Travels in North America. 349 



The 14th, about fix in the Evening, we difcovered from the 

 Top of the main Maft the Coaft of Florida, There is no pru- 

 dent Mariner, who on difcovering this Coaft, if he has not at 

 leaft fix or feven Hours Day-Light to run, does not tack about 

 and keep off the Land till the next Day, there being no Coaft 

 in the World where it is of more Importance to fee every 

 Thing clearly, becaufe of the Diverfity of the Currents, which 

 we muft never flatter ourfelves that we certainly know. We 

 had an Inftance of no long Date in the Spanip Galleons, which 

 were loft here fome Years ago, for Want of the Precaution 

 which I have juft mentioned. The Chevalier ^' Here, Captain 

 of a Ship, who accompanied them, did all in his Power to en- 

 gage the General of the Flota to wait till Day-Light to enter 

 into the Channel, but he could not fucceed v^ith him, and he 

 did not think proper to throw himfelf away along with him* 

 Our Captain, who had received good Inftrudions on th^ Head, 

 had refolved to make Ufe of them ; but too great FvCadinefs 

 to hearken to others had the fame Efie6t with Regard to him, 

 , as Prefumption had on the Spanijh General. His firft Pilot, 

 who thought himfelf the moil fKilful Man in the World, and 

 his Lieutenant, who knew not how to doubt of any Thing, 

 were of Opinion to continue the Route, and he had not the 

 Refolution to oppofe them..^ He propofed at leafi to make the 

 North Eaft, and the Confequences proved, that if his Opinion 

 had prevailed, we had efcaped Shipwreck. But he could pre- 

 vail only for making the North North Eaft, the Pilot pofitive- 

 ]y affirming that the Currents bore violently to the Eaft. He 

 faid the Truth, but it is only when Vv'e are near the Land oa 

 that Side, as they bear to the Weft on the other Side, on 

 which we then were. 



At feven o'Clock the Land appeared ftill at a confiderable 

 Shit^reck cf '^''^^'^'^^^y ^^^^ ^^^^7 could not fee it but froni 

 he Adour Round-Top ; but half an Hour after, the 



Weather growing cloudy, a Sailor obferved 

 by the Help of fome Flafnes of Lightening, that the Water hadt 

 changed Colour. Lie gave Notice of it, but his Information 

 was received with Laughter, they told him it was the Lighten- 

 ing that had made the Water appear white. He ftill maintain- 

 ed his Opinion, many of his Companions were foon brought to 

 agree with him : The Officers would have made a jeft of it 

 ftill, but they cried lb loud, and were fo many in the fame 

 . Opinion, that the Captain ordered the Lead to be thrown out. 

 They found but fix Fathom Water ; the only fare Step they 

 could have taken was to eaft Anchor that Moment, but there vv2s 

 no Anchor ready. They thought to tack about, and perhaps it 

 had been Time enough, if they had ufed Difpatch ; but they 



amufed 



