These Boats
Are All Constructed Of Three Pieces Only, The Keel Or Bottom Being One
Piece, And The Sides Two Others; And They Are Rowed With Oars, In The
Same Manner As With Us, More Or Fewer According To Their Size.
Having nothing farther to detain us in Chiloe, I determined upon
proceeding to the island of Juan Fernandez, as
Directed in my
instructions; but my men took it into their heads that great things
might be done by a short trip to the Bay of Conception, to which also
they were induced by the Frenchman who persuaded us to come to Chiloe.
He pretended that there were always five or six ships in the road of
Conception, besides others daily coming in or going out, and that these
had often both ways considerable sums of money or silver, with other
valuable things, on board; and, though large ships, they were of little
or no force, neither were there any fortifications at that place to
protect them; so that we could not meet any opposition in taking them,
even if there were twenty sail. He said their, cargoes consisted chiefly
of corn, wine, brandy, flour, and jerked beef; and that the ships bound
for Conception always brought money to purchase their cargoes; besides
that considerable booty might be made for rich trading passengers, who
carry on a considerable trade over land between Conception and Buenos
Ayres. He also alleged, that we could not fail of having any ships we
might take ransomed; and that we should certainly make our fortunes, if
we could only reach Conception before they had notice of our being in
these seas.
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