BUCANIERS, &c. of America. 133 coming near the Horfe they drew into a Semicircle, and fo advanced towards the Spaniards, who charged them valiantly for a while; but the Pyrates being very dextrous at their Arms, and their Governor, with many of their Companions, being killed, they retreated towards the Wood, to fave themselves with more Advantage; but be fore they could reach it, moft of them were unfortunately killed by the Pyrates. Thus they left the Victory to thefe new-come Enemies, who had no confiderable Lofs of Men in the Battle, and but very few wounded. The Skirmish lafted four Hours: They entered the Town not without great Resistance of such as were within, who defended themfelves as long as poffible, and many feeing the Enemy in the Town, fhut themselves up in their own Houses, and thence made feveral Shot upon the Pyrates; who thereupon threatened them, faying, If you furrender not voluntarily, you shall foon fee the Town in a Flame, and your Wives and Children torn in Pieces before your Faces. Upon thefe Menaces the Spaniards fubmitted to the Discretion of the Pyrates, believing they could not continue there long. As foon as the Pyrates had poffeffed themselves of the Town, they enclofed all the Spaniards, Men, Women, Children, and Slaves, in feveral Churches, and pillaged all the Goods they could find; then they fearched the Country round about, bringing in daily many Goods and Prifoners, with much Provifion. With this they fell to making great Cheer, after their old Coftom, without remembering the poor Prisoners, whom they let starve in the Churches, though they tormented them daily and inhumanly to make them 134 The HISTORY of the them confefs where they had hid their Goods, Money, &c. tho' little or nothing was left them, not sparing the Women and little Children, giv ing them nothing to eat, whereby the greatest Part perished. Pillage and Provifions growing scarce, they thought convenient to depart and feek new Fortunes in other Places: They told the Prisoners, They should find Money to ranfom themselves, elfe they should be all transported to Jamaica; and befide, if they did not pay a fecond Ransom for the Town, they would turn every Houfe in Afbes. The Spaniards hereupon nominated among themfelves four Fellow Prifoners to go and feek for the abovementioned Contributions; but the Pyrates, to the Intent they should return speedily with thofe Ranfoms, tormented feveral cruelly in their Prefence, before they departed. After a few Days, the Spaniards returned, telling Captain Morgan, We have ran up and down, and fearched all the neighbouring Woods and Places we moft fufpected, and yet bave not been able to find any of our own Party, nor confequently any Fruit of our Embally; but if you are pleafed to have a little longer Patience with us, we shall certainly cause all that you demand to be paid within 15 Days; which Captain Morgan granted. But not long after, there came into the Town feven or eight Pyrates who had been ranging in the Woods and Fields, and got confiderable Booty. These brought amongst other Prifoners a Negro, whom they had taken with Letters. Capt. Morgan having perufed them, found they were from the Governor of Santa Jago, being written to fome of the Prifoners, wherein he told them, They fhould not make too much Hafte to pay any Ransom for their Town BUCANIERS, &c. of America. 135 Town or Perfons, or any other Pretext; but on the contrary, they should put off the Pgrates as well as they could with Excufes and Delays, expecting to be relieved by him in a fhort Time when he would certainly come to their Aid. Upon this Intelligence Captain Morgan immediately ordered all their Plunder to be carried aboard; and withal, he told the Spaniards, that the very next Day they should pay their Ranfoms, for he would not wait a Moment longer, but reduce the whole Town to Ashes, if they failed of the Sum he demanded. With this Intimation, Captain Morgan made no Mention to the Spaniards of the Letters he had intercepted. They answered, That it was impoffible for them to give fuch a Sum of Money in fo fhort a Space of Time, Jeeing their Fellow Townf men were not to be found in all the Country thereabouts. Captain Morgan knew full well their Intentions, but thought it not convenient to stay there any longer, demanding of them only 500 Oxen or Cows, with fufficient Salt to powder them, with this Condition, That they should carry them on board his Ships. Thus he departed with all his Men, taking with him only fix of the principal Prifoners as Pledges. Next Day the Spaniards brought the Cattle and Salt to the Ships, and required the Prifoners; but Captain Morgan refufed to deliver them, till they had helped his Men to kill and falt the Beeves: This was performed in great Hafte, he not caring to ftay there any longer, left he fhould be furprised by the Forces that were gathering against him; and having received all on board his Veffels, he fet at Liberty the Hoftages. ON THE CARIBBEAN SEA. THE steamers Reina de los Angeles and Purísima Concepción, of the Menendez Steamship Line, sail from Batabanó on alternate Thursdays for Cienfuegos, Casilda, Tunas, Jucaro, Santa Cruz del Sur, Manzanillo, Ensenada de Mora, and Santiago de Cuba. Batabanó is reached by the United Railways from Havana. The Menendez ships are large and commodious; everything is clean, fresh and open; there is no stuffiness nor any of the odors characteristic of steamships; the cooking is in the Spanish style, and the food abundant, varied and good. From Batabanó to Cabo de Cruz it is one of the most delightful sea trips imaginable. The ship's course is through waters sheltered by outlying keys and as calm and smooth as a lake in a city park. There is not even any ground swell to disturb the equanimity of a voyager subject to seasickness. Hour after hour the ship glides through a tranquil sea, whose glassy plane is unbroken save by the flying fish which scuds from the bow and goes skimming like a swallow over the water. The Caribbean sea water is sapphire; the coloring is intense; and against this deep background the silver crest of the wave from the ship hows in dazzling contrast. The richness of color effects pervades the entire picture of sea and land and sky; at certain hours of the day th very air itself is tinted. For long stretches the coast is rugged; hills and mountains rise abruptly from the shore, their verdant slopes reflected in the water; and distant ranges lie like cloud banks on the horizon. The scenery is superb; travelers liken it to that of the Mediterranean. BATABANO is the habitation of a race of sponge fishermen, hundreds of whose vessels are seen in adjacent waters. Many of the streets are canals. A characteristic feature of the place is the basket-trap for fish. The Batabanó fisherman weaves it from cane, and uses it to-day as the Indian did before him. From Batabanó the ship's course is through tortuous channels amid a multitude of islands, where the water is characterized by a peculiar milky, cloudy appearance, which so impressed Columbus that he took some bottlefuls of it home to show the King. Southeast stretches the vast Zapata Swamp, so called from its shape of a shoe (zapata, shoe). Southwest lies the Isle of Pines, to which a steamer sails from Batabanó twice a week. The first port of the Menendez Line is Cienfuegos. The harbor entrance by a sharp turn is completely shut off from view. On the approach from sea there is apparently no break in the shore; once we are within there appears to be no way out. Passing through the narrow and winding entrance channel three miles long, the ship enters the magnificent bay, eleven miles long and three to five miles wide, dotted here and there with palm-adorned islands, |