on, because he had been formerly in
the South Sea, and had been long a prisoner among the Spaniards, for
which reason he did not wish to give them notice of his return into this
sea. The sick were all landed on the 8th, and every convenience afforded
by the island made use of to promote their recovery. The weather was
very changeable all the time of the Success continuing here, with much
rain, and some hard gales of wind. They took, however, a considerable
number of goats, which not only served them for present subsistence, but
enabled them to increase their sea store, as they had an opportunity of
salting a good many; for some French ships, that had been at the island,
had left a considerable quantity of salt ready made. They likewise
cleaned the ship's bottom, and took on board a supply of wood and water.
It was now evident that the Success would have to act singly in these
seas, as Clipperton was fully of opinion that the Speedwell was lost, or
at least gave out so among the company, to prevent them from continually
cursing Shelvocke for running away with their liquors, which some of the
sick men did with their dying breaths.

The beauty and fertility of this island, compared with the dangers and
difficulties unavoidable in the South Sea, tempted four of the men to
remain in the island, and they actually ran away into the mountains. As
it was very inconvenient to lose so many good hands, Captain Clipperton
took measures for recovering them, but ineffectually. At last, a
fortnight after their desertion, and only the day before the ship was to
leave the island, two of them were caught by the goat-hunters and
brought aboard. They confessed that they had been hard put to it for the
first five days, being forced to subsist entirely on the cabbage-trees,
which are here in great plenty; but having accidentally found some fire,
left by the goat-hunters, it served them in good stead, as it enabled
them to cook their victuals. That same evening they brought on board
all the goats-flesh they had salted, together with four casks of
seal-oil, and every thing else they had on shore. A cross was set up on
shore, at the foot of which a bottle was buried, containing a letter for
Captain Shelvocke, appointing another place of rendezvous, with certain
signals by which to know each other if they happened to meet at sea.

SECTION II.

_Proceedings of the Success in the South Seas_.

Clipperton left Juan Fernandez on the 7th Octobe