Page 212
An. 1685
The Ifles of Quibo. Palma-Maria Tree.
great Rivers, befides lefs Rivers and Creeks, that the Indians themfelves who inhabit there cannot travel far without much trouble.
We met with very wet weather in our Voyage to Quibo; and with S. S. W. and fometimes S. W. Winds, which retarded our courfe. It was the 15th day of June when we arrived at Quibo, and found there Captain Harris whom we fought. The Ifland Quibo or Cabaya is in lat. 7 d. 14 m. North of the Equator. It is about 6 or 7 leagues long, and 3 or 4 broad. The Land is low, except only near the N. E. end. It is all over plentifully ftored with great tall flourifhing Trees of many forts; and there is good water on the Eaft and North Eaft fides of the Ifland. Here are fome Deer, and plenty of pretty large black Monkies, whofe Flefh is fweet and wholefome: befides a few Guanoes, and fome Snakes. I know no other fort of Land Animal on the Ifland. There is a fhole runs out from the S. E. point of the Ifland, half a mile into the Sea; and a league to the North of this fhole point, on the Eaft fide, there is a Rock about a mile from the fhore, which at the laft quarter ebb appears above Water. Befides thefe two places there is no dan- ger on this fide, but Ships may run within a quar- ter of a mile of the fhore, and anchor in 6, 8, 10, or 12 fathom, good clean Sand and Oaze.
There are many other Iflands lying fome on the S. W. fide, others on the N. and N. E. fides of this Ifland; as the Ifland Quicaro, which is a pretty large Ifland S. W. of Quibo, and on the North of it is a fmall Ifland called the Rancheria; on which Ifland are plenty of Palma-Maria Trees. The Palma- Maria is a tall ftraight-bodied Tree, with a fmall Head, but very unlike the Palm-tree, notwith- ftanding the Name. It is greatly efteemed for ma- king Mafts, being very tough, as well as of a good length; for the grain of the Wood runs not ftraight along