426 HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



men every twenty-four hours. A leak was discovered, which all 

 the skill of the carpenters failed to stop. The ship and men 

 were in a condition bordering on positive despair. Under these 

 c'rcumstances, the sight of two distant islands revived for a time 

 their drooping spirits. But these islands were bare and unin- 

 habited rocks, affording neither anchorage nor fresh water. The 

 reaction produced by this disappointment was evident in the 

 renewed ravages of the relentless scurvy. "And now," says 

 Anson, " the only possible circumstance which could secure the 

 few of us which remained alive from perishing, was the acci- 

 dental falling in with some other of the Ladrone Islands better 

 prepared for our accommodation ; but, as our knowledge of them 

 was extremely imperfect, we were to trust entirely to chance for 

 our guidance. Thus, with the most gloomy persuasion of an 

 approaching destruction, we stood from the island-rock of Ana- 

 tacan, having all of us the strongest apprehensions either of 

 dying of the scurvy, or of being destroyed with the ship, which, 

 for want of hands to work her pumps, might in a short time be 

 expected to founder." 



On the 27th of August, the Centurion came in sight of a 

 fertile and, as Anson supposed, inhabited island, which he after- 

 wards found to be one of the Ladrones and named Tinian. Fearing 

 the inhabitants to be Spaniards, and knowing himself to be in- 

 capable of defence, Anson showed Spanish colors, and hoisted 

 a red flag at the foretopmast head, intending by this to give his 

 vessel the appearance of the Manilla galleon, and hoping to 

 decoy some of the islanders on board. The trick succeeded, and 

 a Spaniard and four Indians were easily taken, with their boat. 

 The Spaniard said the island was uninhabited, though it was one 

 of an inhabited group : he affirmed that there was plenty of fresh 

 water, that cattle, hogs, and poultry ran wild over the rocks, 

 that the woods afforded sweet and sour oranges, limes, lemons, 

 and cocoanuts, besides a peculiar fruit which served instead of 

 bread; that, from the quantity and goodness of the productions 



