Bel and the Dragon's chaplains were
More moderate than these by far:
To get their wives and children meat;
But these will not be fobb'd off so,
They must have wealth and power too;
Or else with blood and desolation
They'll tear it out o' th' heart o' th' nation.--
HUDIBRAS.
Notwithstanding the success of the many daring and lawless adventurers who visited the Pacific Ocean, or "Great South Sea," as it is called in the maps and travels of the period, and who reaped many a golden harvest there, about the time of the first James and Charles of England, the coasts washed by its waves were but seldom visited, and its waters seldom ploughed by any other keels than those of discovery ships for many years. Chili3, Peru, Mexico, and California, after having been definitively4 ceded5 to the Spanish crown, constituted an El Dorado, whose gates could only be opened by a formal declaration of war. Spain was generally considered by the other European powers to have a double right to South America, namely, that of discovery and conquest; and after an ineffectual struggle to wrest6 the golden prize from the grasp of its legitimate7 possessor, England, and the rest of the "high contracting powers," acquiesced8 in her possessing it, the more readily because they wished the same kind of title should be acknowledged in their own case. Accordingly discovery and conquest have, to this day, been considered as good and lawful9 titles, and a sort of deed of conveyance10, on the part of the natives, to their discoverers and conquerors11 of all and sundry12 their lands and landed estates, together with their goods and chattels13, when of any value.
His Most Catholic Majesty14, then, finding his claim to the New World fully15 established, set about civilizing16 his new conquest in good earnest, and sending out swarms17 of priests, backed of course by the military portion of the secular18 arm, with glory to God on their lips, and hatred19 to his creatures in their hearts, with the sword in one hand and the crucifix in the other, soon convinced the unhappy natives of their damnable heresies20. Their simple religion was destroyed, millions perished by the sword or the tender mercies of the Holy Inquisition, and as many more in the mines; and civilization and religion kissed each other, and rested from their labors21 of love.
This was the most received method of converting whole nations at once, then in vogue--we Protestants of the present day are far more humane22; we only distribute among the newly discovered nations of the earth, rum and Calvinism, gunpowder23 and the venereal disease, and with these powerful agents our missionaries24 and merchants, have succeeded in causing Dagon to bow down before them--over all the civilized25 world. New Holland seems to be the only uncivilized part of this watery26 ball, but New Holland holds out no temptations to the missionary27; the inhabitants are a little too cannibally given, and martyrdom is altogether obsolete28; besides, it is doubted by our soundest theologians whether Christianity was ever intended for a people so brutal30 and debased.
Spain, at the time I refer to, was renowned31 in arts and in arms; her commerce extended from the East to the West Indies, and she was for a time one of the most powerful of the kingdoms of Europe. Her priests, finding the New World a land overflowing32, not exactly with milk and honey, but with what in all ages and in all countries is considered infinitely33 better, gold and silver, and abounding34 in every thing that could pamper35 the pride and gratify the sense, founded churches and monasteries36, while her viceroys built cities and forts, and South America became the richest jewel in the diadem37 of His Catholic Majesty. To secure this jewel entirely38 to himself seems to have been his chief anxiety, and accordingly all foreigners were rigidly39 excluded from its sea-ports, and although the "Assiento," or contract for supplying the colonies with African slaves, was enjoyed successively by the English and French, both of whom successively abused it by smuggling40 immense quantities of their respective manufactures into those colonies, the duty of supplying them with European merchandise was carried on finally solely41 by means of register ships, as they were called, Cadiz being the only European port where they were permitted to load and discharge.
The whaling ships were only permitted to procure42 supplies, or "recruit," as our unctuous43 brethren of Nantucket call it, at certain fixed44 and well-fortified ports. Still even these managed to carry on quite a respectable business in the smuggling way, especially with the ports of Mexico and California.
But a new flea45 was about getting into Don Diego's ear--the peace of 1783, while it added an infant giant to the catalogue of earthly "principalities and powers," also liberated46 from the fetters47 of commercial, as well as political restraints, a people active, restless, daring, prying48, and enterprising to the last degree; a people whose skill in navigation and swift-sailing vessels49 rendered them absolutely intangible to an enemy that took occasion to chase them, while their courage, when they thought proper to "stand to it," as dame50 Quickly says, made them dangerous antagonists51. This the reader probably "guesses" must be brother Jonathan, and he guesses about right. The same spirit of restless curiosity that prompts a cat, when she sets up her Ebenezer in a new house, to examine every portion of it, from cellar to garret, seemed to have possessed52 our grandpas more strongly than it does us of the present age.
This national character of ours is owing doubtless to our having been placed by the hand of Heaven in an immense unexplored region, and was no doubt much increased by the spirit-stirring scenes of the revolutionary war, which beheld53 our "old continentals54" one day ferreting out the long-tailed Hessians from the woods of Saratoga, and another "doing battle right manfullie" on the plains of South Carolina.
