History of the buccaneers of America

Front matter

F

CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

DATE DUE

Chapter II

Review of the dominion of the Spaniards in Hayti or Hispaniola.

Hayti, or Hispaniola, the land on which the Spaniards first settled in

America, 7

Government of Columbus, ... 8 Dogs made use of against the Indians, it Massacre of the nativbs, and subjugation of the island, . . . -13 Heavy tribute imposed, . .13

City of Nueva Ysabel, or San

Domingo 15

Beginning of the repartimientos, . 17 Government of Bovadilla, . , . 18 The natives compelled to work the

mines 18

Nicolas Ovando governor, 19

Working the mines discontinued, . 20 The natives again forced to the mines, 21

PAGE

Insurrection in Higuey, > , > 22

Encomiendas established, . . 22

Africans carried to the West Indies, . 23

Massacre of the people of Xaragua, . 24 Death of Queen Ysabel, . . .26

Desperate condition of the natives, . 27

The Grand Antilles 29

Small Antilles, or Caribbee Islemds, . 29

Lucayas or Bahama Islands, . . 30 The natives of the Lucayas betrayed to

the mines 31

Fate of the natives of Porto Rico, . 32

Don Diego Columbus governor, . 32

Increase of cattle in Hayti. Cuba, . 32 De las Casas and Cardinal Ximenes

endeavour to serve the Indians, . 34

Cacique Henriquez, . ... 34

VI

CONTENTS.

Chapter III

Ships of different European nations frequent the West Indies. Opposition experienced by them from the Spaniards. Hunting of cattle in Hispaniola.

PAGE

Adventure of an English ship, . 36

The French and other Europeans resort

to the West Indies, . . . -37 Regulation proposed in Hispaniola for

protection against pirates, . . 38

PAGE

Hunting of cattle in Hispaniola, . 39

Matadores, 39

Guarda costas, 4°

Brethren of the coast, . . . 4^

Chapter IV

Iniquitous settlement of the island St. Christopher by the English and French. Toruga seized by the hunters. Origin of the name buccaneer. The nameflibustier. Customs attributed to the buccaneers.

PAGE

. 47

The English and French settle on St. 1 Tortuga seized by the hunters,

Christopher 43 ' Whence the name buccaneer, . . 48

Are driven away by the Spaniards, . 46 Whence the name flibustier, . . 49

They return, 47 ! Customs attributed to the buccaneers, i;i

Chapter V

Treaty made by the Spaniards with Don Henriquez. Increase of English and French in the West Indies. Tortuga surprised by the Spaniards. Policy of the English and French Governments with respect to the buccaneers. Mansvelt, his attempt to form an independent buccaneer establishment. French West-India Company. Morgan succeeds Mansvelt as chief of the buccaneers.

PAGE

Cultivation in Tortuga, . • • SS Increase of the English and French

settlements in the West Indies, . 56

Tortuga surprised by the Spaniards, . 57 Is taken possession of for the crown of

France 58

Policy of the English and French Governments with respect to the buccaneers , 58 The buccaneers plunder New Segovia, 61 The Spaniards retake Tortuga, . 62

With the assistance of the buccaneers the English take Jamaica, . . (a

CONTENTS.

vu

CHAPTER V. {Continued).

PAGE

The French retake Tortuga, . . 62

Pierre le Grand, a French buccaneer, 63

Alexandre, 63

Montbars, surnamed the exterminator, 63 Bartolomeo Portuguei, . . .63 L'Olonnois and Michel le Basque take

Maracaibo and Gibraltar, . . 63

Outrages committed by L'Olonnois, . 64 Mansvelt, a buccaneer chief, attempts

to form a buccaneer establishment, . 64 Island St. Katalina, or Providence ;

since named Old Providence, . . 65

PAGE

. 66

Death of Mansvelt, French West-India Company, . . 66 The French settlers dispute their authority, 66

Morgan succeeds Mansvelt; plunders

Puerto del Principe, . .67

Maracaibo again pillaged, . . .68 Morgan takes Porto Bello : his cruelty, 68 He plunders Maracaibo and Gibraltar, 70 His contrivances to effect his retreat, 70

Chapter VI

Treaty of America. Expedition of the buccaneers against Panama. Exquetnelin's history of the American sea rovers. Misconduct of the European governors in the West Indies.

