Page 446
An.1687
They arrive at the Island Celebes.
ly, that he had been abused by the General, and that he would have satisfaction for it ; saying also that now he was well acquainted with their Rivers, and knew how to come in at any time; that he also knew their manner of fighting, and the Weakness of their Country ; and therefore he woud go a- way, and get a Band of Men to assist him, and re- turning thither again, he would spoil and take all that they had, and their Country too. When the General has been informed of these discourses he would say, What, is Captain Swan made of Iron, and able to resist a whole Kingdom? Or does he think that we are afraid of him, that he speaks thus ? Yet did he never touch him, till now the Mindanayans kill'd him. It is very probable there might be somewhat of truth in all of this ; for the Captain was passionate, and the General greedy of Gold. But whatever was the occasion, so he was kill'd, as several have assured me, and his Gold seiz'd on, and all his things; and his Journal also from England, as far as Cape Corrientes on the Coast of Mexico. This Journal was afterwards sent away from thence by Mr. Moody (who was there both a little before and a little after the Murder) and he sent it to England by Mr. Goddard, Chief Mate of the Defence.
But to our purpose; seeing I could not persuade them to go to Captain Swan again, I had a great desire to have had the Prince's company: but Captain Read was afraid to let his fickle crew lye long. That very day that the Prince had promised to return to us, which was November 2. 1687. we sailed hence, directing our course South West, and having the Wind at N. W.
This Wind continued till we came in sight of the Island Celebes ; then it veered about to the W. and to the Southward of the West. We came up with the N. E. end of the Island Celebes the 9th day,