22 
The VOY 
cept the 1 6000 Dollars offered him for the Jefus Maria ; 
becaufe it gave him an Opportunity of eruifing in the South 
Seas, or of going to Afui, whenever he thought it necef- 
fary. But let us now return to the Voyage : 
21. On January 13* 1 72 1, we entered, fays the Captain, 
between the Blands of Tfuibo and Quivetta, in twenty Fa- 
thom Water, over-againft a fandy Bay, which promifed us 
great Convcniencies for Wooding and Watering. I there- 
fore lent the Boat thither to view it, who reported, that 
there was a good clofe Harbour a little to the South ; and 
that they faw no Signs of Inhabitants, except three or four 
Huts by the Water-fide, which, they fuppofed, had for- 
merly been made ufe of by Pearl-ftfhers, there being great 
Quantities of Mother-of-pearl-fhells about them. I confi- 
dered the Matter attentively, and at laft refolved not to 
Ihut myfelf up in a clofe Harbour, for fear of bad Confe- 
quences. As foon as Day broke the next Morning, we faw 
two large Boats rowing in for Quivetta, one of them hav- 
ing Spanijh Colours flying ; which gave me fome Appre- 
henfions, that they might have fome Intelligence of, and 
intended to attack us. It may not be amifs to inform the 
Reader here, that the Mulattoes on the Coafc of Mexico are 
remarkable for their Courage, and have fometimes done 
very bold Addons in fuch fmall Embarkations as thefe, 
However, as to the People we had to do with, they con- 
tinued their Courfe, till we faw them go into a fmall Cove 
on the Ifland of ghcivetta ; which gave us very great Satif- 
faftion, as it convinced us, that they had no Thoughts of 
attacking our Ship. The Tables were now turned, and, 
from contriving how to defend ourfelves, we began to turn 
our Thoughts on the Means of engaging them ; and, after 
a little Debate, whether it would be prudent for us to attack 
them in our Boat, it was refolved, on all Hazards, to go 
after them in our Yawl; which Enterprize was commanded 
by Mr. Brooks firft Lieutenant, who found them all afhore, 
brought away their Piraguas, and two Prifoners ; the one 
a Mulatto, the other a Negro. The reft fought for Re- 
fuge in the Woods. We took all their Provifions, which 
confifted of a little Pork, and fome green, ripe, and dried 
Plantains. There was a large Quantity of the latter, which, 
being pounded, made a grateful Flour to the Tafte, indif- 
ferently white ; and, all together, made up a Month’s 
Bread. The Mulatto mortified us very much, by telling 
Us, that a Veflfel, laden with Provifions, had palled very 
near to us in the Night ; but, to make amends, promifed 
to conduft us to a Place, where we might fupply ourfelves 
without Hazard, provided we were not above two or three 
Days about it ; wherefore we were very brifk in getting our 
Wood and Water. On January 16. we weighed from 
hence for Mariato , that being the Name of the Place we 
were bound to. In going out from Quibo, we were in im- 
minent Danger of being horled by the Current upon two 
Rocks, lying at a fmall Diftance from one another off the 
Northermoft Point of Quivetta ; but, having cleared them, 
we fleered through Canal Bueno , or the Good Chanel , fo 
called, from its Safety, being free from dangerous Sholes and 
Rocks. It might as properly be called the S freights of 
SJuibo, which forms the Weftern Side of it, extending about 
eight or nine Leagues North and South. Over-againft the 
South Entrance of thefe Streights, at the Diftance of 
a League from Point Mariato , which is the Weftermoft 
Point of the Gulph of St. Martin , lies the Ifland of Sebaco , 
which is, to the belt of my Judgment, about ten Leagues 
in Circumference. I ran along the South End of it, and 
found every Point flat at leaft a League from the Shore ; 
and, on the 19 th in the Evening, we got fafe in between 
Mariato and the Ifland of Sebaco , and anchored in fix Fa- 
thom Water, over-againft a green Field ; which is Inftruc- 
tion fuflicienr, there being but that clear Spot thereabouts. 
Our Pilot defined we might be going at leaft three Hours 
before Day-light, and that then we fhould be in good time 
at the Plantations. Accordingly, I went at two the next 
Morning in our own Boat, and ordered the two Lieutenants 
in the two Piraguas, leaving my Son, and a few with him, 
to take care of the Ship. Our Pilot, having us in Charge, 
carried us up fome Part of the River of St. Martin , and, 
out of that, into feveral Branches of very narrow Creeks, 
arnongft many Groves, where we had not Room to row. 
