CUBA. 



79 



The city IS walled all round, and fortified with baftions on the land-fide, 

 and there are befides two forts on the fea-coaft, defigned to prevent an 

 enemy from landing ; one a league from the entrance of the harbour on the 

 caft fide, called Cojimar, the other on the weft, called the fort of Chorrera, 

 of 1 2 guns each. 



However fecure this port may he to fhips within, it Is of no great fecurlty 

 to lliips without, the entrance being too narrow to give quick admittance to a 

 numerous fleet. Hence the galleons have been often infulted, and fome of 

 them taken in fight of this port, v/Ithout being able to get in, or receive any 

 fuccour from its caftles : as (among other inflances) was the cafe of the flota 

 in its return from La Vera Cruz In 1629, mentioned by Gage. It feems at 

 cape Sant Antan'wt the moft weftern point of Cuba^ they met with the fa- 

 mous Dutchman, called by the Spaniards, Fie de Felo, or Wooden Leg, and 

 as much feared by them as Sir Francis Drake, who waited there for them ; 

 and after he had faluted them Vv^Ith a broadfide or two, the admiral Don 

 yuan de Guzman y Torres, called a council of war, wherein it was refolved 

 to fly from the enemy, as the fureft way to fave the king's treafure, which 

 amounted to fix or feven millions, according to their own account, and to 

 make dired:ly for the bay of Matanzes, imagining that the Dutch would 

 not venture in after them. But the misfortune was they could not get In 

 far themfelveSjthe bay being too fhallow for their heavy great bellied galleons. 

 This obliged them to run their fliips a-ground, after which the richer fort 

 endeavoured to efcape to land with what wealth they could in cabinets and 

 bags : but the Dutch coming fwiftly upon them, foon ftopped their flight 

 with the cannon from their fliips ; fo that except a few cabinets that were 

 hidden, all the reft of the treafure became the Hollanders prize. Two friars, 

 who had fleeced their fheep of 30,000 ducats, were alfo fleeced themfelves. 

 Thus lightened of their burdens, the fleet went on to Spain where Gage 

 fays, the admiral was imprlfoncd, and loft his fenfes for awhile, which 

 having recovered, he was afterwards beheaded. 



The commerce carried on in this port, which is very confiderable, we 

 will for the fake of perfpicuity, divide into the particular commerce of 

 the ifle of Cubaj and that more general by the galleons. The former con- 



fifts 



