Chapter III: Preface (2)

Quiros, who navigated Donna Isabella, first to Manilla, and afterwards accompanied her to New Spain, was so charmed with the beautiful appearance of these enchanting islands, that he continued for the space of ten years incessantly to weary the Court of Spain with memorial after memorial to renew the settlement of them; and at length he prevailed.----Previous to his voyage, he spent several months in building two ships and a zebra, the stoutest and best equipped with men, provisions, and warlike stores, of any that had ever been fitted out in New Spain. He was accompanied by six Franciscan Fathers, with whom he took his departure on the 21st of December, 1605; and sailing without any material incident till the 26th of January 1606, he on that day fell in with an island to the south-west, just 1000 leagues from the coast of Peru, in lat. 25 deg. S. which island he unluckily found uninhabited. From this island he sailed on different courses, passing several inaccessible islands, till the 10th of February, on which day a sailor joyfully cried out, _Land a-head!_ Here, on their landing, they surprized a woman, but so old in appearance, that it was matter of astonishment that she could stand upright. In her youthful days it was easy to perceive that she had been of a graceful mien, and she still retained a dignity about her that shewed she was of quality. Being asked by signs to go on board, she complied without hesitation; and when there, she eat of whatever was given her, and received presents with a becoming ease. After cloathing this lady very fine, they set her on shore; and, on her landing, the people flocked about her, and among them a tall, stout, well-made man, who had on his head a plume of feathers, and by his deportment appeared to be a Chief. Him they endeavoured to entice on board; but, when he came to the ship’s side, fearing treachery, he refused to enter. Quiros directed that no force might be used, made him some presents, and dismissed him. This island by observation was in 17 deg. 40 min S. and was named by Quiros Sagitaria. They left it on the 12th, after some skirmishes with the inhabitants, and, passing by several other islands, in which they could procure no refreshment, on the 2d of March they fell in with an island which promised fair to supply their wants. Here on their attempting to land they were accosted by about 100 Indians, the tallest, genteelest, whitest, and strongest-made people they had ever yet seen; but, though they shewed fair in countenance, they were in fact the cruelest enemies they had to encounter in the whole voyage. One of them in a swift canoe approached the ship singly, and, brandishing his lance, made those kind of contortions with his face, arms, and legs, by which Parkinson has remarked the South-Sea Indians provoke their enemies to battle; he even mounted the balcony of the Admiral’s ship, and with his lance made a thrust at one of the officers on the quarter-deck, with an intent to kill him, and instantly leaping into his canoe rowed off at a great rate. He repeated his visits and his insolence; but it was not long before they shot him dead. While this was passing on board the Admiral, the zebra, that had cast anchor near the shore, was still in a worse situation, surrounded by a multitude of fierce barbarians, who, having fastened a rope to her head, were endeavouring to drag her on shore; but perceiving that the people on board were preparing to cut the rope, they pushed a little off, and were fastening it to the cable, when a volley of small arms was discharged among them, by which some were killed, some wounded, and all terribly frightened: this, however, failed of the desired effect; for neither kindness nor chastisement could prevail upon them to furnish the ships with water or provisions; so that they were obliged to set sail without a supply of either. This island lies north and south, and was called by Quiros the Island of Handsome People.

They now pursued their course for the island of Santa Cruz without interruption till the 7th of April, when they discovered land bearing W. N. W. high, and black like a volcano; but night coming on, they stood off till next morning, and then sent the zebra to look out for a safe harbour for the ships to cast anchor. On the 9th she returned, having succeeded; and about noon the same day the ships were moored in 25 fathom water, to the great joy of the desponding crew. The boats were instantly dispatched to make peace with the natives; and before night, they returned with water, plantains, cocoa-nuts, potatoes, palmetos, and sugar-canes, than which the riches of Potosi could not have been more welcome. They next day discovered a fort, constructed by art, the materials of coral stone, in which were about 70 houses surrounded by the sea, and designed as a refuge from enemies, whenever an invasion was threatened by the warlike inhabitants of the adjoining country. To this fort they made their next approach, and, lest they should meet with opposition, they took care to be properly armed; but the inhabitants were desirous of nothing so much as peace, and received them hospitably: so different are the dispositions of people inhabiting the same climate, and separated only by a portion of the sea. Here they were supplied at an easy rate with wood and water, in the shipping of which they were assisted by the friendly natives; and here they had plenty of the fruits and provisions which the country produced; in return for which, the grateful Spaniards seized four of the natives, with a view to carry them off; but in spite of their vigilance three made their escape, and only one continued with them, who, being a slave where he was, cared but little what master he served in that capacity.

