Selected quad for the lemma: water_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
water_n	fish_n	great_a	sea_n	3,519	5	6.8793	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64809	The history of the Sevarites or Sevarambi, a nation inhabiting part of the third continent commonly called Terræ australes incognitæ with an account of their admirable government, religion, customs, and language / written by one Captain Siden, a worthy person, who, together with many others, was cast upon those coasts, and lived many years in that country.; Histoire des Sevarambes. English	Allais, Denis Vairasse d', ca. 1630-1672.; Roberts, A., 17th cent.	1675 (1675)	Wing V20; ESTC R13659	118,902	302

having expelled the darkness of the Night and dissipated the thickness of the Fog we saw that our Vessel stuck upon a Bank near the shore of a great Island or Continent The discovery of this Land turned our despair into hopes for although it was unknown to us and we could not tell what good or bad fortune we should have in it Yet any Land was then welcome to men who had during many days been so miserably tossed upon the water betwixt life and death hopes and despair About Noon the weather grew very clear and hot the Sun over-powring the Mist and Fog and the Wind abating much of his violence so that the Sea did by degrees lose much of his rage and agitation In the Afternoon about three a Clock it Ebbed from the shore and left our Ship with less than five foot of water upon a kind of a muddy Sand where she stuck very fast The place where she stuck was not above a Musket shot from a pretty high but accessible shore whither we resolved to remove our selves and our goods whatever should come on 't and in order to it our Long-boat was let down and twelve of our stoutest men were sent ashore well armed to discover the Country and to chuse a place near the Sea where we might encamp with some safety without going far from our Ship As soon as they were landed they carefully viewed the Country from the top of a rising ground not far from the shore but saw neither Houses nor Inhabitants nor any signs of either the Country being but a Sandy barren Land where grew nothing but bushes and little shrubs wild and savage They could see neither River nor Brook in the parts they had discovered and not having time to make a farther search that day nor counting it prudence to venture any farther into so unknown a place they came back again to the Ship three hours after their landing The next Morning we sent them ashore again with provisions and order to send the Boat back again to fetch our People by degrees and likewise our Provisions and Goods which were all whole by Gods mercy without any the least damage All these Orders were executed with great care and diligence so that the day after our being cast upon the Bank we got all ashore with a good part of our Provisions and Goods most useful and necessary The first who landed pitched the Camp on the side of a rising ground near the Sea over against our Vessel which could cover us on the Land side from being seen by any body that should come towards the shore and afforded us a convenient station for a Sentinel to discover a good way round about Thither did we by degrees carry our goods leaving in the Ship but ten or twelve men to keep her till we could tow her off upon high water if it was possible or dispose of her otherwise One of the first things we did so soon as we were landed was to call a Council to advise what order we should take for our mutual preservation It was presently resolved that we should keep for the present upon the Land the same order and discipline we kept at Sea till such times we should think fit to alter it so after this resolution it was agreed we should humble our selves before God Almighty to give him most hearty thanks for preserving our lives and goods in so special a manner and to implore his divine assistance for the future in a place altogether unknown to us and where we might fall into the hands of some barbarous people or starve there for want of Provisions if he in his mercy did not provide for us as he had done heretofore After this Resolution and humiliation our Officers divided our People into three equal parts whereof two were ordered incessantly to work about the Camp in drawing of a Trench to secure us from any sudden invasion and the others were imployed in discovering the Country and fetching in Wood and such kind of supplies Those who were left aboard the Ship had orders to see what condition she was in and what could be done with her After an exact examination they found that her Keel was broke by the violent shock she gave against the Sand and that she stuck so fast in it that it was impossible to tow her off if she were never so sound so that they thought the best way was to take her in pieces and build a Pinnace or two out of her ruines to sent to Batavia with all speed and diligence That Counsel was approved of and the fittest men for that purpose were employed for the execution of it with all diligence The parties that were sent to discover durst not venture far in the Plain for fear of some danger or ill accident till such a time that the Camp was better fortified and the Guns carried thither from the