Page 72
An. 1683
Isle of Sal.
by each other. The young ones at first are of a light grey; and as their Wing-feathers spring out, they grow darker: and never come to their right colour, or any beautiful shape, under 10 or 11 months old. I have seen Flamingoes at Rio la Hacha, and at an Island lying near the Main of America, right against Querisao; called by Privateers Flamingo- Key, from the multitude of these Fowls that breed there; and I never saw of their Nests and young but there.
There were not above 5 or 6 men on this Island of Sal, and a poor Governor as they call'd him, who came aboard in our Boat, and brought 3 or 4 poor lean Goats for a Present to our Captain, tell- ing him they were the best that the Island did afford. The Captain, minding more the poverty of the Giver than the value of the Present, gave him in requital a Coat to cloath him; for he had no- thing but a few Rags on his back, and an old Hat not worth 3 Farthings; which yet I believe he wore but seldom, for fear he should want before he might get another: for he told us there had not been a Ship in 3 years before. We bought of him about 20 Bushels of Salt for a few old Cloaths; and he begg'd a little Powder and Shot. We stay'd here 3 days; in which time one of these Portuguese offered to some of our men a lump of Ambergriefe in ex- change for some Cloaths, desiring them to keep it secret; for he said if the Governour should know it he should be hanged. At length one Mr. Coppinger bought it for a small matter; yet I believe he gave more than it was worth. We had not a Man in the Ship that knew Ambergriefe: but I have since seen it in other places, and therefore am certain it was not right. It was of a dark colour like Sheeps Dung, and very soft, but of no smell, and possibly 'twas some of their Goats Dung: I afterwards saw some fold at the Necquebars in the East Indies, which was of a