Treaty between Great Britain and

Spain, 72

Expedition of the buccaneers against

They take the island St. Katalina, . 74

Attack of the castle at the river Chagre, 75

Their march across the isthmus, . 76

PAGE

The city of Panama taken, . . .77

And burnt, 78

The buccaneers depart from Panama, 79 Exquemelin's history of the buccaneers

of America, 81

Flibustiers shipwrecked at Porto Rico,

and put to death by the Spaniards, 84

CHAPTER Vn.

Thomas Peche. Attempt of La Sound to cross the isthmus of America. Voyage of Antonio de Vea to the Strait of Magalhanes. Various Adventures of the buccaneers in the West Indies to the year 1679.

Thomas Peche 86

La Sound attempts to cross the isthmus, 87 Voyage of Ant. de Vea, . . .87 Massacre of the French in Samana, . 88

PAGE

French fleet wrecked on Aves, . . 89

Granmont, 89

Darien Indians, 91

Porto Bello surprised by the buccaneers, 91 viii CONTENTS.

Chapter VIII

Meeting of buccaneers at the Samballas and Golden Island. Party formed by the English buccaneers to cross the isthmus. Some account of t/ie native inhabitants of the Mosquito shore.

PAGE I I"*™

Golden Island 93 I Account of the Mosquito Indians, . 95

Chapter IX

Journey of the buccaneers across the isthmus of America.

Page Buccaneers commence their march, . 105

Fort of Santa Maria taken, . .110

John Coxon chosen commander, They arrive at the South Sea,

Page . Ill

CHAPTER X. First buccaneer expedition in the South Sea

FACE

In the Bay of Panama, . . .113

Island Chepillo 113

Battle with a small Spanish armament, 1 14 Richard Sawkins, .... 114 Panama, the. new city, . . . 115 Coxon returns to the West Indies, . 116 Richard Sawkins chosen commander, 117

Taboga, 117

Attack of Pueblo Nuevo, . . .119 Captain Sawkins is killed, . . . 119 Imposition practised by Sharp, . . 120 Sharp chosen commander, . . 121

Some return to the West Indies, . 121 The anchorage at Quibo, . . . 121

Island Gorgona, 122

Island Plata, 123

Adventure of seven buccaneers, . . 124

Il0| i^S

Shoals of anchovies 126

La Serena plundered and burned, . 126 Attempt of the Spaniards to bum the

ship of the buccaneers, . . . 126 Island Juan Fernandez, . . . 127

PAGE

, 128

Sharp deposed from the command, Watling elected commander, . . 128 William, a Mosquito Indian, left on the

island Juan Fernandez, . . 129

Island Yqueque ; Rio de Camarones, . 130 They attack Arica, .... 131 Are repulsed ; Watling killed, , . 132 Sharp again chosen commander, . 133

Huasco ; Ylo 133

The buccaneers separate, . . . 133 Proceedings of Sharp and his followers, 134 They enter the Gulf of Nicoya, . . 134 Shergall's harbour, .... 137

Another harbour 138

The gulf is named the English Gulf, . 138 Duke of York's Islands, . . .138 A native killed by the buccaneers, . 140 Native of Patagonia carried away, . 140 Passage round Cape Horn, . 140

Appearance like land, in 57" 50' south 141 Ice Islands, ..... 142

Arrive in the West Indies, . . .142 Sharp and others tried for piracy, . 143

CONTENTS.

IX

Chapter XI

Disputes between the French Government and their West-India Colonies. Morgan becomes deputy-governor of Jamaica. La Vera Cruz surprised by the flibustiers. Other of their enterprises.

