Selected quad for the lemma: ground_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	long_a	run_v	zone_n	12	3	14.2290	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A36106	A new voyage round the world describing particularly the isthmus of America, several coasts and islands in the West Indies, the isles of Cape Verd, the passage by Terra del Fuego, the South Sea coasts of Chili, Peru and Mexico, the isle of Guam one of the Ladrones, Mindanao, and other Philippine and East-India islands near Cambodia, China, Formosa, Luconia, Celebes, &c., New Holland, Sumatra, Nicobar Isles, the Cape of Good Hope, and Santa Hellena : their soil, rivers, harbours, plants, fruits, animals, and inhabitants : their customs, religion, government, trade, &c. / by William Dampier ; illustrated with particular maps and draughts.	Dampier, William, 1652-1715.	1697 (1697)	Wing D161; Wing D165; ESTC R9942	710,236	1,112

this means is at least 3 months within 4 degrees of the Zenith so that they have the Sun in a manner over their heads from the beginning of May till the latter end of July Whereas when the Sun comes under the Line in March or September it immediately posts away to the North or the South and is not 20 days in passing from 3 degrees on one side to 3 degrees on the other side the Line So that by his small stay there the heat cannot be answerable to what it is near the Tropick where he so long continues in a manner Vertical at Noon and is so much longer above the Horizon each paaticular day with the intervening of a shorter night But to return to Tonquin During the wet months there 't is excessive hot especially whenever the Sun breaks out of the Clouds and there is then but little Wind stirring And I have been told by a Gentleman who liv'd there many years that he thought it was the hottest place that ever he was in tho he had been in many other parts of India And as to the Rains it has not the least share of them tho neither altogether the greatest of what I have met with in the Torrid Zone and even in the same Latitude and on the same side of the Equator The wet season begins here the latter end of April or the beginning of May and holds till the latter end of August in which time are very violent Rains some of many hours others of 2 or 3 days continuance Yet are not these Rains without some considerable intervals of fair weather especially toward the beginning or end of the season By these Rains are caus'd those Land-floods which never fail in these Countries between the Tropicks at their annual periods all the Rivers then overflowing their Banks This is a thing so well known to all who are any way acquainted with the Torrid Zone that the cause of the overflowing of the Nile to find out which the Ancients set their wits so much upon the rack and fancied melting of Snows and blowing of Etesiae and I know not what is now no longer a secret For these floods must needs discharge themselves upon such low Lands as lie in their way as the Land of Egypt does with respect to the Nile coming a great way from within the Torrid Zone and falling down from the higher Ethiopia And any one who will be at the pains to compare the time of the Land flood in Egypt with that of the Torrid Zone in any of the parts of it along which the Nile runs will find that of Egypt so much later than the other as 't will be thought reasenable to allow for the daily progress of the Waters along so vast a tract of Ground They might have made the same wonderment of any other Rivers which run any long course from out the Torrid Zone but they knowing only the North Temperate Zone and the Nile being the only great River known to come thither a great way from a Country near the Line they made that only the subject of their enquiry but the same effect must also follow from any great River that should run from out of the Torrid Zone into the South Temperate Zone And as to the Torrid Zone the yearly floods and their cause are every where as well known by people there as the Rivers themselves In America particularly in Campeachy Rivers in Rio Grande and others 't is a vast havock is made by these floods bringing down sometimes Trees of an incredible bigness and these floods always come at the stated season of the year In the dry part of Peru along the coasts of Pacifick Sea where it never rains as it seldom does in Egypt they have not only Floods but Rivers themselves made by the annual falling of Rain on the Mountains within Land the Channels of which are dry all the rest of the year This I have observ'd concerning the River Ylo on the Coast of Peru in my former Volume p. 95. But it has this difference from the Floods of Egypt that besides its being a River in the Torrid Zone 't is also in South Latitude and so overflows at a contrary season of the year to wit at such time as the Sun being in Southern Signs causes the Rains and Floods on that side the Line But to return from this digression in August the weather at Tonquin is more moderate as to heat or wet yet not without some showers and September and October are more temperate still yet the worst weather in all the year for Seamen is in one of the 3 months last mentioned for then the violent Storms called Tuffoons Typhones are expected These winds are so very fierce that for fear of them the Chinese that Trade thither will not stir out of Harbour till the end of October after which month there is no more danger of any violent Storms till the next year Tuffoons are a particular kind of violent Storms blowing on the Coast of Tonquin and the neighboring Coasts in the months of July August and September They commonly happen near the full or change of the Moon and are usually preceded by very fair weather small winds and a clear Sky Those small winds veer from the common Trade of that time of the year which is here at S. W. and shuffles about to the N. and N. E. Before the Storm comes there appears a boding Cloud in the N. E. which is very black near the Horizon but towards the upper edge it looks of a dark copper colour and higher still it is brighter and afterwards it fades to a whitish glaring colour at the very edge of the Cloud This appears very amazing and ghastly and is sometimes seen 12 hours before the Storm comes When that Cloud begins to move apace you may expect the Wind presently It comes on fierce and blows very violent at N. E. 12 hours more or less It is also commonly accompanied with terrible claps of Thunder large and frequent flashes of Lightning and excessive hard rain When the Wind begins to abate it dyes away suddenly and falling flat calm it continues so an hour more or less then the wind comes about to the S. W. and it blows and rains as fierce from thence as it did before at N. E. and as long November and December are 2 very dry wholesom warm and pleasant months January February and March are pretty dry but then you have thick fogs in the morning and sometimes drisling cold rains the Air also in these 3 months particularly in January and February is very sharp especially when the wind is at North East or North North East whether because of the Quarter it blows from or the Land it blows over I know not for I have elsewhere observ'd such Winds to be Colder where they have come from over Land April is counted a moderate month either as to heat or cold driness or moisture This is ordinarily the

