Page 197
An.1685
News of more Privateers coming.
fo artificially, that we could hardly do the like without breaking them: yet they often carry in this manner 1500 or 2000, or more in a Ship, and feldom break one. The 10th day we took a fmall Bark that came from Guiaquil: fhe had nothing in her her but Ballaft. The 12th day there came an In- dian Canoa out of the River of Santa Maria, and told us, that there were 300 Englifh and French men more coming over Land from the North Seas. The 15th day we met a Bark, with 5 or 6 Englifh men in her, that belonged to Captain Knight, who had been in the South Seas 5 or 6 months, and was now on the Mexican Coaft. There he had fpied this Bark; but not being able to come up with her in his Ship, he detach'd thefe 5 or 6 Men in a Canoa, who took her, but when they had done could not recover their own Ship again, lofing company with her in the night; and therefore they came into the Bay of Panama, intending to go over land back into the North Seas, but that they luckily met with us: for the Ifthmus of Darien was now become a common Road for Privateers to pafs between the North and South Seas at their pleafure. This Bark of Captain Knight's had in her 40 or 50 Jars of Brandy: fhe was now commanded by Mr. Henry More; but Captain Swan, intending to promote Captain Harris, caufed Mr. More to be turned out, alledging that it was very likely thefe Men were run away from their Com- mander. Mr. More willingly refigned her, and went aboard of Captain Swan, and became one of his Men.
It was now the latter end of the dry feafon here; and the Water at the Kings, or Pearl Ilands, (of which there was plenty when we firft came hither) was now dried away. Therefore we were forced to go to Point Garachina, thinking to water our Ships there. Captain Harris, being now Com- mander of the new Bark, was fent into the River of