Page 23
An. 1681
A Journey over the Isthmus of America.
them by the Captains of the Privateers; as this La-Sound's Key particularly.
Thus we finished our Journey from the South Sea to the North in 23 days; in which time by my ac- count, we travelled 110 miles, crossing some very high Mountains; but our common march was in the Valleys among deep and dangerous Rivers. At our first landing in this Country, we were told that the Indians were our Enemies; we knew the Rivers to be deep, the wet season to be coming in; yet excepting those we left behind, we lost but one man, who was drowned as I said. Our first land- ing place on the South Coast was very disadvanta- geous, for we travelled at least 50 miles more than we need to have done, could we have gone up Cheapo River, or Santa Maria River; for at either of these places a man may pass from Sea to Sea in 3 days time with ease. The Indians can do it in a day and a half, by which you may see how easy it is for a party of men to travel over. I must con- fess the Indians did assist us very much, and I questi- on whether ever we had got over without their assi- stance, because they brought us from time to time to their Plantations, where we always got Provisi- on, which else we should have wanted. But if a party of 500, or 600 men, or more, were minded to travel from the North to the South Seas, they may do it without asking leave of the Indians; though it be much better to be friends with them.
On the 24th of May, (having lain one night at the Rivers mouth) we all went on board the Privateer, who lay at La Sound s Key. It was a French Vessel, Captain Tristian Commander. The first thing we did was to get such things as we could to gratifie our Indian Guides, for we were resolved to reward them to their hearts content. This we did by giv- ing them Beads, Knives, Scissars, and Looking- glasses, which we bought of the Privateers Crew; and