268 L O R D A N S O N ’ S V O Y A G E
it was efleemed an antifcorbutic, we fed upon it frequently, tho'
its extreme bitternefs made it very unpalatable.
Tbefe are the articles mo ft worthy of notice in this harbour of
Chequetan. I fhall only mention a particular of the coaft lying to
the weftward of if, that to the eaflward having been already deU
fcribed. As Mr. Anfon was always attentive to whatever might be
of confequence to thole who might frequent thyfe feas hereafter;
and, as we had obferved, that there was a double land to the
weftward of Chequetan, which ftretched out to a confiderable dif-
tance, with a kind of opening, that appeared not unlike the inlet
to fome harbour, the Commodore, foon after we came to- an anchor,
font a boat to difcover it more accurately, and it was found
on- a nearer examination, that the two hills, which formed the
double land, were joined together by a valley,, and that there was
iso harbour or fhelter between them.
By all that hath been faid it will appear, that the conveniencies
of this port of Chequetan, particularly in the articles of refrelhment,
are not altogether fuch as might be defired : But yet, upon the
whole it muft be owned to be a place o f confiderable confequence,
and that the knowledge of it may be of great import to future
cruifers. For except Acapulco-, which is in the hands of the enemy,
it is the only fecure harbour in a vaft extent o f coaft. It lies at a
proper diftance from Acapulco for the convenience of fuch fhips as
may have any defigns on the Manila galeon; and it is a place,
where wood and water may be procured with great fecurity, in
defpite of the efforts o f the inhabitants of the adjacent diftrift r
For there is but one narrow path which leads through the woods
into the country, and this is eaftly to be fecured by a very fmall
party, againft all the ftrength the Spaniards in that neighbourhood
can mufter. After this account of Chequetan, and the coaft contiguous
to it, we now return to the recital of our own proceedings.
CHAP.
C H A P . X I I I .
Our proceedings at Chequetan and on die adjacent
■ coaft, till our letting fail for Jfia.
r p H E next morning, after our coming to an. anchor in the
3 harbour of Chequetan, we fent about ninety of our men
weli armed on Hi ore; forty of whom were ordered to-
march into the country, as hath been mentioned, and the remaining
fifty were employed to cover the watering place, and to prevent
any interruption from the natives.. r
Here we compleated the unloading of the Cannelo and Carmm,
which we had begun at fea; that is to fay, we took out of them
the indico cacoa, and cochineal, with fome iron for ballaft, which
were all the goods we intended to preferve, though they did not
amount to a tenth of their cargoes. Here too it was agreed, after
a mature confultation, to deftroy the TryaPs Prize, as well as the
Carmelo and Carmin, whofe fate had been before refolved on. In-
deed the 'Tryal’s Prize was in good repair, and fit for the fea ,• but
as the whole numbers on board our fquadron did not amount to-
the complement of a fourth rate man of war, we found it was
impoffible to divide them into three fhips, without rendering each
of thofe fhips incapable of navigating in fafety through the tem-
peftuous weather we had reafon to expeift on the -coaft o f China,
where we fuppofed we fhould arrive about the time ot the change
of the monfoons. Thefe confiderations determined the Commodore
to deftroy the TryaPs Prize, and to reinforce the Gloucefter
with the beft part of her crew. And in confequence of this re~
folve all the ftores on board the TryaPs prize were removed into-
the other fhips, and the Prize herfelf, with the Carmelo, and Carmin
were prepared for fcuttling with all the expedition we were
matters of- but the great difficulties we were under in providing *