472 MEMOIRS?/ the 
bited only by noddies and boobies; when we were fome leagues 
from Redofida, we law at the lame time Antegoa, Momjerat^ 
Redonda, NeviSy St. Crifiophefs and Statia ; we failed clofe 
by NevlSj it bearing north of us^ it is a fmall well-peopled 
iflandj its proclu61: is fugar- St. Cbriftopber\ is a large 
ifland, thinly peopled, half of it belonging to the Englijhy 
and half to the French-^ night parted us from thele iflands, 
and next day, which was the 90th, we came within fight of 
Santa Cruz^ belonging to the Spaniards j when we were within 
four leagues of it^ there was held a council 5 upon which the 
Unicorn and SnoiJi\ were fent to St. ^homas^ a fmall ifland 
belonging to the 'Danes 5 it is a free port, and they fay it is well 
fortified 3 we went on to the fouthward of that ifland j and next 
day being the ill oF O^ober^ we pad the S. W. corner about 
1 2 o*clock j it is very level towards the fouth 3 that night and 
next day we ^x^ Crab Ifland, OBober 2. we came to it, and fent 
fome of our people afliore, and took poffeffion of it in the Com- 
pany's name 3 O^iober 4.. we flood to the leeward, hearing there 
was a harbour there 3 when we came we law the iDanifi colours 
on the Ihore, for the governor of St, 'Thomas had fent 14 men and 
a captain to take pofleflion of it in the king of IJenmark's name 3 
but we found that we had taken pofleflion of the place before 
they came from St. Thomas 3 they entered their proteft 5 yet 
feemed to be glad enough of our neighbourhood 3 we notwirh- 
llanding had our flag upon the fhore all the time we flayed with 
ICO menand cnptain A'lac lean gov cvnor ^ on the 8th we left this 
place, and on the 17 th we made Noftra Signiora delta ^opa^ we 
lay afide there along the coaft, untfl the 9d of November^ gene- 
rally lofing by night, what we had gained by day 3 Crab Jjknd 
is about 6 leagues long, and in Ibme places 5 broad, the loil is 
very good 3 it abounds in woods 3 the fouth fide is full of bays, 
very fit for anchoring in, but the beft of all is that to the leeward, 
where the Danes hoifted their colours 3 it would have been worth 
our while to poflels it 3 but it has this inconveniency, that nothing 
but ftrength of men or peace with our neighbours, could render 
it fecure 3 it is called Crab Ifland^ from the number of land- 
crabs therein: November 5d, we anchored before Golden Jfland 
atid lent in our pinnace to the bay 3 the natives had hoift:ed a white 
flag as a token of peace, and 'told us a great deal of captain 
Swan^ captain Davis and others, taking us for Englipy by rea- 
Ibn of our red flag 3 at laft they ailed us ourbufinels, and we told 
them we defigned to iettle amongft them, and be their friends; 
they told us we were very welcome 3 when we had converfed 
for 
