Vegar a wicked man.
This wicked Man being brought to the Torture, would confess nothing concerning the Crimes objected against him, but being strip’d for Execution, they found a small Bag hanging on his Breast, in which lay a Serpents Skin and Tongue, with which he had Poyson’d several Men, but he confess’d nothing.
The first of February, the Fleet came to Cape de Pemias, which they know at a great distance, by its high Mountains cover’d with Snow.
In short time after, Sailing by the Mouth of the Straights of La Maire, they met with very tempestuous Weather, and seventeen of their Men going ashore, were devour’d by the Cannibals of Terra del Fuogo. These People being all Whites, and of a large Stature, Paint themselves Red, and go stark naked, except some of highest quality who tie a Deer Skin about their Necks; and the Women cover their Nakedness with a piece of Leather: They live in Bowers made of the Branches of Trees, Stak’d three Foot deep, in a round at bottom, and above like our Tents, Canopy’d, the top of which open, to carry out the Smoke like a Chimney; and have no other Houshold-stuff than some Baskets, in which they lay their few Fishing Implements. They go continually Arm’d with Clubs, Arrows, Slings, and Stone-Knives: Their Boats being only the Trunk of a Tree made hollow, rise up before and behind like a Half-Moon, and are fourteen, and some sixteen Foot long, and two broad, and Row swifter than a Pinnace with many Oars. Lastly, they are so Salvage, that they seem rather to be Beasts than Men, knowing no Religion, ill Natur’d, cruel and Treacherous.
From hence, passing on, L’Hermite refresh’d at the desolate Isle Fernando, and so Steer’d his Course to Calla de Lima, on whose Coast, taking a Spanish Vessel, the Prisoners told him, that their Plate-Fleet had Weigh’d Anchor, and were gone to Panama; only the Admiral which carry’d forty Brass Guns, with fifty Merchant-Men, lay close under the Shore, Guarded by three Stone Bulwarks, Fortifi’d with fifty Guns.
L’Hermite having a design upon these, took three Spanish Vessels that were going thither, and at midnight, sent Captain Adrian Tol, Peter Slobbe, and Meindert Egbertszon, with twelve well Mann’d Boats, furnish’d with Brass Drakes, and Hand-Granado’s, to Attaque the Spanish Fleet that lay hard by; and whilst some gave a false Alarm on the North of Callao, the Boats Rowing from Ship to Ship, in short time fir’d forty of them; although the Spaniards from the Shore endeavor’d by their Shot to drive back the Enemy, neither the Fort or Admiral sparing Powder nor Ball.
In this valiant Exploit the Hollanders had onely seven Men kill’d, and fifteen Wounded: About break of day, seven of the Spanish Ships floated, burning towards the Dutch Fleet, which were as terrible as now Fire-ships, which forc’d them to Weigh Anchor to shun them.
After that, L’Hermite took two Ships laden with Wine, a third full of Wood, and a fourth with Wheat: One of these Prizes he fitted and prepar’d for a Fire-ship, and sending her to Board the Spanish Admiral, it ran aground within shot of him; whereupon being batter’d by the Admirals Guns, and those from the Bulwarks, and at last taking Fire gave but a small blow, because most part of the Powder had taken Wet.
In this interim, while thus their design went prosperously on, their Admiral L’Heremite dy’d, whom they Bury’d on the Island Lima, and Schapenham, in defiance of the Vice-Roy in Callao, caus’d one and twenty Spaniards to be hang’d at the Yard-Arm, because he had sent him a scornful Answer on the Proposals concerning the delivery of the Prisoners.
Vershoor’s Exploit.