I could by no means approve of this Navigation, and there- 
AGES of Book I 
fore kept a ftrift Eye upon our Guide, and was ready to 
fufpeft, that he had no good Defign in his Flead. We 
landed juft at Day-break, and, when we came on the Bank, 
found ourfelves in a fine Savannah or Plain ; and, after a 
March of about three Miles, came to two Farm-houfes : 
But thofe belonging to them made their Efcape, except the 
Wife and Children of one Houfe. We had the Satisfac- 
tion of feeing, that this Place anfwered the Defcription that 
had been given us of it, being furrounded by numerous 
Herds of Black Cattle, Hogs, and plenty of Fowls of all 
forts, together with fome dried Beef, Plantains, and Indian 
Corn ; and, for the prefent, we were entertained widi a 
Breakfaft of hot Cake and Milk : A Diet we had been long 
unacquainted with. When it was broad Day, I faw our 
Ship clofe by us ; upon which I alked our Mulatto, How 
he came to bring us fo far about ? Who anfwered, That 
there was a River between us ; and that he did not know, 
whether it was fordable, or not. I therefore fent fome to 
try, who found it was not above Knee-deep : Wherefore, 
to avoid carrying our Plunder fo far by Land and Water, I 
ordered, that our Boats fhould row out of the River of St. 
Martin , and come to the Beach over-againft the Ship. We 
had not been long here, before we had the Mailer of the 
the Family in Cuftody, who brought Horfes with him, and 
defired we would make ufe of him in any thing he could 
ferve us. This Offer was kindly received ; and I prefently 
employed him to carry what I thought fit to our Boat. This 
done, he went among his Black Cattle, and brought us 
what Number I thought we could fave ; for we had but 
little Salt, and I could not afford Water to keep them alive 
when we came to Sea ; fo that, as foon as they were on 
board, they were killed, and their Flefh preferved by cutting 
it into long Slips, of the Thicknefs of one’s Finger, and 
then fprinkling it with fo fmall a Quantity of Salt, that we 
did not ufe above four or five Pounds to 100 Weight. 
Having let it lie together two or three Hours, v/e hung it 
up to dry in the Sun two or three Days fucceffively ; which 
perfectly faved it, which could not have been done in any 
any other way, by any other Quantity of the beft Salt. As 
we had now done all we propofed, we departed from hence 
the next Morning, with our Decks full of Fowls and Hogs, 
arnongft which one had his Navel on his Back ; which, the 
Spaniards fay, when wild in the Woods, is a terrible Crea- 
ture to meet with, altho’, at their full Growth, they are 
but fmall. We returned by the fame Way that we came, 
through Canal Bueno, and made a Stop at Sfuibo, to com- 
plete our Water ; and, when we failed, gave our two Pri- 
fbners the largeft Piragua, that thofe ftill remaining at Qui- 
vetta might return from whence they came. But I muft 
here inform my Reader, that the Wine and Brandy we had 
taken, had worked fo brifldy with my Ship’s Company, as 
to divide them into two Parties, inveterate to the laft De- 
gree one againft another, who ufed to be fo firmly united 
at firft ; infomuch that I have had, in one Night’s time, 
the Ringleaders of both of them defiring me to efpoufe their 
Caufe, both affuring me, that the other had a Defign on my 
Life ; and urged me to take the Opportunity to murder 
thofe, who were not of their Faftion. It is even unaccount' 
able to myfelf, how the Mifchief was diverted ; for I could 
ufe no Means, butfpeaking calmly to them on both Sides, and 
fuffer them (indeed it was out of my Power to hinder it) 
to get drunk as often as they would ; and, in that Condi- 
tion, they have often, all together, been fkirmifhing with 
each other ; and I have had, more than once, my Cloat-hs 
almoft torn off' my Back in endeavouring to part them. It 
was happy, that this Trade did not laft long; for, while 
they had any thing to drink, I judged it unfafe to lay my 
Flead on my Pillow ; which almoft wearied me out of my 
Life. But their free Accefs to the Liquor fhortened the 
Term of this miferable Way of palling our Time ; and tho’, 
while it held, it was attended by fome vexatious Confe- 
quences, yet it had this one good Effeft, that it helped ofl 
with the liquid Evil at a great rate. Neceflitous Hunger 
obliged them to aft jointly and vigoroufly together at Ma- 
riato ; but, after having glutted themfelves a Day or two, 
they relapfed again, and were as diftrafted as ever, though 
now in the midft of a moderate Plenty. My Land, as well 
as Sea-officers, were now obliged to learn, at leaft, how 
to fteer, in order to take their Turns with the Seamen. 
c Such 
