SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, &C. 365 



parted with very foul weather and terrible thunder and 

 showers, for the winter was come on very far. The longer we 

 tarried the worse it was, and therefore I took captain Giflford, 

 captain Caltield, and my cousin Greenville, into my barge, and 

 after il cleared up about midnight, we put ourselves to God's 

 keeping, and thrust out into the sea, leaving the galley at an- 

 chor, who durst not adventure but by day light. And so be- 

 ing all very sober and melancholy, one faintly cheering ano- 

 ther to shew courage, it pleased God that the next day about 

 nine of the clock, we descried the island of Trinidado; and 

 steering for the nearest part of it, we kept the shore till we 

 came to Curiapan, where we found our ships at anchor, than 

 which there was never to us a more joyful sight." 



Thus it happened that almost the same stations were taken 

 for the purpose of exploring the land, which empire must oc- 

 cupy, and in the same order, for the purpose of colonizing 

 and civilizing the region. At first a great permanent position 

 is taken at Trinidad. Next, the mouths of the Pomaroon, 

 of the Essequebo, of the Demerary, and of the Surinam, 

 are noticed ; and lastly, the right bank of the Orinoko is 

 to be undertaken, as far as the important and wealthy set- 

 tlement of San Thomas, 



