Page 438
An.1687
Of 6 Englishmen left ashore.
have gone near to have foundred us) and so put to Sea. We had very violent weather the night en- suing, with very hard Rain, and we were forced to scud with our bare poles till 3 a clock in the morning. Then the Wind slacken'd, and we brought our Ship to, under a mizen, and lay with our head to the Westward. The 27th day the Wind abated much, but it rained very hard all day, and the night ensuing. The 28th day the Wind came about to the N.E. and it cleered up, and blew a hard gale, but it stood not there, for it shifted about the Eastward, thence to the S. E. then to the South, and at last it settled at S.W. and then we had a moderate gale and fair wea- ther.
It was the 29th day when the Wind came to the S.W. Then we made all the sail we could for the Island again. The 30th day we had the Wind at West, and saw the Islands; but could not get in before night. Therefore we stood off to the Southward till 2 a clock in the morning; then we tackt, and stood in all the morning, and about 12 a clock, the 1st day of October, we an- chored again at the place from whence we were driven.
Then our 6 men were brought aboard by the Natives, to whom we gave 3 whole bars of Iron, for their kindness and civility, which was an ex- traordinary Present to them. Mr. Robert Hall, was one of the men that was left ashore. I shall speak more of him hereafter. He and the rest of them told me, that after the Ship was out of sight, the Natives began to be more kind to them than they had been before, and perswaded them to cut their Hair short, as theirs was, offering to each of them if they would do it, a young Woman to Wife, and a small Hatchet, and other Iron Utensils, fit for a Planter, in Dowry; and withal shewed them