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An. 1681.
A Journey over the Isthmus of America.
The fifteenth day when we set out, the kind Indian and his boy went with us in a Canoa, and set us over such places as we could not ford: and being past those great Rivers, he returned back a- gain, having helped us at least 2 mile. We marched afterwards 5 mile, and came to large Plantain walks, where we took up our quarters that night; we there fed plentifully on Plantains, both ripe and green, and had fair weather all the day and night. I think these were the largest Plantains walks, and the biggest Plantains that ever I saw, but no house near them: We gathered what we pleased by our Guides orders.
The sixteenth day we marched 3 mile, and came to a large settlement, where we abode all day: Not a man of us but wisht the Journey at an end; our Feet being blistered, and our Thighs stript with wading through so many Rivers; the way being al- most continually through Rivers, or pathless Woods. In the afternoon five of us went to seek for game, and kill'd 3 Monkeys, which we drest for Supper. Here we first began to have fair Weather, which continued with us till we came to the North Seas.
stript: chafed, rubbed raw
The eighteenth day we set out at 10 a Clock; and the Indians with 5 Canoas carried us a league up a River; and when we landed the kind Indians went with us and carried our burthens. We marched 3 mile farther and then built our Hutts, having tra- velled from the last settlements 6 miles.
The nineteenth day our Guides lost their way, and we did not march above 2 miles.
The twentieth day by 12 a Clock we came to Cheapo River. The Rivers we croft hitherto run all into the South Seas; and this of Cheapo was the last we met with that run that way. Here an old man who came from the last settlements, distributed his burthen of Plantains amongst us, and taking his leave returned home. Afterward we forded the River and