Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 2, 2025
We were informed by two Indian prisoners, that the lieutenant of Iquique had a boat at Pisagua for water, of which we began to be in need, for which reason I sent Mr Randal in search of her. He failed in this object, but brought off a few bladders full of water, and three or four balsas, very artificially sewed and filled with wind, which are used for landing on this dangerous coast.
In 1632 a minor revolution of Indians occurred, which resulted in a quaint species of naval engagement on Lake Titicaca, with the native balsas, or rafts, posing as diminutive battleships. In 1661 there was another outbreak.
At length the Spaniards embarked in twenty balsas, and came in sight of the native squadron. The Indians, however, going in and out among the lanes and rushes, baffled their oppressors, cutting off several Spanish balsas. A party of cavalry also, advancing into the swampy ground, was suddenly surrounded and cut to pieces, with a loss to the Indians of only three men.
This island, he thought, would afford him a convenient place to encamp until he was prepared to make his descent on the Indian city. The dispositions of the islanders seemed to favor his purpose. He had not been long in their neighborhood, before a deputation of the natives, with their cacique at their head, crossed over in their balsas to the main land to welcome the Spaniards to their residence.
Squadron at Port Saint Julien Attacked by the natives Captain Winter, and Oliver the gunner, killed Doughty's conspiracy Trial Execution Squadron sails Enters the Straits of Magellan Name of the Dolphin changed to the Golden Hind Passage through the Straits Elizabeth Island Meets natives Enters the Southern Ocean Ships driven before a northerly gale The Marigold lost sight of After a month's buffeting, the two ships gain a harbour The Hind again driven to sea The Elizabeth deserts her A pinnace lately set up remains, but is finally lost The Hind alone regains a harbour Sails north Calls off Mucho Island Boat treacherously attacked by natives Drake wounded Refuses to retaliate Reaches the mainland Search for provisions Meets an Indian Treats him kindly His friends bring off provisions He pilots the Hind to Valparaiso Capture of a richly-laden vessel, and sack of the town Sail northward Put into a bay Boat's crew attacked by Spaniards Minjoy killed The pinnace set up Drake sails in her Driven back by foul winds Booty obtained from an Indian asleep and from a train of llamas Indians come off on balsas Two Spaniards, through fear, bring off provisions Llamas described Vessels at Arica and Arequipa plundered A vessel laden with linen captured Callao reached Drake hears of the Cacafuego Plunders several vessels Sails in pursuit of the Cacafuego Pursued.
The simple people, coasting along in their light balsas or rafts, had seen the coming of what to them were then wondrous ships, cock-boats, though, as compared even to our collier brigs.
These skin boats, if boats they are, are called balsas. Sometimes the watermen quarrel, and one sticks his knife into another's balsa, and as soon as he does so, the man whose balsa has been cut has to strike out for his life towards the shore, for the wind soon gets out of it.
In 1572, when Captain Garcia took up the pursuit of Tupac Amaru after the victory of Vilcabamba, the Inca fled "inland toward the valley of Sima-ponte ... to the country of the Mañaries Indians, a warlike tribe and his friends, where balsas and canoes were posted to save him and enable him to escape."
When the Indians wish to go in the shallowest waters they use a very small balsa not over eight feet long, barely capable of supporting the weight of one man. On the other hand, large balsas constructed for use in crossing the rough waters of the deeper portions of the lake are capable of carrying a dozen people and their luggage.
This, however, only exasperated the rebels, who, under an enterprising leader, attacked the bridge over the Desaguadero, and carried off the heads of their chiefs, which had been stuck on poles above it. The Spanish troops sent against them waded to some islets, but the Indians, hovering round them in their balsas, prevented them from advancing further.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking