Page 276
An.1686
Prince George's Island.
actly like the Roots of our English Burdocks boil'd, of which I have eaten. Here are, plenty of Gua- noes and Raccoons (a large sort of Rat) and Indian Conies, and abundance of large Pigeons and Tur- tle-Doves. The Sea is also pretty well stored with Fish, and Turtle or Tortoise, and Seal. This is the second place on this Coast where I did see any Seal: and this place helps to confirm what I have observed, that they are seldom seen but where there is plenty of Fish. Captain Swan gave the middle Island the Name of Prince George's Island.
The 8th day we run nearer the Island, and an- chored in 5 fathom, and moored Head and Stern, and unrigg'd both Ship and Bark in order to careen. Here Captain Swan proposed to go into the East Indies. Many were well pleased with the Voyage; but some thought, such was their ignorance, that he would carry them out of the world; for about 2 thirds of our Men did not think there was any such way to be found: but at last he gain'd their consents.
At our first coming hither we did eat nothing but Seal; but after the first 2 or 3 days our Strikers brought aboard Turtle every day; on which we fed all the time that we lay here, and saved our Maiz for our Voyage. Here also we measured all our Maiz, and found we had about 80 Bushels. This we divided into 3 parts; one for the Bark, and two for the Ship; our Men were divided also, 100 men aboard the Ship, and 50 aboard the Bark, besides 3 or 4 Slaves in each.
I had been a long time sick of a Dropsy, a di- stemper, whereof, as I said before, many of our men died; so here I was laid and covered all but my head in the hot Sand: I indured it near half an hour, and then was taken out and laid to sweat in a Tent. I did sweat exceedingly while I was in the Sand, and I do believe it did me much good, for I grew well soon after.
We