Page 31
An.1681
The Corn Islands
him we would no longer remain with Captain Ar- chembo, but would go ashore there, and build Ca- noas to transport our selves down to the Moskitoes, if he would not entertain us ; for Privateers are not obliged to any Ship, but free to go ashore where they please, or to go into any other Ship that will entertain them, only paying for their Provision.
When Captain Wright saw our resolutions, he agreed with us on condition we should be under his command, as one Ships Company, to which we una- nimously consented.
We staid here about 10 days, to see if any more of our Fleet would come to us ; but there came no more of us to the Island but three, viz. Captain Wright , Captain Archembo , and Captain Tucker. Therefore we concluded the rest were bore away either for Bocca-toro, or Bluefield's River on the Main ; and we designed to seek them. We had fine wea- ther while we lay here, only some Tornadoes, or Thunder-showers: But in this Isle of St. Andreas there being neither Fish, Fowl, nor Deer, and it being therefore but an ordinary place for us, who had but little Provision, we sailed from hence again in quest of our scattered Fleet, directing our course for some Islands lying near the Main, called by the Privateers the Corn-Islands ; being in hopes to get Corn there. These Islands I take to be the same which are generally called in the Maps the Pearl Islands, lying about the Lat. of 12 D. 10 M. North. Here we arrived the next day, and went ashore on one of them, but found none of the Inhabitants; for here are but a few, poor, naked Indians that live here ; who have been so often plundered by the Privateers that they have but little Provision ; and when they see a Sail they hide themselves ; other- wise Ships that come here would take them, and make Slaves of them ; and I have seen some of them that have been Slaves. They are people of a mean