Ch. Vr. SOUTH AMERICA. 363 



the middle part of the iQand of Puerto-Rico. This 

 was a tranfporcing fight to all, as having before 

 their eyes a fecure and plentiful port: and having 

 happily efcapcd the dangers of the Granadillas, a 

 knot of iflands where the greateft channel iw but three 

 or four leagues broad, the currents having very pro- 

 videntially carried the fhip through the midfl: of them, 

 clear of the rocks, which on both fides have proved 

 fatal to many vefirls : and they had not fo much as any 

 fight of land. By Don George Juan's eftimate he 

 found that they might when they fteered betwixt the 

 iflands of Barbadoes and St. Vincent, the currents 

 had carried them almoft forty two leagues to the wcfl : 

 and though they all very well knew that the courfe of 

 the waters in that part of the neighbourhood of Mar- 

 tinico lets weftward, they were at a lofs to conceive 

 how they had pafiTed betwixt thofe iilands without hav- 

 ing fight of any one, they lying fo near one another, 

 the night being clear, and every one keeping a good 

 look out. 



On the night of the fourth day, they fometimes lay 

 to, and fometimes made an eafy fail, in order to get 

 into the channel betvvixt the iilands of Puerto-Rico and 

 St. Domingo, intending for Guarico, otherwife called 

 cape Francois. On the 5th at fix in the morning, the 

 S. W. point of the ifland of Puerto-Rico bore N. at 

 about four leagues diftance: and fianding towards it 

 till within the diitance of only two leagues, they could 

 very plainly fee the bottom, which was ilony ; and on 

 founding found feven fuhom water. On this they 

 tacked to the weft, and continuing in this diredion 

 about two hours, they had always the fame depth of 

 fevcn fathom, but coming into twenty they returned to 

 their former courfe. 



At eleven in the forenoon they difcovered to lee- 

 ward two large ihips : and apprehending they might 

 belong to the eacmy, the frigate tacked : on which 

 tiiey alfo did the iame, and crowded iail. At noon 



the 



