COCOS— THE ISLE OF PIRATES 235 



because there are abundance of Coco-nut Trees 

 growing on it. They are not only in one or two 

 places, but grow in great Groves, all round the 

 Island by the Sea. This is an uninhabited Island, 

 it is 7 or 8 leagues round, and pretty high in the 

 middle, where it is destitute of Trees, but looks very 

 green and pleasant, with an Herb called by the 

 Spaniards, Gramadael. It is low Land by the Sea- 

 side. 



"This Island is in 5d. 15 m. North of the Equa- 

 tor; it is environed with rocks, which makes it al- 

 most inaccessible; only at the N.E. end there is a 

 small harbour where ships may safely enter and 

 ride secure. In this Llarbour there is a fine Brook 

 of fresh Water running into the Sea. This is the 

 account that the Spaniards give of it, and I had 

 the same also from Captain Eaton, who was there 

 afterward." 



The Batchelors' Delight was then on the way to 

 attempt Realeja, and at that place Dampier chose 

 to go with Capt. Swan in the Cygnet to the East 

 Indies. Under Capt. Davis, on the Batchelors' 

 Delight, was Lionel Wafer, "Chyrugeon." Soon 

 after leaving Realeja, the crew began to fall sick, 

 so Davis put into the Gulf of Amapalla. They lay 

 there several weeks during which time 130 men 

 came down with spotted fever, and many died. 

 Wafer says, "Our men being tolerably well re- 

 covered, we stood away to the South, and came to 

 the Island Cocos, 'Tis thick set with Coco-nut 

 Trees, which flourish here very finely, it being a 

 rich and fruitful Soil. They grow also on the skirts 