Prohibitions against piracy disregarded by the French buccaneers, . . 145

Sir Henry Morgan, deputy-governor of Jamaica 146

His severity to the buccaneers, . 146

Van Horn, Granmont, and De Graaf

go against La Vera Cruz, . . 147

They surprise the town by stratagem, 148

Story of Granmont and an English ship, 149

Disputes of the French governors with

the flibustiers of San Domingo, . 151

Chapter XII

Circumstances which preceded the second irruption of the buccaneers into the Smith Sea. Buccaneers under John Cook sail from Virginia ; stop at the Cape de Verde Islands ; at Sierra Leone. Origin and history of the report concerning the supposed discovery of Pepys Island.

Circumstances preceding the second imiption of the buccaneers into the South Sea 153

Buccaneers under John Cook, Cape de Verde Islands, Ambergris ; the flamingo, .

Coast of Guinea, .

• IS5

. 156

. IS6

. 158

PAGE . 161

Sherborough river,

John Davis's islands, .

History of the report of a discovery

named Pepys Island, . . . 161 Shoals of small red lobsters, . . 162 Passage round Cape Horn, . . 162

Chapter XIII

Buccaneers under John Cook arrive at Juan Fernandez. Account of William, a Mosquito Indian, 7eiho had lived there three years. They sail to the Galapagos Islands ; thence to the coast of liew Spain. John Cook dies. Edward Davis chosen commander.

The buccaneers under Cook joined by the "Nicholas" ofIx)ndon,JohnEaton, 164

At Juan Fernandez 165

William, the Mosquito Indian, . . 165

PAGE I PAGE

Juan Fernandez first stocked with goats

by its discoverer 167

Appearance of the Andes, . . . 168 Islands Lobos de la Mar, . . . 168

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIII. {Continued).

PAGE

At the Galapagos Islands, .

Duke of Norfolk's Island, . . . 170

Cowley's chart of the Galapagos, . 170

King James's Island 170

Mistake by the editor of Dampier, . 170 Concerning fresh water and herbage

at the Galapagos, .... 170

PAGE

, 172

Land and sea turtle, .

Mammee tree, 173

Coast of New Spain; Cape Blanco, . 174 John Cook, buccaneer commander,

dies, 174

Edward Davis chosen commander, . 174

Chapter XIV

Edward Davis commander. On the coast of New Spain and Peru. Algatram, a bituminous earth. Davis is joined by other buccaneers. Eaton sails to the East Indies. Guayaquil attempted. Rivers of St. /ago and Tomaco. In the Bay of Panatna. Arrivals of numerous parties of buccaneers across the isthmus from the West Indies.

PAGE

Caldera Bay 175

Volcan Viejo 177

Ria-Iexa harbour, .... 177 Bay of Amapalla, .... 177 Davis and Eaton part company, . 180

TomadoesnearthecoastofNewSpain, 181

Cape San Francisco 181

Eaton's description of Cocos Island, . 181

Point St. Elena 182

Algatrane, a bituminous earth, . . 183 Rich ship wrecked on Point St. Elena, 183 Manta ; rocks near it, and shoal, . 183 Davis is joined by other buccaneers, . 184 The " Cygnet," Capain Swan, . . 184

At Isle de la Plata 185

Cape Blanco, near Guayaquil ; difficult

to weather 186

Payta burned 187

Part of the Peruvian coast where it

never rains 187

Lobos de Tierra and Lobos de la Mar, 188

Eaton at the Ladrones, Nutmeg Island, north of Luconia, Davis on the coast of Peru, Slave ships captured, .

The harbour of Guayaquil, Island St. Clara ; shoals near it.

Catfish

The cotton tree and cabbage tree.

River of St. Jago,

Island Gallo ; river Tomaco,

Island Gorgona, .

PeaH oysters,

Galera Isle,

The Pearl Islands,

Arrival of fresh bodies of

from the West Indies, Grogniet and L'Escuyer, Townley and his crew, Pisco wine.