At the end of seven days, the people being pretty well refreshed, Quiros again set sail, and on the 21st of April passed an island in lat. 12 degrees S. which the Indians called Tucopia. They now approached the islands of which they were in quest; and on the 25th a consultation was held on board the Admiral, to consider which of the lands in sight they would chuse to settle, when it was concluded not to return to Santa Cruz, but to stand to the southward in search of that great land, of which they had heard so much. This they did, passing many islands, some of considerable extent, some small but very populous, and all of them exhibiting a most delightful prospect of woods, lawns, inclosures, and water-falls, till at length in lat. 14 deg. 50 min. S. they came to a land stretching from east to west, to the extent of which they could see no end. On the zebra’s approaching this land, the people on board were not a little surprized to see an Indian come down from the mountains, and without invitation throw himself into the sea, and make towards the ship. A boat was immediately hoisted out, in order to take him up; but as he appeared spirited and strong, and made the usual contortions by way of defiance, it was judged proper to confine him, by clapping a chain upon his legs to prevent mischief. In this manner they purposed to have carried him on board the Admiral, who wanted to get some native in his power to use with kindness, in order to facilitate a peace; but, perceiving their intent, and concluding that his imprisonment was a prelude to his death, he seized in his passage a favourable opportunity, and snapping his chains with his hands, leapt suddenly into the sea. Night coming on, it was in vain to pursue him, and accordingly they continued their course to acquaint the Admiral with what had happened. They had scarce been an hour on board, when the watch on the forecastle called out, _A voice!_ and knowing it to be that of a native, they instantly handed him up, when, to the great surprize of the boat’s crew, who had just come on board, they perceived, by the remains of the chain about his leg, that it was the man who had made his escape. He was quite exhausted with swimming, and chose rather to surrender to the strangers than perish in the sea. He was kindly received, had wine and sweet-meats given him, put to bed, and in the morning was richly cloathed in taffety, and sent on shore: in return for which civilities, he caused a number of hogs to be sent on board, with plantains and other fruits; but at the same time he gave his benefactors to understand, that he was not to be diverted from the defence of his country by the dissembled kindness of pretended friends. When, therefore, the Spaniards attempted to land, a few Indians, headed by this gallant Chief, appeared upon the shore, and, feigning to conduct them to an open beach, led them along the skirts of a wood, where a numerous body of natives lay concealed, who watching their opportunity, let fly a volley of poisoned arrows, by which, however, one Spaniard only was wounded in the face. The Spaniards returned the compliment, by a discharge of musquetry; but the opposition they expected from these _uncivilized barbarians_ (for so they are called for defending their country) deterred them from prosecuting their design. They returned to their ships without setting foot on shore; and on their return, finding themselves mistaken, it was thought proper again to put to sea, in search of that great country and that friendly people, of whole happy situation they had heard so much.

