but farther add, that for my own part, I had so little hopes of ever getting back, that I could not, for the space of Fifteen Days, take my Re∣turn for any other than an Illusion, and it proceeded so far with me, that I shunned sleep, for fear when I awaked, I should find my self again in those Countries, out of which I was now safely delivered.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A Letter writ to the Freebooters.
• * 1.2

  The Spaniards burn the Road.
• * 1.3

  The Freebooters enter Segovia.
• * 1.4

  Segovia described.
• * 1.5

  They continue their Iourney.
• * 1.6

  The Spaniards intrenched in a most advantageous Post to obstruct their Passage.
• * 1.7

  The Author's Advice about forcing them.
• * 1.8

  They 〈◊〉〈◊〉 over 〈◊〉〈◊〉 difficult ways to fall on their Rear.
• * 1.9

  They prevail against the Spaniards.
• * 1.10

  The strange 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Spaniards.
• * 2.1

  The General of Costa Rica his Letter to the Chief Officer.
• * 2.2

  A Spanish Of∣ficer's Sp••••ch to a part of the Free booters.
• * 2.3

  Their bold Answer.
• * 2.4

  They defeat the Spaniards.
• * 2.5

  They get to a River, and build Piperies.
• * 2.6

  A strange way of floating down the River.
• * 2.7

  Their Food.
• * 2.8

  Of the Indians in these Parts.
• * 2.9

  The Freebooters Murder one another for their Money.
• * 2.10

  The River proving good, they build Canoes.
• * 2.11

  The English get first to the Sea-side.
• * 2.12

  The length of the River.
• * 2.13

  A De∣scription of Cape Gracia de Dios.
• * 2.14

  Of the Indians of these Parts, and their manner of Living.
• * 2.15

  Fifty of the Freebooters get on Board the English Vessel.
• * 2.16

  Their arrival at Petit Guavis.