for the Europeans coming Eastward by the Cape of Good Hope in a course contrary to the Sun and us where-ever we met they were a full day before us in their Accounts So among the Indian Mahometans here their Friday the day of their Sultans going to their Mosques was Thursday with us though it were Friday also with those who came Eastward from Europe Yet at the Ladrone Islands we found the Spaniards of Guam keeping the same computation with our selves the reason of which I take to be that they settled that Colony by a course Westward from Spain the Spaniards going first to America and thence to the Ladrones and Philippines But how the reckoning was at Manila and the rest of the Spanish Colonies in the Philippine Islands I know not whether they keep it as they brought it or corrected it by the Accounts of the Natives and of the Portuguese Dutch and English coming the contrary way from Europe One great reason why Seamen ought to keep the difference of time as exact as they can is that they may be the more exact in their Lo ngitude For our Tables of the Suns declination being calculated for the Meridians of the places in which they were made differ about 12 minutes from those parts of the World that lie on their opposite Meridians in the months of March and September and in proportion to the Suns declination at other times of the year also And should they run farther as we did the difference would still increase upon them and be an occasion of great errours Yet even able Seamen in these Voyages are hardly made sensible of this tho so necessary to be observed for want of duly attending to the reason of it as it happened among those of our crew who after we had past 180 degrees began to decrease the difference of declination whereas they ought still to have increased it for it all the way increased upon us We had the Wind at N. N. E. fair clear Weather and a brisk gale We coasted to the West-ward on the South side of the Island Mindanao keeping within 4 or 5 leagues of the shore The Land from hence trends away W. by S. It is of a good heighth by the Sea and very Woody and in the Country we say high Hills The next day we were abrest off Chambongo a Town in this Island and 30 leagues from the River of Mindanao Here is said to be a good Harbour and a great settlement with plenty of Beef and Buffaloe It is reported that the Spaniards were formerly fortified here also There are 2 shoals lie off this place 2 or 3 leagues from the shore From hence the Land is more low and even yet there are some Hills in the Country About 6 leagues before we came to the West end of the Island Mindanao we fell in with a great many small low Islands or Keys and about 2 or 3 leagues to the Southward of these Keys there is a long Island stretching N. E. and S. W. about 12 leagues This Island is low by the Sea on the North side and has a ridge of Hills in the middle running from one end to the other Between this Island and the small Keys there is a good large Channel Among the Keys also there is good depth of Water and a violent Tide but on what point of the compass it flows I know not nor how much it riseth and falls The 17th day we anchored on the East side of all these Keys in 8 fathom water clean Sand. Here are plenty of green Turtle whose flesh is as sweet as any in the West Indies but they are very shy A little to the Westward of these Keys on the Island Mindanan we saw abundance of Coco-nut Trees Therefore we sent our Canoa ashore thinking to find Inhabitants but found none nor sign of any but great tracks of Hogs and great Cattle and close by the Sea there were the ruins of an old Fort. The Walls thereof were of a good heighth built with Stone and Lime and by the Wokrmanship seem'd to be Spanish From this place the Land trends W. N. W. and is of an indifferent heighth by the Sea It run on this point of the Compass 4 or 5 leagues and then the Land trends away N. N. W. 5 or 6 leagues farther making with many bluff points We weigh'd again the 14th day and went thro between the Keys but met such uncertain Tydes that we were forced to anchor again The 22d day we got about the Westermost point of all Mindanao and stood to the Northward plying under the shore and having the Wind at N. N. E. a fresh gale As we sailed along further we found the Land to trend N. N. E. On this part of the Island the Land is high by the Sea with full bluff points and very Woody There are some small sandy Bays which afford streams of fresh Water Here we met with two Proe's belonging to the 〈◊〉 one of the Mindanaian Nations before mentioned They came from Manila laden with Silks and Calicoes We kept on this Western part of the Island steering Northerly till we came abrest of some other of the Philippine Islands that lay to the Northward of us then steered away towards them but still keeping on the West side of them and we had the Winds at N. N. E. The 3d of February we anchored in a good bay on the West side of an Island in lat 9 d. 55 m. where we had 13 fathom Water good soft oaze This Island hath no name that we could find in any book but lieth on the West side of Island Sebo It is about 8 or 10 leagues long Mountainous and Woody At this place Captain Read who was the same Captain Swan had so much railed against in his Journal and was now made Captain in his room as Captain Teat was made Master and Mr. Henry More Quartermaster ordered the Carpenters to cut down our Quarter Deck to make the Ship snug and the fitter for sailing When that was done we heeled her scrubbed her bottom and tallowed it Then we fill'd all our Water for here is a delicate small run of Water The Land was pretty low in this Bay the Mould black and fat and the Trees of several kinds very thick and tall In some places we found plenty of Canes such as we use in England for Walking-canes These were short jointed not above two foot and a half or two foot ten inches the longest and most of them not above two foot They run along on the ground like a Vine or taking hold of the Trees they climb up to their very tops They are 15 or 20 fathom long and much of a bigness from the root till within 5 or 6 fathom of the end They are of a pale green colour cloathed over with a coat of a short thick hairy substance of a dun colour but it comes off by only drawing the Cane thro your hand We did cut many of them

