John Roach

“ During my captivity I never saw any of these invaders; yet the poor savages lived in such continual fear, that if the wind or any wandering beast, made the smallest disturbance amongst the trees of the forest in the night season, the whole tribe instantly arose, and probably travelled all night, to avoid the supposed enemy; unless they luckily discovered the real cause of their fear. ”

“ At the age of eleven years, being inclined to a sea-faring life, I was bound an apprentice, for six years, to the Leviathan commanded by John Steele of Workington. I sailed in her successfully for about three years, during which time we sailed chiefly between Whitehaven and Dublin in the coal trade: but on the night of the 24th of December 1762, being on our passage to Dublin we were attacked by a violent storm of wind and snow which seemed to threaten us all with immediate death: for our ship soon became so leaky, that we found it impossible for us to keep her long above water ”

“ Accordingly on a certain day in the tenth month of my captivity, being in quest of game, as usual we had uncommon success; and returning to a place much frequented by the tribe, on account of a spring which yielded excellent water, we had taken; and the poor Indians highly exulting in their good fortune, greatly overgorged themselves; after which a large quantity of plaintain liquor was prepared and every one of them took a hearty drink thereof, which greatly intoxicated the whole tribe both men and women. ”

“ These Indians are called the Woolaways, or flat-headed tribe. They consist of about fifty effective men, besides twice that number of women and children. They have no settled place of residence but daily wander about the extensive forest in which they reside. Killing the different kinds of creatures that it produces, for their sustenance. ”

“ The extent of the forest is to me entirely unknown. Several large rivers have their course through it. It also abounds with a variety of animals, and sundry kinds of fruits: but animal food is almost the sole diet of the Indians, It is nearly one continued cluster of towering trees: amongst which are mahogany, walnut ebony, cedar, lignum-vitae, cotton aud many other valuable production. ”

“ But before any of their articles were landed, our Captain ordered us to seize the Spaniards by force of arms, and put them on shore; which we accordingly did, and immediately weighed anchor, leaving these poor injured people to bewail their loss and disappointment, and curse the English traders for this perfidious injury done them. Such illicit practices have caused many persons to suffer in those parts, who might themselves be very honestly inclined, and who might have made great profit by dealing with these people in an honest way ”

“ Notwithstanding my elevated situation, the enraged beast seemed very unwilling to quit me. It furiously tore up the underwood and small trees that were around me for a considerable distance rooted up a considerable quantity of earth about the tree I was upon; ran madly round the tree, and made several attempts to ascend it. When it perceived that these efforts failed, it endeavoured to entice me from the tree by whistling; and in these different excercises continuen during the remainder of that day and all the following night. ”

“ But as soon as the savage crew were drawn up in order, and had prepared themselves for the enjoyment of their destructive pleasure, a venerable old man, who was their physician stood up, and harangued to them for a considerable time. ”

“ But they dare not build themselves habitations, or confine themselves to any particular abode, lest their enemies should obtain knowledge of it, and invade them therein: for they dread the approach of the Spaniards from the interior parts of the country and are much more terrified by the invasions of the musquito men, from the sea coast ”

“ After leaving Nombre de Dios, we stood about fifty leagues to the westward; but being in great want of fuel, we anchored in a large bay by the mouth of a river, in order to procure some.—I was immediately ordered on shore, with five negroes with hatchets and other implements, to cut fire-wood. ”

“ At the expiration thereof, being weary of trading constantly to those places and anxious to flee various parts of the world, I shipped myself for Petersburg, in the Hawk of Workington, commanded by Michael Fawkin, brother to my late Captain. We completed this voyage in about four months: After which I returned to the coal trade, and continued therein about half a year. I then sailed form Workington in the Pearl, Captain Fisher, for Norway, and returned in her to the same place after a pleasant voyage of three months. ”

“ On the 26th of March we sailed from Jamaica, fully persuaded that the bay of Honduras was our destined place; but were soon informed of our Captain’s intention of going to the Isthmus of Darien, for mules and horned cattle. Accordingly on or about the 10th of April, we anchored a little on to the westward of Nombre de Dios, and our Captain dispatched a negro on shore, who could speak the spanish tongue, as a messenger to inform the inhabitants that he wanted a few mules and horned cattle, for which he would return them sundry goods, which he had brought for that purpose, viz. ”

“ Yet they seem generally to confine their roving feet within the space of five or six days travel; which appears by their frequently returning to a few certain places which have become fear to them, either by affording good water, convenient sleeping places, or the like. ”