Page 216
An. 1685
Volcan Vejo.
overgrown with thick Woods, and there are but few inhabitants near the fhore. As we failed to the Weftward we had variable winds, fometimes S. W. and at W. S. W. and fometimes at E. N. E. but we had them moft commonly at S. W.; we had a Tornado or two every day, and in the evening or in the night, we had land winds at N. N. E.
The 8th day of Auguft, being in the lat. of 11 d. 20 m. by obfervation, we faw a high Hill in the Country, towring up like a Sugar-loaf, which bore N. E. by N. We fuppofed it to be Volcan Vejo, by the fmoak which afcended from its top; therefore we fteered in North, and made it plainer, and then knew it to be that Volcan, which is the Sea-mark for the harbour for Ria Lexo; for, as I faid before, in Chapter the 5th, it is a very remarkable Moun- tain. When we had brought this Mountain to bear N. E. we got out all our Canoas, and provided to embark into them the next day.
The 9th day in the morning, being about 8 leagues from the fhore, we left our Ships under the charge of a few men, and 520 of us went away in 31 Canoas, rowing towards the Harbour of Ria Lexa. We had fair Weather and little Wind till 2 a clock in the afternoon, then we had a Tornado from the fhore, with much Thunder, Lightning and Rain, and fuch a guft of Wind, that we were all like to be founder d. In this extremity we put right afore the Wind, every Canoas crew making what fhift they could to avoid the threatning dan- ger. The fmall Canoas being moft light and buoyant, mounted nimbly over the Surges, but the great heavy Canoas lay like logs in the Sea, ready to be fwallowed by every foaming billow. Some of our Canoas were half full of water, yet kept two men conftantly heaving it out. The fiercenefs of the Wind continued about half an hour, and a- bated by degrees; and as the Wind died away; so the