three hundred though at first there was not one to be seen I have sometimes admired from whence so many came so suddenly for we never see above two or three at a place before they come to feast on a Carkass Some of the Carrion Crows are all over white but their Feathers look as if they were sullied They have bald Heads and Necks like the rest they are of the same bigness and make without any difference but in Colour and we never see above one or two of these white ones at a time and 't is seldom also that we see a great number of the black ones but we see one white one amongst them 1. The Logwood-Cutters call the white ones King Carrion Crows and say that they are much bigger than the others and that when a great number are assembled about a Carkass if a King Carrion Crow be among them he falls on first and none of the others will tast the least Morsel till he has filled his belly and is withdrawn nay that they will sit pearching on the Trees about him without approaching the Carkass till he flies away and then in an instant they fall on all together I have seen of the King Carrion Crows but could not perceive them to be bigger than the rest neither were the black ones their Companions so unmannerly as to let them eat without company They are very voracious and will dispatch a Carkass in a trice For that reason the Spaniards never kill them but fine any one that shall And I think there is also an Act in Jamaica that prohibits their destruction and the Logwood-Cutters tho' under no such obligation yet are so zealously superstitious that none will hurt them for fear of receiving some damage afterwards Subtle Jacks are Birds as big as Pigeons they are mostly blackish the tips of their Wing Feathers are yellowish as are also their Bills They have a peculiar and wonderful cunning way of building different from any others Their Nests hang down from the boughs of lofty Trees whose bodies are clean without limbs for a considerable height The branches to which they fasten them are those that spread farthest out from the body and the very extremities of those boughs are only used by them On Trees that grow single by themselves at some distance from others they build clear round but if they joyn to others they make choice of such only as are bordering upon a Savannah Pond or Creek and hang down their Nests from those limbs that spread over those Savannahs c. neglecting such as are near other Trees Their Nests hang down two or three foot from the twigs to which they are fastned and look just like Cabbage-Nets stuft with Hey The Thread that fastens the Nest to the twig is made of long Grass as is also the Nest it self very ingeniously twisted together It is but small at the twig but near the Nest grows thicker The Nest has a hole in the side for the Bird to enter at and 't is very pretty to see twenty or thirty of them hanging round a Tree They are called by the English Subtle Jacks because of this uncommon way of building There are two or three sorts of Bill-Birds so called by the English because their Bills are almost as big as themselves The largest I ever saw are about the size of English Wood-peckers and much like them There are others of a smaller sort but they are not often met with and I never saw many of them Cockrecoes are short winged Birds coloured like Partridges but somewhat lesser neither are they so plump and round They have long Legs delighting to run on the Ground among Woods in swampy Places or near Creeks They make a loud Noise Mornings and Evenings and Answer one another very prettily and they are extraordinary sweet Meat The Water-Fowls are Duck and Mallard Curlews Herons Crabcatchers Pelicans Cormorants Fishing-Hawks Men-of-War-Birds Boobies c. There are three sorts of Ducks viz. The Muscovy the Whistling and the Common Duck. Muscovy Ducks are less than ours but otherwise exactly alike They pearch on old dry Trees or such as have no Leaves on them and seldom light on the Ground but to feed Whistling Ducks are somewhat less than our Common Duck but not differing from them in shape or Colour In flying their Wings make a pretty sort of loud whistling Noise These also pearch on Trees as the former The other sort are like our Common Ducks both in bigness and colour and I have never observed them to pitch upon Trees All three sorts are very good Meat Here are two sorts of Curlews different in bigness and colour the greater are as big as Turkeys with long Legs and long crooked Bills like a Snipes in length and bigness proportionable to the Bulk of their Bodies They are of a dark colour their Wings black and white their Flesh black but very sweet and wholesom They are call'd by the English double Curlews because they are twice as big as the other sort The small Curlews are of a dusky brown with long Legs and Bills like the former their Flesh is most esteemed as being the sweetest Herons are like ours in England in bigness shape and colour Crabcatchers are shaped and coloured like Herons but they are smaller They feed on small Crabs no bigger than ones Thumb of which there is great plenty Pelicans are large flat-footed Fowls almost as big as Geese and their Feathers in colour like them They have short Legs long Necks and their Bills are about two Inches broad and 17 or 18 long the sore-part of their Necks or Breasts is bare and covered with a soft smooth yet loose Skin like that about the Necks of Turkies This Skin is of the colour of their Feathers mixt with a dark and light grey so exactly interwoven that it appears very beautiful They are a very heavy Bird and seldom fly far or very high from the Water They commonly sit on Rocks at some distance from the shore where they may look about them They seem to be very melancholly Fowls by their perching all alone They sit as if they were sleeping holding their Heads upright and resting the ends of their Bills on their Breasts they are better Meat than Boobies or Men-of-War-Birds Cormorants are just like young Ducks in shape having such Feet and Bills They are black with white Breasts and live on small Fish which they take near the shore or on Worms which they get out of the Mud at low Water They taste very fishy yet are indifferent good Meat they being very fat Fishing Hawks are like our smallest sort of Hawks in colour and shape with such Bills and Talons They pearch upon stumps of Trees or dry Limbs that hang over the Water about Creeks Rivers or against the Sea and upon sight of any small Fish near them they skim along just over them and snatching up the prey with their Talons presently rise again without touching the VVater

dried them wear them in our Hats for a perfume The Flesh is seldom eaten but in case of Necessity because of its strong scent Now the Crocodile hath none of these Kernels neither doth his Flesh taste at all Musky therefore esteemed better Food He is of a yellow colour neither hath he such long Teeth in his under Jaw The Crocodile's Legs also are longer and when it runs on Land it bears its Tail above the Ground and turns up the tip of it in a round bow and the Knots on the back are much thicker higher and firmer than those of the Alligator And differ also as to the Places where they are found For in some Parts as here in the Bay of Campeachy are abundance of Alligators where yet I never saw nor heard of any Crocodiles At the Isle Grand Caymanes there are Crocodiles but no Alligators At Pines by Cuba there are abundance of Crocodiles but I cannot say there are no Alligators tho' I never saw any there Both Kinds are called Caymanes by the Spaniards therefore probably they may reckon them for the same And I know of no other difference for they both lay Eggs alike which are not distinguishable to the Eye They are as big as a Goose-Egg but much longer and good Meat yet the Alligators Eggs taste very musky They prey both alike in either Element for they love Flesh as well as Fish and will live in either fresh or salt Water Beside these Creatures I know none that can live any where or upon any sort of Food like them 'T is reported that they love Dogs Flesh better than any other Flesh whatsoever This I have seen with my own Eyes that our Dogs were so much afraid of them that they would not very willingly drink at any great River or Creek where those Creatures might lurk and hide themselves unless they were through Necessity constrained to it and then they would stand five or six