Page 158
An. 1684
Negroes taken. A great advantage flipt.
way thither we went aboard the 3 Barks laden with Negroes, that lay at their Anchor in the River, and carry d the Barks away with us. There were 1000 Negroes in the 3 Barks, all lufty young men and women. When we came to Puna, we fent a Canoa to Point Arena, to fee if the Ships were come thither. The 12th day fhe return'd again, with tydings that they were both there at Anchor. Therefore in the afternoon we all went aboard of our Ships, and carry'd the Cloath-bark with us, and about 40 of the ftouteft Negro men, leaving their 3 Barks with the reft; and out of thefe alfo Captain Davis and Captain Swan chofe about 14 or 15 apiece, and turn'd the reft afhore.
There was never a greater opportunity put into the hands of men to enrich themfelves than we had; to have gone with thefe Negroes, and fettled our felves at Santa Maria, on the Ifthmus of Darien, and employed them in getting Gold out of the Mines there. Which might have been done with eafe: For about 6 months before this, Captain Harris (who was now with us) coming over Land from the North Seas with his body of Privateers, had routed the Spaniards away from the Town and Gold-Mines of Santa Maria, fo that they had never attempted to fettie there again fince: Add to this, that the Indian neighbourhood, who were mortal Enemies to the Spaniards, and had been flufht by their fucceffes againft them, through the affiftance of the Privateers, for feveral years, were our faft friends, and ready to receive and affift us. We had, as I have faid, 1000 Negroes to work for us, we had 200 Tun of Flower that lay at the Gallapagos, there was the River of Santa Maria, where we could ca- reen and fit our Ships; and might fortifie the mouth fo, that if all the ftrength the Spaniards have in Peru had come againft us, we could have kept them out. If they lay with Guard-fhips of ftrength to keep us in,