The Voyages and Adventures of Capt. Barth. Sharp And others, in the South Sea Being A Journal of the same …. (1684), pp. 48-51.

24. [December, 1680] Frid. We have run 15 leag. East lat. 33 deg. 33 min. wind at N. to N.N.W. this day we made the Westermost Isle of Juan Fernando’s, it bears S.W. East 21 leag.

25. Saturd. We have run 10 leag. East, lat 33 deg. 42 min. at six a Clock in the Evening we came to an anchor at the Southermost part of this Island in 11 fath. water, where we lay very smooth, in the N.W. Bay.

We lay at this Place until Tuesday following, but not finding it a good road we went to Leeward of the Island, where we lay very smooth in the N.W. Bay.

Here we lay and refresht our men with Goats Flesh and fresh Fish, of both which here is plenty; and as it is usuall amongst the generality of men, that plenty of all things, breeds an increase of ill humors, Faction and Disturbances so it had the same effect upon our men, for now they are for a new Commander.

A party of the disaffected to Captain Sharp got ashoar and subscribed a Paper to make John Watling Commander, pretending liberty to a free election as they termed it, and that Watling had it by vote. The reason of this mutiny was, that Sharp had got about 3000 pieces of Eight, and was willing to come home that year, but two thirds of the Company had none left; having lost it at play; And those would have Captain Sharp turned out, because they had no mind as yet to return home. This Fewd was carried on so fiercely, that it was very near coming to a civil War, had not some prudent men a little moderated the thing; Yet all this while we all joined in the ready Fitting our Vessel, and used all diligence imaginable to get to Sea again.

It pleased God as our Ship was newly made clean and ready to Sail, there came three Men of War to look for us; Now we had at that time two Canoes at the windward side of the Isle, fetching Goats, who saw the three Men of War, and gave us notice of them, so that we had just time to get our Men on Board, who were most of them at that time on shoar, cutting wood and washing their clothes. As soon as they were got on Board, the Ships came in sight, so we got up one Anchor, and left the other behind us. We heisted in our Canoes and Boat, and clapt close by the wind, for at this time those Ships were to Leeward of us about two miles; their Admiral sailed well, so that in chase of us, the other two were two leagues distant from him; now knowing we could deal well enough with him, tho he had twelve great Guns, and we not one, we went about-Ship, resolving to Board him before the other two could come up with us, and then we should be ready for them.

 

2. William Dampier, A New Voyage Round the World (1717), pp. __-__.

…. Both we and Captain Eaton being bound for John Fernando’s Isle, we kept company and we spared him beef and bread, and he spared water, which he took in as he passed through straits.

March the 22nd, 1684, we came in sight of the isle and the next day got in and anchored in a bay at the south end of the island, in 25 fathom water, not two cable lengths from the shore. We presently got out our canoe and went ashore to see for a Moskito Indian, whom left here when we were chased hence by 3 Spanish ships the year 1681, a little before we went to Arica; G. Watlin being then our commander, after Capt. Sharp turned out.

This Indian lived here alone above three years, although he was several times sought after by the Spaniards who knew he was left on the island, yet they could never find him. He was in the woods, hunting for goats, when Capt. Watlin drew off his men, and the ship was under sail before he came back to shore. He had with him gun and a knife, with a small horn of powder, and few shot; which being spent, he contrived a way notching his knife, to saw the barrel of his gun into small pieces, wherewith he made harpoons, lances, hooks and a long knife; heating the pieces first in the fire, which he struck with his gun-flint, and a piece of the barrel his gun, which he hardened; having learnt to do among the English. The hot pieces of iron he would hammer out and bend as he pleased with stones, and them with his jagged knife, or grind them to an edge long labour, and harden them to a good temper as there was occasion. All this may seem strange to those that are not acquainted with the sagacity of the Indians; but it is no more than these Moskito men are accustomed to in their own country, where they make their own fishing and striking instruments, without either forge or anvil; though they spend a great deal of time about them.

…. With such instruments as he made in that manner, he got such provision as the island afforded; either goats or fish. He told us that at first he was forced to eat seal, which is very ordinary meat, before he had made hooks: but afterwards he never killed any seals but to make lines, cutting their skins into thongs. He had a little house or hut half a mile from the sea, which was lined with goat’s skin; his couch or barbecue of sticks lying along about 2 foot distant from the ground, was spread with the same, and was all his bedding. He had no clothes left, having worn out those he brought from Watlin’s ship, but only a skin about his waist. He saw our ship the day before we came to an anchor, and did believe we were English, and therefore killed 3 goats in the morning, before we came to an anchor, and dressed them with cabbage, to treat us when we came ashore. He came then to the sea side to congratulate our safe arrival. And when we were landed, a Moskito Indian, named Robin, first leaped ashore, and running to his brother Moskito man, threw himself flat on his face at his feet, who helping him up, and embracing him, fell flat with his face on the ground at Robin’s feet, and was by him taken up also. We stood with pleasure to behold the surprise, and tenderness, and solemnity of this interview, which was exceedingly affectionate on both sides; and when their ceremonies of civility were over, we also that stood gazing at them drew near, each of us embracing him we had found here, who was overjoyed to see so many of his old friends come hither, as he thought purposely to fetch him. He was named Will, as the other was Robin. These were names given them by the English, for they had no names among themselves; and they take it as a great favour to be named by any of us; and will complain for want of it, if we do not appoint them some name when they are with us: saying of themselves they are poor men, and have no name.