On the 30th of April, about three in the afternoon, steering south-west, they discovered land right a-head, and before night came up with it. In the morning the zebra was sent along shore to examine the soundings, and after twelve hours absence returned, and made report, that they had found a spacious bay, and had exchanged some trifles with a people of an enormous size, who, nevertheless, appeared to be good natured, and desirous of peace. This news gave universal satisfaction. The ships followed their pilot; and it being the day of St. Philip and St. James when they arrived, they called the bay by that name. Here they found a most delightful port, situated between two noble rivers (the one they named the Jordan, and the other Salvador); the people numerous and friendly; the climate mild and serene; and the air so wholesome that in a few days all the sick recovered. The soil they afterwards found fruitful to a degree of luxuriance; the woods and plains abounding with herds and beasts of various kinds, and the seas well stored with fish. In short, nothing was wanting to complete their wishes, but a more numerous company to secure possession. On their first landing the Spaniards were hospitably received; but when it was perceived, by their overtures for peace, that they intended to prolong their stay, a jealousy arose that they came with no good design; and they were treated afterwards as enemies and invaders. All friendly intercourse very soon ceased; the market for provisions was stopt; and nothing was to be obtained to subsist upon but by force or stratagem. While they were on these terms, an incident happened that it was thought would at once have put an end to their fears and their hopes. Among the vegetables which grew wild, and on which they were obliged chiefly to live, they had gathered some poisonous plants, of which the people in general had eaten, and all who had eaten soon began to feel the direful effects. The symptoms were the more alarming, as all parts of the flesh seemed to partake of the noxious quality of the plants. The ships were like the hospitals of a city infested with the plague, where the numbers of the healthy were not sufficient to administer to the infirmities of the sick. Nothing, in short, was to be heard but lamentations and supplications; all expected to die without remedy. But their fears, as it fell out, were greater than their danger; for, after a certain time, the violence of the poison abated, and the sick were restored to a more vigorous state of health than they enjoyed before. But they were scarce relieved from this misfortune, when another succeeded. Despairing of ever being able to reconcile themselves to the natives at this port, they set sail, after having founded a city between the _Jordan_ and the _Salvador_, to which they had given the name of _New Jerusalem_. Coasting towards the south with a view to find a more fortunate settlement, they were overtaken by a most dreadful storm, in which the ships were separated. The Admiral was driven off the coast, and never again returned; but the other ship, and the zebra, with difficulty returned to port. What afterwards became of them we are not told. Quiros, after attempting in vain to rejoin them, made the best of his way to New Spain and on his arrival undertook a voyage to Old Spain, where he continued to solicit the Court for a new embarkation; but he died before he could obtain it.

From this time the Spaniards seem to have given over all thoughts of a settlement in those islands, to the true situation of which they appear at this day to be strangers. Neither have other nations been more successful in their attempts to discover them; for unless (as Mr. Alexander Dalrymple has endeavoured to prove in his Historical Collection of Voyages to the South Pacific Ocean) they are the same with those which Dampier has dignified with the name of New Britain, no others have yet been found that answer to their description. To Mr. Dalrymple’s data there can be only one objection, and that is this: Quiros, in his memorial to the Court of Spain, reporting the voyage of Mendana, says, that, in prosecuting his discoveries, he fell in with four islands [the Marquessas], inhabited by so good a people, that there is no account of any other having ever been found equal to them; and that these islands were 1000 leagues from Lima, 650 from the nearest coast of New Spain, and 1000 leagues from New Guinea. Here the distance from Lima to New Guinea is precisely fixed by Quiros; but at the same time it is to be noted, that the distance from Lima to the isles in question are as precisely fixed; and in the same memorial they are said to be between the 7th and 12th degrees of south latitude, 1500 leagues from the city of Lima. Thus they are placed by Quiros, precisely in the midway between the Marquessas and New Guinea; whereas the isles called New Britain are divided by Dampier from New Guinea to the eastward only by a strait.

But this by the bye.--We shall now proceed to relate what other material discoveries have been made by other nations in the southern hemisphere, particularly by the Dutch:--Le Maire and Schouten left the Texel on June the 14th, 1615; and passing Strait Le Maire January 25, 1616, on the 10th of April the same year fell in with an island in latitude 15 deg. 12 min. S. 3700 miles from the coast of Peru, to which they gave the name of DOG ISLAND. Pursuing their course to the isles of Salomon, on the 16th they came to another island, in lat. 14 deg. 46 min. S. to which they gave the name of WATERLAND, because in this island, tho’ uninhabited, they found a supply of fresh water, and some herbs, of which they gathered sackfuls to make pottage to refresh the men, who were now much afflicted with the scurvy.

On the 3d of May they saw many dolphins, the first they had seen in the South Seas.

On the 11th, after passing several uninhabited islots, they discovered an island in lat. 16 deg. 10 min. S. where they had an engagement with the natives, whom they found to be great thieves; they were, however, very handsome; their limbs well-proportioned, of large stature, quite naked, excellent swimmers, and very active. This island they called Cocos Island, because they were here plentifully supplied with that fruit. A league from it lay another, which they named Traitors Island, because the inhabitants had formed a design to cut them off.

