The Strange Voyage and Adventures of Domingo Gonsales, to the World in the MoonGodwin, Francis
Science
The Strange Voyage and Adventures of Domingo Gonsales, to the World in the Moon
Godwin, Francis
Moon -- Fiction; Voyages, Imaginary -- Early works to 1800
When I heard this Resolution, observing the Sea to work high, and
knowing all the Coast to be so full of Rocks and Shoals, that it was
impossible our Ship should come near the Land, unless broken into a
thousand Pieces, I represented to the Captain the Desperateness of
the Attempt, wishing him rather to try the Kindness of the Enemy,
than throw away himself and so many brave Men; but he would by no
Remonstrances be removed from his Resolution, therefore finding it high
Time to shift for myself, I locked up my little Casket of Jewels, which
putting into my Sleeve, I then betook me to my _Gansas_, and having
harnessed them to my Engine, and put myself thereon, supposing, as
indeed it happened, that when the Ship should split, my Birds, though
they wanted their Signal, yet for saving their own Lives, which Nature
hath taught all Creatures to preserve, would make toward Land, which
fell out according to my Expectation; the People in the Ship wondered
what I was doing, none being acquainted with the use of my Birds but
the Captain, _Diego_ being in the other Ship which fled away unpursued;
we were about half a League from Land, when our Carrick struck upon
a Rock, and split to Pieces, upon which I let loose the Reins to my
Birds, having first placed myself upon the Top of the Deck, and with
the Shock they all arose carrying me fortunately to the Land; of which
you need not doubt but I was very joyful, though it was a miserable
Sight to behold my Friends and Acquaintance in that woful Distress,
of whom yet many escaped better than they expected, for the _English_
launching out their Cock-boats, discovered more generous Tempers than
we are pleased to allow them, taking Compassion of their Calamity,
and endeavouring with all Diligence to save them from the Fury of the
Waves, though with much Danger to themselves, among others they took up
our Captain, who, as Father _Pacio_ since told me, having put himself
with twelve others into the Cock-boat, was forced to yield to one
Captain _Raymund_, who carried him and our Pilot along with them in
their Voyage to the _East-Indies_, whither they were bound, but it was
their hard Fate, by a Breach of the Sea near Cape _Buona Esperanca_, to
be swallowed of the merciless Waves, whole Rage they awhile before had
so hardly escaped; the rest as I likewise heard, who were about twenty
six Persons they took into their Ship, and set them on Land at _Cape
Verde_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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