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An.1681
Point Samballas, and its Ilands.
season, we failed from hence, and Captain Yanky with us ; and we consorted, because Captain Yanky had no Commission, and was afraid the French would take away his Bark. We past by Scuda, a small Iland (where 'tis said Sir Francis Drake's bowels were bury d) and came to a small River to Westward of Chagre ; where we took two new Canoas, and car- ry d them with us into the Sambaloes. We had the Wind at West, with much rain ; which brought us to Point-Samballas. Here Captain Wright and Cap- tain Yanky left us in the Tartane to fix the Canoas, while they went on the Coast of Cartagene to seek for provision. We cruised in among the Ilands, and kept our Moskito-men, or strikers out, who brought aboard some half-grown Tortoise ; and some of us went ashore every day to hunt for what we could find in the Woods : Sometimes we got Pecary, Warree, or Deer ; at other times we light on a drove of large fat Monkeys, or Quames, Corrofves, (each a large sort of Fowl) Pidgeons, Parrots, or Turtle- doves. We liv'd very well on what we got, not staying long in one place ; but sometimes we would go on the Ilands, where there grow great Groves of Sapadillies, which is a sort of Fruit much like a Pear, but more juicy ; and under those Trees we found plenty of Soldiers, a little kind of Animals that live in Shells, and have two great Claws like a Crab, and are good food. One time our men found a great many large ones, and being sharp-set had them drest, but most of them were very sick afterwards, being poyfoned by them: For on this Iland were many Manchaneel Trees, whose Fruit is like a small Crab, and smells very well, but they are not wholsome ; and we commonly take care of meddling with any Animals that eat them. And this we take for a general rule ; when we find any Fruits that we have not seen before, if we see them peck d by Birds, we may freely eat, but if we see no