Ship They brought in only Wood and some kind of wild Berries of which they found great quantities upon the bushes and shrubs of the place some spreading along the shore found a very great plenty of Oysters Muscles and other Shell fish which did not only refresh our People but did also much save our Provisions which upon examination we found could not hold out above two Months according to the ordinary allowance The consideration whereof made us think of some way to husband it which could be but by getting and saving In the first place we used all diligence to get our Nets and Hooks ready for we had found that the Sea thereabouts was very full of fish we fed as much as we could upon the Berries of the Plain and upon the Shell fish of the shore and on the other side we shortned every ones allowance and reduced it to eight ounces a day of the Ships Provisions But our greatest want was sweet water for although we had made a Well in the Trench that afforded as much of it as we could use yet it was somewhat brackish and ungrateful by reason of the nearness of the Sea Our adventurers made every day some new discovery and having gone so far as almost Ten Miles about the Camp without finding any the least sign that the Country was inhabited grew every day bolder and bolder They saw no living Creature in all this sandy Plain but some Snakes a kind of a Rat almost as big as a Rabbet and some kind of Birds like wild Pigeons but somewhat bigger who fed upon the Berries we have made mention of They killed some of them with their Guns and brought them to the Camp where after trial they were found to be very good meat especially the Birds These new discoveries made us a little remiss in our Fortifications and we contented our selves by drawing a small Trench about our Camp casting up the Earth inwardly and thought it was enough in a place where we found no Inhabitants We planted some Guns upon the most convenient places and setting all

them before they could come near had fired at them and the report of their Guns had so frighted those Monsters that they ran into the water with more haste than they were come out of it That seeing the danger there was along that River by reason of these or other fierce Creatures they might meet with and having no Provision to go on any further in a Country where they could get nothing but some Shell-fish and those only upon the Sea-shore they thought they should proceed no farther but come back again the same way they were gone according to my Command of not staying longer without some special reason De Haes told me he had marched twenty Miles the first day through a Sandy Plain directly to the Southward That at night they were come to a little Hill full of Heath where they lay till next morning That when the Sun began to shine they saw a very great Mist five or six Miles beyond their Post which clearing up by degrees as they marched towards it they discovered a great Pool or Lake of standing water which could be no less than ten Miles Diameter That being come near this Lake they had seen abundance of Reeds and Rushes growing about the shore and an infinite number of Water-Fowl that flew from place to place and made a very great noise in their flight That they had gone a good way about this Lake before they could come to touch the water by reason of the Marshy and Muddy ground about it where they could not march without danger of sinking till they came to a Sandy place near a Hill somewhat higher than that they lay upon the night before That having got to the top of it from whence they had a very large prospect round about they could discover nothing but a large Heath and at great distance towards the South a long Row of very high Mountains which stood like a Wall and reached from East to West as far as they could see That after this discovery they being afraid of wanting Victuals were returned to the Camp on the third day according to my Command I found by these relations that I had had far better luck than these two Captains and we were all the more encouraged to go to the new Camp on the Eastward that we saw it had such conveniences as we could not find any where else and that all our hopes lay on that side The next morning I called a Council where I propounded our removal to the green Vale. It was embraced presently and ordered that we should transport our People and Goods thither by degrees beginning with those which were most necessary and easie to carry The New Pinnace we were making was almost finished and would be ready in four or five days more and fit to transport our Guns Casks and other Lumber In the mean while we used both our Boats to remove our Provisions and sent many of our People by Land with such Axes Nails Spades and other Implements of that kind as we had there The Major went with the first Party my Lieutenant with the second and when I saw that most of our People and Goods were removed to the new Camp and that the Pinnace was ready I sent her loaded with diverse things and travelled thither my self by Land I omitted to tell you that Maurice had doubled the Cape in his second Voyage without any danger by reason of the calmness of the Sea and the stilness of the weather which was clear and serene without any Rain or great Wind