On the 18th, having sailed near 5000 miles from the coast of Peru, without discovering the least appearance of a southern land, or falling in with the so much celebrated isles of Salomon, and being in lat. 16 deg. 5 min. S. it was there considered in full council what course to steer next; when it was determined to return home by the well known track to the northward of New Guinea.

In pursuit of this resolution they changed their course to the N. N. W. and on the 22d, being in lat. 14 deg. 56 min. S. they fell in with an island which, by its beautiful appearance, promised fair to afford refreshment. Sending the shallop to sound, they found 50 fathom, sand and shells, in a kind of bason over-against a small river issuing from a valley edged with trees. This gave unspeakable pleasure to the whole company.

On the 23d they moored the ship; and, while they were yet busy, they were visited by whole troops of the natives, who expressed their admiration a thousand different ways. At length, a venerable old man approached the ship, and with great gravity made an oration, at the conclusion of which, the people who surrounded him expressed their approbation by general acclamations. A traffic for provisions now commenced; and, after a pretty sharp skirmish, in which half a dozen natives were killed by the musquetry, the same was continued till their departure with great civility and honesty. The Chiefs of the island, after an exchange of hostages, came on board, and were magnificently entertained. They were given to understand, that the ships were in want of water, and they made their people assist in supplying their wants. They caused hogs, dogs, fowls, and fruits, to be sent in plenty, which were exchanged for nails, beads, dolls, and looking-glasses. As a present, when the Chiefs returned to shore, they sent to the Commander two hogs ready drest; they had taken out the entrails, and put in the place of them burning stones, to roast them in the inside, and sweet herbs to make them savoury. In short, their manners, their desires, their behaviour, their customs, their habitations, and their arts, so exactly correspond with what has lately been reported of the inhabitants of the supposed newly discovered islands in the South Seas, that there does not remain a doubt, but that this island which the Dutch named Hoorne Island, together with the adjoining island which they called the Island of Good Hope, are two of those that lie between the 10th and 17th degrees of south latitude, of which our late voyagers have given so flattering an account. One particular reported by the Dutch is strikingly characteristic: The men, say they, were valiant, and large in stature, the tallest among them surpassing very much in height the tallest of ours; _their women were not handsome, but so totally destitute of shame, that what modesty requires to be done in privacy, they performed with their men in public, by way of entertainment, before their Kings_. In the new map accompanying Hawkesworth’s Voyages, King George’s Island is placed in the latitude of 14 deg. 29 min. S. long. 148 deg. 50 min. W. In the Dutch maps Hoorne Island is placed in lat. 14 deg. 56 min. S. long. 83 deg. 30 min. W. from Arica, on the coast of Peru, which answers to long. 153 deg. 30 min. W. from London, being only 2 deg. 40 min. more to the west, and 27 min. more to the south than King George’s Island; a difference very inconsiderable indeed! allowing for the difference of time from 1616 to 1765, and for the improvement that has been made in the instruments of navigation during that period, particularly in those for ascertaining longitude.

On the 1st of June, as has been already observed, they took their departure from Hoorne Island, highly pleased with their kind reception, and on the 25th came in sight of the coast of New Guinea.

We should have mentioned, that Schouten was of opinion, that Hoorne Island was one of the Salomon Isles, mentioned by Quiros, none other they had met with having answered so well to the Spanish description of them.

The next remarkable voyage, undertaken professedly with a view to discovery in the southern hemisphere, is that of Abel Jansan Tasman, who, in 1642, sailed from Batavia in the East Indies, and touched at the Isles of Mauritius, in latitude 20 deg. 20 min. South; long. 78 deg. 47 min. East. On the 8th of October, the same year, he left the Mauritius, and, keeping a southerly course, on the 24th of September fell in with the land, to which he gave the name of Anthony Van Diemen’s land, in 42 deg. 25 min. S. long. 163 deg. 50 min. E. Here they met with much bad weather, which obliged them to steer eastward; and on the 1st of December they anchored in lat. 43 deg. 10 min. S. long. 167 deg. 55 min. E. in a bay to which they gave the name of Frederic Henry’s bay. Their whole force consisted only of a small ship about 300 tons, named the Hemskirk, and the Zee Haan pink for examining the coast. Here they landed, but could discover no human being, though they had reason to believe the country was inhabited. They gathered plenty of good pot-herbs that grew wild, and saw trees full two fathom and an half in the girt, and from 60 to 75 feet high, in which steps had been cut for the purpose of climbing them, five feet distant from each other, and from this circumstance they concluded that the inhabitants must be men of gigantic stature.

