Page 217
An. 1685
Tornadoes.
the fury of the Sea abated: For in all hot Countries as I have obferved, the Sea is foon raifed by the Wind, and as foon down again when the Wind is gone, and therefore it is a proverb among the Sea- men, Up Wind, up Sea: Down Wind, down Sea. At 7 a clock in the evening it was quite calm, and the Sea as fmooth as a Mill-pond. Then we tugg'd to get into the fhore, but finding we could not do it before day, we rowed off again to keep our felves out of fight. By that time it was day, we were 5 leagues from the Land, which we thought was far enough off fhore. Here we intended to lye till the evening, but at 3 a clock in the afternoon we had another Tornado, more fierce than that which we had the day before. This put us in greater peril of our lives, but did not laft fo long. As foon as the violence of the Tornado was over, we rowed in for the fhore, and entered the Harbour in the night: The Creek which leads towards Leon, lieth on the S. E. fide of the Harbour. Our Pilot being very well acquainted here, carried us into the mouth of it, but could carry us no farther till day, becaufe it is but a fmall Creek, and there are other Creeks like it. The next morning as foon as it was light, we rowed into the Creek, which is very narrow; the Land on both fides lying fo low, that every tide it is overflown with the Sea. This fort of Land produceth red Mangrove-trees, which are here fo plentiful and thick, that there is no palling thro them. Beyond thefe Mangroves on the firm Land clofe by the fide of the River, the Spaniards have built a Breftwork, purpofely to hinder an Enemy from landing. When we came in fight of the Breftwork, we rowed as faft as we could to get afhore: The noife of our Oars allarmed the Indians who were fet to watch, and prefently they ran a- way towards the City of Leon, to give notice of our approach. We landed as foon as we could, and marched