Page 268
An. 1686
Santa Pecaque.
this Coaft; there is 10 foot Water on the bar at low Water, but how much it flows here I know not. The mouth of this River is near half a mile broad, and very fmooth entring. Within the mouth it is broader; for there are 3 or 4 Rivers more meet there, and iffue all out together. The Water is brackifh a great way up; yet there is frefh Water to be had, by digging or making Wells in the fandy Bay, 2 or 3 foot deep, juft at the mouth of the River.
The 11th day Captain Swan fent 70 men in 4 Canoas into this River, to feek a Town; for al- though we had no intelligence of any, yet the Country appearing very promifing, we did not queftion but they would find Inhabitants before they returned. They fpent 2 days in rowing up and down the Creeks and Rivers; at laft they came to a large Field of Maiz, which was almoft ripe: They immediately fell to gathering as faft as they could, and intended to lade the Canoas; but feeing an Indian that was fet to watch the Corn, they quitted that troublefom and tedious work, and feiz'd him, and brought him aboard, in hopes by his information, to have fome more eafy and ex- pedite way of a fupply, by finding Corn ready cut and dried. He being examined, faid, that there was a Town called Santa Pecaque, 4 leagues from the place where he was taken; and that if we de- figned to go thither, he would undertake to be our Guide. Captain Swan immediately ordered his men to make ready, and the fame evening went away with 8 Canoas and 140 men, taking the Indian for their Guide.
He rowed about 5 leagues up the River, and landed the next morning. The River at this place was not above Piftol fhot wide, and the Banks pretty high one each fide; and the Land plain and even. He left 23 men to guard the Canoas, and marcht