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Chap. IX.

Every thing was now ready for sailing, and we only waited for page 373a fair wind. We took leave at Court, of the Ambassador, and of the Nomras who had shewed us civilities; but with much more real concern of the worthy Merchants of the factory, and of the virtuous Bonaris. Our grief at parting would have been greater, if we had not hoped to meet again the next year, or at least to hear from one another. The wind came fair the day after we lay on board, and we sailed the 1st of February 1776, having been near three months in this famous Capital.

Our voyage was prosperous and agreeable during the whole month of February, and most part of that of March; no occurrence happened worth mentioning, except that we met, and spoke with several Armoserian page 374Privateers; who paid due honours to the Bonhommican flag, seeing us so well prepared for them; or what is more probable, having no design to make themselves any new enemies.

The goodness of heart which Moravers shewed on every occasion, made me almost adore him; and I perceived that my endeavours to imitate their manners, had not been entirely without success, as I gained ground daily in his affections. The orderly behaviour of the inferior officers and common sailors, was also truly admirable; and I often used to make the comparison in my own mind, betwixt them and our English crews, where nothing is done with-page 375out bawling, cursing, and swearing in a most shameful manner.

On March 27th, when by our reckoning we were within a hundred leagues of Bonhommica, and were happy in the thoughts of soon seeing our friends; at 2 p.m. the wind, which had mostly been at west, changed to S. W. and freshened considerably. This obliged us to take in our top-gallant-sails, and even to reef the top-sails. At half after four we took them in also, and at fix reefed our courses. Thus we run all that night, but the gale still increased upon us. In the morning we counted our whole convoy still in company, and put in another reef in our courses. On the evening of the 28th, the Quadarow made the signal for lying to page 376under a reefed mizen, for fear of shooting abead of our port. It blew a perfect storm all night, and the ship pitched so dreadfully, that we had some apprehensions of her foundering. On the 29th at day-break, not one of the fleet was to be seen, and the storm instead of abating grew every hour more violent; so that to prevent her foundering, we were obliged to put her before the wind under a treble reefed foresail. She did not now labour in the sea as before, but went with a prodigious velocity; at least nine or ten knots an hour as well as we could judge, heaving the log-line in so mountainous a sea being impracticable; however, on the 30th, we found it necessary to take in also the foresail, and let her drive under bare poles. Mora-page 377veres was as composed in this tempest as at other times, giving me his opinion and orders with the coolness of a virtuous man, who was prepared for all events. Nor did he even at such a time overlook the firmness with which the masts and rigging bore the buffeting of the winds, to the honour of British improvements.

This storm continued with unabated violence to April 9th, when it began to lose somewhat of its fury; but went off gradually as it came on. The 10th it abated considerably, but a prodigious high sea still run.

We now got out some sails, and altered our course for Bonhommica. On the 11th fair weather, and the sea much fallen: at noon an ob-page 378servation, and found ourselves in 10° 52' south latitude, and by several distances of the sun and moon in 152° 34' east longitude. At 2 p. m. saw a sail which we concluded must be one of the convoy, she was to leeward, so we bore down to her; but how great was my surprise and joy when we neared her, to discover she was European built and seemed to be Dutch. I acquainted Moraveres with it, who said, it would give him great pleasure to see an European ship, but was afraid it would be the means of depriving them of me; however, said he, we must put away all selfishness from our hearts, when the happiness of our friends is concerned.

