Chap. II. through the great eft Part of the EAST - IN DIE S. Sot 
ther, with a South-weft Wind. The 3d being becalmed * 
*We killed a Cow we bought at Madagafcar , and a Goat. 
In the Belly of the firft we found three Calves, and in the 
laft four Kids, from which a Judgment may be made of 
the Fruitfulnefs of this Country. On the 6th we were ter- 
ribly lliaken by a moft dreadful Tempeft, fo that our Ship 
beginning to be leaky, we were forced to pump without 
Intermiffion. We found ourfelves in 35 0 Latitude. On 
the 7th the Wind being tolerably fair, we fleered our 
Courfe to the Weft-North-Weft % though the Sea conti- 
nued very rough. The 8th and 9th, we had abundance of 
Rain with a South-Weft Wind, with which we made 
four Leagues with a moderate Gale, and feeing many 
of the Birds called Mangas de^Valudo , concluded that we 
were not far from the Cape of de Aguilas . 
The nth the Eaft Wind hindered us from making any 
confiderable Progrefs, and finding a fandy Bottom at twelve 
Fathom of Water, we were more and more perfuaded that 
we were near the Cape of Aguilas. The 12th we were 
forced to make the belt of our way fometimes with a North- 
North-Weft, fometimes with a South-Weft Wind, which 
continuing in the Afternoon, we continued our Courfe to 
the Weft- North- Weft, and in the Evening found a yel- 
low Sand at a hundred and ninety Fathom Water. The 
13th the Wind being at South-Eaft, we continued our 
Courfe to the Weft-North- Weft, and finding a Whale 
floating upon the Water in the Latitude of 35 0 , we be- 
lieved ourfelves to be in the Height of the Cape of Good- 
Hope, where abundance of Whales are commonly feen. 
The 14th, at Sun-rifing, finding the Declination of the 
Needle 4 0 50', we concluded that we had compaffed the 
Cape of Good-Hope *, the 15th we had a fair Wind and Wea- 
ther, and found the Declination of the Compafs to be 1 0 ft, 
and prefently after the Declination of it, near the Cape of 
Good-Hope , is 4 0 , though fometimes it does not decline fo 
much *, and as foon as you have paffed the Cape , you find 
the Compafs to vary to the Eaft. At 33° if eleven lies 
the Ifle of St. Elizabeth , not above twenty Leagues on this 
Side of the Cape of Good-Hope , being not above two 
Leagues from the African Coaft, on which Side it has a 
•very good Harbour at fixteen Fathom Water. 
The whole Coaft is but one continued Rock ; but the 
Country is fo fertile in feveral forts of the beft Herbs, that 
fhere is fufficient Reafon to believe, that if it were culti- 
vated, it would not in its Produ&s be behind the Jfle of 
St. Helens , or any other in thofe Parts. The worft is, that 
it wants frelh Water, except what is fupplied by the Skies 
when it rains, which makes this Ifle not to be much fre- 
quented •, though they have fuch vaft Numbers of Sea- 
Wolves here, that in a few Days they may catch as many, 
that the Fat would freight a Veffel of fix hundred Tuns. 
They call thefe Creatures Sea- Wolves, though both in Co- 
lour and Shape of their Heads they rather refemble our 
Bears, except that their Snout is not fo fharp. They have 
only two Paws beneath the Breaft, by which means they 
draw the other Part of their Body after them, and that 
with fo much Swiftnefs, that the nimbleft Man can fcarce 
overtake them. This Beaft is very fierce, its Teeth being 
fo clofe and ftrong, that it will bite through the Handle of 
a Partizan. This Ifle alfo produces a kind of Badger, the 
Flefti whereof is very delicious. The 1 6th we made the 
beft of our Way with a final! Wind. at 32 0 , and the i 7th and 
18th made fixty-four Leagues with a North-North-Weft 
and a South- Weft Wind, and came the 19th into 29 0 16', 
when with a South-South- Weft Wind we made forty 
Leagues to the North- Weft, and in the Evening found 
ourfelves in 28° Latitude. The 6th of October a South- 
Eaft Wind carried us fifteen Leagues farther to the Ifle of 
St. Helens. 
23. The Situation of this Hand, called St. Helens by 
the Portuguese, is in 16 0 126 I t is diftant from the Cape 
of Angela 350 Leagues * from that of Good-Hope 550, 
from Brazil 510.: It being very furprizing, that an- 
Hand of no more than feven Leagues in Compafs fhould 
be found at fo great a Diftance from the Continent. If is 
ib plentiful in moll excellent Fruits and all forts of Crea- 
tures, that it fiirpaffes moft of the Provinces of Europe. 
