Early Australian Voyages | Page 9

the nature of his misfortune, and went with him afterwards to
Batavia.
We will now leave the captain soliciting succours from the Governor-
General, in order to return to the crew who were left upon the islands,
among whom there happened such transactions as, in their condition,
the reader would little expect, and perhaps will hardly credit! In order
to their being thoroughly understood, it is necessary to observe that
they had for supercargo one Jerom Cornelis, who had been formerly an
apothecary at Harlem. This man, when they were on the coast of Africa,
had plotted with the pilot and some others to run away with the vessel,
and either to carry her into Dunkirk, or to turn pirates in her on their
own account. This supercargo had remained ten days on board the
wreck, not being able in all that time to get on shore. Two whole days
he spent on the mainmast, floating to and fro, till at last, by the help of
one of the yards, he got to land. When he was once on shore, the
command, in the absence of Captain Pelsart, devolved of course upon
him, which immediately revived in his mind his old design, insomuch
that he resolved to lay hold of this opportunity to make himself master
of all that could be saved out of the wreck, conceiving that it would be
easy to surprise the captain on his return, and determining to go on the

account--that is to say, to turn pirate in the captain's vessel. In order to
carry this design into execution, he thought necessary to rid themselves
of such of the crew as were not like to come into their scheme; but
before he proceeded to dip his hands in blood, he obliged all the
conspirators to sign an instrument, by which they engaged to stand by
each other.
The whole ship's company were on shore in three islands, the greatest
part of them in that where Cornelis was, which island they thought fit
to call the burying-place of Batavia. One Mr. Weybhays was sent with
another body into an adjacent island to look for water, which, after
twenty days' search, he found, and made the appointed signal by
lighting three fires, which, however, were not seen nor taken notice of
by those under the command of Cornelis, because they were busy in
butchering their companions, of whom they had murdered between
thirty and forty; but some few, however, got off upon a raft of planks
tied together, and went to the island where Mr. Weybhays was, in order
to acquaint him with the dreadful accident that had happened. Mr.
Weybhays having with him forty-five men, they all resolved to stand
upon their guard, and to defend themselves to the last man, in case
these villains should attack them. This indeed was their design, for they
were apprehensive both of this body, and of those who were on the
third island, giving notice to the captain on his return, and thereby
preventing their intention of running away with his vessel. But as this
third company was by much the weakest, they began with them first,
and cut them all off, except five women and seven children, not in the
least doubting that they should be able to do as much by Weybhays and
his company. In the meantime, having broke open the merchant's chests,
which had been saved out of the wreck, they converted them to their
own use without ceremony.
The traitor, Jerom Cornelis, was so much elevated with the success that
had hitherto attended his villainy, that he immediately began to fancy
all difficulties were over, and gave a loose to his vicious inclinations in
every respect. He ordered clothes to be made of rich stuffs that had
been saved, for himself and his troop, and having chosen out of them a
company of guards, he ordered them to have scarlet coats, with a
double lace of gold or silver. There were two minister's daughters
among the women, one of whom he took for his own mistress, gave the

second to a favourite of his, and ordered that the other three women
should be common to the whole troop. He afterwards drew up a set of
regulations, which were to be the laws of his new principality, taking to
himself the style and title of Captain-General, and obliging his party to
sign an act, or instrument, by which they acknowledged him as such.
These points once settled, he resolved to carry on the war. He first of
all embarked on board two shallops twenty-two men, well armed, with
orders to destroy Mr. Weybhays and his company; and on their
miscarrying, he undertook a like expedition with thirty-seven men, in
which, however, he had no better success; for