Port de Pinas ; Taboga, Chepo, buccaneers

PAGE

199 199 200 201

202 204

CONTENTS.

Chapter XV. XI

Edward Davis commander. Meeting of the Spanish and buccaneer fleets in the Bay of Panama. They separate without fighting. The buccaneers sail to the island Quito. The English and French separate. Expedition against the city of Leon. That city and Ria Lexa burned. Farther dispersion of the buccaneers.

PAGE

The Lima fleet arrives at Panama, . 206 Meeting of the two fleets, . . 207

They separate 211

KeysofQuibo: the island Quibo, . 212 Roclc near the anchorage, . . . 213 Serpents ; the serpent berry, . . 213 Disagreements among the buccaneers, 213

PAGE

Knight, a buccaneer, joins Davis, . 214 The French separate from the English, 215 Expedition against the city of Leon, .215 Leon burned by the buccaneers, . 218

Town of Ria Lexa burned, . . 218

Farther separation of the buccaneers, 219

Chapter XVI

Buccaneers under Edward Davis. At Amapalla Bay ; Cocos Island ; the Galapagos Islands ; coast of Peru. Peruvian wine. Knight quits the South Sea. Bezoar stones. Marine productions on mountains. Vermejo. Davis joins the French buccaneers at Guayaquil. Long sea engagement.

Amapalla Bay 220

A hot river, 221

Cocos Island, 221

Effect of excess in drinking the milk of

the cocoa-nut 222

At the Galapagos Islands, .

On the coast of Peru, .

Bezoar stones, 226

Marine productions found on mountains; Vermejo, . . . 226 Davis joins the French buccaneers at

Guayaquil 229

. 222 ' They meet Spanish ships of war, . 230 . 224 1 A sea engagement of seven days, . 230

Peruvian wine like madeira.

At Juan Fernandez, .

Knight quits the South Sea, Davis returns to the coast of Peru,

. 224 I At the island De la Plata, . . .231

. 225 , Division of plunder 232

. 22s '. They separate, to return home by dif- . 225 : ferent routes 234

XII

CONTENTS.

Chapter XVII

Edward Davis ; his third visit to the Galapagos. One of those islands, named Santa Maria de VAguada by the Spaniards, a careening place of the buccaneers. Sailing thence southward they discover land. Question, whether Edward Davids discovery is the land which was afterwards named Easier Island ? Davis and his crew arrive in the West Indies.

PAGE

Davis sails to the Galapagos Islands, . 235 King James's Island, .... 237 The island Santa Maria de I'Aguada, 238 Davis sails from the Galapagos to the southward, 240

Island discovered by Edward Davis, . 241 Question whether Edward Davis's land

and Easter Island are the same land, 244 At the island Juan Fernandez, . . 346 Davis sails to the West Indies, . . 247

Chapter XVIII

A dventures of Swan and Townley on the coast of New Spain until their separation.

PAGE

Bad Water, and unhealthiness of Ria

Lexa 249

Island Tangola 251

Guatulco ; El Buffadore, . . . 251

Vinello or vanilla, a plant, . . . 252

Island Sacrificio, .... 252

Port de Angeles, .... 253

Adventure in a lagune, . . , 254

Alcatraz rock ; white cliffs, . . 255

River to the west of the cliffs, . . 25s

Snook, a fish, 255

High land of Acapulco, . . . 256

Sandy beach west of Acapulco, , . 257

PAGE

• 257

Hill of Petaplan,

Chequetan, 257

Estapa, 258

Hill of Thelupan, . . . .258 Volcano and valley of Colima, . . 259

Salagua, 259

Report of a great city named Oarrah, 260 Coronada Hills, ..... 260

Cape Corrientes 260

Keys or Islands of Chametly form a

convenient port, .... 261 Bay and Valley de Vanderas, . . 262 Swan and Townley part company, . 264

Chapter XIX

The " Cygnet" and her crew on the coast of Nueva Galicia, and at the Tres Marias Islands.

