Chapter XIV


What happened in the river De la Hacha.


THESE four ships setting sail from Hispaniola, steered for the river De la Hacha, where they were suddenly overtaken with a tedious calm. Being within sight of land becalmed for some days, the Spaniards inhabiting along the coast, who had perceived them to be enemies, had sufficient time to prepare themselves, at least to hide the best of their goods, that, without any care of preserving them, they might be ready to retire, if they proved unable to resist the pirates, by whose frequent attempts on those coasts they had already learned what to do in such cases. There was then in the river a good ship, come from Carthagena to lade with maize, and now almost ready to depart. The men of this ship endeavoured to escape; but, not being able to do it, both they and the vessel fell into their hands. This was a fit purchase for them, being good part of what they came for. Next morning, about break of day, they came with their ships ashore, and landed their men, though the Spaniards made good resistance from a battery they had raised on that side, where, of necessity, they were to land; but they were forced to retire to a village, whither the pirates followed them. Here the Spaniards rallying, fell upon them with great fury, and maintained a strong combat, which lasted till night; but then, perceiving they had lost a great number of men, which was no less on the pirates' side, they retired to secret places in the woods.

Next day the pirates seeing them all fled, and the town left empty of people, they pursued them as far as they could, and overtook a party of Spaniards, whom they made prisoners, and exercised with most cruel torments, to discover their goods. Some were forced, by intolerable tortures, to confess; but others, who would not, were used more barbarously. Thus, in fifteen days that they remained there, they took many prisoners, much plate and movables, with which booty they resolved to return to Hispaniola: yet, not content with what they had got, they dispatched some prisoners into the woods to seek for the rest of the inhabitants, and to demand a ransom for not burning the town. They answered, they had no money nor plate; but if they would be satisfied with a quantity of maize, they would give as much as they could. The pirates accepted this, it being then more useful to them than ready money, and agreed they should pay four thousand hanegs, or bushels of maize. These were brought in three days after, the Spaniards being desirous to rid themselves of that inhuman sort of people. Having laded them on board with the rest of their purchase, they returned to Hispaniola, to give account to their leader, Captain Morgan, of all they had performed.

They had now been absent five weeks on this commission, which long delay occasioned Captain Morgan almost in despair of their return, fearing lest they were fallen in to the hands of the Spaniards; especially considering the place whereto they went could easily be relieved from Carthagena and Santa Maria, if the inhabitants were careful to alarm the country. On the other side, he feared lest they should have made some great fortune in that voyage, and with it have escaped to some other place. But seeing his ships return in greater numbers than they departed, he resumed new courage, this sight causing both in him and his companions infinite joy, especially when they found them full laden with maize, which they much wanted for the maintenance of so many people, from whom they expected great matters under such a commander.

Captain Morgan having divided the said maize, as also the flesh which the hunters brought, among his ships, according to the number of men, he concluded to depart; having viewed beforehand every ship, and observed their being well equipped and clean. Thus he set sail, and stood for Cape Tiburon, where he determined to resolve what enterprise he should take in hand. No sooner were they arrived, but they met some other ships newly come to join them from Jamaica; so that now their fleet consisted of thirty-seven ships, wherein were two thousand fighting men, beside mariners and boys. The admiral hereof was mounted with twenty-two great guns, and six small ones of brass; the rest carried some twenty; some sixteen, some eighteen, and the smallest vessel at least four; besides which, they had great quantities of ammunition and fire-balls, with other inventions of powder.

Captain Morgan having such a number of ships, divided the whole fleet into two squadrons, constituting a vice-admiral, and other officers of the second squadron, distinct from the former. To these he gave letters patent, or commissions to act all manner of hostilities against the Spanish nation, and take of them what ships they could, either abroad at sea, or in the harbours, as if they were open and declared enemies (as he termed it) of the king of England, his pretended master. This done, he called all his captains and other officers together, and caused them to sign some articles of agreement betwixt them, and in the name of all. Herein it was stipulated, that he should have the hundredth part of all that was gotten to himself: that every captain should draw the shares of eight men for the expenses of his ship, besides his own. To the surgeon, beside his pay, two hundred pieces of eight for his chest of medicaments. To every carpenter, above his salary, one hundred pieces of eight. The rewards were settled in this voyage much higher than before: as, for the loss of both legs, fifteen hundred pieces of eight, or fifteen slaves, the choice left to the party, for the loss of both hands, eighteen hundred pieces of eight, or eighteen slaves: for one leg, whether right or left, six hundred pieces of eight, or six slaves: for a hand, as much as for a leg; and for the loss of an eye, one hundred pieces of eight, or one slave. Lastly, to him that in any battle should signalize himself, either by entering first any castle, or taking down the Spanish colours, and setting up the English, they allotted fifty pieces of eight for a reward. All which extraordinary salaries and rewards to be paid out of the first spoil they should take, as every one should occur to be either rewarded or paid.