On the 5th of December, Tasman pursued his course in search of the Salomon Isles, and on the 13th had sight of a very high and mountainous country, now well known by the name of New Zealand. By its lofty appearance, he judged it to be the southern continent and coasted it along to the north eastward, till on the 18th of December, he came to a spacious bay, three or four miles in breadth, in lat. 40 deg. 49 min. S. long. 191 deg. 41 min. from whence he could discern on the shore men of a strong robust make, partly clothed, and partly naked, to whom he made signals, inviting them on board, but none of them would venture to approach within the reach of a peteraro. It was therefore resolved to go to them; but before that resolution could be carried into execution, the barbarians made an attack upon the Zee Haan’s boat, and murdered most of the crew, in the manner related in the course of the work.

Not caring to sacrifice any more of his people against a barbarous race of manslayers, he weighed anchor, and pursued his voyage along the coast till he came to an island in latitude 34 deg. 25 min. S. which he named THREE KINGS ISLAND, where some of his people landed, and where they saw at a distance about 40 men of an uncommon stature, who called to them in a very gruff tone of voice, and approached them hastily with prodigious strides. The Dutchmen, being few in number, thought fit to retreat. Their business being that of discovery, not of war, the Captain thought fit to quit that inhospitable coast, and direct his course to the islands of Cocos or Hoorne, where he was sure of refreshing his men, and supplying their wants without danger of bloodshed, happy that he could find a passage into an open sea. On this coast, however, he observed many fair plantations, handsomely laid out, and to all appearance well cultivated.

On the 19th of January, 1643, he discovered three islands, to which he gave names. The southernmost he called Pylstaart’s Island, the middlemost Amsterdam, and the most northerly Middleburgh. This last lay in lat. 21 deg. 20 min. S. long. 205 deg. 20 minutes. At these islands, which seemed remote from any other land, they trafficked for provisions; and the inhabitants, who were of a tawney complexion, and somewhat above the common size, behaved very civilly, and shewed no signs of a hostile disposition. Among the natives of these islands came a lusty man with a St. Thomas’s arm, and a woman with a natural beard. A venerable old man came also among the rest, and made an oration; after which a croud of men and women, young and old, came on board with all kinds of provisions. It is remarkable, that, among all the islands in the South Seas, the only tame four-footed animals are hogs and dogs, and of these the inhabitants here had plenty. They found another island at no great distance, equally abounding in the usual productions, besides being plentifully supplied with water. It appears strange to us, that the people in those hot climates can subsist without fresh water; yet nature seems in part to have supplied that defect by furnishing a fruit that both allays thirst and assuages hunger, and that too without either art or labour. By vegetables suited to their subsistence, it should seem that the animals, indigenous to the climate, are nourished and made fat. Indeed, where springs, brooks, and lakes are wanting, the forests have few, if any, inhabitants; but if we may credit the relations of voyagers, the people have hogs and dogs, where they have neither river, well, or lake; for though in Amsterdam Island, the strangers might have purchased 100 hogs a day for a few baubles, yet a can of fresh water was not to be procured at any rate. In an island, called by the natives Annamokka, but by the Dutch Rotterdam, water was found in plenty, yet it was no better inhabited than the islands before mentioned, which seemed to be wholly without. Rotterdam Island is placed in lat. 20 deg. 15 min. S. long. 206 deg. 19 min. To this island they repaired to take in water, and there they compleated their stock of fresh provisions, finding the people courteous and civil, though somewhat inclined to be thievish. Being now fully refreshed and provided, without making any further discoveries worth relating, they returned to Java, by the way of New Guinea.