Coast of Nueva Galicia,

Point Ponteque,

White rock, 21° 51' north, .

PAGE . 26s

Chametlan Isles, 23° 11' north, .

PAGE

. 266

■ 265

The penguin fruit,

. 267

. 266

Rio de Sal and salt water lagune,

. 267

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIX. {Continued).

The Mexican a copious language,

Mazatlan

Rosario, an Indian town ; River Ro-

sario

River of Santiago

Town of Santa Peeaque,

PAGE

, 268

268 269

Buccaneers defeated and slain b/ the

Spaniards 272

At the Tres Marias, .... 274 A root used as food, .... 274 A dropsy cured by a sand bath, . 275

270 j Bay of Vanderas, .... 275

Chapter XX

The " Cygnet". Her passage across the Pacific Ocean. At the Ladrones.

At Mindanao.

The"Cygnet" quitstheAmericancoast, 277 Large flight of birds, .... 277 Shoals and breakers near Guahan, . 278 Banco de Santa Rosa, . . , 278

At Guahan, 278

Flying proa, or sailing canoe, . . 280 Bread fruit, 282

Eastern side of Mindanao, and the

island St. John 282

Sarangan and Candigar, . . . 284 Harbour or sound on the south coast

of Mindanao, 284

River of Mindanao 285

City of Mindanao 285

Chapter XXI

The " Cygnet" departs from Mindanao. At the Ponghou Isles. At the Five Islands. Dampiet's account of the Five Islands. They are named the Bashee Islands.

South coast of Mindanao, .

Among the Philippine Islands, Pulo Condore, .

In the China seas.

PAGE I

291 292 292 292

Ponghou Isles, .

The Five Islands, Dampier's description of them,

PAGE

Chapter XXII

The " Cygnet ". At the Philippines, Celebes, and Timor. On the coast of New Holland. End of the " Cygnet ".

PAGE PAGE

Island near the south-east end of : North-west coast of New Holland, . 302

Mindanao 300; Bay on the coast of New Holland, . 302

Candigar, a convenient cove there, . 300 '. Natives 302

Low island and shoal, south by west I An island in latitude 10° 20* south, . 305 from the west end of Timor, . . 301 ' End of the " Cygnet," . . -305

CHAPTER XXIII. French buccaneers under Francois Grogniet and Le Picard to the death

of Grogniet.

PAGE

Point de Burica ; Chiriquita, . . 308 Unsuccessful attempt at PuebloNuevo, 310 Grogniet is joined by Townley, . . 311 Expedition against the city of Granada, 312

At Ria Lexa 315

Grogniet and Townley part company, 315 Buccaneers under Townley, . . 315 Lavelia taken and set on iire, . . 316

PAGE

Battle with Spanish armed ships, . 318

Death of Townley 324

Grogniet rejoins company, . . . 326 They divide, meet again, and reunite, 327

Attack on Guayaquil 328

At the island Puna 330

Grogniet dies 330

Edward Davis joins Le Picard, . . 332

Chapter XXIV

Retreat of the French buccaneers across New Spain to the West Indies. All t}ie buccaneers quit the South Sea.

In Amapalla Bay,

Chiloteca ; massacre of prisoners.

The buccaneers bum their vessels,

They begin their march overland,

Town of New Segovia,

Rio de Yare or Cape River, .

PAGE

334 336 336 337 339 343

La Pava, 344

Small crew of buccaneers at the Tres

Marias. Their adventures, . . 345 Story related by Le Sieur Froger, . 346 Buccaneers who lived three years on the

island Juan Fernandez, . . . 347

CONTENTS.

Chapter XXV. XV

Steps taken towards reducing the buccaneers and flibustiers under subordination to the regular governments. War of the Grand Alliance against France. Neutrality of the island St. Christopher broken.

