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North of the Ifland, eight leagues from the town of St. Chriflopher, the 

 lettlers of which were two years after removed to the Havannah. This 

 port is called in the language of Cuba, Agaruco. That our expedition 

 might be conduced on proper principles, we perfuaded a Clergyman of 

 that town named Alonzo Gonzales, to accompany us, and we alfo chofe 

 for Veedor a foldier named Bernardino Iniguez, that in cafe Gold fhould 

 happen to fall in our way, the proper Officer might be at hand, to take 

 care of his Majefty's rights. 



On the eighth of February 15 17, having recommended ourfelves to 

 God, and the blelTed Virgin, we failed from the port of Agaruco, and in 

 twelve days paffedSt. Anton, otherwife called the land of theGuanatareyes, 

 a tribe of favages. Doubling this Point, we failed at hazard towards 

 that part of the Horizon where the Sun fet, utterly ignorant of (hallows, 

 currents, or prevailing winds. During our voyage a ftorm came on, 

 and for two days and two nights we were in the moft imminent danger; 

 the wind however fubfided, and in twenty-one days from our leaving 

 the Ifland of Cuba, we faw land which had never before been difco- 

 vered. We alfo on approaching perceived a large town, at the diftance 

 of two leagues from the coaft, which from its fize, it exceeding any 

 town in Cuba we named Grand Cairo. The fmalleft Veffel was then 

 ordered to approach and examine the neighbouring coafl. 



On the morning of the fourth of March, five Canoes came off to 

 us. Thefe vefTels are like troughs, made of one entire tree, and many 

 of them capable of containing fifty men. We made fignals of invitation 

 to thofe on board, with which they readily complied, not (hewing the 

 leafl apprehenfion. Above thirty entered the principal vefTel, where 

 they were treated with fuch proviiions as we could give them, and each 

 was prefented Vv^ith a firing of green beads. After admiring the vefTels 

 for fome time their chief defired to return, faying that he would on the 

 enfuing day come again to us with more Canoes, in order to bring us to 

 land. Thefe Indians v/ore clofe dreffes of cotton, their waifts being 

 girded with a narrow cloth ; in which, we obferved that they exhibited 



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