Jacob Roggewein was the next Dutchman who sailed professedly on the business of discovery. He was furnished by their East-India Company with three ships, namely, the Eagle, the Tienhoven, and the African Galley: with these he set sail from Amsterdam, July the 16th, 1721, and towards the latter end of November came in sight of the coast of Brazil. After a few days stay in the neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro, he weighed, and went in quest of Hawkins’s Maidenland, which is said to lie in 30 deg. S. but not being able to find it, he pursued his course towards the straits, till on the 21st of December, in lat. 40 deg S. the ships met with a violent storm, in which the Tienhoven lost company. About the beginning of January, Roggewein discovered a large island 200 leagues in circuit, in lat. 52 deg. S. long. 95 deg. W. about 80 leagues from the coast of America. He named this island BELGIA AUSTRALIS, and it is the same now known by the name of Falkland’s Island. Leaving this island to windward, he passed the strait of Le Maire, and on the 24th of February came in sight of Juan Fernandez, where he fortunately found the Tienhoven, that island having been the place appointed to rendezvous in case of separation.

There the ship continued three weeks, and sailed from thence about the middle of March, steering W. N. W. in search of Davis’s Land, which, however, they could not find. Neither has that or Hawkins’s Maiden Land ever been seen by any other navigator, except the first discoverers. Being in lat. 28 deg. S. long. 268 deg. they saw many birds and other tokens of high land, but to the astonishment of the Admiral came in sight of none till they had sailed 12 leagues farther west. They then discovered an island, which they called EASTER-ISLAND, because they came in sight of it on Easter-day. They found this island well inhabited. The first man that came on board was painted with various kinds of figures, was of a brown complexion, with large ears, so long that they hung down to his shoulders. He was tall, robust, active, of an agreeable countenance, and lively disposition. They offered him wine, but he threw it in his eyes. They gave him meat, cloathed him, and sent him on shore, but afterwards killed him in a skirmish with his countrymen. On this island they observed many idols, and saw one man quite white, whom they took to be a priest. He had pendents in his ears a pound weight each. On landing 150 in number, the natives crouded so close upon them, that they were forced to fire upon them to keep them off. By this discharge several were killed, and many wounded. These poor people, seeing their friends bleed, and fall dead, filled the air with doleful cries and lamentations; and brought offerings of fruits, roots, and fowls, to appease the wrath of the invaders. To implore the bodies of their murdered friends, they cast themselves on the earth, and made other signs of supplication. They were indulged in their timidity, and it was held a crime to approach a Dutchman without reverence; when they brought them presents, they laid them at their feet.

This country was full of inclosures, and seemed neatly cultivated. The people had coverings of a manufacture that felt soft like silk. The women in general were painted with a rouge far surpassing in brightness any thing of that colour known in Europe; they were very obliging, and enticed the strangers to every kind of familiarity both by their looks and gestures. Their idols were chiefly of stone, well-proportioned, and wrought with exquisite workmanship. While they lay at anchor at this delightful island, a storm arose, which prevented the Admiral’s design of extending his researches to the remoter parts of it, as it appeared diversified with woods, forests, lawns, gardens, and cultivated fields; and in every respect well supplied with necessaries for the refreshment of ships bound to the southern lands; but the fury of the storm increased so fast, that those on shore were glad to recover their ships. They were scarce embarked when the billows rose to such a height as to make it dangerous to hazzard their security to the anchors with which they were moored; they, therefore, instantly weighed and put to sea, and, as the wind blew fair, they proceeded at a great rate towards the bad sea of Schouten, to which they were bound. After a run of 800 leagues from _Easter-Island_, they got sight of an island in latitude 15 deg. 45 min. S. which they took to be _Dog-Island_, discovered by Schouten, and therefore did not stay to examine it.

The trade-wind began now to shift, and to veer about to the south-west, by which the ships in the night were driven among a cluster of islands, and the African galley being a-head was jammed between the rocks, of which a more particular account will be found in the course of the Work.

These islands were situated between the 15th and 16th degrees of south latitude; and Roggewein’s _Pernicious Island_ is no doubt the same with that where Commodore Byron found the carved head of a rudder that had belonged to a Dutch long-boat, and where he also found a piece of hammered iron, a piece of brass, and some small iron tools, which the ancestors of the present race of inhabitants had obtained from this ship after her shipwreck.