Reform attempted in the West Indies, 349 Campeachy burned 350

Danish factory robbed,

The English driven from St. Christopher, . . ■ ■ 352

351 I The English retake St. Christopher, 353

Chapter XXVI

Siege and plunder of the city of Carthagena on the terra firma by an armament from France in conjunction with the flibustiers of San Domingo.

PAGE

Armament under M. de Pointis, . 355

His character of the buccaneers, . 356

Siege of Carthagena by the French, .360

The city capitulates, , Value of the plunder,

PAGE

. 362 • 363

CHAPTER XXVn.

Second plunder of Carthagena. Peace of Ryswick in 1697. suppression of the buccaneers and flibustiers.

Entire

The buccaneers return to Carthagena, 370 Meet an English and Dutch squadron, 373 Peace of Ryswick, .... 37s

Causes which led to the suppression of the buccaneers, .... 375

Providence Island 377

Conclusion 378

HISTORY

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

Chapter I

Considerations on the rights acquired by the discovery of unknown lands, and on the claims advanced by the Spaniards.

' I 'HE accounts given by the buccaneers who ex- -■■ tended their enterprises to the Pacific Ocean are the best authenticated of any which have been published by that class of adventurers. They are interspersed with nautical and geographical descriptions corroborative of the events related, and more worth being preserved than the memory of what was performed. The materials for this portion of buccaneer history, which it was necessary should be included in a history of South Sea navigations, could not be collected without bringing other parts into view ; whence it appeared that, with a moderate increase of labour, and without much enlarging the bulk of narrative, a regular history might be formed of their career, from their first rise to their suppression ; and that such a work would not be without its use.

No practice is more common in literature than for an author to endeavour to clear the ground before him by mowing down the labours of his predecessors on the same subject. To do this where the labour they have bestowed is of good tendency, or even to treat with harshness the commission of error where no bad intention is manifest, is in no small degree illiberal. But all the buccaneer histories that hitherto have appeared, and the number is not small, are boastful compositions, which have delighted in exaggeration ; and, what is most mischievous, they have lavished commendation on acts which demanded reprobation, and have endeavoured to raise miscreants notorious for their want of humanity to the rank of heroes, lessening thereby the stain upon robbery, and the abhorrence naturally conceived against cruelty.

There is some excuse for the buccaneer who tells his own story. Vanity, and his prejudices, without any intention to deceive, lead him to magnify his own exploits ; and the reader naturally makes allowances.

The men whose enterprises are to be related were natives of different European nations, but chiefly of Great Britain and France, and most of them seafaring people, who, being disappointed by accidents or the enmity of the Spaniards in their more sober pursuits in the West Indies, and also instigated by thirst for plunder as much as by desire for vengeance, enrolled themselves, under different leaders of their own choosing, to make predatory war upon the Spaniards, These men the Spaniards naturally treated as pirates ;

SPANISH JEALOUSY. 3

but some peculiar circumstances which provoked their first enterprises, and a general feeling of enmity against that nation on account of their American conquests, procured them the connivance of the rest of the maritime states of Europe, and to be distinguished first by the softened appellations of freebooters and adventurers, and afterwards by that of buccaneers.

Spain, or, more strictly speaking, Castile, on the merit of a first discovery, claimed an exclusive right to the possession of the whole of America, with the exception of the Brazils, which were conceded to the Portuguese. These claims and this division the Pope sanctioned by an instrument, entitled a " Bull of Donation," which was granted at a time when all the maritime powers of Europe were under the spiritual dominion of the see of Rome. The Spaniards, however, did not flatter themselves that they should be left in the sole and undisputed enjoyment of so large a portion of the newly-discovered countries ; but they were principally anxious to preserve wholly to themselves the West Indies: and such was the monopolising spirit of the Castilians, that during the life of the Queen Ysabel of Castile, who was regarded as the patroness of Columbus's discovery, it was difficult even for Spaniards, not born subjects of the crown of Castile, to gain access to this new world, prohibitions being repeatedly published against the admission of all other persons into the ships bound ■ thither. Ferdinand, king of Arragon, the husband of Ysabel, had refused to contribute towards the outfit of Columbus's first voyage, having no opinion of the probability that it would produce him an adequate return ; and the undertaking being at the expense of Castile, the countries discovered were considered as appendages to the crown of Castile.

