330 A VOYAGE TO Book IX. 



that was a£ted here, to keep the Engliih from the know- 

 ledge of thefe parts; I think it was in the year 1761. 

 Two India ihips appeared in the offing (one was the 

 London, Capt.Webb, the other I have forgot) where 

 they brought to, and fent their boats on íhorc to defire 

 leave to come within the reciíFe (that is the ledge of 

 rocks which form the harbour) but the governor had 

 ordered the pilots to fay, there was not water enough 

 on the bar, notwithftanding there is no lefs than 

 twenty-four feet at low water mark. The Indiamen 

 were therefore obliged to cut their cables (it being im- 

 pofiible for them to weigh where they had brought 

 to), to leave their anchors behind them, and (land 

 away for Bahia, where they met with a more favour- 

 able reception. 



To the fouthward of Pcrnambuco is the bay of 

 Vafabarris, into which the river St. Francifco difem- 

 bogues itfelf, and occafions fuch eddies to the diiiancc 

 of three or four leagues from the land, that few 

 veffels which approach near the ihore in this bay efcape 

 ftranding. About thirty leagues inland the river St. 

 Francifco lofcb icfclf, running under ground for fc- 

 veral miles, and again makes it appearance. I believe 

 there is no river in the world of this breadth that has 

 iuch a fubterraneous palTage. There are feveral vil- 

 lages on the banks of this river, and large planta- 

 tions, from which the inhabitants fend yearly large 

 quantities of fugar, tobacco, and mandioc to Pcrnam- 

 buco, which commodities they exchange for cloathing, 

 and implements of hufbandry. The bar of the river 

 has not above eight feet water on it, which obliges them 

 to ufe fmall fchooners for the convcniency of exporting 

 their goods. 



To the fouthward of St. Francifco lies Seregippe del 

 Rey, of which we have a good account in molt modern 

 books of geography; 1 therefore proceed, to Rio Real, 

 which, if it were not for the bar at the entrance, on 

 which there is but ten feet water, would be an inlet to 



the 