This island is in lat. 34 d. 45 m. and about 120 leagues from the main. It is about 12 leagues round, full of high hills, and small pleasant valleys; which if manured, would probably produce any thing proper for the climate. The sides of the mountains are part savannas, part woodland. Savannas are clear pieces of land without woods; not because more barren than the wood-land, for they are frequently spots of as good land as any, and often are intermixed with wood-land. …. Places cleared of wood by art and labour do not go by this name, but those only which are found so in the uninhabited parts of America, such as this Isle of John Fernando’s ….

The grass in these savannas at John Fernando’s is not a long flaggy grass, such as is usually in the savannas in the West-Indies, but a sort of kindly grass, thick and flourishing the biggest part of the year. The woods afford divers sorts of trees; some large and good timber for building, but none fit for masts. The cabbage trees of this isle are but small and low; yet afford a good head, and the cabbage very sweet.

The savannas are stocked with goats in great herds; but those that live on the east end of the island are not so fat as those on the west end; for though there is much more grass, and plenty of water in every valley, nevertheless they thrive not so well here as on the west end, where there is less food; and yet there are found greater flocks, and those too fatter and sweeter.

That west end of the island is all high champaign ground without any valley, and but one place to land; there is neither wood nor any fresh water, and the grass short and dry.

Goats were first put on the island by John Fernando, who first discovered it in his voyage from Lima to Baldivia; (and discovered also another island about the same bigness, 20 leagues to the westward of this). From those goats these were propagated, and the island hath taken its name from this its first discoverer, who, when he returned to Lima, desired a patent for it, designing to settle here; and it was in his second voyage hither that he set ashore 3 or 4 goats, which have since, by their increase, so well stocked the whole island. But he could never get a patent for it, therefore it lies still destitute of inhabitants, though doubtless capable of maintaining 4 or 500 families, by what may be produced off the land only. I speak much within compass; for the savannas would at present feed 1000 head of cattle besides goats, and the land being cultivated would probably bear corn, or wheat, and good pease, yams, or potatoes; for the land in their valleys and sides of the mountains, is of a good black fruitful mold. The sea about it is likewise very productive of its inhabitants. Seals swarm as thick about this island, as if they had no other place in the world to live in; for there is not a bay nor rock that one can get ashore on, but is full of them. Sea lions are here in great companies, and fish, particularly snappers and rock-fish, are so plentiful, that two men in an hour’s time will take with hook and line, as many as will serve 100 men.

The seals are a sort of creatures pretty well known, yet it may not be amiss to describe them. They are big as calves, the head of them like a dog, therefore called by the Dutch the sea-hounds. Under each shoulder grows a long thick fin: these serve them to swim with when in the sea, and are instead of legs to them when on the land for raising their bodies up on end, by the help of these fins or stumps, and so having their tail-parts drawn close under them, they rebound, as it were, and throw their bodies forward, drawing their hinder-parts after them; and then again rising up, and springing forward with their fore-parts alternately, they lie tumbling thus up and down, all the while they are moving on land. From their shoulders to their tails they grow tapering like fish, and have two small fins on each side of the rump; which is commonly covered with their fins. These fins serve instead of a tail in the sea; and on land they sit on them, when they give suck to their young. Their hair is of divers colours, as black, grey, dun, spotted, looking very sleek and pleasant when they come first out of the sea: for these at John Fernando’s have fine thick short fur; the like I have not taken notice of any where but in these seas. Here are always thousands, I might say possibly millions of them, either sitting on the bays, or going and coming in the sea round the island; which is covered with them (as they lie at the top of the water playing and sunning themselves) for a mile or two from the shore. When they come out of the sea they bleat like sheep for their young; and though they pass through hundreds of others young ones, before they come to their own, yet they will not suffer any of them to suck. The young ones are like puppies, and lie much ashore; but when beaten by any of us, they, as well as the old ones, will make towards the sea, and swim very swift and nimble; though on shore the lie very sluggishly, and will not go out of our ways unless we beat them, but snap at us. A blow on the nose soon kills them. Large ships might here load themselves with seal’s skins, and trane oil; for they are extraordinarily fat. …. In general they seem to resort where there is plenty of fish, for that is their food; and fish, such as they feed on, as cods, groupers, etc. are most plentiful on rocky coasts: and such is mostly this western coast of the South America; as I shall further relate.

