in queft: of them, with orders to fet their flables on fire, and bring the cattle to bur 

 quarters. The next following Monday, word was brought us, that our troops were 

 fo narrowly enclofed by the enemy, that it was feared fcarce one of them would 

 efcape with Kfe. Whilfl: we were in a great conflernation, not knowing what refolu- 

 tion lo take, a Brazilian brought us the unwelcome news, that our whole body was 

 routed and difperfed, aifld Captains Schut, Coufm, and La Montayne, killed upon the 

 fpot. He had fcarce firiifhed his doleful relation before a German foldier, who had 

 efcaped the fight, by his bleeding wounds and his words gave us a confirmation of 

 what had been told us before, with this addition, that Captain Gyfeling*s lieutenant,. 

 La Montayne's enfign, and one Kilmet, belonging to Captain Schut, had fought their 

 way through the enemy, with about thirty foldiers, and would foon be here. This 

 mifhap was chiefly attributed to the fool-hardinefs of our troops, who contrary to 

 Colonel Hinderfon's command, having at once difdharged all their mufquets againft 

 the enemy, fell in pell-mell, without any regular order, with fword in hand upon the 

 enemy, which the enemy perceiving, retreated back and drew them into an ambufh* 

 Towards liight we faw feveral foldiers miferably wounded with darts come to our 

 quarters, fome who had thrown away their arms, were forced to caft lots for thdr 

 lives, the misfortune of which fell upon a Dutchman and a Brazilian, who being tied 

 to a flake to be fhot to death, were however pardoned by the colonel. Captain 

 Gyfeling^s lieutenant, who came without his arms to the fort, was fent immediately 

 to the Receif, where his fword was broke over his head, and he declared incapable of 

 ferving the company for the future, notwithftanding he had done them faithful fervice 

 for feven years laft paft. 



By this time I was fent for to the Receif, fo that after having tak^n my leave of the 

 colonel and Mr. Dames, I embarked on board the Bat the 1 6th of December, and we 

 were the fame evening with a fair wind and flream carried to the mouth of the river» 

 It beihg a fine moon-light night we catched abundance of Zaggers, as we call them, a 

 fiih of a very good tafte, and continued our courfe with a bnlk gale: not far from the 

 river's mouth we met with four of our fhips, who told us they were to fetch provifions, 

 but in cafe they could not, were to return forthwith to the Receif. The i8th, we 

 advanced but little, the fliips being not out of fight of us, near the river's mouth, but 

 did catch more fifh than we were able to eat. The 20th we were likewife becalmed, 

 and we perceived the moon to be half eclipfed for the fpace of two hours. The next 

 following day we failed fo near to St. Antonio, that we could fee them walking along 

 the fea-fhore. Towards night we difcovered Porto Calvo, about thirty leagues from 

 Rio St. Francifco. We were often becalmed, but catched abundance of kingVfilh 

 and cods, and faw fires in many places along the coafl. The 24th of December we 

 came fo near to the cape of St. Auftin that we difcovered five fhips and feven row- 

 barges in the harbour ; \ve might have reached fome of thofe that went afhore with 

 our fhot, had it not been for the fand-bank which hindered our nearer approach. 

 'About noon 'we came before the Receif, but it was fo foggy that we could fcarce dif- 

 cover the water-fort ; neverthelefs we ventured in, and I got afhore immediately, with 

 an intention to give an account of the flate of affairs in Rio St. Francifco to Mr. 

 Schonenbergh, being conduced thither by Colonel Schoppe, who happened to meet 

 'iaie immediately afi:er my landing. 



The 27th of Oftober the enemy had laid two ambufhes in the way to the fort Prince 

 William, beyond the redoubt Kiik. They did not flir till towards noon, when per- 

 ceiving a company of our foldiers marching along the dike, they fired fo brifkly upon 



8 them. 



