450 MR. O. SALVIN ON THE AVIFAUNA 
Towards the end of the seventeenth century the Buccaneers, of whose exploits Dampier 
and others have left such admirable accounts, made the Galapagos Islands a place of 
frequent resort. In 1680 Captain Sharp, in the journal of his expedition, mentions 
that on the 6th June he sailed from the island of Quibo “ with a design to visit the 
Isles of Gallapallo that are a parcel of islands lying under the equator.” He does not 
appear to have carried out his intention; for the next place he mentions is the island of 
Gorgona. In 1684 Dampier himself describes his visit to these islands. 
This is the earliest published account concerning them that I can find. 
In May 1684 two Buccaneer ships were lying off the island of “ Lobos de la Mar” 
meditating a descent upon the Spanish town of Truxillo, when three Spanish ships, 
laden with provisions for Panama, hove in sight. They were captured; and from 
information given them by their prisoners the Buccaneers determined to sail westward 
to the Galapagos Islands, of the existence of which they were aware from the Spaniards, 
in whose maps their position was indicated. 
Of the two Buccaneer ships which formed the squadron in 1684, one was commanded 
by Captain Cook, in which Dampier sailed and also Captain Cowley; the other was 
commanded by Captain Eaton. Captain Cowley has also left an account of the voyage ; 
and he it was who gave to most of the islands the names by which they are now 
known. 
The object of the Buccaneers was to hide up a portion of their captured provisions for 
future use, and to lie by for five or six months until the alarm of the inhabitants of the 
adjoining coast had subsided, when they proposed to resume their depredations. 
Cowley says that they came to anchor at the northernmost end of an island which 
he called the Duke of York’s Island, but in his map King James's Island, the Duke 
of York having come to the throne of England as James II. during Cowley’s absence. 
He says there was great plenty of provisions, fish, sea- and land-tortoises, and also an 
abundance of fowls, viz. Flamingoes and Turtle Doves, the latter whereof were so tame 
that they would often alight on their hats and arms. After landing some stores of 
provisions, they commenced searching the islands for water, when the strong current 
seized their ships; and failing to regain their anchorage off James's Island, they bore 
away to the mainland of Central America. 
Dampier’s account of the trip differs a little from Cowley’s, as he says they first 
anchored at the eastern end of the easternmost island. Dampier says they stayed only 
twelve days amongst the islands, and then, trying to touch at Cocos Island, but failing, 
made straight for Cape Blanco, at the entrance of the Gulf of Nicoya. 
Dampier incidentally mentioning the doings of some of the other Buccaneer ships 
with whom he often sailed in consort, says that Captain Davis spent three months in the 
Galapagos, living solely, himself and his crew, on tortoises, and that Captain Harris 
also visited the islands. 
