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An.1685
Gulf of St. Michael.
might be entring into thefe Seas. Accordingly the fecond day of March, 1685. we fail'd from hence towards the Gulf of St. Michael. This Gulf lyes near 30 leagues from Panama, toward the S. E. The way thither from Panama is, to pafs between the Kings Iflands and the Main. It is a place where many great Rivers having finifhed their courfes are fwallowed up in the Sea. It is bounded on the S. with Point Garachina, which lyeth in North lat. 6 d. 40 m. and on the North fide with Cape St. Lorenzo. Where, by the way, I muft correct a grofs error in our common Maps ; which giving no name at all to the South Cape, which yet is the moft confidera- ble, and is the true Point Garachina ; do give that name to the North Cape, which is of fmall remark, only for thofe whofe bufinefs is into the Gulf: and the name St. Lorenzo, which is the true name of this Northern Point, is by them wholly omitted ; the name of the other Point being fubftituted into its place. The chief Rivers which run into this Gulf of St. Michael, are Santa Maria, Sambo, and Congos. The River Congos (which is the River I would have perfwaded our men to have gone up, as their neareft way in our Journey over Land, mentioned Chap. 1.) comes directly out of the Country, and fwallows up many fmall Streams that fall into it from both fides; and at laft lofeth itfelf on the North fide of the Gulf, a league within Cape St. Lorenzo. It is not very wide, but deep, and navigable fome leagues within land. There are Sands without it ; but a Channel for Ships. 'Tis not made ufe of by the Spaniards, becaufe of the neighbourhood of Santa Maria River ; where they have moft bufinefs on ac- count of the Mines.
The River of Sambo feems to be a great River, for there is a great tyde at its mouth; but I can fay nothing more of it, having never been in it. This River falls into the Sea on the South fide of the Gulf, near