If such jealousy was entertained by the Spaniards of each other, what must not have been their feelings respecting other European nations ? " Whoever," says Hakluyt, "is conversant with the Portugal and Spanish writers, shall find that they account all other nations for pirates, rovers, and thieves, which visit any heathen coast chat they have sailed by or looked on."

Spain considered the New World as what in our law books is called "treasure-trove," of which she became lawfully and exclusively entitled to take possession, as fully as if it had been found without any owner or proprietor. Spain has not been singular in her maxims respecting the rights of discoverers. Our books of voyages abound in instances of the same disregard shown to the rights of the native inhabitants, the only rightful proprietors, by the navigators of other European nations, who, with a solemnity due only to offices of a religious nature, have continually put in practice the form of taking possession of countries which to them were new discoveries, their being inhabited or desert making no difference. Not unfrequently has the ceremony been performed in the presence, but not within the understanding, of the wondering natives ; and on this formality is grounded a claim to usurp the actual possession, in preference to other Europeans.

Nothing can be more opposed to common-sense, than that strangers should pretend to acquire by discovery a title to countries they find with inhabit-

RIGHTS OF OCCUPANCY. 5

ants: as if in those very inhabitants the right of prior discovery was not inherent. On some occasions, however, Europeans have thought it expedient to acknowledge the rights of the natives, as when, in disputing each other's claims, a title by gift from the natives has been pretended.

In uninhabited lands, a right of occupancy results from the discovery ; but actual and bona fide possession is requisite to perfect appropriation. If real possession be not taken, or, if taken, shall not be retained, the right acquired by the mere discovery is not indefinite and a perpetual bar of exclusion to all others ; for that would amount to discovery giving a right equivalent to annihilation. Movable effects may be hoarded and kept out of use, or be destroyed, and it will not always be easy to prove whether with injury or benefit to mankind : but the necessities of human life will not admit, unless under the strong hand of power, that a right should be pretended to keep extensive and fertile countries waste and secluded from their use, without other reason than the will of a proprietor or claimant.

Particular local circumstances have created objections to the occupancy of territory : for instance, between the confines of the Russian and Chinese empires, large tracts of country are left waste, it being held that their being occupied by the subjects of either empire would affect the security of the other. Several similar instances might be mentioned.

There is in many cases difficulty in settling what constitutes occupancy. On a small island, any first settlement is acknowledged an occupancy of the whole ; and sometimes, the occupancy of a single island of a group is supposed to comprehend an exclusive title to the possession of the remainder of the group. In the West Indies the Spaniards regarded their making settlements on a few islands to be an actual taking possession of the whole, as far as European pretensions were concerned.

The first discovery of Columbus set in activity the curiosity and speculative dispositions of all the European maritime powers. King Henry VII. of England, as soon as he was certified of the existence of countries in the western hemisphere, sent ships thither whereby Newfoundland, and parts of the continent of North America, were first discovered.' South America was also visited very early, both by the English and the French ; " which nations," the historian of Brazil remarks, "had neglected to ask a share of the undiscovered world, when pope Alexander VI. partitioned it, who would as willingly have drawn two lines as one ; and, because they derived no advantage from that partition, refused to admit its validity". The West Indies, however, which doubtless was the part most coveted by all, seem to have been considered as more particularly the discovery and right of the Spaniards ; and, either from respect to their pretensions, or from the opinion entertained of their force in those parts, they remained many years undisturbed by intruders in the West Indian Seas. But their homeward-bound ships, and also those of the Portuguese from the East Indies, did not escape being molested by pirates : sometimes by those of their own, as well as of other nations.