Page 149
An.1684
Punta Arena. Puna.
least in the hot Countreys, as also in the East Indies: where sailing with Captain Minchin among certain Islands near the Streights of Malacca, he pointed to an Island, at which he told me he lost the use of his hand by one of these, only in going to take the Hook out of its mouth. The wound was scarce visible, yet his Hand was much swoln, and the pain lasted about 9 weeks; during most part of which the raging heat of it was almost ready to distract him. However, though the bony Fins of these Fish are so venemous, yet the Bones in their bodies are not so; at least we never perceived any such effect in eating the Fish; and their Flesh is very sweet, delicious and whole- some Meat.
From the Island Santa Clara to Punta Arena is 7 leagues E. N. E. This Punta Arena, or Sandy Point, is the westermost point of the Island Puna. Here all Ships bound into the River of Guiaquil anchor, and must wait for a Pilot, the entrance being very dan- gerous for Strangers.
The Island Puna is a pretty large flat low Island, stretching East and West about 12 or 14 leagues long, and about 4 or 5 leagues wide. The Tide runs very strong all about this Island, but so many different ways, by reason of the Branches, Creeks, and Rivers that run into the Sea near it, that it casts up many dangerous shoals on all sides of it. There is in the Island only one Indian Town on the South side of it, close by the Sea, and 7 leagues from Point Arena, which Town is also called Puna. The Indians of this Town are all Seamen, and are the only Pi- lots in these Seas, especially for this River. Their chiefest employment, when they are not at Sea, is fishing. These men are oblig'd by the Spaniards to keep good watch for Ships that Anchor at Point Are- na, which, as I said before, is 7 leagues from the Town Puna. The place where they keep this watch is at a Point of Land on the Island Puna, that starts out