Foot from the brink of the Creek or River and bark a considerable time before they would Adventure nearer and then even at the sight of their own Shadows in the Water they would again retire to the Place from whence they came and bark vehemently a long time so that in the dry Season when there was no fresh Water but in Ponds and Creeks we used to fetch it our selves and give it our Dogs and many times in our Hunting when we came to a large Creek that we were to pass through our Dogs would not follow us so that we often took them in our Arms and carried them over Besides the fore-mentioned difference between the Alligator and Crocodile the latter is accounted more fierce and daring than the Alligator Therefore when we go to the Isles of Pines or Grand Caymanes to hunt we are often molested by them especially in the Night But in the Bay of Campeachy where there are only Alligators I did never know any Mischief done by them except by accident Men run themselves into their Jaws I remember one Instance of this Nature which is as follows In the very height of the dry time seven or eight Men English and Irish went to a Place called Pies Pond on Beef-Island to hunt This Pond was never dry so that the Cattle drew hither in swarms but after two or three days hunting they were shy and would not come to the Pong till Night and then if an Army of Men had lain to oppose them they would not have been debarr'd of Water The Hunters knowing their Custom lay still all Day and in the Night visited this Pond and killed as many Beefs as they could This Trade they had driven a Week and made great profit At length an Irish-man going to the Pond in the Night stumbled over an Alligator that lay in the Path The Alligator seized him by the Knee at which the Man cries out Help help His Consorts not knowing what the matter was ran all away from their Huts supposing that he was fallen into the clutches of some Spaniards of whom they were afraid every dry Season But poor Daniel not finding any assistance waited till the Beast opened his Jaw to take better hold because it is usual for the Alligator to do so and then snatch'd away his Knee and slipt the But-end of his Gun in the room of it which the Alligator griped so hard that he pull'd it out of his Hand and so went away The Man being near a small Tree climb'd up out of his reach and then cryed out to his Consorts to come and assist him who being still within Call and watching to hear the Issue of the Alarum made haste to him with Fire-brands in their Hands and brought him away in their Arms to his Hut for he was in a deplorable condition and not able to stand on his Feet his Knee was so torn with the Alligators Teeth His Gun was found the next day ten or twelve Paces from the Place where he was seized with two large Holes made in the But-end of it one on each side near an Inch deep for I saw the Gun afterwards This spoiled their sport for a time they being forc'd to carry the Man to the Island Trist where their Ships were which was six or seven Leagues distant This Irish-man went afterwards to New-England to be cured in a Ship belonging to Boston and nine or ten Months after returned to the Bay again being recovered of his wound but went limping ever after This was all the mischief that ever I heard was done in the Bay of Campeachy by the Creatures call'd Alligators CHAP. III. Logwood Mens way of Living Their Hunting for Beefs in Canoas Alligators The Author 's setling with Logwood-Men He is lost in Hunting Captain Hall and his Mens disaster The way of preserving Bullocks Hides Two hairy Worms growing in the Author 's Leg. Dangerous Leg-worms in the West Indies The Author strangely cured of one A violent Storm A Description of Beef-Island Its Fruits and Animals The Spaniards way of hocksing Cattle Their care of preserving their Cattle The wasteful destruction made of them by the English and French Privateers The Author 's narrow Escape from an Alligator THE Logwood-Cutters as I said before inhabit the Creeks of the East and West Lagunes in small Companies building their Huts close by the Creeks sides for the benefit of the Sea-Breezes as near the Logwood Groves as they can removing often to be near their Business Yet when they are settled in a good open Place they chuse rather to go half a Mile in their Canoas to Work than lose that convenience Tho' they build their Huts but slightly yet they take care to thatch them very well with Palm or Palmeto Leaves to prevent the Rains which are there very violent from soaking in For their Bedding they raise a Barbicue or wooden Frame 3 Foot and half above Ground on one side of the House and stick up four Stakes at each corner one to fasten their Pavillions out

here being as I have said neither Boats Barks nor Ships that I could ever see unless only what come hither from other parts and some Boats near the S. E. end of California as I guess by the intercourse between that and the Main for Pearl-fishing The Ships that Trade hither are only 3 two that constantly go once a year between this and Manila in Luconia one of the Phillipine Islands and one Ship more every year to and from Lima. This from Lima commonly arrives a little before Christmas she brings them Quick-silver Cacao and pieces of Eight Here she stays till the Manila Ship arrives and then takes in a Cargo of Spices Silks Callicoes and Muzlins and other East India Commodities for the use of Peru and then returns to Lima. This is but a small Vessel of 20 Guns but the 2 Manila Ships are each said to be above 1000 Tun. These make their Voyages alternately so that one or other of them is always at the Manillas When either of them sets out from Acapulco it is at the latter end of March or the beginning of April she alwas touches to refresh at Guam one of the Ladrone Islands in about 60 days space after she sets out There she stays but 2 or 3 days and then prosecutes her Voyage to Manila where she commonly arrives some time in June By that time the other is ready to sail from thence laden with East India Commodities She stretcheth away to the North as far as 36 or sometimes into 40 degrees of North lat before she gets a wind to stand over to the American shore She falls in first with the Coast of California and then Coasts along the shore to the South again and never misses of a wind to bring her away from thence quite to Acapulco When she gets the length of Cape St. Lucas which is the Southermost point of California she stretcheth over to Cape Cortientes which is in about the 20th degree of North lat from thence she Coasts along till she comes to Sallagua and there she sets ashore Passengers that are bound to the City of Mexico From thence she makes her best way coasting still along shore till she arrives at Acapulco which is commonly about Christmas never more than 8 or 10 days before or after Upon the return of this Ship to the Manila the other which stayeth there till her arrival takes her turn back to Acapulco Sir John Narborough therefore was imposed on by the Spaniards who told him that there were 6 sail or more that used this Trade The Port of Acapulco is very commodious for the reception of Ships and so large that some hundreds may safely ride there without damnifying each other There is a small low Island crossing the mouth of the Harbour it is about a mile and a half long and half a mile broad