LOUISIANA. 5 



of water, we veered about and happily got clear 

 of thefe fliores by the help of frequent foundings. 



Before I proceed, I muft be allowed to make 

 a digreflion upon Florida^ and on that fountain 

 which had the power of making old people 

 young again, which has made fo great a noife 

 in Europe^ and has occafioned almoft as many 

 voyages in order to obtain it, as the infatiable 

 defire of riches. The Spaniards wiihed to get 

 pofTefTion of it, as they had of the rich mines 

 of Peru: I hope, that thefe details will not 

 prove difagreeable to you, and that hope alone 

 is fufEcient to authorife the abftrad I am going 

 to prefent you with. 



The Spaniards call the cape of Florida Caho 

 de los Cor r tent es^ becaufe the water has fo flrong 

 a current there, as to refill the wind, and hinder 

 the fhips from advancing, though they fhould 

 croud all their fails •, which occafions their being 

 fometimes thrown againft fome rocks, which 

 we were very near experiencing againft fome little 

 iiles which Chriftopher Columbus called Los Mar- 

 tyres^ becaufe, having perceived the tops of the 

 rocks at a diftance, he imagined he faw a like- 

 nefs in them to men that v/ere tortured. Thefe 

 ides are eleven in number. Los 'Tortugas^ or the 

 Turtles, were fo called by the Spaniards, who 

 caught fix thoufand tortoifes upon thefe ifles. 

 B 3 The 



