Page 131
An.1684
Tornadoes.
and Mangera. When we were a league out we saw a Canoa coming with Sail and Oars after us; there- fore we shortened Sail and staid for her. She was a Canoa sent by the Governor of St. Michaels Town to our Captain, desiring him not to carry away the Frier. The Messenger being told, that the Frier was set ashore again at Amapalla, he returned with joy, and we made Sail again, having the Wind at W. N. W. We steered towards the Coast of Peru: we had Tornadoes every day till we made Cape St. Francisco, which from June to November are very common on these Coasts; and we had with the Tornadoes very much Thunder, Lightning and Rain. When the Tornadoes were over, the Wind, which while they lasted was most from the South East, came about again to the West, and never failed us till we were in sight of Cape St. Francisco, where we found the Wind at South with fair weather. This Cape is in lat. 01 d. 00 North. It is a high bluff, or full point of Land, clothed with tall great Trees. Passing by this Point coming from the North you will see a small low Point, which you might suppose to be the Cape; but you are then past it, and presently after- wards it appears with three points. The Land in the Country within this Cape is very high, and the Mountains commonly appear very black. When we came in with this Cape we overtook Captain Ea- ton, plying under the shore: he in his passage from Amapalla, while he was on that Coast, met with such terrible Tornadoes of Thunder and Lightning, that as he and all his Men related, they had never met with the like in any place. They were very much af- frighted by them, the Air smelling very much of Sulphur, and they apprehending themselves in great danger of being burnt by the Lightning. He touch'd at the Island Cocos, and put ashore 200 Packs of Flower there, and loaded his Boat with Coco Nuts, and took in fresh water. In the evening we sepa- rated