above six weeks after our Landing and so temperate that we felt neither heat not cold in the first Month except about noon at which time the Sun was something hot grew hotter every day as it drew nearer to us and brought the Spring about August For in those Countries it begins then contrary to our Parts where the Summer ends at that time Maurice told me that at the head of the Cape he had found many small rocky Islands which lay together very thick as far as a great one that lay at the very mouth of the Bay and defended it from the fury of the Waves he was of opinion that it would prove an excellent Harbour for Ships if the passage into it was not too difficult or too shallow for great Vessels by reason of the many Rocks that lay between the Cape and the great Island which divided and sheltered the Bay from the main Ocean Well Maurice said I to him when we have removed all our Goods and People and they are settled in the new Camp we shall have time enough to discover those Islands and I will leave the discovery of them to your care and industry In less than twelve days after the first discovery of the Vale we had transported all our People and Goods from the old Camp to the new which in my absence Van de Nuits and other Officers named Sidenberge That name obtained so in two or three days time that it was impossible afterwards to change it Our men partly by my order or of their own accords made several good Huts along the Brook side upon a piece of Ground almost a Mile long which abutted to the Bay on the East side of the Cape Wood we had plenty enough upon the place and our Fishermen took so much Fish in the Bay that we knew not what to do with it for want of salt to season or smoak it But Maurice quickly supplied us with that for being gone upon some of those Rocks which lay at the mouth of the Bay he found there as much of it as would serve the whole Company twenty years if we should be so long in that place That Salt was naturally made by the water of the Sea which in great storms being slung upon those Rocks filled some hollow places in them where the heat of the Sun did afterwards turn it into Salt There were every day great Parties sent into the Woods to discover and hunt the Deer of which many Herds were found up and down and many of them killed by our men We saw every day multitudes of Water-fowl fly over the Bay which made us judge that they had some particular haunt there Maurice with his new Pinnace and his Longboat ventured every day further and further into the Bay and in the Islands and made several good discoveries He found a place near the great Island where grew abundance of Reeds and Rushes and thither it was that an infinite number of Sea-fowl of al sorts did repair He found another place where there came many green Turtles to lay their Eggs upon the Sand from whence we might draw the greatest part of our subsistance In fine we found so many things to shift withal that we were certain never to want Victuals if we should live there a thousand years The greatest want we were sensible of was that of Powder for though we had saved a good quantity of it yet that was

the shore still within sight of our Boat and found that the Country grew more and more unequal When we had gone five or six Miles further we came to a pretty high Hill which was barren and without Trees We got on the top of it and from thence discovered a Wood of tall Trees four or five Miles beyond this Hill which Trees stood upon a high ground that shot a good way into the Sea At the sight of these green Trees we did much rejoyce and resolved to go thither after we had taken a little refreshment We marched on through a Sandy Plain that lay betwixt us and the Wood and reached the foot of the high ground in less than two hours time got up into the Wood and found it did consist of very lofty Trees not thick and under which there was not much under-wood so that it was easily pervious there I kept my men very close to one another and doubled the Van that they might be the more able to resist if they should be set upon by any men or fierce Beast As we went we cut down several Boughs and strewed them upon the ground whereby we might know the way we came in our return In that manner we marched on in as direct a Line as we could till we came to the other side of the Wood where we spied the Sea again and saw Trees over the Water at six or seven Miles distance which demonstrated to us that this water was a great Bay between two Capes The place was very delightful to behold and afforded a very fine prospect over the Bay which made us wish we had been cast away nearer to it than we were We had left our Boat on the other side of the Wood by reason of the great way she must go about before we could meet her again I sent down ten of my men to the Water side where they found a vast quantity of Oysters and other Shel-fish which was no small encouragement As soon as they were come up I sent three men to Maurice and bid him row as fast as he could towards the head of the Cape where he should meet with a Party I intended to send immediately that way I sent another Party towards the inner part of the Wood on the Land side to see if they could find any sweet water Those who went towards the head of the Cape