330 A VOYAGE TO Book IX. 



was aci:ed here,to keep the Englifli from the knowledge 

 of thefe parts j I think it was in the year 1761. Two 

 India Ihips appeared in the offing (one was the London, 

 Capt. Webb, the other I have forgot) where they 

 brought to, and fent their boats on fliore to dcfirc 

 leave to come within the recifFe (that is the ledge of 

 rocks which form the harbour) but the governor had 

 ordered the pilots to fay, there was not water enough 

 on the bar, notwithftanding there is no lefs than 

 twenty-four feet at low water mark. The Indiamen 

 were therefore obliged to cut their cables (it being im- 

 polTible for them to weigh where they had brought 

 to), to leave their anchors behind them, and ftand 

 away for Bahia, where they met with a more favour- 

 able reception. 



To the fouthward of Pernambuco is the bay of 

 Vafabarris, into which the river St Francifco difem- 

 bogues itfelf, and occafions fuch eddies to the diftance 

 of three or four leagues from the land, that few 

 veffels which approach near the fliore in this bay efcape 

 {branding. About thirty leagues inland the river St. 

 Francifco lofes itfelf, running under ground for fe- 

 veral miles, and again makes its appearance. I believe 

 there is no river in the world of this breadth that has 

 fuch a fubterraneous pafiage. There are feveral vil- 

 lages on the banks of this river, and large plantati- 

 ons, from which the inhabitants fend yearly large 

 quantities of fugar, tobacco, and mandioc to Per- 

 nambuco, which commodities they exchange for 

 cloathing, and implements of hufl^andry. The bar 

 of the river has not above eight feet water on it, 

 which obliges them to ufe fmall fchoonersfor the con- 

 veniency of exporting their goods. 



To the fouthwardof St. Francifco lies Seregippe del 

 Rey, of which we have a good account in moft modern 

 books of geography; I therefore proceed, to Rio Real, 

 which, if it were not for the bar at the entrance, on 

 which there is but ten feet water, would be an inlet to 