stretching East and West It leaves a good wide deep Channel at each end where Ships may safely go in or come out taking the advantage of the Winds they must enter with the Sea-wind and go out with the Land-wind for these Winds seldom or never fail to succeed each other alternately in their proper seasons of the day or night The Westermost Channel is the narrowest but so deep there is no anchoring and the Manila Ships pass in that way but the Ships from Lima enters on the S. W. Channel This Harbour runs in North about 3 miles then growing very narrow it turns short about to the West and runs about a mile farther where it ends The Town stands on the N. W. side at the mouth of this narrow passage close by the Sea and at the end of the Town there is a Platform with a great many Guns Opposite to the Town on the East side stands a high strong Castle said to have 40 Guns of a very great bore Ships commonly ride near the bottom of the Harbour under the Command both of the Castle and the Platform Captain Townly who as I said before with 140 men left our Ships on a design to fetch the Lima Ship out of the Harbour had not rowed above 3 or 4 leagues before the Voyage was like to end with all their Lives for on a sudden they were encountered with a violent Tornado from the shore which had like to have foundered all the Canoas but they escaped that danger and the second night got safe into Port Marquis Port Marquis is a very good Harbour a league to the East of Acapulco Harbour Here they staid all the next day to dry themselves their Cloaths their Arms and Ammunition and the next night they rowed softly into Acapulco Harbour and because they would not be heard they hal'd in their Oars and paddled as softly as if they had been seeking Manatee They paddled close to the Castle then struck over to the Town and found the Ship riding between the Brestwork and the Fort within about 100 yards of each When they had well viewed her and considered the danger of the design they thought it not possible to accomplish it therefore they paddled softly back again till they were out of command of the Forts and then they went to land and fell in among a company of Spanish Soldiers for the Spaniards having seen them the day before had set Guards along the Coast who immediately fired at them but did them no damage only made them retire farther from the shore They lay afterwards at the mouth of the Harbour till it was day to take a view of the Town and Castle and then returned aboard again being tired hungry and sorry for their disappointment The 11th day we made sail again further on to the Westward with the Land-wind which is commonly at N. E. but the Sea Winds are at S. W. We passed by a long sandy Bay of above 20 leagues All the way along it the Sea falls with such force on the shore that it is impossible to come near it with Boat or Canoa yet it is good clean ground and good anchoring a mile or two from the shore The Land by the Sea is low and indifferent fertile producing many sorts of Trees especially the spreading Palm which grows in spots from one end of the Bay to the other The Palm-tree is as big as an ordinary Ash growing about 20 or 30 foot high The body is clear from boughs or branches till just at the head there it spreads forth many large green branches not much unlike the Cabbage-tree before described These branches also grow in many places as in Jamaica Darien the Bay of Campeachy c. from a stump not above a foot or two high which is not the remains of a Tree cut down for none of these sort of Trees will ever grow again when they have once lost their head but these are a sort of Dwarf-palm and the branches which grow from the stump are not so large as those that grow on the great Tree These smaller branches are used both in the East

advantage to themselves that after about 4 hours fighting they cut their Cables and went away in haste and disorder with all their Sails loose even their Top-gallant sails which is not usual but when Ships are just next to running away Captain Heath notwithstanding his Ship was so heavy and incumbred behaved himself very bravely in the fight and upon the going off of the French went aboard the Dutch Commadore and told him that if he would pursue them he would stand out with them to Sea though he had very little Water aboard but the Dutch Commander excused himself saying he had orders to defend himself from the French but none to chase them or go out of his way to seek them And this was the exploit which the French have thought fit to brag of I hear that the Dutch have taken from them since their Fort of Ponticheri But to proceed with our Voyage We had not been at Sea long before our men began to droop in a sort of a distemper that stole insensibly on them and proved fatal to above 30 who died before we arrived at the Cape We had sometimes two and once three men thrown over board in a morning This distemper might probably arise from the badness of the Water which we took in at Bencouli for I did observe while I was there that the River-water wherewith our Ships were watered a ws very unwholesom it being mixt with the Water of many small Creeks that proceeded from low Land and whose streams were always very black they being nourished by the Water that drained out of the low swampy unwholesom ground I have observed not only there but in other hot Countries also both in the East and West Indies that the Land-floods which pour into the Channels of the Rivers about the season of the Rains are very unwholesom For when I lived in the Bay of Campeachy the Fish were found dead in heaps on the shores of the Rivers and Creeks at such a season and many we took up half dead of which sudden mortality there appeared no cause but only the malignity of the Waters draining off the Land This happens chiefly as I take it where the water drains through thick Woods and Savannahs of long Grass and swampy Grounds with which some hot Countries abound and I believe it receives a strong Tincture from the Roots of several kind of Trees Herbs c. and especially where there is any stagnancy of the Water it soon corrupts and possibly the Serpents and other poisonous Vermin and Infects may not a little contribure to its bad qualities at such times it will look very deep coloured yellow red or black c. The season of the Rains was over and the Land floods were abating upon the taking up this Water in the River of Bencouli but would the Seamen have given themselves the trouble they might have fill'd their Vessels with excellent good Water at a Spring on the back side of the Fort not above 2 or 300 paces from the Landing place and with which the Fort it serv'd And I mention this as a caution to any Ships that shall go to Bencouli for the future and withal I think it worth the care of the Owners or Governours of the Factory and that it would tend much to the preservation of their Seamens lives to lay Pipes to convey the Fountain Water to the shore which might easily be done with a small charge and had I staid longer there I would have undertaken it I had a design also of bringing it into the Fort though much higher for it would be a great convenience and security to it in case of a Siege Beside the badness of our Water it was stowed among the Pepper in the Hold which made it very hot Every morning when we came to take our allowance it was so hot that a