whose person was good, though she was not a regular beauty. Casting
an amorous eye on Mr. Byron, she first proposed to her uncle to
convert him and then begged his consent to marry him. The old man’s
affection for his niece induced his ready acquiescence to her
wishes, and on the next visit Mr. Byron was acquainted with the
lady’s designs. The uncle unlocked many chests and boxes before
him, first showing what a number of fine clothes his niece had
and then exhibiting his own wardrobe which he said should be Mr.
Byron’s at his death. Among other things he produced a piece of
linen, engaging that it should immediately be made up into shirts
for his use. Mr. Byron felt this last article a great temptation,
yet he had the resolution to withstand it, and declined the honor
intended him, with the best excuses he was able to frame.
Some time after they had been at Chaco, a ship arrived from Lima
which occasioned great joy amongst the inhabitants, as no ship had
been there the year before on account of the alarm of Commodore
Anson’s squadron. The captain of her was an old man, well known
upon the island, who had been trading there for thirty years
past. He had a remarkably large head and was commonly known by
the nick-name of _Cabuco de Toro_, or Bull’s-head. Not a week had
elapsed after his arrival before he came to the governor with a
melancholy countenance, saying that he had not slept a wink since
he came into the harbor because the governor was pleased to allow
three English prisoners to walk about at liberty, whom he expected
every minute would board his vessel and carry her away, although
he said he had more than thirty sailors on board. The governor
answered that he would be responsible for the behavior of the
three Englishmen, but could not help laughing at the old man.
Notwithstanding these assurances, Captain Bull’s-head used the
utmost despatch in disposing of his cargo and put to sea again, not
considering himself safe until he lost sight of Chaco.
The officers of the _Wager_ were compelled to wait for another of
the infrequent trading ships from Lima, and it was therefore in
January, 1743, before they made the next stage of their interminable
pilgrimage. They were sent ashore at Valparaiso, where the Spanish
governor promptly threw them into prison; but he later forwarded them
to Santiago, the capital of Chile, where they were handsomely released
on parole.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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