A boat was immediately hoisted out, and the Dutchman seeing we page 379intended coming on board of him, ordered the ship to lie to for us, and the Ardefow was commanded to do the same. We went on board, and found her a frigate of 22 guns called the Harlem, and commanded by John Van Trump. I had much ado to make myself understood by the Captain, as he was master of neither English nor French nor I of Dutch. The sailors being all on deck out of curiosity to see such outlandish people, I asked in English, if none of them were Englishmen; they all shook their heads. I then spoke to the same purpose in French, when one came forward, and said in that language that he was a Walloon. The Captain was a well looking man, and polite, for his country. He asked us very civilly into his page 380cabbin, where the Walloon attended us. When there, he begged the favour to know how I came into these seas, and more particularly in a ship, and with people, whom he had never seen, or heard any thing spoke of. That all Europe believed, that there was no civilised nation in that part of the globe; but by the construction of the ship, its large size, and the appearance of the people, it seemed to be otherwise. I gave him a faithful account of my travels, and particularly of the Island of Bonhommica, and its inhabitants, giving them the due praise their virtues deserved; letting him know also, that I had entered into their service, as there seemed little probability of my ever getting back to my own dear coun-page 381try. I however had done it with this express reservation, that I was at liberty to quit it upon any occasion of meeting with a European ship, that would carry me thither. But though I told him nothing but truth, no mention was made of the southern continent; that great discovery I reserved for my dear countrymen. I now in return requested an account of his business in these feas, but found him very reserved on that subject. He only said, that he had been sent out by the governor general and council of Batavia, on a voyage of discovery; that he had been at New- Zealand, where one of his boat's crews had been cut off, and devoured by the savages; and that having been already out fifteen months, with a very sictkly ship's company, he was page 382returning thither with all possible expedition, before the scurvy had quite disabled them. He concluded with offering me in a very handsome manner, a passage to Batavia, which I accepted with great thankfulness He asked us to stay dinner with him, which the Quadarow consented to, on condition he dined with him next day, on board the Ardefow. This he readily consented to, having no doubt a curiosity to see the ship, and the manners of the people who navigated her. Before dinner Captain Van Trump showed Moraveres every part of the Harlem, who was not so much pleased as might have been expected; but Duteh ships are in general of a clumsy and heavy construction in comparison with the English.

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The Dutch Captain gave us the best dinner that was in his power; every thing was neat and plain, which greatly pleased our Quadarow. What we wanted in fresh meat, he made up in good liquors; arrack punch and Constantia wine, were both quite new to Moraveres, and much admired by him. After dinner, we returned to the Ardefow (which I shall no longer call our ship, as I was so soon to leave her), and I began to put my affairs in some order, to be removed on board the Harlem. I must honestly own, that though I had now a prospect of seeing Old England again, which I had for a long time almost despaired of; yet the parting with Moraveres, and the thoughts of never seeing my royal mistress or any of my friends in Ludorow more, struggled page 384hard in my thoughts, with the love of my native country; and it was not an easy conquest which the latter at last gained. Moraveres observed my concern, and was pleased with it; he said it shewed a good heart, not to quit people who valued me, without regret, though it was to return to my own country. But, continued he, you must endeavour to shake it off, as you are only doing your duty, and I shall comfort myself in your absence with the hopes of your being happy, and that you will not entirely forget me and my country.

He then made some inquiries concerning the Dutch nation; and when I had given him an account of their small territory in Europe, and their extensive commerce, together with their great power in India; their page 385character, manners, &c. &c. He said, they were a singular instance of the powerful effects of commerce, but there were some things in their character which he could not approve of; they seem, said he, a selfish people, and make every thing give way to that sordid principle. I afterwards (at his own desire) informed him in what manner I was to get home; and he (understanding, that after reaching Batavia, a long voyage was to be made to Europe) went to his desk, and brought out a purse filled with 200 Tudarines, and said to me, Bowman, you are going amongst a selfish people, where you will be an intire stranger; if you cannot amongst men of that character pay for what you want, you will be very ill served. Receive then this money which I have page 386no occasion for, it may be of use to you. I was delighted, and yet hurt with the generosity of my friend, and, would have excused myself from accepting it, by letting him know; that I was not without money enough (I hoped) to serve my occasions; but finding he would take my refusal very ill, I was obliged to acquiesce. I wrote a letter to the Lurgow Amorow, begging he would acquaint her Majesty with my great acknowledgments and gratitude for all her favours, which I assured him would never be obliterated from my memory, while I had life; and also assuring him of my great respect and regard for his own person and virtues, as well as for the whole Bonhommican nation. I wrote also to my host Lurgofage, inclosing one in it to my dear friend Ouragow at Seripante.