This contract being signed, Captain Morgan commanded his vice-admirals and captains to put all things in order, to attempt one of these three places; either Carthagena, Panama, or Vera Cruz. But the lot fell on Panama, as the richest of all three; though this city being situate at such a distance from the North Sea as they knew not well the approaches to it, they judged it necessary to go beforehand to the isle of St. Catherine, there to find some persons for guides in this enterprise; for in the garrison there are commonly many banditti and outlaws belonging to Panama and the neighbouring places, who are very expert in the knowledge of that country. But before they proceeded, they published an act through the whole fleet, promising, if they met with any Spanish vessel, the first captain who should take it should have for his reward the tenth part of what should be found in her.

718 - 843

From 718 to 843

High Early Middle Ages. From the beginning of Charles Martel's rule in 718 to the Treaty of Verdun in 843.

Chapter XVII

The voyage of the Beagle. Chapter XVII. Galapagos Archipelago

The whole Group Volcanic Numbers of Craters Leafless Bushes Colony at Charles Island James Island Salt-lake in Crater Natural History of the Group Ornithology, curious Finches Reptiles Great Tortoises, habits of Marine Lizard, feeds on Sea-weed Terrestrial Lizard, burrowing habits, herbivorous Importance of Reptiles in the Archipelago Fish, Shells, Insects Botany American Type of Organization Differences in the Species or Races on different Islands Tameness of the Birds Fear of Man, an acquired Instinct SEPTEMBER 15th.—This archipelago consists of ten principal islands, of which five exceed the others in size. They are situated under the Equator, and between five and six hundred miles westward of the coast of America. They are all formed of volcanic rocks; a few fragments of granite curiously glazed and altered by the heat, can hardly be considered as an exception. Some of the craters, surmounting the larger islands, are of immense size, and they rise to a height of between three and four thousand feet. Their flanks are studded by innumerable smaller orifices. I scarcely hesitate to affirm, that there must be in the whole archipelago at least two thousand craters. These consist either of lava or scoriae, or of finely-stratified, sandstone-like tuff. Most of the latter are beautifully symmetrical; they owe their origin to eruptions of volcanic mud without any lava: it is a remarkable circumstance that every one of the twenty-eight tuff-craters which were examined, had their southern sides either much lower than the other sides, or quite broken down and removed.

Chapter VIII

The pirates of Panama or The buccaneers of America : Chapter VIII

Lolonois makes new preparations to make the city of St. James de Leon; as also that of Nicaragua; where he miserably perishes. LOLONOIS had got great repute at Tortuga by this last voyage, because he brought home such considerable profit; and now he need take no great care to gather men to serve under him, more coming in voluntarily than he could employ; every one reposing such confidence in his conduct that they judged it very safe to expose themselves, in his company, to the greatest dangers. He resolved therefore a second voyage to the parts of Nicaragua, to pillage there as many towns as he could. Having published his new preparations, he had all his men together at the time, being about seven hundred. Of these he put three hundred aboard the ship he took at Maracaibo, and the rest in five other vessels of lesser burthen; so that they were in all six ships. The first port they went to was Bayaha in Hispaniola, to victual the fleet, and take in provisions; which done, they steered their course to a port called Matamana, on the south side of Cuba, intending to take here all the canoes they could; these coasts being frequented by the fishers of tortoises, who carry them hence to the Havannah. They took as many of them, to the great grief of those miserable people, as they thought necessary; for they had great use for these small bottoms, by reason the port they designed for had not depth enough for ships of any burthen. Hence they took their course towards the cape Gracias à Dios on the continent, in latitude 15 deg. north, one hundred leagues from the Island de los Pinos.

Часть 3

Побег из ГУЛАГа. Часть 3

Middle Paleolithic

Middle Paleolithic : from 300 000 to 50 000 years before present

Middle Paleolithic : from 300 000 to 50 000 years before present.

