After that, the Fleet Sail’d into Hungers Haven, where they found the ruines of the deserted Philip-Stadt, which Captain Thomas Candish had seen fourteen years before, fortifi’d with four Bulwarks; but now onely some Houses, a Church, and a Gibbet were standing: Four hundred Spaniards built that City, as a Key to the Straights of Magellan. But all their Provisions being spent in three years time, and no relief coming from Spain, and what they Sow’d expecting the hopes of a Harvest, the Salvages coming down by night destroy’d; which caus’d so great a Famine to rage amongst them, that many dy’d, not so much as putting off their Clothes, who lying in the Houses unbury’d, occasion’d such a stench in the City, that the remainder fled into the Field; where they liv’d a whole year by the Fruits of the Trees, Herbs, and Roots: At last, three and twenty of them, amongst which were two Women remaining yet alive, resolv’d to travel to the River La Plata and accordingly set forward, but what became of them could never yet be heard, only one Ferdinando that was of that company, accidentally wandring from the rest, happen’d to light upon Candish’s Fleet.
Mocha, what kind of Island.
Here Van Noord set on Shore the Vice-Admiral Jacob Claeszoon Ilpendam, for some crimes which he had committed; and leaving him behind, Sail’d from thence thorow the South-Sea along the Coast of Chili and Mocha; which Island, of a considerable bigness, rises in the middle with a forked Mountain, from which a convenient River comes flowing down into the Countrey.
Cica, a strange Drink.
The Inhabitants conducted the Hollanders to their Village, consisting of about fifty Houses built of Straw, but were forbid to go into their Huts: Upon the Mens call the Women appear’d, which being divided into three parties, humbly kneel’d down before them; and soon after an old Woman brought an Earthen Can full of Cica, a Liquor made of Mays, whose extracted Juyce, boyl’d and put into Tubs, ferments like our Beer or Ale, with a cap of Barm, with which they treated the Hollanders, who drinking moderately, were well refresh’d; but the Natives will ply this Liquor, till they make themselves Distracted, and are mad Drunk.
Van Noord takes a Spanish Ship.
From hence Van Noord steer’d his course to Sancta Maria, where in his way he took a Spanish Ship, call’d Buon Jesus, that is, Good Jesus, and receiv’d intelligence from the Prisoners, that the Admiral Simon de Cordes, with twenty three Men was kill’d by the Americans on the Promontory Lavapia, being the head Land or Point opposite to St. Maries; that a year since, tydings were brought to Lima of his Fleet; so that they had made all things ready to withstand him. But Van Noord hinder’d by strong contrary Winds, not able to reach Sancta Maria, stood directly for St. Jago, in whose Haven lay a great Spanish Ship full of Indians, and two other going in, which two he set on Fire, and the third he Tow’d towards his Fleet; repenting extremely that he had given liberty, and set Francisco de Ivarro Commander of the Buon Jesus ashore; because he afterwards understood from the Spanish Pilot, that Ivarra threw ten thousand two hundred pound weight of Gold, pack’d in fifty two Cases, over-board, when he observ’d that he was like to loose his Ship.
The Fleet Sailing forward came to an Anchor before the Thieves-Island, whose Inhabitants are very light Finger’d, go stark naked, and are of great strength; they found the Women much Disfigur’d, their Noses, Lips, and Cheek-bones eaten by the French Pox.
Performs great things.