________________
JULY, 1916]
APPENDIX TO THE WRECK OF THE DODDINGTON
111
The first day after our deliverance on this Rock, I thought of nothing else but of making a Raft to Carry us to the Main, as soon as those that were cut by the Rocks would be able to travel, which I judged would be a Month at least; Therefore went in search of Provisions to subsist on for that time.
In looking about the Wreck found a chest of Treasure with the Honourable Company's. Mark on it No. 5 I: A: which came on Shore on part of the ship's Transome; The same day found the King's and honourable Company's Pacquetts which gott up, and opened the Papers to dry immediately, tho' at that time must own had no Reason for doing so.19 However, upon consulting Mr. Collett what must be done with them, it occurred to me that it would not be impossible to build a Boat out of the Wreck, if Providence should direct us to find some Tools.
The next day found an Adez, also a Chizel and 3 Sword Blades, 20 which the carpenter made saws of. With those we began our Boat, tho' not without Hopes of making others, one of the People promising great things in the Smith's Way; and he performed so well that he made every Tool the Carpenter wanted.
On the 4th day found a box of wrought Plate, which was no sooner got into safety than the People wanted to share it, together with the Treasure.21 All seemed to be resolved on it, excepting Mr. Collett, Webb, Yeats and McDowell, which all refused, and from that time were used excessive ill, and at one time their resentment carryed them so farr that they proposed murdering us, and would certainly have done it, had John King gave his Consent; but his refusing put a Stop to their Villainous designs in that respects, tho' not in others, for about the same Time the Chest of Treasure was broke open and 600 Pounds taken out by Richard Topping, Samuel Powell, Nathaniel Chisholm, John King, Robert Beazly, and John Leaster.
I intreated them to return it again, but to no Purpose, and I saw nothing of it 'till 3 days before the Boat was launched, when it was produced and shared with the Plate. February 18th 1756 took leave of our Rock and sailed to the Northward with an Intention to touch at River St Lucia, 2 but meeting with a very strong Current setting to the Southward, was much longer getting there than I expected we should, and before we got that length We put into a Barr Harbour to the Southward of River St Lucia, where we were used excessively civil by the natives who supplyed us with everything we wanted for Brass Buttons. As we were afterwards in River St Lucia, in coming out, 9 of the people left us, not willing to venture over the Barr, which I must own looked very terrible; notwithstanding we that remained on Board were obliged to go over the Barr or suffer the Boat to be lost; for those who went on shore let go the Grapnail close to the Breakers at high Water, so that by the time it would have fallen a foot, she would have grounded; therefore as soon as the small Boat returned from putting them on shore we weighed the Grapnail again and put for the Barr. We were in the Breakers half an hour; at length got safe over, and in two days got to Dellago [Delagoa], where we found riding the Rose Gally from Bombay, Commanded by Edward Chandler. I thought this a good opportunity to get the Treasure and Plate again, therefore applied to Captain Chandler to assist me, who complyed with my request by sending his Boat and Mate with me on Board the Sloop. We soon got what we went for and returned on Board the Rose Galley, where I continued 'till I arrived at Moradava. Two days after our arrival there, Captain Hutchinson in the Caernarvon joined us, who has favoured me with a Passage to this Place.
EVAN JONES.
19 There is no men ion in the Diary of Evan Jones of the finding of these papers,
20 In the Diary, the discovery of an adze, &c. is given as on the same day as the finding of the chest of "Treasure. "
21 The actual discovery of the box of plate is not recorded in the Diary.
22 Probably the Umfposi which runs into St. Lucia Bay (south of Delagoa Bay), in 28° 30′ S. Lat
