Click to view full screen
- Title:
- Beef Business
- Date Created:
- 2021-04-17
- Description:
- The storm season passed. In November Captain Swan had his pirate ship’s bottom changed because it had become worm infested. They celebrated Christmas on board with a lunch of buffalo. His men went hunting having been promised there would be herds of cattle they could use as provisions. The natives had no hunting dogs and it seemed the story of abundant beef nearby was a ruse just to keep the crew around. A third had been living with the natives and lavishing payment (using even gold) for food, company, servants, and rent. As it became obvious that the foreigners were restless, the rajah shocked Swan by demanding payment for all the meals he had consumed since July. The easterlies had settled in and it was the only wind that could carry the ship to the Spiceries. Swan seemed indifferent to his men who wanted action. They were bored. His personal journal that insulted some of his men was found and his men gave him an ultimatum. Instead of addressing the issue with dominance and firmness, he let the situation fester. On January 14, Swan with around 36 of his men who had merchant inclinations were left ashore. The rest of the crew set sail to plunder in Manila! When they got to Zamboanga there were great tracts of hogs and cattle. The sailors had eaten the sweet flesh of green turtle. They saw huge bats, manatees but no fish near Guimaras. At Mindoro by February 18 they found again great herds of hogs and beef. The latter seemed to be a mix of Asian and American breeds. Within the first 40 years of Manila as a Spanish citadel, European cattle from Mexico had been introduced along with ranching. Clearly in 1686 the efforts were paying off. The pirates, now under the command of Captain Read, did not go hungry. (To be continued)
- Subjects:
- Charles Swan Lifestyles Hunting Mutiny Voyages and travels John Read
- Exhibition:
- Dampier 1686
- Source:
- from Wild Cattle in Southeast Asia. Http//factsanddetails.com
- Type:
- Image;Still Image
- Format:
- image/jpeg
Source
- Preferred Citation:
- "Beef Business", Philippine Food History, Felice P. Sta. Maria
- Reference Link:
- felicepstamaria.net/items/coll204.html