British exploits in South America; a history of British activities in exploration, military adventure, diplomacy, science, and trade, in Latin American . ace. The true significance of the Island of San Juan layin the fact that it stood as a refuge, not alone for a singlecastaway but for every vessel of non-Spanish nationalitywhich had beaten and buffeted its way from Atlantic toPacific. It was a place of shelter by the way on whosegrassy stretches the tired and scurvy-stricken crews ofa corsair or royal ship could cast themselves down inthe shade of the trees, and breathe in restful peace whil
British exploits in South America; a history of British activities in exploration, military adventure, diplomacy, science, and trade, in Latin American . ace. The true significance of the Island of San Juan layin the fact that it stood as a refuge, not alone for a singlecastaway but for every vessel of non-Spanish nationalitywhich had beaten and buffeted its way from Atlantic toPacific. It was a place of shelter by the way on whosegrassy stretches the tired and scurvy-stricken crews ofa corsair or royal ship could cast themselves down inthe shade of the trees, and breathe in restful peace whilerecuperating in preparation for their raids on the Pacificcoast. To the bucaneer, the slopes and trees and grasses ofJuan Fernandez stood out from the ocean as a godsend:in the eyes of the Spaniards the place loomed darkly as athieves kitchen. They grudged the great wealth of fishwhich frequented its coast, and the edible plants withwhich its soil abounded. And they had reason; for itwas by such fresh food that the spent and invalided hostilesailors regained a condition of health that was peculiarlyunwelcome to the Spaniard! The numerous herds of. THE BUCANEERS 89 goats, moreover, which flourished in the island foundfavor neither with the viceroy sitting in his palace atLima, nor with the governor of Chile stationed in hismore modest habitation. Let there be no more goats onJuan Fernandez! was the official command, and packs ofhounds were ferried across to the island to swallow thenuisance and to forestall the hostile sailors. Even then,a large proportion of these irritating goats succeeded ineluding the hounds, and in preserving their unpatrioticcarcasses for the benefit of heretic enemies. A bitter pill,this, for the Spanish authorities, for undoubtedly steril-ity and lifelessness in Juan Fernandez would have meantthe preservation of many sacked cities on the Pacificcoast. In what may be termed their home waters of the Carib-bean Sea the deeds of many of these Brethren of th
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectsouthamericahistory
