Perceiving, Therefore, That Nothing Good Was To Be Expected
From Their Quondam Consort, Considering Also That The Usual Time Of
The
Manilla ship arriving at Acapulco was already elapsed, that most of
their remaining men were weak and sickly, and
That they were only
victualled for five months at their present short allowance, Captain
Clipperton and his men thought it was now proper for them to proceed for
the East Indies without loss of time, in order to preserve what little
they had got for their owners and themselves. It was therefore resolved
upon to put this plan into immediate execution, without any farther
consultation with Shelvocke, and to leave the coast of America directly.
They were now to the S.S.E. of Port Marquis, in lat. 16 deg.50'N. and
accordingly on the 18th March shaped their course for crossing the
Pacific ocean towards the Ladrone islands.
The Manilla ships usually leave the Philippine islands about the
beginning of July, and arrive at the Ladrones about the beginning of
September, whence they proceed for Acapulco, where they are expected to
arrive about the middle of January. They generally remain at Acapulco,
till towards the latter end of April, and then sail for Manilla. This,
though the general rule, is liable to some alterations, according as the
trade-winds set in earlier or later. From this account, it is plain
that the ship they had now proposed to wait for must have been the
galleon on her passage from Acapulco for Manilla, which always has a
prodigious quantity of silver on board.
SECTION III.
Voyage of the Success from the Coast of Mexico to China.
The Success performed the voyage from the coast of Mexico to the
Ladrones in fifty-three days, arriving in sight of the island of Serpana
on the 10th May, 1721. This island is in lat. 13 deg.42'N. though usually
laid down in the Spanish maps in 14 deg..[243] In this passage they lost six
of their men, and the rest were reduced to so weak and low a state, that
the sight of this island gave them great joy. They determined however to
proceed to Guam, as best known to Europeans, and where they were most
likely to procure provisions; but in their present weakly condition it
might have been better to have gone to Serpana, where the Spaniards have
not so great a force as at Guam. They anchored in the road at this
island on the 13th May, and sent their pinnace ashore with a flag of
truce to obtain provisions. But the people informed them that, without
leave of the governor, they could not trade with them. Application was
therefore made to the governor for this purpose, which was favourably
received for the present; and Mr Godfrey, the owners agent, who had been
sent up to the governor at Umatta, returned on the 16th to the Success
in one of the country proas, with a message from the governor,
intimating, that they should be furnished with provisions, if they
behaved civilly and paid honestly.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 351 of 431
Words from 182768 to 183282
of 224764
