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An. 1681
The Author’s Return out of the South Seas,
We lay here all the day, and scrubb’d our new Bark, that if ever we should be chased we might the better escape: we fill’d our Water, and in the evening went from thence, having the Wind at S.W. a brisk gale.
The 25th day we had much Wind and Rain, and we lost the Canoa that had been cut and was join’d together; we would have kept all our Canoas to carry us up the River, the Bark not being so con- venient.
The 27th day we went from thence with a mo- derate gale of Wind at S.W. In the afternoon we had excessive Showers of Rain.
The 28th day was very wet all the morning; be- twixt 10 and 11 it cleared up, and we saw two great Ships about a league and a half to the West- ward of us, we being then two leagues from the shore, and about 10 leagues to the Southward of point Garachina. These Ships had been cruising between Gorgonia and the Gulf 6 mo. th: but whe- ther our Prisoners did know it I cannot tell.
Point Garachina
We presently furled our Sails, and rowed in close under the shore, knowing that they were Cruisers; for if they had been bound to Panama this Wind would have carried them thither; and no Ships bound from Panama come on this side the Bay, but keep the North side of the Bay till as far as the Keys of Quibo to the Westward; and then if they are bound to the Southward they stand over and may fetch Galleo, or betwixt it and Cape St. Francisco.
cruiser: usually small-to-medium sailing vessel meant for patrol, scout or hunt; medium vessels are nimble for patrol purpose
The Glare did not continue long before it rained again, and kept us from the sight of each other: but if they had seen and chaced us, we were re- solved to run our Bark and Canoas ashore, and take our selves to the Mountains, and travel over Land; for we knew that the Indians which lived in these parts never had any Commerce with the Spaniards; so we might have had a chance for our Lives.
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