Some were of Opinion, that there were neither to be feen 
when the Portuguese firft difcovered it, and that thofe 
Numb. 54. 
few Trees and Cattle they brought thither, have received 
fuch vaft Improvements from the natural good Gonftitii- 
tions of the Ground* that, at prefent, it is able to fupply 
whole Fleets with Refrefhments. Figs* Pomegranates^ 
Citrons, Oranges, Goats, Hogs, Barbary Hens, Phea- 
fants, Partridges, Quails, Peacocks and Pidgeons being 
to be had here at all the Seafons of the Year % not to men- 
tion the Fifh which are found here in vaft Quantities, and 
Salt fufficient for the Curing them. The Ground natu- 
rally produces fo many wholfome Herbs that the Portu - 
gueze frequently leave there their lick Men* which are fure 
to recover againft their coming back again that Way the 
next Year. 
The Mountains of this Ifle axe fo high that they are 
difcovered fourteen Leagues off at Sea. The Portuguezc 
thought it a Piece of Prudence not to make any Eftabhfli- 
ment in this Hand, confidering the Jealoufy which its 
Poffeflion might raife in other Nations trading into thefe 
Parts, which its vaft Diftance from the Continent would 
make it very difficult to keep ; whereas* its being free, 
would afford a certain Retreat to all Yeffels ; and thofe 
Refrefhments, qfpecially of frelh Water, which they 
would be obliged to feek for as far as the Coaft of Guinea , 
where they mull be forced to ftay for the Rains, to the 
great Inconvenience of the Seamen, many of whom muft 
in the mean while perifh for want of it. The Fertility of 
the Ifle ought chiefly to be attributed to the daily Showers 
of Rain which fall there, which, being animated by the 
Sun-Beams, fhining prefently after by Intervals, incredibly 
advances the Maturity of Things in a Climate like this. 
It has alfo three Places where Ships may provide them- 
felves with frelh Water, viz. where the three Rivers, 
which have their Sources among the Mountains, difcharge 
themfelves into the Sea. Thefe produce abundance of 
Snakes, which are eaten by the Dutch 5 who prefer them 
to Eels. At 190 Leagues to the N. W. of the Hand 
of St. Helens, you fee the Hand of Afcenfton, fo called 
from its being difcovered upon Afcenfton-Day by the Por- 
tugueze , lying 8° 20 / S. of the Line. It is a very mourn 
tainous Hand, affording neither frelh Water, nor any 
other Provifions, except Fifh, of which there is great 
Store on that Coaft. Oftiober the 1 7th, the fame Wind 
carried us forty Leagues forward *, and the 1 8th forty-two 
to the 50. 
The Heats were alrnoft infupportable this Day, and we 
faw Millions of Flying-filh, and great Numbers of the 
Birds called Mangas de Valudo. The 19th the Wind 
blowing from the S. E. we made 40 Leagues td 3 0 19* 
Lat. and the 20th the fame Wind continued us 40 Leagues 
farther to i° 18' Lat. The fame Wind carried us the 
2 1 ft 35 Leagues, when we paffed the Equinoflial Line. 
At i° beyond the Line, we difcovered the Cape de Lopez 
Gonzales , upon the Coaft of Guinea , which has a fafe 
Harbour for Ships, which fometimes provide themfelves 
with Provifions here. The Ifle of St. \ Thomas is fituate 
under the Line, the Air of which is fo unwholfome, and 
the Heats fo excefiive, that few Europeans live there to 
fifty Years of Age, tho’ fome of the Natives arrive to an 
hundred. Here is a conftant Equality of Day and Night 
throughout the whole Year, and it never rains except in 
March and September •, the Deleft of which is fupplied 
by the Dew, which falls conftantly every Night, moiftens 
the Ground, and renders them very fruitful. When it was 
firft difcovered, a certain kind of Tree was found here, 
the Branches whereof were exactly ftrait. And, formerly, 
this Ifle produced fuch vaft Quantities of Sugar, that above 
four Ship Loads might be transported thence every Years 
but the Worm being got among the Canes, has ever fince 
made fuch Havock among them, that it fcarce affords 
now Loading for fix Ships.' Befides which, this Hand 
produces Wheat, Wine, Millet, Rye, Barley, Mellons, 
Cucumbers, Figs, Ginger, red Parfnips, Cabages, Navews, 
Lettice, Parfley, and all forts of Roots, Puife, and Pot- 
herbs ; and amongft the reft, a certain kind of Muih- 
rooms, the Rind whereof is black, but the Meat white, 
and flioot forth divers Branches bd'ow. The Inhabitants 
look upon it as a great Dainty, and, when baked in the Em- 
bers, eat them as we do Chefnuts, but they have a better 
Flavour. The Spaniards have planted fome Olive, Peach, 
9 S and 