travelled almost two Miles before they found any but at last they perceived a Declivity in the ground which led them down into a kind of a Vale very full of green and thick Trees at the bottom of which they found a fine stream of sweet water running into the Bay In this pleasant place they stopped and sent three of their Company to bring me notice of it they had not been come a quarter of an hour but the ten men who were sent on the contrary side came back again and told us they had gone a great way in the Wood which they thought grew wider and wider towards the Land that they had found a Heard of Deer near a little Brook whereof they had killed two and shot at two more They had cut these Deer into four pieces and carried them upon their backs which was no uncomfortable sight to us We left the place where we stood and marched towards the Vale above mentioned having before dispatched five of our men towards the Camp to give them notice of what had hapned to us and sent them part of our Venison for a token of the good Fortune we had met with When we were come to the Vale I liked it so well that I resolved to encamp there that night and to remove our old Camp thither as soon as possibly we could My men made presently a fire and fell a roasting of their Venison and I sent five of them to meet with the Party which were sent to Maurice they marched but two Miles farther before they came to the head of the Cape where they joyned with the other Party and there standing all together upon the most eminent place they could find looked for Maurice his coming He as soon as he had received my Orders Rowed to the Rendezvous with all the diligence possible and came to the place half an hour before Sun setting where having pulled the Boat upon the ground they all came to the new Camp before it was night They found us very merry some about the fire roasting of meat and others lying upon Beds of dry leaves and dry Moss which they had gathered good store of in a little time We passed all the night in that place with a great deal of joy and quietness and the morning being come I got up betimes and bid Maurice and his Crew to prepare for the old Camp whither I intended to return by Water with only two of my men besides the Boats Crew I left one to Command the rest and ordered him to keep in that place till he heard farther from me promising to be with him again in less than three days and that in the mean while they might supply their wants with Hunting Fishing and Shelling so we went towards the Boat We soon reached the place where she lay put her to Sea and Rowed to the old Camp the same day a gentle breeze favouring our Voyage we arrived about Sun setting and were received by our People with general demonstrations of joy They had heard of the new Camp and all asked me if they should not remove thither I answered We would do that with all speed it being the best place to pitch upon of all those we had seen Morton and De Haes were come to the Camp two or three hours before my arrival and came to give me an account of their Expeditions Morton told me he had marched his men fifteen or sixteen Miles to the left side of the Camp through a Sandy and barren Country where they had not found so much as a Spring or Brook of sweet Water that at night they were gone to meet the Boat on the shore according to my Orders and lain there till the next morning which being come they departed early from that place and proceeded to the Westward in the same manner as the day before through a Rocky and Stony Country without finding any water till Noon at which time they came to a pretty broad River where they stopt till their Boat came to them That they had observed the Tide came into this River with great noise and Impetuosity and that the water was salt where they came to it at first as being not far from the Sea which had obliged them to go up the River till they should find sweet water That going up along the Banks they had at the last found a Stream of sweet water which refreshed them much and so proceeded in their discovery they had been set upon by two great Crocodiles which ran out of the River to devour them but that they having spied

the middle of his Legs with a Cap of the same colour and a Shash about his waste much after the Garb we paint Cardinals in The other man was in the like habit and a lusty man too both about forty years of Age. When he was come up to us he asked who was the Commander of the Pinnace and having been told I was the Person he came to me in a kind and civil manner embraced me and bid us all welcome into the Country Then he asked how we came into those parts in so small a Vessel I answered That we came in a bigger but that she was cast away upon the Coasts and that out of her Ruines we had made this Pinnace Then he asked me if we were all that were saved I told him it was so and that the rest of our Company were drowned for I did not think it fit to speak of our People in the Camp until we were better acquainted with these men and saw what usage we should have amongst them He altering his Countenance as if he had been sorry for our loss told us he took great part in our affliction Then did he ask me several questions concerning our Voyage our Shipwrack and the present state of