Апокалипсис нашего времени

Розанов, В.В. 1917-1918

№ 1 К читателю Мною с 15 ноября будут печататься двухнедельные или ежемесячные выпуски под общим заголовком: "Апокалипсис нашего времени". Заглавие, не требующее объяснении, ввиду событий, носящих не мнимо апокалипсический характер, но действительно апокалипсический характер. Нет сомнения, что глубокий фундамент всего теперь происходящего заключается в том, что в европейском (всем, — и в том числе русском) человечестве образовались колоссальные пустоты от былого христианства; и в эти пустóты проваливается все: троны, классы, сословия, труд, богатства. Всё потрясено, все потрясены. Все гибнут, всё гибнет. Но все это проваливается в пустоту души, которая лишилась древнего содержания. Выпуски будут выходить маленькими книжками. Склад в книжном магазине М. С. Елова, Сергиев Посад, Московск. губ. Рассыпанное царство Филарет Святитель Московский был последний (не единственный ли?) великий иерарх Церкви Русской... "Был крестный ход в Москве. И вот все прошли, — архиереи, митрофорные иереи, купцы, народ; пронесли иконы, пронесли кресты, пронесли хоругви. Все кончилось, почти... И вот поодаль от последнего народа шел он. Это был Филарет". Так рассказывал мне один старый человек. И прибавил, указывая от полу — на крошечный рост Филарета: — "И я всех забыл, все забыл: и как вижу сейчас — только его одного". Как и я "все забыл" в Московском университете. Но помню его глубокомысленную подпись под своим портретом в актовой зале. Слова, выговоры его были разительны. Советы мудры (императору, властям).

Часть II. Тюрьма

Записки «вредителя». Часть II. Тюрьма

От редакции

Воспоминания кавказского офицера : От редакции

Барон Федор Федорович Торнау (1810-1890) — один из замечательных офицеров русской армии, внесших в изучение Кавказа вклад не меньший, чем ученые. Он родился в 1810 году в Полоцке, получил образование в благородном пансионе при Царскосельском лицее. В 1828 году начал военную службу в чине прапорщика. Пройдя героическую военную школу в турецкой (1828-1829 годов) и польской (1831 года ) кампаниях, после недолгой службы в петербургской канцелярии Главного штаба добровольно отпросился на Кавказ, предпочитая "труды боевой жизни парадной службе и блеску паркетных удач". Далее — двенадцатилетняя служба на Кавказе. Действуя в распоряжении командующего Кавказской линией А.А.Вельяминова, Торнау отличился стойкостью и выносливостью в бою, четкостью в выполнении сложных поручений, трезвой оценкой событий, способностью принимать решение в неординарных ситуациях. А.А.Вельяминов высоко оценил достоинства молодого офицера и желал видеть его в своем ближайшем окружении. Но судьба распорядилась иначе. В сентябре 1832 года Торнау был тяжело ранен, долго лечился и вернулся на службу только осенью 1834 года, когда кавказское командование разрабатывало план сухопутного сообщения вдоль восточного берега Черного моря. Ему поручают сложную задачу — "скрытый обзор берегового пространства на север от Гагр". Тайные цели рекогносцировки требовали надежных проводников и особой маскировки. Федору Федоровичу приходилось выдавать себя за горца.

Chapter IV

The pirates of Panama or The buccaneers of America : Chapter IV

Original of the most famous pirates of the coasts of America Famous exploit of Pierre le Grand. I HAVE told you in the preceding chapters how I was compelled to adventure my life among the pirates of America; which sort of men I name so, because they are not authorized by any sovereign prince: for the kings of Spain having on several occasions sent their ambassadors to the kings of England and France, to complain of the molestations and troubles those pirates often caused on the coasts of America, even in the calm of peace; it hath always been answered, "that such men did not commit those acts of hostility and piracy as subjects to their majesties; and therefore his Catholic Majesty might proceed against them as he should think fit." The king of France added, "that he had no fortress nor castle upon Hispaniola, neither did he receive a farthing of tribute from thence." And the king of England adjoined, "that he had never given any commissions to those of Jamaica, to commit hostilities against the subjects of his Catholic Majesty." Nor did he only give this bare answer, but out of his royal desire to pleasure the court of Spain, recalled the governor of Jamaica, placing another in his room; all which could not prevent these pirates from acting as heretofore. But before I relate their bold actions, I shall say something of their rise and exercises; as also of the chiefest of them, and their manner of arming themselves before they put to sea. The first pirate that was known upon Tortuga was Pierre le Grand, or Peter the Great. He was born at Dieppe in Normandy.

