To settle the order of the march they landed their
riches and the stores necessaryfor their journey on
one of the islands in the bay ; and that their number
might not suffer diminution by the defection of any it
was agreed to destroy the vessels, which was executed
forthwith, with the reserve of one galley and the canoes,
which were necessary for the transport of themselves
and their effects to the mainland. They made a muster
of their force, which they divided into four companies,
each consisting of seventy men and every man having
his arms and accoutrements. Whilst these matters
were arranging a detachment of one hundred men
was sent to the mainland to endeavour to get horses.
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IN AMAPALLA BAY. 337

They had destroyed their vessels, and had not re-
moved from the island, when a large Spanish armed
ship anchored in Amapalla Bay, but she was not able
to give them annoyance nor in the least to impede
their operations. On the ist of January, 1688, they
passed over with their effects to the mainland, and the
same day the party which had gone in search of horses
returned bringing with them sixty-eight, which were
divided equally among the four companies, to be em-
ployed in carrying stores and provisions, as were eighty
prisoners who, besides carriers of stores, were made to
carry the sick and wounded. Every buccaneer had
his particular sack or package, which it was required
should contain his ammunition ; what else was at his
own discretion.
