( 3^o ) 



belonging to Cuba and the neighbouring iflands 

 are very brave, our buccaneers having been 

 enured to war : but considering the difpropor- 

 tion of force, the valour and cannon of the 

 Englifh, thefe lad muft needs have been fur- 

 prized. 



The governor received us coldly, and after ha- 

 ving heard us, told us, that he fhould have been 

 very glad to have granted our requeft, but that 

 the King his mailer had tied his hands, in particu- 

 lar, exprefsly forbidding him to receive into the 

 harbour any veffel coming from Louifiana. He 

 added, that there were feveral places on the fame 

 coaft, where we might (top without any danger, 

 and furnim ourfelves with what refrefhments we 

 ftood in need of. We were obliged to reft con- 

 tented with this anfwer, and after paying a vifit to 

 the re&or of the jefuit's college in this city, I re- 

 turned on board. 



Next day being the 24th, we were north of the Pan 

 of Matanzas, and at half an hour after eleven op- 

 pofite to the Rio de Ciroca, where there is a Spanifh 

 Settlement. But as the captain was refolved to try 

 if he could fucceed better at Matanzas than he 

 had done at the Havannah ; and we were ftill at 

 the diftance of feven leagues from it, he turned 

 to and fro during the whole night •, and, on the 

 twenty fifth, at break of day we found ourfelves 

 at the entrance of the bay, which is two leagues 

 over, 



But, before you go in, you muft firft double a 

 point which does not advance very far into the fea, 

 Chen make a weft courfe for the fpace of a league, 



after 



