APPENDIX, NO. 11. 35 



are very rapid. There are six turnings in all this length, 

 «nd two entrances, which lie from north to south. I mean, 

 that the bearing of the two is north and south. The en- 

 trance on the north side (through which we passed) is less 

 than half a quarter of a league in width, and on both sides 

 there are two ridges of rocks ; but the rock on the side of 

 i\sia is higher and more steep than the other, receding 

 below in such a manner that nothing which falls from the 

 upper part of the mountain can reach its base. The en- 

 trance into the South Sea near the harbour is more than a 

 quarter of a league in width, and from thence the passage 

 runs in a slanting direction, increasing the distance between 

 the two coasts. In the middle of the strait, at the termi- 

 nation of the third winding, there is a great rock and an 

 islet, formed by a rugged rock three " estadas" in height, • 

 more or less, and as its form is round, its diameter must 

 be two hundred paces; its distance from the land of Asia 

 is very little, but the sea on that side is full of shoals and 

 reefs, and cannot be navigated but with boats. The dis- 

 tance between this islet and the continent of America is 

 less than half a quarter of a league in width ; and although 

 its channel is so deep that two or even three ships might 

 sail through together, it is near the shelving places of the 

 banks upon which with little trouble there might be built 

 two bastions, contracting the channel to musket-shot. Upon 

 this island, or upon the shoals and the opposite coast, 

 there might be raised, as was before said, two bastions, 

 which, with the assistance of artillery, might guard and 

 defend the strait in great safety ; and if the currents were 

 not so strong, there might be placed a chain which would 

 be of great service ; even now we might work with so much 

 diligence as to overcome the currents. The situation of 

 this strait is in such form, that with three watch-towers 

 communicating with one another we might see out into the 

 North Sea as far as thirty leagues, and by means of signals 

 ^ight give notice to the bastions and fortresses of the harbour 



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