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Next day, Captain Van Trump came on board according to promise, and brought his interpreter with him. Before dinner I shewed him the ship, which was cleared for that purpose, and he was not a little surprised with it; but as I honestly told him how she had been fitted out under my directions, by order of her Bonhommican Majesty, his admiration was somewhat lessened. He got the best dinner that the ship could afford, and wine both of the growth of Bonhommica and Luxo-volupto; which were very different from any he ever drank, and consequently increased his wonder. Conversing about Bonhommica, the Captain said to me, that it seemed impossible to him, that an Island of so large a size, and lying in the longitude and latitude I had mentioned, should hitherto have es-page 388caped discovery; but, on considering the vast extent of the Pacific Ocean, it by chance might happen; and what he saw before him, and all around, was a plain proof that it had.

In viewing the ship, he had observed that all the men looked in perfect health, without the least appearance of the scurvy, and at dinner mentioned it to me as something very uncommon. I answered him, that we had only been seventy days out of port, which was not so long, but with common management that distemper might be prevented; for I assured him the two British ships which have lately been in these seas, had been 117 days without seeing land; and yet to my knowledge without any appearance of it. He begged to know, in what manner they were page 389victualled, or if any other means were used to prevent that destructive malady. Upon this, I gave him a full account of our provision and management (but with which I shall not trouble the reader), and afterwards told him that the Ardefow had by way of experiment been conducted exactly in the same manner; which probably had contributed to the healthfulness of the men. After sitting silent for a minute or two, he replied, that I had told him of a very happy discovery, and wished he had an opportunity of trying it upon his sickly crew. To which I rejoined, that Moraveres was so humane and worthy a man, that I was certain if there was such a quantity left, as to allow any to be spared, that he would readily do it. The worthy Quadarow, upon being told of the page 390sickly condition of the Dutch ship, and what was requested of him, immediately sent for a return of these stores to be made him; and finding he safely might spare a part to people in such distress, ordered a certain quantity of each to be properly casked up and put into the Harlem's boat.

Van Trump expressed his acknowledgments for his humanity, and it being now time to depart, I took a last farewel of my dear friend, which was on neither side with dry eyes; and also of the quarter-deck officers; even the common men were not forgot; and I have the satisfaction of remembering, that they all showed a concern at parting with me.

The ships steering different courses, were soon out of fight of each other; page 391but my heart still glowed with the remembrance of the Ardefow and her excellent commander.

Captain Van Trump treated me very well during our voyage to Batavia, and the favour I had obtained for his sick men required no less at his hands. By the help of our interpreter, I gave the surgeon instructions how the stores were to be managed to the best advantage, and being an idle man, even overlooked the giving of them regularly myself. It was with infinite pleasure that I observed their salutary effects; those who were only beginning to be ill, recovered in a very short time; and those who had been long down, grew by degrees better and better.

The Dutch language does not differ greatly from the English; I took page 392some pains in acquiring it while on board this ship, and not altogether without success; before we got to Batavia, I could talk it tolerably well. We arrived at this famous Emporium June 26th, 1776, without any thing worth relating having happened in the voyage.

Before I had been a week at Batavia, a very civil message was sent me from the Governor-general and Council, desiring to see me, which I accordingly obeyed. When I was introduced, it soon appeared what their business with me was, by the Governor's immediately interrogating me, concerning the ship from which the Harlem had taken me. I gave him a faithful account as far as it went, of the Island of Bonhommica and every thing I knew concerning it, with which they seemed satisfied, page 393as it agreed exactly with Van Trump's account of the Ardefow, and her ship's company. Before I left Batavia, two ships were fitting out to go on that discovery; whereof one was to be commanded by Van Trump. This gave me some uneasiness, as I wished no body might get the start of my own dear countrymen, in an intercourse with so virtuous a people; and I hope they will do me the justice to consider, that, circumstanced as I was, it was utterly impossible for me to conceal that valuable discovery from the Dutch.

