i9 6 L O R D A N S O N ’ S V O Y A G E
treafure without interruption ; but that the enemy had rendezvoused
from, all parts o f the country' on a hill, at the back of the'
town, where they made no inconsiderable appearance: for, amongft
the reft o f their force, there were two hundred horfe, feemingly
very well armed and mounted, and, as we conceived, properly
trained and regimented, being furnilhed with trumpets, drums,
and ftandards. Thefe troops paraded about the hill with great
ofteutation, founding their military muftck, and praflifing every
art to intimidate us (as our numbers on Ihore were by this time not
unknown to them), in hopes that we might be induced, by our
fears, to abandon the place before the pillage was compleated.
But we were not fo ignorant as to believe, that this body of horfe,
which feemed to be what the enemy principally depended on,
would dare to venture in ftreets, and amongft houfes, even had
their numbers been three times as large ; and therefore, notwith-
ftauding their menaces, we went on calmly, as long as the daylight
lafted, in feuding off the treafure, and in employing the'boats
to carry on board the refrefhments, fuch as hogs, fowls, ©c. which
we found here in great abundance. However, at night, to prevent
any furprize, the Commodore fent on Ihore a reinforcement,
who polled themfelves in all the paffages leading, to the parade ;.
and, for. their further fecurity, traverfed the ftreets.withbarrlca-
does fix feet high: but, the enemy continuing quiet all night, we,
at day-break, returned again to our labour of loading the boats,
and fending them off.
By this time we were convinced of what confequence It would
have been to us, had fortune feconded the prudent views o f the
Commodore, by permitting us to have fecured the Governor. For,
as we found in the place many ftore-houfes full of valuable effefls,
which were ufelefs to us at prefent, and fuch as. we could not find
room for onboard ; had the Governor been in our power, he would,
in all probability, have treated for the ranfomof this merchandize,
which would have been extremely advantageous both to him and
us: whereas, he being now at liberty, and having colleaed all the,
for.ce;
R O U N D T H E W O R L D ,
fdrce of the country for many leagues rouiid, and haying even g
a body of militia from Piura, which was fourteen leagues diftant,
he was fo elated with his numbers, and do-fond of lus new: military
command, thathe. feemed not to trouble himfelf about the ta,te
of his Government. So that though Mr: Jnjon fent feveral mef-
fases to him, by fame of the inhabitants, whom he bad taken pn-
foners, 'offering to enter into a treaty for the ranfom of the town
and goods; giving him, at the fame time, anintonation, that we-
fhould be- far from infiftkg on a rigorous equivalent, buf perhaps ■
might be fatisfied with dome live, cattle, and a few neceffar.es, for
th eu fe o f the' fquadron; threatening too, that, if he would not
condefcend at leaft to treat, we would fet fire to the town, and all
the warehoufes ; yet the Governor was-: fo imprudent and arrogant,
thathe defpifed all thefe reiterated overtures, and did not deign
even to return the leaft anfwer to them., ■ . ■ ■ |
On the fecond day o f our being in pofleflion of the place,/ever,al
Negroe-flaves deferted from the enemy on the hill, and„coming into
the town, voluntarily engaged in our fervice: one of thefe was we
known- to a Gentleman on board, who remembered him formerly
at Panama. We now learnt that the Spaniards, without the, town,
were in extreme want of water ; for many o f their Haves crept into,
the place by ftealth,, and.carried away feveral jars o f water to their
mailers on the hill ; and, though feme of them were ferzed by our
men in the attempt, yet the t-hlrft among the enemy was fo preff-
ing, that they continued this, pradice till we deft the place; On
this fecond day we were affured, both by the deferters and by thefe
prifoners we took, that the Spaniards on the hill, who were by this,
time increafed to a formidable number, had refolved to ftorm the
town and fort the fucceeding. ni ght and that one Gordon, a Scotch
Papift, and Captain of adhip in thofe feas, was to have the command
of this enterprize. However, we notw.thftanding continued
fending off our boats, and profecuted our work, withoutthe
leaft hurry or precipitation, till the evening; when a reinforcement
was again fet on Ihore by the Commodore, and Lieutenant
Brett doubled his guards at each of the barncadoes;. and our po s