of John Cockbttrn, &c. 173 



of thefe Rocks He half a Mile or a Mile 

 from the Shore, and the Indians can never 

 reft on them half an Hour together for the 

 Breaking of the Sea, which waflies them 

 off continually, but then they will lie and 

 float on the Top of the Waves like fo many 

 Corks, without receiving the leaft Damage. 

 Now the Method ufed to die the Thread is 

 only this, they take the Shell off the Rock 

 where it flicks very fall, and rub it gently 

 on the Thread, and then lay it down again 

 where they found it, with great Care, for 

 they are very cautious of killing the purple 

 Filh. If the Weather proves fair, they will 

 r dye their Thread in one Tide, of as fine a 

 Purple as ever was feen, and what will ne- 

 ver fade. The Spaniards call it Helo Mo- 

 rado y the lovely Colour, and I have feen the 

 Thread fold among them for twelve Pieces 

 of Eight a Pound, which are twelve Crowns 

 Englijb Money. 



We had now been on Shore four Days 

 waiting for fair Weather, and on the Morn- 

 ing of the fifth, I waked and* miffed three 

 of our Indians ; upon which, I called out to 

 the Indian Patron, or Pilot, who was afleep, 



and 



