THE WEST INDIAN PORTS ad. 



^587. 

 so that the fleete may at all times provide themselves of 



fresh water so much as shall serve their turnes. And 

 like wise there is in this place great store of timber to 

 build shippes, and stones to ballast shippes. Also the 

 harbour hath no danger at all in comming in, but onely 

 when the wind is Westerly, which is seldome seene upon 

 this coast. The windes which doe most blowe upon this 

 coast are Northerly windes, and they are more dangerous 

 and hurtfull then the Easterly windes are. Within this 

 harbour there lieth a small creeke safe from all winds that 

 can blow. This creek is about five hundred yards long, 

 and so many in breadth, and in the entring in of this 

 creekes mouth it is some 300. yardes broad, and foure 

 fathome and a halfe of water : and entring further in, 

 sixe fathome, all oaze and muddie ground : so that if a 

 ship should chance to strike or come aground, shee could 

 take no harme being soft oaze ; also it doth ebbe and 

 flow according as I have certified your majestie already. 

 And likewise the comming in and going out of this 

 harbour is very good ; and with all kinde of weather a 

 shippe may set saile from this place except with a 

 Westerly wind : and all this coast is very cleane where 

 a shippe at all times may come to anker without the 

 harbours mouth. This harbour is invironed round about 

 with woods : and at the ende of this harbour there is 

 certaine land which is overflowen with water : it may 

 bee easily dryed up and walled round about, so this land [III. 553.] 

 will serve very well to feede cattell. For that is the 

 chiefest thing which doth belong to any citie or towne, 

 and of this pasture ground there is great want in Nombre 

 de Dios, for there is no pasture at all to breede cattell, 

 for all kinde of flesh which is spent in this place is 

 brought from Panama : so towards the South there is a 

 very good place, where the citie may bee newe built on 

 a certaine plaine ground which lieth at the foot of certaine 

 mountaines, which bee not very high ; and in this place 

 there runne three little rivers of fresh water very sweete 

 and good, and here is good arable ground to till and to 

 X 145 K 