Here the crews of the remaining ships grew troublesome and unruly. They had already been out ten months, and had experienced nothing but hardships, without the least prospect of advantage, either to themselves or country. A council was therefore called, and it was determined to return home by way of the East Indies. On quitting Pernicious Island they fell in with a small island, which they called Aurora, because it was discovered at break of day and soon after with another small island, which they called Vesper, because they came in sight of it in the evening. About twenty-five leagues to the westward of Pernicious Island, they found themselves entangled among a cluster of islands, which they called the Labyrinth, because it was some time before they could disengage the ships from the rocks and shoals with which they were surrounded. Having providentially escaped this imminent danger, they continued their course to the westward; and, after some days sail, fell in with an island, which by its beautiful appearance promised some refreshment. They saw many natives with lances and long pikes passing and repassing along the shore, and they sent two boats well manned to speak with them, and to encourage them to trade. Their endeavours, however, were ineffectual, till, by killing some and dispersing the rest, they made good their landing. When they had gained the shore, the savages seemed more tractable; they even assisted them in gathering herbs, and bringing them water; the women, in particular, appeared enamoured with them, and by many alluring ways endeavoured to gain their confidence; but they were to the last degree deceitful. Being decoyed into an ambuscade the savages surrounded them on all sides and, notwithstanding a brisk fire was kept up, which killed many, and wounded more, not a Dutchman that fell into the snare escaped unwounded. After this misfortune it was with reluctance that any one ventured ashore to look for refreshments. This island they called Recreation, on account of its salutary herbs, and it is placed in lat. 16 deg. S. and in long. 285 deg. The natives were of the middle size, but strong and well-made, lively, and of a bold undaunted spirit. Their bodies were painted, and covered with a kind of net, which they wrapt about them decently enough; The women were covered from head to foot with a very pretty stuff that felt soft like silk; their complexion was dark, with shining black hair, very white teeth, and brilliant eyes; and to sailors who had long been at sea they were not a little inviting. The third day after they left this island, they fell in with several islands at once, to which they gave the name of Bauman’s Islands, where the inhabitants were altogether as courteous and civil as those they had left had been treacherous and cruel. They came and trafficked with great good-nature and honesty, and were to appearance as fair and beautiful as those in the most celebrated parts of Europe. They now thought themselves near the islands which Dampier has named New Britain; but it was many days sail before they came in sight of them, in which interval the scurvy made dreadful havock. The sailors were very desirous of staying in these islands to refresh, and to recover their strength; but the Commander, who had other views, pursued his course to the East Indies with all imaginable dispatch.

Thus, all this grand expedition, by which the expectations of the Commander in Chief and his employers had been raised to a very high pitch, came to nothing. The men were dissatisfied with their officers for going so far, and the officers with their Commander for not going farther. The existence of a southern continent still remained as doubtful as ever; and so it continues at this period, June 22, 1774.

Since the above was written, the Adventure, who accompanied Capt. Cook in the Resolution on a new voyage, is arrived, and reports, that they had sailed between the 55th and 67th degrees of south latitude, but had found no land; so that if any land lies farther to the southward, it must be uninhabitable.

LIST
OF
SUBSCRIBERS.

A.

Mr. Thomas Adams, Tower
Ralph Adye, Esq; Swallow-street
Roger Ap-Williams, Esq; ditto
Mr. Luke Adlington
Mr. Michael Angelo
Mr. John Ainsworth
Mr. Aldwinckle
Mr. Anderson
John Ayscough, Esq;
Mr. Francis Armstrong, Bow
Mr. Matth. Akenside, Kensington
Mr. Peter Ambler
Mr. Jeremiah Alcock
Mr. Ralph Andrews, Holborn
Mr. Christopher Appleby
Mr. John Atkinson
Mr. Allen

B.

Sir George Booth
Mr. Bristow, Lewes
Mr. John Bruckshaw, Royal Exchange
Mr. James Blackburn, ditto
Mr. Wm. Benson, Teddington
Mr. Denham Berry, Victualling-office
Mr. Richard Barwick
Mr. Banks
Mr. Thomas Buchanan
William Blackwell, Esq;
Thomas Broxholm, Esq;
Mr. Wm. Brooke, St. John’s lane
Mr. Richard Butler
Mr. Wm. Barnes, Nightingale-lane
Mr. James Bicknell, Hackney
Mr. Andrew Brocklesby
Mr. Philip Bristow
Mr. Richard Bennet, West Smithfield
Mr. Nicholas Bond, Lambeth Marsh
Mr. Robert Birchall