Page 113
An.1684
Cape Blanco and Caldera Bay.
Mountain Savannahs are cloathed but with indiffe- rent Grass. From the bottom of this Bay, it is but 14 or 15 leagues, to the Lake of Nicaragua on the North-Sea Coast : the way between is somewhat Mountainous, but most Savannah.
Captain Cook, who was taken sick at John Fernan- does, continued so till we came within 2 or 3 leagues of Cape Blanco, and then dyed of a sudden; tho he seemed that morning to be as likely to live, as he had been some weeks before; but it is usual with sick men coming from the Sea, where they have nothing but the Sea Air, to dye off as soon as ever they come within the view of the Land. About 4 hours after we all came to an Anchor, (namely the the Ship that I was in, Captain Eaton, and the great Meal Prize,) a league within the Cape, right a- gainst the Brook of Fresh-water, in 14 fathom clean hard Sand. Presently after we came to an Anchor, Captain Cook was carried ashore to be buried; 12 men carried their Arms to guard those that were ordered to dig the Grave; for although we saw no appearance of Inhabitants, yet we did not know but the Country might be thick inhabited. And before Captain Cook was interr d; 3 Spanish Indians came to the place where our men were digging the Grave, and demanded what they were, and from whence they came? to whom our men an- swered, they came from Lima, and were bound to Ria Lexa, but that the Captain of one of the Ships dying at Sea, oblig d them to come into this place to give him Christian burial. The 3 Spanish Indians, who were very shy at first, began to be more bold, and drawing nearer, asked many silly questions, and our men did not stick to sooth them up with as many falsehoods, purposely to draw them into their clutches. Our men often laught at their temerity; and asked them if they never saw any Spaniards be- fore? They told them, that they themselves were Spa-
temerity: reckless boldness, excessive audacity, foolish overconfidence, act without regard for danger