IV. Арабская сказка на советский лад

Побег из ГУЛАГа. Часть 1. IV. Арабская сказка на советский лад

Зима голодная, холодная и темная была ужасно. Пришлось остаться в Павловске, в одной комнате, потому что здесь все же легче было доставать дрова. Существование людей свелось к такой нужде, какую, может быть, не знал пещерный человек, ибо он был приспособлен к тому, чтобы не умереть с голоду и не замерзнуть, мы же, интеллигенты, принужденные по-прежнему работать в требовательных интеллектуальных областях, были бессильны и беспомощны. Человек в драном пальто, для тепла подвязанный веревкой, в обутках, сшитых из старого ковра, с потрескавшимися от холода и топки железной печурки пальцами, с нервным, бегающим, голодным взглядом, был совсем не нищий, а чаще всего профессор или даже академик. Жены были не лучше. Ребятишки — истощены до последней степени. Я знала малыша, двух-трех лет, он понял, как трудно терпеть голод, и научился не доедать сразу и прятать корки под шкап, в игрушки, под ковер. Он не всегда их находил, плакал, но никому не открывал своего секрета, пока в бессильной обиде не пожаловался матери.

1. «Добро пожаловать»

Записки «вредителя». Часть III. Концлагерь. 1. «Добро пожаловать»

Попов остров, куда нас наконец привезли, не совсем остров. Отделен он от материка только «обсушкой» — низким местом, затопляемым морем два раза в сутки во время прилива. В отлив он соединяется с сушей труднопроходимым болотом. Когда-то он был покрыт лесом, теперь там торчат только отдельные кривые деревья, стелется полярная березка, и моховые болота чередуются с выходами огромных, выглаженных льдами гранитов. На Поповом острове — огромный лесопильный завод, морская пристань, куда приходят иностранные пароходы за советским лесом, а в двух-трех километрах от нее два распределительных пункта Соловецкого концлагеря — «Мореплав» и «Кок». Нас выгрузили и погнали в «Мореплав». Шли мы по грязной, тяжелой дороге, по болоту, по талому снегу. Мы еще хуже держались на ногах, чем нас гнали из «Крестов», вещи валились из рук, но нас также окружили конвойными, также, нет, хуже — понукали грубыми окриками и бранью. Протащившись километра два, мы увидели деревянные вышки, часовых, заграждение из колючей проволоки и огромные ворота. У ворот «за проволокой» был дощатый барак, где находится канцелярия коменданта и караульное помещение. За этими воротами начиналась каторга. — Посмотрите вверх, — дернул меня за рукав мой сосед. Над воротами была арка, убранная еловыми ветками. Над ней два плаката: «Да здравствует 1 Мая, праздник трудящихся всего мира!» и «Добро пожаловать!» Я не мог удержаться от смеха. Смеялись все, кто поднимал голову и видел плакаты.

II. На отлете

Побег из ГУЛАГа. Часть 3. II. На отлете

Странное чувство: я собираюсь в отчаянный побег, и стоит кому-нибудь заподозрить меня в этом, расстрел обеспечен и мне, и мужу, — но вместе с тем страдаю от невозможности взглянуть последний раз на то, что остается. Ни на что не хватает времени, сердце заходится от печали: я же расстаюсь со всем, со всеми! Я не успеваю опомниться, и вот мы с сыном уже в поезде и едем увы, знакомой дорогой. По-прежнему у насыпи заключенные копают землю, едут на свидания жены, конфузливо сторонясь других пассажиров. Но я теперь не чувствую себя повязанной с ними одной участью. Я еду не на свидание, а гораздо дальше. Мы с сыном попадаем в компанию студентов, которых послали из лесного техникума нарядчиками и десятниками на лесозаготовки. Настроение у них не очень веселое, и мне еще приходится их утешать. Сапоги выдали не всем, — как по лесу ходить в поношенных штиблетах — неизвестно. Накомарников нет совсем. Сказали, что все выдадут на месте работы, но кто этому поверит? Не ехать было нельзя, потому что лесной техникум на общем собрании вызвался послать студентов на лесозаготовки. Приняли постановление общим криком, а потом уже по разверстке определяли, кого куда. В светлую полярную ночь не спится: душно, жарко, из окон засыпает песком и паровозной сажей. — Ты чего не дрыхнешь? — перешептываются двое студентов на верхних полках. — Помнишь, Мишку убили в прошлом году? — Не в этих местах. Под Архангельском. — Тоже на лесозаготовках. — Случай. — Невеселый! — Ясно. Лесорубам не веселее нашего.