Europe To which I returned such answers as I thought convenient He seemed to be well pleased with my answers and told us we were come into a Country where we should find more kindness and civility than we could in our own and where we should want none of those things that are capable to make moderate men happy We returned him humble thanks and desired to know what the name of the Country was He told us it was called in their Language Sporumbè the Inhabitants Sporui that it belonged to a greater and happier Country beyond the Hills called Sevarambè and the people evarambi who lived in a great City called Sevarinde That we were not above fourteen Miles from another City but much less than the first called Sporunde where he intended to carry us Then perceiving some alteration in our faces caused by his last words he proceeded in this manner Gentlemen I told you at first you should not be afraid for no harm will be done you I assure you unless you will draw it upon your selves through your distrust and stubbornness Your best way is to rely upon Gods Providence and the assurances I give you that no wrong shall be done to the least of you either in his person or his goods You are but a small number of men in a little Pinnace in a strange Country destitute of all things and no way able to defend your selves against our Vessels which are many against one and full of men who no less understand how to fight than you as you will find if you put it to a trial They are no Barbarians as you may imagine but a very good charitable and civil people So consider what is best for you to do As soon as he had spoken those words he and his Companion went to one end of the Pinnace as it were to give us an opportunity to consult among our selves which we did and presently resolved to follow his directions and to trust to Providence He perceiving we intended to go to him came himself to us and asked what course we were resolved to take We intend to obey your Commands in every thing Sir and think our selves happy to be under your protection We are poor distressed men fitter Objects for pity than for anger and we hope to find Mercy and help at your hands You will find it in a great measure and see in these Countries such wonders as are not to be seen in any other part of the World Then he made sign to his Shallop to come near which they did immediately They brought us Bread Wine dry Dates Raisins Figs and several sorts of Nuts of which we made an excellent Feast and drank merrily of the delicate Wines that were given us After this welcom Meal the man told me his name was Carshidà his Companion 's Benoscar and desired to know mine I told him my name was Maurice and asked him withal how he came to speak Dutch and Spanish in so remote a Country I will satisfie you herein another time Maurice said he in the mean while we must give order for our going to Sporundè that we may be there to day before night Then did he speak to his men in his own Language and they made sign to another Vessel that stood near to come to us they presently came and having tied a rope to our Pinnace towed her up the Lake to the Southeast of it the other Vessel rowing after us in that manner we left the little Island and the Fleet which did not stir from their Station so long as we were in sight of them and rowed till two in the afternoon through that great Lake of salt water which looks more like a Sea than like a Lake About that time we had a gentle breeze which carried us in less than two hours clear out of the Lake into a River where we found sweet water and saw a fine Champain Country on each side of it We had not sailed two miles in this River but we came to a pretty narrow place where the water is kept in by two great and thick Walls and saw all along near these Walls great Buildings of Brick and Stone mixed together and built after the manner of a Castle in a perfect Quadrangle We went two miles further up along these Walls and Buildings before we came to the City of Sporundè which stands in the confluence of two great Rivers in a fine delicate Plain diversified with Corn-fields Meadows Orchards Gardens and Groves which make it very delightful to the eye the small Vessel which at first came after us was gone up a good while before we came to the Town to give them warning of our coming We rowed up to a great and stately Key where stood a great multitude of People who came out to see us Land Carshidà went on shore first where he was received by some grave men in black with whom having discoursed a while he turned himself towards us and made signs to Benoscar to bring us ashore He in a few vvords told us vvhat vve vvere to do and bid us to follovv him We vvent up the Stairs of the Key vvhich vvas pretty high and being come to the place vvhere the grave men stood vve inclined our selves down to the ground three several times The men bowed a little to us and the chiefest of them taking me in his Arms very kindly embraced me kissed me in the forehead and bade us all vvelcom to Sporundè From that place they carried us through a stately Gate and a noble Street as streight as a Line to a great square building after the manner abovesaid We vvent into it through a large gate that stood in the middle of the Building and found the