While they of the land service were pushing their advanced posts to the foot of the Rocky Mountains, our seamen55 were carrying our striped bunting into every portion of the navigable world. Such were the people whose arrival in the Pacific the Spanish commandantes and viceroys awaited with no small fear and trembling. They knew vaguely56 that we had just come off victorious57 from a long, fierce, and bloody58 struggle with powerful England, and while they consigned59 us pell-mell to the devil, as "malditos Americanos," they doubted whether we had the additional claim to go there upon the strength of being heretics. The captains of the guarda-costas redoubled their vigilance, and sailed in chase of not a few albatrosses and whale-spouts, such was the zeal60 that animated61 them.
I should have described these redoubtable62 crafts, the guarda-costas, before--they were armed vessels of different classes, varying from light frigates63 down to mere64 gunboats, and were distributed along the coasts to protect trade, and prevent smuggling.
When however these formidable strangers did arrive, the readiness with which they conformed to the numerous, and in most cases vexatious, port regulations, their quiet behavior on shore, and the many novelties and luxuries that they freely distributed to the port officers, completely blinded them to the instinctive65 disposition66 to trade that characterizes my beloved countrymen, especially the New Englanders, who were the first to carry our flag into the Pacific, as they were also the first to display it in Europe.
I have made these long-winded and apparently67 uncalled-for remarks partly to show my learning, but chiefly in conformity68 with the fashion of the day, that requires that every story, long or short, should be ushered69 in by at least one chapter of prefatory remarks. I do not intend to be so unreasonable70; but before this my first chapter is finished, shall give my readers an idea of my purposed principal scene of operations.
If then, the reader will turn to the proper map, he will find in about the latitude71 of twenty-one north, Cape72 Corrientes; and not far from this three islands, called Las Tres Marias; the Three Marys, that is, so named after the three Marys of the New Testament73.
Geographers74, when they make maps, seem to start with the notion that there must be a certain number of islands, &c. inserted in each map; and when they have located the larger and more important ones within fifteen or twenty degrees of latitude and longitude75 of their proper places, which is as near as they commonly come to the truth, they proceed to distribute the remainder according to their own taste. In compliance76 with this fashion of theirs, they have laid down upon all modern maps, especially those that are called the best, and in nearly the latitude that I have above mentioned, and longitude that I have not, namely, about one hundred and fifteen west from Greenwich Observatory77, a little island which they call Revalligigedos. I have passed twice over the spot where this little island with the big name "stays put," in all maps by them, and have conversed78 with many whalemen and others, who, taken collectively, have sailed over every square inch of salt water in that place, and none of them have seen it. So too, they have studded the ocean off Cape Horn so thickly with islands, that a landsman wonders how a ship of any size can manage to squeeze through into the Pacific. I have passed that cape three times, and have been working to windward off them some weeks, but although we always kept a bright look-out for ice islands and strange vessels, we never, to use a vulgar expression, saw "hide or hair" of these supererogatory islands.
But to return; in a direction nearly east from the Three Marys, the reader will find, on most maps, a small river, called by the Spaniards, in their usual style of bombast79, El Rio Grande, or the Great River; though the identical legs that I now stand upon have waded80 across it at low water, and, except cutting my foot with an oyster-shell, there was nothing very remarkable81 in the exploit. At the mouth of this mighty82 stream is an island on which stands the town of St. Blas.
The Spaniards, as it is well known, when they discovered America, christened every cape, bay, mountain, river, island, rock, or shoal after some saint or other, but the learned are somewhat puzzled to know who this St. Blas can be. In my poor opinion, the difficulty is easily enough got over--the word Blas is only a corruption83 of Blast, and accordingly we shall find that St. Blast, properly so called, is neither more nor less than our old friend AEolus, of the heathen mythology84, smuggled85 into the calendar, who, being the god of blasts and puffs86, might well be canonized under the name of St. Blast, without doing violence to the tender consciences of the good Catholics. In this way, according to Dean Swift, Jupiter became Jew Peter, and by a natural transition, Saint Peter. Whether he is right or not, one thing is certain, that sundry temples, of which the veritable Jupiter has been "seized in fee tail," I think lawyers call it, from time immemorial, have quietly become "St. Peter's churches," to the great edification of the Christian29 world, and incredible advancement87 of religion and piety88.
The island, upon which St. Blas is perched, slopes off gradually to the eastward89, but to the south and west descends90 in a sheer precipice91 of two or three hundred feet in height. The town was taken and retaken several times during the sanguinary war of the Mexican revolution. The last time it was in the hands of the royalists, they compelled all the male inhabitants, and, report says, not a few women and children besides, that they suspected of favoring the Patriot92 cause, to leap off this precipice. Soldiers were stationed at the foot of the cliff, to despatch93 those who reached the bottom with any signs of life. This piece of information I had from a widow who kept a shop in the Plaza94, and who also told me, "with weeping tears," that her husband was one of the number who took the fearful leap.
