D AMPLER. 17 



how the ship was received by the natives, who brought them "pota- 

 toes, mananoes, coconuts, and plantains, selling them to us for old 

 nails and old iron. But they being treacherous, we trusted them not; 

 for we had always our small arms ready, and great guns loaden with 

 round ball and cartridges. Sometimes we would have our deck full 

 with these infidels; but we were always in arms, having our swords 

 and pistols by our sides, with some Centinels standing abaft before 

 them." Some of the Englishmen having gone fishing with the natives, 

 the latter surrounded the boat by a seine, as though to draw it ashore 

 together with its crew. The bucaneers in the boats being provided with 

 firearms 



let go in amongst the thickest of them and killed a great many of their number, 

 while the others, seeing their mates fall, ran away. Our other men which were on 

 shoar meeting them, saluted them also by making Holes in their Hides. We took 

 our Boat immediately thereupon, and went on board, most of our well men being 

 on shoar, and seeing many of these Infidels' boats lie along our ship's side, did not 

 know what design they might have on board [against] our sick men; but as it fell 

 out, they were Boats which came from the governor, with more presents for our 

 refreshment. * * * 



We took four of these infidels Prisoners, and brought them on board, binding 

 their hands behind them; but they had not been long there, when three of them 

 leaped over board into the sea, swimming away from the ship with their hands tied 

 behind them. However, we sent the boat after them, and found a strong man at 

 the first Blow could not penetrate their skins with a cutlace: One of them had 

 received, in my judgment, 40 shots in his body before he died; and the last of the 

 three that was killed, had swam a good English mile first, not only with his Hands 

 behind him, as before, but also with his Arms pinion' d. 



The governor gave carte blanche to the pirates to kill as many 

 natives as they pleased and even rewarded them with presents of hogs, 

 pumpkins, green stuff, "potatoes," and rice; after which they saluted 

 him with three guns and sailed away. a 



DAMPIER'S VISIT. 



The following year, on May 20, 1686, Captain Swan arrived at Guam, 

 accompanied by Dampier, 6 who gives in the first volume of his voyages 

 an excellent account of the island, its products, the inhabitants, and 

 their wonderful canoes, which he "did believe to sail the best of any 

 Boats in the World." 



Under the above date he writes as follows: 



At 4 a Clock, to our great Joy, we saw the Island Guam, at about 8 leagues dis- 

 tance. It was well for Captain Swan that we got sight of it before our Provision was 

 spent, of which we had but enough for 3 days more; for, as I was afterwards informed, 

 the Men had contrived, first to kill Captain Swan and eat him when the Vituals was 

 gone, and after him all of us who were accessary in promoting the undertaking this 

 Voyage. This made Captain Swan say to me after our arrival at Guam, Ah! Dampier, 

 you would Jtave made tJiem but a poor Meal; for I was as lean as the Captain was lusty 

 and fleshy. 



Cowley's voyage, in Dampier's Voyages, vol. 4, 1729. 



6 A new Voyage Round the World, by Capt. William Dampier, vol. 1, p. 283, 1717. 

 977305 2 