man could hardly suffer his hands in it or hold a bottle full of it in his hand I never any where felt the like nor could have thought it possible that Water should heat to that degree in a Ships Hold. It was exceeding black too and looked more like Ink than Water Whether it grew so black with standing or was tinged with the Pepper I know not for this Water was not so black when it was first taken up Our food also was very bad for the Ship had been out of England upon this Voyage above three years and the salt Provision brought from thence and which we fed on having been so long in salt was but ordinary food for sickly men to live on Captain Heath when he saw the misery of his Company ordered his own Tamarinds of which he had some Jars aboard to be given some to each mess to eat with their Rice This was a great refreshment to the men and I do believe it contributed much to keep us on our legs This distemper was so universal that I do believe there was scarce a man in the Ship but languished under it yet it stole so insensibly on us that we could not say we were sick feeling little or no pain only a weakness and but little stomach Nay most of those that died in this Voyage would hardly be perswaded to keep their Cabbins or Hammacks till they could not stir about and when they were forced to lye down they made their Wills and piked off in 2 or 3 days The loss of these men and the weak languishing condition that the rest of us were in rendered us uncapable to govern our Ship when the wind blew more than ordinary This often happened when we drew near the Cape and as oft put us to our trumps to manage the Ship Captain Heath to incourage his men to their labour kept his watch as constantly as any man tho sickly himself and lent an helping hand on all occasions But at last almost despairing of gaining his passage to the Cape by reason of the Winds coming Southerly and we having now been sailing 8 or 9 weeks he called all our men to consult about our safety and desired every man from the highest to the lowest freely to give his real opinion and advice what to do in this dangerous juncture for we were not in a condition to keep out long and could we not get to Land quickly must have perished at Sea He consulted therefore whether it were best to beat still for the Cape or bear away for Johanna where we might expect relief that being a place where our outward bound East India Ships usually touch and whose Natives are very familiar but other places especially St. Laurence or Madagascar which was nearer was unknown to us We were now so nigh the Cape that with a fair Wind we might expect to be there in 4 or 5 days but as the Wind was now we could not hope to get thither On the other side this Wind was fair to carry us to Johanna but then Johanna was a great way off and if the Wind should continue as

The Females with their young Ones are much troubled to leap after the Males for they have commonly two one she carries under one of her Arms the other sits on her Back and clasps her two fore Paws about her Neck These Monkies are the most sullen I ever met with for all the Art that we could use would never tame them It is a hard matter to shoot one of them so as to take it for if it gets hold with its Claws or Tail it will not fall as long as one breath of Life remains After I have shot at one and broke a Leg or an Arm I have pittied the poor Creature to see it look on and handle the wounded Limb and turn it about from side to side These Monkies are very rarely or as some say never on the Ground The Ant-Bear is a four-footed Beast as big as a pretty large Dog with rough black-brown Hair It has short Legs a long Nose and little Eyes a very little Mouth and a slender Tongue like an Earth-worm about 5 or 6 Inches long This Creature feeds on Ants therefore you always find them near an Ants Nest or Path. It takes its Food thus It lays its Nose down flat on the Ground close by the Path that the Ants travel in whereof here are many in this Country and then puts out its Tongue athwart the Path the Ants passing forwards and backwards continually when they come to the Tongue make a stop and in two or three Minutes time it will be covered all over with Ants which she perceiving draws in her Tongue and then eats them and after puts it out again to trapan more They smell very strong of Ants and taste much stronger for I have eaten of them I have met with these Creatures in several Places of America as well as here i. e. in the Sambaloes and in the South Seas on the Mexican Continent The Sloth is a four-footed hairy sad-coloured Animal somewhat less than the Ant-Bear not so rough its Head is round its Eyes small it has a short Nose and very sharp Teeth short Legs but extraordinary long sharp Claws This Creature feeds on Leaves whether indifferently of all sorts or only on some particular kinds I know not They are very mischievous to the Trees where they come and are so slow in motion that when they have eaten all the Leaves on one Tree before they can get down from that and climb another and settle themselves to their fresh Banquet which takes them up 5 or 6 days though the Trees stand near They are nothing but skin and bones altho' they came down plump and fat from the last Tree They never descend till they have stript every Limb and Bough and made them as bare as Winter It takes them up 8 or 9 Minutes to move one of their feet 3 Inches forward and they move all their four feet one after another at the same slow Rate neither will stripes make them mend their pace which I have tryed to do by whipping them but they seem insensible and can neither be frighted or provoked to move faster The Armadillo so called from its Suit of Armour is as big as a small sucking Pig the body of it pretty long This Creature is inclosed in a thick Shell which guards all its back and comes down on both sides and meets under the belly leaving room for the four Legs the Head is small with a Nose like a Pig a pretty long Neck and can put out its Head before its Body when it walks but on any danger she puts it in under the shell and drawing in her Feet she lies stock still like a Land-Turtle And though you toss her about yet she will not move her self The Shell is joynted in the middle of the back so that she can turn the fore-part of her body about which way she pleases The Feet are like those of a Land-Turtle and it has strong Claws wherewith it digs holes in the ground like a Cony The flesh is very sweet and tasts much like a Land-Turtle The Porcupin being a Creature well known I 'll pass it in silence The Beasts of Prey that are bred in this Country are Tigre-Cats and as is reported by our Men Lions The Tigre-Cat is about the bigness of a Bull-Dog with short Legs and a truss Body shaped much like a Mastiff but in all things else viz. its Head the colour of its Hair and the manner of its Preying much resembling the Tigre only somewhat less Here are great numbers of them They prey on young Calves or other Game whereof here is plenty And because they do not want Food they are the less to be feared But I have wisht them farther off when I have met them in the Woods because their Aspect appears so very stately and fierce I never did see any Lion in this Country but I have been informed by two or three persons that they did see Lions here But I am assured that they are not numerous Here