Page:Colnett - Voyage to the South Pacific (IA cihm 33242).djvu/129

 lay rove a halter to the yard-arm, and frequently threatened me with instant death, by hanging me as a pirate. This treatment, at length, nearly cost me my life; and threw me into so violent a fever, that I was delirious for several days: After recovering, I was sent in my own ship prisoner to St. Blas a Spanish port in the Gulf of California. On my passage thither, I was confined in the Mate's-Cabin, (a place not six feet square) for two and thirty days, with a scanty supply of miserable provisions, and a short allowance of water. The British part of my ship's company, with two officers, were confined in the sail room with their feet in irons, and kept in a state too shocking to relate, and which decency forbids me to describe. In going into the harbour, the Spaniards ran the ship aground and damaged her bottom. On landing, few of my people had any change of clothes, for the Spaniards had broke open their chests and plundered them; however, when under the care of the Governor of St. Blas, we were better treated, being permitted to walk about the town, in charge of a guard of soldiers, and allowed sufficient provisions. About this time the Princess Royal and crew arrived, and shared the same fate. Soon after, under a promise that our detention could not be long, they persuaded us to heave down and repair the Argonaut, new copper her bottom, and fit new rigging. The idea of release stimulated us to work on the ship with great alacrity, so much so, that our exertions threw several into fevers; and on the vessel being nearly ready, the Governor threw off the mask, informing us she was to be employed for their use, and laughed again at our credulity. This treatment, added to little thefts committed on us with impunity, worked on the minds of the sickly part of the crew, several of whom took it to heart and died, and one destroyed himself in despair. Not being Catholics, we were ordered to inter them on the sea-beech. After we had buried them, the Native Creoles dug up the bodies of one between the Latitude of 21° 15′ and 22° and Longitude 107° West. The center isle is the largest; the Northernmost, which is named Saint John, is low and tabling,