I had hitherto enjoyed an uninterrupted good state of health during all my dangers and fatigues; but the stinking putrid air of this abominable place, was too powerful for me. I fell down in a putrid fever, and was page 394many days struggling for life. The most noted physicians were called to my assistance by Van Trump, who, to do him justice, acted a friendly part by me; and at the end of three weeks (whether from the medicines I had taken, or from youth and a good constitution, I shall not determine), my disease took a favourable turn. I began to recover, but it was very slowly; which no doubt was in a great measure occasioned by my continuing in the same bad air. My desire of being removed into the country was complied with; and I found great benefit by that change. Sickness, it is generally said, is chargeable; this I found to my cost; for had it not been for my good friend's purse of Tudorines, I could not have defrayed the expences of mine. I got Dutch money for them from page 395a goldsmith; and many of the Merchants and Council bought them from him as great curiosities.

Van Trump undertook to procure me a passage, in the first ship bound to the Cape of Good-Hope; and to acquaint me when she was ready to sail. This did not happen till the middle of October, when I came to town, and went on board immediately, after thanking the Captain for all his favours. The ship was a Dutch East Indiaman, called the Oster-hought, commanded by Isaac Van Neck, a very sensible good fort of man. As soon as we got out to sea, I found myself quite a different man, and daily recovered my strength and spirits. We had rather a tedious passage to the Cape, though no very bad weather; having sailed from Batavia page 396the end of October, and not arriving there till the beginning of March 1777. I was now got to a known country, and went to lodge at the same house I had been well treated at, four years and a half before. English company's ships were frequently coming from India, and calling here for refreshments in their way to Europe. I took my passage home in the Triton, the Hon. Captain Elphinston commander, a most agreeable and worthy man, who made every one on board his ship happy. We called at St. Helena, as is usual for the company's ships, but made no long stay, had a prosperous voyage home, and came to an anchor in the Downs, on the 24th of July; when I soon had the happiness of breathing my native air, of finding my dear father in page 397health, and all my family and relations very happily established.

The only loss I had to regret, was that of Sir Charles Saunders; him I most sincerely lamented, both as a worthy man, and the only patron I had in the British navy. I have an ambition to serve my King and Country, and desire no other reward for my great discoveries, than to be admitted to the same rank which I left in the Bonhommican service. But as in this country every thing goes by interest, I almost despair of success; and heartily wish my good friend Omai was still here, who, I make no doubt, would have exerted to the utmost, all his interest with the Great in my favour.

It requires no nice investigation to discover, that the British manners at page 398present resemble much more those of the Luxo-voluptans, than the Bonhommicans. I am sorry to find it so, but for my own part I shall endeavour to form my friendships with those only, who have the greatest similitude to the latter nation; whose virtuous lives shall be the models for my imitation.

As the opportunity of returning to my native country was so unexpected, and happened at sea; there was no possibility of bringing any specimens of the manufactures, arms, or curiosities of the countries I visited, with me. However, if any gentleman will give himself the trouble of calling at my lodgings in St. Alban's-Street, I can shew him the coins of Bonhommica and Luxo-volupto; and some of the manufactures of both countries page 399in my Bonhommican uniform, and the cloaths I made up at Miro-volante to appear in at court.

I have not increased the size and price of this small volume, by a vocabulary of words, which I could easily have furnished from the languages I acquired. But if the Public shews any curiosity concerning these languages, they shall be indulged with something more complete than has hitherto appeared, of those spoke in the southern hemisphere; which I shall publish by subscription.

Thus have I, without any expence to my country, discovered the hitherto supposed, but much doubted of, Great Southern Continent. A fifth division of this Terraqueous Globe, of no inconsiderable magnitude; being (by page 400the best information I could obtain) at least as large as Europe. And I hope from the known generosity of my countrymen, that I shall not be so ungratefully used by them, as the great Columbus was by the Spaniards; but that they will do me the honour of giving my name to it; which I think without dispute I have a much better right to, than Americus Vesputius had to that of America.

I shall not pretend to dictate to the Public, by which of my names it should be called, either of them is at their service; but if they will allow me to give my opinion, I think Bowmania would be softer, and more in unison with the names of the other divisions so long in use, than Hildebrandia.

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