are a great many poisonous Creatures in this Country more particularly Snakes of divers sorts some yellow some green and others of a dun Colour with black and yellowish spots The yellow Snake is commonly as big as the small of a Man's Leg and 6 or 7 seven foot long These are a lazy sort of Creatures for they lye still and prey on Lizards Guanoes or other small Animals that come in their way It is reported That sometimes they lurk in Trees and that they are so mighty in strength as to hold a Bullock fast by one of his Horns when they happen to come so near as that she can twist her self about the Limb of the Tree and the Horn at once These are accounted very good Meat by some and are eaten frequently I my self have tryed it for curiosity but cannot commend it I have heard some Bay-men report that they have seen some of this kind here as big as an ordinary Man's Wast but I never saw any such The green Snakes are no bigger about than a Man's Thumb yet 4 or 5 foot long The Backs are of a very lively green Colour but their Bellies inclining to yellow These are commonly in Bushes among the green Leaves and prey upon small Birds This I have often seen and was once in danger to be bit by one before I saw it For I was going to take hold of a Bird that fluttered and cryed out just by me yet did not fly away neither could I imagin the reason till reaching out my hand I perceived the head of a Snake close by it and looking more narrowly I saw the upper part of the Snake about two or three Inches from his head twisted about the poor Bird. What they feed on besides Birds I know not but they are said to be very venemous The dun coloured Snake is a little bigger than the green Snake but not above a foot and a half or two foot long these we should often see

in and about our Huts but did not kill them because they destroyed the Mice and are very nimble in chacing those Creatures Besides Snakes here are Scorpions and Centapes in abundance Here are also Galliwasps These are Creatures somewhat resembling Lizards but larger their bodies about the thickness of a Man's Arm having four short Legs and small short Tails their colour a dark brown These Creatures live in old hollow Trunks of Trees and are commonly found in wet swampy ground and are said to be very poisonous Here are also a sort of Spiders of a prodigious size some near as big as a Man's Fist with long small Legs like the Spiders in England they have two Teeth or rather Horns an Inch and a half or two Inches long and of a proportionable bigness which are black as Jett smooth as Glass and their small end sharp as a Thorn they are not strait but bending These Teeth we often preserve Some wear them in their Tobacco-pouches to pick their Pipes Others preserve them for Tooth-Pickers especially such as were troubled with the Tooth-ach for by report they will expel that pain tho' I cannot justifie it of my own knowledge The backs of these Spiders are covered with a dark yellowish Down as soft as Velvet Some say these Spiders are venemous others not whether is true I cannot determine Tho' this Country be so often over-flown with Water yet it swarms with Ants of several sorts viz. great small black yellow c. The great black Ant stings or bites almost as bad as a Scorpion and next to this the small yellow Ants bite is most painful for their Sting is like a spark of fire and they are so thick among the boughs in some places that one shall be covered with them before he is aware These Creatures have Nests on great Trees placed on the body between the Limbs some of their Nests are as big as a Hogshead this is their Winter Habitation for in the wet Season they all repair to these their Cities Here they preserve their Eggs. Ants-Eggs are as much esteemed by the Planters in the West-Indies for seeding their Chickens as Great Oat-meal with us in England In the dry Season when they leave their Nests they swarm over all the Woodland for they never trouble the Savannahs You may then see great Paths made by them in the Woods of three or four Inches broad beaten as plain as the Roads in England They go out light but bring home heavy Loads on their backs all of the same substance and equal in bigness I never observed any thing besides pieces of green Leaves so big that I could scarce see the Insect for his Burthen yet they would march stoutly and so many still pressing after that it was a very pretty sight for the Path lookt perfectly green with them There was one sort of Ants of a black Colour pretty large with long Legs these would march in Troops as if they were busie in seeking somewhat they were always in hast and followed their Leaders exactly let them go whither they would these had no beaten Paths to walk in but rambled about like Hunters Sometimes a Band of these Ants would happen to march through our Huts over our Beds or into our Pavilions nay sometimes into our Chests and there ransack every part and where-ever the foremost went the rest all came after We never disturbed them but gave them free liberty to search where they pleased and they would all march off before night These Companies were so great that they would be two or three hours in passing by though they went very fast The Fowls of this Country are Humming Birds Black Birds Turtle Doves Pigeons Parrots Parakites Quames Corresoes Turkies Carrion Crows Subtle Jacks Bill Birds Cockrecoes c. The Humming Bird is a pretty little feather'd Creature no bigger than a great over-grown Wasp with a black Bill no bigger than a small Needle and his Legs and Feet in proportion to his body This Creature does not wave his Wings like other Birds when it flies but keeps them in a continued quick motion like Bees or other Insects and like them makes a continual humming Noise as it flies It is very quick in motion and haunts about Flowers and Fruit like a Bee gathering Hony making many near addresses to its delightful Objects by visiting them on all sides and yet still keeps in motion sometimes on one side sometime on the other as often rebounding a foot or two back on a sudden and as quickly returns again keeping thus about one Flower five or six minutes or more There are two or three sorts of them some bigger than others but all very small neither are they coloured alike the largest are of a blackish colour The Black Bird is somewhat bigger than ours in England it has a longer Tail but like them in Colour They are sometimes called Chattering Crows because they chatter like a Magpy There are three sorts of Turtle Doves viz. white breasted Doves dun coloured Doves and ground Doves The white breasts are the biggest they are of a blewish grey Colour with white breasts these are fine round and plump and almost as big as a Pigeon The next sort are all over of a dun lesser than the former and not so round The ground Dove much bigger than a Sky-Lark of a dull grey very round and plump and commonly run in pairs on the ground and probably thence have their name The other two sorts flie in pairs and feed on Berries which they commonly gather themselves from the Trees where they grow and all three sorts are very good Meat Pigeons are not very common here they are less than our Wood Quests and as good food The Quam is as big as an ordinary Hen Turkey of a blackish dun Colour its Bill like a Turkeys it flies about among the Woods feeds on Berries and is very good meat The Correso is a larger Fowl than the Quam The Cock is black the Hen is of a dark brown The Cock has a Crown of black Feathers on his Head and appears very stately These live also on Berries and are very good to eat but their Bones are said to be poisonous therefore we do either burn or bury them or throw them into the Water for fear our Dogs should eat them Carrion Crows are blackish Fowls about the bigness of Ravens they have bald Heads and redish bald Necks like Turkeys and therefore by Strangers that come newly from Europe are often mistaken for such These live wholly on flesh and are therefore called Carrion Crows There are great numbers of them They are heavy dull Creatures and by their pearching long at one place they seem to be very lazy yet they are quick enough to find out their Prey for when we hunt in the Woods or Savannahs as soon as we have killed a Beast they will immediately flock about us from all parts and in less than an hours time there will be two or

