1 69 1.] DIEGO RUYS. 47 



tlie Commander of our Swalloio endeavour'd to persuade us 

 he wou'd cany us to a Place every whit as good as that of 

 which we were so fond. 'Twas but one hundred and fifty 

 Leagues from this Island, but the Wind was so contrary, 

 that we were forc'd to tack to and again for a Month 

 together. 



-Poor John Pagni, one of our Companions, dy'd between 

 the Isle we had found, and tliat we were seeking. He cou'd 

 no longer resist the Violence of the Scurvy and the Oppression 

 that tormented him. 



On Saturday Morning, the 25th of Aiml 1691, Old Stile, 

 we spy'd Land, which was the little Island Diego Buys, where 

 our Captain resolved to carry us ; we came very near it, by 

 the Eastern Point sailing Southward. It appear 'd to us to 

 be difficult of access, it being surrounded with Eocks call'd 

 Shelves,''- which run very far out into the Sea. We did not 

 at first perceive either Port, or Bay, or any Place where we 

 might land. In the Evening we sounded and met with 

 the Bottom, three Leagues from Slioar. We cast Anchor, 

 'twas a Calm, and we stay'd there till Monday the 27th. for 

 what reason I know not. That and the next day we spent 

 in examining the outside of the Isle as much as we cou^d, 

 to endeavour to discover some Place that was accessible. 

 The 28th, about four in the Afternoon, we perceiv'd an 

 Opening, which seem'd proper for our Design : But the 

 Night following we were driv'n out to Sea, and beat there 

 till the next Day. About 11 a Clock in the Forenoon a 

 Calm took us, and brought us into great Danger ; for a rapid 

 Current plainly carry'd us among Eocks, that run out above 

 a League into the Sea. We were so near that there was no 



1 Shelves, the coral reefs -which encircle the island. " Brisans''' in the 

 French edition, rocks on which the sea breaks in heavy surf. Glorious 

 old John Dryden used the word shelves: 



" Three ships were hurried by the southern blast 

 And on the secret shelves with fury cast." (^Eneid, i, 154.) 



