, 42 L O R D A N S O N ’ S V O Y A G E
render this Port worthy of a more accurate examination ; and it is
to be hoped, that the important ufes, which this rude account of
it feems to fugged, may hereafter recommend it to the confidera-
tion o f the Public, and to the attention o f thofe who are more immediately
intrufted with the conduct of our naval affairs.
After this defcription o f the place where thé Pink lay for two
months, it may be expedited that I (hould relate the difcoveries made
by the crew on the adjacent coaft, and the principal incidents during
their flay there : but here I muff obferve, that, bping only a few
in number, they did not dare to detach any of their people on dif-
tant fearches; for they were perpetually terrified with the appre-
henlion that they (hould be attacked, either by the Spaniards or the
Indians; fo that their excu'rfions were generally confined to that
traft o f land which furrounded the Port, and where they were
never out of view o f the (hip. Though had they, at firft, known
how little foundation there vvas for thefe fears, yet the country in
the neighbourhoood was fogrown up with wood, and traverfed with
mountains, that it appeared impracticable to penetrate i t : whence
no account o f the inland parts could be expeCted from them. Indeed,
they were able to difprove the relations given by Spanjjh
writers, who have reprefented this coaft as inhabited by a fierce and
powerful people: for they were certain, that no fuch inhabitants
were there to be found, at lead during the winter feafon; fince, all
the time they continued there, they faw no more than one Indian
family, which came into the harbour in aperiagua, about a month
after the arrival o f the Pink, and confided of an Indian near forty
years old, his wife, and two children, one threeyears o f agey and
the other ftill at the bread. They feemed. to have with them all
their property, which was a dog and a cat, a fiftiing-net, a hatchet,
a knife, a cradle, fome bark of trees intended for the covering ó f a
hut, a reel, fome worded, a flint and deel, and a few roots of a
yellow hue and a very difagreeable fade, which ferved them for
bread. The Mader o f tire Pink, as foon as he perceived them,
fent his yawl, who brought them on board; and, fearing left they
i might
might difcover him if they were permitted to go away, he took,
.as.he conceived, proper precautions for fecuring them, but without
ally mixture of ill-ufage or violence : for in the day-time they were
permitted to go .where they pleafed about the (hip ; but at night
were locked up in the fore-caftle. As they were fed in the fame
manner with the reft of the crew, and were often indulged with
brandy, which they feemed greatly to relifh, it did not at firft appear
that they were much diffatisfied with their fituation, efpecially
as the Matter took the Indian on (hore, when he went a-(hoot-
ing (who always feemed extremely delighted when the Matter
killed his game), and as the crew treated them with great humanity
: but it was foon perceived, that though the woman continued
eafv and chearful, yet the mail grew penfive and reftlefs at his confinement.
He feemed to be a perfon of good natural parts ; and
though not. capable of converfing with the Pink's people otherwife
than by figns, was yet very curious and inquifitive, and (hewed
gréât dexterity in the manner of making himfelf underftood. In
particular, feçing fo few people on board fuch a large lhip, he let
them know, that he fuppofed they were once more numerous : and
to reprefent to them what he imagined was become o f their companions,
he laid himfelf down on the deck, doling his eyes, and
ft retching himfelf out motionlefs, to imitate the appearance of a
dead body. But the ft rongeft proof of his fagacity was the manner
of his getting away; for, after being in cuftody on board the
Pink eight days, the fcuttle of the fore-caftle, where he and his-
family were locked up every night, happened to be unnailed ; and
the following night, being extremely dark and ftormy, he contrived
to convey his wife and children through the unnailed fcuttle,
and then over the (hip’s fide into the yawl; and, to prevent
being purfued, he cut away the long-boat and his own periagua,.
Which were towing aftern, and immediately rowed a (bore. A ll
this he conduaed with fo much diligence and fecrecy, that though
there was a watch on the. quarter-deck with loaded arms, yet he-
was not difcovered by them, till thq noife of his oars m the water,
aiteir