Rather on the north-west side, the hill is surmountable95 by a zig-zag path, up which a loaded mule96 can climb with some difficulty. On the west, or seaward, side, is a strip of flat land, of considerable width, on which formerly97 stood the royal arsenal98, rope-walks, and warehouses99, the ruins of which were standing2 in 1822, when I visited the place. On the western extremity100 of this level land is a small village, called, as usual in such cases, the Porte, or landing place. The bay, which is a fine harbor, sweeps far to the eastward, when the land, trending away to the southward, with a slight inclination101 westerly, becomes lost in the distance. The more immediate102, or inner, harbor, is formed by a point of land opposite the Porte, on the southern extremity of which is a battery, formerly of considerable dimensions, and strength, but since suffered to decay, and is much reduced in effectiveness. It was intended to command the harbor and anchorage; but with Spanish artillerymen, a mile offing, and reasonably good weather, a ship would be as safe from its fire, for three months at least, as though she was all the while in London Docks.
At the distance of two or three miles from the usual anchorage, and forming an excellent leading mark for the bay, is Pedro Blanco, or the White Rock, of two hundred feet height, perfectly103 precipitous and inaccessible104, and resembling a huge tower, rising abruptly105 from the sea.
Taken altogether, the bay of St. Blas forms a very beautiful prospect106, with the Andes in the back ground, which, with their
"Meteor standard to the winds unfurl'd,
Look from their throne of clouds o'er half the world;"
its white sand beach, fading gradually away to the south and east, its town roosting on its barren rock, and indistinctly seen; its low lands covered with a luxuriant growth of lime and other trees; and lastly, by way of seasoning107, its moschetoes and sand-flies.
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1
knaves
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| n.恶棍，无赖( knave的名词复数 )；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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chili
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| n.辣椒 | |
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definitively
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| adv.决定性地，最后地 | |
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ceded
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| v.让给，割让，放弃( cede的过去式 ) | |
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6
wrest
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| n.扭，拧，猛夺；v.夺取，猛扭，歪曲 | |
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7
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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8
acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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10
conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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11
conquerors
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| 征服者，占领者( conqueror的名词复数 ) | |
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12
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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13
chattels
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| n.动产，奴隶( chattel的名词复数 ) | |
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14
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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15
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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16
civilizing
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| v.使文明，使开化( civilize的现在分词 ) | |
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17
swarms
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| 蜂群，一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) | |
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18
secular
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| n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的 | |
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19
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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20
heresies
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| n.异端邪说，异教( heresy的名词复数 ) | |
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21
labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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22
humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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23
gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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24
missionaries
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| n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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25
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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26
watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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27
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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28
obsolete
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| adj.已废弃的，过时的 | |
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29
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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30
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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31
renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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32
overflowing
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| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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33
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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34
abounding
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| adj.丰富的，大量的v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的现在分词 ) | |
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35
pamper
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| v.纵容，过分关怀 | |
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36
monasteries
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| 修道院( monastery的名词复数 ) | |
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37
diadem
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| n.王冠，冕 | |
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38
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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39
rigidly
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| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
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40
smuggling
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| n.走私 | |
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41
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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42
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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43
unctuous
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| adj.油腔滑调的，大胆的 | |
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44
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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45
flea
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| n.跳蚤 | |
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46
liberated
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| a.无拘束的，放纵的 | |
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47
fetters
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| n.脚镣( fetter的名词复数 )；束缚v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的第三人称单数 ) | |
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48
prying
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| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
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49
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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50
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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51
antagonists
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| 对立[对抗] 者，对手，敌手( antagonist的名词复数 )； 对抗肌； 对抗药 | |
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52
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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53
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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54
continentals
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| n.（欧洲）大陆人( continental的名词复数 ) | |
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55
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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56
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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57
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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58
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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59
consigned
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| v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的过去式和过去分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃 | |
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60
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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61
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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62
redoubtable
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| adj.可敬的；可怕的 | |
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63
frigates
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| n.快速军舰( frigate的名词复数 ) | |
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64
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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65
instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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66
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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67
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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68
conformity
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| n.一致，遵从，顺从 | |
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69
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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71
latitude
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| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
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72
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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73
testament
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| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
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74
geographers
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| 地理学家( geographer的名词复数 ) | |
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75
longitude
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| n.经线，经度 | |
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76
compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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77
observatory
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| n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台 | |
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78
conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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79
bombast
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| n.高调，夸大之辞 | |
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80
waded
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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corruption
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| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
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mythology
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| n.神话，神话学，神话集 | |
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smuggled
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| 水货 | |
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puffs
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| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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piety
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| n.虔诚，虔敬 | |
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eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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descends
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| v.下来( descend的第三人称单数 )；下去；下降；下斜 | |
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precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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patriot
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| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
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93
despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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plaza
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| n.广场，市场 | |
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surmountable
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| 可战胜的，可克服的 | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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arsenal
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| n.兵工厂，军械库 | |
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warehouses
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| 仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 ) | |
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100
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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101
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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103
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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seasoning
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| n.调味；调味料；增添趣味之物 | |
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