450 ME. 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 

 pro\isions, they commenced searching the islands for water, when the strong current 

 seized their ships ; and failing to regain their anchorage ofi" 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. 



