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.
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