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An. 1683
The Isles of Cape Verd.
which could not escape it. This hapned in a few days after we left Virginia; with a St. E. Wind just in our Teeth. The Storm lasted above a week, it drencht us all like so many drownled Rats; and was one of the worst Storms I ever was in. One a mer- with in the East-Indies was more violent for the time; but of not above 24 hours continuance. Aft- ter that Storm we had favourable Winds and good weather; and in a short time we arriv d at the Island Sal, which is one of the Eastermost of the Cape Verd Islands. Of these there are ten in number so con- siderable as to bear distinct names, and they lye se- veral Degrees off from Cape Verd in Africk, whence they receive that Appellation, taking up about 5 deg. of Longitude in breadth, and about as many of Latitude in their length, viz. from 15 to 19 North. They are most inhabited by Portugese Ban- ditti. This of Sal is an Island lying in the Lat. of 16, in Long: 19 deg. 33 min. West from the Lizard in England, stretching from North to South, about 8 or 9 leagues; and not above a league and an half, or 2 leagues wide. It hath its name from the abun- dance of Salt that is naturally congealed there; the whole Island being full of large Salt-ponds. The Land is very barren, producing no Trees that I could see, but some small shrubby Bushes by the Sea side. Neither could I discern any Grass, yet there are some poor Goats on it.
I know not whether there are any other Beasts on the Island. There are some wild Fowly but, I judge, not many. I saw a few Flamingo, which is a sort of large Fowl, much like a Heron in shape, but bigger, and of a reddish colour. They delight to keep together in great companies, and feed in Mud, or Ponds, or in such places where there is not much Water: They are very shy, therefore it is hard to shoot them. Yet I have lain obscured in the evening near a place where they resort, and with