day they begin to build it up again and so they every day till 't is of a decent and fashionable height It would be a most ridiculous thing for a Man here to be seen without a Tallow Cap. But Boys are not suffered to wear any till they come to Maturity and then they begin to build upon their Heads The Women have only short Petticoates which reach from the VVaste to the Knee VVhen it Rains they cover their Bodies with a simple Cows-hide thrown over their Shoulders like a Blanket The common Subsistence of these People is Bread made of Guinea Corn Beef Fish Milk Ducks Hens Eggs c. They also drink Milk often to quench their Thirst and this sometimes when it is sweet but commonly they let it be sower first Besides Milk which is the common Drink they make a better sort of the same Grain before mentioned purposely to be merry with And when they meet on such occasions the Men make themselves extraordinary fine with Feathers stuck into their Caps very thick They make use of the long Feathers of Cocks Tails and none else Besides these Head Ornaments they wear a piece of Cow-hide made like a Tail and 't is fastned behind them as a Tail reaching from their VVaste to the Ground This piece of Hide is about 6 Inches broad and each side of it is adorned with little Iron Rings of their own making VVhen they are thus attired their Heads a little intoxicated and the Musick playing they 'l skip about merrily and shake their Tails to some purpose but are very innocent in their Mirth Every Man may have as many VVives as he can purchase and maintain And without buying here are none to be had neither is there any other Commodity to be bought or sold but VVomen Young Virgins are disposed of by their Fathers Brothers or nearest Male Relations The price is according to the Beauty of the Damsel They have no Money in this Country but give Cows in exchange for VVives And therefore he is the richest Man that has most Daughters or Sisters for to be sure he will get Cattle enough They make merry when they take their VVives but the Bride cries all her VVedding-day They live together in small Villages and the oldest Man governs the rest for all that live together in one Village are a kin and therefore willingly submit to his Government They are very just and extraordinary civil to Strangers This was remarkably experienced by two English Seamen that lived among them 5 Years their Ship was cast away on the Coast and the rest of their Consorts marched to the River of Delagoa but they stayed here till Captain Rogers accidentally came hither and took them away with him They had gained the Language of the Country And the Natives freely gave them VVives and Cows too They were beloved by all the People and so much reverenced that their VVords were taken as Laws And when they came away many of the Boys cryed because they would not take them with them FINIS A General INDEX To both Volumes of DAMPIER'S VOYAGES Note that in this Index the several Parts of the Work are thus distinguish'd O. refers to Voyage round the World or Vol. I. S. to the Supplement of the Voyage round the World or Vol. II Part 1. C. to the Campeachy Voayges or Vol. II. Part 2. W. to the Discourse of the Winds c. or Vol. II. Part 3. Any Figure that has not one of these Capital Letters immediately prefix'd is to be taken as referring to that which goes nearest before it d. signifies Describes whether wholly or in part Note also That the Sheet K. Vol. II. Part 1. having several Pages false mark'd the Reader is desired to correct them the Index referring not to the false figures but those which ought to have been there A. ACapulco its remarkable Land d. O. 244. the T. Port and Castle d. 244 6 7. its Trade and Course of it C. 125. O. 244 5 6. 277. Acapulco-Ship its Course O. 245 6. 255. 260. 283. 290 1. 351. 387 8 9. and why 280. aim d at by the Privateers 244. 255 7. 389. but mist 260. 303. 384. like to be lost on a Shole 303. 384. taken by Cavendish 260. Accomptants bad and good S. 137. Achar's Pickles what and where O. 391. S. 129. Ac●… Kingdom d. S. 120 c. its Rains and Floods 148 9. and Winds W. 39. the Road and Islands and Channel lying off it S. 121 2 3. O. 476. the Soil and Vegetables S. 123. 126. 181. O. 392. Animals S. 127 8. O. 321. Malayan Inhabitants d. S. 128 9. their features habit c. ib. Arts and Trades 130 1. Proc's O. 475 and Coire-Cables 295. their Coins Sums and Weights S. 131 2. Mahometan Learning and Religion O. 490. 343. S 137 8. 148. 180. Laws and Punishments 138 9. 140. Government by a Queen and Oromkey's 141. her Election 142 3. a War upon it 143. 4 5 8. the Orombey's have have the real power S. 141 2 3. the Commons most Slaves and how 141. City of Achin and Buildings 129. Merchant-strangers there 129 132 4 5 6. 146. Guzurat Brokers 135. Siammers O. 504. China Camp Chinese and their Trade there S. 136 7 8. O. 420. Price of Nutmegs there S. 152. Plenty of Gold O. 510. 152. and Gold Mines d. S 133. 4. J. d' Acosta's Imprisonment and why C. 06 7. Adds Tools where us'd O. 332. S. 181. Aethiopick Sea what so call'd by the A Pref. Vol. 2. See Atlantick Indian Africa its Coasting-Trade-W W. 12. 13. 15. 16. 19. 20. 103 not so broad a course as the Pervvian and why 78. 79 its Breezes S and L. 〈◊〉 W. 24 29. 50 c. its West Coast where and when Dry 78. 9. 83. Tides on its East Coast 99. and Currents 107. and Ambergriese O. 74. and Seals 90. See Angola C. Blanco Guinea R. Sherboro C. Verd. Harmatan's Hippopotamus Aguala-wood what and whence S. 8 Ague the A. taken with one O. 255. where frequent 334. Air good where and when O. 63. 108. 186. 218. 297. 321. 542 4 8. S 21. bad where and when O. 153. 186. 221. 297 8. S. 180. bad where there are Gold Miaes O. 153 195. Sulphureous when 131. Sick men die coming from Sea to Land-Air 113. Albicore Fish where W. 55. Alerane's Island d. their Bushes Rats and Birds C. 24 5 6. 45. Scals O. 90. Alforec's Mindanian's d. O. 325. their Wars 325. 337. 444. Algatrane a sort of Tar d. O. 134. Algatross a Bird where O. 531. Algatross a Rock d. O. 242. Alligator d. C. 33. 74 5 6 7 8. 81 2. where found 75 6. O. 256. their flesh and Eggs musky C. 75. yet eaten ib. O. 274. but seldom C. 75. their Musk Cods ib. good for Dropsies O. 256. Dogs coveted by them and fearful of them C. 76. aH Irish man indauger'd by one 77. see Dampier also the Campeachy ones less fierce than some are said to be 82. and