Celebrated Travels and Travellers Vol 2 First Part chapter I - Voyages in the eighteenth century part 2

Jules Verne (0:00)

Section 2 of Celebrated Travels and Travellers, Volume 2 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit librivox.org. Recording by Piotr Nater Celebrated Travels and Travellers, Volume 2 Great Navigators of the Eighteenth Century by Jules Verne First part, Chapter 1, Part 2 Voyages in the Eighteenth Century Expedition of Wood Rogers Adventures of Alexander Selkirk Galapagos Island Puerto Seguro Return to England Expedition of George Anson Staten Island Juan Fernandez Tinian Macao Taking of the Vessel Canton River Results of the Cruise The War of the Spanish Succession was at its height when some privateers of Bristol determined to fit out ships to attack the Spanish vessels in the Pacific Ocean, and to devastate the coast of South America. The two vessels chosen, the Duke and Duchesse, under Captain Rogers and Courtenay, were carefully equipped and stocked with everything necessary for so long a voyage. The famous Dampierre, who had acquired a great reputation by his daring adventures and piracy did not disdain to accept the title of Chief Pilot. And although this trip was richer in material results than in geographical discoveries, the account of it contains a few curious particulars, worthy of preservation.

The Duke and Duchesse set sail from the Royal Port of Bristol on 2 April 1708 To begin with, we may note one interesting fact. Throughout the voyage a register was at the service of the crew, in which all the incidents of the voyage were to be noted, so that the slightest error and the most insignificant oversights could be rectified before the facts of the case faded from memory.

Nothing of note occurred on this voyage till the 22nd of December, when the Falkland Islands, previously noticed by few navigators, were discovered. Rogers did not land on them, but contended himself by observing that the coast, although less precipitous, resembled that of Portland. All the hills, he added, with their well-wooded and gradually sloping sides, appeared fertile, and the shore is not wanting in good harbors. Now these islands do not possess a single tree, and the good harbors, as we shall presently see, are anything but numerous, so we can judge of the exactitude of the observations made by Rogers. Navigators have done well not to trust to them.

After passing this archipelago, the two vessels steered due south, and penetrated as far as south latitude 60 degrees 58 minutes. Here there was no night, the cold was intense, and the sea so rough that the Duchesse sustained a few injuries. The chief officers of the two vessels assembled in council, agreeing that it would be better not to attempt to go further south, and the course was changed for the west. On the 15th of January 1709, Cape Horn is said to have been doubled, and the southern ocean entered.

Up to this date, the position of the island of Juan Fernández was differently given on nearly all maps, and Wood Rogers, who intended to harbour there, take in water and get a little fresh meat, came upon it almost unawares.

On the 1st of February, he embarked in a little boat to try and find an anchorage. Whilst his people were awaiting his return, a large fire was noticed on shore. Had some Spanish or French vessels cast anchor here? Would it be necessary to fight for the water and food required? Every preparation was made during the night, but in the morning no ship was in sight. Conjectures were already being hazarded as to whether the enemy had retired, when the end was put to all surmises by the return of the boat, bringing in it a man clad in goatskins, whose personal appearance was yet more savage than his garments. It was a Scotch mariner, Alexander Selkirk, by name, who, in consequence of a quarrel with the captain of his ship, had been left on this desert island four years and a half before. The fire which had attracted notice had been lighted by him. During his stay on the island of Juan Fernandez, Selkirk had seen many vessels pass, but only two, both Spanish, had cast anchor. Discovered by the sailors, Selkirk had been fired upon, and only escaped death by the agility, with which he managed to climb into a tree and hide. He told how he had been put ashore with his clothes, his bed, a pound of powder, some bullets, a little tobacco, a hatchet, a knife, a kettle, a Bible, with a few other devotional books, his nautical instruments and books.

Poor Selkirk provided for his wants as best he could, but during the first few months he had great difficulty in conquering the sadness and mastering the horror consequent upon his terrible loneliness. He built two huts of willow, which he covered with a sword of rush, and lined with the skins of the goats he killed to satisfy his hunger as long as his ammunition lasted. When it was likely to fail, he managed to strike a light by rubbing two pieces of pimento wood together. When he had quite exhausted his ammunition, he caught the goats as they ran. His agility had become so great by the dint of constant exercise that he scoured the woods, rocks, and hills with a perfectly incredible speed. He had sufficient proof of his skill when he went hunting with us. He outran and exhausted our best hunters, and an excellent dog which we had on board. He easily caught the goats and brought them to us on his back. He himself related to us that one day he chased his prey so eagerly to the edge of the precipice, which was concealed by bushes, that they rolled over and over together until they reached the bottom. He lost consciousness through that fall, and upon discovering that the goat lay under him quite dead, after remaining where he was for 24 hours, he with the utmost difficulty succeeded in crawling to his cabin, which was about a mile distant, and he was unable to walk again for six days. This deserted wretch managed to season his food with the turnips sown by the crew of a ship, with cabbages, capsicums, and allspice.