Ch. III. SOUTH AMERICA. 27 



and with their whole f(|uadron and armaments moved 

 to the hottora of the bay. But, by the diligence and 

 induñry of our people, they found all the artillery of' 

 fort Santa Cruz nailed up. This fort was alio, troni 

 its largenefs, called Catiillo Grande, and commanded 

 all thelhips which anchor in the bay. This, together 

 with that of Boca Chica, St. Joleph, and two others, 

 which defended the bay, called Manzanillo and PaÜe- 

 Hllo, the enemy, enraged at their dilappointment, dc- 

 mohfhed when they quitted the bay. The promifing 

 beginning of this invalion, as I have already obierved, 

 gave occaiion to the ihutting up and rendering imprac- 

 ticable the entrance of Boca Chica, and of opening and 

 fortifving the former firait ; fo that an enemy would 

 now find it much more diííiciilt to force a palfagc. 



The tides in this bay are very irregular, and the lame 

 may nearly be faid of the whole coalt. It is often teen 

 to flow a whole day, and afterwards ebbs away in four 

 or five hours ; yet the greateit alteration obferved in its 

 depth ¡s two feet, or two feet and a half Sometimes it 

 is even lefs fenfible, and only to be perceived by the 

 current or flow of the water. This circumftance in- 

 creafes the danger of flriking, though a ftrenity con- 

 tinually reigns there. The bottom alio being compofcd 

 of a gravelly ooze, whenevera fhip is aground, it often 

 happens that fhe muft be hghtened before ihe can be 

 made to float. 



Towards Boca Chica, and two leagues and a half 

 dillant from it feawards, there isa fluoal of gravel and 

 coarte fand, on many parts of which there is not above 

 a foot and a half of water. In 1735, the Conquiflador 

 man of war, bound from Cartliagena to Porto Bello, 

 flruck on this ihoal, and owed her fafety entirely to a 

 very extraordinary calm. Some pretended to fay that the 

 fhoal was before known by the name of Salmedina; but 

 the artifis on board affirmed the contrary, and that the 

 ihoal on which fhe ilruck had never been heard of be- 

 fore. From the obfervations of the pilots and others, 



Nuefira 



