Page 159
An. 1684
Plata, again.
in, yet we had a great Country to live in, and a great Nation of Indians that were our friends: Be- fide, which was the principal thing, we had the North Seas to befriend us; from whence we could export our felves, or effects, or import goods or men to our affiftance; for in a fhort time we fhould have had affiftance from all parts of the Weft Indies; many thoufands of Privateers from Jamaica and the French Iflands efpecially would have flockt over to us; and long before this time we might have been mafters not only of thofe Mines, (the richeft Gold-mines ever yet found in America) but of all the Coaft as high as Quito: and much more than I fay might then probably have been done.
But these may seem to the Reader but Golden Dreams: To leave them therefore; The 12th day we fail'd from Point Arena towards Plata, to feek our Bark that was fent to the Ifland Lobos, in fearch of Captain Eaton. We were 2 Ships in company, and two Barks: and the 16th day we arriv d at Plata, but found no Bark there, nor any Letter. The next day we went over to the Main, to fill Water, and in our paffage met our Bark: fhe had been a fecond time at the Ifland Lobos, and not finding us was coming to Plata again. They had been in fome want of Provifion fince they left us, and therefore they had been at Santa Hellena, and taken it; where they got as much Maize as ferved them 3 or 4 days; and that, with fome Fifh and Turtle which they ftruck, lafted them till they came to the Ifland Lobos de Terra. They got Boobies and Penguins Eggs, of which they laid in a ftore; and went from thence to Lobos de la Mar, where they replenished their ftock of Eggs, and salted up a few young Seal, for fear they fhould want: and being thus victualled, they returned again towards Plata. When our Water was fill'd we went over again to the Ifland Plata. There we parted the Cloths that were taken in the Cloth-