The sea lion is a large creature about 12 or 14 foot long. The biggest part of his body is as big as a bull: it is shaped like a seal, but 6 times as big. The head is like a lion’s head; it hath a broad face with many-long hairs growing about its lips like a cat. It has a great goggle eye, the teeth 3 inches long, about the bigness of a man’s thumb: in Capt Sharp’s time, some of our men made dice with them. They have no hair on their bodies like the seal; they are of a dun colour and are all extraordinarily fat; one of them being cut up and boiled, will yield a hogshead of oil, which is very sweet and wholesome to fry meat withal. The lean flesh is black, and of a coarse grain; yet indifferent good food. They will lie a week at a time ashore if not disturbed. Where 3, or 4, or more of them come ashore together, they huddle one on another like swine, and grunt like them, making a hideous noise. They eat fish, which I believe is their common food.

The snapper is a fish much like a roach, but a great deal bigger. It hath a large head and mouth, and great gills. The back is of a bright red, the belly of a silver colour: the scales are as broad as a shilling. The snapper is excellent meat. They are in many places in the West-Indies, and the South Seas: I have not seen them any where beside.

The rock-fish is called by sea-men a grouper; the Spaniards call it a baccalo, which is the name for cod, because it is much like it. It is rounder than the snapper, of a dark brown colour; and hath small scales no bigger than a silver-penny. This fish is good sweet meat, and is found in great plenty on all the coast of Peru and Chili.

There are only two bays in the whole island where ships may anchor; these are both at the east end, and in both of them is a rivulet of good fresh water. Either of these bays may be fortified with little charge, to that degree that 50 men in each may be able to keep off 1000; and there is no coming into these bays from the west end, but with great difficulty, over the mountains, where if three men are placed, they may keep down as many as come against them on any side. This was partly experienced by 5 Englishmen that Capt. Davis left here, who defended themselves against a great body of Spaniards who landed in the bays, and came here to destroy them; and though the second time one of their consorts deserted and fled to the Spaniards, yet the other 4 kept their ground, and were afterwards taken in from hence by Capt. Strong of London.

We remained at John Fernando’s 16 days; our sick men were ashore all the time, and one of Captain Eaton’s doctors (for he had four in his ship), tending and feeding them with goat and several herbs, whereof here is plenty growing in the brooks; and their diseases were chiefly scorbutic.

*******

The 8th of April, 1684, we sailed from the Isle of John Fernando, with the wind at S.E. We were now two ships in company: Captain Cook’s, whose ship I was in, and who here took the sickness of which he died a while after; and Captain Eaton’s. Our passage lay now along the Pacific-Sea, properly so called. ….

 

Captain George Shelvocke, A Voyage round the World By the Way of the Great South Sea. Perform’d in the Years 1719, 20, 21, 22, in the Speedwell of London (1726), pp.__-__.

Monday, January 11[, 1720]. At six in the morning we saw the island of Juan Fernandez; at noon the body of it bore West-south-west, distant five leagues, meridian distance from Conception 275 miles West, variation per amplitude 6 deg. 23 min. East.

From Tuesday the 12th to Friday the 15th of January I kept standing off and on the shore, for my boats which were a-fishing, who not having hitherto discovered any marks whereby we might conclude that Clipperton had been here, I thought it proper to render my coming hither serviceable in some respect, and therefore sent the Mercury ashore to stop her leaks, while the boats were employed in catching fish, of which we salted as much as filled five puncheons. At length, going on shore to make a nicer search for any thing that might afford us some news of my consort, some of my men accidentally saw the word “Magee,” which was the name of Clipperton’s surgeon, and “Capt. John” cut out under it upon a tree, but no directions left, as was agreed on by him in his instructions to me. His actions being thus grossly repugnant to his instructions, it was evident that he never meant I should keep him company, or ever join with him again. However, being by this confirmed in the certainty of his being arrived in these parts, I directly made the best of my way from hence without delay, being, with the additional stock of fisk caught here, in a pretty good condition as to provisions, and having all our water-casks filled.

Friday, January 15. I sailed, and made what dispatch I could to the Northward.

 

Captain George Shelvocke, A Voyage round the World By the Way of the Great South Sea. Perform’d in the Years 1719, 20, 21, 22, in the Speedwell of London (1726), pp.__-__.

You ought not to think of proceeding to leeward of the Island of Juan Fernandez till you have completely stocked yourself with wood and water there, which you must husband with care, for there is no certain opportunity of getting any more till you get the length of the Island of Gorgona in the Bay of Panama. At the Island of Juan Fernandez you may likewise save a good quantity of fish, which you may catch with hooks although there is no convenience for hauling the seine; of these you may salt and save a good stock in a little while, and you may also save seal to serve, if not for your own use, yet for your negros and Indians, &c.