Page 214
An. 1685
The manner of making Canoas.
no Provifion there. They took an empty Bark in their way, and brought her to us.
The 5th day of July Captain Knight, mentioned in my laft Chapter, came to us. He had been crui- fing a great way to the Weftward, but got nothing befide a good Ship. At laft, he went to the South- ward, as high as the Bay of Guiaquil, where he took a Bark-log, or pair of Bark-logs as we call it, laden chiefly with Flower. She had other Goods, as Wine, Oyl, Brandy, Sugar, Soap, and Leather of Goats-skins; and he took out as much of each as he had occafion for, and then turned her away again. The Mafter of the Float told him, that the Kings Ships were gone from Lima towards Panama: that they carried but half the Kings Treafure with them, for fear of us, although they had all the ftrength that the Kingdom could afford: that all the Merchant Ships which fhould have gone with them were laden and lying at Payta, where they were to wait for further orders. Captain Knight having but few Men did not dare to go to Payta, where, if he had been better provided he might have taken them all; but he made the beft of his way into the Bay of Panama, in hopes to find us there inriched with the Spoils of the Lima Fleet; but coming to the Kings Iflands he had advice by a Prifoner, that we had ingaged with their Fleet, but were worfted, and fince that made our way to the Weftward; and therefore he came hither to feek us. He prefently conforted with us, and fet his Men to work to make Canoas. Every Ships company made for themfelves, but we all helped each other to launch them; for fome were made a mile from the Sea.
The manner of making a Canoa is, after cutting down a large long Tree, and fquaring the upper- moft fide, and then turning it upon the flat fide, to fhape the oppofite fide for the bottom. Then again they