The 16th, we sail’d by the Island Sombrero,Sombrero Island. and the 18th had hard blowing Weather, which made us apprehensive of a Hurracan. The foul Weather lasted two Days, during which Time, we kept under a main Course and lost Sight of the other Vessels.
A Council was call’d aboard our Ship, the Joly, to consider whether we should lie by for the others, or hold on our Course, and it was resolv’d, that, considering our Water began to fall short, and there were above five Persons[38] sick aboard, of which Number Monsr. de la Sale and the Surgeon[39] were, we should make all the Sail we could, to reach the first Port[40] of the Island Hispaniola, being that call’d Port de Paix, or Port Peace, which Resolution was accordingly register’d.
The 20th, we discover’d the first Land of Hispaniola, being Cape Samana,Cape Samana. lying in 19 Degrees of North Latitude, and of Longitude 308. The 25th we should have put into Port de Paix, as had been concerted, and it was not only the most convenient Place for us to get Refreshments, but also the Residence of Monsr. de Cussy, Governor of the Island Tortuga, who knew that Monsr. de la Sale carried particular Orders for him to furnish such Necessaries as he stood in Need of.
Notwithstanding these cogent Reasons, Mr. de Beaujeu was positive to pass further on in the Night, weathering the Island Tortuga,Tortuga Island. which is some Leagues distant from Port de Paix and the Coast of Hispaniola. He also pass’d Cape St. Nicolas, and the 26th[41] of the said Month, we put into the Bay of Jaguana, coasting the Island Guanabo, which is in the Middle of that Great Bay or Gulph, and in Conclusion, on the 27th we arriv’d at Petit Gouave, having spent 58 Days in our Passage from the Port of Chef de Bois, near Rochel.
This Change of the Place for our little Squadron to put into, for which no Reason could be given, prov’d very disadvantageous; and it will hereafter appear, as I have before observ’d, that those misunderstanding among the Officers insensibly drew on the Causes from whence our Misfortune proceeded.
As soon as we had dropt Anchor, a Piragua, or great Sort of Canoe, came out from the Place, with Twenty Men, to know who we were, and hail’d us. Being inform’d that we were French, they acquainted us, that Monsieur de Cussy was at Port de Paix with the Marquis de St. Laurent, Lieutenant General of the American Islands, and Monsieur Begon the Intendant, which very much troubled Monsieur de la Sale, as having Affairs of the utmost Consequence to concert with them; but there was no remedy, and he was oblig’d to bear it with Patience.
The next Day, being the 28th, we sang Te Deum, in Thanksgiving for our prosperous Passage. Monsieur de la Sale being somewhat recover’d of his Indisposition, went Ashore with several of the Gentlemen of his Retinue, to buy some Refreshments for the Sick, and to find Means to send Notice of his Arrival, to Messieurs de St. Laurent, de Cussy, and Begon, and signify to them, how much he was concern’d that we had not put into Port de Paix. He writ particularly to Monsieur de Cussy, to desire he would come to him, if possible, that he might be assisting to him, and take the necessary Measures for rendering his Enterprize successful, that it might prove to the King’s Honour and Service.
In the mean Time, the Sick suffering very much Aboard the Ships,[42] by Reason of the Heat, and their being too close together, the Soldiers were put Ashore, on a little Island, near Petit Gouaves, which is the usual Burial-Place of the People of the pretended Reformed Religion,[43] where they had fresh Provisions, and Bread baked on Purpose, distributed to them. As for the Sick, I was order’d by Monsieur de la Sale, to provide a House for them, whither they were carry’d, with the Surgeons, and supply’d with all that was requisite for them.
Some Days after, Monsieur de la Sale fell dangerously ill, most of his Family were also sick. A violent Fever, attended with Lightheadedness, brought him almost to Extremity. The Posture of his Affairs, Want of Money, and the Weight of a mighty Enterprize, without knowing whom to trust with the Execution of it, made him still more sick in Mind, than he was in his Body, and yet his Patience and Resolution surmounted all those Difficulties. He pitch’d upon Monsieur le Gros and me to act for him, caus’d some Commodities he had Aboard the Ships to be sold, to raise Money; and through our Care, and the excellent Constitution of his Body, he recover’d Health.
Whilst he was in that Condition, two of our Ships, which had been separated from us on the 18th of September, by the stormy Winds, arriv’d at Petit Gouave on the 2d of October.Oct. 1684. The Joy conceiv’d on Account of their Arrival, was much allay’d by the News they brought of the Loss of the Ketch,Ketch taken by the Spaniards. taken by two Spanish Piraguas; and that Loss was the more grievous, because that Vessel was laden with Provisions, Ammunition, Utensils and proper Tools for the settling of our new Colonies; a Misfortune which would not have happen’d, had Monsieur de Beaujeu put into Port de Paix, and Messieurs de St. Laurent, de Cussy, and Begon who arrived at the same Time, to see Monsieur de la Sale did not spare to signify as much to him, and to complain of that Miscarriage.