A DESPERATE NAVAL CONTEST. 



333 



that slaves were kept for the purpose of furnishing the necessary 

 proof of their temper to purchasers. He next took a Spanish 

 vessel laden with cocoanut wine, and a Chinese junk laden with 

 rice. The cargoes were transferred and the vessels sunk. 



Early on the morning of the 14th of December, the two gal- 

 leons were seen bearing down upon the Dutch squadron, now 

 reduced to two sails, — the Mauritius, with fifty-five men, and the 

 Concord, with twenty-five. The Spanish ships are supposed to 

 have had two hundred men apiece. They steered directly for 

 the enemy, but could not return their fire, as the wind from the 

 starboard compelled them to keep their lee ports shut. The 

 Spanish admiral ran his ship directly upon the Dutch admiral, 



