Page 194
An.1685
River and Town of Santa Maria.
near Point Garachina. Beyond the mouth of thefe 2 Rivers on either fide, the Gulf runs in towards the Land fomewhat narrower, and makes 5 or 6 fmall Iflands, which are cloathed with great Trees, green and flourifhing all the year, and good Channels be- tween the Iflands. Beyond which further in ftill, the fhore on each fide clofes fo near, with 2 Points of low Mangrove Land, as to make a narrow or ftreight, fcarce half a mile wide. This ferves as a mouth or entrance to the inner part of the Gulf, which is a deep Bay 2 or 3 leagues over every way, and about the Eaft end thereof are the mouths of feveral Rivers, the chief of which is that of Santa Maria. There are many outlets or Creeks befides this narrow place I have defcribed, but none navi- gable befide that. For this reafon, the Spanifh Guard- Ship, mention'd in Chap. 1. chofe to lye between thefe two Points, as the only paffage they could imagine we fhould attempt ; fince this is the way that the Privateers have generally taken, as the neareft, between the North and South Seas. The River of Santa Maria is the largeft of all the Rivers of this Gulf: It is navigable 8 or 9 leagues up; for fo high the tyde flows. Beyond that place the Ri- ver is divided into many Branches, which are only fit for Canoas. The tyde rifes and falls in this River about 18 foot.
About 6 leagues from the Rivers mouth, on the South fide of it, the Spaniards about 20 years ago, upon their firft difcovery of the Gold Mines here, built the Town Santa Maria, of the fame name with the River. This Town was taken by Captain Coxon, Captain Harris, and Captain Sharp, at their entrance into thefe Seas; it being then but newly built. Since that time it is grown confiderable; for when Cap- tain Harris, the Nephew of the former, took it (as is faid in Chap. 6.) he found in it all forts of Trades- men, with a great deal of Flower, and Wine, and abun-