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An. 1681

A Journey over the Isthmus of America.

whom we declared the reason of this visit.

At first he seemed to be very dubious of enter- taining any discourse with us, and gave very im- pertinent answers to the questions that we demand- ed of him ; he told us he knew no way to the North side of the Country, but could carry us to Cheapo or to Santa Maria, which we knew to be Spanish Garrisons ; the one lying to the Eastward of us, the other to the Westward : Either of them at least 20 miles out of our way. We could get no other answer from him, and all his discourse was in such an angry tone, as plainly declared he was not our friend. However, we were forced to make a virtue of necessity, and humour him, for it was neither time nor place to be angry with the Indians ; all our lives lying in their hand.

We were now at a great loss, not knowing what course to take, for we tempted him with Beads, Money, Hatchets, Macheats, or long Knives ; but nothing would work on him, till one of our men took a Sky-coloured Petticoat out of his bag and put it on his Wife, who was so much pleased with the Present, that she immediately began to chatter to her Husband, and soon brought him into a better humour. He could then tell us that he knew the way to the North side, and would have gone with us, but that he had cut his foot 2 days before, which made him uncapable of serving us himself : But he would take care that we should not want^[1] a guide ; and therefore he hired the same Indian who brought us hither, to conduct us 2 days march further for another Hatchet. The old man would have stayed us here all the day, because it rained very hard ; but our business required more haste, our Enemies lying so near us ; for he told us that he could go from his house aboard the Guard Ship in a Tydes time ; and this was the 4th day since they saw us. So we marched 3 mile farther, and